Miami Living Green Expo
Posted on August 6th, 2009 by MiamiFoodie
The Miami Green Living Expo is taking place from August 15th - 16th at the Double Tree Mart Miami Hotel & Exhibition Center.
Admission is $10, and GreenerMiami.com has several free passes available. For more details on this event, check out their website at http://greenermiami.com/2009/08/miami-living-green-expo-more-details/comment-page-1
3 Responses to “Miami Living Green Expo”
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One thing that might seem hard to find in Miami is breakfast and brunch eateries… and after a night of partying, or a relaxing do-nothing weekend, sometimes a tastefully done Brunch is just what the doctor ordered before the hectic work week… the mimosas and bloody mary’s don’t hurt either.
So Alas… here is Food of Miami’s Top 5 Brunch Picks! And as always, if you have chart toppers, keep the coming!!
# 5 Gourmet Diner
On a lazy Sunday afternoon, sometimes nothing is better than a half serving of eggs benedict, a few mimosas and perfectly seasoned and crispy potatoes on the side. The Gourmet Diner is a just what the name claims it is… a classic 1950’s dining car, serving up gourmet food that every foodie and restaurant critic can appreciate and enjoy… it’s not every day that you come across a 1950s diner with a bouquet of fresh cut flowers on the dining counter!
# 4 News Cafe
If your in the mood to people watch on Ocean Drive, and nosh on a tasty renditions of classic brunch specialties, News Cafe on Ocean Drive is your best bet… The cute french style tables overlooking the beach walk on ocean and tasty breakfast spreads will certainly keep you occupied until past noon. When I say breakfast rendition, I mean that the eggs florentine and benedict are not served with the classic hollendaise sauce, but a cream cheese version that sounds odd, but actually works and is rather delish. It is light and creamy, and gives a new twist to the brunch classic.
# 3 Olivers
Olivers, located on West Avenue in South Beach, a serves clean, pristine, and gourmet brunch in a chic, cozy, refreshing atmosphere. The food is cooked and presented beautifully, and the decor and vibe is sophisticated but not stuffy. With outside and inside seating, Olivers is located away from the hustle and bustle of touristy south beach, like an oasis in the midst neon energy.
# 2 Raphael Restaurant
I stumbled upon Raphaels brunch while walking my dog on a Sunday morning. I would have never guessed to go to Lincoln Road for breakfast (other than Starbucks) but to my surprise, Raphaels was fantastic! The food was delicious, seasoned well with an almost french touch. Each dish is seasoned with fresh herbs, and presented beautifully. The people watching is also local South Beacher’s, so it is interesting to sit and see people rollerblading on their Sunday morning, watching the market vendors set up their stands, people attending Church at the lovely Miami Beach Community Church directly next to the restaurant. Intricately spiced food charmingly presented and a spectrum of Sunday passer-bys makes Raphaels a fantastic place to brunch on the weekends.
# 1 Rusty Pellican
The Number 1 Brunch Spot in Miami is HANDS DOWN the Rusty Pelican…. imagine a wedding reception minus the place cards and hideous brides maids dresses. Rusty Pelican serves a brunch buffet that leaves nothing to be desired…. eggs, waffles, bacon, pastas, salads, carving stations, pasta stations, seafood raw bars piled high with raw oysters, shrimp and crab legs, fresh fruit, pasta salads, and a desert station that is so beautiful and extensive, that there is no way to try every cake, tartlet and mousse! Not only are the options limitless, but the food is so well prepared that you wonder how many hands it takes to put the entire spread together! Rusty Pelican did a wonderful job making Sunday Brunches special, overlooking the gorgeous views of the Miami skyline… you feel like a king, but the atmosphere is not stuffy. This would also be great for children, as they can try a little of everything. There was no question in my mind that Rusty Pelican made it to #1 Brunch Spot in Miami (and my number 1 of all time!).
Rusty Pelican Brunch - Breakfast
Rusty Pelican Brunch - Seafood
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Grillfish is one of those restaurants in South Beach that you question… it looks great from the outside, but due to the prime location you wonder if the quality has a margin of error. Only 6 short blocks from my house, 11 months have passed and I finally decided to try this place. Of course, I procrastinate and wasted 11 months without this fantastic seafood restaurant steps from my doorstep.
