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Opps…he did it again

7 Jun

If you haven’t already heard of The River Oyster Bar from Chef David Bracha you are seriously deprived.  As soon as I heard he was opening Oak Tavern in the design district, I knew I had to plan my attack.

Even though this past gloomy Saturday I thought dementors were about to attack, I didn’t let it bring me down.  Joey and I decided to pay this new restaurant a very necessary visit. Luckily, we didn’t have to wait for a spot.  We even parked on the street! Hmm..maybe I should start going out more when it rains.

At nighttime it’s practically impossible to miss this place since, there is a brightly lit sign resembling a Broadway Musical headline.  Once I was greeted by the hostess, I walked through their charming outdoor dining room inside the restaurant directly towards the bar (my second home).  If you want a more intimate spot, catch one of the tables by the semi-open kitchen.  Larger groups can always rejoice at the longer community table in front of their flat screen. Thankfully, there were a few seats left at the bar; I guess it was meant to be.

The Green Mile

The Green Mile

As soon as we sat, the patient bartender Roger introduced himself.  And I say patient because, typical Joey always likes to take his time finding a perfect wine.  I would have opted for wine but, I was hoping to get an energetic buzz for the birthday party we were headed to afterwards.  Since, I’m such a fan of a gin and HEAT (check out my recipes) I chose to sip on The Green Mile.  It’s made with smooth ambler gin, cucumber, chile and lime.  I know how odd chile and gin sound but, it combined together pretty harmoniously. Some other cooling cocktail options include their watermelon caipirihna or their house lemon, thyme infused vodka.  If you’re more of a beer aficionado, they have a respectable amount on draft like Duvel and the Big Rod.  Bigger is always better!

Bar Action

Bar Action

While I was pleasantly enjoying my cocktail an unexpected basket with homemade biscuits arrived.  Oh my god… Oh my good good..OMFG.  They were off the chain, insane in the membrane -delicious.  I hardly never waste my time on bread but, these make KFC biscuits look like cardboard.  And if I thought it couldn’t get any better, it did.  Say hello, to bacon butter.  No, this is not a sick joke.  

When you dine at Oak Tavern (you will) it’s a good idea to know what you’re in the mood for.  You really could dive into any direction here.  Yes, of course Bracha has oysters here.  Their menu layout is very similar to Michael’s Genuine, arranged from smaller to extra-larger plates.  However, they do have a larger assortment of charcuteries. Every thing literally sounds delicious, it’s almost overwhelming.  I didn’t want anything too filling, and I knew I wanted to try their Kale Caesar since, I adore the leafy salad from The River.  I let Joey order and he went the charcuterie route which I wasn’t opposed to.  You have the option of picking 3 cured meats for $22 or 3 cheeses for $16.  

Let me dish:

C H A R C U T E R I E

C H A R C U T E R I E

  • Country Rabbit Pate: Dear Jelly Bean, I’m sorry you recently passed and I might have eaten your brother but, he was incredibly tasty.  He wasn’t too rich and I very much appreciated his subtle flavor and slight gaminess. What even made him more delectable was the acidic addition of grainy mustard, pickled red onion and cornichon.  RIP JB. 
  • Duck Prosciutto: Thanks Roger for recommending this radiant cured meat.  The thick slices of toasted artisan bread and mustard fruit married well with it.  I almost wish all prosciutto was made from duck.  Quack. 
  • Kale Caesar

    Kale Caesar

    Kale Caesar: Just like I expected, this was just as delicious as the kale salad from The River.  It wasn’t too wet and the random radishes and pickled anchovy gave it such a thoughtful comforting compliment.  Radishes and Caesar shockingly pair well.  
  • Morbier Cheese: Out of everything, I preferred this the least.  I strongly respect it and REALLY tried to want to eat it.  For me, it tasted like it smelled. Even the combination of blackberries and cheese didn’t  please me.   Joey fancied it more than I, especially with the duck cured meat.   This French cheese seemed to be aged a very long time and if you’re a sophisticated lover of this dairy product - go for it.   
  • Worthy note=The  charcuterie plates come with the tastiest pickled vegetables I’ve ever eaten.  It strongly inspires to make my own but, that probably will never happen.  

Overall, the culinary style is very rustic and cozy yet, sophisticated and really rich in some cases with dishes like duck pizza ($15) Pork Belly Bahn Mi ($10), and the Gnocchi & Beef Cheek Ragout ($20).  It almost reminded me of eating in a classier kind of cabin.  The specials they offer Sunday through Thursday all sounds equally delicious, especially the Bahamian Style Fried Snapper.  My Nassau native grandfather would go crazy for that!

