Café Chardonnay reigns best in Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach County

Café Chardonnay

4533 PGA Blvd.

Palm Beach Gardens, FL

561-627-2662

Lunch: Monday –Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Dinner : Monday-Saturday – 5:30-10 p.m.; Sunday dinner 5:30-9 p.m.

Catering available

http://www.cafechardonnay.com/

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By Jane Feehan

Elegant, sophisticated, sumptuous, unpretentious – these are just a few of the adjectives that aptly describe both the food and décor of Café Chardonnay in Palm Beach Gardens.

Continental entrées are served with a 21^st- century emphasis on organic.   Starters for our lunch visit included French Onion soup appropriately crusted with golden browned Gruyere cheese, and Lobster Bisque infused with the flavor of those wonderful Maine crustaceans.  Organic Irish salmon served atop a bed of lentils, and a jumbo lump crab cake with far more meat than bread made for two exquisite meals.

Café Chardonnay is pricey with dinner entrées averaging $35 and sides served a la carte but it’s well worth it.  The summer provides an opportunity to dine for less. A specially priced four-course dinner menu changes weekly featuring house specialties such as rack of lamb, organic breast of chicken Milanese, San Francisco Cioppino (seafood stew), and braised short ribs, and much more.

Patio dining -popular during the cooler months

Consistently delicious, Café Chardonnay may be one of the finest dining establishments in Palm Beach and Broward counties.  Dinner reservations suggested.

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Tags: Fine dining Palm Beach Gardens, fine dining Palm Beach County, catering in Palm Beach County, summer dining deals, Cafe Chardonnay

Jupiter, Florida - Going to the Dogs

Freedom!

What did she say?

One of the best beaches for dogs in South Florida has to be three or so miles of Jupiter (and some of neighboring Juno). Excitement builds as four-legged critters bound out of cars and crash down wooden stair entrances to the beach to run free. Most run into the water, all look for new canine friends. When their jaunt to the beach ends, many dogs resist calls to return to the car. Some sit stubbornly, refusing to budge even if gently tugged by leash.  It's good fun all around, and the beaches remain clean and beautiful.

Jupiter Beach

Tags: Best beach for dogs in South Florida, dog beaches, Palm Beach County dog beach

Ferdo's Grill in Fort Lauderdale: Kabob Central

Ferdo’s Grill

4300 N. Federal Hwy.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33308

954-492-5552

Open Mon-Thurs: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m., 

Fri: 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m., Saturday: 5-11 p.m.

http://www.ferdosgrill.net/

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 By Jane Feehan

Ferdo’s Grill has expanded in the last few years to accommodate its growing popularity. A favorite among locals for Mediterranean food, this eatery delivers a good meal for the buck.

The operative word here is oversized; portions are huge – much larger than one would find in Lebanon, Greece or Iran – anywhere in the Levant and surrounds.  Kabobs originated in Persia (today Iran) and were adopted by Turkey and other Middle Eastern countries. They mesh well with the American quest (among some) for simplicity and healthy eating. So do Ferdo’s appetizers of humus (enough for three or four), Baba Ghannouj, falafel, stuffed grape leaves, spinach, and meat pies. It’s all here.

Kabob meats and vegetables charred over a grill come with rice, humus, vegetables and /or a salad. I’m not wild about iceberg lettuce for a Middle Eastern meal; that’s an American twist they could do well without. Same goes for their version of a big fat Greek iceberg lettuce salad with Feta on the bottom rather than scattered atop. Did I mention beets? Also a twist on this salad, they’re added in a seemingly arbitrary way.  Other than the odd big fat Greek salad, the meats, seafood and poultry are dished up in an appealing way, kabob or otherwise. Lunch averages $9; dinners, $12-19 (yellow snapper a bargain under $20), and an array of appetizers about $6.

Patience is mandatory here; always has been. Kabobs are grilled to order. Lunch hours are quite busy, even during the summer. Belly dancing draws crowds on Saturday nights. Wine and beer available.

