Old school meets new school tonight at El Mago de las Fritas, the Flagami staple for Cuban hamburgers known as fritas. Owner -- and indisputable frita master -- Ortelio Cárdenas will cook alongside Alberto Cabrera, the chef who's modernizing Cuban cuisine at his Coral Gables restaurant Bread + Butter.
The event, which will take place from 7 to 9 p.m., is a great opportunity to "watch the two generations cooking side by side," according to El Mago staffer Barry Hennessey.
See also:
- Miami's Fritas: El Mago and Beyond
- Miami's Top Ten Fritas Cubanas
- Miami's Ten Best Restaurants
Tonight's menu will feature selections from each restaurant, including El Mago's classic frita ($3) and Cabrera's "frita china" ($4) with kimchee, cilantro, fried julienned potatoes, and sriracha ketchup.
The dinner will also consist of El Mago's tamal ($2.50), a black beans and rice dish ($2), and his flan or dulce de leche dessert ($3).
Cabrera will present his plátano en tentación (bacon-wrapped plantains) ($5) -- with house-cured bacon, five-spice almíbar, sour cream, and chives -- and a braised short-rib dish with chickpeas, fingerling potatoes, calabaza, and carrot butterscotch purée ($16).
"It's real simple -- kind of like you're sitting down to eat with your family," Cabrera says of the event.
The space next door to El Mago de las Fritas will be available for additional seating. Extra parking will be offered at Ramon Puig Guayaberas and San Pablo Library.
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