Jaxson's Ice cream Parlor a SOFLA tradition ... but

Jaxson's Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant

128 S. Federal Hwy.

Dania, FL 

954-923-4445

http://www.jaxsonsicecream.com/

By Jane Feehan

It’s been years and years since I last visited the iconic Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant. When I heard on national news that their ice cream truck was stolen (and not found as of this writing), I returned.

South Florida fans of Jaxson’s (open since 1956) are a dedicated bunch so what I’m about to say may sound, well … almost blasphemous. Gone was the ice cream parlor ambiance; it was replaced with a roadside tourist trap look with its hanging license plates, silly road signs, a gift shop with barrels of candy, and most telling of all – an automated gypsy fortune teller in a box. This is the stuff of boardwalk amusements and joints between New York and Florida off I-95 beckoning travelers with a host of silly reasons. (For a mere buck, the gypsy spewed out a card that read  I am about to meet a blonde Pisces; I hope it’s a guy.)

That fortune was better than the lunch. A hot chicken sandwich with peppers and onions, though plentiful was just so so. A bar-b-que pork sandwich was tough. We ordered onion rings. Ordinary and obviously out of a freezer bag. We should have skipped sandwiches and ordered sundaes. Watching our waist lines, we bypassed the jumbo ice cream creations ($10 and up) and settled for a bowl each though that is what people love this place for – the humongous sundaes and spectacular toppings.

 It could be said that Jaxson’s excels in presenting ordinary food in extraordinary ways. Onion rings were

delivered on a miniature wire airplane with sides of dip. Even a scoop of ice cream ($6.75) arrives with flair. Ice cream is house made, they say, and there are loads of flavors, but it’s not particularly good. I prefer more butterfat …

With all that said, Jaxon’s is a fun place; kids, even adult ones, enjoy it. A takeout window is available if you’re in a hurry and not interested in the indoor hype. Part of the South Florida experience, Jaxson’s is also a piece of its history. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved. Jane Feehan.

Tags: Ice cream parlor, South Florida restaurants, giant sundaes,

Saint Tropez Bistro - authentically French in Fort Lauderdale

Saint Tropez Bistro

1010 East Las Olas Blvd.

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

Open seven days for lunch and dinner

954-767-1073

http://sainttropezbistro.com

By Jane Feehan

History tells us that it was the Italians who introduced fine food to the French.  Saint Tropez Bistro brings its spin on French cookery to Fort Lauderdale and the city is better for it. Open since 2009, this eatery has endeared itself to the community; the bistro captures the essence of casual French food.

It’s not formal or stuffy with plenty of outdoor seating both adjacent to Las Olas Boulevard and in an airy, yet elegant arcade. A tip off to its authenticity is its limited but more-than-adequate and traditional menu featuring spicy lamb sausages, escargots in garlic-parsley butter sauce, steamed mussels, salmon, duck a la orange, several different cuts of beef, and lamb chops.   

Introduced by a basket of warm, tempting French bread, a lunch of Salade Byblos au poulet et aux noix – was as beautiful as it was tasty. Grilled, carved chicken on greens surrounded by large slices of tomato topped off with a generous sprinkling of blue cheese, a dash of delicate vinaigrette, walnuts, and artistically sliced apples made a sweltering summer day more bearable.  Their Sandwich Cannes with chicken was equally enjoyable served atop a fresh baguette and accented by a subtly nuanced French mustard.

Desserts vary by season but count on crème brulee or tarte tatin – upside down caramelized apple tart – as staples for a sweet ending to a great meal.

Service is excellent; moderately priced (check their website above for prices).

Check Food Network for tarte tatin recipes: http://tinyurl.com/c4mfqzw

Tags: Fort Lauderdale dining, Las Olas Boulevard restaurants, French dining in Fort Lauderdale, casual French restaurants in Fort Lauderdale

Feeding Fort Lauderdale's homeless - where a meal could be a new start

Update: Arnold Abbott died today, Feb. 22, 2019 at 94. A crusader for the homeless, he brought unwanted, international attention to his feeding of the down and out on Fort Lauderdale Beach. He did more than feed them; he trained many for jobs in the restaurant industry. Some may recall five years ago when he was arrested and released. The city released him after all the cameras were on Fort Lauderdale.


By Jane Feehan

While crowds headed to the beach last Wednesday for Fourth of July festivities, Arnold Abbott and his volunteers were stopped after they unloaded their vehicle at Fort Lauderdale’s South Beach, across from Bahia Mar Marina.  They were there, as they have been so many Wednesdays before, to feed about 200 of the city’s homeless. It was a tense 45 minute showdown until a sympathetic cop familiar with Love Thy Neighbor (www.lovethyneighbor.org ) and their mission let them set up and dish out meals.

Abbott, founder of the organization, has had these confrontations before but it doesn’t deter him from feeding the homeless. Love Thy Neighbor also provides more than 200 people with meals at Stranahan Park and All Saints Catholic Mission on Sundays. What many might not know as they see people gathered for food is that much of it is prepared by homeless volunteers. In an attempt to acquire skills, find a job and get off the streets, they take a nine-week culinary class provided by Abbott at the Homeless Assistance Center of Fort Lauderdale. If they succeed in this first step, they can attend McFatter Technical Center in Broward County at no charge to learn more about their new trade.

