Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Last year, I cooked my boyfriend penne alla vodka. It's so simple and inexpensive to make, but it doesn't fail to impress. This year, though, we opted for an indoor picnic, including some good, but inexpensive wine, some cheese and prosciutto, grapes or strawberries, bread and chocolate. My biggest splurge was on the chocolate ($16) and the wine ($19.99) but it's still way less expensive than the $300 per couple dinners in Miami, which you have to share with tens of other couples (mango&lime.net has the anatomy of my picnic). What'll make it more casual this year is that my boyfriend is moving to a new house, so the picnic will take place in an empty house filled with boxes. No pressure there, just a laid-back night at home drinking wine and eating with our fingers.

I had gumbo this Thanksgiving too but a traditional seafood gumbo. Using the turkey is a great idea that I may suggest we try next year! Oh, and the potato salad IN the gumbo works better than anyone imagined when told by the hostess that "Cajuns eat it that way."

Typically white but last year we grilled turkey thighs for Thanksgiving and they were to die for. Dark meat is definitely more tasty and juicy.

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.

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

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...

I'm in night-school and working full time but that won't stop us from having a great night. Homemade pasta with a 10-minute puttanesca sauce (seems appropriate given its, um, amorous origins), sparkling wine from Trader Joes and chocolate mousse from Cooks Illustrated. Inexpensive, delicious and special foods either prepped in advance or assembled in minutes after getting home. Peaceful, simple dinners from our kitchen inspire more romance than white tablecloths at a crowded restaurant, I say.

China Grill is a bit cheesy and overrated in my opinion. Michy's is a must, and if you go don't you dare pass up the ham croquettas or the spare ribs. Macaluso's is fabulous. The meatballs are to die for. I've heard good things about a new spot on the quiet end of Ocean Drive- a gastropub called the Smoking Rabbit. If you need a low-key fun night, Big Pink is a delicious better-than-average diner. Nemo is a beautiful place, as well as Escopazzo (all organic Italian, though pricey). Dromo Japonaise is a new spot in the Design District near Michael's and is Japanese French fusion. Enjoy!