Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

nice! thanks!

I live in Hialeah, Florida, which is practically Miami physically, but definitely another place as far as the atmosphere. Mostly Cubans have lived there for the past 30 yrs (as am I) therefore most of the places are latin restaurants with the customary window off to one side so you can sidle up and order your shot of Cuban coffee or tostadas (pressed cuban bread, liberally buttered-up) for breakfast. Not only can you order through this little window, but you can hang out, eating/drinking and talk to whomever you like. Believe me, they will respond if they havent already started up with you! I feel these places make my town unique and I wouldnt trade it for anything. Its a flavor and familiarity that is very much a part of the community.

As special as they are, there are tons of them! So when every once in a while you see a little hole in the wall italian or vietnamese place, you think to yourself, "what is this place doing here?" It turns out to be fantastic! The food is as authentic as our little cafe windows and somehow makes Hialeah more than just a little city full of Cubans. Of course, only we Hialeans know this, b/c no one else in Miami likes to drive in here; they complain about our strange street arrangements. Their loss;)

very scary...why does it feel like even moving to a deserted island is not going to help??