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we've found this attempt at Asian fusion to be disappointing. Dedicated Japanese or Thai
restaurants, on the other hand, are another matter entirely.
It must also be said: South Florida in general, and Miami in particular, is obsessively
trendy. If barnacles are the 'it' recipe in Manhattan, you better believe barnacle sorbet will
feature on at least a dozen South Beach menus within a week. This attitude is a double-
edged sword, because while you're in no danger of missing culinary trends in Miami,
there's a chance you'll eat at a place where the aforementioned barnacles are prepared
carelessly and sold at sky-high costs.
At the time of writing, the trend of the moment was nominally rustic farm-to-table
cuisine. Some great restaurants are doing culinary wonders with the genre, but there are
also a lot of ridiculous eateries where elaborately coiffed scenesters are convinced a pret-
tily distressed hardwood floor equals dining in a mountain cabin. Asian and Latin fusion
are perennially popular cooking trends in Miami.
This cynical attitude most often manifests in South Beach, but is increasingly noticeable
in downtown Miami, Wynwood and Coral Gables. Tourists aren't as likely to hold a bad
restaurant as accountable as locals, and the fact is, most of the folks going out in South
Beach are tourists. With that said, there are some fantastic restaurants in South Beach,
places that are not just on top of culinary trends but redefining them, and similar restaur-
ants downtown, in Wynwood and the Design District, and even in Key West.
Few places can boast Florida's sublime fresh bounty from land and sea, and menus
playfully nick influences. Gourmets can genuflect before celebrity chefs, while gourmands
hunt Florida's bizarre delicacies such as boiled peanuts, frog's legs, snake and gator. Strip
malls can contain gastronomic gems, while five-star hotel restaurants can be total duds.
Smell, taste, enjoy and indulge - our advice to you, and a fitting motto for Floridians and
food.
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