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Saturday, July 4, 2020
Saturday, May 2, 2020
Sunday, January 6, 2019
Spell mouthwatering: Tarpon River Cafe Absolute Catering
Tarpon River Café Absolute Catering
14 SW 11 Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315
954-767-8306
Lunch, 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Monday through Friday
Lunch first Saturday of each month
Catering for organizations, weddings and other special
occasions
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By Jane Feehan
Just out of the shadows of downtown Fort Lauderdale sits
an unpretentious, terrazzo-floored tiny café shrouded in trees and other flora.
It would be easy to miss except for a small sign indicating its business or if
someone invites you as I was.
Catering is chef/owner Chris Stachowski’s primary occupation
here, but what a find for lunch. He whips up a new menu of five entrees and a soup
each day; all entrees are priced at $11. With 24-hour-notice, he’ll fill a special
meal request as well as requests for the next month’s Saturday lunch.
A large group of us—about 15—ordered across the menu. I sampled
a delicious, slightly spiced clam
 |
| Turkey, brie and cranberry ciabatta |
With deep, life-long roots in Fort Lauderdale, Chris
comes with an impressive resume and thick portfolio of wedding, special
occasion and business clients as well as repeat catering customers, including
Saint Anthony Church Women’s Guild. Also, for about a decade, he served as a yacht
chef—one of the most demanding roles in the culinary field. He’s also been an
award-winning participant in local seafood festivals…and in fishing tournaments.
Chris’s interests extend to horticulture, evidenced by his collection on 11th
Street of fruit-bearing trees, a cinnamon tree, three varieties of pineapple,
and herbs and vegetables and a project dear to his heart: an orchid farm, which
is under development.
Stop by with a big appetite or to preview a catering menu.
Easy parking at Tarpon River Café, which lies across the street from historic
Trinity Lutheran Church. The café is an inexpensive and peaceful
alternative to the hub bub of downtown. Patio or indoor dining.
Tags: Fort Lauderdale caterers, Fort Lauderdale catering, Fort Lauderdale restaurants, downtown Fort Lauderdale lunch
Saturday, October 6, 2018
Mastro's Ocean Club Fort Lauderdale - Skip it
Mastro's Ocean Club
3000 NE 32 Ave.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
954-561-4800
Though open nearly three months, Mastro’s Ocean Club has nothing
together. Formerly the Chart House (and at one time the very
good Harrison’s on the Water), this Landry’s-owned eatery should be an
embarrassment to its executives. Tilman Fertitta, where are you?
We stopped in on a Thursday in early October to find
the interior layout to be the same as before except new, darker colors. At 6:30
p.m. its large dining room with a view of the Intracoastal Waterway was empty.
Only the bar area with a few of its high-top tables stood occupied.
Yet, we had to wait 20 minutes for two glasses of
wine. It was downhill from there. I usually can anticipate a fairly good meal
if it’s launched with good bread and a decent salad. If that were a cue, we
should have left immediately. The bread was dry, stale and tasteless. The $15
salads— Caesars and a chopped salad—were just as bad. The Caesars was drenched
in what tasted like bottled dressing.
Next up: Alaskan Halibut and Chilean Sea Bass, about
$48 each served with huge carving knives fit for a cow’s slaughter. Overly
thick filets did not make up for the bland unimaginative preparation. Not a
lemon wedge nor other garnish. A la carte servings of gummy,
tasteless creamed spinach and watery (instant?) garlic, void of garlic, mashed potatoes
were just as uninspired.
We left a little after 8 p.m. and still no one in the
dining room. The bar was busy with drinkers and appetizer enthusiasts—not
enough to keep this place open. Mastro’s boasts a very strict dress code on
their website but it seems casual prevails, including shorts and sandals. Some
business types came in business suits but that was the exception.
Disappointing can't describe the experience and we
told the manager, who was very apologetic. They need a major overhaul to
remain open. There’s a reason no one was in the dining room. Too bad
because it offers a fine view and waterside tables.
