Start With A Bowl Of Popcorn

Hot Dogs or…

Chili Cheese Fries

Flavors

Start With A Bowl Of Popcorn

Hot Dogs or…

Chili Cheese Fries

Flavors

Turtle Sundae
(3 Giant Scoops With Cherry Garden, Death By Chocolate & Maple Walnut)

Turtle Sundae
(With Praline Pecan, Creme Caramel, & Butter Pecan)

Someone Finished
(…making this the one and only meal of the day)

And, someone else didn’t.

Other Monstrosities

Thank you, Jaxson’s.  (Again.)  We grew up loving you.

And, we’ll be back…

…to feed the little kid that’s still hiding deep inside of us.

Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlor

From our little corner of the world…

Wishing You Peace and Joy, Season’s Greetings, Happy Holidays, Holiday Greetings, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Christmas Wishes, Happy Christmas, Joy to the World, & Compliments of the Season to one and all!

From our little corner of the world…

Wishing You Peace and Joy, Season’s Greetings, Happy Holidays, Holiday Greetings, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Christmas Wishes, Happy Christmas, Joy to the World, & Compliments of the Season to one and all!

]]> http://www.reviewatlanta.com/2011/12/23/holiday-holidays/feed/ 0 http://www.reviewatlanta.com/2011/10/05/stubbies-steins-gainesville-fl/ http://www.reviewatlanta.com/2011/10/05/stubbies-steins-gainesville-fl/#comments Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:02:37 +0000 michele http://www.reviewatlanta.com/?p=3519

Stubbies & Steins — Gainesville, FL

Swamp Head Big Nose IPA

Sausage Fest (With 4 Nuernburger Wurst, Weisswurst, Knackwurst, Bratwurst & Sauerkraut)

And, Red Cabbage On The Side

Stubbies & Steins 9 West University Avenue Gainesville, FL 32601 352 384 1261

One of many, they were a weekend ritual.  Steak on Fridays…always.  But, on Sunday, anything was fair game.  From [...]]]> In my memory, lupini beans were tender, sweet, creamy, buttery and accented by a hint of salt.  I remember eating them with my grandmother.  They were the perfect snack as we waited for a big family dinner.  

One of many, they were a weekend ritual.  Steak on Fridays…always.  But, on Sunday, anything was fair game.  From grilled meats, to fritto misto, to homemade pasta, we were well-fed at my gram’s house.  And, the crowd could top 30 when family from the north was in town.  I was the pampered baby of the family. Ultra-fine blonde curls and a dark golden brown tan courtesy of my Italian roots and day after day spent on the beach with whichever relative was in town this week.  Summers were one long beach party.  And, the days would end with amazing meals made by my grandmother.

So, when I saw a bottle of lupini beans at a local specialty market, I happily snatched a bottle.  Sadly, these beans do not resemble the beans of my childhood in any way.  They were overly briny, unbearably salty, and unpleasantly mealy.

My grandmother made them from scratch.  What was the secret preparation that I missed as a child?  I wish I knew.  My grandmother never shared the secret.  Unaware that many years later, I would try to recreate the memory of those perfect summer days.  I’ll just have to learn how to make them from scratch.  The way she used to do.  It’s worth the effort to try to recapture those magical days of summer in Florida.   But, I know it won’t be the same without her… even if I can reproduce her recipe.  Luckily, the magic will endure in my memories.

I miss you Gram.

FetishCon.com

SecretRoom.net

But, next year…

Fairchild Gardens 10901 Old Cutler Road Coral Gables, FL 33156 305 667 1651

Versailles… This sign beckons you.  I don’t believe it’s possible to drive down Calle Ocho (8th Street) without stopping.  It might just be for a cafe cubano.  Or, it might be for a pressed sandwich or pastellito (a guava pastry with or without cheese).  Or, if you’re lucky, you might just get to sample my personal favorite… [...]]]>

Versailles… This sign beckons you.  I don’t believe it’s possible to drive down Calle Ocho (8th Street) without stopping.  It might just be for a cafe cubano.  Or, it might be for a pressed sandwich or pastellito (a guava pastry with or without cheese).  Or, if you’re lucky, you might just get to sample my personal favorite… the GIANT sugar cookie baked with a good sized circle of guava paste decorating it’s center.  The delectable pink circle of goodness make this giant treat worth every calorie. 

Setting:  Large casual dining room with separate bakery.  The simple tables and chairs somehow work with the numerous crystal chandeliers in this Miami institution.  It is a decor that screams Old Miami.  And, the bakery, which has its own seating (a number of cafe tables) also offers a takeout window for those in a hurry.

Staff:  The staff is a mixture of Spanish and English speakers who are eager to help.  But, if you’re headed to the bakery, it’s best to know what you need in advance.  As, it’s likely to be jam packed full of hungry patrons.

The Food: 

The Restaurant offers a full menu of classic Cuban cuisine…  Lechon Asado (Roast Pork), Vaca Frita (Beef Roast shredded and fried), Boliche (Cuban Pot Roast), Picadillo (Ground beef braised in a thin tomato sauce), Masas De Puerco Fritas (Chunks of fried pork), Palomilla Steak (Thin beef steak sauteed with citrus juices, garlic and onions) and many others.  

