About time I checked this place out...

About a month ago, a few friends and I went up to this restaurant called Food Shack for drinks and food. I had heard about this place for awhile now and despite having spent time in Jupiter, I had never checked it out. We got up there a little before prime dinner time so we put our names on the wait list and checked out the bar/restaurant next to the main Food Shack. It's all part of the same place but it's more of a cozy up to the bar/limited menu kind of place. They have a small number of craft beers but I told the bartender that I like Blue Moon and she recommended a Tequesta Brewery Chancellor, which was pretty good and would totally recommend it. For an app, we ordered their Blue Crab Guacamole which, although the guacamole itself was pretty good, I wouldn't order again. I know that not everyone would feel the same way, but the 5 of us all felt the same way...the crab didn't gel well (flavor wise) with the guacamole. If you want to be a real stickler, the chips also weren't done right. They had too much air inside the chips which made them a hard vessel for the guacamole, but if you don't care too much about any of these critiques, then order away. Just be ready for a dominating crab taste. (Although I did appreciate the freshness of the crab).

When we went over to the main restaurant, we sat at a table along the wall. It's a cute set up and even though you are pretty close to the people next to you, it's not in an annoying kind of way where you feel a part of their intimate conversations. For an appetizer, we ordered their Tuna and Basil rolls which are served with a pineapple and mango salsa and some wasabi cream. They were done spot on and even though I am not a huge mango fan, I would definitely recommend them as an app or even as an entree. For a main dish, I asked for a recommendation from the server, she said that a lot of people order their Hog Snapper dish that's encrusted with sweet potato, but I'm not a huge Hog Snapper fan so I went with the same dish but with Dolphin instead.











They served the Dolphin over a bed of mixed greens with a nice lime dressing. It was a perfect amount of dressing and didn't overpower the fish or the salad. Food and drinks were great and service was good as well.

If you are in the area, definitely give this place a look.

http://littlemoirs.com/food-shack/

You won't regret it.

Date Night with the Roommie.

Went out to Tryst (a local Gastropub) a few weeks back to use a Living Social coupon I had. It has a good variety to its menu and its specials are ever changing, so you aren't going to be bored too easily if you enjoy it enough to frequent often. The only thing you will want to take into account is that their menu online doesn't match up with the menu they offer, so if you see something you really want, then you will definitely want to call ahead. And also, take it from me, if you are wanting to get an inside table and it's a Fri/Sat night, then call for a reservation.

http://trystdelray.com/

They have a good selection of craft beers and if you tell them what beers you typically fancy, the guys/girls at the bar will help you out with a sample or two of whatever they recommend and you can take it from there. I told the guy I liked Blue Moon and he recommended their Funky Buddha, which is a locally brewed beer...so we both ordered it. They come in a few sizes, and naturally, I ordered the larger one. (No jabs here please). I wanted to order some apps with Pork Belly but sadly Pork Belly wasn't even on the menu at all, so you definitely want to call ahead if you are craving something in particular. So we ordered their Bone Marrow that comes with fig jelly and some toasted baguettes, and we also ordered their Chinese Pork Ribs that came with a sauce of hoisin and toasted sesame and cilantro.

The beer was delicious! The Bone Marrow was good as well, I mean, you can't really go wrong with grease and fat and a bone...if you think you can, then you clearly don't know what life is all about (kind of kidding). I'm not one who enjoys figs but the jam was a good compliment to the heaviness of the marrow. The Pork Ribs...a little tough to be honest. I think somewhere in the early cooking process they were cooked to perfection, but then when dinner service rolled around they were cooked too long. The sauce saved the dish in my opinion, without it, the dish would have been rough to finish.

For main entrees, I ordered their Bolognese and the roommie ordered their Sea Bass. I ordered the Bolognese for the pork and beef mixture and because I enjoy a good Bolognese (usually minus the peas, but in this case, they were done perfect). Next time I go, I will probably avoid the Bolognese...let me explain, it had a little too much cream and I don't handle cream well to begin with. It was extremely heavy and even though I am a big eater, I couldn't even get through half. The Sea Bass was great, it was cooked to perfection and was tender yet firm. The Bass sat on a tomato coulis (which is basically a thin tomato pureed sauce) and some greens.

