The Culinary Diaries

Welcome to Key West, land of seafood and roaming chickens...

My hubby's meeting is over and now it was time for both of us to enjoy what's left of our vacation...we had two and a half more days. Not a lot of time to enjoy one of Florida's more famous destinations: Key West.

But not before taking some great shots of an almost entirely edible gingerbread town on display at the Westin.



These pics were taken while I waited for my husband to get out of the very last meeting that they were having. About past 2pm, we finally headed out with our friends, to pick up some Indian food, return the rental car and pick up a bigger one, and our road trip to Key West began.

We stayed at the Radisson Hotel. It was my first time staying there, and I was surprised that my husband booked somewhere well known. But the price was pretty decent when we booked it, so we said, why not?

Well, I found out why the price was decent...all of their rooms looked like motel rooms. Yikes...and we paid $90 a night...that's a ridiculous price to pay to stay in a room that looks like a motel room. It had double queen beds, a refrigerator, free internet access, and yes there is a pool in the back of the hotel...I guess to compensate the shortcomings of the room. 

Oh well.

But, we didn't go to Key West to stay holed up in a room.

It's impossible to get lost in Key West...about 2 miles south, and you will hit not only the main hub, but the other side of the island, which was teeming with life, energy...and seafood!


This is like, my once in a blue moon meal, eating lobster, which was the draw to the Two Friends Bar, in which they had a sign advertising their $20 lobster meal. Here is a more decent picture of the lobster tail.

The last time I had lobster was during our honeymoon cruise back in 2007.

It was Venetian night what can I say?

The meal was fabulous and not a bad start to our Key West vacation!

Back to Florida: Mamma Mia's

Unless we just got paid...we don't eat at really nice places. The only exception to that rule is...if your boss takes you out to a dinner.

My husband's boss and his wife took us, and two other members of their lab out to dinner as they do every time there is a meeting. The year before last (now since it's 2010) we were in Scottsdale, Arizona and we had Asian food at P.F Changs. This time, its Italian and the place is called Mamma Mia's located in downtown Hollywood, Florida.

But alas, I only have one photograph to show, since the room was so dark I hardly got but one decent photo that night.

While I love roasted potatoes, it did not really go with this dish: the leg of lamb skewered on a kebab stick. Mashed potatoes or even a risotto, which a gentleman who dined with us, shared with me because he could not finish it (they give you huge portions), would have done the dish more justice.

Our waitress however...it was another story. Though she was quick to get our drink orders, after that...she took so long in everything else, and at the end, when it came time for our dessert, she asked around, but skipped me and another person.

We are at an Italian restaurant, so you can probably guess what I was going to order for dessert. That's right...a tiramisu.

Alas, I did not get my tiramisu that night, and I was a little peeved. This waitress was not very thorough, and we had to wait a half hour more until we had to flag someone down to get us the check. Good thing that science talk was the main distraction. 

Of course, I took home leftovers, and thanks to the fridge and microwave, I had breakfast the next morning...the morning that we headed to Key West:

Who gets to say that they had lamb leg and potatoes for breakfast? Not many people.

Pt. 9: A Taste of Columbia

So we have tried Chinese, Italian, and Tex-Mex. I have tried Cuban style pastries. I ventured to a Filipino take-out spot, and even had breakfast food.

Columbian food? Now that is totally new.

Seriously. Like Filipino food, Columbian food is found practically nowhere in the travel mags, or even the write-ups of food critics...at least from my experience. I even heard of British food but they can only be found in either pubs or Renaissance Faires.

My husband's presentation went well, as it always does, and his coworker, Sarah, sat next to me and said after it was over: "He's terrific at what he does. I wish I was that good."

(Good because for years he had an audience of a totally different kind: the audience of the theater...)

We were going to have dinner with both Sarah and Prem that night but somehow it fell through, so Prem lent us the rental car and off we went to celebrate the presentation going smoothly. (We look for the smallest reasons to eat out.)

I drove to the downtown area of Hollywood, Florida where earlier that day, I drove through there to get to the highway on our way to this place called the Monkey Jungle with Prem's wife and little boy, Pranav. This area had more new places to eat than I can count. As we through the street, we spotted a couple of Italian restaurants, Thai and Chinese, but as we had the latter in the past couple of days, and the former we will dine on the next night, we were looking for something different to try. Then we found this place:

It was a Tuesday night, which may explain the emptiness of the place, which at first had me a bit worried...because they say you always look for a crowd, if not a few people in any dining establishment.

My husband wanted to try it anyway. Two guys run the place, and we found out that they were only open for more than a month. A brand new restaurant.

