LauderBlog
Sept 28: Doing by Doing Nothing
Posted On: September 27, 2007 4:51 PM
Posted By: LauderBLOGGER
Related Subjects: Greater Fort Lauderdale
Some people have a hard time doing nothing. They have to be on the move, puttering and putzing with this or that. I always suspect that these folks want to keep themselves busy so they can’t stop to think. Buddha said something about the importance of being comfortable with yourself, alone with nothing to do. I must say, in all honesty, that doing nothing comes fairly naturally to me. I’ll avoid the obvious punch lines to that statement and let you fill in your own blanks. But it’s true. I can just sit in one place and watch the sea or the passing crowd or the birds outside my windows for hours. Usually, though, I can’t stop thinking during these periods of what looks like idleness. Maybe that’s part of being a writer, I’m not sure. My head just keeps working. Except when I’m away on vacation, when I often find ways to give my brain some time off too.
And so even on a local getaway, my recent backyard vacation, I was able to just take a breather, mentally and physically. It felt good. And it served as a reminder about how much fun it can be in Fort Lauderdale to do exactly that. Nothing. There really are so many things to do around Broward County, whether that means visiting the attractions, or driving a jet ski or fishing for swordfish or whatever. The list of possibilities seems endless. But by checking into a hotel a few miles from my home, I realized that even on the most active part of the beach you can just relax if you want to. No need to rush around in order to enjoy the experience.
We spent a lot of time during this week, Gwendolyn and I, just lazing around our room. Our lovely balcony looked directly on to the sea. We left the drapes open every night before going to sleep so that the earliest rays of sunrise would be the first thing we saw each morning. The sun was coming up at about 7 a.m. that week and it climbed behind towering bulky banks of rainless clouds. I saw this each day and it was gorgeous. Other times we just sort of wandered aimlessly around the beach sidewalks or sat in the mid-afternoon shade to sip a cold beer somewhere. Or listened to live music in the evenings. We did the wonderful Segway tour at Birch State Park, took a boat ride, went swimming. But for the most part, we just kicked back and savored the chance to do nothing. Try it yourself sometime. It’s not a bad way to spend a week.
And so even on a local getaway, my recent backyard vacation, I was able to just take a breather, mentally and physically. It felt good. And it served as a reminder about how much fun it can be in Fort Lauderdale to do exactly that. Nothing. There really are so many things to do around Broward County, whether that means visiting the attractions, or driving a jet ski or fishing for swordfish or whatever. The list of possibilities seems endless. But by checking into a hotel a few miles from my home, I realized that even on the most active part of the beach you can just relax if you want to. No need to rush around in order to enjoy the experience.
We spent a lot of time during this week, Gwendolyn and I, just lazing around our room. Our lovely balcony looked directly on to the sea. We left the drapes open every night before going to sleep so that the earliest rays of sunrise would be the first thing we saw each morning. The sun was coming up at about 7 a.m. that week and it climbed behind towering bulky banks of rainless clouds. I saw this each day and it was gorgeous. Other times we just sort of wandered aimlessly around the beach sidewalks or sat in the mid-afternoon shade to sip a cold beer somewhere. Or listened to live music in the evenings. We did the wonderful Segway tour at Birch State Park, took a boat ride, went swimming. But for the most part, we just kicked back and savored the chance to do nothing. Try it yourself sometime. It’s not a bad way to spend a week.
RSSSept 25: Musical Interludes
Posted On: September 25, 2007 2:19 PM
Posted By: LauderBLOGGER
Related Subjects: Greater Fort Lauderdale
When I was “away” at a wonderful hotel on the Fort Lauderdale beach a week or so ago, only 15 minutes from my home, I had the chance to learn about some of the changes happening by the sea. A vacation in your own backyard allows you to focus on one part of your community at all hours, over several days. You find restaurants you didn’t know existed. You bump into new attractions that have moved to the area. And you discover more about the atmosphere of the place than you can pick up through brief visits as a resident. It’s just a lot different when you actually stay in a single spot for an extended period than when you drift in and out as your whims dictate.
We spent a lot of time during our getaway week simply wandering around the central beach area, taking it all in. Gwendolyn and I sauntered along A1A after breakfast, explored more seriously in the afternoon, then often drifted slowly beside the multi-colored lights of the wave wall after sunset. One of our real surprises was the amount of live music in this section of Fort Lauderdale these days. We both were astonished. And quite happy about the whole thing. In her entertainment career, Gwendolyn has sung and danced in many shows. I’m a musician as well as a writer – in fact, I composed and performed on the podcast theme music you hear by clicking this website’s home page radio icon. So music is important to us both. And we had plenty to choose from during our visit.
