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...