August 24, 2011

Ciao Bella

This new amazing little restaurant in South Beach is all about happiness for me. First, I know those behind the cooking because I have been a follower of the house chef for quite sometime now. In love all their homemade tapas style bites and although the cuisine here is predominantly Italian, you can see the chef influence Spanish cooking techniques as he was born in Italy and studied culinary arts in Spain. If you want to his name you need to email me!

Ciao Bella is your everyday Italian neighborhood spot but in the middle of Miami Beach. I say "middle of Miami Beach" because for locals is hard to think that in the heart of SOBE you'll find great food, but believe me, I am a hard core foodie, and South Beach has amazing cuisine at the hands of very creative chefs and cooks - of course, if you know where to go. I think Miami Beach needs more restaurants like Ciao Bella where you know is a place where locals come for good food and friendship. Everyone here is very friendly and the Italian men at the counter look as good as the Nutela cake on display (just kidding).

I usually try a little bit of this and a little bit of that when I visit Ciao Bella.

I had the red bell and green peppers with black olives (did I ever mention that black olives are an addiction of mine?) simmered in what I would describe the most fragrant olive oil I have tried in a long time. Please understand that the art of tapa making does not rely on the ingredients only, of course that quality ingredients play a huge part on the dish, but the timing in which the ingredients are simmered play a big role, you need to know how to cook to make out of red and green peppers taste like heaven with a bit of that Italian bread that is so closed to my heart.

Oh the cakes. What can I say? Homemade, expertly executed. The chocolate was not too overwhelming neither the cream but both main ingredients just married perfectly. There is a wide selection of cakes and desserts which makes this place extra sweet. Think about sitting on one of the tables contemplating the outside and having a superb espresso (Italian that is) while you devour a slice of a perfectly crafted cake.