Joe’s Stone Crab

Joe's Stone CrabFor more than 100 years, no visit to Miami has been complete without stopping in at Joe’s Stone Crab.

The restaurant was opened in 1913, by Joe Weiss, who began his Miami Beach career by cooking at Smith’s Casino. Joe’s is the top buyer of Florida stone crab claws, and it plays a significant role in the industry, influencing the wholesale price and financing many crabbers.

Even though stone crabs are their most famous dish now, fish was served, rather than crabs, when the restaurant first opened.

Joe’s Stone Crab is often visited by politicians, actors, and athletes. The restaurant is reputedly referenced in Ian Fleming’s novel “Goldfinger” as “Bill’s on the Beach” in which James Bond ate the best meal he had ever eaten in his life.


There are two sections to Joe’s – the Take Away section, although you can eat in too, and theJoe's Take Away main restaurant that offers a lunch and dinner menu.

Joe’s Take Away, is the best of both worlds. The Take Away is casual dining serving three meals a day, 7 days a week with a coffee bar and private room, JoAnns, for special occasions.

There’s a selection of breakfasts and speciality dishes available starting from 7:30am and yes Stone Crab is available for breakfast if you wish.

They have seasonal opening hours that coincide with the Stone Crabbing season (Oct 15 to May 15). When the season is over, Joe’s Take Away closes and the main restaurant only offers a reduced dinner menu available in the evening.

They also offer the famous authentic Key Lime Pie. You can buy them by the slice or alternatively take a whole pie away. This is a great option as you can freeze it until you need a piece (if it lasts that long!).

Interesting Facts about the Florida Stone Crab

The Florida Stone Crab is a delicacy known around the world. Its sweet taste and perfect texture, however, means its popularity has spawned a number of impersonators, including Pacific Rock Crab, Baja Stone Crab, Red Rock Crab and Japanese Crab (to name a few).

Select your fresh Stone Crabs
Select your fresh Stone Crabs

Because these non-Florida Stone Crabs don’t have the benefit of the warm tropical waters of the Keys and Gulf, they are stringier in texture and much gamier in taste. That’s why at Joe’s Stone Crab they only serve the real thing.

Florida Stone Crabs are found along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts but are commercially harvested almost entirely in Florida. In the wild, adult Stone Crabs are easily recognized by their oval body and two large claws.

The adult body of the Stone Crab is dark brownish red, more or less mottled and spotted with dusky gray. An interesting feature about the Stone Crab is the mark on the inside of the large claw that resembles a thumb print.

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Seagulls on the Beach

Sometimes the seagulls on the beach are interested in what you are doing but are still too nervous to really trust you…unless of course you are carrying food and then they suddenly lose all their fear and become your best friend and slightly possessed!

Seagulls flying mid-air on Miami Beach
Seagulls flying mid-air on Miami Beach
Catching Food
Seagulls catching food scraps
Seagulls
Seagulls

What Hides Within

Welcome…you managed to find me in the vast w.w.w universe, so now you’re here you may be wondering whether you should invest your valuable time and little grey cells exploring further. I hope this mini tour helps you discover a sample of some of the topics that hide within…


Cycling – As I’ve had some kind of bicycle most of my life, my posts on this subject will be a mix of my adventures and the places I visit as well as how my bicycle has become a big part of my everyday life. The useful products that I’ve discovered to help make cycling fun and some pictures of my journey. Check out my latest post My Purple Electra Townie Bicycle

Drawing – I never thought I could draw (I still think that…I mean I’m no Michelangelo) but then I started drawing with various apps on my iPad and the more I practiced the more confident I became that maybe I did have some hidden talent. My husband says he can see a certain style in my drawings and I just think everything looks like a cartoon (well apart from the ones that are trying to be a cartoon) but I will share my doodles here from time-to-time and maybe I will inspire you to unlock your inner Michelangelo.

You can find more of my drawings here

I’m venturing back into the wonderful world of using a pencil and paper which comes with it’s own quirks so look out for my articles on that subject soon.

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Easy Slow Cooker Meal: Teriyaki Beef Strips with Mushrooms and Onions

Here’s a simple but tasty meal that is easy to prepare and even easier to cook. It only uses three main ingredients and a few sauces and spices that you probably already have in the cupboard.

What Do You Need:-

Beef – I used 1½ lbs of top round beef strips. Add a small amount of olive oil to a large frying pan. Lightly brown the beef over a medium heat.

Add 8 large teaspoons of Teriyaki sauce, 4 large teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce and cracked black pepper to the pan. After a minute turn the beef over until coated in the sauce. Cook for a few more minutes then remove from heat and set aside keeping the pan covered.

Cut Mushrooms in half once to keep them chunky.
Cut Mushrooms in half to keep them chunky.

The Veggies

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The Best Places to Eat in Miami Beach

Have you ever visited somewhere and really wanted to know where the locals hang out? Where are all the great places hiding when you’re only visiting for a day or two? Let me uncover the Miami secrets.

Eat Like A Local

Have you ever visited somewhere and really wanted to know where the locals hang out?Miami Beach Welcome Sign

Where are all the great places hiding when you’re only visiting for a day or two for a Conference or Meeting?

It can become pretty boring very quickly eating in the hotel restaurant every day so you need some insider tips in discovering the best places to eat and explore the area.

You may be lucky enough to be there longer, on a vacation for two weeks or three weeks but the guidebooks only go so far – you need a friend on the inside.

Look no further – the culinary delights and best spots to dine are within your reach – this is just between you and me so don’t tell everyone!

Bon Appetit and Welcome to Miami

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