Saturday, August 28, 2010

the lunch bunch

Whether your out on your lunch break or your a lady who lunches these are some great places to grab lunch in your respective hoods.

*Brickell
Le Boudoir
186 SE 12 Terrace
Miami, FL 33131
305.372.2333

*Coral Way
Fresco California Bistro
1744 Southwest 3rd Avenue

Miami, FL 33129
305.858.0608


*South Beach
Java and Juice
1346 Washington Avenue

Miami Beach, FL 33139
305.531.6675


*Midtown
The Cheese Course
3451 NE 1 AVE
Unit 100
Miami, FL 33137
786.220.6681

*Design District
Buena Vista Deli
4590 NE 2nd Ave
Miami, FL 33137
305.576.3945

*Miracle Mile
Sasha's Cafe
2525 Ponce de Leon
Coral Gables, FL 33134

Tel. 305 569 1300


*South Miami
Cafe Pastis
7310 Southwest 57th Avenue

South Miami, FL 33143
305.665.3322


*Downtown
Bali Cafe
109 Northeast 2nd Avenue

Miami, FL 33132

305.358.5751

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

take me to the greek


If it's a rainy night or a sunny day why travel the the Mediterranean when you can bring a taste of Greece home into your kitchen?! When you make this ridiculously easy and tremendously tasteful salad you will be refreshed and amazed by this classic combo of Mediterranean flavors.

The Greek Salad

*Ingredients-Salad
2 cucumbers
2 green peppers
2 red peppers
1 pack of cherry tomatoes
1 purple onion (add as much as you prefer)
1 container of feta cheese
1 handful of pitted kalamata olives
some chives for decor

*Ingredients-Dressing
2 lemons-juice them
olive oil 
dried oregano
salt/pepper

Directions

Chop all salad veggie ingredients into chunky bites, top off with feta, olives & chives. Pour over dressing and mix together!

Eet Smakelijk!

Monday, August 16, 2010

meals on wheels

The food truck has finally arrived in Miami and you must twitter or facebook yourself to the location of these moving restaurants. Food Trucks have been popular now for years in NYC and California but, its finally hit the MIA and we welcome the idea and hopefully it will be around to stay well, not in one place of course! 

*Latin Burger
Known for its Latin Burger and Tacos!

*Latin House Grill
Look for these guys on Facebook!

*Taqueria Los Dos Amigos
Corner of NW 27th Avenue and NW 35th Street

*The Rolling Stove
Delray Beach and Palm Beach's newest arrival this truck boasts an amazing jerk chicken sandwich!
Look for The Rolling Stove on Facebook for daily locations.

*Jefe's Original
This one is known for its amazing fish tacos!

*The Yellow Submarine Truck
Sandwiches, hotdogs and burgers!

*Gastro Pod Mobile Gourmet
Gourmet style menu 

*Feverish Ice Cream Truck
Unique and flavor packed ice creams and popsicles are avail on this truck.

*Green Truck on the Go
Vegan specials

*A.C.'s Icees
A Frosted Lemonade truck which has been a staple around town for years has been providing the hood with frosted lemonades and snacks! He had major foresight to be the one of the first trucks around...
Kennedy Park



Coconut Grove, FL 33146


Wednesday, August 11, 2010

presto pesto


Approximately a few months ago I had a green thumb moment and decided to grow some basil in my backyard. Empty pot, dirt, seeds and there you have it basil growing wildly in my yard. Funny enough never really used it so after a talk with my husbands cousin Mari Elena, she recommended I prune them so that they grow fuller and faster (new to the green thumb thing hadn't dawned on me...) and she recommended I make some pesto and freeze it to make use of the basil I cut. So I did after giving some to my neighbor for her mama and saving some for my husband because I make him fresh basil tea, it good try it!

*Ingredients
Basil (a bunch)
1 Garlic Clove
Fresh Parmesan Cheese (3/4 cup approx.)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (enough so that the ingredients are covered add more if need be)
Salt/Pepper (a dash here and a dash there)

*Directions
Put all these ingredients into a food processor basil, garlic clove, parm, evoo and the s/p. Juice up the processor until the ingredients have been ground down finely with a runny texture kinda like baby food! Presto you got pesto!