Fort Lauderdale waterside restaurants, seafood, Fort Lauderdale restaurants, Landry's, Tilman
Fertitta, Fort Lauderdale dining
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Watermark Hotel: Baton Rouge Boost
 |
| Entrance |
150 3rd Avenue
Baton Rouge, LA 70801
225-408-3200
By Jane Feehan
The Watermark Hotel joined Marriott’s Autograph
Collection of boutique hotels in early 2017, a few months after historic
flooding hit South Louisiana. Located in downtown Baton Rouge at the site of the
old Louisiana Trust and Savings Bank (1927) the Watermark’s distinction lies in
its stunning décor. The touch of a master
decorator can be seen everywhere, down to the table settings in The Gregory,
its dining room named for New Orleans artist Angela Gregory. The magnificent entranceway
or foyer pays homage to the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 with face-to-face murals
of Thomas Jefferson and Napoleon Bonaparte, parties to that historic land
transaction. |
| Elevator decor |
The rooms, as everything else, are beautiful, if not disparate
in size and comfort, depending on the floor and location. I stayed in three different
ones, different floors. A caveat: depending on festivities at a nearby park and
the time of the year for mirth at the bars on Third Street, noise can be a
problem into the wee hours. Get a room above the fourth floor (at least). Unfortunately,
the best views of the Mississippi River are from rooms facing Third. Also, rooms
vary widely in size. A corner room is ideal of course … and grand. My last room
was a small one, which I have no problem with, but the window was covered to
block sight of adjacent roofs, which I would have gladly taken over the block
out pane. |
| Room with a pane (!) instead of a view |
Parking runs about $20 a day but oftentimes street or lot
parking is available for much less—something to keep in mind if planning a
wedding or other occasion in one of the meeting rooms or for a long stay. There
are plenty of places to walk to, including the river with its pleasant seating, the old Louisiana capitol building and one of the best restaurants in town, Strube’s. The Watermark Hotel does much for historic downtown Baton
Rouge; it also gives the entire city some much-needed flair.
 |
| View of the Mississippi River from a room |
 |
| Old Louisiana Capitol, now a museum
Tags: Marriott hotels, Marriott Autograph Collection, Baton Rouge hotels, Watermark Hotel, Louisiana travel, best hotel in Baton Rouge
|
Sunday, October 16, 2016
Principal, Staff, Students Help Each Other in Disaster Recovery - Louisiana
 |
| Teachers and parents collecting needed items after the Louisiana flood |
By Jane Feehan
BATON ROUGE, La.—The flooding event of early August heightened first-day-of-school anxieties for many of the 700 students at Woodlawn Elementary School in Baton Rouge. Few had uniforms; floodwaters carried them away along with most or all of their possessions. Instead of looking forward to the first day in class, many children were left embarrassed about their circumstances.
BATON ROUGE, La.—The flooding event of early August heightened first-day-of-school anxieties for many of the 700 students at Woodlawn Elementary School in Baton Rouge. Few had uniforms; floodwaters carried them away along with most or all of their possessions. Instead of looking forward to the first day in class, many children were left embarrassed about their circumstances.
But Woodlawn students,
pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, were not alone in their losses. Their
principal, Janice Lindsey, and 12 of the school’s 44 teachers had sad flood
stories to tell.
“My husband, three cats and I
were rescued by boat,” said Lindsey who has served as principal for two years. Water
rose from the yard to the steps of the house in about twenty minutes.” During
the rescue, the cats and the principal went overboard. “I was pulled to safety,
two of the cats swam to the carport and the third went up a tree and sat for a
day and a half.” All are safe now, but Lindsey and her husband lost many of
their belongings during the disaster.
There was more to think about
than personal loss; the principal and her staff were determined to stay focused
on the all-important first day of school. Going to school brought routine to
everyone’s life. Routine was to serve as an important piece of the recovery
process; it would be a beacon of order in their disaster-wrought chaos.
