Restaurants

Anise Taverna Opens on Miami’s Upper Eastside

Sure, Latin cafes are a dime a dozen in Miami.  But a close look reveals that each of these neighborhood dives has its own collection of cooks, quirks and kooks — idiosyncrasies that draw you to them and make you love ’em, even when you’d love to hate ’em.  Good…

To eat mango raw or cooked?  That is the question.  On a recent trip, I gobbled up India’s prized Alphonso and nearly melted at the taste of its juicy morsels dripping with caramel sweetness.  Imagine cubes of bright orange flesh, alongside rosy papaya for breakfast every morning.  Unadorned, unadulterated bliss…But…

Miami’s The Cereal Bowl took a college student’s observation that people love customizing their cereal experience and made a global corporation out of it.The company just inked a deal with Global Brands, a Qatar based company, to expand to the Middle East.The Cereal Bowl leveraged the success of its flagship…

On July 13th there will be dancing on Calle 8, to French music. That’s because July 13th the Alliance Francaise of Miami is celebrating Bastille Day (historically celebrated the morning of July 14th).Bastille Day is similar to our 4th of July. It is a French national holiday that commemorates the…

There is something unique about Ortanique on the Mile that becomes apparent as soon as one enters the warm, woody, orange-hued, citrus-and-flower-muraled room: It smells better than other restaurants. Even with the preponderance of open kitchens these days, many dining establishments exude the aromatic appeal of a hotel lobby. But…

The lychee is a fruit native to China that grows well in humid, subtropical climates free of frost. No wonder that a simple drive around Miami-Dade County reveals many “Lychees for Sale” signs at roadside stands, outdoor markets, and grocery stores. Tropical fruit season is here, so now is the…

It’s official: Coral Gables is changing its’ motto from The City Beautiful to The City Mexican. I think you’ll agree the new tag is catchier, and also holds out the promise of a decent meal. Latest Mex eatery set to jump like a bean onto Ponce de Leon is Don…

Lamoy Andressohn is a dedicated raw food lifestylist. Her specialty is preparing all raw, vegan, organic meals from scratch. She says “the idea behind my food is health, wellness, and simplicity. It’s all my own creation. I’ve been raw for 9 years and I thank God everyday for it, I…

Anet’s Baked Goods is a Colombian antojitos specialist owned and operated by Anet Marin. He says “I sell baked goods,” but he doesn’t cook them, he’s got people to do that for him. The goods come from Los Tres Monitos, a restaurant in Hialeah. Anet started supplementing his income by…

Let the chowdown countdown begin!  The 21st annual Share Our Strength Taste of the Nation is just four weeks away today in Miami, but event organizers already have a healthy crop of 19 restaurant newcomers confirmed for the July 30 orgy of eats.  Is it promising or disconcerting that this…

Coopertown Airboat Rides and Restaurant has stood on the Tamiami Trail (a few miles west of Miccosukee Resort & Gaming, or 11 miles west of the turnpike) since 1945. Captain Jesse Kennon the proprietor says “This is the oldest original airboat tour in the Everglades. I’ve been here permanently since…

Yelp Eats Restaurant Week will take place starting Monday, July 20 and run through Sunday, July 26. Restaurants will offer a special 3-course prix fixe menu for $25 (does NOT include tax or tip) — much better than that crummy Miami Spice deal.Here are the participants: 6601. Andalusian Gazpacho or…

Hakkasan’s Haute Hong Kong Cuisine at the Fontainebleau

Blueprints and drawings for Norman’s 180, Norman Van Aken’s forthcoming Coral Gables restaurant slated to open at 180 Aragon in the Colonnade Hotel in November, are now on his architect’s website.  At first glance, the design itself will be a social lubricant, featuring elements conducive to sharing and interaction among…

In the kitchen, my role has always tended to be chef rather than baker. The whole “measuring ingredients” thing was always way less my forte than licking the spoon to see which spices the dish needs more of. That said, when I heard Fort Lauderdale vegan mecca Sublime was having…

Michelle Bernstein knows not to mess with a good thing.  But it’s nice to see that a busy bee who juggles ownership of three restaurants, her own TV show, a consultancy with Delta, and a leadership role with nonprofit Common Threads is still able to direct the necessary attention to…

Hotcakes are hotter than ever, but we at Flip-Off Headquarters humbly refrain from taking all the credit; we’re probably only 80 percent responsible, 90 tops. Of course there are those who attribute the palpable surge in pancake popularity to it being one of the few foods that working class Americans…

The new Chicago’s Bakery & Deli has only been open one week, but its performance has already received rave reviews and even a few regulars.  There was such a fuss brewing on the Cracktwit and Faceboring, initiated by neighborhood insider Tom Falco (@GroveGrapevine), I just had to stop by to…

It ain’t easy being sleazy. Well, actually it is. Thanks to the internet, finding events you have nothin’ to do with that are serving free refreshments is easier than ever. Freeloader will occasionally drop the dime on various functions crashed for the sake of complimentaries. Hey, a blogger gotta eat.Last…

The Taurus started out on Main Highway in Coconut Grove in 1926. Back then it was a little cottage that served as a gathering place for locals, and remained the Grove’s favorite spot to hoist brews and munch burgers until 2002 — when the one-acre site was developed into Grove…

The weekly Paradigm dinner at Neomi’s Grill in the Trump International Sonesta Beach Resort takes eaters on a culinary acid trip; blasting their flavor modulators (tongues) through outer space with alimentary combinations that taste like they came from the great beyond. A recent Paradigm dinner saw Chef Kurtis Jantz, Chef…