Home for the Holidays

I spent Christmas here in Miami this year, where we had a traditional Polish dinner, complete with borsht, pierogi, and fried fish. David got a telescope from my mom, and we had "fun" trying to put it all together.

On the 26th I braved wintry Midwest weather to fly home to Iowa. My connection was in Detroit, and all went well on my flight from Ft. Lauderdale to the Detroit Metro Airport. Unfortunately, my flight to DSM was cancelled. I had to spend 6 hours in the airport, so I rode through the one-of-a-kind tunnel connecting concourse A to B and C. If you haven't been through the tunnel, it's like a step into the future. The walls are covered with frosted glass with lighting behind it. The light go through every color of the rainbow, all in time to the space age music that is playing overhead. To experience the tunnel through YouTube, click here.

After I finally made it to Des Moines, it was cold!. I was shivering a lot of the time, and I discovered that my wool sweaters are all too short, they come down just below my belly button (I have no idea how that happened!).

I spent most of the time at home, playing games and watching movies. It's always so nice to spend time with my parents. I did get out a bit, though.

We visited the capital in Des Moines, and I hadn'r been in it since the inside was renovated. It is gorgeous, all the origianl stenciling and details have been restored. The architecture is just amazing. If you ever find yourself in Des Moines (not likely, I know), the capital is really interesting, especially if you like historic buildings. It's also neat to walk through the Senate and House of Representatives, the Supreme Court and the Law Library, which are all open when not is session. In the accompanying photos, you can see the exterior of the Capital, a still life of corn, which epitomizes the bounty of the Midwest, the antique chandeliers that hang in the Senate, and a beautiful painting of pioneers going West that I remember from my chidlhood. It is huge, probably at least 50 feet wide.

We also went to the neighboring East Village, a historical neighborhood whose old brick storefronts and warehouses have been renovated into lofts and funky boutique stores. Among the many local shops and restaurants, I visited From Our Hands, an art gallery showcasing regional artists, Kitchen Collage with everything from French porcelian china to egg timers, and Smash, a local clothing brand that showcases screenprinting. It is filled with really funny t-shirts that poke fun at common perceptions of the Midwest and Des Moines. I have several of their shirts now, and you should check out their website.

I also got to visit the Neal Smith Prairie with my fried Sara. We tried to walk the trail by the visitor Center, but it was treacherous with ice. I visited the prairie last in August, and I found it much changed in the winter. Gone were the coneflowers and nightshade, replaced by a sweeping canvas of golden brown, its beauty more vast, more subtle. I was delighted when we drove through the buffalo acreage. We saw elk, antlered males and babies, and majestic buffalo, all very close. I got a great shot of two buffalo hunkered down against the wind. When you see these creatures in person, their size is unbelievable.

On my last day there, we drove to Leon to visit the land. We rambled around through grass and brambles, taking stock of the place. My dad impressed us with his prowess as he lept across the icy creek at a place deemed too wide by my mom and me.

It was really nice to go home for the Holidays this year.

toothbrush drama

Last night after we had climbed into bed, we heard a small noise. Bang, plop. David started swearing, followed by "Oh no, not again! I can't believe this!"

The tone of his voice was such that I imagined some catastrophe. Had Mickey gotten into something dangerous?

I asked, with some urgency, "What happened?"

He replied, "My toothbrush fell in the toilet again."

Our toothbrushes are stored above the sink in wall-mounted holes. However, with modern day toothbrushes having fat, plush rubber grips, we have to jam the end of the handle into the hole. Recently, David's toothbrush has picked up the new extracurricular activity of cliff diving off of the wall into the toilet bowl, with a clean richochet off the tank. It completes this with remarkable accuracy. The latest dive is the third time in the last two weeks. Mine has tried the same feat once or twice, but has yet to find its mark.

I suggested to David, "If this is happening so often that you now recognize the event by sound alone, perhaps it is time to revise our toothbrush storage strategy."

He agreed.

Bistro Bisou...you need to go there

Update: 5/17/10

I am saddened to report that our latest trip to our favorite French restaurant was a big disappointment. We went to celebrate our anniversary, and were anticipating another evening of delicious food. However, I suspect the restaurant has changes cooks. The cream sauce on the frog legs appetizer was too heavy. A good percentage of my mussels were not good. Instead of cooked to crispy perfection, my duck was chewy. We skipped dessert and left feeling deflated. I think we will have to look for a new French place.

