New
Times' Best of Miami 2012 issue is coming June 14. Until then, Short
Order will serve up 100 of our favorite dishes in the 305. If you have
any nominations of your own, please send them to [email protected].
24. Grilled Octopus at Jean Paul's House
The grilled octopus ($14) at Jean Paul's House & Market (although the market portion is still in the works) is one of those dishes that Americans hardly ever get right. Octopus can be tricky. You cook it a little too much, or serve it just a tad underdone, and it's chewy beyond all measure. Yet in South America and along the shores of Western Europe, octopus is one of those things you can get everywhere; and even when it's not "melt in your mouth" tender, it's still pretty damn good.
Chef and owner Jean Paul Desmaison does it the classic way, with plenty of thick-cut, slow roasted garlic, red peppers and tomatoes, and Botija olives from Peru. He boils the octopus first to make it all tender, then grills it up for smokey flavor. He also gets a nice crisp to the edges of fingerling potatoes, which are sliced on the bias and layered in between discs of charred octopus. After roasting more red peppers, he peels them apart and blends them with extra virgin olive oil to create a saucy, spicy, base. It's the perfect portion to share as a starter, or to enjoy without sacrificing even one bite, over a long lunch with the right glass of white, by yourself at the bar.
100 Favorite Dishes
25. Peanut Butter Snickers Pie at Prime One Twelve
26. Balcarce at Buenos Aires Bakery & Cafe
27. Green Prawns at Philippe by Philippe Chow
28. Pork and Beans at Blue Collar
29. Taco Loco at T-Mex Cantina
30. Ceviche Trio at La Cofradia
31. Macarons at Villa Azur
32. Gratinee of Mac and Cheese at Meat Market
33. Mussels Josephine at Bonefish Grill
34. Smokey Weenies at The Corner
35. Lamb Sliders at DiLido Beach Club
36. Rock Shrimp Pizza at Harry's Pizzeria
37. Living "Lasagna" Terrine at Lido at The Standard
38. Flan Cheesecake at Sunset Bakery
39. Pescado Jarocho at Jaguar Ceviche Spoon Bar & Latam Grill
41. Chicken Parm Sliders at Prime Italian
42. Clams With Black Bean Sauce at Tropical Chinese
43. Ackee Empanadas at Vegetarian Restaurant by Hakin
44. Seafood Orgy at CVI.CHE 105
45. Rio Acai Bowl at Apple A Day
46. Aji Amarillo Ceviche at My Ceviche
47. Lunch Boat Special at Benihana
48. Victoria Station at The News Lounge
50. Gnocchi "Romana" at Cecconi's
51. Minuta at La Camaronera's The Fish Box
52. Carolina Piggie Platter at Austen's
53. Salted Lime Pie at the Dutch
54. Chicken Parmesan at Vesper
55. Cheese Plate at The Cheese Course
56. Egg Salad BLT at The Daily Creative Food Co.
57. Strawberry Pie at Fireman Derek's World Famous Pies
58. Pork Belly and Clams at Pubbelly Sushi
59. Poached Duck Breast at Rusty Pelican
60. Bacon and Blue at Ms. Cheezious
61. Spicy Scallop Roll at Toni's Sushi Bar
62. Chicken Tikka Masala at Bombay Darbar
63. Empanadas at Go-Go Fresh Food Cafe
64. Gabby's D'Lorean Burger and Tots at the Filling Station and Garage Bar
65. Pear Apple at The Federal
66. Carne Asada Fajitas at Cinco Cantina & Tequila Bar
67. Tres Leches at Havana 1957
68. Corn Bread at Peoples Barbecue
69. Truffle Artichoke Soup at Villa Mayfair
70. Portobello Mushroom Sandwich at the Café at Books & Books
71. Grilled Wings at Shuckers Bar & Grill
72. Turkey and Prosciutto With Fresh Mozzarella at La Sandwicherie
73. Creamy Tahini With Hummus at Broken Shaker
75. Brie Mozzarella Sticks at the Local
76. Paleta de Elote at La Michoacana Paleteria
77. Strawberry Fields Roll at I Love Sushi
79. Pork Rillettes at Buena Vista Deli
80. Chicken Fricassee at Le Bouchon Du Grove
82. Wagyu Gunkan at SushiSamba Dromo
83. Grilled Tiger Prawns at Mare Nostrum
85. Porchetta Sandwich at Salumeria 104
86. Nitro Ice Cream at Haven Gastro-Lounge
87. Red Burger at Red Restaurant
88. Carnitas Torta at Mercadito's Taqueria
89. Bone Marrow Ropa Vieja at Eating House
90. Mushroom-Crusted Grouper at the River Seafood & Oyster Bar
91. Crispy Pork and Onion Salad at Hiro's Yakko-San
92. Moqueca Brazileira at Pearl Restaurant & Lounge
93. Corvina at Edge Steak and Bar
94. Spiked Frrrozen Hot Chocolate at Serendipity 3
95. Egg Custard Tart With Black Truffles at Philip Ho
96. Soft Pretzels at Mister Collins
97. Serrano Ham Croquettes at Crazy About You
98. The Elena Ruth Sandwich at Sergio's
99. Chow Fun at Chow Down Grill
100. Grilled Artichoke at Peacock Garden Cafe
Follow Short Order on Facebook and Twitter @Short_Order.