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Food Network's recipes for Greek salad: http://www.foodnetwork.com/search/delegate.do?fnSearchString=greek+salad&fnSearchType=site

Tags: Fort Lauderdale Middle Eastern restaurants, dining in Fort Lauderdale, belly dancing in Fort Lauderdale, kabobs in Fort Lauderdale

Nick's Tomatoe Pie draws Jupiter fans of Italian food

Nick’s Tomatoe Pie

1667 W. Indiantown Rd.

Jupiter, FL 33458

561-744-8935

Open daily for dinner; takeout available

Sunday –Thursday: 4:30-9:30 p.m.

Friday-Saturday: 4:30-10:30 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

If you can get by the kitschy atmosphere with its wood and neon signs, tomato cans as center pieces, and elevated noise levels that reminds one of Italian eatery Buca di Beppo it’s clear that Nick’s Tomatoe Pie dishes up some good southern Italian food.

Sauces  - marinara, bolognese, alla vodka, primavera - and others that define Italian cooking are available with most anything the kitchen serves (the menu is huge). For starters, I ordered a Gorgonzola salad tossed with several varieties of lettuce, and tomatoes and olives topped with a generous amount of cheese that was worth the visit.  I was less enthusiastic about the individual loaf of tasteless bread served in a bag. It was redeemed by olive oil with plenty of garlic cloves. For the main course, I sampled eggplant rollatini (about $16). Three huge vegetable rolls stuffed with quality ricotta cheese in a delicious marinara plus a side penne (overcooked) was enough for two.  Smaller portions are available for a dollar or two less.  Fellow diner supped on penne with bolognese, another tasty sauce, and a better-than-average house salad. For $15, this small order dinner choice was a bit overpriced.

A raw bar with cold water oysters, and clams in white or red sauce are among favorites of regular customers. Nick’s serves pizza but with bland dough and tasteless toppings, it’s not worth naming this restaurant (and mis-spelling tomato) for. There are plenty of other menu items that please, including a lineup of pasta, meats, lobster and fish.

 Full bar, good service, family friendly. 

For recipes, grocery lists, a meal planner and meal plans, visit DinnerTool:  www.dinnertool.com

Tags: Jupiter Italian restaurants, dining in Jupiter, raw bar in Jupiter, takeout in Jupiter, wedding rehearsal dinner accommodations, Nick's Tomato Pie

Mr. Zhang's for traditional Chinese-American dining in Palm Beach Gardens

Mr. Zhang’s

4650 Donald Ross Rd. Suite 116

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33418

Lunch and dinner

Sun-Thurs: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri-Sat: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

561-624-2946

http://www.mrzhangchinese.com/

Take out also available

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By Jane Feehan

For those with a hankering for “authentic” Chinese-American dishes -- Chow Mein, Egg  Foo Young, Chop Suey,  Happy Family,  General Gau (or Pao) Chicken,  or egg rolls -- it’s all at Mr. Zhang’s.

A sophisticated décor accented with tablecloths, an attractive full bar, and ample seating both indoors and out, places an elegant touch on an otherwise pedestrian eating experience.

Combination platters, overloaded with rice, average about $9.  House specialties such as Rose Shrimp, Sizzling Mongolian Delights, and Roast Duck run about $15-16.

A good vegetarian lineup, a wide seafood selection, and a variety of lo mein, and fried rice dishes should satisfy most cravings for Chinese-American food. Mr. Zhang's is not gourmet but the prices are right, the service good, and the atmosphere, above average.

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Food Network's egg roll recipe here or at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sara-moulton/egg-rolls-recipe/index.html

Tags: Chinese food Palm Beach Gardens, Chinese food Juno Beach, dining in Palm Beach Gardens, dining in Abacoa, Chinese food Abacoa,

Sukho Thai, Fort Lauderdale: where tradition meets quality and price

CLOSING

Sukho Thai

Gateway Plaza

1930 E. Sunrise Blvd.

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304

954-764-0148

Dinner: Sunday-Thursday – 5-10 p.m.; Friday – Saturday: 5-10:30 p.m.

Lunch: Monday-Friday: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Takeout also available

http://www.sukhothaiflorida.com/

By Jane Feehan

Tucked away in the Gateway Shopping Plaza, Sukho Thai may be easy to miss. An unassuming entrance belies the charm of its interior and the yum factor of its food. Working hard to please patrons since 1990, owner Susie Komolsane and son Eddie Watana reign as consummate hosts over this pearl of a Thai dining experience.

