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. 59: Cider Doughnuts from Chef John Carlino
Chef John Carlino remembers cider doughnuts as a childhood treat from his days growing up in Stratford, Connecticut. The apple groves there, open to the public, would have an apple press on-site and press the apples for fresh cider for the customer. "They'd serve these little minidoughnuts, with cinnamon-sugar coating, right there along with the fresh warm cider to dunk them in," Carlino said.
Carlino found a robotic machine that plops out the sweet circles of cakey dough, fries them in bubbling oil, then pushes them along a conveyor belt to drop into the sugaring box. Carlino and his team sell them at the Palm Beach Gardens Greenmarket on Sunday mornings. You can also find him wrapping them up at Field of Beers and other festivals around the area.
A cone of these little darlings, hot and warm, with a cup of hot coffee, and it's bliss. Stand next to an old-timer who remembers them from his youth and you get a story with them. "They're the best part -- the stories," Carlino says.
If you want to try them, you have until May 1, the last of this season's Palm Beach Gardens Greenmarket. It's Sundays at 4301 Burns Road (at Military Trail), in front of the City Hall complex, from 8 a.m to 1 p.m.
No. 61: Fried Jumbo Shrimp from Betty's Soul Food
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. 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. 84: Guacamole from Dos Caminos
No. 85: Rock Shrimp from Bahama Mama
No. 86: The Grease Beast from Grease Burger
No. 89: Coal-Oven Wings from Table 42
No. 90: Pork buns at Umi Fish Bar + Grill
No. 91: Mariquitas from Cabana
No. 92: Meatballs With Ricotta and San Marzano Tomato Sauce from Deck 84
No. 93: Crème Brûlée With Fruit Compote from Mojo
No. 94: Asparagus and Swiss Omelette from La Bonne Crepe on Las Olas
No. 95: Pad Thai from Sukhothai
No 96: The Mother of All Burgers from Quickie's Burgers & Wings
No. 97: Arancini Rice Balls from D'Angelo
No. 98: "Yum Yum" Korean Pork Tacos from Nacho Bizness
No. 99: Sauteed Gator Tail from Rosey Baby
No. 100: Vacio Steak from Angus Bar and Grill
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