Think Outside the Dessert Table: 23 Fresh Food Stations

Forget tallying chicken vs. beef or fretting over the cost of a sit-down dinner. Food stations are a creative way to showcase the character of the new Mr. and Mrs. while wowing guests and pleasing an array of picky palates. Let guests feast their eyes and bellies on late-night nibbles, like French fries and sliders, or exquisite starters such as oysters and ceviche. If you hail from the South, why not amuse guests with shrimp and grits or barbecue sliders paired with a smoky bourbon. We’ve got 23 stylish, sophisticated and downright fabulous food stations to share with you and your guests’ taste buds.

1. Pancakes and Waffles: Have you ever thought about having your soiree in the morning? Or maybe you and the groom just absolutely love brunch? Picture this: A waffle bar complete with bowls of fresh fruit, dollops of whipped cream and a drizzling of local maple syrup. Add in mini quiches, piles of bacon and steamy hash browns. Do it! (via Weddings in Winnipeg)

2. Buttermilk Biscuits: Keeping on with the brunch wedding, now we look to the South for a little down-home inspiration. Marvel guests with an assortment of buttermilk biscuits filled with smoked turkey or honey ham and then pair them with your favorite sauces and jams. (via Andre Winfrye Events)

3. Shrimp and Grits: A homey Lowcountry fave sure to make anyone smile with each creamy, buttery and smoky bite. (via Kathy G. and Company)

4. Mimosas: Your wedding reception will surely pop with bright hues from fresh fruits and a little bubbly. This colorful mimosa station sets the stage for the perfect wedding toast. (via The Party Dress)

5. Charcuterie and Crostini: A feast for the eyes and the bellies of reveling guests — charcuterie, olives, dips, spreads and crusty bread… by now your mouth is watering. (via Heirloom LA)

6. Caprese Cones: A handheld spin on an Italian classic — charm guests with a delightful display of caprese salad, served inside of a savory, waffle cone. (via Luxirare)

7. Pizza: Good food, great drinks and amazing friends top the charts. Make everyone’s day with a slice of their favorite pie… pizza pie, that is. (via Style Me Pretty)

8. Pasta: A pasta station with assorted noodles, sauces and toppings ensure that everyone eats exactly what they want. Buon appetito! (via Sarah Whitmeyer)

9. Wine and Cheese Pairing: Who doesn’t love wine with cheese? Take this classic pairing a step further and set up a station that matches the bride and groom’s favorite fromage and vino combinations. (via Alchemy)

10. Short Rib Sliders and Bourbon: Speaking of perfect pairs, what’s not to love about a smoky barbecue slider and a swig of bourbon to wash it all down? Serve your fave barbecue in a mini slider alongside a shot of a smoky bourbon. (via The Bridal Circle)

11. Tacos and Tequila: Finger foods are nothing new but marrying them with a mini cocktail is! Say, salud to the bride and groom with tacos and tequila shooters. (via Love and Lobster)

12. Chicken and Waffles: Honey-drizzled buttermilk waffles, crispy fried chicken and sweet maple syrup make for an excellent late-night food station that will surely gratify your guests. (via Nonsense and Sensibility)

13. Sliders and Fries: Do you want fries with that? If your guests are going to be dancing well into the night, be sure to replenish them with this American staple: Mini sliders and fries. (via A Style Collective)

14. French Fry Bar: Speaking of fries, keep your wedding night fryin’ high with your favorite deep-fried combo. We’re not talking plain old French fries and ketchup. Bring on the crinkle cut, shoestring, wedge, sweet potato or regular potato fries, and don’t stop there. Complete your French fry station with toppings and dips like truffle oil, aioli, sea salt, blue cheese, gravy, chili and don’t forget to pass the ketchup! (via Southern Bells Wedding)

15. Grilled Cheese: One can never turn down comfort food, especially if it includes ooey gooey cheese. (via A Beautiful Mess)

16. Mini Bahn Mi: It’s everyone’s favorite sandwich, even if they don’t know it yet. (via Nonsense and Sensibility)

17. Pad Thai: Offer your guests a little bit of everything and spice things up with a slurp-worthy Asian noodle bar. (via Creative)

18. Sushi: Freshen up wedding food with a gorgeous display of hand rolls and nigiri. (via Wedding Window)

19. Seafood Ceviche: Residing seaside? Offer a local, seafood ceviche complete with the bride and groom’s favorite catch. If you happen to have a destination wedding in the tropics, showcase the location with fresh mango, avocado and crunchy corn chips. (via Pure Joy Catering)

