This weekend, I stopped by a Food Truck Throwdown showcasing some Boston and New York City food trucks. 
Nuchas - NYC based food truck that focuses on empanadas. This was my favorite truck by far. Being a Miami girl, empanadas remind me of the savory food of home.
Luis & I.
Big D’s Truck - Another NYC food truck that fused Asian and Latin tastes.
Tacos & amazing yuca fries.
Dessert: Itizy icecream truck.
Cookies & Cream icecream pop.
Blueberry Mojito sorbet.
When I come across something amazing, I feel the need to share. This morning I stumbled on a contemporary comparison of historical figures. They come from a collection of portraits commissioned by history TV channel Yesterday to celebrate its new series. This resulted in conjunction with history experts to ensure the portraits gave a real sense of how historical characters would look if they were alive in the 21st Century. My favorite one, of Henry VIII {womanizer then & now} , is below:
For more, check out the gallery on The Telegraph.
This last weekend I went home to Miami to be with my family. From my photo collection below you’ll come to three conclusions:
1) I love my dog.
2) I love food.
3) I love having a good time.
My main fluffy: Riley.
The best Thai food you’ll ever have: 
A drink before dancing: 
Reunited never felt so good:
The best live Latin band you’ll ever see. {at Kukaramakara}
My beautiful backyard:
Riley needed a good scrub:
One of my all-time favorite spots of Miami:
Peruvian Ceviche at Jaguar. Can’t miss out on this!
A trip isn’t complete without at least one Chilean empanada!
One thing I miss about being back in Miami is the amount of mangoes I had at my fingertips. My neighbor had a plethora of mangoes every summer that she’d pass onto me. I would use it for smoothies, salads, and just something to snack on. Having been home for a few days, I gorged on this favorite fruit. One of the simplest, yet most delicious ways to incorporate it is by adding chopped walnuts. The sweet and salty pair themselves in such a delightful way that you’d never think you’re eating as healthy as you are!
What are the benefits of eating mangoes?
Fresh mangoes have many benefits, one being {in my mind} they are delicious and low in calories. Not only that, they are a good source of fiber, accounting for 2.6 g per cup (1/8 of your necessary daily serving). Fiber can also help with prevention of heart disease, colon cancer, and Type 2 diabetes. This fruit is also a great source of vitamin A and folic acid.
Source:Livestrong
I woke up one recent Sunday morning and I had the craving for brunch. (This happens every weekend). In looking at locations I hadn’t tried close to my apartment in the Back Bay, none had availability for at least 2 hours. Sacrebleu! I used my creative juices and thought outside the box. What place might be close but not be associated with brunch. And then it came to me: Pappa Razzi. Although I had only been there for dinner (which I loved), I looked up its brunch menu. At first, I thought it would be a long shot because they are a dedicated Italian restaurant. Can you name an Italian spot that you really know that is known for their brunch?
Exactly. Well, Pappa Razzi has become my new favorite spot. Not only does it have a diverse breakfast menu and is affordable, but most importantly you get a free drink. Theres a saying that goes “hair of the dog.” If you had a late night of drinking and need one more to ease into less of a hangover, why not have a delicious drink and dish here? I mean, why not?
I had the french toast. It consisted of an oak fried brioche bread topped with a selection of warm fresh seasonal fruit and maple syrup. It is the best French toast I have had in a while.
Luis tried the Tuscan eggs benedict. He was quite pleased. I wish I could handle eggs; so that I could taste the dishes he orders in the AM. His included eggs with pancetta, tomatoes, and parmesan served with roasted potatoes and grilled crostinni.
Want some other people’s opinions? Check them out over on Urban Spoon:
My dream superpower would be to eat anything I wanted and maintain the same weight. I’m definitely one of those people that lives to eat. Its moments where I get invited to a Taste of Columbus Hospitality Group restaurants that I wish I actually had that superpower. When I first walked into Mistral, I was taken aback at the chic simplicity this restaurant embodied. My immediate focal point was a sitting area with a large wall clock. I had never seen décor positioned in that way and I absolutely loved it.
Waiting at the bar for the private room to be ready, there was a “painting-curtain” separating the bar from the other sitting area. The images were picturesque, detailing scenes from nature. What better way to frame it than with actual foliage.
Upon entering the main event, I was again impressed with the fantastic presentation that was pervasive throughout the room. The room was lit up with beautiful flowers, a great contrast to the rainy cold outside.
The Columbus Hospitality Group comprises of the restaurants Mistral, Teatro, Mooo…,Sorellina and L’Andana.
I was only able to stay for the drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Sadly, I had another commitment that required me to leave before the desserts. I was able to try Spring Thyme: handmade vodka, rhubarb, thyme, lime and soda. It was quite refreshing.
Then I ventured over to the Mooo… table and had a sirloin slider with Mooo Sauce and caramelized onions. The meat was quiet tender.
To its right was a table set up by L’Andana, renown for its Tuscan cuisine. They were grilling swordfish, something I had never tasted before. (Surprisingly!) It was quite the delicacy.
My final stop and favorite item of the night was from Teatro: hand crafted fig & prosciutto sausage with spicy tomato brodo and shishito pepper. It was so good, I went back for not one but two more! This one really got me thinking, and I am definitely looking to visit Teatro and see what its full menu entails in the near future!
If you could choose any of the places from which I got to taste, which would it be???
Note: This meal was provided free of charge from Columbus Hospitality Group. All of the opinions expressed here are my own.
These past few days have been full of cooking; cooking helps me relax and boy have I needed it in lieu of everything going on last week. I also tried a blueberry coconut lassi from Cook Republic.
What is a lassi?
A drink originating in the Punjab region of India, a lassi is s a popular and traditional yogurt-based drink. There can be a few kinds of variations of this drink. Some include sweet, mango, and bhang lassi. There is also the original which stems from blending yogurt with water and adding sugar and spices.
The recipe from Cook Republic:
Ingredients
2 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen)
2 cups yoghurt
1/2 cup coconut milk
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Put all ingredients in a blender and mix for a few minutes until smooth. Drink immediately.
Have you ever had a lassi???
Please feel free to send me an email at littlemomentsofhappinessblog@gmail.com with any comments or suggestions. I would love to hear from you!