Bistro Bisou
9519 S. Dixie Hwy
Pinecrest, FL
33156
In the Dadeland Plaza Mall
Across from the Dadeland South Train Station & the Datran Center
Tel: 786.268.0178
Fax: 786.268.0172

Last night we went to celebrate my birthday at Bistro Bisou, a French restaurant hidden in a strip mall across from the Dadeland South Metro station. We had read some rave reviews for the place, and I was hankering for some classic French food. The chefs have trained in France at some top notch establishments, and it shows in their food. We were absolutely blown away by the sauces, and the fact that everything we ate, from appetizer to dessert, was perfectly cooked. Aside from the menu items, there were lots of daily specials, which I would recommend considering ( most of our selections were specials).

The atmosphere is nice, with a lot of French accents, including an miniature iron Eiffel Tower. The waiters were great, friendly and helpful. We tried several of our waitress's suggestions, from appetizers to wine, and were not disappointe. Plus, they are French, which is nice to hear in a French bistro.

To start off we had mussels in wine broth and escargot and frog legs in a cream sauce with leeks. The mussels were delicous. They came in a hot metal pot that the waitress uncovered at the table. I knew they would be good when waitress took off the lid with a "1,2,3...Voilà!", and the garlicky steam from the pot hit my face. It was a huge portion, with probably forty mussels in the pot, and they were well-cleaned with not grit. I began busily scooping out the meat and slurping on the broth, which was perfectly seasoned with bits of tomato and LOTS of chopped garlic. But really it was the cream sauce that our escargot and frog legs were swimming in that blew me away. It was piping hot with lots of complexity, sweet and savory with a nutty flavor. Ablsolutely fabulous. We couldn't wait for the main course... duck a l'orange and pork tenderloin with apples and pan sauce with Calvados.

Bistro Bisou did not let us down with the entrees. My pork was flavorful, tender and moist (the holy Trinity of meat, no?), and the apples lents a sweetness to the dish, but weren't overpowering. The duck was amazing, right down to the crispy skin. Even the accompanying vegetables, often an afterthought in other establishments, were well-cooked and very fresh. There was even a sort of dumpling that was shaped like a little pear and fried. A whimsical touch to a simply plated entree.

Of course, we ended the meal with dessert, and for me, it was the highlight of the meal. We decided to go for a souffle. I wanted the Grand Marnier, and David wanted chocolate, so we got the Souffle Arlequin, which is half of each. We had to wait about fifteen minutes while it was prepared, which was perfect timing to rest our stomach's a little after the first two courses. I was talked into trying a little 10-year aged port (I deserve a treat right?) to go with it. The souffle came out, and our waitress poured in the custardy sauce (creme anglaise?) . We both ended up preferring the Grand Marnier souffle, which I don't know if I can even do justice with words. It was everything a souffle is supposed to be crusty on the top, warm, light and soft int he middle. Basically heaven in your mouth.

To top it off, we got a complimentary Sambuca as a digestive at the end of the meal, which is my favorite liqueor. It really was a perfect meal, and we want to go back as soon as we can. Expect to pay around 10 dollars for appettizers and $20-25 for entrees, which is a little spendy for many of us, but is a good deal for the quality of the food. I want to try lunch as well, which is very reasonably priced.

Bistro Bisou wasn't very busy when we went, so this is my plug to everyone here in Miami looking for a great dining experience. Get out of the Grove, Coral Gables, or South Beach, and try this little gem in Pinecrest.

A perfect afternoon

The weather was ideal on Friday afternoon. There was a chill in the air, but the sun warmed my skin enough that I wasn't cold. We walked to Publix for something mundane, I think is was dishwasher soap (we had run out on Thanksgiving, of all days!). In the park across the street, a group of teenagers had a game of touch football going.

On a whim, David and I bought some gatorade, along with sunflower seeds and pistacchios. We found a patch of grass, determined to enjoy the sunshine. The grass was soft and the damp earth cool. I cracked the sunflower seed hulls in my teeth and spit them into the grass. Eating sunflower seeds always brings me back 15 years, when I used to go to the Little League field and watch my brother play baseball. My mom and I kept the scorebook for my dad, who coached the team. We meticulously recorded each at-bat with the appropriate codes. I always loved collecting data.

I watched the teens running plays, a few girls climbing a tree, boys teasing each other. I was jealous, they looked so carefree. It's funny, as an adult, even in moments of happiness, there are nagging worries lurking in the back of my mind, trying to claw their way to the surface.

