Old and New: Spilled Milk #96

A longtime favorite in Miami doesn't disappoint, and a new favorite in New York makes me wonder: Are we in a new Golden Age for Chinese food in America?

I went to one of my favorite restaurants the other night. I was in Miami for a few hours, and a very serious hotelier/entrepreneur met me at Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink. He made the call, and I was very pleased with that. I wind up eating Michael Schwartz’s food almost every time I am in this amazing restaurant town. I always want to eat somewhere new, and often I do, but at the end of the day, I somehow end up at MGFD pretty regularly. And the food, service, ambience and people-watching has never been better.

Michael's Genuine Food & Drink, better known as Michael's Genuine, opened its doors in Miami on March 13, 2007. The restaurant is located in the Design District, and back then there was no Fendi next door if you get my drift. Schwartz was a pioneer in those days! The food has always been known for its focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients and creating a menu that changes with the micro seasons. The restaurant is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed restaurants in Miami, and Schwartz has won every award you can get in our business.

I ate there on a Sunday. The place was packed by 6 p.m. The service was crisp and casual. The people-watching was as subtly bohemian chic as it was South Beach. It seemed as if everyone sort of wandered over from their enclave, descending on Michael’s as if it was church.

So, how did I worship? Pretty robustly.