Mixologist Mix Off at the Ritz Carlton's Dune Oceanfront Burger Lounge

There is nothing more relaxing than sipping a refreshing cocktail while feeling the ocean breeze lightly caressing your face. Wait, what about sipping four refreshing cocktails; all made with Grey Goose Vodka's newest flavor, Cherry Noir, as their "secret ingredient"? This newly launched flavor features the signature vodka we all know and love, blended with the rarest and freshest cherries found in the French Basque Country. That is exactly where my latest adventure took me when I attended the Mixologist Mix Off hosted at the Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne, at Dune Oceanfront Burger Lounge this past Sunday. This fabulous-on-so-many-levels event was the official launch of Social Key Biscayne.



The Mixologist Mix Off consisted of a friendly, one-on-one competition between bartenders from the resort's four restaurants. The task was to create a signature cocktail containing Grey Goose's Cherry Noir, and the favorite among the crowd was the winner. After tasting all four cocktails, and more than once if necessary, we voted for our favorite by dropping a token at their table. Let me tell you a little about each of the contestants and their creations.

Yoshi's Sherry Raspberry Dreams

The first one I tried was Yoshi's majestic cocktail: Sherry Raspberry Dreams. Yoshi is the incredible mixologist from Cioppino and his signature drink blew me away. He created a tantalizing foam with the vodka and some jello that made the drink seem like not only a cocktail, but a delicious dessert! Mmmm...very refreshing and tasty. Not only was the drink amazing, but Yoshi entertained the crowds with his great personality and obvious joy of mixing.

Alex's Cherry Noir Sling

Next, I walked on over to Alex Rodriguez's table to try his special treat.  Alex, from RUMBAR, created the Cherry Noir Sling. Besides the vodka, it contained cherry liquor, grenadine and was topped with seltzer water and lime. Fruity and cooling on a hot Miami afternoon!

Frank's Island Paradise

Two down, two to go. I mozied on down to try Frank Smith's appealing concoction, Island Paradise,  which reminded me of a beautiful sunset as it swirled in the glass. It was divine! Frank, from Cantina Beach, added a splash of midori to his creation (among other ingredients) preparing the perfect summer drink.

Geno's Dual Cherry Breeze

Finally, I walked over to the last contestant's table (or swerved, I'm not really sure): renowned mixologist Geno Marron, from Dune Oceanfront Burger Lounge. He was right at home in more ways than one, as he shook and mixed and explained to all how his mystical, magical fusion, the Dual Cherry Breeze, was as refreshing as the "gentle breeze that caressed our brows" on that gorgeous Sunday afternoon. It had Grand Marnier, cherries that had been marinated for over 2 weeks, cherry brandy and Prosecco. Very creative and very cool!

Once everyone had had the opportunity to try all the cocktails, and had voted for their favorite, the winner was announced. The prize was a $150 gift certificate, however, all contestants received a mixer for their amazing work. And the winner was....drumroll please....Frank Smith from Cantina Beach!! Congratulations and I say we all go celebrate with a round of Island Paradise.

Frank Smith, Winner of Mixologist Mix Off

Of course, I am the Foodaholic so my adventure would not be complete if it did not include some good, mind-blowing food. You didn't think I was just going to talk about the alcohol, did you? Right after the spectacular Mix Off, we grabbed a nice table in front of one of their flat screen T.V.s to enjoy the remainder of the Miami Heat basketball game (we won by the way) and had us some dinner. While deciding on what to order, they brought us their signature lavash crackers with a bowl of hummus and a bowl of chopped olives.

Half of a Mediterranean Burger and Kobe Beef Slider

Dune's menu includes appetizers, salads, and gourmet burgers. We decided to share two items: their Kobe Beef Sliders and their Mediterranean Burger. The Kobe Beef Sliders were two per order and were incredible. They came with Foie Gras, Baby Arugula, and Balsamic Roasted Onions and were served with a side of french fries. The meat was well seasoned, juicy and grilled to perfection. The Mediterranean Burger was just as appetizing and came with Prosciutto, Manchego Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Onions and Pesto Sauce. Also served with french fries, it was a generous size and absolutely delicious.


