WELCOME TO MIAMI

Question: When the temperature drops below zero in NYC, where do you go?

Answer: Miami baby!

A white Christmas sounds good, but as an Aussie girl, I was desperate to thaw out from the sub-zero temps. With endless choices of where to go...there was one place we couldn't pass on, Miami. Three hours on a plane, and hello summer.

Mr. S has been once before, but for me, this was a whole-new-world. With only a week to research and book everything, it was time to put my game face on. It was all about the food and the sun. So I'm going to share my tips & hot spots to check out.

What we ate (and drank):

Dessert at Michael's Genuine Food

Breakfast of champions; fried chicken with biscuits

A cocktail with it's own lip-balm, SLS

Bazaar at SLS hotel: Dragon fruit ceviche, compete with foam

News cafe breakfast plate, did I mention this is for ONE!

La Sandwicherie, the salad was smaller, than the sandwich

Amazing tacos from Ola

Where (we wished &) we stayed:

SLS (poolside)

W Hotel

We stayed at Surf Comber

Restaurant recommendations:
- Michael's Genuine Food & Wine, the food is delicious with an ever changing menu - try go at lunch and enjoy the design district.
- Ola, rated the number one Mexican restaurant in South Beach, it's not traditional but worth a visit.
- Barton G, get your instragram shots ready, the most inventive ways of serving food you may ever see, Pop Tarts (made to order) served in a toaster.
- Juvia, South Beach is known for its architectural-carparks, and this restaurant sits up top, great views, go at sunset.  
- Yardbird Southern Table, we came for brunch & dinner on the same day. Nothing further needs to be said, just go eat there.
- Pinocchio, you'll feel like you've stepped out of Miami and into Italy. Great coffee for the Aussies who miss home.
- Scarpetta, you can't argue with a restaurant that serves, good meat, fish, pasta, sides, and makes it's own bread.   
- News Cafe, a great people watching experience as well as a very filling breakfast.
- The Dutch, we enjoyed several breakfasts here. There's great variety for a delicious breakfast, and has a great indoor-outdoor feel.
- La Sandwicherie, if you don't mind waiting, or eating on the run, you have to have a sandwich or salad here. they're big but delicious.
- Lantao, Surfcomber Hotel, if you feel like, Thai, you can't go past Lantao. 
- Casa Tua, the outside is so inviting you can't help but step in for an Italian meal.
- The 660, recommended for breakfast, and go hungry.
- Jerry's Famous Deli, there's nothing like a good Matzo ball soup in Miami, and there's no better place to get it than Jerry's.


Hotel recommendations:
- Fontainebleu
- SLS
- Surfcomber
- Delano
- Shelborne
- Dream Hotel
- W Hotel  

SWEETEST-SWEET POTATOES

I've unlocked the key to the perfect sweet potato dish! Mr. S is a HUGE fan of sweet potatoes, not regular potatoes, just sweet. Therefore, I'm always looking for new and exciting ways to cook them. On a Pinterest search I found it! Without much hint of a recipe, it was time to experiment.

So it was going to be just hubby and me for dinner, so it was time to put the picture to the test. I've now tested this a few times, and with a variety of guests, it was a hit, and I promise, not too complicated.

NB: When experimenting with a new/untested recipe, don't attempt to try it before six guests are walking through the front door, it's just less hassle to test it out a week before and then try the big reveal!

Ingredients (serves 4):
2 x large sweet potatoes, washed, with skin on
1/4 cup coconut flakes (you can use shredded if you have that)
1/4 coriander (cilantro), chopped
2 x shallots, chopped
1/4 pomegranate seeds
Salt and Pepper 
Alternative to pomegranate:
1/4 cup hazel nuts (and/or) almonds, roughly chopped
1 tsp maple syrup

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees celsius (405F). 
2. Cut bot ends off the potato.
3. Using a regular fork, poke holes in sweet potato (approx 20) around the whole potato.
4. Place the two potatoes on a lined baking tray and place in the oven for 45mins - 1hour (depending on your oven). The best way to tell if they're ready is use a skewer and feel how easy it is to go through - they should be soft but not mushy. 
5. While the potatoes are in the oven combine the coconut, coriander, shallots in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper. 
6. When the potatoes are ready, cut an oval opening (use the side that was facing down), scrap off any of the sweet potato flesh into a bowl.
7. Using tongs, scoop out most of the sweet potato flesh (from both) into the bowl and mash with a fork. 
8. Gently place the mash back into the two whole-baked potatoes. 
9. Sprinkle over the coriander mix and pomegranate seeds. 

Alternative to pomegranates:

1. In a bowl mix nuts with the maple syrup. 
2. Spread the mix on a lined baking tray, and cook in the oven for 5 mins. 
3. Keep an eye on the nuts so they don't burn. 
4. Once cooled, add to the coriander mix.

Complete meal suggestion (comment below if you would like the recipe to any of these):
Grilled chicken breast
Green salad with feta cheese
Oven roasted Brusselsprouts