Fruity & Spicy

Hey fellow Miamians!  Have you been to the Fruit & Spice Park?  I think this place is totally cool.  If you don't know, it is 37 acres set aside by the Miami-Dade County Parks and Rec Department in the Redlands. Because this area has a tropical climate like no other in the US, it can host over 500 varieties of fruit and spice trees from all over the world.  There are 150 varieties of mango, 75 different types of bananas, over 70 bamboo specimens and then countless other exotic edibles (and non-edibles).  The cost is $8 for adults, $1.50/children 6-12, under 6 is free, and it is open every day of the year except Christmas.

Jackfruit

My sister was in town for a conference and spent an extra day here so we could play, and we headed off for this park.  It was a hot day, but the trees are so fantastic and shade is abundant.... and it is a nice way to spend an afternoon.

They always have interesting fruits available to taste, and while you can't pick anything off the trees, whatever is on the ground is fair game.  You aren't supposed to leave the park with fruit, but we took big bags and got away with a couple of mangoes and mameys.

So the park is laid out primarily by geography: Asia, Australia, Africa, South America, etc.  Most of the trees have labels on them as well - MOST of them.

Like these.

And then we found things we couldn't identify like this little nugget of goodness.  We sampled this in the Visitor's Center before we entered the park and loved it.  And no, by "nugget of goodness" I am not talking about my sister.  I am talking about the fruit.  And no, I'm still not talking about my sister.

Here's another one we couldn't identify, but luckily there was a sign!  There was an entire "inedible" section....

This was one of my favorites.  From a distance, the blossoms really did look like fried eggs!

I liked the "sausage" tree too  (insert inappropriate joke & giggle here).

We saw so many things - cocao, kola, tamarind, tumeric, lemon grass, star apple, peach, carob, cinnamon.... so very cool!  One of the things I love about living in Florida is the access to so many exotic fruits.  I have become a fruit eater.  I really have always enjoyed vegetables more (I like my fruit in the form of liquid fermentation....), but when Mameys are in season, I'm happy --  they are like a cross between a sweet potato and a papaya and absolutely yummy. The papaya and mangoes are amazing here too. I have fresh-from-someone's-tree mangoes on my countertop (I didn't steal them, friends did!)  Oh and lychees.... I have fresh lychees in my fridge as I type this too!  Lots of work for a stupid little morsel, but oh!  That morsel is so yummy!

Carambola (star fruit)

Mexican Winter Avocado

Definitely worth a visit on a lazy afternoon!

http://fruitandspicepark.org/friends/index.php

NAOE - pronounced oddly enough, "naoe"

Naoe is owned by Chef Kevin Cory, Miami born but Japanese by heritage.  His family owns a sake brewery in Ishikawa Prefecture (southwest peninsula off of the main island called Honshu) which brews all of the sake that is served in the restaurant.  The brewery is called Nakamura, and you can order Junmai, Ginjo, and Daiginjo grade sake from this brewery which is exclusively sold in this restaurant, or you can have Sapporo.  I suggest you order the sake!  There is also a dessert sake made using "wine yeast" which I didn't get to try, but I most certainly will on the next visit.  There is also an array of non-alcoholic beverages including green tea.

Chef Cory learned Japanese Cuisine from Exec. Chef Nobuo Kase who learned the craft in Kyoto, where Kaiseki Ryori, (the most sophisticated and coveted of Japanese Cuisine) is headquartered.  He then learned from his uncle and admitted mentor Yasushi Naoe, who is highly revered in Kaiseki dining by the Japanese.  After several restaurant experiences in Miami, he finally opened Naoe, the name being a tribute to his uncle, in March, 2009.  The reviews have been stunning since the beginning -- and just to name a few, Gayot top 10 New Restaurants, Highest Rated by Yelp in Miami, Highest Rated in Miami by Open Table, NBC #1 restaurant, Miami New Times 2010 Best Japanese Restaurant.....

Your experience must first start off with a reservation (required and exclusive through opentable.com), and these are offered for 8pm, 9pm, or midnight seatings Wednesday-Sunday, and the place only can serve 17 at a time, so no matter when you choose to dine, the experience will be intimate.  Go with close friends, not your surf-buddies or your rowdy book club.

