ROMANCE ON THE ROAD

By Marilyn Anderson & Dennis Lanning

FLORIDA FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Christmas is around the corner-and that means travel for lots of us.  Where to go and what to do for the holidays?  For lovers who like their holiday cheer warm and wonderful, there’s no place better than Florida.  Forget the snow, and head to the Sunshine State with its beautiful beaches, hotels, restaurants, and sights, and take in all the glittery Christmas decorations-along with sun, sand, and ocean!

Our Florida Issue features fabulous finds on both the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. From the elegant and romantic to the cute and casual-come visit with us in

* Coral Gables, Miami, and Miami Beach

* Hollywood and Ft. Lauderdale

* Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Palm Beach, and West Palm Beach

* Naples on the Gulf Coast

Featured Hotels:

Biltmore Coral Gables-Miami

Hotel Nash, Miami Beach

Sundy House, Delray Beach

Hollywood Beach Marriott

The Inn on Fifth, Naples

Featured Restaurants:

Afterglo

Tantra Restaurant and Lounge

Wish

Fratelli La Bufala

Le Tub

Nick’s Fishmarket of Hawaii

Brazillian Tropicana

Naples Tomato

Featured Attractions:

The Henry Morrison Flagler Museum

Kravis Center for the Performing Arts

The Schooner Lady Stirling

…and much more!

Fabulous Florida Finds…for the Holidays or Any Day!

Coral Gables, Florida

For a romantic stay extraordinaire…

BILTMORE CORAL GABLES – MIAMI

The Biltmore is a National Historical Landmark, located in the residential enclave of Coral Gables, slightly west of Miami, Florida.  It is a magnificent structure worthy of its status and impressive both inside and out.  Filled with magnificent architectural features and arts and crafts, the hotel has a rich history, complete with folklore legends of the famous and infamous.

Besides being a hotel, over the years The Biltmore was a hospital, a government center, a banquet and wedding facility, and then was closed for years.  It is now owned by the City of Coral Gables and skillfully operated by The Leading Hotels of the World.

The Biltmore was originally built by George Merrick in 1926.  He envisioned his plush palace merely as a place for people to stay while they attended auctions for his land. At the time, none of the area was developed-but George thought it could be a resort surrounded by expensive homes on land that he owned.  George was one smart fellow!

But, you wonder, if it was built by George Merrick, why is it called the Biltmore? Merrick knew the “Biltmore” name had a reputation for elegance and luxury, so he asked his friend Biltmore if he could use the name.

And what a place he built!  It oozes quiet elegance and romance. Everywhere you look, everything you see is a beautiful work of art or intricate craft.  It has three ornate ballrooms, each with its own architectural identity, and the largest hotel swimming pool in the continental United States.  It was a grand sight as we sat at the pool bar, treated to the sounds of Reggae music by a local band.

Guest amenities include a Donald Ross designed golf course, 10,000 square foot fitness center, 10 tennis courts, health spa, and of course, the seductively secret poolside cabana suites, with butler service. And, are they discreet!  It also has a mystery suite, originally named for a famous Mafioso.

Want to sightsee and don’t feel like driving or walking?  There’s even a complimentary horse and carriage to take lovers around the area.  Don’t miss this!

The Biltmore has several restaurants, including the Palm D’Or, theCellar Door, the 1200 Courtyard Grill and the Cascade. The famousBiltmore Barfrequently hosts celebrities and stars of the past and present.  Each of these places is distinctive and exceptional-and makes it easy for you to enjoy romantic wining and dining, along with the spirit of the holidays, without ever having to leave the hotel.

Our remodeled suite was a cross between traditional and contemporary with the most comfortable bed, bedding and towels found anywhere.  Light, bright, and extremely comfortable, it had double-sided TV screens between the bedroom and sitting room.  The spacious bathroom was a welcome treat.  The window from our front-facing room covered the brightly decorated hotel entry and offered charming views of old Coral Gables, with Christmas lights glittering under the twinkling sky.

Our stay at the Biltmore was memorable for the beauty and elegance of its outstanding property, its truly romantic atmosphere, and the genuine friendliness of the staff.  All of these give the Biltmore a special place in our hearts, and it’s why so many guests want to return.  We know we do…as soon as possible.

BILTMORE CORAL GABLES – MIAMI
1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables, FL 33134
800-915-1926
www.biltmorehotel.com

A Special Christmas Romantic Attraction…

CORAL GABLES CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH

Right across from the Biltmore Hotel is the Coral Gables Congregational Church.  As we returned to the hotel from South Beach on Christmas Eve, the entire area was dark, secluded and quiet, until we noticed a light at the church.  A glow seemed to emanate from the ground.  We soon realized that there were lit candles lining the pavement.  We parked the car and followed the candles to the door of the Church.  Entering, we saw it was packed with people at 11 p.m.  We had arrived just in time for their Christmas Eve Services!

The Coral Gables Congregational Church is non-denominational; and they happily welcome folks from any religion, ethnicity, age, or sexual orientation. There was a concert first-with a variety of singers, including a full choir, classical soloists, and an R & B duo.  Next was a heartfelt service, with more music that went on until past midnight.  Then everyone wished each other Merry Christmas and filed outside.  We were touched by the love of the people all around us and will always remember this incredible Christmas night.  If you’re in the area, put it on your Christmas list!

CORAL GABLES CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
3010 De Soto Blvd
Coral Gables, FL 33134
305.448.7421
www.coralgablescongregational.org

* * *

Where to eat a casual breakfast?

SERGIO’S FAMILY RESTAURANT

Where do you go for breakfast on Christmas Day?  Well, if you are in Coral Gables, you don’t have much choice-everything is closed.  Driving along the deserted Coral Way in desperate need of calories, we finally arrived at a food oasis with a packed parking lot and a line out the door.  We had found sustenance!

Appearing something like a Cuban version of Denny’s from the outside, it was much different when we made it in the door.  Although the line was long, the wait was short, since the turnover was quick.

Inside, Sergio’s was a frenzy of activity between take-out and eat-in, and large tables filled with families.  The menu is in Spanish (English translation available) and offers all the Cuban food specialties you could desire. We quickly changed our minds about ordering breakfast since their menu had so many other interesting items.

Marilyn likes plantains and Sergio’s has 5 different versions, so she had to try them.  She ordered chicken fajitas with rice, beans and mouras(fried plantains). Different from the Mexican version we are familiar with, the fajitas were tasty and plentiful…and she loved the plantains.

Likewise, Dennis abandoned his white bread French toast idea for something a little different, Pan con Bistec. This is a Cuban steak sandwich composed of cooked thin-sliced meat on a long roll with lettuce, tomato, and grilled onions on the bottom and French fried potato sticks on the top. Whoa!!  Sergio unknowingly delivered his Christmas present to Dennis. What a delicious surprise!

