Our Man in ... Miami: Mauricio Lopez
Mauricio—the best darn driver in Miami, who doubles as a tour guide. (Photo: Mauricio Lopez)
Last week, I flew into Miami for a conference and got lucky. As in, the stars aligned and gave me Mauricio Lopez as a driver.
He met me at the airport, got my bags and walked me to the car—as any driver would—but then, on the way to the Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne, where the conference was being held, Mauricio saw me yawn.
“Do you need some coffee?” He asked. I did. Desperately. So we stopped at the El Carajo—which serves the best coffee and tapas in Miami … and is hidden in a BP gas station. I have been coming to Miami for years and no one had ever told me about El Carajo. I knew I’d found something special—the perfect tour guide for Miami.
I’d been looking for a great guide for a while. I was sick of the usual South Beach, Coral Gables, and other wallet-busting haunts that are featured in every magazine. I wanted to know the real Miami. I wanted to go where the locals go.
And Mauricio was my man—the ultimate guide for a cultural gastronomic tour of Miami.
Colombian Food
Most Colombians gravitate to the Kendall and Weston neighborhoods, although one of the best Colombian restaurants is in Little Havana (go figure).
My colleague at Yahoo Food, Julia Bainbridge, heeded Mauricio’s advice and had the tastiest Colombian breakfast at San Pocho in Little Havana—where, for a whopping $10.95, she wolfed down a “bandeja Paisa, which comes in many varieties but usually consists of red beans cooked with pork, white rice, a fried egg, some kind of meat, whether ground or grilled whole, a chicharrón (fried pork skin), fried sweet plantains, and an arepa.”
(Photo: Julia Bainbridge)
Bamboo in Kendall is the place for a Paisa platter or a mouthwatering seafood stew. Over in Weston, you may want to try La Pequena Colombia, widely considered to serve the best Colombian food in South Florida.
Cuban Food
Little Havana is legendary in Miami, where great Cuban coffee and pastelitos can be found on ever corner, but for a perfect evening out, Mauricio suggested Yucca, on the corner of Drexel and Lincoln Road. “It has the best Cuban fusion cuisine,” Mauricio said, “and after your second mojito you will be ready for salsa lessons (held on the second floor). Remember to have at least two mojitos—just to be relaxed!”
Peruvian Food
Mauricio insisted that En Gran Inka, located in a shopping center in North Miami was the top Peruvian restaurant: “It is not too fancy, but very good!” And he was right—it wasn’t fancy, but the ceviche and sopas were excellent. And you can’t beat an “executive meal,” which includes an appetizer, entree, and drink for $10.99.
For your own guided tour with Mauricio Lopez, contact him at:
mauriciolopez237@gmail.com
305-770-5466 or 305-303-2259
