Wynwood Restaurant And Bar Making Quite A Name For Itself

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Welcome to Beaker and Gray, an eclectic bar and restaurant in the heart of Wynwood that's fast making quite the name for itself for its unique menu and fun cocktail bar.

The name speaks for itself, says executive chef Brian Nasajon.

"The idea is we named it after our tools. A beaker is the tool where you make a drink from and a gray is curved spoon," Chef Brian explained.

Watching Brian prepare his signature dishes in the kitchen is truly watching an artist at work.

"So Beaker and Gray is a small dish concept," Chef Brian said. "We are new American food with global influences and the idea is that we're trying to influence people to bring in ingredients from all over the world that wouldn't naturally find themselves together, but really make harmonious combinations."

Brian will be one of the many chefs in this South Florida's Taste of the Nation Event for No Kid Hungry at Soho Studios in  Wynwood on June 17.

Gearing up for its 28th year is Founding Event Chairman, Chef Allen Susser .

"South Florida's Taste of the Nation is the best cooking event," said Chef Susser. "We have about 60 chefs all cooking to help end childhood hunger and you get the best food and energies of the chefs, all cooking for great cause."

The dish Chef Brian will make at this year's Taste of the Nation event, his 5th year participating, is rice noodles with bacon chimichurri and fried shallots.

"There's tons of flavor. There's a surprise crunch. There's a kick. There's a lot going on and it all works," said CBS4's Lisa Petrillo after tasting the dish.

Next a classic dish on the Beaker and Gray menu: Oxtail with sweet potato puree, pickled jalapenos, marbled potatoes and grilled onions.

"It's like a dessert. It's really delicious and melts in your mouth. You don't have to chew it, its beyond tender," Petrillo said.

Then, Chef Brian's famous chilled octopus with cilantro sauce and watermelon.

"Stop the presses! This could be my favorite octopus salad. The cilantro dressing with the cold chilled octopus it is amazing and bring on the watermelon; its magic!" Petrillo shouted out.

South Florida's Taste of The Nation event is on Friday, June 17. For more info log on that event: http://ce.strength.org/events/south-florida-taste-nation

As for Beaker and Gray it's open 7 days a week for dinner. Monday through Friday for lunch. www.beakerandgray.com