Area 31 Executive Chef John Critchley Presents Donation Check to MMC

Executive Chef John Critchley of Area 31 at Epic presented Area 31′s first donation check to the Marine Mammal Conservancy in Key Largo on November 20, 2009.   Area 31 has designated MMC as the charity to receive profits from the restaurant’s prix-fixe menu featuring locally caught, sustainable seafood.

Following a tour of MMC’s property and a presentation of MMC’s construction plans,  Chef John and his wife then visited Dolphins Plus and enjoyed a personal one-on-one experience with Castaway, an offshore Bottlenose dolphin rehabilitated by MMC who now lives at Dolphins Plus because she is deaf and cannot be released back into the wild.

Area 31 is the breathtaking restaurant on the 16th floor of Kimpton’s EPIC Hotel.  The restaurant features seafood from its namesake region Fishing Area 31, the ecologically sound marine waters of the Western Central Atlantic that includes the entire Florida coast, Central America and northern South America. All fish are short line caught while farm raised are farmed in sustainable waters.

Executive Chef John Critchley  launched a daily prix-fixe menu from the unique sustainable seafood locally caught in the regional waters of Area 31, and Area 31 has committed a portion of proceeds of this menu to the Marine Mammal Conservancy.

Members of the Board of Directors and staff of MMC recently visited Area 31 and enjoyed a special dining experience, including the pri-fixe menu and other selections from the unique and extraordinary menu.  Our vantage point from the private dining room gave us a breathtaking view down Brickell Boulevard into the lights of the city of Miami.

Area 31′s generosity will support the Marine Mammal Conservancy’s rescue and rehabilitation work with dolphins and whales and its research and education about marine mammals and the oceans in which they live.

Area 31 is located on the 16th floor of the Epic Hotel.  The address is:

270 Biscayne Boulevard Way
Miami, Florida 33131

Telephone: (305)424-5234

The dining experience at Area 31 includes indoor and outdoor seating options, infinity-poolside casitas, cabanas,  balcony couches, and a private dining room. Area 31 graciously removes you from the hustle and bustle of the streets of Miami and transforms your day to a unique and tranquil dining experience.

While Area 31′s menu is modified regularly due to careful fishing techniques, guests can expect similar selections from the five-course tasting menu, such as Smoked Kingfish Croquettes; Whitewater Clams; and Seared Texas Redfish. The sustainable seafood menu, which includes a glass of organic wine, is offered during their dinner service for $50 per person (excluding tax and gratuity).

Visit MMC and enjoy a special dining experience while you support MMC!

Visit www.area31restaurant.com for more information about the dining experience at Area 31 Restaurant.