A Taste of Coral Gables. Paola Mendez
the salad mixture at a time.)
6.Place the grilled octopus on top of the salad.
7.Garnish with Maldon sea salt, fresh ground black pepper, and olive oil. (Tip: Add just enough dressing to make sure the salad is not dry.)
Serves 4.
Wine Pairing
La Crema Monterey Pinot Noir Rosé.
Coral Gables has the one of the best independent bookstores in the country, Books & Books. This bookshop is so much more than a book retailer. It has been a pillar of the community for over 30 years and has brought revolutionizing events to South Florida, including the Miami Book Fair. This nonstop literary machine hosts events year-round, bringing in all kinds of authors to speak and sign books.
Inside this amazing book-lover’s haven, you’ll find the Café at Books & Books, helmed by local celebrity chef Allen Susser. When you sit in the half-booths lining the café’s walls, you’re surrounded by books and a mosaic of photographs of famous authors who have visited the bookshop. You might also bump into a well-known local author working on his or her manuscript. The café and bookstore surround a lovely courtyard with outside seating. It also hosts monthly farm-to-table dinners.
Chef Allen has crafted a sustainable and healthy menu featuring locally grown produce. The menu includes wonderful salads, grilled cheese, quesadillas, and vegetarian options. They also offer a delightful appetizer happy hour on Fridays and live music on the weekends. It the perfect place to enjoy a delicious meal surrounded by books and book lovers.
Key West Pink Shrimp Toast
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1 tablespoon olive oil
12–15 Key West shrimp
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon aged sherry wine vinegar
3 tablespoons hummus
2 baguette slices, freshly toasted
8–10 organic arugula leaves
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
7–8 Cilantro leaves
To Prepare the Shrimp
Heat a small sauté pan and toast the fennel seeds lightly until they become aromatic. Add the olive oil and shrimp. Cook over high heat for 2-3 minutes until the shrimp turn pink throughout. Season with salt and pepper flakes, then deglaze with vinegar. Remove from heat.
To Prepare the Toast
Spread the hummus evenly on the toast. Arrange the arugula leaves on the hummus. Spoon the warm cooked shrimp over the toast. Sprinkle with smoked paprika and garnish with fresh cilantro leaves.
Serves 2.
For nearly three decades, Nino Pernetti and his team have been serving both old friends and new from his beloved Coral Gables restaurant, Caffe Abbracci. The list of regulars reads like a who’s who of Miami’s movers and shakers. Over the years, they have served countless professional athletes, politicians, including three U.S. presidents, and county, state, and federal judges, including two U.S. Supreme Court justices.
At Caffe Abbracci, everyone who walks through the door is treated like a celebrity and served flawlessly executed Italian comfort food, great wine, and well-made cocktails. You’ll find an old-school Italian restaurant atmosphere with chandeliers lighting Caffe Abbracci’s main dining room. It’s a great place for celebrations, couples dining, or business meetings. You’ll usually find a mix of these festivities taking place at the restaurant on any given night.
The menu features traditional Italian dishes, including prosciutto, buffalo mozzarella, risottos, chicken Parmesan, lobster ravioli, fettuccine Alfredo, and veal scaloppine porcini. Start your meal with Tortellini Tatiana stuffed with pear and cheese and served with a pink vodka sauce. Enjoy a tiramisu for dessert with coffee for a perfect ending to your fine Caffe Abbracci dining experience.
Lamb Chops with Dried Cherries and Berries
11 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
13/4 cups Cabernet, divided
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme, plus 1 teaspoon
16 2-ounce lamb chops, pounded slightly
1/2 cup mixed dry cherries and berries, plus 2 tablespoons for garnish
4 medium shallots, thinly sliced
11/2 cups shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded, caps thinly sliced
11/2 cups beef stock
1/2 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons minced fresh Italian parsley
Arugula, for garnish
Salt and pepper
1.In a glass or ceramic bowl, whisk 4 tablespoons olive oil with 1 tablespoon Cabernet and 1 tablespoon thyme and season with salt and pepper to taste. Pour the marinade over the lamb chops and refrigerate for 5 hours, turning occasionally. Soak the cherries and berries in 1 cup Cabernet for 1 hour; drain.
2.In a saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil until hot but not smoking. Add the shallots and mushrooms and cook over moderately high heat about 2 minutes. Add the stock, 1 teaspoon thyme, and the remaining wine to the saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Boil until partially reduced, about 4 minutes. Add the honey, parsley, and drained fruit. Lower the heat and cook for 3 minutes. Strain the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on the solids with a wooden spoon.
3.Remove the chops from the marinade and pat them dry with paper towels. Season with salt to taste. In a large skillet, heat the remaining oil over high heat until hot but not smoking. Add the chops and cook for about 4 minutes a side for rare. Remove the chops from the skillet and drain the oil from the skillet. Pour the sauce into the skillet and cook over high heat, scraping the bottom of the pan until reduced slightly, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4.To serve, divide the sauce evenly among four warmed plates, reserving some for garnish. Place four chops on each plate. Dot each chop with sauce and garnish with a berry and arugula.
Serves 4.
A self-described Italian fusion restaurant, Caffe Vialetto is renowned for its excellent, innovative food and service. With a charming and romantic atmosphere, it’s the perfect spot for a tête-à-tête. The restaurant features white tablecloths, fresh flowers, captivating artwork, and an intriguing mix of modern music, giving it a relaxed yet upscale ambience. The staff is attentive and kind and offers high quality service, making sure every aspect of your Caffe Vialetto experience is memorable.
Caffe Vialetto serves up unique and flavorful Italian-influenced dishes like its highly regarded champagne risotto. This dish comes in lamb or chicken teriyaki versions. They also offer broad and varied menu selections, from fried calamari with a chili