Needless to say, we had a great time at the Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne. If you're looking to spend a lazy afternoon in the sand, enjoying great-tasting food and a breathtaking view, check out Dune Oceanfront Burger Lounge. They have events planned all the time and you'll love it. One tip though, they do close at sunset, so you want to make sure you come early enough to enjoy yourself to the fullest. For more information, you can call them at 305-365-4500 or visit the hotel's site at http://www.ritzcarlton.com.

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The Rainforest Cafe

A couple of my friends with kids have asked me for suggestions on good places to go that children will not only enjoy, but will have their very own adventure in. While there are many kid-friendly restaurants out there with plenty of items on their menus for the little foodies, there is one place that not only the mini mes flip over for, but makes the adults give off lots of "ooohs" and "aaahs" as well. This chain restaurant has locations in many parts of the United States, and we are lucky to have one nearby. Fun and wild all at the same time, this place is the Rainforest Cafe, located in the Sawgrass Mills Mall in Sunrise, 12801 West Sunrise Blvd.

The decor at the Rainforest Cafe is absolutely awesome! Imagine having a meal in the middle of a recreated tropical rain forest, complete with lush vegetation, waterfalls, exotic fish tanks, and animatronics. Elephants, gorillas, tigers, parrots and other indigenous wildlife take turns roaring and coming to life as you enjoy a nice tasting dish. Every few minutes, lightning flashes in the rainforest, and you can hear the signature thunder blasting around you. Pretty cool! Off to the side, you'll find a large mushroom housing a bar, with rain drizzling down all around it. The tables are playful, depicting colorful rainforest scenes and there is also a store to buy merchandise to remember your visit by. Right outside the restaurant, there is a play area for the smallest of foodies called Cha Chas Adventure Area. It houses a playground the little ones can have fun in while you wait for a table. There really isn't anything the designers of this place didn't think of in its creation.

Awesome Appetizer Adventure

Dining Room

Now, when a restaurant is this spectacular in its decor, it sometimes lacks a bit of quality in its food. That wasn't our experience. I was just as excited about the cuisine as I was with the visuals. Since we were hungry (are we ever not?) we started off with the Awesome Appetizer Adventure. Not only did everything in this dish sound mouth watering, but it was part of my namesake, so how could we go wrong? It consisted of: Chimi-Cha-Chas: light, crispy, wontons wrapped around roasted and deliciously seasoned chicken breast, sweet corn, onions, black beans, roasted red peppers and Mozarella cheese. Insanely delicious! Spinach and Artichoke Dip with tri-colored tortilla chips: Creamy spinach dip with tender tasty artichokes, smothered with parmesan and cream cheese, topped with pico de gallo, and served warm. Stop the world I want to get more! It was that good. Cheesesticks: breaded mozzarella sticks, fried golden and served with marinara sauce. While these were just regular mozzarella sticks, the cheese was perfectly melted and the marinara sauce was tasty. Chicken Tenders: Pretty straightforward again but crispy and flavorful. The honey mustard dipping sauce added a nice touch. The dish also came served with guacamole over a bed of shredded lettuce. A big hit with us!

Macadamia Crusted Tilapia

Fish Tacos

Off to the first entree! I had the Macadamia Crusted Tilapia and Coconut Shrimp. The dish consisted of a baked Tilapia filet prepared in the most delicious way. It was brushed with cream of coconut and then topped with a macamia nut crust that gave it a crunchy finish that was to die for. As if that wasn't enough, it was served with a sweet mango puree that added an extra flavor to the fish and a tangy teriyaki sauce. Awesome! The dish also came with skewered coconut shrimp; very fresh and grilled to perfection and your choice of side. I ordered the french fries which I gotta say were rather good. Next up, between roaring tigers and gigantic elephants, we ordered the Fish Tacos. These were made with white fish, cooked your choice of either blackened or tempura fried, and wrapped in corn tortillas with pico de gallo, fresh cilantro, red cabbage and their homemade avocado cream sauce. It was also served with Caribbean rice and black beans on the side. The fish tacos were fresh but the fish was not very seasoned. While they were o.k, they lacked flavor.  The same went for the Caribbean rice and black beans. A bit on the bland side, it was not a dish I would repeat.

