Random Taste for Thursday 12/29/16

On the first Thursday of the year, I announced that I would be starting something new ... getting a taste of fifty different restaurants in the local area in Florida ... and on the last Thursday of the year, I can happily say that I was successful -- so much so that the whole thing will repeat in 2017 (but on its own dedicated site).  More to come on that next week ... for tonight it's time to award THE BEST OF 2016 with regards to the 50 Tastes of Florida.

First -- some numbers.  19 of the 50 got perfect scores for ambiance and 14 did the same for service and for bacon (because it can't be a score of mine without a separate category for pig candy).  70% of them earned the final +1 bonus point designating that we'd gladly return.  Almost half (23) of the eating establishments had a Ft. Lauderdale address ... and the most popular types were burger joints (7), diners (6) and sports bars (5).  Grades were awarded from a high of 98 (to 2 places ... more on that below) on down to 70, with a grade distribution as follows:  12 As, 23 Bs and 15 Cs.

And before we get to the specific categories, four entries earned perfect 10s in the food category, and deserve to be called out:  Howie's Top Dog, Smoke BBQ, The Spillover and Tequila Sunrise Mexican Grill.

Now ... the BEST OF 2016 (with what was said in the original post in the quotes):

BEST AMBIANCE ... The Alchemist:  "one of the big reasons to find this little corner of the world is for the people-watching and the surroundings-watching -- where you can look every which way and see something new and interesting with every glance ... it's exactly what you want an outdoor brunch spot in sunny Ft. Lauderdale to be". 

Honorable Mention ... World Famous Parrot Lounge: "outdoor seating ... with multiple TVs in sight ... just a block or two from the beach ... and a bucket of brew ... plus almost everyone -- customers and staff included -- dressed in your team's shirts (it's a Penn State bar!)"

BEST SERVICE ... Linda at The Floridian:   "the server was excellent at her job, making every stop at the table seem like we all were just picking up a multi part conversation ... and, in many ways, we were, as we got to talk to her about her frequent trips to Chicago and other recent fun of hers".

Honorable Mention ... Annie at Grampa's Bakery and Restaurant:  "'hey guys' was the greeting by the kind of waitress you expected to see at a place named Grampa's ... personable and professional and so much on her game that she seemed to float past the tables in her section passing out things that you didn't even know you needed yet while she was infecting folks with smiles and her good attitude."

BEST DRINK ... deconstructed hot chocolate at The Alchemist:  "who cares about the food when the hot chocolate arrives as steamed milk and a swiss roll type hunk of chocolate that you make yourself by dunking it into the mug while you wait for it to melt (the longer you wait, the more your patience is rewarded because the chocolatey-er it gets)".

Honorable Mention ... the mead flight at The Spillover:  "every sip was delicious ... [including] the variety of additives in the honey-sweetened mead drinks".

BEST APPETIZER ... gator ribs at The Spillover:  "the sauced up ribs of the alligator -- which our party ordered as an appetizer and shared, because the chalkboard countdown told us that there were still some available, what with only 15 being prepared daily".

Honorable Mention ... zucchini planks at Primanti Bros.:  "for putting those zucchinis in planks -- I've had sticks and circles and fries ... but never planks"!

BEST SIDE ... special brussels sprouts at Temple Street Eatery:   "the menu description wasn't available, but there were apples and red onions mixed in".

Honorable Mention ... fries at The Burning Oak BBQ:  "the special seasoning on those thick cut fries --  the secret was disclosed to me, but I'm not sure that I want to ruin the pleasant surprise for anyone visiting next".

BEST MAIN ... brunch sampler at BC Cafe:  "[one of] the ten 'outrageous' brunches in the area.  This particular place was deemed 'outrageous' because it permits its customers who can't decide which dish to order ... to get ALL of them (in half-portion size, for a reasonable price for parties of two)".

Honorable Mention ... the tray of food at Smoke BBQ:  "from cornbread to meats to tater tots, everything was fresh and hot and tasty ... rubbed just right and cooked to perfection with straightforward sides that didn't try too hard to be something they weren't ... and the best part may have been the chicken, which had the extra taste of being quickly deep fried and was chopped up in just the right pieces ... plus, while walking to the car afterwards, I realized that I had a pleasant tingle on my lips from all the flavor".

