1 year ago
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Courtesy of Hilton Aventura
Four Diamond edifice debuts caller South American-inspired menus exemplifying Chef Marcos Flores’ fusion of cultures, flavors, ingredients and culinary ingenuity
On an unseasonably chill South Florida evening with a breeze that kept the humidity astatine bay, I nestled into the patio the Gala & Muse Bar—the signature edifice of the Four Diamond Hilton Aventura Miami with breakfast, luncheon and meal seatings. Overlooking the downtown Aventura skyline and seated astatine a array straight adjacent to the excavation deck, my al fresco evening astatine Gala promised to beryllium a memorable one…and the acquisition did not disappoint.
Gala, named aft 20th Century surrealist Gala Diakonova, whose quality inspired countless works by Salvador Dali, is successful itself an artful respite. The chic abstraction features curated creation displays by section artists and an interior plan that makes it some lukewarm and blase which, incidentally, is however I would picture the fare.
Helmed by Executive Chef Marcos Flores, who hails from Venezuela and has cooked astir the world, Gala precocious introduced an array of caller dishes exemplifying South America and Latin Fusion cuisine portion besides reflecting Miami’s insatiable appetite for seafood, tapas and globally inspired cuisine.
So enamored was I with the meal outing, I connected with Chef Flores to larn much astir his inspiration and intentions with the precocious revealed meal menu.
MK: What qualities set Gala isolated from other dining options successful the Aventura area?
CF: Our menu, and edifice astatine large, offers an eclectic, memorable eating acquisition melding vivacious cultures into delicious dishes, which are served up successful a communal ambiance wherever guests tin relax, bask and adjacent commiserate with 1 another. It is simply a beauteous and serene destination that is enjoyed by a engaged and divers community.
Another immense vantage is our Muse Bar, which is the main focal constituent successful the lobby. It’s a sleek barroom with floor-to-ceiling views of Aventura. The abstraction is highlighted by a gorgeous centerpiece of silver sculptures suspended precocious supra the bar, which features innovative drinks and airy bites successful a refined yet spirited setting. Here, our Mixologists make signature and trade cocktails that see the bubbly Effervescence, Chocolate Coconut Old Fashioned, Chile-Rita, Spiked Kombucha, Aperol Sour and more.
MK: Does GRMB have a “signature dish”?
CF:Yes, I would accidental our Crispy Skin Red Snapper with quinoa, smoked plot vegetables, citrus condiment and crispy fennel; arsenic good arsenic our Beef Barbacoa Short Ribs with creamy polenta, roasted basal vegetables and crispy leeks.
MK: As acold arsenic appetizers, our Crabcakes with mango salsa, banana bread, rum food condiment and micro cilantro are hugely popular, arsenic is our Ceviche Mixto with reddish snappers, Florida shrimp, tomato-habanero broth, avocado, Florida citrus, tomatoes, chile particulate and crispy saccharine potato. Both are distinctive and genuinely astonishing bites.
Small sharable dishes similar our Spanish Octopus with aji panca adobo, charred maize salad, crispy fingerling potatoes and saffron aioli arsenic good arsenic our Woodland Mushroom Flatbreads with roasted mushrooms, goat cheese, caramelized onions, fig balsamic simplification and micro cilantro are caller paper offerings making a large impact.
Those with a saccharine bony often archer maine they crave our in-house created desserts, similar our Passion Fruit Gelato and Warm Venezuelan Chocolate Cake. There’s thing amended mode to extremity an astonishing meal.
MK: Tell maine astir much astir your inheritance – what are immoderate vocation highlights?
CF: Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, I moved to Miami successful 1999 and for the past 24 years person worked successful restaurants from Miami and Chicago to Austin to Dubai. For 11 years, I was astatine The Diplomat successful Hollywood wherever I worked my mode up from enactment navigator to Banquet Chef for 4 restaurants successful the hotel. Throughout my career, I person worked with culinary luminaries including Top Chef Master Richard Sandoval—owner and relation of 50-plus planetary restaurants—as good arsenic personage chefs similar Jose Garces, Rick Bayless, Carlos Gaitan and others.
MK: What bash you emotion astir being based successful North Miami’s Aventura area?
CF: Because we are acceptable successful Greater Miami’s upscale northernmost vicinity of Aventura, Gala—and the Hilton Aventura Miami astatine large—already caters to a discriminating clientele for whom lone the champion volition do. The edifice offers gourmet fare, portion the spot wide offers skyline views, an elevated excavation deck, a fittingness and yoga studio, the well-appointed Hilton Executive Lounge and more. As a centrally located hotel, guests and patrons bask speedy entree to fashionable country destinations and experiences similar the Aventura Mall, Sunny Isles Beach and Gulfstream Park Racing and Casino. Plus, there’s casual entree to some Miami International and Fort Lauderdale International airports and we person valet parking, each making our edifice and edifice and an idyllic location basal for those exploring the champion South Florida has to offer.
Overall, Chef Flores draws inspiration for his menus from the cuisines of Mexico and assorted regions of South America, known for melding culture, spirit and ingredients into victorious victuals. This Chef Flores offers successful elevated and decidedly memorable signifier to the delight of good eating devotees.
***Some oregon each of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or service(s) elaborate supra whitethorn person been provided oregon arranged astatine nary outgo to accommodate if this is reappraisal editorial, but each opinions expressed are wholly those of Merilee Kern and person not been influenced successful immoderate way.***
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