10 days in Florida.... the final installment !

Hi !
To recap, I flew down to Fort Lauderdale from March 1st-10th.
Stayed 5 days with my aunt & uncle in Delray Beach,
then 5 days with the bf in Hollywood. Nice mixture!

NAPOLI'S , Hollywood,FL
I had the CHICKEN PARM.

very good!

We had dinner there March 7th. Old school Italian place, open since 1980.
Napoli's, 1820 N. Federal Highway (Rt 1)
Hollywood, FL (just north of Taft St) 954-923-7250, open at 4 pm

The bf even ran into a guy he knew there from north Jersey.

Next morning , I suggested going to Las Olas Blvd in Fort Lauderdale.
I love strolling around and looking at all the cool stores.
Plus, lots of restaurants with outdoor seating.

This is an new outdoor coffee/bakery cafe, offering gondola rides!
Reminded me of the Venetian Hotel in Vegas!
There were also 4 stories of apartments above it.

LAS OLAS BLVD, Fort Lauderdale

Some of my favorite signage. LAS OLAS BLVD.

me on Las Olas Blvd. Just behind me is just the beginning of where the stores start. On your right is that 4 level apartment building with the balconies, and the gondola rides. Further back , in the middle, you can see some of the buildings of downtown Ft Lauderdale.

Then we went to Gulfstream Park in Hallandale. The bf bet a few Saturday afternoon races (the place was jammed), and I played a little poker indoors. It's a beautiful place, and I like the way you can see the Hallandale beachfront hi-rises in the background.

Here were some horses parading around before the race. I even bet $10 on a horse to show. It was winning almost the whole time, but you know the rest of the story!!! (did not cash in !) Broke even in poker.
GULFSTREAM PARK, Hallandale, FL


LOLA'S on HARRISON.
It's in Hollywood, on Harrison St., (of course!!)

It is a chef owned place, my favorite kind of restaurant!
Owned by a young 33 year old, Michael Wagner. (I did some further internet research when I got back to NJ) I knew it had received good write-ups in the Broward County New Times. He changes a few items on the menu seasonally, to "keep things fresh".
www.lolasonharrison.com.

Caesar Salad , from "Lola's on Harrison"

Next is a very BAD pic of a very good steak! (sorry). It looks so dark that it looks burnt, but it was'nt. At least the "chef presentation" is visible. It's a nicely presented dish.
I had the filet mignon with the bone. It's unusual when the filet comes with the bone, and it made it very flavorful!
I thought it was pretty fairly priced at $32.00. (came with potatoes and veggies)

FILET MIGNON on bone, from Lola's on Harrison, Hollywood, FL


My next visit to Florida (in April) I will have to get that steak again! It was worth having again, plus I want to get a better pic! (I did'nt want to embarrass the bf by taking TOO many pics of the food.) I realized after the fact that when I use the "close up" setting on the camera, the flash does'nt go off. So I've got to stick with the "auto" setting when indoors.
Sunday morning we did Mo's Bagels in Adventura. The place was too jammed, so I took out some bagels for us. Excellent, just like fellow Roadfooders, like Travelin' Man, and Wandering Jew have previously stated.

MO'S , Adventura, FL

However, I passed on taking out a pastrami or corned beef sandwich, as it was Hebrew National, which is good, but widely available all over... (I try to hold off for homemade versions, harder to find, but worth it)

MO'S display case. I noticed the bread on the right middle shelf is part of the bread basket on the tables.


Later on in my report, you will see I found a 2ND location of MO'S !!
(and it's called MINI MO'S !)

SHORTY'S BBQ in Davie, FL

There are about 5 locations of Shorty's. We had dinner here Sunday, March 9th. I told the wonderful waitress, Sandy, that I wish they had beef ribs. She told me the good news that they were supposed to get them.
My personally created combo. A beef sandwich and the half chicken.
I thought the sliced steak was too tough, so I sent it back for the brisket. The chicken was decent and fresh tasting enough, espescially after I put some bbq sauce on it. But I would'nt make a special trip there for it.

BEEF SANDWICH and 1/2 CHICKEN, Shorty's BBQ

My brisket was a lot better than the steak, but that does'nt say much. It was'nt succulent, like the kind I know I will experience in AUSTIN next month with fellow Roadfooders! (or the Hill Country BBQ I had in NYC over the summer. The place is owned by Austin people

BRISKET SANDWICH from SHORTY'S BBQ

The bf had the baby back ribs. They seemed to be the way to go.
They were $17.99, for the compete dinner special, with salad, and key lime pie, which I helped him out with.

