New Restaurants Around Town

Steakhouses to Sustainable : South Florida Restaurant Openings

Texas De Brazil is opening their fourth location in Fort Lauderdale on June 29^th. The 9,200 square foot restaurant will offer an extensive menu of grilled meats, including seasoned cuts of beef, pork, lamb, chicken and Brazilian sausage, all prepared in the traditional Brazilian method over an open flame and carved table-side.  The restaurant also features a  40-60 item fresh salad bar area, which includes appetizers, homemade soups and dressings and an assortment of gourmet cheeses.  For more information or to make a reservation click here.

Texas De Brazil, 2457 East Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale

Max’s Harvest, a farm-to-fork concept recently opened in Delray Beach’s Pineapple Grove district serving American fare in a comfortable and contemporary setting. The menu includes, Free Range Deviled Eggs with Chives and Truffle Sea Salt ($14), Pan Roasted Poulet Rouge Chicken ($23) and Cedar Key Clams and Florida Shrimp plus more naturally delicious dishes. The restaurant offers a small outdoor patio, perfect for intimate get-togethers. Max’s Harvest will be open from 5pm to 10pm Monday through Thursday,  5pm to 11pm on Friday and Saturday and 4pm–9pm on Sunday. For more information call 561-381-9970

Max’s Harvest, 169 NE Second Ave., Delray Beach

DIG (Doing It Green) is an Eco-conscious restaurant  in Delray Beach serving big flavors with a small footprint. The entirely organic menu includes grass-fed chicken and beef, wild seafood,  a huge salad bar plus an organic juice bar and organic wine and beer. One of the coolest parts of this restaurant is the table side humus!  DIG will be open from 11am to 11pm Sunday through Thursday and 11am to 2am on Friday and Saturday. For more information or to make reservations, call 561-638-0500.

Dig, 5199 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach                                                                                                                             

CG Burgers recently opened in Coral Springs with an additional location set to open soon in Fort Lauderdale. The casual fast food restaurant serves burgers, french fries (potato and zucchini), roasted wings, milk shakes, and sandwiches. If you are looking for a lighter option, they also have a salad bar. CG Burgers is open 7-days a week, 11am to 10pm.

CG Burger, 4320 N. State Road 7, Coral Springs

Dinner after Dessert: The Grateful Palate – Ft. Lauderdale

A few weeks ago FOTF attended a cupcake and wine pairing event at The Grateful Palate in Ft. Lauderdale (see our post here). Since the sweet event lasted only a few hours, when we completed our pairing rounds we decided to stay a little longer to try a few items from their contemporary American dinner menu. We were grateful that we did, dinner was a complete delight!

Greek Salad

On the Menu:

The Grateful Greek Salad, $8/$14, tomato, cucumber, red onion, kalamata olives, feta fritters, red wine, vinaigrette

The petite side salad was tossed in a light red wine vinaigrette that did not overpower the dish and had diced red onion, sliced kalamata olives, and cherry tomatoes. Also included were two feta cheese fritters that were incredibly delicious. The exterior was slightly crispy and the interior was filled with mild cheese. They practically melted in your mouth!

Chicken Supreme

Chicken Supreme, $28, arugula, shaved fennel, poached garlic and sun-dried tomato vinaigrette, balsamic drizzle, and olive bread crouton.

Everything about this dish was wonderful. It was beautifully presented, perfectly portioned, and flawlessly prepared. The aroma was heavenly and the taste was top-notch! The chicken was juicy, the sun-dried tomatoes were succulent and the olive bread croutons were an added indulgence.

The restaurant not only serves up great food, they also have an extensive wine selection complete with a knowledgable and friendly staff. The interior is swanky enough for a date but still warm and laid-back enough for an evening out with friends!

Side Note: On the menu The Grateful Palate offers a Trio of Frites. (shoestring, sweet potato and yucca) Perfect for sharing. Unfortunately, we just didn’t have enough room to order those as well, after the cupcakes & wine, generous bread offerings, salad, and entree! They are on our list for a return visit. 

