Hibiscus Cafe First Anniversary

Happy First Anniversary. Thank you to everyone who has helped Hibiscus Cafe continue to provide delicious healthy food every day. We look forward to doing it for many years to come..Hibiscus Cafe First Anniversary


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Lost In Paradise: The Hukilau at the Mai-Kai

I finally made it to the "Mai-Kai". The 3rd day of "The Hukilau" 2011 was at the "Mai-Kai Polynesian Restaurant", what many tikiphiles would consider as mecca in the tiki world, now celebrating their 55th Anniversary! A most spectacular tiki establishment to get lost in.....stroll through their tropical garden....delicious drinks in Molokai bar....best Polynesian show I've ever seen....yummy appetizers....scrumptious entrees.....stellar service...yah....pretty amazing! A couple snippets in here from the Mai-Kai Polynesian Island Review Show, but you have to see the entire show live to do it any justice.p

Cafe Martorano - Check Please South Florida 105

ENTERTAINER-PRODUCER NIKKO CAPRIA GIVES A STANDING OVATION TO A RESTAURANT-SLASH-NIGHTCLUB THAT HE SAYS IS NOT YOUR TYPICAL SONG AND DANCE ROUTINE. HE LIKENS IT TO GRANDMOTHER'S COOKING IN A GODFATHER-LIKE SETTING. ITS IN FORT LAUDERDALE AND ITS CALLED CAFE MARTORANO.

DEAL / Café Vico – Fort Lauderdale - $25 for $50 Worth of Italian Cuisine and Drinks (83 forkz)

Café Vico caters to taste buds with a menu lauded by Miami.com and Inside Fort Lauderdale and an extensive, internationally sourced wine list. Explore the aquatic abyss sans portable gills with the seafood ravioli, stuffed with crabmeat and ricotta ($23.95), or sink land-dwelling chompers into lightly breaded veal chops decorated with cherry tomatoes and fresh mozzarella ($32.95). Fettuccine alfredo enshrouds frumpy forks with an alluring creamy white pesto sauce that impresses taste bud crowds ($18.95), and the truffle risotto hosts a raucous gathering of mushrooms, asparagus, and white-truffle oil ($23.95). Chase savory bites with worldly wines either by the glass ($7+) or by the bottle ($24+).
>>> get the deal / more info 
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83 Forkz  - great restaurant / great offer 
Ratings 
> Trip Advisor  (80)
> Urban Spoon (80)
> Open Table (90)
> Yelp (80)
> Google Places (80)
> Yahoo Local  (90)

Big fast-food chains get low marks in taste test / Consumer Reports' first fast food survey puts smaller chains ahead of bigger rivals

LOS ANGELES — McDonald's Corp, Burger King, KFC and Taco Bell are the biggest U.S. fast-food chains, but they lag smaller rivals like In-N-Out Burger and Chick-fil-A when it comes to taste, according to a new survey released on Thursday by Consumer Reports.

"Chains like McDonald's and Taco Bell boast supersized values, but consumers don't necessarily think they offer much bang for the buck," said Tod Marks, Consumer Reports' senior projects editor.

>>> read more 

Today's Deal: $20 for $50 Worth of Fine Food and Wine at Hi-Life Cafe in Fort Lauderdale

Hi-Life Café has been offering restaurant guests a taste of the good life for over fifteen years. Mochelle Koff from the Miami Herald calls Hi-Life Café “A rare find.” But, it isn’t just the reviewers that are impressed—Hi-Life has won tons of readers’ choice awards like “Best American Restaurant Fort Lauderdale.” It gets 4.5 stars on Google, Yahoo! and TripAdvisor, and Zagat has chosen it as one of the Top 40 Restaurants in Florida and selected it as serving one of “America’s Best Meals” on several occasions

