Cocktails & Menus.

Every year on March 24th we celebrate National Cocktail Day & today we pair our selections with the four stages of the Menu Adoption Cycle with some restaurant favorites across VE Restaurants in Miami & Las Vegas.

The first definition of cocktail appeared in a New York newspaper in May 1806: *”stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water & bitters“*. The legends around the origin of the name range from the french word “coquetier” which refers to glass bowls that were used for both purposes in the late 1700’s, to cockfighting stories in which winning rooster owners took defeated tails and stir their drinks in sign of victory (cock’s tail). The truth is that the origin of the word remains unknown.

What is a Cocktail? In the words of Mixologist Danilo Bolzovic, in his must-read book The Art of Mixology, Bars & Cocktails, Barkeep, *”A well-made cocktail should offer a symphony of flavors and each sip should unveil a new aroma“*.

To celebrate, we are also looking at the Menu Adoption Cycle (MAC), defined as the framework to predict food trend, that we cherish & follow at VE Group, totally agreeing that trends start at restaurants. The MAC has been created by market research firm Datassential and it establishes four stages:

1) Inception – New & Not So common to find
Example. CANTARITOS
Where: –@Oh! MEXICO Restaurants

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At Oh! Mexico in Miami Beach, the menu includes five varieties of Cantaritos, all made with Mezcal including Flor de Mayo, Paloma, the Smokey Watermelon (pictured), Mezcal Negroni & Chachalaca.

 

2) Adoption – Slowly and nicely growing on menus.
Example.BOULEVARDIER
Where: News Cafe
This cocktail appears in 2.2% of the Menus in the US and has grown +39% in the last 4 years. At News Cafe is prepared with Old Forester 86, Campari, Martini Rossi Sweet Vermouth

 

3) Proliferation – Grown & Popular, chain restaurants & almost everywhere.
Example. MOSCOW MULE

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moscow Mule is currently in 10.7% of menus, with a 12–month growth of minus 8% and minus 6% in the last 4 years.
Found at Barsecco, Cafe Americano, Mercato della Pescheria & also at Paperfish.

 

4) Ubiquity – Everywhere, All the Time.
Some good examples are: Mojito (pictured), Margarita, Rum & Coke, martini, daiquiri, pina colada.

Take Mojito, for example,  which is more common to find on regional chains like Havana 1957.
This cocktail is presently on more than 20% of menus & it has experienced a -3% growth in the last 12-months.
Where: This cocktail is a Top Seller – @Marabu / Brickell City Centre in Miami.

Let’s get ready for the weekend, the cocktail way.

By. E Machado
Photo credits @Verestaurants

Travel + Leisure mapped the most popular cocktails by State & Country using a UK swimwear study that analyzed keyword searches via Google. According to the Cocktail Report by PourMoi company, piña coladas top the list (with 2.3 million) in Florida and Hawaii, though in other six states including Nevada they came out as the most popular. Where else? New Jersey, Virginia, Arizona, Utah, and Illinois.

The origins: First mentioned as a cocktail dating back to 1952, always associated with summer, beaches, vacation & tropical, Pina Colada is also (and back to the Pour Moi study) the number two searched in US but also in Mexico, Russia & Egypt (speaking about 10.5 million global searches).

Mix & Match, July 10th every year we celebrate National Day so let’s take a look at the great variety of pina coladas based on our guests preferences:

@Havana1957

Traditional & Classy – Summer trends.In the Top 10 of favorite drinks for guests spending Un dia en la Habana, Pina Colada consumption during Q1-2022 was about 38 cocktails / day but since June 1st it the number has increased +8 every day.
Hey Bartender! The average number of this cocktail per day in Havana 1957 is 43.
Ingredients: House piña colada mix and Bacardí Superior Rum.

 

@Cafeamericano

Popular & Iced. All year favorite.Between Miami Beach & Las Vegas, over 12K guests have enjoyed Pina Colada during 2022.
Hey Bartender! The average number of this tropical cocktail per day at the Latin twist of a Classic American fare is over 60/ day.

 

Virgin Pina Colada

Free lovers have always enjoyed this mocktail at Havana 1957.
How many per day? About 20

Want to check the Full Cocktail Report?