BEST BACON ... the bacon chocolate manhattan at ROK BRGR:  "bacon infused makers, aztec chocolate bitters sweet vermouth and a splash of maple syrup served on the rocks". 

Honorable Mention ... the candied bacon at The Burning Oak BBQ:  "any non-breakfast place that is smart enough to put bacon as a side in the same spot on the menu as the vegetables is MY kind of place ... plus that candied bacon (that I got as dessert instead) was on my loaded chips and was also available for other dishes".

BEST DESSERT ... the s'more sundae at Bonefish Mac Sports Grille:  layers of graham crackers, chocolate ice cream, warm marshmallow sauce and hot fudge topped with mini-marshmallows and a fudge graham cookie

Honorable Mention ... Mrs. McHugh’s banana créme pie at The Spillover:  homemade crème pie made with vanilla beans, a walnut and graham cracker crust, topped with bananas, whipped cream, caramel sauce and dusted with bittersweet chocolate

BEST OVERALL ... as previously mentioned, there were two locations that earned the highest scores of 98 ... Bonefish Mac Sports Grille and The Burning Oak BBQ.  Their complete reviews are provided in the links below/to follow;

Congratulations to all of the winners and a special thanks to all 50 of the Tastes for this inaugural year.  Here's to 50 more in the year to come!

Random Taste for Thursday 12/22/16

[My ongoing series for 2016 ends tonight ... with the FIFTIETH of FIFTY tastes of FLORIDA (as has come to you on sequential Thursdays.  All.  Year.  Long.)!]

Establishment:  Stork's Cafe Bakery
Location:  Wilton Manors
Meal:  Lunch
Drink:  Fountain Coke
Appetizer:  Bowl of Chicken Rosemary Soup
homemade from scratch
Main:  1/2 a Chicken Caesar Wrap
tender roasted chicken breast, grated asiago cheese, crunchy croutons, and romaine with caesar dressing
Side(s):  n/a
Dessert:  Monster SnickerDoodle Cookie
Server:   name not gotten at this counter service location
Website:  http://storksbakery.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Storks-Bakery-Coffee-House-117411221611581/

What a year it's been!  Back on January 14th I posted the FIRST ... and tonight I post the FIFTIETH in the "tastes of Florida" series!  Next week, I'll wrap up properly (including a few "best of" acknowledgements) ... so without getting ahead of myself, below is a well known local establishment that is big on being a coffee shop, a bakery, a caterer AND a spot for lunch (all day lunch, seeing as how they are open until midnight seven days a week).  To see how the final entry in the series registered on the Troy-score scale, read below:

AMBIANCE:   8/10 (it's a cute and cozy place ... with an outdoor patio for more seating options that you get to share with a few of the little little birdies [and there's no sign saying you can't feed them, so we did] ... but a point lost for a tiny ordering area [I can't imagine the confusion when the place is super busy] and a second point lost for the crap shoot of those who might be your patio-mates [including a lady who was on the phone cancelling her evening plans because she was feeling ill and feeling contagious ... and another who used the available ashtray despite being just a table away from us who were eating])
FOOD:            8/10 (without a doubt, the soup was the star ... and you knew it was homemade by the occasional rosemary sprig you had to politely discard from your mouth ... but it was clearly made with love as it tasted so lovely ... less impressive was the wrap, which looked to have been pre-made -- either for efficiency for the special of the day OR because someone had ordered the other half prior to my arrival [so a point lost] and a second point lost for watered down fountain soda [a pet peeve of mine for places that are behind on their calibration maintenance])
SERVICE:      8/10 (being a counter location, there's not a lot of interaction with the serving staff, and although they were effective and efficient, they didn't "wow" with any style that would bring me back just to see them smiling on the other side of the counter ... so a point lost for being mostly unmemorable, and a second point lost for the confusion that I mentioned earlier with the layout [we weren't sure if we were next, or if there was a line, or where to go to place our order])
BACON:         6/10 (from the menu posted online, I found bacon on two wraps and a salad ... which just isn't enough to score highly on this part of the evaluation ... I'd have liked to have seen it more creatively used OR to have seen just more of it)
BONUS:         10/10 (+3 for how that giant snickerdoodle reminding me of holidays past with my surrogate grandmother, +3 for the rest of the dessert case that tempted us greatly as we left the establishment, +3 for so so many options on the pretty chalkboards from which to choose and +1 for being a place to which we will most definitely return, likely with family when they come to visit)

TroyScore:  40 out of 50 -- aka 80, a B (but barely)

Random Taste for Thursday 12/15/16

[My ongoing series for 2016 continues ... with the FORTY-NINTH of FIFTY tastes of FLORIDA (coming to you on sequential Thursdays.  All.  Year.  Long.)!]

