Showing posts with label florida. Show all posts
Showing posts with label florida. Show all posts

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Best Ever Mexican Restaurant

What kind of Mexican restaurant warns you ahead of time that there are no burritos or tacos on the menu?  Probably the best Mexican restaurant in the country.   It's only the first of many surprises that await you.   Located in a strip mall in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, this small non-descript restaurant presents an incredibly surprising (pleasantly) dining experience. 

From the wine based margaritas to the knowledgable and enthusiastic staff, it's a consistently impressive evening.  Normally we review dishes, and not restaurants, but this is an exception, with so many incredible dishes we just can't pick one.

What: Eduardo de San Angel Restaurant

Why it's the Best:  From the moment you enter and see the walls endlessly covered with awards, you know that you are in for something special.   It's a paradigm shift, it takes a while for your mind to register what's going on, because it probably nothing like you'd expect, and/or have experienced previously.

If you read the reviews on Eduardo's, you'll hear a consistent theme that it's not the "typical" Mexican restaurant.  Some folks refer to it as international cuisine with a Mexican influence, or high-end Mexican cuisine.  Whatever you call it, it's awesome!   

Some of our favorites;
  • Appetizers -  Grilled Sliced Eggplant Roulade Au Gratin, Gulf Shrimp Ceviche, Roasted Poblano Peppers Filled with Florida Blue Crab and the Black Bean soup.
  • Entrees - Ancho Chile Flavored Crepe filled with Cuitlachoche (blue corn fungus), Serano Chiles and onions with melted Asadero cheese and a Squash blossom sauce,  Trio of Colorado Lamb Chops and Key Lime Oil Brushed Loin of Yellow Fin Tuna are all amazing.
Make sure to start with a margarita or house special sangria.

Equally impressive is the staff and the service.  They are as knowledgable about the food, the preparation and why all the ingredients work, as any you'll ever meet.  The staff are professionals.  It is clear that this is, and has been, their passion and occupation.  Similar to high performance cars requiring highly skilled mechanics, they are essential to the experience. 

How We Know:  Well, it could be all the awards (Zagat gave it two "extraordinay to perfection" ratings), or the raves of hundreds of diners, but the thing we think says it best, is a comment that a server mentioned to us during our last visit with friends.  

As we were raving about the food (again) we asked if chef/owner Eduardo Pria ever considered opening other restaurants in other cities (as in please come to DC) and the waiter said he had many offers to do so, but didn't, because he believes it is necessary and important that he be physically present in the kitchen. 

In a time when celebrity chefs are opening multiple locations within a city and/or cities, here's one chef who still believes he has to be in the kitchen.   So for now, you have to go to Eduardo's place because he's not coming to you.

Craving Level:  Weekly

Direction and reviews:  Tripadvisor, Zagats, Google

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Best Ever Farmers Market

We were fortunate to escape the cold over the holidays by making our way to Florida (the long way via car).  Jen's folks have a house in the Delray Beach/Boynton Beach area (East Coast) and one of our first stops when we arrive is a produce market in Lake Worth.   During our last trip we were struck by how great the deals were so we saved the receipt.  Seriously, it's so good you may find yourself thinking that it may be worth moving down just to be close to this place.

What: Rorabeck Produce Market, the BEST EVER Farmers Market. 

Why it's the Best: two reasons, the first is location.  Ninety percent of all the fresh produce during the winter months comes from Florida, so you get the product without the transportation cost, and the second is the lower cost of living.  Rorabeck's is what a real "direct from the farm" market looks, and feels like.  Not the kind of farmers market we're used to in DC. 

How We Know: let's let the numbers do the talking.  Here's a sample of produce prices from area supermarkets taken from the Wednesday (1/14/10) inserts in the Washington Post.



Craving Level: Everytime we're in Florida.  If you're in Florida during the winter months, find a produce or farmers market.   You're inner bargain hunter will love it! 

Direction and reviews: Insiderpages.com, merchantcircle.com