The Grateful Palate
817 SE 17th Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
954-467-1998
@TheGratefulPalate

FOTF visit the Top Chef Tour, Ft. Lauderdale

On Friday, June 3rd Foodies on the Fly headed down to Huizenga Park in Ft. Lauderdale to view Bravo’s  Top Chef Tour.  When we arrived we immediately spotted the Top Chef tent which housed two cooking stations, one round judges table and seating for lucky audience members.  We quickly placed our names on the list to ensure we would be comfortably seated inside the tent as opposed to standing outside in the sweltering heat.

The competing Top Chefs were Chef Tiffany Derry and Chef Kenny Gilbert, both of Season 7.  Hosted by Bravo, with judges Chef Carlos Fernandez, Top Chef Season 2, Lisa Scott Founds, Winterfest (The Greatest Show on H2O – World’s Most Watched Boat Parade in Ft. Lauderdale), and a producer from Top Chef.

The completion was done quickfire style where the contestants had 15 minutes to create a dish out of a limited supply of ingredients, while utilizing the main protein, chosen by Top Chef groupies online. South Florida chose wild salmon as the main component. The clock started ticking and the chef-testants got to work, while being peppered with questions from the audience. Surprisingly both competitors chose to do a variation of curry. Tiffany chose to pan sear her salmon with curry and ginger and paired with fresh corn succotash. Kenny opted to serve his poke style with curry and quinoa on an endive. Typically while the judges taste test – we’re sitting at home salivating, well not today!

Chef Tiffany Derry's pan seared salmon

Chef Kenny Gilbert's poke style salmon

The audience wasn’t forgotten and we received samples of each too! Tiffany’s preparation was perfectly spiced and was beautifully complimented by the succotash. The crisp summer flavor of sweet corn was perfect on such a scorching day. Kenny’s salmon was accented with jalapenos, quinoa, and curry on an endive leaf.  A portable bite, full of color and maybe a bit too much heat for the afternoon sun, Kenny was edged out by Tiffany for the win. It was a close call, but the FOTF girls would have to agree.

After the event the guests were able to get signed photos of the chef-testants and play an array of games including a hole in one and an aroma challenge.

Check back here to see when they will be in your city.

Dining on the Las Olas Boulevard – Big City Tavern, Ft. Lauderdale

On Wednesday, Foodies on the Fly dined at Big City Tavern on Las Olas Boulevard to check out their new menu items and take a peak at the newly revamped interior.

The attractive restaurant was pleasantly quiet when we arrived which was nice after a busy day at the office, but quickly picked up around 6:30pm. The bar was filled with swanky businessmen and high-heeled ladies and the outdoor seating area was scattered with families, friends, and couples. Since the weather was enjoyable (not too muggy, rainy or otherwise uncomfortable) we decided to sit outside to take advantage of the cool breeze and people watch while we dined.

After being quickly seated our knowledgeable waitress presented us with the daily specials, suggested a few drinks, and frequently checked up on us after we were served to make sure everything was okay. And she wasn’t playing favorites; she made sure all of the guests in her area were enjoying their food and visit.

Pink Pearl and Orange Tickle

We started dinner with two of their newest cocktail creations, the Pink Pearl and the Orange Tickle, both were only $8 and worth the price.

What we Thought:
The Pink Pearl was a girly concoction of Pearl pomegranate vodka, St. Germaine elderflower liquor, fresh lime juice, cranberry juice, house-made hibiscus syrup and topped off with Champagne. With all of the ingredients one would think this drink would be super sweet but it was perfectly crafted and delicious. The taste of floral was nicely complemented by the citrus and Champagne.

The Orange Tickle was a bubbly blend that also combined St. Germaine elderflower liquor, though this time accompanied with blood orange juice, and grapefruit bitters and topped with champagne. It definitely did tickle your tonsils while sipping, but don’t be fooled, this innocent sounding drink carries a powerful punch.

Cocktail Tip: The best seller at the restaurant is the Southern Peach on the Beach.

On the Menu:

Appetizer: Flatbread and Dinner: Grilled Skirt Steak

Crispy Flat Bread: This daily special sounded to good to pass up. So of course we had to try it out. A blend of ricotta, sweet tomato sauce, caramelized onions, and spicy sausage layered on top of a crispy flatbread. The ingredients all tasted fresh and we were pleasantly surprised that all of the toppings stayed put while we indulged.

