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Favorite foods: cheese, pasta, rice, seafood, game, lamb, dessert, BREAD

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The Ten Most Recent Posts By cristi

From Talk

Miami Eats: Need Recommendations

Posted by cristi, February 12, 2008 at 4:34 PM

I am heading to Miami in March and am trying to pick restaurants for 4 dinners. I have reserved at Michael's genuine food and drink for the first night, but am looking for recs (good food, good atmoshphere, good service, am willing to pay for a place that has all three) (would like one italian night). I am looking at Michy's, Sardinia, Escopazzo, Talula, Chef Allen, Prime 112, Osteria del Teatro, Ortanique, Cacao.

Any thoughts to help pick among these?

Thank you!!!

17 Comments | Tagged: Florida, Miami, restaurant recommendations

The Ten Most Recent Comments By cristi

From Talk

Miami Eats: Need Recommendations

I just came back from Miami and wanted to report on the experience since you all were so helpful with the recs. We ended up going to Michael's, Prime 112, Michy's, Cacao and Osteria del Teatro. Michael's is a MUST. It was our favorite of the trip. It offers homey yet inventive fare and the atmosphere is wonderful, full of life, vibrant. Truly a fantastic restaurant. Prime 112 was a TOTAL scene and they made us wait an hour before seating us, but it was an experience and the food was pretty good. If you go, it is for the scene more than anything else because I am sure there are other steakhouses that offer the same quality food. Cacaos was very good, beautiful presentations, more low key. We also loved Osteria. Osteria has a great atmosphere (the SOBE location is a big part of it) even though it somehow seems more old fashioned than the others (it's been there for a while). Still, it was refreshing and the food was delicious. Get the specials! Michy's, although good food and wonderful service, was just ok, and I guess this is because it has the most hype surrounding it and it's not as exciting. We liked Michael's better.

Thanks again to all for the help!

cristi at 12:57PM on 03/19/08

From Talk

Last Bite?

always crust. have an apple pie? I eat all the apple filling first, then the center pastry and finally crust (I save some icrecream for those last bites as well). if the dish has cheese, then always some cheesy bite for last.

cristi at 4:07PM on 02/20/08

From Talk

Miami Eats: Need Recommendations

Thank you all for the recommendations!! I think we may try Michys, Cacao, or Talula, maybe one of the Italians suggested. I have heard great things about Sardinia and am tempted to try it but we shall see. I am from Panama and I am half Cuban!, our local food is similar to Cuban food so that's why no Cuban food except maybe for lunch : ) When we visit the U.S. we try to take advantage of dishes and atmosphere that we cannot get over here so that is mainly what we are looking for. Maybe we'll try Joe's for lunch since it's such a tradition. China Grill I have been to in the past and have mixed feelings about it. Thanks again : )

cristi at 10:36AM on 02/14/08

From Talk

Have you ever made Sticky Toffee Pudding?

I made this one and it was easy to make and yummy if very sweet. The sauce is a bit tricky (I always have issued with caramel-like sauces, if anyone knows a trick about how not to mess these up please share!). Vanilla ice cream is a must. And it does indeed freeze well.

http://www.chow.com/recipes/10973

cristi at 9:35AM on 02/13/08

From Talk

Small-bite sweets, #1 new food trend?

Like the idea b/c I love variety but I find that mini desserts almost never taste as good as the full portion ones. I am not sure why but a mini cheesecake usually does not compare to a slice of cheesecake proper. Same for mini pecan pies or tarts, and I just love these desserts, maybe it's the crust thing, I love the crust and on the minis you can't really experience that as well. So..I don't know, I welcome the trend and maybe I am just not trying the right ones....

cristi at 11:48AM on 01/11/08

From Talk

What do you love to make?

desserts that require baking: cheesecakes, alfajores, cookies, hello dollies, pound cakes. AND risotto. I find baking therapeutic and risotto dishes very satisfying.

cristi at 6:30PM on 12/12/07

From Talk

Have you successfully duplicated a restaurant recipe?

Yes! And I could not believe my husband and I managed. The ricotta gnocchis with sausage fennel ragu from Lupa. We used an online recipe. The Lupa ones are better but ours are pretty good. The only problem we have is that where we live good ricotta is very hard to come by and there is no goat curd which the recipe calls for, so we use Spanish goat cheese which is usually the tastiest available and they taste more goat cheese than ricotta-like, but they are still wonderful and the ragu is fabulous. The delicious aroma in the kitchen is very special!

cristi at 2:17PM on 12/06/07

From Talk

Post Thanksgiving Brunch Quandry...

For a yummy brunch cocktail try passion fruit mimosas (champagne or cava which is less pricey with passion fruit juice). It's a refreshing brunch coktail.

cristi at 4:41PM on 11/21/07

From Required Eating

What's Your Favorite Thanksgiving Food?

Ed, I agree with you 100%. Stuffing and pie. Stuffing is indeed a perfect food and pie...well, a buttery crust with yummy filling, what more could one ask for. My favorites are pecan and pumpkin and vanilla ice cream is a must for me.

cristi at 11:26AM on 11/01/07

From Talk

What do you pack for lunch?

I pack lunch every day. I assemble the sandwiches on Sundays. English muffin with veggie cheese (moza, cheddar and/or jalapeño cheddar), and also bring some veggies (broccoli, spinach) or chicken or an apple or yogurt ro accmpany and have either oat bran cereal with raisins or honey and oat crackers for dessert.

cristi at 11:39AM on 10/22/07

Responses to Comments by cristi

From Talk

Last Bite?