“About 40 percent of LTN students move forward to McFatter ,” Abbott said. “Some graduate from there to attend Fort Lauderdale Art Institute's culinary program; we consider it graduate school.”  Abbott, who founded LTN in 1991 at the behest of his dying wife, Maureen, says 350 students have graduated from his culinary skills program. It’s not easy keeping track of them as they move on, laments their teacher. Some go back to the streets to resume old drug and alcohol habits. Many have mental problems.  Others find jobs they were trained for. According to LTN, about 45,000 people work in the restaurant business in Broward County.

Arnold Abbott (from LTN site)

Both the feeding program and the culinary program are funded through donations.  Abbott, who works a full schedule of daily activities, including fundraising, does not get paid for his efforts. Only one staff member is salaried. Love Thy Neighbor attempts to fill a large social resources gap in the tourist-based economy of South Florida. 

LTN founder and students delivered meals recently to homeless families temporarily housed through Hope South Florida and Faith in Action at Saint Anthony Catholic Church. The food - meatloaf, pasta and chicken, curried potatoes, cole slaw, fruit salad - was prepared and dished out by Abbott’s students and other volunteers.

Some say a society can be judged by how it treats its elderly, women and children. If that is true, a community might also be judged by how it treats its homeless. A locally-based organization serving a local population in need, Love Thy Neighbor attempts to pull people up through caring and training. They do much; they need much.   I’ll  post more about Arnold Abbott, a University of Pennsylvania graduate, published writer, former jeweler, and man with an endless mission.

Visit www.lovethyneighbor.org for more information. 

For more on St. Anthony Catholic Church: www.saintanthonyfl.org

For more on Hope South Florida: www.hopesouthflorida.org

Tags: Arnold P. Abbott, Arnold Abbott, Love Thy Neighbor culinary program, homeless in Fort Lauderdale, feeding the homeless in Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale charities

Burgers king at Burger Bar in Palm Beach Gardens

Burger Bar by Chef Allen

4650 Donald Ross Road

Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418

561-630-4545

 By Jane Feehan

Fried pickles brought me to Burger Bar – that and high praise for its trendy grub at its other location at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

Joining a growing legion of gourmet burger restaurants, Chef Allen Susser’s Palm Beach Gardens airy eatery is a welcome addition to the Palm Beach County market. It was a good move as gourmet burgers joints have little competition in that arena.

First the highlights. Burgers are outstanding, with USDA Prime Certified Angus beef and fixings they’re juicy, ample and cooked just right. The lineup of choices (from $8.50-19) presents more than beef; there’s tuna, turkey, Portobello mushroom and chicken. The Southern Fried Chicken Burger met the standard set by the burgers. The buttermilk fried chicken breast could be cut with a fork and was easily chewable through a perfect bun seared with the Burger Bar logo. There’s also a selection of fish sandwiches, grilled cheese, hot dogs, and mac n’ cheese and a great selection of salads, desserts, floats and shakes.

A Mississippi (where fried pickles flourish) transplant to Jupiter suggested I visit Burger Bar because they served fried pickles. They were a disappointment.  Overpowering fluffy beer batter (more like a tempura coating) diminished the tartness of the pickles ($5). They would have been more authentic and tasty had they been cooked in a buttermilk batter. We also ordered White Truffle fries, decorated more with its fancy name than flavor.

Burger Bar provides a sophisticated, yet fun atmosphere for all ages. Family friendly. Food takes awhile to be cooked, so patience is a virtue here. It’s worth the wait.

Tags: Gourmet burgers in Palm Beach County, Palm Beach Gardens restaurants, Jupiter gourmet burgers, Juno gourmet burgers, burgers in Florida

Coconuts breaks away from tourist fare in Fort Lauderdale

Coconuts

429 Seabreeze Blvd.

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Open daily at 11:30 a.m.

Catering available

Sunday Brunch: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

954-525-2421

http://coconutsfortlauderdale.com/

By Jane Feehan

Set a block or so off Fort Lauderdale’s beach and adjacent to Bahia Mar Marina, Coconuts entices patrons with its view and consistently good food. 

Owners Elliot Wolf and Merv Jonota know what it takes to cultivate both Fort Lauderdale and tourist

clientele. I’ll return for the fresh crab cake served as a sandwich or atop a salad, hefty beefsteak tomato drizzled in balsamic vinaigrette or the Lobster Benedict (an item at Sunday brunch). Daily fresh fish, lollipop pork chops, strip steak, lobster roll or pan seared chicken with a side of sage and sausage stuffing provide a tempting lineup. It’s a cut above many eateries along the strip and its environs that pack customers in during winter season in spite of insipid food and sit empty during summer. Coconuts fills tables year round.

