Carlos C Olaechea
Former Miami Staff Writer
Carlos C. Olaechea was born in Peru but grew up in Kendall and has lived and worked throughout Miami-Dade County. He has been writing about food since he was 11 years old, starting with restaurant reviews for the Southwood Middle School newspaper and later the FIU student newspaper before moving on to cover the local dining scene for various food blogs. He did his bachelor’s degree in sociology and anthropology at FIU where he developed a deeper appreciation and understanding of Miami’s unique history and culture. FIU is also where he developed a passion for Haitian culture and cuisine and even learned to read and speak Haitian Creole. His experiences at FIU have opened the doors to learning about the various communities that form part of Miami’s vibrant cultural landscape. Carlos later went on to pursue a master’s degree in gastronomy at Boston University and has since been a contributor to the Boston Globe, Food52, Saveur, and Food Network. He has also appeared in several academic publications on food on top of regularly giving culinary presentations and workshops throughout the country on topics ranging from Peruvian cuisine to queer food culture. His deepest passion is organizing immersive culinary experiences, including food tours and pop-up dinners that explore specific local neighborhoods or cultures. Carlos is extremely passionate about Miami’s unique culture and foodways and promoting its cultural assets as viable tourism attractions that can benefit the local economy at the grassroots level. Much of his academic research has been on the development of Miami’s contemporary food culture and what makes it unique within the United States, from how mangos are a symbol of the city’s cultural melting pot to how Cuban coffee became so ubiquitous beyond the Cuban-American community. He is excited to share with readers his favorite places to find an authentic taste of the “Magic City” and get them to explore every corner of the town he truly calls home.
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Page 2Rakachaka Grill Y Mas
Rakachaka Grill y Más in Little Havana serves Nicaraguan classics such as carne asada and gallo pinto.
Sea Grill Restaurant
Sea Grill Restaurant is a Greek seafood spot on 163rd with a great selection of fresh fish.
Divino Ceviche
Divino Ceviche is a good Peruvian restaurant in Coral Gables that serves some hard-to-find Amazonian specialties.
Chayhana Oasis
Chayhana Oasis is an Uzbek spot in North Miami that also serves Russian, Armenian, and Georgian classics.
Blue Marlin Fish House
Blue Marlin Fish House is a seafood restuarant right on the water next to Oleta State Park.
Villa Romana
Villa Romana is an Italian restaurant in Hollywood that also has some great Romanian options.
Krakatoa Indonesian Cuisine
Krakatoa is an Indonesian restaurant in downtown Hollywood that also sells its own tempeh and bottled sauces.
Tastes of Europe Bakery
Tastes of Europe is a Hungarian bakery in Hollywood, Florida that offers langos on Saturdays.
Siciliano's Frozen Custard
Siciliano's Frozen Custard is located in Hollywood, Florida and specializes in frozen custard and hard ice cream with many over-the-top sundae options and ice cream-filled cannoli.
Jack's Hollywood Diner
Jack's Hollywood Diner in Florida's Hollywood is a classic streetcar diner where you can get old-school fare like patty melts, short stacks, and a mean meatloaf.
Sub Center
Sub Center in Hollywood, Florida is an old-school independent sub shop where you can customize your sandwiches with dozens of condiments.
El Novillo Restaurant
El Novillo is an upscale Nicaraguan spot in Sweetwater that serves steak and hard-to-find classics.
Cerro Negro Restaurant
Cerro Negro Restaurant in Fontainebleau is a casual Nicaraguan spot serving great food.
Esther Taboada
Esther Taboada is a bakery in Sweetwater that is known for its beautiful Nicaraguan cakes.
Fritanga Las Piedrecitas
Fritanga las Piedrecitas is a Nicaraguan spot in Hialeah, and one of the neighborhood’s best fritangas.