The Bakery houses their cakes, cookies, pastries, Cuban bread and sandwiches for pressing.  In addition, a  row of several espresso machines that they use to whip up their cafe cubanos and cafe con leches.  A list of my favorites include their guava sugar cookies, tres leches, crema catalana (Cuban creme brulee), flan (several variations), pastellitos, arroz con leche (rice pudding), and bonatillo (sweet potato pudding).

The Stars of the Day:  Lechon Asado, Vaca Frita, Maduros and Moros y Christianos AND guava sugar cookies, pastellitos and cafe cubanos for dessert.

Versailles
3555 S W Eighth Street
Miami, FL 33135
(305) 444-0240

One of my all time favorite restaurants in Florida has got to be Little Havana.  Their Cuban food has the true ring of authenticity.  Every visit to South Florida demands a visit.  And, while it might not actually be located on Calle Ocho, their food will take you straight to Cuba.

Setting:  The large dining room [...]]]>

One of my all time favorite restaurants in Florida has got to be Little Havana.  Their Cuban food has the true ring of authenticity.  Every visit to South Florida demands a visit.  And, while it might not actually be located on Calle Ocho, their food will take you straight to Cuba.

Setting:  The large dining room has the feel of Cuba.  Huge wooden chairs upholstered with well-worn leather pair up with the white linen covered tables for a relaxed yet casually elegant feel.

Staff: Incredibly friendly and helpful to those who might need a bit of guidance.  And, to those who want to linger over an addictive cafe cubano at the end of your meal, you will never be rushed!

The Food:

Roast Pork — Out of this World — Delicious and tender pork with a drizzle of pan juices and garnished with a wedge of crisp fried skin.

Ropa Vieja — Shredded beef and onions in a thin tomato sauce

Bistec Empanizado — A thin steak, breaded and fried, topped with garlic sauce and garnished with lime

Bistec de Pollo Empanizado — Fried breaded chicken with garlic sauce and garnished with lime

Palomilla Steak — Cuban steak with a light mojo marinade and garnished with lime

Picadillo — ground beef braised in a tangy tomato sauce with olives

Side items:  fried yuca, fried ripe plantains, plantain chips, croquettes, and last but not least, boiled yuca with mojo

And, for dessert:  cafe cubano and coconut flan

The Stars of the Day:  Roast Pork with fried ripe plantains AND cafe cubano with coconut flan

Little Havana
12727 Biscayne Blvd.
North Miami, FL 33181
Phone: (305) 899-9069

A recent visit to Florida has refreshed my memories and awakened my cravings for Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlor.  For me, there is no ice cream parlor that will ever live up to it.  Jaxson’s is Florida to me.  No trip is complete without the mandatory visit… or two.  Jaxson’s is the definition of indulgence.  The sundaes [...]]]>

A recent visit to Florida has refreshed my memories and awakened my cravings for Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlor.  For me, there is no ice cream parlor that will ever live up to it.  Jaxson’s is Florida to me.  No trip is complete without the mandatory visit… or two.  Jaxson’s is the definition of indulgence.  The sundaes are a heaping mound of ice cream that must be at least a pint of ice cream.  And, that’s before they are finished off with one or more of their many toppings and sauces.  This is not a dessert.  It is a decadent meal.

Setting: A rustic ice cream parlor with wrought iron tables and chairs, wooden booths, vintage goods and antiques cover every available inch of wall space.

Staff: Friendly one and all.

The Food: A goblet of popcorn starts every meal.  This is Jaxson’s and that goblet of popcorn will be the healthiest bit of food to touch your lips.  Don’t even try to order anything other than one of their ice cream creations or you will need a crane to get out of your seat.  Jaxson’s ice cream is the gold standard by which all other ice cream is compared.  What flavor?  Any flavor.  They are all Amazing!

Vanilla ~ Chocolate ~ Strawberry ~ Rocky Road ~ Mocha Chip ~ Chewy Fudge ~ Fudge Ripple ~ Maple Walnut ~ Butter Pecan ~Butter Almond ~ Black Cherry ~ Chocolate Chip ~ Chocolate Almond ~ Mint Chocolate Chip ~ Double Chocolate Chip ~ Death By Chocolate ~ Tropical Coconut ~ Coffee ~ Blueberry ~ Rum Raisin ~ Praline Pecan ~ Oreo Cookie ~ Cappuccino ~ Pina Colada ~ Bubble Gum ~ Fresh Banana ~ Fresh Peach ~ Cherry Vanilla ~ Pistachio ~ Black Raspberry ~ Peppermint Candy ~ Crunchy Peanut Butter ~ Creme Caramel ~ Cookie Dough

Take your pick!!

Stars of the Day: Ice cream –  While all the flavors are out of this world, my favorites are Creme Caramel, Death by Chocolate and Tropical Coconut.  And, my favorite sundae is the Turtle Sundae with Creme Caramel ice cream.

Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant
128 South Federal Hwy.
Dania Beach, FL 33004
954 923 4445