Pollo Sudado

It's a Colombian thing - pollo sudado. Literally translated, it means sweaty chicken. But the reality is, it's the kind of peasant, cook what you have, eat it every week and put it all in one pot kind of meal that the foundation of food cultures are built upon. Starch, protein broth. Cook it until it thickens, the meat falls off the bone and serve it with rice.

It's not fancy and it doesn't pretend to be. It's traditional Colombian food and it reminds my wife of her childhood every time she smells it. I cook it for her. I cook it for my family. I cook it for us. It's become part of our Brickell Life. Everyone has their own version of it in Colombia, but here is ours with the ingredients we're able to source in Miami.

Pollo Sudado
4 Servings

Ingredients
8 skinless chicken thighs
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 diced large white onion
2 minced garlic cloves
3 chopped medium tomatoes / skin removed
2 tablespoons of tomato paste
3 cups of chicken stock
1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper
2 large peeled idaho potatoes diced into 3-4 inch cubes
1/4 cup mixed chopped cilantro and flat leaf parsley
2 bay leaves
1/4 teaspoon cumin powder

Directions
1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat and saute the onion and garlic until they are translucent - about 5-7 minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes, salt, pepper, and tomato paste and let it cook down, stirring often until it thickens - about 10-12 minutes.

2. Add the chicken, bay leaves and cumin and toss to coat with tomato mixture. Add chicken stock, bring to a boil, reduce to simmer, and cover and cook for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Add the potatoes, cover and cook for another 30 minutes or until the potatoes are tender.

4. With the back of a spoon, smash a quarter of the potatoes against the side of the pot and mix into the broth until it thickens.

5. Serve over white rice and sprinkle with chopped cilantro and flat leaf parsley mixture.

Taste of Brickell Food & Wine Festival - 1 Month Away

The Taste of Brickell Food & Wine Festival will take place March 24 & 25, 2012 from noon-10pm @ 1201 Brickell Bay Dr. Should be good times just like last year and even better in year two. Lots of great restaurants participating. Great chance to come out, meet your neighbors and support the local community. Parking is limited but there are garages around the neighborhood. 


But it's Brickell so get out of your car, use Metrorail/Metromover or walk over. We live in Brickell for a reason and it's one of the few communities in South Florida where walking is encouraged and easy. There will also be a Kid's Zone, so parents bring the children and make a day of it. Encourage them to eat, play and try new things.


Tickets:
$5.00 - General Admission
$100 - VIP 1-Day Pass
$175 - VIP 2-Day Pass
$1 - Food/Drink tickets sold on site for use towards eating and drinking


To find out more about the The Taste of Brickell Food & Wine Festival, participating restaurants, or to purchase tickets , click on the link above. Brickell Life will be there again. Let me know if you plan to attend and we'll nosh and toast a glass to living in the best neighborhood and one of the best cities in the world. 

Brickell Life Balcony Garden

The balcony garden continues to grow. We've been harvesting tomatoes these past few weeks and cooking with our parsley, oregano, basil and mint. Believe some of the carrots are ready to be pulled out of the ground in the next week or two also. Organic and sustainable more than 100 feet up in the air off Brickell.

Good Morning Key Biscayne

Shot from Brickell Bay Drive using Pano app on my iPhone 4

No Wake Zone

Strawberry Fields Forever

It's that time of the year again at Brickell Life. Fresh fruit and veggies are all over South Florida if you just take some time to look for them. Make sure you check out one of our many farmers markets over the weekends or take part in a South Florida time-honored tradition of picking strawberries fresh from the field down in the Redlands or Homestead. While U-Pick fields used to dot the South Florida landscape from Kendall Drive south, there are fewer and fewer options these days.

A couple to consider when venturing out for berries are Knaus Berry Farms, home to those famous cinnamon buns, and another field at the corner of Krome and SW 288th Street. The berries are ripe, plump and juicy-red this time of the year. Get out, get your hands dirty and you'll be rewarded with some of the best berries in the world straight from our local fields.

If you pick a bunch, you'll be happy to know that the berries freeze very well. Just make sure you wash and clean them before storing in your freezer. Then all you have to do is dump them into a blender, add a little yogurt or milk and you've got an instant smoothie. Or let them thaw and add them to Greek yogurt like we do for breakfast and hit them with some local organic orange blossom honey.

