Hello my Foodie Friends,

Now that we are well into the holiday season, I know you all have been indulging wherever possible in your own wonderful culinary favorites. Today, I want to share with you one of my latest Food Finds and that is The Boca Breakfast & Lunch Club.

I've been meaning to try this place ever since I first learned about it over a year ago and today was the day I finally made it in. I had to work this morning, so I decided to pop in and place my order to go.

I asked the gal at the counter what some of the most popular items were. She mentioned the omeletes and also their egg sandwich. I decided to go with the latter this time and if all went well, I'd be back to try the omelete next time. There were many choices to make: from what kind of egg I wanted (regular, egg whites or egg beaters) to what type of bread I wanted my sandwich on. Again, I looked to my server for some guidance here. She said the bagel would offer more bread for the egg and that she could scoop it if I liked. That sounded good, so I went with her suggestion. Now I had a choice of ham, bacon, sausage or Canadian Bacon. I chose bacon. You also get your choice of cheese; I forgot to specify, but luckily mine came with cheddar which is what I would've chosen anyway. The sandwich comes with a side of sliced tomato, oatmeal grits or home fries. I opted for the home fries (done crispy).

I was a little concerned how well my food would travel to my final destination, but as soon as I arrived at my desk and opened my styrofoam container, I was in shock at the size of the behemoth bagel sandwich that nearly took up the whole container. WOW! I took a little nibble of the home fries which were perfectly cooked with just the right amount of crispiness. I decided to open up my sammy and add these right on top. Yummo!

After getting over the shock that I ate the whole thing, I was so impressed with what I just had that I went over to the only other person who was in the office at the time and I just raved at how good my breakfast sandwich was and gave her a menu and told her she had to try it some time.

The Boca Breakfast & Lunch Club is located in Royal Palm Place on SE Mizner Blvd, just below & to the left of the Fred Astaire Dance Studio.

171 SE Mizner Blvd. Boca Raton, FL 33432 561-362-0018

Until we eat again,

I wish you delicious dishes, XO

Denise

Ooh La La to my new Boca Food Find

Hello Fellow Foodies,

Cote France, otherwise known to locals as "The French Bakery", located on Plaza Real South in Royal Palm Place, was not exactly a new find for me per se, but what was new was this little known fact that they serve up the best Beef Bourguignon this side of France, and for a fraction of the price that you'd pay at those fancy schmancy French restaurants.

It all started as we (our women's walking group) passed by the little Cafe on our regular Tuesday Walk n' Talk around Royal Palm Place (departing from Tropical Smoothie every Tuesday at 5:30pm; okay, a little shameless plug here). One of the women in our group (who happened to be French) asked me if I had ever had dinner there. I told her I hadn't, but I did have lunch there a couple times, after hearing the rave reviews from my friends Peter and Jacqui from The Talk of the Town Radio Show (okay, another plug, I know...). Mylene said that I MUST try their Beef Bourguignon. I have to admit that I have been especially fascinated with this dish of Julia Child's made so popular from the hit movie, Julie & Julia. She needed to only mention the words Beef Bourguignon, but when she threw in the fact that the cost was only around $12, (instead of the $20+ that it would cost me at other French Restaurants), I was definitely in!

Anyway, I had some time to kill after my walk and before my Journaling workshop was to being at The Heart Painter's Studio (http://www.theheartpainter.com/), so I headed over to Cote France, placed my order and sat outside on the lovely patio and enjoyed my meal al fresco. What a lovely evening it was! The dish was exquisite. The beef was fork tender. The mushrooms, carrots, celery, onions were sauteed perfectly. The fresh bouquet garni added just the right amount of seasoning to enhance the flavor. Seved with perfectly steamed broccoli and potatoes, this dish had everything to satisfy the most discriminating palate. A basket of french bread and butter was brought out along with the meal and although I thought this was overkill, I found myself taking a piece (or two) and mopping up the excess "gravy" left over on my plate. Yumm!!!

Anyway, I hope the next time you are craving something "French", that you'll head over to Cote France in Royal Palm Place and try their wonderful Beef Bourguignon.