Grillfish - Grouper with Sweet Onions
I had the grilled and blackened Mahi Mahi, and my date had the grilled and blackened grouper. Both of us ordered the side of onions, which is an onion, seasoning oil, light enough for dipping the fish. Both dishes were cooked absolutely perfectly, seasoned just right, not too light and not to pungent. It was also great to taste the fish side by side. The Grouper was more of a meaty fish, yet still light and not very oily, and did not have a strong, seafood fish flavor. The consistency was almost a light poultry texture. The Mahi Mahi, on the other hand, was much lighter, also not fishy or oily, and more flakey. Both dishes were prepared impeccably.
I decided to write about the main course first in this review, since after all, the credibility of a seafood restaurant lies heavily on the seafood, no?
For an appetizer we ordered the grillfish fish cakes. The large portion comes with 2 fish cakes, ideal for sharing. The flavor was great, much like a well seasoned crab cake (except with fish, obviously). The dipping sauce was a garlic and herb aioli, complementing the spicy, heavy flavor quite well with a creamy, tart kick.
Grillfish - Fishcakes
The side dishes were simply afterthoughts, steamed vegetables (carrots, broccoli, garic) and pasta with clam sauce… which you could have fooled me, because the pasta seemed to have 2 chopped clams and no sauce… I am not exaggerating when I say this could have been straight out of the boiling water, no sauce added, it was that dry. But we did not go to the restaurant for the side of pasta, so I was not disappointed.
As far as ambiance, I recommend going at night because we arrived at 7:00 PM, and the air conditioning seemed to not be on, the restaurant was relatively dark, and the vibe just was not there. At 8:00 PM the place came alive, with lights on, music, and a comforting aroma therapy scent circulating throughout the vents.
FOOD OF MIAMI RATING: 4 of 5 Stars
Grillfish
1444 Collins Ave
South Beach, FL 33139
305-538-9908
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I had convinced my friend to come along with me and try Sang’s Chinese Restaurant of North Miami Beach, since I had read several reviews of it being one of the most authentic Chinese Restaurants in Miami… as soon as we pulled up my friend started getting scared, I believe from the semi-run down exterior, but he warned me that if he came down with any sort of illness, I was one paying for his illness… so I agreed and we sat down for what turned out to be a meal!
Eggplant with Beef in Garlic Sauce
Several reviews that I have read claimed the staff to be rude, but I believe this may have been simply a culture barrier. We had ordered pan friend dumplings (which were tasty) but the dipping sauce was rather mild, so I asked the waitress for another dipping sauce… she looked down at my half finished dipping sauce and 3 remaining dumplings and said “you first finish those dumplings, if there is no sauce left, I bring you more…. thats enough sauce for 3 dumplings”… which was her way of saying stop being a glutton and NO. However, I have experience with Chinese people, being from New York, and that is just how some of them can be… nothing for you to get mad at, they are just blunt with their beliefs sometimes. So I said “OK” almost as if I was agreeing with my mother to not eat cookies before dinner, and continued eating my meal.
Pok War Seafood Dish
I had ordered the Eggplant with Beef, which consisted of Chinese Eggplant, sliced Beef, and Scallions sauteed in garlic sauce (but a real garlic sauce, which is brown, thick, and slightly spicy)… I could have ordered this in Chinatown and not known the difference.
My friend had ordered a seafood dish, Pok War, a seafood stirfry of Crab Meat, Shrimp, Scallops, green vegetables and Chinese mushrooms, served to the table sizzling over a flat skillet. He was satisfied.
Overall, the Dishes were prepared well, the food was tasty, and the restaurant and experience definitely authentic. It wasn’t the best Chinese food that I have ever eaten, but it was good takeout Chinese food.
FOOD OF MIAMI RATING: 3 of 5 Stars
Sang’s
(305) 947-7076
1925 Ne 163rd St,
North Miami Beach, FL 33162
5 Responses to “Sang’s”
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??????To refuse to bring the requested sauce by such a worthless person brings shame to the house and all chinese people. In my house people are honored guests even when they are from the West and without manners.
Burton Dale, aka
Lee Shar ping -
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Hi Ashley: My name is Al Malekovic (al@countrybobs.com) and I represent a very, very small company called Country Bob’s, Inc. We are making a great sauce called, “Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce” and we would like to get the word out about our product.