WINNER BEST OF 2016 FOR APPETIZER
HONORABLE MENTION BEST OF 2016 FOR DRINK
HONORABLE MENTION BEST OF 2016 FOR DESSERT

Establishment:  The Spillover
Location:  Coconut Grove
Meal:  Dinner
Drink:  A Mead Flight
one each flavored with fig, coffee, chili and "blod"
Appetizer (see below):  BBQ Gator Ribs
two (or three) fall-off-the-bone gator ribs from Clewiston, Florida, slow roasted for 2 1⁄2 hours then finished on the grill with our soon to be famous honey BBQ sauce, served with brussel sprouts and asparagus
Main:  Bababooey Burger (yes, *that* bababooey, as you can see in the photo below)
ground in-house beef burger topped with brie, caramelized apples, cinnamon butter, grilled onions, crispy bacon and honey mustard, served on a challah bun
Side(s):  Fries
Dessert:  Mrs. McHugh’s Banana Créme Pie
homemade crème pie made with vanilla beans, a walnut and graham cracker crust, topped with bananas, whipped cream, caramel sauce and dusted with bittersweet chocolate
Server:  Tina (whom I believe was officially Christina, according to the receipt)
Website:  http://spillovermiami.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/spillovermiami/

When I started this series at the beginning of this year, I set the expectations that most of the establishments would be in the tri-county area (defined as Palm Beach, Broward and Dade), but the reality has been that the overwhelming majority of places have been immediately in and around the FTL here in Broward.  Recently, I finally faced the unknowns of Miami (will I95 be drivable?  where will I park?  will the restaurant be too "hip" for this middle aged eater?) ... and I'm most certainly glad that I did.  Full disclosure:  for this meal, I was the guest of the sister of one of the owners, as the sister was a former college classmate of mine in town on vacation -- a factor which did NOT influence the high Troy-score, as you can see below:

AMBIANCE:   10/10 (options make the world go round ... and this establishment had multiple choices ... an outdoor patio type set up out in an open mall courtyard environment, tables in the front near the bar, and a few privacy tables further back the hallway [which is what our party chose to advance our main goal of conversating] ... the feature of our area was a large floor to ceiling reproduction on the wall that kept us guessing throughout the meal as to its origin [the answer to which was that it was a still from the first bilingual seventies TV show 'Que Pasa', quite fitting for the Miami area])
FOOD:            10/10 (where to begin ... seeing as how every bite [and every sip] was delicious ... from the variety of additives in the honey-sweetened mead drinks [as pictured] to the sauced up ribs of the alligator [which our party ordered as an appetizer and shared, because the chalkboard countdown told us that there were still some available, what with only 15 being prepared daily] to the juicy burger with a surprisingly sweet combination of ingredients that came together like a gourmet applesauce as a condiment to the fries with their surprise secret coating [I promised not to tell -- but it *wasn't* ranch dressing mix, like the other entry in this series with a surprising fry taste] to that bananarific dessert ... note that I got to taste my tablemates' dishes of crab cakes and jumbalaya, so they are also pictured)
SERVICE:      10/10 (extra bubbly, super cheerful, and well informed -- for what more could one ask? ... we apparently managed to order just about everything that was also her favorite ... at one point in the process, the cynic in me did wonder if she was just practicing good server protocol in endorsing whatever decisions the guest made, but the final verdict as discussed by our group was that she was being sincere and it was just a coincidence ... PLUS every single employee who passed by the table did so with a smile and, as appropriate, with a polite request to clear any items)
BACON:         8/10 (bacon, bacon, bacon, bacon ... that's one mention for each of the *four* times my favorite ingredient was listed on the menu -- including on my burger ... that being said, it wasn't necessarily presented in any exciting or inventive ways, so this category will be the only one without a perfect score)
BONUS:         10/10 (+3 for the way those meads made me happy, +3 for that dessert of Mrs. McHugh's [purportedly shared, but I don't think anyone else at our table really had more than one forkful], +3 for urinal cakes with Justin Bieber's face on them [not pictured in this blog ... although they were posted on the FB the night of the meal] and +1 for being a place to which we will return the next time we venture toward Miami -- and by that time, this growing empire might just include more establishments than the three currently in existence)

TroyScore:  48 out of 50 -- aka 96, a high A

Random Taste for Thursday 12/8/16

[My ongoing series for 2016 continues ... with the FORTY-EIGHTH of FIFTY tastes of FLORIDA (coming to you on sequential Thursdays.  All.  Year.  Long.)!]

