By Roxana Casanueva
@rcasanueva_
It’s freezing! And for us in Miami, that’s basically anything cooler than 70 degrees As a cold front blasts its way across the eastern part of the country people are bundling up. But, winter in Miami is different. As we donned our wool coats, scarves and boots, tourists visiting from up north were spotted wearing shorts and t-shirts.
We are definitely not complaining. For us Miamians, 50 degree weather means the opportunity to take out those fuzzy coats from the back of our closet that have been collecting dust all year long. It also means to getting in line for some of the best fried churros and hot chocolate in the world. Miami hot chocolate, which is a recipe that is rumored to originate in the 1500s after Christopher Columbus introduced chocolate to Spain’s Queen Isabella, is thicker than traditional hot chocolate and not as sweet.
If you’re looking for a place to partake in this tradition, here are some places that will warm you up on a chilly day, serving fresh churros and hot chocolate.
La Palma Cuban Restaurant is a 24-hour spot in Calle Ocho that has been serving hot chocolate and churros since 1979. On a cold night in Miami, as the temperature drops, the line at La Palma gets longer. Churro lovers all line up to get a taste of crispy churros and some rich and creamy hot chocolate to dip their churros into.
When you finally reach la ventanita, you see a sign in Spanish that reads “Miami’s Most Famous Churros” right next to your batch of churros and steaming hot chocolate. In fact, this is a Miami staple. When the temperature drops to the sixties, the restaurant goes from selling 40-60 churros per day to about 2,000. Check this place out and you’ll see why customers keep coming back.
6091 SW 8 St., Miami
Oh My Gosh! Brigadeiros is a Brazilian sweets shop. Instead of churros, they serve Brigadeiros, which are brazilian dessert made of condensed milk. Not only do they serve those exquisite bite-sized desserts, they also offer a variety of hot drinks. From a nutella cappuccino to an old-fashioned hot chocolate, they serve the drinks in a cup with foam, sprinkles, and marshmallows.
2205 SW 23rd Ave, Miami
Churromania is located at the mall. You can have an order of 8 or 12 churros with either chocolate or dulce de leche drizzled on top. These churros are arm-long sticks, covered with your choice of sweetened condensed milk, guava and cream cheese, nutella, chocolate or dulce de leche.
1665 W. 49th St., Hialeah
Ariete is a spot in Coconut Grove that serves their famous churro doughnuts and hot chocolate for only $9.00. This spot features bits of Cuba and France into every dish. End your meal with some hot cocoa and churro doughnuts and you won’t stop thinking about those sweet treats.
3540 Main Hwy., Coconut Grove
P.S. There is nothing wrong with American style hot chocolate. In fact, sometimes that is just the kind of sweet chocolate milk you’re in the mood for. You will find the best, traditional hot chocolate, at Pines Ice Arena. Head over with some friends and skate for an hour or two and don’t miss out on their hot chocolate or fresh fried churros.
