Crumb on Parchment, Miami

The winds of change have been blowing steadily through Miami’s Design District ever since it put itself on the map some five years ago.  I can recall touring empty streets at one time or another in the short span of a few years; sometimes reminiscent of a stroll through a peaceful cemetery. Even today, you’ll have no difficulty scoring on-street parking during business hours but with the nearby Midtown shopping district now in full swing, the winds are blowing favorably in the Design District’s direction.  With commercial spaces on par with New York’s Soho or Meatpacking districts, luxury retailers have finally come running and the recently opened boutiques by the who’s who in the world of fashion have given the struggling neighborhood a new lease on life.

Still, there are those trailblazers that regardless of the commercial current’s ebb and flow, seek creative satisfaction as their just award. Cue the entrance for James Beard-award winning chef Michelle Bernstein, an iconic figure on the Miami culinary circuit.  Michelle made a name for herself when she and her husband/partner, David Martinez, opened the celebrated Señora Martinez some five years ago in the district (now since closed), a virtual pioneer there and a long standing award winner on the Miami dining scene.  She’d already demonstrated culinary wizardry earlier with Michy’s, a petite must try along the once seedy Biscayne corridor, long before anyone else thought it would gentrify into the afterhours hub it is right now.  So much for being the first with a good idea and with Crumb on Parchment, Michelle returned to her Design District roots once again with another one.

Crumb on Parchment takes café culture to a new level.  Essentially an open plan outpost plopped in the middle of a commercial building’s atrium, the chic and cozy setting is the perfect spot to sit with a latté and the latest copy of Miami Magazine to plan your day.  Or choose a book from the whitewashed credenza behind a cushy sofa.

Enter through a cute garden trellis into Michelle’s world of mismatched vintage furniture and funky sink into club chairs and loveseats. You can sleep late if you’re staying at one of the nearby boutique properties like the trendy Bianco or the New Yorker and enjoy breakfast anytime, with specialties like the Breakfast Sandwich, a hearty combination of farm fresh eggs, kale, caramelized onions, chicken sausage and cheddar. Or give in to Michelle’s scrumptious golden waffles with fresh berries and hand-whipped cream.

If you’ve been on a search for something beachy chic from Bottega Veneta designer Tomas Maier to wear to cocktails in South Beach, and have worn yourself down, take comfort in some down time here.  Linger with a glass of wine over one of Crumb’s “Hot and Messy Sandwiches”, such as the pulled rotisserie chicken with goat cheese, arugula and roasted pears on crusty bread. Freshly made salads include a chopped Greek with a Zaatar spiced dressing that’s fabulous.  Then you’ll have some strength to take the price tags at Marni.

Most importantly though, don’t even think of vacating your comfy seat in the indoor sunshine at Crumb before a few forkfuls of dessert.  The beyond tempting array displayed on vintage pedestals and cake stands – German Chocolate and dense chocolate Black-Out cakes, Strawberry Rhubarb Tart and assorted freshly baked cookies and muffins – will satisfy even diehard sweetooths.

Leave it to Ms. Bernstein to foretell what our tummies desire.  She’s been in the business of satisfying foodies for quite some time and with Crumb on Parchment she’s in tune with the neighborhood, not surprising for her. “The Design District was in need of a café, and Crumb on Parchment provides what this neighborhood was craving” she says.  We couldn’t agree more, Michelle.

www.miamidesigndistrict.net