Local News

Top Pumpkin Dishes In South Florida

November 20, 2014 / 8:00 AM EST / CBS Miami

Last year, we cooled your pumpkin craving with five local pumpkin dishes listed in the "Top Pumpkin Dishes In South Florida" article. This time we're back and have even more dishes that bring out the savory and sweet that is pumpkin. Some plates are paired with pasta while others get creative with Caribbean spices, but all are great spots to settle the great pumpkin debate. Get ready to choose your favorite.

Pubbelly
1418 20th St.
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 532-7555
Pubbelly.comOf all of the pumpkin dishes on this list, Pubbelly might have the most unique item. The duck and pumpkin dumplings are ravioli-like dumplings filled with duck and then topped with a pumpkin sauce. Orange, cinnamon, soy brown butter and almonds are infused into the dish to make this odd pairing sing with flavor. If you ever visit South Beach, either in the fall or throughout the year, this little known dish is a must-try.

Caribbean Delite Restaurant
9491 S.W. 160th St.
Palmetto Bay, FL 33157
(305) 254-6606
Caribbean Delite RestaurantNestled in the quiet town of Palmetto Bay lies a West Indian Caribbean hangout that has turned roti on its head. This unleavened, stoneground bread is a staple in the Indian diet but Caribbean Delite Restaurant has added pumpkin to the mix. The result is soft outer roti crust with pumpkin spice filling that screams the flavors of autumn and the islands simultaneously. If you're ever in the area or just a fan of Caribbean food done right, stop into Caribbean Delite for the most awesome roti you've ever had.

Hy-Vong Vietnamese Cuisine
3458 S.W. 8th St.
Miami, FL 33135
(305) 446-3674
www.hyvong.comHy-Vong Vietnamese Cuisine continues to show there is hope for authentic Asian cuisine in South Florida. Boy has this spot brought new life to pumpkin soup. This traditional Italian dish is made to resemble pho, extracting the cream and easing up on the salt. It's a favorite of the regulars and a surprise to the newbies. Either way, if you're going to have any version of pumpkin soup, then Hy-Vong's version is most definitely tops.

(Source: Catharsis Restaurant & Lounge)

Catharsis Restaurant & Lounge
1644 S.W. 8th St.
Miami, FL 33135
(305) 479-2746
catharsisrestaurant.comFor some people, writing or meditation is cathartic and for others, it's food. At Catharsis Restaurant & Lounge, you can release your cares by indulging in the pumpkin risotto with seared scallops. This signature dish is a huge draw for this restaurant and not just during the fall months. It mingles Arborio rice, chicken stock and scallops together, along with parmesan cheese and spices to create a savory, homestyle dish that is as comforting as grandma's mac and cheese. It might just be your next nighttime craving.

Escopazzo
1311 Washington Ave.
Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 674-9450
www.escopazzo.comPumpkin ravioli is another dish that frequents Italian establishments. The spicy filling paired with pasta just seems to be the perfect combination. At Escopazzo, five pieces of pumpkin ravioli are drenched in a white truffle cream sauce. If that's not enough to tickle your tastebuds, then you could also opt for the butternut squash ravioli. Either way, you're in for a creamy delight.

Niema Hulin was born in Newark, NJ but raised in Lexington, South Carolina for the bulk of her formative years. In 2002, she moved to Miami after graduating from the University of Florida. Since then, Niema has worked in film, television and commercials as a Production Assistant and Production Coordinator. Some of her films have included Bad Boys II and I Am Number IV. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.