Rainforest Burger

The third entree we tried was the Rainforest Burger. It was awesome! The burger was HUGE and juicy, topped with a fried onion ring, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and cheddar cheese, and served on a toasted bun! Mmmmm! It was difficult to get my mouth around it at how big it was, but I managed.

Finally, came time for dessert. I know, I know, how could she even think of dessert after all that food? Well, I usually ask myself that same question after I'm done eating and have a hard time  breathing, but once I'm on that foodie adrenaline rush, it's no holds barred. Are you ready? We ordered the Volcano! Yes folks, the name appropriately fits the dessert. It was three giant chocolate brownies arranged in the shape of a volcano, filled with a mound of creamy vanilla ice-cream inside, and quite literally erupting with whipped cream, chocolate sauce and caramel. A serious sugar rush that made me want to jump in with the gorillas and pound my chest!  The fun part about it is that it comes with a lit sprinkler and they yell "Volcano!" as they bring it to your table; letting everyone around you know that you are indeed a glutton! Fabulous ending to a fabulous meal!

Volcano

We truly enjoyed our adventure in the spectacular setting of the Rainforest Cafe. It is a must visit for the entire family and you will not only enjoy the surroundings but the food as well. For more information, you can call them at 954-851-1015 or visit them online at www.rainforestcafe.com.

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Blue Collar Restaurant

If I had to imagine where Barney Miller, Sanford and Son and Laverne & Shirley would go for lunch in between chasing bad guys and living out their signature antics, I'd imagine them coming here for some wholesome American comfort food. In the middle of the MiMo District, alongside the Biscayne Inn Motel, we find the setting of my next lunch adventure: Blue Collar Restaurant, located at 6730 Biscayne Boulevard.  A word of advice....don't let the neighborhood's reputation deter you; it's no longer about getting a quickie but about satisfying your taste buds.



Once we walked into Blue Collar, I could feel the passion Chef/Owner Daniel Serfer felt when he envisioned his restaurant. A cozy place, featuring blue painted counters with small tables and white art deco chairs, Blue Collar is more reminiscent of a neighbohood diner than anything else. A large chalkboard hangs straight ahead, displaying the Dailies and the Veggie options, while vintage lunch pails decorate the wall. Chef Serfer proudly creates his dishes inside the open kitchen, as he chats with his patrons and occasionally walks around and says hello. It's a very relaxed, casual ambiance that makes you feel like you're family.

Croquettes

I had one item in mind that I wanted to try as an appetizer and that was the Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese Croquettes, which came served with Pomegranate Fig Jam on the side. They're not part of the lunch menu but Chef Serfer was kind enough to make them for us. The croquettes were tasty, with the mushrooms prevailing in flavor. They paired very well with the jam, which added the sweet kick I love. However, I didn't taste as much of the goat cheese as I would've liked.  I had envisioned a more creamy texture inside, with the signature boldness of goat cheese, which it didn't have. Regardless, they were pleasing.

Shrimp and Grits

Close-up

Next I ordered a menu item that caught my eye. It was the Shrimp and Grits. You can't get any more down home and blue collar than that. The grits were made with Trugole Cheese, Neuske Bacon and a New Orleans style spicy BBQ sauce that rocked my world. Add to this a good portion of seasoned shrimp, that were a tad bit sweet in nature, and I felt like jumping up and yelling "Schlemeel, schlemazel, hasenfeffer incorporated.."  (Can you tell what channel I tuned into on Tuesday nights in the 80s?)  Delicious! It turns out Serfer gets his shrimp from no more than 15 miles away from the Florida coast, allowing him to serve up the best of the best.

