Jan Norris: Food and Florida » Sips: Drinkables

It’s Still Summer – Drink This! Fuzzy Melon Recipe from Jeremy Hanlon

Jan Norris — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:08:21 +0000

My Fresh Chef's Fuzzy Melon in the making

Watermelons are still all over, and the weather is still sweltering. Here’s a recipe for a watermelon cooler from creative chef Jeremy Hanlon of West Palm Beach (My Fresh Chef – he caters and does private cheffing and is working on a TV show). I love his use of fresh fruits and vegetables in every dish he makes. Bold flavors in unusual combinations from fresh foods – that’s Hanlon.

You can go to Hanlon’s blog to read his story about the drink and vacation – but here’s the recipe for Fuzzy Melon (that’s my name for it that won his Facebook contest). A non-alcoholic version follows.

Fuzzy Melon

3 cups ripe seedless watermelon – coarsely chopped
1 lime – juice only
1 ½ cups Peach Vodka (quantity may vary according to mood)
8 ounces ginger ale
4 sprigs mint – ripped into small pieces
8 basil leaves – ripped into small pieces
1 ½ tablespoon confectioners sugar
For garnish – mint leaves, lime slices

Place watermelon, lime, and vodka in blender. Whip on high until watermelon is pureed.

Combine watermelon mixture, ginger ale, torn herbs and optional sugar in a large pitcher. Stir to combine well and fill with crushed ice.

Serve in tall cooler glasses, garnished with a lime slice and mint leaves.

Makes 6 to 8 drinks.

Non-alcoholic version: Substitute 12-ounce can peach nectar for the vodka; continue as above.

EatBeat: The Blind Monk Wine Bar Opens in Downtown West Palm Beach Today

Jan Norris — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 04:57:17 +0000

Be among the first to check out The Blind Monk, a wine bar on Evernia in downtown West Palm Beach that opens at 3 p.m. today.

The smallish spot (950 or so square feet) is the concept of Ben Lubin, a former Marine who did grad studies in international affairs before deciding to launch a wine bar. And why?

“I am from West Palm Beach, and when I came back (after tours of Asia, Afghanistan and Iraq), I couldn’t find anything around that I really liked to go to. There was something missing – something low-key and sophisticated. So I decided to open my own place.

“I’ve always enjoyed tasting wine and the whole experience – you drink it with good food, good friends or loved ones, and are in the moment. The cares of the day are left behind for a while,” he said.

Bubble glass for lights and ‘motion’ art

The decor is tongue-in-cheek chic. Above the bar are spheres of glass, symbolizing Champagne bubbles. On the wall, old black and white films are shown – these are “motion art.” Leather seats and walls of wines fill out the comfortable room.

By the glass or bottle

More than 90 wines will be poured by the glass, and there are more than 300 bottles on a list that encompasses wines from around the world with what Lubin calls a “robust selection.” Prices start at $6 a glass, or $24 per bottle.

Cheese plates and other small wine-friendly plates are served – cold cuts, cold seafood, fresh fruits, crackers and dark chocolates are among the offerings. Both wine and food specials will be available on a weekly basis.

“We’ll start with Dom Perignon specials,” he said. The wine bar’s name references the noted Dom, a Benedictine monk who is said to have tasted grapes blindfolded to determine the best for his now infamous Champagne.

Non-wine selections will include 13 microbrews, a coffee bar with espresso and cappuccino, and sparkling juices.

The Blind Monk

410 Evernia St., West Palm Beach
561-833-3605
Open daily, 3 p.m.-1 a.m.

No Corkscrew? No Problem – Just Use a Shoe

Jan Norris — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:49:04 +0000

We’ve all been there – with a nice bottle of wine, a loaf of bread and some thou beside us in a wilderness – or urban area – with no corkscrew in sight.

Here’s a lesson in opening a wine bottle using a shoe. The tricks are:

a) Have a hard-soled shoe – a tennis shoe won’t cut it. So carry around an old man’s shoe if you prefer not to remember a corkscrew…

b) Pound gently just to get the cork far enough removed to pull it the rest of the way with your hand; and

c) Don’t do this over white carpeting. Oh, and don’t do it with Champagne. You don’t need more wine if you can’t figure out how to pop open a bottle of bubbly…

Watch and learn! (You’ll figure it out, but the guy is saying here’s how to do it: use a flat bottomed shoe, hold the wine bottle securely inside the shoe perpendicular to the wall or other vertical surface, and don’t bang too hard.)

Stupid Food Tricks: Skis Do Not Good Sabers Make

After 5: Cabo Flats Happy Hour Loud and Casual – and Tasty

Jan Norris — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:30:56 +0000

Cabo Flats, Palm Beach Gardens

Happy hours: 4 p.m.- 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, at the bar only

The crowd: Raucous and shirt-sleeved group of all ages, primed to do the Mexican Hat Dance.

