#ThankYouMiami for #YelpsBigBite in #LittleHaiti

Last night Yelp Miami took over the Little Haiti Cultural Center for a culinary showdown of epic proportions: Yelp's Big Bite. The premise of the event is simple genius. Yelp convenes Miami's top culinary professionals to showcase their best food and invites Yelp users to sample and vote for the "Best Bite" of the competition. That translated into the #ThankYouMiami team, including our new intern Celeste (welcome, Celeste!) eating our way through over 15 different dishes and desserts in the course of three hours. As we proceed to recount the deliciousness we consumed, remember we just came off of illness-induced starvation and that these are some of the first "normal" (a/k/a non-bland) foods we've eaten in two weeks.

#ThankYouMiami for...Irish Whiskey?

We're ba-ack! Thank you, thank you, thank you for baring with us during the great illness-induced blogging hiatus of 2015. We really needed the time to let the Cipro sink in and recover from whatever bug we caught in the DR. And, while we still have no clue what in the world made us sick, we're feeling 90% better and ready to rock and roll. In fact, yesterday we even made an exception in our Cipro regiment to taste test some Irish whiskey on your behalf.

We know what you're thinking: Irish whiskey? In Miami? Turns out, amid the numerous bottles of booze neatly shelved at your favorite Miami watering hole, Irish whiskey awaits—and not just any Irish whiskey but the Irish whiskey, Tullamore Dew. We were let in on the secret by our newfound Irish friend, Tim Herlihy. As a Tullamore Dew ambassador, Tim is an extremely charismatic individual and an expert on all things "Tully" (as in, he can look at a glass and tell you which whiskey you're drinking within Tullamore Dew's range).

For yesterday's taste test, Tim introduced us to four whiskeys currently offered by Tullamore Dew. We were partial to the Tullamore D.E.W. Original and the 12 Year Old Special Reserve. The original blend, Tim agrees, is the most classic and a good first-choice for regular consumption (that is, whenever you feel like having a drink just because). It is also the best choice for cocktails like the tipperary (Irish whiskey, green chartreuse, and sweet vermouth) or the Irish coffee (hot coffee, Irish whiskey, and sugar). The 12 Year Old Special Reserve is super smooth neat or on the rocks but, like the more robust single malt and Phoenix, is best saved for special occasions.

Tim also shared with us an abundance of Irish whiskey knowledge. He took us from the early 1800s, when Daniel E. Williams ("the man behind the D.E.W.") began his journey from just another distillery worker to distillery owner, through 2014 when Tullamore Dew celebrated the opening of a new state-of-the-art distillery and the return of its distilling operations to Tullamore, Ireland. Did you know that to legally be branded Irish whiskey the liquid has to be made in Ireland? More importantly, did you know that, tomorrow, September 17 is Halfway to Saint Patrick's Day?

If you're looking to get into some Irish whiskey in celebration of tomorrow's "holiday" or just in the mood for a drink, here are a handful of our favorite bars around Miami that stock Tullamore Dew:

• Gramps
• Wood Tavern
• Fado Brickell
• Radio
• Repour
• Broken Shaker

Once you have your glass in hand, repeat after Tim: "To cheating, stealing, fighting and drinking. If you cheat, may you cheat death. If you steal, may you steal a heart. If you fight, may you fight for one another. If you drink, drink plenty with me."

Do you like Irish whiskey? Have you tried Tullamore Dew? Which whiskey from their range did you try? What Miami moments do you enjoy best with Irish whiskey? What are your favorite whiskey cocktails? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami For Access To Safe Water

We apologize for the radio silence the past couple of days. We woke up on Sunday in the Dominican Republic with a fever that has rendered us useless ever since. Thanks to the help of our friend Betsy, who took extremely good care of us, we managed to make it back to Miami. Now, armed with a Cipro prescription we're making a slow and steady recovery. The prognosis? A possible parasite in DR from exposure to unsafe water.

In an ironic (but amazing) coincidence, our friends at Absolut Elyx had a package waiting for us when we got home. The contents included a note and an empty water carafe imprinted with the phrase: "A luxury on tap [water] #drinkwithintegrity." In the note, the Absolut Elyx team explained that "it's not only Washington's responsibility, but also the duty of brands and industries to tackle the big issues. That's why we've partnered with one of the most respected non-profit organizations in the world, Water For People, to do something good with a category where people might least expect it, vodka." For every bottle you purchase in the U.S., Absolute Elyx and Water For People will provide one week's supply of safe water to someone in need as part of a five-year mission to provide 100,000 people with access to safe water.

We will never come to understand that true struggle of people who live without access to safe water.  After all, we have excellent drinking quality water on tap in Miami-Dade County. But writhing in pain, unable to eat for four days has certainly helped us to understand the consequences of being exposed to unsafe water. Now more than ever we are excited to support such a worthy cause and are proud of our friends at Absolut Elyx for taking on this critical mission. Check out the video below to discover how "vodka can not just taste good but also do good" and learn more about this new initiative.

What important causes do you support? Why? Do you have a personal story? Leave us a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!

