Behind the Scenes: Learn A Bit More About RG Cocina Mexicana

 A great kitchen and highly trained staff allows the products to be perfect. 

Restaurants are establishments that not only offer great food, but when they have a long trajectory in the business, they also give you a piece of their history through the images and tales of the employees. And places like RG Cocina Mexicana, that not only have a history that goes back as far as 1992, but that also gives you that familiar vibe that people look for when they want to share a meal with their loved ones.

In past articles we’ve talked about the history of the restaurant, and of the employees that make this restaurant one of the greatest examples of belonging and pride, because the people that are trained by George Rodriguez to work with him behind the doors of RG Cocina Mexicana can tell you that he puts love and effort into creating a great environment to work, to push his employees towards teamwork, instilling in them the need of creating an ambience where the customers feel the hospitality that distinguish them from other establishments of Mexican cuisine. One of the things that the clients that visit them comment when they leave their reviews online is how the place looks better after the renewal of its corporative image, keeping the same characteristic flavors that mix the appeal of traditional Mexican food with the modern techniques, colliding into dishes that blow their minds and that make them visit them all over again, to try the different combinations of ingredients that they use to pull their menu together.  

The people behind the scenes at RG Cocina Mexicana are trained to create the environment you will enjoy, transporting you to a place where you can feel the weight of the tradition and the mixture of love and caring that will make you want to know more about them. Visit the restaurant and see for yourself how the staff gives you the experience of a lifetime!

The staff guarantees a great experience every time you visit the restaurant. 

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Twitter: @RGCocinaMexican

Facebook: RG Cocina Mexicana

Instagram: @RGCocinaMexicana

314 72nd Street, Miami Beach, FL 331141

Phone Number: 305-864-7404

rgcocinamexicana.com

Mexican Food to Wish him a Farewell!

 Create memories at your favorite restaurant.

There’s always that one member of our family that besides our parents and siblings, finds the way into that niche of deep trust and fellowship that no one else can quite reach. To me that person is my cousin, and while we were born almost 10 years apart, he’s been my support and confidant for most of my life. He’s also a very smart guy and such, many work opportunities had come his way, the most recent is from France and he jumped at the chance of getting a Masters Degree while working the field he loves. We were all excited when he told us, but the program requires a three years stay in Toulouse and an ocean of distance from us. That’s why I decided to make him remember us with a special dinner with all the family in his favorite place in Miami, RG Cocina Mexicana.

Our history with this restaurant goes way back to when I was in high school and he was home after graduating college. He picked me up from school because my parents were away on a trip and my aunt asked him to do it for her, and then run some errands for her. He told me that we had money to eat wherever we wanted to, and we decided to grab some Mexican because I was craving it. I have always been a picky eater and he’s with me on  that, and as soon as we walked inside some restaurants we turned on our heels and left because it didn’t feel right. But then we saw this place that seemed to have just the right aura and we decided to go in, and oh boy was perfect, the restaurant and the staff were nice with us and we sat down and ate happily and chatted. Ever since that day we tried to visit it as frequently as possible, but life always has it’s hiccups and I decided to study in another city while he traveled for studies. As soon as we were together in Miami we visited the restaurant to remember that no matter how much time passed, we had always a place to return.

 Share a meal with your loved ones at RG Cocina Mexicana.

That’s why we all gathered that day at RG Cocina Mexicana, to celebrate his life and to bid him farewell with his favorite Mexican food! We had a great time and I want you to create memories with your family and loved ones too. Visit the restaurant and learn how food can bring people together!

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Twitter: @Rgcocinamexicanan

Facebook: RG Cocina Mexicana

Instagram: @RGCocinaMexicana

314 72nd Street, Miami Beach, FL 331141

Phone Number: 305-864-7404

rgcocinamexicana.com

The Culture Behind the Dishes at an Ethnic Restaurant

Culture themed restaurants are one of the most outstanding options in business nowadays, and they are up to par with the classic italian and french cuisine as far as quality and the amount of attention they obtain from people that are interested in food as a social phenomenon. Those places gather their inspiration from strong cultures and use it to their advantage to generate dishes that are not only full of flavor, but that also represent the background of their preparations, and it is important to acknowledge that this sort of dishes originate from the deeply ingrained culture and that they are a reflection of the people that create them.

