GoBistro in Hollywood

I basically found another reason to visit my cousin in Broward more often, GoBistro in Downtown Hollywood. This little place is huge on flavor, with authentic Japanese noodle dishes, fresh sushi, awesome wings and much more. Do expect to wait a little while for a table but once seated your food will be served promptly.

When I came in, sat down, and was handed a menu I automatically knew I was going to be in for a treat, I was having a hard time picking only a few items out of such a delicious sounding menu. I finally decided on the Gangnam Wings to start, ordered half with ginger soy and the other half spicy. They were cooked perfectly, crunchy and saucy outside with moist meat inside. I had heard rave reviews of their ramen so I knew coming in I would be having some. I chose the Curry ramen bowl - a spicy curry broth with pork belly, scallions, bamboo, nori & nitamago egg. The spice was just right, not overwhelming, the noodles were the perfect texture, the egg was cooked perfectly and the pork belly was of course great. I am still drooling over that broth.

For dessert we chose the Thai Donuts. When the plate with the stack of donuts came to the table we all couldn't help but admire it for a little before digging in. The donuts come drenched in condensed milk that drips down from the top. They were the perfect ending to a delicious dinner.

I look forward to becoming a regular and trying out all the other delicious sounding things from their menu. Here are the deets for you: Go Bistro, 2035 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, FL 33020, Phone: (754) 263-2826, http://eatgobistro.com/

Italy has found a new home in Miami Beach

I had the pleasure of visiting the new Centro Storico in Miami Beach and let me just say that I am absolutely in love with the concept. I crave Italian quite often so the thought of having an Italian food district in Miami is incredibly awesome.

The first concept to open in the Centro is Antico Pizza. Simple Italian ingredients that make for one amazing pizza. You may be familiar with the name as it is founded by Giovanni DiPalma who owns the same name pizzeria in Atlanta, voted one of the best pizzas in the US by Epicurious, Food Network and others. Pizza is made to order in a neapolitan oven, making for those charred crusts I love so much. Flour is shipped from Italy as is the olive oil and other regional ingredients, the water is shipped in from Atlanta, guaranteeing the same great taste.  I love the fact that you can get your pizza to go with the first "Pizza Window" in the neighborhood or that you can sit in and enjoy with some friends in their beautifully decorated indoor space.

Scheduled to open next in the Centro is Gio's Chicken, Bar Amalfi and Cafe Antico. Bar Amalfi will be an outdoor terrace on their second floor overlooking Collins Ave and Cafe Antico will be located at the beautiful outdoor courtyard area near the main entrance where you will be able to sip on some Lavazza while people watching and enjoying an Italian pastry. Also scheduled to open next year is Cabana 2, an intimate cocktail lounge.

Here are Centro's details so that you can visit their awesome spot: Centro Storico, 1058 Collins Avenue - open daily - Monday to Friday from 11:30 AM until when the “dough runs out." Weekends they open at noon.

Brazilian Gem Paris 6 has made its way to Miami Beach

I had the pleasure of being invited to dine at the newly opened Paris 6 in Miami Beach. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, with dim red lighting reminiscent of many cafes in Paris. Service was wonderful, attentive from start to finish. The menu offers french classics like crepes, quiche lorraine and french onion soup.

For starters we chose the brie cheese empanadas from the small bites section, they are lightly fried and come with a yummy side of apricot jam.  For our entrees I chose the coquelet au vin et fettuccini au beurre de truffe (cornish hen braised in red wine, served with truffle butter fettuccine) it was very good, the hen was moist with the skin crunchy and the red wine glaze was slightly sweet, complemented it perfectly. The fettuccine tasted fresh and the truffle butter sauce was light while still giving it that yummy buttery taste. My husband chose the linguine bolognaise made with their homemade beef sauce and a hint of white truffle oil. Both dishes were very nicely plated.

