My second day in Miami started with a hair cut at La Bella Salon in Coral Gables. I've been getting my hair done there for six years and my stylist, Stacy, is a magician!
Post-glam squad I sat outside with my iced passion tea at Starbucks (love sitting outside in November!) and then wandered into Barnes & Noble in search of a 2012 datebook. I found an absolutely gorgeous one and I feel more organized already!
From there I headed to the Village of Merrick Park with my mom for some shopping. I scored big at Banana Republic and Anthropologie and we had a delicious lunch on the patio at the Yard House.
I spent the rest of the afternoon blogging up a storm and before I knew it, it was time for dinner!
My mother made a reservation for the family at a place called Peacock Garden Cafe which is in a neighborhood of Miami called Coconut Grove. The restaurant is next to the Sonesta Hotel and across the street from the public library.
The entrance to the restaurant looks like a secret garden.
As you wind your way through the entry path, you notice gorgeous trees, plants and flowers.
I love this bathtub full of herbs! What a pretty design idea.
When we reached the entrance to the patio I was taken a back by the beauty of it all. The patio had such a feeling of warmth and whimsy.
There were decor elements hidden within in the plants and trees - a bird cage, a bicycle and more.
There were farm tools hanging on the walls.
We weren't seated at this table, but I loved this family style table in the back, left corner. It reminded me of the table at the Mad Hatter's tea party in Alice in Wonderland. In fact, the whole place reminded me of Alice's Tea Cup in Manhattan.
We were seated at a table for four which had adorable decorations. Our table had a small, pink and yellow bouquet of fresh flowers and a glass lantern.
From our table we could see inside the restaurant and the indoor space looked beautiful as well. I loved these light fixtures!
My mother decided to start the evening with a martini. It came with a twirl of lemon peel at the bottom. Her only commentary about the drink was, "Boy, is that strong!"
My sister ordered the basil sangria. I couldn't help but notice all of the fresh fruit, especially the big pieces of apple. She said it was very crisp and refreshing.
Our waiter brought us a basket of bread to share while we looked over the menu. My mother and sister were thrilled to see there was olive bread, a family favorite.
To start, my parents ordered a grilled artichoke for the table. It came with the perfect char and was served with a blue cheese dipping sauce. It disappeared in a matter of seconds.
For dinner my father ordered the burger with blue cheese and mushrooms. It came garnished with two beautiful slices of tomato - one red, one yellow. He said the burger was one of the best he's ever had. He kept saying, "Who wants to try this? Come on! Have a bite!"
The burger also came with a side of celeriac slaw. Celeriac is celery root. My dad raved about the slaw, which really showcased the vegetable because it was made without mayo.
Next to him my little sister ordered the angel hair pasta with shrimp. Like a five year old she took her napkin and tucked it into her shirt, afraid she would get marinara sauce all over herself. She said the pasta was yummy, the tomato sauce was above average and the shrimp were cooked nicely, but a bit chewy.
Next to me, my mother ordered one of the two dinner specials - stuffed Cornish hen. The special comes with a side of mashed potatoes, but she asked for a garden salad instead. My mother said the stuffing was incredible, but the hen itself was a bit dry. She proclaimed that the garden salad was one of the best she's ever had.
I actually didn't really find anything that appealed to me on this menu. The vegetarian items were very limited. I eventually decided on the vegetable flatbread pizza which was a whole wheat crust topped with zucchini, peppers, olives, feta cheese and pesto. My sister took a bite and said, "this tastes like a Kashi frozen pizza." Agreed.
After our waiter cleared our dinner plates, he shared with us the dessert offerings. My dad jumped on the key lime pie. His piece arrived in the most delicate presentation. It was garnished with whipped cream, a mint leaf and powdered sugar. You could see the lime within the yellow custard. He and my sister described the pie as "light, smooth and tart."
Though I didn't enjoy my entree, overall, our experience at the Peacock Garden Cafe was a wonderful one. The patio is so undeniably beautiful and serene. It's impossible not to enjoy yourself.
My mother informed us that the Peacock Garden Cafe is a popular location for bridal and baby showers. We also learned they have a large indoor event space, big enough for a wedding. Noted!
After dinner we headed over to a neighboring bar called the Grove Spot. What a suggestive name! On Wednesday nights the local jazz radio station sponsors a Latin jazz night they call Wednesday night jams.
The place was completely packed so we wound up sitting outside. We couldn't see the band, but we could still hear the music.
After their second set, we were able to move inside, just about 10 feet from the stage. The band, the Andy Harlow Quintet, was awesome! They had a guitar, a bass, a keyboard, a saxophone, a flute, drums, congos and a lead singer. I loved the drums and the congos!
During every set (we stayed for three) the crowd was singing along, clapping and dancing! I really need to learn to salsa dance! It was so fun to watch all of these couples dance. It just comes so naturally to them.
Throughout the night, the band was inviting friends, who are fellow musicians, to join in for a number. We got to see four different drummers and two bass players.
In the final set, the band invited up a freshman from the University of Miami to play flute during one of their numbers. He was absolutely unbelievable! I don't think of the flute as a masculine instrument, but boy did he change my mind! Wow.
At the end of the third set, at midnight, we decided to pack it in and head home. What a superb day! I hope you all are enjoying your Thanksgiving break!