Located at 101 Plaza Real South 561-955-6021

Until we eat again,

I send you delicious wishes XO,

Denise

Let's Talk Turkey (and not the kind you find at Thanksgiving)

Hello Fellow Foodies,

I know it's been a while since you've heard from me, and for that I apologize. September was a crazy busy month for me and it just seemed to fly by. I can't believe it is already the beginning of October.

I wanted to share with you one of my most recent food finds and that is Anatolia's in Boca Raton. They're located on Federal Highway, just south of Palmetto Park Rd. I've passed by it a gazillion times and finally made a point to go in and give them a try. Boy was a glad I did! They serve up some terrific authentic Mediterranean/Turkish food-some of the best that I have ever tasted. The owners, Nuran and Nadir were very gracious, as were their attentive staff.

To begin my culinary journey, Nuran suggested I try the Ahtapot (grilled octopus). I'm sure I just stood there looking at her with this blank stare, trying to figure out how to graciously tell her that I didn't especially care for the sound of it, without offending her. I had tried octopus once at a sushi restaurant many years ago and my experience with it was that it was a bit "rubbery". But Nuran assured me this was quite tender and succulent and that I at least had to try it. Never one to shy away from tying something new (especially when it comes to food), I agreed. Shortly thereafter, a plate of grilled octopus was delivered to my table and what a presentation it made! The octopus was indeed tender and very succulent. The marinade of tomatoes, onions, lemon pomegranate sauce & evoo was just the right balance of tart and sweetness. Nuran suggested I take a piece of bread and "mop up" the juices. I willingly obliged. Wow, this was clearly an unexpected delight as well as a wonderful start to a great meal!

Next up was a beautifully plated Cold Meze Medley of hummus, Babaghanush, Stuffed Grape Leaves, Eggplant Salad and Fire Roasted Peppers with Feta. I appreciated the basket of assorted pita and fresh baked breads which I used as the vessel for transporting these wonderful bites to my mouth and into my very happy belly!

For the entrees, I had the Hunkar Begendi (Hoonkar Bay end e) with Grilled Chicken Cubes. Nuran has promised to give me the phoenetic pronounciations for many of these hard to pronounce Turkish words that are found throughout Anatolia's menu. I figured this would be a great way to learn a little Turkish and have fun with it when ordering from their menu. This was an amazing dish that consisted of Fire Roasted Eggplant Puree with imported Kashar Cheese and topped with Grilled Chicken cubes. Again, the presentation of the plate was beautiful. The chicken was grilled to perfection and perfectly seasoned; but the star of this plate, in my opinion, was the Hunkar Begendi (eggplant puree). I never had anything like it. The puree resembled a bed of whipped or mashed potatoes which nearly covered the entire plate. I thought there is no way that I am going to be able to eat all this when they set the plate down before me. HA! was I ever wrong. I cleaned that plate-not a drop left over! Now I happen to enjoy eggplant, and for all of you who enjoy it too, you must give this dish a try. The texture is so airy and light and the Turkish Kashar cheese gives it such a unique flavor and elevates it, in my opinion, to the next level. Yummo!

My dining companion ordered the Dana Kul Basti (Duna Kewl Busta), which is grilled beef, pounded very thin and served in strips over Bulgur and Rice, along with a roasted Tomato & Pepper Onion Sumac (purple spice that has a natural tanginess). The beef was seasoned very nicely with fresh herbs and the plate was simply delicious.

Finally, we shared the Almond Pudding and Baklava. The pudding not only looked very pretty with slices of almonds and pistachios sprinkled on top, but it tasted amazing! You'd be hard pressed to find a better baklava, that is for sure. So there you have it, my latest Boca Food Find. I hope you will head over there and try it out for yourself. They're open for lunch and dinner, 7 days a week. There is something for everyone on the menu. I heard their latest creation, the Burger Kebab, is getting rave reviews.

Anatolia Mediterranean Restaurant is located at 212 S. Federal Highway, Boca Raton

561-361-4000

You can find them on facebook: http://bit.ly/AnatoliaBocaRaton

Until we eat again..

I send you delicious wishes, XO

Denise

Restaurant Tipping Guide Around the World

Hello Foodies,

This blog should be of particular interest to those who have plans to travel outside of the good ol' US of A. I came across this handy webpage which provides customary tipping guidelines for 25 countries across the globe.

