Ludlam Trail Is Just the Beginning - Here's the Bigger Plan | Ralph Rosado & Julio Robaina

Listen, we this is an interesting show today because we were debating already before we even started the whole show. But anyway, the good thing about this today is that we're going to have a great update that a very necessary good update regarding the Ludlam Trail and the Miami Loop.

Mhm.

And this is a long time coming.

Yes.

And with that we you know, listen, I will introduce our returning guests because we love having returning guests back to our show. We have Commissioner Raquel Regalado with us here today and Yeah, look, it's going to

[laughter]

We have our ex-mayor, our ex-state representative. I don't know how many exes he has, but we have Julio Robaina with us back again. Which is always good, you know, I always love debating with Julito. It's good. It's It's It's good for the It's good for the blood.

Stimulates your blood.

[laughter]

everything. It does. No, and especially when he starts coming with little little little innuendos. That's what behind the scenes.

love you.

Well, okay. All right. Okay. I love you guys too. Commissioner, welcome again, brother.

Thank you so much. I'm I'm excited. It's been almost a year and a half since I've been here. Last time I was a candidate. Yes, it's been a while. I know. I know. Been in office a little bit over a year.

Damn, [laughter] I can't believe that.

My God, well, are you now doing another part for re-election?

Yes, absolutely. [laughter] Happy to do it.

By the way, you've been doing a fantastic job, brother.

Amen.

You know what I'm saying? I just saw it before we get into this. I saw the other day something with the whole trees thing.

Yes.

You know what I'm saying? Let's start with that a little bit really quick, you know? What what what was your initiative? What what was the the thought process behind that with the whole trees? Explain to the the viewers.

So so District 4 is a really important part of the city, but it's also one of the parts of the city that has the the fewest number of trees. And so we launched a year ago an initiative in the middle of August called 365 days, 365 trees. And our goal was to plant on average one per day for a year. And so as of a few days ago, we wanted to reach 365, but we actually passed that about 6 months ago and we wrapped up at a little bit over a thousand trees planted in the last year. So we go door-to-door. We try to sign everybody up. The trees are free and and we will get them planted for you.

happy with the trees?

They are. They surely are.

Yeah.

More to come.

More to come. So, let's let's let's jump into the fact of So, in the in the past we had a whole big conversation with Julio, too. Regarding, you know, what's happening with the loop and and the underline and

Yes.

There was a lot of things going on and back and forth of of stuff that it started, it stopped, it would stop, you know, the whole funding. Um the whole what thought process on the connectivity of the whole situation. It's important because you know, Miami, everybody what you think what you remember today, yeah, passing two or three days and you go, "What happened?" Bring us up to speed on what was the whole thing between the loop and the underline and what we're talking about of, you know, what the whole connectivity

of the whole thing.

Well, before we begin, I want to give kudos to Commissioner Ralph Rosado because I wouldn't be here these projects wouldn't be here and they wouldn't be moving if it weren't for him.

Okay.

Not only he's very he's very humble. He doesn't like to take credit, but this man does a lot for South Florida, especially for his district and for all of the adjacent districts and that's where I come into play. Ralph was one of our assistant city managers when I was mayor of South Miami. We stopped the concept of running light rail or whatever or the ideas are coming from the county in that FEC corridor. Ralph led the charge. We were successful in convincing the county to give it up and create the first ever linear park, something like that. And then as you know, to be brief cuz I'd like the commissioner to tell you about this loop because there's a lot of pro program a lot of projects that nobody knows about and this is Ludlam Trail. That is what's special to me and that he helped start. Um wouldn't be moving if it weren't for him and his dedication to all of these projects. Well, this thing in 2001 we started it. 26 years later, here we are still waiting. I'll let the commissioner pick up from there because he's been instrumental and the loudest voice to make it happen.

would that make you like maybe like a little visionary guy?

That's That's exactly what I was going to say. I mean, he did a phenomenal job as mayor of South Miami.

But you know, but Manny, you know, you're only as good as the people that are with you from the beginning. You can't No man can do anything on their own. This not only the vision, who would have thought that 26 years later he'd be serving as a city of Miami commissioner and making this happen. You got a You got a better chance of winning the lottery than you do ever happen. Something like this happening. Kudos to Commissioner Regalado.

I totally agree with that.

