Michael's Genuine Food and Drink: A Genuinely Awesome Experience

I know I'm a bit late coming to the table on this, but just because I may be the last food blogger in the state of Florida to write about this restaurant doesn't mean I'm going to skip over it. Now that I've had a taste of James Beard award winning Chef Michael Schwartz's talent I cannot keep it to myself. In short, Michael's Genuine Food and Drink is one of the most completely satisfying dining experiences I've had in quite some time. From the ambiance to the unique menu to the delectable food to the well rounded creative cocktails, this restaurant is truly the whole package.

Alright, now that I've told you everything you probably already knew about this restaurant, let me dive right in on why I am so enamored with the entire concept that is Michael's Genuine. Located in the uber trendy up and coming Design District, this restaurant has prime location and is only going to see increased foot traffic in the upcoming months. If you are looking for a drab menu with traditional "fine dining", this restaurant is not for you. If you are looking for creative menu items that are guaranteed to initially challenge you but ultimately reward your tastebuds then this restaurant is the way to go. Everything on the menu is sourced locally, which means the flavors are constantly changing according to what is in season and what is available.

The menu is divided into "small", "medium", "large" and "extra large" categories which means we got to try several different dishes without overdoing ourselves.  Without further adieu, I will delight you in some highlights from our culinary journey at Michael's Genuine Food and Drink.

We started with a serving of pork belly with a side of kimchee. The pork belly was appropriately fatty and full of flavor, just as a nice pork belly should be. The outside was slightly crispy and the sharp flavors of the kimchee were a surprisingly wonderful accompaniment to the pork belly. Needless to say, the pork belly didn't stand a chance and the plate was licked clean in record time.

Up next, we bravely ordered the pig tails, which we were told were new to the menu and would likely only be available for a limited time. Of course, our interest was piqued and we knew we had to take advantage. Unlike the pork belly, the pig tails had a more cartilaginous texture which seemed to melt instantly the moment it hit the mouth. The skin was delightfully crispy and the Piri Piri sauce that topped the dish was a wonderful spicy compliment to these pig tails.  Overall, the flavors were spot on, and this seemingly unusual dish was something that we are now dreaming about several days after our dining experience. Michael, please keep this one on the menu!

 We had to order the Crispy Rice Cake because it is, apparently, a very popular dish at this restaurant, as we were told by every yelper and food blogger who has previously dined here. We are glad we did, because this dish was definitely the highlight of the evening. The rice cake consists of chorizo sausage, rock shrimp, manchego cheese and chili aioli topped with a farm egg. It seems a rather unusual list of ingredients, but it went together extraordinarily well. The egg was cooked over well and although it appears "yolky" in this picture, it was not runny at all. The rice cake, which is hiding under the egg, was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I want to describe the inside texture as similar to that of grits. It was packed full of flavor, and I kept trying to describe to Carl what it tasted like with no success. Unfortunately, beyond the fact that it was incredibly delicious, I am still unable to put into words exactly how this dish tasted. 

Finally, we ended the evening with a delicious grilled Mahi Mahi. It came out topped with a delightful olive tapenade that had just enough flavor to add some complexity to the dish but not too much flavor to outshine the incredibly fresh fish. Unfortunately, we really wanted the oven roasted whole local snapper, but we were told that the table dining beside us ordered the last one of the evening. They assured us that we were missing out after they had picked their fish clean! Fortunately for us though, the Mahi was not a poor choice! We cleaned our plate, and felt quite content! 

The unique menu at this restaurant is just one of the many reasons I love Michael's Genuine. The wait staff is down to earth and incredibly knowledgeable, their cocktail list is creative, and they have a pretty impressive wine list as well. Eating here is truly an experience. Come prepared to taste something you normally wouldn't imagine ordering, and I know you'll be thankful you ordered outside of your comfort zone. As I briefly mentioned before, Chef Michael Schwartz is a James Beard award winner for "Best Chef: South" in 2010 and for good reason! I know we'll be coming back sooner than later to try more delicious creations off the outstanding menu!