Oak Tavern is the type of restaurant you don’t want to leave.  Everything about it is completely humble, from the staff to the ambiance.  I’m definitely coming back with a bigger appetite and an even bigger purse to fit some biscuits into. Shh..  If you want to give this gem a try, go during happy hour which is EVERY DAY from 4:30-7PM or bar snacking from 3-6.  They also serve brunch every Sunday from 10:30AM-2:00 PM, which I’m tickled to try.  

I’ve come to the realization that David Bracha could never do wrong…well at least when it comes to food.    

He won me over, again.  

Location: 35 NE 40th Street

Reservations: Suggested-786.391.1818

Happy Hour: Every day 4:30-7

Hours: Pretty much open all day every day from noon till 10:30,  except they start at 10:30 AM on Sundays and close by 9:30 

Attire: Trendy but, cozy 

Summers with Pavan: Ginsanity

28 May

Since summer is practically here, I’ve been experimenting with my newest obsession gin.

As, I’ve stated before I used to loathe it.  It’s probably because, I took one too many shots at a frat party. Now, I’m having quite the affair with it.  Sorry, vodka… I found you rather boring. Gin is much more refreshing.

Yumberry Gin

Yumberry Gin

Gimlet Gone Wild

Gimlet Gone Wild

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gin and tonics are always a solid standard however, I do like to spruce things up sometimes.  If you haven’t checked out my previous gin concoctions.  Please check 1 & 2 and LIVE IT UP people.

About a week ago, I made my typical trip to Grove liquors.   I was planning on buying some Campari to try with gin.  Unexpectedly, I left with something much more elegant.  When I walked in the store some promoter was trying to shovel some kind of liquor down my throat.  Of course, my philosophy on never turning down free alcohol, surely paid off.

I tried the latest and greatest liquor, Pavan.  It highly reminded me of my former favorite liquor, St Germain.  They’re both french and come in gorgeous bottles (great for flower vases) but, Pavan has much more body and complexity.   It’s so summer!pavan

The name derives from the 16th century dance of the peacock.  No wonder the bottle’s so colorful.  The flowery essence is extracted by the fine muscat grapes from the renowned AOC (Appellation d’Origine Controlee) region of Frontignan.  I tasted it with Perrier and couldn’t stop thinking how delicious it would pair with champagne. Mimosas just aren’t too trendy these days.

Immediately, I ran home with excitement and used this to make a Ginsantity Pavan cocktail :

  • 2 oz. of gin
  • 5 oz. of club soda
  • 2 oz. of Pavan

This drink was everything I imagined and more.  It’s slightly sweet, sophisticated, skinny and summer approved. I’m proud to say, Miami bartenders from Fountainbleu and SLS have already jumped on this.

As the makers of Pavan say, Don’t be shy, Raise your Cocktail!

Keep your summers more sophisticated with Pavan.

My Foodie Mama’s Morning Picks

8 May

It’s finally that time of the year again… my birthday!! Oh right.. of course, that ALSO means mummy day.

Once a year, when I celebrate the day of my monumental entering into this world, it falls around mother’s day. Sometimes I’m even forced to share my special 24 hours with my mother. After 22 years, I’m pretty used to it. At least now that I’m 21, I can serve as an awesome and admirable drinking partner. How sweet am I? I mean it’s not that bad spending some of the spotlight with dearest Carey, especially if she’s going halfsies on some Veuve Clicquot. Champagne for my campaign ya’ll.

Let’s not kid ourselves, Mother’s Day is a pretty sweet time. All you need to do is bring some flowers, scratch a sentence or 2 on a card, say I love you and her face lights up as much as Perez Hilton did last night when he spotted Kim Kardahian wearing a couch. Side note: According to Vanity Fair 89% of people voted Mrs. Doubtfire hotter than K. Dash. Poor Kim, I really am a fan.

Anyhow, I didn’t even mention the best part of Mother’s Day….BRUNCH! My mom and I love ourselves some brunch. Question is, where to go? This questionnaire may help you pick the perfect place.

