Norman Van Aken's Miami return is the brilliant Three in Wynwood
Three at Wynwood Arcade is Chef Norman Van Aken's brilliant restaurant in the hipster neighborhood. No, it's not in an arcade, that's just the wacky name for this area/complex of Wynwood.The interior is elegantly done, with a minimalist look but what was really impressive was the open kitchen. It's visible from anywhere in the restaurant. I loved watching the chefs work in harmony to prepare the beautiful dishes. They were all fully focused on the plate in front of them, taking the time to get the ingredients just right to create a visually stunning dish.
Take the Pan Amb Tomaquet (pan con tomate/bread with tomato) for example. It's a crusty piece of thick bread (they bake their own but also use bread from nearby Zak the Baker), topped with fresh crushed tomatoes that seep into the bread and premium jamón iberico de bellota (Spanish iberico ham). Next to it on the plate, a colorful salad of mixed lettuces topped lightly with vinaigrette. It was one delicious bite after another.
The melt in your mouth seared diver scallops were so delectable, I almost cried when I was done. The "tamal en cazuela" (something my mother used to make) that they were nestled on top of, made of anson mills grits, brought back wonderful memories. The heirloom tomatoes added wonderful flavor and rounded out the dish.
