Random Taste for Thursday 10/27/16

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

HONORABLE MENTION BEST OF 2016 FOR AMBIANCE

Establishment:  World Famous Parrot Lounge
Location:  Ft. Lauderdale
Meal:  (Gametime) Dinner
Drink:  Bucket o Beer
(half Bud Light and half Yuengling Lager)
Appetizer(s):  Mozzarella Sticks; Chicken Quesadilla
sticks:  made here and breaded here; quesadilla:  a blend of jack and cheddar cheese in a flour tortilla
Main:  Philly Cheesesteak (on an Amoroso roll)
choice top round, sliced in house -- add 'shrooms and mayo
Side(s):  homemade kettle chips
Dessert:  soft pretzel AND a blue jello shot for each TD!
Server:  Amber
Website:  http://www.parrotlounge.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/World-Famous-Parrot-Lounge-138197609213/

In 2001, we moved from PA (where we grew up) to Chicago, where we lived for a dozen years.  We quickly discovered that one of the ways to beat the homesickness was to spend Saturday afternoons in the fall glued to the Penn State games -- and it helped that the BigTenNetwork had launched.  That tradition of becoming insta-fans of the team continued with the big move from Chicago to the FTL in early 2014.  Which is all the preamble to say that finding a place by the beach that is known as THE place to see all the games and getting to watch a night game there was extra special.  For it to have been the game where PState beat OState in an upset was extra *extra* special!  See how the establishment scored below:

AMBIANCE:   9/10 (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!] ... what's not to like? ... well, other than the one old man who came up and introduced himself and asked us to watch his bag that he abandoned under the window while he disappeared for a bit [not cool, Anthony man, not cool -- it's the terrorist era and you dare not do that] ... so just one point lost for having to deal with old beach drunks [note that no one was harmed in this story, as the abandoned bag was reclaimed and did NOT blow up])
FOOD:            8/10 (what with eating while watching the game, this turned into a progressive meal of sorts, with something ordered after each quarter along the way ... and although it's a bar, the "bar food" was elevated -- with special kudos to the cheese stix ["homemade" and not just out of the bag] and the soft pretzel [reminding me of the Hills snack bar of my youth], an honorable mention to the philly steak sandwich [with fresh 'shrooms] ... not as successful were the queadillas [crunchy yes but melty cheese not so much] and the kettle chips [normally a favorite for me but they seemed a bit stale like maybe they were made the day before] -- so a point off for each of those)
SERVICE:      9/10 (there is none so worthy as the server who pulls the shift during the big game that has to deal with every kind of drunk ... and ours smiled the whole time, from kickoff to surprise win ... and her helpers stopped by once or twice to check in [and to deliver more ice to the beer bucket] and her busboy [who looked like he was ON the team a year or two ago] worked in the background without getting in the way ... just a point lost because of the "free" jello shots that were followed up shortly after by someone looking for donations [not that there's anything wrong with raising funds, just that the concept wasn't explained up front])
BACON:         9/10 (it's on the menu in all the right places -- added to the chicken sandwiches, to the burgers and to the salads ... for a perfect score in this category, why not add it to the list of possible additions to the philly cheese steaks and really start something special)
BONUS:         10/10 (+3 for bringing the Penn State pride, +3 for being so close to the beach, +3 for that bucket o beers money saving concept and +1 for being a place to which we will return, quite possibly for another night game in just a few weeks!)

TroyScore:  45 out of 50 -- aka 90, a low A

Random Taste for Thursday 10/20/16

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

Establishment:  Blue Willy's BBQ
Location:  Oakland Park
Meal:  Dinner
Drink:  can of Coke
Appetizer:  n/a
Main:  2 Two Plate Combos (shared)
pulled pork and chicken on one and brisket and sausage on the other)
Side(s):  Greens and Slaw PLUS Pit Smoked Beans and Mac N Cheese AND pickles and onions AND Aunt May's Corn Bread
Dessert:  n/a
Server:  Keesha (sp?)
Website:  not applicable
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Blue-Willys-Bbq-411201845667321/

Who knew BBQ was a Ft. Lauderdale thing?  This is the *third* such spot in this series ... but there would be many more if the "rules" weren't that we have to eat at places where we haven't eaten before to be included.  Another note -- it's well documented that the only way to eat at a place like this is to take extra people so that you can sample (almost) every type of meat and (almost) every side, which explains the two full meals in the photos.  One last note -- this place is known for being in a pastrami war with another bbq place previously reviewed, but it's only offered once a week, and it wasn't on the night we were there.  To see how it fared in the overall bbq scheme of things, see below:

