Q&A: Major Food Group Launches HaSalon

Major Food Group Launches HaSalon from World Red Eye Films on Vimeo.

Miami Beach, FL – November 20, 2021 – Major Food Group (MFG) continues its expansion in Miami with the opening of HaSalon, the renowned Israeli restaurant founded in Tel Aviv. The restaurant opens to the public today, November 24th, but this past weekend MFG owners Jeff Zalaznick, Mario Carbone and Rich Torrisi, along with Miami partner Alex Pirez and acclaimed chef and HaSalon founder Eyal Shani, hosted their friends and family for dinner. Dignitaries included Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Jules and Stephanie Trump, Keith Menin, Michael and Nikki Simkins, Lee Schrager, Ken Gorin, Oscar Feldenkreis, and Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber.

HaSalon will open at one of Miami Beach’s most storied locations: 404 Washington Avenue, which for nearly two decades was home to China Grill. The address is a fitting showcase for the theatrics and widely acclaimed Israeli cuisine that have come to define the HaSalon brand at its outposts in Tel Aviv, New York City, and Ibiza. In the heart of Miami Beach, the HaSalon team will work from an open kitchen decorated with a bounty of ingredients—a HaSalon signature. They will prepare bright salads, vibrant vegetable dishes, satisfying pastas, as well as main courses meant for sharing, such as many whole fish preparations, giant lamb kebabs, and steaks. Menu selections will change according to the seasons and the restaurant’s restless creativity, but their famous emphasis on generosity and bold flavors will remain constant. World Red Eye went behind the scenes with the owners to get an exclusive first look at the restaurant. Read the full Q&A below.

WRE: Tell us about HaSalon. Why did you decide to bring the concept to Miami?

Jeff  Zalaznick: The same adjectives I’d use to describe Miami right now are the ones that I’d apply to HaSalon just the same: vibrant, convivial, luxurious, and energetic. I fell in love with the food and with the overall concept of HaSalon after spending some time in Tel Aviv a few years ago. The soul of the concept is so intertwined with what we do at Major Food Group and, not to mention, the city of Miami itself. As a high-energy, interactive dining experience, admired for its exceptional Israeli cuisine, HaSalon offers a celebratory dinner party spirit that everyone loves, in the city that everyone wants to be a part of.

WRE: What sort of experience can guests expect at HaSalon?

JZ: HaSalon is a place where our guests know they can come and enjoy an extraordinary, delicious meal without worrying about so many of the rules that can make fine dining feel stiff. It’s a theatrical, high-energy dining experience that unites celebration with culinary excellence. HaSalon actually means “living room” in Hebrew, which is meant to signal that you are visiting our home. This should be the best dinner party in the world. With all our Major Food Group concepts, we want our guest’s expectations to not only be met, but exceeded, and we are confident the HaSalon experience will do just that for Miami. 

HaSalon offers a celebratory dinner party spirit that everyone loves, in the city that everyone wants to be a part of.

Jeff Zalaznick

WRE: HaSalon is located at one of South Beach’s most iconic locations: 404 Washington Ave. What made you decide on this particular venue?

JZ: This specific location used to be home to the iconic China Grill restaurant, a legendary concept that shares many similarities with our style at Major Food Group. We wanted to bring that vibe back and reinvigorate a historic landmark. It’s the perfect location to bring the HaSalon concept to life in Miami; and it adds a unique layer of history to the restaurant itself.

WRE: How did you design the interior of HaSalon? What inspired the aesthetic of the restaurant? 

JZ: We worked with the famous Israeli designer TURJ who collaborated with our team. We took the DNA of HaSalon and merged it with the DNA of MFG and Miami.

The same adjectives I’d use to describe Miami right now are the ones that I’d apply to HaSalon: vibrant, convivial, luxurious, and energetic.

Jeff Zalaznick

WRE: How would you describe modern Israeli cuisine?

JZ: It is all about blending a deep understanding of the flavors and traditions of the Mediterranean land and sea with a unique, bold sense of creativity. HaSalon captures the essence and spirit of the nation’s food, but does it at a level no one has ever seen before.

WRE: How does HaSalon differ from other Major Food Group concepts in Miami, such as CARBONE and ZZ’s?

JZ: It is not that different. It will be incredible food and incredible fun. This will focus on Israeli/Mediterranean cuisine and have more of a dinner party Supperclub vibe, but the soul is the same as the rest of our restaurants. It has the best food and it tells an incredible story. That is why we made HaSalon a part of the MFG family.

WRE: This will mark the third HaSalon location worldwide, with others already open in NYC and Tel Aviv. How will the Miami location stand out from the others?

JZ: It is different because this is Major Food Group! You know what that means! This concept was born in Tel Aviv but it was made for MFG and the city of Miami.

WRE: What can Miami expect next from Major Food Group?

JZ: Miami has welcomed us with open arms and I’m thrilled to call this city my home. My focus is on Miami. All day. Every day. I will do whatever I can to keep bringing incredible food and restaurants to this City as fast as I can so we can all enjoy them together and celebrate every day we get to live in this paradise.