So So yeah, about half of my life ago I was at South Miami and and Julio was doing a wonderful job as mayor and our county commissioner was Rebecca Sosa. Exactly, look at that. And our county commissioner was Rebecca Sosa and working together they said, you know, we can do something special here.

our Commissioner Rebecca Sosa as well.

And Ludlam goes the Ludlam Trail goes from Northwest 7th Street to near MIA down to Dadeland Mall. And And so you really do have to have a visionary leader like him and like Rebecca who would say, you know, we really can do something very special here. Now, these kinds of projects that are large, transformative, iconic type projects are also complex. You have lots of jurisdictions. The land was owned by a railroad and then the county got involved in all sorts of jurisdictions and multiple cities along the way, etc. Federal dollars. So many, many, many, many hands from different forms of government. But finally, thanks to the leadership of Commissioner Natalie Mia Orbis at the county, she represents the bulk of Ludlam. We are We are seeing that it's finally moving forward. We are getting together early next week with all the stakeholders at the table and then within the next few months you are going to see a series of public meetings cuz we want to hear from everybody along the trail what would they like to see on their segment.

Okay.

Including yourself, Manny. And I And I'm I'm blessed because not only was I, you know, there when when folks were envisioning what could be, but now I represent the full you know, of Ludlam that's within the city of Miami. That's from Calle Ocho, Southwest 8th Street, down to or up to Northwest 7th Street. And so, I'm going to help to lead the public engagement certainly in in my portion of it along with our county commissioner. And it's incredibly exciting. And what the Miami Loop is, it's actually something that Manny Chaillo and Victor Dover, who are planners and architects and also visionary folks, they said, "You know, there is a way, if all these things were built out, that you could connect Ludlam with the Underline." They actually meet at their southern ends down by Dadeland Mall, and you can connect them to the Commodore Trail, to the Baywalk downtown, to the Riverwalk along the Miami River, and a series of the the green gram greenway trail in Overtown. And you can basically get these things to take you through all five Miami City Commission districts. But even more special than that, they can actually connect to trails outside of the city of Miami throughout the extent of Miami-Dade County. And when you do that, you're talking about well over 200 miles of trails that folks could bike and run and walk and meet up with friends and play games and all kinds of things and socialize. And so, it's really, really special. What we've done through my office is we've actually convened folks that represent the leadership of each of the trails, and we've been meeting every other month now for close to a year. And and it's been incredibly productive to get everybody in there and figure out, how can we support each other? Cuz the problem with a lot of these things is folks, they have the best of intentions, but if they're they're working in a silo, they're not necessarily getting the support that they need. And so, we go and we speak at commission meetings and the the city and in all kinds of places to support each other's trails. Cuz if we get each of these done, we all benefit.

How how apart and I wanted you to elaborate on that because there was a lot of stuff with the federal funding and then local funding. What what what finally happened with that? How how

Well, I I think I can jump in on that because thanks to Ralph and allowing me again to be part of Miami Loop group, I've been having to shake the tree, to say, to get the county, what's going on? Where's the money? How much have you gotten in the past 20, 25 years? How much have you spent? And we're hopefully getting most of that information next week. God willing with this particular meeting that we're having. I I also need to make sure that I also thank Commissioner Natalie Milian Orbis because she's been shaking the tree. She's phenomenal. She's 100% Since she

got there. She was there.

And she And you know, that's how things happen because you remember this trail that the commissioner's talking about, Commissioner Rosado, it's going to be the first one many of its type ever in the history of Miami-Dade County. Imagine that. You got all this development, all these people say, "Oh, this development, but what's going on for greenways, bikes? Where can we walk? Where can we ride?" This is the future of a good project. So, it's easy to work when you got a commissioner in the city of Miami and a commissioner in Miami-Dade County that are 100% committed to making this happen. And then we have to go and find out, well, how much more money do we need because we're talking about having to build bridges across

Right. Those Those are going to be like some walkways. No, they you're going to have to like, you know, for people to be

So, that is where we're at. I wanted to make sure that Commissioner Orbis got the recognition, but Ralph is the most person that the best person to explain to you how detailed This is really a hard thing. It's not like it happens just from nothing. You got how many jurisdictions involved, Commissioner?

Oh, there are between the cities and the different layers, probably about a dozen different agencies, and everybody doesn't have the same priorities or the same funding or the same interest.

