We couldn’t help but get emotional when we heard that Miami Vice, the iconic television show that first premiered in 1984, turned 40 years old on the 16th of September. No other television program in history did so much to glamorize a city as Miami Vice did for Miami. Despite being focused on crime and detectives, by masterly weaving contemporary music and cinematic like scenes of a vibrant nightlife, art deco architecture, and incredible beaches, the show transformed the perception of Miami as a crime and drug trafficking haven to a must go tourist destination.
Miami Vice Shaped Miami
All we can say is thank you Anthony Yerkovich and Michael Mann for creating and producing such a brilliant television series. Even today, the images of Don Johnson, who played the cool laid-backed detective Sonny Crockett, in his stylish white suits driving his Ferrari are etched in our memory. Much of the glamor played out on the streets of Miami today takes inspiration from Crockett. Meanwhile, his partner Ricardo Tubbs, played by Philip Michael Thomas and the softly spoken Lt. Martin Castillo, played by Edward James Olmos, brought a level of depth, complexity and cultural awareness to both the show and the city that previously had gone underappreciated.
Star Studded Cast & Music
Guest stars like Bruce Willis (before Die Hard), Gene Simmons from the rock band Kiss, Pam Grier, Frank Zappa, and Miles Davis only added a sense of star studded appeal to the city. For us, however, it was as much about the acting, script and cinematography as it was about the soundtrack. Listening to “Sumggler’s Blues” by Glenn Grey, “Own the Night” by Chaka Khan, or “ You Belong to the City” by Glenn Frey, all emote a quintessentially Miami feeling, as does the “The Original Miami Vice Theme” by Jan Hammer. To this day, it’s hard not to resist playing “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins when driving around town on a lonely night with a best buddy, replaying one of the most iconic scenes from the series, even if our car isn’t quite as cool.
Miami Vice & In the Air Tonight Scene
Miami Vice Mocktail Recipe Using Dippin’ Dots (Non-Alcoholic)
To celebrate the 40th birthday of Miami Vice, we’ve put together our own rendition of the famous Miami Vice cocktail in a mocktail format with Dippin Dots.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup Strawberry Dippin’ Dots
- 1/2 cup Vanilla Dippin’ Dots
- 1/2 cup Pineapple juice
- 1/2 cup Coconut cream (chilled)
- 1/2 cup Strawberry puree (chilled)
- Whipped cream for garnish
- Fresh pineapple slices and strawberries for garnish
Directions:
- Create the Piña Colada-inspired layer:
- In a blender, mix the Vanilla Dippin’ Dots, pineapple juice, and coconut cream until smooth and creamy.
- Pour this mixture into the bottom half of a tall glass.
- Create the Strawberry Daiquiri-inspired layer:
- Blend the Strawberry Dippin’ Dots and strawberry puree until smooth.
- Slowly pour the strawberry mixture over the back of a spoon to create a distinct layered effect on top of the vanilla-pineapple mixture.
- Garnish:
- Top the mocktail with whipped cream.
- Garnish with a fresh pineapple slice and strawberries for a tropical touch.
- Serve:
- Serve immediately, and enjoy the refreshing, colorful, and fun Miami Vice mocktail!
This mocktail, with its layered strawberry and creamy tropical flavors, mimics the essence of a classic Miami Vice cocktail, while using the fun texture of Dippin’ Dots to make it extra special.
About Total Snacks
Total Snacks’ mission is to always provide the highest quality snack food for people to enjoy wherever and whenever. The business began in 2015 by entrepreneurs Eleazar López Contreras and Mabe León-Ponte, a husband and wife team, who immediately noticed a lack of high-quality snacking options around their new home in Miami, Florida. From its humble beginnings as a single retail kiosk, the couple has worked tirelessly and creatively to bring the best in class snack foods to the region.
Today, Total Snacks stands out as the premier provider of snack foods and catering in Miami. Its products can be found in over 300 independent outlets, and the company provides contract catering solutions to some of the largest sporting and entertainment venues in the area, while bringing smiles to thousands of people a year through its corporate and private catering activities. Despite its success, Total Snacks has never wavered from its core mission to offer the highest quality snack foods and the best customer service.