Veggie Plate

Noticing the menu offered a large selection of vegetable dishes, which is rather rare, we opted to also order their Veggie Plate. The Veggie Plate comes with your choice of four vegetable items, providing a healthy alternative selected from their Veg Chalkboard. We picked the Mango Chow, Curried Cauliflower Puree, Sauteed Wild Mushrooms and Roasted Artichoke Hearts. While they were all good, my favorites were the Cauliflower Puree and the Roasted Artichoke Hearts. The Cauliflower Puree was smooth and flavorful with bits of roasted cauliflowers. So incredible! The Roasted Artichoke Hearts came with lemon aioli which gave it a tantalizing taste I really enjoyed. The Mango Chow had a nice refreshing twist, combining citrus and jalapeno; and the sauteed wild mushrooms were well, sauteed wild mushrooms. Unlike my friend, I am not a vegetarian but I would definitely come back here and have a Veggie Plate again because it was that amazing.

Bread Pudding

Although we were full, I had heard their Butterscotch Heath Bar Bread Pudding was to die for so I wasn't about to walk away without giving it a try. When I sunk my spoon into the warm, moist delight, I momentarily closed my eyes and savored each bite. I think Chef Serfer actually caught me a couple of times. It comes with a dollop of Chili Spiked Whip Cream that will make you say "Bam" so watch out. A bit spicy but oh so good! It's their way of balancing the sweetness of the pudding made from Challah bread; and it works.

We walked out of Blue Collar with satisfied tummies and happy hearts at the friendly service and good food we experienced. Too full to order a thermos of Panther Coffee, I'll have to save some room for it next time. Because Chef Serfer...there will be a next time. For more information, you can call 305-756-0366 or visit their website at http://bluecollarmiami.com.

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Battle of the Burgers at Palmetto Bay Village Center

There are many holidays we look forward to: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Mother's Day to name a few. And how about those designated months of the year we always have luncheons at work for: Hispanic Heritage Month in October, Black History Month in February and National Women's History Month In March.  But I bet you don't know what we celebrate in May (besides Memorial Day).  Are you ready? May is National Hamburger Month. That's right. We now have an entire month dedicated to these juicy patties of love.

I was invited to serve as a judge for a Battle of Burgers prepared by participating Miami Food Trucks and hosted by Burger Beast. It took place on May 4th in Palmetto Bay Village Center, located at 18001 Old Cutler Rd. The place has a great family-oriented ambiance and is quite beautiful. It's no surprise then that there is a food truck event usually held there on the first Friday of every month. Being the dedicated foodaholic I am, I kept my food consumption to a minimum for most of the day, only drank Diet Coke and made sure I added an extra 30 minutes to my afternoon workout regime (don't burst my bubble and just let me keep thinking that is going to work.). I was very excited by the time I arrived and took my place at the table with my prestigious fellow judges. We would be sampling a total of 8 scrumptious hamburgers. (Originally there were twelve, but at the end, four were no longer competing.) Since each burger was just assigned a number, we didn't know which food trucks were competing or who prepared what. Basically, they came in random order and we judged them by giving them points according to a predetermined rubric.

When the first ones arrived, we sighed and got down to serious business. I can honestly say I found all of the burgers delicious. But of course, some stood out because they were outrageously good. For example, the first burger we sampled made you want to lick your fingers. It was juicy, had an addicting combination of fried onion rings, honey smoked bacon and jalapeno peppers, and combined all the flavors perfectly. We knew at that point, there'd be a little more meat on our bones by the time we were done with this experience.



The food trucks truly outdid themselves with their burger creations. There were gourmet burgers with brie cheese and avocado, burgers with fried mac and cheese and burgers with fried eggs. The originality was unbelievable and I enjoyed every bite of it. Of course, at the end of the night, three winners were announced. So, after tallying our numbers, the winners were... (drum roll please)

First Place: Cheeseburger Baby

Second Place: Palate Party

Third Place: Chamo's on Wheels

By the way, even though I was quite full from sampling eight burgers, I couldn't help but meander over to the Dolce Gourmet Cupcakes food truck on my way out. It must've been fate I tell you, because I paused in front of the truck for a couple of minutes and admired their Godiva Chocolate Brownie; fighting my every desire to sink my teeth into one. All of a sudden, I heard a wise voice say, "Have you tried their brownies? They are amazing! Go ahead....do it!"  I thought it was an angel, but when my eyes focused on the voice, I realized it was Burger Beast! Well, we all know he knows food so I got me a brownie. Slap me silly it was the best chocolate brownie I have ever had; moist, rich and shamefully decadent . As a matter of fact, I can still taste it. Dolce Gourmet Cupcakes...get the batter ready 'cause I'm coming back for more.