“We called each student to
say ‘come in, uniforms are not required,’” said Lindsey.
Then 30-40 teachers and
parents rolled up their sleeves and got to work supporting their school
community. They helped their principal, other teachers and students at their
water-logged homes in any way they could. And with assistance from neighboring
Woodlawn Baptist Church, they obtained new uniforms for all—and then some.
“They did such a good job raising awareness
about the situation there were enough uniforms for all the students plus extras
for another school,” said Lindsey who helped opened Woodlawn in 2009 when she
was a teacher.
When students arrived and saw
many classmates and teachers—and even their principal—in the same situation,
they were more at ease. Shared loss was to play an important role as they
embarked upon an emotional rollercoaster.
For the first week of class
most were in shock. The second week was about working to salvage what could be
saved and to clean up some of the debris. Those first few weeks were punctuated
by tearful breakdowns followed by firm resolutions to move ahead.
“We had to be gentle with
students,” said Lindsey. “We assigned no major projects. All our activities had
a positive focus.”
Homework was kept to a
minimum. A guidance counselor was in place. In class, students were encouraged
to express themselves by drawing emojis of their personal emotions or to show
how they helped others. The sketches about helping others soon outnumbered
those of personal loss. Links of the drawings were strung across classrooms to
symbolize links of help.
Routine and positive focus serve as important steps in
the recovery process of children in disasters. Both are recommended by a number
of children-focused organizations working on the Louisiana recovery. In
Louisiana, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been working with
federal partners, including the U.S. Department of Education, nongovernmental
organizations, pediatric experts and external stakeholders to ensure the needs
of children are considered and integrated into disaster related efforts
initiated at the federal level. The work is underway and will continue for as
long as it takes.
For children, losing possessions can include losing pets,
a favorite toy or other cherished treasure. They may not understand why their
parents want to dispose of what’s left of their belongings when they’re
contaminated with dirty floodwater and mud.
“Children in disasters face different issues, but their
recovery is important to the recovery success of the entire community,” said
FEMA’s Deputy Federal Coordinating Officer Tito Hernandez. “The community,
federal family and FEMA must do what we can to help children in Louisiana
affected by this flooding disaster. I applaud the terrific work of Ms. Lindsey
and her Woodlawn Elementary staff.”
Useful Links
- FEMA: www.ready.gov/coping-with-disaster and www.fema.gov/children-and-disasters
- Save the Children: go to www.savethechildren.org and search “Tips to Help Kids Cope with
Disasters”
- American Academy of Pediatrics: go to
https://www.aap.org/en-us/Documents/disasters_family_readiness_kit.pdf
or www.healthychildren.org and search
- “Helping your Child Cope”
- “Talking to Children about
Disasters”
- “How Children of Different Ages
Respond to Disasters”
- “How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide
Poisoning” and
- “Flash Flood Recovery”
- National Child Traumatic
Stress Network: www.nctsnet.org
Tags: Disaster Recovery, Louisiana, Woodlawn Elementary School
Monday, May 30, 2016
Wonders of Oregon!
 |
| Mount Hood |
I’ve had the good fortune to spend more than three months in
this beautiful state. I’ve seen many of its sights and more remain on my list …
Some observations, tips and recommendations:
It rains here. A lot. Flowers and blooming trees command attention during the spring, and the
landscape is the greenest you’ll see anywhere. When the sun shines, Oregonians get out and
about. They’re impatient drivers through the narrow winding roads to the ocean
and through the farm lands. Not a good thing for those taking in
the view and suddenly find a tailgater at the bumper. Beware … even if you’re
driving the speed limits.
 |
| A deer sighting from my hotel window in Salem |
The rainy season abates in late spring. Some say summer
really begins on July 5 when the rain stops. If you don’t mind the often-gentle rains, I suggest to get out and explore during the wet days. The roads and sights are less crowded.
