West Grove Food Zone - Coconut Grove - Miami, FL

Curry Goat with White Rice & Collard Greens

 

Jerk Chicken with Rice and Peas & Steamed Cabbage

 

 

Decent food, a great price, but really the selling point for me is that it is the closest Jamaican food I can find to get my fix.

West Grove Food Zone
3360 South Douglas Road, Miami, FL 33133
(305) 567-8900

Mi Viejo San Juan Resturant - West Miami, FL

La Chuleta Kan Kan Con Mofongo

 

 

Authentic but more importantly really good!

Mi Viejo San Juan Resturant
1200 Southwest 57th Avenue, West Miami, FL 33144
(305) 263-9911

Visit Negril, Jamaica: HideAwhile, Sandy Bay, Seaview Grill & Sports Bar, Dunn's River Falls, Bob Marley's Nine Mile, Juici Patties

 

HideAwhile Luxury Cliff Resort

 

ATV Off-Road Adventure in Sandy Bay

 

Seaview Grill & Sports Bar

 

Dunn's River Falls

 

Ocho Rios

 

Bob Marley's Nine Mile in St. Ann

 

Juici Patties

 

Blue Mountain Restaurant - Lauderhill, FL

Mackerel Rundown

 

 

Authentic Jamaican food with good portions at a great price; a favorite among a lot of Jamaicans!

Blue Mountain Restaurant
1430 N State Road 7, Lauderhill, FL 33311
(954) 584-8781

Tasty Things I Ate: Dunn's River Snapper

 

Dunn's River Snapper

Fins & Things Caribbean Seafood Bar & Grill - Sunrise, FL

Don Carlin Cuban Restaurant - Sunrise, FL

I have been on quite a few dates with a few different Cubans; some good and some bad. Most of the good ones seem to be far away and long distance relationships are hard to maintain so when I met Don Carlin who was not only amazing but right in my hood, I fell in love.

On our first date, I had the Pork Chops with Sweet Plantains and Black Bean and Rice. It was "muy bueno y delicioso", tender and quite flavorful considering Cuban food can sometimes be a bit bland. I ended that date feeling giddy and eager for Don Carlin to call me for a second date.

Only a few days past before I had to set up a second date. Although the first date was a great introduction, I wanted to try something a little different and had the Palomilla Steak with Tostones instead. Although Palomilla is a cheaper and tougher cut, this was not that, this was good. My sweet plantains from the first date were really good, but then I had the Tostones with garlic that were even better and in a league of their own.

I have no doubt in my mind that there is going to be a third date, fourth and a fifth, but hopefully there is a lifetime of dates; I am looking forward to it.

Don Carlin Cuban Restaurant

11447 W Oakland Park Blvd, Sunrise, FL 33323 (954) 578-1464 www.doncarlincubanrestaurant.com

Mario's Catalina Restaurant - Fort Lauderdale, FL

The parking lot was pack, then the restaurant was packed and so there was a little bit of a wait for a table, but once the food started coming, all was forgotten (not really, but I'll get back to that).

Unlike the traditional bread given at almost every other restaurant, they start you off with Plantain Chips topped with a pico de gallo of sorts. This was definitely the right choice and a great start to the meal.

Then came their famous Mojito that restored my faith in a drink that I used to love but slowly began to feel like no longer existed, just cheap imitations. Made with super fresh ingredient and real sugar, it exceed probably any Mojito I ever had and that includes even in Puerto Rico.

From there I was excited for my meal. I had Mario's Favorite which consisted of Red Snapper fillet breaded in green plantains with lobster sauce & jumbo shrimp, Pulled Pork and was delicious, delightful and downright good!

My fiance had the Grilled Skirt Steak w/Lobster & Garlic Shrimp and loved it.

Despite being full, I couldn't miss dessert and after choosing from what seemed like 50 choices, we choose the Cuarto Leches, which was truly a delectable dessert. A lot of leches are very soggy, but what sold me on this one was that is wasn't and it held the consistency of the cake.