But this afternoon my worries were staying out of sight. David and I had on of those conversations that last hours, meandering from topic to topic, laughter evolving into debate. One of the meaning-of-life conversations. I tore blades of grass into tiny pieces, and brushed ant off of my arms.

Eventually the sun was casting deep shadows. Time to walk back home. What a perfect afternoon.

Shibui Japanese...nice sushi

Shibui Japanese Restaurant
(305) 274-5578
7101 SW 102nd Ave
Just north of Sunset on 102nd Ave.

We have been to Shibui with my aunt and uncle several times now, and it is their favorite sushi place in Miami. The service is impeccable, friendly and helpful. The ambiance is also very nice: dimly lit with dark, rich wood paneling. Upstairs you can eat more traditionally, seated on cushions on the floor at low tables.

Some of the appetizers Shibui does are delicious. The seaweed salad is light and crunchi, slightly sour with a nice note of sesame. We get that every time we go, and it is one of my favorite parts of the meal. The tempura dipped sweet potatos are also good, very light, with an ethereal dipping sauce. The tempura is just right, a very thin crispy layer. The gyoza (dumplings) are good, about the same as dumplings you get anywhere else.

Shibui has a wide selection of rolls (about 40), and a good mix of cooked and raw fish selections, as well as some vegetarian options. Sushi rolls tend to be somewhat up to personal taste, but I will outline the rolls I have liked. I don't care for mayonaise (actually, I hate it), and most of the cooked fish rolls have a flavored mayonaise. But the mayonaise is very subtle, it's not overpowering at all. The Futo Maki is probably my favorite so far, with shrimp and mushrooms. Others that we like (accounting for all our individual tastes) are the JV roll, the Vegetable roll, and one with crawfish (I think it was called the Creole roll?).

Of course, I can't leave out dessert. Pretty standard desserts are offered: tempura fried cheesecake (a favorite of my aunt) and banana. And green tea and red bean ice cream, of course. I love to end the meal with a simple scoop of green tea ice cream, it really caps off all of the flavors of the meal.

If you want good sushi at a reasonable price (rolls are around $9), with great atmosphere and service, Shibui is a good option. I especially enjoy the appetizers, they shine just as much as the sushi itself.

Miscellania

A few things I've discovered this past week...

A blog worth reading...
Burnettiquette, a blog by James Burnett of the Miami Herald. He's funny and insightful at the same time (a difficult balance). I've posted a link on my favorite blog menu.

Young at heart...
David will never lose his inner child, which keeps us both young at heart. We were at Target looking for a new vacuum. It was a weeknight, and we were both tired after another long day. I stopped to "aww" over some Winnie the Pooh baby sweaters with a Christmas theme...perfect for our new little nephew. David grumbled that he didn't want to spend all night at Target, he still had things to do that night. And off he marched in the directions of household appliances. After sighing over tiny socks and pants for a minute more, I set off to meet him at the vacuums.

I was passing the toy section, where I noticed David standing in front of Tickle me Elmo, mesmerized, the toy's squeaky voice laughing hysterically and screaming, "Again! Again!".

I couldn't help but laugh while I said, "Did you still want to look at vacuums?"

(In David's defense, Tickle Me Elmo has evolved into quite a captivating little toy. Check out this video of the little critter, you will not believe what he can do these days! He's a maniac!)

Armed with a sandwich

Okay, I couldn't help but comment on this tidbit of weird news from the AP. A man in Port St. Lucie (about 120 miles up the coast from Miami), attacked his girlfriend with a sandwhich while she was driving, knocking off her glasses, and almost making her lose control of the vehicle. The article concludes, "Police haven't said what type of sandwich was involved." (which is the funniest line in the article).

That left me considering what a professor told me the other day, that South Florida is full of nuts, and not just the edible kind. Like Harlan Pepper from "Best in Show", I could sit around and name nuts all day around here.

And another thing, you'd think with the inflation of food prices, this guy would be more mindful of his chow. Why use a good sandwhich toward a violent end? I find when enraged in the car, hitting the dashboard is a satisfactory outlet (just kidding of course, I never, never lose my temper--wink, wink).

In all seriousness though, it's a good thing that no one was hurt, and domestic violence is no laughing matter. Shame on this guy for hitting his girlfriend, period.

The daily grind

I went to the dentist last week for a teeth cleaning. I told Dr. K about my filling having cracked. He took a look and pronounced I was grinding my teeth, and had little holes in the enamel of my molars. He actually showed them to me in a mirror. He offered to make a mouth guard for me to wear when I am sleeping, which turned out to cost $300, so I think I will settle for one of the ones you can buy at a sporting goods store. I will go to bed every night looking like I'm about to step into the ring.

