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There's a new place coming to Cutler Bay called Rumors, A Neighborhood Bistro & Bar on Old Cutler Road. We just got off the phone with one of the owners, Sandy, who said the restaurant will be open on November 12. We couldn't get our hands on a menu just yet, but Sandy did say that the Italian-influenced bistro would offer a variety of foods, with lots of seafood and pasta.

Rumors A Neighborhood Bistro & Bar
20537 Old Cutler Rd, in Cutler Bay
786-242-7774

Rumors A Neighborhood Bistro & Bar [Craigslist]

Sometimes these interesting, sort-of-Miami-related stories end up in our e-mail inbox from newspapers in other parts of the country. Today, however, we got one from Malaysia. About Spanglish.

At any rate, it's written by a man in New York who marvels at fake words like "sheetrockero" and "chansa." But here's the part that interested us:

For example, in Chicago, New York City, and elsewhere, Mexicans and Central Americans have been trained by skilled Japanese sushi chefs. They are called susheros, a new word in both languages, and some of them now run their own sushi restaurants.

Have you ever heard the term sushero? It's possible that the word hasn't taken hold in South Florida kitchens yet. We tried to do a bit of research on other kitchen Spanglish terms, but we didn't find anything interesting. Have you heard any food-related new Spanglish terms lately?

And on another, non-food-related note, the author mentioned one word that he claims originated in Miami:

By 1961 in Miami, “wash” had already become juashanga and meant laundromat, and although Spanglish varies around the country, the verb watchar is common to many regions.

Spanglish and Nuyoricanspeak [The Star]

Ah, Facebook. It's become an invaluable tool for stalking former classmates, all of whom seem to be getting engaged/married now. Each time we logged on this summer, we were greeted by another blushing bride in a veil and white dress. Today, thankfully, we encountered only photos of Halloween costumes, plus several groups for South Florida restaurants and chains that people hope to bring to SoFla. (Note: the links will only work if you're a Facebook member.)

ANDU Restaurant/Bar Miami Fl. FAN CLUB: We blogged about this one before in September; sadly, nothing about the group has changed since then. The same construction pictures are still up, and the same notes about liquor licenses and permits are there. Either something has gone terribly wrong with the restaurant, or the owners are far too busy for the 455 devoted members who keep leaving messages like "Cuando abre esta Wiga?!?!?! I'm hungry!"

Petition to Bring Sonic to Miami: We didn't realize Sonic had such a following. Several of the 117 members complain about seeing the Sonic commercials while being unable to partake of the on-screen deliciousness. (See what a good ad campaign does? The kiddies start clamoring for your product.) One member says that it's worth the drive to Ft. Pierce or Fort Myers for a Sonic; another describes a visit to an Orlando Sonic as "amazing." We've eaten at Sonics before, and while we cannot agree with the "amazing" assessment, we'd like to point out that there's a Sonic in Boynton Beach, significantly closer than the others mentioned.

Flanigans is the best restaurant ever: Members of this group (just 18) "wish that they would open nation wide." Don't they know that quality gets diluted when you're so big?

We want a Krystal in Jupiter, Fl: These poor folks (48 of them) are unhappy that they have to drive all the way to Ft. Lauderdale for a Krystal burger. Best comment left on the wall: "I NEED IT. SO I CAN GET 20 BURGERS FOR MY MUNCHIEEEESSSS."

Karu-Y Restaurant Miami: Not much going on here. The most interesting part is the "Related Groups" section: "Victoria Secret Fan Club," "The French-speaking people who live in Miami and around!" and "I wish my life was a Disney movie!" Don't we all?

We carved pumpkins last night, and we were fairly proud of our effort, which resulted in a happy jack-o-lantern that looks like it's just stumbled upon a basket full of its favorite candies. After doing a few Google searches though, we now feel humbled. Look at that thing! A jack-o-lantern inside another jack-o-lantern! Brilliant. At least now we have some ideas for next year.

Photo: Flickr

Lots of Halloween parties happening tomorrow...

• At the FunKey Nutz, there will be unspecified prizes for the best costumes. Also, dueling pianos (don't they always have that?) from 7:30 p.m. until 1 a.m. No cover charge, and the mojitos will be $6, although it's unclear as to whether that special price is reserved for ladies only.

• Party at The Standard on Miami Beach, where the drinks will be free and the best costumes will be awarded prizes. Party starts at 7 p.m. and ends a mere two hours later. Or maybe that's just when the free booze ends. If that's the case, you should get there early!

• If you're more into dancing on Halloween, head to CocoWalk, where salsa singer Carlos Manuel will be playing with his band. We also heard something about door prizes and giveaways.

There's been a lot of uproar over the state of Florida's health inspections, and to be honest, it's beginning to bore us just a little. The latest news comes from a progress report by the Legislature's Office of Program Policy Analysis & Government Accountability (with such a long name, we're sure the committee actually accomplishes very little). We'll sum it up for you in easy-to-digest bullet points:

• The Division of Hotels and Restaurants, which conducts the restaurant inspections, has made improvements in terms of boosting staff and making the website more consumer-friendly, but more still needs to be done.

• The department needs more money. It can either a) beg the legislature for more money or b) charge offending restaurants re-inspection fees.

• The committee is advising that the agency add 39 new inspector positions for 2008-2009.

So here's a question for all of you readers: have any of you ever tried to look up a restaurant's health inspection records? And how important is this information when you're making a decision to eat out? We have to admit that we don't really think about these things much, probably because we're young, healthy, and blessed with a strong stomach. Let us know what you think!

Florida regulators' oversight of restaurants still falls short [Sun-Sentinel]

We love this man, Jordi Panisello, the pastry chef at Cero Restaurant in the St Regis Hotel in Fort Lauderdale. Nutella-filled beignets, plus hot chocolate, plus chocolate ice cream cookie sandwiches? Yum. And that creme brulee looks unbelievable; I'm really curious how he makes that ball-shaped crust. The apple confit looks lovely too, although we'd take the other two desserts in a heartbeat.

Dessert Masterpieces at the St. Regis Hotel [YouTube]
Cero Restaurant [MenuPages]
Cero Restaurant [Official Site]

• The Coral Gables location of Nexxt Cafe is now open, and it's been pretty busy. [Coral Gables]

• The Hungry Man loves those ham-and-cheese subs at Russo's Submarine Shop. Yum! [Hungry Man]

• We didn't know that "wet" scallops are chemically treated to retain their white, wet appearances. Unfortunately, Paula learned the hard way, with a ruined meal. [mango&lime]

Er, excuse us. We meant a new "upscale Lifestyle Center." At least that's what they're calling it at The Shops at Pembroke Gardens website. We guess that's because it's not enclosed, like a traditional mall. Instead, there will be pedestrian walkways and street parking to make it look like a downtown center. (Will these parking spots on the streets have meters, to further duplicate the urban experience? Because that could get annoying really quickly. One of the pleasures of shopping in the 'burbs is not dealing with parallel parking and meter maids.)

Most of the stores at The Shops at Pembroke Gardens open tomorrow, but the six restaurants — Brio Tuscan Grille, Village Tavern, Stir Crazy, RA Sushi, Brimstone Woodfire Grill, and The Pub Pembroke — won't be open until year's end.

Also, we just realized that the open-air mall is opening on the exact same day that Tropical Storm Noel should be bringing some adverse weather to South Florida. Excellent.

The Shops at Pembroke Gardens [Official Site]
New shopping mall in Pembroke Pines debuts as 'lifestyle center' [Sun-Sentinel]

Here you can see Ted Mendez, the chef at Barton G, making sea bass en papillote. The presentation is pretty crazy: the fish, with the veggies, is served in the same paper bag in which it's cooked, in a basket with a flower and wheatgrass. I guess they're going for the picnic theme. Also, is that really all you have to do to make tomato confit? Who knew it could be so simple?

Cooking with Barton G [Plum]
Barton G [MenuPages]
Barton G [Official Site]

Today we welcome Adam Martin, who has taken over the reigns of the San Francisco MenuPages site and blog. He comes to us from the San Francisco Examiner, where he was a cops reporter for a year and a half; prior to that, he was a cops reporter with a wire service. So he did that job two-and-a-half years. Perhaps we're just not built for the job, but we spent one summer on the cops desk a few years ago and had enough. Adam clearly is a stronger person than we are. At any rate, welcome Adam!

