Eccentric/Unconventional Miami

[taiga]

Happy Wine, El Palacio de Jugos, El Morro Castle, El Carajo, Le Sandwicherie, -- even Versailles mirrored, post Communist, faux Eastern bloc interior design.

What else has atypical appeal or cachet?

[mialebven]

This story in the Herald grabbed my attention:
http://www.miamiherald.com/tropical_l...

How about those Italian tacos, anyone, for a buck a pop? Never heard of the 4th P. until the article came up.

[Miami Danny]

Want a real amazing hole-in-the-wall joint, tucked away in some kind of warehouse district (technically, I believe it's 'Fashion')? Korean food, no less. Someone turned me onto Choice Cafe. They do so many things right. Great panchan (the little plates) , amazing hot pots, including beef, pork, and fish (all topped by a runny egg, of course), and it is frequented by many Koreans. No frills, but plenty of street cred. The neighborhood may look deserted, but it is safe. Only open until about 4 or 5 PM for (breakfast?) and lunch. Noodles are great, and they have bulgogi if you must. Kimchi & Pork BBQ "spicy marinated thin sliced" is enough for two. Lots of food here. For photos and videos go to www.dailycocaine.blogspot.com
Choice Cafe
2750 NW 3rd Ave
Miami, FL 33127
[phone]

[karmalaw]

It's been there for YEARS..... pretty odd place and never open for dinner.. but, it's the real deal because of all the korean vendors in the warehouse district.

[ankimo]

anybody have any recs on where to go for:
stuffed brioche french toast
taiwanese porkchop over rice
bolani (Afghani stuffed flatbread)
fresh soymilk with youtiao (deepfried dough) and XLB
porkbelly sandwich (i.e. open faced)
Vietnamese claypot catfish
Hainan chicken rice
salted caramel ice cream, etc.
halo halo (dessert)
fresh manju
French style tapas
dessert bar
best Niman Ranch burger

[taiga]

Wow!

I nominate Ankimo's request to the esteemed all-star, all time, bar-raising post of the month club.

Aside from the Niman Ranch burger, let's see what answers Frodnesor, Miami Danny, Advisor Girl, Karmalaw, Lax2Mia, Mialebven, ICRead, Blindmind, and the rest of you come up with for this.

[The Chowfather AKA sobe]

halo halo- there was/is a Filipino place on 17th St. in Ft Lauderdale called Pagasus Pinoy. Not sure of it is still around. Anyone know?

[Frodnesor]

Having some cravings, are we ankimo?

Icebox Cafe on Lincoln Road does good stuffed french toast (sometimes pbj, sometimes guava and cheese, etc.) but I don't think they use brioche. Chocolate Fashion in the Gables does brioche french toast but they don't stuff it. Ah, if only they could combine forces.

Halo halo - menupages lists a Filipino place called "American Adobo" on 125th St. in North Miami.

The rest? NY or SF, perhaps? What I wouldn't give for even just decent XLB.

[lax2mia]

This seems like one of those lists of "stuff I can't get in Miami". Except the salted caramel ice cream, which I make myself.

[ankimo]

thanks for the input
since we're on the theme of "stuff I can't get in Miami," anyone have any recs for:
kolache
piroshki
jambalaya
oyster po'boy
spinach deep dish pizza
chinese beef noodle soup
olive oil cake
banana cream tart
Hong Kong style desserts
taco truck
Dutch fries
blood oranges
bone marrow -- only Bourbon Steak?
best soufflés -- Two chefs?
best confectionery -- Romanicos?
a breakfast place serving up frittatas, crab omelettes, and something like lemon ricotta pancakes or raspberry oreo flapjacks

[lax2mia]

Alright, here's my shot:

Taco truck: Orale off Douglas Rd. at Douglas Park
Blood oranges: occassionally at Whole Foods (used to have at Costco)
Breakfast: crab and eggs at Icebox. Raspberry oreo flapjacks just sound gross.

[Frodnesor]

kolache / piroshki - there are several Russian / East European restaurants and delis around the Sunny Isles area that may fit the bill.

jambalaya / oyster po'boy - jambalaya @ Creolina's in FTL; oyster po'boy @ Christabelle's in the Grove (lunch menu). Note I'm not personally vouching for it, just saying it's on the menu.

taco truck - Orale indeed, though I've usually seen the truck at the Citgo station on 27th Ave. west of 836.

blood oranges - sometimes at Whole Foods, Norman Bros., occasionally even at Publix (Miami Shores).

bone marrow - yes to Bourbon Steak, but just order an osso buco just about anywhere and you ought to get a nice little bit of marrow in your veal shank bone.

souffle - Talula used to do an excellent chocolate souffle (in a coffee cup) but it's been off the menu for some time. Ate recently at Pascal's on Ponce, a cheese souffle app was very nice, I was less impressed by the dessert chocolate souffle.

second Icebox on breafkast.