So don’t fret if you’re stuck without a place to eat in the Coral Gables/Miami area on a holiday. Just drive until you find Sergio’s.  They have 2 locations, modest prices and long hours.  And excellent Cuban food!

SERGIO’S FAMILY RESTAURANT
3252 Coral Way
Coral Gables, FL 33145
(305) 529-0047

Miami Beach, Florida

Where to stay…

HOTEL NASH

The Nash joins the ranks of boutique hotels lining South Beach streets these days, but with a distinctive difference: three intimate swimming pools filled with freshwater, saltwater, and mineral water, respectively, occupy a courtyard garden. It’s a small but personal space that includes cabanas and outdoor seating for Mark’s, their popular in-house restaurant.

The 1930s building, tenderly renovated to chic standards, is located in what is now known as the Art Deco District of Miami Beach. The lobby is cool modern with the same theme carried over to each of the hotel’s 50+ rooms and suites. Furnishings are minimalist and adequate, conveying the post-modern emphasis on simplicity and casual elegance.

HOTEL NASH
1120 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
800.403.NASH(6274)
www.hotelnash.com

* * *

Romantic Restaurants in Miami Beach

afterglo

Entering this chic South Beach establishment is like entering another world, one that is healthier, friendlier and more spiritual than the one we now occupy.

Everything seems a little different…because it is. Banquettes, seating 2 to 4 people, surround cozy tables, and mirrored walls from floor to ceiling provide self-viewing, while you watch the other guests enjoying themselves.

Grecian and Egyptian accessories whisper “exotic” but are selected purposefully for their meaning of life. For the more daring, in the center of the room is a raised “bed” for eating with friends inside a 16th Century imported antique white marble gazebo.

Designed to be “a celebration of food, drink, and all life,” the menu designed by Chef Sandee Birdsong is based on the “The Syntropy Diet,” created by owner Dr. Tim Hogle. This diet is founded on the principle that eating is one of life’s most fundamental activities and has the power to greatly enhance beauty. Simply put, “syntropy” is an order-enhancing energy force stored in food that increases a body’s beautifying benefits.

Believing “food” has healing and regenerative powers is one thing; finding and serving it on a daily basis is another. That is why all foods served here are local, fresh, organic, and free range. And most are obtained daily to insure freshness and taste stability.

Meats include bison, antelope, beef, and lamb, all grass-fed. The fish variety is wild, not farmed, and the vegetables are not your run-of-the-mill variety. Instead, Chef Sandee dazzles your palate with exotic purple sweet potatoes, burdock, dandelion, and watercress.

Loving the opportunity to feel healthier and happier after eating, we made sure to consume as much as possible! Each course was stellar. Among the dishes we loved were the bison appetizer, wild rice with mushrooms, purple sweet potato, and a dessert of an exotic chocolate, covered with salt and drizzled with olive oil. Ooh la la!

aflterglo is remarkable in actually delivering what it promises-eat right to feel right! You can always tell when a chef adds a secret ingredient.  Your food looks and tastes special.  It is apparent that each dish here is imbued with something extremely special when it comes from the kitchen of Sandee Birdsong.  This ingredient is calledlove.

afterglo
1200 Washington Avenue
Miami Beach, FL
305. 695.1717
www.afterglo-restaurant.com

* * *

TANTRA RESTAURANT & LOUNGE

Walking in, you sense the soft springiness of grass. It’s wet, cool, and pungent. You have to look twice before realizing it’s real!  The dining room is draped in exotic cloths with subdued lighting. The floor is so dark you can’t see it. Erotic objets d’art are strategically placed around the room. The music is an emoting world beat.  The huge movie screen behind the bar is showing “Kama Sutra.”

Everything here is geared to the senses…including the aphrodisiac menu, created by Dr. Tim Hogle and perfected by Chef Sandee Birdsong.  Yes, the same Chef Sandee and Dr. Hogle from afterglo. Considering our unforgettable feast there, we simply HAD to try their other restaurant.

Not based on any particular region, all the ingredients used at Tantra are selected for their ability to provide a blend of aromas, flavors, and textures in each morsel. This “tantric” quality transcends the taste buds to tantalize all your senses for a spiritual revitalization.  And it’s all delectable!

Chef Sandee, a self-taught cook with a keen sense of “what-looks-good-and-tastes-good-combinations” prepared some very special dishes for us.  It’s her feel for the mixing of ingredients, all fresh-and many unusual-that arouse the palate above the mundane.

Our “Tantra Appetizer” was a sky-high festival of succulent seafood that included stone crab, shrimp, oysters, ceviche, spicy tuna rolls, seaweed, artichokes, olives, and edible flowers filled with crèmefraiche and caviar.  Culinary and artistic perfection so absolutely beautiful that we briefly hesitated eating it, especially the purple orchids with caviar placed inside to look like seeds.

The entrees that followed were equally extraordinary. We shared a Chilean Sea bass (fresh from Chile that morning!) served with a “bundle” of fresh vegetables and flowers; and a lamb chop and filet mignon combination with rosemary couscous and balsamic onions.  Each sauce was reduced to perfection, light and flavorful, and served hot, a feat often forgotten on busy bistro nights in high season, but not at Tantra.

Although happily sated and stuffed, we were unable to refuse Chef Sandee when she gleefully insisted we have dessert.  “Romeo & Juliet,” a rich chocolate lava cake with homemade ice cream washeavenly, but her c oconut mousse with passion fruit sorbet and passion fruit sauce was nirvana!

When you go to Tantra, plan to have dinner and then stay for a totally different experience. After 11, the lights go down and the music heats up, as disc jockeys appear at turntables and the place turns into a trendy night club.  We even discovered the private room with the hammock hanging from the ceiling where lovebirds can go to do what lovebirds do!  Keep in mind, Mondays are the hottest, most happening nights at the club.

If you love the sensual quality of food, prepared to near perfection and served in the ultimate romantic setting, Tantra is the place to be.

TANTRA RESTAURANT & LOUNGE
1445 Pennsylvania Avenue
Miami Beach, Florida FL 33139
305.672.4765
www.tantrarestaurant.com

* * *

WISH

Wish I may, wish I might, eat at WISH every night!  We were smitten with this Miami Beach venue almost immediately.  As we walked through the empty dining room, the manager told us, “This is where we move you if it rains hard.”  He then showed us out to the already crowded, enchanting patio, and seated us next to the center fountain.

All the tables are covered by umbrellas, so the fear of rain is quickly forgotten. Lighting is indirect and the atmosphere is dreamy, as if you’re floating in the clouds. It’s an inspired piece of restaurant theatre, and perhaps why this place continues to be one of the most popular on Miami Beach.

