Smut All Over...

Chayote

Truffle (I Know What It Looks Like...)

I was rummaging through my pantry, doing a little Sunday cleaning, when I discovered my last can of Huitlacoche. Known variously as corn truffle (classy) or corn smut (dirty), it's the black fungus that grows inside an ear of corn. Like most fungi, huitlacoche takes some getting used to; but like the humble button mushroom ($4/lb. at the supermarket). or the exotic white truffle ($600/ounce at Dean & Deluca), once you've eaten it, its origins won't matter anymore. It is very earthy, and it tastes a little like something that has spoiled, but in a way similar to the truffle, which has a rotten egg aroma. I also had some Halloumi cheese lying around (it's similar to Mexican frying cheese), so I thought I'd grate some of that on top. The butternut squash is a fall classic-just wrap in foil and bake until it's soft-I also roasted some mushrooms. I like to mix the raw and the cooked, so the chayote I diced and left raw, and the raw avocado smooths out the serrano peppers. Place it all in a couple of warm tortillas, and top with cilantro. Oddly, I had already eaten my fill of Mexican food at 'brunch' at my favorite undiscovered Mexican restaurant in Miami, so I was able to stop at one huitlacoche taco for dinner. By the way, brunch to me just means breakfast with booze. Maybe that goes for everyone?


Butternut Squash


Huitlacoche Tacos...

Karaoke at the Schnitzel Haus on Miami's Upper Eastside...

Jeff and Chef/Owner Alex Richter duet



Karaoke King Armando Saenz


Max channeling Patsy Cline


Wendy on the sax?

You've lusted after the goose http://dailycocaine.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas-eve-at-miamis-royal-bavarian.html , now come for the giant German beers and the Karaoke stylings of Armando Saenz (a dead ringer for Javier Bardem in 'No Country for Old Men') and Chef Alex Richter, who does a mean Marlene Dietrich. This was so much fun; and I was able to walk home! Come for the sausages, stay for the Patsy Cline. Mondays starting at 8PM.

http://www.schnitzelhausmiami.com/

Bro's(ia) before Ho's

Hey thought I'd do one of those cutesy Daily Candy/Urban Daddy/Thrillist headlines that make you wonder what they're writing about so you open the email? So did it work? I guess so. Thank you DC/UD/T! Had a bite at Brosia and the afternoon on the plaza there is fine-decent music, coupla decent appetizers (mezze platter was the best-$15) and 2 bottles of Echelon, a French Pinot Noir at $34/bottle (full name-Echelon Pinot Noir Vin de Pays de I'Ile de Beaute 2006). Not a great bargain, as it's about $13 at Total Wines; but the service was good and the weather was nice. Also had the fries which are crispy, and the BBQ chicken empanadas at 2 for $8-super tasty and a nice crunchy dough. Carb-loading also with the extra bread for $1.50. You know if they're gonna give you some spreads and cheeses that can only be eaten on some bread, they should probably give you more than three dinky slices with the platter. But like I said, I was carb-loading.

New Year's Eve at Casa Toscana or North One10?

Romantic table for two at Casa Toscana...

The Wine Grotto at Casa Toscana...

Tough call, as both are in walking distance from my house, more or less. Casa Toscana is traditionally Italian, homey and cozy, and North One10 is cutting-edge cozy and homey. But here are the menus. You decide...but you better hurry up as reservations are filling up...

CASA TOSCANA

http://www.casatoscanamiami.com/

786-262-6408

Appetizer:
Duck sausage lentils and wild greens baked in a parmesan basket 15.

Wild mushrooms and Taleggio cheese tart with truffle oil 14.

Crabmeat roasted vegetables and wild greens soup 12.

Goat cheese stuffed zucchini blossoms with citrus risotto cake 14.

Main:
“Maltagliati” uneven cut pasta with rosemary scented wild boar ragout and shaved pecorino cheese 21.

Open lasagna with shrimps in creamy lemon citrus sauce 23.Black Grouper and grilled Scallops with roasted baby bell peppers in yellow tomato bisque 32.

Risotto with chunky Lobster Prosecco and chives 28.

Grilled trio of Venison tenderloin beef tenderloin and Lamb fennel sausage with gorgonzola potato mash and caramelized baby golden beets 36.

Dessert:

Lavander scented panna cotta with almond spike 12.

Homemade blood orange semifredo with rosemary cookies 14.

Flourless chocolate cake with espresso mascarpone mousse 14.

Panettone pudding with vanilla ice cream 12.

Vin Santo and biscotti (a Tuscan tradition) 14.

NORTH ONE10

SPECIAL PARTY MENU AVAILABLE ALL EVENING
ALA CARTE MENU SERVED FROM 5:30-7:00 P.M.

TO SHARE
LAMB AND BLACK EYED PEA WONTON

WILD MUSHROOM CROSTINI

ROASTED OYSTERS, SPINACH AND BRIE

WHITE TRUFFLE GARLIC BREAD

TO BEGIN

GRILLED PRAWN PRETZEL DUAL MUSTARD SAUCES OR ANGUS BEEF TARTARE ROOT VEGETABLE CHIPS, DRIED TOMATOES, CRISPY TRUFFLE

SECOND COURSE

SALAD OF HARICOT VERT, TOMATO, MOZZARELLA,SMOKED DUCK & PARMESAN CRISP

OR

LOBSTER RISOTTO GRILLED FENNEL

ENTRÉES

GRILLED FILET MIGNON,OSSOBUCO CHOWDER, ASPARAGUS MONTE CRISTO

OR

ROASTED LAMB TWO WAYS, GRILLED DOUBLE CUT CHOP, BBQ LAMB SPARE RIBS, POMEGRANATE SAUCE, PUMPKIN PANCAKE

OR

PAN SEARED BLACK GROUPER CRAB PIEROGI, BASIL REDUCTION

DESSERT
FOR THE TABLE
A TASTING OF LAND OF GOSHEN MAPLE SYRUP BRULEE

CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING

BERRY SHORTBREAD

$60.00 PER PERSON, NON INCLUSIVE OF TAX AND GRATUITY

$75.00 PER PERSON WITH CHAMPAGNE TOAST

305-893-4211

11052 BISCAYNE BLVD.

North One10 Dining Room