What are Dutch fries?

[ankimo]

thanks for the all recs
Dutch fries = "patat," where they make thick steak fries with various dipping sauces

[YosemiteSam]

Wow, now there's a taste from the past. I found the Dutch fries the most addictive vice in Amsterdam, despite the obvious competition from other (ahem) options. Personal fav was the curry dipping sauce.

[Frodnesor]

Those "other options" are probably what made the fries so appealing in the first place.

[Icantread]

Love the cheese souffle at Pascal's, for dessert though I go for the pistachio ?Island? DOn't remember what it's called now but it floats on a sauce and is light and decadent at the same time.

[Frodnesor]

must be an ile flottante (floating island) - a meringue type thing over creme anglaise.

[Icantread]

Sounds about right. So either he or I translated it at some point. Btw Frod, I found it interesting that on my last visit I saw some Scholium wines on the list at Pascal's

[catpoz]

Thank you. I went to Christabella's.com, and it looks great! It's in the Grove, and I'm not very far from there. They have a great looking New Orleans-type flair. The menu looks great. I'm definitely going to have to give it a try. Anyone eaten there before?

[Frodnesor]

Most early reports on the food and service were mixed (I'm probably being generous) ->
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/405550

The original chef (Alex Patout, a genuine N.O. guy who had something of a reputation there before coming here to Miami) is now gone and the menu supposedly has been updated some. Have not seen much feedback since the shakeup.

[karmalaw]

Taco trucks.. there are a few.. there's one at NW 20th Street and 22nd Avenue at the "camel" station.. there's a yucatanean one that can be found somewhere in the general area of 12th avenue to 27th avenue (they briefly had a full permanent set-up on the side of a liquor store on 12th Ave just north of the miami river).

Kris Wessel at Red Light makes oyster po'boys (call ahead).

For russian/eastern european foods: Markys on 79th Street just east of Biscayne Boulevard has a number of treasures (where else are you going to get that violin shaped bottle of Moldovian Granat? See:

http://www.rileyswinesoftheworld.com/...

)

There is a Macau Bakery on 167th/163rd Street -- as well as a taiwanese one.. and some chinese ones.... for a fun afternoon why not bakery hop down the road, sampling desserts?

[Icantread]

Personally, I like Chuao's chocolates over Romanico's.

-----
Chuao Chocolatier
70 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables - Miami, FL 33134

[taiga]

Don't stop Ankimo any mo'.

What else can't we get?

Weissbier mit schuss!
monjayaki
laksa
tea leaf salad
jackfruit curry
fugassa
rendang
cacio e pepe
shakshooka
hainan chicken rice (again)
raclette
Hot Brown
St. Paul sandwich

[karmalaw]

Bif Rendang:

Bali Cafe, NE 2nd Avenue and NE 2nd Street.

[yomyb]

2nd Bali Cafe....better than Indomania

Orale Taco truck is indeed at the Citgo on 27th from Monday-Friday...elsewhere (I assume Douglas) on the weekends.

Chuao's is indeed at least more interesting than Romanicos.

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes I have had at Sarabeth's in Key West (very good), but can't seem to find here.... so I started making them myself...

Nice style frittatas at Sardinia in SoBe for brunch on the weekends...I love the one with spaghetti and peas...

And please someone follow up on the deep dish pizza request... I have been craving some for the last 2 months of my pregnancy!

[The Chowfather AKA sobe]

yomyb- try Capone's Flicker Lite for Chicago deep dish on the intracoastal in Hollywood.

-----
Capone's Flicker Lite Pizza
1014 N Ocean Dr, Hollywood, FL 33019

[Icantread]

chuau has great chocolate, and it should be noted, now features gelatos which are quite tasty as well.

[ankimo]

uh, new craving: where should I go for a frozen custard (concrete)?

[The Chowfather AKA sobe]

Siciliano's on Hollywood Blvd just East of 441

[ankimo]

anybody know where I can get a mexican torta, i.e. milanesa?

[The Chowfather]

Try Chapultepec in Hallandale Beach

*edit- found menu
http://southflorida.menupages.com/res...

[advisor_Girl]

taiga>

The recipe for Hot Brown is here. I feared it was something more kinky than a turkey and bacon sammie - you devil!

http://www.brownhotel.com/dining/hot-...

