mango&lime — a blog about food and eating in miami

Last night I went to a Slow Food Miami dinner at North One Ten. I signed up not really knowing what to expect, but I had read about the slow food movement and was curious to find out more. Lucky for me, the theme of the meal was mangos — which reminds me, stay tuned for my mango festival post.

I confess I felt a little out of place at the start. The crowd was older than us and they all seemed to already know each other. At the door, we were greeted with a glass of sparkling wine and a paper slip with our names on it, which we were instructed to place at a table where we wanted to sit. We chose a couple of seats from the few still available and we were later joined by three others. Before we started we heard from the Miami convivium leaders.

So, what is slow food? Basically an organization “that advocates ecogastronomy and encourages busy people to make time to enjoy life with family and friends, celebrating the way full appreciation of the pleasures of the table entails good company, a developed taste for culinary distinctions, and respect for healthful food’s farmers, chefs, artisans and the earth that it comes from.”

A noble concept you may agree. The movement started in Italy in 1986.

I was most interested in their projects to educate children about healthy food, cooking and eating better. At our table were two women with the Education Fund, which is partnering with slow food Miami to do this project at a number of Miami-Dade elementary schools. The plans are to grow some gardens at schools and get children involved in growing food and learning about it, as well as educating parents on the subject.

Then started our meal. The menu consisted of:

First Course

Rock shrimp Cake
Fresh Heart of palm slaw
Peppered mango, fennel dust
Wine: 2006 Summerer,Gruner Lady, Gruner Veltliner from Kamptal in Austria

Entree

Choice of:
Mango Roasted Belle and Evans Chicken
Quinoa Stuffing, Spicy BBQ Collard Greens
or
Grilled Local Snapper
Banana Ponzu, Wasabi Oatmeal
or
Grilled Skirt Steak
Habanero-Mango Glaze, Crispy Turnips
Wine: 2005 Bodegas Atteca, Old Vine Garnacha from Calatyud in Spain

Dessert

Grilled Angel Food Cake, Rum Mojito Soup, Mango Sorbet
Wine: 2005 Late Harvest White Riesling

I chose the skirt steak and D chose the chicken. He and a woman at our table who ordered chicken weren’t very impressed by it. My steak was good but I enjoyed the crunchy turnips more than anything. Judging from the comments at my table and my own opinion, I will venture to say that people enjoyed the appetizer and dessert more than the entrees. The appetizer came with a sweet surprise: dragon fruit. I realize now, after looking it up, that I have eaten it but I know it as pitaya. I’ve never eaten one that is the color of beets, though — the chef did mention that sometimes it comes out white. The fruit has the consistency of kiwi, tiny black seeds and all. It’s sweet and attractive due to its bright color.

At around 10, we headed home with a little buzz and I, with curiosity and interest in future slow food projects. The out of place feelings mostly gone.

North One Ten
11052 Biscayne Blvd.
305.893.4211

tags: slow food, miami, North One Ten