Fresh First, where gluten-free and flavor team up in Fort Lauderdale

Fresh First

1637 SE 17^th Street (next to Bimini Boatyard)

Fort Lauderdale, 33316

954-763-3344

www.freshfirst.com

Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday

Delivery available

By Jane Feehan

A gluten-free diet may be the latest food fad to some; for others it’s required eating to stay out of a doctor’s office or hospital. For both groups it’s often equated with deprivation of tasty foods. Not so at Fresh First, a small café off the 17^th Street Causeway, which touts itself as “South Florida’s first 100 percent gluten-free organic eatery and juicery.”

It’s healthy at this casual restaurant, but most important, the food is good. Lots of salad choices grace the menu but there is a terrific selection of sandwiches—turkey or veggie burgers, grilled chicken, tuna melts, vegetable Paninis, grilled cheese—and quinoa dishes, raw foods, and house-made soups. Their version of gluten-free bread is a perfect envelope for any sandwich. I sampled a mushroom turkey burger with a side of organic slaw for about $14 and ended the meal with a marvelous cranberry cookie of the day (about $4). It’s somewhat pricey, but Fresh First has gluten-free and organic down to an art form; there are no flavor deficits here. They offer a children's menu, a few desserts, including cupcakes, and breakfast. They also sell organic wines.

The big test was to indulge in one of their Belgian waffles with bananas and walnuts for breakfast. The waffle, fluffy and ample, will appeal to all who like to start the day off with a little healthy decadence. (Yes, at Fresh First these two words do go together.) Their breakfast menu includes egg sandwiches, Eggs Benedict, omelets, turkey bacon, chicken apple sausage, oatmeal and yogurt.

My only complaint is that Fresh First is not open for dinner or at all on Sundays. Logistics: The valet from Bimini Boatyard (close to the Renaissance Hotel) parks cars for Fresh First. Parking is also available in the adjacent garage; with a receipt from Fresh First, the charge will be waived. This cafe is tucked away, out of sight from 17th Street, but look for Bimini Boatyard.

Tags: Gluten-free restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, organic restaurants in Fort Lauderdale, restaurants on 17^th Street Causeway, raw foods in Fort Lauderdale

No pizza but it's FAST Italian food??? ... it's italio!

italio CLOSED

Modern Italian Kitchen

2151 N. Federal Hwy

Fort Lauderdale 33305

Lunch, dinner. Catering available

Italiokitchen.com

954-703-1999

By Jane Feehan 

It’s fast Italian food they say. The words fast and Italian are seldom found in the same sentence unless pizza is involved so I entered recent newcomer to Fort Lauderdale’s fast food scene, italio, a skeptic.

I left the place sold on its concept.

OK, so one won’t find Nana’s Sunday gravy here or classics such as lasagna, ravioli or gnocchi, but if you’re in the mood for something tasty, Italian, inexpensive and totally casual, it’s here. They also serve wine and beer.

There's spaghetti—whole wheat or white flour—with a choice of seven hot (alfredo, pomodoro, spicy prima rosa) or cold sauces (fresh basil, sun-dried tomato, roasted red pepper, arrabbiata). Spicy prima rosa was flavorful and light on the oil.  italio also offers toppings that morph the pasta bowls into complete entrées with a choice of vegetables, meatballs, sausage, steak, shrimp or chicken.

They’ll put together a salad with a variety of veggies and toss it on the spot with a dressing. Very fresh.  Italio

also makes an Italian wrap (piadina) with the same mix and match of toppings they serve with the pasta. Dessert is limited to cannoli chips but it’s enough.

Fill out the meal with a breadstick, soup or calamari and it’s starting to taste like an Italian Sunday meal at someone’s house, if not Nana’s.

The same menu is available lunch and dinner; italio is doing a brisk business during both meal times. A children's menu offers the same choices but at reduced prices. With a dining room set apart from the serving counter, italio may not feel like a fast food joint. 

Currently, there are three italio restaurants in Florida—Winter Park, Fort Lauderdale, Boca—and one in Orland Park, IL; others are planned for Coconut Creek,  Orlando, and Tampa. The Fort Lauderdale store sits across Federal Highway from Whole Foods Market with easy parking in the rear and an outdoor patio in front. 

