It's that time of year when we count down to New Times' Best of Miami 2012 issue in June. Until then, Short Order will serve up 100 of our favorite dishes in the 305. If you have any nominations of your own, please send them to cafe@miaminewtimes.com.

billwisserphoto.com

22. Pulpo a Feira at Barceloneta

It is one of 14 "plats" at Barceloneta Spanish Bistro & Mercat, the Pubbelly team's tapas-inspired bistro in South Beach. The menu description tells you what's in the pulpo a Feira -- "octopus, fingerling potato foam, piquillo, chorizo, tomato confit and pinemtón de la Vera" ($16), but words can't convey the tantalizing contrasts: Tender tentacles, spicy chorizo, sweet peppers, slightly salty tomato confit, and an ethereal potato foam smoky with pimentón and chorizo oil.
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It's that time of year when we count down to New Times' Best of Miami 2012 issue in June. Until then, Short Order will serve up 100 of our favorite dishes in the 305. If you have any nominations of your own, please send them to cafe@miaminewtimes.com.

Courtesy of makoto-restaurant.com

23. Short Rib Robata with Truffle Miso

Give me a moment, I need to compose myself. You see, the photo above is merely a glimpse of the short rib robata from Makoto. Never has meat on a stick been so pleasing. Wait, what? Well, whatever, let's move on.
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New Times' Best of Miami 2012 issue is coming June 14. Until then, Short Order will serve up 100 of our favorite dishes in the 305. If you have any nominations of your own, please send them to cafe@miaminewtimes.com.

Lesley Elliott

24. Grilled Octopus at Jean Paul's House

The grilled octopus ($14) at Jean Paul's House & Market (although the market portion is still in the works) is one of those dishes that Americans hardly ever get right. Octopus can be tricky. You cook it a little too much, or serve it just a tad underdone, and it's chewy beyond all measure. Yet in South America and along the shores of Western Europe, octopus is one of those things you can get everywhere; and even when it's not "melt in your mouth" tender, it's still pretty damn good.
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It's that time of year when we count down to New Times' Best of Miami 2012 issue in June. Until then, Short Order will serve up 100 of our favorite dishes in the 305. If you have any nominations of your own, please send them to cafe@miaminewtimes.com.

Courtesy of Prime One Twelve

25. Peanut Butter Snickers Pie at Prime One Twelve

Prime One Twelve may be known for its steaks, but its about time one of their desserts gets the attention it deserves. The peanut butter Snickers pie ($6.95) features creamy filling with layered Snickers atop an Oreo cookie crust. Head pastry chef Robert Gonzalez touts the selection as among his favorite, despite a very deserving set of desserts on the menu.
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It's that time of year when we count down to New Times' Best of Miami 2012 issue in June. Until then, Short Order will serve up 100 of our favorite dishes in the 305. If you have any nominations of your own, please send them to cafe@miaminewtimes.com.

26. Balcarce at Buenos Aires Bakery & Cafe

Balcarce is a traditional torta from Balcarce, a district in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The cake, which I normally refer to as the "thousand layer cake" boasts layer after layer of sweet surprises. I was terribly skeptical the first time I tried it. Since then, I've been hooked.
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It's that time of year when we count down to New Times' Best of Miami 2012 issue in June. Until then, Short Order will serve up 100 of our favorite dishes in the 305. If you have any nominations of your own, please send them to cafe@miaminewtimes.com.

27. Green Prawns at Philippe by Philippe Chow

These prawns get their beautiful green color from soaking in a bath of spinach. They're then stir fried with fresh Chinese vegetables quickly to retain that crisp bite. Though the dish is pricy for Chinese ($29 for one person, $52 for two), it's a delicious (and clever) way to make sure you eat your greens.
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It's that time of year when we count down to New Times' Best of Miami 2012 issue in June. Until then, Short Order will serve up 100 of our favorite dishes in the 305. If you have any nominations of your own, please send them to cafe@miaminewtimes.com.

28. Pork and Beans at Blue Collar

There's something so viscerally satisfying about Blue Collar's humble little pork and beans dish. Maybe it's the way chef Danny Serfer slow cooks the white beans, smokey bacon, and Berkshire sausage in a large pot for hours on the stove -- letting the beans soften and the flavors marry into each other. Maybe it's the moment when you break open the fried egg, letting the golden yolk run into the pork and beans. Or maybe it's the giddiness of sopping up the last part with the sourdough toast that comes with the meal.

In any event - this is one wonderful hot mess that will leave you craving it again and again. Available as a brunch entree ($12) or appetizer ($9).
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It's that time of year when we count down to New Times' Best of Miami 2012 issue in June. Until then, Short Order will serve up 100 of our favorite dishes in the 305. If you have any nominations of your own, please send them to cafe@miaminewtimes.com.

Kareem Shaker

29. Taco Loco at T-Mex Tacos

South Beach Mexican staple San Loco Taco changed its name to T-Mex Tacos back in 2008 after winning numerous awards, but the taste came along with the new identity. Tyrannosaurus-Mex is an attempt to "go green" by using biodegradable containers and other environmentally-friendly materials. Using the freshest ingredients of the highest quality, however, is the reason they have stuck around since first opening in 1993 between Collins and Washington Avenues on 14th Street in the heart of South Beach.
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It's that time of year when we count down to New Times' Best of Miami 2012 issue in June. Until then, Short Order will serve up 100 of our favorite dishes in the 305. If you have any nominations of your own, please send them to cafe@miaminewtimes.com.

Kareem Shaker

30. Ceviche Trio at La Cofradia

Everyone knows the biggest problem with ceviche -- you can never choose just one dish, and frankly, the variety can be a bit intimidating. The folks at Lo Cofradia have us covered with the Ceviche Trio ($20), a combination of traditional fish and seafood ceviche, oriental tuna and aji amarillo fish ceviches. The first pod pictured above features fresh diced fish, shrimp, scallops, octopus marinated in leche de tigre with aji limo pepper. The second is the oriental tuna, diced yellowfin tuna marinated in leche de tigre, soy sauce, ginger, sesame seed oil and snow peas. The final serving is the same mix of seafood as the first pod, but with a spicy aji amarillo sauce for a signature Cofradia kick.
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It's that time of year when we count down to New Times' Best of Miami 2012 issue in June. Until then, Short Order will serve up 100 of our favorite dishes in the 305. If you have any nominations of your own, please send them to cafe@miaminewtimes.com.

31. Macarons at Villa Azur

Villa Azur is such a beautiful homage to the south of France that it's fitting the sweetest things of all are their gorgeous macarons ($12). These house made treats arrive looking more like Christmas decorations than something you might feast upon.

Red, green, and gold macarons arrive carefully plated, some lined with edible gold foil. As beautiful as they are, feel free to bite into them to appreciate the fresh fruit, dark chocolate, and rich pistachio flavors. An assortment of these feather light confections is the perfect ending to a romantic meal.
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