Establishment:  Shuck and Dive
Location:  Ft. Lauderdale
Meal:  Dinner
Drink:  Sweet Tea (Carolina style)
Appetizer:  Dollar Oysters!
2 each of ...
Black n' Blues:  topped with our compound butter, a Iil' blackening spice, crumbled blue cheese & finished under the broiler
Rockefeller:  a French Quarter classic, creamed spinach, onion, garlic, simmered with Penrod Liqueur
Bienville:  invented at Antoine in New Orleans - shrimp, bacon, onions, & green peppers in a cream reduction & topped with parmesan cheese
Appetizer 2:  Pork Boudin
from Breaux Bridge, LA
Main:  Fried Gulf Shrimp New Orelans Po'Boy Sandwich
butterflied & flash fried
Side(s):  Tater Tots
Dessert:  n/a
Server:  Tara
Website:  https://shuck-n-dive.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/shuckndive1/

When we lived in Chicago, Ft. Lauderdale was the go-to vacation spot.  Now that we live in the FTL, we're pretty sure New Orleans is the *new* go-to vacation spot.  That being said, we're still figuring out the best time of year to visit -- having gone last year in early December, we started having a craving for it ... and so 'Shuck and Dive', with its commitment to providing authentic Cajun and Southern cuisine, was the answer.  Plus we saw Cap'n Lee (and took his picture surreptitiously, although he seems to have noticed by the look on his face)!  As for how this New Orleans spot scored on the Troy-score, see below:

AMBIANCE:   9/10 (cozy is the polite way to say that it was a bit smaller than we expected [we can't imagine what it's like during a Saints or LSU game], but luckily they have a bigger outdoor seating area that seems like it doubles the capacity ... and the New Orleans vibe extends to the tree outside with lower branches covered in beads [see the photo below] ... inside the music for most of the meal was Bourbon Street-esque, and then it suddenly switched over to current country, for which a point is lost for the sudden mood change)
FOOD:            9/10 (with the oyster special of the night at a buck apiece, we were worried that the quality might be lower, but we were pleased at the variety and at the tastiness all around for each of the preparations -- admittedly, one or two might have been a touch salty, but that's to be expected with fresh oysters ... as for the other appetizer, it might have been our general ignorance of the particular regional item, but we were not prepared for the liverwursty texture of the boudin -- which turned out to be more of a spread for crackers and not so much a fancy sausage [so a point lost] ... there were no complaints about the po'boy though, which was stuffed full of fried shrimp on a toasted roll ... and the tots were crunchy, crispy and well done [as they should be])
SERVICE:      8/10 (direct, to the point, efficient, straightforward -- all applied to the level of service, but a point lost because it took us asking about the bathrooms [clarifying that although there were breasts on display in the men's room a la New Orleans and beads, there weren't penises on display in the ladies' room] to get her to break out of her worker shell, and a second point lost because we're pretty sure the server misidentified which oysters were which)
BACON:         6/10 (sure the bacon was nice as one of the many ingredients on the oyster prepared Bienville style, but I would have liked to see it offered in a few more spots on the rest of the menu ... could you imagine if the stuffed po'boy was "over"stuffed by adding bacon?)
BONUS:         10/10 (+3 for scratching that itch of wanting some New Orleans style food, +3 for doing so with authentic tastes, +3 for a Bravolebrity sighting and +1 for being a place to which we will return -- maybe again on dollar oyster night -- when maybe that's all we'll eat for the whole meal!)

TroyScore:  42 out of 50 -- aka 84, a solid B

Random Taste for Thursday 12/1/16

[My ongoing series for 2016 continues ... with the FORTY-SEVENTH of FIFTY tastes of FLORIDA (coming to you on sequential Thursdays.  All.  Year.  Long.)!]