The menu is equally inspired, with its Italian/Vietnamese Chef Michael Bloise, producing novel and appealing meals nearly every day.  We were delighted with the refreshing “Wish Salad,” an eclectic mix of mango and baby bean sprouts and cashews with lychee-mint vinaigrette dressing. Equally pleasing was the Blue Crab salad in crèmefraiche.

Our main courses were models of superb culinary presentation, timeliness, and taste. Snapper-hard to do perfectly?  Yes, but not for Chef Michael.  The crispy skinned snapper over Chinese sausage and jasmine rice with Vietnamese tea foam arrived at our table hot and juicy.  It’s no wonder this house specialty is one of the public’s favorites.  Our other entrée was a delicious veal porterhouse adorned with spinach, stewed tomatoes, and polenta on the side, soaking up all those exotic flavors.

If we die now, we’re as close to food heaven as humanly possible!  And returning here would definitely be our last WISH.

WISH – At the Hotel
801 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
305-674-9474
www.wishrestaurant.com

* * *

FRATELLI LA BUFALA

From the outside, looking in the window of this restaurant, one sees neat rows of tables filled with diners, all apparently very happy.  Walking inside the brightly lit, colorful interior and getting a closer look, it’s easy to see why.  Enormous platters of cheeses, fresh vegetables, and breads are on every table.  The other reason is the uniquely Italian ambience this first USA venue of an Italian chain offers up. Extremely popular in most big cities of Italy, with over 30 locations, Fratelli La Bufala exudes a smooth operation, cool ambience, and exceptional food.

The menu is based around buffalo instead of cows.  All the cold cuts and cheeses come from buffalo. One of the most revered cheeses in the world,mozzarella di bufala, is flown in fresh daily from their source in Southern Italy.  Pundits claim this cheese is the only mozzarella worth eating, the rest relegated as pizza topping. We don’t know about that, but the difference in taste, texture, and freshness is a joy on the palate.  If you like mozzarella, you’ll love Fratelli la Bufala.  And yes, even their pizza has buffalo mozzarella.

For lunch, we dined on a huge antipasto platter of prosciutto, grilled vegetables, buffalo provolone, and mozzarella that was enough for four people, not just the two of us. When a beautiful pasta dish appeared on our table, we were too full to eat it. Well, almost!  It was the most delightful, thick al dente pasta in a light tomato sauce that was way too good to pass up.

This restaurant’s concept is based on the use of buffalo meat as a healthier alternative to cows, for their significantly lower saturated fat and cholesterol levels. They believe that if you want meat, eat buffalo and live longer!  Whether or not it’s true, it certainly seems like you can have all the satisfying tastes and texture of beef at a lower health cost. Even such things as salamis and other cured products were buffalo preparations, lighter and leaner than pork or beef; and we loved them all.  You won’t be disappointed.  In fact, you’ll be very pleasantly surprised.  Be sure to enjoy this friendly and delicious spot for lunch or dinner.

FRATELLI LA BUFALA
437 Washington Avenue
South Beach, Fl 33139
305.532.0700
www.fratellilabufala.com/pages/en/miami.php

* * *

Hollywood, Florida

Where to stay….

HOLLYWOOD BEACH MARRIOTT

Hollywood, Florida, lost between the glam centers of South Beach and Ft. Lauderdale, is making a comeback.  Long a center for hordes of Northern and Midwestern immigrants seeking an affordable beach stay, it went tacky from corruption and negligence in the 1950s, and is only now heading “upscale.”

One of the early entries in the renaissance includes the Marriott Corporation with the newly renovated Hollywood Beach Marriott,located smack on the famous Hollywood Boardwalk, in front of the beach. The boardwalk is a 2 ½ mile concrete walkway populated by bicycles and walkers, and lined with restaurants, cafes, houses, and hotels.  There is also a band shell… performance stage, and parks, kept constantly busy.  This is one great location, a more “real” option to the high-styling South Beach, and offering greater value and fun than the trendy places to the south.

Right after checking in, we traded our street clothing for beach wear and elevated down to the boardwalk bar and pool. This was the spot!  Packed with other sun lovers from cold climes, we chatted, drank, ate appetizers, and swam, all the while listening to the compelling beat of the hotel’s steel drummer.  When the sun went down, we went up to nap before heading out for the evening.

Having had too much of everything at the pool and bar, we decided to stay in our room and order room service.  The newly remodeled rooms are cozy and very nicely decorated, with exceptionally comfortable beds and soft linens.  In fact, if you want the same ones on your bed at home, just pull out the descriptive brochure, pick the size you need, and add them to your bill!

Room service was quick and competent. And reasonably priced, compared to the typical room service menu.  We ordered flatbread pizza topped with jerk chicken, roma tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella. The nicoise salad was made with a large chunk of seared tuna over a salad with roasted tomatoes, asparagus, hard boiled egg, and roasted potatoes.  They supplied a variety of tasty breads, including crisped pumpernickel raisin with sprinkled sugar, parmesan crispy bread, soft French bread and lavosh cracker bread.  With the bottle of Oregon Pinot Noir accompaniment, it was a late-night party extraordinaire.

Staking out an early position in the re-growth of Hollywood Beach is risky business, but it seems Marriott knows how to speculate successively.  The hotel was completely occupied.  We loved this place and recommend that anyone looking to see the “real” Florida head to the Hollywood Beach Marriott for a fun and fantastic time.

HOLLYWOOD BEACH MARRIOTT
2501 North Ocean Drive
Hollywood, FL 33019
866.-306.5453
www.hollywoodbeachmarriott.com

* * *

The best hamburger in town…

LE TUB

Within walking distance of the Marriott in Hollywood, Florida, is a hamburger joint called Le Tub, definitely different.  You must go to find out why. Just be prepared to wait hours, day or night, to eat.  We went twice.  First, at 11:30 at night, we were told it would be 1½ to 2 hours for a table!  Then, the next day at lunchtime, there was only a 1 to 1 ½ hour wait. What the heck!  This looked like a fun place with a reputation for good food, so we stayed.

To keep from starving, we sat at the bar and ordered a small seafood salad, which only took half an hour to get! Loaded with shrimp, crabmeat, and salmon in light vinaigrette, the dish was dee-lish.  But now we were no longer hungry.  Of course, some 55 minutes and several beers later, when the burgers finally arrived, we dived into them.  Admittedly, well worth the wait!  Warning: the bar is often filled,too.  So just make sure to snack before you go!

LE TUB
1100 N Ocean Dr
Hollywood, FL 33019
954.921.9425
www.theletub.com

Boca Raton and Delray Beach, Florida

A hidden hideaway for a romantic stay…

SUNDY HOUSE

You can’t tell very much about the Sundy House from the street.  Located on an unassuming block in a gentrifying section of Delray Beach, it’s not far from the very trendy Atlantic Avenue.  Sure, there’s a small sign out front, but other than that, the street and entrance don’t hint at what lies inside.

