February 12th, 2012
Once I mentioned to a few friends that I was traveling south, to the southernmost point of the U.S., I got plenty of suggestions for restaurants to try. I am so glad that on our first night we decided to visit Blue Heaven. This restaurant was referred to me by Cheran; and good choice it was. It is located at 729 Thomas St., Key West, FL. Tel. 305-296-8666. Website? www.blueheavenkw.com.
Blue Heaven has been in business since 1991. It has is own history. The building is over 100 years old. Can you believe that it has been a bordello, an ice cream parlor and even boxing matches were refereed by Hemingway. As they say, if these walls could talk. Better yet, if those trees could talk. Dining under the stars was our choice for the evening and the “backyard” had huge trees that served as canopies.
We had to wait a little bit when we arrived, we did not care. We were on vacation. No schedule. We got our drinks and enjoyed the Bahamian music being played by the band.
Chickens usually run all over the place. At that time of the evening, they were tucked in. Soon we were called to our table.
We were seated on a nice corner and near one of those huge trees. The feel of eating outdoors was enhanced by the music and the atmosphere of the restaurant.
We told our server about the gluten allergy and even though it was a full house, she did not even blink. To the chef she went to ask a few questions regarding gluten in the items my husband had chosen.
For an appetizer 2 of us had the Carrot & Curry Soup. It was garnished with chutney. This soup was thick and filling and I am sure not low in calories. It had a nice kick to it. The taste of the curry was well defined, and it was absolutely delicious.
Our choices for entrees were:
My husband had the Sea Scallops sauteed with a Sauce Provencal with Wild Rice. The sauce was outstanding and the scallops seemed to disappear in no time.
One order of a 14 ounce Pork Chop. Well, check the picture out. He thought it was too well done; a little more sauce took care of that.
Mine was a Yellow Tail Snapper, sauteed and served with a beurre blanc sauce and angel hair pasta. A garnish of mango. It was good, but the Carrot & Curry soup was my favorite of the evening.
Oh, wait, not yet….a coffee and their Key Lime Pie. A twist to this pie was the meringue topping. I would have loved it a little more tart, nevertheless, we finished it all.
Our service was good even though it took longer than expected between courses. It was pretty crowded, though.
So, if you are visiting Key West, now you know where to go. Have a good one.
February 11th, 2012
We told the taxi driver to drop us off at Duval St. I am sure he does a lot of drop offs and pick ups on that street. It is Key West’s Times Square. I did not think of that; the taxi driver told me. Walking around looking for a Cafe Cubano. No luck; everyone told us to go here or there, but we just could not find it.
We entered a small convenience shop called Millie’s, located at 425 Front St., Tel. 305-294-6877. Very interesting. Chocolates that you normally do not see in the U.S. Good assortment of beers, as well.
On one small corner of the shop, on the left, I found some beautiful cigars being rolled. We started a conversation with Sr. Lobos. I thought he would be more comfortable speaking in Spanish so I switched to Spanish. He told me he had just been in Florida only 2 months.
His cigars looked so smooth. He was doing something to some of them. Almost like carving. Sr. Lobos told me that he does Art Cigar. This is an art, an addition to his traditional cigar rolling. He told me that the cigar leaf has about 6 different colorations. As he carves them they come out to the surface.
He can personalize his Art Cigar for anyone. He had cigar boxes that were painted and could be customized, as well. But, he really wanted me to understand that his Art Cigar is a carving and not a painted cigar.
Of course, we bought some regular cigars from him. After all this, we had to try them out. We thought this guy had something going for him; unique and different from the rest. And, there were many cigar shops in Key West.
Since we were having no luck trying to get a Cafe Cubano we kept on walking and stumbled upon the Smallest Bar, located at 124 Duval St. There were only about 5 people that could fit in. The “Bar Tender” was on the phone. He said: Got to go, I am swamped. Haha and haha again because the drink we got was $12. He was making a killing!!
Off with the drink and the cigar we stopped at another bar that had some outdoor seating; and no music!!