We chose to sit at the bar.  Which was the best decision, considering we got to witness 37 year old Chef Cory hard at work as the master of his small domain.  The hostess/server explained the experience, and coached us about what to expect:  a Bento Box and Miso Soup, then various courses of sushi/sashimi that is made from seafood that was "alive this morning or still alive."  This restaurant brings in fish directly from the Tsukiji Fish Market in Tokyo (pictured above-right), or the Miami fish ports every day. The website motto "It's Not Fresh, It's Alive" rings true indeed!

So here is the Bento Box.  Top Left:  Some kind of sushi with a mashed mountain vegetable foam,  Bottom Left:  Rice with Shiitake Mushrooms, Bottom Right:  Spanish Mackerel sushi and poached lobster with freshly grated wasabi (much sweeter and milder than your typical wasabi paste), Upper Right:  Raw-ish pork with mustard sauce, sweet pea pods, tempura fish tail, and (gasp) Sea Bream "male eggs" - translate - SPERM.

And company included - the vote was that the Sea Bream Sperm was the highlight of the experience.  The butternut squash miso soup was exquisite and fragrant.... Great digestif and completely yummy!

I must emphasize there is no menu.  This is the chef's whimsy, and largely based on what is local and fresh and seasonal.  And true to the Bento Box style of dining, the presentation was simply lovely and the variety of flavors broad, yet focused. The soup was slurped sans spoon, also very traditional.  This is no-doubt the most traditional Japanese cuisine I've found in the US.
So then we are instructed by our Asian but nearly accent-free server "Wendy" that the next portion of our meal is sushi/sashimi -- based on what was fresh in the moment. We could pick and choose through the rotation, no need to try everything, but we were encouraged to try the salmon and scallops, truly fresh and delicious at the time.  However, we could stop at any time - a classier version of the red/green drink coaster at Fogo de Chao that alerts the server/chef when you are "ready for action" or "sitting this one out."

I love Naoe.  

And I love scallop sushi.  I just don't love salmon.  At least not until Chef Cory got to me.  This salmon was melt-in-your mouth goodness and fresh, thin, buttery and completely amazing.  The scallop was alive 30 seconds before being served over the warm slightly vinegary rice.  It melted in my mouth and practically dissolved into nothing but flavor..... oh my goodness was this fresh!  Each piece was hand painted with specially designed soy sauce, created by the chef to enhance each morsel.

And then we had the Geoduck Clam.  Wow!  This thing the closest to a dildo I've ever seen in a kitchen.  There really isn't anything else intelligent I can say about this creature.  There is meat in a clam shell and then a "foot" that looks unmistakably like a penis.  I mean, use your imagination to come up with another description, and well, um..... yep.  It's nearly identical to a penis.  What's even more uncomfortable?   That's the part we ate!  

Ok, so Chef Cory flash-boiled this thing to kill it, and then dipped it in ice water to halt the cooking process, and voila! - no shrinkage! LOL! We still have a piece of raw shellfish that looks like a penis.  And then you watch the chef salt it and then carefully slice it in down the center - despite the wincing and grimacing of every male in the room.  And then the meat is scored, painted again with soy, and served sushi-style.  And I have to admit once again, exquisite.  

After some shimmery mackerel sushi, and some baby shrimp that was tiny, sweet and with a truly unique but delectable texture, we gave in.  "No more" we cried!

So Wendy brought us true mochi (difficult to find in the US) coated in Sweet Potato Flour, and served with toothpicks.  This was one of my favorite desserts while traveling through Japan and Naoe does not disappoint!  Then a mystery ice cream and Wendy challenged us to identify the mystery flavor.  Hmmmmm I thought Sesame, because it was slightly peanut-butterish.  However we were told the ice cream's secret flavor was soy sauce - and the savory, sweet, creamy cold sensation began to make sense.  Completely amazing.

I'm no Michelin Guide or Food Critic, but I give this place 5 out of 4 stars, 11 out of 10 smiley faces and three thumbs up.  Amen.
www.naoemiami.com

Foodgasms

I listen to a lot of podcasts and recently was turned on to one from foodnetworkhumor.com.  This is a great website with matching podcasts produced by sisters Jillian and Michelle Madison who love to poke fun at the lovable/hatable stars of the Food Network.  I too, have rolled my eyes when Rachel Ray says "EVOO" instead of Olive Oil and her exclamation "Yum-o!" makes me a little batty.  Giada's cleavage is a hot topic among some of my male foodie friends, and I swear The Barefoot Contessa's background music comes from some soft porn soundtrack.  Sandra Lee, token FN lush, puts vodka in everything and Paula Deen is likely an underground member of the Taliban sent to give us all high cholesterol and slow fattening deaths.