AMBIANCE:   10/10 (this particular location is relatively new, and it still shows ... and I've previously stated that I'm a fan of the limitless paper towels right on your picnic bench concept [see photo below] ... the music playing on the loudspeaker was an Eagles-ish kind of band that fit the environment [sadly there was no shazam to know exactly who it was] ... also it was actually a nice touch to be able to see one of the workers in the back room making the sides as we ate, confirming that they are indeed fresh) 
FOOD:            8/10 (here's the way it often works for these bbq joints ... they have to work extra hard in order to win across the board with meats, sides AND sauces ... here, the sides were the stars, and the meats were worthy companions [with great portion sizes all around] -- with a special shout out to the chicken skin -- but the sauces were a bit 'meh', so a point lost ... and not to beat a bad sauce down, but there was a white one that just didn't quite make sense [a little watery and a little too vinegary]  -- which is a second point lost)
SERVICE:      8/10 (as a counter service place, there's not a lot of interaction, but what there was was direct and to the point ... although there is a point docked because rib tips were the special of the day but they weren't allowed to be chosen as a meat on the combo plate, which made me sad ... and a second point lost because they ran out of the original specialty soda that my meal partner ordered)
BACON:         7/10 (bbq places and bacon don't always go together, although several previous bbq places on this countdown have found ways to score points in this category ... I kind of wished the greens HAD had some bacon in them, but I don't think they did ... all that said, there's a lot of the pig represented on the menu in other ways, so there are some points to be awarded in this oh so important category)
BONUS:         10/10 (+3 for the design of mistmatched chairs all along the picnic tables instead of benches, +3 for a really delicious corn bread that wasn't too sweet and didn't crumble when you ate it [corn bread pet peeves of mine], +3 for how quickly the food was served, and +1 for being a place to which we will return, because we can't stay away from those bbq establishments!)

TroyScore:  43 out of 50 -- aka 86, a solid B

Random Taste for Thursday 10/13/16

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

Establishment:  Beth's Burger Bar
Location:  Orlando
Meal:  Late Lunch/Early Dinner
Drink:  fountain Coke
Appetizer:  n/a
Main:  Double Bacon Burger
burger with chocolate covered bacon and peanut butter and cheddar cheese
Side(s):  TaterTots
Dessert:  that which I wanted wasn't in stock at this location
Server:  Name not captured
Website:  http://bethsburgerbar.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/BethsBurgerBar

To date, this is the farthest location geographically in this series, but it's still in Florida ... so it counts for taste #40.  It's going to serve a dual purpose over on the Facebook, where I have a different Burger Quest concept that's also underway based on a 2013 Zagat's list of the top 25 burgers in the country.  It turns out that my original stop for a burger in Orlando -- the one on that guide -- closed down a year or so ago, and Beth's is standing in as a replacement, as it popped up on various best burger sites on the interwebs when I went looking for a stand-in.  I was almost tempted to try the doubleD challenge (four patties, eight pieces of bacon, five cheeses and all the fixin's), but I was MORE tempted by the special burger of the day as seen on the sign below.  Also below, the score for this particular Florida taste:

AMBIANCE:   9/10 (clean, bright, with a large cut out of Beth herself at the counter -- plus an oldies station playing classic hits and there were lots of things to look at, including downtown Orlandians in the seating section out front ... just a point lost over the stacked mugs at the tables, which looked like the way they serve the drinks but were actually merch on sale ... it might have been a coincidence that my server didn't give me a plastic cup until I requested one ... or it might have been some sneaky kind of upsell afoot)
FOOD:            7/10 (let's get one thing right ... this burger was awfully pretty, worthy of the close up shot included below, and the burger itself was hot and tasty ... that said, there's a point lost because the peanut butter "sauce" would have been better as full on peanut butter [don't be scared, Beth], a second point lost because the tater tots were being rationed [similar to another place on this countdown], and a final point is lost because the menu I picked up at the counter got me excited about a ice cream sandwich cookie ... and I was told "we don't carry that here at this location" [get a bigger freezer, Beth])
SERVICE:      8/10 (this was another counter service place, so the interaction was somewhat limited ... but everyone was friendly and fine ... except for the fact that it was apparently shift change when I was eating, and with just a few customers in the place, the employees stood around and talked loudly about their business, including a delivery girl who was disappointed that an order came in right when she was supposed to leave, and another two guys discussing what was talked about at a recent employee meeting ... so apoint lost for each conversation I overheard that I never should have)
BACON:         10/10 (when bacon is the first bonus topping listed, you know that the place respects the bacon ... and when the special of the day is bacon drizzled in chocolate, you know that the place *honors* the bacon)
BONUS:         7/10 (+3 for Beth's entrepreneurial story and for taking on the five guys directly, +3 for all the merch, and +1 for being a place to which I will *have* to return the next time I'm in town, if only to take on the double D challenge mentioned above)