Make sure you visit a food truck event near you this month and try one of the mouth-watering burgers they are offering. Once you do, don't forget to stop by here and tell me which one was your favorite.

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Cinco de Mayo - El Rancho Grande

I'll start by saying this is going to be a post about the Cinco de Mayo feast from hell! I have been lucky to experience more positives than negatives in my adventures and I have always preferred not to do a post at all when a restaurant is a disaster. However, I was compelled to write this post today because it was a special day and I really believe restaurants have to be extremely conscientious and careful in the way they present themselves everyday; but particularly on days like these.  From the circumstances of my visit - I got all wet (that's what she said), to the bland taste of the food - I don't have too many accolades to give.


It was Cinco de Mayo and I was really looking forward to having some out of this world Margaritas and traditional Mexican food. I was staying at the beach and while there were many great  block parties going on all over Miami, I thought it would be better to stay close by. Remembering a Mexican restaurant  I had been wanting to visit for a while, El Rancho Grande, located at 314 72nd Street in Miami Beach, I gave them a call to find out about their festivities. They told me they were having a block party with a DJ, mariachis and great drinks starting at 4 pm. I got excited and thought "Hijole, I just found me the perfect place for Cinco de Mayo." After all, Cinco de Mayo is a day for Mexican restaurants to pull out all the stops, showcase their very best, and leave customers with a desire to come back.


That's where my excitement started and that's where it ended. We showed up to El Rancho Grande about 5 o'clock and there were only a couple of people there. That's OK...it was still early. They asked us whether we wanted to sit inside or outside, and since the mariachis were singing, and it was a beautiful day, we decided to sit outside.  I noticed the table they were preparing for us was very wet on top, but I figured they'd take care of it. After sitting down for a few seconds, I felt wet in the seat of my dress. Hmmm...nothing was going on down there so I looked at my seat, which was made of rattan and wondered what was up.  I then noticed the floor below me was pretty wet also. Now, if you live in Miami, you know it didn't rain on Saturday, so I got up and realized my dress and thighs were soaking wet. One of the busboys noticed me standing and came to ask me what was wrong. I told him my chair was all wet and now so was I, so he explained a dog had been sitting in my chair prior to us taking it and had spilled his water all over it.

Now, I am a pet owner and dog lover myself, so I have no problem with restaurants being dog friendly. However, there is a limit. A dog? On the same chair I was sitting with my mini dress? What if I had worn something more elegant that could be ruined? Are you sure it was his water he spilled? How much water did this dog drink? It had been all over the table, the floor, and now me. OMG! He couldn't understand why I was so upset. So, I grabbed another chair and asked him to please remove that one. The waiter then came a few minutes later and after trying to ignore the cold, wet feeling on my derriere, I thought I'd order one of those delicious drinks they had told me they had. "What kind of margaritas do you have?", I asked. "We only have margaritas on the rocks", he responded. (In a plastic cup, no salt on the rim, might I add.) I took that because at this point I realized I'd probably need 5 or 6 to get me through this.

Guacamole

I looked at the menu, and it was lame to say the least. Where was the queso fundido I had read about? Turns out, it was a very (emphasis on the very) limited menu for Cinco de Mayo. I thought, well, they have their Guacamole listed and I read they prepare it for you at the table while you watch so, I'll start with that. I sat back, hoping the breeze would dry me, and waited, until the waiter came back with a small ***** container with already made guacamole. I looked at him, and didn't ask. Why waste my time?  We didn't have any cutlery yet so we asked the waiter for some to eat the guacamole, and he came with three little packets of plastic cutlery (like the one you get in some fast food restaurants) that contained a plastic knife, a plastic "spork" and a small napkin. Are you serious? It's not like they were so busy they had to break out the paperware. There was nobody here! Back to the food...the guacamole didn't have much flavor and I grabbed big chunks of avocado with every scoop. According to the menu, it was supposed to be prepared with California avocados, which tend to be sweeter, fresh onions, tomatoes, cilantro and jalapenos, but I just didn't taste it. I love guacamole, and make a pretty mean one at home, and this one was less than desirable; which would prove to be the theme of the entire meal.

