Greetings from FLA

Sorry it’s been a while, but had a crazy week and then headed down to Florida for vacation.

We haven’t been down to the land of rubber alligators, coconut patties, and Mickey and Minnie for several years, but the family wanted to do a beach vacation including both coasts of Florida. Last year we did an all inclusive Mexican beach vacation, and while there is something to be said for needing to do absolutely nothing, with a broad range of available activities, and eating and drinking on demand 7 by 24, two years in a row would be too much for me.

So, we’re currently lounging and relaxing on the silky smooth Sarasota sand, and also doing some fun Florida food. Of course, I’ve spent some pre-vacation time researching the possibilities, and we have regular family discussions to agree on what good eating we should pursue.

Last night, we ended up at the Blasé Café and Martini Bar, www.theblasecafe.com, after our first choice Peruvian restaurant was closed on Sunday. (Guess I should have called first to verify the restaurant would be open, as a “New Yorker” I’ve come to expect that restaurants are open on Sunday’s.) I had previously identified the café as a potential, despite the fact that their website needs a major overhaul and spell check on the word dining.

As we approached, the outdoor martini bar and live nuevo flamenco music playing drew us in. Despite the cool and funky décor indoors (including the excellent Vargas girls bathroom art), we decided to enjoy the outdoor heat (well tempered by some great fans), in order to listen to the band. The Key Lime and Ruby Red Martini’s were a terrific start, and we were brought fantastic hot foccaccia rosemary and garlic bread with a balsamic olive oil for dipping, which we quickly gobbled up and then asked for a second helping.

Appetizers included a “Tower” of crab cakes skewered by a long Rosemary twig, in a remoulade sauce. We agreed that these crab cakes were the best we have ever eaten. These were followed by some excellent main courses, the favorites were a delicious shrimp and tilapia served with a spicy chipotle sauce, and a Firecracker Shrimp served over linguine in a zingy red sauce.
Dessert was the topper with a real key lime pie over a graham cracker crust that rivaled my favorite at Joe’s Stone Crab in Miami! And, we also bought the Montage cd of the excellent band, Los Rumberos that accompanied our dinner, as a fun reminder of our beach vacation in FLA.

The Next Generation Food Bully

Yesterday morning, I received a call from our similarly obsessed foodie best friends.

“Mr. Food Bully, we need to do some planning, get our reservations sorted, discuss where we are going to eat! …Come over tonight and we’ll talk over dinner.”

We discussed the potentials for our 4 day and 3 night food and fun focused trip. We are going to New Orleans together in early September to celebrate three birthday’s, two of which are very scary one’s. New Orleans, the perfect place to party!

“Besh, Spicer, Link or Brigsten?”

“NOLA inspired Cajun / Creole, or New American?”

“Acme or Felix’s for Oysters?”

“Muffaletta at Central Grocery!”

“Beignets at Café du Monde!”

“Poor boy’s: Domilise’s, Casemento’s, or Crabby Jacks?”

After much discussion and negotiation, we decided to make only two reservations, Herbsaint for Friday dinner, and Ralph’s on the Park for Sunday brunch. We left open the rest of the eating plan, although we’ve agreed that beignets, oysters, a muffaletta (or two), and a couple of poor boys are definites.

Of course there will also be evenings listening to great jazz, blues and zydeco, perhaps a trip to Mid-City Rock and Bowl, shopping in the quarter and on magazine street (note: this is always a bit scary and expensive for me and will try to de-emphasize this part of the trip), a ferry ride and visit to Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World, touring the areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina, and some time walking around the Garden District and Audubon Park. Should be a fantastic long weekend and yes, I’ll report back!

At the same time, the best part of the day started with a call I received during the dinner discussion.

“Dad, I’m in the city with some of my Wisconsin college buddies. We’re in Washington Square Park. We’re thinking ethnic… what do you think?”

“What kind of ethnic? You’re close to the east village, and you could do Japanese at Momofuku, or Chinese at Grand Szechuan in St. Marks, or Indian on 6th street.

After muffled discussion in the background, he came back with “Indian.”

“Ok, either Brick Lane Curry or Banjara, both are terrific!”

“Thanks dad, talk to you later.”

About 2 ½ hours later, as we were getting ready to go home, he called again with excitement in his voice.

“Hello, bully hot-line.”

“Dad, had a great dinner at Banjara, and ended up going to Veniero’s. Saw someone walking around with a box and remembered the cannoli’s. Since we were only a couple of blocks away, we went over there, and I bought some for you. Want me to bring them over?”

“No, we’re headed home, see you in a few.”

We got home, talked about his day and about our upcoming trip to drop him back at Wisconsin.

“Dad, so I thinking trip to the farmer’s market, then Mickey’s Dairy Bar for breakfast, lunch at State Street Brats, and Dotty Dumplings for dinner.”