 

Then came what I was most excited about, dessert. Paris 6 is famous for their variations of Petit gateau. I chose the Petit gateau with caramel, kit kat, nutella and lots and lots of chocolate. It was so decadent, it comes with a chocolate ice cream bar in the center, you take a bite of the bar and then dip it back into the warm gateau, utter perfection.

Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding with Guava Rum Glaze

• 2 dozen krispy kreme donuts
• 1 can of evaporated milk
• 1 can of condensed milk
• 1 tablespoon ceylon cinnamon
• 2 eggs
• 1 jar guava preserves
• 1 tablespoon butter
• rum

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut each donut into 4 cubes. Mix the milks, cinnamon and eggs in a bowl. Toss the donut pieces in the milk mix until liquid is mostly absorbed by the donuts. Place in baking dish. Bake for an hour.

Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a pan over medium heat. Once butter is melted add the jar of guava preserves. Stir until guava becomes liquid. Remove from the heat and add rum to taste.

Once the donuts are done, spoon guava mix over the donuts, let cool for 15 minutes (if you can resist.) Cut yourself a large piece and enjoy!

Earls Kitchen + Bar - Global Skillet

Earls Kitchen + Bar in Dadeland Mall opened in 2014 and has been a wonderful addition to the mall's newest wing . Beautifully decorated with a large center bar and an outdoor terrace to catch a Miami sunset it is a great place for a romantic dinner for two, a friends outing or a company dinner. Its cuisine can be referred to as a global skillet, with dish ingredients coming from all parts of the world. 

Upon visiting the restaurant you may want to start with an appetizer and one of their amazing cocktails at the bar. On my most recent visit I did just that, started with the Marilyn Monroe cocktail and the tuna tostadas. The Marilyn Monroe consists of skyy vodka, passion fruit juice, vanilla and prosecco, it is refreshing and light, perfect drink to accompany the delicious tuna tostadas which are crispy chili rubbed albacore tuna with creamy avocado, cilantro aioli, jalapeno and radish on a fried tortilla chip. These tostadas are addicting! (You can enjoy them as part of their happy hour menu at their lounge and patio area, Monday - Friday from 3-6 PM for $2.50 each.)

I'm not a fan of Kale, but their warm kale salad makes me a kale believer. They prepare it with black kale, baby potatoes, brussel sprouts, cranberries and toasted almonds all tossed together in a warm brown butter vinaigrette. I hadn't had potatoes in a salad before (except potato salad) and I must say, together with the brussel sprouts and the rest of the ingredients, they are a great addition.

For entrees they have a great variety of almost any cuisine you may be in the mood for. The bibimbap bowl is fantastic, prepared table-side by your waiter it is a Korean crispy rice dish made with fresh and pickled vegetables topped with a soft poached egg all mixed together in a soy ginger vinaigrette. You can add your choice of steak, chicken, tofu or shrimp if you'd like to make it your main dish or have it with just the veggies as a side dish.

I also tried the Steak + Sushi dish. A dynamite sushi roll drizzled with unagi maple and siracha mayo is beautifully plated next to a hot skillet with the ponzu marinated steak. The sushi was delicious and the steak was cooked to perfection, tender and juicy, full of flavor because of the ponzu sauce.

Their most popular dessert dish is the sticky toffee chocolate pudding cake. Warm chocolate pudding cake with chocolate and toffee sauces served with a scoop of vanilla gelato in a sugar candy basket. I am a HUGE fan of all things chocolate and whenever warm chocolate cake is on a restaurants dessert menu it is too big of a temptation for me to not order. This one does not disappoint, the cake is served warm, it is moist, and the chocolate and toffee sauce just make it that much more decadent.

The next time shopping opens up your appetite make your way up to Earls, you wont regret it!