  • Does she like to Manga? Head over to Spartico at Coconut Grove’s luxurious Mayfair Hotel & Spa. She can dive into a buffet with her favorite pastimes like Italian imported cold cuts, Prosciutto Baked Egg Cups or snack on pizza made from their Ambrogi wood-burning oven. For an extra $12 drink up with unlimited mimosas. Mom’s are also greeted by a complimentary welcome drink. Prices start at $28.95, read here for more info.
  • Is she indecisive? Sugarcane features an excellent brunch with a giant array of options full of something for everyone. You can sit outside and bring the dogs too! What else would you expect from a restaurant with 3 different kitchens? They’re offering everything imaginable from duck and waffles to sushi and king crab legs. If you’re ordering from their robata grill, I suggest the octopus and pork belly. Check out their full menu here.
  • Was she a wild child, or still is? Take her to the design district for a morning at Michael’s Genuine. James Beard Award Winning Chef, Michael Schwartz isn’t messing around during brunch. They start their days crazy with plates like their spin on eggs Benedict served with crispy pork belly and kimchi hollandaise. Save room for dessert from James Beard finalist, Hedy Goldsmith! Her sensational treats include homemade pop-tarts and candy bar pie. For pricing and details go here. Make reservations quick, this hot spot fills up fast!
  • Calling ALL WINOS- Go gourmet at Atrio Restaurant and Wine Room at The Conrad Miami for a stellar sunny view. Brunch highlights include a carving station featuring Roast Angus Beef Strip Loin and Spiced Honey Roasted Ham with Mango Salsa or celebrate with Charcuterie. Bringing the kids? Don’t stress for a second because, children can have just as much fun in their arts & crafts kids zone-Sorry moms aren’t allowed. For reservations call 305-503-6529, $75 for adults and $24 per niño.
  • You fancy huh? Visit Brickell’s towering 4 Seasons Hotel and prepare for foodie heaven at The Edge. “Moodies” (mom foodies) can really start partying with unlimited Mimosas, Mojitos and Bloody Mary’s. Winner of Miami’s Cochon 555, Chef Aaron Brooks is showcasing a crispy roast suckling pig, made to order ceviche, fresh oysters, smoked duck breast and MORE. If that didn’t grab your attention, pastry chef Sarah Thompson will really give you a sugar high with sweet doughnuts prepared with homemade Nutella and strawberry marshmallows. Make reservations at (305) 381-3190. Brunch costs $95 for adults and $32 for children (hello, unlimited drinks).

Now that I’m officially sitting at my desk drooling I hope you have a banging brunch. Reservations are highly recommended for anywhere, so hurry!

Cheers to the greatest mum ever, Carey Guerra!

On Sunday, I will drink many mimosas at The Edge in her honor. (Yup, that’s my pick ;) )

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Gimlet Gone Wild: Spring Cocktail Recipe

21 Mar
St. Germain

St. Germain

Recently, my new go-to drink has been a gimlet.  They’re light, super refreshing and incredibly addicting in this Miami heat.  I found one version called, “The Juice Box” in last month’s Cosmopolitan.  O.K. You caught me, Kim Kardashian was on the cover so I had to buy it….don’t judge me!

Their drink has an elderflower liquor, St. Germain, which is probably why I love it so much.  In my opinion it’s the best mixer out there, except it cost about $35 since it’s from France-so use it very sparingly! It’s also a fantastic champagne topper.

This drink is PERFECT for the spring and upcoming summer.  Bring it to a BBQ or girl’s night for a standing ovation, or pre-game.  After 2 …or 3 you’ll have a great buzz and won’t feel guilty since the calorie intake is far less than the sugary hurricanes and daiquiris.  I advise to not mix this cocktail with bath salts since, apparently people’s faces have been disappearing.

Ingredients:

the juice box recioe

Directions:

  1. This step is optional but, makes a huge difference. I like to soak the gin in the cucumbers overnight, so pour the gin accordingly to how many drinks you plan on making.  
  2.  This recipe uses a cocktail shaker but, I shockingly don’t own one  I used a large wine glass instead, but you can use a flower vase, shoe or whatever you have handy.  
  3. I used 2 cucumbers for my glass, and just filled it 1/4 of the way with ice and then added the rest of the liquid ingredients.
  4. Finish by garnishing it with mint, cilantro, thyme or any herb you have on hand.  I don’t think marijuana would work quite well… sorry Rhianna.
  5. Sip away!
Gimlet Gone Wild

Gimlet Gone Wild

Please drink responsibly you crazy WMC fans & thank you Cosmo for this recipe!  

The Only Monday Money Saving Solution

16 Mar

After spending your weekend going to dinner, brunch and bars your wallet certainly feels lighter.  On that dreadful Monday sometimes you’re even still hung over and all you can think about is how you and your Hamilton’s got wasted.  Think again!

new-sandbar-sports-grillYour day will certainly change once you step inside Sandbar Sports Grill in Coconut Grove.  I got 3 words for you..HALF PRICED TACOS.  You don’t have to wait until 7 or 9 PM either.   Come and get them all day for a late breakfast, lunch and/or dinner. If you go from 4-7 you’ll even catch happy hour AND tacos=double whammy  You’re frekin’ welcome.

These tacos aren’t made from horse meat either (please refer to Taco Bell for further info).  They’re fresher than your brand new kicks.  Personally, my favorites are the shrimp and pulled pork which on Monday will only cost ya’ about $5. The pulled pork is slow cooked so it’s super tender and juicy from the barbecue sauce.  If you’re a condiment freak like myself, you would love the chipotle sauce in the shrimp tacos.  You can always ask for the white jalapeno sauce too; the creamy kick pairs well with fish.  Their shrimp is always seasoned nicely and you can tell they’re not from the freezer.