Wolf and Jonota bought Coconuts from restaurateur and musician John Day (of Mango’s on Las Olas) about five years ago. They recently opened G&B Oyster (next to Coconuts) and The Foxy Brown on Broward Boulevard; I look forward to visiting both.

Coconuts welcomes friendly pets, provides excellent service and complimentary valet.  Steel drum player on weekends. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved. Jane Feehan.

                                                

Tags: Fort Lauderdale waterfront dining, casual dining Fort Lauderdale, Maine lobster Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale restaurants along the water, Sunday brunch Fort Lauderdale 

Tipico Café - a well-earned reputation in Fort Lauderdale

Tipico Café

1910 East Sunrise Blvd.

Gateway Shopping Center

Fort Lauderdale, FL

954-463-9945

Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-  10 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Sunday: 11 a.m.- 10 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

The wood floors and partially paneled walls of Tipico Café transported me for a few moments to another place - perhaps Magazine Street in New Orleans or along lower Westheimer in Houston where one may encounter an individually-owned, quaint dining gem. Tucked away in the Gateway Shopping Center, Tipico Café has grown in reputation over the past 11 years with its flavorsome traditional Mexican and Spanish American dishes.

Portions are not huge, but meals are ample. Lunches average $9 and that includes a soft drink or iced tea. Their menu offers pork, chicken or beef dishes, and Mexican combos of enchiladas, tacos, and burritos.

 For Tex-Mex lovers, a few combos include a chile relleno.  For those with American tastes, Philly cheese steak sandwiches and burgers are available. A basket of tortilla chips with sauce greets customers at each table.

The dinner menu, with entrées from $11 to $14, features an array of Spanish favorites,  seafood, empanizados  (thin strips of pounded steak), pollo a la plancha (chicken with onions), costillas de puerco (pork chops) and more. Salads as starters or meals are served as well as vegetarian dishes, and some tasty side orders of guacamole, and plantains are available.

Tipico Café sells beer, wine, and sangria at reasonable prices. It’s casual, the service is very good and this eatery provides a welcome departure from the large, corporate entities serving similar food.

Tags: Spanish-American dining, Fort Lauderdale Tex-Mex, casual Mexican food in Fort Lauderdale, casual Spanish-American food in Fort Lauderdale

Sand Bar and Grille - a slice of heaven on Fort Lauderdale beach

Sand Bar and Grille

Sun Tower Hotel (north of the Pelican Grand Resort)

2030 N. Ocean Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305

954-565-5700

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days 8 am- 9 pm

By Jane Feehan

A little slice of heaven, the Sand Bar and Grill provides an intimate setting atop the beach in Fort Lauderdale. Not many eateries sit as close to the shoreline as this place, which is located on a terrace at the family-owned Sun Tower Hotel.

The food is basic breakfast, salads, burgers, sandwiches, but they work hard to please patrons. There are

just a few tables; the ambiance is similar to that of dining at a private house. An indoor bar with booths provides a respite from the hot weather if breezes don’t kick in.

Their cocktail hour draws locals and visitors from all over the globe. It’s now high on my list of casual places to recommend to Fort Lauderdale visitors who want to dine inexpensively with a great view of the surf  ... without sitting on the sand.  Next door to Pelican Grand Resort ... Parking tight here. Metered or ask the hotel front desk if there are unoccupied guest spots.

Copyright © 2012/2019 All rights reserved. Jane Feehan.

Tags: Fort Lauderdale seaside dining, casual dining beach side Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale restaurants, waterside dining Fort Lauderdale, breakfast  on the beach in Fort Lauderdale

15th Street Fisheries Dockside Cafe - Fort Lauderdale: Touristy

15th Street Fisheries Dockside Café

1900 SE 15th Street, Fort Lauderdale

954-763-2777

Open for lunch daily at 11:30 

http://tinyurl.com/88xak5r

By Jane Feehan

If a tourist asks a cabdriver where to go for seafood in Fort Lauderdale, 15^th Street Fisheries tops the list. So do its prices because it draws mostly visitors. Lunch at its outdoor Dockside Café is a better match for the plebeian purse.

I ordered their signature Lauderdale Marina salad ($14), which was gargantuan. But artichokes, tomatoes, heaps of lettuce, a good vinaigrette and half a hardboiled egg couldn’t make up for the unappetizing mound of soft, soggy shrimp; frozen they were - not a hint of fresh. An abundance of crab meat helped remedy the

Not so good ...

meal but next time I’ll try something else. I would have sampled the fish and chips but they use tilapia, one fish I don’t eat. Prices run from $9 to $21 for sandwiches, fish, lobster rolls, steak, chicken, alligator and shrimp, a sautéed seafood medley and more.

Sights and nautical ambiance provide enough reason for visiting the Dockside Café. Mega yachts gas up at the adjacent Lauderdale Marina where kids of all ages (including adults) can buy food to feed the tarpon splashing a few feet from diners.  Also, a view of Pier 66 with its bevy of yachts across the Intracoastal provides a slice of quintessential Fort Lauderdale.

Service is very good. Full bar. Family friendly. Dogs allowed at perimeter tables. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved. Jane Feehan.