Cassis, France

Cassis, France
Cassis, France

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Catch, Miami, Florida

See: http://www.jameshotels.com/miami/eat-drink/catch/

I am woefully behind on blog posts! While I've stuck pretty close to home since November, I do have a few gems to share from my travels until that point, one of which is Catch at the James Hotel in Miami. There is an amazing HIV adherence conference held in Miami every year, and I am fortunate enough to go soak up the sun, some knowledge, and good food. Before I get to Catch, I usually stay at the Eden Roc, and I LOVE it, much more so than the larger Fountain Bleu located next door. While the dining at the Eden Roc is nothing to write home about, it's manageable and beautiful, especially the outdoor spaces and the lobby bar. The one potential downfall is that it is a very healthy walk (30 minutes or so... maybe more if you are in heels, which you probably should be) or a quick-ish cab ride (with Miami traffic) to popular night spots. Also, this is quite terrible, but I did go to a great restaurant within walking distance to the Eden Roc two years ago. It was before I started this blog and I cannot for the life of me remember the name (the terrible part). It had a GORGEOUS outdoor garden (full of lights and lush plant life) and live entertainment on some evenings. The concierge at the Eden Roc should know what it is called -- a great option within walking distance. 

Catch is housed in the James Hotel, which is another one of Miami's historic spaces now run by a larger hotel group. It's definitely trendy, and boasts a great cocktail list, which you can enjoy in the lobby while waiting for your dinner companions. I recommend the Isis, which is a vodka base with notes of grapefruit, mint, and honey (without being cloyingly sweet).

The Catch menu is designed for sharing, though you can order an individual entree. I was with a large group (the service for our large, disorganized, and "spirited" group was impeccable by the way), so I got to try quite a few bites. The highlights were the whole roasted snapper that we enjoyed with lobster mashed potatoes with a truffle "smear", the mahi mahi fish tacos (though be sure to use all those limes that come on the side -- the citrus really jazzes up the flavor), and, well... the yucca tater tots. It sounds simple, I know, but a measly french fry won't do it for you after you've had these.

The things we didn't love were the sushi rolls (sad, I know) and the cookie bucket for dessert... great idea, but the contents were just meh.

Given the way the menu is designed, its great for groups of four or more. So, if you are battling another sub 30 degree day in the Northeast like me, it's probably time to start planning your trip to Miami.