Pasta | Florida Keys Girl

Vito’s Piazza, Key West

By FL Keys Girl, on December 28th, 2011%

Vito’s is on White Street, across from Sandy’s Cafe, and off the normal tourist path. Housed in a location that has seen several different incarnations in recent years, Vito’s is the newest Italian pizza joint on the scene. I wanted to try it the minute I saw they were open. I knew from past inhabitants of that space that they have a wonderful garden, so if the food is decent, it would be a handy place to have nearby. Continue reading Vito’s Piazza, Key West

Fratelli La Bufala, Miami Beach

By FL Keys Girl, on December 14th, 2011%

Once we decided that the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon just was not happening for us last weekend, I thought that the least I could do is get a good lunch out of the deal. I had to go to South Beach that day to check on a hotel for a client, so we picked up our race t-shirts (which are very nice, by the way), took a stroll through the less-than-exciting expo, and made our way to have lunch at Fratelli La Bufala. Continue reading Fratelli La Bufala, Miami Beach

Blowout Birthday Bash

By FL Keys Girl, on November 14th, 2011%

The start of a really good night.

This weekend we were invited to our friend’s house for his birthday. As he is a wine geek, too, there were bound to be some good selections. Of course we RSVP’d that we would be coming, and as they live an hour away, we would also be staying over. (I know these people and the wine focus of the meal, there was no chance we would be driving home. Oh, and can we also bring Babka?) We arrived for one meal and one quick sleep with gifts, clothes to change into, a dog bed and, of course, the dog. Continue reading Blowout Birthday Bash

Eating Chicago

By FL Keys Girl, on September 9th, 2011%

Since we were going to Chicago for the Cellar Diminishment Party anyway, naturally I had a list of potential restaurant choices for the following night. We would only be in Chicago for two nights, so that left us with two lunches and one dinner, plus the party. We landed in Chicago, hopped on the Orange Line L train towards downtown and immediately got a call from a friend. “Are you coming to the hotel before you go for pizza?” Indeed, we were. Continue reading Eating Chicago

Blue Heaven, Key West

By FL Keys Girl, on June 6th, 2011%

Over the weekend we ate spectacularly well while celebrating our friend’s big five-oh. After an awesome dinner at The Flaming Buoy and killer hogfish sandwiches at Hogfish Bar and Grill, we ended up at Blue Heaven for dinner the next night. I hadn’t been there for dinner in years, and now I know why. As it had been a while, I called to find out the corkage policy and was told “we normally charge $15 per bottle.” (You see where this is going, don’t you?) Continue reading Blue Heaven, Key West

Birthday Meals

By FL Keys Girl, on May 16th, 2011%

Today is Florida Keys Guy’s birthday. I got him a shirt from Lululemon, which he loves, and I will be making dinner for just a few people in honor of the occasion. Birthday boy has requested one of his favorite pasta dishes, so that is what we will have. Cacio e pepe is about the simplest thing to make: pici pasta (or, since it is impossibly hard to find in Florida, bucatini or some other type of thick spaghetti) with pecorino cheese and loads of grated black pepper. Easy, yet so delicious. Continue reading Birthday Meals

Wine Drinkers Cometh (or, You’re bringing port? I’ll be there!)

By FL Keys Girl, on April 27th, 2011%

We had some wine drinking friends in town, but the only day we had that we could go out and enjoy a nice meal with some good wines was last night. Why? Passover. Or as I like to call it, The almost carb-less holiday that seems to drag on forever. That is what happens to me when I am denied pasta, bread, anything with flour and rice. You know all of the things that you are not really supposed to eat anyway. I can’t imagine if I had to give up any of those things for six weeks for Lent. Oy. Instead I subsisted on brownies, almond horns and macaroons, all homemade by my mother, with the occasional salad thrown in for good measure. Somehow I managed to not gain any weight during brownie-fest. Nonetheless, I was eager to get out of the house for an evening of yumminess. Continue reading Wine Drinkers Cometh (or, You’re bringing port? I’ll be there!)

Restaurant Review: Cafe La Buca, Pompano Beach, FL

By FL Keys Girl, on February 7th, 2011%

Tucked into an unassuming strip mall in Pompano Beach is Cafe La Buca, a tiny, 4 table Italian restaurant. It is a really tacky room with bad lighting. They have no liquor license, so it is strictly BYO here, a feature that I appreciate. They also have no menu, rather they make whatever they feel like, and discuss your options with you before ordering. Continue reading Restaurant Review: Cafe La Buca, Pompano Beach, FL

Restaurant Review: Il Mercato, Hallandale, FL

By FL Keys Girl, on January 10th, 2011%

One of my dear readers often complains that of all the fabulous places I eat, not one of them is near his house. This one is for you. Il Mercato Cafe is on Hallandale Beach Boulevard, in the Publix shopping center in Hallandale, FL. The restaurant has only been open for six months, but already they seem to be doing quite well and have a loyal following. It is easy to see why. Continue reading Restaurant Review: Il Mercato, Hallandale, FL

Pre-Marathon Madness

By FL Keys Girl, on January 7th, 2011%

I show up at Disney’s Coronado Springs resort to a line of about 80 people waiting to check in. Not terribly promising, I thought. Turns out, there are tons of Team in Training people at this resort (by “tons” I mean “literally everywhere you look”) so I had some nice people from South Carolina to chat with and pass the time. Once checked in – with no room assignment, because it was not ready yet – I boarded a bus to the expo. Continue reading Pre-Marathon Madness

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