Looking for local foods in Miami
Are there any restaurants, markets or shops in Miami that specialize in locally sourced foods? Where's the best place to get Florida avacado, mango, hearts of palm, key limes, grapefruit, stone crabs, grouper (real grouper not farm-raised Basa from Vietnam), rock shrimp, etc. Also, what are some other foods that are indigenous to South Florida or Miami? Are there dishes or sandwiches or soups that were invented in Miami?
By adamhgraham
on Feb 11, 2009 07:04 PM
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Pretty lengthy existing thread ->
Florida's Signature Dish
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/5616...
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Thanks Frodnesor! I actually commented on that thread, but I'm looking for more locally sourced ingredients in this thread.
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Robert is here, way down in Florida City, for local produce (mango, avocado, etc.). Rock shrimp has always been hard for me to find. This should be an easy question to answer. It's pathetic that it's easier to buy salmon than grouper or snapper in Miami.
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I don't think rock shrimp are a particularly Miami product. I believe that they primarily come from further upstate. Here's an old post (that you started, L2M!) ->
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/379143
For shrimp, I'd say Key West pinks are closer to "local" for Miami than rock shrimp.
Best place to get mangoes is your neighbor's tree in the summer.
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Know it's a Florida product, but why is it so difficult to find here when it comes from a few hundred miles away? But I sure as heck can find farmed Chilean salmon pretty quick!
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Agree on both these counts. Supermarket mangoes never compared with my dad's tree.
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Chef Allen's in Aventura is well known for using a lot of the local seasonal produce on his menu. Casablanca is also very good for the local seafood such as snapper, grouper, and mahi.
For fresh produce just drive up and down Chrome Ave between 152nd St and 312th St. Dozens of food stands sprawled up and down the avenue with all the fresh picks of the day...a lot of U Pick spots too.
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Robert is Here and Knaus Berry Farm in Homestead are great produce/food spots in Homestead.
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Bee Heaven has an avocado farm (among other things) and apparently will deliver in season (which is during the summer).
http://www.pikarco.com/
They also help supply the local CSA; according to their website, they also sell at the Gardners' weekend farmers market but I've not been down that way to confirm.
Joe's Take-Away for stone crabs.
Again, I think grouper is caught more often further up the coast and is not as much a Miami thing.
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Fresh local fish and crabs (including grouper and various types of snapper): the Casablanca fish market on the Miami River (1 door down from Garcias seafood restaurant).
http://casablancaseafood.com/home.html
Mangos and many other tropical fruits in season, including Mamey -- and some come from local neighborhood trees:
Los Pinarenos Fruteria
1334 SW 8th St
Miami, FL 33135
(305) 285-1135
Also, the produce stands at the Flagler Dog Track weekend Flea Market are sometimes worth checking out. 37th Ave & NW 7th St - -Sat-Sun.
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Lorenzo's marketplace in North Miami has some of the most exotic fruits and vegetables from local farmers, it is VERY affordable compared to Whole Foods and you get a sense and feeling of a family own little mercadito, it is truly a gem in Miami
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