Nowadays, you can find an ethnic restaurant practically in every single corner of the city, allowing us to experiment the distinctive cuisine from around the world at a walking distance. Some of those establishments specialize in the creation of homemade food, with the added touch of flavor and love that a dish requires to summon a reaction from the patrons of the place, allowing them to recommended the place as a great spot to eat the kind of food that is original and full of the culture that it represents. The creation of this places allows everyone to taste what they are representing and create the curiosity in their customers to learn more about the origins of those plates, furthermore generating interest in their countries and cultures.

The people that have been to these places are always driven by the interest on the culture itself, wanting it to be known and shared, and on the creation of dishes that would transport them to foreign lands, experimenting one of the deepest ways of love, and that is by being shared the history behind the food. Now that you know this, what are you waiting to visit restaurants inspired by strong cultural backgrounds, such as RG Cocina Mexicana, that is inspired by the Mexican culture of its owner. Visit them and experience first hand the mixture of cultures and the hospitality that characterizes this restaurant!

How I Celebrated a Block Blackout

I had never been a fan of going out much, and I mean it: I’m the quiet kind of person that actually has to put time and effort into working out her schedule to go out with the people I care about. And while some people argue that it isn’t exactly great for my social life, to me it’s more about quality than quantity. When I decide to spend time with them, I pocket my smartphone because I’m giving my undivided attention to the moment, making my friends know that I value their company over my 2.0 life. But sometimes the universe works in silly ways, and we have to modify our plans according to that. I was just getting home with great news after a long day at work when I realized that my street was really dark, literally not figuratively speaking.

It actually looked straight out of a terror movie because of the block blackout. Since I knew not a single one of my roommates was home because they worked and studied late, I decided to call a neighbour to ask her about the situation. She told me that it was just this block and that it will probably last for a while because there had been some sort of issue with the system in our area. After that information the option of staying in was not on the table anymore, so I texted my roommates and told them that we were in the dark and that we could organize an impromptu dinner outside and it would be a great way to celebrate my promotion. They all congratulated me and jumped at the chance of going out in the middle of the week.

I knew where I was headed, my heart was jumping at the chance of celebrating with them the fact that I’ve just been promoted for my hard work at the company and that it also came with a bonus in cash, that I could spend with people I held dearly. I texted them the address and soon enough we were all at RG Cocina Mexicana. We ordered Plato Mexicano, Tacos al Pastor, Panuchos Yucatecos and a Guacamole, accompanied it all with Margaritas. While we toasted I was looking at them with a big grin on my face. I got really lucky with my friends, they are wonderful people that I could trust with my life, that’s why I trusted them with my best kept secret: The best Mexican restaurant in North Beach.

Table Setting: The Easy Way!

Have you ever wondered why your plate is set over another one at a formal event, or why at some table settings you have more forks and several sort of glasses? Well, this is because table etiquette variates according to the setting of the event: whether it is formal, informal or familiar, and so on. At any rate, while the situations are different, there’s always one thing they have in common, and that is that each one of them requires a bit of knowledge from us to be capable of sailing through any social event without a hitch. With this easy guide I’ll tell you about the most common table settings, while explaining how you should behave in each of those.

But first, let me give you some basic information: As far as the proper setting goes, the norm is to have a minimum of 24 inches of space for plate setting per person, and keeping all the plates at least one inch away from the edge of the table. This distance is calculated to fit any sort of setting, from the ones where you use a simple set of silverware, to the ones where you have several to pick from according to the menu they offer.  The idea is that the elements placed on the table are arranged in a clockwise direction: spoon, knife, dinner plates with the napkin on top, forks, bread  and butter plates, dessert spoon and dessert fork. It’s important to note that at all times you are going to find it placed for right handed people.  

