Everything is better the second time around...

This is a recipe that is not new to me, but I gave a second chance. I fell in love with it after seeing Bobby Flay make it on Throwdown with Bobby Flay: Grilled Cheese. I immediately made it, and quite frankly, was disappointed.   I was craving a sandwich the other day and decided to give Bobby another shot, and boy am I glad I did! I don't know what made it better this time (the bread? the tomatoes? the applewood bacon?) but I was in heaven! Those of you who know me well, know that I would eat my arm if you put goat cheese on it, so no surprise I love this sandwich! It is also very similar to the grilled cheese I recently made from Bobby Flay's Bar American cookbook. How can one go wrong with smoky bacon, gooey cheese and tart green tomatoes. My picture doesn't look as good as Bobby's but I'm sure it was just as delicious!

{perfection between two slices of bread}

Thank you Bobby, for once again knowing exactly what I was craving!

xoxo,

H

Best Bite

After reading this article about the 22 best dishes in South Florida,  it immediately became by foodie bucket list. I started off my mission at Thai Delight and their Thai Dumplings.

{Thai Dumplings}

The dumplings were good, but not spectacular. If these are the best dumplings in South Florida, we are in trouble folks! Maybe I'm spoiled by too many trips to Ocean Star.... But what did I expect from a restaurant in a strip mall in Deerfield Beach? As far as the rest of the meal, Thai Delight may not be Natalee Thai, but it sure it is a value for the money. For an $11 entree, you also get a soup, salad and dessert!

{Full meals for $11)

I wouldn't say this is one of the best bites I've had in South Florida, but I will try Thai Delight again.
Care to join me?

I got a Pheeling!

Tailgate #9
Theme: Philadelphia

What else does one make for a Philly themed tailgate? Well, Philly Cheesesteaks, of course! To kick it up a notch, we made Chicken Philly Cheesesteaks.

{Pheeling good!}

Nothing complicated about a chicken Philly. Chicken, onions, peppers, provolone (not whiz!) and a little mayo on a toasted roll. Great way to distract one's self from a rainy tailgate! :) 

It aint easy being cheesy!

Mac & Cheese is one of those things that is always comforting. It's also having a moment right now. Restaurants of all shapes and sizes are putting their own spin on this childhood classic. Now, I am kind of a mac & cheese snob. I am not a fan of the dry cheese and noodles only that inevitably shows up at a potluck. I whole-heartily believe that mac & cheese should be saucy and creamy!

I have been eyeing this recipe for Truffle Mac & Cheese for a while now, waiting for the right moment to try it. Well, this weekend was the right time! Simple to make, full of flavor and creamy - just the way I like it! The truffle oil that I bought was not full of truffle flavor, but it came out alright anyways.

{Creamy, cheesy goodness}

Highly recommend! Although, you may want to cut down the recipe if you are not feeding a large crowd...I have been eating mac & cheese ever since...not that I'm complaining! :)

The Black Hole

Tailgate #8
Theme: Oakland

This week's tailgate theme was Oakland Raiders. Not easy to identify what is regional "Oakland food," but I do remember seeing on an episode of DDD Goes Tailgating in Oakland where they did Chicken and Waffles, so we gave it a shot! For those of you who have never had Chicken and Waffles, you are really missing out! The sweet, savory, crispy, salty, sweet combo is such a winner! The best, of course, is Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles in Los Angeles. Even President Obama visited on a recent trip! Our version is not quite the #13 (my favorite!) but it was slap your mama good!

{Yes, I said Slap Your Mama Good!}

I would like to smother that gravy on just about everything from now on! The crispy chicken, tender waffle, sweet syrup and savory gravy make for one fulfilling tailgate.

Eat St.

Imagine my delight when I ended up at the Hard Rock spur of the moment on Thursday and it also happened to be Food Truck night! After a long day of fighting a migraine, a food truck night was JUST what I needed! I took the requisite lap around to scope out my choices, and I decided on Slow Food Truck. What sold me was the Truffle Fries, but the Beef Short Rib Sandwich didn't sound at all bad either!