Thumbs up for italio. Buon appetito! 

Tags: Fast Italian food in Fort Lauderdale, fast Italian food in Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale staurants, party catering

Lighthouse Cove Adventure Golf: a three-in-one venue in Jupiter

Lighthouse Cove Adventure Golf
   The Burger Shack
   3Scoops

617 N. A1A Jupiter 33477

561-203-7965

Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days

www.LighthouseCoveJupiter.com

www.TheBurgerShackJupiter.com

www.3ScoopsJupiter.com

Lighthouse Cove Adventure Golf officially opens this week in Jupiter. It’s a three-in-one enterprise that combines miniature golf in a fishing village-themed setting, a casual eatery with flat screen TVs to watch sports events and an ice cream store that also serves wine and beer.

This welcome addition to Jupiter, one block from the beach, close to Dubois Park, promises to be a popular place; the golf course was busy a week before the official opening Jan. 8—and before the adjacent  Burger Shack started serving.

The 36-hole course features sea life-sized figures of sharks and other fish, boats, caves, waterfalls and more. It’s the perfect setting for group events, children’s parties, a date or family outing. For rates, see: www.LighthouseCoveJupiter.com.

Tags: Things to do in Jupiter, miniature golf, burgers, casual dining in Jupiter

Marriott's Renaissance Barcelona ... a great way to begin or end a trip to Spain or Mediterranean cruise

Renaissance Barcelona

Pau Claris

122 Barcelona, Barcelona 08009

www.marriott.com/hotels/restaurants/bcndm-renaissance-barcelona-hotel/

+34 932 723810

By Jane Feehan

Marriott’s Renaissance Barcelona lies within walking distance of touristy Las Ramblas but far enough away from its nightly noisy revelry.  It was recently renovated and exudes an understated contemporary ambiance. We asked for an upgrade because many hotel rooms in Europe are small and do not have twin or queen beds.

It was worth the 120 Euros extra we paid. The beds were large and comfortable, the bathroom spacious

and modern. If you don’t travel with a power converter, they do have a few available. This will make those happy who depend on a hair dryer every day but travel with the 110 volt model.

Their dining room serves a beautiful breakfast buffet with an array of breads, sweet rolls, fruits, vegetables, cheeses and typical American fare of eggs and bacon. This restaurant does not serve dinner but they do offer room service and will deliver a meal to the bar, which is what we did. Many guests are Americans awaiting cruise ship departures, so the atmosphere is quite festive. The bar staffers knocked themselves out on

Halloween to provide a good time for all.

A number of inexpensive cafés for breakfast and restaurants serving dinner line nearby streets. Most establishments close down in the late afternoon to reopen at 7 or 8 p.m. El Corte Ingles, a large department store similar to Macy's but more expansive (there’s even a hardware section), sits a few blocks away along Paseo de Gracia, a main thoroughfare leading to Las Ramblas. It does not close mid day.

If heading to Las Ramblas be careful with wallets and purses; it hosts the largest number of pick pockets of any city in Europe. Be sure to stop at the open air market, the large supermercado off Las Ramblas. Fantastic seafood restaurants lie along its perimeter and throughout.

The only complaint I have about the Renaissance Barcelona is the checkout process. A large crowd descended upon the lobby desk at the same time and only one bellman was there to help with luggage. We took our own luggage down after we located a cart.  This was very inconvenient as we were carrying four large suitcases. Barcelona is a cruise city; this hotel serves many cruise passengers. By now the checkout process should be down to a science. Last impressions can be as important as first ones … That said, I was happy to see my Marriott Rewards account credited with the stay and points soon after. Their staff is excellent.

A taxi ride from the airport to the hotel runs about 25 Euros; it's about the same fare from the hotel to the port.

