I found a trivia card game about Florida that is so fun and unique, I had to share: Sunshine Brain Games. It's made in the U.S.A. ,which I love, and I also love the engaging and colorful design of the box and the cards. Their mascot is an alligator (very appropriate!) whose name is Al The Gator. He's adorable and both boys and girls will love him. I'm an adult and I love Al The Gator!
The Trivia Cards
Each box of cards has 54 questions and answers about Florida that anyone, of any age, will love to try and answer. You'll find questions about theme parks, Florida's agriculture, cool places and events, and educational things too, like who named Florida? What's the state reptile? What's the state bird? It's a winner.
Education that's fun is hard to beat - any teacher can tell you that. My sister is a teacher and she loves Sunshine Brain Games and is already pestering them for a second edition with more questions. I hear it's in the works.
If you have kids, give them a game that will actually teach them something - Sunshine Brain Games. At their website, you can test your own knowledge of Florida, then order a deck or two, or ten. Spread the word, this is a true gem of a small gift. Oh, and if you LIKE them on Facebook, you can get a code to save 15% off your order.
El Santo Coyote, Homestead
If you're in a hurry, don't go. If you can spend a little time, enjoying someone's company and oogling over fresh salsa that will be made tableside, then drive as fast as you can and get here.
El Santo Coyote started as a Mexican pottery store but has grown into a Mexican Mecca of sorts. Outside, you'll find tiki huts that appear to be a happening spot for future use (or maybe I've just missed the parties), and inside, there is a bar and several separate dining areas for your dining pleasure. One room looks like you're dining at someone's kitchen table. Love it. Casual, nice lighting, homey touches. Very welcoming.
I'm sure the service will get better (or the kitchen will get faster) as they progress. But for now, it can be slow. But it's worth the wait - keep telling yourself that. To keep you busy, your server will bring over a large tray with a heavy mortar and pestle made from lava rock. Surrounding this lava bowl are lots of smaller bowls filled with salsa necesseties and extravagances like roasted tomatoes, roasted garlic, diced onion, sea salt, chopped cilantro, limes...and you can choose how the server will make your salsa - a.k.a. how hot do you want it? Medium provided plenty of heat.
Now, enjoy, be patient and wait while your order is made with pure, authentic Mexican love.
We ordered combination fajitas (shrimp, chicken and beef), tacos, flautas, a vegetarian burrito and enchiladas (hey, we had a BIG party). All were very tasty. I had a special fondness for the tacos and fajitas because of the homemade corn tortillas. Like a fast train to flavor town. Get on board.
They also have a full liquor bar. The margaritas are sweet and sour, just the way I like 'em. Mexican beers are also available. In three visits, I have never been able to save room for dessert, but rest assured, I'll keep trying. Stay tuned.
El Santo Coyote started as a Mexican pottery store but has grown into a Mexican Mecca of sorts. Outside, you'll find tiki huts that appear to be a happening spot for future use (or maybe I've just missed the parties), and inside, there is a bar and several separate dining areas for your dining pleasure. One room looks like you're dining at someone's kitchen table. Love it. Casual, nice lighting, homey touches. Very welcoming.
I'm sure the service will get better (or the kitchen will get faster) as they progress. But for now, it can be slow. But it's worth the wait - keep telling yourself that. To keep you busy, your server will bring over a large tray with a heavy mortar and pestle made from lava rock. Surrounding this lava bowl are lots of smaller bowls filled with salsa necesseties and extravagances like roasted tomatoes, roasted garlic, diced onion, sea salt, chopped cilantro, limes...and you can choose how the server will make your salsa - a.k.a. how hot do you want it? Medium provided plenty of heat.
Now, enjoy, be patient and wait while your order is made with pure, authentic Mexican love.
We ordered combination fajitas (shrimp, chicken and beef), tacos, flautas, a vegetarian burrito and enchiladas (hey, we had a BIG party). All were very tasty. I had a special fondness for the tacos and fajitas because of the homemade corn tortillas. Like a fast train to flavor town. Get on board.
They also have a full liquor bar. The margaritas are sweet and sour, just the way I like 'em. Mexican beers are also available. In three visits, I have never been able to save room for dessert, but rest assured, I'll keep trying. Stay tuned.
Flats Fishing For Kids
When in Florida, you've got to go fishing. There is nothing more relaxing than throwing a line in the water and there's nothing more exciting than when a fish hits your bait and you start reeling!