{Beef Short Rib Sandwich and Truffle Fries}

Way too much food for one person to eat, but I gave it a go! The beef  short ribs were the epitome of slow food: full of flavor, juicy and tender. I did wish the sandwich had some crunch to it for texture, but I have been thinking about the meat ever since! The fries were a little greasy for my taste and I tasted more Parmesan than truffle, but I am not a fry person to begin with.

Overall a nice surprise, and I look forward to trying more of what Slow Food Truck has to offer!

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is my Favorite.Day.of.the.Year. Food, Football, Family...perfection!
This year I did not make the whole dinner, but decided to do one fabulous dish.
I knew as soon as I saw the recipe for Pumpkin Bread Pudding in the new Bobby Flay Cookbook, Bar American that it would be the one I would make. For those not in the know, I love all things pumpkin: pies, cupcakes, whoopee pies, risotto, ravioli, you name it, I'll try it! Combine anything pumpkin with Bobby Flay and you know I'm in! Of course, Bobby did not disappoint!

{Pumpkin deliciousness}

The spicy caramel sauce was a little too "spicy" for me (and by spicy I mean cloves, ginger, etc.) but the bread pudding itself was to die for. If you love pumpkin pie, you will adore this recipe. It was a complete hit all around, and I was told that I must make this every year now. My pleasure!

Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving.

I am thankful for all of you.

xoxo,

H

Buffalo Soldier

Tailgate #7
Theme: Buffalo Bills

This one was a no-brainer:

This was was a gimme. Up next: Oakland. Need tips from my Cali peeps please!

Thanks!

xoxo,

H

Here's the SKINny

Tailgate #6
Theme: Washington Redskins

What comes to  mind when I think of Washington, DC? The White House, The President...Spike Mendelsohn?! If you're a foodie, then yes, that's exactly what comes to mind. Spike, his Good Stuff Eatery, and his mouth watering burgers. Spike, best known for being a Top Chef contestant, created  his Prez Obama Burger for then presidential candidate, Barack Obama. That burger too, beat out the McCain Burger 4-1. With melted blue cheese, crispy bacon, sweet red onion marmalade and spicy horseradish mayo...it sure gets my vote!

{Now that's a mouthful!}

Add to it some Tex-Mex Potato Skins, made with Redskin potatoes, of course, and you have a mouth watering tailgate!

Sunday Funday

What could be better than a Sunday filled with football, family and food? Except a winning game...not much! And when the food is finger-licking good, then all the better!

{BBQ Chicken nachos}

Taken from the Food Network Magazine 50 Nachos, this one will be made again, repeatedly!

{White Chocolate raspberry squares}

Best Quote of the Day: "I thought I'd died and gone to heaven until I realized I was face down in White Chocolate Raspberry square." That about sums it up!

Bar Americain

Remember last week when I told how excited I was to dig into Bobby Flay's new cookbook Bar Americain? Well, I did. First up on my list to try was the Grilled Cheese with Aged Cheddar, Goat cheese and Green Tomato.  I thought for sure I was out of luck, since we are not really in green tomato season...but imagine my surprise when my local supermarket had them ready for me! I immediately snatched up all the other ingredients and got to grilling!

Super simple, not a lot of ingredients and the epitome of delicious!

{ooey, gooey deliciousness}

The mixture of the sharp cheddar, creamy goat cheese, tart green tomatoes and crispy bacon = Heaven between two slices of buttered bread! This will be in my repertoire for a long time, I can tell already!

Robin Miller Book Signing

Did you know that the #1 searched word on Foodnetwork.com is Healthy? Well, it is. And that is just one of the many things I learned from nutritionist, best-selling author and Food Network star Robin Miller. I had the pleasure of catching her book signing for her latest & greatest book: Robin Takes 5. 500 recipes, 5 ingredients, 500 calories or less 5 nights a week at 5:00 PM.

This is truly one of the biggest cookbooks I have ever bought! Packed full of recipes; all with 5 ingredients or less, 500 calories or less, easy to make and with accessible ingredients. It's gonna take me a while to tab my way through this one!

Robin herself was very sweet, approachable, knowledgeable and funny. It was just like sitting around with a glass of wine talking to one of your girlfriends.

 I asked her the same question I ask all of the chefs:

Q: What is your favorite Food Network Show?

