the layover: miami the list.

anthony Bourdain is anything but boring. He drinks his way around the world looking like a cool, bad-ass, don't give an eff chef and capturing the hearts of men and women alike with his douchiness (Bourdain says in this episode that he's "putting the douche back in Miami" and "it is my right as an American to come to Miami and act like a douche.") and the unabashed ability to both preach and reveal an intimate moment and stay likable and vulnerable.

For the first episode of his newest show, The Layover, he chose "the center of the world" Miami. He opens his first monologue saying he looks for an excuse to come here once or twice a year, and we welcome him with a big ol kiss on the cheek and a girl with her butt cheeks out walking down Ocean Drive.

The premise of the show is how to seize and make the most of a layover in Miami, Bourdain does so by staying at The Raleigh and driving around in a red Corvette. Miami; the only city in the world where no one looks at you twice for driving a Corvette in your late forties. And Bourdain seems to really understand Miami. He speaks well of the Cuban exile community, and understands them. He looks forward to the forthcoming changes in the country post-Castro, and maintains an optimistic attitude about the people and hopefully the place of the future. The guy even goes through the differences between cortadito, colada and cafesito. Hell yeah, Bourdain.

image via travel channel

"Just as Hollywood is not Los Angeles, Miami is not South Beach." Thank you Bourdain, we've been waiting for someone to say that for a while.

Bourdain's Hit List:
La Perrada de Edgar- a Colombian hot dog joint to rival La Moon. 6976 Collins Ave, North Miami Beach

image via travel channel

Las Olas Cafe- 644 6th Street, Miami Beach
El Palacio de los Jugos- he recommends the chicharrones, just don't ask what they are. We say get the jugo de mango.
Miami Ink- 1360 Washington Ave, Miami Beach. where he was tatted by his regular artist. followed by a drink at:
Mac's Club Deuce- 222 14th St, Miami Beach.

image via deucers.com

The Room- 100 Collins Ave
Jai Alai in Allapattah- damn, we've been dying to check this out. Has anyone been and bet? 3500 NW 37th Ave.

• drive around coral gables with a book of Gables then and now to see "when developers had this romantic semi-deranged idea of making Miami like Venice." 
• check out the Art Deco of Grand Theft Auto glory on South Beach. 
• explore the revitalized Wynwood and Design District arts areas. 

Garcia's Seafood- 398 NW N River Drive, Miami.
The River- 650 S. Miami Ave, Miami.
S&S Diner- an old school greasy spoon in Downtown. He orders meatloaf with grits and gravy and peas. 1757 NE 2nd Ave, Miami.
Chez le Bebe- 114 NE 54th St, Miami.
The Bahamian Pot- a Bahamian restaurant since 1989 where the breakfast of boiled fish and grits makes the recommendation list. I guess if you're food the Bahamas you eat fish all day everyday, because why not? 1414 NW 54th St, Miami.
Michael's Genuine- Michael Schwartz joins Bourdain on a boat ride to Stiltsville and then gets some after-hours crispy pig ears plus deviled eggs as a bar snack at Michael's Genuine. 130 NE 40th St, Miami.

image available miamism

Tropical Park Food Truck Court- as the old jingle says, Tropical Park on Palmetto and Bird Road.
Sakaya Kitchen, Dim Sum A Go Go- he gets the crackling duck herb sandwich, where the potato bun makes this totally irresistible and Bourdain agrees.  3401 N Miami Ave, Midtown.
Grill Master Food Truck- for fritas.
Pubbelly- what is there not to love about Pubbelly? Nothing. In fact, we've been holding back on a full write-up because we just don't know if the English language can handle Pubbelly. But it will, just wait. In the meantime- tartar with a soft cooked quail egg and toast with goat cheese. Hellz yeah.
Martini Bar at the Raleigh Hotel- to close out the evening and that's your Miami layover folks, for those of you on permanent layover, check out Bourdain's recommendations that might be right in your hood and you've never been.