Tâm Tâm: Finding the heart of Vietnamese cuisine

I love to travel. But when traveling is not an option, the next best thing is a staycation. This is where you explore your own city by staying in a hotel, ideally in a part of the city you don't live in. Something to take you away from your day to day. This past staycation, we stayed in the AKA Brickell, which put us in the heart of bustling Miami. You can read more about that here! One of the restaurants we therefore had to try was "Tâm Tâm." "Tâm," when translated from Vietnamese, means heart, mind, soul or center, and when repeated, it translates to whole-heartedly, or sincere. 

Miami as an international scene

It's easy in Miami to be transported to other countries through the numerous restaurants offered, though if you're not careful, you could find yourself over paying for some frozen foods. That said, when you find one,  and the craving for international cuisine hits your palate, Miami offers some pretty amazing options. Tâm Tâm did not disappoint. It's easy to see how they earned a Michelin star, and it has nothing to do with the beautiful architecture of the downtown courthouse that paints itself as it's backdrop. The entire restaurant experience as a transportation to a culture like nothing else you find in Miami. The vibrant colors, topped with a bar-like atmosphere makes me imagine what soldiers might have experienced in Saigon during the war - but clean and not seedy. Just fun. Even the bathrooms are about that fun, having their own karaoke experience while you wait! Once you get your table, because I HIGHLY recommend you make a reservation, walking in the door is a full transportation to this casual decor and heartfelt honor towards the Vietnamese culture. 

Not so casual

Don't let the decor and experience fool you, though. There is nothing casual about the food you are about to experience. In fact, your entire culinary journey is about to be elevated. Whenever I see a restaurant menu, the first thing I always notice is the size. There are not many restaurants that can truly pull off a Cheesecake Factory-sized menu, so when I see a menu like that, I get weary. Thankfully, that is not the case here. You get one sheet, with maybe 17 food items in total. (The other side is their drinks menu!) The other thing I loved about this menu was the ability to sample so many items - it is by far the most enjoyable way my wife and I love to eat!

Scallop Pomelo Crudo

We started off with the scallop pomelo crudo, which as you can see, means the fancy has begun! Expertly cut and seasoned, the crudo had a slight kick to it that just helped set the stage for the journey our taste buds were about to go through. There was the crunch from the crispy garlic, sweet from the coconut cream, the slight spice in the cream, umami from the scallops themselves, and sour from some hidden acid creates every bite to be the perfect bite. We were not disappointed - even the serving size was perfect for us to share! 

Shimeji Mushrooms

(Have you ever noticed how many asian restaurants don't actually pluralize the words?)

Now I don't know about you, but I have never had shimeji mushrooms before. This dish was so good I had to look this up to even understand what we were eating! Often called "beech mushrooms" because they can be found on fallen beech trees, these mushrooms were so savory with a slightly nutty undertone that kept us coming back for more! They resemble oyster mushrooms, and Anjane, being highly sensitive to many types of mushrooms, found these to be easy to process with no issues! Swimming in nuoc cham and La Vong sauce, every bite had such a mouthwatering taste as it played with texture, sweet, savory and, yes slightly spicy. The next time I go any where near Tâm Tâm, this dish will be an absolute MUST. I am not the biggest fan of dill, and yet somehow, on this dish, I found myself loving every bite!

Now I will mention here, you could order one of the large plates and be fine. The amount of food thus far, and, considering these were the "small plates" was simply spectacular in taste, but also in value. I hear the grilled whole fish is not to be missed. We happened to have grilled whole fish the day before, so opted to go for more small plates.

Tamarind Glazed Pork Ribs

Boy did we choose a great path! Some of the messiest foods are always the best foods, SO unless you feel comfortable licking your fingers, lips and practically everything the ribs touch, do not order these on a first date. Topped with ribboned scallions and peanuts, as well as some pickled cucumbers for coloring on the plate, Even without those items, I am certain I would have enjoyed these ribs! (In fact, I did not particularly care for the cucumbers - I get it, palate cleanser and all, but for me, not a fan). The scallions and peanuts on top, however, did add another element of crunchy to the slightly caramalized crunch from the tamarind glaze. This is the kind of dish that will make you forget you are on a date as you lose all class and want to lick the plate clean. So. Freaking. Good. The sweetness plays so well with the savory of the ribs, which are also cooked to perfection. Each bite was like biting into melty butter, so soft, and barely hanging on to the bones. Along with the wings up next, you will want to come here by yourself, just so you don't have to share!

Tam Tam Wings

As if things couldn't have gotten any better, in enters the wings. I surmise that they have to be using panko bread crumbs and rice flour because there is just no other way they can perfect such a crispy golden skin for these wings. The hint of lime and crispy garlic and cilantro are enough to make anyone's mouth water when introduced to this mé·nage à trois but then, people, they top it off with a fish sauce caramel so expertly it DOESN'T TAKE AWAY from the crunch! Now I am a fan of the OG wings from Sports Grill, especially the one on Sunset, and I am also a huge fan of the secret wings you can order from the Loew's Hotel in Coral Gables, but these wings are on a whole other level. Again, that caramel sauce, completely different from the ribs, is so absolutely delicious that I was getting full by this point and began only eating out of shear gluttony. Every morsel of every bite was just tantalizing the buds for more. They are the perfect menu item for the casual atmosphere, but let me tell you - all conversation stops to enjoy these, only interrupting the silence between us to exclaim how much we enjoyed them!

Pandan Coquito

In my opinion, you can't have a restaurant in Miami, during the holidays, and not have your own house-made coquito. Even Pinecrest Gardens has their own offering of coquito for their lights festival! Maybe this is another reason why I was getting full, but I couldn't think of a better side dish to make this Vietnamese experience just a little reminder of being in Miami. And, of course, they put their own truly unique spin on this beloved drink. Using pandan, a tropical plant known for its fragrant, grassy, vanilla-like leaves, they created their coquito comes out with a slightly green tinge to it. But, don't let this scare you - somehow, it makes the coquito lighter and a little sweeter. Of course, you also have to make it boozy! Having this throughout the meals also made it a safe haven against any unexpected spice, so, of course a high recommendation. Get it while you can, however, because it's not always on the menu! They change items frequently, making each return trip a different, but equally delicious, experience. 

Seasoned Soft Serve

Still along the path of gluttony, we ordered dessert. I mean, there's a reason it was once on the top of the food pyramid - it's the most important part! I digress. We had to try their seasoned and seasonal, soft serve. It was peppermint and coffee! Along with their coquito, this just hit the spot in my mind for holiday eatings and helping get in the spirit. Light, but creamy, the soft serve tasted like it was made with love. The peppermint was only hinted and not overbearing, while the coffee made it feel like an affogato. They, of course, topped it off with rainbow colored sprinkles, assumably so that it would blend in with the decor.  Bottomline It's easy to see how you are taken on a true culinary journey, worth of their Michelin star. What's even more impressive is that the prices don't reflect your typical Michelin star restaurant, and the atmosphere is not stuffy at all. The owners have managed to create a vibrant, kitchy and casual atmosphere, while also upping the quality of the food beyond anything that's casual. If I was ever on deathrow, for my final meal, I would have to have the shimeji mushrooms and tam tam wings, without a doubt. If you haven't had the pleasure yet, make sure you take a friend and go, immediately, to Tâm Tâm.