Miami South Beach | Cuban Food + Ice Cream🍦

Spent the entire day lounging on South Beach—from the first glimmer of dawn till the sunset painted the sea red. The sand was warm as a sun-baked quilt, and the sea breeze carried a salty heat, making even daydreaming feel like a serious affair～ 🍴 Lunch: A Cuban Surprise at Havana Vieja By the time we wandered to Havana Vieja near the beach, hunger had hit hard enough to eat a cow. This Cuban spot was tucked around a corner, with colorful umbrellas outside, and the menu was full of Spanish words that looked like a puzzle. Ordering blindly from the pictures, though, turned out to be a great call: The Cuban Sandwich was easily the star of the day! The golden-brown Cuban bread had a crispy edge that crunched when bitten into, while the Swiss cheese inside had melted into a gooey mess. Salty ham and braised beef, soaked through with sauce, mixed with the bread’s wheatiness in a flavor explosion. The only tiny regret? It could’ve used a kick—adding a few jalapeños would’ve taken it to the next level with that perfect zing～ In the seafood platter, the lobster tail and octopus stole the show: the lobster meat was so tender it bounced, with a sweet sea-freshness, while the octopus was charred outside and tender inside, with a smoky grill flavor seeping into every fiber. Sadly, the shrimp were a letdown—their texture was a bit dry, like chewing rubber. 🍌The whole plantain side still didn’t win me over. Boiled until mushy with a bland sweetness, it was no match for the crispy fried plantain chips I’d had before. That crunch is definitely the better way to enjoy plantains! 🍦 Post-Meal Sweet: A Lifesaver at Tri Gelato After lunch, the heat was melting us—waves of warmth rolled off the pavement, so we ducked into Tri Gelato to cool down. Tucked in an alley, the shop had a sign reading "Artisanal Italian Gelato," and the freezer held scoops a🦃s bright as a paint palette: The Brownie flavor was a total winner! You could feel the creamy resistance when scooping—authentic Italian gelato texture that tasted like "melting chocolate brownies." Rich cocoa with a hint of bitterness, followed by caramel sweetness, never cloying. I’d been burned before in the US by "gelato" that tasted like sorbet, but this had that smoothness I remembered from Italy～🍌 It’s pricey—four scoops came to nearly $30 😂 But in 90°F heat, watching the gelato melt slowly on my tongue, coolness sliding down my throat to my stomach, even my sweat slowed. That happiness is priceless! 🌴 Beach Bits: Iguanas, Muscles & Shark Hype Walking the beach yesterday, I spotted a 2-foot iguana with scales so green they shimmered in the sun. It crawled slowly under a palm tree, ignoring the onlookers, totally channeling "I run this beach" energy. Tropical animals are definitely bolder—even the lizards are chill here. Passing Muscle Beach was a shock: a dozen pull-up bars and dumbbells lined the sand, with piles of weights like small mountains. A tank-top clad girl did pull-ups, her six-pack rippling, sunlight highlighting her arm muscles. She looked so cool I couldn’t help but stare. The most thrilling moment? Swimming back to shore yesterday when three Spanish-speaking guys yelled "shark! shark!" and sprinted up with their surfboards, sending everyone in the water scram🦃bling. Lifeguards later said it was probably a nurse shark—gentle, but in the moment, it felt like a Jaws sequel! A day at South Beach, topped with spicy Cuban food and icy gelato—even the sea breeze tasted sweet. #MiamiBeachDiaries #CubanFoodReview #ItalianGelato #TravelTales