I know that review blogs are a great way to get information to the general public. I conducted a google search for food blogs and your name came and after looking at your blog, I was wondering if you would be interested in trying my sauce and perhaps reviewing it for me.If you send me your name and address via e-mail, I would gladly send you a recipe brochure along with two bottles of Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce in hopes that you would write a review.
If you would like more information, I would be glad to respond to any questions you might have. In fact, if you are interested in interviewing me after you’ve sampled the product, I would gladly make myself available!
Thank you for your consideration. http://www.countrybobs.com We also have two two bottle give a ways for your blog.
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I’ve had that experience before in Chineses restaurants and I guess it has more to do with the culture and the language barrier, most especially if English is a second language. If the food is good and reasonably priced, I guess I can live with it especially when I am craving for Chinese food.
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I have been paying more attention to where my food has been flown in from, the ingredients and amount of preservatives. After watching several documentaries on the processing of food in America (specifically The Future of Food, which I watched streaming on Hulu) I decided to switch to organic as much as possible. My friend Simit has switched to Organic since he has moved to Miami, and claims that he has felt noticeably better, more energetic and positive.
So, I decided to research several of the organic markets and food stores in Miami. Below are my findings.
Publix
Publix carries their own organic brand, called Greenwise, that contains no preservatives or insecticides. I have always bought these products and am extremely happy with them. Locations are all over Florida My favorite Publix is the one in South Beach on Dade Blvd… the spaceship design on the outside and people mover make grocery shopping fun!
Publix South Beach
Glaser Organic Farms
Glaser Organic Farms specializes in Raw, Vegan foods, and concentrate to find the best quality ingredients for their products. They specialize in growing tropical fruits, but also offer refrigerated raw foods as well as cooking classes and online ordering.
Glaser Organic Farms
19100 SW 137th Ave
Miami, Fl 33177
Phone: 305 238-7747
Apple A Day
Apple A Day is a natural food market that also carries supplements, Herbs and various treatment options. Located on Alton Road in South Beach, this market has come personally recommended.
Apple A Day
1534 Alton Road
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Phone: 305-538-4569
Fax: 305-538-2949
Whole Foods
I love Whole Foods. This is one company that I respect, for they have core values that they stick to: selling high quality, natural products. I can spend hours browsing the isles of these stores, reading labels, examining produce and skimming the supplements offered in this health food mega store.
Check their website for multiple locations in South Florida.
Aventura Whole Foods
Smoothie King
Smoothie King is another company that I respect and admire. If you are in the mood for a Starbucks Frap, or a Dunkin Donuts Coolata, skip it and head to Smoothie King for an energy booster… your pep will last longer, you will feel cleaner and healthier, and the health benefits will pick up your step and your spirits. Smoothie King offers nutritional smoothies and foods, as well as health products… like mix between a GNC and Jamba Juice. Again, check their website for numerous locations.
Oak Feed Natural Food Market
Written up in the Travel Channel Destinations Guide, this market is known for carrying products from A to Z… if they are good for you, they Oak Feed will carry them.
Oak Feed Natural Food Market
2911 Grand Avenue
Streets of Mayfair
Miami, FL 33133
Phone: +1 305 448 7595
Fax: +1 305 448 4370
If you know any more notable health food stores or sources in South Florida, please let me a comment! And I will include your recommendation, as well as stop in and check it out myself!
Have a happy and healthy day South Florida!!
2 Comments2 Responses to “Organic Grocery Stores and Food Markets in Miami”
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A better title for this post would be: Natural Grocery stores…
Publix Greenwise is all natural…not organic.
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Hey…we probably eat 95% organic and as much whole foods as possible. We try to avoid things that come from boxes and cans…for health reasons (for us and our girls) but also for environmental reasons. It just makes sense and the more people desire whole, organic foods, the more readily available and cost effective those foods will be.
Love you and love your site!
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Since there aren’t an overabundance of Chinese restaurants with authentic dumplings around Miami, I decided to give it a try and make them myself! I guestimated the ingredients, and have to admit, they turned out pretty good!