Fugassa can be found at 167th & 6th Ave in NMB at the newly reopened Vito's 16601 NE 6th Ave 305-944-6100. They spell theirs with zz but it's the same thing. I have not been there yet, but it's now half Vito's and half BBQ so you KNOW I am on my way! Back in the day a fugazza from Vito's was legendary!

Also in the 163rd/167th Little Chinatown corridor is a new City BBQ opening across the street from the former Subcenter (GOD I loved Subcenter and the famous 6 footer). City BBQ is being built from the ashes of the former donut shop next to Sang's 1925 NE 163rd St NMB...

Also standing by for Headband Howie's sweaty BBQ on 15400 Biscayne Blvd. I think you can get shakshooka at the little Jerusalem deli next door to Paquito's at 163rd & Biscayne too.

AG

[Frodnesor]

Shakshooka at any number of Israeli places around Miami Gardens Drive and West Dixie Highway. I also had a weak rendition at Coral Bagels on US1.

[catpoz]

Any real po'boys? I've never seen one in Miami.

Subcenter in North Miami Beach used to have the best Italian subs, mixed. I don't think they're still there, and I've not found a sub as good since. Their sub bread was great too.

[The Chowfather AKA sobe]

Not that I am aware of. Paninoteca had a very good muffaletta when Wessel (red light) opened the place a few years ago. Haven't been in a while.

I went to college in New Orleans and lived on jambalay, crawfish, oyster and shrimp po-boys. Two places high on my list to try in Broward are Rosey Baby and Shuck N Dive
http://www.roseybaby.com/

[The Chowfather AKA sobe]

I forgot that Titanic Brewery near UM has a shrimp po-boy on their menu. Have not been down there in years and don't recall it being anything special/close to the real thing but will defer to a hound who has been recently.

[mikek]

Chow, did you go to Tulane? I graduated there in 05 and have been trying for the life of me to find a place that does great Etoufee, Gumbo, Jambalaya, etc. down here. Still yet to discover it.

[The Chowfather AKA sobe]

Yes and I didn't feel old until I you posted that 05 on me. You must have been the last pre-katrina class. I'm going to make an effort to head to Rosey Baby in the near future and will post back. Not expecting Domilise's though

[tangelo]

They're still open on Hollywood Blvd and 441, one of the original locations, and they're even better than I remembered. They're pricey, but worth it.

[Frodnesor]

Roasted marrow bones were a daily special at Michy's this Saturday night ->
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/358521#3908346

It is absurdly expensive, but if you've just got to have it, the menu for the Restaurant at the Setai has hainese chicken rice (and beef rendang).
http://www.setai.com/assets/File/TheR...
Setai really does have an interesting menu, shame it's so pricey (has kept me from ever trying).

[Miami Danny]

You forgot the skate wings...

[karmalaw]

There are, on and off, hidden little filipino places in downtown miami. Many of the crew on the ships that come into the Port of Miami are filipino or indonesian. Take a wander down the area of SE 3rd Avenue from Flagler to SE 2nd St. It's also possible that the Bali Cafe on NE 2nd Avenue between 2nd and 3rd Streets may have it.

There are a few taiwanese places in NMB.. you may have to just poke your head in and ask... Shing Wang won't have it (they are vegetarian), but perhaps they will know someone who does:

http://shingwang.blogspot.com/

[Mr. yomyb]

Had a great lunch a couple of months ago at this little indonesian joint called "Garuda" (152 Se 1st Ave, hidden away in the middle of the block) right around there... don't know if it has survived. Had a hilarious experience there: I'm dressed in a suit for work and I walk into the place at around 2 pm one day - there's only one person in the whole place, a woman behind the counter who takes one look at my suit and white skin and bellows at me, "No sushi!" After I explained that I was really looking for indonesian food, she calmed down and I had a great meal for ten bucks. She said they were having problems getting someone to work there and she didn't know how long they would be open - the food she had that day had been prepared by a chef before he went to his other job, and she was just keeping it warm. Their main customers are the indonesian guys who work on the cruise ships, and they always come in in the mornings, so they usually close before 3 pm. She told me Saturday mornings get raucous because a lot of guys are in town and they play trad indonesian music in the upstairs of the restaurant, but unfortunately I haven't been back to check it out.

[The Chowfather AKA sobe]

Ankimo, Salted caramel ice cream

Just saw this place and they ship mentioned in a chowhound summer gift ad and they ship to Fl.

http://jenisicecreams.com/0505signatu...

