SCORCH [revisited]

Ate at SCORCH in North Miami again tonight as my flight was delayed two hours and decided to leave tomorrow.

Today's meal:

Pitcher of White Sangria [and two tasting glasses of Pañuelo wine from the intro menu] and two varieties of good bread.

Pork Osso Bucco and Pork Tenderloin both with Mashed Potatoes [and a delicious Gorgonzola Dip for the tenderloin]
I had the Mediterranean Salad [diet!!!] with Manchego Cheese, Parma Ham, Pepperoni, Hearts of Palm, Tomatoes, Cucumber, Black Olives with a Cilantro Ginger Dressing. Fantastic!

Last visit's menu on December 10, 2006:

apps: escargots, guac, shaved manchego with chorizo [excellent]

entrées: mediterranean snapper with shrimp, lamb shank with mashed potatoes and lentil soup, and a churrasco with chimichurri sauce and great tostones and a pinot noir [the last entrée was mine]

bloginfo: SCORCH is located at 13750 Biscayne Boulevard in North Miami, FL 33181
a very metro place with tables overlooking the cooking area
blognote: Sal was our waiter [in 2006] [from New Jersey, no less] we bonded!

lime fresh mexican grill

Hulk Hogan's neighborhood hangout but unfortunately he wasn't there. We were, though, and had a great lunch at this popular Alton Road eatery in Miami Beach.


Order at the counter and the waitstaff serves the food [Hi, Diann! (my friend from the TowerHouse)]. There is a salsa/condiment bar to further spice up your food. We shared a Chicken Quesadilla and a Steak/Chicken Fajitas Platter with the best Guacamole and Chips [and lots of it]. The food is very good and the portions are very large.

I had a bottle of the new Miller Chill [Chelada Style (salt and lime added)] and it is a good summer [or tropical] drink.

bloginfo: www.limefreshmexicangrill.com
blognote: eat in or out [in is AC and out is shaded]

Cafe HWB

Caught in the rain at the Hollywood Beach Cafe. Well it wasn't raining when we were walking down the beach looking for the craft fair but it started just as we sat down. Typical beachfront café with roll-up/down canvas blinds for the weather.

We had a pitcher of Becks and then a couple more glasses. Two Shrimp Cocktail with four huge shrimp on each [$9.99] and two order of Chicken Wings [$5.99].

The rain didn't let up so we appointed a runner to use the micro-umbrella and go get the car. It wasn't me!

bloginfo: Café HWB is at 595 West Boardwalk in Hollywood, Florida
blognote: friendly service and good prices

Seventh Street Wine Company

Unique wine shop, wine bar, iced champagne bar, lounge and tasting site.

The Seventh Street Wine Company calls itself 'the tasting place' and is the most innovative 'package store' I have ever visited. The deal is: buy a card with microchip [$25 minimum and $25 increments] and get one ounce tastes from ultramodern 'enorounds' [cruvinet].

There are 64 varieties of red wine possibilities in eight enorounds and 32 white winess in 4 enos. The cost of the 1 oz sip ranges from $1 to $20 [Penfold Grange]. The eno automatically reduces the total amount on your card after each purchase.

There was to be a tasting with tapas at 7pm but we were on our way to dinner. The chef was setting up the food to be cooked
on the fenced patio. Great concept!

bloginfo: 701 S. Flagler Hwy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
954.522.5560
www.seventhstreetwine.com
blognote: I tried the Spanish whites; Burgos Albariño, Martin Codax Albariño and Blanca Nieva [$1.90 for the taste and my favorite]

Johnny V's Restaurant [revisited]

Went to Johnny V's in Fort La-di-dah again; here's this year's review:




Sat outside at a sidewalk table and started with an amuse bouche of Smoked Tomato Soup. What a delicious way to start a meal. Then an Tapas Sampler of Serrano Ham, Manchego, Idiazabel, Mahon and Cabrales cheeses, Chorizo on toast, Olives, Spiced Cherry Tomatoes and Lettuce. Plenty, plenty for the three of us.

BUT if you dine out with a Chef and a Restaurant Manager and they each one of the two specials - just follow suit. No, I ordered the Duck, Duck, Duck [or duck 3 ways]. One special was a 16 ounce Veal Chop with Bacon Cheddar Mashed Potatoes and the other special was Tuna Mediallions stacked with layers of Garlic Mashed Potatoes, both came with Roasted Root Vegetables.

So, my DuckX3 was a three way loser. It was all very underseasoned even the Spinach; I had to ask for some vinegar to salt and pepper it with to get some taste. Duck#1 was Duck Breast medium rare; Duck#2 was Duck Liver Confit and Duck#3 was a Duck Leg with very UNcrispy skin. Needless to say I was very disappointed.

Dessert was split between the three of us: Triple Berry Crème Brûlée which was recommended by the waiter.

bloginfo: www.johnnyvlasolas.com
blognote: only my entrée was a disappointment, everything else was great

Last year's review from 12/22/06:

Having been too tired to go to Chef Fest #2 at Social Miami in the Delano last night, we headed to Fort Lauderdale the next day, Monday, our day off.