At Beach Place, where we stayed, the ground floor stage offered free four-hour performances nearly every night. We enjoyed listening so much that we developed a pleasant routine: At about 6 p.m., we’d put together appetizers in our room, pour wine or cocktails and take it all out on our private balcony overlooking the sea. We could hear the music from below perfectly – not too loud, not too soft. It was like a concert just for us. When we headed onto the oceanside walkway after dark, we found live music all around our hotel too. On just one evening, for example, we heard oldies rock at the south end of the street. Next door, two acoustic guitarists played Brazilian tunes. Moving north from there, we stopped to watch and listen to another acoustic guitarist accompanied by a belly dancer, then to an enthusiastic Flamenco guitar act. There were at least three other bands or solo musicians performing between that point and the Casablanca Café. I had no idea the beach had become such a hotbed of live music at night, most of it performed outside and available free to everyone. It’s a wonderful addition to the whole South Florida experience. Live music is great anywhere, but listening as you look out at the ocean on a sultry tropical night – that’s special.
We spent a lot of time during our getaway week simply wandering around the central beach area, taking it all in. Gwendolyn and I sauntered along A1A after breakfast, explored more seriously in the afternoon, then often drifted slowly beside the multi-colored lights of the wave wall after sunset. One of our real surprises was the amount of live music in this section of Fort Lauderdale these days. We both were astonished. And quite happy about the whole thing. In her entertainment career, Gwendolyn has sung and danced in many shows. I’m a musician as well as a writer – in fact, I composed and performed on the podcast theme music you hear by clicking this website’s home page radio icon. So music is important to us both. And we had plenty to choose from during our visit.
At Beach Place, where we stayed, the ground floor stage offered free four-hour performances nearly every night. We enjoyed listening so much that we developed a pleasant routine: At about 6 p.m., we’d put together appetizers in our room, pour wine or cocktails and take it all out on our private balcony overlooking the sea. We could hear the music from below perfectly – not too loud, not too soft. It was like a concert just for us. When we headed onto the oceanside walkway after dark, we found live music all around our hotel too. On just one evening, for example, we heard oldies rock at the south end of the street. Next door, two acoustic guitarists played Brazilian tunes. Moving north from there, we stopped to watch and listen to another acoustic guitarist accompanied by a belly dancer, then to an enthusiastic Flamenco guitar act. There were at least three other bands or solo musicians performing between that point and the Casablanca Café. I had no idea the beach had become such a hotbed of live music at night, most of it performed outside and available free to everyone. It’s a wonderful addition to the whole South Florida experience. Live music is great anywhere, but listening as you look out at the ocean on a sultry tropical night – that’s special.
Sept 21: All Wet
Posted On: September 20, 2007 5:16 PM
Posted By: LauderBLOGGER
Related Subjects: Greater Fort Lauderdale
Sure, there’s lots of sunshine during a typical Fort Lauderdale vacation. I should know after just spending a week on the beach with my girlfriend – we didn’t see a single drop of rain. Really, we couldn’t have asked for more perfect September weather during the entire seven days. Bulky swaths of cloud drifted beneath a sunny blue most days, offering some shade now and then. But let’s just say, we needed (and used) plenty of sunscreen. It was hot, yes, but not as humid as August had been. And a light breeze off the ocean usually helped cool us, whether we were eating dinner along A1A or sitting on our hotel balcony overlooking the sea.
And yet. Well, the thought occurred to me during this week that, despite vacationing in such a sunny place, I seemed to be wet much of the time. I think I was showering for about the third time that day when this profound idea struck me. Ok, not so profound maybe. But it really was true. One way or another, I was wet a lot on this jaunt to the sunny beach. Of course, it was a good wet, a fun wet.
I just hadn’t quite realized before that vacationing in the sunshine often involves so much water. But think about it. There’s the morning shower, followed by slathering on sunscreen. Then it’s off to the ocean or swimming pool. Or maybe a boat ride, with a little spray in your face for good measure. Then it’s back to the room – to do what? Shower again. Then later, perhaps before cocktails or just before bed, a hot tub often feels like just the thing to help you relax even more. For us, the late night hot tub sessions were always followed by a swim in the pool to cool down. Then – yet another shower. See what I mean? Wet a lot, right? Not that I’m complaining, mind you. We had an incredible week hanging out in the heart of the Fort Lauderdale beach. I’m only suggesting that after you check into a Fort Lauderdale hotel, you probably should make sure your room has plenty of towels.
