Name(s)?
Terri Vega & Juan Portela
Where do you live?
South Miami
How long have you lived in the area?
I have lived in the Miami my entire life. Juan has lived down here for the last 30 years.
Where are you originally from and what brought you to town?
I am a proud Miamian, born and raised. Juan is originally from the island of Puerto Rico.
Please share about what you do for a livelihood or what keeps you busy during the week?
I am a counselor and Life Couch and Juan is in Law Enforcement.
How often do you come to the market?
We try to visit every Sunday. Sometimes we just make a quick stop and get the essentials, and other times we ride bike to the market and hang out for a while.
Do you have a market ritual? If so, please describe.
Our very first stop is at LNB as we always grab a delicious rainbow smoothie to share and stock up on our turmeric tonic for the week. From there we grab a tuna poke-bowl for lunch and head to the ceviche stand where we take some home to share with the family.
What’s your favorite thing to buy at LNB Grovestand and why?
All the smoothies at LNB are wonderfully natural and healthy! The turmeric dressing is a delicious sauce for dipping and for adding to quinoa and to rice. The guacamole is amazing when available! All that said, we enjoy the turmeric tonic daily and have incorporated it into part of our nutrition ritual. It is a must-have to start our day!
What’s your favorite thing to buy at other stands at the market?
It’s nice to stock up on organic vegetables and fresh eggs. The plants are lovely and priced very well. We enjoy the Indian Food stand towards the end where we get vegetable samosas from time to time and often buy spiced pickles as well. There is much to try at the market, we need to venture out and try something different each time.
I wish the market had:
Shaded seating area and live music.
Favorite market story:
Just running into familiar faces is always a heartwarming treat!
Most-frequented local restaurants and what dish to order:
We enjoy supporting small local businesses in the area therefore we often frequent Shaddai Fine Lebanese Cuisine, Pinecrest Bakery, Peppers, Roasters & Toasters, Piolas, and Taco Rico. We are lucky to have these and many other good options in the area and are grateful to have them around.
For special occasions, I go to:
Recently we visited BOHO in Coconut Grove and had an amazing time. Their lentil salad with tuna and their quinoa salad with fried feta was just over the top!
What’s the area’s best-kept secret?
For us, having the Grove and South Miami near us is just a delight. Bike rides to dinner, the market, or the movies, is just simple fun!
A worthy splurge:
Trying out new restaurants in Miami is always exciting. Taking a tour to learn the history of different Miami neighborhoods is something we like doing. Planning a Harley drive to Key Largo for lunch or dinner is also fun to do!
Rainy-day activity:
Home….as that is where the heart is.
The most romantic spot around:
Anything near the ocean. For us, the ocean is the best part of living in South Florida. Boating is usually the ultimate escape for us, but sitting by the beach, or dining with an ocean view, all seem like a romantic escapade. Red Fish Grill is a nice place with a beautiful setting. Hope they re-open soon!
Do you participate in any community or philanthropic events that you would like to share?
We like visiting and supporting our theaters, art shows, museums, and historical sites. We promote and enjoy the diversity here (Miami) in the Arts.
Is there a question that you would like to ask the LNBs?
What about what you do at LNBs brings you the most satisfaction?
A: Making things with what we grow and sharing it with friends.
W: Sundays!