Surrounds: Inside-and-out long bar, and several high-topped tables; lounge chairs on patio.

Barback: Dina got us in under the wire, since this popular Happy Hour was crammed, and ends promptly at 6.

The sips: All margaritas, wine, and well drinks are $5. Experience the Twilight “Blood Orange” margarita with Patron Silver, Citronage, and blood orange puree. All margaritas are made with hand-squeezed fresh fruits – refreshing and tasty. The Terrazas malbec was deep and rich.

The noshes: Anything on the appetizer menu is $5. Go for the rock shrimp popcorn “tempura style” with orange habanero aioli. Easy to pop on your tongue, and mouth-watering – stood up to our blood orange margarita. Carnivores: Order the beef empanadas with salsa Yucatan. The two-to-a-plate serving is great for sharing.

Tunes or noise: Be prepared to shout. Loud music, close quarters, and street noise rule out whispering sweet nothings.

Rating: A good 4 out of 5 olives.

Cabo Flats

11701 Lake Victoria Ave., Palm Beach Gardens
561-624-0024; www.caboflats.com
Open: Daily from 11:30 until “really late”

Carolyn Susman, a West Palm Beach reporter, covers happy hours in the area, giving the readers at JanNorris.com a look at where to go for great little plates, super sips and mellow music….after 5. Contact her at AfterFive@JanNorris.com

Smooooothies for Summer – for Kids and Adults

Jan Norris — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:48:23 +0000

Strawberry smoothie /photo by Scrumdilly-do!

My little buddy Kody, 4-1/2, came to visit the other day and we made smoothies – his first experience with these – or so he says. He pronounces smoothie with a strong oo sound – so smuuuthie is what he calls these. Once I explained they were like a milkshake, only fruitier, he was anxious to try one.

Let the kids do it

He loved making them – he likes to cook with me because I let him do anything within reason. If you supervise kids carefully and anticipate their curiosity and quick actions around the stove and mixers, you’ll find they can do it all. Teaching them early what happens when you play with knives and fire in the wrong ways is a smart way to avoid accidents later.

Adults: Make sure kids remember the rules: Put the lid on the blender before turning it on; make sure the cord is well behind the blender so they can’t accidentally catch it and bring it all crashing down, and rinse out the container once you’ve finished up.

Chill out

Add ice unless you’re throwing in some sorbet or ice cream or using frozen fruits. (This time of year, freeze fresh fruits and use them this way or just eat them frozen. Grapes, blueberries, etc – just freeze them on cookie sheets till hard, then bag them up.)

Remember to add the ice through the hole in the lid after the motor is running, and use small cubes or cracked ice so you don’t burn up your blender.

I like to use the Greek style yogurts out there, but recently bought Nancy’s Non-fat Yogurt, made from Springfield Dairy in Eugene, Ore. It’s all natural and made with dairy products free of hormones and additives. It’s fully cultured, tangy, thick and good – and relatively cheap at Publix GreenWise stores.

Also, the reason I like Haagen-Dazs frozen yogurt, ice creams and sorbets is because they have a noteworthy program called helpthehoneybees.com – it’s a program they initiated to help the plight of the honeybee – it’s a great lesson-project for kids, too.

Smoothie recipes

Here are a bunch of easy recipes – for any age group. These are “throw it in and see it if works,” so the measurements are just suggestions. So are the ingredients. Kody doesn’t like blueberries – so feel free to sub out any fruits and berries for others; use any nut butters you have on hand; use buttermilk, soy or goat milk, yogurt interchangably,…

For most of these, you’ll need a spoon, a spatula (for swiping down the sides of the blender), and a blender with a lid, preferably one with a removable cap in the lid. A tall glass and a straw are good for serving.

Adults only

To make these drinks for a pool party for adults, add a tablespoon or more of liqueur such as Frangelica, Framboise, Kahlua, Bailey’s Irish Cream, or a fruit schnapps.

Berry Smoothie

1/2 cup blueberries or strawberries
1/2 banana
1 cup Greek style plain yogurt (or lemon or any fruit)
drizzle of honey, optional
1/2 cup ice

Put all ingredients in the blender except for ice, blend on high and add ice through the hole in the lid with motor running. (If you freeze the bananas or berries, you won’t have to use ice.)

Makes 1 smoothie.

Peachy raspberry smoothie

1/2 cup sliced peaches or mangoes
1/2 cup raspberries, or 1/2 cup Haagen-Dazs raspberry sorbet
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon honey, optional
Squeeze of lemon
1/2 cup ice

Put all ingredients in the blender except for ice; blend on high and add ice through the hole in the lid.

Makes 1 large or 2 medium smoothies.