Shrimp & Pulled Pork

Shrimp & Pulled Pork

Every taco is served on a soft tortilla with a wedge of lime and cheese. Another reason I love Sandbar is because of their sick nasty hot sauce.  I wonder if they sell them….The Jalapeno and Red Sauce both blow Tabasco out of this world.  They’re always on every table.  Of course you’ll need a drink to cool off with so, order a reasonably priced bottled beer.  A “Classic Rita” is only $6 too.  Other taco options include:

  • Lobster-served Charbroiled with cabbage and white Jalapeno Sauce
  • Fish-usually Mahi (unless you want to pay extra for Salmon) comes charbroiled or blackened 
  • Carne Asada-which is steak for you gringos
  • Chicken-marinated and succulent 

On every 3 tacos ordered you automatically receive a free basket of rice and beans or french fries, excluding for Mondays...we can’t get too greedy.  However, I do suggest purchasing a side of crispy crinkle fries with honey mustard if you want a little something extra.  Besides the booze, extra condiments might set you back a bit.  Sour Cream is 95 cents, guacamole is $1.25 and chips & salsa are $3.50.  Honestly though, the tacos are already jam-packed with flavor and texture so it really doesn’t need anything more.  

My idea of a Monday

My idea of a Monday

Another reason to visit is for brunch.  Read about their weekend specials in my Grovie Guide.  All their breakfast items are under $9 too!  Don’t wait until 3PM to get there because, the bottomless mimosas will run out quick.

Sandbar Sports Grill  is one of my favorite places to hang out in Coconut Grove.  A lot of people underestimate their surprisingly scary good.  Every day there is some kind of special, whether it’s $1 drinks on Tuesday or penny beers on Wednesday.  If you ever go on a week day, try their Joey Wings made with a homemade BBQ honey mustard & hot sauce.  Happy Hour is M-F from 4-7 PM for half priced drinks AND appetizers.  If you would like to read more about Sandbar click here.  

It’s currently anniversary week, so definitely stop by tonight if you want to step onto their 8 pounds of sand!

You and your George Washington’s will be very happy about your Monday.

Start your week off right at Sandbar in Coconut Grove.

Location: 3064 Grand Avenue

Parking: Street, or Cocowalk but, I recommend cabbing it

Hours: M-F 11-3am,  Sat. & Sun. 10-3am

Attire: It’s the Grove

The Bookstore In The Grove is Making Moves

15 Mar

Coconut Grove’s Bookstore recently moved down the block, coincidentally and very conveniently across from me.

Brunch every Saturday & Sunday!

Brunch every Saturday & Sunday!

I’ve always thought the store was such a gem and have even purchased a few books there.  Bookstores are hard to find these days, and I really appreciate them now, more than ever.  Since I was young, I’ve always been fond of neighborhood bookstores.  When I was younger I liked hiding in them but, my parent’s certainly didn’t enjoy that as much as I did. Personally, there’s nothing like holding a book in your hand feeling the crisp page of a book once you flip it.

So many empanadas!

So many empanadas!

This is no typical Barnes and Noble either, there’s genuine character here.  It’s always full of locals and now with their new location it’s swimming with business meetings and lunches.  If reading doesn’t appeal to you, than the cafe certainly will.  I had no idea how good it was until I tried a nutella banana empanada.  That’s probably the best combination ever in general, and than adding a nice crust…really?  It’s even better than it sounds!!

 Besides their various amounts of endless homemade empanadas are sandwiches, wraps,  salads, and ….breakfast!  You can get anything to go or snack at one of their booths or bar.  I just tried to the tuna today, which is definitely worth biting into.  The panini choices are:

  • Chicken Ranch
  • Spicy Steak
  • Turkey Pesto
  • Tuna
  • Falafel
  • Chicken Caesar
  • Veggie
  • Caprice

Most of those meats can get into any kind of bread or style you wish including cranberry bread.  For a necessary Miami caffeine fix, baristas can create pretty much any type of coffee/latte/mocha/frappa thing you want.  Behind the counter, they’re always accommodating,  friendly and even funny.   They all definitely possess a sincere “coffee shop” like swagger and I thoroughly enjoy it.

I’ve been dying to brunch here on the weekends since they offer Mimosas too. They’ll cost you $12 a fluke.  On Sundays they offer delicious homemade waffles and Saturday’s are all about french french toast! On the weekends, oatmeal is another alternative too. For breakfast daily there are also eggs, bagels, croissants, mini quiches and more.