In fact, as we first pulled into the parking lot, we were unsure how this overgrown, obscure place would turn out and were bracing for the worst.  As it turned out,we were completely and absolutely… WRONG!

The Sundy House is an elegant and ultra-romantic haven! After checking in, you stroll through a labyrinth of lush tropical gardens, crossing wooden bridges over small ponds, on the way to your room.  The variety of foliage-each identified with little brass plaques-is staggering.  Local wildlife populates the gardens, while marvelous, colorful Macaws perch along the paths. One will even talk to you, if he likes you!

Stopping briefly by the swimming pool, the first thing to notice is the natural waterfall.  And when you go into the water for a dip, you’re actually sharing it with fish, making it feel like you’re truly in a tropical wonderland.  One warning though:  no fishing allowed!

At night, the gardens become the backdrop for the Sundy House Restaurant and the Roux Bamboux Lounge.  There’s a patio and terrace for dining, but even more romantic are the tables in private alcoves, scattered throughout the gardens, where couples sharing champagne and smiles appear dreamily serene in their own little world.  Tables in the gazebos provide more ultra-romantic dining under a starlit night.

The Sundy House has only 11 accommodations, and we were lucky to get the historic cottage which consisted of 6 rooms:  a living room, dining room, kitchen with washer and dryer, 2 bathrooms, sitting room, and bedroom.  The living room featured antique furniture, including an exotic chaise, fireplace, and an entertainment system with a huge plasma TV.

The bedroom was our favorite place (of course!), with a sumptuous four-poster bed and amazing jungle mural, encompassing the entire room.  Even the window shades were hand-painted.  Our closet was covered with trees and a monkey, swinging from a branch.

Even the master bathroom was unusual, with a separate corner shower and a large whirlpool tub in the middle of the room.  There was a hand-painted mural border at the top with bluebirds.

The furnishings were splendidly eclectic, including artistic wrought iron pieces and custom-made furniture.  Of particular interest was the delicately hand-painted dining table.  The top was a detailed 1930s map of the City of Delray Beach, in exquisite, colorful detail.

We had arrived tired, so despite the wonderfully romantic and renowned restaurant, we opted for room service-it was simply too nice a cottage to leave!

We ordered a crab cake appetizer and their mushroom ravioli entrée.  This unique ravioli wasn’t pasta at all, but ever so thin slices of mushroom, wrapped around a tomato and ratatouille filling. Both were perfectly delicious preparations that went really well with our chilled Venetian Prosecco.  AWhy go out?

For breakfast, Sundy House offers three possibilities, and we tried two.  The first morning we had breakfast in bed. Why not?  Room service had been so fantastic the night before, and was again excellent.  Our second morning, the hotel gave us a prepaid chit to a local breakfast spot a few blocks away in Pineapple Grove.

The best breakfast they offer is, unfortunately, the one we missed-because we weren’t there on a Sunday.  On Sundays, Sundy House offers its renowned brunch.  Regularly $40, if you stay over on a Saturday night, the brunch is included in the room!

Everything about Sundy House whispers, “We’re here for you.”  So if you love luxury, if you love privacy, if you love “love,” you’ll love Sundy House!

SUNDY HOUSE
106 S Swinton Ave
Delray Beach, FL 33444
877.439.9601
www.sundyhouse.com

* * *

Boca Raton, Delray Beach, West Palm Beach & Palm Beach Attractions:

THE HENRY MORRISON FLAGLER MUSEUM

Talk about a romantic gift!  Oil and railroad magnate Henry Flagler gave his third wife, Mary Lily Kenan Flagler, this classical mansion as a wedding gift.  The year was 1902.  The cost was $2.6 million.

The 55-room, 60,000-square-foot building was designed by the architects famous for such landmarks as the New York Public Library and the Frick Mansion.  White Hall is one of the most outstanding examples of such elegant form and detail ever built and helped establish Palm Beach as the Gilded Age getaway for the rich.

The Flaglers rarely spent more than 6 weeks a year there.  Henry Flagler died shortly after falling down the stairs of his stately home in 1913, at 84 years old. Heirs sold it to a hotel group in the 1920s.  Much later, when it was going to be demolished because of fire and neglect, other heirs stepped in to save it.  In 1960, the foundation formed to save the home completed a major restoration, and the public was introduced to the grand “manse.”

The public is now invited to view the property all year, and special events such as the Annual Easter Egg Hunt, Christmas Tree Lighting, and Lunch Gilded Age Style continue to attract thousands of visitors a year.

Imbued with a notion of civic responsibility, Henry Flagler somehow knew White Hall would eventually become a museum, and its grandeur reflects his vision.  It’s a breathtaking monument to beauty and a must-see if visiting the Palm Beach area.

THE HENRY MORRISON FLAGLER MUSEUM
One Whitehall Way
Palm Beach, FL 33480
561.655.2833
www.flaglermuseum.us

* * *

THE RAYMOND F. KRAVIS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

This $50 million architectural landmark, located freeway close in West Palm Beach was named for Raymond F. Kravis, a geologist from Tulsa, Oklahoma, who wintered in Palm Beach.  His friends donated more than $7 million to name the facility for Mr. Kravis.

The almost 40-year effort to have a major arts center in the Palm Beach area culminated in 1992 with the opening of the Kravis Center. Since then it has become ” the” venue for high caliber entertainment in South Florida, including an eclectic mix of shows fromSesame Street to La Traviota.  The main stage is blessed with excellent acoustics and comfortable seats.  Smaller theatres accommodate many other performances.

Over the years its calendar has expanded to include local theatre, acting classes, children’s theatre and a full season of successful events that keep the theatre well lit throughout the year.

The coming season is typical of the diversity and depth of the Center’s programming choices, which include the following limited sample (visit their website for the full program):

Comedy – EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND

Ethnic dance – BALLET FOLKLORICO DE MEXICO

Opera – TURANDOT

Big Band – GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA

Jazz – MONTEREY JAZZ FESTIVAL 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR

And much, much more…

THE RAYMOND F. KRAVIS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
701 Okeechobee Boulevard
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
800.572.8471
www.kravis.org

* * *

CUILLO CENTRE FOR THE ARTS

This season includes shows:

Viagra Falls

A JEW Grows in Brooklyn

Mod 27

Jazz’d up

Cuillo Uncorked

CUILLO CENTRE FOR THE ARTS
201 Clematis St
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
561.835.9226
www.cuillocentre.com

* * *

Boca Raton, Delray Beach and West Palm Beach Restaurants:

NICK’S FISHMARKET OF HAWAII

http://agendamag.com/Winter2007/PickNicks.html

While the name Nick’s Fishmarket doesn’t necessarily evoke an image of romance, I love to be surprised.  And Nick’s Fishmarket of Hawaii is chock full of surprises.

