Community garden grows tomorrows for a Fort Lauderdale neighborhood

Kantner and Smith

Community Garden at

Church of the Intercession

501 NW 17^th Street

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311

By Jane Feehan

A community garden grows in Fort Lauderdale, transforming what was once an eyesore of abandoned cars and dumped garbage into a green area of repose and productivity. Located on land owned by the Church of the Intercession, the garden is carefully tended by church-appointed co-gardeners Steve Kantner and JoAnn Smith.

Built in the 1950s, the church was once the center of a thriving mixed-race community. It was first in the Episcopal Diocese of Southeast Florida to be integrated. Over the years, the neighborhood entered into decline, with rival gangs and drugs dominating daily life. People moved away. Church membership dropped. Few cared about garbage accumulating in the vacant church-owned lot.

One civic group decided to do something.

 “The South Middle River Civic Association (SMRCA), under the aegis of Donna Collins, was the prime mover,” said Kantner, better known for his fishing exploits in South Florida and beyond. “They approached the church and offered volunteers to clear the site. The offer was gladly accepted.”

Garden of Mark Adler & Mason Wagner

The cleanup occurred more than 12 years ago.

Today, former SMRCA board member Kantner is a church member. He spends between 20 and 30 hours a week on the lot-turned-garden cultivating ornamentals - of interest to his wife,Vicki - and an array of vegetables they donate or bring home to cook.

“It’s taken that long to develop this soil into a viable environment for cultivating vegetables and fruits,” Kantner said as he showed off cucumbers, onions, carrots, collard greens, eggplants and melons.  “Some might call me an organic grower because I don’t use commercial  products; I have a source for horse manure to use as fertilizer.”

Smith also has a green thumb. Currently president of the Fort Lauderdale Woman’s Club, Inc., she brings her expertise as Master Gardener to this peaceful neighborhood plot. “I grow herbs, flowers, and heirloom tomatoes,” said Smith. “I also use what I grow to make floral arrangements for the Woman’s Club.”

Others participate in the acre-and-a-half-community garden; church affiliation is not required, Kantner emphasizes.  Neighborhood residents and partners Mark Adler and Mason Wagner cleared out a space in the undergrowth and put up a fence. They planted tomatoes, broccoli, sweet potatoes and other vegetables in and around a picturesque raised garden.

Adler serves as executive director of Meals on Wheels Broward. He appreciates the benefits of fresh produce. “We [Meals on Wheels] plan to include locally-grown food on particular days of meal deliveries.”

He also understands the problems neighborhood gardens confront. “It’s difficult to sustain a community garden unless a paid person is assigned to the project.”

That of course, requires money and this community garden gets very little of that kind of support. A recent – and to date the only – contribution of $3,000 paid for fertilizer, tools, mulch, fencing and a well pump. A well sits on church property but gardeners need two pumps to deliver water to the garden. Other than an additional pump, they need a soil tiller, fertilizer and fencing.

The gardeners have dug deep into their own pockets to keep the community garden going. Additionally, the Kantners paid for the neutering of eight cats living there. Vicki Kantner stops by twice a day – on the way to and from her job as case manager for a Broward judge and two magistrates – to feed them.

There are more creatures … Smith feeds Guinea fowl that live harmoniously with the well-fed cats. Adler and Wagner oversee a friendly peacock. Steve Kantner hopes the controlled population of animal residents will add to the nature-focused mission of the community garden. It underscores good stewardship.

Vicki Kantner tames feral cat with love

Other than money shortages, gardeners are facing a chance the church property could be sold. On the bright side, an ordinance was passed to zone the four-and-a-half-acre church property for farming. According to Kantner, negotiations with a developer to establish a farm to grow restaurant produce with proceeds going to the church stalled months ago.

Currently 10 gardeners till the soil. “More diggers – preferably those who are solidly committed to seeing this

work – are welcome,” Kantner said.  “It’s not only a commitment to gardening that’s important. This garden is about revitalizing, strengthening the community. Neighborhood students and at-risk teens learn about gardening from us. People can grow food. Since we’ve been here, things have improved, the neighborhood is coming back. People are proud to live here.”