There is a huge assortment of baked goods that are ALL equally sensational.  For a bookstore cafe, you can find your favorite delicious treat from Mishas cupcakes to homemade carrot cake.  If that doesn’t sound appealing, I’m sure one of the made-in-house tea loves or bread pudding  will make due.  It’s extremely hard for me to visit and not grab one of those huge chocolatey chocolate brownies at check-out…they are as good as they look.  They even have vegan cupcakes from Cherimoya Tree Bakery, which I didn’t even realize were vegan until Google.  Sweet tooth addicts are assured to be in sugar heaven.

At their new location they’re even serving wine and it’s really good!  Calling all Cabernet fans-the have a very decent Grayson Cellars and a solid Robert Mondavi select.

Courtesy of Their Facebook

Wine Tasting-Courtesy of Their Facebook

Never fear Chardonnay lovers because, they’re also pouring one of my favorites: Simi.  Beer bellies may come empty and fill them up!

Last Thursday was an entirely free wine tasting that Joey and I traveled very far to…(not) It also proved a success as many familiar faces stopped by to get their drink on.  It was a very smart idea to promote the wines that they sell.  I almost forgot how much I like Simi.  They also offered some samples of their yummy pastries too. Please stop by for their next tasting, featuring American Craft Beers and specialty bar snacks.  Make sure to save the date for: Sunday, May 12 from 6-8PM.  Friend them on Facebook or Follow them on twitter for more event notifications.

This place is so much more than a bookstore.  It’s a great place to kill some time or what I like to call procrastinate.  I love strolling around inside with a cafe con leche (while using their Free Wifi)  and leave with one of their fatty delicious muffins..  It’s kind of rewarding to support bookstores.

We need to keep these local places alive or else everything will go digital and what’s the fun in that?

Visit The Coconut Grove Bookstore because, you’ll feel right at home.  

The ceiling invasion

The ceiling invasion

New Location: 3390 Mary Street, Coconut Grove

Hours: 7am-10PM

Breakfast weekdays-served until 11am

Parking: On the street or Mayfair/Cocowalk Garage

Kids: Story time every Friday at 4PM

Check out their website for more info.

Bacon Banana French Toast Casserole: For the not-so-early risers

18 Feb
Happy valentines Day

Happy valentines Day

I mean if that title doesn’t captivate you than you can just stick to your traditional french toast. However, if you’re looking to impress your guests when they’re either hung over or just hungry this is an obvious crowd pleaser. The best part is that it can be prepared in advance. so in the end all you need is oven’ loven.’

If you are a vegetarian I really can’t help you because, this casserole is not complete without some “oink.” Nueskies bacon was the star ingredient in my dish. It is the epitome of best bacon ever. You just cannot beat the smoky explosive backdrop, especially the way it lingers  inside your mouth.  This casserole is also made with bananas too because, I love bananas. Plain and simple, and thankfully it works because, this french toast needs some sort of healthy aspect.

I was researching french toast recipes and wanted to make breakfast for Joey on Valentines Day. I know he loves pancakes and Eggs Benedict which I’ve made on several occasions.  This was perfect since I could prepare in advance so It could easily be assembled the next morning because, I’m not an early riser.  This is the ideal dish to make if you’re lazy and cannot function without a cup of coffee as soon as you slump out of bed.   It also doesn’t hurt if your lover loves bacon.

 

What to get:

1 casserole dish like 9′” X 13′”

1/2 lb. of Nueskies bacon (or any other type but, Nueskies enhances this so much and is worth it)

1 loaf of challah bread or any kind of thick stale bread you have

5 eggs

2 bananas finely sliced

3 tbsp. of maple syrup (the “purer” the better)

1 cup of milk

1 tsp. of almond extract

1 tsp. of vanilla extract

1/2 tsp. of cinnamon

Directions:

  1. Fry up the bacon in a pan from 5-10 minutes until it’s slightly crispy (you don’t want to cook it too crisp since it’s going in the oven too) or according to the package
    Yum!

    Yum!

    cook it in the microwave.  Try not to eat all the bacon ahead of time-it will be hard but, just use your will-power!

  2. Get the grease off the bacon by placing the slices on the paper towels, while they’re cooling cut the bread into thick chunks and place to the side.
  3. Spray a 9″ x 13″ casserole dish with some non-stick PAM or whichever.
  4. Chop the bacon into fine pieces and keep to the side for now.
  5. Crack the eggs into a bowl and beat until well mixed and then add in all the wet ingredients with your bananas and bacon….if you still have some slices left.
  6. Toss the bread into the mixture and make sure every piece of bread has lots of liquid loven.’
  7. Place the bacon, bready,banana maple chunks into the dish and refrigerate overnight or set in the fridge for 1 hour.
  8. Once you feel like it, turn the oven on 400 degrees and bake for 40 minutes.
  9. Serve with some more maple syrup and butter just because, it’ll be that better.

I made this the night before, woke up in the morning and placed the casserole in the oven, went back to bed for 40 minutes and it was done son!   Joey loved this breakfast and it was a great start to our valentines day :) Feel free to serve with mimosas  to make it a special morning, who doesn’t love day drinking?