The problem is, I think I am grinding my teeth all day long. At work? yes. Driving? yes, most definitely. Whenever I have to drive in heavy traffic, my jaw is sore by the time I get home. So really, I am going to have to figure out how to relax. It's not so easy to do when surround by the hustle and bustle of a large city, when you are hardly ever alone, and peace and quiet is as hard to find as random acts of kindness.

Why is everybody so stressed out here? Why is everyone in a hurry all the time?

I hope when I move out of Miami I will still have all of my teeth.

Pizza Rustica

After spending the afternoon at the beach, there was hunger all around. We were faced with the same dilemma as always when at Miami Beach: where can we get a good, quick meal that won't break the bank? At David's suggestion, we decided to try Pizza Rustica on Lincoln Road. This is a small chain of Pizza places that started on Miami Beach, has branched out to several locations in south Florida (one is going to open soon in South Miami, and Brickell), and even in Michigan and Paris (yes that's Paris, France!).



Pizza Rustica on Lincoln Road is small with no pretentions. Behind a large glass counter are twenty plus pizzas for you to choose from, with very fresh ingredients and lots of vegetables. Things like potato pizza, three-mushroom, barbecue chicken, Caprese, and also all of the old standards. I tried the Spinach blue cheese, which was very good, and also the BBQ chicken. The barbecue sauce adds a nice tang to the overal flavor. The crust is fairly thin and crispy. Overall the flavors are really vibrant.



You can sit at a table and order from a waiter, or just walk up to the counter and order a whole pizza, or even more popular, by the slice. A "slice" in this case is a loose term; it's more like a little personal pizza, which they cut into 8 little slices for you. And most pizza "slices" are under $5, which is really a great deal.



I was worried when I ordered that the pizza wouldn't be hot enough, since it is just sitting on warmers behind the counter. But as soon as you order, they throw your slice into an oven, and it comes out tasting fresh and hot.



Overall I was really satisfied with Pizza Rustica. It's the perfect food after a day at the beach. Let's face it, not all of us feel like sitting down to an $50-plus meal with sand in our hair (if we can afford a $50-plus meal in the first place). The only downside to Pizza Rustica is the lack of seating. Most of the tables are for customers being waited on, so you may have to settle for a ledge or a bench. Service at the counter is fast, and matter of fact, and you better know what you want to order when you get to the front of the line.

I recommend Pizza Rustica to anyone who finds themselves wandering around Miami Beach in search of a quick, cheap meal.

Trattoria Sole

Trattoria Sole

5894 Sunset Drive



We went last night to Trattoria Sole on Sunset Drive to celebrate a friend's birthday. The ambience was nice, sitting outside right on the sidewalk, watching people pass by. The menu itself is expansive, and our party found it confusing, as it features a three course meal deal with a separate menu that is not even offered on the weekends. And there was a lot of text to sift through.



So once we figured out which menu page we could choose from we got down to it. Our party of six ordered things like chicken marsala (an Italian-American staple), risotto with asparagus, spaghetti with littleneck clams, and rigatoni with pumpkin and pancetta. Because the menu described the ingredients used to make the pasta, it would be freshly made, but it was definitely not. My rigatoni was cooked just a smidge too al dente. But the flavor of my creamy sauce with large bits of pancetta and diced pumpkin was really tasty. I wished there was more pumpkin and sage to balance the mound of pasta on the plate. The risotto was fairly good, with a nice amount of asparagus, but I thought again, it needed some more ingredients mixed in to balance the starchiness of the rice. The chicken marsala was very tender, but lacked some seasoning. And although I only tried one of the clams, David reported they were silty, so perhaps weren't cleaned properly?



I liked my own entree, but it didn't wow me. And having tried everyone else's dishes, I thought mine tasted the best. The food lacked seasoning, and could benefit from the use of more fresh herbs and vegetables. The descriptions on the menu list a lot of ingredients in each dish, but they came in miniscule amounts and so the pasta wasn't well balanced. Perhaps the meat dishes are better executed.



The highlight of the meal was dessert. I had the sambuca flavored panna cotta, and it was absolutely delicious (but I love panna cotta to begin with). I was disappointed that it didn't come with the cherry compote listed in the menu. If you can't provide ingredients all the time, why list them on the menu?