Pineapple-coconut smoothie

1/2 cup fresh pineapple chunks
1/2 cup Greek-style yogurt
1/2 cup Haagen-Dazs pineapple-coconut ice cream
sprinkle of toasted coconut for top

Put all ingredients in the blender except for ice; blend on high and add ice through the hole in the lid.

Nut-butter espresso smoothie

2 tablespoons peanut or almond or cashew butter
1 cup plain Greek-style yogurt
1 shot espresso or extra strong brewed coffee
1 teaspoon agave sugar or 1/2 teaspoon honey
1/2 cup ice

Put all ingredients in the blender except for ice; blend on high. With motor running, add ice through the hole in the lid.

Makes 1 smoothie.

Elvis Smoothie: Skip the espresso and add half a banana.

Melon-mint yogurt smoothie

1 cup honeydew or cantaloupe, cubed
1 cup Greek-style yogurt
1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
1 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/2 cup ice

Blend all ingredients except ice; with motor running, add ice through hole in top.

Makes 2 smoothies.

Note: Various nut butters, and agave sweeteners and other natural ingredients including fruits and all types of yogurts and milks can be found at Whole Foods Market and Publix GreenWise stores. Liqueur selections can be found at Crown Wine shops.

After 5: Joe’s American Bar & Grill Happy Hour in Wellington Green Mall Not Yet Discovered

Jan Norris — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:00:35 +0000

AFTER 5

Joe’s American Bar & Grill, Mall at Wellington Green

Happy hours: 4 to 6 p.m., and 10 p.m. to close, daily.

The crowd: This happy hour is new, and few people seem aware of it yet. A sprinkling of mall shoppers came by.

Surrounds: Attractive bar area with carved wood and mirrors. Linen napkins put you in a relaxing mood. And, for the ladies, discreet hooks under the bar to hang those troublesome purses.

Barback: Our waitress was knowledgeable and friendly.

The sips: Martinis, Manhattans, cosmos, are all available at $4 or $5. Wine and beer are on board at $3 and $4 a glass. Those specialty drinks you might really crave are also at your fingertips, for $4.50. We tried the desert rose pomegranate margarita – hard to say, but refreshing. With salt rimming the glass, you expect a shot of something stronger than what we got. We also sampled the blackberry mojito. Again, it seemed like an overly sweet syrupy taste.

The noshes: Half-price appetizers are fun and filling, as is the selection of wood-fired pizzas. We chose the nachos grande for $5, more than enough for two. We also selected the Hawaiian pizza for $5, a small but tasty nibble. Warning: people with food restrictions, such as diabetics, may find this menu daunting. The bar menu contains only fried (though in trans fat-free oil) or white flour items.

Tunes or noise: None – it was easy to chat and sip.

Rating: 3 olives out of 5.

- Carolyn Susman

Joe’s American Bar & Grill

10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd., (Mall at Wellington Green), Wellington; joesamerican.com
Open: Lunch daily, 11 a.m. – 4p.m.; dinner daily, 4 p.m.- 11 p.m. Brunch, Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

After 5: Zed 451, Boca Raton

Jan Norris — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:16:29 +0000

ZED451 indoor bar; another is on the patio

After 5

ZED 451, Boca Raton

Happy hours: 4:30-7:30 p.m., and 9 p.m. to close, Monday through Friday.

The crowd: If you show up early, you’re likely to find casual drinkers at the bar who look like they came from nearby FAU’s campus. As the evening progresses, office types filter in.

Surrounds: An elegant restaurant that is comfortable for the bar crowd. Everything from T-shirts to dress shirts fit in here.

Barback: Our waitress was new to the bar side of the restaurant and had trouble explaining happy hour specials. Since there is no happy hour menu, new customers may be confused.

The sips: ZED has heavily promoted specialty drinks known as the “liquid market.” To our disappointment, none of these drinks was available during happy hour at half-price. Beers, on tap and bottled, are half-price, as is the house wine, which didn’t appear on the menu we received. Liquors are also half-price. We ordered a gin and tonic. It tasted light on gin. A reorder, with an extra shot of gin for $1.50, was satisfying. Cost for two Seagram’s drinks, $7.14. The house wine, Sycamore Lane, was a nice, full pour and the cabernet tasted rich. A good half-price deal at $5.64 for two.

The noshes: Here’s where it gets exciting. The bar menu has over a dozen offerings. We chose the pad Thai chicken satay, even though the waitress warned it was hot. Take her at her word, it cleared my sinuses. But it cost a reasonable $3.50. Two of the most popular items can feed two, and at half price are probably the best deals. We ordered the fondue, which included grilled meats and marinated vegetables that are fun to dip in the warm cheese sauce. That’s a good, light dinner for $7.50.

Tunes or noise: The music mix stayed where it should, in the background.

Rating: 3.5 olives out of 5.