A: Chopped

Some other questions from the group:

Q: What is the Best Thing You Ever Ate?

A: a seafood/rice dish after running the NYC Marathon about 5 years ago.

Q: What is your favorite thing to cook?

A: Anything with her family.

See, a down to earth mom that just happens to have a lot of nutritional knowledge and cooking ideas!

I have also never met such a gracious FN Chef. Staying to sign books and take photos.

{I heart how she pulled me in to her for the photo}

Thanks for a lovely evening, Robin! Can't wait to dig into the book.

xoxo,

Heather

Confessions of a Cookbook Addict

It's always exciting when you come home to find a package in your mailbox, isn't it? Well, for a food geek, a package from Amazon containing two new cookbooks turns me into a kid on Christmas morning! I immediately ripped open the box and began to devour them, flagging all the recipes I want to try.

First Up: Bobby Flay's Bar Americain Cookbook

A culinary road trip across America, with stops in New Mexico, Kentucky, South Carolina, and everywhere in between. Reading this book is like looking at an in-depth look at the menu of Bar Americain restaurant. Plenty of classics, comfort foods, and new interpretations, with full color pictures of every recipe. First up on my list to try: Grilled Cheese with Aged Cheddar, Goat Cheese Bacon and Green Tomato; Cauliflower and Goat Cheese Gratin; and Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Spicy Caramel Apple Sauce. Yum!

Next up: Claire Robinson's 5 Ingredient Fix

A collection of recipes, all with 5 ingredients or less, written with the undertone of Claire's southern charm. In comparison to Bobby's recipes, these are what I would call "easy". None of them require much skill or technique. Perfect for weeknight meals, quick entertaining or a beginner cook. Although a lot of the recipes sound delicious, there are not photos with every recipe, which I missed. I also missed a little background on each recipe (as with Bobby's book) about how she came up with that idea or where the inspiration came from. I did find a good amount of recipes I will make, starting with Breakfast Croque Madame and Roasted Jalapeno Egg Rolls.

Now, if I only had the time, resources and audience to prepare all of these recipes...Now accepting volunteers in all departments! :)

XOXO,

The Food Network Cookbook Addict

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

Hope fully I look more like Iron Chef than Swedish Chef from the Muppets!

Anyone else dress up like a chef/Food Network celebrity?  

Every Day with Rachael Ray

One of the things I love about Rachael Ray is how she turns your favorite food into something else. She can turn your favorite dip into a burger, a mac & cheese or in this case, a pizza! Spinach-Artichoke French Bread Pizza! This is a recipe from her magazine I have been meaning to try for a long time, and I don't know why I waited so long!  It is everything you love about spinach-artichoke dip, spread on a loaf of french bread, baked until bubbly, and turned into a perfect finger food for watching football!

{Crispy, crunchy, creamy deliciousness}

Thanks Rachael, you've done it again!

xoxo,

H

Are you Next Iron Chef?

As excited as I am about the Next Iron Chef Superchefs (SO EXCITED!), it has been brought up by quite a few foodies lately that now that we have a whole series dedicated to picking Iron Chefs, it has lost it's credibility & prestige. I tend to agree. If we keep picking new Iron Chefs, then we will soon have 20 and it will loose it's status. On the other hand, I still watch and did I mention I am excited about the Allstars competition starting this Sunday, October 30th???


{Marcus Samuelsson, Anne Burrell, Robert Irvine, Geoffry Zakarian, Beau McMillan, Michael Chiarello, Chuck Hughes, Elizabeth Faulkner, Spike Mendelsohn, Alex Guarnaschelli.}

So many stars! I can't possibly pick a favorite!

So what are your thoughts? Are you done with the Next Iron Chef? Are you excited like I am? Any early favorites? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Food Truck Frenzy!

If I can't be on The Great Food Truck Race, then I am glad I can at least attend a Food Truck Frenzy by the Gourmet Truck Expo. Tonight they were in my 'hood, so I stopped by to see how much trouble I could get into. In comparison to the last one I attended in Boca, I was pleasantly surprised by what I found: Surprisingly short lines, great prices, large portions and tasty food! I highly recommend attending these types of events with a group of friends, buy a large sampling and all get to taste a little of everything. Since I was flying solo,  I tried as much as I could:

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be on the elliptical for the next three days!