Overall, food was good, and service was great but we did sit at the bar so I can't speak for the service on the floor or outside for that matter. Would definitely recommend it, but like I said, call ahead to confirm any specials or particular dishes, reservations if you want to sit at a table, and if you have a coupon such as a Groupon or Living Social, then use it...it's not the cheapest place but has good food and beers.

Good place to avoid.

Most of the time, I try to look for the silver lining of things and say 'well there were some good things, such as...' but with Cheddar's...you probably want to just avoid altogether. My roommate and I went to grab a mid to late evening dinner on a Sunday night a few weeks back and wanted to stay semi-local. She had been before and said it was okay, so I wanted to give it a whirl. When we got there, it was pretty busy for a Sunday night so we put our names on the list and she proceeded to the bar to grab a drink. She came back in a way that no one likes to see--empty handed! Said that the bartender didn't even look her way and she just left. So me, being the slightly peeved one, went to the bar to check it out. Sure it was slightly busy but still an acknowledgment was what I was looking for. He looked my way and I asked what was on draft, ordered our drinks and wisely closed out the tab pronto.

In terms of food, it's a pretty standard fare of pastas, burgers, some steaks/seafood options, and salads. The server was a little off to start with, but I was just hoping for decent food. Upon looking over the menu, I can't honestly say anything jumped out at me, so I kept looking and looking. I asked her for some recommendations, she said that the Country Fried Steak was good. (Now, mind you I've had homemade country fried steak South Carolina style and even Key West style, and they are amazing!) So I stayed clear of this option. I asked about the burgers, she said they are good but that the cooks tend to overcook everything so she wouldn't necessarily recommend it...(yes, this should have been my cue) and that they have to cook theirs medium well to well done...major party foul in my opinion. But then she mentioned the Ribeye was good, so I asked for it to be done medium-rare with a side of mashed potatoes and corn and without any of their "spicy" house seasoning on the steak. The roommie ordered their Center Cut Sirloin and Shrimp. We also ordered Edamame which came with a side of their house seasoning and soy sauce.

Her Sirloin came out a perfect medium-rare but my Ribeye came out just shy of well done. I tried to eat it but had to send it back. Our server did not appear to be surprised at this turn of events. The mashed potatoes were okay, but in all honesty, they were very runny and way too creamy. We also ordered drinks and my beer came back super fruity and definitely not a Bud Light, the manager had to pour the beer herself to make sure it came back right.

If you're looking for cheap burgers and are looking to avoid the typical McDonalds/Burger King/Wendy's debate, then give it a try I guess. But I can't bring myself to ordering a burger medium-well to well done. If you try it and aren't happy, I will reserve my "I told you so" for future moments.


http://www.cheddars.com/

Food Truck Invasion

Few weeks back we went to the Food Truck Invasion up off of Okeechobee Blvd. It takes place every 1st and 3rd Thurs of the month and alternates with the trucks in Wellington which are every 2nd and 4th Thurs. There are about 10-12 trucks and the options range from Vietnamese to BBQ to various fried options and if you have a sweet tooth there is also a frozen yogurt truck.
We tried the Vietnamese truck and had their Banh Mi with pork (spicy). First of all, I love Banh Mi and this version did not disappoint. They had fresh carrots and daikon and cilantro on top of savory pork and threw in some jalapenos. Nice fresh flavor, a must try.
We then tried the BBQ truck which featured their pulled pork sandwich and a beef brisket. To be honest, I would recommend picking the pulled pork over the brisket. The pork had a nice moistness to it and you could pour whatever sauce on that you like. The brisket was too heavily sauced and was not quite as satisfying. Im not sure if it comes unsauced or not, but if it does, it may be better.
My friend had some frozen yogurt but from all accounts, she was not overly thrilled. So I guess try it if you are craving some but if not, keep it moving.
Overall, we had a good 1st time but my main criticism is that a majority of the trucks shut down with over an hr to go. Im not sure if this is a common occurrence or just a fluke. Will try it again and see what happens.


http://www.foodtruckinvasion.com/calendar/

 

"Bolognese" Kimmie Style

Almost always, whenever Publix has a sale on Morningstar products (such as a Buy 1, Get 1), I jump on it. In this case, I went and purchased a few Morningstar Crumbles packages, mainly because if I am feeling froggy, I mix it up with some sauce and Quinoa or use it in stuffed peppers, etc. But in this instance, I wanted to make a Bolognese of sorts.