Now you can toss if over pasta with shrimps. You can put it over grilled or baked chicken lets your imagination go. Pesto can be made with any herb really cilantro, parsley or mint perhaps...no limits, if your feeling crazy mix of those herbs together or add sun dried tomatoes?




Tuesday, August 10, 2010

decisions, decisions...

If your like most folks and its dinner time and there is nothing appetizing in your fridge or maybe nothing at all except some stinky cheese and last weeks left overs then its time to make a decision as to where to go for dinner, and if your like most folks you get stumped because nothing seems to inspire you especially if you don't want to get dressed up! Well, here is a list that you can come back to now and then for some casual, inexpensive and cozy places to grab a bite any day of the week...

Coconut Grove

* Georges in the Grove 
If you don't take your lady here someone else will! This is their slogan so how bad could it be? A free glass of champagne as you walk in the door doesn't hurt either. The menu boasts some french favs and daily specials which are consistently good. The ambience is always busy with a local crowd and the service is friendly and hectic. Bon Appetite! Oh, and if its your friends birthday this place is the perfect place to celebrate.

Coral Gables

* Mint Leaf Indian Bistro
Authentic Indian Cuisine not something you hear about too often in Miami. This quiet little gem is a great week night diversion from your typical meat and potatoes dinner. Get adventurous and order a few different dishes amongst you and your friends. This place is definitely one to check out.


Miami Beach

* Clarkes
This neighborhood joint's menu is full of Irish classics and decorated with a large pub style bar complete with TV's so your better halves (ladies) don't miss the game but cant make an excuse not to take you to a yummy dinner. Its a win win situation.

Design District

*Mandolin 
Probably my all time new favorite place in the city, Mandolin is an Aegean Bistro and the decor channels the Mediterranean something like a Greek seaside town. If your lucky enough to have great weather then this is your place. There is very limited seating in doors but, you don't want to be inside you want to be in the magical garden setting outside for sure. Order a tapas style lots of small dishes and share is my suggestion because they are all so great you will want a taste of them all.

8th Street

*Mr. Yum
Yum is right on! This place is off the beaten path and although its not new its tried and true. This sushi and Asian restaurant is cleverly decorated with super friendly staff and awesome food! It was a tendency to get sort of loud but the vibe is great.


*Hy Vong
This hole in the wall is some of the best Vietnamese food in town. Chill and delicious with a very low key crowd, super food for foodies and sweet service. I really "hope" you like this one.

Monday, August 9, 2010

cookarazzi


Celebs stepping into the culinary world seems to be a new fad these days. As if they didn't have enough fame, fortune, good looks and amazing clothes now they have to flaunt their amazing cooking abilities and dreamy kitchens. I mean where do they find the time?! Anyways, the ultimate of these glamazon do-it-all have-it-all role models is Gwyneth Paltrow not only does she have it all now she has a blog www.goop.com and she is coming out with a cookbook based on her late fathers favs and some of her own. It really doesn't seem fair sometimes but, hey I guess in the end its for our good to let us know we really can reach for the stars and at least if we can't catch one we can be inspired. This photo from the latest Vogue seems to capture the moment and the dream.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

easy peasy salmonesy

In a hurry or a scurry and want a healthy and no fuss no muss meal?! Well, my addition to the easy peasy dinners is this yum yum salmon recipe...


Ingredients


Salmon (try and buy wild)
Mustard (spicy brown or dijon) a few squirts or tables spoon full.
Mayo a squirts worth
Ginger (fresh or pickled) about a table spoon chopped finely
Salt/Pepper a dash here and a dash there...




Directions

Pre-heat oven to broil Med/High. Make a tinfoil dish or place the salmon on a sheet of tin foil on a baking sheet, this makes for easy clean-up.

Grind a dash of salt and dash of pepper on the surface of the salmon. Squirt your mustard, mayo and chopped ginger on your salmon and with the back of a spoon or knife spread it around to make an even layer on your salmon.
Broil till the top is browned and a bit crispy this depends on the thickness of your salmon but, prob around 5-8 minutes for medium-well.


Recommended side....for real I mean real easiness/laziness buy a back of veggies that you can steam in their bag in the microwave and for a carb a box of couscous from Far East in whatever flav you crave.


Eet Smakelijk!