Jackie Gutierrez-Jones

Freelance copywriter for the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, Whole Foods Market and Flaviar. Editor and contributor to the Observer, UrbanDaddy, Time Out, Mommy Nearest, Care.com, HCP Media, Citizine.tv, Liquor.com, Eater Miami, Onboard Media and Vivala. jax@jaxwrites.com

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Observer •

New York’s Employees Only Lands in Miami with Psychics and Tableside Tartar

On a relatively unassuming Tuesday night in South Beach, the newly unveiled Washington Park Hotel hums with life. Its sprawling outdoor courtyard—which connects five Art Deco buildings built in 1943—fills the air with gurgling fountains, clinking glasses, and the occasional snippet of conversation. One building stands apart from the rest: the historic Coral House, where Employees Only Miami now permanently hangs its hat.
Flaviar Times •

What makes Chicago’s Koval Distillery so damn special?

Riddle us this: what do Fleetwood Mac and Bourbon have in common? Well, if you’re Chicago-based distiller KOVAL, it’s a kinship with “Go Your Own Way.” Because that’s exactly what Sonat and Robert Birnecker did when they opened Koval Distillery in 2008. These guys ventured to open the first distillery in Chicago since the mid-1800s, leaving their academic careers behind to take on the wild and uncharted territory of making liquor in the Midwest.
Observer •

The Raw Deal: Chef Matthew Kenney on Going Vegan and the Future of Food

The first thing you’ll note about Matthew Kenney is the glow. It’s unmistakable—even from across a busy room. It’s the kind of glow that begs the statement, “I’ll have whatever he’s having.” And if one thing becomes abundantly clear, it’s this: You definitely want whatever Matthew Kenney is having. At 51 years old, the celebrity vegan chef has quite a bit on his proverbial plate.
Observer •

In South Beach, a Rooftop Pop-Up Where Eating Invasive Species Is Sexy

“Let’s start with the crickets in brie and then move onto the carp ribs. I think that makes sense,” opined a woman at a table adjacent to the bar. “The crickets are kind of like the cracker in this case, right?” And so went the conversation on a balmy Friday night at Prey, the 1 Hotel’s new sustainable sushi rooftop pop-up. Conceived by James-Beard-nominated chef Bun Lai, Prey’s concept is simple: eco-eating.
Observer •

NYC’s Root & Bone Duo Bring Dim Sum to Miami

Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth make a striking pair. The obvious comparison to Mattel’s infamous blonde-hair, blue-eyed power couple notwithstanding, it’s their culinary chops that’ve put the world on notice. Their latest foray into the restaurant scene: The Sarsaparilla Club, a rustic poolside enclave holding court in the newly renovated Shelborne Wyndham South Beach that’s putting out hearty interpretations of Chinese dim sum starring… American comfort food.
Observer •

Miami Fine Dining: Don’t Spill Your Martini on the ’29 Rolls Royce

Elo is a man of many words. The founder of Miami Supercar Rooms is known to spin a yarn or ten when welcoming guests to his 13,000 square foot auto art gallery/culinary experiment in Wynwood. Like the time he pulled up to the valet stand of a neighborhood restaurant in his 1953 Lamborghini tractor (yes, the storied auto maker got its start manufacturing… tractors)—much to attendant’s confusion.
Vivala •

7 Tacos That Will Never Make the Taco Cleanse Diet Cut

Oh, hello 2016. You're finally here, which officially kicks off resolution season all around the world. And for some of us, that means working on our fitness – also known as, promising to hit up the gym every single day and swearing off tacos for a good, long while. Sigh. But just when we were starting to make plans for our tacos al pastor's memorial, a benevolent power bestowed this upon us: The Taco Cleanse: The Tortilla-Based Diet Proven to Change Your Life.
UrbanDaddy for Pulsar •

The Adviser: In the Spirit of Gifting...Spirts

Maybe you’ve noticed the subtle tinsel-covered displays with 15-foot inflatable snowmen singing “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” all around town. Then again, maybe not. Like we said—subtle stuff. Either way, we’re officially putting you on notice: the season for gifting things is here. And yes, alcohol is usually a fine choice. But there are rules. More like pointers, really. And here are a few you might want to consider before bestowing the fine gift of fine spirits.
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