New Times gave up on the Best Doughnuts category in our Best Of Broward-Palm Beach edition four years ago, and it’s all my fault. I was supposed to write that item back then, so I did some looking around for local doughnut shops. Turns out that there aren’t many, especially…
If you’ve made the rounds of all the local barbecue joints and decided you’d rather eat dirt than one more rack of dry, smokeless ribs, desiccated chicken or tough, taste-free brisket, well, for two days at least, you’re in luck. No, it’s not a dirt cook-off. It’s Grillin’ in the…
Fish has become the food issue of the decade, as contentious and controversial as farm-raised chicken or foie gras was in the ’90s. The doomsayers claim world fisheries are collapsing; environmentalists wring their hands over the damage done to both the Earth and local economies by shrimp and salmon farms;…
El Autentico Sabor de la Comida Dominicana,” reads the menu at this Pompano Beach hole-in-the-wall. And it’s authentic Dominican Republic fare, all right. Homemade specials at Latin Conga! change daily, but once they run out, forget your craving for fried chicken chunks or seafood soup. It pays to show up…
I’m hoping that whole “you can’t judge a book by the cover” thing pans out in this situation, because if it doesn’t, I’ll certainly be sick. As I type, there is a bright-orange package sitting on my desk with a clear window running down the middle. The package has been…
Sven Vogtland is the Advanced Sommelier at the Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale, and a 13-year veteran of the craft who has recommended bottles in the sunny Virgin Islands and in far-away Vietnam. In this column, Vogtland will discuss the latest trends in wine, from what bottles and regions are blowing up…
The postcard-sized menu at Bravo! Gourmet Sandwich Shop in Wilton Manors promises: “The Best sandwich you’ll ever taste!” Those are big words in the world of sandwiches, but the thing is, Bravo just might live up to that promise. Bravo’s Peruvian sandwiches are full of juicy pork, flavorful country ham,…
The latest episode of The Office doesn’t star Steve Carell but David Manero. Let me explain. There are actually two Offices: one a TV show that reveals Life In a Cubicle as the mind-numbing, soul-sucking vampire it really is. The other is a coming restaurant from one of South Florida’s…
If you’re not a subscriber to our weekly Café Bites dining newsletter for Broward and Palm Beach counties, here’s a taste of what you missed this week. Click here to subscribe.The Scots find it a treat to take a sheep’s stomach, fill it with sheep liver, heart, and tongue, mix…
Q: When is wine like good sex?A: When it’s PromisQous. Actually, you don’t have to be a grape slut to get the hots for this big, hardy, mouth-filling blend of Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and petite Syrah. All you need is 12 bucks and a thirst for a wine that’s…
I have a confession: Before last weekend, I’d never stepped foot into a Five Guys restaurant. I’ve heard hundreds of people talk about the chain, seen passionate emails fired back and forth debating the merits of their French fries, and read more than a few glowing reviews. I’ve just never…
It’s almost unfair to say that the Whole Enchilada is the second-best burrito joint around, because in most towns, the place would be far above competitors. But just down the road is Zona Fresca, which has won five awards in our Best Of Broward-Palm Beach edition over the years, including…
Although Clean Plate Charlie is the only food blog you really need to read daily, some people just can’t get enough. Here are some highlights other food blogs, this time with a focus on dessert blogs:It’s hard to tell what’s more delicious on Cannelle et Vanille: the recipes or the…
If this is precisely the wrong moment in history to open a pricey, upscale gourmet grocery in a suburban shopping mall, you’d never know it from the debut of Joseph’s Classic Market in the swanky Shops of Boca.The noontime crush of pasteled, Polo-ed and executive-clad Boca-ites filled the aisles of…
This week, we’ll be looking at a drink adored by Brazilians. Honestly, it’s adored by almost anyone who tries it, but Brazil often lays claim to it as its national drink. Made from cachaca, lime, and brown sugar, the caipirinha is like a sweeter version of a mojito, minus the…
“What if he doesn’t show? Are there enough fans for a riot?” asks a 20-something guy waiting in line at a Boca Whole Foods for Tool frontman turned winemaker Maynard James Keenan. He’s in town on a promotional tour, signing bottles from his winery, Caduceus Cellars, and vineyard Merkin Vineyards…
This year’s Best Of winner for Best Cheese Steak went to Mr. Nick’s, a sandwich stand that’s held its ground along Andrews Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale for more than 30 years now. You can read the description of Mr. Nick’s award-winning cheese steak here, or just take a look at…
Remember that kid in elementary school who was always the last one picked for any team sports? You know, the one everybody said was a spaz, who couldn’t hit a ball or catch a ball or tell first base from third base or a touchdown from a free throw? In…
Ambrosia Some folks have been crowing about Ambrosia’s pizza for 30 years, as long as the restaurant has been in business — so the huge “Best Pizza!” sign on the door reminds anybody within squinting distance. Not much has changed at Ambrosia in all that time, least of all the…
“It might have some kind of fish in it, but I’m not sure.” Those were the first words out of the boss’ grinning mouth as he handed me a shrink-wrapped styrofoam plate. I’m not exactly an adventurous eater. For instance, I don’t eat things that swim. I’ve always said when…
In response to last week’s article comparing the dining scenes in Florida and New Orleans – and in particular, the relative lack of fresh, local seafood at affordable restaurants – Clean Plate Charlie received a comment pointing us in the direction of FL-seafood.com, a website created by the “Bureau of…
“What is patriotism but the love of the food one ate as a child?” ~Lin YutangBonus vocab word: “Globesity.” Coined by the World Health Organization…
