Michael Schwartz is at it again with his latest culinary destination, The Cypress Room. Part of his ever-growing Genuine Hospitality Group empire, The Cypress Room is an upscale American dining room located in Miami’s Design District serving sophisticated food that channels a 1920s-like elegance.
Chat Chow TV sat down with The Cypress Room’s Chef de Cuisine Roel Alcudia to learn more about the restaurant over a pot of the restaurant’s “Spring Fling Tea” (yes, tea) a delicious, boozy concoction, found on their late night bar menu.
Alcudia points out that the food found on The Cypress Room menu plays off of the juxtaposition of the feminine and masculine touches found throughout the restaurant.
“Our first courses are very light and intricate with a lot more components to it,” he says. “While our main courses are geared towards the more masculine parts of the restaurant with big cuts of protein with strong flavor profiles.”
It wouldn’t be a Genuine Hospitality Group restaurant without an impressive bar menu, and The Cypress Room certainly doesn’t disappoint. After being inspired by a recent trip to New York City, beverage director Ryan Goodspeed created an elaborate cocktail program that can be found in the pages of the restaurant’s “Beverage Book.”
The intimate dining room setting also packs a wow-factor, complete with glistening chandeliers, a mint green banquette and even some wall mounted deer heads, that is perfectly complemented by a classic menu filled with rare cuts of meats and unique, hard-to-find vegetables adding to the nostalgic feel.
“The stuff you don’t see anymore, we’re here to bring it back – and really do it right,” Alcudia notes. “White tablecloths and all.”
Curious what Alcudia’s favorite menu items are? Or which famous chef really taught him how to cook? Find out all those answers and more in the video above – while you are transported to an elegant time of days gone by.
Roel Alcudia / The Cypress Room from Chat Chow TV on Vimeo.