Pan Fried Chinese Dumplings
Chinese Dumpling Ingredients
Ingredients:
Beef or Pork (I prefer pork, but had none thawed), 1/2 lb ground
Scallions, Chopped
1 Egg
Salt
Pepper
Dumpling Dough (I bought my dumpling dough frozen from SE Food Market in North Miami Beach)
Dumpling Dipping Sauce (Also bought from Asian Food Market, Weighuan Dumpling Sauce)
The process is very simple, just repetitive.
1) Mix the Beef or Pork, Scallions, 1/2 of the egg beaten, Salt, and Pepper until thoroughly combined.
2) Place a dollop of the meat mixture into the center of the thawed dough.
3) Fold the dumpling shell over in half, so that the meat is enclosed in a half circle of dough.
4) With your finger, rub a small amount of the remaining 1/2 egg onto the dough where the 2 sides meat, so that the egg acts as a glue.
5) Take a fork and press down at the edge of where the dumpling dough meets, to ensure that the dough will not open and is pressed tightly together
Dumpling Meat in Dough, Ready to be Folded
Fold Over and Press Dumpling into Half Moon
Secure Dumplings Closed with Fork Divits
Completed Dumplings
Once all of the Dumplings are complete, Fry in very hot oil until as crisp as desired. Should not take more than a few minutes.
Pan Fried Dumplings - Food of Miami Style
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Ethiopian Restaurants in Miami might seem rare, but Kafa Cafe, a little gem located in Miami’s midtown, proves that anything is possible.
I am going to keep this short and sweet, because I am not one who frequents Ethiopian restaurants, and do not want to pretend to be a connoisseur… My friend Julie and I ordered 2 dishes, one beef and one lamb, and one of each vegetable on the menu. Our meals were served on one large platter, over a thin pankcake-like bread called Injera, with extra crepe rolls on the side. You can either eat with your hands, rolling the thick dishes into the crepe’s, or with a fork and knife. The presentation was beautiful.
Kafa - Miami
The meat was very tender, and the lamb was not heavy nor gamey… the vegetables were delicious, thick, and spiced perfectly with spices similar to Indian food. The owner said that the secret is in the chili peppers that they use, flown in directly from Ethopia! She informed us that other important spices, consistent throughout all Ethopian dishes, are garlic and tumeric, both of which contain significant healing powers.
There was no one else in the restaurant, sad for a tuesday night, but I almost felt as if we were eating a home cooked meal in an authentic Ethiopian kitchen.
Kafa Cafe - Me - Food of Miami
Overall, I highly recommend Ethiopian food if you have never tried it, and specifically Kafa Cafe. The experience of eating with your hands is out of the ordinary, and certainly enjoyable.
FOOD OF MIAMI RATING: 4 of 5 STARS
Kafa Cafe
3535 NE 2nd Ave
Miami, FL 33137
(305) 438-0114
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I know that this is off the topic of food, but I figured that we do have other aspects of lives that are worth writing about (don’t we?)…. Anywho, my air conditioner broke on my car, a 2000 Saab 9-3. Not having my usual reliable mechanic in New York, I was in search of a trust worthy, inexpensive, honest mechanic (practically an oxymoron)…
Triana & Sons - Best Mechanic in Miami
I foolishly started my search on the AAA website, and chose Danielle Auto Center on 1401 N.E 123rd St. It was then that I realized that AAA is yet another scam, and the only selection process for their “preferred member$hip$” of affiliated repair shops is the all mighty dollar! The owner was a complete crook, who couldn’t find a leak in my air conditioner after an hour and a half, but preceded to tell me that 2 hoses and an air compressor would set me back $850. When I was hesitant to start work, he pressured me to call my boyfriend, not leave, and get the work done right that second… RED FLAG. So I left, called my friend and immediately took my car to her mechanic, Triana & Son’s.
Tony at Triana & Sons’s was AWESOME… fixed my AC and attached my rear-view window for $125 bucks! He was honest, basically told me that Danielle tried to rip me off and rob me by putting a green substance on my compressor, which he wiped off, painted over, and low and behold, no leak! INTERESTING!
triana and son - Me and Tony
Moral of the story, if you need to get your car fixed, skip AAA recommendations and head to Triana & Sons in Miami - Tony is a chilled out Cuban dude that takes pride in his shop and their work, and doesn’t try to rip off his customers… he works on anything from classic cars to jet skis… and saved me a lot of money and headache!