#ThankYouMiami For Our Natural Resources - Sea Turtles

Did you know that in addition to being writers we work as environmental scientists? It is the influence behind our in-depth knowledge of local environmental news, our penchant for posting photos of native wildlife, and our occassional use of technical jargon. But, beyond these subtle hints, you probably never noticed because we rarely share our environmental knowledge. As of today, that will no longer be the case. At your request we are launching a new monthly series #ThankYouMiami for Our Natural Resources where we will educate you on the wealth of natural capital we have in Miami and give you easy-to-follow tips for protecting these resources. Think environmental education that is customized for you, that is geared toward your interests, and that answers your questions.

We are kicking off the series by talking sea turtles - the seasonal neighbors that nest and hatch on our beaches from April through October. The inspiration for the topic came to us last week when we joined the Marjory Stoneman Douglas BiscayneNature Center for a Members Only Sea Turtle Watch event. The nature center’s sea turtle program, which is executed in collaboration with Miami-Dade County, is one of their most popular initiatives. On the night we visited, there were 40+ people in attendance including students from UM’s marine science school (Go ‘Canes!) and young professionals like us from the local environmental community.

The program’s success is well deserved. The night’s keynote speaker, a naturalist from Miami-Dade County who runs the sea turtle program at Crandon Park, was a knowledgeable, charismatic, and accomplished presenter. Unlike most PowerPoint presentations, his had the perfect mix of information and captivating images, of basic information and cool factoids. We know others agreed because the students mobbed him and fan girl-ed over him when his presentation was over. Here are 7 key points we picked up during his presentation:

#ThankYouMiami for Bulla Gastrobar - Top Miami Spice 2015 Pick

We're only halfway through Miami Spice 2015, but we can already say with confidence that Bulla Gastrobar wins it for us this year. The shocking part is, as of two weeks ago, Bulla wasn't really on our Miami restaurant radar, much less on our Miami Spice must-try list. Alas, we are resolved that sometimes the best surprises await in the most unexpected places. In our case, because we rarely leave the Beach, the most unexpected of places was Coral Gables.

We were lured off the Beach under unfortunate circumstances: a send-off-to-San-Diego party for our buddy Lou Lozada (the incredibly talented photographer behind Vodagraph). Let the record show that under less dire circumstances we probably would have stayed at home. Nevertheless, in honor of our Lou, we did the Miami schlep to the 33146 and found ourselves on a Friday night braving the happy hour crowds at Bulla. Don't worry - we were handsomely rewarded for our troubles.

The night began with drinks at the bar, which is were Bulla scored its first points with us. The place was packed (it felt like everyone was touching at least three strangers) so, as avid believers in "personal space", we were freaking out a little bit. Luckily, the venue's designer had the foresight to make the bar an indoor/outdoor area, allowing us to informally spill out into the less packed sidewalk and make it comfortably through the 1+ hour wait for a table.

Once at our table, Bulla scored points again by offering a Miami Spice dinner menu on a Friday night. And not just any Spice menu - one with solid selections across the board and family-style portions. At the recommendation of friends, both at the table and on Twitter (thanks, @PDXerMIAmian!), we kicked it off with the Huevos "Bulla": a Jumbo egg with homemade potato chips, potato foam, and Serrano ham drizzled in truffle oil. It was unlike anything we've ever eaten. Whether you go for Miami Spice or not, you absolutely have to try it. Buyer beware: it is an extremely heavy dish that may cause nightmares. That said, once you try it you'll agree it is well worth every one.

As entrées go, we selected the Arroz Caldoso (bomba rice with clams, shrimp, chicken, red sofrito and saffron) and the Zarzuela de Mariscos (a mixed seafood stew). The portions of both were so large that we shared the Zarzuela at the restaurant and asked for the Arroz Caldoso to go. Unfortunately for all of us, the Zarzuela de Mariscos is no longer on Bulla's Spice or regular menus, but they seem to have replaced it with Pez Espada a la Plancha y Pulpo a la Plancha - two similar seafood dishes which sound equally intriguing. The Arroz Caldoso is still on both menus and is exquisite, especially as leftovers.

After so much (heavy) food, the last thing we felt like doing after our entrées was eat dessert. To be fair, we appreciate a solid dessert but our loyalties lie with savory food so we rarely leave room for dessert. Despite being full, we ordered it anyway in the name of Miami Spice. The two choices were Bulla's Torrija (Spain's version of french toast made with caramelized brioche served with turrón ice cream and drizzled with local honey) and the Arroz con Leche (rice pudding with golden raisin coulis and cinnamon). The portions were large again so we shared the Torrija there and took the Arroz con Leche home. Both were enjoyable. When you visit, we recommend that you go with whatever calls your name. Like the whole Bulla experience, regardless of what you choose, you won't be disappointed.

The indoor/outdoor area of Bulla's bar.

The Huevos "Bulla" in all their glory.

The Arroz Caldoso. Yes, those are shishito peppers and artichoke hearts.

The Zarzuela de Mariscos. Can you believe all of that was part of the Miami Spice deal?

The Torrija was a sweet end to a perfect meal.

What Miami Spice menus have you tried this year? Which one is your favorite? Why? What do you recommend getting for appetizer, entrée and dessert there? What Miami Spice menus are you dying to try next? Which dish(es) are you looking forward to there? Have you ever been to Bulla? What did you eat there? Which of their dishes did you like best? Leave a comment below or send us a tweet @ThankYouMiami!