Found a piece of California at Hyde Beach Kitchen + Cocktails

One of my favorite places to vacation is California, the food, the atmosphere, the views, and in particular the restaurants situated right on the beach.  I often wonder why we only have a handful of those here in Miami. When I came across Hyde Beach Kitchen + Cocktails in Hallandale beach I discovered a piece of Cali right here in South Florida. Situated right on the sand it's the perfect spot for food and drinks with great ocean views. The beach-side first floor offers quick eats, refreshing cocktails and fresh pressed juices. The second floor is where you'll find the main restaurant with indoor and outdoor (water view) seating, offering seasonal contemporary American cuisine by chef Danny Elmaleh. On the third floor, is a secluded lounge with jacuzzi, food offerings and craft cocktails that will be available to members only.

I've been to the main restaurant as well as the beach bar and both have been great experiences. On my first visit to the main restaurant I fell in love with its modern decor. The indoor restaurant is decorated in beautiful neutrals with modern wooden accents and the outdoor area has a beautiful oceanfront coastal vibe.

For my meal at the main restaurant, I wanted to try a couple different plates. I first chose their fish and chips. Fresh cod lightly battered and fried to perfection giving it a crunchy bite with fries that were cut thin and well seasoned. The dish came with a malt filled pipette dropper which I thought was pretty neat.

I also ordered the fried chicken and waffles. Whenever I see that on a menu, you know I gotta try it. The chicken was seasoned and fried perfectly, crunchy flavorful bite into some delicious moist chicken. The waffles were crunchy while still being light and fluffy.  This dish also came with two hot sauce filled pipette droppers.

On my second visit I got to enjoy a private cabana in their beach bar area. This area has about 5 private cabanas as well as a few very comfortable looking lounge chairs. You can order from the beach bar from either the tables around the bar or by renting a lounge chair or cabana.

For appetizers we chose the fried calamari and ceviche. Isn't there just something extra special about enjoying seafood near the beach? The calamari was fresh and not overly battered, it came with a side of red sauce and also aioli. The ceviche had corvina in leche de tigre, it tasted fresh and was full of flavor, loved that it came with tortilla chips.

At around noon they started firing up the grill so I chose to order a single cheeseburger and elote corn on the cob from their grill menu. The burger was perfectly grilled and the bun it came in had a subtle sweet hint to it that was delicious. The corn was also fantastic, it had a delicious mayo & cheese sauce with crunchy pepper flakes on top, it was so good!!!

Overall, if it wasn't because I don't live nearby, I'd probably make it out to their spot every weekend if I could. Either way I see myself visiting quite often, even contemplating a staycation once the Hyde Resort & Residences is finished.

Spotlight on: Doce Provisions

I had been craving Doce since my last visit to the hidden Little Havana spot. On my second visit I went with some dishes I had previously ordered plus some new ones I was excited to try.

First on my list, the chorizo croquetas. Croquetas are a staple of Miami food culture,  when you make it a croqueta with popular newcomer Miami smokers chorizo it is sure to be something special. This they were, flavorful chorizo filling that is breaded just right and fried to the point they are crunchy outside but not oily, utter perfection.

Short Rib Mac & Cheese: Cheddar dashi, pimento crumble, togarashi (chili peppers.) I put my fork into the dish and there it was, the melty ooey gooey goodness you want to see when you order mac and cheese. The short rib was the perfect add-on, flavorful tender strips of meat mixed in with all that cheese and that crunchy top crumble.... delish!

Short Rib Burger: queso frito, truffle aioli, pickles, tomato, frisee. Incredibly juicy patty topped with fried cheese, it's basically everything you want in a burger. 

Ahi Tuna Toast: white bean purée, frisee, pear, radish. Toast slices topped with fresh ahi tuna, mixed in a delicious light sauce and fresh greens.  

My favorite dish from my first visit had to be ordered again, the Little Bird Fried Chicken with

sweet plantain waffles, pickled peppers, guava jelly, and sriracha honey. Just like on my first visit, the chicken was perfectly battered and fried. This dish is full of flavor, I'm a big fan of sweet and salty so the well seasoned chicken paired with the slightly spicy peppers and the sweet plantains is a party in my mouth.