FULL RACK OF BABY BACK RIBS, Shorty's BBQ, Davie, FL

He liked them, so I was happy. (even though my meal was just okay, it made me feel good he enjoyed HIS.) BTW, I'm not a baby back rib person, just beef ribs, but I tasted some of his crust, yummy
And the great service helped me enjoy the whole experience more than was probably warranted.
Monday , March 10th. My departure day.
My flight was'nt until 7:30 pm, and I was leaving from Miami airport this time. I left the bf's at 10 am, so I could get an early start and hit more Roadfood joints, etc.

First stop, however, was at Adventura Mall, mostly to see if anything was new at their food court.
ADVENTURA MALL


YES, there was something new!! There was now a "MINI MO''S" of all things! I inquired, and was told it was the same owners as Mo's, and the lady behind the counter even introduced me to the 30 ish guy there, and said "This is Abraham Gold's nephew".... well I don't know who Abraham Gold is, but I assumed he is a big force behind Mo's , so I acted impressed. "Oh! Nice to meet you!"

MINI MO'S, Adventura Mall, Adventura, FL


Next stop was the Dogma Grill, North Miami.
There are 5 locations now, with this one being the newest.

DOGMA GRILL

I enjoyed my National brand hot dog, but not as much as I enjoyed Hot Dog Central in Plantation. It just seemed to be hotter and more flavorful, even though it was the same brand(see Part 2 for further details)
However, the homemade potato chips were some of the best I ever had!

Dogma Grill HOT DOG and HOMEMADE POTATO CHIPS, North Miami

Next, I stumbled on a Kosher meat market in Miami Beach. (hard to find these kind of places anymore) I wanted to see what their prepared foods looked like

I had some freshly sliced turkey, right off the bone, and asked for a lot of skin. This tasted so much like mom used to make! A rare find.(RIP , MOM)

Carved TURKEY and SKIN from GOLDSTEIN'S, Miami Beach

Next stop was Arnie and Richies deli in Miami Beach

ARNIE and RICHIE'S DELI, Miami Beach

www.arnieandrichies.com
I found a winner ! HOMEMADE succulent corned beef !!!

I had a combo sandwich, one side pastrami and the other half corned beef. The pastrami was "NY State National Brand" out of Albany, NY.
I looked at the description on the pastrami in the case. (not to be confused with National Brand out of Miami, I guess

PASTRAMI, and (HOMEMADE!!)CORNED BEEF combo, Arnie and Richie's deli

I would not endorse the pastrami, as it did not measure up to my own high standards. (but better than Boars Head or Dietz and Watson) Only good for someone that is really having a pastrami fix, and it might be better than whatever brand they are used to having in pastrami deprived parts of the country.

My last stop was Bayside Marketplace, Miami.
Shopping and dining on the water...

BAYSIDE MARKETPLACE, MIAMI

I purchased some sparkling barettes and headbands to wear to work while I deal poker. (to add to my collection)
I discovered this steak place in the food court. It was the real charcoal broiled thing. (I believe this place is fairly new, as I did'nt notice it before

THE KNIFE, Bayside Marketplace, Miami

I had the "extra portion" short rib, just a snack. One piece.
Carefully cooked, as it took about 15 minutes to come up. The guy was busy. They also have a full service restaurant inside.

GOODBYE MIAMI !!!


--the end ---

ellen

How was that chicken parm?? I never order one out..we make them so often at home.I try to judge an Italian place by something more challenging....How was their sauce? Looked good,though.

Sorry Ellen...when I posted early,only the Parm picture was up.....looks like, from the rest you had a great tour. thanks again.

quote:

Originally posted by leethebard

How was that chicken parm?? I never order one out..we make them so often at home.I try to judge an Italian place by something more challenging....How was their sauce? Looked good,though.

It was real good.
I'd love to learn to make chicken parm at home. Can you give me any tips? (I'm not much of a cook)

Hi Ellen great pics! I live in Deerfield Beach FL......you hit all the right places. You had some great weather too! Nice to meet you.

Lori

As always, great report.

More great pictures! Thanks Ellen..Never was at Mo's...I don't think it was there when I lived in Aventura. We use to go to The Sage in Hallendale..Can anyone compare the two?

