Miami Food Blog

Jacob Katel

Captain Phyl's on Krome y Kendall Drive

​If you've ever pulled up to a red light and seen a fresh-shrimp salesman standing on the sidewalk with a cooler and a posterboard sign then you might live in Miami.

Give thanks we live in a region where seafood is so readily available that entrepreneurs can sell fresh-catch on corners all over Dade.

The truck above belongs to Eduardo Herrera and can be found at the corner of Krome Avenue and Kendall Drive in South Dade.

We called the number on the truck and spoke to Eduardo and he told us who Captain Phyl is, where he gets his catch, and where else you can find his trucks.

Here's what Eduardo had to say (translated from Cuban to English):

Photo via Flickr/CC2.0

The party monkey lives.

​The Party Monkey rides again.

Saturday kicks off the Taste of MiMo season. Get ready for monthly street parties featuring bottom dollar deals on food and drink along Biscayne Boulevard in Miami's Upper Eastside from 50th to 78th streets.

This Saturday's MiMoWeen edition has a daytime schedule dedicated to family activities like FREE miniature golf at the Upper Eastiside Garden (7244 Biscayne Blvd) and safe-streets trick or treating.

But when night descends it's all about grownups acting like kids. Free drinks for costumed revelers at Soyka (5582 NE 4th Court), UVA 69 (6900 Biscayne Blvd.), Le Café (7295 Biscayne Blvd.), and Moonchine (7200 Biscayne Blvd.) should get your Halloween started right.

When you've got your proper swerve on (don't drive though) head on up to Red Light Little River (7700 Biscayne Blvd.) for their gourmet haunted house.

Log on to www.mimoboulevard.org for more info.

via makelessnoise flickr

​The Hunter's Moon is a full moon. They call it that because the light it provides makes it easier to kill food. According to Wikipedia, as viewed from the northern hemisphere, the Hunter's Moon rises in such a way that there's no significant dark time between sunset and moonrise, thus stretching the light for activities like farming and hunting.

But if you'd rather relax than work, take the opportunity the Hunter's Moon provides for a free stargazing party at Fruit & Spice Park (24801 SW 187 Avenue, Homestead). Hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and sodas will be available for purchase. Folks are encouraged to bring their own marshmallows to roast on the campfire.

The Southern Cross Astronomical Society will be on site with their computer aided telescopic equipment featuring free views of the Moon, Jupiter, Neptune, and Uranus.

There will be free moonlight tram tours of the park as well, and patrons are welcome to bring, blankets, chairs, drums, and guitars.

Redland Fruit & Spice Park
24801 SW 187 Ave.
Homestead FL, 33031
October 30, 2009
7 - 10 p.m.

pollotropical.com

​It was the breast of times, but not the wurst of times, because Pollo Tropical has got chicken on lock, but they're not slanging sausage.

Cash in your gut check with Pollo Tropical's new Tropical Trios, any combination of 3 wings, a quarter rack of ribs, a quarter grilled chicken, or a half a churrasco steak, and 2 sides for $7.99.

The way the press release we received via email was worded it seemed like you could get four items for the price of three. When we called company representative Jack Wolfe from Impact Miami Public Relations he said "Its four you can choose from, but you only get three, other than that it would be a cuatro and I dont think we've invented that yet...but you also get the two sides. I had one yesterday. I had the chicken, wings, and steak. It was pretty good."

According to their website Pollo Tropical has 33 Miami-Dade locations. log on to pollotropical.com for more info.

Lee Klein

​Went to renew my drivers license at the Coral Gables DMV the other day. The office is located right by Village of Merrick Park, and so is a branch of La Estancia Argentina. The lunch menu looked tempting, with some decent deals on hand -- grilled skirt or flank steak sandwich for $8 certainly sounds fair enough. But the empanadas caught my eye, especially the one filled with steak. As you can see in the photo, the exterior was beautifully bronzed (other empanadas appeared noticeably paler in the case), the pastry was flaky, the interior solidly packed with flavorfully grilled nubs of meat. Price for most of La Estancia's empanadas are $1.50 apiece, but this "premium" pie goes for $2.50. I bought one after another after another; it was really one of the best empanadas I've ever had (excepting my Argentine friend Marie's turkey empanadas, which aren't for sale).
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El Rey de las Fritas. Don Pan. Versailles. For some reason, Cuban joints in Miami have really boastful names; it takes a restaurant with cojones to actually prove it.