Evidently, they're staying in their summer homes for a while longer. Up until very recently, the weather up the east coast has been mild and warmer than usual, which means grandma and grandpa haven't been in any rush to get down to Palm Beach. According to restaurant owners in those areas most frequented by snowbirds, this October has been slow:

“This is the slowest October we've had since 2002,” Judy Davis, opera singer turned entrepreneur and business owner of Diva Duck says.

Peak time for the diva, between mid-December and Mother’s Day pulls sold-out tours two to three times a day. While it's still more than a month away, not even Davis' opera-trained voice over the loud speaker can fill the seats. But not only are there empty seats on the Diva, but benches and outdoor dining areas throughout City Place are barren. Restaurants and retail stores say snowbirds, aren't flying, locals aren't buying and sales are stalled.

But the good news is that the temperatures in New York have begun to dip below 60, so the retirees will soon make their way south for the winter.

Where are the snowbirds? [WPTV5]

It seems like quite a few California chains are making their way here. Now we've learned of California Tortilla, which offers burritos, fajitas, tacos and quesadillas and has been open in Wellington for a little over a week. Also, the restaurant serves "Mexcellent Deals," although we're unsure what those are. This is the first California Tortilla in Florida, although another one is planned for Coral Springs in Spring 2008.

California Tortilla is located at 2465 State Road 7 in Wellington. They're open Monday through Saturday 11am-10pm and Sunday 11:30am-9pm. We'll have the menu online in another day or so.

UPDATE: Thanks L2M, for pointing out that California Tortilla is not, in fact, from California. We were a bit hasty when we wrote this post and failed to notice that all of the locations are on the east coast. According to Wikipedia, the chain is originally from Washington, DC.

California Tortilla [Official Site]
Quick bites [Palm Beach Post]

• MP: Boston tells us why we should root for the Red Sox. We still refuse to do so.

• MP: Chicago shares five easy ways to go organic.

• MP: Philadelphia tells us about an offensive cocktail involving pomegranate, cardamom and mint. Actually, that doesn't sound so bad.

• MP: San Francisco is on the crime beat this week.

Yep, they're holding a casting call in Miami. (And thanks to Tere for letting us know!). Open call is on Tuesday, Nov. 6 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Metropole on South Beach. Good luck everyone!

The Next Food Network Star Search in Miami [FoodTastic!]
Metropole [Official Site]

The party this week is at Boston's on the Beach in Delray, where Red Sox fans have been gathering during the team's postseason run. It's a Boston haven in an area dominated by ex-New Yorkers who cling to their love for the Yankees and/or Mets. (Someday, hopefully, we'll be able to call the region "Marlins Country," but unfortunately, as it is now, there's more blue and orange than teal at the stadium formerly known as Joe Robbie when the Mets play the Marlins.) So if you're looking for a good World Series party, we'd suggest heading over to Boston's on the Beach; they can seat 500, so there's plenty of room. Just don't wear any purple.

Anyone know of any Denver-friendly sports bars for those of us who are rooting for the Rockies? (We feel a sort of kinship with fans of 1993 expansion teams.) Let us know in the comments!

Boston fans flock to Delray eatery to get a taste of home [Palm Beach Post]
Boston's on the Beach [MenuPages]
Boston's on the Beach [Official Site]

• Deborah Hartz learns that habanero peppers can burn. We feel your pain, Deborah. After our first incident of handling peppers and then touching our eyes, we purchased a box of latex gloves to keep in the cabinet specifically handling peppers. You only need one; hold the pepper with the gloved left hand, hold the knife with the right and chop. [From the Test Kitchen]

• Paula tries mango pickle and finds it a bit, um, strong. [mango&lime]

• Good authentic Mexican in Miami? Here's one suggestion: Mi Rinconcito Mexicano (1961 SW 8th St). [Daily Cocaine]

• La Parrilla Liberty gets a thumbs up. [The Greg Graham Guide]

We learned yesterday, from the ever-helpful Jan Norris at the Palm Beach Post, that a new gourmet burger chain from California called The Counter is coming to Royal Palm Beach sometime in November. At first, we thought it would be something akin to In-N-Out, but after perusing the website, we're far more excited.

Looks like it's actually closer to Chipotle, judging from the menu [pdf]. We're big fans of the type of menu that offers a few items in a variety of different ways. With this one, you choose a meat, (beef, turkey, chicken or veggie) and a size (1/3 lb, 2/3 lb, 1 lb), and then choose from an assortment of cheeses, toppings, sauces, and buns. Included in the price is one cheese, four toppings, one sauce and a bun. And for those on the South Beach Diet, you can have a "Burger in a Bowl" — a burger without the bun. It looks like an incredibly yuppie place, and you could easily spend upwards of $10 on a burger and fries, but still, it sounds tasty.

Quick bites [Palm Beach Post]
The Counter [Official Site]
In-N-Out [Official Site]
Chipotle [Official Site]

Thanks to some "connections" Chef John Suley, of Cafe Joley, is fortunate to have, South Floridians can be some of the first in the nation to taste fresh white truffles from Italy this year. The first shipment of this season's truffles from Alba landed at only two places in the entire country: Cafe Joley and Masa in New York City. Sure, there will be more arriving in the coming weeks, but for now, only South Floridians and New Yorkers get to enjoy. Here's what you can expect to enjoy there:

"We'll have white truffles on the menu throughout the season. Right now, I'm running a Napoleon of sea scallops, in between each layer of sliced scallop is blanched spinach and white truffle; the sauce is a spinach-brown butter sauce with shaved white truffle on top of that."

He's also got a braised veal cheek with white truffle risotto on the menu. "You never want to get too crazy with what you do with them," [Suley] said. "When you have a perfect food, you don't have to do much to it. It should shine."

Another dish, taken from a recent trend, is spinella - the top cap of the rib eye cut of beef. "They shave the top off; it looks like a flat-iron steak. But the taste is amazing. They're doing it with Kobe beef - that's how it got started. Ours isn't Kobe, but it just melts in your mouth anyway. We're doing the spinella with twice-baked Yukon gold potato, and a truffled sautéed romaine."

First white truffles in Boca [Palm Beach Post]
Cafe Joley [MenuPages]
Cafe Joley [Official Site]

Photo: Flickr

At MenuPages, our legions of users submit reviews regularly for their favorite (and often least favorite) restaurants. Some make it onto the website, others don't. Here, we'll go over the week's best and worst reviews.

It was a busy week in the user review department, which is good. Keep 'em comin' folks! We like to hear what you think about local restaurants. Provided you write coherently, of course. We'll start with the ones that didn't make it onto the site. This one was from Christie for The Whole Enchilada Fresh Mexican Grill:

This place is awsome!!!!!

Sigh. No.

Next up: Erica, who loved Chef Adrianne's Vineyard Restaurant and Wine Bar. Her review is titled "A Little Slice of Heaven in the Hammocks:"

Let me just start off by saying that the meal my girlfriend and I had was hands down the best I have ever tasted. I started off with the soup of the day (Shrimp & Lobster Bisque), then came the main dish free range chicken breast stuffed with cremini mushrooms and provolone cheese drizzled with a madiera-merlot sauce, house-made potatoes, vegetables du jour. My girlfriend is a vegetarian and although there was not an option on the menu the chef was gracious enough to go out of her way to make one. Stir-fried vegetables over rice. Two tips if you go, go hungry the portions are large but so delicious that you will beg for more and please allow time for preparation, the restaurant is made to order. We did not have room for dessert but plan on returning soon to sample more of the menu.

I recently read a review of Chef Adrianne's restaurant that was a bit unflattering from the Miami New Times and I have to say that I am so glad I chose not to listen to the critic because after dining at the restaurant I found that this person has absolutely no idea what good food is or what it should taste like. My advice to him/her is to find another career because it is obvious that after their review food critic is not it.

I have to say that for only being 23 years old and having her own restaurant Chef Adrianne is well on her way down the road of success.

Ugh. We're back to that review again. Seriously people, the review wasn't so terrible. Constructive criticism isn't such a bad thing, especially when you're 23. Anyway, Erica, you kind of sound like a shill, so, sorry, you didn't make it. Although we do commend you for your good spelling and appropriate use of punctuation.

And finally, the review that wins the top award this week, from mialebven on French Kiss:

I really wanted to like this place... believe me, I really do! I love French cuisine and I was hoping this place would be "IT."

