Keeping Up with Miami’s Culinary Scene

If you’ve been living in Miami for the season, and paying the least bit of attention, then it will not be shocking news that we have been on a quest to elevate our culinary scene to be worthy of national attention. Perhaps 2010 has been our most successful year yet in this mission. At the start of the year, non-beach restaurants—particularly Design District favorites like Maitardi, Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink, Pacific Time, Sra. Martinez, and Fratelli Lyon—earned mentions in the New York Times travel section. We followed that up by welcoming the Food Network and Lee Brian Schrager’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival, an event that has become so popular that NYC decided to follow in our footsteps with its own version of the same idea.

Yesterday, Eater Miami editor Lesley Abravanel directed our attention to her “cousin site,” Gridskipper, for further proof that Miami is establishing itself as a culinary force to be reckoned with. The national spot for “urban travelers” stopped in our very own Magic City to map out “Restaurants of the Moment.” Want to know who made the cut as some of the crème de la crème eateries in the eyes of a non-resident?

There’s a list of 10, and some of our faves included Red Light Little River, whose chef was an initial James Beard Award nominee; Sugarcane, a creative Midtown tapas place from the guys who made Sushi Samba famous; Norman’s 180, Norman Van Aken’s new venture (which hasn’t officially opened its doors yet at The Colonnade Hotel); and Hakkasan inside the Fontainebleau.

Check the Gridskipper map for the full list.