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| Trading Turkey for Lamb: A Fi'lia Inspired Holiday Recipe by Chef Michael Schwartz |
MIAMI - Continuing to expand sbe's international footprint, the global lifestyle hospitality company has announced the newest addition to its Disruptive Restaurant Group portfolio in The Bahamas with the opening of Fi'lia by Michael Schwartz, the Italian restaurant concept by Miami's celebrated James Beard Award-winning chef. The restaurant, featuring 202 seats of indoor and outdoor seating, marks sbe's fifth culinary and entertainment venue to open at Baha Mar, the $4.2 billion integrated resort destination, joining Cleo, Katsuya, Monkey Bar, Bungalow Pool Bar & Grill, as well as sbe's first international SLS hotel.
"sbe is continuing to drive unprecedented growth. In the last three months of 2017, we have opened three incredible hotels and 17 innovative culinary and entertainment venues around the world," says sbe Founder and CEO, Sam Nazarian. He adds: "Our brand portfolio is constantly growing and we're thrilled to open our second Fi'lia location in partnership with Michael Schwartz and his team. Fi'lia perfectly complements sbe's existing culinary portfolio at Baha Mar, adding an unparalleled Italian option to our well-rounded collection of Japanese, Mediterranean and American restaurants and lounges."
Located on the main Baha Mar Casino floor just steps from SLS Baha Mar, the new 299-room hotel sbe opened last month, this is Fi'lia's first international outpost and second location overall after opening at SLS Brickell in Miami last year. Fi'lia is inspired by the simplicity of Italian cuisine, featuring a menu of straightforward dishes that highlight fresh, seasonal ingredients, housemade pasta and memorable signatures like the Tableside Caesar Salad.
"I'm excited to expand my partnership with sbe by opening our first international venue together and second Fi'lia location," says Michael Schwartz, chef and owner of The Genuine Hospitality Group. "I've enjoyed working with the team on-island and learning about the local ingredients available to incorporate into the menu, spearheaded by Fi'lia executive chef Thomas Tennant, a long-time fixture in our kitchen at Michael's Genuine Food & Drink who also brings Caribbean experience to the restaurant. We look forward to welcoming guests to the restaurant with the same incredible hospitality we've experienced in The Bahamas!"
Fi'lia's dinner menu features Small, Large and Extra Large plates alongside Snacks, Sides, Pasta and Pizza. To start, Beef Carpaccio is Chef Schwartz's twist on the classic featuring sunchoke, green onion pecorino and mustard vinaigrette, while the Extra Large Grilled Whole Snapper features tomato, Calabrian chile, mint and grilled bread. Rustic pizzas are served with creative topping combinations like Pistachio Pesto with ricotta, charred onion and pecorino. The Tableside Caesar is prepared from scratch from dressing to grated parmigiano finish on a roaming cart, dispatching delicious smells of toasted garlic croutons in the dining room as it passes. Cocktails are refreshingly uncomplicated with specialties including a section of Spritz. The Mistaken, a lively take on the traditional Negroni aperitivo, features Campari and Carpano Antica sweet vermouth, substituting bubbly Prosecco for gin. With a focused wine list, Fi'lia celebrates Italian, regional varietals and American wines with an old world sensibility.
Designed by sbe subsidiary Dakota Development and Avenues Interior Design, Fi'lia offers indoor and outdoor seating with a rustic Italian vibe. This lively eatery's approachable atmosphere comes together through on-trend design elements such as white-washed brick walls, Brasserie-inspired brass lighting, a mix of traditional and modern leather chairs, and an artwork collection featuring sketches, abstract paintings and brightly colored photography. Tying it all together, marble and grey oak tabletops are perfectly paired together providing the high-quality finishing touches for which sbe and Fi'lia are known.
As part of sbe's larger movement to bring signature specialties in innovative cuisine and dynamic nightlife to The Bahamas, the group also operates Cleo, Monkey Bar (the signature SLS lobby bar) and Bungalow Pool Bar & Grill at SLS Baha Mar, with Privilege and Skybar coming in early 2018. Additionally, Katsuya (sbe's modern take on classic Japanese cuisine) opened in mid-August on the Baha Mar Casino floor, and Bond, sbe's nightlife concept, is debuting December 29th, offering late-night entertainment as the destination's see-and-be-seen place to be.