Establishment:  Burger 21
Location:  Ft. Lauderdale
Meal:  Dinner
Drink:  fountain Sproke (half Sprite, half Coke)
Appetizer:  n/a
Main:  The OMG! (add fried egg ... or don't)our double-stacked burger, lettuce, tomato, red onion, applewood-smoked bacon, American, cheddar or Swiss cheese, toasted brioche bun
Side(s):  Cheese and Ale Fries
topped with chopped bacon & fresh scallions
Dessert:  Bananas Foster shake (minus a banana or two)
Server:  Janice (more of an order taker as it was counter service style)
Website:  https://www.burger21.com/locations/ft-lauderdale/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/b21ftlauderdale/

Long before the 50 Tastes of Florida, there was the Burger Quest ... me going to all the "best burger" restaurants across the country as picked by Zagat in 2013 (or 2014?), so it's no surprise that a few of the tastes in this countdown have happened at burger joints.  The latest was this week, an expanding chain (possibly in your state), that started in Tampa FL from the owners of The Melting Pot fondue dynasty.  The name comes from the fact that there are 20 burgers (not all meat based) on their menu PLUS a rotating special that is the 21st one.  To see how they scored on the Troy scale, check out what follows:

AMBIANCE:   8/10 (kudos for the clever "B something" slogans on the walls [known as their B-isms] and I do so love me a booth that is comfy and spaced properly for adults at which to eat, so I was happy with the seating arrangements ... although with super high ceilings and super bright lights everywhere, the feeling was more clinical than comfy [those booth cushions notwithstanding] so a point lost ... and a second point lost because, a full 90 minutes prior to close, the employee started "pre-close" procedures of stacking chairs in the back of the space ... which wasn't big enough to go unnoticed -- that activity just throws off the vibe of enjoying the meal, especially when executed so far away from closing time)
FOOD:            7/10 (without a doubt the main feature of the burger was indeed the star and looked beautiful all stacked so nicely upon delivery, and it passed my test of being a sandwich you don't put down once you start, even if the juices go running down your arm ... sadly, though, I had ordered a fried egg add on and the kitchen ignored that part of the order [a point lost], and that cheese and ale sauce was 90% ale and only 10% cheese, such that it was a liquid into which fries were dipped and wetted instead of the classic consistency of something that could be dumped on the fries [so another point lost] and the shake, although good in its own right, was shorted one of its banana components because they had run out [so a third point lost])
SERVICE:      10/10 (it is really a shame that the overall experience didn't match the level of service, which was on point from start to finish ... which included the order taker who took the time to explain the "concept", and the shake maker who upgraded the size of the dessert upon discovering the lack of banana, and the person who I think might have been the manager who offered to bring me out a fried egg right away upon being told it was missed [except I had already had a few bites of the sandwich, so that opportunity had passed] and then reacted to that by slipping our table coupons to be used at a return visit ... and even when they weren't directly interacting with us, they were chatting with every guest and smiling and laughing and having a good time [except the manager, who chose not to smile during our encounter for some reason])
BACON:         5/10 (although the menu at a place like this that lets you add bacon "at will" would normally result in a perfect score ... there is nothing more frustrating than seeing the bacon in the ale sauce that you know should be on your fries but you can't make it stick to them because the viscosity was all wrong ... I'm tempted to wipe out all the bacon points for being forced to throw bacon away ... but instead I'll just do that to half)
BONUS:         7/10 (+3 for that stacked burger seeing as how I am particularly fond of the burgers, +3 for the "sauce bar", which included the regular mayo and ketchup but also had things like roasted marshmallow [for the sweet potato fries] and chipotle mayo and apple cider sauce and +1 for being a place to which we will return if only because I have those "sorry about your fried egg" coupons to use)

TroyScore:  37 out of 50 -- aka 74, a solid C

Random Taste for Thursday 11/24/16

[My ongoing series for 2016 continues ... with the FORTY-SIXTH of FIFTY tastes of FLORIDA (coming to you on sequential Thursdays.  All.  Year.  Long.)!]