Right.

And you got to get everybody at the at the table.

Yeah, yeah.

What's happened in the last couple weeks, which is very exciting, through the leadership of Commissioner Milian Orbis and Mayor Levine Cava, they put an item on the County Commission agenda to go ahead and hire a firm. In this case, it's going to be Kimley Horn to design the entire Ludlam Trail. So, they'll be part of the public engagement meetings, and then they'll come up with one design for the whole thing, and then portions of it will be built out as funding becomes available. What I've very publicly done is said, I will match them dollar for dollar on the segment in the city of Miami, which is almost 1 mile. It's almost 20% of the whole trail. We are fortunate that we are in a good position with parking pack fees and other dollars that I can do that. I would like to see my trail done you know, first or close to first.

Because we've I I think we've already seen a couple of stuff happening in the trail. I mean, we've seen like apartments going up.

Yes.

You know what I'm saying? I mean, in in some areas.

Yeah. There's been successful development and and then there have been like uh portions of it that have been built as part of those projects, but where it gets a little bit tricky is that some of those were actually built on land that the the railroad owns. And so, that was between a private developer and the railroad. The rest of it is now owned by the county, and so all those little details need to be figured out and you have, you know, South Miami and others along the way as well.

A lot of questions that I know that people have. Would that be treated Would that be like, you know, like a park, you know, sun up, sun down? Or is that going to be

to be determined. That's a great question.

Or that's, you know, a second

24 hours

I actually talked about it with Natalie last time she was here. You know what I'm saying? Would it be Well, that's a good question. I think that Miami Park the the Miami-Dade County Parks Department and the elected officials

Well, that's a good question. I think that Miami Park the the Miami-Dade County Parks Department and the elected officials, which set policy, are going to have to decide

So, if I see step B

Well, I'm going to tell you one thing that I know is going to be an issue when they do take that into consideration is the noise and the problem because it does abut a bunch of residential homes. And we don't want this to become a nuisance or a problem for the residents that have so patiently been waiting for 25 years to for this to happen. So, all that will be taken into consi- And also the security back there

Correct.

That's that's another one, yeah. Yeah. I mean, you know, usually, you know, they would say, "Well, you know, I mean, I don't know. Parks usually have like, you know, security, a private company or something, you know, always looking at that." And that

Absolutely. And by the way, the main thing is that as the Commissioner Rosado just explained, they finally chose a designer.

Right.

So, Kimley Horn will be they've it's an expensive contract, but they're going to be pretty much project managers overseeing it, drawing it up. We're going to be very vigilant because we're not going to let another 25 years go by. We're going to make this happen.

You know, it's good for you to say that because to your point, you know, the time that I've known of this going on I don't know how many designers have been through there already. You You know You know, saying? There has been um uh the the shallots. After that, there was a whole uh project in the Coral Gables uh museum over here showing the different things that they were doing. There was a whole bunch of a um I didn't even know this, by the way, but there was some some endangered owls.

All of that was part of the plan, yeah.

But but I'm serious. I'm telling you I didn't

Are they still there?

I have no clue. [laughter] There was a number of I don't know.

They migrated elsewhere?

They have migrated miraculously somewhere else. But I will tell you that that's the beauty of communication. There was no communication. Now you have Commissioner Rosado, a great communicator. Natalie Orbis, another great communicator. And finally, a parks department that knows they're on the their job is on the line. Either they get it right this time or we'll find another solution, but this is getting done.

that's why I praised it because at the same time during that time, not every you know, to Commissioner's point, not everybody was aligned. You know, what I'm saying? So it was everybody was in their own

I think we now we have everybody at the table. There's a willingness to get this done. And I think because the Underline has been so successful and it's about to wrap up construction in the next few months, folks are saying, "Oh, that's great. I'd love to have something like that close to me."

There we go.

Where are we in the Underline? Does anybody know?

finished in December. The entire 10 miles is is finished in December. And they from the idea of it to completion is about 12 years. Um I was fortunate enough to be on like their initial board of directors some years back. And it it's moved essentially at lightning speed given that that's also lots of government jurisdictions. You have a federal road, cities throughout, you have a county portion, etc. etc. That's about as quickly as anything could move like that of that complexity.

saying, "Arroz con mango."

Tremendo arroz con mango, yes.

though.

