Spice It Up

Gitano Restaurant’s modern Mexican cuisine brings the heat for Miami Spice and beyond.

GITANO MIAMI | MIAMI SPICE | AUGUST & SEPTEMBER 2022

“In Mexico, we cook with chilies. It’s our heritage, so you’ll find a whole range of varieties in our dishes,” says Antonio Maldonado, Gitano’s Puebla-born executive chef.

“The intention is to bring authentic Mexican cuisine outside of the borders of Mexico, which is to say that Gitano’s flavors embody the spirit of our cultural traditions, art and history.”

During the month of August, epicures can sample a tasty prix-fixe menu featuring chilled watermelon soup; Tamal de Pipián with chicken smothered in green mole sauce and seasoned with lemongrass and pumpkin seeds; octopus with guajillo chilies; and a chocolate cazuela with roasted maize, almonds, and cacao. 

Family-style dishes make it easy to share among friends. Don’t miss the chipotle albondigas, a recipe from Maldonado’s youth that he’s perfected over the last 30 years in the kitchen. House-made guacamole with totopos, chorizo con queso, and truffle tlayuda are a few other crowd favorites.

“Every single dish has its own identity,” Maldonado explains. 

“There’s something for every palate from local seafood and prime ribeye to Bell & Evans farm chicken and fresh lobster.” A long list of Mexican spirits including mezcal, tequila, raicilla, sake, bacanora, and pulque provide a range of unique pairing opportunities that naturally complement the menu’s Latin ingredients.

“From the dining to imbibing,” says Maldonado,“we pride ourselves on finding the right spice balance for every guest.”

Article from Faena Journal Issue #49