Anyway.... on one particular podcast, Jillian and Michelle were discussing the "foodgasm" faces that each FN Star is required to make when tasting their yummy creation on camera.  This "foodgasm" face is of course designed to get you hot and bothered for the recipe, the show, the host...whatever.   You find yourself mesmerized on the couch with your mouth watering, your heart racing, your Giada "claw" working it and a burning desire to eat Rachel's "Stoup" or grill some buttered corn a la Bobby Flay.

So I got to thinking that this "foodgasm" idea will come in handy when I talk about my life as a wine/sake importer.  I get to eat truly amazing meals and drink some of the best wine/sake in some of the hottest places.  And yes, I am bragging.

So at the risk of the titillating (or slightly creepy) "overshare," I'm going to share some of my recent foodgasms with you......

Schioppetto E Sandrone Wine Dinner at the Ritz Carlton on Key Biscayne

(Left) Scampi Stuffed Zucchini Blossom, with Melon and Buffalo Mozzarella Napoleon

(Right) Roasted Lamb Loin Medallion, Grilled Polenta, Apricot/Rosemary Jam

Ooooh La La!

Mercadito

Shrimp Tacos and a Total Cock(tail)gasm! 

This place has some of the best creative "meals in a glass" - seriously. 

Pepino el Pyu, Big Nose Goes to Mexico, Little Market

(my fave is on the left loaded with muddled cucumber and the one in the middle is lit on fire)
Hot! Hot! Hot!

This is my absolutely favorite dish from new-restaurant-in-town Zuma.
Disclaimer: the pic is a little out of focus because they don't let you take pics.  I was being stealth!
 Miso Marinated Black Cod in a Hoba leaf with yellow miso dipping sauce.

I have dreams about this dish - and a shameless public foodgasm when the dish is served.
Ohhhh yeahhhhhh.....

So a rockin' chef friend of mine and I tried to duplicate it........we marinated this piece of Chilean Sea Bass for 3 days in a mixture of yellow miso, Junmai grade sake and a tablespoon of sugar.  We baked for 14 minutes in a convection oven at 400, then broiled on high for another 3-4 minutes.....  While this one wasn't garnished as provocatively as Zuma's version, the fish was sublime!  And multiple foodgasms ensued.....

Ok, insert shameless Happy Birthday to Me with Tres Leches cake here.... OBVIOUS gasm

Cakegasm?  Holidaygasm?  Birthdaygasm? (Maybe what I wished for ended in "gasm" too)

So I blew out the candle and ate cake.

And finally the drinkgasms....

So now I have to write about a few recent beveages.  The first is easy (and on the left) - the squid ink mojito at Jaguar.  Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE squid ink.  I would bathe in it.  I never thought to make a drink with it!  And don't worry that the drink looks black.  It is filled with ink from a cuttle fish.  And rum.  And lime.  The ink is salty and rich, the lime is perfect acidic balance and the alcohol is well, alcohol.  And I sucked every wonderful drop of it down through that straw.  DELISH!  By the way, Jaguar in the Grove only does this cocktail every once in a while... keep your eyes peeled and I will too.  www.jaguarspot.com

On the right?  A venture to Schnebly Winery in the Redlands.  Let me tell you one thing my friends:  This winery makes some very interesting wines using estate grown fruit.  The wines are pretty solid and a nice surprise; and me with my 10 yr + wine experience, and my sister with her 5 yr+ experience both called a spade a spade and a star fruit a star fruit (carambola) on this one.  The wines from Schnebly are pretty damn good.  People of Florida should be proud or a winery that seeks to showcase what grows locally, on top of what ferments into decent wine with a little chemistry influence.  Dare I repeat myself, these wines are good.  Don't expect Meursault or Ch. Margeaux, but expect tasty wines made with fruits like Avacado, Passion Fruit, Guava and Carambola.  $17 for a full tasting, open everyday, and you get a glass to take home.  If you bring that very glass on your next visit, tastings will free.  So friends and lushes and those who just 'slightly like to drink', I have two wine glasses and two champagne glasses.... your next "gasm" might be with me!!  www.schneblywinery.ning.com



The right?  Wine and sake consumed at a recent experience at Two Chefs in South Miami (www.twochefsrestaurant.com). Too bad we ate the food before the photo opp, but let me tell you, we drank well.  My fave?  Tony Sotor's Pinot Noir (second from right).  I can never drink enough of his wine and I loved this particular one from a single vineyard!  If I recall, it went well with an Artichoke and Lobster soup...........
Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Stay tuned for more "gasms" - I'm kind of liking the concept!  Thanks for the new term,  Jillian and Michelle!