Lots of fundraising involved and each city has come you know, come up with different dollars that they've contributed, etc. But it's it's wildly popular and I think it's it's sparked people's imagination to make sure that they get a special trail near them as well.

Bring us a little bit on what we put here about changing the law around the Miami A Greenways.

Yeah, so we we introduced as a result of these meetings that we've been having here over the month with folks interested in any of these trails. I sponsored in the last few months legislation that allows you if you are have a property within a quarter mile of any of these trail segments in the city of Miami. So, sure, Ludlam, the Underline, Commodore Well, not Commodore Trail, that's a different uh case. Yeah, the Commodore Greenway and and and others, you can build more square footage and a little bit taller if you contribute dollars to either building or maintaining the nearest trail to your property.

Okay.

And so, it's provides an additional funding mechanism, right? Apart from coordination, the big challenge for all these things is dollars.

Yeah.

And so, this helps to address the dollar scarcity that there is to get these projects done.

especially when you see all over the At least I mean, not your district, but going back to Hialeah here, the whole South Miami area with all these constructions around, especially for for for for housing for UM. I mean, it it's incredible what they're building over there.

Which is which is a huge issue and and another reason why people want the balance. They show all this development, but they're talking about, "Where's our parks? Where's our linear parks?" And again, this is why again I give kudos to Commissioner Rosado and Commissioner Orbis. Um by the way, just to let you know because we talk about so many things about these wonderful projects, is that I believe I'm not exactly sure the second week in October, there will be a summit.

Yes.

And uh that we're going to be holding for and it's going to be all the news stations will all report about it, inviting all of the people of Miami-Dade County to come and spend a Saturday with us. You know, we have a sponsor, we'll pick up breakfast, we'll pick up lunch. People will be able to come out and find out

Y'all might as well say you're having a free breakfast

That's how we get them. That's how we get the people there. And you know, maybe we can give them some cafecito to get them wound up like we are.

Cafecito with both sugar.

This works.

[laughter]

And and that said, they're going to be able to come out and find out not only about the Ludlam Trail, but about the great work that the commissioner is doing, the commissioner from the county Orbis, and all of the projects, how they're all going to eventually connect.

Yes.

Beautiful idea. It's going to be at the Wolfson campus downtown.

Yeah, that's right there. Where is it going to be held?

It's I think we have a date pretty much set now.

Saturday, 10/10/26, October 10th, 2026, 9:00 a.m. to to 1:00 p.m.

One more time for that, Commissioner. One more time, cuz this is your

Saturday, October 10th. So, it's 10/10/26. Wilson campus.

No, but we'll put it there so so everybody knows. They need to come out. You want to see what's happening with it in your parks? There's your day. Not only to come see, and all the different groups will be there talking about their little projects. More importantly, we're going to listen to ideas. What a concept, huh? Government listening to people and tell What do you want? What else would you like to see in these type of projects?

The um my other thing is is like you know, a lot of people would always have an issue because you know, a lot of those areas don't have sidewalks.

Right.

You know what I'm saying? So, I think that you know, I I Listen, I'm I'm for the trail, you know? And I'm I I think it's it's it's a great idea. To your point what I said, you you know, one has to be respectful to like all the different areas and neighbors and stuff like that, but it's important because a lot of those areas do not have sidewalks. That when you are walking either with your kids, riding bike, or doing anything, it's a it's a pain because people will just, you know, zoom by with their cars. You know what I'm saying? That's That's That's another show, another history. But at the end of the day, you know, it's it's something that I think will really enhance and put us to like what we compare a little bit. Atlanta has something similar to this.

BeltLine. Incredibly successful. The High Line in New York. In New York, that's you know, where older, you know, things that they took it away and then they had all the beautiful area where people like, you know, go and just, you know, just walk down and it connects to the different places I think go to.

Many Do you Do you know what

It's really interesting about both of those cuz folks have looked at those very closely. And both the BeltLine and the High Line have resulted in two things. Number one, really great increases in real estate values. Folks want to live near these kinds of amenities. And so, along the High Line, you saw a series of brand new, very beautiful buildings because folks want to be able to walk out their back door and go for a beautiful walk on the High Line. And in the BeltLine, the same thing. You've seen additional development. The other thing you've seen is people are healthier if they live near these because suddenly you have a safe place to go outside and walk and ride bike and take your kids and maybe play basketball, etc. And so suddenly like you've got healthier people with better property values if you live near a trail. We want to do the same thing here. We want folks to say "You know, I was thinking of selling, but now that I have this wonderful amenity, the opposite. I want to be here forever. I want to make sure my I pass this on to my kids."