A sign at the restored lot greets visitors with this: To grow a garden is to believe in tomorrow. Residents now know there will be many more tomorrows for this once-neglected community.

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Contact Steve Kantner or JoAnn Smith about plots and donations, which are tax deductable, to sustain this community garden. Email Steve Kantner: Steve@landcaptain.com or JoAnn Smith at club10@aol.com.

Tags: neighborhood green initiatives, community gardens, Fort Lauderdale community gardens, farm to table produce, sustainable planting, neighborhood stewardship, Fort Lauderdale inner city farms

JBs on the Beach in Deerfield - where dining is like a vacation day

JBs on the Beach

300 N. Ocean Way, Deerfield 33441

954-571-5220

www.jbsonthebeach.com

Reservations taken for any size of party

Open Mon-Fri 11 a.m.

Sat/Sun at 10 a.m.

By Jane Feehan

The covered patio at JBs on the Beach stays busy most days, even when it rains. The view during daylight is fabulous. It’s the place to be for live music, and it lies just steps away from the sand. JBs claims one of the few beachfront dining addresses in Broward County.

View aside, the food here is consistently good – breakfast brunch during weekends, lunch or dinner. I’ve never had a bad meal including lobster.  Salads and fresh seafood headline the menu but JBs also serves up some tasty ribs, steaks, chicken, burgers and plenty-for-a-meal appetizers.

JBs also features a great lineup of live music – perhaps some of the best anywhere on the beach – which makes this a great place to relax on weekend days and a spot to crank it up at night (check their website for lineup and full schedule).

If  summer humidity discourages some from sitting on the patio, there’s plenty of room inside, including a large bar, where the view is much the same. When locals have out-of-town-visitors, many head for JBs for a taste and view of Florida; it’s a good one. 

The tab for parking is $5. Public parking is available nearby but tough to get on weekends. There is lots of traffic during the season along Deerfield Beach so patience is a plus. The fishing pier, a short walk from JBs, was recently revamped (signage now says “Deerfield International Pier”), making the beach here one of the most pleasant in the county. Stroll after dining.  A visit to JBs is like taking a vacation day ...

Tags: Deerfield Beach restaurants, live music on Deerfield Beach, seafood in Deerfield Beach, restaurants on the beach in Deerfield

Christina Wan's - Chinese food with flair in Fort Lauderdale

CLOSED NOVEMBER 10, 2024

Christina Wan’s

664 N. Federal Hwy (Shoppes of Victoria Park)

Fort Lauderdale 33304

954-527-0228

www.christinawans.com

Mon-Thurs: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

Fri and Sat: 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Sun: 4 to 10 p.m.

Takeout and delivery available

By Jane Feehan

With phone orders coming in at a brisk rate and deliveries going out the door at the same tempo, Christina Wan’s is a busy place. But the best way to enjoy it is on the premises in a pleasant setting accented with white table cloths, booths, and a granite top bar with full liquor service; there is also a patio, a popular place with diners.

The food, standard American-Chinese fare, is good. No frozen, crinkle-cut veggies out of a bag here; vegetables are fresh. For the diet conscious, low carb and grilled items are available. Fried rice items such as Nutty vegetable or Egg and Onion join the pork, beef, chicken and vegetable varieties. Brown rice is also offered. Orders are generous and more than substantial for sharing. A recent dinner for two of Lemongrass chicken and Honey garlic crispy chicken will have us returning for more.

Owner Christina Wan maintains a high profile at her restaurant. She tends bar, seats patrons, takes orders over the phone – all at a frenetic pace - while engaging customers in friendly conversation. Her move from a location on Federal just north of Sunrise Boulevard was a good one. She’s now located near downtown, where a place like hers was sorely needed.