Kids love fishing but if you've been hesitant to take them out in a boat, flats fishing may be your ideal solution. Flats-fishing is perfect for children of all ages: The water’s shallow; there’s plenty of marine life to spy and action on the rods keeps boredom at bay.
Where to go:
Destin
Nicknamed the “world’s luckiest fishing village,” Destin offers everything from speckled trout on the flats to cobia near shore. Do “hook & cook” at Fisherman’s Wharf (bring your catch; they’ll cook it). Nothing better than fresh fish you’ve caught yourself!
On the west coast of Florida Naples Everglades National Park
From Key Largo to Key West
Kids will love reeling in catfish, ladyfish, snapper, redfish…and bottlenose dolphin are known to swim right up to the boat to say hello in Estero Bay
Discover something new in the nation’s oldest city! Kids will love looking for creatures above and below the water (which is generally only 8 inches to 5 feet deep on the flats). What a great city to explore on land and by sea.
Stuart
The areas of Fort Pierce Jensen Beach
Did you know that Tampa Bay
Girls Gone Fishing! Captain Pip's Hideaway, Marathon
My girlfriend Michele is a fishing fanatic. Her husband? Not so much. And he’s always working so she never gets to fish. Well my friend, I have the answer to your dilemma. A Girls’ Gone Fishing Weekend at Captain Pip’s Marina & Hideaway in
Captain Pip’s has guest rooms, efficiencies, and one- and two-bedroom suites (12 in total) and they’re nestled right on the bay
If you’re not handy with a boat but love to fish like Michele and I, Captain Pip’s has charter boat rentals and guides who will take you fishing. Check out this Three Day Budget Getaway, perfect for a girls’ weekend, moms’ getaway or single moms to take their kids out on the water:
Three-Day Budget Getaway includes:
- Three nights of first-class lodging at Captain Pip’s Marina & Hideway
- Two full days of fishing with a guide
- Upgrade to a pro series boat rental
- Bait
- Ice
- Fuel
The cost is only $1,385 for 1-2 people and $1,785 for 3-4 people. Now, do the math and divide that up and you’ve got an affordable, unforgettable weekend on the water! (Additional costs would be what you’d expect, like sales tax, $17 fishing license fee, food, drinks and customary 20% tip for your hard-working guide. Don't be chintzy!)
The rooms here are super clean, comfy, and come with beach towels, a cooler, drink coolie cups to use, a full size refrigerator, and either partial kitchen or full kitchen facilities. And Captain Pip’s lives up to its name, it’s a hideaway that you can’t even see from the main road (US1). The buildings are shaded and hidden in lush greenery, flowers and trees. And if you like BBQ, Porkie’s is literally a few steps away, on the water, featuring live entertainment each day, good food and cold drinks.
Captain Pip’s is even the recipient of the Superior Small Lodging White Glove Award so you can feel comfortable coming here with just the girls or your kids. They have other fishing and lodging packages as well, just log on to their website for more info, or call Barbara at 305-743-2844 or 1-800-707-1692. She’ll hook you up.
See you there. Michele, start packing!
Grown Up Getaways In Kissimmee
Daytime sun. Nighttime fun. Kissimmee Central Florida for a grown-up getaway.
Early risers
Need for speed
Want to see Lake Toho
Sun worshippers
No need to leave Central Florida to find a beach, there’s one right here, at the St. Cloud Lakefront. Lie in the clean white sand, relax in a lounge chair by the water, or bike along the shores. Rekindle that flame and share a dream for every different species of bird you see (and you’ll see plenty).
Nighttime thrills
What’s better than zipping a ½ mile across the treetops, 55 feet off the ground? I'll tell you what - doing it in the dark, baby. At Forever Florida, you’ll see more stars that you ever imagined as you zip in the darkness. Feeling really brave? Gatorland takes ziplining to new heights with their Eco-Zip line. Whiz right above their jumping Cuban crocodiles (um, no thanks, I'm not brave at all)!
Need more thrills and chills? Try a nighttime airboat adventure. With eyes that glow red in the dark, you can easily spot alligators – everywhere. Green eyes are deer. Great excuse to hold on tight to the one you love, or the one you're with.
Foodies rejoice
Bull & Bear® is legendary in Manhattan Orlando United States
At the Gaylord Palms, you’ll find several fine restaurants in the most romantic settings, but none like Sunset Sam’s. Step aboard a 60’sailboat, anchored in a beautiful lagoon – all underneath a 4-acre atrium. You will not believe it when you see it. Gaylord Palms is amazing and so are their restaurants.