The ambience is nice, very laid back in a French cafe style kind of way. It was relaxing, soothing, and everything felt so in-sync, with the christmas lights, French words and motifs and so forth...

Also the service was good. I liked how they also paid attention to the little details - if you wanted water, they give you a big glass bottle of water to share with the table - as if it was a big bottle of Perrier. The wine is a decent deal, as we had a bottle for $24 for a table of 3 - and we all had seconds out of it. I was expecting more mark-up but thankfully that wasn't the case.

As much as they paid to the little details with these things... I wished they paid more attention to the food as well.

The bread starter was good. The French onion soup was also good although I wished they used the baguettes they served for the starter instead of the other bread they put in the soup.

The escargots was soaked in the traditional oil mix. But the oil mix was a bit salty. And the escargots didn't have much flavor itself unless if you were able to "soup" up the oil mix for the needed flavor.

The canard (duck) was a bit too raw, but I still liked it. Still, it was not the best duck, or even close, I've had from a French restaurant. It should have been cooked in another way - this part I can't explain... it just could taste so much better!

The osso bucco was better in flavor, but still, it wasn't right. The sauce was too thick, overwhelming and salty. It was all over the plate, almost making it into a stew, but it wasn't. The mashed potato that came with it helped offset the salty flavor, but it shouldn't have been salty in the first place.

And the dessert, flan, was okay. I'm Latin... my mom makes better. 'Nuf said! I wanted the creme brulee but they ran out.

All in all, I'm still on the hunt for the "perfect" French restaurant in Miami (without breaking my bank of course)!

Very helpful. Thank you mialebven!

Two reviews for ISHQ today! Both Victoria Pesce Elliott [Miami Herald] and Lee Klein [New Times] visited the Indian restaurant on Ocean Drive. This doesn't happen too often (usually the two reviewers will visit the same restaurants within a week or two of each other, but rarely on the same day), so we're going to have fun with it. We present Klein (hereafter referred to as LK) vs. Pesce Elliott (VPE) on Ishq: The Showdown.

• We'll start with the name. VPE tells us it means "passionate love" in Hindi. LK tells us it means "love," although he doesn't get to it until the seventh graf. But LK gives us a more important piece of information in the very first sentence: a pronunciation guide (ish). We'd been pronouncing it ishk. Nerdy aside: ishq is actually borrowed from Arabic, and the Arabic spelling has a 'qaaf', or ۊ, at the end, so in that language it is pronounced with a hard 'k' sound at the end. Apparently not in Hindi though. Unless LK is wrong, in which case the point we're about to give him would be taken away. Anyway, +1 for LK.

• Next up: description of decor, ambiance, etc. VPE mentions that "most of the seating is outdoors beneath market umbrellas," while LK explains that of the 145 seats at Ishq, 131 are outdoors under said umbrellas. Basically, if it looks like rain, Ishq may not be a good option. Advantage: LK.

• According to VPE, you must "insist -- even beg -- for extra spiciness to get any real heat at all," but LK didn't ask for any extra spiciness and was brought to tears by the heat. Either LK can't handle any heat or the kitchen is very inconsistent in this department. Either way, we're arbitrarily giving this point to VPE, because we like people who like really spicy food.

• VPE mentions the many good, moderately priced wines on the list and mentions "exotic cocktails." LK says nothing about the wine list, but describes said cocktails in detail. Drinks: even.

• Point to LK for alerting readers of hidden costs. Rice is extra ($3.95!), as are chutney, raita, pickles and chapati, which are usually complimentary at Indian restaurants. Here they're $2.95 each. Yikes!

• Point to VPE, for making note of the many vegetarian options.

• Point to LK for using the word "tetrahedron" to describe a samosa.

• The writers disagreed on a number of things, but they both made a point to mention the wonderful desserts. So we'll call this one even.

Winner: Lee Klein, 4-2.

Indian on Ocean [New Times]
Ishq feeds the passion of Indian-food lovers [Miami Herald]
ISHQ [MenuPages]
ISHQ [Official Site]

• Ten years later, Himmarshee Bar & Grille is still going strong. That whole fried yellowtail snapper sounds really good. This is the problem with reading so many reviews; now we're hungry. [Miami Herald]

• Emerald Thai in Davie is a good neighborhood place with great curries. [Sun-Sentinel]

The Miami Herald's website is having some serious issues this morning, so we're starting at the top and working our way south today.

• Frederick's Island Boys Conch and Ribs has moved to a new spot, one without any wheels under it. Yep, they've sold the trailer and opened up at the old Hurricane Grill spot on 25th street in West Palm Beach. [Palm Beach Post]

• You can dine like a master of the universe at Six Tables in Boca Raton. And after reading the review, we are so ready to make a reservation. Now. [New Times]

• A lukewarm review for Phyllis G's Enigma in Delray Beach. Best option: skirt steak and flan. [Sun-Sentinel]

Thanks to a tipster on Chowhound, we learned of a new pizza place coming to Miami Beach. But get this — it's from France. La Boîte à Pizza (the site gives a pronunciation guide for we uneducated Americans: Lah-Bwat-Ah-Pizza), currently with locations in France, is expanding to China and North America by the end of 2007, or so the website claims. Three locations in Shanghai are planned, but so far, there's just one in the US — at 1679 Alton Road in Miami Beach. According to chowhound 2top, it should be opening in early November.

The Chinese and American sites aren't ready, so we decided to poke around the French one, and the image that greeted us — of a pizza topped with what looked like ground beef, tomatoes, onions and a fried egg — was truly revolting. Also, the sombrero and cactus aren't promising.

We present La Boîte à Pizza's three newest recipes: the fajita pizza, the Mexican steak pizza, and the pizza burger. We checked out more of the site, but unfortunately our Spanish and Portuguese skills are insufficient to decipher long paragraphs of French. We can, however, make out most of the menu. Perhaps we're too much of a purist, but seriously, does pizza really need curry? Or smoked salmon? Or the contents of a fajita?

A co-worker just came over to help us translate some of the menu items we couldn't understand. Her comment was "The French make terrible pizza." Another co-worker said "It can't suck more than French Tex-Mex." Well dear readers, at La Boîte à Pizza, you will be able to taste French versions of pizza and Tex-Mex. At the same time. We cannot wait.

La Boîte à Pizza [Official Site]
Anything new or coming to Dade? [Chowhound]

As many of you who surf popular food websites know, Advertising Age ran a story on Monday about how the fact that more moms are opting out of the workforce and choosing to stay home would affect the restaurant and supermarket businesses. Here's a brief excerpt to get you all caught up:

The decades-long rise of women in the work force -- and the related rise of meals bought from restaurants -- has ground to halt and begun to reverse since the turn of the millennium. The numbers have gotten little attention, and they fly in the face of conventional wisdom, but their ramifications are huge for restaurant, supermarket and food marketers.

Women's participation rate in the paid U.S. labor force topped out at just above 60% in 1999 and again in 2001 but has fallen since then, according to the Labor Department. Restaurant meals, fueled for decades by the migration of moms to the work force, also topped out at 211 per person per year in 2001 according to NPD and likewise have been bouncing lower since, hitting 207 this year.

For restaurants, it means an end to a demographic gold mine that fed decades of growth. For supermarkets, it means a reversal of a trend that fueled decades of decline and may even help savvier operators gain an edge in their long-losing battle against Wal-Mart. And for package-food companies, the trends offer a chance to gain ground on restaurants for the first time in decades.

We read this with a bit of skepticism — we don't doubt the numbers of women opting out of the workforce, but we do doubt the premise that restaurants will be hugely affected by this. It seems Charles Passy agrees with us; he blogged his reaction yesterday afternoon:

While I have no doubt that the number of women in the workforce exerts some influence on restaurant-dining habits, I doubt it’s the key thing. For starters, the last decade or so has seen significant growth in the cooking culture — just look at the Food Network overall and Rachael Ray and her 30-minute meal shows and books in particular. That surely has gotten many more people in the kitchen.

But we also think that in the end, this isn't going to take a huge chunk out of the restaurant business. We think that this renewed interest in all things culinary doesn't just apply to the home kitchen; restaurants are hot too. And though sales may dip a bit, we're not returning to the 1950s, when mom made almost every meal and eating out was a special treat. Dining out is so much more a part of everyday life, and we, at least those of us in urban areas, have become too accustomed to the variety that restaurants provide; mom can't be expected to master every cuisine. In the long run, the restaurant business is going to be just fine.

