The Best Thing I Ate This Week: Pebellon & Broken Eggs
Venezuelan staples and hangover cures are highlights on the week
Pebellon at Arcano
I happened into Arcano during their weekly Noches de Raices, which while I’m not so good with Spanish I’m pretty sure translates to “Night of Instant Hearing Loss.” To say the live music inside was loud would be like saying the Panthers had a little kickback to celebrate the Stanley Cup. Nonetheless, the Pebellon saved the day, a Venezuelan staple dish that’s in the same family of ropa vieja. The South American adaptation is a little spicier, leaning more into chilis, tomatoes, and creole-style flavors than the pepper-ish Cuban take. With succulent shredded beef, flaky white rice, and rich black beans, the melded flavors almost made me forget I was about to rupture an eardrum. I’ll definitely be back to Arcano for this dish, but I’ll be calling first to find out when the band takes a break. -MM
@arcanomiami // 259 Giralda Ave., Coral Gables
Broken Eggs from Mayfair Grill
The broken eggs at Mayfair Grill's new brunch menu by fan-favorite chef Giorgio Rapicavoli hit every note you want when you're nursing a “Sunday situation” (no judgement here). Picture fried eggs draped over crispy shoestring fries, topped with truffled crème fraiche and ribbons of Iberico ham. It's listed as a main but we treated it like the world's most indulgent shared appetizer, which turned out to be the right move. The combination of runny yolk mixing with truffle cream and salty ham created the kind of rich, savory mess that makes you forget you're an adult with responsibilities. Between this dish and $6 mimosas, it's the kind of brunch that does the heavy lifting when you need food to fix what last night broke.
@mayfairgrill // 300 Florida Ave., Coconut Grove