a day ago
Dinner in the Backseat of a Cadillac? How Very Miami
In a world obsessed with the next Instagrammable moment, Miami takes the cake. Here, social media feeds overflow with the latest 'experience,' whether it's a puppy yoga class in Wynwood or taking a selfie at the Museum of Sex. Cue in the latest collaboration between Cadillac and Cote, the Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse in the posh Miami Design District. On June 20 and 21, diners will get to experience Cote's legendary cuisine in the backseat of a luxury car.
The seven-seater Escalade IQ boasts pull-out dining trays in the second row like you're flying first-class, if your airplane cabin were parked on a city sidewalk. The idea of choosing to dine inside a car — rather than bask in the sexy, softly lit interior of Cote — felt like swapping a seat at Le Bernardin for 24B on a delayed flight. But as the current owner of 2016 Honda Civic, I said yes to a chance to check it out.
The evening began inside Cote at the sleek, low-lit bar for a welcome drink. Ours was a shot of something that looked like grapefruit juice but packed a Paloma-like punch: sweet, citrusy, and just boozy enough to make you forget you were about to eat dinner in a car.
There's no alcohol served in the vehicle ('It's a problem with the optics of serving alcohol in a car,' our server told me), so if you were hoping to pair your A5 wagyu with a glass of Musigny Grand Cru, you'll have to come back for a proper table.
After drinks, we were escorted outside to NE 39th Street, where a black Escalade IQ gleamed like a waxed spaceship behind velvet ropes. The massive doors opened, revealing a plush interior and two oversized second-row seats. The hands-free driving system was briefly mentioned before we were reminded that this vehicle can travel 460 miles on a single charge. Not that we'll be moving an inch.
Sinking into the buttery leather and fiddling with the massage settings, I felt my original skepticism slipping. Thinking of my Civic with seats that have seen better days and more than a few coffee spills, I was starting to get it.
Once inside, the five-course meal began. The Cote team expertly set up the tray tables (red-checkered cloth and all). Inspired by a Korean dosirak picnic (multi-compartment boxed lunches), the five-course meal unfolded over a span of an hour.
On the center console, between the driver and passenger seats, sat a small bouquet and a card stand holding a placard that introduced each course. 1/4 The fire place videos really set the mood. Alona Martinez
We began with drinks: two mocktails to choose from. Finesse, made with coconut water, Earl Grey, raspberry, and lemon; and Downtime, made with Aplos Calm (a hemp-infused beverage), orange, hibiscus, and lemon. The Cote team served them in unison, offering a polite 'Excuse my reach' before leaning into the car to present the colorful drinks, then quietly closing the doors to leave us sipping in our plush little bubble.
Our first course was gogi cha, a rich meat broth made from USDA Prime short ribs simmered overnight. It arrived in a stainless steel thermos, poured into small cups. As we sipped, servers stood guard like they were J. Lo's bodyguards, drawing even more attention as groups of tourists and locals stopped to ask what was going on.
A fire crackled on the screen as servers arrived with a Hello Kitty bento box, revealing the next course: steak and eggs. Lifting Hello Kitty's face uncovered a doll-sized cylinder of steak tartare topped with a generous spoonful of caviar. Two rectangles of crispy, buttery milk toast were tucked alongside.
Maybe it's the contrast to those Civic seats with their coffee stains and worn fabric, but the soft camel-colored leather gently working out the knot on my lower back started to feel luxurious.
A new placard was placed on the console, titled 'Nostalgia In Motion.' It introduced the next course: beef bulgogi gimbap and yubuchobap. The gimbap featured ribeye marinated in galbi sauce, rolled with egg and julienned vegetables, and wrapped in toasted seaweed. The yubuchobap came as little tofu-skin bundles stuffed with rice and more ribeye, arriving in another pink Hello Kitty container. 1/4 Many of the courses came in Hello Kitty containers. Alona Martinez
Next, 'The Butcher's Bowl,' a nod to Cote's legendary Butcher's Feast, arrived. Inside a cheerful bear-shaped bento box, neat rows of filet mignon, 45-day dry-aged ribeye cap, Japanese A5 wagyu, galbi, and banchan awaited.
Dessert was a swirl of strawberry soft serve sprinkled with dehydrated strawberries for extra crunch. Maybe it was the Escalade air conditioning keeping the cone crisp, or maybe it was the group leaving the high-end jewelry store across the street who stopped mid-conversation to stare — but that simple cone tasted better than any I'd had before.
Turns out, spending time in a vehicle can be an extraordinary experience. I've just been doing it wrong all along.
Cadillac's 'Cadillac of Reservations' experience at Cote is complimentary, with seating available on June 20 and 21. Reservations opened on Resy at 10 a.m. on June 16. See More: Dining Out in Miami
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