Got a hankering for something different, and delicious? The Columbia Restaurant is Florida Valencia
For a delightful after-dinner treat, stroll along the shops of Downtown Celebration, stopping at Kilwin’s for homemade ice cream and chocolates. And just when you thought you couldn’t possibly earn any more brownie points for being romantic, along comes your horse-drawn carriage. Friday through Sunday evenings, from till , enjoy the soothing sounds of the clippity clop as the horses make their way up Celebration Avenue . You’ll definitely fall in love, with Kissimmee
Food Tours in Florida: Foodies Rejoice!
Got a family of “Foodies?” Check out these family friendly food tours around the state that you can really sink your teeth into.
Angell & Phelps Chocolate Factory, Daytona Beach
Is there anything better than free chocolate? How about a free chocolate tour? Since 1925, Angell & Phelps has been making luscious candy & chocolate the old-fashioned way. Tours are about 30 minutes followed by a tasty, chocolaty reward. Tour times are Monday-Saturday, on the hour from till , excluding .
Whetstone Chocolate Factory, St. Augustine
Chocolate Tasting or Chocolate Indulgence? Two tours to choose from, both offering euphoric results. Chocolate Tasting is 50 minutes of white, dark, milk, cream chocolates and truffles mixed with intriguing history. For true chocoholics, Indulgence is 90 minutes and you’ll make your own chocolate bar and a chef will prepare chocolaty drinks and treats for you.
Chalet Suzanne, Lake Wales
A soup cannery may not sound “souper” fun, but the creations at this beloved restaurant and inn are out of this world. In fact, this soup went to the moon with Apollo 15, and into space with Apollo 16. The Smithsonian even carries their “Moon Soup” (as it’s nicknamed). Upon entering, belly up to the crock pots to taste scrumptious selections. Their #1 soup man, Taysser, will then tour you for free and show you how 10,000 cans a week are produced. Soup is available for purchase by can or case, along with “I got canned at Chalet Suzanne” t-shirts.
Finally, food tours in the culinary melting pot of Miami Cuba
Kermit’s Key Lime Shop, Key West
This corner shop (which you may have seen on the Today Show, FoodTV and Travel Channel) is home to award-winning key lime pie, cookies, candies, sauces, dips and Kermit – who loves enlightening his guests about everything key lime. Come visit his charming corner shop, sample, and delight in his tales. Then relax in the outside garden. Be careful as Kermit is famous for pie-in-the-face antics. He loves to surprise unsuspecting passerbys with a fake pie. Gets me every time.
That's Kermit. Be sure to say hello and duck!
Florida's Most Romantic Escape
I had wanted to come here my entire adult life. Honestly, I just couldn't afford it. Then fate stepped in and I was invited. Life is good, my friend. And it's even better now that I've experienced this secluded, romantic and awe-inspiring island.
Little Palm Island. Remember the name. This place will seriously change your life for the better. First, let me tell you this – the only way to get there is either by boat or seaplane. And that is just the beginning of your exemplary, romantic journey.
Little Palm Island is a five-acre islet off the Lower Keys that has everything you could wish for in a romantic getaway: thatched-roof bungalows (like you see in Fiji brochures), exquisite dining by the sea (with your feet in the sand if you like), remarkable ocean views, wandering key deer, lush trails that meander, oodles of privacy and unmatched five-star service. You will, undoubtedly, think you have discovered the most romantic spot on Earth, and I think you’d be right.
No telephones. No TVs. No distractions. There is truly nothing like it.
If you were here in person listening to me rave about Little Palm Island, you would definitely see my eyes light up as I describe the tropical, thatched roof bungalows. There are only 30 on the island. Each offers plenty of room with a king-sized bed (draped in butterfly netting), a separate living room, indoor and outdoor showers, and a private verandah. The outside shower is splendid! You can see the stars at night as the water washes over you. Divine!
Since I tend to talk with my hands when I’m excited, you’d probably have to duck a few times as I’d definitely be excited as I told you about the key deer that roam freely, grazing on flowers. Michael and I would admire these dainty creatures late each afternoon, as they gingerly walked right below our verandah (where we’d share coffee each morning in our plush robes). The key deer would also wander onto the tranquil pool deck where we’d lie in comfy chaise loungers beneath the rustling palm fronds.
