For the past 35 years, loyal denizens have gathered every March to party in the street and support the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana. The popularity of the massive Carnaval Miami has afforded the Kiwanis Club the ability to help improve the lives of underserved kids. Though the attractions range from an arts village to stages featuring some of the biggest names in music, there is one thing nearly every attendee partakes in -- the food.

Short Order traveled the entire length of the massive 19-block festival, stopping to chronicle the tastiest treats we could find. Right off the bat, the highlight of our day came at "Cuzn Tim's" food truck with his unbelievable fried lobster tail (below). Doused in garlic and cooked until just the right amount of tender, the tail is to be eaten slowly so as to savor the delectable flavor. Tim's, which can be found at all the popular food truck rallies in South Florida, also featured delicious wings, fish, crabs and shrimp. Tim and crew cater special events and can be reached at 954-485-0637.

See also:
- Photos: The Food of Calle Ocho 2013
- Photos: The Fashion of Calle Ocho 2013
- The Music of Calle Ocho 2013
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As Miamians, this time of year can be a little tough. Thanks to our balmy weather and eternal sunshine, seasonal spirit can be hard to come by. So like good little elves, locals flock to Santa's Enchanted Forest to bask in some semblance of holiday cheer.

Dubbed the world's largest Christmas theme park, the spot has been inspiring intense emotions amongst locals for 30 years. But whether you love it or hate it - you can't deny that it's as Christmasey as our city gets.

Locals will espouse various reasons for their annual attendance -- the wild animal shows, the carnival rides, the twinkly lights, etc.

But you're a Short Order reader, so we know the real reason you shell out the admission fee, endure screaming children and hike five miles from the parking lot: the eats. While it may be greasy, overpriced and hopelessly messy - carnival food is also undeniably delicious.

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More focus on the barbecue, less on the decor makes for a better rack.

It can sometimes be hard to find Mark Gibson -- the pastor-turned-grillmaster and owner of Ribs-2-Go catering -- among the swarm of candy colored food trucks rolling around Wynwood. It's easy, however, to smell him.

He's not on Twitter nor did he even want to be mentioned by name when, with Labor Day approaching, he offered some grilling tips for those with less (wo)man hours spent over the pit.

Gibson moved from Compton to Dania Beach in 2006 as a full time pastor. In 2009 he was transferred to Miami, but only for part-time preaching. He started selling barbecue to his Liberty City flock and later began hitching a metal cage with a built-in grill to his white Ford E Class pickup. You can usually find him around Wynwood and the Design District on weekends selling slabs of ribs, pork brisket, and smoked chicken thigh. At the moment you can find him outside Wood Tavern on Sundays during their "Backyard Boogie." It's not the prettiest of mobile food operations, but it's a no gimmicks, good eatin' kind of operation that has staying power.

Here's some barbecue wisdom:

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​We Miamians just can't get enough of these food festivals, huh? Sharpen your knives and shine your spoons because on Saturday, March 26, we've got another new one popping up: Taste of Brickell. Over 50 local restaurants and vendors will be shoveling out samples at 1201 Brickell Bay Drive (that's between The Mark and The Jade) from noon to 10 p.m., including the new Boiler House, Truluck's, Chophouse, Kosta, and Cittadeli.

Festivalgoers can also expect a live concert (starting at 1 p.m.), cooking demos, a kids' zone, art expo, and, yes, a wine garden tasting tent. Tastings begin at noon so you'll have plenty of time to digest your breakfast before the sampling onslaught.

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​Our earlier post about the Redland flea market was devoted to its outdoor food court -- but the second big centerpiece of the place is its massive farmers market. No, this isn't the kind of pristine, cutesy "farmers market" that sells cupcakes and boasts signs with clever graphic design. This, instead, is for those who aren't particular about organics (though they do occasionally appear here) but are instead in search of serious bargains on produce.

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Laine Doss

Miso Hungry will be at the Biscayne Triangle Roundup tonight.

​Food Truck fans have their choice of two roundups in Miami this evening. One location even offers cheap booze and bathrooms.

The Biscayne Triangle Truck Roundup Head over to the American Legion Post #29 at 6445 NE 7th Avenue, Miami from 5:30 to 10 p.m. and grab a craft beer while enjoying the bay breezes and some great food truck eats. Some 18 trucks were at this location last week, as well as a beer and wine tent selling good stuff for $5 a pop (easier to count change).  The American Legion remains open so you can use a real bathroom at this roundup - the availability of cheap beer makes bathrooms a real necessity.

Some of the trucks seen at the Biscayne Triangle Truck Roundup are Jefe's Original Fish Taco & Burgers, Caza Crepes, Ms. Cheezious, Miso Hungry, Red Truck, Dolci Peccaiti, Snow Caps, Grill Master, Wrapito Yum, Caballos Mobile Cigars and Slow Food Truck.

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Photo by Carissa Chesanek

​Last night at the Biscayne Triangle Truck Round-up (BTTR), there were food trucks and people too. From 5:30 to 9 p.m., customers walked back and forth from Jefe's Original Fish Taco and Burger, to Miso Hungry and CheeseMe, tasting grub from each venue. Even with temperatures well into the 50's, people still happily stood outside to eat their fish tacos, burgers, and chicken curry. There's just something cool about eating from a truck.

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Trina Sargalski

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While it's good to have food trucks in different locations around town, we like this idea of having them in one spot once a week, especially when that spot is close to home. More than anything it's a chance to try trucks we haven't come about.

It wasn't too long ago that food trucks started gathering on Bird Road and 65th Street in what's now known as the Miami Street Food Court. Now trucks will also be congregating on Biscayne and 109th Street at what's being called the Biscayne Triangle Truck Round-Up (BTTR).

The plan is to have a gathering every Tuesday night and rotate the trucks so people have different choices each week, Jack Garabedian, owner of Jefe's Original Fish Taco & Burger, told Short Order.

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Paula Niño

Jennifer Garcia-Mathews (left) and Frances Llop-Noy (right)

​In terms of street food, Art Basel was like the second coming of the Fall for the Arts Festival. Everywhere I turned there were food trucks and carts, some new, some old.

One of my discoveries was Raaga Cart at the Miami Independent Thinkers Fair. Owners Jennifer Garcia-Mathews and Frances Llop-Noy decided to start the cart last summer when they grew tired of the lack of meatless street food options at Wynwood's second Saturday art walks.

Llop-Noy and Garcia-Mathews teach yoga and have been vegetarians for three years. But more than just serving vegetarian fare, they want to serve food that is good for the body and the environment. The girls are working on planting their own edible garden to supply the cart.

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Paula Niño

Ms. Cheezious sweet meltdown, crabby cheese melt and sweet potato fries

​We couldn't wait to check out Rainbow City, the 40-piece installation by the artistic duo FriendsWithYou (Sam Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III). The giant playground opened to the public yesterday for Art Basel and it was the perfect setting to have a picnic.

Sitting on one of the installation's candy-striped blankets, we ate crabby cheese melt -- crabb salad with sharp cheddar on buttery sourdough -- and sweet potato fries from Ms. Cheezious. For dessert, we had a surprisingly satisfying Oreo-Rice Krispy treat from the Sugar Rush dessert truck. Both trucks made their debut Friday.

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