Three Guys From Miami Cook Cuban on

Public Television: Saturday, August 20

WPBT in Miami will repeat our cooking show, "Three Guys From Miami Cook Cuban," on Saturday, August 20 at 3:00 PM. We originally performed the show live as part of the Pledge Drive at Miami Channel 2. We did three hours of cooking -- unrehearsed and unscripted!

This is the first step in our plan to create a one-hour cooking show that will be produced at WPBT and run nationally on public television. If you didn't get a chance to see us live, now is your chance to see our repeat performance. Look for us in the documentary, "La Cocina Cubana -- Secretos de mi Abuela" (The Cuban Kitchen -- Secrets from my Grandmother), which airs immediately following our program and on Thursday, August 18 at 8:00 PM.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are the big draw here!

One part of Miami that is vastly overlooked by most tourists is the vast farming area that stretches out along both sides of Krome Avenue from the Tamiami Trail to Homestead. This is where many small farmers grow small table crops like avocados, sweet corn, peppers, onions, root vegetables, pumpkins, cucumbers, and many types of citrus and other fruits.

Much of this produce makes its way into the city. However, if you are heading out to the Everglades for an airboat ride, or possibly heading down to the Keys, a side tour along Krome Avenue can be a fun little trip.

There are several stands along the road where you can buy fruits and vegetables directly from the producers. The prices are cheap and the produce is fresh. These little huts are also great places to get fresh fruit batidos, or shakes. The perfect way to cool off on a hot Miami afternoon!

Several places are also set up to serve small snacks, like croquetas and tamales, so you can also grab a quick lunch. The drive along Krome Avenue is pretty peaceful, except for the occasional farm truck or other farm equipment.

It's a two-lane road so you'll need to drive accordingly. However it's really nice to get out in the countryside and smell the rich black earth in an area that has been carved out of the Everglades.

One of our favorite places technically isn't even on Krome Avenue, but it is located nearby. If you are in Miami during strawberry season -- approximately January through the end of April -- be sure to stop at Burr's Strawberry Farm for huge and beautiful red strawberries and fresh strawberry shakes and ice cream sundaes.

If you are visiting the Monkey Jungle and coming from the Interstate, you'll drive right by Burr's. It's also not far from the Coral Castle if you are heading out that way.

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There's nothing like freshly caught and fried fish. Raúl and his wife Esther caught a bunch of snappers and on a lazy Sunday afternoon in Miami we fried fish out on the patio at Jorge's house. Raúl enjoys a beer in the background.

Up Next: "Three Guys From Miami Celebrate Cuban."

All about Cuban parties, celebrations, and the dishes that go with them!

Coming to a bookstore near you in 2006!

Let's face it, there's nothing more competitive than cola. The big two have been duking it out for decades. So it takes a lot of guts to come out with your own cola drink. We have to admire Ameriquita Vaughan, the president of Havana Cola for taking on the industry powerhouses. Havana Cola may have been the first cola with lime, a bandwagon that Coke and Pepsi have only recently jumped on.

In addition to both regular and diet cola with key lime, they also have a unique "mojito" flavor. Add your own rum and you have two classic Cuban drinks. Find out more...

Our book, "Three Guys From Miami Cook Cuban" was recently nominated for the Quills Award. The Quills are dedicated to celebrating excellence in writing and publishing.

More than 6,000 booksellers and librarians nominated the books for the competition. The next step in the process is for the committee to narrow down the entries to five books in each category. The winners in each category will be determined by the public.

Thanks to The Quills Nominating Board for including us for consideration!

You can still get a copy of our book by CLICKING HERE.

Miami was awash with a flood of mangos in June and July. Those lucky enough to have backyard trees feasted on a bumper crop of this superb tropical fruit. Even the treeless could pick up a bag of mangos for a few dollars at street corners all over Dade county.