Bon Voyage and Buon Appetite!

http://huff.to/WorldwideTippingGuide


Until we eat again...
I send you delicious dishes, XO

Denise

The Pounded Veal Chop Marsala was "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" at Rosario's Ristorante

With so many restaurants to choose from, it was tough deciding on which one to select to mark the special occasion of my husband obtaining his Master's degree. Given the fact that Rosario's Ristorante in Royal Palm Place had recently been featured on the Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" show, I decided to check it out.

I called the restaurant to make a reservation and spoke to Chris Lanza, the son of Rosario, who himself is involved in the family owned and operated restaurant. Upon our arrival, we were greeted warmly and escorted to our reserved table- a nice round table nestled intimately in the corner beside large windows. Our waiter, Pietro, approached our table within moments of our getting settled in our seats. He was extremely pleasant and made us all feel very welcomed.

I had done my research and found that Rosario's was running a summer special that consisted of a three-course complete dinner for $26.95. This included an appetizer, entree (with a side), dessert & coffee. Now, I'm not talking about choosing from a limited menu here. They had not 3, maybe 4 entrees to select from- but 15! This ran the gamut from Chicken, Veal, Pasta, Steak & Seafood. And speaking of Seafood, they also had another special, which I found out is available every night, and that is the 2 pound Live Maine Lobster (served Broiled, Oreganata or Fra Diavolo). This special is served with salad & dessert for $26.95 as well!

My husband & I both decided upon the Pounded Veal Chop Marsala which was amazing, absolutely fantastico! The veal was pounded super thin and breaded and topped with mozzarella cheese, mushrooms & marsala sauce. When it came to deciding on which side to choose, I was torn between the julienned vegetables and the roasted potatoes. To make my life easier, Pietro offered to bring me some of each, which I greatly appreciated. My dad, who is pretty predictable when it comes to what Italian dish he typically orders, didn't disappoint us when he ordered the Chicken Parmigiana. My mom opted for the Lobster Special and ordered it Fra Diavola, which came with lobster, mussels & clams served delicately on a bed of pasta, and seasoned with the perfect amount of spice. Although we really didn't have room for dessert, we did sucomb to trying the Italian Cheese Cake, Tiramisu, and Chocolate Mousse Cake. All three were terrific, but I especially enjoyed the Tiramisu.

Rosario's is famous for serving up family style dishes for 2, but individuals can order up half portions if they so desire. The menu items are derived from Northern & Southern Italy as well as some Sicilian items from where Rosario himself was born. All items on the menu are prepared fresh, in-house and are cooked to order. They have an extensive award-wining wine list and have a full bar with many drink selections available.

I also learned that Rosario's has a Private Dining Room that can seat up to 30 guests. So, if you are looking for a great place to bring the family for a special occasion, a business presentation or meeting, give the folks at Rosario's a call and reserve their private room.

Rosario's Ristorante is located at 145 S.E. Mizner Blvd., in Royal Palm Place 561-393-0758

You can check out their website to view their complete menu and specials at: http://www.rosariosristorante.com/

Until we eat again...
I send you delicious wishes, XO

Denise

Mojo's Cafe & Market

Hello Fellow Foodies,

Heading to the beach and thinking about taking a picnic with you? I've got just the place for you. It's Mojo's Cafe & Market on E. Palmetto Park Road, just steps from the beach. Today I had the pleasure of trying their gourmet chicken salad served on a perfectly soft AND crunchy french baguette. They make their chicken salad fresh in house every day. I also tried the Angela's Salad, which came with fresh romaine lettuce, chopped just to my liking, a touch of gorgonzola cheese, almonds, fresh fruit of the day (today it had blueberries and grapes), tomato wedges and red onion. I ordered the balsamic vinaigrette dressing (which was devine), but you could also choose ranch or olive oil & vinegar. I didn't have one of their smoothies, but I've heard from others that they make some pretty amazing ones.

So, next time you're planning to take a trip to the beach, remember to give our friends over at Mojo's a call and they'll have your picnic packed up and ready to take with you.