Found Johhny V and it looked great from the start. Had a late lunch here.

apps: Blue Corn Crusted Calamari, Spanish Sherry Aioli, Chipotle Lime Vinaigrette, Grilled Hot and Sweet Fruit Salsas…$9
and Red Chile Blue Corn Chips, Tomato Salsa Fresca and Guacamole…$6

entreé: 2 Ancho Cinnamon Barbequed Pulled Pork Sandwiches, French bread, Tamarind Caramelized Onions, Mango Cole Slaw, Barbeque Demi Glace, Yuca Frita…$12 and a Smoked Turkey Club... $10

desserts: the special of the day was a Pumpkin Ice Cream Sundae over Chocolate Brownie and Fudge Sauce...$8, Three Berry Crème Brûlée “Pot Pie” Macadamia Graham Crust Freshly Whipped Cream…$8 and Johnny’s Favorite Chocolate Cake Caramel, Bananas and Peanut Butter Mousse, Malted Milk~Chocalate Chip Ice Cream…9

bev: 3 Spaten beers

bloginfo: Johnny V Restaurant, 625 E Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 954.761.7920
blognotes: fantastic place, good food, great service. There is outdoor seating, a loooong bar with banquettes and a dining room.
There is also the most fully outstanding cheese menu I have ever seen. Cheeses from around the world offered in a 3, 5 or 7 cheese platter with all the trimmings.
I will return!

Benihana

Here we are in Miami celebrating sister Sandra's birthday at the newly reopened Benihana in Northbay Village.

We each had the Benihana Special: Soup, Salad, Shrimp Appetizer, Steak and Lobster Hibachi, Chicken Fried Rice, and Green Tea Ice Cream [or Tropical Fruit Sherbet]. This along with 16 oz. Sapporo Beers made for a great meal. Peter was our hibachi chef; knew right away he wasn't Japanese. He was from the Philippines and after a 'marunong Tagalog?' [are you a Tagalog speaker?], we had a great time conversing and joking in English and Tagalog. He put on a great show and we surely enjoyed it and the food.

After dinner we stopped at Barchetta's [formerly Rogers] and enjoyed after dinner drinks on the waterfront terrace watching the lightning show.

Chili's

Had dinner at the new Chili's in Cromwell. It is brand new and fits into the parking lot of the Ramada like it had always been there.

Started with the Boneless Wings [$7.99] which were hot and delicious. We both had Fajitas. He had the Mushroom Jack fajitas and I had the Steak Portobello fajitas. They were both $12.99 and well worth the money [my leftovers will be another meal for later this week].

Jerry's Pizza

bloginfo: 885 Washington St
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 346-533

See the clams; see the bacon, see the garlic! Yes, a White Clams Casino Pizza was our dinner tonight at Jerry's. I hadn't been back to Jerry's for 30 years when the boys were teenagers. Same location; same plain old pizza parlor; same great pizza.

This is the place that Jane and Michael Stern found the famous Garlic Sicilian pizza with the anchovies and parsley. That wasn't on the menu but we did just fine! The large was $18.95

IKEA

Visited IKEA [with a new convert]. Did the usual 10 Swedish Meatballs, Gravy, Boiled Potatoes and Lingonberries. Got Lingonberry juice to drink [see a theme here?].
Then after shopping we had dessert: my usual Apple Cake with Cream Sauce and a piece of Chocolate Crunch Torte. Two coffees completed the rest stop.

bloginfo: IKEA is the first exit on Route 95 as Route 91 ends. You can't miss the building with the huge blue and yellow signs.
blognote: they do a super cheap and hearty breakfast and open the cafeteria an hour before the store

The Hopkins Inn

'Sitting high above the northern shore of Lake Waramaug, the Hopkins Inn has welcomed travelers since 1847. Guests enjoy expansive views of the lake, the Berkshire foothills, and neighboring vineyards from the dining areas and guest rooms. In addition, guests have access to the waters of the lake through the Hopkins Inn beach, located a short distance from the inn. Adirondack chairs on the lawn provide a pleasant afternoon's rest and are just steps above the sandy shoreline'. [from their website]

Dinner here this afternoon after TheaterWorks.
Apps: Eggs a la Russe and Herring Plate. Both plated beautifully and excellent quality and taste.
Entrées: Roast Duck a la Orange. Crispy duck with an orange sauce on the side.
Sauerbraten with Spaetzle and my order of Lammhaxen [Lamb Shank] over wild rice. The lamb was served on and off the bone and was succulent and tender.
All entrées were served with vegetables of the day: carrots and green beans and an order of Roesti Potatoes was brought to the table, split and served to all.
Dessert: Fresh Blueberry Cobbler was eough for the four of us [but only eaten by three].

bloginfo: www.thehopkinsinn.com
The vineyard and wine shop is adjacent to the restaurant
blognotes: the view of Lake Tauramaug is gorgeous. Window seats are at a premium and are assigned upon arrival and cannot be reserved. We did get a window seat.

