Ballin' on a Budget

Tips on making excellent ramen: 1) Bring the water to a boil first, lest you end up with soggy noodles. 2) Some people have said a little milk in the broth shores a weak soup right up. 3) Save the crunchy crumbs at the bottom of the package; they make for excellent textural variation when poured atop your finished masterwork. If you're otherwise sick of counting your beans and conserving your food budget with cheap meals of questionable edibility, then consider the Appetite Stimulus Package at Christine's Restaurant. Through the end of April, New Times' Best New Restaurant in Broward 2008 will feature a three-course dinner deal grand enough to have you leave the ramen on the shelf, permanently. Start with an app (mozzarella and tomato stack, boneless BBQ short ribs, signature salad), then tuck into a hearty entree (seared tuna, Colorado beef filet mignon), and top things off with a glass of wine from the deep wine list and an assortment of fresh fruit sorbets, all for just $30. That deal runs 4:30 to 6 p.m., but if you're not the early bird type, there's another deal running all night on Tuesdays and Wednesdays: choose any three small plates for $30, plus all bottles of wine are half price. It's a great way to sample from Christine's large small plates selection, stuff like pan seared gulf shrimp with warm cannelloni bean and artichoke salad, lobster ravioli with cognac leek sauce, and citrus marinated lamb kabobs with baby greens. Eat your heart out, Maruchan. Find Christine's at 2671 E. Oakland Park Blvd. in Fort Lauderdale. For reservations, call 954-566-1919, or visit christinesfl.com.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays. Starts: April 28. Continues through May 31, 2009