10 days in Florida ............part 1

Hi (again) from Ellen !

I flew from Philly to Fort Lauderdale , March 1-10, 2008
I hope you will like my trip report!
(or at least a few things that will make it redeeming for you)

I took the train from Atlantic City area to the Philly Airport, switching trains at the Philly Amtrak 30th st station (home of Delilah's southern food counter)

My munching began at Delilahs's where I love their fried chicken.
Their beef rib was almost ice cold , though, (just like last time) so I brought it back for a replacement.

There have good food stalls here for a train station. (I love Delilah's red velvet cake, too) (it sure was tempting)

I rented a car, and my first stop was Lefty's Tavern and Grill in Davie for wings. Kudos to roadfooder "Dandydog" for recommending this place, as I LOVED the wings there!


It was a Saturday night, the place was packed (a good sign), so I gladly sat at the bar to eat...(glad to get a seat!)
I looked at their game room in the back; nice crowd; the average age of the pool players was about 10 years old! Nice family crowd at this place
Next up was the Hurricane Grill and Wings for yet more wings . I was stuffed already, but I had to keep on truckin'!
This place was on Pine Island Road at the intersection of Broward Blvd;
Plantation, FL

I ordered the sampler, 4 wing sauces, for $17.99
I give the place a "10" for presentation. And I also like the way they get involved in community events, etc.

I did not love the wings , though. Like roadfooder "Travelin' Man" recently said, they were just "okay".... missing that true buffalo wing taste/flavor.
Here's a view of downtown Delray Beach. It's become a hip place these last 7 years or so... (but yet casual as well) Lots of restaurants with outdoor seating. This place is called Lemongrass Asian Bistro.

I stayed with my aunt & uncle for the first 5 days in Delray Beach, then with the bf for 5 days in Hollywood.
My sis (on the right in the next pic) and my niece came down for a few days to look at colleges. I'm the one with the shorts on.
Here we are in front of my aunt & uncles 2nd level terrace in Kings Point , huge development in Delray Beach... my niece took the pic
2 bd , 2 ba which they bought for a whopping $24,000 8 years ago

Here's the Cabana El Rey, a Cuban restaurant in downtown Delray

Here's the half chicken I ordered, (beans and rice not in pic)along with excellent warm plantain chips, and the best guacomole I ever had. I did'nt enjoy the corn meal cakes on the left that much, as I thought they would be more softer/juicier... they were too stiff

How about this cone of rice, huh?

The outdoor tables sure look inviting, huh?


I sent the chicken back to get a little crispier. It came out a drop burnt in some spots, but it was better cause they added some yummy sauce on the plate.

I was stuffed , but just had to try a cheesesteak at Big Al's Steaks , also in downtown Delray. They are the real thing, straight from Philly (www.bigalssteaks.com)(great website!), with the real good bread, etc.

This location has been open for 4 months, and the other location , in Coconut Creek has been open 3 years.

Their condiment bar has all the necessary components

The cheesesteak! I just love the way the roll sucks up the juices!

I had this cheesesteak in honor of YOU, Roadfooder Baah Ben! (since you suggested me going to Woody's Steaks in North Miami Beach)
Even though I have a lot of good cheesesteaks in my AC area, I felt I owed it to you , and all else who love a good cheesesteak.

Even though they use rib eye meat, I found parts of it tender, and parts of it slightly tough.
My personal tastes call for my cheesesteak chopped, instead of the longer steak slices. (I find it more tender that way)
Still, Big Al's is the real thing, and I would go back there again!


It's a perfect fit for downtown Delray, as it is like having a street corner hot dog stand. I sat at one of their outdoor tables. (no tables indoors, anyway). I noticed they even have deep fried hot dogs on their menu!

I talked to one of the owners while waiting for my food. She was from Philly, and used to have businesses on the boardwalk at the Jersey shore in Wildwood. (and I know Wildwood inside-out)

And since I love Delray so much, here's one more shot of the downtown area.




Let me know what you think! And please come back later in the week for Part 2 !
ellen

Trip looks good, so far. That mac and cheese looks great.

quote:

Originally posted by divefl

Trip looks good, so far. That mac and cheese looks great.

That was what I was going to say! I'm now drooling for mac and cheese!

Yes, supposedly Oprah Winfrey has declared this place as having the best mac and cheese around!

And there is a 2nd location inside the famed 100 year old Reading Terminal Market, also in Philly.

ellen

Looks good! can't wait for the rest of the trips.