We sat outside, drinks and cigars on hand. Might as well do as the Romans do. The review of Sr. Lobos cigar was; they liked them better than the well known Cohiba cigars.
Note: We found that taxi drivers in Key West were full of information. We used Five 6’s Taxi. All you have to do is call them at 305-296-6666. Website? www.keywesttaxi.com. Basically, no waiting.
Talk to you later…
February 11th, 2012
I have been coming to Florida for so many years. I even attended a small college in central Florida long time ago. All those years I have heard people talking about Key West. So, after being in Florida for over a week and not seeing the sun, we decided to go to the southernmost corner of the United States and see if a few rays of sunshine would make an appearance before heading back to Delaware. Believe it or not, it did happen.
I had some preconceived ideas of how Key West was going to be. Pristine water, fishermen, cottages and bungalows; the influences of New England, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Let me get it off my chest; some things I really liked; others I did not like at all.
During the 4 hour drive to Key West I found that the bridges were so neat with spectacular views of the water. But, I also saw too many signs offering sales for this or that and more than the share of run down places.
When we arrived in Key West we probably did what everyone else does; go to Duval Street. Sorry, but I did not like it. Too crowded, too noisy at all times and even too many bars. I love music but blaring music 24/7 is not my thing. Ghost tours? Trains and Trolleys? Too much of a carnival atmosphere. Too commercialized. At that moment I thought, what the heck am I doing here? Almost like someone adjusting their eyes to darkness; that’s what slowly was happening to me.
The moment I saw Casa Marina I fell in love with it. It is one of those hotels that have great bones. Understated elegance. This hotel did not need any other embellishments. The woods throughout the hotel were so rich and wonderful. Very classic. It is located at 1500 Reynolds St., Key West, FL 33040. Tel. 888-303-5717 Website? www.casamarinaresort.com.
Everyone in the hotel was so nice. This friendliness and genuine happiness was not just at Casa Marina, we also found it with everyone we encountered in Key West.
 
Casa Marina was very comfortable. Since the 1920’s when it opened its doors on New Year’s Eve, this hotel has had impressive visitors; business tycoons, artists and dignitaries. It was the vision of American Railroad Tycoon, Henry Flagler. Mr. Flagler died before the construction even started in 1918.
I found it to be an oasis. It was quiet and tranquil with beautifully kept grounds. The setting was really pretty.
It has the largest private beach in Key West. You were not crowded on the beach, everyone had their own privacy.
 
Those palm trees were holding some inviting hammocks.
 
Thatched roof huts gave privacy to Spa Al Mare.
Our rooms were very nice with really comfortable beds. The hotel has 311 guest rooms. If you are interested in water sports, I think you will be satisfied with what they are offering.
I talked to Stephanie, a Concierge at Casa Marina; her restaurant recommendation was very good. I was looking for a restaurant who would be aware of gluten allergies and Camille’s was her suggestion.
Really loved the Casa Marina. I could never get tired of that view.
Have a good one!! Talk to you later.
February 8th, 2012
I don’t remember how many times I have visited this small and intimate Asian restaurant located in Boyton Beach, Florida. Sushi Simon was recommended to us by someone that was at another dining table and heard us talking about sushi, a couple of years ago.
The address is 1614 South Federal Highway, Boyton Beach, FL 33435. Tel. 561-731-1819. It is in a shopping center on the corner of Woolbright and South Federal Highway.
Sushi Simon definitely has a following. The restaurant can get crowded. Back in December I went with my son and sat at the bar. We had a great dinner. We talked to Simon and he told us he had worked at Sushi Jo, also in Palm Beach County. On Monday, Simon was at his usual spot, behind the bar fixing sushi and other delicacies. His rolls contain plantains, strawberries, macademia nuts. His Crazy Lucy soup is not just a Miso soup but the inclusion of different types of fish; another twist from the usual.
Just a few diners at that time of the evening. I must admit that since my husband has to eat gluten free, at times is a little hard to find a gluten free interesting roll. That was the case on Monday. The rolls he wanted, he could not eat. He finally settled on one and to tell you the truth I don’t even remember what it was. He said it was good, but with not enough enthusiasm.
