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Dany, our South Beach Food and Art Deco Tour guide, is surprised to see us. We inform him that he is such a great tour guide we took his advice to visit Havana 1957’s Mojito Bar.
As we sip mojitos, we listen to Dany give a new tour group, a talk on the history of the dish, Ropa Vieja. The group is in for a yummy treat.
On our last visit to Miami, we loved Miami Culinary Tours’, Little Havana Food Tour.
The tour offered the perfect balance of delicious food and Cuban cultural, education. For our latest Miami trip, the plan is to spend several days, in South Beach. When I see that Miami Culinary Tours, offers a South Beach Food and Art Deco Tour, I book immediately.
Bolivar
Though unplanned, it’s a bonus when your accommodation is within walking distance of a tour’s meeting point.
There is no messing around on the South Beach Food and Art Deco Tour. Our meeting point is also our first eating spot, Columbian restaurant, Bolivar.
Once the entire group assembles, Dany introduces himself, then encourages us to give a brief introduction.
The South Beach Food and Art Deco Tour begins with one of my favorite things, a new taste (for me).
Glasses of Refajo are set before us. Refajo, is a Columbian drink, comprised of a mixture of beer and cream soda.
At first the group is skeptical about the combination, but soon everyone is sipping and commenting on the refreshing taste. The beer cuts the sweetness of the soda and the soda sweetens the bitterness of the beer. It’s a winning combination.
Dany presents us with plates, set with a Colombian empanada, empanada sauce, and ceviche. The ceviche is tossed with a passion fruit sauce. The empanada is good, but the ceviche is outstanding.
A quick note to restaurants who agree to be included in local food tours (because there are also restaurants who turn down food tour operators), if we like our food tour sample, we will make an effort to return.
The next evening, we return to Bolivar for dinner, and get an entire dish of the passion fruit ceviche.
If you visit South Beach, Miami, I recommend dinner at Bolivar.
Art Deco
Giving a chance for our tasting to settle, Dany takes us to our first architecture stop, The Tony Hotel.
The Tony Hotel is the perfect place for Dany to introduce the group to the basic elements of Art Deco design. The Tony Hotel has great examples of symmetry, geometric shapes, rich materials, and elaborate lighting fixtures.
The group oohs and ahhs. South Beach, Miami, has one of the largest areas of restored, Art Deco Architecture, in the world. Dany points out that many of the Art Deco elements, mimic elements of a cruise ship.
For the rest of my stay in South Beach, I cannot unsee this.
The Breakwater Hotel/Havana 1957
We stop at a building that combines both elements of our South Beach Tour, architecture and food. Inside the Breakwater Hotel is the restaurant, Havana 1957.
Dany is Cuban and we feel his passion, as he explains the dish set before the tour participants. Our Ropa Vieja is tender, the tostones side is crisp. The portion is enough to feel satisfied, but not stuffed.
There are no specific beverages at this stop, which is fine, everyone takes advantage of the opportunity to hydrate with water. Dany informs us, that Havana 1957, is known for their Mojito Bar. He suggests that if we have time during our trip, we should stop in. As mentioned above, Dany will see us enjoying his suggestion, later in the day.
Naked Taco
Naked Taco is our South Beach Food Tour’s modern stop. The group is lead past cheeky, fandom-themed paintings, to a room at the back of the restaurant. Naked Tacos provides us with tequila and juice drinks.
Fresh, chicken tacos appear. It is an excellent taco.
So excellent, the biggest regret of our South Beach visit, we run out of time to return to Naked Taco.
Ocean Drive
Strolling along Ocean Drive, Dany tells more stories about efforts taken to preserve South Beach’s architectural history.
He stops in front of the famed, Casa Casuarina, a.k.a, The Versace Mansion. Not all of the architecture in South Beach is Art Deco. Casa Casuarina, a Mediterranean designed home, stands out among the clean lines and port hole windows.
Dany gives us a history of the home, as it was not built, nor originally owned by Gianni Versace. Versace however is known for the home’s lavish renovations, that include an elaborate mosaic pool and courtyard. Just in case someone on the tour is not aware of the true crime significance of the home, Dany gives a brief description. The home is now a restaurant, and despite Miami Culinary Tours’ best efforts, the restaurant has strict, entrance, rules. We are not allowed to see the mansion’s interior. Dany suggests that if we have an interest in design and architecture, it’s worth having lunch at the mansion.
After our South Beach Food Tour, we make a reservation and have lunch at the Versace Mansion the following day.
Click here to read about our Lunch at the Versace Mansion
Estefan Kitchen Express
Every good food tour, should end with a scrumptious dessert. Our dessert stop is at Estefan Kitchen Express. I’ll admit, I initially feel distrustful, that a music, superstar, couple, could create anything more than a tourist trap, but I learn that I am wrong.
First, Dany teaches us about how Cuban coffee is made. He then passes around small cups, because that is all the afternoon caffeine kick needed.
Though a mega fan of coffee and fancy coffee drinks, I do not
count myself a Cuban coffee expert.
I sip without need of sugar or cream.
Dany now reveals that we are about to consume one of my absolute, favorite, sweet treats, a churro.
The churro is shorter and fatter, than your basic theme park or fair churro.
The outside is lightly crispy.
There is an ample, fluffy, interior. Chocolate and dulce de leche sauce are presented for our dipping pleasure. I love all churros, but I also know that there are good quality churros, and inexpensive quality churros. The churros made at Estefan Kitchen Express are good quality.
I am a fan of more crispy outside and less dense inside, but if the inside of the churro is your favorite part, stop by Estefan Kitchen Express.
Though it did not occur during out visit, Dany said that occasionally Gloria and/or Emilio Estefan, visit the eatery.
Conclusion
This is our second tour with Miami Culinary Tours and both tours are wonderful.
Dany is an amazing tour guide. He spent time getting to know the tour takers. While we are eating, Dany chats with us, asking everyone questions about their lives. By the
end, it feels like taking a tour with a friend.
Miami Culinary Tours does an exemplary job, choosing the eating places. The portions are enough to satiate hunger, but not so large, that you feel bogged down and heavy. They also are artful at balancing the tour so you can indulge in the food, but also learn a great deal about history, culture, and architecture.
South Beach is an area known for indulgence and decadence, but in between your pool time, beach time, and rooftop bar visits, book a South Beach Food and Art Deco Tour. It’s a good opportunity to learn about the history and culture of this famous area of Miami, Florida.
Find a great place to stay when exploring South Beach, Miami
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