Mile High Tailgate

2011 Tailgate #5
Theme: Denver

These themed tailgates are getting harder and harder! What does one make for a Denver themed tailgate? Mile-high something? Tebown steaks? Denver omelets? We went with the Denver Omelets. Not an easy task for a rookie tailgater...luckily we are seasoned pros! 2 grills, 2 pans, 3 omelets with potatoes and toast later...

All this for one perfect plate:

Add in some mimosas and you've got another successful tailgate!

(although I'm still trying to walk that plate off!)

Diners Drive-ins and Dives Tour: Flakowitz of Boynton

It's been a bit since we hit a DDD joint, so yesterday Amanda and I hit up Flakowitz of Boynton, as seen on DDD: Biscuits, Bagels and BLTs.  Odd choice for a Friday night, yes, but we are food geeks like that! Flakowitz is your classic Jewish deli, complete with Challah on the table:

And all the basics you would expect from a Jewish deli:

{Hot Brisket sandwich with all the fixings}

For the price, Flakowitz is a good deal. I had all of this plus a drink and dessert for about $11. Way too much for even me to eat! Nothing was particularly good, but not particularly bad either. Honestly, the best part was the pickle! I also missed out on the last black and white cookie by one person in the bakery. :( At least Amanda got a little cake for her belated birthday!

{My foodie partner in crime!}

All in all, an OK DDD trip this time. Amanda had the Louisiana chicken grill and raved about it. I guess I should have stuck with what they are known for: bagels and Matzo ball soup. Next time!

Anne Burell Book Signing

My favorite way to spend a rainy Florida day? Why, Food Network Chef Stalking of course! And this week I had the pleasure of meeting none other than Anne Burell. Her first book, Cook like a Rock star is now out so she is out promoting it. Waiting in line, I had plenty of time to read through it, and it is like having Anne right there in the kitchen with you. It is well written and full of her personality. You can just imagine her standing there in her skirt, shaking her spiky hair and yelling "Big Meat"!  The title is perfect for her, by the way. As she was getting ready to come out to start signing books, they played at little Def Leopard Pour Some Sugar on Me for her to come out to. Fun!
When it was my turn to meet her, I asked her the same question I ask all of the chefs I meet: Whose Food Network Show Do you Watch? Anne, in her rock star way, looks me at me dead serious and says "None, I know how to cook!" WOW! Imagine the shock and awe on my face! I too know how to cook...I watch for ideas and inspiration. She recovered by saying that she will be watching the upcoming Next Iron Chef (which she is on, of course!) It was then time to take a photo, sign my book and move along...

{everyone say "Big Meat!"}

{Best inscription ever!}

California Dreamin'

This one is simple. When preparing a San Diego themed lunch, one thing and one thing only came to mind. Fish Tacos! Being that San Diego is just a hop, skip and a jump from Mexico, they are abundant in the area. There are many different types, but I prefer the crunchy, spicy, cool combo in my tacos. Luckily I have been holding on to this recipe courtesy of Ingrid Hoffman for Food Network Magazine since November 2008! It combines everything I love about fish tacos and it was simple to prepare to boot!

{Winner, winner, fish taco dinner}

As Ingrid would say: Simply Delicioso!

WWMSD

Having never been to Cleveland, how does one prepare a Cleveland themed lunch? Being the Food Network Addict I am, I asked myself, What Would Michael Symon Do? (WWMSD) Just as I was channeling him, I came across an episode in my DVR for Maxwell St. Style Polish Sausage Sandwich.  Sandwich King, Jeff Mauro to the rescue! Throw in a couple of pierogies, and I felt like I was actually in Cleveland!

{Polish Sausage Sandwich and perogies}

And what's for dessert in Cleveland?

BROWNIES!

{fudgey deliciousness}

I have to say, I now see why Michael Symon is so proud to call Cleveland home. One little lunch and I am hooked! Here's to visiting soon!

xoxo,

H

Houston, there is not a problem!