He also had 2 orders of Escolar, sashimi style. Escolar is a snake mackerel and is found in deep tropical and temperate waters around the world. Some restaurants call it white tuna.
I, on the other hand, started with Conch, sashimi style. We also ordered fresh wasabi. It is so good and a big difference from the wasabi they usually serve you. Conch is usually a little tough but I did not mind it. I, actually, expected it. It was a little boring so I probably would not order it again.
I wish I could remember the rolls I had. They were so good. Part of the evening’s special. Usually I can write the description from the menu but only the names were written and I can’t even remember those. They were funny names.
These are the pictures of my rolls. Very good, indeed.
If you do not like sushi or sashimi and think you can get something else at Sushi Simon, then, think again because this restaurant does cater to sushi and sashimi aficionados.
If you have to eat gluten free then be flexible and bring your own gluten free soy sauce.
I almost forgot to tell you that the service has been constant; friendly and willing to help with the menu.
Sushi Simon has reviews that go from excellent, to terrible, rolls are too small, or best ever, and the usual too pricey. It’s personal thing, so check it out and decide for yourselves.
Short and to the point. Next time I will make sure I get those descriptions before I get too comfortable.
Have a great day!!
February 5th, 2012
Come and enjoy the day in Delray Beach….but tropical nights in the Village by the Sea are a lot of fun…
Usually, I tried to keep away from the hustle and bustle of the week-end. Having a friend in Delray, well, gave us an opportunity to check Delray at night. Those tropical nights, dining al fresco. Our choice? We decided on Vic & Angelo’s on 290 East Atlantic Ave. Tel. 561-278-9570. Website? www.vicandangelos.com. And, no, I don’t work for them. I happen to like the restaurant. I think a guest visiting would like it, as well. The food is consistently good, the service is great and the atmosphere is vibrant and fun.
Nights in Delray, at this time of the year, remind me of the nights in Rehoboth Beach during the height of the summer season. Where to park? Most restaurants have valet parking. Also the parking lot by the railroad tracks on Atlantic Ave. charge $10 and it is a good investment if planning on an extended evening in town.
After getting comfortable on our table we had to laugh. We almost did not need to talk; people watching was entertainment in itself. Our server was Jessie. She was very attentive, new the menu well and I decided to go with her recommendations. The night was young so let me tell you what we had.
After getting some of their delicious flat bread, some of us decided to get grilled octopus. Tender, it melted in your mouth.
 
I decided to get the Black Grouper, topped with a crab cake. It had escarole and white beans. It was a good choice. Very well seasoned.
A Veal Picatta was ordered with artichokes, capers and lemon jus. This dish has been ordered in the past and is popular with my husband; gluten free.
The Veal Chop was also ordered. This chop was not on the menu. A side order of the veal picatta lemon jus was ordered because it was so tasty; making this dish their own.
No dessert was needed; we were all pretty much satisfied with our meals.
Atlantic Avenue looked pretty at night. Illuminating lights gave it a special glow.
Off for a walk and a nightcap at the new Park Tavern, which of course, after their big official opening on Friday evening, was full to capacity. Sorry, no pictures inside, too many customers. Interesting dishes and sliders coming out of the kitchen.
Off to the second nightcap of the evening and to listen to some music at Il Bacio. This is an outdoor venue for music, located at SE 2nd Ave. but we entered through their entrance on Atlantic Ave. Completely outdoors; so check for the weather if you are planning to stop by. You don’t want to get there too early either. The atmosphere kicks on later into the evening.
It was time to go home…..enjoying time with friends and family….priceless!!
February 4th, 2012
Delray Beach is a dog town. Everywhere, there is someone walking along with one; different sizes and breeds. I was not surprised when the sign said that they offered frozen yogurt for your dog. No more sharing with that lovable pooch!!