Tags: Barcelona hotels, Marriott hotels, cruise hotels, Celebrity cruises, Carnival European cruises 

Hot & Soul, dining jewel in Fort Lauderdale

Hot and Soul (Closed at this site but to reopen 2020 downtown  Fort Lauderdale)

3045 N. Federal Hwy, Suite 60B

Fort Lauderdale, 33306

754-206-2155

Dinner Tues-Sat 4-11, Sunday brunch 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Lunch Thursday-Saturday

www.hotandsoul.com

By Jane Feehan

Hot & Soul, open less than a year, may be a sleeper of a restaurant—but not for long. Out of its kitchen emerges creative fare that could challenge the best of area chefs.

“We serve what we like to make and eat,” said Christy Samoy who operates the eatery along with her husband and chef, Mike Hampton. It’s a simple formula that results in an array of dishes influenced by international flavors and a New Orleans connection to Emeril Lagasse’s creations at Delmonico’s, where Hampton once cooked.

Perhaps the tastiest stuffed flounder I’ve dined on, their “lost and flounder,” two generous fillets wrapped around a fistful of delicious gently spiced crawfish was a stunner. Meyer lemon artichoke butter and asparagus subtly accented this jewel of a seafood dish.

Creativity reigns in a low-key setting that belies the kitchen’s excellence. Other menu features such as “shankappotamus,” pork shank with red cabbage, black-eyed peas and rice and “suck em gingerly,” oysters with pickled ginger, rice vinegar and flake salt, reflect the owners’ sense of fun as well as their knowledge of flavor pairing.

I returned for lunch to sample more and was equally impressed with “knock knock jokes,” a creamy san marzano tomato soup with a manchego grilled cheese sandwich. A plate of “sweetie petitie” or sweet potato pound cake drizzled in maple syrup, was as good as it sounds. Most dinner and lunch main courses come in small or large dishes, a boon to those with small appetites. Vegetarians will also be pleased with dishes such as curried chick peas with Jasmine rice and papadum, coconut polenta with “shroom” gravy, topped with

olive oil poached silken tofu, and vegan rice pudding.

Hot & Soul, tucked into the shopping center anchored by Fernanda’s, also serves Sunday brunch. A recent menu included pillowy beignets with eggnog crème anglaise, shrimp remoulade on bibb lettuce, duck and andouille gumbo, crawfish étouffée with scallion and rice, and culotte steak with gnocchi. It can’t get any better than this for both those with adventurous palates and others who lean toward the traditional.

A good selection of wines and beers is available.

Tags: Fort Lauderdale restaurants

Sushi Yama - where food and art intersect in Palm Beach Gardens

Sushi Yama Asian Bistro

10921 N. Military Trail

Palm Beach Gardens, 33410

www.sushiyama.us

Lunch: Mon-Sat: 11:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

             Sun: 1-5 p.m.

Dinner: Sun-Thurs: 5-10 p.m.

Fri and Sat: 5-11 p.m.

 By Jane Feehan

Sushi Yama is too good to pass up; it’s where art and food intersect creating an adventure for both eyes and palate. No wonder this bistro draws crowds all year.

Located in the Garden Square Shoppes, Sushi Yama exudes freshness; there is no hint of raw fish in the air. After being seated at the sushi bar we were mesmerized by beautiful plates of raw fish being assembled with vegetables artistically carved into flowers and other ornaments. Pleasant staffers obviously enjoyed our appreciation for their skills.

A Spicy Krab roll  with cucumber and spicy mayo, and a Krab Tempura roll with avocado and cucumber were enough dinner for two (and at less than $12 each, a bargain) but we wanted to sample a chicken stir fry heated up to a three on the spicy scale. It was as delicious as the fresh salad served with peanut dressing.

It’s all here: sushi rolls, sashimi, temaki—cone shaped hand rolls—tempura chicken or fish, whole red snapper, beef entrées, vegetarian fare, noodle dishes, bento boxes … and glorious desserts. The staff is as warm and friendly as the atmosphere is sophisticated with its white leather chairs and subdued lighting.

Some say those boats of sushi amid beds of vegetable art are made with each recipient in mind.  It’s hard not to believe. They try that hard to please.