20. Clambake: Just like a day at the beach — fun, flavorful and carefree. A clambake food station is sure to make a splash. (via Catherine Ray)

21. Oysters on the Half Shell: Delight guests with the decadence of raw oysters. The subtle meatiness and briny juice make it hard to have just a few! Complete your raw bar with a unique mignonette, granita or serve alongside individual bottles of Tabasco. (via Southern Weddings)

22. Whiskey Tasting: Some grooms have a cake but really distinguished grooms have a whiskey bar. Outfit yours with a bartender that knows their stuff and can offer little tastes to parched guests. (via Harwell Photography)

23. Champagne: What’s a wedding without a little bubbly? Toast to your day with a classy and fun bubbly station. This one is particularly effervescent. (via 100 Layer Cake)

Fill us in on your wedding day food choices in the comments below!

While I cannot see the future, I did accurately predict Taylor Swift's new album when she started walking around NYC in the cutest academia outfits last spring. It was giving college professor, it was giving Tumblr, and most importantly, it was giving The Tortured Poets Department. The album is dropping April 19, and while Swifties are busy whipping up Taylor Swift cocktails for their album release parties, Taylor's been giving us a ton of Easter eggs I think are already pointing us to TS12. Here's everything you need to know about my musings!!

What are all the 2's Taylor Swift keeps referencing?

Image via Taylor Swift/UMG/YouTube

After holding up a lot of number 3's throughout the Midnights era, Taylor Swift has been intentionally referencing the number 2 during The Tortured Poets Department. She's played mashups of two different surprise songs, held up a two during her Grammys acceptance speech, and there's a countdown on her site ending at 2PM EST ahead of the TTPD release. Mix in the peace sign & double book copies at the TTPD library installation *and* her latest tweet, and it's clear that the number 2 and TTPD are now inseparable!

While we did end up getting a second album, I do think this is all part of something even bigger. From the pocket watch in the "Bejeweled" music video promising "exile ends in 3...2...1..." to a new TTPD video showing Taylor's completed two out of three tallies (plus the viral "321" error message on Taylor's website), IMO, it's clear we're in the middle of a countdown.

If Midnights was 3 and The Tortured Poets Department is 2, then my guess is that TS12 will feature endless references to the number 1. And then Taylor will release the album that is arguably one of her most important: TS13.

What does 13 mean for Taylor Swift?

Image via Larry Busacca/Getty Images

13 is a very important number for Taylor Swift. Her birthday is on December 13, and she told MTV 13 is her lucky number because "I turned 13 on Friday the 13th. My first album went gold in 13 weeks. My first No. 1 song had a 13-second intro. Every time I’ve won an award I’ve been seated in either the 13th seat, the 13th row, the 13th section or row M, which is the 13th letter."

Since the beginning of her career, Taylor Swift has paid special attention to the number, which totally warrants a huge countdown to TS13.

What's with all the plane references?

Image via Big Machine Records/YouTube

In addition to all the numbers, there's one other thing Taylor has referenced the last few years: planes. She's name-dropped everything from manifests and co-pilots to timetables (which charts departures and arrivals of planes, buses, and trains), and @heather.hypnotic on TikTok ties everything into the "Look What You Made Me Do?" music video.

At the end of the music video, a number of different Taylors from different eras stand in front of a plane with "Reputation" written across the side. "Call it the lost album, call it the Karma album, call it the original TS6, I think this is the one [in the countdown]," Heather says.

Whether TS12 is the supposedly unreleased rock album Swifties have dubbed Karma, or a separate album entirely, Taylor is definitely cooking up something!

What is the 12th Taylor Swift album?

Image via Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Considering we're still in the Tortured Poets Department era, we don't have any info on TS12 yet. But just like the shift from Midnights' 70s vibe to Taylor Swift's current Ralph Lauren-esque outfits signaled the beginning of TS11, any more aesthetic shakeups later this year or next year could signal a new era.

This one Reddit theory suggests TS12 could have a golden theme based on Taylor's gold outfits, accessories, and nail polish. Considering two of my favorite Taylor Swift songs are "Daylight" and "Invisible String" (both of which talk about love being golden), I am more than okay with this theory ;).

What is Taylor Swift's newest release?