About 20 participant restaurants in Miami Beach, of which 11 part of Vida & Estilo Restaurant Group are celebrating Military Appreciation Month with FIVE specialty cocktails on the menu with veteran-owned Heroes Vodka during Memorial Day weekend festivities.

The Hyundai Air & Sea Show is taking place in Miami Beach May 28 & 29 with a variety of land & air demonstrations & activations like a fireworks extravaganza, a Saturday night concert with rock band 3 Doors Down. Link to All Events for Hyundai Air & Sea Show

Activities to honor veterans and the armed forces also include the 5th Hyundai Air & Sea Show “National Salute to America’s Heroes” event on Espanola Way on Friday, May 27 from 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm & hosted by Espanola Way Association.

During the event, guests and the public can meet members of the armed forces and thank them for their service all while enjoying the pedestrian only street lined with great restaurants and cafes & a live performance by the official US Army Band playing the latest and greatest

About The Salute to Heroes Cocktails here is a quick guide to participant restaurants.

Check full list of participants HERE

OCEAN DRIVE:
Havana 1957 Breakwater Hotel / 940 Ocean Drive
Cafe Americano / 1144 Ocean Drive
Havana 1957 / 1410 Ocean Drive
La Cerveceria de Barrio / 1412 Ocean Drive 

ESPANOLA WAY:
Mercato della Pescheria / 412 Espanola Way
Havana 1957 / 405 Espanola Way
Oh! Mexico / 1440 Washington Ave

LINCOLN ROAD:
Havana 1957 / 819 Lincoln Road
La Cerveceria de Barrio / 836 Lincoln Road 

COLLINS AVE:
CAfe Americano / 1776 Collins Ave. 

About the Heroes vodka Cocktails that will be available thru participant restaurants.

Heroes on the Beach:

○ 1.5 oz Heroes Vodka

○ 2 oz Cranberry Juice

○ 2 oz Orange Juice

○ 0.5 oz Peach Schnapps

○ and Lemon garnish

 

• Special Forces:

○ 2 oz Heroes Vodka

○ 1 can of Red Bull Energy Drink

 

• No Guts, No Glory

○ 3 oz Heroes Vodka

1 oz Dry Vermouth

○ 0.5 oz Olive Juice

○ Olives garnish

 

• Heroes Paradise:

○ 1 oz Heroes Vodka,

○ 5 oz Tonic Water,

○ 2 oz Orange Juice

○ Orange slice garnish

 

• Proud Mary:

○ 1.5 oz Heroes Vodka

○ 2 tsp. Lemon Juice

○ 0.5 cup Tomato Juice

○ Worcestershire sauce to taste

○ Tabasco sauce to taste

○ 1 Stick celery garnish

○ 1 Lemon wedge garnish

“There is no better time than Memorial Day weekend to pay tribute to our military, First Responders, and those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our freedom,”
Posted by Mickey Markoff, National Salute to America’s Heroes Executive Producer.

 

By E. Machado

With CINCO around the corner, let’s take a quick look at the best Mexican restaurants in Miami Beach that will be celebrating the Batalla de Puebla, the Mexican army’s May 5, 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War.

First we looked into TripAdvisor Top 10 Mexicans & the reviewers recommendations, then selected Three from the list that will feature Mariachis starting at 6pm.

We also checked Google ratings & what food expert firm Datassential got to say about 50% of the people preferring Mexican food not cooked at home.

Here is our very own selection at the places in South Beach with one common denominator, they are ALL part of Vida & Estilo Restaurant Group portfolio

 

1st- LINCOLN ROAD

WHERE. La Cerveceria de Barrio, 836 Lincoln Road. Directions.
TripAdvisor Ranking #3
Google Rating 4.2*
Reviews Accumulated 1.8K+
Review Highlights: “Great Spot… fantastic service” & also “Amazing Service”
TRY ON CINCO: Aguachiles
Known as Mexican style ceviche, it has serrano pepper, fresh citrus marinated Gulf shrimp with cucumber & red onion. It is spicy! though also available in a lighter version that does not have any picante. Price. $16
What else Aguachiles? Black Aguachiles with burnt serrano pepper, red onion and garlic, lime juice, Maggi sauce, Worcestershire sauce and cucumber.
DRINK CHOICE: Cantarito Reina de Mayo & Chachalaca
Ingredients: Moradito-Ojo de Tigre mezcal, fresh blueberries, lime juice, simple syrup and lime soda. Price $16.
CINCO MARIACHIS. From 6 to 8pm
BOOK your Table