Pinecrest Gardens Farmer's Market

Brickell Life made our first trip of the season over to the Pinecrest Gardens Farmer's Market yesterday and things were in full swing. Of course our first stop is always Bee Heaven Farm to visit and buy our week's worth of produce and fruits from Farmer Margie and her crew. They really are the best in the business. Local, sustainable, organic and fresh from her farm just a ways down the road in the Redlands. Managed to pick up some beets, carambola, callaloo, tangerines, pumelos, tomatoes, lettuce and some lychee honey. Go visit Farmer Margie and her team under the Redlands Organic tent right at the entrance to the market next Sunday and say hello from me. You can't go wrong. Check Bee Heaven Farm out on Facebook and Twitter also.

Some other familiar vendors are still there and some new ones as well including stalls where you can pick up great local jams and chutneys; Florida grass fed beef; local seafood; breads & pastries; empanadas; kettle corn; conch fritters; wood fired pizzas; gyros and Greek salads; fruits & veggies; flowers; and so much more.

The Pinecrest Garden's Farmers Market is open on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and is located in the parking lot under the Banyan trees of the old Parrot Jungle at 11000 Red Road, Pinecrest, Florida 33156. If you want a taste of what has been written about Pinecrest Gardens Farmer's Market here at Brickell Life, don't hesitate to search the blog or click here.

Sakaya Kitchen Downtown

Find the pig - it will light the way. Much to my delight, Chef Richard Hales is methodically expanding his Sakaya Kitchen empire south from Midtown and into downtown Miami with his second restaurant at 125 SE 3rd Avenue. A lot has been said about Sakaya Kitchen here at Brickell Life and my obsession with Richard's creative funked up mix of Korean food meets classical French training in bowl of uniquely distinctive and serious flavor - and the downtown location delivers the goods.

"NO Frills just god f'n Food" is Sakaya Kitchen's pseudo mission and smarter words could not ring truer. Fast, fresh, local, organic and sustainable all combine into an eclectic mix of flavors where a majority of the chalkboard menu's components are made from scratch in-house. Sure you may order at the counter, but they are not f'ing around here.

Highlights for me at both downtown and midtown include fluffy pork buns stuffed with 8-hr roasted pork, cuke pickles and Ssamjang; bulgogi anything from lettuce wraps to angus beef ssam and a burger that gets topped with pork belly, cheese, tots, Ssamjang and spicy mayo. Also don't forget to check out the cracklin' duck herb sandwich with black plum and cilantro; honey orange ribs; kimchi; addictive spicy pork croquetas; Korean fried chicken wings; and ginger brussel sprouts that will make you a believer. They are also brewing locally roasted and jamming Panther Coffee.

And just like its Midtown counterpart, the downtown location also plays great tunes. On any given day or night, you might hear old school Sonic Youth or Mudhoney playing over the loudspeakers followed up by Louis Armstrong and then an Elvis tune. The food is as eclectic as the music and masterful in its own right.

Sakaya Kitchen's new downtown location is open Monday - Friday from 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Hit them up at 305-371-2511 or follow them on Twitter at @sakayakitchen or on Facebook. Oh, and don't forget to check out their food trucks Dim Ssam a GoGo and the Baketress Dessert Truck.

Go visit. Say hello from me and break bread with Richard and his crew. They are doing things right.

Brickell Life Balcony Garden

The garden is starting to really take shape. Tomato plants are beginning to fruit and so is the eggplant. Carrots have taken root and the herbs and lettuce are doing nicely. Purple and sweet basil have already made it into many dishes in the Brickell Life test kitchen along with our oregano and flat leaf parsley.

We're learning as we go, but proving that you can grow sustainable and organic produce more than 100 feet in the air on a balcony. It just takes some planning and dedication. We're looking forward to the first harvest in a few weeks and some fun cooking with our own veggies in the kitchen.

We'll keep you posted from time to time with progress.

Brickell Bridge Operator

Brickell Bridge operator - one day you and I will meet in an ultimate morning commute battle of good versus evil and I, good, shall prevail........ Stop opening that thing at 8:30 in the morning!

The Miami River Rapids

Long before overloaded freighters bound for the Caribbean, lobstermen, homeless dudes, toxic waste, ship yards and the boundless cast of characters that currently make up the Miami River - it was actually a beautifully flowing body of water vital to the Calusa, Tequesta, Seminole and early settlers of the region.

It was the lifeblood to so many for so long and in a sense, it still is, but just in a very different form than what Mary Brickell and early native tribes might remember. In fact, the Miami River actually had rapids in it at one point. Over the centuries of flow out of the Glades and Lake Okeechobee, the mighty river had worn its way through the limestone basin at the edge of the Everglades falling about 10 feet over a distance of several hundred yards. The Miami River Rapids as they were come to be known were located around present day SW 27th Avenue. In was actually a very popular picnic spot for early Miamians and has been described as a place of incredible beauty.

Unfortunately, as in the case with a lot of Miami, the rapids were dynamited in the early 20th century (1908) in the name of progress. But it's all part of what makes up our Brickell Life now. There are not many images of the original rapids but managed to find this one through a Google image search.

Brickell Life Balcony Garden

The Brickell Life Balcony Garden is starting to take shape. While we'll continue to make our treks over to the Pinecrest Gardens Farmers Market on Sundays to visit and buy from Bee Heaven Farm and Farmer Margie, we decided this year to see how and what we could grow in a small space on our balcony. We're taking the idea of local and sustainable about 100 feet up in the air off Biscayne Bay in a 8x4 foot space.

After researching some different growing mediums and methods, we settled on an organic container garden called Earth Box. It's this great maintenance-free growing system that controls soil conditions and eliminates guesswork while using less fertilizer and water. So far, its proved to be an ideal solution for an urban gardner with limited space.

In addition to the Earth Boxes, we have several potted plants and herbs growing as well. As of today, we've got seven heirloom tomato plants, romaine lettuce, japanese eggplant, carrots, two types of basil, oregano and flat leaf parsley.

Can't wait for the first harvest of the season and to get into the Brickell Life Test Kitchen with some ingredients that I pick just seconds earlier outside the kitchen sliding glass door. We'll keep you posted with updates from time to time on how we're doing.

Brickell Circa 1900

A little over a 100 years ago, Miami was a mosquito infested swampland. The below picture (circa 1900) looks south on to the mouth of the Miami River, Biscayne Bay and Mary Brickell's home and trading post. Times have certainly changed...

Miami - You Are Growing Up

shot with iPhone 4 and Pano app from 50th floor of Infinity building

Random Views from Brickell Life

Been in town, traveling and generally lost in space the last few weeks. Happy the holidays are approaching and looking forward to some down time with the family and friends. A lot to be thankful for and celebrate. Here's a glimpse into what we've been up to at Brickell Life lately...

My First Glimpse of Chicago

I've been fortunate in my life to have traveled across the globe. Turkey, China, Mexico, Colombia, France, Italy, Belgium, Canada, Nicaragua, Belize and England to name a few. I've even crisscrossed the United States and seen some incredible cities in our own country such as New York, San Francisco, Denver, Asheville, Atlanta, Dallas, Phoenix, Albuquerque, Minneapolis and Kansas City, among many others.

But a city that has always eluded me except for airport layovers was Chicago. Thankfully no more. What an incredible town - Lake Shore Drive, famed architecture, amazing food on every corner, a place where the spirit of invention still prevails, Wrigley Field, a real commitment to bar culture, Chicago dogs from The Wiener's Circle, an Ahogada torta from Rick Bayless' XOCO, a bag of Chicago mix from Garrett's Popcorn, and just damn pleasant midwestern values.

Chicago - you have new fan. My only regret is that I didn't get to spend a little more time. A day and a half on business was just not enough. I will be back.

What's for Dinner

Stir fried rice noodles with basil/lemon/garlic chicken thighs, edamame, carrots, tofu and shallots. Served with Castell de Remei - Blanc Panell, a Catalan mix of Sauvignon Blanc and Macabeo with hints of green apple, peach, pear. Bright, fun and easy going Sunday night Brickell Life dinner with the family.

The Miami Circle "Brickell Lunch Break Music Series"

Every once in a while I get emailed a event listing to promote here on Brickell Life. I'm usually slow to write about them, even though I should. After all, I've made my career in the communications and public relations industry. Chalk it up to indifference or just plain laziness, but it's my blog and I'll do with it what I please. With that said, I received a note about an upcoming event, which actually caught my eye. Details are below. Seems like a cool gig with some networking and local food trucks, of which of course I'm an avid supporter.

What: Miami Circle Brickell Lunch Break Music Series. Lunch with your friends and co-workers where the river meets the bay. It will feature music from the Cezar Santana Brazilian Jazz Trio. You can bring your own lunch or grab a bite from one of the five food trucks scheduled to be on-site. No charge. Open to the public.