More Moms Staying (and Eating) at Home [Advertising Age]
A Restaurant Owner's Worst Nightmare? [The Hungry Man]

Raw kale. Doesn't sound too appetizing, right? And this from a devoted eater of kale.* But according to this article in the New York Times today, if something on the menu sounds really unappetizing, like raw kale, you should order it, because the chef wouldn't dare put it on the menu unless it were really, really good.

THERE are some restaurant dishes that I order because they sound better than everything else on the menu, and there are some I order because they sound worse. My reasoning goes like this: If a chef dares to offer something as unappealing as, say, a raw kale salad, chances are it’s fantastic.
I’ve played this game at restaurants all over the world, with mixed results. But when I score I score big, with a perspective-changing moment that can inspire pure glee.

*Our preferred method of eating kale: take one can of white beans, sautee them in garlic and olive oil, and then spoon over steamed kale, finished with a little sea salt and black pepper.

If It Sounds Bad, It's Got To Be Good [New York Times]

We received this today in our inbox. We'd never realized there was such a philosophy behind the Jetsetter Lounge, but well, apparently there was. After about two years, the owners had to close their doors, although they seem hopeful; perhaps they'll re-open in a new location.
Jetsetter Lounge [MenuPages]
Jetsetter Lounge [Official Site]

• It appears that karaoke had once left the FunKey Nutz, but it has now returned. On Tuesdays (that's tonight!) at 8:30 at the dueling piano bar in Boca Raton, you too can sing loudly and poorly into a microphone.

• Costume party! Naturally, as it's getting close to Halloween. The Falcon House in Delray Beach is hosting its sixth annual costume party on Saturday. The best costume wins a $100 gift certificate.

• There will be another costume party at Nicole's Village Tavern in Wellington on Saturday as well, with drinks and dinner specials, dancing and, of course, a costume contest. Prizes are unclear. Oh, and the appetizers are free after midnight!

We enjoy writing about grouper, mainly because it gives us an excuse to post really awesome grouper photos, like this one. (We should note that this grouper actually lives in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Australia, so you won't find him in our Atlantic waters. Still, it's a grouper, and we couldn't resist posting it. Look at those teeth!) Grouper is a big deal down here, and lately, because of the skyrocketing price of the fish, most "Florida groupers" on menus have been found to be frozen imports or, worse yet, imposters.

Florida's attorney general's office has been investigating restaurants since late last year, but now they're going after the big guys: the wholesalers. It makes sense, given that each restaurateur can't be expected to send fish to a laboratory for testing. The subpoenas for records are flying left and right: for Sysco Food Services-West Florida (the largest supplier), eight smaller suppliers, and Applied Food Technologies, the lab where most of the fish are tested.

In August 2006, the St. Petersburg Times published DNA tests on grouper from 11 Tampa Bay restaurants. Six turned out to be other species, including a $23 "champagne-braised" grouper that was actually tilapia.

Within weeks, the Attorney General's Office opened an investigation and tested 17 restaurants, finding an even higher rate of bogus fish. Other Florida newspapers and television stations followed, sampling restaurants with similar results.

Some of the nongrouper, like the Asian catfish, represents deliberate substitution, whether by the importer, distributor or restaurant.

Other fish, like much of the Sysco-supplied "grouper," are species that swim side-by-side with Asian grouper, are hauled up in the same net and thrown into the same box.

Many restaurants that sold fake grouper had invoices saying they bought grouper. They had no way of knowing it wasn't, they insisted, which is why the state's investigation has expanded.

We will, of course, keep you posted on any updates from the attorney general's office, and we guarantee a scary-looking grouper photo each time.

State: Fake fish inquiry expands [St Petersburg Times]
Grouper, And The Fish That Want To Emulate It [MP South Florida]
Grouper Sandwiches: Disappearing From A Menu Near You [MP South Florida]

Photo: Flickr

• Need help sifting through the dozens of steakhouses in Miami? The chowhounds can help. [Chowhound]

• Apparently fried shrimp is common in strip clubs. You learn something new every day! [Daily Cocaine]

• Paula gets 15 minutes with Govind Armstrong of Table 8. [mango&lime]

We swear this man was not paid by MenuPages to promote the site at his one-man show. Apparently he derives great pleasure from reading the user reviews, which, we admit, can be amusing sometimes (and he doesn't even get to see the ones that don't make it onto the site!)

We were browsing through some photos when we stumbled upon this plate of deliciousness from Versailles. It doesn't photograph well (Cuban food can be monochromatic), but just look at all the fried goodness: there's vaca frita, our favorite (though we're partial to the version at Havana Harry's), with congri and fried plantains. Definitely not a balanced meal, but certainly a satisfying one.

Versailles [MenuPages]
Havana Harry's Restaurant [MenuPages]
Havana Harry's Restaurant [Official Site]

Photo: Flickr

Something called the American Fine Wine Competition is going on this week at the Boca Raton Resort & Club. This is its first year, and according to this article (scroll down), it's the first juried American wine competition in South Florida. Which sounds like a big deal, except we really don't know much more about it. Perhaps, when the results are announced, it'll get more coverage?

Unfortunately for you, the public, the judging, which we assume is happening today through Thursday, is open only to a select few — namely, the judges. They'll get to taste 350 wines throughout the course of the week; each wine will be judged against other wines of the same varietal.

But there is good news for you: the public is invited to the gala dinner on Thursday, October 25 at 6 p.m. at the Boca Raton Resort & Club. The four-course dinner with wine pairings will set you back just $250 per person or $2,500 per table (which isn't really a deal, as there are 10 to a table). There will also be a silent auction for charity, live entertainment, and a tasting, with wines poured by "wine angels." Here's our question: do wine angels have to wear wings and a halo?

South Florida's First Juried American Wine Competition to Benefit Kids in Distress [Entertainment News & Views]
American Fine Wine Competition 2007 Presented by RRA [South Florida Business Journal]

We thought there was more of this article when we first noticed it on Friday afternoon, but apparently it's available only for subscribers. Oh well. We gleaned enough out of it to learn that the six current Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza locations will expand to 15 in South Florida by the end of 2009. Three are currently under construction in Palm Beach County, but we don't know where the other six locations will be.

Once Anthony's reaches its goal of 15 South Florida stores by the end of 2009, founder Anthony Bruno says his pizza will be unaltered by expansion. The ovens will continue to burn coal, the menu will stay simple and, hopefully, the customers will stay satisfied.

"It's the pizza. It's all about putting out a good pizza," Bruno said.

It's the norm for chains to begin to deteriorate after too much expansion, but let's hope this isn't the case with Anthony's.

Entrepreneur plans 15 South Florida restaurants [South Florida Business Journal]
Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza [Official Site]

A look at what went down in other MenuPages cities last week:

• Fortune cookies! [MP: San Francisco]

• Kebabs on a bagel! [MP: Philadelphia]

• Kinmedai! (Or golden-eye snapper) [MP: Boston]

• Pupusas! [MP: Chicago]

How did we miss the story of Miami's current favorite basketball player partnering with a local restaurant? Yes, Dwyane Wade apparently enjoyed his meal at Bucky's so much that he has decided to invest and help the two-restaurant chain expand in South Florida and Chicago, Wade's hometown.

The two are working together to open a restaurant in Key Largo, but it's going to be called D. Wade's. According to a Craigslist ad for a general manager, they're going to open in 2007. That seems a bit ambitious, given that there isn't much of 2007 left. But hey, maybe they'll be able to pull it together. Let's hope the restaurant business doesn't distract him from his on-court duties.

Bucky's Bar-B-Que LLC Partners with Miami Heat's Dwayne Wade [PR Newswire]
D. Wade's Hiring General Manager [Craigslist]
Dwyane Wade [Official Site]
Bucky's Bar-B-Que [Official Site]

The little man pictured above is our godson, who celebrated his first birthday yesterday. Naturally, we baked him a cake. The cake had to be fed to him, because his initial reaction to the pretty blue thing was to treat it like a toy by picking the plate up and turning it over. So Uncle Garrett had to step in and show Max that the blue stuff was actually food. Sugary, delicious food that he certainly should not have been having an hour after his bedtime. But it was his birthday, and depriving him of cake on his birthday would be cruel. He made a mess, but boy was that kid enjoying himself. Made us want to smear frosting all over our face too.

Happy Birthday Máximo!

