Often times we day dream about a favorite dish we had at a particular city. Whether it be a handful of powdered sugar coated beignets from Café du Monde in the charming city of New Orleans or the rich deep dish pizza from Lou Malnati’s in Chicago.

Well look no further because Goldbely offers that opportunity to have some of the most well known establishments delivered to your front door. How cool is that? Goldbely offers a variety of treats ranging from the south, midwest, northeast and the west coast.

First time customers also get $10 off your purchase! So what are you waiting for? All you have to do is simply browse through the website, drool, purchase, and enjoy.

-Jenn
@AsianSenzation

Able to handle large groups, OTC’s menu has options for the pickiest eaters to the strictest vegetarians. There’s a little bit of everything from salads to grilled cheese and pork taquitos. If anything is obvious, they know how to do comfort food quite well. Popular dishes included the Nueske’s Bacon Mac & Cheese, the Truffle Fries, and Grilled Asparagus.

Have you been to OTC Restaurant? Check out what the gang thought below and please share your favorites!

Ayeh:
A unique “over the counter” restaurant within the heart of Brickell, OTC offers high class cuisine for a relatively low price. Having previously visited before, I wanted to try something different so I opted to order the Pan Seared Tuna sliders with a Shaved Apple and Brie salad. Personally, I dislike wasabi and should have asked for the sliders without it. Nevertheless, the pan-seared tuna was delicious and the perfect portion! In terms of my salad, had it consisted of less dressing (it was too salty for my taste and I definitely did not taste anything walnut), I probably would have enjoyed that much more than I really did – I mean, apple and brie?! It sounds like a perfect match for a healthy side. Either way, I still would go back – I still have to try their brunch!

Dee:
OTC Restaurant is a popular open kitchen eatery that serves up delicious eats in the Brickell neighborhood of Miami. I’m a huge fan of the “over the counter” style that the establishment is named for. It’s convenient and allows you to order however you want. The staff is very friendly. I shared a meal with Mark and my favorite was the prosciutto and burrata. It’s such a tasty combo. Overall, everything we had was pretty tasty and I have to admit that the portions were more than expected. Perfect for a date or catching up with your BFF! I’ll definitely be back to try their brunch menu.

a) Asparagus Flan // Escopazzo
When I first saw this appetizer on the menu, I was definitely intrigued and I didn’t know what to expect. As soon as I bite into it, it felt like nirvana. WOW! This dish has shitake mushrooms that is infused with white truffle oil. Another great thing about this South Beach gem is that it is an organic Italian restaurant.

b) Amaretto & Sweet Milk Gelato Milkshake // Vaniglia e Cioccolato
This is an Italian family owned business that sells the best gelato in South Florida and their gelatos are freshly made on site.  Depending on my mood, I usually mix up my gelatos with two different flavors. Their personal sized tiramisu’s are made weekly but you have to get them right away because they sell out quick.

c) Duck Duck Quail Slider // Haven
This South Beach gastro lounge sells organic small plates created by Executive Chef Todd Erickson, including the juicy duck burger with foie gras butter and it is topped with a fried quail egg. Haven is also visually stimulating with the digital walls constantly changing pictures depending on the theme of the night. They will soon be opening a gourmet taco shop a few doors down called Hua Hua’s Taqueria and their tacos are featured every Tuesday during Haven’s happy hour from 6pm-8pm.

d) Dr. Pepper Brisket Sandwich // The Rolling Stove
I’m a food truck fan and this tender brisket sandwich is freaking awesome. I’m not a big fan of Dr. Pepper but its unique flavor works really well with this sandwich. Burgerbeast recommended this mouthwatery sandwich to me and ever since then, I’ve been hooked. Nom nom nom!

-Jenn
@AsianSenzation 

I stumbled upon this company, Fantasy Brewmasters, while at the Sprung Spring Beer Festival . I was amazed at not just the awesome ale they had but also their fascination with fantasy, stories, art and blending the whole thing together. I myself being a story writer, majoring in game design and of course a beer lover found myself super excited that all of my passions were rolled into one product. Burdisson’s Dwarven Ale has a fictional story about how it was brewed by the dwarfs and with my over active imagination, I really started to nerd out. I wanted to know more about Fantasy Brewmasters and got in contact with Chris Guerra the founder and asked him a few questions.

For Chris, it started when he was young reading Tolkien and playing the Legend of Zelda. Later he started playing World Of Warcraft which is a heavily fantasy themed world. In the game there are different types brews your characters could buy or create. He was joking with his buddies that he would love to make the named beers in the game in real life. Later Chris Guerra took a business course and then the idea popped back into his head about making the fantasy beers a reality.

Chris being a homebrewer had a good knowledge of beer and it’s creation, but he wanted to find the recipe that would make a really great beer. To do this, Chris held a competition open to anyone who was a capable brewer. After tasting different recipes, Keith Curtachio had the winning one. Also with his love of fantasy, Chris wanted art work and a story for his themed beer. He also held various competitions to find the right candidates to bring his work to life. Now with a full team and a home base here in Naples, Florida he could now look to the future.

