There’s something special about exploring Miami’s culinary scene with your best friend, especially when it’s during Miami Spice season.

The extreme heat and chance of hurricanes may keep the tourists away and may even keep us locals at home more than usual, so the hospitality industry goes into overdrive to lure us out with all sorts of offers.

There’s something about weekday lunches with good friends that feel like little gifts to the soul.

Recently, I found myself seeking a little escape, a pause in the whirlwind of deadlines and inbox pings, and one that was made possible by an invitation to write a fun story.

When we have out-of-town guests, after we’ve given them what we call the Fort Lauderdale/Wilton Manors experience, if they’re here long enough, we expand that to the Miami experience, which includes tours of South Beach, and MiMo, and we always end up in Wynwood.

There’s something incredibly comforting about catching up with a close friend, the kind of friend who knows your stories, your quirks, and one that enjoys food and trying out new places as much as you do.