• So this event isn't exactly in South Florida, but it caught our eye. There's a wine and food festival, with a sunset stroll to raise money for lung disease research, in Siesta Key, near Sarasota. The stroll starts tomorrow at 6 p.m.

• And this doesn't exactly have anything to do with food, but you should still participate in the Herald Hunt, because it's a lot of fun. And if you don't want to participate in it, we suggest you avoid South Beach on Sunday afternoon, lest you get run over by a crazed person with one mission: to be first to solve the final puzzle.

• Oktoberfest is on this weekend in Lantana. The party, sponsored by the local American-German Club, will have lots and lots of food. Delicious-sounding food: sausage, schnitzel, potatoes, pretzels, etc. And beer of course. The party starts tonight and continues through Sunday.

• Dave Lieberman (you know, the guy who made a name for himself with a cooking show at Yale) will be at the Dadeland Macy's Home Store tomorrow at 1 p.m. for a cooking demonstration and a cookbook signing. Not sure whether or not there will be samples for fans to try.

• Memo to Einstein Bros Cafe: most people like to eat bagels for breakfast, before work. Therefore, you need to hire more staffers for the morning hours. [Coral Gables]

• Paula's got a great review of Sandrine's Cafe & Bakery up on her blog, with mouth-watering photos of a Venezuelan breakfast. [mango&lime]

• We have to admit, Instant packaged agar + one can fruit cocktail = a dessert that doesn't sound too appealing. We'd be willing to give it a try though. [Daily Cocaine]

• Looking for Vietnamese food in Miami? Here are a few good suggestions. [Chowhound]

Tere over at the Coral Gables blog alerted us to the closing of the Atlanta Bread Company on Miracle Mile. We have to say, we spend a lot of time on Miracle Mile, and the Atlanta Bread Company there never really registered with us. Any guess on what will come next to the spot? Lately we've gotten a California Pizza Kitchen, a Benihana, a Baja Fresh , a Saladworks...maybe we'll get a Chipotle?

Good-Bye Atlanta Bread Company / Info on Nexxt Cafe [Coral Gables]
Atlanta Bread Company [MenuPages]
Atlanta Bread Company [Official Site]

We moved quite a few new menus onto the site yesterday. Here's a sampling, for your viewing pleasure.

• Paella Seafood Grill, 12389 Pembroke Rd in Pembroke Pines, 954-885-7566

• Bacchus Wine Bar, 5904 S Dixie Hwy in South Miami, 305-663-3368

• Pan Ya Thai Restaurant, 520 NE 167th St in North Miami Beach, 305-947-5594

• Nippers Restaurant & Lounge, 21069 S Military Trl in Boca Raton, 561-338-4111

• Nazca, 7855 Pines Blvd in Pembroke Pines, 954-966-3996

At MenuPages, our legions of users submit reviews regularly for their favorite (and often least favorite) restaurants. Some make it onto the website, others don't. Here, we'll go over the week's best and worst reviews.

Let's start with a good one today, shall we? This one came in for Yummy Chinese & Sushi Bar:

Although it does not look like much from the outside,Yummy is actually an excellent sushi place with great quality fish.The spider roll in particular is outstanding: the soft shell crab is delicately fried and absolutely not greasy.The sweet honey sauce complements it beautifully. The decor is simple,but very clean, and service is prompt and friendly.

Next, let's move on to the bad: a review for Italian Piada titled "F***ing place!":

Trash food!!!

Finally, the helpful: a review for 391st Bomb Group:

The 391st Bomb Group is no longer in business.

Around here, we're always encouraging you to drink more wine, with all of the wine tastings and pairings that we periodically list. They seem to be pretty popular. This time though, we're going to suggest you pair a different form of alcohol with your meal. Actually, before your meal. Today begins Bon Aperitif! Week at a group of local restaurants: Social Miami at Sagamore, Town Kitchen & Bar, Tuscan Steak, Mark's, 1200 At the Biltmore, and Chispa Restaurant & Bar. From today until Wednesday, October 24, each of these restaurants is offering a glass of sherry and an appetizer for $10.

Not Shaken or Stirred [New Times]

Photo: Flickr

• Gail Shepherd pleads, in her very awesome way, with Taverna Yiasou in West Palm Beach to buy a pot of fresh herbs and taste the food before it leaves the kitchen. [New Times]

• Sushi Yoshi in Boca serves a "Miami Dolphin roll," which features blue marlin. So the marlin's doing all the work, but the Dolphins name is splashed on the menu. How appropriate. [Sun-Sentinel]

• The Post's Peg San Felippo compiled quite a few interviews with local sommeliers, who all shared their love for wine and basically advised people to drink whatever they want to drink. [Palm Beach Post]

• The Beer Guy visits the "den of zen" at the Funky Buddha in Boca Raton. If you go on Wednesday, be forewarned that it's open mic night. [Palm Beach Post]

• Charles Passy loves Havana in West Palm Beach. So too, apparently, do many locals. [Palm Beach Post]

• Maddy Marr talks to Steve Martorano, the man behind Cafe Martorano in Fort Lauderdale, who's just opened a second restaurant in Las Vegas. It's a good fit for Martorano's restaurant/nightclub style, but it's a heck of a commute. [Miami Herald]

• The Herald sure is moving in on Sun-Sentinel territory this week: this Plantation roundup mixes Cuban, Mexican and Japanese foods. [Miami Herald]

• Another Broward restaurant: check out a "Micro Rave" on Chinatopia in Hollywood. [Miami Herald]

• The cornbread, jumbo shrimp and Carolina pulled pork are tasty at Bucky's Grill in Fort Lauderdale. [Sun-Sentinel]

It's Thursday, food section day, our favorite day of the week! We'll start, as usual, with Miami-Dade county.

• Victoria Pesce Elliott checks out Ouzo's Mediterranean Bistro's new spot, on Bay Road, and finds the decor and the food lovely. Avoid the moussaka and beef ribs, but Pesce Elliott had only good things to say about everything else. [Miami Herald]

• The guacamole at Rosa Mexicano is awesome. But we already knew that. Also, Lee? Chili=what's served in a bowl, with or without beans. Chile=the "Aztec element" that was smashed into your guacamole. [New Times]

• The food goes down easy at Myung Ga Tofu & BBQ in the Doral. [New Times]

• Restaurant-quality meals vacuum sealed for you to take home and fool all your friends into thinking that you're an amazing chef. Excellent. [Miami Herald]

We were just thinking about the steakhouse we didn't mention by name in an earlier post, Houston's on Miracle Mile in the Gables, when we found a photo of a smoked salmon dish from the very place. Well, or at least one of the other Houston's in the area. This looks like a tasty appetizer variation on your typical New Yorker's favorite breakfast.

Houston's [MenuPages]
Houston's [Official Site]

Photo: miami fever's Flickr

If you're looking for a good street festival this weekend, head down to Key West for the Goombay Festival in Bahama Village. A "goombay," as we've learned recently, can be either a goatskin drum beaten with the hands or the music made by said drum, popular in the Bahamas. A Google search shows us that it's also a common name for Bahamian festivals. There will be music, crafts, dancing, general merry-making, and lots of Caribbean-inspired food. We hear it's the locals' favorite festival; that is high praise indeed.

Goombay Festival [Official Site]

We just got some inside information on restaurant comings and goings around Miracle Mile, so we thought we'd share:

• Anacapri on the Mile is moving from its current spot at 264 Miracle Mile to 2530 Ponce de Leon Boulevard (about a block and a half away) on November 7. The restaurant expects to remain open during the move.

• Randazzo's, at 150 Giralda Ave, is moving to a spot on Miracle Mile and LeJeune that's under construction right now. It's expected to be ready in six months.

• A Chili's is coming to the Tuesday Morning site, 2420 Ponce de Leon.

• Because one steakhouse on the Mile isn't enough, there are plans for a Morton's at the Colonnade on Ponce de Leon and Miracle Mile. It should be ready by early 2008.

• We're not sure about the details, but we hear there's a burger place coming to a spot next door to Benihana.

We mentioned the start of the stone crab season (October 15) in a recent post. Today we found a few videos of two chefs from Fulton's Crab House in Orlando and Fulton's on the River in Chicago catching some of the first stone crabs of the season off of Key West. There are four installments on YouTube, and while they would have benefited from tighter editing, they're still worth watching. By the way, did you know that pigs' feet are used as bait in the crab traps? Fascinating.

