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Showing posts with label Miami. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Miami. Show all posts

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Trailer Treasure




Lately, NW 17th Ave. has become my latest highway. I've almost got it memorized and will soon be able to determine intersections solely by their surrounding businesses. But there is something keeping me on my toes. Preventing that drive down south from monotony.
Taco Trucks.
Sounds simple enough. A half-size trailer pumping out quick, flavorful meat slathered on soft, floured vessels like a one-man or one-woman factory. Keep in mind that this is fairly new to Miami. There's always been a struggle for authentic, let alone, delicious Mexican fare. These trucks are little pods of light and hope down the narrow tunnel that is: Mexican food in Miami.

I remember one taco truck, specifically caught the mouths of many and was even awarded best Mexican by the Miami New Times. It used to be parked at Douglas Park on weekends and occasional weekdays. It's very confusing, actually. The truck proprietors decide at random when to show up. I suppose that's part of the adventure, hunting them down. But now there's a truck on 28th and another on 19th, both on 17th ave. Plus, there's also new restaurants sowing their seed and almost getting overwhelming. This is a fairly recent boost. I have yet to try 90% of these establishments, but am ready, willing & able.

One taco truck was mediocre, didnt have much variety and I think was actually owned by a Dominican family. (I wish they were serving Dominican food).

Why don't more people jump on this bandwagon and open a wagon of their own? The cultural variety thriving in this Magic City should expand to more than hot dogs and tacos. At least in the late night, portable sense.

If this continues, I'm going to base every move I make on where the trucks are setup. So I can just go downstairs and gnaw on some tender, spicy pig organs nestled between crisp radish, bright cilantro and raw onion.

Dreams soon to become reality!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Soup D'etat

You could essentially have a soup revolution.
A soup diet, if you will.
They have the ability to be so versatile. They can be full meals, or just a palette cleanser. It's a beautiful thing, and sometimes underrated, even by myself. Soups can be written off as dumb and boring and simple. But hopefully after reading this you'll think twice. I've only covered Miami, and once in Pembroke Pines. These happen to be my favorite soups in South Florida, they happen to all be South-East Asian, and they happen to be some of the meals i've ever had.

#1
Soup: Soto Betawi
Restaurant: Bali Cafe
109 NE 2nd ave
Miami


This is tops in soup. It's hearty, light, sweet, savory, silky, north, south, east & west. This Indonesian staple makes me want to pack up my things and go. Just so i can have this everyday for breakfast. just a list a few ingredients that have sailed and conquered this soup: lemongrass, scallions, coconut milk, tomato, shrimp chips, beef, onions, sticky rice, candlenuts, ginger, potato. Not to mention the envious shrimp-paste sambal served on the side. This is discovering buried treasure in every bite; and treasure is what i look for in every meal.

#2
Soup: Pho
Restaurant: Pho 78
7849 Pines Blvd.
Pembroke Pines


Not saying this is the only place to get this, but when it's all they serve, they better have perfected it...and they did!
This was actually the first place i had Pho, i was so confused i started eating the "salad" they give you before hand. This salad is actually a plate of culantro, Thai basil, mint, lime, jalapeno and beansprouts that prepares you for the 8th wonder of the world (or at least soon to be): Pho.
Typically made with a variety of meats: Flank, Tendon, Tripe, Marble Brisket, Blood, Crunchy Flank (although you can get seafood (!) and chicken varieties) and you can pick and choose your proteins. (I usually go for the combination with all of them)
It's basically a ginger, clove, anise based broth. fragrant as fuck. Such a light yet hearty soup.
Vietnamese usually eat it for breakfast on the way to work.
Break up the herbs given to you on the side to your liking and finish off each bite with some Hoisin sauce, chili paste, and Fish Sauce. You'll either be applauding or laughing at the simple yet complex notion of this soup.

#3
Soup: Thom Kha Gai
Restaurant: Thai House II
2250 NE 163rd st.
North Miami

To round out the essence of soup. Enter: Thom Kha Gai.
Coconut Milk. Chicken. Mushrooms. Scallions. Sambal. Perfection.
I think they should start serving a straw with this soup, because sometimes the spoon alone does not do it justice. You need to sop up every droplet till the ceramic on the bowl dries out.
Just taste it, and you'll see what I mean.

If you have any Miami soup suggestions, please let me know. I would hate for this to be the first and only edition of Soup D'etat.

VIVA LA BROTH!