15 June 29 - July 5, 2023 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | Contents | Letters | news | night+Day | CuLture | Cafe | MusiC | 3201 RICKENBACKER CAUSEWAY KEY BISCAYNE, FL | 305.361.3818 WWW.THERUSTYPELICAN.COM BE SOCIAL WITH US! FIND US ON miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | CONTENTS | LETTERS | RIPTIDE | METRO | NIGHT+DAY | STAGE | ART | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | ▼ MIAMI BEACH RUM ROOM’S SAMANTHA CRUZ CHATS ABOUT HER BEACHSIDE BRAWL BATTLES The second season of Beachside Brawl is now underway on Food Network, and regulars of Rum Room Miami Beach may notice a famil- iar face. The Latin hotspot’s executive chef, Saman- tha Cruz, is among the ten chefs battling in the East Coast versus West Coast-formatted show. The latest season airs on Sundays at 10 p.m. “Honestly, to be a part of this show, I think the whole universe and God made me the luckiest woman on Earth,” she tells New Times. “I applied for a show many years ago and was never called in. And then I got some random phone call from a producer... I really thought it was one of those scams. But I en- tertained it, they pushed me through, and here I am.” Allapattah born and now a resident of Coral Gables, Cruz is the executive chef at Rum Room, which opened in April. She was brought in to create a menu that comple- ments the circa-1916 building, boasting a cozy, speakeasy-esque vibe with a tapas-style, Ca- ribbean-flared menu. In addition to her expe- rience at Rum Room, she has been an executive sous chef for 50 Eggs Hospitality Group and Grove Bay Hospitality Group, as well as a chef de cuisine at Planta. On Beachside Brawl, Cruz considers her Miami roots a plus saying, “The diversity of our city and our food gave me an advantage in the game. I had so many influences growing up, gastronomically, that I didn’t realize until we really got going.” Hosted by Antonia Lofaso, the competi- tion pits five East Coast chefs versus five West Coast chefs in a team format to determine which coast does summer food best. The show was filmed on the Redondo Beach Pier in Southern California, with star-studded guests like Guy Fieri, Alex Guarnaschelli, Nate Appleman, and Stephanie Izard pop- ping in as judges throughout the season. At the end of the season and after weeks of com- petitions, one team member will be named the “Best of the Beach” and win a tropical getaway valued at up to $25,000. As an example of the challenges the con- testants participate in, during week one, the teams were asked to create “pier favorites.” As a twist, they played boardwalk games like softball toss and balloon pop to reveal ingredi- ents they could or couldn’t use in their dishes. “It was a bit of a shell shock being in that dynamic,” says Cruz. “But, once you get over the hair, make-up, having twenty cameras in your face and being microphoned up, it feels natural, and you think, this is cooking and what I’ve always done.” Reflecting on the entire season and unable to spoil any of the episodes ahead, Cruz is ready for whatever is next. She says, “It felt incredible to represent such a booming city, especially with little old me from 17th Avenue in Allapattah. I felt the pressure, but I did it. And now I’m completely hooked... I’m up for competing on any show available, and I’d love my own show one day, too.” JESSE SCOTT ▼ MIAMI BEACH NYC’S CHIP CITY COOKIES ARRIVES IN MIAMI BEACH Banana cream pie, peanut butter and jelly, and baklava...cookies? Yep, you’re about to have some new op- tions as Chip City Cookies prepares to open its first Florida outpost. The Astoria, Queens- born brand plans to open by the end of July at 1935 West Ave. in Miami Beach. “We put a lot of love into developing this brand, and with there already being a strong New York influence and population in Miami Beach, this move makes sense,” Peter Phil- lips, cofounder of Chip City Cookies, tells | TASTE TEST | ▼ Café Food Network photo Samantha Cruz
