Fried Kool-Aid Balls: Coming to a Fair Near You?

​Move over, Mr. Kool-Aid mascot. There’s a new Kool-Aid man around. His name is Charlie Boghosian, creator of the recently famous fried Kool-Aid balls that debuted at the San Diego County Fair this past weekend.But how, exactly, do you fry a liquid? …

Half-Baked: Under Pressure

Patty Canedo is a chef in Palm Beach. She writes frequently about her kitchen exploits in this column, Half-Baked. To you, the valued guests, a professional kitchen may seem like a carefully orchestrated machine. But in actuality, it’s controlled chaos with meltdowns and drama bubbling just beneath the surface. After years in professional kitchens, the…

Boca Town Center Mall Transforms Food Court to Cafés

Just as a new generation of food trucks is replacing the old (and usually terrible) “roach coach,” giant malls are also redoing their “food courts” to be less like mass feeding troughs and more like places people might actually want to eat.  Case in point, Boca’s Town Center Mall, which…

Foo Fighters 2011 Tour Rider: “Don’t Forget the Bacon”

The Smoking Gun has “uncovered” the not-so-secret (the opening page makes direct reference to TSG) 2011 concert rider for Foo Fighters. As to be expected, it’s a hoot. While there is nary a reference to crappy M&M’s, there are plenty of interactive elements to keep even the most indifferent concert…

Seminole Hard Rock Hosts Miami Food Truck Rally Tonight

The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino hosts their Miami Food Truck Rally tonight, June 16th, at the Seminole Paradise valet parking lot from 5:30 – 10:00 p.m. Yes, we know the event was cancelled last week (we hear it was really because of the Heat Game), but tonight is on,…

Five Ways to Play With Your Wiener

We’ve managed to go without mentioning Anthony Weiner and all the wiener jokes that go with him… until now. We figure if the president can mention Weiner, we can too. Unlike POTUS, we’re not calling for the congressman’s resignation; we’re trying to help him out. We’ve compiled five ways to…

Chef Chuck Gittleman’s Departure From Deck 84

​Last week, Clean Plate Charlie was surprised to hear that Deck 84 would be without its main culinary force, Chef Chuck. A rep from the Gab Group confirmed Gittleman’s exit after an exhaustive season and formulating a culinary team for the Atlantic Avenue venue. Gittleman has returned to his main base at Bogart’s to prepare for the grand opening of…

Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution Recap: Going Guerrilla

More tears were shed in the latest episode of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution. Adults, children, single fathers — everyone seemed to tear up once they realized the impact of food choices on the health of their loved ones. One person who didn’t shed a tear — Superintendent Ramon Cortines, who…

Food Film Alert: A Matter of Taste

Paul Liebrandt.

Do you recognize the name? For those that aren’t as food obsessed as we are, here’s a quick recap: At 24, he was the youngest chef to ever be awarded 3 stars by The New York Times. He is also chef-owner of Corton, one of New York’s top restaurants. Training under such greats like David Bouley and Pierre Gagnaire, it’s no surprise he’s at the top of his game.

Six Strangest Requests From Diners

Patty Canedo is a chef in Palm Beach. She writes frequently about her kitchen exploits in this column, Half-Baked. The dining-out clientele in South Florida is… let’s use the word unique. Some are here to play (and we restaurant workers don’t begrudge them; we live for our snowbirds). Some are here to…

Chef Mark Militello Joins Bar Italia as Partner With Leo Balestrieri

This should be interesting: Mark Militello, chef/restaurateur and, most recently, consultant, announced he’s now a partner in the former Apicius Ristorante in Lantana — now called Bar Italia. Apicius’ former bigwig, Leo Balestrieri, is also involved in the restaurant.”I’ll be there full time starting Monday,” Militello said. He’s working on…

Florida Researcher Uses UV Rays to Zap Allergens From Peanuts

Are you tired of signs everywhere saying “This cookie/ice cream/coffee/hamburger/goat stew has been processed in a plant that uses peanuts”? So are we, which is why we got so jazzed up about a new technique developed by a University of Florida researcher that might just get rid of peanut allergies forever. According to The Southeast Farm…

Free Meatballs for Anthony’s on St. Anthony’s Day

It could be for Joel Anthony, Casey Anthony, or even Anthony Weiner. Regardless of which Anthony is getting praised (or punished), they all get free meatballs this Monday. In honor of St. Anthony’s Day, June 13, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza is giving away meatballs to anyone with the name Anthony:…

Ovenella Heats Up in Boca

Artisan pizzas, inventive pastas and specialties ranging from chili-roasted “angry prawns” to citrus and ginger-marinated skirt steak with salsa verde are coming out of the kitchen of chef Mennan Tekeli at the new Ovenella (499 S. Federal Hwy., 561-395-1455) in Boca Raton. Proprietor and former Brazilian restaurateur Ferraretto Davila tabbed…

Chef Chuck Gittleman’s Sudden Departure from Deck 84

Since it’s debut in November 2010, Deck 84 has been full steam ahead with Chef Chuck Gittleman at the helm. Clean Plate Charlie has learned that as of Tuesday the Delray Beach, waterfront jewel in Burt Rapoport’s crown is without Chef Chuck. As a 15 year vet in the Rapoport clan,…