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J&C Oyster’s Chef-Driven Seafood Concept Takes off in Hollywood

Patrons can experience a made-to-order platter and caviar service.

Harrison Street was once at the forefront of the restaurant scene in Hollywood, but in recent years, Hollywood Boulevard, just one block north, has been gaining momentum. Aiding in the revitalization of Harrison is Venezuelan-born restaurateur Cesar Cifuentes, who has introduced Oaxaka, a Mexican-Asian fusion restaurant that complements the newly opened J&C Oyster. Oaxaka, named after Oaxaca in Mexico and Osaka in Japan, initially began as a food stall at the Yellow Green Farmers Market. Cifuentes has plans to open an Italian restaurant in the near future. With his company, CMA, situated right across the street, specializing in digital signage, audio/video, software development, and system automation, Cifuentes is familiar with the Harrison Street area. His timing couldn’t be better, as downtown Hollywood has been energized by the ArtsPark at Young Circle and is currently witnessing a surge in residential development.

Chef Raheem Sealey began his culinary journey in the kitchen alongside his grandmother in St. Croix during his childhood before transitioning to Miami to pursue formal training at Le Cordon Bleu. After honing his skills, he worked under Chef Michael Lewis at Michael’s Genuine, eventually rising to the position of sous chef. Sealey then took on the role of executive chef at KYU, a highly lauded Asian-inspired restaurant in Wynwood. During a pop-up event in Wynwood, he crossed paths with Cifuentes and together they co-founded Drinking Pig BBQ. Additionally, Co-Chef Monika Dominguez, who was mentored by Sealey at Zuma and KYU, brings her expertise from her time at Chug’s Diner and Dale Street Food to the culinary team.

J&C Oyster in Hollywood
Chef Monika Dominguez and Chef Raheem Sealey

J&C has eight signature cocktails. I opted for the Yuzu Margarita. Yuzu is a citrus fruit combined with Patrón tequila, curacao and lime. It was a refreshing take on a margarita without the often-common cloying sweetness. There’s a Tom Collins with a tarragon twist and the Singani Enzoni with Singani 63, lemon and white grapes. Singani is distilled from grapes high in the Bolivian Andes. There’s a nice selection of sake plus plenty of reds, whites, roses and bubblies to choose from. Many Asian techniques and ingredients are utilized. All the dishes are intended to be shared, so they are served at the center of the table.

J&C Oyster Hollywood

We started with a combination of super fresh raw oysters from the East and West Coasts. The accompanying nam prik mignonette sauce, a Thai spicy chili sauce, was a nice accompaniment. Yes, we’ll have mussels, too. It was hard to stop dunking the sourdough toast in the broth flavored with xo butter, togarashi (Japanese 7 Spice), scallions and lime. The king crab had huge chunks of crab with more yuzu in a mayo dip, and the Thai Crab Curry is a culinary delight. The Chilean Sea Bass filet was flaky and tender with miso, ginger, and a vinaigrette herb salad. Despite the seafood emphasis, there were some outstanding meat dishes, starting with the steak tartare with truffle mayo and milk bread. The Korean-style togarashi brined chicken is a must-have, so crispy and flavorful with a house-made barbecue sauce, chili butter and palate-cleansing pickles.

For more information, visit jandcoyster.com.

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Drew Limsky

Drew Limsky

Editor-in-Chief

BIOGRAPHY

Drew Limsky joined Lifestyle Media Group in August 2020 as Editor-in-Chief of South Florida Business & Wealth. His first issue of SFBW, October 2020, heralded a reimagined structure, with new content categories and a slew of fresh visual themes. “As sort of a cross between Forbes and Robb Report, with a dash of GQ and Vogue,” Limsky says, “SFBW reflects South Florida’s increasingly sophisticated and dynamic business and cultural landscape.”

Limsky, an avid traveler, swimmer and film buff who holds a law degree and Ph.D. from New York University, likes to say, “I’m a doctor, but I can’t operate—except on your brand.” He wrote his dissertation on the nonfiction work of Joan Didion. Prior to that, Limsky received his B.A. in English, summa cum laude, from Emory University and earned his M.A. in literature at American University in connection with a Masters Scholar Award fellowship.

Limsky came to SFBW at the apex of a storied career in journalism and publishing that includes six previous lead editorial roles, including for some of the world’s best-known brands. He served as global editor-in-chief of Lexus magazine, founding editor-in-chief of custom lifestyle magazines for Cadillac and Holland America Line, and was the founding editor-in-chief of Modern Luxury Interiors South Florida. He also was the executive editor for B2B magazines for Acura and Honda Financial Services, and he served as travel editor for Conde Nast. Magazines under Limsky’s editorship have garnered more than 75 industry awards.

He has also written for many of the country’s top newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Boston Globe, USA Today, Worth, Robb Report, Afar, Time Out New York, National Geographic Traveler, Men’s Journal, Ritz-Carlton, Elite Traveler, Florida Design, Metropolis and Architectural Digest Mexico. His other clients have included Four Seasons, Acqualina Resort & Residences, Yahoo!, American Airlines, Wynn, Douglas Elliman and Corcoran. As an adjunct assistant professor, Limsky has taught journalism, film and creative writing at the City University of New York, Pace University, American University and other colleges.