Revolutionary in Miami?

no, not politics...food & drink.

I have to set up a dining excursion in/around miami for people from a miami based food company. We need back yard inspiration. Having not set foot in Miami in over 10 years, I don't even know where to begin.

First question:
1. Does anyone know of great miami food resources?
2. Does anyone know of off-the-beaten path places for dinner?
3. Does anyone know any great beverage stops, from booze to frappes?

Thanks many times over.

there's quite a few to choose from, but one that works on so many levels that others just don't approach, a 10 in my book, is "tap tap" @ 819 fifth st just west of collins. haitian food that is wonderfully spiced and ridiculously cheap. owned by a documentary filmmaker, it's got a sense of style you just will not see anywhere else.

pumpkin soup w/cabbage, spinach in curry sauce, grilled conch w/garlic sauce, any of the whole fish of the day w/lime sauce, grilled goat tidbits w/watercress dipping sauce, malanga fritters, the definitive mojito made w/5 star 8 yr old barbancourt rhum, considered one of the best rhums of the world (you need to specify w/rhum). save room for the banana fritters for dessert.

a visually stunning set of rooms (i prefer the back room) that are like entering a haitian style pix. all walls, chairs, tables, are painted as such. the bathrooms are a must as is the art gallery upstairs. if closed, you can usually persuade them to open it for you.

in addition to all of this, on thurs and sat pm, the ex mayor of port au prince, manno charlamagne (who has a voice from the gods) holds forth w/a small band. acoustic guitar, sax, bass, some percussion, think of a more rhythmic gypsy kings but w/soul. you can not go wrong.

after living there for nearly 10 years i found it to be a rich culture and cuisine well worth exploring. you will be a hero w/this one. everyone i've ever taken there is blown away, often becoming the highlight of the trip. nothing like it anywhere else, and isn't that why we do this in the first place?

That is an amazing rec...thank you! This is going on the list...gotta now tie it back to the client (thematically)....will definitely check it out.

wow.

most peoples first reaction is generally a raised eyebrow. "haitian food?" don't let that get in the way of having a truely unique experience. you will not regret this one. i wish something like this existed here, but you need a large haitian community to support it, as in s fla.

i've been invited to private parties there for the holiday of g'dei (sp?) like all saints day. it was like being in a national geographic magazine w/dancers gyrating in trances, rolling flaming rhum over their bodies picked up from flaming rhum puddles off the floor. obviously, dinner isn't like that nite, but the food, the music...