2011 Tailgate #4
Theme: Houston

When I think of Texas, there is only one thing that comes to mind...STEAK! Luckily I came across this recipe from Food Network for a Texas Steak Sandwich. Perfect for a Sunday tailgate, with a toasty roll, juicy steak, tomatillo salsa and sharp cheese. (Silly Publix didn't have cojita cheese, so we substituted with Parmesan.) To go along with it, a Texas Potato Salad, complete with pickled onions, Dijon and cilantro, compliments of the divine Bobby Flay. Throw in some BBQ chips and a some Captain Morgan, and you have yourself a tailgate folks!

{clockwise from left: the winning tailgate plate, the making of a killer sandwich, making new friends}

It's getting pretty tough to top these tailgates... first lobster, then steak? Now what? Anyone have ideas for a Denver tailgate? Send them my way!

Also a big, warm welcome to all my new blog followers. Thanks for following me on my foodie journey!

Happy eating,

H

Patriot games

2011 Tailgate #3
Theme: New England

One can't have a New England themed tailgate without a bunch of seafood, now can you? Well, for the girl that is not really a huge seafood fan, there is only one true option...lobster! Add some Boston Baked Beans, Cape Cod chips, macaroni salad and Boston Creme Pie and you've got yourself a New England tailgate folks!

{Killer tailgate plate, baked beans, cape cod chips, grilled lobsters with herb butter, Boston cream pie, double grills for this tailgate...serious!}

Wow, my mouth is watering just looking at these pics again. I think the bar is set pretty.darn.high for future tailgates at this point folks!

Shoot 'em up Cowboy

2011 Tailgate #2
Theme: Dallas

What does one cook for a Dallas themed tailgate? Well, Tex-Mex, of course! Despite a little tailgate emergency (anyone seen the knob for the grill?) and a little rain, we ended up with some of the most delicious tailgate food ever!

{Chicken & Steak Fajitas, Tex-Mex potato skins, potato skins getting some cheese}

Yes, that's TWO kinds of fajitas (Chicken & Steak) and Tex-Mex Potato skins. Too die for! I am not a fan of Texas in general, but thank goodness for Tex-Mex! Yee Haw!

Next up: New England. Anyone have any ideas for a girl that doesn't eat seafood???

What I learned from Food Network Magazine

Surprisingly disappointing issue of Food Network Magazine this month. I didn't rip out a single recipe that I wanted to try. Not  single one! I did have some revelations though.

1. In the America's Best Pizzas article, they claim Michael's Genuine has the best pizza in all of Florida. I have not had their pizza yet, but I totally believe they would have the best in the whole state. Short ribs, Gruyere, arugula and caramelised onions? Yes please! Everything they make is perfection. Remember my last blog post about them? There is drool all over the magazine right now!
2. I am addicted to buying cookbooks. There, I said it. I literally got accelerated heart rate when I read that Bobby Flay has a new cookbook, Bar American. Gotta have it. Also Food Network also has a Next Food Network Star Cookbook. OK, I'll get that too then. See, I told you I'm addicted!
3. In the editors note, Maile waxed on and on about the Easy Bake Oven. How much she loved hers, how it is being overhauled and how she got an old one for her daughter for a steal. It got me thinking about how I never had one. Did any of you have one? Did I miss out on a pertinent childhood memory? Should I get one for my yet unborn daughter to enjoy one day?

OK, so that's what stuck with me. What about you? What did you take away from this month's issue?

Killer Food

It's no secret that I am Addicted to the Food Network (hence the name of this blog!). It's pretty much the only channel I watch, but imagine my surprise when I came across a show on FN about the folks in my own hometown, Indiantown, FL! It was called Killer Food and it was about deadly food jobs. Imagine my surprise again when the first face I see is none other than my childhood neighbor, Iris Wall, on the screen!

{Florida Cracker?!}

In the episode, Iris gets her grandaughter, Whitney, a hog hunter, to learn how to hunt alligators for some more money. Classic Indiantown! In the end, they all gather at the ranch to eat the day's catch.

Who says you can't go home?! Quite nastalgic to see the hometown on my favorite network, but at the same time reminds me why I got out the second I had the chance.