- Carolyn Susman

ZED 451

201 Plaza Real, Mizner Park, Boca Raton
561-393-3451; ZED451.com
Open for dinner only, Monday through Friday, 5-10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 5-11 p.m. Sunday brunch, 11:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

* * *

Carolyn Susman, a West Palm Beach reporter, covers Happy Hours in the area, giving the readers at JanNorris.com a look at where to go for great little plates, super sips and mellow music….after 5. Contact her at AfterFive@JanNorris.com .

Sex and City 2 – Party Like the Girls at Bogart’s in Boca

Jan Norris — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:44:36 +0000

Cosmopolitan / photo by Quinn Dombrowski/quinndombrowski.com

Lots of partying around town for release of Sex and the City 2 – Carrie and all her mates head off to foreign shores for this version of the movie.

Biggest of them all is at Bogart’s in Boca – the restaurant right inside the movie theater. Best part: There are four nights to get in on it – tonight through Sunday night – 5 to 11 p.m.

A DJ will rock it, and you can see the movie (or just party), then dance, get cosmo or drink from the ice luge – get samples of girl stuff, and more. Wear the Jimmy Choos or Manolos – but of course!

It’s a free event – no RSVP needed. (But if you’re there to eat, call to make dinner plans.)

Bogart’s

3200 Airport Road (in Cineplex movie theater), Boca Raton
561-395-4695; bogartsofboca.com

Partying at home? Here’s the classic Cosmopolitan recipe. (Those guys in the cranberry bogs must dearly love these movies.)

Cosmopolitan (Cosmo)

1-1/2 oz. vodka
3/4 oz. Triple Sec
3/4 oz. cranberry juice (not cocktail)
1 oz. fresh lime juice
Lime peel curl for garnish
Cubed ice

Pour vodka, Triple Sec, cranberry juice and freshly squeezed lime juice into a cocktail shaker half-filled with cubed ice. Shake well, strain and pour into stemmed martini glass. Serve with peel curl.

Makes 1 Cosmopolitan.

First Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville Beach Hotel Going in on Pensacola Beach

Jan Norris — Thu, 13 May 2010 16:50:00 +0000

My kin from the Panhandle are all atwitter: Homeboy Jimmy Buffett, who grew up along the beautiful Gulf Coast around the Panhandle, will build the first of his new hotel brand, Margaritaville Beach Hotels, on Pensacola Beach.

The $50 million, 162-room Gulffront hotel might even open this summer – developer Marilyn Woodbury-Huss projects it to open in late May or early June. That would be in plenty of time for the Blue Angels to make their July 4 show and tip their wings to the Parrotheads watching that famous air show, by the real homeboys here.

Margarita — or hurricane?

The deal was announced at a business meeting with the city May 12. Everyone’s excited: The whole Gulf Coast beach area needs positive shots like this, especially now, with the BP oil spill adding to possible tourism slides.

The hotel is situated on a former Holiday Inn site – destroyed by Hurricane Ivan.

So I’m wondering, with the track record of the weather on PNS Beach, whether a tall Hurricane might be the better signature drink here.

Here’s a Hurricane recipe from the master mixologist Dale Degroff, just in case. Use fresh squeezed fruits, please. Join me in a chorus: Pour me somethin’ tall and strong…(OK – had to include the video, since it was shot up the road a piece at the Square Grouper.)

Hurricane Recipe

1 oz. Dark Rum
1 oz. Light Rum
1/2 oz. Galliano
3/4 oz. Fresh Lime Juice
1 oz. Passion Fruit Syrup
1 -1/2 oz. Orange Juice
1 -1/2 oz. Pineapple Juice
Dash of Angostura Bitters

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a Hurricane glass filled with ice. Garnish with fresh tropical fruit.

Cinco de Mayo de Palm Beach County

Jan Norris — Wed, 05 May 2010 04:33:52 +0000

Lots of options, amigos, for dancing and downing the demon juice of the agave.

Up in Jupiter, the newish Amigos Tres (III) is in the Admiral’s Crossing plaza on North Military. Drinks and food.
In Palm Beach Gardens, head to Cantina Laredo to be the first to sample Modelo’s new draft beer. Mariachi band at 5 p.m., buckets and pitchers of beer, shot girls pouring and giveaways.
Rocco’s Tacos is blowing it out with a block party, big time. One on Clematis Street along the block, and one in Town Center Circle. Mariachi bands, drinks specials, tequila shots, dancing. Parties starts at noon.
In Boca, Uncle Julio’s in Mizner Park has Micholas Marks and Gypsy Heat playing form 5 to 11. The “Patron Girls” will pour shots; and several companies provide the giveaways.

Other options: Moquilla, Boca Raton; Cabo Flats, Palm Beach Gardens, La Fogada, Lake Park; La Bamba, North Palm Beach and Delray Beach; Cabana, Delray Beach; Amigos in West Palm Beach.