The Best Thing I Ate This Week: Halloumi Baklava, Healthy Arepas and a Jalapeno Cojita Gem Lettuce Salad at Michael's
It's been a good week for cheese
Halloumi Baklava at Aviv
Most places just set halloumi on fire and call it a day. You know the drill — flambéed cheese, maybe some lemon, all very predictable. Aviv, inside the 1 Hotel South Beach, said "nah" and turned it into this sweet-savory appetizer that actually makes sense. Golden blocks of halloumi get drizzled with pomegranate molasses and topped with crushed pistachios, creating this perfect starter that hits all the right notes. The cheese stays creamy and just salty enough while that tart-sweet sauce keeps everything balanced. It's the kind of dish that makes you rethink what halloumi can actually do beyond the usual table-side theatrics. — OF
@aviv.southbeach // 2341 Collins Avenue, South Beach
Arepa Catira at Dale Arepa Bar and Healthy Bistro
You know how when you go skiing, that beef and vegetable soup you have at the lodge is basically a Michelin-starred meal? Somehow the ski-themed arepa bar on Coral Way is duplicating this experience, minus the 20,000 vertical feet of skiing. The shredded, seasoned chicken in this arepa is light and delicious, depending more in brilliant blend of spice spices than grease for its flavor. Ditto for the baked arepa, which still holds flavor, and for smooth gouda cheese that doesn’t overpower the meat. It was a pleasant surprise I found while wandering the banyan trees on my way back from The Brightside, and why I made this place my hidden gem of the week.
@dale_arepa_bar_miami // 1711 Coral Way, Miami
Gem Lettuce Salad at Michaels Genuine
Genuinely - this dish was proof that something so fresh and so simple can be outstanding. A concoction that I’m still dreaming of is loaded with corn, shaved red onion, cilantro, and because this post is cheese-centric: a cotija charred jalapeňo dressing! Every bite better than the next, and - hello, it’s also gluten free! - EMN
@michaelsgenuine // 130 NE 40th St, Miami Design District