chriscinfl's Profile
Best Pizza in South Florida
Lorenzo's Italian Market in NMB has a cafe in the middle. The sicilian pizza is the closest thing I've ever had to what my Sicilian grandmother used to make for us. DIVINE!!! Definitely worth checking out!!!
Naples Bakery?
Are there any great bakeries in Naples for breakfast goodies? We are visiting this weekend and would love to pick-up some breakfast items before our day at the beach.
TIA!
Chris
What do you make that is SOOO easy yet you impress yourself every time you make it?
One of my resolutions this year was to not make the same old, same old meals as last year. I am a very low maintenance cook so I like easy recipes that taste like a lot of work. I have found a few new ones this year that are so easy and so yummy!!!! How about you? What do you make that is super easy, yet you impress yourself and others every time you make it? Recipes, please!!!!
TIA!
Chris
Suggestions Near JW Marriott - Grande Lakes (no particular cuisine or price - just good food)
Los Generales is near there. Authentic Mexican food. If you go, let me know what you think. Enjoy! http://losgeneralesrestaurant.com/Home.html
Enchilada Sauce Recipe
I am looking for a great red sauce for cheese enchiladas. Any one have a fab recipe they would be willing to share?
TIA!
Chris
Stonewood Grill - twice lucky??
We love Stonewood! Although we don't have one near us, anytime we are in a town with a Stonewood, we go. It is CONSISTENTLY good! The clam chowder is on par with a very good seafood restaurant as is the herb crusted grouper. I get the same thing everytime, dh varies....He likes the steaks, chops, chicken. I think this is the best chain restaurant around!
Naples, Avoid Preston's Steakhouse
I am shocked to hear of your bad experience at Preston's! This is our absolute favorite steakhouse anywhere! We measure all other steakhouses against Preston's. We love that the wait staff is always the same and takes their time with the very high quality service. We love that the owner, wife and children are involved in the experience. The steaks are always perfect! The sides, desserts and wine list are always excellent as well. Perhaps you caught them on an off night. I would highly recommend you give them another try. Good luck!
I never eat _______ out because nobody makes it right but me.
Just curious, what do you never eat out because nobody makes it right but you? I never eat meatloaf out. I only like mine. Also, I never get meal salads out (dinner salads, side salads yes) or linguini with white clam sauce. What things just don't taste right when anyone makes it except you?
Chris
Lawrenceville, GA (or nearby) suggestions?
Thank you so much for asking...We just found out we are relocating to Lawrenceville so I am very interested to see what other suggestions you get. Good luck in your travels.
Any must-do food a short distance off 75 between Fl and Atlanta?
Dh has an interview in Atlanta this week so we will be taking a quick drive up from FL. I would love to make the trip enjoyable instead of all interview stress. Is there any great food a short distance off 75 between FL and Atlanta?
TIA!
Chris
Linda B's Key Biscayne
Never been. Love the location since it is right by the marina where we keep our boat. Any feedback? Thanks!
Thanksgiving dinner in Palm Coast
Are you talkin' under $30 a person with or without wine? If you are talkin' without drinks, try Blue at the Topaz Motel. Gorgeous water view and really good food. Best in Flagler County in my opinion. Call to make sure they are open on Thanksgiving, but since they are in a Motel they probably are.
, 1224 S Oceanshore Blvd, Flagler Beach, FL 32136
(386) 439-4322
Along 826 between Miami Lakes & SW 8th St.
NW 67th Ave and the Palmetto in the Burger King Plaza is the Sicilian Italian Restaurant. Excellent food, but it is a hole in the wall. If you are looking for atmosphere (or romance) this isn't it. If you are looking for real Italian food cooked by a Sicilian from Sicily check it out. Also, if you go one exit further south on the Palmetto (not sure of the exit name) you can go to Cancun Grill for Mexican. You will battle the crowds there especially on a weekend night. Very good tex-mex if you are into that kinda thing. Good luck! Let us know where you go.
What is your favorite hole-in-the-wall in South Florida?