Yeah. So, I mean, listen, I I I think it's wonderful and I think the fact of what you guys are saying right now, I mean, I the fact of now the connectivity that you guys are just telling me because my biggest thing was always saying, "Okay, how are you going to get those, you know, you got those little walkways?" Especially because I don't want to be a pain in the butt for people to stop, you know, Sunset can get horrible.

Oh, yes.

Bird Road

Oh, yes.

the the you know, the lot Bird Road, you know, so I mean, those those are two big, you know, connectors I think that are the toughest ones, you know, between Sunset and Bird Road and even Coral I think even Coral Way, too, but I'm just

Well, right now the bridges are are being already uh targeted that with the bridges will be Bird Road,

Yeah.

um Southwest 8th Street,

But they'll be like West Flagler

they call it and

Yeah, absolutely.

You know, I those are pedestrian like the ones that they do for school.

So, again, Bird, Southwest 8th Street, Flagler, and then the one on Coral Way, which is a developer is going to be putting up. He's already got two rental buildings and it's ready to be put up. And by the way, it will say Ludlam Trail. We're so happy that this has finally got the

Absolutely.

to come together, good elected officials to make it happen.

Yeah.

And now the people had started giving up hope that these things would ever happen. They're back They're all excited. We got all these groups all back excited thanks to the commissioner and this Miami Loop group. This is having something positive for South Florida.

So, yeah. With that enthusiasm and his something positive.

It's like Cuban coffee working, too.

Commish, apart apart from that, now that we have you here, talk to me. What's going on in the city? Give me Give me Give Give us Give us a Give us an update on the city of Miami.

I think we have so many incredibly good things going on. We talked a little bit about the trees, which is is pretty low-hanging fruit, no pun intended, but we got that done. It took some sweat equity because we were going door-to-door signing people up, convincing them that it's a good thing. In addition, at least in my district, we are creating 14 new pocket parks. So, not everything can be the Ludlam Trail. That's a lot of land. I want to make sure that every neighborhood within my district is well served by a park within a 10-minute walk. There are entire neighborhoods that have never had anything. Some of our older established Little Havana neighborhoods, for example. And we're going to create that for them. We are working on a series of uh affordable and workforce housing projects to support as many deserving and needy constituencies as possible, including a project along Ludlam, which will be in partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, where it'll be teacher-focused housing. Teachers are some of the hardest working folks we know. We know those salaries are never really going to go up very much. And so, we want to make sure to create a project um with the support of School Board Vice Chair Monica Colucci, who's a tremendous leader at the School Board. We are working with her to get a really special project done that will also result in the adjacent portion of the Ludlam Trail built. So, a lot of really beautiful things going on in the City of Miami.

Damn. Okay. I mean, I I don't know what's going on, but I ask you always to see what's what's the latest and greatest.

Well, that's why we need a day in Miami because the lot of press out there

this is but this is it's not that the what the press gives

You guys give it like it is.

We try and bring a little bit of the spotlight a little bit to the people because not everybody's going to go ahead and cover what he just said. Ask him. You know what I'm saying? Not everybody's going to go and say, "Okay, give me a report on what's going on in in the City of Miami." You know? I mean, people want to know I mean, people see that there's always a little bit I I feel I have a sense that the City of Miami has become now a very calm place. You know? By Miami standards,

You know? I mean, I I I hate to say this.

Yeah, I always said it. I I you know, I freaking hate I mean, every time you would be in the City of Miami, it was a ruckus. You know? Everybody was like, "What the hell's going on in the City of Miami?"

Must-watch TV.

It was must-watch radio.

[laughter]

You know? At the end of the day, I think that, you know, I think we've gotten to a moment in history of the City of Miami that we're like,

Hopefully, it lasts for a little while longer. I I tell folks, I'm there to get stuff done, man. I'm there to get stuff done.

I I love it. I Listen, everybody's going to There's always going to be disagreement.

Yeah.

But, you know, again, really it It it was just a show every

We're never going to be boring.