>>> more info

New study is wake-up call for diet soda drinkers

(CBS) Sorry, soda lovers - even diet drinks can make you fat.
That's the word from authors of two new studies, presented Sunday at a meeting of the American Diabetes Association in San Diego
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NEW TODAY/ Texas deBrazil - A Brazilian churrascaria restaurant chain now in Fort Lauderdale

Texas de Brazil is a very popular Brazilian churrascaria restaurant chain, with locations in South Beach, Doral and now Fort Lauderdale. This is definitely a place for meat-lovers, and those who are not watching their weight.
It is an all-you-can-eat restaurant. You start at the soup and salad area, and then the servers start bringing you roasted cuts of meat until you ask them to stop. Drinks and dessert are extra.
>>> visit their site 
>>> yelp reviews of Miami location
>>> watch ad for Miami location

Deco Drive video from Miami location

DEAL: $25 - 4 Cocktails & Appetizers at New Blues Bar, Reg. $68 (Hollywood)

TRAVELZOO LOCAL DEAL FOR FORT LAUDERDALE **********************************************************
 Into the Blues Bar & Restaurant

Check out the new Into the Blues Bar & Restaurant in downtown Hollywood with this $25 deal for drinks and appetizers. Featuring an outdoor patio and live music every weekend, Into the Blues invites two people to enjoy any four drinks or a bottle of wine plus two appetizers at thislively venue on Harrison. This night out would regularly cost up to $68.

>>> get more info/deal 

Recommendation: Not enough info to make a recommendation. You're on your own.

New today at Olive Garden

REVIEWS / Ken's "Juzzt Sayin" - What's Up With Sea Watch? New Decor, New Menu... Pis#@d Off Customers !

Ken's "Juzzt Sayin"

"Listen to me... recent Yelp reviews not so good... really" 
... Complained about the salad and actually got attitude from the manager. Amazing. Won't be going back. 
... Even the bread was out of a grocery store plastic bag I think.  I'll miss the place I used to take my hot dates to 35 years ago.
... The food now is below par. Really bland, boring stuff and still priced like it is fine dining cuisine.
... The portions are minuscule, the selection is very limited and the food is disgusting. The service was also terrible. To top it off the prices are outrageous. 
... I've been going to Sea Watch since the mid-70's. Unfortunately we had our last meal there today. I wish I had checked the reviews here before going; it would have saved us $76.
>>> more from yelp 
>>> great summary review by google user
>>> more reviews tripadvisor  - open table -  google 
Been their lately? Whatch think? Comment below.

NOW OPEN / Mancini's M Bar - Las Olas

  

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ARTICLE / South Florida Business Journal - by Susan R. Miller The "new Mancini’s will include an outdoor patio, outdoor sidewalk bar and a wood-burning pizza oven. Originally, Mancini said, he planned to open it in August, but “took a sabbatical” to get M Bar open, he said"

ARTICLE / New Times - by John Linn  
"The menu I've been developing for the past few years. We took a look at some places around the country and in Miami that have used this small plates tapas concept.Instead of doing Spanish tapas, we're using the phrase global tapas and incorporating cuisines from around the world."

ARTICLE / by Jan Norris @ Eat Beat "maple-glazed crispy pork belly with sauerkraut and jalapeno applesauce; cured Spanish mackerel with watermelon rind, cuke relish, olive oil and pea greens... Enrobed chocolate mousse with ancho caramel and banana cake with coconut sorbet and peanut streusel are desserts."

Krispy Kreme takes on Starbucks with oatmeal, doughnut milkshakes... they want to be healthier...but not that much healthier.