Image via UMG/Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift's newest album after 1989 (Taylor's Version) is The Tortured Poets Department, which drops April 19, 2024. Based on the pattern of two re-recordings then one new album she's set up, it looks like we could get Reputation (Taylor's Version), Taylor Swift (Taylor's Version), and then TS12! But we know Taylor loves to shake things up, so she could totally pivot!

What are the 4 unreleased Taylor songs?

Image via Terry Wyatt/Getty Images

The original edition of The Tortured Poets Department has four deluxe songs: "The Manuscript," "The Bolter," "The Albatross," and "The Black Dog."

Do you think Taylor Swift has already planned the TS12 era? Do you think she's counting down to something bigger? Let us know on Facebook and check out The Taylor Swift Boyfriends You Love, And The Ones You Didn't Know She Dated for even more info on your favorite popstar.

Lead image via YouTube/CBS/Paramount

We are now two for two on expecting Taylor Swift to announce Reputation (Taylor's Version) during an acceptance speech and getting an album announcement instead. After showing up to the 2022 VMAs in a "Look What You Made Me Do"-inspired outfit and announcing Midnights, Taylor Swift wore a black and white ensemble on the 2024 Grammys red carpet before telling the world her new album The Tortured Poets Department was on its way!

And while accepting the 2024 iHeart Radio Music Award for Artist of the Year, Taylor also promises the rest of 2024 will be just as exciting as 2023. "We have so many exciting things ahead of us," the 1989 (Taylor's Version)singer says after thanking iHeart and the fans. "Most importantly, I have a brand new album called The Tortured Poets Department, which comes out on April 19. I cannot wait to share it with you...I just can't wait to keep having fun with you guys because we have a lot of exciting things coming up."

One of those exciting things includes a music video, which Taylor revealed in a "TTPD Timetable" Instagram video. This first music video premieres April 19 at 8PM EST for "Fortnight." Here's everything else we know about the new Taylor Swift album. (And everything you need to know about Taylor Swift (Taylor's Version) too ;)).

What is TTPD the Anthology?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

Taylor Swift released the full version of TTPD with The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology. After all those 2 references, some fans thought we'd get a Taylor Swift book, while others wondered if it was part of the TS12 countdown. Instead, it was a double album that features 31 songs instead of the initial 17!

How many songs will be on The Tortured Poets Department?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

Taylor Swift dropped The Tortured Poets Department 's first song list February 5. "I Can Do It With A Broken Heart" is totally referencing Taylor Swift's Eras Tour performances following her split from Joe Alwyn (you can see her crying during the set), while "Florida!!!" is all about using the southern state as an escape. Taylor Swift's dad Scott Swift recently told fans he's most excited for Swifties to hear the title track and "Florida!!!"

While we were excited for these tracks, Taylor surprised us with even more at 2AM! The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology has all the songs from the original album, plus 15 more. Here's the full tracklist for TS11:

  1. Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)
  2. The Tortured Poets Department
  3. My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys
  4. Down Bad
  5. So Long, London
  6. But Daddy I Love Him
  7. Fresh Out the Slammer
  8. Florida!!! (feat. Florence + The Machine)
  9. Guilty as Sin?
  10. Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?
  11. I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)
  12. loml
  13. I Can Do It With A Broken Heart
  14. The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived
  15. The Alchemy
  16. Clara Bow
  17. The Black Dog
  18. imgonnagetyouback
  19. The Albatross
  20. Chloe or Sam or Sophie or Marcus
  21. How Did It End?
  22. So High School
  23. I Hate It Here
  24. thanK you aIMee
  25. I Look in People's Windows
  26. The Porphecy
  27. Cassandra
  28. Peter
  29. The Bolter
  30. Robin
  31. The Manuscript

What is a tortured poets department?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

Taylor Swift has spent years talking about her anxiety, her sleepless nights, and her emotions. "My muses, acquired like bruises / My talismans and charms / The tick, tick, tick of love bombs / My veins of pitch black ink," she writes in her official Instagram post. "All's fair in love and poetry."

As far as the name, it looks like The Tortured Poets Department could be referencing her ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn's group chat name — "The Tortured Man Club" with Paul Mescal (who starred in Normal People while Joe starred Conversations With Friends. Both series are based on Sally Rooney books).

Taylor Swift is also making major connections to the "poetry" aspect of TTPD because ahead of the album release, she gave us a limited library installation pop-upfull of Easter eggs and references!

