MEXICAN RESTAURANTS TO CHECK OUT IN THE MIAMI REGION

AUTHENTIC MEXICAN FOOD
My research has shown me many different places to try to grab a great meal.  My most recent hunt is Mexican Food.  I just love Mexican Food.  I lived in California for many years and I have tried many different restaurants.  So now I am going to have to venture down to Miami to some of these restaurants that I am about to tell you about.  If you get there before I do...let me know how it was.   

DIEZ Y SEIS
This restaurant is in South Beach.  It's pretty new at the Miami's Shore Club Hotel.   Renowned Chef Jose Icardi's newest baby and the hip spot.  All the seating is outdoors with an indoor kitchen/bar...it has the all the ambiance with the twinkling lights and more. Icardi Is reinventing Mexican cuisine with menu items like Cuban Tacos, red velvet churros....that sounds yummy and a mescal cart on wheels for tableside tastings.....and if you are serious meat eater, skirt steaks, ribeye, rack of lamb and Mexican chorizo.    No meal will be complete without  dessert.  How about a chocolate mousse served with a tequila-poached peach.......

TAQUERIA MORELIA IN HOMESTEAD
This one comes as a big surprise, but like I said, sometimes the hole in the wall places have the best food.  This place is attached to a gas station.  That's right, I said gas station.  It is the perfect stopping point while on that road trip from Miami to the Keys.  So it really is in the middle of nowhere.  So what should you try?  How about Queso fundido, carne asada burritos or classic tacos and wash it down with michelada.  They even have a salsa bar, with green sauces, red sauces plus cucumbers, cilantro, radishes and lots and lots of lime.  

222 TACO
This restaurant is in North Bay Village.    This is a trendy new taco spot that opened earlier this year.  Enjoy Latin music and breakfast all day.  It has a California vibe and tacos to match.  So from what I hear you should try a classic torta, tostada or quesadilla.  Don't forget to try the margaritas frozen or on the rocks.

TACOS AND TATTOOS
Now you need to find this place in Kendall. This is a family owned restaurant that offers tasty meals and entertainment.  It is tucked into a strip mall.  Tacos and Tattoos offers a mix of savory Southwest border food with Miamis Caribbean comfort.  If you make the trip there you might want to try Cali Love Fries, smothered in Cotija cheese and sour cream and chicken patacon(smashed plantain) with queso frito...and while there have a little fun with Karaoke.  


PASSPORTS
So now that everyone is running out to their favorite Mexican restaurant...Let's chat about our passports....by now everyone has heard my podcast telling everyone that they should have a passport.  but did you know that the passport is more than just a little book.  It has some 30 security features, from the Stamping to the Printing to Holograms and Inks and even Embedded chips.   WOW!  


CHECKED BAG PRICES GOING UP
Well the prices of checked bags on the airlines are going up.  Jet Blue raised the price for the first checked bags to $30.00...a new industry high.  And now the copy cats are starting...United just increased their checked bag price.  Also those low cost airlines even charge for carry on bags.  Call ahead or check out the airlines websites for pricing. Remember if going overseas there can be large fees for large bags...  Here is a little tip when you are away and you buy your souvenirs this can make bags heavier or trying to get it in the overhead on the plane.  Sometimes it helps if you ship these gifts to your home and you don't have to schlep it.  

EXPEDITIONS FOR THE NORTH AND SOUTH POLE
Did you ever want to see the polar bears of the Arctic in the North...or what about the get up  close and personal to the penguins of Antarctica in the south.  Do you live for the adventure.  What about the experience of the beautiful fjords in Norway.  Well there is a cruise line out there called Hurtigruten.  They have a fleet of advanced, intimately-scaled expeditions ships that can take your there.  Charming ports, rare wildlife sightings all in the land of the Midnight sun or what about the Northern Lights.  No matter what the season, Hurtigruten has thrilling adventures for all.  However, remember, the ships are smaller and the expeditions fill fast....If you want me to get you on one of these excursions just contact me.  My website has all my contact info....phone number...email...etc.  I would love to get you on one of these fabulous adventures.  And when you go take plenty of pictures so I can post them and everyone can see what fun you had.


DESTINATION OF THE WEEK
Since we are talking cold weather...how about we stay with that brisk feeling.  Let's go to Austria....Home of that great movie...The Sound of Music. 

Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe that borders Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. Austria's terrain is highly mountainous due to the presence of the Alps. The country’s capital Vienna is also one of its nine states, the other eight of which are: Burgenland; Carinthia; Lower Austria; Upper Austria; Salzburg; Styria; Tyrol; and Voralberg.

Schonbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the imperial family, is considered one of the most beautiful baroque palaces in Europe. The Habsburgs resided here the better part of the year in numerous rooms for the large imperial family in addition to representational rooms. Emperor Franz Joseph, who later married the enchanting Sisi and reigned from 1848 to 1916, was born here in 1830. The Vienna Boys' Choir is a Viennese institution, having been formed as the Boys' Choir of the Royal Court in 1498. Together with members of the chorus and orchestra of the Vienna State Opera, they form the Hofmusikkapelle, which performs at Mass in the Chapel of the Imperial Palace throughout the year. The Vienna Boys' Choir also performs in the Brahms-Saal (Brahms Hall), the venue for chamber music in the Musikverein, and at the Volksoper (People's Opera), a smaller venue that stages opera, operettas, ballets and musicals.  The renowned Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the Vienna Symphonic Orchestra also perform here.

Austria is famous for its well-balanced variations of beef and pork and countless variations of vegetables. There is also the "Mehlspeisen" Bakery, which created particular delicacies such as Sachertorte, "Krapfen" which are doughnuts usually filled with apricot marmalade or custard, and "Strudel" such as "Apfelstrudel" filled with apple and "Topfenstrudel" filled with sweetened sour cream. Typical Austrian dishes include Wiener Schnitzel, Schweinsbraten, Kaiserschmarren, Knödel, Sachertorte and Tafelspitz. There are also Kärntner Kasnudeln, a cooked filled dough-bag with a type of cottage cheese and spearmint, and Eierschwammerl dishes. The Eierschwammerl, also known as Pfifferling, are native yellow, tan mushrooms.

Austria's main airports are in Vienna; Innsbruck; Salzburg; Klagenfurt; Linz; and Graz. An excellent motorway, highway and federal road network connects Austria with all its neighboring states. österreichische Bundesbahnen operates a wide network of trains throughout and beyond Austria. International connections from Vienna include trains to Germany (Berlin), to the Russian Federation (Moscow, via Warsaw/Kiev and Minsk), to Romania (Bucharest, via Budapest). The greater part of Austria lies in the cool/temperate climate zone in which humid westerly winds predominate. With over half of the country dominated by the Alps, the alpine climate is the predominant one. Austria can be quite cold in the winter, but summer temperatures can also be very warm.

So, explore, enjoy, eat and have fun.....Austria...the hills are truly alive with the sound of music....

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

HEALTHY GUACAMOLE

Ingredients

·        3 Haas avocados, halved, seeded and peeled AND  1 lime, juiced

·        1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

·        1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

·        1/2 teaspoon cayenne

·        1/2 medium onion, diced

·        1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced

·        2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced

·        1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

·        1 clove garlic, minced

Directions

In a large bowl place the scooped avocado pulp and lime juice, toss to coat. Drain, and reserve the lime juice, after all of the avocados have been coated. Using a potato masher add the salt, cumin, and cayenne and mash. Then, fold in the onions, tomatoes, cilantro, and garlic. Add 1 tablespoon of the reserved lime juice. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour and then serve. 

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