Louis' List: GoGo

WSVN -- South Beach, land of the beautiful, the bods, the botoxed and the tourist traps. So many restaurants, so few really good ones, especially when you want to eat cheap and on the fly, but I found a secret.

Louis Aguirre: "You know what's crazy is that I live literally three blocks from here in one of those big buildings back there. I drive by this place two, three, four times a day, seven days a week. Never even knew it was here. That's crazy. That's crazy. Let's GoGo."

It's a place that only the really hooked up locals know about.

What's got everybody oooing and ahhing? A tiny little joint off Alton Road and 8th Street that serves the best homemade gourmet empanadas you've ever tasted this side of Buenos Aires.

That's Dianne, the owner. I literally only found this place about two months ago, even though it's been open since 2004. I am now an official GoGo groupie and Dianne is my new best friend.

Dianne: "Steak, shrimp, tofu."

Louis Aguirre: "What are you really known for here?"

Dianne: "We make the best empanadas in the world."

Louis Aguirre: "You certainly do. The best empanadas in the world, and I'm a Latin boy so I know."

Dianne: "Well, I lived many years in Buenos Aires, and we try to do it here like it should be done."

With pastry dough flown in regularly from Argentina and gourmet fillings made fresh every day.

Dianne: "In the four years we've been here we've probably made 100 recipes probably."

Louis Aguirre: "Why don't we have some empanadas instead of just talking about them, and you can surprise me, and just bring me the best of your best. Bring me your greatest hits, and we'll GoGo."

Louis Aguirre: "This is the steak and blue cheese.

Dianne: "So it's real steak grilled on the grill and real blue cheese, fresh tomatoes."

Louis Aguirre: "I'm not a big blue cheese kind of guy, I love this, delicious."

Now here's the best thing, at about $4 a pop and using the only freshest natural ingredients, GoGo won't bust your wallet or your gut.

Dianne: "That's about 60 calories, just the wrapper itself. It's about less than a slice of pita."

Louis Aguirre: "So they're guilt-free empanadas?"

Dianne: "Well, inside you think what is a few ounces of shrimp? That's pure protein, not too many calories in a three ounce portion of shrimp."

Louis Aguirre: "This shrimp scampi is crazy good."

Dianne: "It's crazy good, isn't it?"

Louis Aguirre: "It's crazy good."

But wait, it gets better. GoGo also makes the best salads I think I've ever tasted. The super food mini made with quinoa, edamame, broccoli and spinach so insanely good. It's got foodies totally addicted.

OK, time for desert.

Louis Aguirre: "This is dulce de leche and black berries."

Dianne: "And you'll see it's a good combo because blackberries are a little tart and dulce de leche is really sweet. See, that's good right?"

Louis Aguirre: "Yes!"

Louis Aguirre: "I have your cell phone number. Now you're in trouble."

FOR MORE INFORMATION

GOGO
926 Alton Road
South Beach
305-673-3137
http://www.gogomiamibeach.com