When is The Tortured Poets Department release date?

Image via Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

The Tortured Poets Department dropped on April 19, 2024. Ahead of the release, Taylor Swift sent fans on a scavenger hunt to gather clues about the album. @eurosweetheart on TikTok points out that on Apple Music, certain song lyrics from Taylor's discography featured random capital letters. But when the letters were strung together, they formed words! The final message was “We hereby conduct this post mortem.”

At the Eras Tour shows in Tokyo, Taylor Swift explained when she started working on TTPD. “I’ve been working on Tortured Poets since right after I turned in Midnights,” she said onstage. “So, you turn in an album months in advance…and I’ve been working on it for about two years. I kept working on it throughout the U.S. tour and when it was perfect, in my opinion, when it was good enough for you, I finished it.”

"Soon you'll get to hear it, soon we'll get to experience it together," she continued. "I'm over the moon about the fact that you guys care about my music...Everyone’s like, ‘Why do you make so many albums?’ And I’m like, ‘Man, because I love it! I love it so much! I’m having fun, leave me alone.'”

The brand new album follows Speak Now (Taylor's Version) and 1989 (Taylor's Version). When Midnights was announced after Fearless (Taylor's Version) and Red (Taylor's Version), I wondered whether she'd have a two rerecordings, one new album pattern and it looks like that's what we're getting!

What is Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

Taylor Swift's new album (which is also referred to as TS11) is called The Tortured Poets Department. Taylor Swift announced the album while accepting the award for Best Pop Album at the 2024 Grammys. Just like "Daylight" at the end of Lover sets up Midnights, I think "Dear Reader" sets up The Tortured Poets Department.

In honor of the eclipse on April 8, Taylor Swift posted the first lyrics from TS11! "Crowd goes wild at her fingertips // Half moonshine // Full eclipse," the lyric post (which ended up being from "Clara Bow") reads. "The first line makes you think of someone who’s famous (Clara Bow was an actress) and...moonshine was a type of alcohol that was popular during prohibition during the 1920s which is when Clara Bow was famous," one comment reads.

Taylor's official announcement features even more beautiful language that evokes the same emotion "The Lakes" does, and TTPD is very similar to Folklore and Evermore in terms of lyrics, but the sound reminds me of 1989. It also has ties to Reputation.

"I think the two albums are sisters albums, but in like an opposite way," one Reddit user says. "Reputation is all black, this one is going to be all white and softly coded." Another agrees: "Reputation is presented as a dark album but is truly a love album...This one is presented as soft and white but I bet the lyrics will be devastating."

TS11 has the same lyrical prowess as songs like "Would've, Should've, Could've," The National's "The Alcott" (on which Taylor's a featured artist), and "You're Losing Me." Taylor is all about looking past appearances and telling a complex story, and The Tortured Poets Department will be no different. Just like Reputation is an edgy, glittery, emotionally-charged version of the beginning of her relationship with ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn, I totally agree that TTPD looks grounded, airbrushed, and dreamy from the outside, but the lyrics are SAD.

During her Eras Tour show in Sydney, Australia, Taylor played another round of suspicious surprise songs. While sitting at the piano, Taylor Swift takes her earpiece out and calls attention to the keyboard. "Do you hear that?" she says (via TikTok). "My damn keyboard's playing a synth sound." She then does what she almost always does when dropping an Easter egg: she smirks.

"That sound is how the album starts, mark my words," one comment reads. Another says, "That smirk tells me everything I need to know."

Will The Tortured Poets Department be explicit?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

There are 7 explicit songs on the original The Tortured Poets Department: "The Tortured Poets Department," "Down Bad," "But Daddy I Love Him," "Florida!!! (feat. Florence + The Machine)," "loml," "I Can Do It With A Broken Heart," and "The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived."

On The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology, "The Black Dog," "thanK you aIMee," "Cassandra," and "The Bolter" are also explicit.

What is The Albatross about?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

During one of her Eras Tour shows in Sydney, Australia, Taylor Swift announced a new version of The Tortured Poets Department featuring exclusive bonus track "The Albatross." This new album already has some crazy track titles — all with pretty noteworthy meanings.

According to Collins Dictionary, if you call someone an Albatross, "they cause you great problems from which you cannot escape, or they prevent you from doing what you want to do," while a Bolter could refer to someone bolting out of a relationship (or bolting from a restaurant to a car like in this viral clip 🤨).

