Addicted to the Food Network!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Best Thing I Ever Ate

Just got back from a taping of The Best Thing I Ever Ate at Rosario's Ristorante in Boca.  Slightly disappointed that the actual Food Network star was not here, but I had a wonderful time non-the-less! There was a 'stunt double' for Alex Guarnaschelli , and I only heard part of the taping (although I did hear them talking about the garlic bread, which IS possibly the best I ever ate!), but it was fun to watch the whole production! Here is a peak at 'Alex's" closeup:


From across the room, we totally thought it was the real Alex!

Besides the buzzing about the taping going on, the dinner we enjoyed was also truly excellent! No wonder Alex raved about it! If you haven't been to Rosario's, it's definitely worth a trip there! They have all of your favorite Italian classics, and even have a $26.95 3-course Summer menu with a ton of tasty choices!
I had the Gnocchi:


While Caroline went big and had the 2lb Maine Lobster Special:
 
Can you believe that is also part of the $26.95 special???

Of course there was also dessert:
Italian Cheesecake

Tiramisu

chocolate mouse cake

Yum! Everything was delicious, but what really made the experience was the service. Everybody at Rosario's was friendly, knowledgeable and accessible. I mean, the owner came by a few times to check on us, and his wife, Toni, was so cute I HAD to take a picture with her!

What you don't see here? She really only came up to my chest, so I am totally squatting to take this photo, lol!

All in all a fun evening with great friends, great food and some Food Network stalking! We are told the episode they taped tonight will air in November, and we had to sign waivers, so I'll let you know when it's going to air, so you can look for us!

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Food + Family = Fun!

What do you get when you mix sun, family and enough food to feed an army??? In my world, that = fun! This is what Sunday Funday looks like to me:

Halibut in foil packets


Kebabs


It's so Gouda sliders




Pasta Salad




Grilled fruit kebabs
Served with Angel Food Cake and homemade raspberry sauce (not pictured)

Also not pictured: Lemon Bars and fajitas. Add homemade Sangria and it's a partay!
Let's do this again soon, shall we??


Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Fast as lightning!

I heart Greek food. There. I said it. I could eat it everyday. Hummus, pita, feta and tzatziki can all be found in my fridge on any given day. So when I hear about a great new Greek Restaurant that is not only delicious, but also affordable?? You better believe I am there! Souvlaki Fast is a great new gem situated in Mizner Plaza in Boca:

At SOUVLAKI fast, traditional Greek flavors meet the grill. Conceptualized by two friends and Greek natives with a love of grilling, SOUVLAKI fast offers its customers the finest cuts of meat and seafood and the freshest vegetables, marinated, skewered, and grilled to perfection. SOUVLAKI fast seeks to provide a delicious, health-conscious meal option no matter how little time you have to eat.
Whether you prefer your souvlaki on a traditional pita, on a platter with french fries or rice, or atop a delectable salad, SOUVLAKI fast has an entrée sure to quell your craving.

 
 Today I sampled the Greek Salad with Gyro (too bad I ate the gyro before I took the picture...I couldn't wait! sorry!)
 
 

the Giant baked beans (in a lovely tomato garlic sauce with traditional Greek seasoning). Never had it before and I loooove it!



and the Kourabiedes- buttery almond cookies covered in powdered sugar. Also known as wedding cookies, these are definitely reason enough to say "I DO!"



Jealous yet??
The staff at Souvlaki Fast is super friendly, the atmosphere cozy, the portions are healthy, and well, the food is mouth-watering...my keyboard has a little drool on it right now! Check out the menu here for a look at some their other tasty treats.

Now for your language lesson:
That deliciousness wrapped up in a pita you normally order? It's called a Gyro. Pronounced like year-o, not ji-ro. You can thank me later.


Saturday, July 24, 2010

Love Letters to LA

So, my friend Matt called the other day to say he is going to Los Angeles. My first thought was...JEALOUS! My second was, OK, I have to tell him where to go....so where should he go?? Well, he is only going to be there for three days...how do I only pick a few places?? Well, this is my first thought for him: 

Matt's first foray into sushi was actually with me in LA, so I want him to try Yamashiro Restaurant for it's delicious sushi and unbelievable views.



I suggest Lawry's Prime Rib, for it's to die for prime rib, sliced to order right at your table:


Mastro's is a great choice for a great steak and a lively atmosphere that includes live music (pst, get the Lobster Mac-n-Cheese!)


Geoffrey's in Malibu is a great place for not only a delicious meal, but the views are unforgettable!


If you are celebrity chef stalker, you can't go wrong with Nobu,
Mario Batali's Pizza Mozza
 
or Rick Bayless' Red O.


But no trip to LA is complete without trips to these staples:





Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles (the #13 always works for me!)


and no trip to LaLa Land is complete without a trip to Baycities (get the Godmother)


Well, that should be enough, I think?! LA Folks, did I miss anything?????

Curry in a hurry!

Well, Chicken Korma, which is a type of curry.


Before you get too impressed, I used a a simmer sauce from A Picky Gourmet.
But I added the peas for a burst of green, does that count? 
Well, it was delicious, and my house sure smells like an Indian Restaurant!