Spanish Food, Sangria, and my Newscaster Crush

Well, I am sure I am not the only one mourning the end of the World Cup.... now what excuse can I use to avoid work, eat, drink and play with friends?

I celebrated the last game in style though, joining friends Sunday afternoon at Casa Juancho again for wine & sangria, Spanish tapas and revelry.  (I think the owner of the restaurant purchased TVs at the request of his customers when Spain made the semi-finals, so now he is the proud owner of some 8-10 flat screens!)  The restaurant was booked solid, but luckily we had a great table... and with a prix fixe menu that was loaded with options..... pulpo, cod-stuffed roasted red peppers, grilled shrimp - Oh My!

 

And all the paella we could eat - so aromatic with rich saffron, lemon, and red peppers and utterly loaded with scallops, mussels, shrimp and lobster.  Perfect with sangria!

And I can't leave out the television coverage with my new favorite sportscaster (and latest crush)

Ferrrrrrrrnando Fiore with Univision. 

Did you know that while he is originally from Argentina, he lives in Miami?

What luck!  I might actually see that mustache in person! 

As we all know by now, "Pulpo Paul" was right once again and Spain did indeed win.  In double overtime!  I didn't even know about Paul until our boiled octopus dish was served and out of superstition only half the table ate it.  According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_the_Octopus), Pulpo Paul" is not only an octopus, but he is deemed a prophet, an oracle, a Nostradamus with 8 legs, if you will.  I don't know how I didn't get the memo, because I would have followed Paul's predictions more carefully!  Does he do lotto numbers?

In all truth, I haven't followed soccer much.  I don't know what "off sides" means and when there aren't a lot of goals made, it can be rather boring to watch.  I do enjoy the theatrics when someone is "injured" and love the idea that each country brings its own special style of faking serious injury to try to get a penalty called.  According to Ron Christopher Jones, professional actor and teacher, "Soccer inspires more bad acting than any other sport" and it "would never work in the NFL."  But he also goes on to say he doesn't think Soccer is really a sport.  I do disagree there.  Those guys are in phenomenal shape!   (read more here: http://www.aolnews.com/weird-news/article/acting-lessons-should-be-goal-of-world-cup-players/19530649)       

But this year it was fun.... maybe because Spanish-speaking countries did well and Miami is so rooted in Spanish culture?  Maybe because this is a town loaded with sports fans?  Or partiers?  Spanish speaking nations make good wine?  Not sure, but I was glad Spain won, and I can't even tell you why.  And true to my new "World Cup Tradition" I hugged the rooster and thanked him for the good times.

Casa Juancho & World Cup & Gol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Miami loves soccer!  And hell, so do I.... especially with all the drinking and yahooing going on during World Cup (minus the Vuvuzelas thank you very much)!

And to my fellow Miami fans.... check out this tidbit from www.majorleaguesoccertalk.net:

According to Nielsen, viewers in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale market are watching the World Cup more than any other market in the country. Through Tuesday, Miami has the highest ratings for both English language (3.6 HH rating) and Spanish language (5.2 HH rating) World Cup telecasts.


True Stat!


So, during the Spain-Germany match I found myself out with some colleagues at a Spanish Restaurant in Little Havana - Casa Juancho.  Having just been to Madrid last month, I can honestly say this place is truly the place to go for authentic Spanish food, and crazy Spanish Soccer Fan watching when Spain is in the Semi-Finals.  
So here is my "motley crew." Federico seemed to think it would be a good idea to "video tape" the taking of the picture.  I would LOVE to see the hours of footage he has on video based on this choice of subject.... assuredly riveting (NOT!).  But I digress..... all of us are in the wine business (translate: love to drink wine), all of us are soccer fans.  But only 1/3 of us capable of uttering anything useful in Spanish.  (And, I'm "uni-lingual" if that helps you figure out the ratio).  I can ask for the bathroom and a cocktail in Spanish, Japanese and French, so I suppose those are useful skills.


