Buena Vista Deli

This legit French deli is located 1 block away from yesterday’s place Lemoni. I choose to come here on days that 1 I want breakfast and 2 I need to concentrate and not socialize the entire time, which is inevitable at Lemoni. Today was proving to be an extra stressful day so I stopped by for some quiet time and a comforting meal. The place was empty and as soon as I walk in I demand a small bowl of Greek salad. They also have a board here were they list the daily soups and I stare at it with a “wtf” look when I see the words “Leek Soup”. Now I have a favorite dish here, and before I start to sound soup obsessed again, I declare my love for their white bean soup. It is so light and tasty, a little salty and served with a fresh lightly toasted piece of baguette. A must order whenever I see it available, I dared order this soup only a few weeks after my experience with their fish soup. Or should I call it concentration camp soup. Please forgive for I do not mean to sound at all culturally insensitive, however this soup made me believe BVD was having Holocaust remembrance day and forcing soup enthusiasts to ponder about this tragic historic event as as they starred at their soup bow. It was fish tasting water….without a single other ingredient added.
Anyhow I decide to continue my soup exploration path and request a bowl of leek soup. I search my memory banks in hopes to remember what a leek looks like and decide it I some kind of a green vegetable. Only then to be served a creamy bowl of white soup! What a mystery to me this was, when I taste it and it is very reminiscent to me of my cherished white bean soup, only creamier and smoother. This is definitely a more comforting soup and I loved it! My French sized (aka VERY small) small Greek salad was another delight. The greens were crazy crispy and the surprising addition of celery added extra crunch. The salad had its fare share of olives, whole and chopped, which made some bites beyond salty, and every single morsel in the bowl was completely coated with dressing. Not drenched coated, but lightly and nicely so. This was a very satisfying salad and I know to next time order a larger size. As I sat with my laptop in front of me, a half full bowl of leek soup to my left and an old obnoxiously loud French lady with pink hair to my right, I start contemplating about a chocolate croissant. They are excellent here, so much so that when I had breakfast a BVD with a friend who had just returned from living in France he shockingly said that they tasted better than Parisian ones. At this time I headed straight to the pastry counter, ready for something sweet when my waitress suggests I should have a mousse filled chocolate cake. I quickly notice this is the most expensive dessert on the counter at the price of $4.50. So I spend a few seconds contemplating if this is a true “you should get the most decadent treat and eat it sparingly” French suggestion. Or if it was the annoying suggestion, made on the foolish assumption based on my clothing some have that I am Mrs money bags. Distracted by the thought I go for the $3.50 chocolate duchess cake and return to my table. It saddens me to say this cake was a little dry and after my many visits to BVD I have to add a second item to my “No, unless i'm starving, i'm broke and its free” list. Mid way through my cake my waitress refills my cup of water and spills it all over my laptop and my legs….I’m assuming this is revenge for not ordering her suggestion.

Overall I’m finishing this blog while sitting inside BVD, sipping on their house coffee which is very tasty. I love and recommend this place!

Design District
4590 Northeast 2nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33137

The Floridian

Below is a review of The Floridian in St. Augustine.
This was written by a dear friend Michelle Ortiz, hopefully soon I will have my own review for this place.

Now you need to come up and here and check out "The Floridian." That's some phenomenal grub! My friend Trish opened it a little less than a month ago and its vegetarian/omnivore, locally grown and just about the cutest appeal by far. Their menu is agriculturally seasonal, which means it changes up within three to four weeks and I cannot get enough. Their fried green tomatoes are TOP NOTCH and grit pancake bars with goat cheese are just about the one thing I want EVERY DAY.

The Floridian
(904) 829-0655
Downtown St. Augustine
39 Cordova St.
St Augustine, FL 32084

Lemoni

This is my first review of many to come of the little restaurants and cafes that grace the Design District in Miami. Lemoni (pronounced Le-MO-nee) is by far my favorite café in the District. Prices vary from $8 for most panini’s and salads to $15 for the daily specials. If you’re strapped for cash, fear not, most students and the large class of young professionals whom can barely afford rent can also afford to eat here. Delicious goodies such as fresh homemade soups are available daily. They are so fresh the owner cannot even tell you the day before what the next day holds for the soup special, trust me I have inquired more than once. A cup of soup will run you $2.95 a bowl $4.50. Most of the daily soups are vegetarian, one of my favorites are the pea soup. It is by far the best green looking thing I have ever had, I never thought I would say: I LOVE pea soup. Another masterpiece is the Moroccan soup with beans and lentils. Also occasionally tomato and basil soup is served, which I was extremely hesitant to try. I have always imagined that eating tomato soup would be an experience like consuming a big bowl of sauce, as in spaghetti sauce. One day I bite the bullet and decided that I loved pea soup, so why wouldn’t I like Lemoni’s tomato soup? And I did! It’s creamy and you can taste the basil in it so the soup holds its own, the toasted piece of bread they serve with it for dipping tastes delicious dipped into the vibrant red sea of tomato goodness. It shatters my heart when I go in and I see on the board under soup special “Chicken and rice”. However I do understand Lemoni, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do, you’re not a vegetarian restaurant…A dear friend ordered this soup the other day and I starred sadly at her hearty bowl of chicken, rice and delicousness, her comment was “Dude I wish I could’ve eaten this when I was sick”. Both the bowl and cup are filling enough to be an entire meal. Also there are the small salads which will run you $3.75. This place is a gem located on 2nd and 46th, you cannot miss it there are always people sitting outside, artists and locals reading, writing and socializing.
Besides the cheapies of soups and salads other greatness lies in the menu staples such as the salmon burger panini. The hot toasted triangular bread holds a massive fresh and juicy salmon patty which is slattered with a garlic mayo and colorful dark greens. Other favorites are the Hummus platter; this hummus should be nominated for best in Miami. It’s only drawback is you must always order extra pita, they never serve enough, this however comes at a charge of $1.50. The salmon bites are tasty, salty and very light, perfect for lunch. The salads stand on their own always leaving you refreshed after eating them. The tuna salad is my favorite, it is not overtly mayo-eee at all, other favorites are the chicken and salmon salads, they’re always served with fresh hot toasted bread and a sea of dark greens.
For desert by far the best is the “new” brownie, they used to have a more standard block style brownie. But the “new” is in a biscotti like shape and served warm with whipped cream. Their coffee selection is great with its standards cappuccinos, lattes and even Cuban cortadito, all of which you can have made with soy milk! However I wish they had American style coffee, for the days I sit there and need several cups of coffee to aid in whatever I’m working on, so I’d love to pay $2 per cup and have 3 cups (yes I know I’m working on this addiction) rather than ordering a $4.50 macchiato. I would argue that the prices of their specialty coffees are a tad steep; but it is definitely a steal for the much better atmosphere than you’d get at a Starbucks. So come in with your laptop and order a specialty coffee, sit enjoy the afternoon.
Go to Lemoni, you get healthy hearty food and get to mingle with the diverse group of local District residents.