The “Grovie” Guide

31 Jan

A fantastic thing about living in Coconut Grove is that there is always some kind of deal going on. Everyone loves getting much more for their dollar, so I’m going to give you my picks for every day specials.  These won’t only include happy hours, but also some sort of secret dining deals.

If you’re visiting or aren’t familiar with Coconut Grove, I highly recommend reading this.

Sneaky Sundays:  

Brunch/Hungover Day Drinking:

  • Head over to Calamari’s $24.95 brunch buffet if you had a super late last night (11-4)
  • Go grab $10 bottomless Mimosas at Sandbar  the food is quite tasty (10-2)
  • If you want to be “seen” go to Green Street Cafe, but be prepared to wait

Evening”ish: Practically every bar has “in the bizz,” day-all you need to do is show your pay stub. As far as I know, Baracuda, Mr. Moes and Sandbar respect this.

Mackin it’ Mondays:

  • Sandbar has half off tacos ALL DAY!  You can get 5 steak tacos for under $10 and the cheap price doesn’t reflect the quality.
  • Trying to play some games?  At 10PM Mr. Moes has Beer Olympics giving away $5 Jagger Bombs, lemon drops and $4 34oz. Miller & Coors Light Draft.  Starting at 9PM Barracuda has a dart tournament with $2.50 bottled bud.
  • If you want to have a more relaxing evening, Green Street Cafe has 1/2 priced bottles of wine.
  • Berries is a more secluded restaurant off the main highway strip, but it isn’t far.  The food and drink specials are always worth a visit.  You can enjoy $8 Select Delectable Dishes & $4 Tasty Beverage Options from the Bar.  Sweet tooth’s also get a Free Dessert with the Purchase of any TWO REGULAR PRICED Entrees.
  • Last but not least, Calamari has LOBSTER NIGHT!

Taunted Tuesdays:

  • Ladies night starts earlier in the week at “Cuda.”  We can drink free from 10 till 1:30.
  • Feeling a fiesta? Go grab some 1/2 off Mojitos at Green Street Cafe.
  • Get ya’ drink on: Sandbar has $1 drinks starting at 9Pm
  • If you want to get crazy, Mr. Moes always has a mechanical bull AND karaoke from 11-3 with $1 drinks and beers on domestic draft.
  • Hungry? Berries has $10 pasta ALL DAY.

Wasted Winesdays:

  • White Trash Bash at Sandbar, there are penny beers…enough said
  • Drink select bottles of wine for 50% off at Calamari
  • Scratch the wine, drink 1/2 off Whiskey at Green Street Cafe…pace yourself
  • To all my ladies-go to Mr. Moes for $4 SoCo lime shoes and (my fav) Jack Daniels…ladies drink for 1 dollar from 10-1am.  And fellahs’ you even get to drink for a buck from 10-11pm….how generous
  • If you’re mentally preparing for the weekend, indulge into a delicious meal at George’s while sipping on a $5 premium drink.
  • Get your Reggae on at The Goose Lounge, there are $3 Red Stripes and $5 Captain & Coke with some sweet jams
  • Simmer down at The Grove Spot with some weekly Wednesday Jazz from 8-11

Thirsty Thursdays: (GO EVERY WHERE)

  • If you want to have a decent, exceptional pre-game head to Jaguar-or just go there anyhow.  Thursday’s from 6-9pm you get 3 drinks and 3 ceviche spoons for $20!
  • Not in the mood for fish?  Berries has a 16. oz T-Bone (with 2 sides) for only $13.99 ALL DAY.  If you stay late, from 9-11pm everyone can drink $3 cocktails and $2 Miller Light Drafts.
  • Got a pint? At 6pm visit Grove Spot-after you purchase one of their pints, you can come back with it and refill it for only $1.50.
  • College night is at Fat Tuesday, Green Street Cafe, Barracuda & Mr. Moes.
  • Drink up pitchers of Miller Light for $7.50 at Cuda
  • 8-close Fat Tuesday’s offers: $2 beers & $1 cotton candy shots
  • Green Street gets happy from 5-7 and 11-close.
  • From 10-3 Mr. Moes has $7 34. oz Cabin Fever, $4 Red headed sluts & $3.25 Presidente bottles
  • Lucky ladies can drink free at Sandbar from 10-2 and there are always $3 bottled beer specials

Freaky Friday:

  • Champagne for my Campaign is Green Street’s motto-ladies drink it complimentary from 5-8
  • Again, us girls get to enjoy free drinks from 5-10 at The Cuda
  • End your work day really early and go to Mr. Moes because from 11:30AM-10PM you can drink $4 select Martinis, $5 cosmos and 5 for $12 Miller Lite Buckets
  • Play some trivia at Sandbar with beer specials!