​For 25 years, "El Mago de las Fritas", located at 5828 SW 8th Street, has shown Miami that its bark matches its delicious, greasy bite. This Saturday, the place is celebrating its silver anniversary with the unveiling of the frita doble -- double the ground beef, onion, paprika, fried, calorie-infused goodness (what do you think about that, Bobby Flay?).

From 7 to 9:30 p.m., Miami's little treasure will not only serve Cuban burgers, but el mago will also hold raffles for prizes, like free Jupina. How perfect is that?

Tip: Make sure to get to Calle Ocho early -- you're going to need a siesta after eating this monster.

Jacob Katel

Mmmmm brownie.

​If you've ever traveled North Miami Avenue between The Vagabond and The Electric Pickle, or Target and the Arsht depending on your proclivities, then you've probably noticed a distinctive pink, and white, and polka dotted building known as Grubstake (2401 N Miami Ave., Miami). It is a thrift store, a charity, and from Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. (and monthly artwalk Saturdays) a Grubstake Food Stand: an outdoor barbecue, sandwich and smoothie stand operated by two ladies named Jeri and Patricia.

Here are some pictures taken in the Grubstake store and at the Food Stand during Saturday's artwalk.

Jacob Katel

A signed photo bought off the auction block of the Miami Playboy Club that was located on 77th and Biscayne from 1961 - 1984 sits in the back office at Churchill's Pub.

​

Jacob Katel

Jacob Katel

Arepa De Carne.

Jacob Katel

Free I Say

Rev Pedro Martinez Founder and President of H.O.P.E. in Miami Beach

Jackie Sayet

Surviving with a smile

Raise a white flag in trying times?  Nonesense.  After 17 years in business, Christine Gouveia flipped a big white bird at all the naysayers, the pouters and the wallowers, and instead chose to open her Roti Shop four hours earlier than usual yesterday to launch a breakfast service.

http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/ess/foodstamps.shtml

Jacob Katel

Chivito De Pollo - A Uruguayan Specialty - Chicken, Ham, Bacon, Cheese, Peppers, Mushrooms, Egg, Lettuce, Tomato, Mayo, Awesome

haagen

Temps are supposed to coast into the high 80s today and Mother Nature couldn't have picked a better day to turn the heat up - Haagen Dazs is giving away free scoops of any bee-built flavor. No, not a frozen chocolate concoction thrown together by lil' hard-hatted bees sporting distressed leather tool belts; flavors such as Rocky Road, Strawberry, Mint Chip, Zesty Lemon Sorbet, and of course, Vanilla Honey Bee.

This isn't a ploy to make you forget that the Dazs is shrinking their carton sizes as of January 2009, the lux ice cream brand is paying homage to an insect that plays a major role in the tastiness of their product. Honey bees are responsible for pollinating over a hundred crops of nuts, fruits and berries and the recently the lil' buggers have experienced a drop in their numbers - directly affecting Haagen Dazs' flavor line-up. So today, show up at any local location from 4 to 8 p.m. and learn how you can help while slurping down a scoop of your favorite flavor.

Jackie Sayet

Just chop and saute the warty Karela (bitter melon) with curry to jazz up rice, noodles or a salad

Know how to tell when an ethnic restaurant is authentic? Check out the regular clientele. At Spice 'N' Curry in Sweetwater, you won't find tourists or South Beach jet set. Just some folks from the neighborhood, especially Indian engineering students filling up on a taste of home right in their backyard.