Meanwhile "The Alchemy" refers to the continual process of trying to turn something into gold — remember how Taylor Swift spent 6 years saying her relationship with Joe Alwyn was golden? Buckle up Swifties, TS11 is one wild ride.

What does loml mean?

Image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

At first glance, the twelfth song on The Tortured Poets Department, "loml," means "love of my life." Some fans were wondering if the song was a nod to Harry Styles since his Harry's House finale track is "Love of My Life" (the album also features a track named "Daylight" which is another funny connection to Taylor Swift). But Taylor ends the song saying he's the "loss of my life" and I will never be the same.

How can I buy The Tortured Poets Department?

Image via Taylor Swift store

You can order a bunch of different versions of The Tortured Poets Department on Taylor Swift's website right now, includingThe Tortured Poets Department CD + Bonus Track "The Manuscript" and The Tortured Poets Department CD + Bonus Track "The Manuscript".

Will The Tortured Poets Department have any featured artists?

Image via Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Yes, The Tortured Poets Department will feature Florence + The Machine on the song "Florida!!!" and Post Malone on the song "Fortnight." And after Taylor Swift teased a variety of collaborations by posting handwritten lyrics from artists like Harry Styles and Lorde, Swifties wondered if The Tortured Poets Department will be the "collab album" we never got.

Another clue that leads me to believe this is true is the fact that the title of this album is so much longer than her other titles — and she refers to herself as "Chairman" of the department. Who are all the constituents?! Are they all the same artists who left Scooter Braun's management last year? Only time will tell, because as far as I'm concerned, surprises aren't out of the question until the TS11 era is over!👀

What is the theory of Taylor Swift's double album?

Image via Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Throughout her stay in Sydney, Australia for the Eras Tour, Taylor Swift dropped lots — and I mean lots — of twos. @v_swiftie_ points out that in addition to holding up the number two while announcing The Tortured Poets Department, she's been playing more surprise song mashups than normal, and Taylor Nation has been posting Instagram stories featuring the number 2 instead of the number 13. And it turns out, we were right about this leading to a double album! Taylor dropped the second half of TTPD — The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology — at 2AM EST.

Are you excited for The Tortured Poets Department? What kinds of collabs or songs are you hoping for? Let us know in the comments and check out these Taylor Swift Disney Movie Posters Inspired By Her Songs for more fun content!

Lead image via Taylor Swift/Instagram

This post has been updated.


Imagine sipping Champagne above a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, or indulging in a heavenly spa treatment with the Manhattan skyline in view. Even if your wallet can't quite stretch to a full-blown luxury getaway, sprinkling a touch of luxe into your travels can turn an ordinary trip into a memorable adventure. That idea sparked our new series, Flights of Fancy, where we take you along for a trip to the luxury experiences around the cities we adore.

The list of Miami’s luxury experiences is seemingly endless from cruising around on a stylish yacht to helicoptering over the skyline or springing for bottle service at a glitzy nightclub. Of course, not everyone has the big budget needed to enjoy the high life that Miami offers, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a small taste of it on your next visit.

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If your wallet doesn’t lend itself to a fully luxurious vacation, leave room for at least one splurge-worthy activity that’s sure to be a highlight of the trip. As a South Florida resident and self-proclaimed foodie, I can say without hesitation that the rich culinary scene is one of Miami’s best features, and its many Michelin-starred restaurants offer the perfect, often pricey indulgence.

Photo: Pedro Mendoza Chadid

Choosing just one restaurant to experience might be tough, but for a truly unique meal that will titillate your taste buds, provide social media-approved photo ops, and even let you play with your food, then I recommend Elcielo Miami.

Colombian Chef Juan Manuel Barrientos first opened Elcielo in Medellin and Bogota before bringing his culinary talents stateside to Miami and then to Washington, D.C. The menu changes seasonally and also varies from one location to the next, but one thing they all have in common is that Elcielo is about more than just incredibly flavored food, layered textures and artistic presentations. Believe me, every single dish is a full sensory experience, but what makes them stand out even more is that they each tell a story about a different region of Colombia.

