sbe Expands International Culinary Portfolio with Debut of Fi'lia by Michael Schwartz at Baha Mar

MIAMI, Dec. 27, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing to expand sbe's international footprint, the global lifestyle hospitality company has announced the newest addition to its Disruptive Restaurant Group portfolio in The Bahamas with the opening of Fi'lia by Michael Schwartz, the Italian restaurant concept by Miami's celebrated James Beard Award-winning chef. The restaurant, featuring 202 seats of indoor and outdoor seating, marks sbe's fifth culinary and entertainment venue to open at Baha Mar, the $4.2 billion integrated resort destination, joining Cleo, Katsuya, Monkey Bar, Bungalow Pool Bar & Grill, as well as sbe's first international SLS hotel.

"sbe is continuing to drive unprecedented growth. In the last three months of 2017, we have opened three incredible hotels and 17 innovative culinary and entertainment venues around the world," says sbe Founder and CEO, Sam Nazarian. He adds: "Our brand portfolio is constantly growing and we're thrilled to open our second Fi'lia location in partnership with Michael Schwartz and his team. Fi'lia perfectly complements sbe's existing culinary portfolio at Baha Mar, adding an unparalleled Italian option to our well-rounded collection of Japanese, Mediterranean and American restaurants and lounges."

Located on the main Baha Mar Casino floor just steps from SLS Baha Mar, the new 299-room hotel sbe opened last month, this is Fi'lia's first international outpost and second location overall after opening at SLS Brickell in Miami last year. Fi'lia is inspired by the simplicity of Italian cuisine, featuring a menu of straightforward dishes that highlight fresh, seasonal ingredients, housemade pasta and memorable signatures like the Tableside Caesar Salad.

"I'm excited to expand my partnership with sbe by opening our first international venue together and second Fi'lia location," says Michael Schwartz, chef and owner of The Genuine Hospitality Group. "I've enjoyed working with the team on-island and learning about the local ingredients available to incorporate into the menu, spearheaded by Fi'lia executive chef Thomas Tennant, a long-time fixture in our kitchen at Michael's Genuine Food & Drink who also brings Caribbean experience to the restaurant.  We look forward to welcoming guests to the restaurant with the same incredible hospitality we've experienced in The Bahamas!" 

Fi'lia's dinner menu features Small, Large and Extra Large plates alongside Snacks, Sides, Pasta and Pizza. To start, Beef Carpaccio is Chef Schwartz's twist on the classic featuring sunchoke, green onion pecorino and mustard vinaigrette, while the Extra Large Grilled Whole Snapper features tomato, Calabrian chile, mint and grilled bread. Rustic pizzas are served with creative topping combinations like Pistachio Pesto with ricotta, charred onion and pecorino.  The Tableside Caesar is prepared from scratch from dressing to grated parmigiano finish on a roaming cart, dispatching delicious smells of toasted garlic croutons in the dining room as it passes. Cocktails are refreshingly uncomplicated with specialties including a section of Spritz. The Mistaken, a lively take on the traditional Negroni aperitivo, features Campari and Carpano Antica sweet vermouth, substituting bubbly Prosecco for gin. With a focused wine list, Fi'lia celebrates Italian, regional varietals and American wines with an old world sensibility.

Designed by sbe subsidiary Dakota Development and Avenues Interior Design, Fi'lia offers indoor and outdoor seating with a rustic Italian vibe. This lively eatery's approachable atmosphere comes together through on-trend design elements such as white-washed brick walls, Brasserie-inspired brass lighting, a mix of traditional and modern leather chairs, and an artwork collection featuring sketches, abstract paintings and brightly colored photography. Tying it all together, marble and grey oak tabletops are perfectly paired together providing the high-quality finishing touches for which sbe and Fi'lia are known.

As part of sbe's larger movement to bring signature specialties in innovative cuisine and dynamic nightlife to The Bahamas, the group also operates Cleo, Monkey Bar (the signature SLS lobby bar) and Bungalow Pool Bar & Grill at SLS Baha Mar, with Privilege and Skybar coming in early 2018. Additionally, Katsuya (sbe's modern take on classic Japanese cuisine) opened in mid-August on the Baha Mar Casino floor, and Bond, sbe's nightlife concept, is debuting December 29th, offering late-night entertainment as the destination's see-and-be-seen place to be.

Located at One Baha Mar Blvd, Nassau, The Bahamas at Baha Mar Casino, Fi'lia is open Monday through Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. serving lunch and dinner. For reservations and menus, please visit www.filiarestaurant.com or call 242-788-8212.