Sloppy Saturday:

  • Celebrate your hangover with $3.75 bloddy mary’s, brunch and bottomless mimosas at Sandbar
  • It’s Rock Lobster time starting at 5:30 at Berries, you get 1.25lb. live maine lobster with chef’s choice of 2 sides for $17.99
  • Go to Mr. Moes for $4 Don-Q rum and $7 34.oz Long Island Iced Teas or $2.25 Yuenlings
  • End the night at Tavern, there is always cheap beer and a frekin’ jukebox

Daily Happy Hour Schedule:

  • Calamari: This place has excellent bar bites from 4-8 and half off all drinks! Read more
  • Green Street Cafe: Every day 5-7 & 11-close $3.50 draft, $4.50 well drinks, $6 House Martinis $2 off wine, 30% off wine bottles
  • Berries: M-Sun: 4-7 $4 wells, $5 calls, $4 house wines & $1 off majority draft and bottled beers
  • Fat Tuesday: M-F 4-8, $5 daiquiris and $2 domestic drafts
  • Grove Spot: M-F 4-8, Sat & Sun 5-8
  • The Goose Lounge: Every day 5-8, 2 for 1 beer, wines or house drinks
  • Lulu: M-F 4-7Pm (if you live in the Grove and sit at the bar, you get 30% off your bill!)
  • Sandbar: M-F 4-7, 1/2 off drinks and appetizers
  • Mr. Moes: 2-4-1 appetizers M-F 3-8Pm, HH is M-F 11:30-8…whoa
  • Tavern: These prices will always make you happy.

If you’re looking to impress a date, and eat an excellent meal with a breathtaking view go to Panorama at The Sonesta Hotel.   They offer a 3 course meal “View for 2″served from 5-10 for $49 each. The food has won the Best Taste of The Grove award for the past 5 years.

Check these out because, it’s worth it. 

Best Happy Hour in Coconut Grove

20 Jan

Near the end of the main strip on Main highway exists a few “grovie” musts.  The trilogy includes: one of the oldest bars in town, The Taurus, intimate dining spot, La Bottega and my favorite happy hour is at Calamari. 

I’ve been coming to Calamari for a while with my family, since it’s certainly big enough to hold our rambunctious bunch.  Our dinners have always been “fine” but, for some reason everything tastes better during Happy Hour.  The happy hour bar bite menu is the best deal is Coconut Grove, see below.

Happy Hour Menu

Happy Hour Menu

Honestly, the first impression Calamari gives off is slightly “tacky,” there is a lot of blue lighting and some ”gotti-esque” fountains but, once you walk inside there is a giant open kitchen and very comfortable vibe…so you kind of forget about it.  Especially when you’re at the bar; as soon as you sit down you’re greeted by the always smiling bartender Tabitha.  In my opinion, she might possibly be the friendliest in town.

Let me just say, this happy hour is EVERY DAY from 4-8 so don’t wait until 7pm to arrive because, you might not find a seat.  The downside to the happy hour is that it’s only available at the bar.  All drinks are half off, so this place is a great pre-”pre-game.”  99% of the bar bite menu is $3.95 with the exception of the delicious Kobe Beef Sliders w/truffle french fries. I usually order the house Chardonnay or Rodney Strong Cabernet .We had an early dinner here yesterday, and everything was great!

Calamari Fritti

Calamari Fritti

What we ate from the Bar Bites Menu:

Calamari Fritti: If you’re a calamari fan, definitely order this.  It’s a smaller portion off the regular menu, but can easily feed 2.  These thick cut slices of “non-overly” fried, squid might persuade me to believe it’s the best quality and price ($3.95) EVER.  Oh and the marinara dipping sauce isn’t too bad either.

Truffle Fries

Truffle Fries

Truffle Fries: Man I’ve got to stop eating these.  No offense, these are nothing like the parmesan truffle french fries from Capital Grille but, they are pretty notable for the price.  These fries are kind of addicting too, they were all eaten (mostly be me).  I like these because, they’re chunky and crispy except it could use some more truffle and maybe some kind of herbs.

  • Meatballs: Joey loves these.  He orders them every time we come here (embarrassing amount).  Again, for $3.95 you get 2 huge meatballs with their homemade marinara.  I don’t think it’s anything special but, I’m accustomed to my homemade meatballs that are hard to beat.

    Meatballs

    Meatballs

On their regular menu:

Tuna Tartare Must

Tuna Tartare Must

Tuna Tartare: I’ve eaten this dish so many times, even before Miami New Times named it their favorite.  This is absolutely fabulous, and full of flavors.  The presentation doesn’t hurt either.  Since, they put a little more of oil than I prefer on the bottom, so this time I asked for it on the side.  A thoughtfully sculpted tuna is topped with a layer of avocado,  Crème fraîche and caviar,  underneath thinly sliced cucumbers with a side toasted bread for dipping.  The 3 different sauces (usually on the typical tartare) are soy sauce, sesame oil and cucumber infused oil. This could be the best tuna tartare I’ve eaten and by far the best item on the menu.  Be prepared to share, it’s big enough.

