Panpespa

For the socially conscious and cruelty-free foodies who've been missing vegan eats from the recently shuttered Mac'N food truck - there's good news for your grumbling stomach. Francesca Lacuesta, the woman behind the truck's original recipes, has launched her own catering company, Panpespa. The new concept is an all-natural vegan kitchen with a rustic, gourmet flair.

"The concept actually had been brewing for quite some time, before Mac'N. I've always baked. That's what I did with my grandmother - we just constantly baked. And catering was something I had done with Mac'N, so now that's kind of my thing," Lacuesta says.

Read also:
- Donate to the Mac'n Truck Kickstarter Fund, Get Double Pledge Dollars Back in Food
- Bunnie Cakes to Open Vegan Bakery in Wynwood

The venture's menu includes Mac'N favorites and unique baked goods like saffron pistachio cookies, nutella stuffed cinnamon sugar muffins and salted caramel kahlua brownies. There's also a huge variety of sandwiches, salads, sides and desserts including a sandwich with seitan, bourbon peaches, caramelized vidalia onions, no-bee honey mustard & arugula on Texas toast; a BBQ chik'n salad with organic spinach, tomato, tempeh bacon, tofu, fried shallots, grilled chik'n breast and ranch dressing; and enchiladas con mole with salsa verde, topped with mushrooms and "cheese."

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café + arthur & alice adams terrace

If you've been missing the Italian fare from Fratelli Lyon, you'll be happy to know Ken Lyon is working hard to quell your cravings. Ever since Fratelli Lyon left the Design District, Ken Lyon has been keeping busy preparing food at events for the likes of FENDI via his catering company Lyon + Lyon, all while searching for new digs where he can open up a permanent restaurant.

While he looks for his full-time brick and mortar, Lyon has found temporary shelter for restaurant goers hosting pop-up dinners at the Bass Museum. His catering business has always been very "museum-centric" so the historic café wing of the Bass Museum was a natural fit for him to keep the Fratelli Lyon brand alive.

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Courtesy of Andy Slater

Just part of the job.

​​Andy Slater hosts the popular "Andy Slater Show" from noon to 3 p.m. weekdays on 640AM WFTL Radio, where he's known for interviewing giants in sports. Andy has spoken with some of the greats, including Don King, Andre Dawson, Frank Robinson, Carlos Delgado, Adam Dunn, Frank Francisco and even O.J. Simpson!

When he's not talking about sports on the air, he's either eating somewhere or watching a game -- and on Facebook to tell all about it. Short Order asked Andy where he was watching the Super Bowl and he surprised us by saying he was going to watch it at home. Then he explained his plans for the ultimate Super Bowl party, with the ultimate menu to go with it.

By picking up the best wings, ribs, stone crabs and potato skins from his favorite Miami restaurants, Andy has created a fantasy menu for his party. Bonus points for his real reason to watch at home, "If my team loses, I just have to walk 30 yards to crash in my bed". Add some beer and go!

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John Zur

​Sisters Elsa Burger and Josie Lacsina have been feeding the Filipino community, and others who like the cuisine, for 11 years through a business called Pampanguena Inc. This South Dade Asian grocery store also has fresh food made daily. And though it's a small operation, the sisters keep it open six days a week and still find time to cater events and take an active role in organizations such as the Filipino Arts Association.

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Jacob Katel

The cash-for-food tent at Aqua Wynwood.

​Last night at Aqua Art Miami (42 NE 25th Street, Miami), a locals-heavy party crowd came together over art, food, and music.

Seattle-based Aqua is committed to bringing Miami a high-quality sampling of art from the West Coast and abroad with a concentration on young dealers and galleries and emerging artists.

Palate Pleasers Catering & Chef Services (561-969-1601; palatepleasers@gmail.com) provided the food, which had nearly been bought out by the time we got there, but there was still pasta in white sauce with or without chicken.

Free drinks by O.N.E., One Natural Experience, included coconut water, coconut water with pineapple flavoring, and an Amazon açai drink.

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Jacob Katel

Hummus Crostinis.

​Last night, MOCA North Miami teamed up with Vanity Fair magazine to kick off Art Basel Miami 2009 with a big time opening party for their "Reach Of Realism" exhibit. The show examines and questions realism in the age of digital manipulation and staged reality. It was sponsored by the Knight Foundation and Grey Goose, among others, so the house was full of money, models, vodka, and busloads of Art Basel Miami Beach tourists.

Catering operations were handled by Chef Jean Sebastien (chefjeansebastien@yahoo.com 786-374-7403), of the now defunct Boutique Kitchen restaurant on the Upper Eastside, and a team he encouraged to keep cranking out hot food for about 1,000 hungry and thirsty art thronging revelers. The appetizer menu consisted of hummus crostinis, shrimp skewers, salmon burgers, and pasta with meatballs when we were there. The catering tent from which servers emerged with trays of freshly cooked eats, was full of frenetic energy. Here are a few pics.

Salmon Burger.

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Shrimp skewers with chipotle sauce.

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Chef Jean Sebastien.

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Jacob Katel

Tony from Tony's Greek Food cooks it up.

​Another year, another Book Fair. This one brought all the usual greatness of authors, signings, sales, and readings, and reminded us of the existence of a festival-circuit touring vendor subculture. When we hit the food mall we instantly recognized the Asadero Colombia food stand and spinning meat/torture rack from this year's Calle Ocho, and are confident that most of the folks that set up shop have done so elsewhere also.

Here are some pictures from Saturday around noon. Recognize anybody? Leave a comment.

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Jacob Katel

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