|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Acclaimed Chef Set to Open Flagship Restaurant in Historic Miami Neighborhood
Chef Marcus Samuelsson together with owner-developers Michael Simkins, Derek Fleming are proud to announce the December 3, 2020 arrival of Red Rooster Overtown. After experiencing opening delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant is now slated to open in December of this year. Red Rooster Overtown will bring the energy and ethos of the flagship Harlem restaurant to Miami’s historic African-American neighborhood. Housed in the former “Clyde Killen’s Pool Hall” in Overtown, a notable hot spot in the 1960s, the restaurant will serve comfort food that is rooted in traditional African-American Southern classics infused with the neighborhood’s own diverse culinary traditions. “More than a restaurant”, the venue will also offer performance and exhibition space for local musicians and visual artists as well as room for local community groups to come together.
“A restaurant is a place to feel restored, to be welcomed and to enjoy life. That’s the spirit of what we’re building at Red Rooster Overtown. We’re immersing ourselves in learning from the rich history of this neighborhood and creating a new gathering place for the community,” shared Samuelsson.
The menu will feature Red Rooster classics like Hot Honey Yardbird and Obama’s Short Ribs, in addition to newly created dishes and drinks that speak to the flavors of Miami’s melting pot of culinary traditions including Afro-Caribbean and Latin American cuisines. For instance, in Samuelsson’s inaugural season of his television show No Passport Required on PBS, he focused on the culinary and cultural history of Haitians in Miami, from the spicy, nutty mamba spread to soupe joumou and deep-fried pate korde. At Red Rooster Overtown, those influences will be found in bright ceviches, grilled local fish & vegetables and quintessential Caribbean touches, such as Griot and Accra.
The cocktail program is inspired by Overtown’s history and Miami’s strong Caribbean influences and will have homemade shrubs, juices and syrups crafted daily. In addition, there will be a range of vibrant wines, including approachable, natural selections, with an emphasis on Black-owned vignerons, as well as local craft beers.
The design and construction of the bi-level restaurant was led by partner Fleming, and includes a 209-seat main dining room, outdoor garden expansive patio, balcony terrace and multiple private dining room options. The decor was inspired by the bold, vibrant, eclectic aesthetic of the neighborhood’s Caribbean and African-American community.
“We’re excited to showcase the whimsical, warmth of Overtown’s rich history. There will be plenty of space for guests to have a variety of experiences, casual and formal, indoor and outdoor in Overtown’s re-emerging Cultural and Entertainment District. We’re working with the community to bring back the lore of this great neighborhood,” said Fleming.
Throughout the restaurant, original artwork commissioned by established and local artists will be featured, blended into the restaurant experience, including installations by internationally acclaimed artists Derrick Adams and Mickalene Thomas and furnishings by Theaster Gates. As a preview of its strong artistic focus,the restaurant featured renowned artist Hank Willis Thomas’ iconographic “All Power to All People” sculpture adjacent to the restaurant, in last year’s Art Basel celebration. “Engaging the community through art that affirms and promotes cross-cultural conversations and the community’s rich artistic heritage, will be a mainstay of what we do here” says Fleming.
“The Red Rooster Overtown restaurant will not only be a major restaurant and entertainment venue in Historic Overtown, but the Rooster, based on its track record, will be a major employment and training center for all of Miami-Dade County,” Cornelius Shiver, Executive Director of the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency. The CRA has supported this public-private development with a community revitalization grant.
In addition to a full-service restaurant, guests can enjoy live performances by leading local musicians and DJs with styles ranging from Afrobeats and R&B to Soul and Jazz. Once called “Harlem of the South,” Overtown was a premier nightlife destination, where entertainers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Nat King Cole would perform while on tour. Tapping into this storied past and celebrating the contemporary artists shaping music today, Red Rooster Overtownrevives this spirit of collective celebration.
“We’re thrilled that Marcus and his team are opening in South Florida for the first time with Red Rooster Overtown,” said Simkins. “This is a project we’ve long wanted to bring to life and look forward to its debut.”
For more information about Red Rooster Overtownvisit https://redroosterovertown.com/ Or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @RoosterOvertown.