And yet. Well, the thought occurred to me during this week that, despite vacationing in such a sunny place, I seemed to be wet much of the time. I think I was showering for about the third time that day when this profound idea struck me. Ok, not so profound maybe. But it really was true. One way or another, I was wet a lot on this jaunt to the sunny beach. Of course, it was a good wet, a fun wet.
I just hadn’t quite realized before that vacationing in the sunshine often involves so much water. But think about it. There’s the morning shower, followed by slathering on sunscreen. Then it’s off to the ocean or swimming pool. Or maybe a boat ride, with a little spray in your face for good measure. Then it’s back to the room – to do what? Shower again. Then later, perhaps before cocktails or just before bed, a hot tub often feels like just the thing to help you relax even more. For us, the late night hot tub sessions were always followed by a swim in the pool to cool down. Then – yet another shower. See what I mean? Wet a lot, right? Not that I’m complaining, mind you. We had an incredible week hanging out in the heart of the Fort Lauderdale beach. I’m only suggesting that after you check into a Fort Lauderdale hotel, you probably should make sure your room has plenty of towels.
Sept 18: Segway Segue
Posted On: September 17, 2007 4:39 PM
Posted By: LauderBLOGGER
Related Subjects: Greater Fort Lauderdale
We had been having a great time at the Fort Lauderdale beach all week. Just doing anything we felt like doing. Sleeping late, hanging out at our hotel, swimming and strolling and whatever else. But by Friday afternoon, Gwendolyn and I were ready to try something different. What we found was – well, a find. We took a tour of Birch State Park on a Segway. Maybe you’ve seen those two-wheel gizmos that look like some kind of motorized scooter you ride while standing? Anyway, some very nice people operate a new sports-activity business at Birch, the first concession permitted at this park in 22 years. Called M. Cruz Rentals, they rent out Segways and high-quality bicycles for now. Soon, they’ll offer in-line skates, canoes, kayaks and a lot more, including healthy food such as smoothies.
Our tour started when owner, Brent Wysocki, gave us a brief lesson on Segway technique. These are sophisticated machines, each with five gyroscopes and a separate transmission for both wheels. But they’re also easy to ride after the first few minutes, relying mostly on the transfer of body weight. More importantly, they’re a total blast! What an excellent way to see a place like Birch, which is a beautiful Fort Lauderdale oceanfront park. Segways move at more than 12 miles an hour at top speed but also can go off-road to slowly rumble over grass, dirt trails, sand, bumps and trees roots with no problem at all. They can spin circles on a dime, which gives surprising maneuverability. Gwendolyn and I were amazed at the technology and just how much fun that technology is to use.
Once we felt comfortable on our Segways, Brent led us on an hour-long tour of the park. We began by rolling through a grassy field filled with large iguanas warming themselves in the late afternoon sun. Some of these lizards were more than 60 years-old, thick and dark with spiky head crests. Then we followed the paved road, often taking our machines up to top speed, feeling the cool sweep of wind against our skin and laughing at the sheer unexpected delight of riding these things. We saw raccoons and many more iguanas and a massive “lofty fig” tree, as its called. Brent took us on a narrow trail among the woods and beside tropical lagoons and near mangroves that looked like the natural South Florida of long ago. I’ve been to Birch State Park many times, but I saw it from a new perspective on that Segway. When our ride was over, we hated to leave. You couldn’t ask for a more likeable tour guide or a more interesting way to view the park. Brent or other family members also will take you along the beach or Intracoastal Waterway if you like. It’s a memorable experience and I can’t wait to try it again. For information, call 954-235-5082 or visit www.mcruzrentals.com. I promise that you won’t be disappointed.
Our tour started when owner, Brent Wysocki, gave us a brief lesson on Segway technique. These are sophisticated machines, each with five gyroscopes and a separate transmission for both wheels. But they’re also easy to ride after the first few minutes, relying mostly on the transfer of body weight. More importantly, they’re a total blast! What an excellent way to see a place like Birch, which is a beautiful Fort Lauderdale oceanfront park. Segways move at more than 12 miles an hour at top speed but also can go off-road to slowly rumble over grass, dirt trails, sand, bumps and trees roots with no problem at all. They can spin circles on a dime, which gives surprising maneuverability. Gwendolyn and I were amazed at the technology and just how much fun that technology is to use.