Flight of the Crab [Levy Restaurants]
Flight of the Crabs [YouTube]
Fulton's Crab House [Official Site]
Fulton's On the River [MenuPages]
Fulton's On the River [Official Site]

Wow. We can't think of much more to say about the people who camped out for up to 48 hours in front of the IKEA that opens today in Sunrise. Two days for a store that sells cheap, disposable, trendy furniture. Seriously?

IKEA [Official Site]
The Line is Forming for Big IKEA Opening [CBS4]

We don't generally do a lot of gossip stuff here, but we thought we should alert you all to the presence of a certain Yankees shortstop at a certain popular sushi restaurant on Miami Beach, where he's come to wallow in the sad memory of a shortened postseason. The scandal, however, occurred later, on Sunday morning, when two women emerged from his room at the Shore Club and created a bit of a scene when they found that said shortstop had not paid for their parking. Clearly, he'd been banking on the extra cash from a postseason bonus. Oops.

Jeter hits SoBe to ease the pain [Miami Herald]
Sleep with Jeter, park free [NY Post]
Nobu Miami Beach [MenuPages]
Nobu Miami Beach [Official Site]

• Vino Miami is hosting a tasting of wines paired with chocolates on Friday at 7 p.m. $30 gets you wine and food. Call 786-207-8466 to RSVP.

• Casa Toscana is having another tasting of South African blends, presented by a South African native. $10 per person, which includes wine and food, plus a 10 percent discount on featured wines. Call 305-757-4454 to RSVP.

• And one more wine and food pairing, this time at Nicole's Village Tavern, where $65 will get you a four-course meal with paired wines. The dinner is Tuesday, October 23 at 7 p.m. Call 561-793-3456 to reserve a spot.

There's a chance that bikers may soon be barred from driving their motorcycles down Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach. Why, you ask? So that those eating outdoors at the many cafes and restaurants along the street can enjoy their meals in quiet. Patrons have apparently complained to restaurant owners, so the city commission is attempting to resolve the issue with a proposed ordinance that would ban motorcycles from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. (why not just ban them all day?) on Atlantic Avenue between Swinton and US1. The commissioners plan to discuss the ordinance tonight, and several local motorcycle groups will be there voicing their complaints.

[Louie Louie Too general manager Greg Emeric] and several other restaurant managers fear local customers and even tourists will opt for quieter dining venues.
"It's not good for business," Emeric said. "It's not good for our image. It's not good for anybody. Motorcyclists come and park in front of the restaurant, and they sit there and go vroom-vroooooom!, revving up their motorcycles while people are trying to enjoy their dinner."

Motorcyclists oppose the proposal, stating that most adhere to the noise ordinance and should not be punished for a few violators.

"Most of us are responsible drivers," said Michael Serra, whose Yamaha YZF is his primary transportation. "If noise is the issue, then I believe that they just need they need to enforce the noise ordinance rather than ban motorcycles."

Mayor Rita Ellis said it's difficult to implement the noise control ordinance because police officers are on foot patrol and can't possibly chase motorcycles.

Free-wheeling cycle fight expected [Palm Beach Post]

• The general consensus is La Marea is good. Really good. [All Purpose Dark]

• Asian desserts, part two. [Daily Cocaine]

• A Miami Spice review of Tuscan Steak. [FoodTastic!]

• Deborah Hartz has been busy judging rib contests. That sounds like the best kind of busy. [From the Test Kitchen]

Florida lawmakers announced yesterday that the state's minimum wage will increase 12 cents to $6.79 per hour as of January 1, 2008. It's about a 1.8 percent increase. Tip earners will see a greater increase as percentage of their salary, from $3.65 to $3.77 per hour.

The interesting thing is that business owners, including restaurateurs, in Southwest Florida aren't even paying attention, since the market dictates a higher base salary over there:

According to that survey, the median wage for housekeepers — typically among the lowest paid workers in the work force — was $8 an hour in Southwest Florida. Dishwashers, another typically low-paying, entry-level job, earn a median wage of $7.15 an hour.

Joe Murgalo, general manager of the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Estero, said the competitive market sets the pay in Southwest Florida, not the minimum wage laws.

"We couldn't hire anyone at minimum wage," Murgalo said. "It's been decades since it mattered what the minimum wage was here."

Florida's minimum wage will be $6.79 [News-Press]

We found an interesting article in Florida Today, farther up the coast, about the state of the shrimping industry in Florida. While most articles about today's fishing industry inevitably mention overfishing and declining populations, there's nothing about that here. The problems seem to be condos replacing fish houses along the coast, increased regulation and security, and higher fuel prices. Plus there are the cheap imports, which are killing the local shrimp industry; wild-caught shrimp can't possibly compete price-wise with the cheap shrimp coming from farms in Southeast Asia:

John Williams, executive director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance in Tarpon Springs, just returned from testifying before a House Ways and Means subcommittee on food-safety issues of imported shrimp.

"The United States is like a magnet for garbage," he said. "We're inspecting less than 1 percent of all these imported products, especially seafood."

When the European Union, Japan and Canada clamped down on shrimp imports, importers turned to America, Williams said.

"In 2000, 2001, the European Union, Japan and Canada banned imports from Pakistan, and Pakistan just turned around and shipped them to the United States," Williams said.

The U.S. food-service industry threw down the red carpet for these low-priced imports, now a mainstay at restaurants and grocery stores, he said.

"Check out the boxes in the Dumpsters behind restaurants," McCoy said. "A majority of the shrimp that is served in restaurants, including local restaurants, and that is sold in the local grocery stores, is not always a wild-caught product, but imported."

Shrimping flounders [Florida Today]

We may not know when all those other restaurants are opening, but we do know one thing's for sure: IKEA is opening in Sunrise on Wednesday, and 25,000 people are expected to be there for the event. Which is absolutely insane.

As everyone knows, IKEA sells inexpensive trendy furniture in those great big blue box buildings, but each store also has a restaurant where people take breaks from the madness and scarf down cheap Swedish meatballs. And when the Sunrise IKEA opens, it will be the only place (that we know of) in South Florida where one will be able to find Swedish meatballs. Using the handy Find-a-Food Search tool on South Florida MenuPages, we searched in each area for Swedish meatballs and came up empty.

If you're anxious to try these delicacies (we ourselves have never tried the ones at IKEA, so we cannot vouch for their quality), we'd advise you to wait a few months, until the craziness has passed. We wouldn't want to lose any of our readers to a fatal IKEA stampede; there are so few of you as it is!

IKEA [Official Site]
Sunrise police, firefighters prepare for crowd of 25,000 at IKEA opening [Sun-Sentinel]

Photo: Flickr

We keep a long list of restaurants that we know will be opening in the coming months, along with their projected opening dates. A few days before that date, we'll call and see how things are going. Almost every single time, said date has been pushed back, usually for a few more months. So we keep calling, and dates keep getting pushed back, inevitably due to construction problems and permit snafus, and so it continues, until we are led to believe that the restaurants are never going to open. We just made a few phone calls, and here's what we learned (not much):

• Matsuri in South Miami is still closed for renovations. Updates from chowhounds have revealed that the plywood is down, and there has definitely been some cooking activity going on inside. But we've called a dozen times and we're still getting a busy signal. Our guess is it'll be open this weekend.

• We mentioned the mysterious second location of 1909 Cafe, set to open in Coral Gables sometime in the distant future. We called today and were told a) it's not open and b) no one knows when it will be open. Excellent!

• The Taverna Opa in City Place, which we'd had on our list for an October opening, is projected to open in January.

Matsuri in South Miami [Chowhound]
1909 Cafe [MenuPages]
1909 Cafe [Official Site]
Taverna Opa [Official Site]

We just learned of a gas station/restaurant in Homestead. The "slightly upscale" restaurant, called The Redland Grill, is inside a Shell station on Krome Avenue, and from what we've read, it's very popular:

"We have workers out in the fields working, picking food and vegetables," manager Domingo Saurez said. "There will be a president of a bank, owners of local business come in and have lunch and dinner with us."

Employees at the grill said the interesting combination of the crowd, gas station and affordable food offers something for everyone.

Motorists can gas up their cars and grab a bottle of wine instead of a six-pack of beer. They offer fine cigars and an almost South Beach-like atmosphere.

This concept could really take off in South Florida, an area so utterly dependent upon the car. You can fill up both your tank and your car's in one stop.