And it's no accident this exotic-food outpost is situated opposite the FIU Engineering Campus. Jay Mazumdar, co-owner with his elder brother Vivek, was once a student himself in Gainesville, graduating with a degree in finance from the University of Florida. He sniffed out the market down here and was attracted by the reasonable rent. "70 percent of my customers are Indian students looking for a taste of home at a good price."  The food business is a creative outlet for the two, who also own and run an IT consulting company in their spare time.

image via www.chipotle.com

Fajita Burrito

Rejoice! Chipotle Mexican Grill and its legendary gourmet burritos are coming to Miami Lakes. The chain is opening a new location at 8000 NW 154th St. and to celebrate they're handing out FREE burritos from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29th.

The company is dedicated to producing "food with integrity," and focuses on locally sourced ingredients and humanely killed and naturally raised meats. Your free burrito can include pork, chicken, or beef, but you can also go with their vegetarian option. Choose from black beans, home made guac, fresh steamed cilantro-lime rice, a variety of locally sourced sides, salsa, cheese, sour cream and lettuce to add on and watch it all assembled right in front of you, no funny business. You also get a free drink.

Can't make it out to Miami Lakes? The fine people at Chipotle still want you to try their product. They gave us 10 FREE burrito coupons good anytime at any location, AND each coupon is good for a pair of burritos. The first ten people to comment on this post WIN (make sure to leave your email address)! We also have 2 reusable shopping bags, 2 Lip Guac chapsticks and an awesome thermal coffee mug to give away.

Comment, comment, comment and we'll start hitting up other companies for freebies for ya. Like prizes? Stay tuned to Short Order, pimping corporate America one giveaway at a time.

Find out more about "food with integrity" at Chipotle.com 

Image via macaronigrill.com

from www.delilane.com

from j_bary's flickr

image via TitanicBrewery.com

This time around, the happy hour food isn't fried, microwaved, boiled, or steamed. In fact, it isn't even cooked. If you're looking for a little something different to go with your cocktails, Coco Asian Bistro and Bar is the place to be. From 4 to 7 pm, happy hour is in full effect featuring two for one drinks and free sushi. These aren't just vegetable rolls either; Coco's offers a rotating selection of sushi to go with their house martinis, beer, and wine. If the sushi isn't your thing though, Coco's offers an amazing Thai menu as well.

From CarbonNYC's flickr

While fast-food profits skyrocket, we're destroying ourselves with additives, preservatives, this, that, and the other spice. But worst of all, we're mostly paying top dollar for it.

The corporate and independently produced sludge we use to "nourish" ourselves can be had for cheap, I say. Denny's lets kids eat free on Tuesdays. But they ain't the only one -- and they also have been busted for hustling a bit on this promotion.

So here''s a list of a few places that give your kiddies a deal. Start today...

 

                                                              from RightIndex's flickr

OK, let's get this out of the way first: Froots is a chain smoothie shop, not a locally based family owned restaurant. The good news is Froots is easy to find, inexpensive, and will even deliver (in case you feel like eating healthy without leaving your couch for more than a minute). I visited the location at 4933 Sheridan St. in Hollywood and ordered the Sparta: a whole-wheat sandwich filled with black olives, leafy spinach, cucumbers, feta cheese, and a generous amount of hummus, then grilled just long enough to heat the bread to a light crisp without warming the spinach. Although the sandwich looked a bit on the skimpy side (less than seven inches across), it certainly managed to get the job done as I walked out of the restaurant almost full for $6.42.

Want some free Shepards Pie today? Well you're in luck. FishTales on 33rd in Fort Lauderdale has one of the most delicious happy hour buffets in town.  From 4-7 pm, all drinks are two for one and the buffet features a different dish every day: Monday it's pasta, tacos every Tuesday, Thursday features pulled pork and Friday is peel and eat shrimp. This isn't some weak, reheated leftovers either; FishTales takes pride in even their free food. It's a good idea to skip cooking dinner tonight and head down to FishTales for a few drinks and a delicious meal that will cost you nothing but time.