Once we felt comfortable on our Segways, Brent led us on an hour-long tour of the park. We began by rolling through a grassy field filled with large iguanas warming themselves in the late afternoon sun. Some of these lizards were more than 60 years-old, thick and dark with spiky head crests. Then we followed the paved road, often taking our machines up to top speed, feeling the cool sweep of wind against our skin and laughing at the sheer unexpected delight of riding these things. We saw raccoons and many more iguanas and a massive “lofty fig” tree, as its called. Brent took us on a narrow trail among the woods and beside tropical lagoons and near mangroves that looked like the natural South Florida of long ago. I’ve been to Birch State Park many times, but I saw it from a new perspective on that Segway. When our ride was over, we hated to leave. You couldn’t ask for a more likeable tour guide or a more interesting way to view the park. Brent or other family members also will take you along the beach or Intracoastal Waterway if you like. It’s a memorable experience and I can’t wait to try it again. For information, call 954-235-5082 or visit www.mcruzrentals.com. I promise that you won’t be disappointed.
Sept 14: Hot, Hot Hotels
Posted On: September 13, 2007 9:03 AM
Posted By: LauderBLOGGER
Related Subjects: Greater Fort Lauderdale
I’m back home again, just long enough for a few more hours of work. Then it’s a return trip to my lovely hotel for the rest of the week at the beach. Tough life, huh? Ahhh, if only I lived this way all the time. But my backyard vacation with Gwendolyn is giving us both a much-needed chance to relax. And the opportunity to check out some of the new things along the Fort Lauderdale beach. I mentioned two of these in my previous blog: the St. Regis Hotel and the Hilton. But I really feel I should tell you a bit more about these properties, even though I’m not staying in them now. Because they are important additions to this city – top-flight hotels with big names, sitting directly on the seafront. And because I am genuinely impressed with each one.
At the new Hilton, I toured two rooms, looked around the pool and checked out public spaces. I’ve stayed at some wonderful Hiltons in this country, including in Hawaii and midtown Manhattan. The Fort Lauderdale Hilton compares favorably with these – and the exterior layout even reminds me a bit of that New York City Hilton. Here, though, the pretty bar sits beside the pool, several floors off the ground with a great view of the Atlantic Ocean. The lobby and other common areas are spacious and tasteful. And the rooms I saw are great. The standard room is spacious, really more like a small suite than anything, with a pleasant balcony that looks out on the sea. But the larger suite is amazing. It includes a full kitchen and sit-down bar, a wraparound patio with ocean views and enough space that I could live there quite comfortably, thank you.
At the St. Regis, the standards seem even higher. As a travel writer, I’ve enjoyed enough truly great hotels around the world to recognize a luxury property when I see one. The St. Regis makes that kind of grand statement. From the marble pillars to the rich wooden tables in the lobby, from the elegant oceanfront restaurant with outdoor seating to the wonderfully memorable bar, this hotel is a distinct jump into the ultra-luxury market for Fort Lauderdale. On Monday night, after a terrific dinner at the Casablanca Café, Gwendolyn and I drifted around the beach for a while before ending up at the St. Regis for drinks and dessert. We sat facing a $100,000 mural painted behind a lighted oversize bar, sipping cocktails made from coffee and liqueurs. We shared a chocolate marquise, a deliciously rich and beautifully presented confection. And I thought, So this is the new Fort Lauderdale, with a hotel worthy of the best area in any major city on the planet. And I thought something else too – I could get used to this.
At the new Hilton, I toured two rooms, looked around the pool and checked out public spaces. I’ve stayed at some wonderful Hiltons in this country, including in Hawaii and midtown Manhattan. The Fort Lauderdale Hilton compares favorably with these – and the exterior layout even reminds me a bit of that New York City Hilton. Here, though, the pretty bar sits beside the pool, several floors off the ground with a great view of the Atlantic Ocean. The lobby and other common areas are spacious and tasteful. And the rooms I saw are great. The standard room is spacious, really more like a small suite than anything, with a pleasant balcony that looks out on the sea. But the larger suite is amazing. It includes a full kitchen and sit-down bar, a wraparound patio with ocean views and enough space that I could live there quite comfortably, thank you.
