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100 Favorite Dishes: No. 11 -- "Guido" Rib Eye From Vivo Partenza

As a countdown to the Best of Broward Palm Beach 2011, coming in June, Clean Plate Charlie is serving up a hundred of our favorite dishes in South Florida. Send your own nominations to [email protected]. 11: "Guido" Rib Eye From Vivo PartenzaSorry, folks. The jig is finally up for "value cut"...
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As a countdown to the Best of Broward Palm Beach 2011, coming in June, Clean Plate Charlie is serving up a hundred of our favorite dishes in South Florida. Send your own nominations to [email protected].


No. 11: "Guido" Rib Eye From Vivo Partenza

Sorry, folks. The jig is finally up for "value cut" steaks -- the flaps, the hangars, the flat irons, et al. These traditionally overlooked prizes, primarily assembled from the

trimmings of ribeyes and New York strips, were once purely the domain of the butcher, who wisely kept them to himself after the more expensive cuts were sold off. But thanks to chefs looking to bend pennies in the midst of recession, these value-added steaks are in now higher demand than their more expensive counterparts. Rest assured, there are butchers who, as we speak, stand ready to whack the rat bastards who snitched away all their greatest secrets. But as far as Vivo Partenza's "Guido" is concerned, consider it an untouchable -- it's "made" beef. 


For its mobster-style steak, Vivo (that's Boca Ratonian for "Bova Ristorante") uses a rare and often overlooked cut called the spinalis, also known as the "cap." This strip of ultra-marbled beef hails from the ribeye, where it's usually cut off to harvest a more comely looking filet. Truth is, there's more flavor and richness in this cut (sold for a cool $39), than in the rest of the ribeye proper. The chefs at Vivo thus treat it royally, which is to say grilled to a flawless ruby red and served atop a veritable cornucopia of roasted peppers. The result is an upscale riff on "steak and peppas" that would appeal to anyone -- from Jersey homeboy to the Godfather himself. 

1450 N. Federal Hwy., Boca Raton

Previous 100 favorite dishes:
No. 12: House-Smoked Pork Belly Sliders From 32 East
No. 13: Tomato Bisque en Croute From Jimmy's Bistro
No. 14: Keste Pizza From Scuola Vecchia
No. 15: Antipasti Plate From Caruso Ristorante
No. 16: Short Rib-Stuffed Burger From Bizaare Ave Cafe
No. 17: Pan-Roasted Clams With White Beans From Himmarshee Bar and Grille
No. 18: Whole Wheat Tagliatelle with Shrimp and Asparagus From Vic & Angelo's
No. 19: Hearts of Palm Cake From Darbster
No. 20: Bouillabaisse From Café de France
No. 21: The Stove Burger From the Rolling Stove
No. 22: Cold Appetizer Plate From Sefa Mediterranean Grill
No. 23: Eight-Hour Roasted Pork Buns From Dim Ssäm à GoGo
No. 24: Chicken Tikka Masala From Indus
No. 25: Conch Salad From Sheila's Famous BBQ, Conch & More
No. 26: Chicken Rosario's From Rosario's Ristorante
No. 27: Yucca Chips with Yogurt Dip From Triple 8 Lounge at the Falcon House
No. 28: Tiramisu From Arturo's Ristorante
No. 29: Islamorada Conch Chowder From Rustic Inn
No. 30: Frisee Salad With Egg From The Office
No. 31: St. Louis-Cut Ribs From East Coast BBQ
No. 32: Vitello Tonnato From Apicius
No. 34: Fried Calamari With Moroccan Aioli From Sundy House
No. 35: Nakjikuksu From Myung Ga Tofu & BBQ
No. 36: Bone-In Filet from Morton's
No. 37: G.O.A.T. Cookies from Sugar Rush
No. 38: Crab-Avocado Strato From Cielo
No. 39: Grilled Pork, Shrimp, and Spring Roll "Bun" From Saigon Cuisine 
No. 40: Chivito from Cilantro's
No. 41: Tamari Scallop from SAIA
No. 42: Escargots from Aruba Beach Cafe
No. 43: Gelato Cup from Sonny's Gelato Cafe
No. 44: Tuna Tartar from Canyon Southwestern Cafe
No. 45: Banana Praline French Toast from the Hurricane Cafe
No. 46: Paneer Makhani from The Palace 
No. 47: Bruschetta Pizza from Pizza Fusion
No. 48: Falafel Sandwich from Falafel Bistro
No. 49: Philly Cheese Steak from Philly Steak Sub Shop
No. 50: Bizcoche de Maiz from Maracas
No. 51: Rotisserie Chicken from Publix
No. 52: Encebollado de Pescado from Cafe Paraiso
No. 53: Fish Tacos from Kahuna Bar & Grill
No. 54: Lobster Corn Dogs from Rok:Brgr
No. 55: Gazpacho from John G's on the Beach
No. 56: Black & Blue Oysters from Shuck-N-Dive
No. 57: Latin Macho Burger from Latin Burger
No. 58: Dover Sole from French Corner Bistro & Rotisserie
No. 59: Cider Doughnuts from Chef John Carlino
No. 60: Breakfast in a Pot from Tom Sawyer Restaurant and Pastry Shop
No. 61: Fried Jumbo Shrimp from Betty's Soul Food

No. 62: Pastrami Sandwich from Primanti Bros.
No. 63: "Monster" Hoagie from LaSpada's Original Hoagies
No. 64: Truffled Chips from YOLO
No. 65: Black Skillet-Roasted Mussels from Timpano Chophouse
No. 66: Fish Sandwich from Lazy Loggerhead Cafe

No. 67: Fresh Tomato Pizza from Pizza Time
No. 68: Seafood Salad Sandwich from Le Tub
No. 69: Wings from Lefty's Tavern
No. 70: Sake Flight from Wild East Asian Bistro
No. 71: Croque Monsieur From Croissan'Time
No. 72: Mushroom in Tin Foil at Marumi Sushi
No. 73: Tapas Sharing Platter from Johnny V
No. 74: Cherry Crunch Donut from Dandee Donut Factory
No. 75: Brussel Sprouts from Cafe La Buca
No. 76: Linguine Vongole from Il Bellagio 
No. 77: Housemade Charcuterie from Market 17
No. 78: Crab Benedict at the Downtowner Saloon

No. 79: The Aileen Special from Undergrounds Coffeehaus
No. 80: Insalata Caprese from Fiorentina
No. 81: Angus and Brie Burger from Gilbert's 17th Street Grill
No. 82: Pulled Pork Sliders from Gratify American GastroPub

No. 83: Fagottini al Tartufo Bianco e Nero From Apicius Ristorante e Enoteca
No. 84: Guacamole from Dos Caminos
No. 85: Rock Shrimp from Bahama Mama
No. 86: The Grease Beast from Grease Burger




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