You know, it was always [laughter] a It was always a thing that we say something happened. What happened? But I'm really glad to see how the the city and everybody's getting you know, getting along and and how everything is just moving moving in the right in the right direction. Um you give us an update of what's going on with everything else last time that we spoke about.

Well, as far as the as the the these trails and so forth to me, I'm just in heaven again. I'm just very thankful again that Commissioner Ralph Rosado gave me the opportunity. How many people in life get to start a project? You go away for 25 years you come back and you're given another chance to make it happen.

How many people say, "Oh God, is he back?"

[laughter]

WELL, THAT I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF THOSE. You know, you know who tells ME THAT? IT'S FUNNY. It's funny. YOU KNOW WHO TELLS me that all the time? Every time I show up at the Miami-Dade County Parks Department. Oh my God, Albino's back. And you know what I'm doing?

That guy.

I'm shaking the tree because if they were a little more

Yeah, but you know, persistence pays.

Persistence pays, yes. But you know what with that You know what that says about our people to your point, you know what I'm saying? In for me, it's in Spanish I said agradecido. It's to be very, you know, thankful for people that, you know, when you were there, you started something. Why is it not good now that one's here? Say, "Hey, let me call the people I started this with me." You know, even though not everybody wanted them to be there. I'm just joking. You know, I I love to I love to like, you know, mess around with them.

Those are all my life. But those same people will be at the ribbon cutting when things get built.

Those are the same ones that give us a hard time. But you know what? We're tired of getting beat up because they want to put every public servant, which is what I am, which is what Ralph is. They want to lump you into this politician. All you do is blah blah blah and don't do anything. That's not right.

Listen, if I There are people that work hard and make things happen.

always said the times that you and I always you know, you you always were a person that always was there. You know what I'm saying? Even when I didn't live in South Miami. I still don't live in South Miami. But at the end of the day you know, a little closer. But at the end of the day you were always there not only for that, but for a lot of different stuff and I always thank you for that especially with La Liga Contra el Cancer and with the league and

By the way, thank you for all your years and Adriana Bosch

my neighbor. She is a wonderful lady. That lady I've been in love with her since I was 15 years old. Who would have thought that She's still a good looking older lady. Beautiful lady, but you know what? She's got more than beautiful outside. She's got a beautiful soul and she does great things for that League of

We yes, yes, sir. Yes, sir. But listen guys, I'm I'm I'm excited you guys came over and to give us a whole great update because I think this is so now I want to see if maybe I'm going to see if we can we can do this. Maybe we can come a little bit live the day of the the 10 10 we can do that. Maybe we can do a little a little you know, we I got to I got to talk with the with the boss back there to see if we can make that. Oh, he's eating, but he's okay. We can you know, he can make it happen to see if we can do like a nice little panel

Absolutely.

it like a little live and we can get everybody who was involved and chat about, you know, the the how how that's all going.

Because our goal now is to show people what your county and your city is doing for you and that's the way we get the information out. So that would be a blessing if you all would do that for us.

I mean I think I I think it's perfect especially the fact that we've, you know, given so much light to this also in the program. Now, you know, get there and say, "Okay, look where we all got here, you know, not not us, but at least us helping you guys get the message across."

Thank Thank you for getting the word out on this. This is the kind of thing that isn't just like a nice to have for right now. This is transformative. This is stuff we can pass on for generations.

100%.

Once it's built, it's there forever and we if you connected all these things, we're talking about hundreds of thousands of people that are within walking distance to appreciate any of these trails.

I yeah, you know I mean let's see if we walk around and see one of those endangered white owls. I don't know. Maybe I you know, we can

[laughter]

We can do a an exploration to see if we if we can do something.

that the gentleman that recently retired from the zoo

Yes.

We can ask him who took care of those owls already. He probably have a great home right now in our metro zoo here.

We can ask him for that. Well, listen guys, I think it's great. So I mean, count on us to see you I mean, we'll make it happen to be there with you guys. And and again, Commissioner, I mean, you know,

Excellent.

you did a great job, brother. You know what I'm saying? Like, you know, you it's like you're fishing, you brought it in, you brought it in home, you know what I'm saying?

Lots of lots of work still to be done, but it's incredibly exciting and I know we're going to get there.

But, before you go, before you go, we have to do You know what we have to do again? I hope you we're going to stomp you on this one again. But, let me do the special effects for Eddie again. Ready? We want you to name that your top three restaurants. Starting with number three.

