If there’s anything good that can be said about the past year or so in our economy-blighted restaurant industry, it’s that we’re beginning to loosen the bonds of the mall-and-chain dining megaliths that have for so long dominated the scene in Broward and Palm Beach counties. Here’s a sample of…
It’s official, there is some truth in advertising. Taco Bell’s half pound burritos will indeed fill you up. But it’s not a pleasant “I won’t have to eat for at least six hours” feeling of satisfaction. No, it’s more of “I can’t be further than 50 feet from a bathroom…
For years, Dolphins linebacker Bob Brudzinski chewed up running backs and wide receivers like an industrial strength meat grinder. After he retired, the Killer B decided it was time to let the rest of South Florida do the chewing, so he opened his successful line of sports bars, Bru’s Room…
Old-fashioned French cuisine (or “time-honored,” depending on how you see these things) got its 15 minutes of fame last month with the release of Julie and Julia, probably the first time anyone under 90 has heard the words “boeuf Bourguignon” and “dinner” in the same sentence. Except perhaps at L’Anjou…
An excerpt from this week’s Dish review on the Restaurant at 251, formerly da Francesco’s: Picture this: You’ve been invited for dinner at a friend’s house. He prepared a lovely meal – a salad of baby lettuces and herbs from the garden, and a whole roasted pork loin dressed with…
• Stick a fork in ’em, they’re done. Memphis BBQ & Blues, which took over the West Palm location of the late (and inexplicably lamented) Tom’s Place, will smoke no more (not that they did that much or that well to begin with). Also gone belly up is Culinary Café…
BY THE BURGER BEAST Does anyone even know who the McDonaldland and The Burger King Kingdom characters are anymore? I can’t remember a time when I didn’t know who Ronald McDonald or the Burger King were. Sure, the friendly Burger King of the past was nothing like today’s creepy King…
Not all is well on the sleepy Island of Palm Beach. Owners of the new organic Italian restaurant da Francesco’s have filed suit against the restaurant’s landlords, 251 Partners. The complaint was officially submitted to the Palm Beach County Clerk of the Court on September 11, following a strange turn…
One of the favorite stomping grounds of the New Times’ staff is a little lunch-time sushi joint on Broward and Federal known as Sushi One. It’s easy to walk the short few blocks to the place and order some takeout sushi, or maybe a bento box filled with teriyaki salmon,…
You gotta love a winemaker like Randall Grahm. He named one of his finest wines Le Cigare Volante (“The Flying Cigar”) to commemorate Rhone Valley vintners who in 1954 had a law passed that would prohibit flying saucers from cruising over or landing near their vineyards. One of his best-selling…
There’s some sort of force in this universe that just doesn’t want my taste buds to enjoy themselves. A few weeks back, I found a gaggle of treats from the Little Market Indian Grocery and Spice (3062 N. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale 954-561-8606). There was one in particular that I…
Although Clean Plate Charlie is the only food blog you need to read every day, some people just can’t get enough. Here are some highlight of other food blogs to feast on. Are you reading too many food blogs to worry about trivial things like cooking? Awesome! Freezer Burns is…
Here’s a recap of what went down this week on Clean Plate:Bill Citara tells us you can actually find decent pinot, if you know where to look.Fulfill all your wishes with my taco flavored kisses.Enroll in charm school, burger-joint style. Bill showcases three more Keys eateries worth a visit.Riki lucks…
A writeup on the back of this bottle of Chainsaw Double Sawtooth Ale confronts the old adage that less is more. It’s claim: sometimes, more is more. Chainsaw Ale is definitely more. More hops, more malt, more big, badass flavor than it’s little sister brew, Sawtooth Ale. But is that…
Check out the full slideshow of Georgia Pig here. You can see it pluming up all the way down Davie Boulevard, and south down 441: It’s smoke. Thick ribbons of smoke, reaching up and over the busy highway from the soot-stained chimney of the Georgia Pig. Even with your windows up,…
An economy that’s gone from filet mignon to meat loaf faster than you can say “greedy Wall Street bastards” has got the attention of even high-flying steak houses. One of them, Ruth’s Chris, last night unveiled a new “bistro menu” of apps, sushi, soups, salads and sammies priced from $9…
Pulp Fiction: anti-pork propaganda.Pork. Luscious, juicy, tasty pork. So flexible, so wonderful, yet so derided. Order it at dinner, and there’s a good chance someone at your table, having demonstrated their conviction that beef is “better” than pork by really going out on a limb and ordering the filet mignon…
There’s no sugar-coating it, folks: This was the episode of Top Chef Las Vegas where Ron cooked his last. After six challenges, a few of which he ended up in the bottom three, Ron was eliminated for his “deconstruction” of paella by a panel of judges that included none other…
There’s nothing wrong with a messy, multilayered burger — those overflowing constructions that aim for something higher than just meat, cheese, and bun. But bringing a change of clothes wouldn’t be a bad idea if you order a burger “cowboy style” at Charm City Burgers in Deerfield. The name isn’t…
Last week, our dining critic, John Linn, headed to Key West, where he managed to find a few worthy restaurants still slinging food in this quiet time of year. Café Marquesa The converted 1880s “conch” houses that form the Marquesa Hotel back up to this boutique fishbowl restaurant that serves…
This morning, Clean Plate Charlie’s sister site, Short Order, reported on a change of guard at 15th Street Fisheries in Fort Lauderdale. Here’s Short Order’s Jackie Sayat:Shrimp and grits; clams with green lentils, chorizo, and plantain chips; mussels steamed in beer with blue cheese and homemade thick cut French fries; wahoo with…
No plans yet for Friday? There are still tickets available for Friday night’s BAM: Celebrity Chef Food Tasting and Auction at the Hard Rock, at the cool price of $175 each. That’s a load of Benjis to drop on a food tasting, but it’s only because the cash is going…
