Today's visit to Miami

Had to kill some time while waiting for service on the car. The location of the repair shop is literally steps from the commuter rail station; this served as an incentive to take Tri-Rail to downtown Miami rather than go do some things in downtown FLL that were more important.

The rationale was that since I am still recovering from a fairly bad cold, it would 'not be fair' to take my cold germs to crowded Fort Lauderdale venues, and much better just to take the commuter train to downtown Miami.

All of this served as an excuse just to go out for lunch rather than do any work. Ergo, a lunch of fried fish (Snapper), black beans and rice at Cacique (no I don't know how to pronounce it) Restaurant at 100 W Flagler. ($11 including iced tea and refill). Verdict--definitely not as a good as the 'Las Vegas' restaurant in Plantation, which is part of a local chain of Mexican/Cuban themed restaurants. First off, how would I know if the fish I was served was really Snapper? It was a filet, didn't snap at me.....it was just a white fish, pan fried with some onions on top and a couple of lime wedges. As always, black beans and rice looks like baby couldn't help it, but despite what it looks like.......it really tastes good, is very filling, and it is not made out of wheat. (Because when I eat wheat products or sandwiches, I tend to get really tired.) The iced tea was served in a plastic throw-away cup, which is not what I like......and really you do expect at least a hard plastic cup when you're eating a sit-down meal. Probably they were thinking, 'look, if we give you a hard plastic cup then we'd have to wash and dry it, so then we might as well use glassware, and we're certainly not going to do that.'

Loudly, I spoke English to the waitress, just to make a point. To my surprise, she spoke to me in perfect Walter Cronkite English, even though she was obviously Hispanic. While waiting for my meal, I read the New York Times.

Bottom line: At Las Vegas Restaurant, the fish is much better. They claim their fish is Grouper (again, like how would I know), and it is served deep fried ,with a very light batter, very flaky, quite hot....... just off the frying pan. Their Black beans and rice, same as everywhere, but the fried plantains are much better. At Las Vegas you get a mega-giant iced tea glass, and in a hard plastic cup. With a huge chunk of lemon (lime slices for the fish) and lots of chopped raw onions for the fish too. Umm. Yes, if you ask for it they will give you ketchup or other sauce.

Also: Las Vegas restaurant is part of sort of a murderers' row of restaurants in Plantation: it is next to CJ's Italian Eatery, which is next to the Plantation Diner, next to something-something Thai, which abuts Sun Chinese ('real NY-style Chinese Food'). All of these places are good for delicious cheap eats. (Best Deli near OfficeMax is a better deli, though, IMHO.)

Лиза Вондрак