Ready to pack up and head to Little Palm Island? Here’s how to get here: Drive south to Mile Marker 28.5 in the Lower Florida Keys and there you’ll find Little Palm Island’s Welcome Station, oceanside
Now, as you arrive, take a moment to realize where you are. On an island! You’re certain to already be impressed, but now you’ll be escorted to your bungalow and given a quick tour along the way so you can find the facilities: a spa, fitness room, restaurant, pool bar, salon, marina, life-size chess set, the game room, and the phone booth.
Forget counting calories. You’ll savor every bite.
The restaurant at Little Palm Island offers an array of fresh, succulent ingredients for every meal. How about Crab Cakes Benedict in the morning? Or, perfectly cooked, local spiny lobster tails in the evening? Each course is a masterpiece of presentation and taste, and the fact that your table is merely inches from the water, and your toes are in the sand, well, that just adds to the surreal experience.
Do it all or nothing at all.
As you’re on an island, dive trips are an easy excursion. They’ll arrange everything for your excursion to Looe Key, a barrier reef teeming with vibrant marine life. You can also use their kayaks for free or a 13’ Boston
Do yourself, and the one you love, a big favor and plan the most romantic escape of your life to Little Palm Island. No kids are allowed so line up a sitter for at least two nights. And bring a box of Kleenex because when it’s time to board the shuttle launch back to reality, you will cry! Or, just do like I did, and extend your stay a little longer.
It’s true what they say, "Once you sleep on an island, you’ll never be the same.” You’ll see.
JJ's Big Chill, Key Largo
I have a new favorite restaurant in Key Largo, JJ’s Big Chill. Owned by former NFL coach, Jimmy Johnson, this place is worth the visit.
On one end is a sports bar with numerous flat screen TVs and small area with video games. Then there’s an inside bar area, an inside dining area, an outside dining area (on the deck), a huge tiki bar, and on the far end is a swimming pool. Purchase $10 in food and you’re welcome to swim. There are also several cabanas that you can rent for $150 for the entire day. And did I mention, it’s waterfront? Yes, you can sit inside or out, right on the shimmering Florida Bay, and endlessly gaze at sailboats, soaring birds, and parasailing bravehearts.
Appetizers
The first item we had to try was Tuna Nachos. At $13, I hoped they’d be spectacular. They were! Mounds of crispy wonton chips, heaped into an over-sized bowl, topped with freshly chopped, sushi-grade, barely seared tuna, noodle-y strips of seaweed (wakame) salad, and drizzled with a not-too-spicy wasabi sauce. Wow. A heavenly explosion of textures and flavors, indeed. You will crave these in your sleep.
They have a brick oven on premises for pizza and calzones but it also happens to aid in their delightful offering of brick-oven roasted chicken wings. Forget blue cheese and wing sauce, these crispy morsels are smothered in sauteed onions, garlic and rosemary. And they’ll make you give back things you never stole. Mmm. Mmm.
We also tried the fried shrimp, parmesan crusted snapper, slider burgers and several side dishes like Asian fried green beans and mashed sweet potatoes - all were generous portions and quite good.
Just Desserts
I’d like to be best friends with their pasty chef. The Ultimate Crusted Key Lime Pie and the Macadamia White Chocolate Cheesecake were so good, I’d drive to Key Largo just to get a slice, or two. And don’t get me started on the Apple Cobbler.
Yes, you will find me at JJ’s Big Chill often. I’m addicted. And the man himself was there. I happily ogled from a distance, as I enjoyed every last crumb of my ultimate-crusted key lime pie.
On one end is a sports bar with numerous flat screen TVs and small area with video games. Then there’s an inside bar area, an inside dining area, an outside dining area (on the deck), a huge tiki bar, and on the far end is a swimming pool. Purchase $10 in food and you’re welcome to swim. There are also several cabanas that you can rent for $150 for the entire day. And did I mention, it’s waterfront? Yes, you can sit inside or out, right on the shimmering Florida Bay, and endlessly gaze at sailboats, soaring birds, and parasailing bravehearts.
Appetizers
The first item we had to try was Tuna Nachos. At $13, I hoped they’d be spectacular. They were! Mounds of crispy wonton chips, heaped into an over-sized bowl, topped with freshly chopped, sushi-grade, barely seared tuna, noodle-y strips of seaweed (wakame) salad, and drizzled with a not-too-spicy wasabi sauce. Wow. A heavenly explosion of textures and flavors, indeed. You will crave these in your sleep.