At the St. Regis, the standards seem even higher. As a travel writer, I’ve enjoyed enough truly great hotels around the world to recognize a luxury property when I see one. The St. Regis makes that kind of grand statement. From the marble pillars to the rich wooden tables in the lobby, from the elegant oceanfront restaurant with outdoor seating to the wonderfully memorable bar, this hotel is a distinct jump into the ultra-luxury market for Fort Lauderdale. On Monday night, after a terrific dinner at the Casablanca Café, Gwendolyn and I drifted around the beach for a while before ending up at the St. Regis for drinks and dessert. We sat facing a $100,000 mural painted behind a lighted oversize bar, sipping cocktails made from coffee and liqueurs. We shared a chocolate marquise, a deliciously rich and beautifully presented confection. And I thought, So this is the new Fort Lauderdale, with a hotel worthy of the best area in any major city on the planet. And I thought something else too – I could get used to this.
Sept 11: Beach Central
Posted On: September 11, 2007 2:18 PM
Posted By: LauderBLOGGER
Related Subjects: Greater Fort Lauderdale
I’m back in my home for a few hours, fresh from the beautiful Fort Lauderdale beach. All of 15 minutes away. I’ve got some work to do today and tomorrow, but will return to our oceanfront hotel later for the night. It’s too good there to miss any of it. I’ve vacationed on the Blue Wave beaches of Broward County before this, of course. My many little backyard vacations over the years have included hotel stays in Hollywood, Deerfield Beach and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea as well as on SE 17th Street and the northern end of Fort Lauderdale beach. I’ve enjoyed every one of these getaways. A lot. But this is my first extended trip to the very heart of the Fort Lauderdale beach, just a couple blocks north of A1A and Las Olas. All I can say is -- wow, this really is terrific here.
As regular blog readers know, I go to the Fort Lauderdale beach area frequently as a local. Taking a swim, having breakfast, doing a Happy Hour or whatever. Then I go back to my condo. So I’m intimately familiar with this part of the city. But within an hour of checking into our room at the Marriott above the Beach Place shopping complex, I felt as if I were 1,000 miles away from home. So did Gwendolyn, my girlfriend, who lives only about 20 minutes north of Fort Lauderdale. Our room is lovely, on the 11th floor seaside, with a large balcony where we’ve been having breakfast in the morning and cocktails in the evening. The weather so far has been about perfect for this time of year. Not too hot, not too windy, with just enough clouds to help shield us from the intense sunshine.
It feels as if we’ve already done so much. And we didn’t check in until Sunday evening, when we ate at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Dinner there was tasty and reasonably priced. Last night, we dined at the Casablanca Café, sitting outside on a semi-private balcony looking over the Atlantic. The food and drinks at Casablanca were great and we both think the restaurant offers very good value for the money. We savored late night cocktails and dessert at the spectacular new St. Regis Hotel, which is next to Beach Place. We even took a little tour through the new Hilton hotel a bit farther north. Mostly, though we’ve just been wandering wherever we feel like, maybe stopping for a gelato or margarita after walking around the beach for a while. The week is just starting, but I already am more relaxed than I’ve been in some time. In the coming blogs, I’ll tell you more about a couple of the places I just mentioned and about places we have yet to visit. All I know is that I can’t wait to finish up work and get back to the beach.
As regular blog readers know, I go to the Fort Lauderdale beach area frequently as a local. Taking a swim, having breakfast, doing a Happy Hour or whatever. Then I go back to my condo. So I’m intimately familiar with this part of the city. But within an hour of checking into our room at the Marriott above the Beach Place shopping complex, I felt as if I were 1,000 miles away from home. So did Gwendolyn, my girlfriend, who lives only about 20 minutes north of Fort Lauderdale. Our room is lovely, on the 11th floor seaside, with a large balcony where we’ve been having breakfast in the morning and cocktails in the evening. The weather so far has been about perfect for this time of year. Not too hot, not too windy, with just enough clouds to help shield us from the intense sunshine.
It feels as if we’ve already done so much. And we didn’t check in until Sunday evening, when we ate at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Dinner there was tasty and reasonably priced. Last night, we dined at the Casablanca Café, sitting outside on a semi-private balcony looking over the Atlantic. The food and drinks at Casablanca were great and we both think the restaurant offers very good value for the money. We savored late night cocktails and dessert at the spectacular new St. Regis Hotel, which is next to Beach Place. We even took a little tour through the new Hilton hotel a bit farther north. Mostly, though we’ve just been wandering wherever we feel like, maybe stopping for a gelato or margarita after walking around the beach for a while. The week is just starting, but I already am more relaxed than I’ve been in some time. In the coming blogs, I’ll tell you more about a couple of the places I just mentioned and about places we have yet to visit. All I know is that I can’t wait to finish up work and get back to the beach.