If you haven't made it out to Doce Provisions yet, believe me you'll want to. Here are the deets: Doce Provisions, 541 SW 12th Ave, Miami, Fl 33130.

This Foodie can Cook...

In addition to Tia Maria's corner I will be adding my own recipes to the blog! Starting with my Baby Back Ribs and Potato Salad.

Potato Salad:
3 Russet Potatoes
1 Egg
2 Tblspns mayo
Salt
Pepper
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
2 strips of bacon

• Boil the Egg - place your egg in a pot with room temperature water, put pot on the stove top at medium-high heat, once water boils remove from stove top and cover. Leave covered for 10 minutes.
• Cook your bacon and reserve some bacon fat.
• Peel the potatoes, cut into cubes and boil until fork tender.
• Mix Mayo, lemon juice and some of the bacon fat.
• Pour mayo mix over the potatoes, mix in the boiled egg (cut into pieces), add the bacon (crumbled) and add salt and pepper to your liking.

Baby Back Ribs
1 Rack of baby back ribs
Olive oil
Salt
Pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Favorite brand of BBQ sauce

• Mix dry ingredients.
• Drizzle olive oil on the ribs and pour the dry mix, massage the mix all over the ribs (if you can let marinade overnight even better.)
• Make an aluminum foil ball and place on bottom of a crockpot, this will allow for the ribs to cook but not become mush in their own liquid.
• Place ribs in crockpot on high for 5 hours.
• Remove ribs from crockpot carefully (the meat will be fall off the bone tender,) place in an oven rack and cover the ribs in your favorite brand of BBQ sauce, then broil in the oven for 5 minutes.

Small Tea - Big Taste

Mr Palmer Iced Tea

One of the things I most love about NYC is how many coffee and tea shops there are in almost every corner. When I walked into Small Tea a couple years ago I knew I had found my new Gables sanctuary. The decor is modern, elegant, yet still cozy, with earthy tones throughout. They offer a wide variety of teas from different corners of the earth as well as a scrumptious menu with options like salads to sandwiches to even sometimes ceviche! I must say that I have never tried anything here I have not loved. Personal favorites are the house club sandwich and the brie apple sandwich.

House Club Sandwich

Brie and Apple Sandwich

The House Club sandwich is filled with BACON, a fried egg, smoked turkey, tomato, swiss cheese and a light mayo. The brie and apple is filled with brie cheese, honey dijon dressing and toasted walnuts. They both come with veggie chips that I am completely addicted to, you will eat the whole bowl of chips trust me.

Napoleon

If you prefer your tea with something sweet they have a great variety of sweets for you. Macaroons, almond croissants, gourmet chocolates and much more. Do you enjoy afternoon tea? They offer 4 different afternoon tea options for you to choose from with a group of friends.

Since a cup of tea makes everything better, stop by Small Tea to enjoy some peace and quiet while sipping on fresh brewed tea and collecting your thoughts.

Summer Narragansett Takeover at Izzy's Miami Beach

I escaped to New England last night thanks to the Summer Narragansett Takeover at Izzy's on Miami Beach. The takeover was in collaboration with Jim Crooks from Narragansett brewery whose beers were the perfect pairing to the New England fare. The menu consisted of Rhode Island Steamers, Stuffed Quahogs, Maine Lobster Rolls and Blueberry Pie.

Izzy's is owned by Jamie DeRosa from Long Island. At his restaurant you can expect the same great fresh seafood associated with Cape Cod and decor reminiscent of New England.

The Rhode Island Steamers and Stuffed Quahogs started off the meal. As soon as the bowl with the steamers hit the table, their amazing aroma hit your nose and you knew you were in for a treat. Fresh steamed clams, cooked in a delicious broth, absolute perfection. Dipping the buttered toast in that broth was quite special. The quahogs (round, hard shell clams) with a squirt of fresh lemon juice instantly transported me to Cape Cod, and were equally as delicious as the steamers.

