Driving down Coral Way last Saturday, a few blocks before the start of Miracle Mile, I spotted in a small strip mall the words Portuguese Bakehouse. Because of my affection for Portugal I went in and found many familiar foodstuffs – the place, named Majestic, doubles as a bistro – including pasteis de nata, the famous egg custard pastries with the flaky crusts.
Traveling you often discover foods that, when you find them back home, invariably disappoint. There’s something missing; the quality of ingredients can’t match that in the country of origin. Biting into my pastel de nata I had the opposite experience. I had enjoyed the pastry in Portugal but, because it was so ubiquitous, I had never found it all that special. Eating it in Florida revealed to me its true magnificence.
Driving around Miami Saturday we stopped by one of our favorite restaurants, Xixón on Coral Way, for gazpacho and tortilla Española. It was a little sad seeing the lively Spanish restaurant reduced to takeout, like finding an opera singer making money as a busker.
Fisherman’s stew @ Finster Murphy’s
Grandma’s pizza @ Anthony’s
Ham, egg, and cheese crêpe @ Voo La Voo Café
Prosciutto, stracchino, and arugula piadina @ Angelo’s Bakery Bar
Ceviche @ Bravo
Salade niçoise @ Hardy Park Bistro
Spaghetti alle vongole @ Sapido
Shrimp panang @ Thai Spice
Dolsot bibimbap @ Gabose
Aloo chole @ Bombay Café
We had our last stone crabs of the season last night. They were delicious, made even more so by the knowledge that we won’t be able to buy them next week. Also, there’s something about cracking the ceramic-like shells that mimics the Hellenic joy of smashing plates.
Why don't most things come with chimichurri sauce?
I have graduated to – and perhaps become the creator of – the black and white cracker: half tapenade, half hummus.