Another thing we noticed was the decor: the tables and chairs came from IKEA, our favorite store! The furniture adds to the modern interior design of the dining area, and we are big fans of modern design.

This place is called Borojo, and wait till you see what they have to offer. First off we ordered this:

Borojo's version of empanadas. Here is a better photo of them:

Two came with each order but they were so small, but yet, full of kick-butt flavor! The corn covering was perfectly crunchy, the best I have ever eaten!!! If only it could be reheated...and if I can figure out how they make this corn mixture for the pastry...

They have a specialty which is also made out of corn for the base, much thicker than a tortilla. At first glance you would think that it would be a tostada, but on some, they do not have a lick of veggies on it. At least, ours did not...they have three kinds of sauces: Basil, Pink, and Pineapple, and each Arepas Gourmet uses each of these sauces, along with our choices of chicken, shredded beef, pork loin, and shrimp. Some of their other signature items include their version of a bechamel sauce, Columbian sauce, and mozzarella cheese.

They also have their own versions of hamburger, hot dogs, and even corn dogs with their signature corn mixture for the outer "pastry". While it is fun to taste another country's version of a common food known to us here in the United States, the reason to come to Borojo are their Arepas Gourmet, or gourmet corn cakes topped with various meats, sauces, and cheese. 

My husband's chicken Arepa:

My Pork Loin and Shrimp Arepa with the basil sauce instead of the pink sauce.

The corn cakes were crispy, the sauce perfect, overall, this simple meal gives an impressive flavor punch.

I ordered some more empanadas to take back to the hotel so I can take some photos of it, before devouring them...with Florida being home to a lot of Latin Americans, and this food concept being brand new in my eyes, I wished there was something like this in either Chicago or New York City, where this concept would be pretty successful and a gem for foodies living there. We told them so before we left for the evening.

Back at our hotel room, full of Latin food goodness, and getting rid of blurry pics, it was a very good food day. 

They have a web address on the menu, but when I tried to find it on the internet earlier today, they do not have it up yet, but for those on vacation in Hollywood Florida area, or are planning a vacation there, it is a short hop north of Miami, short hop south of Fort Lauderdale, here is their address:

Borojo:                                                                                                                                         1940 Hollywood Blvd                                                                                                              Hollywood, FL 33020

Probably one of the many Columbian restaurants for all I know, in Florida, but it is a new culinary experience that you do not want to miss.

Pt. 7: Pastries all day...

I have yet to meet a person who does not like pastries.

After the buffet lunch, I wanted to zip over to this place:

Located right next to the Crowne Plaza, and it was advertising Cuban sandwiches, but there was a couple of problems with the sandwiches: one the sandwiches looked like subs, and it had mustard in it. It was in a display case, already made, and for some reason, I thought it was going to be like a hot sandwich with pork or something. Instead, it looked like an ordinary sub sandwich, and when I found out that they do not make them so they can remove the mustard out of it, I ordered these instead:

Little Cuban pastries with a variety of fruit fillings. It's more delicious when they are warm.

I'm thinking of just trying the Cuban sandwich at home, and without mustard.

Later that afternoon, I decided to take a drive...maybe do a little shopping, and went to Burlington Coat Factory. It is one of those places where you can take all day shopping because you have to literally go through everything. That was a bit exhausting, and I quit after an hour. Then I drove north on Ocean Drive just to see what is around...and then I found this place:

It's a combination bakery, bar & grilled called Georgio's, but I did not order any entrees...

Napoleon's, Chocolate and cheese pastries. Oh yeah. 

Georgio's Bakery is located right by the ocean on Ocean Drive in Hollywood Florida.

The pastries will be my breakfast the next day. The next day is also my husband's presentation so we decided to stay in for dinner.

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.  
   

 

Einstein's Bagels...

Quite possibly the best bagel place ever...why? Their bagels are wonderfully tasty, but it is their cream cheese that puts it over the top.

This was taken during one of our many trips to D.C this year...I think three to be exact. I think 4 since we have moved to NC. There are no locations of Einstein's Bagels to be found in NC...not that I know of anyway...if any of you guys know, please leave a comment?

I have had this Mixed Berry Coffee Cake before...yummy! When my husband and I first started dating, he took me to Einstein's Bagels which was near his apartment, and I tried a chocolate chip bagel with a strawberry cream cheese. I was working that morning, and conveniently, this Einstein's was on the way.
The cream cheese tasted SO heavenly, and I try as I might to go to other places for their bagels and cream cheese, but alas, to no avail.

And for a chain establishment, Einstein's definitely made it in my book for being the genuis behind their quality bagels and cream cheese. Looking forward to my next trip to either Chicago or D.C, or there may even be some locations in Hollywood, FL to head on over to have my bagel fix.