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Free McCafe Mocha every Monday

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 08:00:07 -0500

The coffee wars have come to a boil.

From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every Monday through August 3, McDonald's is giving away free samples of it's new McCafe Mocha.

There's no purchase necessary to receive a freee 7-ounce iced mocha or 8-ounce hot mocha. The line of coffee was introduced in May.

Do you think Mickey Dee's can really give Starbucks a run for its money? Has anyone noticed how Starbucks has reduced the prices of its baked goods?

Discovering Cafe Martorano on the eve of its 16th birthday

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:48:38 -0500

Cafe Martorano turns 16 in September.

As I write these words, I imagine there are readers who are already getting their ire up. What is it about Cafe Martorano that ignites such angry reaction? Each time I post a Cafe Martorano celebrity sighting, I can count on a handful of nasty comments. And the same number of comments from people who love this place.

So at last I decided to dine at what I now believe is Fort Lauderdale’s most important restaurant. Pardon me for being so late to the party.

Cafe Martorano is important because Steve Martorano invented a way of dining that has since been copied across the country. You come here to eat, to party, to dance, to drink. It's truly a night out, but a night centered around very good food.

When he and wife Deborah and their sons Joey and Steve, Jr. arrived from Philadelphia, all Martorano knew was that he wanted to leave Philly behind. Fortunately for us, he couldn’t leave behind the potent mix of Italian-American-meets-Philly-fare that his mom Lil fed her family. He opened a four-table cafe at the corner of Oakland Park Boulevard and A1A where he played music, showed movies and served meatballs and grilled sausage, cheese steaks and pasta.

Think about it. In 1993, how many restaurants featured music —originally just a mixed cassette tape and now a state-of-the-art sound system—as part of the dining out experience?

Cafe Martorano grew. Twice. But there are still just 14 tables. There's room at the bar for more diners. There's a much bigger Cafe Martorano in Las Vegas. But as in the beginning, Martorano has never taken a cooking class. He’s never been to Italy. He just soaked up years of watching his mom, who lives with the Martoranos in their home not far from the restaurant.

This is much more than an Italian restaurant. It's uber Italian. Gourmet magazine said his meatball ($20) “may be the best meatball in the world.” He serves them with a nice Romaine-based salad dressed in a classic Italian vinaigrette. Shrimp scampi ($22) comes in a buttery sauce that includes cherry tomatoes and crunchy croutons—perfect for sopping up that sauce. Then he sends out something like Fried Calamari Bibz-style ($18). Imagine tender rings with a subtly spicy, sticky Asian sauce. Do they have anything to do with Italian? Probably not.

Naturally, there’s a Philly cheese steak ($18) on the menu, and as with everything here, it's the details that count. The roll it's served on is perfectly chewy and it comes to the table steaming hot.

I covered much of the menu and don’t recall a single clunker. Pasta? Try the bucatini carbonara ($28) or Orecchiette with hot and sweet sausage, escarole and beans ($28). Perfection. If you’re hesitant about broccoli rabe, try the tender garlicky version served here.

During service, the ripped, tanned and tattooed Martorano stands in the outside corner of his open kitchen checking every plate. There’s a statue of the Virgin Mary in front of him. His five jarred Cafe Martorano sauces ($9.99), now at Publix, are also on display. Perched across the room as the elevated hostess stand is wife and co-owner Deborah.

Eating here feels like being invited into the home of a most hospitable family. A family who likes to play their music loud while movies play on multiple screens in the background. A family who changes the decor once a year and invites people to dance if they choose to.

By early 2011, six Cafe Martorano salad dressings will be sold in stores. Then there’s a cookbook, tentatively called Yo Cuz!

I’m told that “Yo cuz!” is a typical greeting between friends in Philadelphia. I was born in Canada, so it doesn’t exactly roll off my tongue. But after spending an evening at Cafe Martorano, I think I understand.

Cafe Martorano, 3343 E. Oakland Park Blvd., is open daily for dinner. Call 954-561-2554. But the restaurant only takes reservations for parties of six or more.

PHOTO: Steve Martorano, co-owner of Cafe Martorano

$20 discount on tickets to Miami Taste of the Nation

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 07:08:00 -0500

Miami's Taste of the Nation fundraiser is set for Thursday July 30 and there's a $20 discount on tickets when ordering on-line.

Just enter the code VIP20FTL when you checkout.

Tickets are $100 for general admission and $200 for VIP -- less $20 with that code. The event starts at 6 p.m. for VIP ticket holders and 7 p.m. for others. It's at The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, 455 Grand Bay Dr.

As usual, it benefits Share Our Strength, which aims to end childhood hunger. This is the 22nd year for the Miami event, spearheaded once again by Chef Allen Susser of Chef Allen's in Aventura. More than $22 million has been raised in Miami since its inception.

