Celebrity Chef Carquillat Opens Aigo in Miami Beach

AiGO OPENS THIS JANUARY IN SOUTH BEACH

This winter season brings a special gift to South Florida with the mid January opening of Aigo featuring Mediterranean fusion cuisine from a star studded team from New York and France. Jean Jacques Carquillat, chef and co-owner has a New York outpost, Le Canard Enchaine, a favorite haunt of Marc Jacobs, Bill Clinton, and Uma Thurman. Kidane Sayfou, co-owner and maitre d' extraordinaire, was at Ferrier, Chazal and The Elephant in New York City. The cutting edge interior design will be by Parisians Eric and Nadine Raffy, the creative designers behind The Clinton Hotel, the location of the new restaurant at 8th Street and Washington Avenue.

Aigo, the word for "garlic" in the south of France, will feature food from Southern Europe and North Africa as well as Latin America. The cuisine is based on the ingredients of the Mediterranean diet -- herbs, olive oil, garlic and broth, so it's light and slimming. Signature dishes will include L'Aogo Boulido, garlic soup from Provence, a favorite for its rich flavor and also as an antidote for hangovers; Gincho Crab Cakes and Seafood Cassoulet Provencal.

A martini bar will offer champagnes and wines by the glass, a variety of martinis and cocktail favorites and an eclectic bar menu ranging from codfish and baby eggplant to mini burgers and sausage.

"Food needs to pique and caress all the senses. It's all about love," said Carquillat who is the host of a new program in the works on the Food Network, Le French Kiss. "It's also about fun, "said Kidane. "We will have different entertainment nightly, something that will surprise and entertain. People watching is also part of the fun, and our restaurant is designed so that everyone has a great table, " Kidane continued.

The marriage of food and wine will take place daily at Aogo. The restaurant's extensive eclectic selection includes Greek red wine made from Agiorgitiko grapes, Greco di Tufo from Campania, and dessert wine from Sicily.

The atmosphere of Aigo's extends from the interior restaurant out to the terrace and poolside, where patrons can dine under tented cabanas enjoying a full-menu. Aigo will be open 7 days a week with breakfast served from 7 - 11 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., and dinner beginning at 5:30 -11 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and until midnight Thursday - Saturday. The Martini Bar will be serving each day of the week from 5:30 p.m. - 2 a.m. The restaurant accommodates 130 diners.

Room service of The Clinton Hotel will feature the Mediterranean fusion menu of Aigo.

Aigo is located at 825 Washington Avenue. For more information, please call(305) 534-5160.

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