Coolinary Café - American culinary variations - Palm Beach Gardens

Coolinary Café

4650 Donald Ross Rd. Suite 110
561-249-6760

www.coolinarycafe.com

Open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Closed Sundays

By Jane Feehan

Authentic American dining with an innovative twist or two is in store for diners at the fast-paced Coolinary Café. Look for a spartan room tucked away in the Donald Ross Villages Plaza with people waiting to get a seat. It’s worth the wait.

For those who’ve dined at Charlie’s Reef Grill (Juno) and Little Moir’s Food Shack (Jupiter), Coolinary will seem familiar: an austere elongated dining space with tables, some counter seating and an open kitchen with a few very organized pros preparing food at the grill. Owners of the three places once worked together.

The menu at Coolinary Café changes often to accommodate season, availability and local sources. I supped on very fresh, delicately sautéed Pompano with lemon butter and sautéed brussel sprouts – a plate that could have met the standards of a sophisticated, more formal dining establishment. The same can’t be said about the Bouillabaisse, their version of a fish stew.

This stew was an American take on the Marseilles, France dish, which includes fish not available here but Coolinary’s version was lacking in imagination. The soup was mildly spicy—and flavorsome— but the seafood used was mainly shrimp with a few pieces of swordfish.

A very American dish was the boneless Southern fried chicken atop a jalapeno cheddar waffle with grilled lemon and coleslaw. The café put chicken and waffle together as if it had been that way from the beginning. New Orleans served as inspiration for one of their starters, crab and corn beignets. Innovative in flavor and texture, this gem is enough for a meal for one or an appetizer for three. It’s one of their most popular plates.

Coolinary does wonderful things with waffles. I ordered a “carrot cake-inspired” waffle with whipped cream and another maple-based topping. The waffle was tender and moist. There was no mistaking this was an American original, a great way to top off a meal at this fun and creative eatery.

Wine and beer served. Casual atmosphere but not ideal for small children at night; it’s a small room.

Open a casual seafood eatery, diners will come: Carmine's Crab Shack inPalm Beach Gardens

Carmine’s Crab Shack

2000 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens

561-275-2185

Open daily 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

www.carminescrabshack.com

By Jane Feehan

Carmine’s Crab Shack was open only two days when we ventured in to try some seafood. Normally I’d wait until a restaurant has its groove on before writing about it but this place is well on its way. Carmine Giardini has already chaulked up a number of dining successes in South Florida and in Palm Beach Gardens.

His newest eatery was filling up a few minutes before noon but we were immediately seated in the rustic sea-themed dining room at a large booth. Its table was covered with brown paper for those who indulge in crabs but for us it was too early to enjoy their headliner. Instead, we ordered a lobster roll, a Maryland crab cake sandwich and Clams Oreganata.

Delivered on a roll with a bulky piece of lettuce to give appearance of meat aplenty, the very fresh lobster sandwich would have been near perfect with a tablespoon more of the sea meat and a pinch of spice. Lots of fries and tiny sides of tasteless coleslaw or equally dull potato salad came with the meals.

(Management is deliberating whether fries will be included for the sake of presentation going forward. I vote YES.) The Maryland crab cake was made with more crab meat than bread, the way they should be. Clams Oreganata—clams in the shell baked with breadcrumbs and olive oil with a sprinkle of cheese—were delicious.

Carmine’s menu is ambitious with seafood galore: crabs, shrimp, lobster, fish, seafood tacos, PEI mussels, Ipswich clams, conch fritters, conch salad and more.  A few pasta entrees, some  meat dishes and a kids menu will quash any reason for not visiting Carmine’s Crab Shack.  It’s casual, reasonably priced and features a large, friendly bar (filled by 1 p.m.) for dining or socializing. Our server did a great job and the manager came by to ask if we had any suggestions as we left. This will be a busy dining spot; they are off to a great start.

Tags: Seafood restaurant Palm Beach Gardens, casual dining Palm Beach Gardens, lobster in Palm Beach Gardens, conch fritters in Palm Beach Gardens.

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

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 

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

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

Stelios Spinoulas: Crown prince of Athens tours

Stelios

By Jane Feehan

One of the highlights of a recent trip to the Mediterranean was our tour of Athens. Our guide, Stelios Spinoulas, made the day a memorable one.

Corfu native Spinoulas spent more than 20 years in the shipping business. His career brought him and his family to Slidell, in the New Orleans area for 14 of them. He returned to Greece in 2003, before Hurricane Katrina slammed the Gulf Coast.  

Since then, Spinoulas has taken another path, one that gives visitors to his country a glance of the ruins of an ancient past that still defines it today. He operates a top-notch sightseeing service that is gaining in popularity.

It is easy to understand why. His enthusiasm for Athens is contagious; his knowledge of the city’s history

impressive. We spent a whirlwind eight hours with him and saw the highlights of Athens: the Parthenon, Acropolis, an ancient Roman market with its first or second century weather “station,” the site where democracy was born, the president’s palace, Plaka (Old Town), the port town of Piraeus and much more. Best of all, he instilled in us—as I’m sure he does others—a desire to return to Athens … a good thing for Greece’s tourism industry.

We lunched at Taverna Fagopoteio (56 Patriarhou Loakeim Street, Kolonaki), a wonderful restaurant in

an upper end Athens neighborhood. The best time to come for lunch is 12:30 p.m., Stelios told us, when food is fresh out of the oven and newly prepared salads and desserts make their debut of the day. Steaming hot chicken and lamb, generously stuffed cabbage rolls, rice-stuffed green peppers, creamy-topped moussaka and an immense bowl of colorful, crisp Greek salad greeted us. We enjoyed the meal, accompanied by wine and topped off with melt-in-your-mouth baklava. The place was immaculate; they didn’t mind us visiting the kitchen.

Of course, we picked up the tab for Stelios. The cost of this big spread for three: 40 Euros and a tip. That’s

about $50 … a bargain.

It was tough saying goodbye to Stelios Spinoulas, Athens’ unofficial ambassador of good will and fun. May we meet up with you again, may you continue to share the best your country offers, which includes you.

To contact Stelios Spinoulas for sightseeing in Athens or tours to Delphi and Peloponnese,  email: stelios_spinoulas@hotmail.com (stelios_spinoulas@hotmail.com)

Telephone: +30210 4632152; Cell: +30 6976 518 378

Stelios communicates several times before the tour, confirming details. He owns a new, comfortable Mercedes for excursions.  He was recommended to us by people in Florida, not a cruise ship.

Tags: Athens tour guide, Athens sightseeing, best Athens tour guide, Stelios Spinoulas, Athens taxi service, Delphi and Peloponnese tours, Celebrity Mediterranean cruises