The Culinary Diaries

Part 4: Pegasus Pinoy Restaurant

.If you have an IPhone, please check out the neat applications that they have to offer...especially the free ones. I have run into a lot of places that I might not otherwise have found. Like the Asian grocery store that is located 5 minutes from my house. But I'll save that for another post.

I state this because it was all thanks to an IPhone app called Asian Food that I found a Filipino take-out spot in Fort Lauderdale, which is surprisingly only a short 10 minute drive from our hotel.

 This is a typical set up of different Filipino dishes at a take-out or dine-in place, cafeteria-style. I can Diniguan, apritada, and maybe pinakbet, but I did not go for any of those: just my old standbys: steamed shrimp with tail on head on, and pork apritada all with steamed rice:

I guess you can call this the Filipino version of a Bento Bowl.

The meat is way drier than I remember it, but it's compensated when I pour the sauce right over it, which is kind of thinner than I remember it. But, it is delicious, especially with the steamed rice...which is cooked in a rice cooker. I'm itching to buy one of those very soon. There is one that my friend Karen recommended, which belongs to Sanyo. I need to look that up.

Steamed shrimp, with the head and tail attached makes for tasty shrimp, something I have grown up on, but have not had in ages. I guess it is the nostalgia: I'm willing to sacrifice time and gas to go to these mom-and-pop places that put out these delicious treats that brings back so many memories.

And speaking of which, here is a book that I recommend getting for anyone wondering about the history of Filipino food, and where you should get the best of it...you may be surprised at the answer to the latter: Memories of Philippine Kitchens and it gives you an in-depth look at the history of each dish. Wondering about fusion food and why it is such a craze? The Filipino's have it down to the max, as many of our native dishes come from a fuse of Spain, China, and Polynesia, and a slew of others, including a section of the influence of American cuisine last century.

Look up Pegasus Pinoy restaurant in Ft. Lauderdale if you get a chance, and sample the indiginous and fusion foods of one of the (7,000) isles of Asia.  
 

Viva Miami Pt. 3: The Flashback Diner

Diner's are my thing.

Breakfast is comfort food. Period. Who does not want to savor the salty taste of bacon or sausage, or the soft texture of eggs (when they are done right that is), and perfectly seasoned potatoes?

I have a problem with potatoes in the morning. Some hashed browns are too dry...while others are too bland. What am I looking for in my morning potatoes? Moist, and perfectly seasoned so I do not have to drown them in salt afterwards.

Ina Garten of Barefoot Contessa had the right idea when it comes to potatoes: perfectly seasoned, and you can't go wrong: salt, pepper, parsley and a hint of garlic.

It was a Sunday morning, and my hubby was off to his first round of meetings. Yes, even on a Sunday morning, but when the background is the Atlantic ocean, I would not mind at all about going to a meeting!

Even though the ACNP was providing breakfast, my idea of breakfast is not the yogurt, pastries, bananas and oranges, not to mention no orange juice put out on the table. Pastries I can get any time of the day...which I did as the week progressed. Yogurt? I can pick that up anytime on my rounds to the supermarket.

Freshly cooked eggs, bacon, and hashed browns with freshly squeezed orange juice? For me, that is better left to the experts at this diner:

I have no confidence at all in cooking breakfast food in my own kitchen. I know it is impossible to mess up fried eggs sunny side up, but I have. Tons of times. My solution for a long time was just to go to a diner, any diner, because they know what they are doing with eggs. Me? I just know how to bake with eggs, or add eggs to a dish that calls for it.

 A glass of water because I do not drink enough, and of course, the freshly squeezed orange juice. H1N1 or any kind of flu is kept at bay.

The service is pretty fast here, and when I entered the restaurant, it was surprisingly not busy for a Sunday morning, but then again, I keep forgetting where I am: southern tip of the Bible belt where the diners are at church in the morning (service does not end until noon in most places) and will not show up until around lunchtime. Good for people like me who are craving breakfast food after being turned off by yogurt and pastries.

Check out the texture on these morning spuds:

That is my idea of hashed browns, or as they call them down here: home fries.

For all of you Hollywood, Florida residents, this place is located on Highway 1 and Hallandale Beach Blvd, coming from east, make a left on Hwy 1, and go maybe a block south. You will not miss the flashy but colorful building with the occasional Harley parked out front. Best time to go, especially if you are a Sunday morning person, before 10 a.m if you want fast service and no crowds.  
   

 

Viva Miami Part Two: Welcome to Mott Street

Chinese restaurants are everywhere. You can't get away from them, so why even try?

After the cocktail hour, we were pretty famished from the plane trip and driving to find our hotel, so while driving down the main drag called Hallandale Beach Blvd in Hollywood, Florida, we passed several Chinese restaurants, some are buffets, but we were in the mood for just the average Chinese restaurant. Enter...

Love the decor...but let's move on to my favorite...Mongolian Beef as shown on the previous post.

Comfort away from home, and one of my aims is to try this same dish in different Chinese restaurants where ever we travel...why? No reason...I just love this dish! We tried this dish last year when we were in Arizona while in Sedona...now if I can only find that picture I'd show you!

It was surprisingly quiet for a Saturday night, which is a blessing actually since we were pretty pooped from the day's travels.