Now, the two main currents as far as table setting goes are formal and informal, with some marked differences, as well as resemblances, so let me explain to you what differentiates these two:

Formal Table Setting

This is the one where all the space of a patron is used to place different kind of utensils, and it is important to know it properly. Regardless of the amount of silverware, you want to place them in order of use starting from the outside, and this is achieved using the simple rule of “forks through knives to spoons”. As far as the amount of them you are going to present in front of your guest, the ideal is that only the ones you are going to use are placed, so they must be checked according to the menu for the event. The last ones to use should be the ones for dessert, and whether that is a spoon or a fork, you have two options: placing them closer to the plate on the sides, which could cause visual clutter; or placing them on the top of the plate, generating an overall more symmetrical feeling. The glasses should be placed from left to right in front of the plate, forming a diagonal line and placing them in this order: water, white wine, red wine and champagne flute if necessary, and the water glass is the only one that should remain on the table throughout the soiree. The servers or hosts should remove the instruments after the course is consumed, always from the right.

One of the things that generates more curiosity as far for people is the underplate, that is the piece of tableware that remains below all the dishes that are served throughout the meal. It can be metal, or porcelain, the idea is to generate a contrast against the mantle, so that the food stands out nicely when presented. The napkin should be placed on top of this at the start of the meal, preferably folded in an artistic manner.

Informal Table Setting

This is a more laid back setting, where you are only using one plate to present the dishes. This one is in the middle of the space, and the silverware is placed with the util side facing the plate, the fork from the right and the knife and spoon from the left. The rule of placing them in order of use it’s applicable in this setting too, and while the amount is significative less, the importance of symmetry and positioning of the flatware is important too: You don’t want any of your patrons asking for an item because it was not placed on the table in the first place.

As far as the napkin and glasses go, the napkin could be placed virtually anywhere, and the glass should be on the right side of the top of the plate, being normally just water and wine present on the table. You can also place bread or butter plates on the table, always top left from the plate with the optional knife.

Now that you know about these two kinds of table settings, what are you waiting to put in practice this knowledge of the different kinds and variations presented in different events? Let us know how these information has been useful to you and remember that the guys at RG Cocina Mexicana have an special offer for their delivery service!

Churros all the Way!

Imagine yourself after a delicious meal full of your favorite dishes and as you dug into them, feeling full, you thought to yourself: “Umm this great lunch calls for a sweet wrapping up”; and it’s when you find yourself craving for something sweet to top up your happiness. There are infinite desserts that can do the trick for you, but when you’re craving for something in particular, there’s a saying a strongly believe in: Listen to your body and give it what it wants. So when I’m feeling like having dessert (before or after lunch), churros are a great way to go. Now, you all might be wondering what in heavens is this?; well I’ll tell you all about it and believe me when I say that by the time you finish reading this article you’ll be craving for some of them too!

First of all, churros are fried-dough strings top up with sprinkled sugar and cinnamon and their background comes a long way. No one is exactly sure of their origins as some believe they were brought to Europe through Portuguese explorers all the way from China, while others say they were created to fulfill the need Spanish shepherds had to access to easy and quickly-made food since they spent most of their time up in the mountains. But the truth be told, even though all the stories behind these mouthwatering treats are very entertaining, in my opinion the one single thing that matters from it is all the possible types of churros there can be made. For instance, when looking for an easy recipe to make churros I discovered there are so many ways of making them!, and what’s even more captivating is that people have come with all sort of names and techniques to prepare this amazing dessert.

So digging through books and webs, I finally found the perfect recipe to fit my kind of churros and all you need to make them is right here: ¼ cup butter, 2 tbsp brown sugar, ½ tsp salt, 1 cup water, all melted in a saucepan; plus 1 cup flour and when cooled, add in ½ tsp vanilla extract and 4 eggs. Then, make a dough, string it out with the help of a bag and fry till golden brown; sprinkle up with sugar and cinnamon and there you’ve got the most delicious treat you’ll ever taste!

If you wish for something delivered from the hands of professionals, RG Cocina Mexicana is the place to go! Amazing food plus incredible desserts. What are you waiting for, food lovers?

Written By Nany Indriago.

My Trip to Mexico!

