South Beach Hurricane Survival Kit

It's easy to find checklists for hurricane preparation, batteries, cash, water yada, yada, yada. But after living through a number of storms myself, I realize "just the basics" isn't that much fun, or effective. So I'm making a list of some of personal items I've accumulated over the years which make storms -- and the inevitable power outages that go with them -- so much more bearable.

Eaton Red Cross Hand Crank Emergency Radio. $80

This is an awesome 4-in-one. I have an earlier version, but the idea is the same: a radio, flashlight, cell charger and emergency siren!  Can be used with batteries or a hand crank. Perfect for finding out where the storm is, or just jamming WVUM.

Perrier Lemon in glass bottles

I stopped buying bottled water for home consumption years ago, so why would I run and buy as much as my shopping cart will allow in a storm-induced panic? I wouldn't. Instead buy something you actually want to drink that's water-like. Something that will hydrate you, but not sit in your cabinet for years after absorbing the taste of plastic (which is what used to happen to my hurricane water). Instead, clean and fill up the bathtub - just in you wind up with a boil water notice or something like that. YOu can also keep empty gallon water bottles around and fill them with filtered water just before the storm. Et voila-- water rations with virtually no BPA!

02 Cool Battery Operated Fan $29 at campingworld.com

Ok, you're gonna need batteries for this, but if it's August in Miami and your power is out, well, you're gonna need it. When not in use, it folds away and is totally portable and great for other uses too.. like, uh, camping. This one is 10", mine is 14".

Rhythm Superfoods Kale Chips

When you're at the store, get stuff that doesn't need to be refrigerated, like oranges, apples and raw almonds. You could even use the power outage as a chance to go on a raw foods diet. Just fruit nuts and dehydrated snacks like tasty Kool Ranch Kale Chips. If you do that you'll have tons of energy by the time you have to get back to work. Totally. Serious.

Faber-Castell Soft Pastel 72 Color Set $38

Yes, really. Art supplies are the best for storms. What else are you going to do, stuck at home, no power, no TV, not internet. Pastel! Have a contest, do a portrait of the dog, whatever, it's just fun. Don't forget to get pastel paper, eraser and a few brushes for blending too.

 Brookstone's Solar Powered Flashlight. $18.99

Just because the power is out doesn't mean your environmental consciousness goes out the window. The LED light runs for 2 hours straight, which is more than you need for fumbling around in the dark each night.

Igloo Maxcold Cooler $38 at Target

This little cooler keeps ice frozen for 5 solid days. FIVE. That's normally plenty of time to get the juice back on. Here's how the seasoned pros do it: empty the ice from your fridge and place in cooler a few hours before the storm so your fridge has time to make more. Then add all the most perishable items and all the other stuff you are going to want to access. Do this while the power is still ON if you can. That way you do not have to open your fridge if the power goes, which it will keep all but the most perishable items in decent shape for a day or so. One caveat: raw meat only stays safe for 4 hours in the fridge once the power stops. If you are anticipating a storm, remove all uncooked meat from the fridge and cook it. Then put it in the cooler and nibble for days!

iPhone and iPad Car Charger  $25

Smart phone chargers are everywhere and with batteries lasting longer, the car charger isn't as nesesary as it once was... unless your power is out. A lot of people don't have home phones anymore, and if they do, there are electrical cordless numbers that can't be counted on during outages. Either keep a retro non electro phone around or have a car charger handy so you can go in your car and charge it up. After, of course, the 120 mile an hour winds die down. 

Scrabble from Hasbro $14

Because you can't color ALL day, break out some board games and rediscover some old-school fun. Although I don't know why I think it's fun, my husband always beats me. Except once, a few years ago and I still have that score card in the box. Just remember to keep a dictionary handy for disputes. 