Grilled Skirt Steak: Our dinner was presented on a large white platter adorned with a tiny martini logo and appropriately timed after we completed our appetizer. The steak, topped with a delicious peppery glaze was served with addicting french fries and a crisp lightly dressed field green salad. The portion was large enough to share or perfect for anyone with a big appetite. Our steak was grilled to perfection at a medium well temperature, but you can opt for as rare or done as you like.

Big City Tavern is open daily and serves lunch, dinner, and late nigh bites plus they have a tempting line up of desserts. If we saved any room for sweets we definitely would have tried the Pistachio Brown Butter Bundt Cake ($7) with honey roasted spiced peaches and pistachio gelato or the Mounds Bar Sundae ($7) chocolate ice cream, Belgian chocolate sauce, chocolate chip cookies, whipped cream and coconut.

Check them out for yourself, and tell us what you think!

Big City Tavern
609 E. Las Olas Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
954-727-0307

Disclaimer: Big City Tavern invited us to try out their restaurant free of charge. The opinions in the post are our own.

Nibble and Sip: A Wine and Cupcake Pairing

If you can eat it, you can pair it with wine, and Thursday night was no exception!

On May, 19th, The Grateful Palate in Ft. Lauderdale held a Cupcake and Wine pairing with the amazingly talented Spiked Bakeshop, a new alcohol infused cupcake shop owned by the creative husband and wife team, Matthew and Heidi Depante.

From 6pm on, wine enthusiasts and cupcake connoisseurs were invited to sip a carefully selected vino and nibble on delectable cupcakes while mingling at the bar, chatting with friends, and lounging on the plush chairs and love seats around the restaurant. As an additional benefit of the evening, a small discount was provided on all main entrées after guests completed the pairing event.

The night was a huge success and the laid back setting made everything very relaxed and enjoyable. We were pleased to attend and cannot wait to see what they pair next.  Cheers!

What we sampled:

Strawberry and Champagne with Casa Ibidini, Insolia Sicily
The wine pairing started with a glass of Casa Ibidini, Insolua Sicily and a mini Strawberry and Champagne cupcake. This pretty pink cupcake had a sweet smell of strawberries and a light airy texture. The champagne and vanilla flavors intermingled brilliantly and the frosting was neither overpowering or too sweet. Paired with a sweet white wine with lemon zest and apricot undertones this combination rated high on our on list of favorites.

Strawberry and Champagne + Cappuccino Shooter

Cappuccino Shooter with First Drop, Blend, Australia
The second pairing included a glass of First Drop, Blend Australia and a Cappuccino Shooter cupcake. The strong aroma of the cupcake was amazing.  You could smell the chocolate and coconut before the cupcake left the plate. Kahlua and Malibu were the main liquor in the cake and their flavors were incorporated perfectly to make this cupcake a dream to consume. We were told only real chocolate is used when making the cupcakes instead of the usual cocoa powder and you could definitely taste the difference. The flavor was strong but not over powering and perfectly subdued with the white wine.

Margarita with Salt paired with Oltrepo Moscato, Italy
The third pairing on our list was the Margarita cupcake and a glass of Oltrepo Mascato. The sweet vanilla lime cake was light and fluffy and the equally delicious frosting had a hint of citrus. Our cupcake sample was sprinkled with salt and it was an amazing addition.  You could taste the ting of salt but is was so subtle that it made you crave more. The sweet and slightly sparkling Moscato perfectly complemented each other and together they created a pleasing combination of sweet and savory. We first tried this cupcake at the Las Olas Wine & Food Festival and were excited to see it debut again. Unfortunately, we were only allowed one cupcake per pairing so we savored every morsel and went on to the next one. 

Margarita Cupcake + Chocolate Martini Cupcake

Chocolate Martini with Luigi Scarani, Sangre de Guida, Lombardia Italy
The last tasting of the evening was a chocolate martini cupcake paired with Luigi Scarani, Sangre de Guida. Chocolate and vodka were the two key ingredients in this cupcake. The strong taste of vodka that is usually found in a”real” martinis was very faint but not absent and the chocolate was creamy and smooth. The fruity red wine was a great companion to the chocolate cake and a perfect ending to a delicious night.  

