Greetings from Sint Marteen/St. Martin (Caribbean)

You may (or may not) have noticed that I have been missing in action and that my blog has been post-less for several weeks. It is not because I have been lazy or not eating, quite the contrary- I have been eating tons and travelling lots. But most importantly it was my wedding or I guess its more accurate to say that it was the Count and my wedding followed by our honeymoon in St. Martin. Hosting over a 100 out of town guests in New Orleans pre and post wedding didn't leave much time to keep my blog up to date. But I am back with plenty of treats to write about. 

Below is a photo of a slice of heaven on earth: Anse Marcel beach in St. Martin. My food adventures will follow shortly. 

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