Miami Spice 2015 - Swine Southern Table & Bar

I'm sure you'll agree that nothing beats the smell of smoky, heartwarming BBQ. And I'm also sure that is exactly what you think about every time you walk down Ponce in Coral Gables. If you don't know what I'm referring to and you reside in Miami, you just haven't lived. Let me break it down for you. My next Miami Spice adventure happened at Swine Southern Table & Bar, located at 2415 Ponce de Leon Boulevard.

I'm sure I don't need to give you much of an introduction to this place. It is the sister restaurant of Yardbird Southern Table & Bar in Miami Beach, and one of the popular eateries owned and operated by 50 Eggs Inc., Miami's very famous multifaceted, culinary and hospitality firm. But most people know Swine as that awesome BBQ place in the Gables that makes the whole street smell so good.

Swine's Miami Spice Menu

We ventured out here on a Thursday night eager to see what goodies awaited us on their Miami Spice menu. While the menu itself isn't huge, the portions are. Perhaps huge is an understatement. I'm talking leftovers for a couple of days. And not just food that you put away in the fridge and forget about, but leftovers that you are looking forward to coming home to the next day.

I started my evening sipping their Homestead Bound, a sweet concoction made with Absolut vodka, Veev acai, fresh strawberres, orange, lemon, mint and basil. Of course, this is not part of the Miami Spice menu but who comes to Swine and doesn't have one of their famous cocktails?

The menu itself consists of a choice from three appetizers, three entrees and one dessert. You might be thinking, just one dessert? Yes, but sometimes one is enough; especially when it is called Death By Chocolate. But back to the starters. We ordered the Fried Green Tomato and the 1855 Black Angus Burnt Ends, and suddenly I was back in my last road trip vacation through the deep south. The Fried Green Tomato was topped with a robust Winter Park Florida tomme, pea shoots and a delicious tomato chow chow relish. However, it was the Golden Nuggets of the South, or the Burnt Ends, that totally blew me away. These flavorful, juicy pieces of meat were drizzled in their ever famous Swine barbecue sauce and served with spiced corn nuts and a creamy cornbread foam. All I can say is that it's one of those things you have to experience at least once in a lifetime.

Fried Green Tomato

1855 Black Angus Burnt Ends

On to the entrees. We decided to try the Backyard BBQ Chicken and the Low & Slow Ribs. When our server brought the dishes to the table,  my jaw dropped. The ribs in particular were stacked at three levels. I couldn't wait to stick my teeth into them. They were mopped in an apple cider vinegar,  which kept the meat moist and falling off the bone, and seasoned with a mild competition rub. I also enjoyed the homemade pickles served with the ribs. The chicken was slow smoked and grilled, and coated with the same Swine BBQ sauce. It was served with charred okra and roasted marble potatoes.

Low & Slow Ribs

Backyard BBQ Chicken

Remember the Death By Chocolate I told you about? Well this is just about the moment in time we succumbed to the sweet, pleasurable finale. Let me just list the ingredients and you'll understand what I mean: a glass filled with a rich chocolate brownie, creamy chocolate pudding, crunchy cocoa puffs, smooth chocolate ice cream, and a decadent chocolate sauce. Do you see a pattern here?

Death By Chocolate

It's pretty obvious Swine Southern Table & Bar is a must-do for Miami Spice. It's got incredible, quality food and portions to match. For more information, visit their website or call them at 786-360-6433.

Kegs & Eggs Brunch at Brother Jimmy's BBQ

Can you think of a word that rhymes with "eggs"? How about "kegs"? I bet you're thinking that's an unlikely pair but in fact, the twosome make for quite a memorable brunch. I was recently invited to a chillaxing get together hosted by Miami's favorite fashion blogger, Rosie Cordero, at Brother Jimmy's Barbeque in the Mary Brickell Village. While I've put some south in my mouth a few times before, I'd never tried their relatively new Kegs and Eggs Brunch, happening at the BBQ haven every Saturday and Sunday from 12:00-3:00 pm.

Brunching with the ladies

They weren't kidding when
they said Unlimited Mimosas

Getting the party started with
BJ's famous corn bread

Imagine unlimited mimosas and yes - beer, along with some southern, down-home brunch favorites. I had a hard time choosing from the menu because, let's face it, how do you reasonably pick between Chicken and Waffles and Carolina Benedict? That's like having to pick a favorite between two of your own children. So we decided to put the age-old quote to use and practice the "sharing is caring" philosophy; all the while sipping on our bottomless mimosas which never stopped flowing.

Chicken and Waffles

Carolina Benedict

While we waited for the feast to begin, we munched on Brother Jimmy's famous corn bread and maple butter. The pieces practically dissolve in your mouth so make sure you set a limit for yourself because once you start, it will be hard to stop. The first entree we sampled was The Chicken and Waffles. The plate featured a colorful delight of homemade belgium waffles topped with bits of hickory smoked bacon with red, plump strawberries alternating between boneless pieces of fried chicken. The ensemble was drizzled with their very own Bourbon BBQ maple syrup. Ta da! Next, we bit into the Carolina Benedict. This BJ version of the popular brunch dish was prepared starting with two pieces of their signature corn bread, and then topped with flavorful and smoky pulled pork, 2 poached eggs, and chipotle BBQ hollandaise sauce. It was served with their famous home fries and some fruit. I"ll tell you this one rocked my world.