People hike on trails everywhere here, rain or shine. The landscape turns brown
in some areas in the summer; I recommend a spring visit when flowers and trees burst with color.
Some farms grow flowers for markets and enthusiastic visitors willing to pick their own bouquets of iris, tulips and more. Oregon is also home to the grass seed capital of the world--Linn County, near Eugene.
The best strawberries you will ever taste come from Oregon. That can probably be said of many fruits and vegetables grown here.
Flower farms, stark and luscious scenery and easy-to-spot wildlife require you to be camera ready ...
What to see:
Flower farms, stark and luscious scenery and easy-to-spot wildlife require you to be camera ready ...
What to see:
Mount Hood – Stop
at Government Camp (1936-38 Works Project Administration construction) and its Timberline Lodge (the exterior was filmed for the movie,
The Shining.) See the mountain up
close and beautiful. It’s something to see or ski when draped in snow.
 |
| Cooper Spur Mountain Resort |
About four miles from Government Camp lies the quiet Cooper Spur Mountain Resort. Great for
weddings, reunions and just relaxing, Cooper Spur offers dining in a rustic
setting and cabins for rent for a stay. See www.CooperSpur.com.
Columbia River Gorge
– Stunning. See it from the Vista House
(built in 1917) on Historic Route 30 – off busy Route 84 (speed limit a
dismaying 65 mph there along the Gorge).
 |
| Columbia River Gorge |
Multnomah Falls –
Off Route 84 in the Gorge area. Beautiful, I hear, but difficult to get into
with its lines of cars at peak hours on good weather days. I enjoyed Silver Falls, about 30 minutes out of Salem.
 |
| Vista House at the Gorge |
Nearby is the town of Cascade Locks with lodging, gas stations, a few restaurants and a beautiful
view of the Gorge. The Sternwheeler
Columbia Gorge & Marine Park
river cruise leaves from Portage Road. Food at the restaurant is terrible.
The cruise, I’m sure, is much better.
Town of Sisters
on the way to Bend, the east Cascades. Loads of tourists in this village of
fewer than 3,000. Most of the buildings look like new replicas of Wild West
architecture. A little schmaltzy, a lot touristy, but fun.
Bend – a winter
ski mecca at the edge of the high desert. Sophisticated and sunny, its downtown
area offers a few good restaurants. Residents and visitors have a view of snow covered moutains. I highly recommend Drake—excellent food in this restaurant/pub and yes, you can dine
with your dog outside. Two-hour free parking on the street behind Drake.
Smith Rock – About
20 miles from Bend. Do not miss. Amazing rocks and landscape and the
 |
| Smith Rock |
backdrop
for a western movie or two. It's also a draw for hikers and rock climbers. Parking at this
site is tough on holidays.
Lake Detroit and
dam. On the western side of the Cascades along Route 22, on the way to and
from Bend. Vacation housing, some lodging, lots of camping and fishing. A
restaurant or two. Dazzling.
 |
| Lake Detroit |
 |
| Canon Beach |
North to central coast – Cannon Beach, Lincoln City
and … a hiking trail with plenty of parking just north of Cannon Beach provides
a spectacular vista of the ocean and coastal terrain. The Weather Channel liked
a photo I took here and asked to use it. The jaw-dropping view, not this photographer,
should be credited. The coast is chilly and windy most of the year. No highway
to the sea but beautiful roads through farmlands and wine country.
 |
| Dunes near Florence and the Siuslaw River |
Wineries – Oregon is home to Pinot Noir. Hundreds of wineries (more than 600 in the north) dot the landscape and welcome visitors (try Cherry Hill) for tastings. I don’t know how one manages tastings and drives home without a designated driver. Roads and Oregon police are tough.
 |
| View from path at Adobe Resort |
Florence and
surrounds – Two hours and 10 minutes
south of Salem, Florence offers a slightly different landscape than points north.