Mexican Tamales

Rather than going through the agonizing details of each dish we ordered, I'll keep it short. In addition to the guacamole, we also ordered the Mexican Tamales.  These were supposed to be traditional tamales stuffed with seasoned shredded beef, and topped with salsa roja and verde, with a touch of chipotle. Sounds amazing, right? Not! No flavor, I tell you. The meat was tough and very difficult to swallow. My biggest concern when I eat Mexican food, which I love, is that I ask it not be too spicy.  However, I would've welcomed some serious spice here - anything to give it a kick. There just wasn't any seasoning..

Taquitos Dorados

Taquitos al Pastor

While there were three of us, we shared two entrees afraid of what would come. Luck would have it we ordered the Taquitos Dorados as an entree, which were crispy long corn tortillas, filled with chicken or shredded beef, and topped with lettuce, pico de gallo and crema mexicana. Unbeknownst to us the shredded beef was the same one as in the tamales. Miss! As a second entree, we ordered the Tacos al Pastor; which were supposed to consist of soft corn tortillas, stuffed with pork marinated in different chiles and spices, and then grilled with pineapple and topped with onions and cilantro. I really don't know what we got because I never tasted or saw any pineapples and if that meat was marinated in anything, those were some bland-tasting chiles. I have a strong suspicion they served us something else but we were so confused at this point, we went with the flow. If you look at the picture I've included with the dish, you may think I had one too many margaritas since there is nothing stuffed inside the soft corn tortillas. No, I wasn't drunk, and yes you are correct. We had to do the stuffing ourselves unlike the menu stated. To this day, we are still arguing over what meat actually came with the dish. I say it was chicken, others say pork. Very bizarre.


Needless to say, we couldn't finish our food (which you know is atypical of me). I had to get home, and prepare a little something because we were in for a long night and wouldn't be eating anything else. The only positives I found on my visit to El Rancho Grande were that the inside of the place is decorated very nicely and authentic and the bathroom was quite spacious and well kept. That's it. I have heard there is a second location in Kendall, but I have not visited there and really don't plan to after this experience. There appears to also have been a location in South Beach that closed a few months ago.

In case you want to contact them anyway, their number is 305-864-7404 and their website appears to be under construction.

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Eating House

A good friend of mine suggested I visit a relatively new restaurant located in Coral Gables. She talked to me about a couple of the dishes she'd had and how awesome they were, and I got to admit she peaked my curiosity. Then as coincidence would have it, I noticed a lot of buzz circulating on this particular restaurant and chef: how it was a "Pop-Up Restaurant" sensation; how the Miami born and raised chef had been the city's only winner at Chopped on the Food Network, and how their menu changed daily. That's all I needed to know, so I hightailed myself over to Eating House on a Friday night, which is located in Cafe Ponce, at 804 Ponce de Leon Blvd, and decided to see for myself.

Let me start by giving you a little background about Eating House and how it came to be. Chef and co-owner Giorgio Rapicavoli, formerly of 660 at the Angler's, competed in January of this year against three other chefs in the popular Food Network program Chopped, and won. He took his winnings and put them into opening a pop-up restaurant in an existing breakfast and lunch place, Cafe Ponce; and began by serving dinner a few nights a week. It has been a hit; the talk of the town, and in a few short months, Eating House is now open for dinner Tuesday-Saturday, and Sunday for brunch. The secret to his success in my opinion? The incredibly original and inventive combination of ingredients in his dishes, and the obvious passion he puts into his creations.

