Sweet as the Sweetest Sugarcane...

If you have a moment, whether it is during the week or on a Friday like me, make sure to stop by the newest little spot in midtown called Sugarcane for a little R & R, good drinks and sweet ambiance. I sat at the bar with one of my new favorite bartenders named Jamal and drank more Sapporo drafts than I care to mention.

The feel is airy and sophisticated. Just on the cusp of pretentious, but since you're in midtown you let it slide. Cool music by a dj who seemed like a reincarnated Capote.

The first thing I tried was the beer, then after that I figured I might as well have some dinner. I ordered a crispy, spicy tuna roll that was quite good but a little small if you ask me. Then I moved on to something a little more plentiful and went for the bacon. My eyes zeroed in on this one item I read called Bacon wrapped Dates and I was sold. The bacon was perfectly cooked and wrapped around the date perfectly. Very delicious, a must try.

The food is very well prepared but served in fairly small portions. They mention its a 'sharing menu' but that's code for "we charge more for less."

All in all I had a splendid time at this new little hot spot and the best part of it was knowing that it is just down the street from Target! It's my new favorite place, I'll see you there...

Yummie, Yum, Yum for Mr. Yum!

Well here you have it, the best sushi restaurant I've been to in a while and for a place that has dubbed one of my favorite words as its name, I must say it delivers. The best part is that out of all the places you would find a good sushi place, its located smack in the middle of little Havana! And you wouldn't even know it from its very fashionable interior. The feel is kind of LA meets South Beach meets NY. The moment you walk in your zapped by color and flavor. A very hip atmosphere, nice crowd and need I mention, GREAT FOOD. The fish is very fresh, nice cuts of Sashimi. The appetizers were delectable and the house sake was delicious. Word is Mama Yum's recipees are what gives this place its gastronomic edge, but you didn't hear it from me.

I really enjoyed the entire experience from start to finish. I remember sitting back as I scarfed down my delicious roll filled with green apple chunks and cilantro and with a wowed look on my face thinking to myself "Oh, I get it... 'Mr. Yum!'"

So it is my duty as the Commish to tell you, if you haven't been there yet, make your way on over to SW 8th street for some good Sushi (I know, it still sounds funny to me too, 8st and sushi?) and tell Bond Ms. Commish says Hello.

Legions away from the ordinary...

The American Legion located off of Biscayne down a little obscure street that not many have dared to tread, is no longer a meeting place for our Veterans but now on any given night home to a medley of down tempo, home slice, off the path hipsters who know how to party well and drink well too.

This, dive bar meets "function room," features live music and Dj's, an outside bar, low priced spirits, a free pool table and even bay views, making this little hideout a must-be-at location for anyone who knows the value of a dollar and likes to have a drink more here than there.

Tucked away behind the hustle and bustle of Biscayne Blvd, all you have to be is 21 and be in-the-know to get in here and guess what? Now, you know!

Its dive-y, its cool, its the new place to be and when I was there the special of the night was free Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, and now if that doesn't impress you, I don't know what will..

I have a little secret but I'll tell you..

I just had the most fabulous dinner at the nicest little restaurant serving Aegean(Turkish and Greek) delights called Mandolin. It just opened two weeks ago and and its absolutely phenomenal!!! I can't tell you what an beautiful time I had. The food was superb, the outside seating was lovely and the service was great. I felt like I was in Europe. I almost want to keep it to myself its so good! But I know you will appreciate it as much as I do. Miami is finally coming into its own when it comes to local eateries, we just need to keep supporting these little gems so they stick around. Bon appetit!
Ps. Tell them I sent you...

Eat like a king, Devito's way!

As much as I love our local "feastery" Prime 112, I have to say that Devito's definitely packs a punch as well. Located where Joia used to be, this Italian chop house serves large robust dishes that make your mouth water. If you don't mind waiting over a couple glasses of pinot noir at the bar, you'll be in for a treat. From the gigantic onion rings, to the lobster mash potato, there's so much to get excited about on this menu. Not only can you get great cuts of meat but there is also a large selection of seafood dishes. The service was good and the ambiance was fun. Flat screen tv's playing The Godfather and dimmed sconces decorated the walls. I had the delicious filet mignon, which for some reason I always end up having no matter what anyone says, I just love what I love. Then there was the cake. And when I say cake I mean tower of chocolate decadence covered with tiny herseys kisses and decorated with gummie bears, this thing was humongous!! The slice was as big as a whole cake! And was so delicious I couldn't stop eatting, needless to say my New Years resolution may be incuding some situps even though I don't believe in working out! And although I never recommend a place unless I visit it twice, I have to tell you, if you like big portions, Italian food and The Godfather, this is definitely where you should go. It seemed very family friendly, not as romantic as the decor implied but maybe it depends on the night. Mangia, mangia..

The Phantom Mesmerizes!

I had the pleasure of going to see the Phantom of the Opera on New Years Eve night and it was amazing. The music was so enchanting, the costumes were so colorful and beautifully put together. The sets were breathtaking and the music, did I mention the music! I think this is the nicest show I have seen in a long time. I told my wonderful date that I would probably cry and although the tears didn't gush, my eyes did water and I was very moved. I think this is a great experience for anyone to enjoy. Art is life!
Ps. Tailgating in style: In the parking lot before the show with a nice bottle of champagne and fresh king crab legs as a snack - highly recommended!

Green Light for Red Light Dining!

