As a countdown to the Best of Broward Palm Beach 2010, coming in
May, Clean Plate Charlie is serving up a hundred of our favorite dishes in South Florida.
Send your own nominations to [email protected].
No. 20: Almond Cookies from Gran Forno Bakery
It's lunchtime at Gran Forno Bakery, and I'm in line to buy one of the prosciutto sandwiches they have wrapped up behind the counter. With something as salty as that,
you need something sweet, so I ask the cashier about the cookies. A guy
sitting behind me speaks up before she can. "Try the almond cookies,"
he says through a thick Brooklyn accent. I turn around: "Yeah? Almond
cookies?" I'm skeptical. How good can an almond cookie be? Better than
one of those chocolate chip numbers
full of chocolate chunks? Really? "You won't regret it," he says,
before picking up his coffee. It's clear he's done discussing the
issue. I order two of them. After the prosciutto sandwich is down to
crumbs left at the bottom of the wrapping paper, I go for the bag of
almond cookies. They smell like amaretto and vanilla. They're covered
in sliced almonds, not the toasted kind but the almost-white fresh
variety. They've crisped in the oven, though, and provide a mighty
crunch. Inside, the dough is nearly ice-cream soft. It melts
away. Brooklyn did not steer me wrong.
Gran Forno
1235 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale
954-467-2244
Previous 100 Favorite Dishes:
No 21: Nobu Snapper from Sushi Simon
No. 22: Pâté Trio from Le Patio
No. 23: Aloo pie from Lovey's Roti
No. 24: Maple-Bacon Donut From the Office
No. 25: Swordfish Carpaccio at D'Angelo
No. 26: Michelangelo sandwich from Talia's Table
No. 27: Overstuffed Deli Sandwiches from 3G's Gourmet Deli
No. 28: Pupusas revueltas from El Guanaco
29: Hummus and pita from Bash Wine Cafe
30: Beef brisket from Tom Jenkins' Bar-B-Q
31: Burger from Brass Ring Pub
32: Smoked marlin fish dip from Hurricane Alley
33: Bimini bread from Bimini Boatyard
34: Bacon from Georgia Pig
35: Tacos al pastor from Taqueria Dona Raquel
36: A slice from Pizza Rustica
37: Whole fresh fish from Marumi Sushi
38: Surf and turf roll from Nectar Lounge
39: Yakitori from Heart Rock Sushi
40: Upside down Sicilian from Nino's Restaurant & Pizzeria
41: Gator Fritters from Corner Cafe and Brewey
42: Kielbasa and eggs from Cypress Nook
43: Rock shrimp tempura from Morimoto
44: Daeji bulgogi from Gabose Korean Restaurant
45: Coco bread from Charlie's Pastries
46: Spare ribs from Troy's Bar-Be-Que
47: Vegetarian reuben from Sara's
48: Key lime pie from Le Tub
49: Uni Angel Hair Pasta from Hiro's Yakko-San
50: Meatballs from Cafe Martorano
51: Burger from Jack's Old Fashion Hamburger House
52: Lunch specials from Charcuterie Too
53: Bruschetta from Noodles Panini
54: Tulipan's guava and cheese pastries
55: Baingan bartha from Woodlands Vegetarian Indian Cuisine
56: Foie gras from Michelle Bernstein's at the Omphoy
57: Jalea mixta from El Rey de Pescado
58: Chipotle pork "florito" from East Coast Burrito Factory
59: Fish tacos from Tryst
60: French toast from Dune Deck Cafe
61: Naan from Usmania
62: Crawfish boil from Rosey Baby
63: Banh mi from Saigon Cuisine
64: Crispy orange beef from Pine Garden
65: Chimichanga from Aleyda's Tex-Mex Restaurant
66: Chicago dog from Hot Dog Heaven
67: Lobster bomb from Galanga
68: Wheat chiabatta from Gran Forno
69: Fried chicken from Fran's Chicken Haven
70: Salsa from Zona Fresca
71: Falafel from Sunrise Pita
72: Golden crab curry from Bamboo Fire
73: Grilled squid from Sushi Bon
74: Beef pho from Basilic Vietnamese Grill
75: Stuffed poblano from Canyon
76: Raja tamales from Chini's Burritos
77: Udon soup from Sushi 1
78: Steak fries from Maguires Hill 16
79: Cheese steak from Sonny's Famous Steak Hogies
80: Sliders from Zed451
81: Cowboy burger from Charm City
82: Corn fritters from Park Avenue BBQ & Grill
83: Milk shake from Jaxson's
84: Chicken from La Granja
85: Kimchi stew from Yama Japanese & Korean
86: Prosciutto roma sub from My Market
87: Anticuchos from Taurus Steakhouse
88: Goat cheese cheesecake from Satoro
89: Pink vanilla cupcake from House of Sweets
90: Skirt steak executive lunch from Beefeater Steakhouse
91: Baby bok choy from Marumi Sushi
92: Beer muenster cheese soup from Big Bear
93: Chopped pork sandwich from Georgia Pig
94: Cannoli from Mona Lisa Coal Oven Pizza
95: Cheeseburger from Le Tub
96: LaSpada's Italian special hoagie
97: Frito Misto from Sublime
98: Chicharron tacos from Tacos al Carbon
99: Primanti Bros. sandwich
100: Chicken wings from Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza
