Culinary Tours: Miami's South Beach and Little Havana

You can find a lot of great food in Miami -- everything from stone crabs to Cuban sandwiches and even New York-style Jewish delis, not to mention some modern takes on Latin cuisine. I found great places to eat in Little Havana, in the Design District, and in South Beach. There is no way you can possibly try everything, but going on a food tour is a terrific way to get a taste and to scope out what you might want to try later. I recently checked out these two culinary tours in Miami.

Grace Della is the founder of Miami Culinary Tours (www.miamiculinarytours.com). She's knowledgeable, friendly, and enthusiastic about her adopted city. Her tours are also a great value. You get to meet some locals and learn about Miami, its people, culture, architecture, and history. Best of all, you get to try lots of delicious things -- all of which are handpicked by a local insider. 

 

The Little Havana tour ($59) takes place on a stretch of Calle Ocho where there are restaurants, coffee shops, cigar shops, art galleries, a park where locals play dominoes, a wonderful bakery and a little produce stand where they make fresh sugar cane juice to order. My favorite stops along the tour were two of the restaurants, Exquisito (1510 SW 8th St.; tel. 305/643-0227; www.exquisitorestaurant.com) and El Pub (1548 SW 8th St.; tel. 305/642-9942). 

 

Exquisito is an upgraded cafeteria, next to the landmark Tower Theater. Locals come in for daily specials and raciones (portions) of maduros (sweet fried plantain) and yuca con mojo (yuca with garlic sauce). The dining room is decorated with Cuban record covers and has a fun vibe. Everything is inexpensive so it's a great place to try something new.

 

El Pub is filled with Cuban memorabilia and with families enjoying Cuban specialties. It's known for making some the best Cuban coffee, which you can get from a counter inside or from a window facing the street. They also make a mean medianoche, a type of Cuban sandwich served on special sweet egg bread. 

 

The South Beach tour ($59) focuses a lot on Art Deco architecture and stops in at a variety of places to eat, ranging from very high-end to little corner markets. The first stop was one of my favorites, and a place I'd love to return to the next time I'm in Miami: De Rodriguez Cuba (Hilton Bentley South Beach, 101-B Ocean Drive; tel. 305/672-6624; www.drodriguezcuba.com). The restaurant recently moved out of the Astor Hotel location and to the Hilton on Ocean Drive. The restaurant -- named after the well-known local chef -- features all kinds of tapas and lots of ceviches. The sampler plate had a crisp chicken empanadita, a short rib skewer, and a mini picadillo taco. Each little bite of an updated Latin classic was fresh and exciting. 

 

At Jerry's Famous Deli, we had an Almond Drop, a chewy and crunchy chocolate-covered cookie that is a bit like a macaroon but possibly even better. The bakery case is tempting, but the deli sandwiches are a real draw here, too. The classic styling of the restaurant makes it really stand out.

 

Another favorite stop was at a market for a quick Cubano, a Cuban espresso served in a tiny cup. It's a custom even non-coffee drinkers should try. The rich, sweet coffee is strong and sultry, and it perks you up no matter how muggy it is outside. While you could explore Little Havana or South Beach on your own, you will be introduced to many traditions and even more delectable tastes on these terrific tours. Be sure to book ahead!

 

I was a guest of Miami Culinary Tours.

Source: http://www.frommers.com/community/blogs/between-bites.cfm?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a130beee0-89b1-4de1-90ee-74de88a6b321Post%3a6e3c12d2-4b0c-4bfa-9c83-46e8546ad4c2

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