Then came the Lobster Roll....how can I describe how decadent it was! Warm Maine lobster inside of a soft buttery bun, accompanied by waffle fries. The roll is filled with a good amount of delicious lobster, the butter is just the right amount, didn't make the bun soggy.

To end the night in a sweet note there was the Blueberry pie, not overly sweet, delicious crumb topping with little dollops of whip cream.

If you love seafood and aren't planning on moving to New England anytime soon you'll want to visit Izzy's in Miami Beach for some delicious fresh seafood.

Not your Mamas House

When you're hungry and can't make it to your mamas house, you'll want to visit Bocas House. Located in a strip mall in Doral it is THE place to get good eats in that part of town. Owned by talented cook (co_cinero on instagram) Cesar Gonzalez, this Latin American eatery features everything from Venezuelan classics like pabellon to Peruvian classics like lomo saltado. On my first visit, during early lunch time, I wen't the Peruvian route with what better than a mimosa in hand.

For my lunch entree I chose the Tallarines al Wok con Lomo. As soon as the beautiful plate was placed in front of me, I knew I was in for a treat. Sauteed onions, peppers, tomatoes, thinly sliced - perfectly cooked steak with noodles in a delicious, flavorful sauce. The portion was quite generous, it was so good though that I must confess to there not being much left on my plate.

I had been following Bocas House on Instagram for quite the while, drooling over the pictures of their Nutella Milkshake. Obviously upon finally making it out to the restaurant I knew that would be my dessert. When it reached the table, my friend and I were instantly excited. Why? Well we were seeing a large mug filled with nutella milkshake, topped with a nutella brownie, a nutella truffle, and a huge ball of vanilla ice-cream generously drizzled with MORE nutella. Who wouldn't be excited at the sight of this! It of course was as glorious as it looked, the brownie was moist, the milkshake was just right, and I mean there was NUTELLA galore!

Would I go back to Bocas House? Silly question! Yes, I would go back... I should probably hit the gym first though...

A little piece of France in Hialeah

La Fresa Francesa:

Because you obviously think of France when you hear of Hialeah.... don't you? Well let me tell you, France has made it's Hialeah debut. Located in a strip mall, this hidden gem instantly transports you to Provence upon opening it's doors. It's a small quaint cafe with rustic french charm. With only a handful of tables you may have to wait a while for a seat, but jot your name down, it's worth it. The mastermind couple behind La Fresa Francesa are Sandy Sanchez and Benoit Rablat. Sandy, the friendly Hialeah native works the front of the house and Benoit the French native runs the kitchen.

On the menu you'll find french items with a cuban twist. For my drink I chose their homemade strawberry lemonade which was not overly sweet, slightly tart and very refreshing. I hadn't noticed the guava mimosa until I became envious of the girl in the next table sipping it, I shall order that next time. For my main entree I chose the Cubano en Paris sandwich, delicious braised pork, perfectly melted gruyere cheese, slightly tangy dijon, pickled red onions in freshly baked la brea bakery artisan bread. It was delicious, it's like the french version of a pan con lechon and I am an instant huge fan. 

For dessert two crepes caught my eye. I was happy to have my best friend with me so that we could order both and share. We ordered the guava creme and the monito borracho. The guava creme was not light on the filling, you got a great portion of pastel guayaba jam in every bite, perfectly balanced by the creme fraiche. The crepe was crispy on the edges and soft around the filling. The monito borracho is more of an open faced crepe, it has the flambeed bananas in a delicious pool of butter, brown sugar and spiced rum. They were both amazing, can't really pick one over the other. Note: you can get a scoop of vanilla ice cream with the monito borracho crepe, OH MY!

In short, I will now be making out my way to Hialeah quite often thanks to this little piece of Provence nestled in its neighborhood.