They have a brick oven on premises for pizza and calzones but it also happens to aid in their delightful offering of brick-oven roasted chicken wings. Forget blue cheese and wing sauce, these crispy morsels are smothered in sauteed onions, garlic and rosemary. And they’ll make you give back things you never stole. Mmm. Mmm.
We also tried the fried shrimp, parmesan crusted snapper, slider burgers and several side dishes like Asian fried green beans and mashed sweet potatoes - all were generous portions and quite good.
Just Desserts
I’d like to be best friends with their pasty chef. The Ultimate Crusted Key Lime Pie and the Macadamia White Chocolate Cheesecake were so good, I’d drive to Key Largo just to get a slice, or two. And don’t get me started on the Apple Cobbler.
Yes, you will find me at JJ’s Big Chill often. I’m addicted. And the man himself was there. I happily ogled from a distance, as I enjoyed every last crumb of my ultimate-crusted key lime pie.
Shiver's BBQ, Homestead, Florida
I love BBQ. All kinds. Dry rub from Memphis, wet in Kansas City, smoked in Austin, tangy in the Carolinas…I’m an enthusiastic connoisseur. BBQ gets me excited. I love when the distinctive scent of hickory blasts my olfactoy as I enter an establishment. My mouth begins to water, my tummy rumbles, and my willpower fades into thin air like the thick smoke from the roof vents.
I always get that excited feeling when I pull into the parking lot of Shiver’s BBQ in Homestead, Florida. Shiver’s is an institution, and can boast that they’ve been serving customers for over 50 years. Best of all, it’s consistently good. Their baby back ribs always fall off the bone. Their brisket is always fall-apart tender. And the collard greens are the best. Period.
A Diverse Menu
Chicken, ribs, pork, catfish, brisket, prime rib, burgers…all cooked over a hickory fire - and served up with your choice of two sides. And there are lots of sides to choose from. Those famous collards, sweet potato fries, black eyed peas, mashed potatoes, hush puppies (the really cripsy old fashioned kind), garlic toast, green beans, corn or sweet potato souffle. What more could a girl ask for?
Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
It will be hard to save room after all that succulence, but try, because the desserts are actually worth the calories. My boys (6 & 12) love the fried cheesecake. I’m partial to peach cobbler, pumpkin cobbler (in season), and the strawberry shortcake.
Next time you’re traveling through South Florida, perhaps on your way to the beautiful Florida Keys, stop in to Shiver’s on US1 and SW 280th Street. You can’t miss it, it looks like an old cabin home with a little neon in the window. Owners Perry and Martha will probably be there to say hello.
Cantina Beach, Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne
Cantina Beach is Miami’s only oceanfront Mexican restaurant. And if the seaside location isn’t impressive enough, just wait till you sink your teeth into any of Chef Andres Parlange’s authentic creations.
First you should know that Chef Andres is a native of Chiapas, Mexico. You’ll probably see him greeting guests beneath the enormous thatched-roof palapa, passionately explaining the history of each dish and which fresh ingredients he incorporated. Delightful, indeed. (It’s no wonder that Catherine Zeta Jones scooped him up to be her personal chef for three months while making a movie. Smart girl.)
Guacamole Made Tableside
If you’re a fan of freshly made guacamole, layered with flavors, and just the right amount of chunkiness, run to Cantina Beach and have a seat. Skilled hands use knives and forks to create bowls of heavenly goodness right before your eyes. Choose traditional Guacamole made with avocados, lime, tomato, red onion, cilantro and jalapeno. Or, treat your taste buds to Guacamole Con Mango or their Guacamole Con Chicharron. with pineapple and crispy bits of pork skin. Delish.
Appetizers (una maravilla!)
Three words: Flight of Ceviches. Shrimp, Snapper and Octopus are presented on a rectangular plate, perfect for sharing, or keeping all for yourself ($18). Simple yet exploding with freshness. The octopus is remarkable.
Tostadas De Cochinita Pibil (love the name!) are crispy morsels stuffed with Yucatan-style, pit bar-be-qued pork laced with pickled red onions ($14). And their Mini Crab Crispy Tacos topped with avocado salsa are a seafood lover’s dream $18).
