Tag Archives: decor

Wynwood Kitchen & Bar: Classic eats meet urban art

Like most venues in the Wynwood area, Wynwood Kitchen & Bar is a unique restaurant that offers diners great classic food along with funky urban art. One of the new kids on the block in the neighborhood, this spacious eatery offers both indoor and outdoor seating.

The feeling here is industrial warehouse meets comfortable and natural. The decor is a blend of driftwood accents, dark oak tables, high ceilings and oversized, colorful graffiti almost tattoo art. Outside the art continues with garden seating among the famed Wynwood Walls which are filled with artistic graffiti.

Enough about the decor though after all, it is a restaurant so food’s the main draw here. Clay pots are the hit here with snapper and mussel curry with  charred pineapple and basil or braised lamb with carrots, mint cardamom-panko bread crumbs and sour cherries. All are served with jasmine or brown rice. Skewers make good appetizers with choices like pork with cilantro-sesame dipping sauce or beef with basil dipping sauce.

Wynwood Kitchen & Bar is located at 2550 NW 2 Ave., Miami, FL

The Forge: Miami Beach’s legendary eatery

The Forge Restaurant/Wine Bar has been the mainstay on the northern end of Miami Beach since the 1920s, known as an old-world steakhouse with matching elaborate decor. Current owner Shareef Malnik, who took ownership in 1990 from his father who owned it since 1969, has given the place a makeover, both in decor and on the menu. 

It’s still elaborate and decadent but instead of the dark wood, robust interior things have been lightened up in tone, lots of whites, silvers, mismatched chairs which give the place character and a wine cellar/selection that can only be described as massive.

Executive Chef Dewey LoSasso, a veteran of New York and Miami restaurants, has created a menu all his own with pastas and risottos, unique appetizers like smoked salmon croquettes and quinoa pancake stacks plus main entrees like steamed local snapper in a bag and to keep with tradition an entire section of select meats.

Eating at the Forge is an experience like no other. They’re located at 432 41 Street, Miami Beach, 305-538-8533

The Forge Restaurant/Winebar: Classic with an upgrade

Originally known strictly as an elegant, upscale steakhouse with an old-world decor, The Forge has gone through a transformation. It now boasts an interior featuring eclectic furniture. One seating area evokes a living room/library feel with antique chairs, a contemporary couch, fireplace, bookshelves and stained glass, set alongside traditional dinner seating. Opulent chandeliers share the spotlight with quirky, lavender contemporary ones and yet another loungey spot features a fireplace with the cushiony rattan inspired couches and chairs that are commonly found poolside at any one of SoBe’s well known hotels.

The menu, by Chef Dewey LoSasso has also been transformed to include their well known classic steaks, chops and seafood but also incorporating short ribs, grilled shrimp waffle and chicken and duck alphabet soup.

432 41st Street at Royal Palm Avenue, Miami Beach, (305) 538- 8533, www.theforge.com

4. Get a Makeover at Home Show 1/16– 1/24/10

Picture 15Has remodeling your home driven you to the point of wanting to tear it down and just start over?  The Philadelphia Home show has the relief that you’ve been looking for.

Host Ty Pennington always has helpful hints, and the latest in home décor, but welcomes co-worker Paul DiMeo of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to share his thoughts and opinions as well. There will also be more than 500 experts there to share the hottest trends and tips in home design and décor.

Nobody Does it Like Noir

If you’re looking for a sexy spot to grab a drink then head over to the sultry lounge known as Noir at The Charles Hotel in Cambridge’s Harvard Square. The red and black interior accents reflect the decadent atmosphere of 1940s nightlife. Noir has been named best bar and lounge by Boston Magazine and has also been featured in Food & Wine. One of the most popular drinks is “Noir’s Boudoir,” a creamy mix of vanilla, chocolate and coffee liquors. In the summer months, the bar opens up its patio where guests can be seen sipping on fruity concoctions from the “Film Noir” section such as the LA Confidential, a blend of Stoli Vanila, Cointreau, peach nectar and champagne. Order up some light snacks like the marinated olives or flatbread to complement the fabulous drinks. Visit noir-bar.com for more information.

Insider’s Tip: Stop by Monday through Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. to sample the 5-4-3-2-1-0 menu, which includes $5 flatbreads, $4 sandwiches, $3 snacks, $2 salads, $1 sweets and $0 nuts. (There is a $6 minimum beverage purchase per guest).

John Gidding Loves It To Pieces

johngidding

When designer John Gidding from HGTV’s “Designed to Sell” recommends a furniture store, you know it’s something special. Pieces in Atlanta is a one-of-a-kind store that garners major attention from Atlanta-based, design television stars and national press alike.

Why does one shop receive so much praise? It’s because of owner and refurbishing queen Lee Kleinhelter.

Pieces is adorably designed where each room is a color-based vignette showing off Kleinhelter’s one-of-a-kind gems that are refurbished using her own hands. From pillows to wooden tables to antique chairs, Kleinhelter literally turns someone’s “trash” into absolute treasure.

While the antique and unique furniture tends to be pricey, you can get a completely unique accessory item for less than fifty bucks. The style is classic with a punch and the clean lines resonate well with buyers, landing Pieces in Lucky Magazine, Elle Décor, and even in the Best of Atlanta Magazine’s Hall of Fame.

When it comes to the home, John Gidding knows best with his amazing recommendation of Pieces.

**John Gidding is a host/designer on HGTV’s Atlanta-based “Designed to Sell” and founder of John Gidding Design. Gidding is also a Yale and Harvard graduate and former model. Visit piecesinc.com for more information.

Canoe

The striking view of the Chattahoochee River doesn’t rival the actual restaurant that’s been featured in Bon Appetit, Food and Wine, Gourmet, and The New York Times. Decorated like a luxe lodge with an inverted ceiling made to resemble the inside of a canoe, stepping foot inside is a memorable experience in itself. The seasonal menu amasses a loyal clientele.

Visit canoeatl.com for more information.