The Best Thing I Ate This Week: Plantain Rolls & Breakfast Empanadas

A perfect BEC empanada at Amara and a plantain roll that tastes like dessert at Hereford Grill

BEC Empanada at Amara at Paraiso

Amara’s Sunday brunch is a full-on feast, but if you’re trying to play favorites, the BEC empanada is the one to beat. Stuffed with bacon, egg, and cheese, it’s everything you want from a breakfast sandwich—just tucked into a golden, flaky shell. No sogginess, no skimping, just perfectly balanced bites that hit salty, creamy, crispy all at once. In a city overflowing with mediocre empanadas, this one stands out for actually getting both the crust and the filling right. —OF

@amaraatparaiso // 3101 NE Seventh Ave., Miami

Sweet Plantain Roll at Hereford Grill

Ok, so this might not be the prettiest dish you’ve ever seen, so much so I didn’t even take a picture of it. It’s really more of a plantain log than anything resembling a roll. But what it lacks in Instagram appeal it more than makes up for in flavor, with more of a banana bread vibe than you’d expect from something on an appetizer menu. If you like sweet stuff to start your meal, this is your go-to before delving into Hereford Grill’s massive menu of steaks. If not, order it for dessert, with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream. —MM

@herefordmiami // 783 NW 42nd Ave., Flagami