They're located at 895 E. Palmetto Park Rd, Boca Raton 561-961-4622.
You can also visit them online at: http://www.mojosdelimarket.com/

Until we eat again...
I send you delicious wishes, XO

Denise

My pick for the best sandwich in town

My office had lunch catered today by Beany's Gourmet Sandwich shop in Mizner Plaza. I have to be honest, I've only had a few things from there before, because once I was introduced to their Signature Lemon Artichoke Chicken sandwich, nothing else seemed to matter. This award winning sandwich comes on a nicely warmed french baguette with garlic aioli, marinated artichokes, marinated grilled chicken and is topped with smoked provolone. I must warn you, this sandwich is addicting. I just finished it and already I'm thinking I can't wait to have it again- it's that good! Everything is fresh and cooked to order at Beany's and they specialize in a variety of soups, salads, and home baked desserts.

You can visit their website at www.BeanysofBoca.com to view their menu. They're located on NE 2nd St. in Mizner Plaza, just north of Palmetto Park Rd and one block east of Federal Hwy. in Mizner Plaza. 126 NE 2nd St. 561-392-1085.

Until we eat again...
I send you delicious wishes, XO
Denise

Could it be the best kept secret in Boca?

Hello again fellow Foodies,

For today's lunch, I decided to head on over to Boca Skewers, located in Mizner Plaza on the south end of Mizner Park. I ordered the Chicken Kebab lunch special, for $7.99 (served Monday - Friday 11am to 3pm), which included a small salad, white or lentil sweet rice, and soup. The chicken was cooked to perfection! The whole meal came together beautifully and what's more, it didn't break the bank.

The owners, Anna & Nick are Armenian and take great pride in serving up the freshest Mediterranean/Armenian Cuisine possible. They offer Take Out & Delivery as well as Catering for all occasions. They're open for lunch & dinner.

You can see their menu online at: www.Boca-Skewers.com

Until we eat again...

I send you delicious wishes, XO

Denise

It's LOVE at first bite at Cafe Amore Boca!!!

Hello Faithful Foodies,

I'm trying a new place for lunch today. It's called Cafe Amore and it just opened up on 1st Avenue, 1 block east of Federal Hwy, between 1st and 3rd Streets (a couple doors down from 4th Generation Market). Anyway, I've been eyeing their menu now for the past week trying to figure out what I was going to order first. I had been tempted to start one of my mornings off with their Nova Bagel, (with actual Nova and not the blended schmear) which for $4.99 sounds like a really good deal. Unfortunately, that will have to wait, as today it is a Prosciutto Caprese Panini sandwich on Ciabatta bread that was calling my name.

The sandwich comes with the fabulous Prosciutto di Parma, Mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, tomato, olive oil & balsamic vinaigrette. The generously sized sandwich was great; it came on its own, but there are a number of different sides to choose from if that is your thing. I took advantage of their Buy one Sandwich or Salad and get the second one for FREE! That offer's good until 7/28. So, for my second sandwich, I chose the Amore Italiano to bring home to my husband (the Italian sandwich Connoisseur) to try.

Cafe Amore is open 7 days a week from 7am to 6pm. You can check them out on line at: http://www.cafeamoreboca.com/. They're located at: http://bit.ly/CafeAmoreBoca

561-361-1518

Until we eat again...

I send you delicious wishes, XO

Denise

He had me at Oh-So (Good) Bucco

My hubby and I celebrated our 7 year anniversary last night and we decided to commemorate this special occasion by visiting one of our newest Boca Food Finds - Capri Ristorante.

This place exudes class. We sensed this the moment we entered the doors. A nice balance of woods, granite & slate with a beautiful bar, which my husband will tell you is a tell tale sign of a good restaurant.

We were greeted at the door by Joey "Capri", whose family owns 6 more restaurants by the same name in the Chicago area. The restaurant has a private area that can seat up to 50 people as well as the main dining section adorned with a beautiful piano. Joey cordially escorted us to a cozy booth in the main dining room where we were about to embark on the most delightful culinary experience.