The kitchen presents all the elements of Thai cuisine – sweet, salty, spicy and sour – in an array of dishes that appeals to those seeking a traditional Thai jolt. A selection of spicy curry sauces complements seafood, meat and vegetables. For those who shy away from spicy fare, the menu also offers a wide choice of palate-pleasing sauces infused with plenty of flavor without the fire: baby corn, broccoli, sweet and sour, garlic, cashew, peanut …

Sweet and sour chicken and vegetables with a hefty serving of rice for me and chicken and vegetables with basil (each for about $8) for dining partner was more than we could eat on a recent lunch visit. Spring or summer rolls and a variety of rice noodles, soups, salads and traditional deserts at reasonable prices places Sukho Thai at the top of Thai restaurants to dine at in Fort Lauderdale.

To “sweeten” the Sukho Thai dining experience, summer specials include $2 price cuts on many food items as well as a daily Happy Hour (5- 7 p.m.) with 2-for-1 drinks (beer, wine and sake) and “your favorite bottle of wine” at half price.

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See Bobby Flay's recipe for Thai Red Curry Mussels

Tags: Fort Lauderdale Thai restaurants, good Thai food in Fort Lauderdale, casual Thai cuisine in Fort Lauderdale, Happy hour dining in Fort Lauderdale, summer dining specials in Fort Lauderdale, 2 for 1 summer specials Fort Lauderdale

"Ode" to lunch at Carmine's LaTrattoria - Palm Beach Gardens

Lunch at Carmine’s La Trattoria and Pizzeria

2401 PGA Blvd.

Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

561-775-0186

http://www.carmines.com

Lunch served daily until 4:30 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

Lunch it was this visit to Carmine’s La Trattoria;

mid-day meal, I opine, is their best of the dia.

Salads, soups, sandwiches for less than ten dollars

may draw some fans with good-natured hollers.

Chicken meatballs and marinara on Italian bread

was more than one could eat before turning red.

That and the Milano, a grilled chicken with earthy roll,

induced us both to follow lunch with a long stroll.

Good food for two, great service for less than a twenty,

Will bring me back often while I shout out to many,

that lunch at La Trattoria is a better buy

than their disappointing dinners that leave one asking why.

Tags: Lunch in Palm Beach Gardens, Italian restaurants in Palm Beach Gardens

H2O Café - Offers more than a good view of Fort Lauderdale Beach

H2O Café

101 South Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd.

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

954-414-1024

Open daily: 7:30 a.m. – 11 p.m. (12 a.m. weekends)

http://h2ocafe.net/

By Jane Feehan

As with the other Peter Beck eateries - Aruba Beach Café and Casa Blanca Café  - H2O Café claims a beachside spot with a great view of the Atlantic - here from what’s left of the 1930s art deco Lauderdale Beach Hotel. With a self-described “modern Italian” menu, sophisticated interior bar and dining room and expansive patio, H2O is a cut above the other two restaurants in the Beck collection.

Breakfast (until 11:30 a.m.), lunch and dinner are served daily with the same menu available for the afternoon and evening meals. On my visit, they offered a two-pound lobster for $19; for $5 more it came stuffed with crabmeat - excellent. Warm and cold antipasti from $9 to $13 can stand in as mini meals with choices such as Shrimp Cipria - shrimp sautéed in cognac with cherry tomatoes, pine nuts and mushrooms. Sandwiches, including a Little Havana Cuban sandwich of pork, ham, cheese and pickles, are all served on toasted Cuban bread – a welcome alternative to boring buns.  

View from the patio

A variety of pasta and risotto dishes round out the Italian offerings and join a good selection of steaks and chops, chicken and fresh seafood.  Their full bar, good wines and a great view make H2O a perfect place for a sunset drink or evening out. Good service. Garage parking is available with access to the restaurant – good for those humid, rainy days.

 Tags: Fort Lauderdale Beach dining, Fort Lauderdale waterside dining, Italian dining in Fort Lauderdale