You know the corned beef and pastrami from the Miami Beach looked very good for .............South Florida. Could have been a whole lot worse. But, you see how little meat they give you....

Shorty's has never been good. They have some of the nastiest BBQ sauce I've ever had. I don't get it. They have 4-5 stores. Good for them..Been in South Florida a long, long time. Next time, try Tom Jenkins. There is no comparison.

I lived in Aventura for 5 years and never went to Napoli's; It has been there for a long, long time, too. Looked great! It is amazing how that town has grown and all the food spots. The Thai place right down the block is supposed to be very, very good. In the mornings they serve breakfast and then they do Thai....Very strange. There's a decent Chinese place in the Sage shopping center....

Wow, Ellen!That Ceasar salad looked so good my mouth was watering.And actually, everything else did, too.We have a place in Milw.where the steaks look burned, but they truly are not-so I wasnt fooled by the picture.Again, all looks great-and I am jealous of your tan!Ann

Another great report Ellen, thanks. It was the breadstick Ann

Ellen, great stuff, as usual!! That turkey looked fantastic. The pastrami looked a wee bit on the fatty side, was it? I really like how you incorporate info about the establishments in with the photos of the food (the business card with the turkey).

John A-LOL!

Ellen,
Chicken Parm is easy...Here's a quick version. Start with boneless chicken breasts(We buy ours frozen at Costco and defrost as needed) dip in an egg wash,then coat in Italian bread crumbs and fry over medium heat on both sides,til golden brown. Layer a lasagna or other baking pan with a thin layer of Italian sauce(your favorite will do nicely...try to avoid overly sweet or sugared jarred Italian sauce,like Prego!!)Then place chicken breasts in pan,cover with more sauce,thorougly,then cover with grated Mozzarella cheese..cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for about 30-35 minutes,(cover off for the last 5 minutes)Don't let cheese get burnt!!
Enjoy with spaghetti,and more of your favorite sauce..or any other side.
It really is fast...and delicious!!!!
Lee

quote:

Originally posted by Baah Ben


You know the corned beef and pastrami from the Miami Beach looked very good for .............South Florida. Could have been a whole lot worse. But, you see how little meat they give you....

I did'nt mind the $12.95 for the sandwich, but their "cole slaw" policies really irked me!

As I was paying for my sandwich at the counter, and threw the guy a buck, I asked "Was'nt I supposed to get cole slaw with this?"

And I was told "Not with take-out, hon".

Cole slaw should come with it, no matter what! Dine-in OR takeout.
(it was'nt like I was taking it very far, anyway. I just brought it to one of the tables outside). In that regard, I felt gypped.

That's one area that Harold's Deli has them way beat!
When I took out a pastrami last month, their policy is to give 5 extra pieces of rye bread, COLE SLAW, and 2 pickles. That's much more fair.

ellen

p.s. The more I look at Arnie and Richie's sandwich , the smaller it looks now...

Hey, at least at Harold's , you get 13 ounces of pastrami for your $15.50 . I think that's plenty fair...

quote:

Originally posted by billyboy

Ellen, great stuff, as usual!! That turkey looked fantastic. The pastrami looked a wee bit on the fatty side, was it? I really like how you incorporate info about the establishments in with the photos of the food (the business card with the turkey).

Thanks billyboy!
Yes, the pastrami was a bit too fatty. I realize that some fat in pastrami is necessary, and gives it flavor, but this went a little too far.

I enjoy "staging" food pics, (with business cards, and what not).
It's fun to see just how much I can fit into a pic.

Looking forward to your next adventure, as well, billyboy..

Speaking of turkey with crispy skin, Sarge's Deli (which as you know, is right in your hometown, NYC) also had a huge turkey ready to carve. I took out some excellent turkey and skin from there last month.

Ellen, great reports as always! And even though I'm still full from my dinner (which was roasted turkey breast, btw LOL), now my mouth is watering for some corned beef ... wonder why?! Thanks for sharing with us!

Another fine trip report, Ellen!

I was stuck in traffic in front of Arnie & Richie's Deli a couple of weeks ago, and wondered what it was like. Now I will definitely have to go there to try the restaurant-made corned beef. I don't think I have ever had any that wasn't made in a factory.

BTW,in the background of the photo showing the Bayside Market marina, there are a few tall condos. My office is about four blocks west of there.

