Why is it that the South Beach Wine & Food Festival expanded this year, and now includes a series of events highlighting the chefs of Fort Lauderdale? Perhaps, it’s because the Fort Lauderdale dining season is heating up — thanks to a flurry of talented chefs who have migrated to the area. One such chef is the über-talented Michael Bloise, who I first met, nearly a decade ago, when he was creating magic at Wish in Miami Beach.
Late last year, Michael packed up his knives and culinary skills and moved them into the kitchen of Ocean2000, located at the Pelican Grand Beach Resort. This picturesque restaurant, known for having some of the best views in the city and for their amazing full moon parties, is now chef’s playground where he just launched a new menu. This new menu offers a combination of modern American small plates highlighting fresh and local ingredients (which come from both his onsite garden and from local purveyors), along with succulent steak and seafood dishes, each served with a choice of Michael’s signature sauces, with our favorite being the brown sugar soy.
It had been awhile since we dined at Ocean2000, so we were thrilled to receive an invite in to preview the new menu — and when chef says that he’s serving us more than we can eat, we knew that it was going to be a night of new taste adventures. As we started our evening of deliciousness, we quickly learned about chef’s dedication to the local food movement. Not that we were surprised by this, as we think that everyone needs to take advantage of the abundance of local ingredients that we have, but he fully embraces these local ingredients making them the star of many of his dishes. In addition, guests with dietary restrictions will find it easy to dine at the restaurant, as chef is willing to accommodate with any of his dishes and the majority of the menu is naturally gluten free.
Standouts on the new menu include:
Ceviche with citrus, cilantro, avocado, aji panca and popcorn.
The Ancient Grain Risotto packed a punch of flavor into every bite, and the carrot-cardomom butter, corn, manchego and parmean melded together perfectly.
Pasture-Raised Farm Chicken from Florida Fresh Meats with roasted garlic and bok choy.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie with EVOO, sea salt and vanilla ice cream
In addition to the items pictured above, Michael’s take on Chicken and Dumplings is a must-try dish. Made with tender Jamaican spinners (dumplings made without baking powder) and macadamia pesto, this contemporary take on a classic made for a comfort, feel-good food option that will instantly soothe your soul. Another item that was equally delicious was the Berkshire Pork Belly made with an Asian flair.
To see the full menu at Ocean2000, visit Ocean2000 online.
Ocean2000 is located at Pelican Grand Beach Resort, 2000 North Ocean Blvd, in Fort Lauderdale. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, along with Sunday brunch and a full moon dinner party once a month. For more information or to make a reservation, call 954-556-7667.