So what's missing from the list? Plenty, I'm sure. Candles? You've already got those, right? And booze - I did not forget the booze. My advice is not to buy more, but instead to finish all those weird, random bottles in your liquor cabinet that have been sitting there forever. Somebody's going to have to eventually drink that Jagermeister and Peach Schnapps.  This way, you can all catch a little buzz without going crazy. You don't want a "Let's finish all this beer while it's cold" situation. After all, if this is a big storm, and you've chosen to stay, you might just need your wits about you, especially if you're in a house or anywhere near the eye of the storm. Good luck!

The new Big Fish: Estiatorio Milos

Milos' cold case

Everyone who's anyone has been talking about Milos, which is sure to be the hot restaurant in Sofi this season. What are they saying? That the place is beautiful, the food is exquisite and... some of the most expensive food they ever had, Greek or otherwise. One friend told me she and her husband spent $200 on a whole fish her first trip there. Sure, they give the price of the fish per pound, but if you want to stay solvent, you better ask how much it weighs. Another friend told me she went on a double date there and everyone at the table ordered freely, because they were feeling a bit "celebratory." Fortunately, her date was a big enough fish himself so the party didn't end when the bill came to $1000 per couple. True story.

So when I had a chance to go, I was excited, and a little nervous. Could it really be that expensive? Yes, and no. There is plenty to eat at different price points. Some whole fish cost more than others so if you get a big one that's $50/pound, yeah, your bill will be high, but it will also be a lot of food. Entrees are priced at the usual South Beach fancy restaurant price of $38-$45 or so, which might be a good option if you don't want any surprises. But, there are other ways to experience Milos and it's beautifully designed dining room more reasonably. The first one is the Pre/Post Theater dinner menu which runs 5-7pm Monday to Saturday and on Sunday from 5pm til close. This gives you four courses from a $49 menu filled with succulent classics like the Charcoal Grilled Mediterranean Octopus, the Lavraki (Mediterranean Seabass from Cephalonia), Lamb Chop and their famous Baklava. The other way is with the $20.12 lunch menu that is making a buzz. It offers three courses in good sizes and a few pricier options for a $10 supplement.

There is even a third, more casual option. Go for a quick bite at the marketplace tucked off to the side of the restaurant. There they sell the top quality items they use in the kitchen like sea salt, olive oil, aps and other tapas style dishes on a long communal table. I imagine affluent Sofiers might swing by and pick up Milos' version of "to go" on a causal Tuesday night. My take on the place? Go. The ingredients are obviously of the highest quality, the food is delicious, clean, perfectly seasoned.

Beautiful, but a bit cold... bring a sweater!

The secret to perfect fish

730 First Street, Miami Beach 305.604.6800

Juvia: A View From the Top!

Hamachi Espuma

Ever since Juvia opened earlier this year I've been hearing people talking about it. The views, the design, the romance. The food? Well, that was a subject of much debate that ranged from superlative statements like "Best meal of my life!" to "Not worth it." with some claiming their first time was amazing but they were disappointed on return. What to do? With uneven reviews from friends and high prices, it wasn't quite on the top of my list. But then I finally got a chance to go and see what all the fuss was about for myself. It's the views, stupid! 

Like their other restaurant in St. Barth, Bonito (I've been, it's good!), the views are spectacular. And the ambiance is unlike any other restaurant in Miami. It's sexy, but in a sophisticated way that feels more like... somewhere else. Not anyplace that actually exists mind you, just somewhere you wished would. And the views are spectacular by day or night. The food, is secondary, which not to say it's not good, it's just hard to compete with that view. But it tries. Hard. A few things I had could even fit under "best ever." Those included the buttery Hamachi Espuma (above), the Sea Scallops Plancha and then, the "candy bar" dessert. All amazing, all were recommendations from our waiter. He did not specifically recommend the Korean Marinated Short Ribs, which Yannick ordered anyway. They had pretty good flavor, but they were very, very dry. So the lesson here is that the menu might be a bit uneven, so it's best to ask the waiter what is best and pick from those selections.

So is Juvia worth it? Most defiantly, especially for a special occasion and I don't mean big birthday parties either, I mean the kind of celebrations that are best done à deux. Tête-à- tête, if you know what I mean ;)

Juvia's view down Lincoln

Juvia menu