Walk into The Eighth State Brewing Co. and you may catch a whiff of South Florida.
Lynda Prado can be found whipping up bites inspired by a Cuban-American upbringing in Miami designed by her husband, Tomas Prado, a classically trained chef currently at The Cliffs. Lynda Prado previously worked as human resources manager at Hotel Hartness.
The duo opened Hot Box — Munchies by Myami Bites in the brewery after The Half Greenville ended its pop-up residency at the location. For the Prados, the concept is a way to represent themselves through a mutual passion for entrepreneurship and food.
“We’ve never not been from Miami,” Lynda Prado said. “You could tell from my accent. I’m from Miami.”
The installment in Eighth State gleans inspiration from late-night foods in the 305 (Miami’s telephone area code).
The couple are no strangers to entrepreneurship. They previously owned Spanglish Cocina + Bar in Charleston and, later, Myami Bites in Gather GVL. The Prados took a break from operating the spot after Lynda Prado had knee surgery, making it hard to run the business.
The eatery’s space in the brewery arose from a longtime friendship between co-founder Cameron Owen and the Prados. When The Half left the spot, it timed out perfectly for Hot Box.
A soft opening was held Jan. 27. Scents of sofrito and other Latin spices floated through the air with the occasional sound of La India coming from the back as the Prados prepared the bites.
The menu will change regularly, with a few static options remaining. The pop-up offers smaller snack options as well as larger-format dishes.
Among the smaller options, the avocado lettuce cups are built atop two pieces of lettuce with roasted squash or sweet potato, pepitas, avocado, cilantro and homemade charred jalapeño aioli. The softness of the avocado plays against the crunchiness of the pepitas and lettuce for a well-balanced bite, both tastefully and texturally.
It’s hard to think of Miami cuisine without a Cuban sandwich or bowls. The Hot Box version is traditional and garnished with a tiny Cuban flag.
Hot Box — Munchies by Myami Bites is located in The Eighth State Brewing Co., 400 Augusta St., Greenville.