j. gilberts

Tonight three of us ate at the Glastonbury j. gilberts. It was a great meal. We could only get last minute reservations for a 5:15 sitting but it worked out well. We were not rushed from our table.
Shrimp Cocktails [$12.95] were huge and sat on a bed of Fried Tortilla Chiffonade with a good Cocktail Sauce. I ordered the Iceberg Wedge Salad with Bleu Cheese dressing, Gouda Cheese and Bacon Crumbles - delicious [$5.95]
One entrée was the 6 ounce Filet [$25.50] and the others were the Filet Oscar with Lump Crab and Hollandaise Sauce $29.95]. They sides were Garliced Spinach, Sautéed Vegetables and the giant Salt Potato;
One dessert [sort of shared] was the Almond Tuile Canolli filled with Chocolate Mousee [$6] and a Capuccino.
Great meal with good service!

from their website:
'Don't think just because this upscale steakhouse is part of the Houlihan's Restaurant Group that it shares the chain's penchant for silly gimmicks, over-the-top décor and a pun-riddled menu. J. Gilbert's is a class act: a clubby, darkly handsome steakhouse serving good food with good service for honest prices. While beef runs through the menu, it does not rule it. Grilled chicken dishes, seafood, pastas and salads also make their home on the range. Cajun and bayou flavors also cleverly insinuate themselves. Appetizers like smoked chicken tortilla soup or smoked chicken and black bean quesadilla make good starters. So, too, do generous salads like the zippy Caesar with red chili croutons. We like the steaks here, especially the tasty strip and the cowboy-cut rib-eye served with red chili-onion straws. Barbecue pork ribs are big, sloppy and succulent. Not in the mood for meat? Then perhaps the lobster ravioli will make you happy. The staff here is a wholesome, earnest and hard-working bunch, which makes J. Gilbert's even easier to like'.

Hooters

Lunch today after a Klezmer concert [connection?] on the Berlin Turnpike in Newington, CT.

Had the Buffalo Sampler of Wings, Shrimp and Chicken Tenders ordered mild but need to 'hot' it up a bit more next time. Also had an order of Onion Rings and a Caesar Side Salad. For beverage we had a pitcher of Sam Adams Summer Ale. All in all, a very good lunch for about $20 a piece.

Wikipedia says: 'Hooters is the trade name of two privately held American restaurant chains: Hooters of America, Inc based in Atlanta, Georgia, and Hooters, Inc., based in Clearwater, Florida. Between company owned locations and franchises, there are now over 435 Hooters restaurants in 46 U.S. states and 20 other countries, including Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Chile, Australia, Guatemala, Panama, China, South Korea, Venezuela, and Singapore — its first overseas location to open.

Hooters plans to open its first branch in Israel in the summer of 2007,and in Dubai later this year.

Hooters targets male customers with a female waitress staff, though men work at Hooters as cooks, hosts (at some franchises), busboys, and managers. The menu includes hamburgers and other sandwiches, steak, seafood, and chicken. It also specializes in Buffalo wings. Almost all Hooters hold alcoholic beverage licenses and sell beer and wine. They sell t-shirts and various mementos'.

bloginfo: www.hooters.com
blognotes: No dear, they were real!

80 Licks [updates]

The VERY best ice cream in the area!

Go to 80 Licks in Portland and see. I had the Pink Grapefruit sorbet and the other two orders were Coffee with Brownie Chunks and Dark Chocolate with Reese Peanut Butter Cups.

There are not a zillion flavors to choose from, each one sounding like the other but a very nice selection of standards and new flavors. Next time I will try the Banana Peanut Butter [Elvis' favorite].

blog info:
80 Licks is located at 201 Marlborough Street [Route 66], Portland, CT
Phone: 860.342.8080
They are next to a Subway Sandwich Shop.
Hours: Monday - 3 to 8 and Tuesday thru Sunday 12 to 8
3 cones cost $6.26

blognotes: eat in or eat out on the front porch
go to www.80licks.com and get more info and register your birthday, sign the guest book and get some delicious emails

Another visit: Sunday, June 3, 2007

Tried the 'Mango Tango' but ordered 'Cannoli' this time. Rich and delicious with pieces of cannoli pastry and chocolate!

And yet another visit: Tuesday the 4th

This time the Mango Z Tango which was not as good as I thought it would be. It was ice cream and not sorbet. The Banana Bread Chocolate Chip looked marvelous. Oh well, next time!

Another visit: Saturday, June 9th

Tried the 'mystery flavor' which turned out to be Banana Ice Cream with Mini Chocolate Chips and Banana Bread chunks. It was delicious. And I saved 15 cents a gallon on my gas by driving over the bridge to Portland!

and yet another... Thursday, June 21st

After a codyball practice, I needed gas so HAD to go home via Portland and there 'to my surprise' was 80 Licks. Tonight the flavor was Ginger and it was 'way fab'!!!

Another trip to Portland and I didn't even buy gas! Saturday, June 30th

'Another Brick in the Wall Nut' [=Maple Walnut] delicious and I got a 'Buy 10 get 1 Free Regular Ice Cream' card. Another excuse to partake of great ice cream.

A trip yesterday to celebrate 'vacation'! Monday, July 2nd

Had AC Reese which is Prince of Dark Chocolate with delicious 'globules' of peanut butter