The Sicilian Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria in the Burger King plaza right off the Palmetto and NW 67th Ave. I found it totally by accident 10 years ago when I moved here and lived in the neighborhood. I now live in S. Miami and still drive up there to eat. Best eggplant rollatini around, awesome pizza, excellent garlic knots, great linguini and white clam sauce, divine italian cheesecake and fabulous pignolatas all just like my Sicilian grandmother used to make. The owner is the cook, his wife the waitress. Barely any table and chairs, no ice and only takes cash, does that qualify as a hole?
Cantina Laredo
Anyone eaten here? If so, is it any good and what do you recommend? Dh and I are thinking we might want to check it out. Any feedback would be great!
Thanks!
Chris
Best birthday cake in St. Augustine/Beach
Call Gypsy Cab Co (904-824-8244). The desserts are all made in house and are DIVINE!!!! I'm not sure if they would make a birthday cake. I know they sell their pies to go. Can't hurt to try.
Good luck!
Chris
Foodie bound for St. Augustine
Saltwater Cowboys for bbq without a doubt. I don't even like bbq but I eat the ribs everytime there!!! The restaurant is located on the marsh and has fabulous atmosphere in addition to the great food. But, be warned, either get there as soon as they open (which I think is 5pm, 4pm on holidays) or plan to wait for a good hour or two outside in the heat and with the buggies. The bugs are so bad the restaurant gives out skin so soft so that you aren't eaten alive while you wait.
I second Osteens. Small restaurant, no real atmosphere (except to herd the masses in and out as quickly as possible) to speak of, but great seafood and yummy sides. While you wait (which again, could be an hour or two depending on the time of day) you can go to the antique shop across the parking lot. The names for the restaurant are called out inside the shop.
I also like Gypsy Cab Company a lot. Everything is made fresh daily including the desserts and the menu changes every day based on what is fresh.
Good luck!
Chris
Fresh tuna for tuna salad question
I am preparing tuna salad from fresh tuna tonight. I am debating how to prepare the tuna for the salad; steamed, poached, broiled? Any input would be greatly appreciated.
TIA!
Chris
Good Eats near Baptist Hospital of Miami
Go west on Kendall Drive from the hospital and drive a touch under three miles until you see a strip plaza on the north side of the street that has a pollo tropical in front of it. In the plaza is Barillo Latino. Very good Latin food of all kinds from cuban to Argentinean. Dh loves the grilled snapper and I adore the entrana (churrasco or skirt steak).
If you go just a bit further on Kendall drive you can go north on 117th to Bird rd. On the corner of Bird and 117th is Nunzios which is IMHO the best home style italian in Miami (my grandparents were from Italy and I grew up eating gravy every Sunday, but you're from NYC so this may not be what you are used to).
Back to Kendall Drive if you continue west past 117th you will find a strip plaza a couple miles down on the south side of the street (12584 SW 88TH St, not sure the name of the plaza, but it has a latin cafeteria and a drugstore in front of the plaza) with Bangkok Bangkok Thai restaurant. They do a whole fried Thai snapper which is incredible!
I agree with pp on Norman Brothers (not on Kendall being a "a soulless suburban dead zone") . It is an excellent farmer’s market/specialty market and it well worth the trip for the hot food and shakes. To get there you leave the hospital and go east on 88th to 87th ave. Go about a mile north on 87 until you see NB on the east side of the street.
Also leaving the hospital to the east you will find a barnes and noble. Pass the barnes and noble and take the right immediately following the plaza. Follow that less than a mile to the crab shack (I believe is the name). It is in a strip plaza on the west side of the street. You will get a hammer and some garlic crabs that are excellent. Don't skip the clam chowder. It is so rich and creamy. Definitely worth the trip.
Some other possibilities if you take 88th to us1 south, you will find Anacapri (gourmet, high end italian, excellent), Sea Siam (moderately priced, very good Thai and sushi), Tani Thai (inexpensive Thai, also very good). If you are up for a longer trip and an adventure, head down south on us1 to Puerto Vallarta (24811 S Dixie Hwy, Homestead, FL, cheap mexican, voted best seafood in miami by a local magazine, try the ceviche). Also south on us1 from Kendall you will find great seafood and an incredible wine list (named one of the best in the US annually by Wine Spectator Mag) at Captain's Tavern.
