385 Miracle Mile
Coral Gables, FL 33134
If you’re looking for something authentic, I’d have to say fuhgeddaboutit. But a cool place to people watch and dine in style, come right in.
The décor is probably something I’d describe as mobster chic. The walls are crammed with memorabilia from Marc Randazzo’s (chef and owner) days as a boxer, and kitschy/gaudy religious/rat pack/Italian-American stuff. Basically, absolutely fabulous.
As for the food, pretty damn good. The menu says that all the recipes are Marc’s mom’s, and, if you don’t like any of them “call her and tell her – phone number given on request.” It’s flavorful; the sauces are just the right texture and amount; the ravioli was stuffed with the perfect amount cheese and the salad, amazing! Artichokes, ham, beans...mmmmm
The prices are a bit expensive though.. Around $20-27 for most plates. But in all fairness, when you get your plate, you’ll feel this little wave of relief because there’s just so much food. Really, they look like family-style servings. The place isn’t cheap, my fabulous foodies, but it’s not terrible either.
Randazzo’s is one of those places you come with a date or for those nights you want to be uber-fab. I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s the best Italian place around or even semi-authentic, but I can say it’s a cute, chic place to get your Mickey Blue Eyes on...
27 N Krome Ave.
Homestead, FL 33030
I don’t know about you, but when I have mentioned to people that I’m going out for some Mexican food, I always get the same answer-- “There’s no good Mexican food around here… Well, maybe Chevy’s I guess…”
Um. Yeah. No.
Everyone is wrong. There are some fabulous places where one can get some authentic Mexican grub. A small trek to Casita Tejas in Homestead will have your taste buds thanking you for the culinary fiesta!
My friend Wendy and I arrived during lunch hour on Sunday and took a seat in this sunny, sunflower themed restaurant. The interior of Casita Tejas is small, but adequate.
We waited a few minutes and our server came with a basket of chips and a small bowl of salsa. The chips were fragrant and slightly warm. The salsa was chunky, fresh and had a small touch of sweetness to it.
Wendy and I placed our orders and decided to start with some Tamarind soda. We both had to get the Burrito Norteno because it just sounded soooo good on the menu and my God, it was. The burritos were jammed packed with flavor and the sides of rice and beans, a delight. Large portions and everything fresh and flavorful. All in all, my meal was exceptional. I don’t think there was a single molecule of food left on my plate. Although we had eaten everything on our plates, Casita Tejas proved to be a nice place to stay catch up on some much needed girl talk.
After requesting our bill, we continued to munch on the chips and enjoyed the buzz of the place. People were chatting away and you could hear the dulcet tones of a tiny AM radio being played in the kitchen. Our server returned with our bill and a nice surprise. The total for our fabulous eats was a mere $21.00!
As we left Casita Tejas, we were still talking about the burritos. They really were that good. along with the service and atmosphere.
I don’t think Chevy’s stands a prayer.
19200 SW 344th St
Florida City, FL 33034
I still remember the first time I visited a farmer’s market. I was in San Francisco and instantly it changed my life. Seriously, I am not being dramatic. I picked up a few fruits here and there, had the freshest and best coffee ever, and listened intently as a few of the farmers talked about their plight and the benefits of eating local foods. It was from that point on that I became obsessed with how much our food choices impact the world. I have been spreading the message as much as possible down here in Miami, but hadn’t found a market that struck me until today’s visit to Robert is Here.
What a place! Way down in Homestead, this corner fruit stand is worth the trip--their creamy and thick fruit milkshakes alone! Robert offers his customers all sorts of goodies. From a variety of marinades, sauces, natural honey and exotic fruits, there is definitely something for everyone.
The stand started in 1959, when seven-year-old Robert sat at this spot selling his father's bumper crop of cucumbers. Now Robert ships around the world, and everything is first quality.
Friendly and a fellow foodie, Robert is always around if you have some questions. I had never tried lychees and he was kind enough to give me a taste. When I asked him if it was some sort of mamonsillo, he chuckled and said “it’s the Lexus of mamonsillos!” Boy, he was right. Absolutely delicious! My fabulous friend Wendy had come along on this fruit stand exploration and took some home too. After a few questions about some exotic fruits, we sipped on a mamey milkshake we had agreed to split and hit the road with our creamy goodness.
If I were you, I’d get to Robert’s quick. The summer heat in Miami is the best time for one of his refreshing milkshakes. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit Robert before he shuts down during September and October. The stand opens bright and early at 8am and never closes before 7pm.