Tags: Chinese restaurants in Fort Lauderdale, Chinese takeout Fort Lauderdale, Chinese food delivery Fort Lauderdale, Chinese food

Paddy Mac's - No blarney about food here; Irish dishes shine

Paddy Mac’s Irish Bar and Grill

10971 N. Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens 33410 (Promenade Plaza)

561-691-4366

Mon-Thurs: 11:30 a.m. to midnight

Fri and Sat: 11:30 to 2 a.m.

Paddymacspub.com

By Jane Feehan

Some say the Irish can’t cook. Of Irish blood, I would be inclined to agree – at least years ago. A visit to Paddy Mac’s Irish Bar and Grill in Palm Beach Gardens may change a few minds. Probably as many dine as drink here and there are plenty of reasons why.

The owner, Ken Wade, and a few of his chefs, including Ann Gibbons, hail from Ireland where they finely tuned their culinary skills at Ashford Castle Hotel in County Mayo. The food at Paddy Mac’s reflects their experience with and enthusiasm for dishes both rural and urban.

Irish Cottage pie, one of their rural creations, is a tasty blend of ground beef blended with savory sauce and diced vegetables and topped with mashed potatoes. Chicken Tipperary is also a winner.  Stuffed (not rolled) with a flavorful dressing accented with apples and almonds, this entrée comes drizzled with a slightly sweet whiskey sauce.

Seafood lovers with a taste for something different can dine on Fisherman’s pie of fresh scallops, shrimp and salmon with a tomato basil sauce and a pastry crust finish.  There are a variety of these “pies” including a vegetarian rendition and a steak and mushroom creation.  Lamb, prime steaks, chops, fish, burgers and salads round out the offerings.

Paddy Mac’s offers a comfortable, cozy setting with table cloths and décor that may remind one of an upscale pub in Ireland.  Patio dining and party room (of course) available. Full bar and good wine list. Paddy Mac’s is located at the Promenade Plaza so there is plenty of parking.

Tags: Palm Beach Gardens restaurants, Irish pubs in Palm Beach County, Irish pubs in Palm Beach Gardens, pubs open late in Palm Beach Gardens.

Cod and Capers Seafood, North Palm Beach: as fresh as it gets

Cod and Capers Seafood

US Highway 1, North Palm Beach

561-622-0963

www.codandcapers.com

Market open Mon. and Tue., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wed-Sat: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Café open Mon and Tues: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; 

        Wed.-Sat: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

Cod and Capers Seafood is well known among restaurateurs in Palm Beach County who buy high- quality fresh fish and other sea delights from them such as stone crab and lobster. Their fleet of delivery trucks has been a familiar sight for years. They’ve also developed a loyal retail following among area residents.

Now they’re getting their feet wet with their own restaurant biz, a good thing for those who are looking for a very casual setting to eat some of the best seafood around; the café dishes it up as fresh as it gets.

Appetizers include crab-stuffed scallops, spinach-stuffed shrimp and clams Casino. There’s conch chowder on some days or lobster bisque. It’s all good, whether fresh fish sandwiches, lobster rolls, lobster tails, yellow tail snapper, hog snapper or jumbo soft shell crab as main courses The menu changes weekly with availability. Note: it’s almost cheaper to dine here than to buy their fish to bring home to cook.

Besides offering a collection of fresh seafood – local and cold water catch - Cod and Caper sells a range of gourmet sauces and spices, smoked salmon, fresh vegetables and wines. Unusual gifts for any occasion abound.

 A patio provides a comfortable Florida atmosphere - not far from the waters of Old Port Cove; a pleasant indoor dining room is available during inclement weather. Cod and Capers can’t be described as inexpensive but they do have deals. Their stone crab dinners on Wednesday nights starting at 5 p.m. (until May 15, when stone crab season ends) are more reasonable than other dining spots. Family-friendly, plenty of parking. Limited evening dining hours.

