Aug 18: Italian Delight

Call me crazy. (You wouldn't be the first.) But I like hot soup even in the middle of our intense South Florida summer. I never get tired of good soup. I also never think it's too warm outside for soup. I mention this because I've found a new place to get some excellent soup. And some fine coffee as well as other tasty food and drinks. It's a little sliver of a restaurant located on Las Olas Boulevard, south side of the road just east of the Riverside Hotel. Called Gran Forno Pronto, this is the companion to a larger bakery and sandwich shop down Las Olas several blocks. That's the original Gran Forno - great spot for first class homemade bread and other baked goods. Gran Forno's little cousin is a terrific addition to Fort Lauderdale's main shopping and dining street.

At Gran Forno Pronto, you'll find fresh-baked pizza along with paninis and salads and sweets. And soups. I've had their soups for lunch several times now. Each one was different and each was excellent.

In case you still aren't entirely sure whether I'm crazy or not, let me seal the deal for you. I've eaten these hot soups sitting at one of Gran Forno Pronto's three outdoor tables. In the middle of the afternoon. In the summer heat. Of course, you don't have to do this. You can sit inside in the nice a.c., where there's enough room for a small lunch crowd. Many folks like to order their food, grab it and run back to the office or wherever. Gran Forno Pronto is a great takeout kind of place. But me? I prefer to go there when I can sit and enjoy. Just last Thursday, I ordered minestrone along with a thick slice of onion pizza and a bottle of San Pelligrino. I followed it all up with a deliciously strong espresso. The temperature at my streetside table was probably 93 degrees but did I care? No, I didn't. I watched the shoppers as they wandered along Las Olas and I smiled at the people who looked over at me. I sipped my soup and wiped the sweat off my forehead. And I just savored every moment of it. Run by Italians, Gran Forno Pronto feels like the sort of small café you find in Italy. Only two months ago, I was in Italy eating in some of those cafes, in fact. And yes, I ate outside - in the middle of the afternoon in the summer heat. And yes. I ate soup.