Charlotte Bakery

Cases at this Argentine bakery contain a vast variety of butter-based cookies as well as fruit tarts, napoleons, strawberry cheesecakes, and mini-pecan pies. Then there are the turnovers tunneled with sweet cheese, fruit, and dulce de leche and trays of facturas atop the counters. The Argentine-style empanada, with its juicy, full-flavored chicken and sautéed onion filling, ranks among the best in Miami. Pork and beef empanadas are available as well, and so are those modeled on other Latin countries, such as a blintz-like Chilean version with soft, pale dough draped around sweet white cheese, and a Venezuelan empanada packed with seasoned beef that is larger and much more pleasing. There's coffee, counter space, and a comfortable atmosphere conducive to ruminating on the past, here or in Buenos Aires.