The service was just fine, the staff was attentive and professional. For the quality of the food and ingredients, the prices were a little steep, entrees were $16-22. Overall I was disappointed because the restaurant boasts numerous awards and reviews, and I thought it fell a bit short.

Voting Miami style

6:30 am-Things seem eerily calm today. I wake up to an overcast, cool morning and think I should get to the polls as early as possible, before the lines got too long. I had heard horror stories of five hour lines just this past weekend at the early voting locations, so I thought I would get up around 6:00 and be at the polls when they opened at seven. Of course this was overly ambitious, but I do manage to arrive by 8:05, with a bottle of water, a granola bar, a novel, and all the time in the world.

8:05 am-I arrive at the church and am not too horrified. A quick count reveals that I am about 80th in line. About half of my fellow voters look like they are on their way to work (in slacks and/or high heels), an the other half looks more like me, students and homemakers, etc., dressed in jeans or sweats, or leggings. We are not a very diverse group, but neither is our neighborhood. I settle in with my book.

9:05 am-There are now only about 24 people in front of me, the home stretch. My back is a little sore, but my spirits are high. The overall line is much shorter now, so I guess I should have come a little later after all. On the other hand, waiting in line with fellow citizens is part of the voting experience right?

9:30 am-I enter through the doors of the church and cast my vote, laboring over filling in the bubbles completely (just like taking the ACT!). The scanner swallows my ballot, and out the door I go with my "I voted today!" sticker. I hear that Starbucks is giving free coffee to voter, maybe a caffeine kick is just what I need...

I spent about 105 minutes voting today, the least I can do to fulfill one of my civic duties. Everything went very smoothly, a pat on the back for the poll workers. And the weather was great (sorry to all of you up North who had to wait outside in the cold). How long did you have to wait? Answer my poll on the right hand side. Also, please comment on your voting experience!

Oktoberfest

Last night we went to Oktoberfest, sponsored by the German American Club of Greater Miami. This is an annual event, and we went last year for the first time. This Oktoberfest is a lot of fun, and unlike the Oktoberfests sponsored by the German restaurants in the area (Fritz and Franz, Hofbrauhaus), it is sponsored by a community social group, so the feel is less commercial and more folksy. This means that it may not be as polished as the other Oktoberfests, but it feels more genuine. What's more, you can feel good about supporting a local group.



Oktoberfest reminded me of small town bazaars and carnivals, a festive environment with a lot of families...and positive energy everywhere. There is a $ 10.00 admission fee, and then you buy tickets for a dollar a piece, which gets you food and beer. The German American Club Hall was all decked out with German flags and Bavarian checked banners hanging from the ceiling (just like small town Fests in Bavaria). There were two folk bands from Germany, and folk dancing performed by members of the German American Club. It was really fun to watch, even if German folk music is not in my usual repetoire of tunes.



The food was actually really good. I had a schnitzel with red cabbage and potato salad. The red cabbage was wonderful, really strong. I love that German taste combination of sweet and sour. Of course the beer was good (I have yet to try a bad German beer). But the gastronomic highlight were the brezeln (pretzels). They were perfect! Freshly baked at the fest, and served strung up on a stick by women walking through the hall. With butter or spicy mustard, they were really the best thing I ate all night.



To top off the night, the band got us all involved in a conga line, and we were weaving all around the hall, trying to hold on to the person in front of us while not stepping on their heels. Then we did this silly dance that resemble the chicken dance or the hokey pokey. Not the most sophisticated steps, but the kind of dance that leaves everyone breathless and laughing.



I can't wait till next October, to do it all over again.

Back in the Magic City

It's been a busy week back in Miami, and I've been logging a lot of miles on the odometer. I wish I had something exciting to relate, but it's been a rather ordinary week.

I do have a special message for any of my Midwestern friends I saw last week:

It was so nice to see you all! Thanks for sharing our happy event with us, and I am glad to see everyone is doing well. Hopefully we'll see you again soon.

This weekend it is time to have some Miami fun...in the form of the Oktoberfest sponsored by the German American Club of Greater Miami. Stay tuned.

A Midwesterner in the Midwest

I have been lax in my writing...I am back in Iowa for my brother's wedding, and so haven't had any new "fish out of water" experiences. I am swimming in familiar waters for the moment. In my last post, I was missing fall foliage, and luckily enough I am seeing some spectacular color right now. And the air has that familiar chill to it, a little too familiar when I wake up in the morning and am trying to leave the warmth of my bed.