What was sitting beside the mac and cheese?? it looked good too!

What was the Mojo style of wings???

Becasue I'm a complete idiot when it comes to technology why when some people post pics they are really big and others aren't?

Great post. I can't wait for more.

Great pics...looks like you're eating your way through the Sunshine state!!!Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by exsquidao

Becasue I'm a complete idiot when it comes to technology why when some people post pics they are really big and others aren't?

You can usually choose the size you are uploading from the place you are loading it from , Like flikr.

Awesome, Ellen. Honestly girlfriend, I don't have a clue as to how you keep that girlish figure Sue ps. Look forward to part 2!

quote:

Originally posted by divefl

Trip looks good, so far. That mac and cheese looks great.

I was beaten to the punch. You had me with that mac-n-cheese.

Well, sounds like a fun trip.Some of the pictures obviously didnt do justice to the food.Were the corn meal cakes pictured with the chicken, on the left?I am not familiar with them so would love a bit of background!!

I just love when I check the forum and find a new trip report, and Ellen -- your trip reports are absolutely wonderful all the time. Everytime I read one, though, I have to go find something to eat. I must quit reading these soon.

quote:

Originally posted by CajunKing

ellen

Looks good! can't wait for the rest of the trips.

What was sitting beside the mac and cheese?? it looked good too!

What was the Mojo style of wings???

That was potato salad next to the mac and cheese....(also delish!)

Those Mojo wings at the Hurrican were some sort of garlic/red pepper, etc. .. They may have tasted better on a boneless chicken cutlet dish instead.

I did love my Mojo sauce at the Cuban place.(it came along with the guacomole)

quote:

Originally posted by annpeeples

Well, sounds like a fun trip.Some of the pictures obviously didnt do justice to the food.Were the corn meal cakes pictured with the chicken, on the left?I am not familiar with them so would love a bit of background!!

Yes, the corn cakes were on the left. I don't see them on menus that often either, so I still get real excited when I DO!

Yes, some of the pics came out darker than I would've liked.
I realized it's tough taking pics of chicken wings in dark bars!

Always real nice to hear from you, Annpeoples!

quote:

Originally posted by crabby abby

I just love when I check the forum and find a new trip report, and Ellen -- your trip reports are absolutely wonderful all the time. Everytime I read one, though, I have to go find something to eat. I must quit reading these soon.

You are a nice , new fit to our Roadfood gang! You've got the right spirit. Welcome Crabby Abby!

p.s. I know what you mean. I just sent out for pizza and a cheesesteak!

quote:

Originally posted by ellen4641

quote:

Originally posted by annpeeples

Yes, the corn cakes were on the left. I don't see them on menus that often either, so I still get real excited when I DO!

Ellen,
Thanks for a great story so far. Hey, if nearsighted me could make out your pics well enough to figure out what they were, you're doing your photoing well enough.
Those crunchy corn cakes apparently are, as they say, <<por al gusto Cubano>>. I would have been askance, too, if I hadn't guessed as much. I suspect that this is a clear-cut case of something that you might think is broke, but it isn't... so it don't need fixing.
Keep those reports coming! I can't wait for Part 2!!
Unhungrily, Ort. Carlton in 30601-Land.

Good job Ellen..as usual. When you get down to Hollywood, there is supposed to be a great cheese steak place around 68th Street west of SR 7. Not far from Memorial Hospital. I have never been there, whihc really pisses me off since I lived in the area for many years. But, I heard good things. Maybe somebody can help out with the name or just go into the yellow pages and you'll get it. Oops...You said you really did not want to do cheese steaks. Ok, forget that. Sorry.

Hope you get to Ricky's and compare it to those other places..I think you will be pleasantly surprised; We'll see. Ricky's has been doing wings for a long, long time. Check out SR 7 in Hollywood while you're there. Lots of roadfood type places all up and down including a BBQ place that many like..I don't think much of it, but others rave about it. It's no Tom Jenkins and that's the standard I go by. Anyway, it's called the Georgia Pig. Try it and try their homemade pecan pie. It's north of the casino on SR 7.

Have a great time. Thanks for the pictures....Keep them coming.

Hi Baah Ben....
I will look forward to trying that Hollywood cheesesteak place next time I am down there.(as I already got back from Florida 3 nights ago.)
And I will go to the Georgia Pig for BBQ and pecan pie.