Main Events
One of Chef Andres’ signature dishes is Cazuela De Mariscos ($34). Fresh Florida seafood (like grouper, shrimp and calamari) braised ever-so-gently with chipotle, onions and garlic. You will lick your fingers and the bowl.
And as much my lips loved all of the above-mentioned dishes, what really knocked my socks off were the Carnitas De Cerdo ($18). Imagine, slowly braised pork ribs that fall off the bone, so juicy, so tender…now, take a fresh, warm corn tortilla, wrap it around your pork rib, and gently pull. In one hand will be the pork bone, and in the other, a corn tortilla loaded with braised pork, ready to top with salsa verde. Oh my.
Cantina Beach offers a well-rounded menu that includes daily specialty items native to regions throughout Mexico, so even if you have friends who swear they don’t like Mexican food, I bet Cantina Beach will convert them to our equipo.
The Country’s First Tequilier
Tequila fans. listen up, rather, listen to Heriberto Ovideo. He’s the master Tequilier. Just as a wine sommelier knows about grapes, Heriberto knows about Agave, from white to golden and everything in between. So forget what you know about salt and lime, let Heriberto enlighten you about the 85+ premium Agave tequilas offered at Cantina Beach. “Tequila is actually a very sophisticated spirit and I enjoy…providing recommendations on how to best enjoy it.” Um, I thoroughly enjoyed being enlightened by Heriberto - and the tequila was good, too…
Oceanfront and Oh-So-Fabulous
Cantina Beach is one of those quintessential South Florida locations. It has wonderful sea breezes, sun, sand, surf and oh yeah, IT’S ON THE OCEAN. You will love sitting around the firepit, soaking in the views, before or after your meal.
If you’re looking for the perfect place to impress out-of-town guests or clients, think Cantina Beach at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. For more info, call 305-365-4286.
Cantina Beach, Miami’s only oceanfront Mexican restaurant, Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne.
Chef Andres Parlange, Chef de Cuisine at Cantina Beach, Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne
Pork Carnitas at Cantina Beach, Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne
Heriberto Oviedo, the authoritative voice on all things Tequila.
First you should know that Chef Andres is a native of Chiapas, Mexico. You’ll probably see him greeting guests beneath the enormous thatched-roof palapa, passionately explaining the history of each dish and which fresh ingredients he incorporated. Delightful, indeed. (It’s no wonder that Catherine Zeta Jones scooped him up to be her personal chef for three months while making a movie. Smart girl.)
Guacamole Made Tableside
If you’re a fan of freshly made guacamole, layered with flavors, and just the right amount of chunkiness, run to Cantina Beach and have a seat. Skilled hands use knives and forks to create bowls of heavenly goodness right before your eyes. Choose traditional Guacamole made with avocados, lime, tomato, red onion, cilantro and jalapeno. Or, treat your taste buds to Guacamole Con Mango or their Guacamole Con Chicharron. with pineapple and crispy bits of pork skin. Delish.
Appetizers (una maravilla!)
Three words: Flight of Ceviches. Shrimp, Snapper and Octopus are presented on a rectangular plate, perfect for sharing, or keeping all for yourself ($18). Simple yet exploding with freshness. The octopus is remarkable.
Tostadas De Cochinita Pibil (love the name!) are crispy morsels stuffed with Yucatan-style, pit bar-be-qued pork laced with pickled red onions ($14). And their Mini Crab Crispy Tacos topped with avocado salsa are a seafood lover’s dream $18).
Main Events
One of Chef Andres’ signature dishes is Cazuela De Mariscos ($34). Fresh Florida seafood (like grouper, shrimp and calamari) braised ever-so-gently with chipotle, onions and garlic. You will lick your fingers and the bowl.
And as much my lips loved all of the above-mentioned dishes, what really knocked my socks off were the Carnitas De Cerdo ($18). Imagine, slowly braised pork ribs that fall off the bone, so juicy, so tender…now, take a fresh, warm corn tortilla, wrap it around your pork rib, and gently pull. In one hand will be the pork bone, and in the other, a corn tortilla loaded with braised pork, ready to top with salsa verde. Oh my.
Cantina Beach offers a well-rounded menu that includes daily specialty items native to regions throughout Mexico, so even if you have friends who swear they don’t like Mexican food, I bet Cantina Beach will convert them to our equipo.
