It is not everyday that your daughter graduates from High School. My Chicken #1 did it and the whole family was very, very proud. The actual ceremony took place at the University of Miami (my alma mater) and it was very grandiose. The best part, other than the immense pride I felt, was to see the happiness on her face – she never, not even for a minute, stopped smiling.

Of course, no celebration is complete without food. We first went to Cheesecake Factory in Coconut Grove to have lunch with the family and then we had a second feast at Garcia’s Seafood Grill & Fish Market. Norma Torres (one of my dining companions, fellow blogger and friend) was in town and we could not miss the opportunity to get together for this special occasion.

The Graduate had to order The Grilled Lobster which was accompanied with enough melted butter to bake a whole cake.

The little one had the ubiquitous Chicken Fingers with Fries.

I had the Grilled Conch with Parsley Potatoes – always a winner. The salad that came with it was so pretty!

Desserts were Key Lime Pie and Guava Mango Cheesecake.

Garcia’s is right next to the Miami River and has a cool, relaxed vibe that is unbeatable. It was a good place to celebrate Issa’s great achievement.