Triana & Sons’s
2797 NW 7th Ave
Miami, FL 33127-4005(Miami, FL Metro Area)
Phone: (305) 634-4151
One Response to “Triana & Son’s Auto Mechanic”
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deffinatley going to share this post on my twitter.
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Living in Miami has plenty of perks… golf, beach, sun, countless Latin eateries and Salsa clubs, but one added bonus is living closer to my family in Homosassa, Florida, a small town on the gulf coast of Florida infamous for their Manatees and Natural Springs (and no, manatee parks are not children’s playgrounds, manatees are water dwelling creatures).
Me on the Boat during Scalloping
After a practically sleepless weekend of Country Bars, Scalloping, Boating and relaxing in the country, Sunday afternoon was a day for family to have a home-cooked lunch before our drive back to the hustle bustle of South Beach.
Food in my family is the heart of our laughs, one generation passing down recipes, stories and lessons to the next. The preparation of a good meal is just as important as conversing around the dinner table.
Preparing Potatoes with Aunt Dot
My Aunt Dot is KNOWN for her meatloaf, so not having been able to visit with her in quite some time, she whipped up her infamous dish, explaining her techniques (which does not include typical measuring… handfuls and dashes are the Southern Metric, so I tried to guess-ti-mate the portions).
Aunt Dot's Meatloaf - and Mini Meatloaf for Uncle Bob, who doesnt like celery...
Aunt Dot Preparing Meatloaf
Aunt Dot’s Meatloaf:
- Mix the following ingredients and form into a meatloaf-
2 stalks of celery, finely chopped
1/2 bell pepper, finely chopped
1 large sweet white onion, finely chopped
1 egg
1/2 cup of milk
1 cup of oatmeal
2 lbs of Ground Beef
1 lb of Ground Sausage (spicy or mild, whichever your taste)
Salt
Pepper
- Bake meatloaf until thoroughly cooked -
- Mix the following ingredients and baste onto the top of meatloaf -
1 cup of ketchup
1/2 cup of brown sugar
- Allow topping to crisp, about 7 minutes -
Ketchup/Brown Sugar Glaze for Meatloaf
The next dish that we prepared, which I could eat every day, was my Aunt Sharon’s Squash and Zuchinni. This dish takes about 45 minutes to cook, so I would start this early.
Aunt Sharon’s Zucchini and Squash
- Saute the following ingredients -
2 table spoons of oil
1 onion, sliced
- Wait for onions to soften -
- Add the following ingredients gradually, in stages, as they will cook down and provide more room in a large pot/frying pan -
1 1/2 lb’s of Squask
2 large Zucchinis
- Salt & Pepper to taste -
- Add 3 Slices of Bacon, chopped, once all zucchini is cooking (this is not necessary, but Aunt Sharon had extra bacon from breakfast… it adds a smokey, meaty flavor… DELISH)
Aunt Sharon's Squash, Zucchini & Bacon
The weekend was a blast, full of countless laughs, great meals, catching up with the family and fond memories, a great way to celebrate the 4th.
Me and My Cousins
4 Responses to “4th of July Weekend in Homosassa, Florida”
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The best squash & zucchini I ever had! Will have to show mama Ghemigi my newly acquired cooking skills
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As a Newbie, I am always searching online for articles that can help me. Thanks.
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I wish I had found this before.
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Hi there, nice read, however if u like to have more information.
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I found this clip about Michelle Bernstein, (for those not familiar, a world famous chef huge in the Miami food scene, owner of Michy’s on Biscayne Blvd in the Mimo District).
I enjoyed her take on the importance of food, growing up in a foreign house hold (she is Argentinian and frequents her homeland each year), how she became a chef, and how she and her husband chose the location of her restaurant.
Just try to look past the uber-pretentious, valley girl interviewer and you can get a great feel of a local celeb chef in the South Florida restaurant world.
2 Comments2 Responses to “Michelle Bernstein Talks about Her Career on PlumTV”
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Your blog is so informative ?keep up the good work!!!!
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Good recipe, thanx!
I really liked your blog and bookmarked it
I can see that you are an expert at your field! I am launching a website soon, and your information will be very useful for me.. Thanks for all your help and wishing you all the success in your business.
I hear you are going to start your blog up again! great news!