New Year & New Me resolutions are very common, especially in January. Most
determinations are related to personal goals like health, wellness, also personal &
professional growth, as well as travel, leisure, relationships and so many more..

There is one trend, currently proliferating in restaurant menus that has gained both
popularity and recognition due to the increased interest in healthier lifestyle impacting
drinking habits, especially when alcohol is involved: those are the alcohol free cocktails
and there is a week for that.

National Mocktail Week happens every January and is a celebration dedicated to
non-alcoholic cocktails, a time to appreciate recipes that don’t contain any alcohol.
Mocktails are perfect for those who prefer not to drink alcohol or for any occasion where
alcoholic beverages aren’t appropriate.

In preparations for this year’s Mocktail celebrations, we pair our selections with some
restaurant favorites across VE Restaurants in Miami & Las Vegas.

Mega Trends & Lemonade Inspired
While new flavors and formats are increasing, lemonade mocktails are an identified mega
trend in the non alcoholic beverage group. Lemonade is common at nearly all restaurant
types.
Most Popular Lemonades: Strawberry Cucumber Lemonade

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where. @Havana 1957
Strawberry is projected to grow up to 22% & is the most popular lemonade flavor in
menus.

 

Where else?
Strawberry Cucumber Lemonade is also trendy at Cafe Americano.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flavor Notes: Fresh strawberry, cucumber, lemon juice & sweetened with agave.
Fruits are mega trending in beverages & good examples are strawberry and lemon, but
in this case, adding a note of freshness with cucumber makes this Lemonade appealing
to the eye and palate.

Other Lemonade Mocktails.

Spicy Watermelon Lemonade
Where: @Oh! MEXICO Restaurant /
Flavor Notes: Fresh watermelon juice, jalapeños, cilantro, lemon juice, agave.
Fresh Peppers like Jalapeños are the most classic ways to add heat.
Spicy flavors in general are currently very popular & jalapenos appear in 58.5% of the
menus.

Dragon Fruit Lemonade
Where: PaperFish Sushi Bar
Flavor Notes: Dragon Fruit / Lime Juice / Ginger Beer / Pure Cane Sugar.
Dragon Fruit has grown 113%+ in the last 4 years, and is projected to appear in 3% of
menus.

Mango Limonata
Where. Mercato della Pescheria
Flavor Notes: Mango Puree, Cucumber & Lemonade.
Mango is projected to appear in 4.2% of Menus by 2027 & has grown 10%+ in the last 4
years.

IN THE MULE FAMILY

While Moscow Mule is projected to appear in 11.7% of the menus, according to market
research firm Datassential, it is no secret that the Mocktail Mules are deliciously refreshing
and good for any time of the day.

Basil Ginger Mule
Where. Marabu Restaurant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flavor Notes. Basil leaves, lemon juice & ginger beer

 

THE ONES WITH GREAT NAMES.
These you got to love.

Beauty and The Drink
Where. News Cafe
Flavor Notes. Q grapefruit soda, Rose Reduction, Citrus, Strawberry, Cucumber

You are Peachy
Where. Cafe Americano
Flavor Notes. Peach Reduction, Sour AF Lime, Lychee Reduction & Grapefruit Juice.

Resources. Datassential Report Pro.
Must Read. https://www.nrn.com/sponsored-content/hottest-trends-growing-restaurant-group

By. E. Machado

South Florida Business Journal has listed the 50 Largest Employers in SoFla including Vida & Estilo Hospitality Group, VEHG ranking #29.

VE, founded in Miami Beach in 1996, is the only restaurant industry group included in the top 50 with over 2,057 companywide employment & 1,608 in South Florida.

Ranked by number of SoFla employees, the list includes a great variety of employers in sectors like education, health care, insurance, travel, management & consulting and more.

Take a look at the full list

Cortadito Coffee House has been recognized this year with the Hispanic Heritage Month Award 21st Edition of the Annual Recognitions in the city of Miami Beach.