This Weekend: Can’t miss events in Palm Beach, Broward & Miami Dade Counties

Friday, May 13th
Sushi & Summer Stroll from 5:30PM – 8:30 PM
Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens
400 Morikami Park Road
Delray Beach, FL   33446
561-495-0233 

Sushi & Summer Stroll  – Walk around the beautiful grounds of the Morikami Museum and Gardens at your own pace and listen to the sounds of the Taiko drums in the background. Prefer to take a seat? For only $2 additional purchase a seat for the Taiko drumming performance by Fushu Daiko. Hungry? Grab a bite in the Cornell Café where they serve a delicious assortment of sushi, noodles, teriyaki, and more. This event reoccurs once a month through September.

Admission Fees:
$7 for adults (ages 18+)
$5 for kids (ages 4-17)
FREE for members & kids 3 & under

Saturday, May 14 
Great American Bake Sale & Fairchild’s Artist in Bloom Exhibition from 9:30AM – 4:30PM
Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden 
10901 Old Cutler Road
Coral Gables, FL 33156
Phone: 305.667.1651

Great American Bake Sale & Fairchild’s Artist in Bloom Exhibition –
Head to the beautiful Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens in Coral Gables this Saturday for a day of strolling the expansive gardens and viewing of their extensive collections of rare tropical plants (including palms, cycads, flowering trees, tropical fruit trees, vines, and succulents).
This weekend only they are also hosting the Fairchild’s Artist in Bloom exhibition with over 150 original oil and acrylic paintings, watercolors and botanical illustrations for viewing and purchase.

After spending the day in the garden you’ll surely have worked up an appetite, so stop by the National Blogger Bake Sale, presented by Share our Strength to help End Childhood Hunger and pick up a treat or two from our fellow South Florida Bloggers, Bakeries, and Restaurants including:  Cupcakes Nouveau, 2 Girls and a Cupcake, Freakin’ Flamingo, Dunkin’ Donuts of South Florida and more! Don’t forget to enter to win a gift certificate for WokStar Eleanor Hoh’s wok cooking classes for 2, or dinner for 2 at Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink. Another beautiful day in paradise surrounded by nature, accompanied by baked goods to support ending childhood hunger: sounds like a sweet deal to us.

Admission Fees:
Admission to Fairchild includes all of the garden exhibits and a narrated tram tour (subject to availability).
When available, walking tours and shuttle service are also included in admission.

Adults  $25
Seniors (65 and over)   $18
Children 6-17  $12
Fairchild members and Children 5 and under are Free

Sunday, May 15th
Downtown Open Market from 11AM – 4PM
Royal Palm Place Monument Piazza
308 S. Federal Hwy
Boca Raton, Florida 33432
Corner of S. Federal Hwy & S. Mizner Blvd.
(Same location as Saturday’s Boca Raton Green Market)

Head over to Royal Palm Plaza this Sunday to support your local artists, crafters, independent designers, musicians, vintage and antique dealers, specialty food and unique local businesses! It is fun for the whole family, including pets too. With over 50 vendors you are sure to find things like:

• Vintage clothing and accessories
• Natural bath and body goodies
• Handmade indie crafts
• Specialty pets items
• Handmade & vintage jewelry
• Flea market finds
• Art
• Baked goods…. and more!
• Including a visit by Feverish Ice Cream

Admission Fees:
FREE event & parking

Presented by StitchRock (Indie Craft Fair & Bazaar & Family Vintage (Vintage Clothing, Accessories, Jewelry & Home Décor for the Entire Family).

Sunday, May 15
Battle of the Brides from 11AM to 1PM
Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel
1140 Seabreeze Blvd.,
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Grab some popcorn or a Corona and watch 50 blushing brides battle it out to win a dream wedding at the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel.  The event starts promptly at 11am and includes a bouquet toss, cupcake eating contest, and a bridal tug-of-war. The last bride standing will win a 75 person dream wedding at the Sheraton and with over 50 competing brides we are sure there will be some hair pulling, name calling, and bridezilla moments you won’t want to miss. Oh and rumor has it one of the Foodies On The Fly contributors might just grab her designer knee pads and most reliable pair of stilettos to battle it out…

Admission fees:
FREE to attend