It’s near the 40-mle long Oregon Dunes
National Recreation Area. Sand dunes, not rocks claim the landscape. About 8,000 reside
in Florence, a town popular with retirees and tourists who come for its Rhody or
Rhododendron Festival in May. Rhodys—wild and cultivated—are ubiquitous here. Don’t
miss its downtown and harbor, which reminds this writer of a New England seaside town. Friends-locals-took me to Adobe Resort
in nearby Wachats where we sighted a whale and its calf from the dinning room. The patrons dashed to the window to watch the two frolicking there for
quite a while. After dining, take a scenic walk on the hotel's short path along the
ocean.
Heceta Head Lighthouse,
13 miles from Florence. This picturesque lighthouse is among the most
photographed in the U.S. Visit and you’ll see why …
 |
| Heceta Head Lighthouse |
Portland – Almost
an afterthought. Traffic is miserable, parking is bad. And homeless youth are
more than annoying; they’re aggressive and nasty. I feel safer in New York
City. Visit Powell Books, in the
Pearl District, a city landmark and among the world’s best book stores. (Portland
is second in the U.S. for reading; Seattle ranks first, based on books sold in
those cities.) They offer a parking garage (not free) adjacent to the store; it
fills up early.
Tags: Oregon sights,
Oregon tourism, where to go in Oregon, Florence, whales, Smith Rock, OR,
Lake Detroit, Bend, OR, travel writer, Columbia River Gorge
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Table 57 at HEB: raising the bar for casual dining in Houston
Table 57@ HEB
5895 San Felipe, Houston 77057
Open daily for lunch and dinner; brunch on Sundays
Take out
Vegetarian-friendly
713-978-5860
By Jane Feehan
It takes a bit of will power to grab a cart to shop for
dinner at HEB when you know about Table 57, a casual restaurant with a beer and
wine bar on the premises.
Counter-order service may belie what’s ahead at this
grocer-operated eatery: a hit parade of barbecued turkey, brisket, pulled pork,
spare ribs, chicken and other smoked Texas specialties or bistro-style sandwiches,
spicy tostadas, classic salads, traditional or trendy burgers, prime beef
sliders with brie, Korean fried chicken and an array of interesting palate pleasers.
There’s not much to describe as casual
about the food. Take for example, a simple turkey burger. They transform it into
majestic kitchen art. It’s delivered with an avocado kale mash, grilled red
onion, solegiatti (slightly dried) tomatoes, feta, arugula and sunflower
sprouts. Match it up (or not) with a side of sweet potato fries, eye-popping
onion rings, the more exotic Tare-grilled okra, or German-style red cabbage and
you’ll be talking about this meal for weeks.
For more out-of-the-ordinary, there’s Korean Fried Chicken, a
crispy fried half bird with a mild chili
 |
| Korean Fried Chicken |
Table 57 (named for the zip code in its address), offers
barbeque by the plate or pound, smoked “with Texas Post oak for up to 13 hours,”
a daily butcher’s cut featured on a chalk board at the counter, and small bites
such as deviled eggs, fried green tomatoes, fresh lobster salad or crispy Brussels
sprouts. A hearty local beer or a decent
wine is available to drink at the bar or to savor at a table.
Staff delivers food promptly, even during busy weekday lunch
hours, and they get orders right. Several times I’ve asked them to omit an
ingredient and each time it came as requested. The bar proves to be a friendly place
to dine or to meet neighbors and new friends—despite uncomfortable bar stools and their struggle to pour even a half glass measure of wine (my only criticisms but it could be they don't want people to linger long). A live music
lineup Friday evenings keeps the outdoor patio filled and patrons dancing.
With great food that includes mouth-watering desserts such as
Texas Pecan Bread Pudding or Tres Leches, and a kids menu of hot dogs, mac n’ cheese,
and chicken tenders, there’s little wonder so many would-be HEB shoppers never
get past Table 57 …
Tags: HEB Grocery, Houston restaurants, Texas smoked barbeque, takeout food Houston Galleria. Tare-grilled, vegetarian-friendly in Houston
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