We parked the car on Palmetto Park Road in downtown Boca Raton and entered a nondescript office building. Hmmmm…we were still skeptical about its being “romantic.”  It felt like we were going to the bank.  But as soon as we walked through the front door, my skepticism vanished, and I surrendered to the magical atmosphere and divine ambiance that is Nick’s Fishmarket!

The décor has a modern Hawaiian flavor.  A long bar accentuated by a lighted pineapple fills the center of the room, with grass-covered “huts” for dining around the sides.

We were immediately greeted by a host who walked us over to our own special thatched hut- in a dimly lit corner.  I loved it!  The owner, Nick Nickolas came by to say hello. What a lovely and charming man he is!

We also had a terrific waiter who was helpful and gracious, but the service and attention didn’t stop there.  One of the special features of Nick’s is the congenial and individual service. You are served by a four-man “team” for each table.

They are all extremely attentive with an air of I’m-happy-to-be-here-for-you. At Nick’s, all of the wait staff seem to take great enjoyment and pride in what they do.  Interestingly, our waiter replaced our white linen napkins with black ones when we sat down.  Why? I wondered.  Since we were wearing black, they didn’t want us to get lint from the white napkins on our clothes!

After ordering the wine, we looked at the menu. And wow, what a unique selection-from Italian and French dishes, to Asian delicacies and Greek specialties, with a huge assortment of fresh seafood as well.  We sipped our wine and enjoyed the complimentary appetizer of smoked marlin with sesame crackers, while perusing our dinner choices.

The menu has a tempting array of appetizers that includes escargots,spring rolls, and sautéed calamari, but a simple name doesn’t convey the complexity of each of these tantalizing dishes.  For example, Dennis would never ordinarily order spring rolls (thinking Chinese take-out), but after the waiter described it, he couldn’t resist. And he wasn’t disappointed.  I ordered Calamari Sorrento with diced tomato, parmesan cheese and a demi-glaze.

For entrees, we decided on the Chilean Sea Bass Mirin, and the special lobster dish of the night.  We had no idea how fantastic-and fantastically large-it would be! When they brought out the plate, we swooned!  The lobster was a four-pounder, baked to moist and succulent perfection with a thick crab cake covering.

The sea bass was equally mouth-watering in its soy, miso and sweet mirin (Japanese wine) glaze accompanied by sticky rice and vegetables.  It was light, flaky, and delectable.

We always share our dishes, so Dennis started with the sea bass, and I began with the lobster, but very soon we switched plates.  I took my time with the sea bass, savoring every bite, while Dennis attacked the lobster.  He is a true pro at cracking each claw, leg, and back, and sucking out every last morsel.

We topped off our dinner with Nick’s Bananas Foster, a sweet and special ending to a scrumptious meal.  Unable to finish the dish, we sat back, happy and full. What’s more romantic than that!

When we learned that Nick’s had only been open about two and a half months, we couldn’t believe it.  It was soooo good, and soooo delicious; and the staff were soooo incredible!  How could it be soooo new?  Aha.  Then we found out how!

The owner, Nick Nickolas, previously ran his restaurant at the Boca Raton Resort and Club for 18 years.   So although this location is new, Nick has been a consummate restaurateur for decades.  And it shows.

Nick is a warm, cordial host with an eye to pleasing his guests.  There are photos on the wall of the many celebrities that have dined at his restaurants over the years.  He is used to having well-known diners.  But then, he treats all his guests like they are celebrities.

Nick’s Fishmarket is a romantic spot, complemented by an excellent kitchen and responsive staff.  And on Friday and Saturday nights, there’s dancing, too.  So next time you’re near Boca Raton, Florida, take a break from your relatives, grab your honey, and go Hawaiian!

NICK’S FISHMARKET OF HAWAII
150 E. Palmetto Park Rd
Boca Raton, Florida 33432
561.393.9880
www.nicksboca.com

* * *

BRAZILIAN TROPICANA

http://agendamag.com/Spring2007/brazillian.html

Some nights are for intimate romance, and some are for pure fun.  On this night, we grabbed another couple, Harvey and Barbara, and headed for a lively evening with a traditional Brazilian meal and an energy-filled show.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, we started off with a pitcher of Sangria, which was cold, sweet, and filled with fruit.  Next, we headed up to the cold salad buffet, where we piled our plates with spinach salad, beets, hearts of palm, artichokes, and various other salad fixings.  They also had salmon, which I literally “forgot” to taste. Me, forget food?  Oh well…next time.

After the salad course, the servers bring you fresh plates, and put hearty family-style helpings of rice, black beans and fried bananas on the tables.

Then, the waiters come around…and around…and around…with long skewers of chicken, steak, and sausage.  There was top sirloin, regular sirloin, garlic steak, spiced chicken, and bacon-wrapped chicken.  As they cut slices for each person, you “catch” the slice with your individual set of small tongs.  All you have to do after that is eat, eat, and eat some more.  The servers keep coming back with skewers…until you tell them to stop!

A tray of desserts included chocolate cake, strawberry shortcake and tiramisu, but we were encouraged to try the homemade Brazilian desserts:  flan, passion fruit mousse, and coconut pudding.  We’re glad we did, especially when we learned that Rosa, our gracious manager, had personally made the flan and pudding, and the owner’s wife and choreographer, Dalva had made the mousse.

The entire staff for this Brazilian restaurant and show was almost like family.  It has been in business for two decades. They were located in Pompano Beach for years until five months ago when they moved to Boca Raton.  Mike and Dalva own the restaurant, but most of the wait staff and show people have been with them for years, as well.  Rosa, our manager, told us she has been with them for 19 years.  Rosa is a real sweetheart, so be sure to say hello to her from us when you go.

After satiating ourselves with food and drink, we settled back to listen to the band for a while.  There’s a dance floor and I was ready to jump up and move to the beat of the drums, but alas – Dennis and my crew weren’t budging. Next time, I’m bringing my boogey buddies!  On Tuesday nights, guests get a special low-priced package for the meal, band and dancing, and I’m guessing the dance floor is hopping.

Wednesdays through Sundays include all the above, the buffet, the Bossa Nova band and dancing, along with the Brazilian Tropicana Show.  And what a show it is!  I must admit, I wasn’t expecting it to be that good, but what a terrific surprise!  There’s singing, dancing, and a martial arts specialty called Capoeira. I t’s all energy-packed and loads of fun, sort of a mini-Las Vegas Revue.