WOW!! Even I learned of a couple of new places that I didn't knew existed. Thanks Ellen. Let me know about April and I would be happy to show you some of the RF-esk type places up my way!!

Another fine report. See you in Austin.

quote:

Originally posted by mr chips

Another fine report. See you in Austin.

WOW, so nice to hear you'll be doing Austin, too !! What a pleasant surprise, as I know it sold out within hours... (I had to scalp my ticket from a fellow Roadfooder who could'nt make it)

I loved all our fried chicken we had in Nashville last year, and I bet I'll love the brisket in Austin area !!

quote:

Originally posted by MiamiDon

Another fine trip report, Ellen!

I was stuck in traffic in front of Arnie & Richie's Deli a couple of weeks ago, and wondered what it was like.

Funny you mentioned the traffic ! As I noticed what a heavily congested part of town that was in! (cause heading further west, it turns into a causeway heading over the water and out of Miami Beach.)

I even attempted a shortcut to get there, as I was coming from Collins Ave, and there were so many cars waiting to turn onto 41st street. My "shortcut" eventually worked... and like I said, "eventually", cause Miami Beach can get tricky, with all those little waterways and bridges, and streets that dont' go through.
(some just have footpath bridges, not for cars) . I ended up on streets that parallel Collins Ave, looking at pretty houses, at least.

Ellen: nice report and nice pictures. Thank you...
I live in Sarasota, and we do not have a decent deli on the west coast of Florida. TooJays can close for all I care. They really don't get the picture here in Sarasota.
Even bakeries are missed over here. But, we do have lots of italian restaurants.
Thanks again, Irwin

Irwin..Don't feel bad..The right coast has no decent deli's either. My friend has lived in Sarasota for 20 years now and he's still praying for a decent Chinese restaurant.

Limited traffic, low crime, no state income tax, nice weather..It all comes with a price.

WOW....you got your monies worth out of this trip....Thank you so much for the email it meant alot. sometimes us foodies forget to thank those who reommend good places. AAAAHHHHH....Treats at Aventura...it brings back alot of memories. I worked at Macy's (when it was NYC Macy's) for some 10+ years and ate a many meal there. Las Olas is an experience too but sometimes the tourist factor comes into play. The Island Queen is a legend. Perhaps on your next trip you can go to Monty Trainers in Coconut Grove. I loved Sunday's there with the Clyso music and Margarittas.

Ellen

Thanks for stopping by Big Al's in Delray Beach...and, thanks for the nice pictures.
We only use thinly sliced rib eye steak in our Steak Sandwiches. We never chop the meat for the same reason you don't chop a good sirloin or filet mignon. I'm also happy you enjoyed the bread. The bread is from Philly. We bring it down every week. Please stop in and see us next time you are in town. Big Al

quote:

Originally posted by Big_Al

Ellen

Thanks for stopping by Big Al's in Delray Beach...and, thanks for the nice pictures.
We only use thinly sliced rib eye steak in our Steak Sandwiches. We never chop the meat for the same reason you don't chop a good sirloin or filet mignon. I'm also happy you enjoyed the bread. The bread is from Philly. We bring it down every week. Please stop in and see us next time you are in town. Big Al

Thanks , Big Al ! (regarding my "Big Al's" cheesesteak pics that were in my PART 1 of "10 days in Florida")
So nice to hear a personal response from you. My eyes are actually watering up, cause it's rare and special when I see an owner post on Roadfood regarding one of our trip reports...

Yes, I'll definitely be back to Big Al's .... I love the feeling of sitting at those outdoor tables, and eating that juicy cheesesteak..
all the textures were just so RIGHT ! Glad I could help spread the word, Big Al!!

sincerely,
ellen

Ellen,
You really produced a good report here. Many thanks.
Unhungrily, Ort. Carlton in Oh-So-Distant Athens, Georgia.

Ellen, I just love your reports. And your pics are always so mout-watering.

What a gorgeous short rib that was, too.

I wonder if Mo's Bagels is an offshoot of the one in Boulder, Colorado, which has been there for years?

quote:

Originally posted by Pwingsx


I wonder if Mo's Bagels is an offshoot of the one in Boulder, Colorado, which has been there for years?

Pwingsx

It definetely isn't.

Mo's Bagels in Miami (aventura) is its own entity.

Now I'm sorry I didn't stop at Big Al's last month. Will try next year.

Thanks, WJ. It caught me off guard to see, so I had to check.