Flavor Palm Beach Kick-off party 2011

Would you like to go to a party with great food, cocktails, music and all the proceeds go to charity? Me too! And that's exactly what I did. Friday kicked off the annual month-long food celebration that is Flavor Palm Beach. To start it all off was the party that starts it all. Great restaurants offering tasty bites and cocktails, music by String Theory, beautiful waterfront scenery and all ticket sales benefit the Red Cross...don't mind if I do! I didn't win the raffle, but I did pick the best bite: Four Season Palm Beach Shrimp Tacos. I call 'em like I taste 'em! That's not all I tasted though...just take a look at a few of my other tasty bites:

Don't mind the blurry cell phone photos, everything looks way better in person! But don't take my word for it...taste some of these savory treats for yourself. Just make a reservation at any of these restaurants in the month of September and enjoy them at a discount, no less!  Now if only I could decide which to dine at first...

Sandwich King

I have always been a big fan of sandwiches, but ever since we crowned the new winner of Next Food Network Star, Jeff Mauro, I have been craving nothing but sandwiches! His new show Sandwich King, is looking like it is going to be a new fave for me!
Tonight, I crowned myself the Sandwich King Queen and created this little beauty:

{Chicken Club Panini}

Complete with marinated grilled chicken, sharp cheddar, bacon, homeade chipotle mayo, tomato and avocado, all piled on country bread, this sandwich is a mouthful! It was juicy, spicy, smoky, creamy and crunchy all at the same time. Too large for even this sandwich afficianato to finish, it satisfied my hunger and fed my soul at the same time.

I leave you with Jeff''s motto: "You can turn any sanwich into a meal, and any meal into a sandwich." Words to live by, indeed! 

Carolina Crushin'

Decided to do a different approach to tailgating this year. Each game we will cook/eat/enjoy a food from the region of the team that we are playing. First up: Carolina! Just look at these delicious Carolina style ribs and potato salad!

{finger lickin' good!}

This football season is gonna be fun...and tasty! 

Shake Shack: The Best Thing I Ever Ate

To top off a glutinous Sunday, one cannot go to Lincoln Road in Miami and NOT visit the Shake Shack. As luck would have it, it was 4th of July Weekend. You know what that means right?! Well, as Claire Robinson told us on The Best Thing I Ever Ate, that means corn dogs! Now, the Shake Shack ONLY has these tasty treats once a year, so I HAD to try one, since I happened to be at the closest SS on the very weekend they were on the menu!

I can't say that it was an out-of-this-world corn dog, but it was pretty darn good! I was just glad to have had the pleasure to experience it. Thanks for the tip, Claire!

Michael's Genuine: The Best Thing I Ever Ate

You know when the best chef's in the biz rave about something, it has to be good. That's why I adore the show The Best Thing I Ever Ate. I was even on an episode, remember?! Anyways, so when 3 (THREE!) chefs in one episode raved about the desserts from Michael's Genuine, I immediately put it on my 'must try' list. And lucky for me, this past Sunday I was able to cross it off my list. When I say it is worth the drive to Miami, I really, really mean it! I absolutely adored everything about the whole experience. From the menu (fresh.simple.pure) to the small plates to the excellent service, the whole experience was a 10! Luckily I was there with Matt & Caroline, who are also adventurous eaters and we just ordered one of everything and went to town. Just take a look:

{Left to right: Pig ears, lemon ricotta pancakes, meatballs, quesadilla, adorable server Christine, crispy rice cake, pork fat toast, blueberry upside-down cake, brisket hash, homemade donuts, Caroline at our lovely outdoor table, menu, double yolk egg, breakfast pizza, bar snacks: radishes, homemade pop-tarts}

Now, the menu changes all the time, but every.single.thing we tried was delicious...even the pig ears! My favorite was the crispy rice cake, and the quesadilla gets the silver metal. Three Food Network chefs were right: with tasty bites, very reasonable prices, great ambiance and excellent service, I suggest you put Michael's Genuine on your list too!

Diners Drive-ins and Dives Tour: The Whale's Rib

I know I'm not the only one who sits at home late at night at watches Diner's Drive-ins and Dives and drools on my remote! Luckily my friend Amanda also admits to this guilty pleasure, and loves to partake in a little field trip to try out the places seen on the show! This past weekend we tried out a joint as seen on an episode of DDD, The Whale's Rib.