I absolutely loved the Capoeiristas. These were 5 amazingly built guys doing a combination of fighting, dancing, and gymnastics, and they were sensational.  One of the C apoeiristas looked very young, and when I asked afterwards, it turns out that he was 13!  I was told that sometimes one of the female dancer’s daughters joins them as well.  She is only 9!  The other Capoeiristas were older-and wow, what pecs!

Barbara and I loved watching these guys.  Dennis and Harvey liked them too, but better still, they liked the dancing feather-headdressed and sequined and beaded bikinied showgirls who moved their stomachs, torsos, and buns in twenty directions at a mile a minute!

It was all a delight to watch.  And even more so when the lead singer, in a Carmen Miranda tribute, danced through the audience and cuddled up to men at different tables. Then, she took one of the guys back to the stage to dance.  Guess who the lucky guy was? Dennis!  It was a hoot, especially when she asked him questions, and one of the Brazilian guys from the band put the answers in Dennis’s mouth-literally!  The audience roared, and Harvey, Barbara, and I got a great kick out of it.  When Dennis got back to the table, he thought I had “set him up.”  But no, I didn’t have anything to do with his being chosen.  Actually, it’s usually me who bounds up to the stage when they ask for a volunteer.  Finally, this was HIS turn!

With regard to atmosphere, the room itself isn’t fancy or stylish, but once the food and fun begin, it doesn’t matter.  Everyone there was enjoying themselves.

Before the show started, I got to chat with one of the dancers, Heather.  She is the only one in the troupe that isn’t Brazilian, and she’s been dancing with them for three years  I’m a sucker for a good romantic story, and I love how Heather met her hubby of two years.  She started taking Capoeira lessons – and he was the teacher!  He has also been a part of the show for 12 years.  Unfortunately, he wasn’t in the show the night we saw it; he had broken his leg.  (Iknew that looked dangerous!)  Heather made sure to tell us he didn’t injure it in the show, but at his Capoeira Academy, where he teaches.

Another thing we learned about Capoeira was from our friend Harvey, who was with us.  Harvey had taken six years of Martial Arts, so he knew the history of the Capoeiristas. It seems when they were slaves, their owners prohibited them from having weapons or practicing any kind of Martial Arts because they didn’t want the slaves rebelling or having an uprising.  So instead, the slaves started dancing and put their martial arts into dance so their masters didn’t know what they were doing.  Yes, there were some rebellions, but they were all to a dancing beat! Besides having a background in Martial Arts, Harvey told us that he has lots of Spanish-speaking relatives from Columbia, and he can’t wait to bring them all for a night at Brazilian Tropicana!

The supper club is great for couples, families, and groups.  There are lots of tables for people celebrating birthdays and other occasions.  Organizations can book the entire room for banquets and private parties on off nights.

Meanwhile, now I’m deciding whether to practice my samba and gyrate my buns, or try Capoeira with all those marvelous spins and high kicks.  Hmmm…you think if I practice them, I’ll work off some of that food and end up in the great shape those gals and guys were in?   Oh…if only!

BRAZILIAN TROPICANA
7880 Glades Road
Boca Raton, Florida
(561) 477-5421
www.braziliantropicana.com

* * *

And for casual eats…

Doc’s All American

Doc’s is a 1950s drive-in burger stand on a very busy corner in downtown Delray Beach, Florida. If you get the yearning for cheap eats in a down-and-dirty-dive with great-and-greasy charbroiled burgers, there’s Doc’s.  There’s always a line, and the burgers only come one way, well-done.  It’s also well known for its fries, onion rings, and soft-serve ice cream dipped in hot chocolate.

Repeatedly voted “Best Family Dining” by the Palm Beach Post, Doc’s secret of sticking to what it knows best formula is loved by kids and their parents for great fun and good value.

Doc’s All American
10 N. Swinton Ave.
Delray Beach, FL 33444
561.278.3627

* * *

Our other restaurant faves:

BOSTONS ON THE BEACH

Happy crowds, fantastic location, and lotsa lobsters!

Late night music and dancing, too!

BOSTONS ON THE BEACH
40 S. Ocean Blvd. (A1A)
Delray Beach, FL 33483
561.278.3364
www.bostonsonthebeach.com

* * *

SEASONS 52

A fabulous concept! Everything on the menu is 450 calories or less-and scrumptious!

For dessert, you’ll definitely want more than one of their elegant choices, from key lime pie, to strawberry shortcake, to chocolate mousse, and more, all served in shot glasses!

SEASONS 52
2300 NW Executive Center Dr
Boca Raton, FL 33431 ·
561.998.9952
www.seasons52.com

* * *

SPOTO’S OYSTER BAR

An authentic, premier oyster bar, featuring fresh shucked oysters, signature oyster stew, littleneck clams, and other delicious seafood.

SPOTO’S OYSTER BAR
125 Datura St.
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
561.835.1828
www.spotosoysterbar.com

Or just stroll down the wonderful and trendy Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach to find many other great restaurants and shops.

Florida’s West Coast – NAPLES, FLORIDA

For a romantic stay at Christmastime or anytime…

THE INN ON FIFTH

The Inn on Fifth is right in the midst of things, on a block filled with restaurants, ice cream parlors, outdoor cafes, and all kinds of shops.  Once checked in, there is no need to take your car out until going home.  Fifth Avenue is the main street of Naples, Florida, and it is hopping!

We arrived shortly after New Year’s and the elaborate Christmas displays were still up, with dramatic and beautiful effect.  The Inn on Fifth is known for their extraordinary holiday decorations around the property.  The main courtyard in the hotel was decorated with a silver tree bedecked with lights, ribbons, and elegant ornaments and lined with hundreds of bright red poinsettias. Figurines of Santa, his Christmas elves, and happy carolers complete the festive lobby.  This is the main photo op for visitors during the season.

Checking in, we were delighted to find a staff that was extremely attentive and eager to please.  Questions were answered and assistance given like it was their pleasure to do it, a service we greatly appreciated in these nonchalant days. Another feature we found even more valuable was the hotel’s complimentary valet parking. Most hotels these days consider parking a significant profit center with daily fees up to $36, so this hotel immediately felt especially warm and welcoming.

The Inn on Fifth is exceptional in other ways, too. Basically a charming boutique hotel with 87 rooms and suites, it offers features of larger hotels, including state-of-the-art fitness center, full-service spa, roof-top pool and hot tub, golf privileges at local courses, and two restaurants, both of which are among the most popular in town.

McCabe’s Irish Pub & Grill is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; and we found it always crowded with happy revelers. Trulucks is a seasoned seafood and steak restaurant with an outdoor patio and piano bar that is always cool and crowded, no matter the temperature outside.  Hang out here for lots of fun with locals and tourists. We did and loved it.