But, back to what I was saying before. Although the food is very good, the service is not. The owner moves about very frantically and then the servers seem lost and confused in it all. Service was slow, out of place and at times downright horrible. That kind of mismanagement can kill an experience regardless of how great the food was.


Mario's Catalina Restaurant
1611 N Federal Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305
(954) 563-4141
www.catalinarestaurant.net

Fins & Things Caribbean Seafood Bar & Grill - Sunrise, FL

Caribbean and seafood, these a two of my favorite things! 

It is worth noting that the restaurant is a nice spot, with a full bar and presents itself as a nice lounge/restaurant spot to chill but I ordered takeout.

This may be a blessing or a curse, but food is made to order, so there is a very long wait so be prepared for that. Freshness prevails for me, so I do not mind waiting. I order the Garlic Lobster and it was better than amazing and well worth the wait!

The fiance has the Escovitch Fish and had the same results.

Bottomline, if you want good food, really good seafood, come here!

Fins & Things Caribbean Seafood Bar & Grill

3801 N University Dr, Sunrise, FL 33351 (954) 533-8746 www.finsandthingscaribbeanseafood.com

Aunt I's Jamaican Restaurant - Pembroke Pines, FL (Other Locations)

In the words of Nicki Minaj, where the f**k my curry chicken and my rice and peas? With those lovely thoughts in my mind, I headed to Aunt I's Jamaican Restaurant.

Unlike most Jamaican style restaurants, the food is not displayed and it seems like they are trying to be a real sit down restaurant, but everyone that I saw come in just did takeout anyways.

What I notice first about the food was that they quality of the rice was much better than most. The flavors of the food weren't impressive (it was typical/usual), but quality stood out. I didn't get the curry chicken, but I sure got the Jerk and Fried Chicken. The plantains looked ugly but tasted good.

The Oxtail is based on market price which means expensive, but I hoped that would indicate quality. Some places just give you scraps, fat, and bones and so my eyes lit up when I saw actual pieces of meat.

Stew peas is one of those dishes I would't try unless I know you, but I tried the one here and I liked it a lot. It was well prepared.

The food was great but what I liked most was the fact they offer combos and you can selected two meats (instead of the typical one) which is awesome for an indecisive person such as myself. I am always scared to try new Jamaican places, but now it might become my new go to spot.

Aunt I's Jamaican Restaurant
10111 Pines Blvd, Pembroke Pines, FL 33026
(954) 433-0223
www.auntis.net

Recipe: Caribbean Jerk Macaroni & Cheese

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 40 mins

Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 16 ounces penne pasta
• 1 scotch bonnet (habanero) pepper, seeded and minced 
• 2 green onion, chopped
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 6 tablespoons flour
• 4 cups whole milk
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 tablespoon seasoned salt
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice (Jamaican pimento)
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon molasses
• 24 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese, shredded (divided)
• 4 ounces gruyere cheese
• 1/4 cup of Panko bread crumbs

Directions

1. Cook pasta in large pot per package directions with a little bit of salt and oil. Drain and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
3. In a small skillet, saute the scotch bonnet pepper and green onion until soft (about two minutes).
4. In the same large pot you cooked the pasta in, melt butter. Once melted, whisk in flour. Cook, whisking constantly (about two minutes).
5. Slowly add milk in a thin stream, whisking until milk is incorporated. Continue to cook, whisking, until the sauce begins to thicken (about five minutes).
6. Remove pot from heat and add sautéed pepper and onions, spices and molasses. Stir to combine.
7. Adjust seasonings to taste, then stir in cheese until melted.
8. Add cooked pasta to the pot and stir to combine.
9. Load mac and cheese into greased 9" x 12" baking dish and top with remaining cheese and then Panko bread crumbs. Bake in a 350 degree oven for twenty minutes.
10. Remove from oven and allow to sit, resting, for five minutes. 

Notes

You can pair it with whatever you want, but it was a barbecue day at my house and I made Sliders with Gruyere Cheese, Bacon, Caramelized Onions and a Roasted Pepper Garlic Aioli.