Our waiter brought the bottle of wine we ordered with one of those fancy dancy decanter style contraptions affixed to the top of the bottle. (I'd seen that just a few nights earlier at the Fine Wine & Canines event over at Royal Palm Place). Kari, one of the owners of Capri, came over to say hello as our waiter was pouring our wine and she mentioned that she had also seen this "wine thing" being used at the Fine Wine event and was so impressed after tasting the difference, that she decided to purchase it for the restaurant.

As we were enjoying our wine, an antipasta plate, consisting primarily of a variety of olives, was brought to the table; followed by my pasta fagioli and a plate of sausage and peppers for my husband. (Of course we each tasted the other's selection). So far, so good. Everything was delish! Then, all of a sudden, Joey steps around the corner and delivers to our table an unexpected treat; He had prepared something himself especially for us - fried balls! (Hey now, get your mind out of the gutter) These balls were like little poppers; the first kind was a fresh breaded/fried mozarella ball and the other kind was fried green olives stuffed with Italian sausage. Both were amazing and I hear they are making their debut tonight on their regular menu. Speaking of the menu, I hadn't even begun to take a gander at it before our waiter announced their evening specials. Once he mentioned the Osso Bucco, I couldn't hear anything else. This was exactly what I was hoping for and let me tell you, Capri delivered. This was THE BEST Osso Bucco I have ever had. It's new name is "Oh So (Good) Bucco! This culinary masterpiece was sheer ecstasy on a plate. Thanks Chef Victor, you have won a place in my heart forever! The risotto was also amazing and complemented the veal perfectly. My husband enjoyed his beef braciole with pappardelle pasta. For dessert, we ordered the chocolate lava cake with fresh whipped cream and vanilla ice cream. This was also fantastic.

What a great place to celebrate our anniversary. We will definitely be back. Would you care to join us?

Capri Ristorante is located at 39 SE 1st Ave. Boca Raton, FL 33432 (a block south of Palmetto Park Road and 1 block east of Federal Hwy). http://bit.ly/CapriRistorante 561-391-8044


Until we eat again...

I send you delicious wishes, XO

Denise

Hello Fellow Foodies,

I've compiled a list of my Happy Hour findings here in East Boca:

Chops Lobster Bar 561-395-2675
Royal Palm Place- 101 Plaza Real South #M http://www.chopslobsterbar.com/
Mon - Fri 5 - 7pm Signature Martinis $8, Domestic Beers $3.75, Wines by the glass $5, Special Appetizer Menu; Sun - Thurs $49 Tasting Menu available

CHOW Boca 561-392-3449
Royal Palm Place - 309 Via De Palmas www.ChowBoca.com
Fri: Everyone Drinks Free 5 - 7pm; Wed & Thurs Ladies drink free well drinks, 50% off premium Martinis, Wine & Sake + 50% off Bar Menu

MoQuila 561-394-9990
99 SE Mizner Blvd www.Moquila.com
Sun - Fri 3 for 1 Happy Hour; Wed: Ladies Nite w/2 for 1 All Night; Thurs: Gentlemen's Quarters w/2 for 1 bottles of beer All Night

Holloway's Irish Pub 561-361-8445
Royal Palm Place - 504 Via De Palmas http://frank-e-oke.com/holloway
Mon - Fri 4 - 7pm 2 for 1 Well Drinks, $2.50 Domestic Draft/Bottles, $4 Import Draft, $3.50 Import Bottles, $1.00 off all other drinks, $3 Shot Specials

Speranza 561-245-7598
41 E. Palmetto Park Road www.SperanzaPizzeria.com
Every day 2 - 7pm Half off all drinks from their full bar

Club La Dolce Vita 561-393-8124
Royal Palm Place, 303 SE Mizner Blvd. Facebook: Club La Dolce Vita
Every day 5 - 7pm 2 for 1 drinks, Mon - Shot Specials, Tues - Ladies drink free 9 - 11pm, $7 Martinis

4th Generation Market 561-338-9920
75 SE 3rd St. www.4thGenerationMarket.com
Complimentary Organic Wine tasting every Friday at 5pm

Saquella Caffe 561-338-8840
Royal Palm Place, 410 Via De Palmas www.Saquella-usa.com
Every Mon - Fri from 11:30am - 4pm All Wine & Prosecco $5/glass with lunch