So for now, I am happy to be home, and secure in the fact that Miami will still be there when I return...

Miami Autumn

I think our bodies must have a long weather memory. Every time I step outside, I am expecting a Fall chill in the air, possible even a quick shiver. I feel like I should be seeing my breath when I go out in the morning. Like I should be knitting a scarf. Like it is time to unpack the winter sweaters (the few that I have left). It has something to do with the position of the sun, its rays aren't direct enough, and the days are too short for it to still be in the upper 80's. I've talked about this with other Midwesterners, and they all agree that something doesn't feel quite right.

Everyone in the city is waiting with bated breath for our "Fall" to come. A relief to the sweltering heat of the summer. But we have a little time to wait yet. Sure, the temperature isn't hitting 90 degrees anymore, and we won't average below 80 until the end of November, just in time for Thanksgiving. It has just cooled off enough to get us all excited.

Don't get me wrong, the winters here are delicious, but they are way too short. Every day is sunny and usually requires a light jacket. It's a great time to be in Miami. In fact, that's always when our visitors come.

We also miss out on fall foliage here, which leaves a big hole in my sense of time. That magic transition from every shade of green to the yellows, oranges and reds, warm colors that push against the falling temperatures. First you see a tree here and a tree there change, its leaves some vibrant, fiery color. Then the rest follow in a color explosion. It's the kind of thing that people travel hundreds of miles to see.

At least I am visiting Des Moines in a couple of weeks, and so will get to see a little fall color in Iowa.

Now begins my favorite time of year, beginning with Halloween and ending with the New Year. I am a sucker for the Holidays...

Muck it up

The first time I saw the muck soils of south Florida, I thought I was back in the Midwest. Before my eyes stretched thousands of acres of soil, black as night. The soil got me excited, because it so resembled the black loam of my home state. I was disappointed however, when I got into the field and reached down to take a handful of dirt. It was not cool and moist like I suspected, but brittle and dry.








There are approximately 40,000 acres of muck soil in the Everglades area, and it has been farmed since the early 1900's. To the right is a postcard from 1920 showing fields of muck soil (from the J.S. Wooley photograph collection, University of Miami Libraries, Copyright 2006). The muck soil came from decomposing sawgrass that was exposed when the Everglades were drained. Composed of almost entirely organic matter, it is very rich, and capable of large yields. When you visit vegetable fields in the Everglades (around Belle Glade, for example), you see large-scale agricultural operations that blow your mind.



Thousands of acres of spinach, for example, with perfectly straight rows that stretch right to the horizon. I am used to large corn and soybean fields in the Midwest, which stretch along rolling hills, and are broken up by country roads, windbreaks, and wooded streams. The fields in the Everglades seem vast in comparison, with nothing to break them up besides the occasional irrigation canal.






Sadly, the muck soils are not built to last. The soil is continually lost by contact with air, through an oxidation of the organic matter. They are also prone to being carried away by wind, resulting in large tornado-like swells of soil, called "dust devils". Already in some fields the muck soil is so shallow that the underlying rock is exposed when the fields are tilled. At the University of Florida Everglades Research and Education Center in Belle Glade, there is a concrete post which was driven down flush with the soil line in the 1924. Now it sits above ground about 6 feet, quite a bit of soil to lose in 80 years! (See a photo of it below.)


What will become of the muck soil land when it can no longer be farmed? Ideally it could be turned into Everglades restoration land. But I fear that much of it could be turned over to development, increasing the urban jungle that has laid claim to south Florida.

For more information on muck soil subsidence and future use of muck soil land, read this 2004 report from UF EREC.

Best Pizza--Tutto Pizza/ Tutto Pasta

On a streetcorner on Coral Way, right before the the I-95 overpass, one of the best pizza places in Miami sits inconspicuously under orange awnings. Tutto Pizza and its sister restaurant, Tutto Pasta, have never failed to satisfy me or anyone I have taken there. You can get great appetizers, pasta, pizza, and desserts, all served up by friendly and professional waitstaff. We appreciate not only the food, but the whole dining experience.

I like to sit outside when it's not too hot, but the dining room is equally nice, with comfortable, casual yet elegant decor. For appetizers, my husband and I like the salmon carpaccio, or if you are really hungry, the antipasti plate, which comes with fresh mozzarella, olives, roasted red peppers, sundried tomatos, and several Italian cured meats. It's a great, fresh start to the meal.