 Tags: Seafood market North Palm Beach, seafood restaurant Palm Beach Gardens

D'Angelo for pizza, tapas, and ... Fort Lauderdale

D’Angelo – Pizza, Wine Bar and Tapas

4215 N. Federal Hwy.

Fort Lauderdale, 33334 (Oakland Park)

954-561-7300 – Reservation required for parties of more than six

http://dangelopizza.com

By Jane Feehan

Brought to us by Chef Angelo Elia, the same owner behind the popular Casa D’Angelo, the more moderately-priced D’Angelo focuses on pizza, tapas and a wine bar.  It’s a concept that extends the D’Angelo name to a wider South Florida dining community. Judging by the crowds filling up the place, it’s a concept that seems to be working.

A striking modern black and white Italian décor provides a casual, smart setting to munch on an array of “artisan,” pizzas crowned with some interesting toppings, including Italian tuna, gorgonzola and buratta cheese, salmon and soft brie, arugula, dried figs and lots more. Pizza is good here if you’re less inclined to embrace traditional versions, though a Margherita may suffice – unless you order it topped with fries, which is an option.

Besides pizza, D’Angelo’s tapas ($12 and less) are also interesting, if not all tasty. Turkey and chicken meatballs are generous in size but short on flavor - no detectable garlic and slightly gummy (overabundance of bread crumbs?). But other small plates of rice balls or Arancini, crispy polenta, eggplant parmegiana, or stuffed zucchini flowers may make up for that item. D’Angelo also serves a small selection of soups, bruschette, ceviche (raw marinated fish) and carpacci (raw meats).

Daily dinner specials vary, but on my second visit included salmon stuffed with crab meat, chicken cacciatore, and a pasta dish; I chose the chicken.  A heaping plate of steaming hot chicken in red sauce and mashed potatoes came accented with tasty olives and sliced red peppers. It proved to be a good choice.

Reviews are mixed on their bread – bland – and salads. An arugula salad with white beans and shaved Reggiano drizzled in an orange citronette was terrific. A Ceasar, thrown together with two small heads of embarrassingly tired, limp Romaine lettuce, was a disappointment. That aside I’d return here for a meal. The service is excellent, the bar lively and the price is right. Valet parking, also at lunch.  Family-friendly.

Tags: Fort Lauderdale dining, Italian restaurants in Fort Lauderdale, pizza places in Fort Lauderdale, wine bar in Fort Lauderdale

Blog Update - history posts at new home

For those of you who subscribe to this blog, Jane's Bits, for history posts, note that many of those posts will be moved to Jane's History Nook at: janeshistorynook.blogspot.com, a new blog devoted to Florida history. Jane's Bits will continue to offer restaurant reviews and travel notes.

janeshistorynook.blogspot.com,

Tags: Florida history, Fort Lauderdale history, Miami Beach history, Miami history, South Florida history, Palm Beach history, film researcher

Michael R. McCarty's - to see or be seen in Palm Beach

Michael R. McCarty’s

50 Cocoanut Row

Palm Beach, FL

561-659-1899

Lunch and dinner served daily
Sunday Brunch, 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Half-priced drinks at the bar 4-6 p.m.

www.michaelrmccartyspalmbeach.com

By Jane Feehan

Michael R. McCarty’s sits at a corner in the Royal Poinciana Plaza in this island town and draws the old Palm Beach crowd. It’s a great place to lunch outdoors and watch passengers emerge from a parade of  Mercedes-Benzes (with a Bentley or two) eager to be seen and to see who’s in town.

Not that it matters to these patrons, but the food is reasonably-priced while being comfortably good. Macaroni and cheese (cheddar, Parmesan and Gruyere), meat loaf, and chicken hash join traditional fare of USDA Prime steaks, and fresh seafood on the menu. McCarty's also does a marvelous job with cheese soufflés (best to call ahead for this treat.) The consensus is that Michael R. McCarty’s is a fun place, especially at night, when drinks at the bar are half price (between 4 and 6 p.m.) The tales proffered by local elites could be as good as the bar menu and appetizers – or the entire dinner.


Tags: Palm Beach restaurants, Palm Beach brunch, where Palm Beachers dine