Tuna Carpacio

Tuna Carpacio

Tuna Carpacio: This newly added plate is a close contender (to my favorite).  Thinly sliced tuna covers a large plate, topped with avocado slices, tomatoes, capers, arugula AND grilled shrimp!  Yup, you get all that.  You’ll probably want to split this as well.  Everything was very fresh and I loved the arugula salad.

Don’t order: The conch fritters -they were a burnt for my liking. 

La Bottega Cooking

Octopus in the works

Another upside to Calamari, is anyone can order off the sister, Mediterranean restaurant La Bottega.  I had the pleasure of dining here and highly recommend the Octopus, typically when I order this out it’s practically always overcooked.  When we ate here we had the privilege of sitting directly in front of the small kitchen while we had the memorable experience of watching the chef in action  He cooked the octopus perfectly, best I’ve ever eaten.  It’s served warm, underneath a layer of roasted potatoes with a parsley garlic oil and  black olive couli.  There are many events held at La Bottega like weekly wine tastings and cooking classes with chef  Carmen Trigueros.  For all you winos-you might even  be interested in joining their wine Club, called “La Clava.”  The wine tastings run for 2 hours and are $30 a person which also include cheese pairings.  Perks include 10% off food and wine at all the trilogy of restaurants.

I’ve never eaten at Taurus, but it’s definitely one of my favorite drinking spots in the Grove.  It has a laid back atmosphere, but is refreshingly cleaner than most bars in Coconut Grove.  At Calamari, check out lobster Monday night and Wine Wednesdays where you can receive half off select bottles!

Calamari: Go for Happy Hour

La Bottega:  Eat there for a roamantic dinner

Taurus: Drink and pre-game there.

If you’re in the grove looking for good company, awesome snacks and even better deals Calamari is the place to be. 

Location: 3540 Main Highway, next to Taurus

Attire: Casual

Happy Hour: 4-8pm EVERY DAY

Black Eyed Peas: Leftovers Style

3 Jan

First of all, I am extremely agitated.  I was editing the final version of my article about this fabulous new restaurant in Brickell called TIKL, that should have been published a week ago.  Wordpress decided to not save the 75% content I added so now I am way too mad to finish writing it.  I slaved away in the kitchen for an hour and a half today too! I was going to even get in a quick workout at the gym but I am too pissed and opted for a glass of wine.   I knew I would feel bad if I did not publish anything today so I am sharing my quick idea for lucky leftover black eyed peas.

I’ve been eating black eyed peas every new years for as long as I could remember.  One thing that always happens, is having too many leftovers.  There are only so many black eyed peas someone can eat.  I decided to make a black eyed peas dip with my new favorite toy : Cuisinart 4-Cup Chopper.  First off, my black eyed peas had some Nueske’s bacon so that made them extra smokey and delicious along with a bit of hot sauce.

Literally all you need is:

The final result! Good Luck!

The final result! Good Luck!

  • blender/ food processor or a lot of forking strength 
  • 2 cups of leftover black eyed peas
  • 1/2 Greek yogurt
  • 1 tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup of onion
  • 1/4 cup of green & red pepper

And blend! I like to dip chips and celery in it. I hope it gives you lots of luck.  

P.S. My boyfriend just came home and devoured half of it right before my eyes, I guess it must have been yummy!

Another easy neat idea I came across was also black eyed peas cake by Paula Deen ya’ll.  This is her recipe:

Servings: 4 patties
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 10 min
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

  • 3 cup left over cooked black eyed peas (these are best cooked with ham hock for flavor)
  • 1/2 cup cooked, chopped bacon
  • 1/3 cup roasted red peppers
  • All purpose flour, enough to bind patties
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Directions: 

  1.  In a medium bowl, coarsely mash beans with a fork adding bacon and roasted peppers to mixture.
  2. Add just enough flour to mixture to help bind. Shape pea mixture into 4 patties.
  3. Melt butter and oil together in a large skillet over medium heat.
  4. Add patties and brown on both sides until crispy.

adapted by Paula Deen, from her website

On the weekends, I allow myself to indulge a bit so Eggs Benedict is one recipe I got up my sleeve.  I decided to use the leftover black eyed peas in place of the Canadian bacon and it turned out as an EGGSceptional breakfast.  However, I did get sick the next day so I am not sure if they were as lucky as I hoped.

My :"not so lucky" black eyed peas Benedict

My :”not so lucky” black eyed peas Benedict

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