About sbe
Established in 2002 by Founder and CEO Sam Nazarian, sbe is a privately-held, leading lifestyle hospitality company that develops, manages and operates award-winning hotels, residences, restaurants and nightclubs. Through exclusive partnerships with cultural visionaries, sbe is devoted to creating extraordinary experiences throughout its proprietary brands with a commitment to authenticity, sophistication, mastery and innovation. Following the acquisition of Morgans Hotel Group, the pioneer of boutique lifestyle hotels, sbe has an unparalleled global portfolio featuring 23 world-class lifestyle hotel properties in nine attractive gateway markets and 134 global world-renowned hotel, entertainment and food & beverage outlets. The company is uniquely positioned to offer a complete lifestyle experience - from nightlife, food & beverage and entertainment to hotels and residences, and through its innovative customer loyalty and rewards program, The Code, as well as its award-winning international real estate development subsidiary, Dakota Development - all of which solidify sbe as the preeminent leader across hospitality. The company's established and upcoming hotel brands include SLS Hotel & Residences, Delano, Mondrian, Redbury, Hyde Hotel & Residences, and The Originals. In addition, sbe has the following internationally acclaimed restaurants and lounges: Katsuya, Cleo, The Bazaar by José Andrés, Fi'lia by Michael Schwartz, Umami Burger, Hyde Lounge and Skybar. More information about sbe can be obtained at sbe.com.

About Baha Mar
Baha Mar is a master planned $4.2 billion integrated resort development being purchased by Hong Kong-based conglomerate Chow Tai Fook Enterprises Limited (CTFE). The beachfront destination includes three global brand operators – Grand Hyatt, SLS, and Rosewood – with over 2,300 rooms. Additional amenities include 40 restaurants and lounges, the largest casino in the Caribbean  with over 100,000 sq. ft. of gaming space,  200,000  sq. ft. convention center, 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Golf Course and Golf Club, first ESPA flagship spa in the Caribbean, and over 30 luxury retail outlets. Baha Mar is a breathtaking beach destination with dynamic programming, activities and guest offerings located in one of the most beautiful places in the world – The Bahamas. For more information visit www.bahamar.com.

About the Genuine Hospitality Group & Chef-Owner Michael Schwartz
The Philadelphia-born owner of The Genuine Hospitality Group (TGHG), James Beard Award-winning Chef, and cookbook author, Michael Schwartz is the face of the South Florida restaurant industry and a nationally recognized celebrity chef. Locals and tourists alike have come to embrace and crave his sincere and thoughtful approach to the entire dining experience and seriously good food.  At the root of this philosophy and a lens for growth is flagship Michael's Genuine^® Food & Drink in the Miami Design District, setting the bar in Miami for more than 10 years with its laidback bistro atmosphere, emphasis on sourcing fresh, seasonal ingredients, and lively bar scene and courtyard. Michael has since successfully developed complementary fine dining concepts including honest Italian at Fi'lia by Michael Schwartz, the quintessential Miami restaurant with waterfront dining at Amara at Paraiso opening January 2018 and the ultimate neighborhood restaurant in Coconut Grove at Park Grove to follow.  Genuine Pizza^™ is the group's casual pizza concept growing to 20 locations by 2021, built on thoughtfully-made, hand formed pies. The seed of Genuine Pizza is Harry's Pizzeria^®, first opened by Chef Michael Schwartz in 2011 and now with three South Florida locations – a nationally-recognized pizza hotspot, named one of Food & Wine magazine's 25 Best Pizzerias in the U.S. Ella Pop is a light and airy café in the Miami Design District's Palm Court serving breakfast, lunch and early evening bites, curating pastries from the best local bakers in town and a convenient grab and go station with healthy alternatives. The Chef's partnership with global cruise leader Royal Caribbean began in 2011 developing menus with ingredients from sustainable sources for 150 Central Park on Oasis Class ships and now includes the gastropub evolution of Michael's Genuine, Michael's Genuine^® Pub, on Quantum Class ships. Michael Schwartz Events offers catering and private parties, with genuine food and hospitality for memorable occasions. TGHG has been recognized by leading trade publication Restaurant Hospitality magazine as one of its RH 25: Coolest Multi-Concept Companies.  For more information, visit thegenuinekitchen.com.  

Media Contact
Jenn Gillespie Tarich
Diamond Public Relations
jennifer@diamondpr.com
305-854-3544

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SOURCE sbe