I have always felt an intense wanderlust: that deep set desire to travel the world, to get to know the vast extension of the Earth. So when I was picking my career path, I chose something that would allow me to travel the world: I became a journalist with an specialization in photography and tourism. The day I was offered the chance to go to Mexico and take pictures of the cuisine in the outskirts of the DF, I was ecstatic! It was one of the countries that were on my list, and that by some unknown force I just hadn’t been able to visit until now. And this chance would allow me to merge the greatest loves of my life: Food and traveling.

As I was boarding the plane to Mexico I was nervous, will it all be just like I thought of it would be? I dreamed of it, the tropical weather and people speaking animatedly in soft spanish, one of the languages I love the most. I was greeted at the airport by my clients and we headed to their office, where they informed me of their strategy for the product they wanted me to produce for them. The plan was simple, to take pictures of the traditional mexican Cuisine. The bonus of this one in particular? I had to try it all because I had to make an article about every single dish! I was besides myself with happiness! At the last minutes of the meeting I was offered another job: To travel to the touristic places to try their cuisine too.

I embarked on the trip of my life with my camera and notebook; I had to taste traditional breakfasts, lunches and dinners, all that while taking pictures and talking to Mexican people and other tourists that could tell me a bit more about their experience. The consent on the food was general among the people I interviewed: Mexican food tastes amazingly, and it’s one of the most popular cuisines in the world. Why? Because it’s made with love, with fresh ingredients and methods that have been used since before either of us were born. When I had to leave and head back to Miami, I was heartbroken. I was immersed  in the culture for 15 days, inside the homes of people that welcomed me with open arms and not only fed me food, but also taught me how to make it so when I was at my home, I could have a piece of their culture in my live even when I wouldn’t be there anymore.

When I told my friend who had also visited Mexico recently, how nostalgic I was for traditional Mexican food, he told me that his wife was obsessed with a restaurant up in North Beach, and that it was a place where he felt the cuisine was the same as it was in back in the country. RG Cocina Mexicana offered me an alternative to the other Mexican restaurants I had visited, with a modern twist.. Ever since I first visited, I had been in love with their menu and I can wholly recommend them if what you want is to experiment the traditional Mexican cuisine.

Chef vs Cook: The differences

People in the restaurant business draw a line between two equally important charges in front of the stoves, and those are chefs and cooks. By definition, a chef is someone who’s highly trained in cooking, while a cook is someone with experience but without academic background in the area.  But even when they are trained differently, the goal is the same: To make excellent food.

The training that a chef obtains allows them to gain deep knowledge of the preparation of food, more than just the following of a pre-made recipe, they know how to prepare and modify it to make marvelous dishes right out of their minds. After all, being a chef is one of the most creative professions in the world! They also know the handling of items that goes beyond the basic understanding and usage of the chef’s knife and so on, since their preparation includes the technical expertise to do so. A cook might not be academically trained like a chef, however, in most cases, they are the ones who really put their hands on the dishes. Why? Because they are deeply involved in the preparation of the food, right from cutting the ingredients to placing them over the fire; they are making the dish directly from the instructions of the kitchen’s chef.

When you decide to work or open a restaurant you need them both: People with training from schools, and people with the experience of working directly in the kitchen. Most of the times, the chef will pull a menu together for the cooks to prepare it to perfection with their guidance. The line between them behind the kitchen door is thin since the goal is the same: to present a dish that would satisfy the palates of the customers. But regardless of who makes the food, the important thing is the soul behind them, that is achieved by taking care of details, so the result of that effort takes you through a sensory experience. They work together closely to make your experience enjoyable at the greatest level, as it is easy for people to notice when a dish is made with love and passion. And there’s a place I love that makes a perfect communion between flavor and soul with what they present to their customers, and that is RG Cocina Mexicana.

A Day at the Beach!

Let’s start by saying that I don’t believe in weather forecasts. Yes, I know it sounds stupid, but I just can’t buy it! I mean, in the past I didn't leave my house without checking the weather, and then decided my outfit for the day based on that. But after a few times of going out covered in layers, only to be met by an insane heat, I decided that they weren't all that trustworthy. And although some day I may get soaked or suffocated because I’m not wearing the proper outfit, I‘m not paying attention to those small nuisances anymore. That’s why a few days ago I put on my swimsuit, a pair of khaki shorts and a flowy tee to get together with my friends in North Beach, Miami regardless of the clouds that were slightly moting the sky.                    