The Country’s First Tequilier
Tequila fans. listen up, rather, listen to Heriberto Ovideo. He’s the master Tequilier. Just as a wine sommelier knows about grapes, Heriberto knows about Agave, from white to golden and everything in between. So forget what you know about salt and lime, let Heriberto enlighten you about the 85+ premium Agave tequilas offered at Cantina Beach. “Tequila is actually a very sophisticated spirit and I enjoy…providing recommendations on how to best enjoy it.” Um, I thoroughly enjoyed being enlightened by Heriberto - and the tequila was good, too…
Oceanfront and Oh-So-Fabulous
Cantina Beach is one of those quintessential South Florida locations. It has wonderful sea breezes, sun, sand, surf and oh yeah, IT’S ON THE OCEAN. You will love sitting around the firepit, soaking in the views, before or after your meal.
If you’re looking for the perfect place to impress out-of-town guests or clients, think Cantina Beach at the Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne. Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. For more info, call 305-365-4286.
Cantina Beach, Miami’s only oceanfront Mexican restaurant, Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne.
Chef Andres Parlange, Chef de Cuisine at Cantina Beach, Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne
Pork Carnitas at Cantina Beach, Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne
Heriberto Oviedo, the authoritative voice on all things Tequila.
Hideaway Cafe, Marathon, Florida
The Hideaway Café is appropriately named. If you didn’t know it was there, you definitely wouldn’t spot it from the road, and you certainly wouldn’t see their sign. But let me tell you, it’s worth finding.
Tucked away on the second floor of the Rainbow Bend Resort on Grassy Key (mile marker 58 oceanside in the Florida Keys), Hideaway Café serves breakfast and dinner to lucky hotel guests and to those-in-the-know. I discovered it by asking some locals where to eat while I was staying at Hawk’s Cay Resort.
As you park, you’ll be wondering, “Is this right?” Rest assured, if you’re in the parking of Rainbow Bend, you’ve arrived. Then, as you trek up the concrete steps, you will surely think this is a dive, but you’ll be wrong. Small, yes. Unassuming, yes. Fab food and oceanfront views? Oh, yes. And the staff greets you like you’re a long, lost relative; they’re very happy to see you. Upon being seated inside (in air-conditioned comfort), or on the jalousie-window enclosed patio with faint sea breezes, you’ll be given a basket of warm, French bread.
Settle in. Have a look around. You’ll see Keys-casually dressed couples sitting comfortably at white linen clothed tables, sipping wine by candlelight. It’s a welcoming sight. Now, peruse the menu and you’ll find a good variety of fresh seafood dishes, pasta, chicken and beef. You’ll also find some unexpected choices (for a little place in the Keys), like delightful French Onion Soup ($8). My favorite appetizer is the escargot, but think way outside the familiar flat dish with little individual butter pools for each snail. I’m talking Escargot á la Edison ($9). These tender delights are cognac-flamed then arranged beautifully on a plate with creamy cognac, garlic, and pepper cream sauce - and perfectly julienned vegetables. So tasty and full of flavor, you’ll be tempted to order a second plate.
Main courses include a plethora of local seafood from lobster to hogfish. You’ll also find standout dishes, like Roasted Whole Duck á la Hideaway ($29), Full Rack of Lamb with herb coating ($32), and amazingly tender and flavorful aged steaks. As a Libra, I find it extremely difficult to decide. Ever time. Luckily, the waiters are always eager to offer their expert recommendations.
One of my favs is the Hideaway Seafood Special ($28). It’s their catch of the day (hogfish many times), sautéed francaise style and topped with large shrimp and sea scallops. Divine. Seafood Puttanesca is another winner ($26).
Now, about those steaks…they age their own, and the chef’s special is the nearly two-pound Rib Steak. You’ll also find Chateaubriand, NY Strip, and you will love the Filet Medallions á la Beurre Noir. Filet slices flambéed with cognac and garlic ($28). You just can’t go wrong. And forget everything being a la carte! Entrees include choice of house or Cesar salad, potato, and vegetable of the day (think broccoli with hollandaise or green beans with tomatoes).
If you saved room for dessert, treat yourself to either the Bananas Foster or their homemade cheesecake. Sigh.
Hideaway Café does offer a kids menu, although I’d rather NOT have my kids in tow at this romantic of a place, but it’s nice to know that they do, in case you absolutely have to ($9-$10). That reminds me, they have beer and wine!
So, next time you’re looking for a romantic spot to dine that’s off the beaten path, FIND the Hideaway Café. Reservations are highly recommended. Call 305-289-1554.
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