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2nd- OCEAN DRIVE
WHERE. La Cerveceria de Barrio, 1412 Ocean Drive. Directions.
TripAdvisor Ranking #4
Google Rating: 4.2*
Reviews Accumulated 1.2K+
Review Highlights: “Excellent food & Service”
TRY ON CINCO: Molcajete Mixto
Shareable? Absolutely. This lava rock bowl is filled with green tomatillo sauce, skirt steak, chicken breast, Gulf shrimp, bell peppers & Panela cheese served with homemade corn tortillas. Price $48 (serves two)
What about Spicy? Try Tostadas de Camaron Toreado, a Crispy Corn Tortilla, shrimp marinated in lime juice, Serrano pepper, red onion, Maggi sauce, Worcestershire sauce and avocado. Price $16
DRINK CHOICE: Classic Margarita. Price $16
CINCO MARIACHIS. FROM 6 to 8pm
BOOK your Table

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3rd – ESPAÑOLA WAY
WHERE: OH! Mexico, 1440 Washington Avenue. Directions.

ABOUT: Celebrating 25 years of Vida & Estilo first restaurant in Miami Beach.
Reviews Accumulated in TripAdvisor, 2.1K+
Review Highlights: “Amazing Margaritas & Fajitas”
TRY ON CINCO: Fajitas Mixtas chicken, steak, shrimp & veggies with Refried black beans, white rice, guacamole, sour cream and warm tortillas. Price $36
Drink Choice: La Vieja Margarita.  It is part of the Classic on the rocks selection and features Herradura Añejo, quality premium triple sec, fresh lime juice and organic agave nectar.
Price $18
CINCO DEAL. Beer Buckets 4 x $20 12pm-5pm & Mariachis from 6-8pm
BOOK your Table

 

By E. Machado.

Seeing dessert menus with coffees & after dinner drinks is something absolutely common for restaurants, particularly in fine dining but not limited. Sometimes, in absence of a  printed menu, the server orally introduces dessert to diners & back in days, though they may come back, there was a dessert cart for a tableside exhibit. 

What about dessert cocktails? Both, drinks and dessert are no doubt two of the hottest categories in the restaurant hospitality Industry that have crossed over in the last decade or so, inspiring and influencing each other and creating a new category altogether with dessert drinks.

Here is our selection for Dessert Cocktails across Vida & Estilo restaurants for Miami & Las Vegas.

1- Espresso Martini  @Cafe Americano, Miami Beach & Las Vegas.Needless to say  about the increased popularity, especially within the last few years, makes it a staple on our cocktail menu. And for an American fare with a Latin twist as Cafe Americano, sticking to the classics is something important.
Recipe Highlights: 2 oz Vodka, 1 espresso shot & half oz cacao cream.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2- White Godiva Martini @Barsecco, Brickell Sophistication can always come in a chocolate martini shape.
The Barsecco White Godiva is a true dessert libation with Vanilla Vodka, Cacao cream, Godiva white chocolate liquor & Cocoa powder. Sip & be amazed.
Recipe highlights: 1 oz Vanilla vodka & 2 oz white Godiva liqueur with a hint of cacao.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3- Tres Leches Latte @Cortadito Coffee House
This blend of the same parts of Whole & Evaporated & a quarter of Condensed milk with whipped cream, vanilla syrup and gusto beans has proven to be a perfect dessert cocktail on the go.
Latte sizes may vary between S, M & L. For a Small 3 Leches: Medium or Dark Roast Espresso at preference, 2 Oz of Whole & Evaporated with half condensed (or more if using dark roast).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4- Mi Media Sandia -@ La Cervecería de Barrio in Miami Beach
Lighter? Maybe un poquito. Certainly, not the typical dessert cocktail but melon lovers will find that the mix of Ilegal Joven, Fresh Lime Juice, Fresh Watermelon Juice, Jalapeno, Agave and Chile Tajin can become a pleasant option.
Recipe highlights: 2 oz Mezcal & 4 oz combined of watermelon & agave nectar, adding jalapeno & lime