I took a walk in Delray, enough of cleaning and watching a rainy day develop into a more cloudy day. Out and about I went; stopped to say hello to Michele, she owns a very cute consignment shop in Delray. Great new pillows at Varietai. Continued looking at the town; not that crowded at that time of the day. I guess visitors were resting for the night ahead of dinner and music in the Village by the Sea.
A sign caught my attention at a window. It said yogurt made specially for your dog. An adorable pooch on the poster. I decided to go in; too curious to keep on going.
My Yogurt Cafe is located at 524 East Atlantic Ave., between 5th and 6th Avenues and right next to Scuola Vecchias Pizza E Vino. Website? http://www.myyogurtcafe.com. Tel. 561-278-1810.
I remember when this self serve yogurt establishment opened last year; almost at the same time as Orange Leaf further east on Atlantic. I went to Orange Leaf for no other reason than to try it. I loved it. I guess Orange Leaf attracted me with all the bright colors, and catchy signs.
So, I am glad that I went in. Renee was behind the counter and I asked her about the yogurt for dogs. I had never seen it in Delaware. She mentioned that a lot of people that stopped had not either.
 
Renee mentioned that MYC is a full frozen yogurt and coffee shop. It is not big and the yogurt dispensers are on the wall. You help yourself, add toppings if you so desired, have it weighed, pay, and enjoy.
The frozen yogurt for dogs, Yoghund, is already packaged in small cups and kept in a small freezer. The company that makes it is The Barking Dog, Ltd., from Exeter, NH. This yogurt is a digestive friendly premium frozen yogurt; certified organic. There are different flavors available and some of the ingredients are papaya and peanut butter. You can visit www.yoghund.com/home.php. for more info.
How can I be standing and not have any when Renee is telling me all the new flavors arriving. Island Coconut was there and the Mango is coming next week. Other flavors like Espresso, Cali Tart, Chocolate, among others are already there.
I decided on 3; the Island Coconut, the Cali Tart, and topped with the Espresso. I thought the combinations were great. I sat outside and proceeded to enjoy one delicious frozen yogurt. I could taste the difference in the MYC yogurt; creamy consistency with well defined flavors. People were stopping in, also caught by the frozen yogurt for dogs. Out they came with yogurt. I asked the 2 ladies that were also enjoying some yogurt and they thought it was fantastic.
Renee told me that all the frozen yogurts were gluten free, which was music to my ears!! Their yogurt is also probiotic, low cal, Kosher certified, they have sugar free syrup and even a non-dairy sorbet; the Pink Lemonade.
In Florida MYC can be found in Key West, Miami, St. Petersburg, and Delray Beach.
Please note that is also a full service coffee shop.
Walking back home I had to stop at the draw bridge on the Intracoastal. There was a woman with 2 Labradors. I told her that they would love the frozen yogurt for dogs at MYC. She answered “Oh, they have it all the time, they love, don’t you guys? Off we went.
Have a great week-end….talk to you later…
February 3rd, 2012
Officially, Park Tavern is opening its doors tonight in Delray Beach. The restaurant is located at 32 SE 2nd Ave. at Worthing Place. Tel. 561-265-5093. Website? www.parktaverndelray.com.
This restaurant will be serving sustainable American cuisine; farm fresh. Ask and they’ll tell you all about the best farmers, fisherman, and ranchers. Better yet, visit the website, check the menu, scroll down and a list of those who will be suppliers to Park Tavern is there for you to check out.
From breads to cured meats and condiments, everything will be made in-house.
Have not visited yet so my review is not available. Will wait until the novelty wears out a bit. You know how it is.
Oh, I forgot to tell you that Park Tavern is owned by another restaurant in Delray Beach, Cut 432.
Another restaurant that will be opening doors in Delray Beach is called SALT. They will be serving prime steaks, sushi and raw bar. The domain is www.salttherestaurant.com. SALT is located opposite corner from Park Tavern.
 
Plenty of choices for all aficionados. Talk to you later….
February 3rd, 2012
I find it so funny….when I write posts about what’s going on in the beaches that I frequent, I have to laugh because there is so much. I usually, pick and choose the activities, events and entertainment that catch my attention. So, if you are visiting Palm Beach County, the town of Delray Beach and surrounding towns then maybe these ones will appeal to you, as well.