Here are some of the participating restaurants: 1 Bleu, Alta Mar, Andu Restaurant, Area 31, Asia de Cuba, Au Pied De Cochon, Bar Rosso, Blue Door at Delano, Bourbon Steak Miami,
Bulldog Barbecue, China Grill, Fratelli Lyon, Joe's Stone Crab, Lola's on Harrison, Ortanique on the Mile, Prime Italian, The Grill on the Alley, Timo and Wish at The Hotel.

It's an excellent way to sample some great Miami restaurants in one night.

Participating wine and spirits providers include Boisset Family Estates, Ferrari-Carano Vineyards & Winery, Freixenet USA, Hpnotiq, Sagatiba Cachaça and Trinchero Family Estates.

Free screening of Food. Inc.

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:50:08 -0500

Chipotle Mexican Grill, the chain with the “Food With Integrity” philosophy, presents a free screening of Food, Inc., the documentary that exposes the country’s food compromised food supply.

It's at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 16 at Sunrise Cinemas Gateway, 1820 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 954-763-7994. Admission is free until the theater is full. First come. First served.

Fort Lauderdale is one of 32 cities nation wide - and the only South Florida location - where Chipotle is screening the film.

"I hope that all our customers see this film,” Steve Ells, founder, chairman, and co-CEO of Chipotle said in a press release. "The more they know about where their food comes from, the more they will appreciate what we do."

More information on Chipotle's Food, Inc. Web site.

PHOTO: The poster from Food, Inc.

Kids eat for $3 on Sundays at the Riverside

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:11:08 -0500

Indigo at Fort Lauderdale's Riverside Hotel just introduced a great deal for families with kids.

On Sundays, kids eat for just $3.

The children's menu includes chicken fingers, cheese pizza, grilled cheese sandwiches, penne with butter and grilled chicken with rice and veggies.

For more information, call the Riverside at 954-467-0671.

PHOTO: The outdoor patio at the Riverside.

Free Slurpees Saturday at 7-11

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:28:00 -0500

If it's July 11, it's free Slurpee day at 7-11 stores.

This is the seventh year that 7-11 has marked its birthday with the free drinks. This year - 7-11's 82nd birthday - they will give away almost 5 million 7.11-oune Slurpees at 6,000 stores in the U.S. and Canada.

This year, 7-11 has partnered with Live Nation to create special reward code cups. You redeem the codes on slurpee.com in order to buy reduced price concert tickets.

Slurpees are free from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday.

Free fish tacos Tuesday at Long John Silver's

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 07:08:00 -0500

It's free fish taco day Tuesday at every Long John Silver's.

Baja Fish Tacos are free from opening until 2:30 p.m. There is no purchase necessary and there are locations throughout South Florida.

If you've never had one of these, Long John Silver's sets batter-dipped white fish inside a flour tortilla with crunchy crumblies (deep-fried breading), lettuce and Baja sauce.

Introduced last month, the tacos normally cost 99 cents.

PHOTO: A Baja Fish Taco (Courtesy Long John Silver's)

Kitchen Nightmares wants your help

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:50:08 -0500

Fox TV's Kitchen Nightmares wants your help.

The show is currently in town, but Chef/host Gordon Ramsay is looking for people who are familiar with Le Bistro in Lighthouse Point or go out to eat in that general area of South FLorida.

Send an e-mail to bocadine@yahoo.com. Type the word SURVEY in the subject line. The producers will then send you a simple 10-question survey.

The surveys will help Ramsay reimagine what a successful South Forida restaurant might look like.

If you've got a minute, send that e-mail. Who knows? Your words might get used on the show.

Text Arby's for a free burger

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:55:08 -0500

Arby’s is giving away its newest burger on Thursday.

Just text BBQ to ARBYS (27297 on your key pad) and you’ll be sent a coupon for the new BBQ Bacon Cheddar Roastburger to be redeemed Thursday. This offer is limited to one per person, while supplies last. Standard text rates apply.

If you can’t make it to Arby’s on Thursday, text ARBYS through July 16 to receive a coupon that must be redeemed through July 19.

The BBQ Bacon Cheddar Roastburger is made with roast beef, cheddar cheese, pepper bacon, crispy onions, tomato, pickle slices, and barbecue sauce.

PHOTO: Arby's BBQ Bacon Cheddar Roastburger

Kitchen Nighmares still needs Miami diners

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:48:00 -0500

Fox TV's Kitchen Nightmares is in town, remaking restaurants in Lighthouse Point (Le Bistro), Boca Raton (Anna Vincenzo’s Ristorante Italiano) and Miami (Fleming: A Taste of Denmark).

Last week, I told you how to become a guest diner on the show.

Earlier today, a Kitchnen Nightmares rep told me they're now full in Broward and Palm Beach, but they're short of guests to dine in Miami. Fleming is across the street from The Falls shopping center on U.S. 1.