Combined Gas Station, Gourmet Restaurant Brings In Customers [NBC6]
El Carajo International Tapas & Wine [MenuPages]

• MP: Boston laughs at Taco Bell's recent announcement that it would move into the market south of the border.

• MP: Chicago brings us Chicken Chips. Yuck.

• MP: Philadelphia finds a dish that resembles a Frito pie.

• MP: San Francisco tells us about fortune cookies that make people sad.

• You have until Sunday to join in the Oktoberfest activities at Fritz & Franz Bierhaus. There will be music, food and, of course, lots of beer.

• If Southern rock is your thing, head over to Mr. G's Rock & Roll Bar & Grill in West Palm Beach tonight for a performance of The Marshall Tucker Band.

• This Saturday at 4 p.m., there's a wine tasting at L & L Market Bistro in Miramar. For $20, you can sample the wines of Luigi Scarani and get $10 off any wine purchase that day.

• Piola in Hallandale Beach begins a weekly Venezuelan music tribute tonight at 11 p.m. Cover charge is $10, and there will be pizzas, tapas and a full bar, plus, of course, lots of music.

Joe's Stone Crab opens for its regular season tonight at 5 p.m., which means you should probably head over there now to wait for a table. Remember: no reservations. The restaurant will be serving only dinner until Tuesday, when lunch will be added. Takeaway begins tomorrow.
Stone crab season technically doesn't begin until Monday, but fear not, the restaurant will have crabs tonight.

Joe's Stone Crab [MenuPages]
Joe's Stone Crab [Official Site]

Photo: Flickr

Here we present a dish not fit for Sting, from Casa Tua. Certainly looks tasty to us!

Casa Tua [MenuPages]
Casa Tua [Official Site]
Casa Tua Not Good Enough For Sting [MP South Florida]

Photo: miami fever's Flickr

• The grub guru over at Daily Cocaine isn't a fan of Asian desserts. The beans usually weird us out too. [Daily Cocaine]

• Cafe Boulud: very good, but didn't quite live up to expectations. [consumableJoy]

• The Delaware Chicken Farm makes excellent fish dip. Go figure. [From the Test Kitchen]

• Charles Passy thinks Canadian Club 10-Year Reserve is great. We'll have to take his word for it, as we're not big whiskey drinkers. [The Hungry Man]

We couldn't quite figure out how to "grab" the video, so we'll just give you a link for the knife skills tutorial that Top Chef Hung gave for New York Magazine. We can watch that man chop onions all day long. It's a thing of beauty. We also learned that the knife he uses for 90 percent of his chopping, slicing and dicing costs $240, although even with the knife, we sure couldn't chop vegetables like that.

'Top Chef' Winner Hung Shows Off His Knife Skills [New York Magazine]

It appears we spoke too soon yesterday when we wrote about DB Bistro Moderne "at least it's not another steakhouse." Alert reader Daniel pointed out that Manny's Steakhouse is coming to The Metropolitan, the same building that will be housing Boulud's bistro. From the website, we gather that the restaurant has been voted "best restaurant" and "best steakhouse" in the Twin Cities area at some point or another. And The New York Times seems to have good things to say about it. Aside from the usual cuts of steak, the menu offers a fair amount of seafood as well.

So yes, Miami, you're getting another steakhouse in Spring 2008. Aren't you excited?

Daniel Boulud Is Coming To Downtown Miami [MP South Florida]
Manny's Steakhouse [Official Site]

• We're not sure why, but we love Dan Oliver's Watering Holes feature. Maybe it's the intro music. Maybe it's that everything looks so appetizing. At any rate, this week he's at The Blue Anchor in Delray, which is haunted. SPOOKY! [Palm Beach Post]

• The fish is fresh at Prime Catch in Boynton Beach, just avoid the crab bisque. [Sun-Sentinel]

• Linda Bladholm discovers a Vietnamese-style tea lounge in Wilton Manors. [Miami Herald]

• Gail Shepherd surprisingly prefers a big chain to a small, chef-driven bistro. The end is nigh. [New Times]

• A rundown of the best deals to be had during Dine Out Lauderdale. [Miami Herald]

• Steak, steak everywhere, including Weston. [Sun-Sentinel]

• Enrique Fernandez gives a good rundown of the numerous Brazilian steakhouses in Miami. The best of the lot? He says Fogovivo on Bird Road. Also, did you know that papayas have enzymes that help digest protein? Fernandez recommends a dessert of papaya cream to help with digestion, although given the absurd quantities of meat consumed at these places, we imagine one would need to eat an entire papaya to get any benefit from the enzymes. [Miami Herald]

• Victoria Pesce Elliott checks out Karma in the Gables, and awards the place two-and-a-half stars. [Miami Herald]

• Ah, Talula , the setting of the first date of an ill-advised relationship we prefer not to dwell on. But Lee Klein's review made us think of it all over again. Thanks Lee. [New Times]

The big news today, uncovered by the Miami Herald, is that Alex Patout has left Christabelle's Quarter, the new-ish New Orleans-themed restaurant in Coconut Grove. Patout, who used to have a restaurant in New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina, and Christabelle's owner apparently couldn't agree on the menu:

''Alex is a wonderful chef -- his cuisine is very rustic, very country, from the heart of Louisiana,'' said co-owner Kim Koch. ``We just didn't see eye-to-eye on the concept of the food.''

Koch envisions a lighter, more Miami menu.

''His food was too heavy,'' she said. ``Locals did not receive it well.''

Christabelle's chef packs up his knives [Miami Herald]
Christabelle's Quarter [MenuPages]
Christabelle's Quarter [Official Site]
Emeril's Miami Beach [MenuPages]
Emeril's Miami Beach [Official Site]

A few things from our inbox that we feel you should know about, but don't merit posts of their own:

• Capri Blu in Palm Beach is now open on Sundays for dinner (5:30pm-10pm) during the season.

• Mark's South Beach is continuing to offer specially priced menus for lunch ($22) and dinner ($35). The lunch is available noon to 2:30pm, and the three-course prix-fixe dinner is available for diners seated between 6:30 and 7:30pm. We've got a copy of the dinner menu, and it looks tasty.

• Tickets for the 2008 South Beach Wine & Food Festival, which is on February 21-24, go on sale on Monday, October 15. They aren't cheap, but it's a huge event. For more information, go to the festival's website.

Chef Daniel Boulud is bringing his popular New York restaurant DB Bistro Moderne to downtown Miami in 2009. This will be his first restaurant in Miami; the chef currently owns Cafe Boulud in Palm Beach.

The restaurant will be in Metropolitan Miami, which, um, isn't quite done yet. At all. It's going to have residential buildings, office space, retail space and a movie theater. Everything on the website seems very pie-in-the-sky, especially after constantly reading about the downturn in the housing market. But hey, maybe it'll work. Maybe downtown will be revitalized, and maybe DB Bistro Moderne will be a hit. At least it's not another steakhouse.

Chef Daniel Boulud Signs Agreement to Bring DB Bistro Moderne to Metropolitan Miami’s Met 2 Tower [EWM Blog]
Cafe Boulud [MenuPages]
Cafe Boulud [Official Site]
DB Bistro Moderne [MenuPages]
DB Bistro Moderne [Official Site]

This article ran on the front page of the Wall Street Journal on Sept. 29, but as we were on the West Coast at the time, we didn't see it, so we're going to pretend it's more timely. At any rate, the issue is still a current one. The headline poses the question "Is Florida Over?" and the accompanying article basically says that people in the rest of the country aren't finding Florida so attractive anymore, mainly because of the high cost of living. Oh yes, and the hurricanes.

We aren't losing people yet, but we aren't attracting them at the same rate that we once were, which is fine, because the state surely could not handle 80 percent population growth of the boom years of the 1960s. And the population is still growing, mainly because of the 100,000 immigrants who move to Florida each year from other countries.

And of course, there's a bit of gloom and doom about a possible recession, driven by the fall of the housing market. We never quite understood how a glut in the housing market could cause a state-wide recession, but then we saw the figures. According to the article, one in three new jobs over the past few years are related to the housing market, from the mortgage brokers to the real estate agents to the guy stocking plywood at Home Depot. So it makes sense that a downturn in the overall market would lead to a huge loss of jobs.

What's this mean for restaurants in Florida? Well, costs are already impossibly high, making being in business difficult. A statewide recession would mean more people trying to scrimp and save and cutting out luxuries, among them restaurant meals. Then again, we imagine the mom-and-pop places that have been around for ages will be able to weather the storm, and the fancy places on Ocean Drive will be buoyed by tourist dollars. Perhaps we'll lose a steakhouse or two or seven...