As you can see, I have a Mirepoix of sorts. I guess you can say it was more Louisiana style because I substituted a bell pepper for the celery. I'm not a huge fan of celery, only when making chicken stock. So I have a white onion, bell pepper, carrot, and half of a Hungarian Wax Pepper (seeds included). I also have Gluten Free/Wheat Free pasta (which, surprisingly, I found at Walmart for $2 and change) and a package of crumbles.

I did cook the Mirepoix in some extra virgin olive oil in a large saute pan and set aside, and then cooked the crumbles for a bit. Seasoning wise, I usually add rosemary, cumin, salt (not much), pepper, and oregano to the crumbles. It usually gives it a breakfast sausage like smell. I then combined the ingredients together, cooked for a bit and added some spaghetti sauce. I used the Heart Healthy sauce by Prego, I did not make my own sauce this time. I cooked the "bolognese" for a little over an hour, if you cook it too long the crumbles tend to break down and become a little mushy.

Ingredients (added while the mixture was cooking):
 - Soy Sauce
 - Fried Garlic
 - Worcestershire Sauce
 - Tomato Paste
 - Sriracha

Notes:
 - I did enjoy the Gluten Free/Wheat Free pasta. It cooks rather fast, but you do need to watch it and stir frequently because the pasta does stick together. It's a lot healthier for you too, if you are craving pasta but not wanting to dive off the deep end.
 - Overall it was good, obviously you can tinker with the ingredients used, but for a quick "meat" sauce, not bad.

Pulled Pork (Kimmie style)

Awhile back I decided to make some good old fashioned pulled pork but wanted to change things up a bit. I'm a believer in that some things don't work and others do, and sometimes you just need to do a lot of mixing things up to find whatever makes you content. Pulled pork is one of those things that I don't know if I will ever be truly happy with but that I may like a variety of methods.

That being said, I attempted to go to Publix and find a Boston Butt but they had none so I ventured off to Whole Foods. Let me say that if you are looking for something cheap, then disregard the Whole Foods trip and maybe wait for a local butcher or somewhere else. But I wanted the Butt bone-in so Whole Foods it was, they cut it to your liking if they don't have it in the window. I went with a 6 lb Boston Butt, but you may want to go with something larger if you want a lot of leftovers.

I went with a dry rub, kind of Korean style, with a Korean chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, paprika, pepper, salt. The Korean chili powder is a little more on the sweet side but do be careful if you use it, the spice can creep up on you. I didn't want to do any sauce in the crock pot because I wanted to use the leftover pork for other things so I only sauced the portions I was eating for the pulled pork sandwiches (and I did use a Korean bbq sauce for this). I did add a little bit of water into the pot so it wouldn't burn or dry out. I also cooked it for about 10 hours, maybe a little less.

Notes:
 I am always critical of myself, first and foremost, so some notes I would take into consideration for next time would be:
   - Perhaps get a larger pork portion, I do like leftovers and this type of food you can use in so many ways.
   - Do a little heavier rub on it, the flavor was good but I may like a little more seasoning.
   - Add a little heat to it. I do love me some spicy food.
   - The next time, I may sear the pork and put it in the oven low temp for the entire cooking process. I liked the crock pot because I did step out of the house for the majority of the cooking time, and it allows you to not babysit it...but I may try the oven option later. Although, I am tempted to grill it...will keep you posted.

Day trip to Miami...BBQ and all.

Took the Tri-Rail down to Miami yesterday to meet up with Eva to play frisbee golf (otherwise known as frolfing) and get some BBQ from a popular local joint. First of all, I highly recommend taking the tri down to Miami provided you have a way of getting around once you get there, it saves you a ton of $ in gas (it's only $10.65 for a roundtrip weekday ticket, and buying roundtrip saves you $2), saves you from being caught in rush hour traffic, and for me, it saves me from getting lost. But I would recommend bringing cash for the machines, yesterday they weren't accepting credit/debit cards.

