Kareem Shaker

While the rest of the nation is celebrating just being able to leave the house without mittens and and a scarf on, it will be just another warm, sunny weekend for us here in South Florida. So why not grill a fabulous selection of barbecued meats while taking in a wondrous view? No we don't mean by pulling over on 195 on our way to the beach. That is illegal. Try these five cooking spots.
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Joyosity Flickr

So many mangoes, so little time.

Mango season is upon us, which means these sweet, succulent fruits will be falling from trees, rolling under cars and rotting on sidewalks throughout Miami. Every year, an abundance of this fleshy tropical fruit strikes our city, and locals with mango trees are overwhelmed.

In an attempt to save Mother Nature's delicious creations, we offer ten ways to get the most out of these delightful fruits - by eating and otherwise. For advice on how to cut one, see the video at the end of this post.

10. Grow a mango tree. Let the seed dry out, then crack it open and pull out the white, lima-bean looking "pip". Plant it, nurture it and voila! Homegrown goodness.
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Memorial Day in Miami is unlike any other. If you're not joining or dodging the swarms of people in town for Urban Beach Week, you're probably firing up the pit, throwing on a slab of meat, sitting back with a cold beer, and relaxing.

This year, spice things up up a bit. Try one of our top ten barbecue sauces for every kind of palate. They'll make you tipsy, thirsty, and eager to suck those bones good and dry.

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All photos by Lee Klein

Jean-Paul Sartre once famously said there are just two types of people in this world: those who like Cocoa Puffs, and those who prefer Cocoa Krispies. Or maybe it was Seinfeld who said it. Either way, the world keeps evolving, and, lo and behold, there are now other cocoa-flavored breakfast cereals on the market such as Chocolate Cheerios and Chocolate Frosted Mini-Wheats Little Bites and Cascadian Farm Organic Chocolate O's, and Kellogg's Krave. We left the last off our list because it's chocolate-filled rather than straight chocolate. Plus the lettering on the box is scary.

So our idea is a taste test to determine not only the objective truth behind whether Krispies or Puffs is the superior chocolate cereal, but also how all five stack up by comparison. The process was kept simple: A bowl of each was sampled in tandem with cold, whole milk. Characteristics to be judged were taste, chocolatey-ness, and crunchiness -- along with more subtle attributes recognizable only to true chocolate cereal experts and connoisseurs. Like nutritional benefits, how resistant to sogginess the cereal is, and which one leaves behind the best chocolate milk.

The results may prove a bit shocking to some readers -- meaning those with sensibilities frail enough to be shocked by cereal taste tests. What surprised us is that after eating five bowls of cereal we didn't feel all that bad. At least not for awhile.
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South Beach is known for many things, but perhaps best for its nightlife. Yet when the sun rises and the disco lights shut down, most of us are left with a stonking great hangover and stomach gurgling for some good grub. So where should one venture on the beach to fulfill that morning-after void? After thorough research (and few nights on the town) we have discovered the top five hangover cures in SoBe.

1. Tofu scramble and sweet potato hash at Thrive Cafe
Take vegan and turn it on its head. Boring, cardboard-tasting food? Think again. This delicious hangover brunch trates best forbeing both fully flavorful and extremely nutritious, thus curing your hangover from the inside out. The tofu scramble puts any classic egg dish to shame, jumbled amongst fresh veggies and herbs. Accompanied by a delicious sweet potato and a bed of fresh garden salad, it's both fulfilling and fresh enough to wake you from seeing double the morning after without leading you back into a calorific food comma. $13
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billwisserphoto.com

Haven offers an immersive experience.

Today, 4/20, is the only day of the year when more Americans write and comment about pot than actually smoke it. What no doubt started as a story reported in desperation on a slow news day, has grown into something resembling a mainstream holiday -- all that's missing is a calendar notation, appropriate greeting cards, and maybe a few parades.

For those of you who plan on celebrating the day in a puff, here are five places you might consider ambling over to. Perhaps you can even organize a ganja crawl and visit all five. If so, make a written note to save the donut shop for last.

(Note: Eating House would be the obvious choice for this list, as it's the only restaurant we know of that is actually putting forth a specific 4/20 munchies menu. But we've already told you about this -- and, as we say, it's obvious).
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Red Fish Grill via Facebook

Miami is, by definition, an extremely romantic city. Palm trees sway in the balmy breeze, lightly scented by the nearby ocean. So it comes as no surprise that a multitude of restaurants take advantage of Miami's sexy vibe -- adding candles, moonlight, and plenty of champagne and oysters for good measure.

Here's a list of ten of the most unabashedly romantic spots to take your wife, your girlfriend, your husband, your boyfriend, or any combination thereof.
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South Beach isn't cheap. yet there are places where you can have a decent meal for the money in your spare coin jar. We've scouted the 10 best items for under $10 on the island. Not only are the following items dirt cheap, they also taste like a million bucks. This top-ten compilation also doubles as an check-list of restaurants to utilize when you are teetering your bank's overdraft line. Quick, bookmark it.

Some of the items you can get from the buffet, sans the beer. (That costs extra.)

10. The Lunch Buffet at David's Café II ($8.95)
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every weekday, this old school Cuban joint serves up some savory crowd favorites, available to eat as much as your heart desires. Bites such as pork, chicken, rice, black beans and sweet plantains are all available in abundance. Obviously it's only available in-house, although they do deliver their normal menu.
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With what is being labeled the Great Recession ripping Miami in full force, many people are losing their homes and jobs. The prices of local goods, especially prepared food, are not a reflection of Miami residents' struggling economic status. It's nice to know that even in a depressed economic state, there are places where you can enjoy a delicious meal at an affordable price. If the recession is hitting home, here are some places where you can enjoy a scrumptious selection for $5 or less.

Yosef Hamilton

​5. Burgers & Shakes
Miniburger and shake, $5

Opened less than a year ago at the former Rocky's Burgers, Burgers & Shakes has already become one of North Beach's most popular eateries. Ground beef, chicken, and fresh mahi-mahi burgers regularly range from around $6 to more than $10 on this simple menu, but lunchtime brings a miniburger-and-shake deal for $5. If you're in the mood to try new things, sample the veggie burger, which is made with a portobello mushroom and features a selection of toppings such as olive oil, arugula, avocado, and capers.
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We've tried to convince you to check out the Redland Farmers Market and Bargain Town in the past, but if you are yet to take our advice here's another plea. Maybe you're hesitant to travel all the way down to Homestead only to be disappointed, but if you have taste buds then you won't be. If your excuse is that you don't know what to buy, well, then we've got you covered. Below, a treasure map of sorts to the pleasures of the Redland.

Daniel Treiman

​1. Tacos from Lucky Taco ($1.50)
In a city not lacking in taco joints, these easily stand out, and at $1.50 you'll have trouble saying no to a second round. Their rendition of Al Pastor explodes with the flavor of pineapple, and the Barbacoa sauce is sticky and rich. Even the unadorned shredded pork shines on its own, and the lengua, which was not on the taco list during our last visit, is available and should not be missed.
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