{menu, sign out front, California pasta, front of building, oyster po'boy}

The Whale's Rib is the typical, funky little joint you would expect to see on DDD. Loud, busy, good eats at good prices. I have to admit, I am NOT the person to judge a seafood joint, being that I don't really eat much seafood, but I went for the experience. I had the California pasta, pretty uneventful.  Amanda had the oyster po'boy, and loved it. I looked around the restaurant and saw that everyone there was thoroughly enjoying their meals, whether it was the oysters Rockefeller or the crab legs, lots of smiles all around. Or maybe it was the $2 beers? For a rainy evening, the joint was packed and there was an hour wait at high time. If you are craving seafood and find yourself in Deerfield Beach, definitely try The Whale's Rib...just get there early! 

I came, I tasted, I conquered.

I had the extreme pleasure of attending the Taste of The Nation Broward, an all out culinary affair raising money to end childhood hunger in America. In it's 20th year, only the most renowned chefs, restaurants and mixologists are invited to hand out samples of their tasty bites, and it is totally a sensory overload! Every booth was as exciting as the next. I couldn't quite taste everything, but I got quite close. After I had made my way through the throws of hungry attendees, I was ready to declare my favorite: Tenderloin Beef tips from Don Shula's (SHOCKER!) and then someone behind a table literally yells at me to go try the guacamole from Dos Caminos, and O.M.G. The.Best. Guac. I have ever had! (The chipotle chicken quesadilla from there was also good). Coming in at a veryclose 3rd was the BBQ Short rib Bao from STK (even stamped with the STK logo!).

Clockwise from left: Guacamole from Dos Caminos, Tenderloin Beef Tips with mushrooms and Boursin cheese from Shula's, and Braised Short Rib Bao from STK.

Does that photo of the guac do it justice? No, you should totally go to Dos Caminos to try it yourself. And you should definitely take me! ;)

By the way, did you know that one in six Americans (mostly elderly and children) go hungry everyday? June is National Child Hunger Month, so make sure you do your part in supporting the cause. Do as I did and attend a Taste of the Nation event, or take a tour of Feeding South Florida. You'd be amazed at what one person and one dollar can do to help.

Thank you,
H

There's something in the water...

Funny how life happens, isn't it?  

I have been carrying around an article from the Food Network Magazine since March 2010 about a great Delray Beach bagel shop called The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Company, meaning to go there. I love a good bagel as much as the next one, but wasn't going to go out of the way to hit up this place.

Well, the other day a coworker brought in bagels for the office. After I had inhaled the first one and went back for *just* another half, I had to ask where they were from. Imagine my surprise when she told me they were from the Brooklyn Water Bagel Co! Wow, now I know what the fuss is all about.

Imagine my surprise AGAIN when 2 days later I am getting a manicure, and what is next door??? That's right... The Brooklyn Water Bagel Co! I was happy to have a look around, and of course, get a bagel!

The shop itself is like a museum. They ACTUALLY have a water treatment plant there that replicates Brooklyn Water, and that's what makes the bagels so good! They have other great items on the menu there too, like the iced coffee that everyone raves about. The geniuses there make the ice cubes out of the coffee, so when they melt in this FL weather, it doesn't dilute your coffee...brilliant!

Another exciting tidbit I found out? There are now Brooklyn Water Bagel locations all over the place now, from Palm Beach Gardens to Miami, and even in Beverly Hills. Now even all my West Coast friends can try it out for themselves, instead of coming to visit me (although that is totally fine!).

Funny how life happens, isn't it?

Self Proclaimed Queen of Burgers

Rachael Ray describes herself as the "Self-Proclaimed Queen of Burgers", and for good reason! She will put anything and everything on a burger...and the messier the better!Well, I too love a good burger, and am a sucker for anything spicy, so I had to try this recipe for Poblano Popper Sliders! For lack of patience, I made them in to full size burgers, but that just means more goodness in a serving!

These burgers have it all: moist, spicy, crunchy, ooey gooey and delicious!

I dare to not lick your fingers when eating these!

Way to go, Rachael, you've done it again!