Activities
Tuesday/Thursday Paddlers – This activity is for experience kayakers or paddlers. If you love to kayak then this might be up your alley. The duration of the paddles is 3 hours twice a week. They have now added Saturdays, as well. What you need to do is send an e-mail to seeleydavid@bellsouth.net and put in the subject line “Paddling Group”. Then send your phone number. He will notify you by e-mail of the paddle location. This is a group that has been getting together for years. After the 3 hour paddle they will meet for lunch at a restaurant.
Palm Beach Pack & Paddle Club – Hikes, bikes and paddles, but mostly paddling. Location? Okeeheele Nature Center in Okeeheele Park, 7715 Forest Hill Blvd., west of West Palm Beach. Call Geoff at 561-963-9755 for more info., or better yet, visit http://www.clubkayak.com/pandp/.
You can rent kayaks at Adventure Times Kayak Shop at 521 Northlake Blvd. Website www.kayakkayak.com.
Boca Raton Tours – Join a naturalist from Gumbo Limbo Nature Center for a guided tour along the Boardwalk at Rutherford Park. Then, the tour will be followed by a canoe paddle through mangrove trails and back along the shoreline of the Intracoastal. Please note that paddling experience is necessary. $22/person or $15 for members of the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. Prepayment and reservations are necessary by calling 561-338-1542. Please visit www.gumbolimbo.org for more info. on this Nature Center.
Loxahatchee Canoeing offers guided moonlight tours from 7 – 9 p.m. through Arthur R. Marshall Loxatchee National Wildlife Refuge, Boyton Beach, Florida. $10/person includes boat rental plus $5 admission to the Park. Reservations are required. Please call 561-733-0192. Please check http://www.canoetheeverglades.com.
Tuesdays through Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. – Shark Feeding at The Sandoway House Nature Center located at 142 S. Ocean Blvd. Sundays the Shark Feeding will be at 1:30 p.m. The Sandoway House is located in a 1936 beachfront home in Delray. I wrote a post on the Nature center on 2/15/11. Just click on the month of February of 2011 and scroll down to the date. I included pictures.
Saturday, 2/4 – Every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. is the Open Air Delray GreenMarket at SE 4th Ave., South of Atlantic Ave. Freshly made baked goods, produce, flowers , live music and even some dancing, as well.
Saturday, 2/4 and Sunday 2/5 – The Delray Beach Antiques Show at the Delray Beach Community Center on 50 NW 1st Ave. Exhibitor booths of antique elegance, quality and beauty. Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Live Entertainment
Delray Beach is full of music. Different venues seem to be able to accommodate everyone’s likings. Check these ones.
Crane’s Beach House – You don’t have to be a guest to enjoy some of the live entertainment on week-ends. Crane’s Beach House is located at 82 Gleason St. Tel. 561-278-1700. Website? www.cranesbeachhouse.com.
On Friday the Tiki Bar will be opening at 5 p.m. – Live entertainment will start at 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. with DYMiN. She has performed alongside the late Bob Hope, the late Miles Davis among many others.
On Saturday go by the North Pool Waterfall where Adam Barnes “Teacha” will be performing live reggae starting at 6 p.m.
The Atlantic Grille is located at the Seagate Hotel in Delray Beach – Friday and Saturday from 8:30 p.m. until 12:30 p.m. you will find Orson Whitfield. The Seagate Hotel is located at E. Atlantic Avenue. Website? www.theatlanticgrille.com.
And if all that fails…..there is always plenty of eating in Delray. Casual or elegant? Your choice.
Grab a pitcher of beer; they’ll keep it cold, and a flat bread. They are pretty good too. The best are their grilled wings. Where? At the Bru’s Room at 35 NE 2nd Avenue, 561-276-3663. Website? www.brusroom.com. Bru’s Room has a gluten free menu. And those wings I mentioned? Gluten free, as well!!
 
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