Establishment:  Moonlite Diner
Location:  Ft. Lauderdale
Meal:  Dinner
Drink:  fountain Coke
Appetizer:  Chicken Noodle Soup
Main:  Turkey Cuban Panini
oven roasted turkey breast, smoked ham, pickles, Swiss cheese, garlic mustard spread
Side(s):  Loaded Fries
Dessert:  Monkey Bites
warm cinnamon and sugar glazed monkey bites with creamy vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce and topped with whipped cream
Server:  Maria
Website:  http://www.moonlitediner.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MoonliteDiner/

Knowing that this particular taste would be posted during Thanksgiving week, the charge was to find a place that had a few options of turkey dishes of one kind or another, and this one in a set of Moonlite diners (there are three in the area) met the challenge.  From the signs on the way out, it seems to be a Greek diner, but the menu didn't come across as having overly Greek influences ... and what a menu with lots of choices.  As for which turkey dish got chosen and how the Troy-score was earned, see below:

AMBIANCE:   8/10 (it was just what one wanted from an old fashioned diner, with the booths and the counter and the neon and the shininess everywhere and the curved ceilings -- all that was missing was a jukebox at every table ... speaking of which, there *was* classic rock playing -- but the twist was that it was music from the *80's* instead of the *50's* as someone of my age might expect, so a point lost for making me feel old and a second point lost because as old time diner-y as everything was, there was a feeling that it was a manufactured environment instead of the real authentic thing)
FOOD:            8/10 (the panini was crispy and packed full of goodness, with pickle juice that was running down my arm as I ate it ... the fries, ordered loaded, came with just the right tasty amount of additions [see the bacon category below] ... and that dessert looked beautiful upon arrival ... but a point lost because the chicken noodle soup of the day was greasy [I thought maybe it was through the use of buttered noodles?] and a second point lost because the "monkey bites" tasted like the morning's leftover french toast that had been microwaved before being included in the dish -- a definite disappointment seeing as how pretty it looked)
SERVICE:      9/10 (I'm glad we got Maria, because the table across from us got served 2/3 of their dishes but had to wait a long time for the last one to arrive, and the table behind us of two ancient looking ladies who wanted "small" sundaes had to go through an ordeal about the rules before a compromise was reached ... as for our Maria, the only problem was that we waited longer and longer as the meal went on for her to visit, and she stood in plain view texting on her phone during one of the waiting spells [although, to be fair, the layout of the establishment didn't seem to permit a place for servers to go out of the sight of customers] which is why there is a lost point)
BACON:         10/10 (the bacon was everywhere on the menu as an option [helped by the fact that this diner serves breakfast all day], but what earns all the points in this category is that the loaded fries came with big chunks of "fresh" bacon ... not just little tiny bacon bits, but pieces of bacon almost as big as the small fries [as seen in the photo])
BONUS:         7/10 (+3 for having a booklet full of dessert options [seen in the photo] that reminded me of the old school Friendly's back home in central PA, +3 for having an outside section [although this was "fall" in Florida in the evening, so it was too "chilly" to eat out there], and +1 for being a place to which we will return whenever the classic diner mood hits again)

TroyScore:  42 out of 50 -- aka 84, a solid B

Random Taste for Thursday 11/17/16

[My ongoing series for 2016 continues ... with the FORTY-FIFTH of FIFTY tastes of FLORIDA (coming to you on sequential Thursdays.  All.  Year.  Long.)!]

WINNER BEST OF 2016 FOR SIDE

Establishment:  Temple Street Eatery
Location:  Ft. Lauderdale
Meal:  Dinner
Drink:  fountain Sproke (half Sprite, half Coke)
Appetizer:  Wonton Tacos
poached shrimp, guacamole, lettuce, gochujang cream, pineapple salsaAppetizer 2:  Buddha Mix (one of each dumpling)
ground chicken, onion, napa cabbage AND ground pork, napa cabbage AND minced shrimp, house seasoning AND edamame, carrot, vermicelli noodle, baby bok choy, tofu
Main:  Bibimbap Rice Bowl
choice of rice, inari, mushroom, pickled vegetables, scallion, marinated bean sprout, fried egg, gochujang sauce
Side(s):  Brussels Sprouts
(it was the special, so the menu description wasn't available, but there were apples and red onions mixed in)
Dessert:  n/a
Server:  the order taker's receipt says Jeff L, but I doubt that was *her* name
Website:  http://templestreeteatery.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TempleStEatery

The older I get, the more I love me a Buddha ... not for any religious reasons, but because there's something about the smiling bald big-eared round face that reminds me of ... ME!  This particular establishment offers up affordable options with Chinese, Vietnamese and Latin influences and is a companion to the well known long established Christina Wan's "four star" dining nearby.  To see how what is only the second Asian influenced taste fared in the Troy-score, see below:

AMBIANCE:   10/10 (outdoor seating was an option [even if it was next to a busy parking lot], and the interior was clean and bright and welcoming and full of nice touches like the Buddha faces everywhere and the happy cat with the waving paw at the drink station ... and the best part may have been how busy it was [without a slowdown in service], because there's nothing more encouraging than knowing you are eating somewhere loved by many)
FOOD:            8/10 (the place has a mission statement of bringing "comfort foods ... with the affordability of street food" and every bite made me feel more and more comfortable at the choice we made for this particular taste ... and although there were little things that I wish would have been different [the edges of the brussels dish were cold, the dumplings were delicious but so small, the fried egg didn't ooze like we wanted], the flavors were so strong and tasty on each item that I'll lump my mini critiques all into representing just one point lost ... and a second point is lost because I was excited to eat my first bibimbap, but disappointed because I thought a key identifier was a crunchy crusty fried rice bottom that wasn't a part of this particular presentation) 
SERVICE:      9/10 (with it being a counter service location, there are usually limited opportunities to interact with staff, but I do believe we managed to see almost every employee ... from the order taker to the food deliverers [items came out as they were ready, so we had three rounds -- each from a different person], and every employee was happy and smiley and friendly and able to answer questions ... just a point lost because they use one of those modern ipad programs that pushes the tip a little too hard during the checkout process, which seemed out of place for a counter service style that had a giant tip jar right next to said machine -- which is where I tipped, btw)
BACON:         9/10 (even though the word bacon wasn't on the menu ... the next best thing *was* AND it's visible as items added on to the bibimbap in the main photo -- so there's three points a piece awarded for those delicious pork belly chunks)
BONUS:         10/10 (+3 for the variety of all the sauces, +3 for a quick turnaround from the kitchen despite it being busy, +3 for taking the time to present the food attractively and +1 for being a place to which we will return as there are more menu items to try and because everyone loves a little comfort every now and then)

TroyScore:  46 out of 50 -- aka 92, a low A

Random Taste for Thursday 11/10/16

[My ongoing series for 2016 continues ... with the FORTY-FOURTH of FIFTY tastes of FLORIDA (coming to you on sequential Thursdays.  All.  Year.  Long.)!]

Establishment:  Howie's Top Dog
Location:  Davie
Meal:  (celebration) Lunch
Drink:  bottle of Coke
Appetizer:  n/a
Main #1:  Chicago Dog
mustard, onion, relish, pickle, tomato, sport pepper and celery salt
Main #2:  Italian Beef
wet
Side(s):  Cheese Fries
Dessert:  n/a
Server:  Howie himself
Website:  http://www.howiestopdog.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/HowiesTopDog

Remember when the Cubs won the World Series (a game we watched at last week's 43rd taste)?  Yeah, so the day after we decided that a perfect way to celebrate over lunch would be in a Floridian Chicago style eatery ... and that's how we ended up at this place.  (Note ... keep an eye out for the guy out on the main road holding the arrow sign, because the other signage is easily missed.)  Admittedly we were on a World Series win high, but this authentic eatery almost got itself the first ever perfect score in this countdown ... except for the fact that he's only open Mon - Sat from 10:08 AM - 3:57 PM (not a typo ... those are the actual official hours) and so we're limited in how frequently we can eat there ... take a look at the nearly perfect score (and count the number of times that the word "authentic" is used) below:

AMBIANCE:   10/10 (don't let the parking lot and outer appearance of the mall scare you off ... because once you get inside, it's clean and bright and cozy ... sure, it's basic tables and chairs in front of a counter where you order, but this is all about the Chicago food, as the skyline on the wall lets you know ... sometimes simple is just the right fit for presenting something authentic representing classic midwest lack-of-attitude)
FOOD:            10/10 (everything tasted like home ... where home was defined as where we lived for a dozen years prior to the big move to Florida ... so of course it was delicious ... and that's because it was authentic, since Howie imports his foodstuff right down to the Vienna beef underneath all of those Chicago specific toppings [including the bright green relish] ... even the fries were perfectly crunchy with just the right amount of the melted sauce)
SERVICE:      10/10 (there may have been two ladies behind the counter, but we're not sure if they were in training because they did nothing other than handle the cash when we paid ... because Howie himself took over and kept the conversation going -- especially after we started talking all things Chicago ... AND he went out of his way to keep on chatting and to invite us back in an authentically friendly way)
BACON:         10/10 (just because it wasn't on the Chicago authentic sandwiches pictured doesn't mean it wasn't a choice to be added to burgers and such ... plus you can do EXTRA bacon for just a dollar [yes please] and you can get it wrapped around your hot dog and deep fried ... so yeah, they get it)
BONUS:         7/10 (+3 for all the Chicago vibes everywhere, +3 for a creative extra menu of "specials" for those who want to try something beyond the basic items, and +1 for being a place to which we will return because we appreciate authenticness and because we'll want to feel like we're "home" again sometime soon)