La Stella's 561-544-2081
159 E. Palmetto Park Rd. http://www.lastellasrestaurantandcatering.com/
Tues - Fri 5pm - 6:30pm All wines by the glass 1/2 off + $5 Italian tapas & 1/2 priced House Pastas

Taverna Helios 561-218-4879
299 E. Palmetto Park Rd. www.TavernaHelios.com
7 days a week, 4 - 9pm 2 for 1 House Wines

Rustic Cellar 561-392-5237
Royal Palm Place, 409 SE Mizner Blvd. www.RusticCellar.com
Daily 4 - 7pm Buy 1, get the second @ 50%, includes appetizers, wine & beer (discount applies to lesser priced item)

Lion & Eagle Pub 561-447-7707
2399 N. Federal Hwy. Facebook: Lion & Eagle Pub
Mon - Fri 12pm - 7pm 2 for 1 well drinks, wine & domestic bottles

The Duck Tavern 561-998-8288
5901 N. Federal Hwy. http://www.ducktavern.com/
Daily 3 - 7pm 1/2 off Well drinks, 1/2 off Drafts, $2 Import Bottles & $1.85 Domestic Bottles. Specials change daily

Saba Sushi Bar & Lounge 561-343-4600
499 S. Federal Hwy. www.sababoca.com
Yappy Hour on patio every night 3 - 7pm 2 for 1 drinks

Boardriders Cantina 561-392-0044
234 S. Federal Hwy. Facebook: Boardriders Boca Raton
4 - 7pm 2 for 1 drinks; All day, Every day: Yengling Beer & Wings $8.99; Bucket of Beer - 5 for $10 (domestic bottles); Beat the clock daily...8pm $.50 drafts, 9pm $1.00 drafts, 10pm $2.00 drafts; Kill the keg Tuesdays - Free Beer 10 - 11pm

O'Brien's Irish Pub 561-338-7565
51 SE 1st Ave.
Daily 12 - 8pm $2 Well drinks & Domestic beers, $3 Imported beer, $4 pints and more...

Wishing Well Irish Pub 561-750-5208
111 SE Mizner Blvd. Facebook: Wishing Well Pub
Daily 3 - 7pm Domestic beer $2.50, Import $3.50, Well $3, Call $4, Premium $5; 2 for 1 appetizers

The Lodge Beer & Grill 561-392-5003
200 S. Federal Hwy. www.thelodgeboca.com
4 - 7pm daily 2-4-1 Select Draughts

Anna Vincenzo's 561-362-8990
Fifth Avenue Shops, 1930 NE 5th Ave. Facebook : Anna Vincenzo's Ristorante Italiano
Daily 4 - 7pm Enjoy a glass of wine or beer on the patio, get the second @ 50%, includes appetizers (discount applies to lesser priced item)

Capri Ristorante 561-391-8044
39 SE 1st Ave.
Mon - Thurs 5 - 7pm Complimentary Antipasta table & BOGO Well drinks & wine

Well, there you have it. (At least for the time being). More to come...

Until we eat again...
I send you delicious wishes, XO

Denise

A Fine Dining establishment in East Boca Raton that won't break the bank

Hello fellow foodies,

My husband and I recently went to a wonderful intimate restaurant in East Boca Raton called Six Tables (www.SixTablesBocaRaton.com ).
This place is outstanding. For around $100, you get a lovely 4 course meal, with a glass of champagne to begin with. The night we were there, I ordered the Lobster Bisque to start and let me tell you, this was the best Lobster Bisque that I have ever had in my life. Yumm, warms my tummy just thinking/writing about it..oh, sorry, got a bit side tracked. A basket of warm homemade bread was brought to the table that melted the butter on contact. It had a hint of fresh rosemary that was so delicious. We both delighted in the salad that was tossed with this fantastic again, homemade, dressing. I had the lamb chops, my husband had the steak- both cooked to absolute perfection. There was also a lemon sorbet brought out to "cleanse our palates"- which you know you're at a fine dining establishment when you see that. To round off this great evening, we ended with a decadent slice of chocolate tort (which I enjoyed with my superb glass of red wine) and key lime pie. The owner Jon, is very nice and personal and he cooks for everyone at the same time, it's like you're guests at his home. The ambience is very nice and romantic and you can actually have a pleasant conversation with your dinner guest without having to shout. We had a very enjoyable evening. So, if you are looking for a unique romantic dining experience then I would suggest you pick up the phone and make your next dinner reservation at Six Tables of Boca Raton.