A shot of bourbon infused with bananas? Yes please!

Home Fries

Stuffed French Toast

Because the home fries were so finger-licking good, I ordered an extra side. I mean this whole sharing thing can be a bit overrated when you want hands off your favorites. Which brings me to another awesome brunch pick at Brother Jimmy's: The Stuffed French Toast. Picture thick slices of Challah bread stuffed with peanut butter and raspberry preserves, then dipped in a sweet batter and topped with confectionary sugar. On the side? Some fruit and warm maple syrup.

Bloody Mary

Just when I thought I couldn't ingest anymore, liquid or solid, I overheard some talk about their Bloody Mary. I had hit the ball and run the bases but it was time to take it home. I have to be thorough for you guys, right? Down went the refreshing concoction. It was perfect with just the right amount of kick to keep the blood flowing and the tongue happy.  In case you're wondering how much the brunch costs, it is $29.99 for unlimited mimosas and beer plus one entree. If you haven't tried the Kegs and Eggs at Brother Jimmy's BBQ, you should definitely give it a shot, or two, or three.

For more information, you can visit them online at http://www.brotherjimmys.com/ or call them at 786-360-3650.

Brother Jimmy's BBQ

 

Back in November, I did a post on Brother Jimmy's BBQ located at 900 S. Miami Avenue in the Mary Brickell Village. I hadn't had a chance to return since, and with a craving to put some south in my mouth, I headed over to the sports fan hangout for a proper lunch to fuel my day.

 

The décor at Brother Jimmy's still gives me a kick. The laid-back atmosphere and the casual ambiance makes you feel like you're in college again. (Oh, how I wish!) On this sunny afternoon, the many screens along the walls were televising a game and even though I had no clue who was playing, I immediately began to cheer when someone scored. It was a great opportunity to high-five the buff cuties around me.

Guacamole and Chips

But back to the food. Last time I was here, I went all out on the mind-blowing drinks, but at 1:00 o'clock in the afternoon, I figured I'd scale it back on the alcohol and focused on the meat instead. To start off, we ordered the Guacamole and Chips. I know I have an intense fondness for anything with avocado in it, but I have to say, it made the cut. Creamy and with the perfect pinch of salt, we both ensued in a discreet chip-grabbing fight to the finish. You know the kind; where you engage the other person in frivolous conversation just to distract them so you can dip and grab faster than they do.

 

Combo Platter with Brisket and Wet Ribs

 

Tomato & Avocado Salad

Baked Beans & Pulled Pork

Knowing the entrees would  be hefty, we didn't order another appetizer and went straight to the meat of the situation. We had a Combo Platter of  Brother Jimmy's Original "Wet" Ribs and Sliced Brisket, and a Po' Boys Blackened Catfish Sandwich. The ribs were juicy, smoked then bathed with their original BBQ sauce and practically fell off the bone. I love to take my taste buds on a joy ride, so I squeezed some signature Carolina BBQ sauce on them and let loose. The brisket was just as delicious. I actually tried both the marbled and the lean cut. While the marbled was more moist, I personally preferred the lean. However, I recommend trying them both because it's really a matter of what you're in the mood for. The Po' Boys sandwich was a great choice as well, served on French bread with lettuce, tomato and cajun mayo, the catfish was tender and flavorful. Each dish came with one side, so we ordered the Mashed Potatoes and the Baked Beans & Pulled Pork. The mashed potatoes had a nice, herb taste to them; adding a milder, comfort food characteristic to the dish, while the Baked Beans were bold and invigorating. They had a special, smoky, homemade kick to them you could taste from the very start. Back to me loving avocado, I noticed there was a Tomato & Avocado Salad on the menu and batting 100 with the guacamole, I decided to try it. The salad was light and refreshing; a perfect complement to balance out the meat. We also had a taste of their French Fries because well, who could resist some fried potatoes? I can tell you I noticed some definite changes in the food. While it was good the last time I went, I found they packed a lot more flavor on this visit.

I was ready to roll over and take a nap, but I had just enough room for a little something sweet to end the meal. (And I'm not talking about those buff cuties although that would've been satisfying also.) We went for a spectacular, firework-inducing Crack Pie. (You know like the ones from Fireman Derek's World Famous Pies?) The spoon sunk ever so slowly into it, like a pleasure-filled descent into a caramel tasting triangle of quick sand. The ice-cream on the top, the cream on the side, the drizzle of deliciousness - they all came together in perfect harmony and we were the mesmerized audience. Seriously, if you don't have one of these on your visit to Brother Jimmy's, well then you really weren't there. Totally foodgasmic!

Crack Pie

We walked out of there happy, satisfied and with plans to return. They recently started offering a Summer Saturdays Brunch called Kegs & Eggs that sounds outrageous. It includes all-you-can-drink specials, along with original BBQ brunch items and a DJ. As if that weren't enough, Brother Jimmy's BBQ has just launched a food truck! Talk about putting some south in yo mouth the mobile way. For more information on Brother Jimmy's BBQ, visit them online at http://www.brotherjimmys.com/locations/miami.