Is Florida Over? [Wall Street Journal]

Or perhaps breakfast? We think any time of day is good for chocolate and banana crepes. These come from A La Folie, a small cafe on Espanola Way in Miami Beach.

A La Folie Cafe [MenuPages]
A La Folie Cafe [Official Site]

Photo: miami fever's Flickr

We want to have children. Very much so. Not exactly right now, but you know, in a few years. But we also love to cook and experiment with new recipes in the kitchen. And the idea of having to constrain ourselves because of a two-year-old who refuses to eat anything that isn't a chicken nugget is not a happy one to us.

We always thought that the picky eater problem was more nurture over nature, but apparently some researchers in London have found that it's about 78 percent genetic. If the parents were picky eaters, their kids likely will be too. Our only consolation is that we weren't too picky, aside from our severe dislike of carrots and peas.

The reason for the pickiness, which usually begins to manifest itself at around age 2, fascinates us:

Most children eat a wide variety of foods until they are around 2, when they suddenly stop. The phase can last until the child is 4 or 5. It’s an evolutionary response, researchers believe. Toddlers’ taste buds shut down at about the time they start walking, giving them more control over what they eat. “If we just went running out of the cave as little cave babies and stuck anything in our mouths, that would have been potentially very dangerous,” Dr. Cooke said.

Makes perfect sense. So it's a survival mechanism. Remember that the next time your kid makes a face at the sight of broccoli.

Picky Eaters? They Get It From You [New York Times]

Norman, who closed his restaurant in the Gables this past year, is back, about a three hours' drive south of the city. His restaurants Tavern N Town are opening in the new Beachside Resort & Conference Center in Key West on October 15. He's calling it a "hyphenated restaurant:" Tavern will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and will feature a small plates menu, while Town will serve only dinner in a more upscale setting.

We had originally heard an October 15 opening, but that's been set back a few weeks. Now it's October 19 for the hotel, October 22 for Tavern and Blue Bar (the poolside lounge that will feature cocktails, fritters and fish tacos) and December 1 for Town. The menus haven't been completely set yet, but on the website we did find a working menu [PDF] that's missing a few things (like some prices), but gives a good sense of what's to come in Key West.

Beachside Resort & Conference Center [Official Site]

• Charles Passy discovers some good kataifi in West Palm Beach. [Hungry Man]

• Tony Roma's turns 35. [Emerald Coast]

• A feijoada feast at Boteco! [Chowhound]

• A final Miami Spice rundown. [Chowhound]

We're a little jet-lagged and tired, and we have hundreds of e-mails to sort through, so you may have to give us an hour or two. In the meantime, we'd like you to reflect on the photo above, of lamb "popsicles" in a fenugreek cream curry, which was the most delicious part of our excellent meal on Friday night at Vij's. If any of you are planning a trip to Vancouver, you absolutely must eat there. On Saturday, we discovered that the owner published all of his recipes in a cookbook recently. Naturally, we immediately purchased it.

Vij's [Official Site]

Photo: Flickr, because we haven't yet had time to upload our own photos

The Waterfront Market, one of Key West's best sources for produce, seafood, and high-end food products was supposed to close for good at the end of September, but because of a 90-day lease extension with the city, it's going to stick around until at least the end of 2007.

According to the Key West Citizen, Buco Pantelis, the market's owner, can no longer operate the business on his own. He's got 90 days to find a buyer — it's a good opportunity for a group of investors with good capital backing, he said. If not, he'll liquidate his supply and close the store at the end of the year.

The market's possible closing could cause problems for both local foodies and restaurants; it's got both a retail and wholesale business, and through the latter the market is the main produce and seafood supplier for many Key West restaurants.

Pantelis: I'm open another 90 days [Key West Citizen]
Photo: Flickr

And we thought we were enterprising for selling Cuban coffee in our Chicago dorm during college. It was great; there were no startup costs (we'd received a stovetop cafetera as a going-away gift, and mom and dad had sent the coffee and the little plastic espresso cups that are impossible to find outside of Miami), so all of the 50 cents we got for each shot was pure profit. But we ran a small operation, only selling coffee during midterms and finals.

Bryan Zupon, a senior at Duke, took that idea about 200 steps further by running his own restaurant. In his dorm room. Zupon's dorm seems nicer than most: an apartment-style setup with a standard kitchen, which he has equipped with a vacuum sealer, two refurbished laboratory water baths, and an induction burner. It's out of this small space that he's run Z Kitchen since September of his junior year, with dinner service every weekend except for during midterms and finals.

Our jaw dropped when we saw the photos that accompany the article. Just check out the presentation, and then look at the kitchen with which he's working. Incredibly impressive. We're curious about how much he charges for dinner; we imagine college students can't afford something too expensive. But Zupon's an economics major who's going to join a consulting firm, so he's not doing it as charity either. Two years, multiple dinners every weekend...he's probably paid off that vacuum sealer and then some.

Too Cool for School [New York Times]

Plum's got a great video up with advice on how to get on your bartender's good side. Want to get your drink quickly? Make eye contact, have your money ready, and be patient if it's a really busy night. Tip well. And don't ever yell "hey!" to a bartender to get his or her attention. He (or she) will NOT be pleased.

Schmooze for (Fast) Booze [Plum Miami Beach]

• Someone is off robbing Burger Kings. [Miami Herald]

• Can someone explain South Florida's love for Brazilian steakhouses? [Stuck On The Palmetto]

• Again, the new Whole Foods is kind of awesome. [Blind Mind]

• Also, kind of awesome: Boca Raton's Tom Sawyer. [From the Test Kitchen]

This week marks the start of the 12th annual Epcot Food & Wine Festival, for those who like their ethnic food to come with a pair of mouse ears. The event began on Friday and ends on November 11. There will be music (think Little Richard, David Cassidy, and Jon Secada), food, seminars, and themed dinners. For just $210 per person (plus tax, although tip is included), you too can get a seat in one of these five-course dinners, with themes like "A California Landscape," "A Tuscan Renaissance," and "Bordeaux - Inspiration for Anton Ego."

Some other events of note:
• A South African Wine Event on October 12 at 6:30 p.m., which will feature samples from 40 vineyards for $75.
• Odyssey Kitchen Conversations: televised chats with chefs about how they became successful, plus a cooking demonstration and tasting, for $75
• The Cook, The Book, and The Bottle: a demonstration by a noted chef, plus a three-course meal with wine pairings, for $150
• Sweet Sundays: top pastry chefs prepare three sweet treats, served with sparkling wine and a continental breakfast, for $65.

There's no cost (aside from the Epcot admission fee, although that's not required for the themed dinners) to going to the festival, but there is, of course, a charge to eat and taste; appetizer-size portions will be available for $1.50-$4.50 at the restaurants, and each of the seminars costs extra. One could easily drop a lot of cash at this thing. But then, isn't that always the case with Disney World?

The 12th Annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival "Tastefully Inspired" [WDW Info]

We just finished up with Miami Spice, so now it's on to Dine Out Lauderdale! Will these restaurant promotions never cease? We imagine they will, once the tourists arrive for the season. But anyway, Dine Out Lauderdale is a six-week restaurant promotion for Broward County restaurants, from October 1 until November 15, sponsored by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. They're using all sorts of cutesy names (Greater "Fork" Lauderdale, LauderLicious, etc.) to get people's attention. Thirty-five restaurants in Greater "Fork" Lauderdale will be serving up three-course prix fixe dinners for $35.

The lineup: 35 restaurants total, including Mark's Las Olas, Mark's Las Olas, Food Amongst The Flowers, Aizia at the Westin Diplomat, and Himmarshee Bar & Grille. For a complete list, check out the bureau's website.

Ah, but there's fine print. The offer is valid only on Sundays through Thursdays, and it's not valid during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, October 25-29. We find it a little annoying that the promotion isn't good on Friday and Saturday nights. If you're going to do this big promotion, why not go all the way with it? They seem to be trying to copy the success of Miami Spice, but the whole reason Miami Spice is successful is because it includes a ton of restaurants with both lunch and dinner Spice menus and doesn't place limitations on weekend dinners. We'll see how this turns out. Any Dine Out Lauderdale reviews? Tell us!

Your entree into Greater Fort Lauderdale's gourmet scene [Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau]