Bubble Tea at Honeydeux (New Orleans, USA)

Ever since I moved down to New Orleans I kept questioning why there were no bubble tea places around.  After all, it is a frozen drink and seemed like it would be a  great hit down here. Well, I am happy to say that finally one has opened on Magazine street. Honeydeux serves bubble tea in a range of real fruit flavors along with an assortment of asian shaved ice and wraps.  

What to look for in a good bubble tea? Do they use real fruits? If so you know its good. This place even uses real taro roots (the purple drink on the bottom) which is ever so delicious. Most places use taro powder rather than the real thing. Next, you should look for a perfect proportion of tapioca balls which are average in size and not overly hard or soft but chewy. My personal favorites are the taro, coconut and honeydeux. I'll have to go back and try their asian shaved ice which is served with fruits and a scoop of ice-cream on top finished off with condensed milk. Anything with condensed milk makes me happy (in fact I may or may not eat spoonfuls at times for dessert...mmmm condensed milk). Ok. Back to my review.... as you can tell by the pink lipstick below I tried the taro and loved it. 

The prices are a bit on the steeper end but I'm thinking its the new trend down here. More competition would bring down prices; unfortunately for us, there aren't that many bubble tea places around and so you have to pay the higher price. In return however you do get real fruits as opposed to powder. 

A tribute to the Chocolate Croissant at CC's Coffee House (New Orleans, USA)

I've had plenty of chocolate croissants in my days ranging from villages in France to Paris, Switzerland and all over Canada, but this one has carved a special place in my...stomach. It is so tasty that I just had to write a review about it. 

The croissant is flaky, tender, and crispy yet chewy. The best part is the creamy praline/chocolate mixture on the inside. And to top it off are the dark crispy chocolate sprinkles.  

CC's Community Coffee House is a local New Orleans Coffee shop started in 1995 and quickly expanded to all over Louisiana. You'll realize why its so great once you try their chocolate croissant and coffee. 

Front Porch Cafe (Miami, USA)

Front Porch Cafe is a popular breakfast/brunch joint in South Beach. I didn't know about it until my last trip when I was walking by to grab some Starbucks across the street and noticed the long line up. Any long line up is always a good sign to be since most restaurants on Ocean Drive have to pretty much beg and seduce you into their restaurants so when there is one that has a line up around the corner it can only mean one thing: good food. 

I forgot about my coffee and got in line. The line up was long but not outrageously long. Soon we were seated and forgot we waited at all. 

The reviews all raved about the bloody mary so naturally it was the first item I ordered. It was very strong and I only had a few sips. But for those who like their morning cocktails on the stronger side than you won't complain. It turned out that the drink was more expensive than our meal (oh South Beach!!!)

We ordered the granola pancakes and the Miga's. The granola pancakes and the green eggs seem to be favorites on the menu. I however am a big fan of migas (became addicted in Mexico) and ordered it as soon as I spotted it on the menu. 

The Migas consisted of 3 eggs scrambled with their homemade salsa, topped with pepper jack cheese and whole wheat corn chips drizzled with their homemade salsa and served with a side of hash browns or fresh fruits. The granola pancakes consisted of a blend of granola and whole wheat served with a side of syrup and a choice of hash browns or fresh fruits. 

The granola pancakes were light and healthy. I found the Migas was bland and lacked in flavor. Overall, the food was a bit over hyped. There are many lovely little spots in South Beach to eat. However, if you want a 'trendy' scene for brunch on the weekend then you will enjoy this place.  If you've been clubbing all night and want to continue the party then this is the place for you. The food and service were good but not anything to write home about. 

Puerto Sagua (Miami, USA)

The first thing I do on every trip to South Beach is make my way over to my favorite Cuban diner/restaurant located on Collins Avenue: the famous Puerto Sagua.

Peurto Sagua is nestled amongst all the glitz and glamour of South Beach. However, it is a very unassuming local restaurant with no fancy gimmicks.  You will find people from all walks of life: the Cuban handyman popping over on his quick lunch break, old-world Cubans, politicos, club-goers, other locals  and tourists who are fortunate enough to have discovered it in time.  

If you go during lunch/dinner rush, the place is packed and there is usually a small line up. On our last trip we went pretty early in the evening and were pleased to find the place half full (for once). 

First on the list is always an order of the avocado salad (if in season), the tomato/lettuce salad and fried totones (plantains) served with a side dip. 


For my main dish, I always go with the Ropa Veija. Ropa Veija which is Spanish for 'old clothes' is a  dish most popular in the Canary islands and the Caribbean. It is a shredded flank, brisket or skirt steak slow cooked in a tomato sauce base served with a side of rice, black beans and fried delicious plantains. 

Ropa Veija

The Count ordered the flank steak served with grilled onions, rice and fries. The portions are very generous and filling. The Count had limited comments about the steak- only stating that it was not the best he's ever had. For the price and portions however, we were both happy. My dish as always was delicioso. 

Once done with our meals, we always make our way over to the coffee bar on the left side of the restaurant to have our think Cuban coffee with a one of the Cuban sweets seen below. 

Hungry Nomad's Suggestions: 


1- Fried Plantains
2- Avocado Salad
3- Ropa Veija

Greetings from Miami

This week's posts are all about Miami. More specifically, South Beach. As a frequent Miami/Fort Lauderdale go'er, I've been asked about my favorite spots to dine, shop, have drinks and sleep in South Beach. The next few posts are therefore dedicated to South Beach and all of its glory.