Ensuring guests the utmost comfort, each accommodation is feature-rich with pillow-top mattresses, oh-so-soft high-thread-count bedding, plush robes, movies, 25″ TVs complimentary newspapers, safes, 3 telephones, and wi-fi.

Our room was a great high-ceiling space with sitting room, desk area, and adjoining bedroom with outside balcony.  The balcony had comfortable lounge chairs, which we enjoyed while viewing holiday strollers along Fifth Avenue. The bathroom was very large with a huge whirlpool bath and a separate double shower.  The whirlpool, with scented candles and a chilled bottle of champagne, hit an 11 on the 1 to 10 romance scale with Marilyn.

With a keen eye on guest comfort, The Inn on Fifthoffers the intimacy of a charming boutique inn with the amenities of a much larger hotel.  We felt coddled and cared for at the crest of the Christmas season.  Ask Santa to send you and your sweetie here for a real holiday treat!  Whatever the season, just grab your honey and head on over to make any day a special occasion at this fabulous Naples getaway.

THE INN ON FIFTH
699 5th Avenue South
Naples, Florida 34102
888.403.8778
www.innonfifth.com

* * *

A Special Favorite for Wining & Dining in Naples:

NAPLES TOMATO

Naples, Florida, was named for its sister city in Italy at a time when early developers of southern Florida were fascinated with the notion it could become the Italy of America.  Consequently, there is no shortage of Italian-style restaurants, both traditional and hip. But none truly capture the essence of the Italian love for food and wine as does Naples Tomato.

Leaving downtown, we were directed 10 miles north to an unassuming strip-mall. From the outside, we would never have guessed the treasures awaiting us inside. Even after entering, we weren’t sure if this was the place for our anticipated “romantic dining experience.”

Walking in, we noticed a food preparation area to our left, fully stocked grocery-style refrigerators directly in front and huge cans of imported Italian tomato sauce stacked waist high on the floor. Upon turning to our right, everything changed.

There was a bustle of activity with clusters of well-dressed people chatting and holding wine glasses, while the soft notes of a pianist singing romantic songs filled the air. Suddenly we knew we were in for a special occasion, one which included an innovative, high-tech wine pouring concept, called Enomatic, imported from Italy.

IN VINO VERITAS

The Naples Tomato “wine lounge” is arranged living-room style with comfy couches and ottomans, art on the walls, and subdued lighting.  Along the walls were six self-serve wine dispensers, each containing eight bottles of wine. Above each bottle was a description of the wine, including winery, origin, varietals, and year.  Also shown was a price list for the 1, 3 or 6 ounce portions of your choice. Guests buy a “debit” card to slide in each wine bank.

Besides being fun, the high-tech wine system gives you the opportunity to sample a variety of different wines, including many that would not be readily available by the glass. It’s pay-as-you-sip, with wines ranging from $1.20 to over $25.00 per ounce.  You can choose wines that would bust your budget and bless your taste buds, without having to buy more than you want.

Like kids in a candy store, we sampled wine after wine, imported and domestic, red and white. But with almost fifty wines automatically available, it’s not possible to try them all at one time.  We spent a leisurely forty-five minutes sipping cozily on the couches, but it’s easy to imagine couples spending hours here, tasting the fine wines and enjoying the delightfully relaxed ambience.

To accompany your wine tasting, Naples Tomato offers a separate menu of assorted cheeses and appetizers.  Our plate came with smoked Gouda, French Brie, and Italian truffle cheeses, and sun dried tomatoes, dried figs, currants, and pistachios.  It was the perfect accompaniment to our wine tasting.

A professional sommelier, Angela Robertson, oversees the restaurant’s five thousand bottle inventory, for which Naples Tomato received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.  Recently, she was chosen to participate in a Wine Spectator symposium on Pinot Noir held in California.

Knowledgeable, efficient, and gracious, Angela will help you select a wine and answer any wine question with confidence.  When serving in the dining room, she carefully decants your wine and serves each guest personally.

Naples Tomato has a private wine cellar and tasting room in the center of the restaurant.  With a list of over 500 wines, it’s easy to find one you like. Their prices are lower than standard restaurant mark-up.  A notation on the menu indicates that if you like a particular wine that they serve you, they will be happy to get you a case for a 15% discount. Special clients may store their wines here, also.

Their wine club is another facet of Naples Tomato that shines with over 1,200 members.

It’s apparent that wine is a very important element in the operation of Naples Tomato.  With as much space devoted to wine service as food service, it is clearly an equal partner in the owners’ highly successful business plan.

MANGIA

Deciding it was finally time to stop drinking and start eating, we moved into the dining room.

Dennis started with “Our Famous Floridian Salad,” a zesty combo of greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, apricot stilton cheese, dried cherries, basil, bacon, pistachios, and homemade citrus dressing.  Marilyn had the escarole and white bean casserole with toasted parmesan crumb topping.  Very unusual and tasty!

The Naples Tomato salad and antipasto bar is a special treat.  You can go all vegetarian, or for $5 extra, add an assortment of “Arthur Avenue” meats.  Dennis asked, “Is that Arthur Avenue in the Bronx?”  The owners had been to the Arthur Avenue Market and loved it. They don’t ship to out-of-town restaurants, but after a year-long pursuit, they finally got Arthur Avenue to supply them.  Now, Neapolitans (from Florida) can enjoy the same delicacies New Yorkers have extolled for about 50 years.

Their most popular seafood dish is the “Capri,” homemade pasta with two colossal shrimp, porcini mushroom, sun-dried tomato, and brandy flambé in a pink sauce. They also serve the “Plate Licker,” homemade fettuccini with Raffaello’s vodka sauce. So many dishes…so many decisions!

We decided to go with our waiter’s recommendations, and were glad we did. Dennis chose the Tilapia on a cedar plank, with potatoes and broccoli rabe.  Their perfect preparation brought out its best characteristics, arriving at our table with the unique and tasty essence of cedar and cooked perfectly moist and flaky.

Marilyn went with the “Black Tie,” a truffle mélange raviolinni with Bolognese sauce and Urbani white truffle oil.  She doesn’t usually go for meat sauces, but she savored this Bolognese. It was light and delicious, with the truffle combination providing the perfect blend of flavors.

After dinner, our waiter suggested we “take our dessert” back in the wine area.  We settled into the deep couches and shared the specialty of the night, a light filo stuffed with a berry combination in crème fraise , topped with a dollop of whipped cream.  Then we sat back with a final glass of dessert wine, reveling in what a true “find” Naples Tomato is.

While enjoying the “afterglow” of an exotic wine and food experience, we took note of the other features of Naples Tomato that make it a rare and special venue.

ENOTECA, TRATTORIA, GROCERY, AND COOKING SCHOOL, TOO!

