An 8-Course Tasting Menu at La Stella's

Dear Fellow Foodies,

A group of 9 of us embarked on a tasting dinner this past Monday evening at La Stella's in Boca Raton. Chef/Owner Jamie Barlow really outdid herself. The evening got off to a fabulous start with Course 1 - Escarole & Beans. The soup was superb. Now, if you are familiar with Escarole, you probably know that these greens can be quite bitter, but not in this soup. Jamie cooked them to perfection and the flavors were well balanced.

Our 2nd Course was Homemade Ciabatta Bread topped with yellow & red heirloom tomatoes, homemade fresh mozzarella & aged balsamic. Oh how the nooks and crannies in that bread soaked up all that wonderful juiciness that runneth over! This was a delicious combination!

Immediately following, was Course number 3 which paired amazingly well with the second Course. Set before us were beautiful plates of Antipasto - sliced to order Italian cold cuts, cheeses, olives, homemade roasted pepper & Italian Long Hots. Of course, while all this fantastic food was being served, we embibed in some of La Stella's wines from their extensive wine list.

Next up was the incredible Tagliatelle dish, comprised of Portobellos mushrooms, sweet peas, pancetta, Robiola cheese (which Jamie described as an Italian brie) and white truffle oil. OMG, was this ever so decadent. Just when you think you can't fit another bite in your mouth, Course number 5 appears before us.

This beautifully presented Grilled Trout was topped with Caponata (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, capers & black olives) and served with oven roasted potatoes.

Our Sixth Course was a Marinated Grilled Skirt Steak (which is not found on their regular menu, but makes the occasional appearance as one of the nightly specials.) The steak was seasoned and cooked to perfection and was served over a rich, creamy risotto.

Course 7 was a group favorite and of one person's in particular, whose eyes lit up when this big beautiful dish was placed before her. Taylor had been eyeing the menu prior to our tasting and when she spotted homemade Ricotta Gnocchi on the menu, she was determined to try it whether it was on our tasting menu or she had to order it on her own. Take a look at this Foodie's reaction as she took her first bite!

The final course arrived and by this point we were all completely stuffed, but of course, managed to shift our bellies and make room for more. What a foodie isn't willing to go through when confronted with good food! Course 8 was Pollo Scarpiello (bone-in roasted chicken, Italian sausage, fingerling potatoes, cherry peppers & fried peppers).

We all came away from the evening discovering what we feel is a true hidden treasure amongst the plethura of restaurants in town. Everyone had such a great time that there's talk about getting together again next month and doing it all again. (Maybe not so many courses the next go-around, however).

Until we eat again,

I send you delicious wishes XO,

Denise

La Stella's is open Monday through Saturday 5 - 10pm and is also available for Catering private parties. You can check out their website at http://www.lastellasofboca.com/ or become a fan on facebook at www.facebook.com/lastellasofboca

La Stellas is located at 159 E. Palmetto Park Rd. Boca Raton, FL 33432

561-544-2081

Our Hostess with the Mostess, Chef/Owner of La Stella's - Jamie Barlow

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