Let me just tell you, there are moments in life when you just eat to get something in your stomach and then there are times in your life when you eat to experience something delightful and Red Light is just that, delightful. Not only is the ambiance casual and laid back but the food is amazing. Everything has a flair or spice added to eat, making your mouth pop with every bite. From the large scallop appetizer served with grapefruit, to the BBQ shrimp which is like nothing you've tried elsewhere, get ready to sit back, unbuckle a bottom and get down and eat. The down home feel of the location goes hand in hand with the down home feel of the food. No fuss, good eats with all kinds of surprises. I really enjoyed myself here. Had dinner and ended up lingering at the bar for 2 hours over good conversation, now where else does anyone do that in Miami without feeling pushed out? They made us delicious martinis made with mint and vodka to die for and the fruit tart dessert was insane! So good!!! I highly recommend that you go here any day of the week with friends to have a good meal and a good time. I also recommend it as a date site as there are some very romantic spots for couples to enjoy. All in all I love this little local spot, we need more places like these in Miami. Enjoy..

Meat Market: Location or food??

I love taking a long hot shower, putting on my favorite dress, my hottest shoes, make up and earrings and going out to eat on the town and this place definitely satisfies the feeling of going out and feeling sexy but does the food follow suit? I have to say I didn't have the most pleasurable gastronomic experience. Setting the mood was the appetizer. King Crab Legs were ordered and all were anxious to dig in. That is until the server was walking towards our table with them. You could smell the fish from down the hall! I didn't want to believe that it was the crab legs so I kept a positive mindset. But sure enough as they arrived the smell was overpowering. I couldn't even bring myself to taste them. Granted it was late at night and all but those Crabs shouldn't have been let out the kitchen! The server sent them back without hesitation and the chef removed them from our bill. The steak was cooked properly and the truffle sauce it was served with was flavorful. But I wasn't wowed. And I like to be wowed. Maybe I expect too much? I don't know but when I'm wearing my hottest shoes and sexy dress, I expect to be impressed. I can't tell you not to go or to go as of yet. This one will definitely take another try to be able to give it a proper review. Giving Meat Market another try.

I'm baaaack

It's amazing how reliant we've become on technology. I swear! I haven't had internet for a few weeks and it feels like I was cast off on a deserted island or stuck under a rock somewhere. It was so difficult to do anything that allowed me to function as a normal individual in society. There were so many moments when I was like "If I had internet!" Like if I had internet I could look it up, if I had internet I could watch that. Oh and to make matters worse, because I moved to a new place I didn't have tv or cable either! I was living like the Omish, and no offense I'm sure its a beautiful way of life but its not for me. Now that I finally have internet I am happy to say that I'm back and I'll be writing again. I missed you all very much as I'm sure you missed me! I also plan to reinvent a few things so stay tuned..

There are only two times a year that I make certain to drink champagne and that is on my birthday and on New Years. Both of which are dates I like to mention are my favorite times of year. November however holds a very special place in my heart not only because its my birthday but because I think it is the nicest month of the year. In Miami especially, it is the month when the weather turns to a cool 79, which let me just say is wonderful when it happens. And November is just a kind of month when everyone just seems to shift gears, slow down a bit and smile. And that to me is the best birthday gift of all. And with that said, the best way to celebrate a birthday is with dear friends, good food and drink and a fabulous theme. My theme this year was Beatnik. A night filled with live jazz, spoken word, wonderful Italian food and great friends. Everyone in their Beatnik best, looking as fabulous as can be! And me? I was a Parisian Beatnik decking red Boret' and all. Till next year my friends, as you all know with me, there is always more where that came from! Fabulous is a state of mind...

Douche Bags

Lately there's been an influx of Douche Bags around town, maybe it has something to do with the bad economy? Who knows... But the Miami Douche Bag is a rare breed, a hybrid douche bag with great careers, impeccable taste, and seem like the kind of guy you'd take home to daddy. They've really taken Douchiness to a new level. If you don't know what the term "Douche Bag" means, I can assure you, you've run into one in your recent past. They're really not difficult to find. They usually roll with one or two friends (people who feed into their narcissistic personalities), you can find them in lounges, bars, restaurants basically any social environment where alcohol is served. At first they are always funny and charismatic as you wonder to yourself, "wait a minute there's something about this guy I can't put my finger on?" And yes Douche Bags are always definitely men. Not because we have anything against you guys but because women just aren't built with that chromosome. So anyway, very charming and endearing, always the life of the party, this guy is so full of himself he doesn't even realize it. At first he'll start off by making you feel like the only one in the room and at first you'll buy it until from the corner of his eye you'll see that he's checking out the cute bartender or the girl sitting with her boyfriend. You'll think to yourself, "he wouldn't be checking that girl out, she's taken," or "he wouldn't just blatantly be checking that bartender out while he's talking to me impossible!" Well I'll tell you this now so you never have to wonder again, YES HE IS! So at this point, (leaving him mid-sentence) you should turn around to your friends and say something really funny about him, continue your night and forget he ever existed. If your that fortunate that is...

If you're unlucky enough to go home with this guy or go on a date with him, (meaning he's good at hiding his douchiness) you'll notice the following - he talks to you about other girls, he answers calls while he's out with you, and for some reason or other he never wants to do anything you suggest. These are tell tell signs he is a Douche. Although he'll do these subtle things while he's with you, he'll also simultaneously make you feel like you are the only girl in the world. And please don't get swept up in this scheme ladies, take a deep breathe and step back. No one is this nice so soon after meeting you. This means he has arterial motives and this means at the moment you realize this, you should grab your purse and RUN! Don't look back, do not pass go, do not collect 200 dollars. Just get the hell out before this guy takes you for a ride. Take the experience for what it is worth, "a good time" and jump in your car and ride. A real experience with someone that cares about getting to know you takes time, patience and the utmost respect. So keep an eye out because these Douchies blend in well, they don't smell bad, usually dress well and for some reason tend to have nice smiles (not statistically proven yet but we're working on it). But whatever you do, DON'T let that Douche get the best of you!