If you're interested in eating at the re-made Fleming, send an e-mail to miamidine@yahoo.com.

Tables of two to four are ideal. All diners must pay for their own food.

PHOTOS: The dining room at Fleming: A Taste of Denmark and Kitchen Nightmares host Chef Gordon Ramsay.

Starbucks' Facebook fans can win free ice cream

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 07:08:38 -0500

If you’ve got a Facebook account, you could win a pint of Starbucks ice cream.

Here’s how it works. Ever hour until July 19, Starbucks will give away 800 pints of ice cream.
Just visit the Starbucks ice cream page for a chance to win.

Starbucks will send a coupon to whomever you think deserves a pint or you can send it to yourself. The promotion started July 6 and 280,000 pints will eventually be given away.

Four new flavors were introduced in the spring: Caramel Macciato, Mocha Frappuccino, Java Chip Frappuccino and Coffee.

PHOTO: The newest Starbucks ice cream flavors

Kid's classes at Pizza Fusion

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 06:48:18 -0500

Call it being a good corporate citizen or good marketing, but Fort Lauderdale-based Pizza Fusion likes to spread its message of eating organically.

On the third Saturday of every month in the Sunrise Boulevard location, children ages 4-11 are invited to take part in a free Fusion Kid’s Class.

“It’s a class that walks children through the importance of environmental living,” says Eric Haley, Pizza Fusion spokesman. “What is organic? Why it’s healthier. Why it’s good for environment.”

Class size is limited to 20 and every child leaves with a certificate. Sounds to me like a unique birthday party.

Three-year-old Pizza Fusion currently has 20 stores nation-wide with restaurants in Hollywood, Calif. and Fort Myers coming soon.

Pizza Fusion also recently introduced several new specialty pizzas. There’s a Big Kahuna pizza, a traditional Hawaiian made with bacon, pineapple, red onion, tomato sauce and three kinds of cheese. The Philly Cheese Steak pizza is made with steak, roasted bell pepper, red onions, tomato sauce and three kinds of cheese.

They’ve also added more spice to its tomato sauce to give it more zest and changed its dough to give it a better texture and flavor. Bread sticks have been replaced with olive oil-brushed flat bread, served with served with marinara, olive tapenade and garlic olive oil. Look too for a new sandwich called the Portobello Grill.

For information about the Fusion Kid’s Class, contact your nearest Pizza Fusion location to make a reservation.

PHOTO: Pizza Fusion's new Portobello Grill sandwich

Free chicken wings at Checkers wtih coupon

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:18:18 -0500

Checkers is giving away three free Classic Wings when you present this coupon.

The printable coupon requires that you buy something.

So order a soda and you'll be all set.

The 30th anniversary of the Happy Meal

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:08:28 -0500

Somewhere in a box in her basement, my younger sister has quite a collection of vintage Happy Meal toys. Sometime around about 1980—probably long after her rightful Happy Meal eating days—she starting collecting unopened Happy Meal toys.

She'd put one set on display and the other set in a box. I'm still not sure why.

On July 17, the Happy Meal turns 30 and McDonald’s is bringing back the most popular prize ever: Teen Beanie Babies. I think my sister has the original.

McDonald's has even created a special Web site where you can download Happy Meal invitations for birthday parties and find Happy Meal trivia. The Happy Meal actually got its own Web site last year.

Since I’m talking about McDonald’s, starting today through August 17 at McDonald’s in Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast, it’s buy one Sausage McMuffin with Egg get one free. In Broward and Miami-Dade counties, the same McMuffin is 89 cents weekdays only.

Want to be a guest diner on Kitchen Nightmares?

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:19:18 -0500

As I told you on Monday, Fox TV’s Kitchen Nightmares is coming to South Florida to revamp Le Bistro in Lighthouse Point, Anna Vincenzo’s Ristorante Italiano in Boca Raton and Fleming: A Taste of Denmark in Miami for the third season which premieres this spring.

Since then, all three restaurants have been slammed with would-be diners. If you’ve watched, you know that regular diners are invited into the restaurant for the relaunch, after host Gordon Ramsay has worked his magic.

The trouble is, show producers and not the restaurants are doling out reservations.

“Calling the restaurant will not do any good,” a representative from the show said in an e-mail. “There is no possible way for me to get everyone into the restaurant, but I will do my best to accommodate as many people as possible.”

Interested? For Le Bistro and Anna Vincenzo’s, send an e-mail to bocadine@yahoo.com. If you’re interested in Fleming’s, e-mail miamidine@yahoo.com. Dinner services will be filmed between July 9-22. Parties of two or four are recommended.

There’s just one caveat: You’ve got to pay your own way.

“It helps the restaurant owner understand what is working and the differences in changes to the menu and the resulting effect on the profit line,” said the show rep.