We were picking up the last of my friends and talking animatedly about our plans for the day, when my best friend chimed in with “I think it’s really going to rain soon”. I rolled my eyes at her because Sophia is some sort of a pseudo-weather girl all on her own; we don’t know how she does it, but somehow when she tells us that the weather is going to be terrible for the day, it always happens that way. So we all groaned and decided that we might have to pick a place to lay back and have lunch while we waited. I can’t remember who suggested having latin food, and we ended up googling a traditional mexican restaurant in the area near the beach, and the first option that came up was RG Cocina Mexicana.

As we sat down around the table we found out that we weren’t the only beach goers that were forced to change their plans because of the weather: all around us people in shorts and flipflops were enjoying the food and I thought: ”This is actually a great change of plans”. We ordered and ate delicious dishes served right in front of our eyes, and by far my favorites were the Plato Mexicano and the Panuchos Yucatecos. When we were finishing, a thunder boomed and we all turned towards the window: The sound was incredible. A storm was roaring outside and I turned towards Sofia, mouthing a “Thank you”. I could not imagine being outside braving the weather right now. She smiled and I turned my attention back to the chatter among my friends. Yes, our day was abysmally different that what I had in mind, but I wouldn’t trade the jummy food for anything in the world, and with the attention and the added company of my college friends, I was more than happy to trade a beach day for a  lunch at RG Cocina Mexicana.

The Easiest Mojito Recipe You’ll Find

When visiting some friends last summer, I was pleasantly surprised by the weather: Sunny and fresh for most of the days I spent there, but in the last few days I was close to put my head inside the fridge. The heat was unbearable and while it might have been nice if we were by the beach, the truth is that sitting in the kitchen preparing food for a party wasn’t at all great. But when I opened one of the refrigerator drawers and found my friend had some fresh mint, something popped into my mind right away: Mojitos!

I jumped at the chance of making a pitch full of the most refreshing drink ever for us to try during that time of heat. And I mean, what’s not to love about fresh mint leaves with limes,  a tad of soda water and rum to give it a punch, in an ice-cold presentation? I want to share the recipe I used so you can double it to make whatever amount you want whether it is to entertain your guests or enjoy by yourself watching an action movie.

Easiest Mojito’s ever

6 ounces of clear rum

10 mint leaves, some of them broken apart

4 tsp of white sugar

3 ounces of lime juice

Soda water

Half lime, sliced

Ice

Toss the sugar and some ice in the bottom of a drink mixer or a high pitcher, depending on the amount you are making; put half of the mint leaves and the limes juice with the rum and about 1/4 of soda water per drink.  Mix well and decorate with whole mint leaves, a slice of lime and a straw.

I know a place in North Beach Miami that makes the best mojitos you’ll ever taste and have also some special flavours for you to experience: at RG Cocina Mexicana! Stop by and enjoy with your friends! Remember that they have a special promo using the code RGSummerDelivery.

Commemorating the 4th of July!

The colonies of America were battling for their freedom as 1775 rolled around: On April of that year, the Revolutionary war broke out in the country and soon enough people were fighting for their right to be independent from the British Crown. It was on the 2nd of June of next year that Richard Henry Lee put a motion in movement requesting the formal independence of those colonies. The 5 representatives of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Virginia were appointed to resolve the matter and nearly a month later they brought it in front of the Continental Congress as a formal voting, which resulted in an unanimous approval; two days later the “Declaration of Independence” was signed by Adams, Jefferson and Franklin.

Many years passed after that groundbreaking event for the country to be actually freed from the power of the British Crown, but the start of the movement will forever be remembered as the date when our nation became what it is now: A free country. Although it was declared an official federal holiday as late as 1870, the United States of America has been celebrating its independence from 1776, through sport events, gatherings with friends and family and attending parades and bonfires; expressing the overall pride we take on this day background and the sovereignty we enjoy from that time onward. This day represents the freedom of this land, the day when we chose to celebrate our history. Commemorate this important day with your loved ones, remembering that we’re proud to be free!