13 February 1-7, 2024 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | Contents | Letters | news | night+Day | CuLture | Cafe | Music | Miami prides itself on being flashy so it’s no surprise that the menus at the city’s high-end Japanese restaurants often include glitzy accents - think caviar, gold leaf, and torched bone marrow. Álvaro Perez Miranda is bucking that trend, though, focusing not only on serving authentic cuisine at his four restaurants but also on representing Japa- nese culture as a whole. Clearly, he has succeeded. Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries named him a Goodwill Ambassador for Japanese Cuisine. A mere 187 people hold this honor worldwide, only 21 of those are in North America, and Perez Miranda is the first Latino in the US. Perez Miranda took a unique path to get here. Born into a modest family in Venezuela, he left home to study art - first in Italy, then Los Angeles. He began working in the restaurant industry to pay the bills and as he rose through the ranks he landed an op- portunity to open Italian restaurants in Tokyo. Over the course of nearly a decade, he would go on to build a 33-restaurant empire in the Land of the Rising Sun. Eventually yearning to reconnect with his Latin American roots, Perez Miranda made his way to Miami, where he first opened a restaurant in the emblematic Vagabond Hotel. Upon the suggestion of his teenage son, he decided to pivot to Japanese cuisine with his next venue, Wabi Sabi, which opened in 2018. Now his Miami portfolio includes the fast-casual Midorie, the high-end Hiyakawa, and the new omakase restaurant Ogawa, which debuted in late 2023. No matter which of these restau- rants they’re visiting, diners are immersed in three Japanese principles: ometenashi (selfless hospitality and anticipation of guest needs), komakai (attention to detail), and sensai (delicate balance of flavors). Perez Miranda is very much aware of the weight his ambassadorship carries. “It is a great honor to have my restaurants recognized by the Japanese government,” he says. “The goal has always been to edu- cate not just the U.S. but South America, as well, on the nuances of Japanese cuisine and culture - to transport the diner, as if they were in Japan, keeping it as authentic as possible.” ADVERTORIAL TRADITION OVER TREND How Álvaro Perez Miranda Became the First Latino Goodwill Ambassador for Japanese Cuisine Álvaro Perez Miranda Surfacing Ten Miami bands to watch out for in 2024. BY CATHERINE TORUÑO M iami music never dies. If there’s anything locals in this city know, it’s the hustle. De- spite the cost of living going up, Miami musicians continue to write, create, record, and put out really good music, all while funding their DIY endeavors. Recording and promoting music isn’t cheap. So next time you see a $15 cover for a show with a bunch of local bands on the lineup, make sure to pay up — and buy some merch while you’re at it — and enjoy the show because it’s up to locals to support these bands and keep the scene alive. In alphabetical order, New Times has picked ten active Miami bands to follow, sup- port, and keep an eye on as they keep hustling their way through 2024. Beach Mirage In 2022, Beach Mirage emerged from the dark depths of Miami with a unique post- punk, psychedelic-surf blend. Last year, the band was seen performing around Miami at Union Beer Store, Naomi’s Garden, Gramps, and Bar Nancy, and the trio promises to keep bringing its surf-noir sound to more venues across the 305. The group’s latest track, “Evil Mantis,” was released last month, marking the band’s third single. “Evil Mantis” merges synths and catchy surf riffs with a dark twist. The Creature Cage Joshua Soria of the Creature Cage is like Mi- ami’s very own John Dwyer of Oh Sees. Soria leads the shapeshifting collective the Crea- ture Cage, which offers a buzzing, high-en- ergy explosion of sounds of psychedelia, prog, and garage on stage and in the studio. The group is performed at Gramps alongside the Floridians and the Wax Worms and will make the trek up to St. Petersburg next month to perform with Phlegm and Liquid Pennies. The Floridians The Floridians’ latest single, “How Are You So Certain,” represents a sonic shift for the Miami band, moving away from the desert rock inspired by Allah-Las and leaning to- wards psychedelic indie-rock similar to MGMT or Dayglow. During the last few months, the Floridians have pumped the brakes a bit on playing shows around Miami, opting to focus on working on their music and outreach. However, for the few shows it’s taking on, the band is making sure to make it count. The band is especially excited for its March show when it will open for Jerry Har- rison and Adrian Belew of the Talking Heads at Hollywood Arts Park. Flower Child Slumber Party If the Creature Cage’s Joshua Soria is Miami’s answer to John Dwyer, then Philip Bourgi is Miami’s answer to Kevin Parker. Bourgi, a leader of the psychedelic genre in Miami for a decade, leads Flower Child Slumber Party, the multi-lineup, collaborative psychedelic pop- rock outfit. Usually seen playing synth on stage, behind the scenes Bourgi is the master- mind behind the classic psychedelia sound. In 2023, FCSP accomplished the impressive feat of releasing one track a month, starting in Jan- uary with “It Will Come to You” and ending in December with “Zapper Wheel.” Frogs Show Mercy Miami’s “melting pot” also applies to its diverse genres. Frogs Show Mercy, New Times’ Best Band in 2022, brings Southeast alternative emo to the Magic City. Following up last year’s EP When You’re Not Home, the band’s latest single, “Chester’s Privilege,” features frontman Yucky Poor’s familiar screams with a 2000s Beach Mirage’s sound blends postpunk and psychedelic surf rock. Photo by Andrea Barrios | CROSSFADE | t Music >> p14