Okay, so first time I was here, I covered the Cuban staples, the places that are near and dear to my heart that have been here my entire life.

Okay.

Today, I'm going to talk to you about three places that opened more recently that are incredibly exciting cuz you know, District 4 has a really international food scene along Coral Way and 8th Street that is really spectacular.

I've cut a few ribbons recently. I I had my victory party after the last podcast at at uh at La Gatta, which is Salvadoran food on 32nd Avenue in Southwest 8th. It is gorgeous inside. It is reasonably priced, wonderful seafood and chicken and steaks.

Tremendous seafood, by the way.

Yes, excellent seafood.

I tried it before.

Really beautiful place inside.

Yes. Yes. Number two?

We just cut the ribbon the other day on uh in the last month on Katana. Katana has been in North Beach forever. The daughter of the owner of the one on North Beach opened up on uh 17th Avenue and Coral Way. And a Katana is the sword, so I helped to cut the ribbon with the sword, which was

What's number What type of food, Commissioner?

So, it's sushi, but what's really special about it and there's wonderful sushi places throughout the district and in Miami, but these come to you on the little boat. So, it's got like a not a conveyor belt, but rather like a little boat system. And so, you look and you go, "Okay, I'm going to have that." It's a little river of delicious [laughter] sushi running through Coral Way in in the district.

been there already?

there and unfortunately, I grabbed everything that went by me. The bill was over $200. So, I just gave up.

So, you sunk the boat.

I SUNK THE BOAT.

[laughter]

YOU SUNK the boat. Okay. Number one.

Number one. So, everybody has heard of Tin Tan Cafe, which is in Coral Gables in Miami Shores. Well, the the daughter of the family that opens those up opened up a place a little less than a year ago called Ting Ting, and it's the corner of 27th Avenue and Southwest 8th Street next to the Padron campus of Miami Dade College. It is she called it Miami cuisine, and what it means it's got Cuban roots but French and Italian influences. It is absolutely spectacular, and they change the menu every season. So, anytime you go

Seasonal.

It's a seasonal menu. Everything is fresh. They grow a lot of it themselves, which is really spectacular, and every single dish was was really really creative.

Let me tell you these people we from here we order a lot from Dinty Cafe. I mean, and sometimes you know that that's for us is a thing is okay, are we SINNING TODAY? WE'RE SINNING. WE'RE going with Dinty. Not because of anything, you know, it's just the fact it's so delicious.

It's really popular.

you try to do the I'm on a diet situation, but Dinty Cafe really ordered absolutely

So, you got if you love that place, you got to go to Ting Ting, which is more like lunch and dinner, a little more upscale but very reasonable, and they are on the Miami Spice menu this month, which I got to try earlier this week.

Yeah.

So good.

Forgot that we're on the Miami Spice. Okay. All right, so I'm going to nothing else? You good there with three?

I'm good. I'm good.

Yeah? Okay. We don't want to stop you with a number four?

It's called Omulacello, and it's been there just for the last couple years. It's Coral Way on 22nd Avenue. We've got an international scene across from Hihong, and you've got Portuguese food and Spanish and Italian and Argentinian de todo. Japanese, you name it.

But where's the pizza?

Omulacello is Coral Way on 22nd. It has been ranked by numerous magazines as one of the top 10 pizza restaurants in the country in the last years.

But what type of pizza? A pizza

It is Italian style pizza. It's not Chicago style.

pizzas.

thin crust, fresh ingredients, really beautiful prosciutto.

Should we should we should we

Fresh tomatoes.

do a should we come up with a little day that we meet up for a quick a quick little slice there?

I'm really hungry right now as a result of this conversation. [laughter] Anytime you want, Manny. Happy to host you.

I love I love pizza. Me, too.

So, I'm always leaving with that pizza is my weakness.

Well, that's good. We stopped you with the number four. You already got it. Listen, I again will be there. We're going to make it happen. We're going to be with you guys on 10/10

26

26. We're going to be there for that

9:00 a.m. Miami-Dade College, Wilson Campus.

We'll be there. We'll be there. We'll do a little panel so you can bring all the folks that made this happen and make that happen, okay?

Excellent. Love it.

Thank you, guys. We'll see you from there.

Thank you.