Fallen Cinderella: The Grove Isle and Pascal's at Ponce

So here we are in Miami.
We landed midday in gushing rain.
Our CABRIOLET (Prince did insist) is waiting for us at EUROPE CAR, with an orange letter license plate : "WELCOME TO SUNNY FLORIDA".
It takes me time to read even this little sentence, so dense is the downpour.
Our lucky spirits must be again feeling naughty.
We hit the river-roads, squeaking wipers and shrieking us, trying to make conversation in a storm.

45 minutes later we arrive.

We are staying at the GROVE ISLE, a rather romantic and quiet option, to the ever pulsating South Beach sleeperies.
And lets not forget to add, the price-service ratio is much more agreeable here.
But the peace and romance are the key allure of this hotel and we have been happily returning costumers for a few years now. The only downer - food sucks!!!
Sucks to the point of not eatable.
But that is a minor problem, since there is a Wholefoods (organic fare) market near by and the fridge does fit enough cheese, berries and yogurt to get by.
The pool somehow reminds me of a Mediterranean garden, with chirping birds singing from wild blossoms.
The music is usually kept to background levels (thank god) and is of rather ambient and soothing kind.
Much more to my liking, compared to the disco booom boom on South Beach.
I remember a horrible time at the RITZ, a hotel which I consider(ed) the example a class and elegance, but maybe not in South Beach. The AC units were the first noise monster, ever humming and puffing, a typical problem of the freeze-loving States. (obviously the hotel was always kept at a balmy 10 degrees Celsius ( 50 Fahrenheit) happy summer everyone)
The second disaster was the DJ who seemed to live by or in the pool, since the music never stopped. Never mind the shows and 'fun' entertainment (hello boys and girls lets have a great time, yessss??? and now everybody, lets have a great time...yipppie....) kids screaming and plastic toys afloat.
Sorry, but RITZ should be renamed Club Med.
Or we should move. Which was impossible that year, due to Spring break and some other happenings in town, every bed was busy.
Lesson learned, just like when we resided at the Delano for a heart-achingly high rate, which gave you a dusty grey (was white once) room (YUCK), a daily free dose of Marijuana clouds (Yumm) and Techno rhythms (YIKES) for breakfast in return.
By the time our stay was over I considered becoming a serious party girl, just to be able to sleep in that modern=empty=soulless- stained whitish box.
I didn't though.
I just googled new sleepy options..
So the Grove Isle it is.

We encountered some little problems at arrival, as our reservation was canceled (?) and the is hotel booked to the last room.
But Prince and Moneypenny are a team of force forte.
Nothing can stop them, nothing can tell them NO.
Poor manager guy was trembling by the time Mrs. Moneypenny let him off the phone and we moved into our king-size bedroom, with a delighted smile. A flash of guilt shot through my over-tired brain, but it was too fast to catch it. OOOOPPPSSSS, sorry...
We are on the top floor with a fabulous bay view.
Time to get down to the pool and do sweet nothing for the rest of the day and then, yes, dinner is already booked at our one and only (really only...as food in Miami can be celebrated and expensive, but not at all to our liking... everything seems rather plastic and chemical...)
PASCAL'S AT PONCE>
The French chef, a real one, knows something about fine food.
Simple, fresh and natural ingredients, served in a very unassuming bistro-cafe. (the decor is pretty ugly and boring to be honest)
But if you care for the food, this place is a winner.
Prince likes it so much (it is the only place that does not give him heartburn, feeling of vomiting, nausea, raced heartbeat or bloating after eating) that he considered to book dinner here for the whole week.
Let's start with one night.

We had a great day and night.
Somewhat zombied out from a jet-lag, we never so less enjoyed a most delicious cheese souffle and a giant salad for 2, followed by lamb.Yes, and a SMALL (yeaph...we are driving) bottle of red.
The service was topnotch, the ambiance lively (let's forget the un-french decor), the AC working hard (gosh, I need my Ski jumper) and the food heavenly natural for American standards.
Good night Miami... Merci Pascal... What would we do without you here???