Friday, July 23, 2010

Rainy Day delights

So, Tropical Storm Bonnie made a mild showing today, but just enough for it to be lazy, rainy, stay inside kinda day. So far I have devoured 5 magazines, watched about 8 hours of DVDs and now it's time to catch up on my blogs! One needs nuroushment for such a task, and what better than a Grilled Cheese with Heirloom Tomatoes for lunch...



And for dinner, Fish Tacos with Avocado Cream...



and some chips with fresh made Guacamole...




I think I kinda like these rainy days!

Monday, July 19, 2010

Donatella Cooks...and looks great doing it!

On Friday, I had the pleasure of attending another book signing at Books & Books in Coral Gables, this time with Donatella Arpaia, chef, restaurateur and Iron Chef America judge. She was there to discuss her new book, Donatella Cooks. A brilliant take on making simple foods, glamorous. I immediately dug right in, and was thrilled at how well written her book is, how many useful tips there are, how many great stories there are and how many pictures there are..in color! (A pet peeve of mine, there has to be photos!) Even through word, Donatella comes through as smart, witty and approachable. Then, she came in, and I found all these things are in fact, true. She is sweet, approachable, and stunning in her 4" heels. ( I definitely have show envy!)


Here she is getting ready to speak:


Just like in her book, during her presentation she gave tips:


Shared recipes:



Even shared treats with the audience!


Then she had a question/answer session:


She was so gracious, engaging and witty. She definitely makes you feel like she is one of your girlfriends and you are in your living room chatting.

When it was over, she was ready, sharpie in hand, to sign her cookbook:


So sweet!

She even posed for photos!


Gorgeous!

I am still making my way through the cookbook, reading every word, and flagging the recipes I want to try. First up, the Donatellas Popcorn!

PS If you are craving a taste of Donatalla's deliciousness in person, you can now enjoy it outside of New York, right here in Miami, at Eos. Check out the menu here. I know I can't wait to try!
Welcome to Miami Donatella!

Sunday, July 18, 2010

I longo for Key Largo!

Those of you who follow me closely know that I just took at quick trip down to Key Largo for the day. While there, I got a taste of what the Largest, Northern-Most Key is all about. First and foremost, the water! It is known as the Diving Capital of the World, so no wonder 99% of all the things the do on the island are on the water: boating, diving, fishing, kayaking, glass-bottom boats, skiing, Everglades tours, etc... Well, I may be a Pisces, but I am not so much a water-sports gal, so lucky for me, the second biggest thing to do on the island is eat & drink! 
Sadly, I arrived in the middle of the night and only stayed 16 hours, so I only had a chance to try one place, so I hit up Bayside Grille. Owned by Restaurateur Robert DiGiorgio, and known for the Most Photographed Sunset in Key Largo:



Divine isn't it?! Well, the sunsets are not the only thing that are divine...the food is too!

After much deliberation, I went with the servers recommendation, Coconut Shrimp:



Served with a perfect French Fry, Cole Slaw and a Caribbean dipping sauce.
Now you may think this is nothing special, but this is just the tip of the menu at Bayside Grille!
With Chef's Recommendations such as Yellowtail, Mahi-Mahi or Tuna with either Mango Salsa or Grilled Pineapple Salsa, "Certified Angus" Caribbean Flank Steak, and Key Lime Chicken, there is definitely something for everyone, and every dish gives you that  taste of 'Keysiness' you crave while in Key Largo! And leave it to DiGiorgio to punch it up a notch with a Killer Wine List.  What better way to enjoy those sunsets!

Make sure when you go visit, so you have more time than I did, so you can also visit DiGiorgio's Cafe Largo, for an elegant, home style Italian meal. And if you need a place to stay, DiGiorgio has that too! Check out his Vacation Rentals. I did, and this is the view I woke up to:



Yes, I'll definitely be going back soon!


Saturday, July 17, 2010

Boca's Best Kept Secret, no more!!

So, one of my favorite spots in Boca, Talia's Tuscan Table, is no longer such a secret spot! They were recently voted Best Italian Restaurant in Palm Beach 2010 by the New Times! To celebrate, Chef Andy and crew threw a Customer Appreciation Party and invited all of their friends for food, fun, drinks, t-shirts and of course, laughs! Take a look:

That's Chef Andy on the right, media guru Keith Gallant on the left!

Check out the T-shirts they had made and gave out for the occasion:


Front View

Back View

Oh, did I mention there was food?? Boy ,was there food! Check out what I sampled:

Pesto Tortellini

Margherita Pizza (I looove the thin, crispy crust of their pizzas!)

Meatballs (made the right way!)

and the Pièce de résistance, the Bronx Bomber!
A sandwich I have always coveted on the menu, but never tried...what was I waiting for???
This beauty is made up of Salami, Capicolla, Mortadella, Ham, Provolone and marinated hot peppers. Add homemade Ciabatta Bread, and I am in looove!  


I realised at the party, that I always order the saaaaame thing every time I visit Talia's...the Rustica Pizza (grilled chicken, artichoke, Gorgonzola and pesto). Yes, it's every bit as good as it sounds. I sometimes add a Caprese Salad if I am extra hungry. By the way, did you know that Talia's makes it own mozzarella? One of those special touches that makes this spot, well THE BEST!

Well, I guess the cat is out of the bag now...I will have to share my favorite lunch spot with the rest of you now. *sigh* Just please save some of that homemade ciabatta for me, OK?!