Miami Veteran Dewey LoSasso Goes ‘Farm-to-Farm' With Schnebly Winery

As part of a major chef shuffle/pop-up/opening/expansion mash-up, news came out today that veteran Miami chef Dewey LoSasso has left his position as executive chef of AQ at the Acquelina Resort and Spa to team up with Schnebly Winery and Miami Brewing Co. as culinary director. LoSasso has been a staple in the Miami dining community for years, first with his Biscayne Boulevard corridor hot spot North 110, and later as chef at The Forge on Miami Beach. No word has been released as to who will replace LoSasso at AQ.

At the Schnebly Winery and Miami Brewing Co. headquarters in Homestead, LoSasso will start with a "pop-up, weekends only restaurant on the farm, followed in the coming years by a brick-and-mortar restaurant; a retail market selling Schnebly-grown salsas, jams and hot sauces; a catering facility; and — eventually — a boutique bed-and-breakfast," Miami.com reports. LoSasso has known Peter Schnebly for over 10 years, since his time at North 110 where he stocked Schnebly's wines.

Per the expansion of the winery, Schnebly recently purchased 10 additional acres, making the property a complete 30 acres. There, he will also build a 17,000-square foot space which will house Miami Brewing Co. LoSasso has already been working on dishes that incorporate produce from the farm into spent grain from the brewery.

Pop-up dinners could begin as early as February, which LoSasso will cook from a 30-foot trailer / kitchen, and Caja China roasting boxes. The chef is tossing around the idea of a massive surf 'n turf cookout for Valentine's Day using locally sourced products, to then open on Fridays and Saturdays until the brick-and-mortar space is completed.  It sounds like we could have whole-roasted pig and locally produced wines in the near future.  Stay tuned for more details.
—Patrick Hieger