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

Random Taste for Thursday 10/6/16

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

Establishment:  Funky Buddha Brewery
Location:  Oakland Park (Oktoberfest)
Meal:  Dinner
Drink:  should have been a Buddhafest, but they ran out, so it was some craft brewed Blonde instead (not pictured)
Appetizer:  n/a
Main #1:  Grilled Bratwurst
a funky buddha specialty, beer-braised then grilled and served with our brewer's cabbage, doc brown ale mustard, and caramelized onions on a fresh baked poppy seed bun
Main #2:  Chicken Schnitzel
hefweizen marinated chicken cutlets pounded thin and served with doc brown ale mustard and beer pickles
Side(s):  Kartoffelpuffer
shallow pan fried potato pancakes with muy bonita applesauce, sugar and cinnamon
Dessert:  Tap Room Pretzel
our famous pretzel is made with spent grain from floridian hefweizen and the beer itself, served with whole grain doc brown ale mustard and fuhgeddaboudit red ale beer cheese
Server:  Name unknown
Website:  https://funkybuddhabrewery.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/FunkyBuddhaBrewery/

This was a doubly unique stop on the tastes of Florida tour.  The rules state that it has to be a place to which we've never been ... and we've been to the Oakland Park Oktoberfest celebration each year since the big move to Florida in 2014 -- however, this year, the food supplier from years past was *replaced* with the Funky Buddha, and that was a place at which we had never eaten (although we did poke our heads in the door to use the bathroom during a pet event they sponsored).  Secondly, it was a festival as opposed to a sit down meal in the establishment.  However, as you'll see below, that had no affect on the score tabulation:

AMBIANCE:   9/10 (it was an oompah-oompah party, with emphasis on the oompah and double emphasis on the party, so it was an ambiance that couldn't quite be beat ... just one point lost for the band playing the chicken dance song -- probably to get more people out on the dance floor than were going out for the traditional polkas -- which took me out of the Oktoberfest spirit)
FOOD:            9/10 (it's an outdoor festival ... so normally the expectation would need to be lowered ... but I have to say that there wasn't a single dish that disappointed ... now that I've reviewed the descriptions and realize that almost every dish had a doc brown ale mustard component, maybe it's just that I'm a big fan of that being added to any food, but every single thing was super flavorful ... and the brats were good and juicy, as was the chicken schnitzel ... plus that pretzel, though [as the kids say] ... just a point lost because the potato pancakes could have been a little thicker)
SERVICE:      9/10 (the lady who took the order originally informed us that there would be no pretzels, but after I insisted that we had just the number of tickets to get exactly what we wanted, she double checked and the order was fulfilled after all ... the food, once ordered, came quickly [and hotly] by the well coordinated crew behind the order taker ... the only complaint was that the lines were soooo long, which was a sign that the food was soooo good, but still it was an annoyance)
BACON:         5/10 (so I didn't see any bacon on the menu ... but I'm also not exactly sure that bacon and Oktoberfest are traditionally companions ... as such, I'll split the difference and chalk it up to cultural sensitivity [as I do for the Mexican restaurants in this countdown])
BONUS:         10/10 (+3 for being such a difference in quality of food from the restaurant that supplied the meals in years past, +3 for an amazing soft/hard pretzel, +3 for the funnel cake [not pictured and not from this restaurant, but also available at the festival] and +1 for being a place to which we will most definitely return [if not at next year's Oktoberfest {our fourth in a row}, then for sure in the main restaurant some other time])

TroyScore:  42 out of 50 -- aka 84, a solid B (it would have been higher had they found a way to work in some Speck into the dishes ...)