away for the holidays

so holiday meals can sometimes be a challenge on the road- I remember one meal we had on Christmas Day in Cincinnati at Steak N Shake...why? because it was the only place open on Christmas Day... so we were pretty thrilled that we seemed to have a decent amount of choice in Miami for this holiday.  The only thing we really missed was Phil's favorite La Cameronera... we ended up at Garcia's which has the disadvantage of not as good food but has the advantage of outdoor dining.

We got to see brother Larry's new digs on Miami Beach - having left the Grove after three decades! And we basically just hung out and relaxed one bar or another LOL-

On Friday night after our arrival we went to Pascal's on Ponce - an old favorite which is still and excellent choice for continental food!  Saturday we ended up at Garcia's for lunch more out of habit than anything and because we didn't have massive numbers of options that weren't located in hotels which had to remain open for their clientele... Then Saturday night we headed back to Toscano Divino and again had a terrific meal (way better than you would think given their location!) Sunday brought our real find in Bellmont Spanish Restaurant for lunch which lasted nearly three and a half hours! and for dinner that night we did La Mar (a Gaston Arcurio place where the menu mimics our fave  Peru in Chicago at Tanta)

On the way out of town we stopped for Cuban "burgers"- fritas with shoe string potatoes and a fried egg on top of a beef chorizo patty or two...at El Mago de las Fritas- good but not "to-die-for" but since we hadn't ever had them it was worth the small detour...

my favorite shot of the weekend

the weekend in order-

Pascal's with the wines we brought- starting with the amuse

 

then on to Saturday afternoon- Garcia's and Monty's-

Sunday afternoon and our long long long lunch!

Sunday dinner LOL sorry not much in the way of photos

then Monday rolled around and we rolled out of town after the fritas stop -

so back at winter home and planing for a quiet new year's eve- Dom, caviar, foie and some other goodies to tide us over to 2017 and I have to say I have not looked so forward to the end of a year since 2010 - the year my mother and sister died.... so on we go- live as much in the present as we can and count our blessings of which there are many more than the challenges.... may not be another post for 2016 but stay tuned the new year has much in store for us ----

meeting in miami

last weekend we had an extremely nice family get together in Miami. our daughter Angela and her guy Lee came down for a winter break from NYC weather and we met up with them in Miami. and as luck would have it - our nephew Jeffrey also was visiting his sister Lauren (who goes to school at the University of Miami) and as you know from prior posts brother Larry and cousin Michele live there full time... so while we were never 100% in the same place at the same time - the group of eight formed and reformed the variations of "who went where when"

a preview of the last meal first- LOL

Angela and Lee arrived on Thursday and met Phil, Larry, Michele and me for dinner at Toscana Divino which was a way better place to eat than expected... food was excellent and since we brought our own wines - they were too LOL.. we had an outdoor table on a lovely evening- with fabulous service from Stephano.

Then on Friday, Larry, Phil and I met up with Angela & Lee at Monty's so we could again be outside for the meal. And over the course of the afternoon Lauren and her boyfriend Charlie met us there for lunch as well.  Friday night we made time for Pascal's (our first choice for dining in Coral Gables) and had a smaller group of five. Excellent service from Marco!

Saturday lunch Phil and I ducked off for quiet and downscale to La Camaronera in little Havana- a favorite of Phil's for fried shrimp. Later Michele, Lauren and Jeffrey met us for a sparkling wine toast at our hotel before heading out to a late dinner at Eating House- where we had a fabulous meal of shared plates (some of which you will see in the photos below) and more great service from Luke!

Sunday before we headed back to our Florida home - Larry picked us up and we headed to another favorite - Garcia's on the river- and Michele met us there. To top of the eating adventures we stopped in Ft Myers on the way home for our favorite pizza Grimaldi's (from under the Brooklyn Bridge)

the view from our table at Toscana Divino- great to be outside for an evening meal!

my meal at Pascal's the blue crab roll - the short rib ravioli - and a berry gratin

La Camaronera - while waiting - we perused the fish market- they certainly were FRESH!

on to the eating house- the menu is eclectic and the food well executed-

exceptional steak tartare (photo not so exceptional- LOL)

the amazing winter salad (a miracle- Friedmans eating beets!!!! LOL)

outstanding pork belly preparation-

dirt- loved by all with the exception of myself (yuck on the hazelnut flavor)

although not shown the carbonara was incredibly good and very rich- the vegetable bisque was full of flavor- the brussel sprouts the best I have ever tasted. We also had the heirloom tomatoes, the local burrata and the scallops- really not a single dish I would not recommend! this place is a definite "return to"! my only negative comment is due to the format of shared plates it attracts a number of larger groups (our group of six was a moderate sized table) and therefore is loud...or lively depending upon your point of view...LOL

next up - Garcia's - where we had stone crab claws of the colossal size and grouper sandwiches before heading out of town....

I love this place- I really find it perfect in every way for a lunch spot- outdoors but covered so no worries about finding shade or rain ruining lunch - very nice wait staff and excellent simple food-

and the wines-

Toscana Divino-

Pascal's on Ponce

eating house- 

now- back in class and heading into the forks and corks weekend festivities! so stay tuned- CBGB will be making an appearance for F&C and also friends from Chicago are coming Monday of next week for three nights - and we have plans for them as well... along with classes and the theater along the way...