Page 48 - Dreamscapes Magazine | Winter/Spring 2024

EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCES
MICHELIN STARSON THE
SUNSHINE STATE
MUST-EAT RESTAURANTS IN MIAMI AND ORLANDO
BY JIM BAMBOULIS
The sweet smell of Cuban coffee, with its ambrosia- like notes, reverberates inside Miami’s Versailles Bakery and Café, further amplifying my anticipation for a taste. I slowly close my eyes, take a deep breath and savour a long sip, ensuring I make the most of this delicious experience that never disappoints, and immediately puts me in a state of caffeinated Zen.
Largely overlooked, even dismissed for years, Michelin finally came knocking on Florida’s door, releasing the inau- gural edition of the Michelin Guide Miami, Orlando and Tampa, back in 2022. To date, the prestigious restaurant guide has validated 144 restaurants across the Sunshine State creating a food scene to be savoured. Naturally, my taste buds convinced me to pay a visit, and experience the delicious flavours for myself.
CUBAN CLASSICS WITH A FRENCH TWIST AT VERSAILLES The self-proclaimed “World’s Most Famous Cuban Restau- rant,” Versailles has represented the heart of Miami since 1971, especially for Cubans who regard it as a gathering place. Celebrities and dignitaries have passed through this iconic Michelin-recommended, family-owned Little Havana hub. While the landmark eatery is adorned with French-inspired chandeliers, murals and mirrors, Versailles is Cuban through and through. I sink my teeth into a flaky empanada, paired with a Cuban coffee that has me bouncing off the walls all day. While already satiated, the sweet tooth beckons. I catch the irresistible scent of caramel cheesecake and coconut flan, devouring each without hesitation.
A CITYWIDE MELTING POT
OF FLAVOURS
In Miami’s Coconut Grove, acclaimed Michelin-starred executive chef and owner Michael Beltran helms Ariete, a restaurant that fuses Cuban, French and Floridian flavours, but also reflects and celebrates his exiled Cuban grandparents’
48 DREAMSCAPES WINTER/SPRING 2024