[Frodnesor]

Hainan chicken was on the menu at Little Saigon Vietnamese in North Miami (167th St. & Miami Ave.). I didn't try it. Can't recall the entire menu but it was pretty lengthy and they might be an option for claypot fish too.

[Frodnesor]

They do indeed have halo halo at American Adobo, I stopped in to check it out this weekend (family's been gone for the weekend, so I've been exploring).

The food was decent+, had a pork dish that was sort of like a fried sweet and sour pork but more caramelized, a nice vegetable dish with winter squash, green beans and little bits of pork, and a bowl of rice (everything is served from steam table but they will fry a fish to order).

The halo halo was the real winner for me (first time trying it). I still have no real idea what was in there - a layer of red mung beans, garbanzos (?), bits of fruit, technicolor green jello-bits, shaved ice, condensed milk, a scoop of technicolor purple on top (yam paste?) - but it was good.

Really nice lady working behind the counter. Seems like everybody else there was family or friends, as folks were hopping behind the counter to wash their hands or help themselves to food. And I found myself becoming inexplicably engrossed in a Filipino movie playing on the TV featuring "Mr. Suave", a chaps-wearing Austin Powers type with a Salvador Dali-esque mustache who has the unfortunate habit of literally freezing every time he attempts to get intimate with someone.

Don't think that's entertaining? Check this out ->
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH2E61...
Watch this and you too will be singing "Hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy!"

[Frodnesor]

Adding place links for American Adobo and Little Saigon.

-----
Little Saigon Vietnamese Restaurant
16752 N Miami Ave, North Miami Beach, FL 33169

American Adobo Philippine
633 NE 125th St North, Miami, FL

[karmalaw]

Yambo
Chez Rosie
Con Tutto
Habana Vieja
The one table at the tiny armenian grocery store at 22nd and Coral Way
Oriental Grocery on Coral Way (they have eat-in tables)

[kmills9408]

Karmalaw-
could you provide the address or cross street on Coral Way for the Oriental Grocery. Thanks

[Icantread]

22nd Ave

[karmalaw]

no.. the armenian is at 22nd Ave.. Oriental Grocery is technically at : 1760 SW 3rd Ave -- but 3rd Avenue is Coral Way at that point -- if you're coming from Brickell get on Coral Way (SW 13th Street), follow it past Publix and past Walgreen's, around the bend, and the Oriental Grocery will be on your right after you go under I-95.

Oriental Grocery is middle eastern, btw -- not asian -- so you aren't surprised.

[mialebven]

Correct, the Oriental Grocery is Syrian, if I remember correctly.

The "Armenian" I thought was Palestinian... The Middle East Best Food is the name of the place, and I think I like it a tad bit more than Oriental even though it is smaller. I think I like it more because of fresher baked goods. But it's harder to spot since the signage is smaller. But if you're just walking around the street, look for "Comida Arabe" (Spanish for Arabian Food). The man who runs it speaks many languages, including English, Spanish, Arabic and Hebrew (or was it French... or both?).

Also, people flocking to the Lebanese maronite church nearby on Coral Way would also direct most people to go to Middle East Best rather than Oriental. That might be saying something!

[karmalaw]

Yes - the little market at Coral Way and 22nd is a true gem -- and great place to pick up spices . The economy and rising rents forced him to downsize -- but the owner is a true GEM -- and now that I'm thinking -- he may be lebanese or syrian -- my memory on it is fuzzy -- but, it's no matter -- what he has is great (including several types of Feta cheese).

[lax2mia]

The sidewalk coffee windows at any Cuban restaurant.

And the Sushi + Thai phenomenon that only seems to happen here.

I'd also throw in El Rey del Chivito and El Rey de las Fritas.

And Karma: tapas and beer before getting into your newly cleaned automobile.

[jessierandall]

What is El Morro Castle?

I'd add:

Magnum
Red Light
Sushi Deli
Hy Vong
Yakko San
Salmon Salmon

[advisor_Girl]

JR>

Home of the giant Cuban Sammie - Morro Castle 1201 W. 44th Pl in Beautiful Downtown Hi-a-leah! (Get "down" off the Palmetto at 103rd and drive eastbound to W 12th AV (Milander) and make a right)...

AG

[jessierandall]

Nice! Thanks for the info.

[taiga]

And at the original on NW 7th/aka Luis Sabines Way, where I was introduced to batidos de mamey and trigo and Cuban car hop service back in the day, all nestled in the shadows (long shadows) of the (wreckage of the) Orange Bowl.