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 Deirdra.Funcheon@BrowardPalmBeach.com.

No. 8: Truffle-Parmesan Fries from Il Mercato

The potato is a culinary chameleon. Roast it, bake it, boil it, fry it. Puree it with butter and cream and you have everyone's favorite mashers.

Shred it and mix in a little flour and you have potato pancakes. Mash it and mix in some flour and egg and you have gnocchi. Slice it into thin sticks, fry it for just the right amount of time in just the right amount of just the right temperature oil, then trick it out in the tux and tails of truffle oil and Parmesan cheese and you've got potato crack, aka, the truffle-Parmesan fries at Hallandale's sweet-sweet-sweet Il Mercato. Crispy, creamy, earthy, nutty, salty--if the DEA ever found out about these addictive little sticks they'd probably raid the place. So get your fix while you can. 

Il Mercato Café & Wine Shop
1454 E. Hallandale Beach Blvd., Hallandale Beach

Previous 100 favorite dishes:

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No. 9: Bucatini Carbonara From Cafe Martorano and Martorano's Italian American Kitchen

No. 10: Tuna Ceviche With Tomatillo Broth From Cabo Flats

No. 11: "Guido" Ribeye From Vivo Partenza

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. 33: Crostini with Whipped Lardo, Rosemary, and Balsamic Onions from Pizzeria Oceano

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

No. 87: Banana Pancakes from Simply Delish

No. 88: Paella from Cafe Seville
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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