Bubble Tea @ Lan Pan

Food Type: Bubble Tea/Boba

Origin: Taiwan

website: www.lanpanasian.com

location: Dadeland Station

Bubble Tea, or sometimes simply Boba, consists of a variety of teas, milks, smoothies and other blends in which small tapioca pearls (re: bubbles) are dropped. Equipped with a fat straw to suck them out with, they travel up the straw while you sip your drink of choice. The tapioca pearls have a gummy consistancy and every person i've ever seen try it wants more. The only problem? Locations! Lan Pan has a little bubble tea window similar to what you see in cuban restaurants for coffee, but apart from this and a few other locales up in broward you'll be hard-pressed for bubble tea near you. There was a dedicated place named "Lollicup" across from FIU, but since I don't think they ever considered advertizing.. they "moved" and never were heard from again in south florida. sad.

Bubble Tea and its deliciousness is only $3.50, which compared to regular smoothies offered by robek's, starbucks, or jamba juice is quite a bargain.

Doña Paulina/ Don Davis

Food Type: Meat/pasta

Origin: Uruguay

Website: www.dondavismiami.com

location: several

Doña Paulina (formerly Doña Tota) was founded a few years back by an Uruguayan immigrant with 5k in his pocket and a good know-how of the kitchen. What is Uruguayan cuisine? Well like our Argentine neighbors it has a lot of meat, pasta, and well.. good meat! haha, but seriously you won't enjoy this place if you're a vegitarian.

[serious face.]

Anyways, here are some of the highlights from when I frequent the locations. My number one choice and best recommended dish would be the skirt steak (entraña) which comes with two sides. good choices for sides are rice and french fries, but veggies, platains, and others are available. The steak will make your lunch or dinner or day. For dinner I suggest you opt for a 16oz or bigger and share it as not only will the bill come out less painful (lol $24 at the most), but it is also a nice way to.. bond with your fellow carnivore.

My second suggestion is "el chivito" for which another restaurant is named for (El Rey Del Chivito). The lamb as it translates to is actually just meat in a sandwhich form, which also includes ham, lettuce, tomatoes and a sunny-side up egg. Toss in the french fries as a side and it's guaranteed to fill you up and under $10!

In Uruguay life is simple. People drink mate(tea), they watch soccer, they eat meat, and they go to the beach. I hope to move there one day, maybe for retirement or something of the like. In the meantime however, you can watch the anthony bourdain special about it, or eat at the restaurants i'll suggest and live a bit of it out ;)