Sept 7: Playing Tourist
Posted On: September 7, 2007 8:58 AM
Posted By: LauderBLOGGER
Related Subjects: Greater Fort Lauderdale
It’s time for a great getaway. In my own backyard. You know that a community is special when a local resident packs up his suitcase, jumps in his car – and drives about six miles from his home to stay in a hotel for a week. That’s what I’ll be doing starting Sunday for the next seven days. I love playing tourist in my own city. I did this three times last summer but now is my first chance to repeat the experience in 2007. I’ve been working hard and steadily for months, trying to get my new nonprofit group, The Humanity Project, functioning successfully while also piecing together enough money from outside writing projects to survive this organizational start-up effort. No one said that would be easy, of course, and I have no complaints. But I am ready for a little R&R about now.
Luckily, my girlfriend, Gwendolyn, also is ready for a break from her work in the fairly bizarre acting and modeling biz. Even more fortunately, she was able to arrange a week on the Fort Lauderdale beach at a great new hotel through a timeshare trade. We’ll be staying on A1A, just across from the sea, and close to tons of wonderful restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs. It should be fun.
I suppose a close-to-home vacation can seem a trifle strange, viewed from the outside. I’ve learned it’s not strange at all. I live in Dania Beach, one mile from the Atlantic Ocean. I also visit the Fort Lauderdale beach often. But there is something very different about going out for breakfast along the beachfront, then wandering wherever you want for as long as you want without returning home to work. When I stay in a local hotel, I quickly forget that I live nearby. I see the familiar shops and cafes with fresh eyes. I really do become a tourist in my own city. So, for the next few blogs, I’ll be telling you about some of the things we do while away. If you need a break from work, but can’t quite swing it right now, maybe my stories somehow will help you enjoy a mini-vacation through me. And if you can afford the time and money for your own beach break, perhaps my getaway will inspire you to arrange your own. I hope so. All this nose-to-the-grindstone stuff is fine. But everybody needs a breather now and then.
Luckily, my girlfriend, Gwendolyn, also is ready for a break from her work in the fairly bizarre acting and modeling biz. Even more fortunately, she was able to arrange a week on the Fort Lauderdale beach at a great new hotel through a timeshare trade. We’ll be staying on A1A, just across from the sea, and close to tons of wonderful restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs. It should be fun.
I suppose a close-to-home vacation can seem a trifle strange, viewed from the outside. I’ve learned it’s not strange at all. I live in Dania Beach, one mile from the Atlantic Ocean. I also visit the Fort Lauderdale beach often. But there is something very different about going out for breakfast along the beachfront, then wandering wherever you want for as long as you want without returning home to work. When I stay in a local hotel, I quickly forget that I live nearby. I see the familiar shops and cafes with fresh eyes. I really do become a tourist in my own city. So, for the next few blogs, I’ll be telling you about some of the things we do while away. If you need a break from work, but can’t quite swing it right now, maybe my stories somehow will help you enjoy a mini-vacation through me. And if you can afford the time and money for your own beach break, perhaps my getaway will inspire you to arrange your own. I hope so. All this nose-to-the-grindstone stuff is fine. But everybody needs a breather now and then.
Sept 6: Multicolored Memories
Posted On: September 5, 2007 5:23 PM
Posted By: LauderBLOGGER
Related Subjects: Greater Fort Lauderdale
“In my neighborhood we ate fresh turnips with plump white roots, sweet mustards, boiled collards, stringed snap beans, and shelled peas cooked with the fat, knuckle, or muscle of a pig. We took tough cuts of beef and made them stew down and simmer long. We southern children knew that mother’s cooking was supposed to be best, but everybody else’s deserved at least to be sampled. We loved to eat; we even loved to talk about eating. But food meant more than daily sustenance.”
from Multicolored Memories of a Black Southern Girl by Kitty Oliver
Greater Fort Lauderdale is a culinary crossroads experience. South meets North; mainland meets island, and residents and visitors both become explorers on the dining journey. Hold on, though. It can be an adventurous one that takes you far away from the familiar comforts of home.
Some of my favorite finds in the area’s multicultural restaurants have featured a blend of the familiar, but with a twist - just different enough to spice things up.
For instance, Betty’s Soul Food Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale is known for the down-home southern fare I grew up with, including hefty servings of smothered liver and onions, mashed potatoes and gravy, cornbread and cabbage. But forget conventional fried chicken once you taste jerk chicken and pork at the Jerk Machine restaurants – there are three locations in the area. The tangy Jamaican marinade puts bottled hot sauce to shame.