Remember when we arrived, we were confused about this fabulous place.  Well, those supermarket style refrigerators are chock full of specialty foods made fresh on the premises and imported from around the globe, available for take-out.

And the food prep area?  This is the pasta-making room, complete with high stools used for classes, where the pasta chef instructs customers in the art of making spaghetti.  Later, the students share a tasting.  On Fridays, visitors can make their own pasta and then come back later to have it at dinner with their special guests.

ONCE UPON A TIME… before NAPLES TOMATO

Naples Tomato is an enterprise that seems genuinely pleased to be serving you and to be sharing their experiences with you.  We noticed that some of the dishes on the menu were marked “Nadine’s favorite.”  So of course, Marilyn had to ask, “Who is Nadine?”

Nadine and Jack Serfass are the wife-husband team that created and owns Naples Tomato.  We love to learn how couples meet-and their story is a wonderful tale of wine, food and determination.

Jack Serfass was a single guy living in Connecticut.  He went on a wine-tasting getaway in Napa Valley with his girlfriend.  At one of the group wine-tastings, they chatted with another couple, who lived in New York.  Yes, it was Nadine with her boyfriend.

A year later, Jack was sorting through the old receipts from his Napa trip.  Suddenly stopping, he found a woman’s business card from the wine-tasting group.  No, it wasn’t Nadine, but a friend of hers.

He called the friend, and shyly asked about Nadine.  Even more awkwardly, he asked for Nadine’s phone number. Reluctantly, the woman gave it to him. Jack called Nadine…and, happily, Cupid was on his side.  She had broken up with her beau from that trip.  Jack and Nadine started dating.

The two always had a special love of food and wine, but it would take years before they could make their dream of a restaurant and wine bar come true.  Jack had been an executive chef in other restaurants but left the food business to go into the hi-tech arena.  It was there that he made enough money to go back to his true calling, becoming a restaurateur and starting a wine-tasting bar with Nadine.

Jack and Nadine married and have been together for fourteen years.  Their love of life, food and wine flourishes now in Naples Tomato, which opened about two years ago. Both Jack and Nadine are there nightly, greeting patrons as friends and imparting their love of a gracious and delightful Neapolitan lifestyle.

We wish many more years of success to Jack and Nadine-and think that all lovers of good food and wine should take a sojourn to this very special dining and wining experience.

NAPLES TOMATO
14700 Tamiami Trail N.
Naples, FL 34110
239.598.9800
www.naplestomato.com

* * *

And for breakfast….

THE COFFEE SHOPPE in the Cove Inn

Sunday morning breakfast…okay, so it wasn’t morning.  It was high noon-but it was breakfast.  In fact, when Dennis tried to order from their lunch menu, they said, “No lunch on Sundays!”

The place was The Coffee Shoppe, a tiny local spot in the lobby of the Cove Inn.  A limited menu didn’t seem to bother all the people that were there this Sunday. They were lined up and waiting to be seated in the place that was awarded “Best Breakfast” and “Best Pancakes” and “Best French Toast” in Naples.

Dennis and I both ordered pancakes.  I got them plain with a side order of ham.  Dennis got them with pecans and blueberries.  The pecans were inside the pancakes.  The blueberries, a humongous portion, came in a side bowl-and he poured them on.  They weren’t fresh, but fresh frozen, and the pleasant surprise was that they weren’t gooshy or sugar-corn starchy-sweet-syrupy, but almost like fresh!

The pancakes here are ultra-thin and light, and we could easily understand why they are award-winning.  They tasted delicious, and happily, they weren’t served with butter on them.  The restaurant also had low fat, sugar-free Smuckers syrup.

The place is totally unassuming and homey, down to the fact that their placemats have diagrams of fish and the names of everyone who works there, from the owner and chef to the waitresses and busboys.  Priscilla waited on us, and we also said hello to the owner, Lori.  Priscilla told us that her sister is one of the chefs and Lori’s nephew Matt works as a busboy.

Other things on the menu included corned beef hash with eggs, a special omelet with Monterey cheese, and their special French toast.  Although lunch wasn’t available, Dennis had tried to order the tuna salad.  We were curious about it since the menu stated “tuna prepared to order.”

Somehow The Cove Inn didn’t “look” like they would have fresh tuna.  Priscilla gave us the scoop. Pun intended.  The tuna is from a can-but they don’t make the salad until you order it-so they can add a little or a lot of mayo; they can include onions; or celery; and make it just the way you like it.

Which is how we felt about the great time we had at The Coffee Shoppe-it was just the way we like it!

THE COFFEE SHOPPE

Cove Inn on Naples Bay
900 Broad Avenue South
Naples, Florida 34102
800.255.4365
www.coveinnnaples.com/restaurants.htm

* * *

Other Naples restaurants to enjoy….

VERGINA
700 Fifth Ave S.
Naples, FL 34102
239 659 7008
www.verginarestaurant.com

First Watch: The Daytime Cafe
225 Banyan Boulevard #100
Naples, FL 34102
239.434.0005
www.firstwatch.com

CASTAWAYS BACKWATER CAFE
2025 Davis Blvd
Naples, FL   34104
239.417.8879
www.naplesnews.com/places/castaways_backwater_cafe/

MR. MOM’S DINER
3560 Tamiami Trail East
Naples, FL 34112
239.775.6667
www.naplesnews.com/places/mr_moms_diner/

* * *

A Sunset Sail for Romance….

THE SCHOONER LADY STIRLING

Touring the waterways of Naples, Florida, on The Schooner Lady Stirling at sunset is about as romantic an event you could give your sweetheart.  With a slight wind to your back, the huge sails majestically bellowing with warm air and the sun heading into the horizon, the Lady Stirling is an emotional bliss-filled ride.  If you love your romance slow and your fresh air filled with gorgeous views, this is for you.

The Lady Stirling is an 80-foot gaff-rigged schooner, built in 2004. Intended to be a reminder of the clipper schooners of the past that transported people and cargo to our shores, The Lady Stirling sails along at about 8 knots, as you view the beautiful homes and lush greenery on the shores of Naples Bay. Reaching the Gulf, Captain Bill turns around and heads back to shore.  Before hitting land, deckhands bring out boxes of pizzas and cold drinks, beer and wine for a mini-party with your sailing mates. It was a fun-for-all!

More serious, but something to think about, are the memorial services and ash scattering ceremonies they offer.  Your loved one’s ash scattering location is marked by GPS, and a framed memorial certificate marking the exact location is provided.

So whether this is your first or last ride on the Lady Stirling, it will be memorable. We won’t soon forget it.

THE SCHOONER LADY STIRLING

Port-O-Call Marina
550 Port O Call Way
Naples, FL   34102
239.642.0499
www.pmcharters.com

Marilyn Anderson
Romance on the Road