I arrived at Eating House at about 8:00 pm on a Friday night and the place was packed. It isn't very big, and there were people standing outside and at the entrance. The wait ran about an hour and you could see Rapicavoli and the rest of his staff running around, trying to accomodate everyone as quickly as possible. Their menu is rather small, but includes a nice variety of items, including desserts. At first glance, I couldn't quite envision the dishes from reading their description. I mean crispy brussel sprouts with korean bbq sauce and a sesame fried egg? Or maple leaf farms duck breast, with among other things, johnny cake crumbs and Dr. Pepper syrup? But being an adventurer and all, I said here we go...

Homestead Tomatoes

"Head to Tails" Tostada

I started with the Homestead Tomatoes. Sounds pretty straightforward, right? Think again. Let me quote the menu as I tell you what they came with: "lime, ginger, nuoc cham, peanuts, frozen coconut milk, herbs, and paradise farm flowers". I know what you're thinking. Frozen coconut milk with peanuts and tomatoes on the same plate? Well, dang they were good! All I could think as I pinched each tomato with my fork and scooped up the coconut milk and peanuts with a spoon was, how did he come up with this? That medley of flavors was genius. When all I had left on my plate was the melted coconut milk, I secretly wanted to use a straw and slurp it up. A couple of minutes later, out came the "Head to Tail" Tostada.  Just thinking about how it tasted, is making me hungry all over again. It was crispy pig ears and tails on a toasty tortilla with avocado creme, cabbage slaw, fresh cheese and lime. Everything came together so good that there was a burst of flavors in every bite. I didn't want the moment to end and it quickly became a favorite for me.

Pasta Carbonara

Niman Ranch Park Pork Belly

I really wanted to try their Fried Chicken Thighs since they looked so scrumptious, but since I had waffles for breakfast and the dish came with buttermilk waffles, I was torn. I asked the waiter to recommend another popular choice, and he suggested I try the Pasta Carbonara, explaining it was one of their signature plates. The Pasta Carbonara came with chunks of applewood smoked bacon, black truffle, sprinkles of toasted bread crumbs, an egg yolk and parmesan cheese. I am a fan of Pasta Carbonara, and again, Chef Rapicavoli's version sounded very interesting. However, I found it tasted OK and although the sauce was original, it wasn't my favorite dish of the night. The pasta was too firm, which is not my preference, and the overall flavor was a bit understated in comparison to the other items I had tried. However, when the next dish came out, I was once again giddy with excitement. It was the Niman Ranch Park Pork Belly. These were two slider sized potato roll sandwiches, filled to capacity with deliciously seasoned pork belly, cilantro, pickled cucumbers, scallions and a guava hoisin glaze. Phenomenal! The mixture of flavors worked well together; creating a sweet and tangy little wonder. As much as I enjoyed them, I could've ordered a couple more of these tasty treats.

Lemon Cake

Breakfast

Finally, it was time for dessert. I saw two items on the menu I liked: The Lemon Cake; a zesty sampling of whipped cake batter, yuzu frosting, small scoops of lemon ice-cream, cake crumbs and a touch of lemon zest; and my favorite, the Breakfast: a frosted flake cereal mousse, with milk panna cotta, candied flakes of cereal on top, and housemade coffee salt. I'll start with the Lemon Cake. It was very refreshing; a perfect balance of sweet and zesty without being too tart. But the Breakfast was the one that "took the cake" sort of speak. I had to lick the spoon slowly because I wanted to make sure I savored each moment. I can only describe it as so very creamy and different; the candied flakes on top brought a rich and decadent flavor to the airy pannacotta on the bottom. Definitely want to have it again.


Eating House is going to be big. They have already earned a following and it's no wonder why. Their innovative style, delicious food and great service is going to take them far. Add to that the freshness of their ingredients and the fact they focus on supporting local farmers and producers and you got yourself a recipe for success. Having a sense of adventure in common with this place, I can't wait to return very soon. I got a date with a certain Fried Chicken Thigh that I don't want to miss.
For more information, you can contact them (after 5:00 pm) at (305) 448-6524 or  visit them online at http://eatinghousemiami.com/.

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