A hot T-bone steak, slightly charred on the outside - the part that is nestled in the "T" part of the cut next to the bone, with a bit of charred fat on the edge - that is all the steak I need!!

butterscotchsq at 11:12PM on 05/10/08

From Talk

Miami Eats: Need Recommendations

I just came back from Miami and wanted to report on the experience since you all were so helpful with the recs. We ended up going to Michael's, Prime 112, Michy's, Cacao and Osteria del Teatro. Michael's is a MUST. It was our favorite of the trip. It offers homey yet inventive fare and the atmosphere is wonderful, full of life, vibrant. Truly a fantastic restaurant. Prime 112 was a TOTAL scene and they made us wait an hour before seating us, but it was an experience and the food was pretty good. If you go, it is for the scene more than anything else because I am sure there are other steakhouses that offer the same quality food. Cacaos was very good, beautiful presentations, more low key. We also loved Osteria. Osteria has a great atmosphere (the SOBE location is a big part of it) even though it somehow seems more old fashioned than the others (it's been there for a while). Still, it was refreshing and the food was delicious. Get the specials! Michy's, although good food and wonderful service, was just ok, and I guess this is because it has the most hype surrounding it and it's not as exciting. We liked Michael's better.

Thanks again to all for the help!

cristi at 12:57PM on 03/19/08

From Talk

Last Bite?

Hmmm I definitely don't do this consciously. I've always been told to not save the best for last because that way if you get full, you won't enjoy it!

Hillary
Chew on That

Chew on That at 4:24PM on 02/22/08

From Talk

Miami Eats: Need Recommendations

Leave China Grill & Prime 112 off your list. Cheese central and over rated. If I had to choose the top 3 restaurants in Miami my picks would be Michy's, Macaluso's and a new one, The Smoking Rabbit. Food is amazing at all 3. Ribs at Michy, meatballs at macaluso and everythin at The Smoking Rabbit. I'm from Chicago and lived in NY for 20 yrs. I know GREAT food.

jonkington at 12:00AM on 02/20/08

From Talk

Miami Eats: Need Recommendations

I've been to Las Culebrinas a bunch of times... i did not know there was one in Coconut Grove, because the one I;ve been to is in Hialeah's West side... on 12th W Ave and 45th street... around there... and it's not too fancy at all. I go in wearing bermuda shorts and sleveless shirts all the time.

If you do indeed go... Las Culebrinas' chicharritas de platano con mojito are super duper good. I also quite enjoy in Hialeah Las Delicias. It's on 48th street and on a marginal road next to 4Th W Ave. it's almost on the mall righte these on 49th street/4th W ave. They do, in my humble opinion, have THE BEST chicharritas de platano ever. They are super thin and their mojo rocks!!!! it's cool to go for lunch if you're in that area... not touristy at all.

MadelynRodriguez at 2:39PM on 02/19/08

From Talk

Miami Eats: Need Recommendations

you have a good list there.

Def do Michys, Ortanique (for a weekday lunch) and Osteria de Teatro (on a weekend night), ask for a table by the window, that way you get a window and a show! ;) i love Prime 112, i see there's mixed reviews here, but it's really fab. Tallulah is inconsistant for me, but others in my fam love it all the time. I liked the hominy at Michael's as well, but that was it, the choc cremoso dessert was um, 'interesting'. Go for dinner though, i went for lunch and thought it was no big deal, apparently for dinner it's a diff story.

I second Macaluso's for Italian, but beware of chatty waitress, it could take 30 minutes for her to go over the verbal menu. For Cuban, do Versailles in the middle of the nite! lol. We were just there on Sat at 12:30AM and had to stand in line in the parking lot to get in. lol. The wait was worth it, fab late nite meal. For Peruvian, try Salmon Salmon, the restaurant is teeny, but the fish is incredible (try the ceviche or tacu tacu). For Chinese, forget China Grill, CG sucks. Try Tropical Chinese, it's delicious and they serve dim sum daily. OR try Tony Chan's Water Club also excellent. For sushi, if you are looking to splurge, try Nobu. If you are just looking for great fresh fish, try Sakura. For a good burger, try the new Five Guy's Burgers and Fries in midtown or my personal fave but it's a drive Keg South for their famous Keg South burgers.

Have a great trip and enjoy your Miami good eats! :D

girlyhome1 at 11:16AM on 02/18/08

From Talk

Miami Eats: Need Recommendations

as an ex-miami resident but frequent visitor there, i have three recommendations: 1) graziano's may be the finest argentinian parilla north of buenos aires. it may be the best argentinian restaurant in the world. go to the bird road (original) one,it's the best. as you might expect, their italian dishes are also superb. 2) versailles on calle ocho - not going to versailles is indeed like not going to the eiffel tower. the food is fine, but it is the archetypal cuban restaurant, and definitely the place to see and be seen. it is also open nearly 24 hours, and has great breakfasts. 3) las culebrienas - very elegant latin restaurant, stunningly good food. mainly cuban but seriously upscale. there are two - the one in coconut grove is a bit fancier. DO NOT MISS THESE RESTAURANTS! rks

rkscher at 1:44PM on 02/16/08

From Talk

Miami Eats: Need Recommendations

There's a good blog about Miami's eats here...http://dailycocaine.blogspot.com/

The blogger is also a regular food writer for a number of Miami publications, whose web sites might be checked as well...

weinoo at 10:00AM on 02/16/08

From Talk

Have you ever made Sticky Toffee Pudding?

kathyvegas---thanks for the portioning tip--sounds like the way to go for us single-serving needs people.

JEP at 9:16PM on 02/15/08

From Talk

Have you ever made Sticky Toffee Pudding?

I bake mine in muffin pans. Slide the 'muffins' into small freezeer bags to freeze and zap in the microwave for a few seconds to warm it up when it's time to enjoy it. It freeezes beautifully and somehow the preportioned serving sizes slow me down from consuming the entire batch in a weekend.

kathyvegas at 8:56PM on 02/15/08