Six Tables is located at 112 NE 2nd St, Boca Raton, FL 33432
(561) 347-6260

http://bit.ly/aRlK3Z

Until we eat again...
I send you delicious wishes,

Denise XO

A Taste of the Mediterranean right here in Boca Raton

Hello Fellow Foodies,

I know it's been a while since my last food blog, and for that I am sorry. It's not that I haven't been out discovering new Food Finds in Boca, it's just that I've been so darn busy that I haven't been able to sit down and write about them. So here goes...

A few weeks back, my husband and I decided to try Rauf's Anatolia Mediterranean Nights, a new restaurant that opened up at Royal Palm Place. As we entered the cozy, softly lit room, we discovered there was a birthday party celebration in progress. The music was cheerful and there was a belly dancer dancing ever so gracefully around the room. Hands were clapping, people were smiling and cheering. You couldn't help but join in on the fun. It certainly was entertaining as we waited to place our order and kept us preoccupied while we waited for our food to arrive. (And that's a good thing. Trust me it made the wait seem almost non-existent.)

I had the Mousaka, which consisted of layers of fried zucchini and potatoes topped with sauteed onions, garlic, tomatoes and peppers. It was delicious! My husband had the Chicken Kebab which he thoroughly enjoyed as well.

Next time you're looking for somewhere to go that is both tasty and entertaining, head on over to Rauf's Anatolia Mediterranean Nights and let me know what you think!

They are located at 507 SE Mizner Blvd. at Royal Palm Place in Boca Raton
561-361-5783
http://www.anatolianights.com

http://bit.ly/c1unU2

Until we eat again...
I send you delicious wishes,

Denise XO

Not your run of the mill Vietnamese cuisine

Well, for those of you who are friends of mine on Facebook, you must know by now that the Blu Bambu is one of my favorite Vietnamese food finds in Boca. Tucked away in Royal Palm Place, this little restaurant may be little in size, but not in flavor! The Owner/Chef Tien Tran sure knows how to please my palate! I am convinced they add a pinch of love into every dish.

Today I tried one of their daily specials: Grilled Chicken breast with a creamy pesto sauce. I didn't have the time to eat it there, so I asked them if they could prepare it to go for me. When I arrived to pick it up, I was greeted with a warm welcome (as usual) and my food was ready for me. (Which is always a plus in my book).

I placed my nicely packaged lunch on the seat next to me and as I made my way back to the office the wonderful aroma that escaped from the bag made my stomach growl and my foot heavier on the pedal. So finally, (what seemed like forever, but in fact was just a quick 2 minute drive) I made it back to my office and opened my bag to reveal my nicely compartmentalized meal. The chicken breast, still nice and warm, was pounded thin, the way I like it and cooked to perfection. The creamy pesto was fantastic. This combination is what intrigued me to call in my order today. I am familiar with the traditional basil pesto, but had never even heard of the creamy kind. I was given a side of rice and steamed veggies as well, which complimented the chicken very nicely.

So, if you still haven't tried Blu Bambu, I hope you now are inspired to do so. As I mentioned, they're tucked inside Royal Palm Place and may be a little hard to find at first, but persevere until you do. It is one of those treasures you'll be glad you discovered.

Blu Bambu is located at: 45B Royal Palm Place 561-393-0096

Until we eat again...
I send you delicious wishes, XO

Denise

It's quick, affordable and very tasty!!!

Can you guess what "it" is? I'll save you the trouble. It was my lunch today. You've probably heard of the chain called Tropical Smoothie, right? But have you tried their Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad? I especially like this sandwich version of this salad served on their incredibly soft thick sliced, nine grain wheat bread. I get mine at the location at Royal Palm Place, across from Chops Lobster Bar. These guys know how to do it right. They are consistent every time. They've got a great menu selection, way more than just smoothies. So if you haven't been to a Tropical Smoothie yet, I highly recommend you head over there and give it a try. You will soon become a fan, just like me!

http://www.RoyalPalmPlace.com/shops_details2.php?id=1&rid=130

Until we eat again,
I send you delicious wishes, XO
Denise

Valentine's Day is for Lovers...

