A new restaurant is heading to Miami Beach’s South-of-Fifth neighborhood, with a down-and-dirty name: Dirt. The concept is casual, modern American with a health conscious twist — plans are to open in September at 232 Fifth Street, in the space formerly occupied by Kone Sushi. Dirt plans to serve “a vegetable-forward menu with responsibly raised proteins, such as hormone- and antibiotic-free grass-fed meats, pasture-raised chicken, wild-caught fish, and cage-free eggs, according to a release. Named for its desire “to create an unpretentious, transparent, back-to-basics approach to how we eat and enjoy food,” Dirt said it will be serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with organic juices, smoothies, wine, craft beer and other items. The restaurant is co-f0unded by Jeff LaTulippe, general manager, whose background includes an internship at the White House and a stint on Wall Street before a career in private equity.
Also on board are Executive Chef Jonathan Seningen and Operating Partner Matt Ernst. Seningen’s experience includes prior stints in the Caribbean, New York — Atlas, Artisanal, and Chanterelle — and Washington, D.C., where he was executive chef of the vegan eatery Elizabeth’s Gone Raw. Ernst, an experienced business executive and former Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, was responsible for founding the IT consulting firm Amentra, which he sold after eight years to Red Hat. Ernst marketing strategy is to give Dirt a mobile and online presence through partnerships with mobile ordering and loyalty platform LevelUp, online ordering platform Zuppler, and delivery startup Postmates, the release said. “The digital era has been here,” Ernst said in a statement, “but we’re only now starting to scratch the tip of the iceberg of possibilities when it comes to food and the restaurant industry.” — Janine Mills
Also on board are Executive Chef Jonathan Seningen and Operating Partner Matt Ernst. Seningen’s experience includes prior stints in the Caribbean, New York — Atlas, Artisanal, and Chanterelle — and Washington, D.C., where he was executive chef of the vegan eatery Elizabeth’s Gone Raw. Ernst, an experienced business executive and former Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, was responsible for founding the IT consulting firm Amentra, which he sold after eight years to Red Hat. Ernst marketing strategy is to give Dirt a mobile and online presence through partnerships with mobile ordering and loyalty platform LevelUp, online ordering platform Zuppler, and delivery startup Postmates, the release said. “The digital era has been here,” Ernst said in a statement, “but we’re only now starting to scratch the tip of the iceberg of possibilities when it comes to food and the restaurant industry.” — Janine Mills
Janine Mills is an Estate Agent at ONE Sotheby’s International Realty for The Kedersha Group. When she is not promoting the South Florida lifestyle or Ballroom Danc-ing she can be found writing groovy blog posts for janinemills.com.
Want to Try Dirt for Dinner? A new Miami Beach Resto opening in South of Fifth neighborhood