The pizza is traditional brick oven pizza, with a nice crispy crust, and innovative toppings. One pie easily satisfies two people. Our favorites are the Quatro Formagio, Popeye (with goat cheese, spinach, and sundried tomatoes), and the Superman (with fresh arugula and prosciutto). You can split your pizza in half so you get two types on one pie. The menu also includes paninis and salads.

To satisfy my sweet tooth, I love to end with the hot, gooey-on-the-inside chocolate souffle with an espresso (David prefers the Tiramisu).

We have eaten pasta there a couple of times as well, and the pumpkin ravioli I had were great--just the right balance of salty and sweet.

Both of us can eat a pizza with an appetizer, dessert and espresso for about $60.00, a real bargain for the quality of the food and service. Tutto is one of our favorite restaurants, and we have never been disappointed. I just read on their website that the owner is working on a new bistro, Zucchero, and I can't wait to see what it offers.

Where are the beautiful people?

Travel and Leisure magazine has published their ratings of America's top 25 cities, and surprise, surprise, Miami is included (Des Moines, however, is not). And where does Miami come out on top? For the most attractive (#1) and stylish (#2) people, of course! I have to admit, on a day-to-day basis, the people I see are not taking my breath away. It led me to ponder...where are all the beautiful people?

One of my friends claims they all live in South Beach, which is certainly full of attractive-looking people. The same could be said for most of the city's more affluent hot spots where people go to be seen by other people: Miracle Mile in the Gables, the Grove, Lincoln Mall. Everyone goes there to watch people and to be seen. So we put on our best duds, do our make-up and hair, and hit the town. That's what most tourists see. Maybe that's why we are considered so beautiful. But I can guarantee you that driving home on I-95 in rush hour traffic, beauty is decidedly absent.

And there is a lot of wealth in Miami. So, does wealth make you more attractive? If you have the money to maintain your appearance (go to the salon for a stylish cut and colot, buy the fashionable, well-made clothes that fit well and flatter the body), you definitely have a head start. Do you have to look a little harder and longer to see the attractiveness in less affluent people (which there are plenty of as well in Miami)? I don't know if this is true, but the money and time spent on our appearances suggest a relationship between wealth and so-called "beauty".

What about the culture of Miami? Does it promote an obsession with appearance, and so do Miamians in general do a better job of maintaining their appearance? Probably. In Miami, appearance seems to be everything, and I admit I have started paying more attention to what I wear out now.

I dont' think there is anything inherently wrong with dressing well, and taking pride in how you look. The real problem with Miami culture seems to show up in the areas where Miami citizens ranked low: friendly (#21) and intelligent (#24). If we had beautiful people who were also friendly and intelligent, then we would have a place we could be proud of. The fact that we are missing the most important personality factors suggests a deep hole in the soul of the city.

On the up-side, Miami is a young city, and so may still need to grow up a bit to become a cultural, intellectual place. Time will tell...


I'd like to hear your take on beautiful people...leave a comment!

Before I sign out, since this blog is about a Midwesterner in Miami, let's look at the only midwestern included in the poll, Minneapolis. It ranked high in friendly (#3) and intelligent (#2), as well as in most quality of life and culture categories. I was in Minneapolis in August, and couldn't believe how nice everyone was. I love the city, and recommend it to everyone.

To pick your favorite city, visit Travel and Leisure's pick the favorite.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens

This post will begin a monthly series on attractions in the Miami area that you should visit in the winter months, places you can't enjoy in the summer because of the heat. The first place I recommend is the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, which is a National Historic Landmark . Vizcaya has something for everyone: history, antiques, a decadent villa, and palatial gardens. I have included pictures of the barge and gardens, but there's no photography allowed inside the mansion.

I visited Vizcaya this April (and it was already hot!), but I was really impressed. I had no idea Miami held such a gem! There are two main attractions at Vizcaya, the mansion and the enormous, beautifully landscaped gardens. You can tour them in any order, although the mansion is nice and cool, so it is a good break if it is hot out.

I personally love any type of historical residence, so I loved meandering through all 34 rooms of the villa, taking in all the marble, the murals, the rich textiles, antique furniture and tapestries. The whole thing was built in the 1910's to look like an old Italian villa. The furnishing and decoration are reminiscent of some of European castles minus the excessive gilding.

