I’ve been trying to make it to Verde since December of last year. After weeks of cancellations, my best friend (Andrea) and I finally opted to go alone. A great Sunday-Funday was planned and we made our way to the Perez Art Museum (PAMM). Immediately off Biscayne, nestled somewhere between the American Airlines Arena and the Adrienne Arsht Center, the venue is actually hard to find. It was blocked by construction and the gps kept sending us to a closed road. As we came to the parking garage we were delighted. The floor is paved with travertine-like pavers, grouted with fresh green shrubbery. As I exited our car and looked up, I saw beams of light flickering through the floor above us. It was truly a beautiful day.
Once we got upstairs, the view spoke for itself. The museum is directly behind the cruise ship terminus but somehow manages to escape that industrial feel. Just outside the entrance are disturbingly beautiful sculptures (Zodiac heads) by featured artist, Ai-weiwei. Upon paying a small fee of $12 (free every second Saturday) a tour guide ushered us through PAMMs illustrious walls. The structure itself is just beautiful. We gazingly walked through several galleries and before you knew it, hours had passed. A lover of art, many of the pieces were more than average but nothing too remarkable. They featured an okay piece by one of my favorite Artist, Jeff Koons, among many other reputable international creatives.
As great as PAMM was, and it was great, it vastly pales in comparison to its in house cafeteria, Verde. The meals Andrea and I shared were nothing shy of palatably remarkable. It had been a long time since we sat at a South Florida restaurant and were stupefied by a meal. The food was impeccable. I recall being in a slight panic that the culinary experience would be short lived. I prayed that I may have the pleasure of trying every item on the menu before things go array. We had the truffled fries to start, with the worlds best curry aioli. I then had the grilled chicken with roasted potatoes, and Andrea had the rock shrimp calamarata pasta. After an unnecessarily long wait time, confusion regarding our seating arrangements and an additional wait to have our table cleaned, our expectations were rather low. However, all was forgiven the moment we received our plates.
Verde was definitely a major highlight of February, and I surely look forward to enjoying many more meals there.
Recommended dishes:
Honestly, try anything.
Select images © 2013-2014 Donnatilda Tabana.
