Plant Food + Wine may just be the best vegan (and predominantly raw) restaurant at which I have ever dined. I have a few favorites, like Candle 79 and Blossom, but this was just so far above par.
CHEESE PLATE
Nestled in a rather off-the-beaten-path location in Miami, this was just a wonderful surprise from start to finish. A hidden but beautiful outdoor dining courtyard with a reflecting pool and tangled mango trees, and a spacious indoor, modern space, this restaurant had me at hello.The menu was so robust and creative, that there was no way for my friend and I to easily come to any conclusions about what to order. Thankfully, the waitstaff was both friendly and knowledgeable so we had help navigating through some choices. My photos in this blog will tell the story better than my descriptions for sure.
THAI LETTUCE WRAPS
KIMCHI DUMPLINGS
We were told the cheese plate was a must: white truffle, smoked cheddar and mixed peppercorn, all made from a cashew base, served with pickled vegetables and sunflower seed crackers, so we ordered one of those. My friend, who is Korean, wanted the kimchi dumplings in a cilantro coconut wrapper with ginger foam. I don't like kimchi but when the dish arrived at the table, it was too tantalizing not to try. They were phenomenal!
SUNFLOWER CAESAR SALAD
STRAWBERRY HIBISCUS CHEESECAKE
There were too many side dishes, main courses and desserts from which to choose, or to share them all here, but we opted for two more smaller plates next. One was the Thai lettuce wraps with citrus-almond pate, carrot, red pepper, daikon, herbs and a tamarind dipping sauce. We also ordered the sunflower caesar salad with romaine, arugula, capers, sunflower seeds and sprouts. Each dish was so exceptionally beautiful that it was almost a shame to eat it (but seriously, we cleaned every plate...)When it came time for dessert, we were full, but the sound of the strawberry hibiscus cheesecake was impossible to ignore. Have a you ever seen a more gorgeous slice of cake in your life? Yes, they are fresh flower petals decorating this delectable dish.
Here is the most important take-away from this blog. If you find yourself in Miami, or Venice, California, this needs to be on your itinerary. It's just not a question. Coconut ceviche tacos. Banana leaf tamale. Sous-vide mushroom moqueca. Watermelon poke. You will thank me.