And, I DID try Rickey's , since you suggested it!
I don't want to give away the storyline, so I'll just say that I plan to include my findings in "Part 2"!

quote:

Originally posted by Baah Ben

Good job Ellen..as usual. When you get down to Hollywood, there is supposed to be a great cheese steak place around 68th Street west of SR 7. Not far from Memorial Hospital. I have never been there, whihc really pisses me off since I lived in the area for many years. But, I heard good things. Maybe somebody can help out with the name or just go into the yellow pages and you'll get it. Oops...You said you really did not want to do cheese steaks. Ok, forget that. Sorry.

Hope you get to Ricky's and compare it to those other places..I think you will be pleasantly surprised; We'll see. Ricky's has been doing wings for a long, long time. Check out SR 7 in Hollywood while you're there. Lots of roadfood type places all up and down including a BBQ place that many like..I don't think much of it, but others rave about it. It's no Tom Jenkins and that's the standard I go by. Anyway, it's called the Georgia Pig. Try it and try their homemade pecan pie. It's north of the casino on SR 7.

Have a great time. Thanks for the pictures....Keep them coming.

Could this be the place (copied from somewhere)

Comment by Jim - November 6, 2007 @ 10:20 AM
Best cheese steak in Florida ... Sonny's on 66 Avenue in Hollywood, Fla. Been in business for over 40 years- same family. and I am from philly. Pat's - Jimmy's - Geno's , no match for Sonny's. Passed on to son - you will have to wait in line on weekends... he's not open on sunday anymore. Ask for #109.....

Hi Signman,
Thanks for the lead on the possible name for the place, Sonny's.
I never liked Pat's or Geno's, so when the lady at Big Al's proudly said "We're just like Geno's",
it did'nt get me excited.

My "Hot Dog Central" pics will be included in my "part 2" , ASAP
Thanks for recommending it, and I hope you will get to try it during your stay in Florida for baseball spring training. I believe your flight leaves tomorrow!

Welcome back to Florida Ellen. Great job as usual. We need to get you on the state payroll as a Good Will Ambassador.

Signman..It is Sonny's..Thanks. Now, I have never been there, but heard really good things about it. I lived maybe 15 miles from the place for more than 10 years and never knew about it! Ridiculous.

Ok Ellen...I'm on pins and needles about your upcoming report on Rickey's..I think we all want to please..To send people to places they are going to love. I'm still confident.. We'll just all have to wait and see won't we....After all those wing places in Palm Beach and even in Davie you hit and the pictures you showed us, I feel good about my recommendation.

Now the Georgia Pig, is not a favorite of mine..It's good, but just not in a league with Tom Jenkin's.
So, that one I take the 5th on.

I'm sure you are happy to get back to those crap tables! You do get a lot of time off...Good for you!

Boy, am I looking forward to Part 2!!!!!!

Hi Ellen,
Great part 1 of the trip report

Benzee

Interesting that they best guacomole was in Florida!

Thanks for all the nice plugs, everyone!

Such sweet comments, Aleswench, (Sue).... and I hope we'll meet again sometime (Austin?)
Benzee, sounds like you are making a real good recovery! Hopefully you & I can both make that next NYC hot dog tour! (at least billyboy came thru with some great pics. Would we expect anything less from him?!?)

Bluemaxx, you will be one of the "stars" in my Part 2 report!

Baah Ben, I was grateful that I had a nice job to come back home to, my poker dealing job in AC.
Does'nt usually even really feel like "work". Mostly nice customers, pleasant environment, 85 poker tables, non smoking...

Wait till you all see Part 2 ! It should be a lot better than this one! More succulent pics!

I love AC...I love Vegas more, but AC is good. I use to be a big gambler (No..not a high roller..$25 & $50 a hand on Black Jack in the 80's yielded me plenty of losses @ 3 x's a week!) so now, it's kind of tough to sit down and play $10 a hand....It's just passing time and unfortunately reminds me of the good old days.. How can losing money be exciting? It was! That was the problem. My friend ended up in GA (as in Gambler's A..You guys are funny) and that scared the you know what out of me and I stopped. I was in AC 3 times a week back in the 80's.

Let's get to the Part 2 girl....You know what? I got an 8 and a 3 showing with $50 on the table...I'm going to double down on my recommendation (Rickey's). HIT ME!

Your friend went to Georgia? There are nice parts.

Hey Ben,
You wiped out a whole state with that statement .
I'm guessing you meant Gamblers Anonymous
AC does have that alure especially hfor the high rollers.

Hey lets get part 2 going Ellen

Benzee