Kendall Drive to us1 north and you will find Two Chefs. Gourmet, somewhat pricey and excellent!
Good luck! Let us know what you try and how you like it!
Chris
Keep All-Clad Dutch Oven or return
Dh got me a huge All-Clad Dutch Oven for xmas. We have a very small kitchen and I have tons of stockpots which makes me wonder if I should just return it. Please tell me why it is so much better, for stews and the like, than a stockpot.
TIA!
Chris
good eats in Naples FL.??
I'm going to second Randy's for lunch (Seafood is very good, mac and cheese and hushpuppies with honey butter are divine! Go for lunch though because they tend to run out of things by dinner.) and Naples Tomato for dinner (Everything is homemade with nice twists on old favorites. The meat lovers ravioli is to die for and make sure to save room for the Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding.) Also, if you are looking for a steak house try Preston's. It's a tiny little place. The owner does the cooking and everything is top quality. The menu is classic steakhouse fare. Save room for his wife's homemade chocolate cake. All in all, pricey, but excellent! One other spot we like, if you are into fried shrimp, Grouper and chips has the best I have ever had.
Enjoy!
Chris
Any good restaurants in Miami Lakes?
The Sicilian Italian Restaurant is AWESOME (Palmetto & 67th in the Burger King plaza on the corner)! I also happen to be a big fan of the "gringo-ized" Cancun Grill.
Enjoy!
Chris
Best food in and around Hilton Head, SC
DH and I will be vacationing in HH the week between xmas and ny. We would appreciate restaurant recs (along w/the restaurant address if you happen to know it :-). We like all kinds of food but would be especially interested in a Steakhouse and Seafood.
TIA!
Chris
Parents out for dinner in Naples
I will second Naples Tomato. The food is creative yet traditional, the service is attentive and the sommelier is very good at making recommendations.
Restaurant in Flagler Beach Area
Blue in the Topaz Hotel on Flagler Beach is some of the best fare in the county. Twenty minutes south on AIA in Ormond is an excellent small chain called Stonewood Grill. You can buy gift cards online at http://www.stonewoodgrill.com/html/index.html
Good luck!
Chris
Authentic Guatemalan Recipes
Dh and I are adopting from Guatemala and in order to ease my son's transition I want to perfect some Guatemalan recipes before he comes home. Anyone have any authentic recipes they can share?
TIA!
Chris
Special Occassion Meal in Coral Gables....Want the best of the best. Where would you go?
Dh and I just had dinner at the Palms Steakhouse on Friday night. It was a serious disappointment. Stale bread, mediocre service (server was proud to tell us he used to work at Chili's which explained a lot!), tasteless sides and nothing to write home about desserts. I will say the steaks were good, but not the best I've ever had.
We've eaten at Christy's and Francesco's recently also and aren't in a big hurry to go back. They were good, don't get me wrong, but we want to try something new. I heard Romeo's was good, but then I read some reviews from diners on Zagats that were less than glowing. If money was a non-issue where would you eat in CG? Please tell me about the menu and what items you recommend.
TIA!
Chris
Flagler County
Blue is really great in Flagler County. Gorgeous view, awesome food. If you like lamb, it is excellent at Blue. Also, the carrot cake is some of the best I have ever had.
Blue at the Topaz
1224 S. Oceanshore Boulevard, Flagler Beach
Tel: (386) 439-4322
Price Range: $$$
Open for Lunch and Dinner
Monday - Saturday:
Lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Sunday: 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm
While Blue may be a bit over your price range, La Hacienda (cheap eats) on Palm Coast Parkway in the Publix Plaza is some of the best mexican food I have ever had.
Enjoy!
Chris
2 expense account meals in Naples
Haven't been to Campiello's but I would be at Preston's in a heartbeat if I was eating on an expense account.
Enjoy!
Chris