Every community boasts a best in barbeque and Tom Jenkins Bar-B-Q in Fort Lauderdale certainly holds its own with anyone else’s hometown. And yes, there is a “special sauce” to keep you wondering, and coming back for more. On the other hand, Joy’s Roti Delight in Lauderhill makes no secret of the central ingredient in this traditional Trinidadian meat concoction - a thick rich sauce blended tart with curry and served inside a soft warm concoction of diced potatoes and dough.
Dishes that may look the same can be served up with surprising variation, a reminder of how cultures with African influence have borrowed and blended. Oxtails are as much of a staple on menus as beef, chicken, and fish, and rice more often than salads, but the spice may be cilantro, saffron, or fenugreek. At the Caspian Persian Grill, a new discovery of mine on Sunrise Boulevard on the way to Sawgrass Mills, the lunch buffet and dinners feature steak, chicken, and lamb and hearty vegetable stews. My first time there, I tried the gormeh sabzi, a dish of greens which looks just like the collards I grew up on, but they came laced with a surprise - turmeric and dried lime. I have learned to adjust, though. Fort Lauderdale offers such a cornucopia of old and new culinary encounters that the crossroads become a delicious place to be.
Dine Out Lauderdale, scheduled for Oct 1. – Nov. 15, is offering residents and visitors a chance to enjoy some of the bounty and revisit old favorites, or try something new. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau is highlighting a range of casual chic dining throughout the area where participating restaurants create a special three-course dinner menu of mouthwatering delights for a special fixed price menus of $35 (tax and gratuity not included) Sundays through Thursdays. Included are such top-rated restaurants as Aizia at the Westin Diplomat, Blue Moon Fish Co., Cero at the St. Regis, Coco Restaurant, Council Oak, 15th Street Fisheries, Galanga Thai Kitchen, Grill Room at the Riverside Hotel, Le Bistro, Mark’s Las Olas, Michael’s Kitchen, Primavera, Shula’s, Sugar Reef, Tatiana Restaurant and Trina at the Atlantic, to name a few.
The Mai Kai is also on the list; in addition to dining, there is a Polynesian show where Asian-Pacific performers – and residents - trace the history and culture of the Pacific Islands that grandparents, parents, and children will enjoy. So is the Himmarshee Bar & Grille, located in downtown, a few yards from the railroad tracks where the blacks and whites began to build Fort Lauderdale. Across the street you’ll find Creolina’s with some of the best soulful reminders of New Orleans-style cuisine.
Kitty Oliver
from Multicolored Memories of a Black Southern Girl by Kitty Oliver
Greater Fort Lauderdale is a culinary crossroads experience. South meets North; mainland meets island, and residents and visitors both become explorers on the dining journey. Hold on, though. It can be an adventurous one that takes you far away from the familiar comforts of home.
Some of my favorite finds in the area’s multicultural restaurants have featured a blend of the familiar, but with a twist - just different enough to spice things up.
For instance, Betty’s Soul Food Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale is known for the down-home southern fare I grew up with, including hefty servings of smothered liver and onions, mashed potatoes and gravy, cornbread and cabbage. But forget conventional fried chicken once you taste jerk chicken and pork at the Jerk Machine restaurants – there are three locations in the area. The tangy Jamaican marinade puts bottled hot sauce to shame.
Every community boasts a best in barbeque and Tom Jenkins Bar-B-Q in Fort Lauderdale certainly holds its own with anyone else’s hometown. And yes, there is a “special sauce” to keep you wondering, and coming back for more. On the other hand, Joy’s Roti Delight in Lauderhill makes no secret of the central ingredient in this traditional Trinidadian meat concoction - a thick rich sauce blended tart with curry and served inside a soft warm concoction of diced potatoes and dough.
Dishes that may look the same can be served up with surprising variation, a reminder of how cultures with African influence have borrowed and blended. Oxtails are as much of a staple on menus as beef, chicken, and fish, and rice more often than salads, but the spice may be cilantro, saffron, or fenugreek. At the Caspian Persian Grill, a new discovery of mine on Sunrise Boulevard on the way to Sawgrass Mills, the lunch buffet and dinners feature steak, chicken, and lamb and hearty vegetable stews. My first time there, I tried the gormeh sabzi, a dish of greens which looks just like the collards I grew up on, but they came laced with a surprise - turmeric and dried lime. I have learned to adjust, though. Fort Lauderdale offers such a cornucopia of old and new culinary encounters that the crossroads become a delicious place to be.