Tags: Asian restaurants in Palm Beach Gardens, Asian restaurants in Palm Beach County, sushi in Palm Beach gardens

Rodrigue Studio and the Blue Dog culture of New Orleans

George Rodrigue died Dec. 14, 2013 in Houston after a long battle with cancer. He was 69. See more at:
http://www.nola.com/arts/index.ssf/2013/12/blue_dog_creator_george_rodrig.html

Rodrigue Studio
721 Royal Street
New Orleans, LA
504-581-4244
www.georgerodrigue.com
www.georgerodriguefoundation.org
www.wendyrodrigue.com

By Jane Feehan

If you haven’t seen the Blue Dog along Canal Street or elsewhere in New Orleans, visit Rodrigue Studio in the heart of the French Quarter. It's pure Louisiana.

The Blue Dog is a series of paintings inspired by artist George Rodrigue (b. 1944). Born in New Iberia, Louisiana, this “Cajun Artist” captures elements of Cajun and Louisiana culture (including Hurricane Katrina) to create inspired works in a variety of styles lauded by museums and art aficionados throughout the United States.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has recognized Rodrigue by naming him the Artist Laureate for Louisiana. Rodrigue and his wife, Wendy, also own studios in Carmel, California and at the Lafayette Oil Center (Lafayette).

Renaissance Barcelona Fira - vibrant modernity, stark beauty

Renaissance Barcelona Fira

Plaza Europa 50-52, 08902

L’Hospitalet de Llobregat

Barcelona, Spain

By Jane Feehan

We made a reservation to stay in Barcelona for one night to decompress from the hustle bustle of the Celebrity Equinox Mediterranean cruise (see directory/labels for several posts about the cruise). Our hotel choice, the Renaissance Barcelona Fira, proved to be a good one.

This sleek, contemporary hotel, in a new business area of the city that includes a convention center and two-level shopping mall, sits halfway

between the popular Las Ramblas and the airport. A 10 to 15 minute cab ride will get you to either place. We chose Fira because of its proximity to the airport. A train station lies across from the hotel, which provides service to the center of the city.

The austere but modern lobby of Renaissance Barcelona Fira bestowed only a hint of what our room was to be. Located on the 24^th floor, our upgraded suite was drenched in white bedspreads, white furniture including end tables that also served as lighting, and white, flowing curtains that separated the room into sections for the bathroom, sleeping and sitting areas. And about that unique oval-shaped window … it was something from the Flintstones cartoon imagery of the future. The attractive light wood floor brought everything back to earth. This was a fun room. 

The hallways were open air, yet covered; doors to rooms were nearly inextinguishable except for their electronic access plates because corridor walls appeared as an uninterrupted span of attractive metal sheeting.

Dining floor center of building

We decided to walk to the mall but were almost seduced by the dramatic rooftop pool deck with its stunning view of Barcelona. The pool is seldom open in November so we headed over to the mall after taking photos. The shopping center is just like home. In other words, don’t wait until coming here to buy a trinket with a Spanish splash or Barcelona memory. It’s very American with stores such as Game Stop, and sports shops with clothing bearing the names of American colleges, cities, and sports teams.

Lunch was served between 1 and 3 p.m. at the hotel; it is often the biggest meal of the day in this country. Don’t expect sandwiches and salad fare. Our four course lunch, including a glass of wine, was a

seafood delight of lobster casserole, and grilled salmon and vegetables. The fig bread was superb.  Dinner was not even a passing thought. We slipped into an early, blissful slumber, well-rested for the morning flight home but not before after sampling a wonderful breakfast buffet of Spanish dishes that included eggs, a variety of dried meats, superb cheeses, and a rainbow of fruits and vegetables.

Renaissance Barcelona Fira credited my Marriott account with the proper points within two days after I returned home, quite speedy for a Europe stay. I’d recommend the Fira for business or vacation travel.

(There is no concierge level for breakfast or afternoon snacks but the hotel will give you a pass for a free breakfast in their main dining room.)

Lunch - no sandwiches here

Tags: Marriott hotels in Barcelona, Renaissance Barcelona Fira review, Celebrity cruises, Jane Feehan, Barcelona