Photo: Adahlia Cole Photography

There are a couple of ways you can enjoy a meal at Elcielo Miami. To savor the full extent of Chef Barrientos’ creativity, opt for The Experience, a multi-course tasting menu featuring anywhere from 18 to 22 “moments'' for the price of $289 pp. Optional wine ($198), champagne ($168), cocktail ($80) or mocktail ($60) pairings can also be added to The Experience. For an abridged version, the bar experience menu offers four cocktails paired with three appetizers and a dessert for $138 pp.

Photo: Pedro Mendoza Chadid

Elcielo Miami is located in the Brickell neighborhood, tucked away in an inconspicuous space facing the Miami River. If you weren’t looking for it, you probably wouldn’t know it’s there, and that adds to the exclusive feel of this restaurant, which earned one Michelin star in 2022 and has retained it ever since.

Photo: Adahlia Cole Photography

The Experience was divided into three stages: snacks, main course, and dessert. To open our appetites, we were greeted with a smoky-sweet welcome shot made of tamarind, aguardiente (a very popular Colombian spirit), and mezcal topped with a pineapple chip. 

Photo: Adahlia Cole Photography

That was followed by a refreshing sorbet that combined the flavors of soursop, champagne, and white rum. With our palettes cleansed and our appetites ready, we moved on to the snacks.

Photo: Adahlia Cole Photography

Offering an elevated version of the Colombian buñuelo, a deep fried doughy ball with cheese, our first snack was a truffle buñuelo filled with creamy porcini mushrooms and truffle, topped with a black garlic emulsion. We had to eat it in one bite to avoid losing any of the warm, juicy filling, but that one bite was one of my favorites of the whole night.

Photo: Jessica Poitevien

Another snack I particularly enjoyed was the empanada filled with rice in a shrimp broth that was prepared using techniques from Colombia’s Guajira region. A delicate dollop of Meyer lemon foam graced the top of this empanada and though it immediately melted in my mouth, it left behind a citrusy punch that perfectly complemented the other flavors.

Photo: Jessica Poitevien

For the next step in this culinary journey, be sure to have your cameras ready. It’s the signature “Chocotherapy.” During this spa-like moment, our server poured warm chocolate ganache over our hands, encouraging us to rub it between our fingers before adding some sugar and coffee grinds to help exfoliate. Then we got to lick it all off.

The idea behind Chocotherapy is to help guests connect with their inner child, remembering times when they perhaps baked brownies, got a bit messy and licked the bowl clean. This was definitely a big highlight of the night not only because I love chocolate, but because it was such an unexpected and playful thing to do, especially at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Upscale eateries can sometimes feel unapproachable or a bit pretentious, but not Elcielo. Everything is thoughtfully explained, including tips on exactly how to savor the dish when it might not be so obvious, so anyone can partake and enjoy this truly hands-on experience with the food.

Photo: Jessica Poitevien

We revved up for the main dishes with the Tree of Life bread service, inspired by the chef’s trip to the Amazon. This flatbread, which is made to look like a tree, is made with yucca, mozzarella, paprika and basil, served with a toasted butter that had a subtle sweetness and a basil an oregano and cilantro sour cream that I could happily eat by the gallon. Call me basic, but that bread was another star of the meal for me.

Photo: Adahlia Cole Photography

The biggest dishes of the night were a yucca gnocchi topped with sweet plantain honey, served over pecorino cheese foam with slices of black winter truffle, followed by perfectly cooked lamb seasoned with Colombian spices and beer, served with goat cheese sour cream, sawtooth cilantro emulsion and red wine reduction.

Photo: Adahlia Cole Photography

Desserts were equally inventive as the rest of the meal, but my favorite was the coffee field moment. Small coffee plants were brought to the table as our server carefully prepared the perfect cup of Colombian coffee — a serving so smooth that it didn’t need sugar. And I always need sugar in my coffee. As we sipped on the coffee, liquid nitrogen was used to fill our table with fog, imitating the morning fog that often envelopes Colombia’s coffee fields. This was accompanied by a hazelnut truffle topped with a yellow butterfly and a bite of lulo gel and white chocolate cream made to look like the bright green emeralds that Colombia is known for.

Photo: Jessica Poitevien

By the end of the meal, we were certainly full, but most importantly, impressed with the creativity and thoughtful presentations of every single dish. If you can only splurge on one thing in Miami, make it this special dinner.

El cielo is the Spanish word for heaven, and that’s exactly where our taste buds were after The Experience.


Follow along for all your summer travel needs with our Flights of Fancy series and Jetset Journeys series.