The chain known for glazed doughnuts and retro paper hats confirmed that it’s adding oatmeal, fruit juice and yogurt to its menu. 
Don’t worry, sugar addicts. Krispy Kreme is also testing a doughnut milkshake on its home turf in North Carolina, meaning that might be coming to your town soon.
>>> read more

Sushi Blues sisters open Cafe Jamm in Fort Lauderdale

OPENING / FORT LAUDERDALE
VIA ROCHELLE KOFF, rkoff@MiamiHerald.com
PLACE "in strip mall on U.S. 1. Decorated in black and white, the place is sleek yet cozy, with a wine bar and soft lighting" MENU The eclectic American menu focuses on updated comfort food like the incredibly rich (and incredibly good) mac and cheese, made with Gruyere... There’s nothing pretentious here, including the moderately priced but thoughtful wine list" ENTREES "The menu offers 13 entrees along with daily specials like a fresh catch, grouper on our visit" DESSERT "Save room for the queen of comfort food finales, red velvet cake, this one moist and bouncy, topped with a light cream cheese icing" RATING Three Stars

>>>>> read more

I Ate Key West

 review / nearby
"As a guest of the Key West Business Guild during their annual Pride Fest last week, I did not object to being introduced to some of the local restaurants that were gay-owned or gay-friendly. I don’t resent the few extra pounds I acquired as a result of this indulgence"
Tony reviews :The Flaming Buoy, Antonia’s, La Crêperie, Azur,  El Siboney
 >>> read more from Tony at The South Florida Gay News

30 min Garlic Chicken / Chef Rick Matthews - Fort Lauderdale

 

Naked Grape Moving

On the Move. . .
"we are going to be occupying the spot that formerly housed the Painted Pickle. It is merely a block and a half north of our current location. The advantage of this location is that it will allow us to bring you great, freshly made tapas items to accompany your wine selection. Many of you know this has been our goal for sometime. The ADA approved bathroom in the new location is another plus. In order to offer food service, an ADA approved bathroom is mandatory.

We intend to continue the same "lounge-y" vibe that defines the NGWB. Our color scheme will carry over with us, and for those of you who were fearful that we might move to Antarctica, we are pleased to be remaining on the Drive."

Food makers' challenge: Reduce salt, but keep taste

Taste is not the only reason major food makers say reducing sodium in prepackaged foods is so difficult. Sodium has become a key ingredient in bread, cheese, frozen dinners, lunch meats and even instant pudding because it’s extremely cheap and good at both enhancing and masking flavors. It also plays an important role in the food production process, contributing to everything from preserving meats to giving bread its yummy texture.

Cold Pea Soup

Mark Bittman reaches back into the Minimalist vault to share one of his favorite recipes, a simple soup made with fresh ginger snap peas.

William & Kate to Be Fed by Giada De Laurentiis

Due to start the California leg of their North American tour on July 8, the Royal Newlyweds will head to the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club the next day for a charity match in which William will participate, Kate and 2,500 other people will watch, and the photogenic culinary artist Giada De Laurentiis will cook, the chef revealed on Friday's Today show.

SUCH A DEAL? / Carmen's at the Top of the Bridge (Boca Raton)

The Deal $85 - Oceanview Gourmet Wine Dinner for 2, Reg. $173 
Enjoy a four-course dinner for two, including wine pairings, for $85 at this romantic restaurant, regularly $173.
Or for $69, 
Enjoy dinner at Carmen's during regular hours Thursday through Saturday. Select from the full regular dinner menu, and enjoy one shared appetizer,two entrees, two chef's daily special desserts; and two glasses of wine.


Bad Deal - No Deal -  Good Deal  - Great Deal - Best Deal  
3.25 out of five stars 
>>>> Get This Travelocity Deal Here Before 8 p.m. Thursday, June 23

The Votes & More INfo 
Open Table 70
Google Places 70
Yahoo 60
Trip Advisor 60

Cheese Made In Florida? Yep!

Bleu Sunshine cheese (Winter Park Florida) has the distinction of being the FIRST raw milk cheese produced in Florida. Raw milk from Jersey cows makes the best cheese. It has the highest butterfat content of the dairy breeds and is ideally suited as a premium cooking ingredient or as an appetizer paired with fine wine. >>> visit their site
thanks for the tip from "Eating Local In The Tropics"

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