14 June 15-21, 2023 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | music | cafe | culture | Night+Day | News | letters | coNteNts | Month XX–Month XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | ▼ COCONUT GROVE REGATTA GROVE TO OPEN WITH FOOD BY MIAMI’S TOP TOQUES Fans of waterfront breezes, good food, and a chill setting will want to check out Regatta Grove when it opens in two weeks. Breakwater Hospitality Group, the com- pany behind the Wharf Miami, Carousel Club, and JohnMartin’s Irish Pub, is opening Regatta Grove in Coconut Grove. Breakwa- ter’s Emi Guerra tells New Times that the space is designed to channel Coconut Grove’s laid-back, tropical vibe. “Our vision for Regatta Grove is to create a vibrant com- munity space that stays true to the essence of Coconut Grove. From the stunning location at Regatta Harbor to the coastal decor and tropical cocktail program, we want guests to feel like they can step away from the hustle and bustle, wind down, and make great memories here.” The al-fresco spot will feature food, drink, and entertainment alongside Biscayne Bay with one big twist: some of Miami’s biggest culinary names are behind the menus for Re- gatta Grove. Breakwater Hospitality Group tapped the assistance of another major Miami restaurant group — Grove Bay Hospitality Group — to curate the talent for the venue, which reads like a who’s who of Miami food: Jeremy Ford, Janine Booth, Jeff McInnis, Kenny Gilbert, and Jose Mendin have all signed on to be a part of the venue. Grove Bay’s Francesco Balli calls the group of toques “a powerhouse collective of chefs.” Balli says the result is five different mini-res- taurants offering vastly creative menus. “Each chef will bring their unique spin to an authentic, approachable outpost at the water- front venue, in a location unlike any other. It has truly been a pleasure to collaborate on this concept, and we are eager to welcome the community to Regatta Grove this month.” Jeremy Ford, whose Stubborn Seed was awarded a Michelin star, will operate JJ’s Gu- ity Pleasures by Chef Jeremy Ford. The res- taurant, named after the “guilty pleasures” that Ford and his mother used to enjoy to- gether, will offer burgers (including a soft- shell crab burger), tacos, truffle tries, and crispy onion rings. Janine Booth will offer some of her favor- ite foods from “Down Under” at Sunny Side Aussie Bites + Ice by Chef Janine Booth. Menu items include savory Aussie pies, sau- sage rolls, empanadas, salads, avocado toast, ice cream, and sorbet. Tackle Box by Chef Jeff McInnis is the chef’s vision of a local seafood shack, serving fish tail sliders, chilled stone crab in season, and caviar. Kenny Gilbert returns to Miami from the Jacksonville area to offer his fried chicken and artisanal drop biscuit sandwiches, slathered with the chef’s “Flavor Bomb” sauce at House of Birds & Drop Biscuits by Chef Kenny Gilbert. Jose Mendin brings his popular pizza res- taurant, the Piefather, to Regatta Grove. Piz- zas are crafted with quality ingredients and feature the chef’s signature “Don” sauce and imported Italian toppings. In addition to food, three bars will offer cocktails, wine, and beer including sharable giant drinks made with fresh fruit. The large venue, encompassing one acre of waterfront property, offers seating for more than 400 people, multiple decks, a walkway to the waterfront, and lawn space. Regatta Grove also has dock space available, should you want to travel by yacht for an af- ternoon pizza or burger. Regatta Grove. 3415 Pan American Dr., Co- conut Grove; regattagrove.com. Opening June 22. LAINE DOSS ▼ MIAMI BEACH TIME OUT MARKET VENDORS GIVEN TWO HOURS’ NOTICE OF CLOSING Just as several new food halls are set to open in Miami, Time Out Market has announced its closing. The food hall, which opened in 2019, will close at the end of the day on June 30, accord- ing to a statement provided by the market. The closing announcement was released on Time Out Miami’s Instagram around noon on June 1. The market’s co-CEO of opera- tions, Sandy Hayek, said, “We want to thank our team, our chefs and restaurateurs who truly are the best of the city — it is thanks to all of them that the market has been a won- derful place for our guests. We are proud to have been able to give our vendors a platform in our market, and through Time Out, we will continue to champion