Sometimes, with all the modern touches, it's difficult to remember Miami's glorious past since not much remains. Sure, we have Vizcaya and the Art Deco district, but our city isn't filled with brass plaques explaining every time a president visited or a writer spent his youth sitting at a certain cafe. That's a shame, because, while we don't go back centuries, we do have quite a colorful history.
Take, for example, the Orange Blossom Special, the luxury passenger train that ferried the earliest snowbirds from New York to Miami for the first half of the 20th Century. The festive, citrus-colored train featured upscale food and drink to entertain its passengers for the 35-hour journey.
Some of that nostalgia and luxury is being remembered by Tatanka Guerrero at his latest venture, Orange Blossom, opening at the Boulan South Beach on Collins Park April 10.
The restaurant and bar will feature New American cuisine and locally sourced ingredients by executive chef Nelson Maldonado and cocktails by Trevor Alberts.
Dinner items include a fava and fennel soup ($6); fig prosciutto flatbread ($15); and Florida black grouper ($28). Lunch will feature salads and sandwiches like a meatball sandwich ($9) and fish tacos ($14). In addition, the restaurant will offer cold pressed juices during the mid-day meal. Orange Blossom will also serve breakfast and brunch.
What's most intriguing is the cocktail menu. In addition to a rye swizzle ($14) and an orange blossom julep, made with rum and orange blossom honey ($15), we found an offer for the bartender to fashion you a drink using your spirit, sensation, and strength preferences. We'll take a very strong/spicy/rum cocktail, please ($15).
Orange Blossom debuts April 10. Hours are Sunday - Thursday from 7:30 a.m. - 11 p.m.; Friday - Saturday from 7:30 a.m. - midnight.
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