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Calle Ocho (8th Street) in Southwest Miami is the heart of Little Havana. Every time we visit Miami, we go out of our way to eat at one particular place. You could even call it a type of “Mecca” for us West Coast Cubans.

Here is the spot that is the quintessential meeting place for Cubans when visiting Miami: Versailles Restaurant and Bakery.  There are lots of fabulous Cuban restaurants in lots of other places in Miami and of course, all of South Florida, (La Habana Vieja in Coral Gables comes to mind) but Versailles is definitely where Cubans come at all hours to “chismear” (gossip) and to have a little cortadito (espresso topped with steamed milk) and a pastelito de guayaba. The walk-up window boasts the peculiar distinction of serving over 1,000 espressos a day.

It’s here that you are guaranteed to find a gathering of some of the most fabulously Cuban Cubans. Love the food. Love the atmosphere. But most of all, I love the sound of the “tiki tiki.”

Armed with our video camera and instructions from my bossy, co-blogger, Carrie, my daughter and I went to Versailles to ask the question: “Que es el Tiki Tiki?”

The common answer seems to be that the “tiki tiki” is when someone keeps talking and talking and talking incessantly…. I’m thinking that pretty much describes us perfectly.

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Un poquito mas:

1. What is el Tiki Tiki?
2. Dimelo Cantando: The Tiki Tiki Census, 2010
3. Grace Us With Your Holiday Memories