We went to lunch at a BBQ joint, Shorty's, that's been around for 60 years. When you walk in, it's a seat yourself restaurant and has picnic benches throughout the place so chances are you will be sitting near someone you don't know. I had the BBQ Beef Brisket Sandwich and an appetizer of Fried Okra, it automatically comes with a side of coleslaw as well. There are a few BBQ sauce selections but my personal favorite is the one that came with the sandwich, it's a vinegar based sauce. The sandwich itself had a good bun, my only issue with the brisket was it was slab style as opposed to some brisket that I've had where it's been shredded and chunky...the slabs had good flavor but it would have been nice if it was a little warmer. But overall, good sandwich. The okra was good and from what I hear, fried is the way to go in terms of taste and texture. It also came with a buttermilk ranch sauce. If you've read any of my previous blogs, you will know how I feel about coleslaw...this coleslaw didn't have too much mayo (which was nice), cabbage had a decent shape/cut to it, but it was a little heavier on the liquid than I like. I like my coleslaws to have a little more body to it. But I would recommend checking it out if you're in the area of Shorty's, they have multiple locations including Boca, Davie, Doral, etc.

Went to a local park down in Kendall called Kendall Indian Hammocks to play the frisbee golf. The park itself was beautiful and although we didn't get a chance to go down the nature trail, it's definitely a place I'd like to check out in the future. The only complaint I had with the park was the frisbee golf course, I'm not sure if they didn't have the proper layout or ran out of room or what, but I would recommend scouting it out otherwise you may want to just walk away from it after playing 6 holes. In terms of the course, it had a decent amount of difficulty to it by the location of the branches and the trees and various other obstacles...definitely check it out whether you are planning a picnic or birding or frisbee golf.

http://www.shortys.com/davie_bbq_menu.php

http://www.miamidade.gov/parks/parks/kendall_ind_hammocks.asp

Slightly hidden, cute spot.

Had a Living Social coupon to try out the Backyard Bar in West Palm. It's a cute spot and has a good amount of outdoor seating, but in S Florida...I wouldn't count on it not raining. If it is raining, there is bar seating but it is very limited. We went on a Tuesday and it had Happy Hour all day but when using a coupon like this, they charge you regular prices.

We had their spareribs with a garlic bbq sauce, stuffed mushrooms, charcuterie plate and a cheese plate. If you are looking for a strong garlic flavor I would recommend tempering your expectafions on the bbq sauce but overall it was a good flavor. The charcuterie plate was good, the salami had good flavor and the ham was decent...although the little biscuits they provided with the crackers didn't really work.

Overall, it's a great little spot to try something different from the rest of West Palm but if you are looking for a decent wait when ordering your food...you may want to go somewhere else. Their kitchen is tiny and if they have over 10-15 ppl ordering, your wait will seem like years. Remember, it is also a bed n breakfast that hosts wine parties as well.

Payathai Restaurant

Last night, the girls and I went out to this local Thai restaurant, Payathai. I had never been and you know me when it comes to trying out new places.

Susan and I started out with trying a Thai beer called Chang (pronounced Chung). I would say it is a light beer and if you are looking for something heavier then I would recommend taking a try at a different beer. It does not have an overpowering flavor to it, which is nice. For food, I ordered the sushi roll known as Sex on the Moon, which is their most popular option. It has the following items in the roll: Shrimp tempura, eel, crab, cream cheese, asparagus, cucumber, avocado I/O with tuna, tempura crunch, scallion, flying fish roe, eel sauce, and spicy mayo on top. And for the main course, I had ordered their Hot and Sour Seafood Noodle Soup which, to be honest, was nowhere near Hot or Sour. I had to add in 4-5 spoonfuls of chili paste into the broth to make it somewhat spicy. The soup had imitation crab chunks, mussels, shrimp, scallops, noodles, green onions, etc.

Overall, it was a good meal. I would say the menu was very competitive in terms of price, but the service...was good, not great. The server could have come around for drink refills a little more frequently, but in terms of food...I'd go again.

http://www.payathairestaurant.com/

Dinner with the girls.

Headed down to Deck 84 in Delray last night for dinner and drinks. When going to Delray, be careful about where you go if you are on  particular budget restraints, as Delray can get pricey (quick).