Anyway, after a few glasses, we start the game off with this guy from the Spanish version of ESPN:  Not only is this the worst tie I've EVER seen in my LIFE - are those soccer balls underneath Asian Alphabet Characters of some kind?  But does he own a mirror?  (Or a razor?)  And is he friends with Tom Selleck?  Someone get him a piano tie PRONTO - the Grammy's are coming......

Well, kickoff happens and the eating begins.....with boccorones (Spanish white anchovies) and grilled razor clams.  Oh and paella, pulpo, and Catalan stew (not pictued -- too late!).

This is me totally interested in a major sporting event
(or maybe it was the cute foreign men in shorts sweating like super heroes saving babies).

And then SNAP!  Spain wins 1-0!

This is what Spaniards look like when they win the Semi-Finals.

And being a non-Spaniard, I hug fake roosters when they win:

In conclusion, I love you Miami.  I love you too, Spanish people living in Miami.  See you Sunday at Casa Juancho (www.casajuancho.com) at 24th and Calle Ocho for the Spain-Netherlands match.  And if you are wondering who to root for?  Spain makes better wine.  Trust me on this one, the celebratory beverage will be FAR better.

Sangria and Sailing

In Miami, it is essential that you know someone with a boat.  Fortunately, I know a few, and one happens to be a seasoned sailor with a fantastic old 22ft sail boat named "Margaritaville" - oh and it is important to know that this sail boat is the kind with no motor...

Anyway, Larry has tremendous experience racing, sailing, teaching and sails several times a week, weather permitting.  Or well, screw the weather, WIND permitting.

So we head off with typical tropical weather, storms brewing over land, bright blue sky over the Biscayne Bay.... the sky is changing, but we feel pretty confident the storms will stay inland.  We have wine, sandwiches, water, fresh mango from Larry's tree, and my freshly homemade sangria (recipe will be attached at the bottom).

The sail to Key Biscayne took some time, as the wind was fickle.  Normally, we could do it in an hour, but I am guessing it was more like two,  and we didn't mind because it was a beautiful sail with sun and wind.  We anchored finally, toasted with sparkling wine and fresh mango (which in case you are wondering, go very well together).  We moved on to sangria, broke out the sandwiches and relaxed on the calm waters.  

Around 5, Larry suggests we head back to the shore, and we can see some nasty weather brewing in the distance, in fact, this picture is of the Miami skyline.  I swear it is - my building is in there somewhere.  But the storms are now hovering over the coastline and all around us and seem to be getting nastier by the minute - to the point that visibility was going to be a challenge.  All I could think was "this is going to be a memorable ride home...."

I would guess about half-way across the bay the storm hit us.  Mother Nature dumped a tremendous amount of rain on us, and we were quickly drenched.  And surrounded by thunder and lightening.  Visibility was MAYBE 100 feet in any direction, and that was it.  I couldn't really keep my camera out because everything was getting completely soaked.  I was put in charge of bailing, as our boat quickly took on about 5-6 inches of water.  Using the tupperware container that the mango slices came in, I certainly got my workout in.  And I'd like to think I kept the boat afloat :-).


The sangria kept flowing though, and between sips, Larry made sure we had rubber soled flip flops on, as the lightening and thunder were relentless.  Oh, and he instructed us on what to do if the boat tipped. (FYI, stay with the boat so it is easier for a rescue mission to find us)  Comforting, yes.  This would be highly unlikely though because here is what happens when you are directly underneath a big storm.  Nothing.  No wind.  Just perpendicular rain.  So we sat, sail lufting, for quite a while.

Finally, we were able to catch some wind and complete the sail to shore, and the sky cleared.  We were soaked to the bone, pretty chilly too, but safe.  And out of Sangria.  Which reminds me, here is the recipe!

Morgan's Sailing Sangria

2 bottles crisp white wine (Sauvignon Blanc, Albarino, Torrontes)

"Splash" of Brandy or Rum to taste, I use white rum

1/2 C Sprite, 7up, or Tonic, I use diet

1 C White Grapes, sliced in half

1/2 C Blueberries

2 slightly unripe Plums, diced

1 slightly unripe Peach, diced

Thin slices of 1/2 lime and 1/2 lemon

Handfull of Mint Leaves

2 TBS Pink Peppercorns (trust me on this one)

Mix all ingredients and allow to sit overnight in the refrigerator for flavors to meld.

Serve Chilled!