In order to get the best of the best of Latino Miami in 2008, here at Remezcla we tapped into the minds of people whose taste buds we trust and opinions we care about. We hit up a few scenesters to form our own group of panelists and get the deets on their favorite Latinocentric spots and people in their hoods. and even when we did this survey separately, it seems there are a few things we can all agree about!! Read on for more and feel free to post your own and let us know how you rate your street food, DJs, and the best spot to get hot dog colombianos.
Musician, Performer, Calle 8 ambassador
Hardest working (local) band: Afrobeta
Best after-hours spot: La Palma on 8th Street and 61st Avenue.
Breakthrough (visual) artist: Ronnie Rivera from Lucha Workshop
Best meal under $10: Mary’s Coin Laundry (Laundromat and cafeteria with Chinese-Cuban food).
Most inauthentic “Latin” restaurant: David’s Cafe II on South Beach. They don’t have “Batido de Trigo” – what a joke! Batido de Trigo is an excellent wheat shake made with cereal. They got it at Sergio’s, Mary’s, La Palma, Rey de las Fritas, but at David’s Cafe II, they stare at me like I’m from outer space when I order it. Highly upsetting.
Wish we had more pastelitos de coco in the 305.
Afrobeta (self-described music whores and mueca makers)
Hardest working (local) band: Bachaco
Best on the ones and twos (local DJ): DS363 of the Deuce Crew .
Breakthrough (visual) artist: Director Franco Parente.
Most innovative cultural program: Afro-Roots Festival.
Best meal under $10: Lost and Found Restaurant at 36th St. and NW 2nd Ave.
Best spot for drinks: Colt 45s at Vagabond for Shake Thursdays.
Photographer for NefariousGirl.com
Hardest working (local) band: Modernage is everywhere hustling their stuff.
Best after-hours spot: Space is the place, but the best after hours are those that are under the radar, so I really can’t share since they are illegal.
Most innovative cultural program: Art Basel’s stepsister events like the underground art spaces that pop up during that week.
Best street food: Alcapurrias on Calle Ocho.
Best meal under $10: El Atlacatl – yummy pupusas!
Local Latino discovery of the year: I found a great hat maker – she’s from Spain and AMAZING: Mar Cano.
Music Editor at Univision.com
Song of the year: “No Hay Nadie Como Tú” by Calle 13 and Cafe Tacvba.
Hardest working (local) band: Spam All Stars and Locos Por Juana
Latinosploitation film of the year: El Orfanato
Best meal under $10: La Moon (hot dogs colombianos.)
Most inauthentic “Latin” restaurant: Cualquier restarante mexicano de Miami.
Best spot for drinks: Boteco (Brazilian bar in North Bay Village.)
Wish we had more rock gigs, Latin films, and real Mexican food in the 305.
Drummer/Producer/Composer
Hardest working (local) band: Suenalo Sound System
Best on the ones and twos: DJ Pauer
Best street food: La Moon.
Most inauthentic “Latin” restaurant: Francesco in Coral Gables.
Best spot for drinks: The Room.
Best after-hours spot: Deuce Bar
Local Latino discovery of the year: Songwriter/producer Balta Hinojosa.
Wish we had more alternative live music in the 305.
Singer, producer
Hardest working (local) band: Locos Por Juana.…these guys don’t sleep.
Latinosploitation film of the year: Perro como Perro.
Breakthrough (visual) artist: People’s Republic of Milcho
Most innovative cultural program: JVC Miami Jazz Festival, where you can actually hear a lot of chord changes in a song.
Best street food: Tripleta. MMMM..
Best meal under $10: Chicken Kitchen, simple but effective.
Wish we had El Hamburguito de San Juan in the 305.
CECILIA ELIZALDE
Producer, Journalist, Remezcla Estaffer
Song of the year: “Tarde o Temprano” by Tommy Torres.
Hardest working (local) band: Locos Por Juana.
Latinosploitation film of the year: La Misma Luna.
Best after-hours spot: On weekends, Tapas & Tintos.
Best Latin hair stylist: Jeremy (Argentinean) at Rocco Donna.
Local Latino discovery of the year: Dolores But Call Me Lolita restaurant.