Robert is Here means Monica is there!
18063 S Dixie Hwy
Miami, FL 33157-5546
People often search high and low for a pizza spot that well, hits the spot. Pizza is one of those foods that can sometimes fall into a hard-to- please -everyone category. With good pizza being relegated solely to the streets of NYC, it can be quite a challenge to convince people—especially New Yorkers that Miami has some great spots too.
Pizza is just one of those foods. We Americans have some sort of loyalty to our pizza parlor of choice. How many times have you heard: “Nobody make its like” Too many times right?
I’ve decided that I would begin a quest for the best local pizza joints in Miami. One absolutely fabulous spot and a personal favorite of mine; Steve’s Pizza is where I’ll begin.
It is interesting to note that when the pizza arrived, it appeared slightly burnt. The cheese and pepperoni looked good, but the crust was exceptionally dark brown. I hate burnt anything, so as soon as I saw the pie, I was a little worried. All my worry went away as I dove into the first bite. The cheese was just the right consistency and flavor, and the pepperoni was very high quality. It was very flavorful and not oily. It was not crisp like it was cooked on broil.
Something I noticed right away is that despite this being relatively thin crusted pizza, there was no oil pooling anywhere on the cheese or from the pepperoni. I haven’t had thin crust pizza with this property before, and was impressed, because overly oily pizza can sometimes be a bit gross. I finally got to the crust, which was dark brown, almost black in spots, and reluctantly took a bite. Instantly, it became apparent that this was not burnt pizza, and no ordinary crust. It was pizza fabulousness!
And it gets better! Steve’s doesn’t sell just pizza. They’ve got a full line of baked pasta dishes & Italian dinners. But with such good pizza I’ve yet to make it to that part of the menu.
Another fab piece of the pie is their prices. They are pretty darn reasonable. A large pie is about $15 and it’s large.
Steve’s Pizza has two locales--one in west Kendall and another on US 1. Both delicious and both will be seeing my face every time I’m in the mood for pizza. Now that’s amore!
This past Sunday, I took a trip to lovely Tarpon Springs. Yes, I know it is not in Miami, but I cannot help but spread the word about this small town with just about the most fabulous Greek food you'll ever taste!
One of the largest Greek communities in the USA, the city of Tarpon Springs is about 4 hours from Miami and well worth the drive. There is tons to do and tons to eat! Just drive out to the main strip-- Docadenese Drive. Surrounded by Greek delicacies, hand rolled cigars, the salty smell of the water and cheery Greek shop owners, you won't want to leave.
Known for sponge diving, you'll see more sponges and sponge boats then you could ever imagine. Venture into the sponge factories and pick up a few to take back home. Don't forget the soap though... Right on this strip is hands-down the best soap shop in the world--GETAGURU. Made in house with all natural ingredients, this small pink-washed shop will have you dreaming of opening your own specialty store. Once you're done dreaming, its time to start eating!
You cannot say that you've been to Tarpon Springs if you left without eating at Hella's. I've been here a few times and everything is really good. But the Gyros top my list. The gyros are hot, stuffed and absolutely delicious. I was really happy with the amount of tzatziki sauce they pour on-- sometimes many places make them too wet or too dry. This was perfect. The Greek salad, complete with large chunks of feta cheese was amazing. Big enough to be a meal on its own, it won't dissapoint. And don't forget to wash it down with some Greek beer or a deliciously refreshing Sangria. It was so good, I had to ask the waitress for the secret. Apparently, a few fruits isn't enough--you have to add all kinds of fruit juices too!
As for dessert, the Baklava is outstanding--Hella's has a bakery attached to it as well! Everything is fresh and baked right there... just ask the waitress who proclaimed that their signature dessert, "baklava cheesecake" is life changing! I'm sure it is-- given that it often runs out before noon. Tip: Bring a cooler--take these sweets home!
So, what's the pricing like? Well, that too is fabulous! The gyros are about $8, beers $4 , Sangria $6.
Tarpon Springs may not be in Miami, but it is definitely worth a visit--the whole town is all about "local." What is nice about the strip is there are a ton of shops that you can't find just anywhere.
Although a bit touristy and often a bit tacky, a lot of the stores have European linens and shoes (super amazing Italian leather shoes, to die for!) because the majority of the people that live in that immediate area are Greek. And the people that work there sound like every single person from the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". AND every other shop/boat/place was called Nicholas, I swear to God! It was awesome!
Maybe Tarpon is Greek for Food Fabulousness! Lets ask Mr. Portokalos! :)
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