TroyScore:  47 out of 50 -- aka 94, a solid A

Random Taste for Thursday 11/3/16

[My ongoing series for 2016 continues ... with the FORTY-THIRD of FIFTY tastes of FLORIDA (coming to you on sequential Thursdays.  All.  Year.  Long.)!]

Establishment:  Duffy's Sports Grill
Location:  Plantation
Meal:  (Gametime) Dinner
Drink:  2for1 Guinness
Appetizer #1:  New England Clam Chowder
Appetizer #2:  Smoked Fish Dip
Crispy flatbread, fresh vegetables, grilled Naan bread
Appetizer #3:  Loaded Potato Skins
Bacon, scallions, jack & cheddar cheese, sour cream
Appetizer #4:  Sesame Tuna Tostado
Seasoned and seared Ahi Tuna, served cold on a crisp tostone with homemade tzatziki, Sriracha and scallions
Appetizer #5:  Open Faced Meatball Sliders
Our homemade meatballs with a blend of ground Certified Angus Beef® and Heritage Farms Cheshire Pork® simmered in marinara sauce and served on slices of toasted baguette with Parmesan cheese.
Main:  Bacon Mushroom Cheeseburger
1/2 lb burger with onions and pickles
Side(s):  Parmesan Truffle Fries
Dessert:  n/a
Server:  Carissa
Website:  https://www.duffysmvp.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/DuffysPlantation/

Back to back sports bars -- courtesy of a night Penn State game last week, and a World Series game 7 this week -- and in both cases, it was a delight to be eating in restaurants that placed a healthy emphasis on the food they were serving instead of it being an afterthought to all the alcohol.  And a quick note about the feast on display ... this was a viewing party, so all of the apps (except the soup) were shared amongst four of us, and the main was split between two.  *Together*, we cleaned those plates ... and this is how the establishment fared in the score:

AMBIANCE:   9/10 (lots of TVs and outdoor seating was available [we love a place with outdoor seating], with comfortably sized booths [we hate a booth where four people feel crowded] made this place "home" for the night ... plus there were a cast of characters at the bar that were entertaining to observe during the commercials ... just a point lost 'cause it was a bit loud, all things considered [and not just when we were bellowing out Cubs cheers])
FOOD:            8/10 (there was a lot to sample, which is a double edged sword in this rating because that means there were more opportunities to maybe miss something ... but the burger [juicy!] and fries [flavorful!] matched the menu pics and tasted great, the clam chowder had huge chunks of clam and was super creamy, and those meatball sliders were just the right touch ... the smoked fish dip was smoky enough but not anything amazing, although serving it with naan was nice ... the points come off for the tuna tostadas [with an overwhelming splash of Sriracha] and the loaded potato skins that could have used a bit more potato and a bit more things loaded on to them)
SERVICE:      7/10 (our server took it in stride when we explained we had moved in for the night to watch the whole game, and that we were going to order in stages ... and the staff was quick to change the channels on the TVs upon request so that everyone had a good view of the World Series ... but a point lost for a bathroom that was unattended [no paper towels and urinals with standing urine on the floor around them] and another lost for being a sports bar that was closing down before the final game of the World Series had ended -- strictly at midnight, right in the middle of a 10th inning rain delay ... and a final point lost because it was a super long wait for the first of the many dishes to arrive [and that was just fish dip])
BACON:         10/10 (it's on the menu in all the right places -- added to the chicken sandwiches, to the burgers and to the salads ... plus it was part of what made the skins almost loaded)
BONUS:         7/10 (+3 because the Cubs won the freaking World Series [later, after we got home], +3 for BOGO beer all night long, and +1 for being a place to which we will return, because I saw some desserts walk past our table that looked amazing)

TroyScore:  41 out of 50 -- aka 82, a low B