Dine Out Lauderdale, scheduled for Oct 1. – Nov. 15, is offering residents and visitors a chance to enjoy some of the bounty and revisit old favorites, or try something new. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau is highlighting a range of casual chic dining throughout the area where participating restaurants create a special three-course dinner menu of mouthwatering delights for a special fixed price menus of $35 (tax and gratuity not included) Sundays through Thursdays. Included are such top-rated restaurants as Aizia at the Westin Diplomat, Blue Moon Fish Co., Cero at the St. Regis, Coco Restaurant, Council Oak, 15th Street Fisheries, Galanga Thai Kitchen, Grill Room at the Riverside Hotel, Le Bistro, Mark’s Las Olas, Michael’s Kitchen, Primavera, Shula’s, Sugar Reef, Tatiana Restaurant and Trina at the Atlantic, to name a few.
The Mai Kai is also on the list; in addition to dining, there is a Polynesian show where Asian-Pacific performers – and residents - trace the history and culture of the Pacific Islands that grandparents, parents, and children will enjoy. So is the Himmarshee Bar & Grille, located in downtown, a few yards from the railroad tracks where the blacks and whites began to build Fort Lauderdale. Across the street you’ll find Creolina’s with some of the best soulful reminders of New Orleans-style cuisine.
Kitty Oliver
Sept 5: A Market Place
Posted On: September 4, 2007 11:22 AM
Posted By: LauderBLOGGER
Related Subjects: Greater Fort Lauderdale
I think it’s nice to see outdoor markets making a strong comeback in this country. I can remember going to these things as a kid with my mother, though back then the farmers’ markets only carried fresh produce. Stall after stall was loaded with sweet corn picked that morning, along with crisp green beans and cucumbers and radishes and every other seasonal vegetable and fruit. Today, there seems a trend toward better, fresher food, including quality produce. Perhaps partly in response to this, outdoor markets have sprung up all over the United States.
Now Fort Lauderdale has its own weekly outdoor market. It’s smaller than some, but still offers a broad array of food and goods for sale. From what I can tell, the number of businesses seems to vary week to week – I’ve seen as many as 20 or more tents and as few as four or five. But the good news is that this market now is open every Sunday. A city street is closed off to accommodate the buyers and sellers. Look for the market just north of Las Olas on SE 12th Avenue in downtown Fort Lauderdale.
This past holiday weekend I happened by the Las Olas Outdoor Gourmet Market, as it’s called, just as they were packing up to head home. But there still were two or three tables filled with produce. The veggies looked tempting, including that basket filled with ears of corn. Another tent had gourmet coffees, teas, café aroma candles and more. And there was a wide variety of items at a tent operated by Cote Provence, which also has a permanent shop on Las Olas. At Sunday’s market, Cote Provence was selling olive oil soaps, handmade pottery, gourmet tapenades and spreads, Provencal room sprays and lots of other enticing stuff. The market is operated by the same folks who run outdoor markets on Lincoln Road, in downtown Miami and elsewhere around South Florida. They seem to know what they’re doing. It’s a fun way to spend part of a lazy sunny Sunday afternoon. And maybe to pick up something a little different to include in that Sunday night dinner.
Now Fort Lauderdale has its own weekly outdoor market. It’s smaller than some, but still offers a broad array of food and goods for sale. From what I can tell, the number of businesses seems to vary week to week – I’ve seen as many as 20 or more tents and as few as four or five. But the good news is that this market now is open every Sunday. A city street is closed off to accommodate the buyers and sellers. Look for the market just north of Las Olas on SE 12th Avenue in downtown Fort Lauderdale.
This past holiday weekend I happened by the Las Olas Outdoor Gourmet Market, as it’s called, just as they were packing up to head home. But there still were two or three tables filled with produce. The veggies looked tempting, including that basket filled with ears of corn. Another tent had gourmet coffees, teas, café aroma candles and more. And there was a wide variety of items at a tent operated by Cote Provence, which also has a permanent shop on Las Olas. At Sunday’s market, Cote Provence was selling olive oil soaps, handmade pottery, gourmet tapenades and spreads, Provencal room sprays and lots of other enticing stuff. The market is operated by the same folks who run outdoor markets on Lincoln Road, in downtown Miami and elsewhere around South Florida. They seem to know what they’re doing. It’s a fun way to spend part of a lazy sunny Sunday afternoon. And maybe to pick up something a little different to include in that Sunday night dinner.