Tia Marias Corner - BOLICHE ESTILO CUBANO

BOLICHE ESTILO CUBANO

1 boliche cortado a la mitad

1 chorizo español cortado en tiras

4 tiras largas de tocino sin pellejo

Aceite de oliva

Sal y pimienta

1 cebolla grande

1 ají verde

1 ají rojo

4 dientes de ajo

Hoja de laurel

Tomillo y orégano

Comino

1 botella de vino tinto

Caldo de pollo

Pasta de tomate

Aceituna

Vino de Jerez (vino seco)

Mechar los pedazos de boliche con el chorizo y el tocino.

Untar el boliche con aceite de oliva y ponerle sal y pimienta. Cubrir y refrigerar por 24 horas.

En una cazuela lo suficientemente grande, poner un poco de aceite de oliva y dorar el boliche completamente.

Añadir la cebolla, el ají y el ajo picados. Cuando la cebolla este suave, añadir la hoja de laurel, tomillo, orégano y comino. Rehogar por unos minutos. Añadir el vino y dejar que hierva. Si necesita más líquido agregarle caldo de pollo. Cuando esté hirviendo, agregar sal y pimienta si es necesario,tapar y bajar la candela. Cocinar hasta que el boliche este suave cuando se pincha con un tenedor (de hora a hora y media). 

Sacar el boliche y rebanarlo el lascas de 1 pulgada de ancho.

Pasar la salsa por un procesador de alimentos o por la batidora.

Poner la salsa de nuevo en el caldero en fuego alto. Agregar las rebanadas de boliche, 1 cucharada de pasta de tomate, un vasito de vino seco y aceitunas aliñadas. Bajar el fuego a mediano, tapar y cocinar por unos 20 minutos más. Si la salsa está muy clara. Cocinar a fuego alto hasta  que espese. Si la salsa está muy  espesa, agregar un poco de caldo.

Doce Provisions in Little Havana

Made my way out to newbie Doce Provisions in Little Havana. They occupy the space where Little Bread used to be, 541 SW 12th Ave. Owned by husband and wife team Justin Sherrer (head chef at Cinebistro) and Lisetty Llampalla this restaurant is a great addition to the slowly evolving neighborhood. The menu is Miami inspired, with dishes like lechon asado buns and coconut rum tres leches. Let's refer to it as a sort of Cuban gastropub. Inside you will find a few tables, barstools, and an open kitchen to see the good eats being prepared right in front of you. I preferred the outdoor seating area, accessible via the back door of the restaurant. The patio has mismatched tables and local wall art that give it a cool vibe, the restaurant has live music on Friday nights outdoors as well.

On to the food. Wow just Wow, as soon as you look at the menu you'll be in a dilemma.... not knowing what to order! Everything sounds so unique and delicious. I decided to order only a few items as I automatically knew I'd be coming back even before trying the food. We ordered the Lechon asado buns to start, disco truffle fries, short rib burger and little bird fried chicken. The lechon asado buns were more pork belly than what I consider lechon asado but still delicious, the pineapple confit and carrot habanero are the perfect compliment, giving you that sweet put slightly spicy kick. The disco truffle fries with gravy, chives and parmesan cheese were great, the fries were not greasy, the gravy was not too heavy and the chives gave it an extra bit of freshness. My favorite of the night was the little bird fried chicken with sweet plantain waffle, pickled peppers, guava jelly and sriracha honey. The fried chicken is cooked and seasoned perfectly, crunchy outside, moist meat, slight spice on the breading. The waffles were fluffy, slightly crunchy, with the plantains actually on the side. When taking a bite you want to get a little bit of each component of the dish in one, trust me, you will have a party in your mouth. My husband ordered the short rib burger which I took a bite of, the burger was cooked as ordered, and the queso frito with the truffle aioli was the perfect pairing.

I am ecstatic that Doce provisions is in my neck of the woods and I definitely see ourselves becoming regulars.