these outstanding, best-of-the-city talents. We hope to welcome many of you as our guests at the market this month to meet our chefs and enjoy their amazing food.” Though Hayek sings the praises of the entrepreneurs who run the restaurants in- side the food hall, some of the vendors say that they received notice the market was closing less than two hours before the news was released to the public. “We found out at 11 a.m. and received a notice of termination at 1 p.m. in the afternoon. They waited until the last minute to tell us,” one of the Time Out Market tenants, who asked to remain anonymous due to a confidentiality agree- ment, tells New Times. The vendor, who has seven employees, says they’re scrambling to find another place to put their business so their employees can continue working. “We’re trying to pivot on where to go and to create additional revenue streams.” They add that most vendors operating out of Time Out are small business owners. “The market leaned hard on attracting local entre- preneurs. When you rely on independent op- erators, don’t you think they’re going to be devastated to have the rug pulled out from under them?” Another local restaurateur at the market said they are scrambling to find footing — and a place to move their business. “I’m in shock. I’m scrambling to find a new home. I have to figure out how to raise funds to move very fast.” Several vendors vented their frustration on Time Out Miami’s Instagram page. Pho Mo’s Cesar Zapata wrote, “For some of us and our employees to find out about the closure in this way is unethical and unprofessional! This is not correct!!!” Chick’N Jones sent out a plea for fans of its fried chicken to support the market while it’s still open: “Be sure to follow us as we navigate [through] this and look for a new home. In the meantime for the next 30 days, please support us and all of the other vendors in the market. Our employees depend on us.” Vegan restaurant the Rogue Panda prom- ised to let customers know where they turn up, writing, “We’ll keep you posted!!” Time Out Market opened in the spring of 2019 with a stellar roster of talented chefs, including Michael Beltran, Antonio Bachour, Cesar Zapata, Alberto Cabrera, Norman Van Aken, Giorgio Rapicavoli, and Jeremy Ford. The pandemic hit less than a year in, and Time Out Market closed its dining hall. Un- like most Miami Beach restaurants, which ei- ther pivoted to takeout or opened as soon as they could after restrictions were lifted, the market remained closed until March 2021. According to a New Times article, several vendors, including Kush, Antonio Cabrera, Giorgio Rapicavoli, and Michael Beltran chose not to return. Though Time Out Market Miami is clos- ing, Time Out Markets continues expand- ing, according to Hayak. In what seems like a throat punch to Miami, the market execu- tive pointed out in a released statement that Time Out is actually in a development phase. “We continue to grow our Time Out market business with our six existing sites, and over the next few years, we will focus on bringing new markets to cities around the world — we have a pipeline of eight new sites, with more to come. As we expand globally, we are very sad that our time in Miami Beach is now coming to an end. We have loved having a Time Out Market here —Miami is a fantastic city, with an excellent food and cultural scene.” According to the release, Time Out Mar- ket grew its net revenue by 78 percent in the second half of 2022, adding that eight new markets will open between now and 2027, though exact locations were not released. Time Out Market refused an interview re- quest by New Times. There’s still time to support the local businesses at Time Out Market. The market is still open until the end of the month, serving delicious food from local Miami entrepreneurs like the Maiz Project, the Rogue Panda, Pho Mo, Chick’N Jones, and Dale Street Food. Now more than ever, it’s time to show your support. Time Out Market. 1601 Drexel Ave., Miami Beach; timeoutmarket.com/miami. LAINE DOSS | TASTE TEST | ▼ Café Breakwater Hospitality Group photo Jose Mendin (left), Kenny Gilbert, Jeremy Ford, Janine Booth, and Jeff McInnis will open Regatta Grove. “EACH CHEF WILL BRING THEIR UNIQUE SPIN TO AN AUTHENTIC, APPROACHABLE OUTPOST AT THE WATERFRONT VENUE.” Deepsleep Studio photo Time Out Market Miami is closing on June 30.