When: Thursday, November 10th from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Where: The Miami Circle. 401 Brickell Avenue, Miami, FL 33131

Roasted Potatoes & Whole Carrots

Roasting veggies is about one of the easiest things you can do. They're just delicious, full of vitamins and nutrients, look great on the plate and make just plain good eats. Potatoes are one of the easiest things to roast, as well as carrots, which we detail at Brickell Life below, but just about any veggie tastes great when fired up in the oven. Just get in the kitchen and cook. You'll be better off for it, as will your family and friends.


Roasted Fingerling Potatoes and Whole Carrots
Serves: Approximately 4
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Prep: 10 minutes

Ingredients:
2 pounds fingerling potatoes (we used purple spuds this time, but any variety will do)
1 bunch whole carrots
4 tablespoons olive oil
Kosher salt and pepper
Chopped flat leaf parsley for garnish

What to do:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2. Wash and clean potatoes/carrots under cold running water
3. Slice potatoes in half length-wise and put into large bowl
4. Drizzle potatoes w/ 2 tablespoons olive oil, sprinkle generously w/ salt-pepper, toss to coat
5. Lay potatoes out in a roasting pan, skillet or sheet pan
6. Toss carrots w/ remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil, sprinkle generously w/ salt-pepper, toss to coat
7. Add carrots to same potato roasting pan if there's room, otherwise in a separate pan
8. Roast in the oven for 45 minutes until golden and crispy on the outside, but tender and cooked thru
9. During last 5 minutes of cooking, finely chop about 1/4 cup of flat leaf parsley leaves
10. Toss roasted potatoes and carrots w/ parsley when cooked, plate and serve

I Run

Am I a runner? I'm not sure I would call myself that. But I realized something this morning when I walked out into the dense summer air just before the sun had broken the horizon - since I began tracking my workouts exactly one year ago on my Nike+GPS app on my iPhone, I've run 553.4 miles.

Does that make me a runner? Maybe, I don't know. I do know that I've changed over the past year, both physically and mentally. First of all, I've dropped more than 40 pounds and have kept it off. That certainly feels great. But more importantly, I've started to find myself again. Running has had that strange effect on me. The reality is that it's only you, the pavement and how far you're willing to push yourself. That gives you a lot of time to think and appreciate what you have. I've never really been a "me-time" kind of guy, but I've grown to appreciate that hour or two each day at 6:00 a.m. with my thoughts rattling around my brain.

Running has also allowed me to truly appreciate the world around me. I've seen some incredible things and run in some amazing places. I've seen the sun rise over the Washington Monument while jogging the National Mall and jackrabbits scurrying across cactus lined trails outside of Phoenix. I've seen pods of dolphins swimming alongside me in Biscayne Bay and manatees and their calves surfacing for air along the seawall on Brickell Key. I've run on the beaches of Sanibel Island and climbed the Rickenbacker Causeway countless times on my way to Key Biscayne.

Am I runner? I don't think so. I do it because I have to. I do it for my wife and my three year old son. I do it for me. I do it because it's become part of my Brickell Life.

Labor Day Weekend

A long weekend in the middle of summer - that's a perfect excuse to get out and do what we do best in South Florida. That means eating great food, drinking perfect wines, spending time out on the boat in Biscayne Bay, swimming in the ocean and enjoying good times with friends and family. Life is good, you just need to remember to step out and enjoy it.

Sunday Mornings

Sunday mornings are for breakfast, right? And not a cup of coffee and a donut from Dunkin' kind of breakfast. Well, it's appropriate if you're going fishing or playing golf on a Sunday morning, but around here at Brickell Life - Sundays are for hanging with the family, opening the windows, letting the salt breeze blow in off Biscayne Bay and listening to a little Ella Fitzgerald while easing into the day. Check out what we made on Sunday...

lamb sausage, roma tomato, red onion and chopped spinach scramble with toasted baguette

Traffic I-95

Daybreak Over Port of Miami

While Brickell Life has been quiet over the last several weeks - I blame it on the summer doldrums - we've still been out and about. Below is series of sunrise pics shot from Brickell Key looking east towards the Port of Miami, Fisher Island and Virginia Key. Sure it's hot and sticky, but nothing beats a morning run dripped in sweat during the summer. Reminds you that you're a true Floridian - born and bread in Miami - and everything good and bad that comes with it.

Brickell Key Sunrise