Right now Burdisson’s Dwarven Ale is the sole beer that is available from Fantasy Brewmasters. They are looking to expand their line, and hopefully by the end of the year we could see a few new brews. With Burdisson’s being an English Brown Ale, Chris is looking for more lighter beer, possibly an IPA.

I would strongly recommend you give Fantasy Brewmaster’s a try. I’m sure once you try it, you will be hooked like I was and will keenly keep an eye out for their next installment. Whatever their next beer is, I will certainly be excited. The Burdisson dwarf’s say, “We Make Mighty Good Ale!” and I would I have to say, “Aye I agree with that!”

-Graham
@GTS108

a) California Salad // Melting Pot
The California salad is one of my favorite salads! This is served with mixed greens, diced tomatoes, pecans, and Gorgonzola cheese with raspberry black walnut vinaigrette on the side. The dressing is excellent.

b) The Prohibition Burger // Tap 42 Bar and Kitchen
This juicy burger was cooked to my request, medium. The Prohibition is topped with cheddar cheese, apple wood bacon, their special house sauce on a brioche bun, and comes with a side of fries and and a sliced pickle. It’s so good, it should be illegal, hence the name Prohibition.

c) Beef Brisket Ramen // Momi Ramen
Where is the best ramen in South Florida? Momi Ramen located in the heart of Brickell, where the noodles are made fresh daily. The braised beef brisket was very tender, and served with green onions. Sadly, the beef brisket ramen does not come with a hanjuku egg, but you can request it. And beware, this place is a cash only establishment.

d) Cornbread // Gigi
Some of the best cornbread in town. The cornbread is so moist, it falls apart. By itself, the cornbread is great, but with the honey bacon butter that comes with it makes this cornbread phenomenal! And yes, you did read that right, honey bacon butter.

-Mo
@mastamo26

Translated as the “the path to good food”, Shokudo offers a relaxing dining experience with the highest quality food. It is easy to fall in love with the culinary concept of Asian fusion at Shokudo. Whether you are in the mood for Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, or Korean you will surely find the perfect dish the will suite your craving. The Manila Ceviche is a great appetizer to start with. It is a Filipino inspired dish with white fish, mango, red onion, jalapeno, calamansi, and coconut milk served ceviche style with taro chips. This is not your typical Peruvian ceviche, as the creamy coconut milk balances the tart from the calamansi juice and the spice from the jalapeno. It is refreshing, light, and delicious.

After eating one of their delicious homemade dumplings, you will understand why I enjoy having Sunday Brunch at Shokudo. The Momo Dumplings are, by far, my favorite item on the menu. The curry potato dumpling and creamy curry sauce is savory and very appetizing. The dumplings are truly one-of-a-kind. The quality of the dumplings are like nothing I’ve ever had before; with the different dumplings filled with Foie Gras and cranberry or the Kabocha Dumpling filled with a sweet smokey squash. It’s a no brainer why Chef Armando gets the credit of being an excellent top executive chef.

Shokudo also offers a wide variety of noodle dishes – from Pad Thai to Ramen to Mi Xao Don. Their JjiamPong Korean Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup is definitely worth mentioning. The spicy Korean pepper broth is probably one of the best broths I’ve ever had. It has the perfect amount of spices without it being overly spicy. I could have been satisfied by the spicy broth alone; the mussels, shrimp, calamari, tender beef chucks, and wheat noodles submerged in the Korean hot pepper broth was absolute perfection. I doubt there’s a Korean spicy soup that compares to the JjiamPong, it is a true masterpiece of Chef Armando and a MUST HAVE at Shokudo!

Make sure you save room for dessert, because you will regret skipping this part of your meal. If you are looking for something cool and refreshing, I recommend the Halo Halo – a Filipino delicacy. It is a mix of jack fruit, sweet red bean, coconut, sweet plantain, jelly, and mango mocha ice cream all served on top of shaved ice and sweet milk. It is perfect for a hot sunny day in Miami, especially if you are dining outside in the beautiful bamboo garden. My favorite dessert at Shokudo is the Coconut Haupia Cake, no contest! Imagine coconut cake filled with haupia pudding topped with cream and coconut flakes. It is similar to the consistency of the Cuban Tres Leches. If you are a coconut lover like me, you will appreciate this dessert and savor every bite.

You will find a lot of amazing different dishes at Shokudo, especially all the Filipino inspired dishes. (Definitely a plus, especially since a Filipino restaurant is a rare find in South Florida.)

I’ve visited Shokudo 4 times in the last month because I love it so much; and every time I am welcomed with warm smiles and excellent service. I am looking forward to see what else Chef Armando has up his sleeve. Shokudo continues to exceed my expectations and sets the bar high for the rest of the Asian bistros in Miami. I recommend Shokudo to anyone that finds appreciation in Asian cuisine and is looking for something new.  You will not be disappointed. Visit Chef Armando and try it for yourself!

Shokudo
4740 NE 2nd Ave
Miami, FL 33137
@ShokudoMiami // +Facebook

Always on the hunt for authentic Asian cuisine, I stumbled upon this Korean restaurant located in Weston, FL. Myung Ga Tofu and Barbecue is an authentic Korean restaurant serving up the west side of Broward county. Personally, it’s rather difficult to find authentically good restaurants on this side of town, so this restaurant is a breath of fresh air being surrounded by the major chain restaurants.