The Hispanic Affairs Committee in Miami Beach honored, including Cortadito together with over a dozen of members of the community who live or work in the City of Miami Beach and who have made a positive contribution to the city in their respective professions.

Hispanic Heritage month acknowledges the social and economic contributions of all Hispanos & Latinos, including their role in business, politics, science, education, the arts & the hospitality industry.

With its modern Ventanita style designs, the unique flavors & menu variety, Cortadito has become a crucial part of our heritage’s essence & proven to be a vibrant and dynamic celebration of culture, history & community, also providing continued support to Miami Beach Community, from Miami Beach HighTides football team to creating scholarships to FIU Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management Students, as well as non-profit organizations like AYUDA by donating food to the
VIP Pre-Salsa Fest this year.

The celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month can be traced back to 1968 when it began as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon B. Johnson until it was later expanded to a month-long celebration by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 happening every year from September 15th to October 15th.

Congratulations! Cortadito Coffee House.
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By E. Machado

Five VE Group concepts including Marabu, Havana 1957, PaperFish, Barsecco & Cortadito Coffee House are Reader’s choice New Times Best of Miami winners this year.

 

New Times, the trusted source of information about news, restaurants, music and the arts for more than 1 million monthly active readers, releases every year their Best of Miami® (in their own  words): “official guide to the best people, restaurants, bars, clubs, stores, music and more in Miami”

 

For another year, restaurants like PaperFish, Marabu & Cortadito Coffee House were awarded with Reader’s Choice while new additions include Havana 1957.

 

Taking a closer look to 2023 winners top favorites & uniqueness notes: 

 

Best Cuban Marabu

Leading the charts: Skirt Steak, Masas al Carbon, Ropa Vieja, Cubano & Vaca Frita.
Uniqueness Notes: Reputation is all about,  #1 of 2.7K in Miami.

 

Best Coffee House Cortadito

 

Leading the charts: Cortaditos & Cafe con Leche (Medium is king). 

Uniqueness Notes: Tale of two cities, Conventions & Cuban Bowls. 

 

Best Sushi PaperFish

Leading the charts: Signature Rolls

Uniqueness Notes: Ratings & Reviews 5.0 in TripAdvisor. 

 

Best Brunch Barsecco

Leading the charts: Brunch Unlimited Mimosas, Hookahs & Margaritas

Uniqueness Notes: Must-Have $7 Happy Hour MON to FRI  3 to 7 pm or SAT & SUN 4 to 7 pm.

 

Best Mojito Havana 1957

Leading the charts: Pollo Havana, Orquesta Cubana, Cubanos, Churrasco & Mojitos!
Uniqueness Notes: About 300 between Classic & Super Mojitos served daily.

 

Link to Winners  BOM 2023 

 

Menu Trends market research firm Datassential has Vaca Frita appearing on 0.3% of the menus in the US & is found equally in both, independent & chain restaurants with a notably +8% growth in the last 12-months. 

For VE concepts like Havana 1957 & Marabu, this menu item is a no-brainer, same as to anybody living in Florida, specially in Miami. And speaking of Havana 1957,  the almost a decade and a half location on the beautiful Espanola Way in South Beach has been listed as the Top 9 Vaca Frita in Miami spots by the prestigious culinary guide Infatuation.

Looking at items sold over the last 12 months, at the end of May, both Havana 1957 & Marabu have been serving about 20 flank steak Vaca Fritas per day & about 12 daily of Chicken, also a very popular item for the citrus onion sauce lovers. 

What about Ropa Vieja? Truth is that now officially in the Adoption cycle Ropa Vieja, according to Datassential, does appear in 0.6% menus with a slight decrease in 12-month growth charts. Ropa is widely popular as well as Havana 1957 & Marabu. Thing is that besides having them served as entrees, guests can also enjoy them in Tostones rellenos & Empanadas. 

Back to Vaca Frita, the wikipedia entry dedicated to this dish defines it as a Cuban dish of fried and shredded flank steak and translates into fried cow.

By. E. Machado
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