And I'm a lover. A lover of FOOD that is!!! Valentine's Day is a day dedicated to those people (and in my case, the food) we love most. With so many restaurants to choose from, where will my Honey and I go to proclaim once again our undying love for one another?

Well this year, we're planning to go to what might be the best place in town- Casa D' Righetti. (Our own humble abode). To me, there's something very romantic about preparing and cooking a delicious dinner together and taking our time enjoying each course, set amidst candles and soft music. No crowds, no waiting in lines, no outrageous bill.

But for those of you who are brave enough to head out there on this Day of Lovers, here's one restaurant that I would recommend that has designed a special menu with Cupid in mind:

Anna Vincenzo's, located in the Fifth Avenue Shops in Boca Raton is offering a 4 Course menu for $100 per couple and includes a bottle of wine (red or white), a Lover's Combo Appetizer (rollatini, stuffed mushrooms, clams, & calamari), Caprise Salad (with garlic rolls), Pasta Valentino (with Arugula, Shrimp and Tomatoes), Entree (choice of Snapper Anna, Carne Scarpariello or Chicken Marsala) and a special Kiss Me Sweet Dessert!
Tax & gratuity extra.

To make your reservation, call: 561-362-8990

Until we eat again,
Best wishes & tasty dishes! XO,

Denise

Great Sub, Great Deal

It was getting late in the day and I still hadn't had a chance to have lunch. With so many places to choose from and so few dollars in my pocket, it hit me- the perfect place was just around the corner.

I had heard of 620-SUBS from my husband actually. He raved about their subs, especially the Italian Mini Sub Combo for $5, which includes chips and a soda. That sounded perfect. And it was. Just the right amount of mayo, meat, cheese, sweet peppers, lettuce, tomato, onion, oil & vinegar.

620-SUBS definitely delivered in the satisfaction department. The guys behind the counter were friendly, they made my sub in a split second and the price was just right. I think I might have found my new favorite sub shop. Give it a try next time you're in the area.

They're located on Federal Hwy, just north of NE 2nd St., across from Bank Atlantic in the same shopping plaza as the Vetinarian. 805 N. Federal Hwy. 561-620-7827.

Until we eat again,
I send you delicious wishes...

Denise

Great Happy Hours/Weekly Specials in Downtown Boca Raton- Part 1

Hello to all my foodie friends. Thanks for taking the time to read this, my very first blog. I hope you find it both informative and even somewhat entertaining. My intention is to provide you with great food finds in and around the downtown Boca area (quite simply because I love food, I love talking about it and this is where I live and work- which automatically makes me qualified for the position). Anyway, here we go with Part 1 of Great Happy Hours/Weekly specials in Downtown Boca Raton:

One of my favorite pics is Table 42 Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar (formerly Coal Mine Pizza) in Royal Palm Place (formerly The Pink Plaza).

Table 42 has the following great deals during the week:

Monday
Empty Pasta Bowl

Tuesday
Truffle Tuesday & Quartino Specials (Quartinos are small carafes of wine)
(Their Truffle Pizza Pie is award-winning, Really!) Operations Manager, Steve Lieber took first prize at the American Pizza Making Competition in Orlando a few months ago using his Black Truffle Pizza recipe. You have got to try it, you will not be disappointed, I promise!)

Wednesday
Burger Night $5.00 burgers all night
(And let me tell you, they can make them some mighty tasty burgers.)

Thursday
Ladies Night; Ladies enjoy 2 for 1 drinks from 5 - 9pm

Friday
Big Night Fridays; Seafood Specials all night

Saturday & Sunday
Wine Down Weekends; Half Price bottles for adults & kids eat free on Sundays (WHAT?? Did I read that right? Are they out of their mind? Yep, you read that right, and nope, they're not outta their mind. Just bring the kids with you on Sunday and enjoy a family meal)

http://www.grrestaurant.com/

Click on the below link for a map to Table 42 Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar:
http://bit.ly/dgf5ZM

Until we eat again...
I send you delicious wishes, XO

Denise