Walking in, the first thing you should notice is the decor: walls lined with wood in symmetrical patterns and decorated with pails filled with wooden spoons and forks as the servers appear to be entering a house giving the restaurant an almost outdoor – but really indoor – feel (maybe you just have to see if for yourself).

They serve up the traditional dishes sans self-cooking which saves you a day of walking around smelling of Korean barbecue. Upon sitting, you’re greeted with hot tea that has hints of rice (YUM!). My personal favorites are the Bulgogi and Kalbi family-style dishes which comes with rice and all the Korean side dishes. Recently I’ve tried their Seafood Tofu Soup (easily became my favorite dish on the menu) which consisted of chunks of tofu, shrimp, oysters, and scallops with a raw egg that you can add to enhance the flavor.

Although some prices may seem on the high side, take into account that portions are meant to serve a group of people, not just for one! It’s always easy to pick the normal barbecue dishes, but take a good look into their menu. They serve a wide variety that can easily satisfy any craving you may have. So stop on by if you’re ever in the Weston area, I promise it won’t disappoint!

-Ayeh
@_ayeeeh

Myung Ga Tofu and Barbecue
1944 Weston Rd
Weston, FL 33326

I take photos of my food because it’s a part of our every day lives. It’s part of our story – from what we ate on our trips to the flavor of cake you chose for your wedding to where you ate on your first date. We often base our lives around food and celebrate our birthdays, have proposals, engagements, reunions and many more in restaurants. Barbeques, Thanksgiving, Easter brunch, Christmas dinner, Valentine’s Day chocolate, Girl Scout cookie season, Halloween candy = food, food, food.

So I thought for this post, I’d embrace my food loving photography self and showcase some of the foodie pics I’ve collected through the years – enjoy!

-Lotus
@lotus_lucien

a) Green Thai Chicken Curry // AZN Azian Cuisine
This was my first time eating at AZN Azian Cuisine, an Asian fusion cuisine restaurant. Right from the start, I saw the beautiful words Green Thai Curry carved into the menu and I knew I had the get that. First and foremost, the portion size of the Green Thai Curry was huge with a nice helping of rice on the side. The chicken was tender and the green curry really had infused itself in the meat. The sauce was not too watery, (which can happen sometimes with Green Thai Curry) and there was a great blend of coconut milk and curry so either ingredient didn’t overpower the other. This really was a great dish that I thoroughly enjoyed eating.

b) Custom Made Burger (I’ll call it the Graham Burger) // The Counter
I heard great things about The Counter and as always I was very eager to try a new burger place. The menu had many different burger choices but I opted to pick the Create Your Own Burger. So I started with a 2/3 lbs pounds burger. Why not?  1/3 lbs sounds too small! Next I picked the Danish blue cheese, mushrooms, horseradish mayo and for the burger to be cooked medium. When the “Graham Burger” arrived it was presented very elegantly on the plate. The first bite was awesome, the meat was juicy, cooked medium, mushrooms and blue cheese flavors exploding in my mouth. After a second, the horseradish mayo kicked in too which I always thinks compliments beef so well.  The burger on a whole was excellent but next time I will pick another cheese. Being a superb blue cheese, it had just too much gusto that overpowered the other flavors.

c) Stuffed Pizza // Aurelio’s Pizza
I had heard about this great dish called the Stuffed Pizza from Aurelio’s Pizza, so naturally I had to try it. What’s the best way to describe this dish? A slab of wonderful cheesy, pizza dough, tomato sauce goodness. This pizza is literally stuffed with mozzarella cheese to the point of bursting and to top it off a lot of tomato sauce sits on the top of the pie. I can eat a lot of pizza slices and let me tell you I had two slices and was stuffed also. If your craving massive amounts of cheese, this is the pizza pie for you!

d) Asian All You Can Eat Buffet // Shinju
This restaurant is fantastic! Super clean and modern, Shinju offers a massive selection of sushi, crab, cooked foods, hibachi, soups and desserts. First, I always pile my plate with the great tasting sushi that’s always fresh. Then a round of crab legs and claws followed by some shrimp and steak cooked on the hibachi grill. Excellent food, great place!

-Graham
@GTS108

Once in a while, I have cravings for something sweet. As I was aimlessly wandering the bakery section at Whole Foods, I stumbled upon this scrumptious dessert from Lacey’s: Macadamia and Milk Chocolate cookies.

A winner of the 2009 sofi gold award, this cookie is made up of two crunchy (and kind-of sticky) toffee wafers with a smooth chocolate filling of your choice. I personally love anything with the words “macadamia nut” and “milk chocolate” put together. This award-winning brand of sweets comes in many different flavors from dark chocolate to chocolate almond. Now if you’re on a diet, I wouldn’t recommend this for you, but I believe one cookie is worth that mile you have to run.

Make sure to stop by the bakery section of Whole Foods and pick up this delightful cookie. Just don’t over-indulge!

-Ayeh
@_ayeeeh