Tuesdays at Deck 84 is Unlimited Taco night for $13. The girls I went with last night drink Michelob Ultra and, outside of Happy Hour, run you $5 a bottle. For the tacos, they serve you 3 at a time (1 of each unless you ask for a particular selection, and there are 3 types) and then if you order more, they come 2 at a time.

I, of course, tried all 3 plus 4 more...needless to say it was decent. They have a chicken, shredded pork shoulder, and a steak taco. The chicken was my least favorite, it was dry and chunky which made eating it a little more difficult. The pork taco had pickled red onions on top along with a few drops of pineapple, delicious. The steak tacos were good but overall, I don't know that I would write home about them.

Overall, between the ambiance of being on the water and dining with friends, I had a great time. They have a slightly tilted menu towards seafood but do serve burgers, salads, etc. (And as a side note, I highly recommend ordering their guacamole). The other perk to being out on the deck is that they provide treats and water bowls if you bring your dog.

Delray Beach Restaurant - Deck 84

The Office.

I went to The Office today in Delray Beach, which happens to be my food haven. Gotta check it out, but be careful what you order.

For starters, I ordered a few Blue Moons (of course with an orange slice). And for food, I ordered their Chicken Shu Mai Dumplings. They came in little wonton wrappers and had chicken bites inside the wrappers. On the side, they had sweetened soy sauce. You get a serving of 6, but for Happy Hour...it is definitely worth checking out.

THE OFFICE | Prime Burgers, Craft Beer

Best Ribeye in S Florida (believe it).

I went to Cut 432 in Delray for my birthday last year, so this review is long overdue.

Cut 432 has the best Ribeye steak I've had in S Florida. Not only was the steak cooked to perfection but it was charred on point and was also served bone-in.

Everything is a-la carte but well worth it. I ordered the Truffle Fries and the mushrooms...great, but the steak was enough. That is all I needed. For dessert, I did order their Banana Cream Pie...ehh, I would maybe skip this one next time.

Cut 432 - Romantic steakhouse Restaurant - Delray Beach, Florida

Spoto's Oyster Bar (Take 2)

Fortunately for me, I happen to be near Spoto's during lunchtime so it's very convenient to swing in. One of Fridays lunch specials is their infamous Lobster Grilled Cheese with a Tomato Bisque soup.

I would like to say that the soup (which was highly endorsed by a friend) was a big disappointment.  (Let me preface by saying that I do appreciate salty foods).
The soup was overwhelmingly salty and was unlike any Tomato Bisque that I have ever made or had in any restaurant. Besides the salt, the color was off and the soup had a slight burnt smell.

However, the sandwich was delicious. The lobster was soft and velvet-like and is a must have!

I wouldn't let this review be a final indictment on Spoto's or their Bisque, but next time I may go for the Conch Chowder.

Brunch (Asian style)

If you have ever been to an Asian fusion restaurant and taken a look at the menu and wondered "Why are there French Fries, Chicken Tenders, and Pizza on this menu?", then you are not alone because I do that all the time. Yes I am Korean, but I was adopted so my love for all things Asian food has been evolving. But take it from me, this place is pretty good.
We started out with a side order of Pork Belly skewer and Kimchi. They serve the skewer with a side of dressed up soy sauce and green onions. Then we moved onto a shrimp appetizer and pork dumplings, otherwise known as Gyoza. Both were delcious, although I tend to favor the Gyoza.
For our entrees, Cristen had the Pad Thai (Veggie style) and I had their Char Siu Pork Buns. I didn't try the Pad Thai but apparently it was amazing. But my pork buns were a deconstructed version of a traditional pork bun. Gone were the marinated pork bites, there was no roll-like appearance, and they did not come in a plastic bag. These pork buns came in the form of a sticky, dough-like open faced sandwich...genius! There were slices of green onions, peppers, a white sauce you could apply, and shreds of pork piled high. You also had a few slices of jalapenos on the side too.
I'm all about places that serve cutting edge food, the type of food you can't find at a Duffy's or Olive Garden. Don't get me wrong, if I want a burger, wings, or Soup and Salad, these are the places people go...but if you want great, trendy Asian food, check out Palm Sugar. They seem to have worked out their previous issues.

Palm Sugar Menu - Urbanspoon