I recommend the guided tour of the house, which includes all of the rooms on the lower floor. It meets every half-hour or so in the central courtyard, and takes about 45 minutes. The guide will clue you in to the oldest and most valuable antiques, and all of the history and peculiarities of the house. James Deering really spared no expense in building and decorating this estate. There are beautiful views from the house of both the gardens and the bay. The top floor with all of the bedrooms (each with a different theme) is open to tour on your own. Vizcaya mansion holds one of the largest antique collections in the country. Some of my favorites in the Vizcaya mansion were the music room with a muraled harpsichord, the breakfast room, with a two-walled seascape mural and Asian decor, and the luxuriantly silky "Espagnolette" guest room (click here to see photos of these rooms and more).


The gardens at Vizcaya were reminiscent of Linderhoff castle, with the mansion opposite of a large hill ('The Mound'), with a grand pool in between. The gardens are like visitng another house all together, linked together as a series of 'rooms', including a 'Secret Garden' and the 'Maze Garden'. Aside from the magnificent landscaping, there are sculptures and lots of neat little accents, like coral rock planting baskets and shell murals. It seems everywhere you look stands a whimsical statue, and around every bend lies a romantic corner. Very inspiring. They are expanding their restoration of the gardens, and also of the surrounding buidling that were the Vizcaya's 'village', including a dairy and blacksmith shop. With all these improvements, Vizcaya can just get better.

Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is one of my favorite places I have visited in Miami...it provides a serene and majestic break from the hustle and bustle of the city, beyond the beaches and nightclubs. When you're at Vizcaya, it's easy to imagine you yourself are a wealthy early 20th century industrialist.

For more information on visiting Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, click here .

An introduction to Miami

This is the story of a Midwesterner in Miami.

So how did a girl like me get to Miami? I never saw myself living in a big city, I never yearned for the glitz and glamour, the fastness of a place like Miami. What I did want to do was study tropical fruits, and so that's what brought me here, to do my doctorate research.

I have been here for almost two years now, and I am beginning to be able to see some of the good of the city, although the bad is always still there. Let's go through some of my impressions of Miami:

The weather. A lot of people come here specifically for the weather. The winters are beautiful, the summers are hot! (and I think the heat makes people even more crazy). I love waking up to the sunshine almost every day.

The people. Anytime you have this many people in a small area, everyone gets a little nuts. Of course the Latin influence is very strong here, and can be overwhelming if you can't learn to embrace it (I'm working on that right now). My friend Robert loves it here, because he says it is like living in another country. Being from the Midwest, where people are painfully polite, Miamians are too pushy and rude. I am seeing first hand the metropolitan epidemic of self absorption, and it ain't pretty. But on the flip side, there is a vibrant energy here, mostly due to people's zest for life.


The food. It's great. Sure, there are about a billion Cuban restaurants (many of them very good), but if you want other type of cuisine you can definitely find it. One of my favorite activities is enjoying a good meal, and Miami has plenty of those. There are great Argentinian grills, Italian pizzerias, and heavenly gelato.


The sights. Everyone thinks of the beach when they think of Miami. In my opinion, the beaches on the gulf and up near Jacksonville are prettier. But if you want to watch people, you'll have a feast for the eyes on Miami beach. You never know what you'll see when strolling along the Boardwalk or Lincoln Mall. The drawback to living in Miami instead of vacationing on the beach is that you have to drive a while to get there. So you end up going not so often. There are plenty of other great places to visit: Vizcaya, FairchildTropical Gardens, the Redlands, Bayside, the Everglades, the Keys, and plenty of others that I haven't gotten to visit yet.


The traffic. Horrific. I am lucky that I commute against the traffic every day. I can't imagine driving downtown everyday for work. Gridlocked traffic and hot tempers abound. Even without traffic jams, it is kind of like being in one of those Driver's Ed simulators all the time. Within a fifteen minute drive, you may have several people cut you off, several others will honk at you for no apparent reason, a few pedestrians or bicycles will run out in front of you, and you will almost get side-swipe by an SUV that is mysteriously drifting into your lane. If you can, walk!




The lifestyle. I have some problems with the general worldview in Miami. Of course, Miami is a big city, and there is the diversity of lifestyles and opinions. But my overall impression is that Miami lives up to its glitzy reputation to the detriment of the city as a whole. Image is everything, from the car you drive to the clothes you wear. It all seems pretty empty to me, and the "me" attitude here is unhealthy for the sustainability of the city. People live outside their means to maintain the appearance of wealth.




These are my general impressions of Miami. And while my heart still longs for the Midwest, I want to use this blog to investigate what else this strange place has to offer, to try and improve my experience here and see what I can take away from it.