From Linda Bladholm:
• Pork ribs at The Mess A'Round: Southern-style barbecue doesn't get any better at this small, mostly takeout joint. Add collards, mac and cheese and corn bread, and end with sweet potato pie. The Mess A'Round, 829 Foster Rd., Hallandale Beach; 954-454-9881.
• Pineapple Blossom Tearoom's mission fig and goat cheese turnovers: Grainy, port-braised fig jam and sweet, slightly tangy goat cheese wrapped in flaky pastry -- perfect for dipping in cream tea. 8214 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 305-754-8328.
• Hiro's Yakko-San's deep-fried Japanese eggplant: Cloud-light, piping hot chunks of meltingly tender eggplant come with tentsuyu, a dipping sauce of dashi (kelp and dried fish base), mirin and light soy sauce. A sprinkling of grated ginger and dried bonito adds sharp heat and ocean essence. 17040-46 W. Dixie Hwy., North Miami Beach; 305-947-0064.
• Lula Kebab House's Georgian eggplant rolls: Thin, supple, succulent slices of fried eggplant are rolled up with a ground walnut, garlic and cilantro paste and served sprinkled with chopped walnuts -- delicious with the signature Kazakh-style kebabs called lula. 18250 Collins Ave., Sunny Isles Beach; 305-792-0151.
• Tutto Sicily's pistachio cream: A sophisticated alternative to peanut butter, this dreamy, creamy blend is divine on toast or biscotti. Marco Gigli sells it and other Sicilian imports on Sundays from a booth in front of the Lincoln Theatre on Lincoln Road. 786-325-2831 or marcogigli@hotmail.com or www.tuttosicily.it
From Victoria Pesce Elliot:
From Enrique Fernandez:• Maia's Creole Café's gumbo: Smooth as velvet with a rich, not-too-thick roux and stocked with local blue crab and jumbo shrimp over buttery puffs of white rice, it's worth the drive from anywhere. 115 N. Krome Ave., Homestead; 786-243-2463.
• The Lido's thyme-flecked fries: Nearly as thin as fettuccine, crispy and golden, these miraculously ungreasy indulgences are divine. Be sure to ask for a bowl of the luscious garlic aioli for extra fat and flavor. The Standard Miami Beach Spa, 40 Island Ave., Miami Beach; 305-673-1717.
• Mahogany Grille's buttermilk biscuits: Heavenly on their own slathered with butter and honey, they're even better with the fabulous buttermilk-fried chicken. 2190 NW 183rd St., Miami Gardens; 305-626-8100.
• Sardinia Ristorante's orecchiette with wild boar sausage: Dense and bitey, it's blanketed with a mossy broccoli di rabe pesto -- an earthy peasant feast that calls to me frequently. 1801 Purdy Ave., Miami Beach; 305-531-2228.
• Yuga's baby lamb ribs with sweet soy glaze: Topped with a scattering of baby scallions, they're a killer way to start a meal at this younger cousin of Lan Pan-Asian. 357 Alcazar Ave., Coral Gables; 305-442-8600.
• Kingdom's hamburger: Size ranges from big to daunting, but it's the flavor that counts. Moist and well-seasoned, the burgers at this casual, Northern Corridor beer and wine bar are the best in town. 6708 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 305-757-0074.
• Bin No. 18's Cuban sandwich (right): Nothing about chef-owner Alfredo Patiño's riff on a classic is conventional, from the pulled slow-roasted pork to the absent ham to the ciabatta bread. But somehow, it works. 1800 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 786-235-7575.
• Xixón's tapas: You can't go wrong with any of the tapas at this restaurant-deli. It's as good as your local tapas bar in Madrid, and that's pretty damn good. 1801 Coral Way, Miami; 305-567-0408.
• La Vasca's tortilla de patatas: The owner of this Spanish deli fries the spuds in olive oil, the proper way to make Spain's national dish, the potato omelet. She sells them by the slice or the whole, pie-like tortilla. 3407 SW Eighth St., Miami; 305-461-1898.
• Michael's Genuine Food and Drink's roast chicken: They say a restaurant is as good as its roast chicken, and Michael Schwartz's is no exception. Of course, it helps to start with a poulet rouge heirloom bird and to have a wood-burning oven. Schwartz seasons it with salt and pepper, that's all -- awesome. 130 NE 40th St., Miami; 305-573-5550.
No comments:
Post a Comment