Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Survivor Week 5
Next up is Dallas. They are at home against a weak Cincy team who may be without Palmer again. I expect Dallas to bounce back and win easily.
I also really like the Giants. They are at home, coming off a bye and facing a west coast team (Seattle) making the long trip. Giants should come out with the W.
Carolina, Dallas and the Giants should all prevail this week. The official pick is the Giants. Good luck
Single Malt Scotch Tasting @ Hollywood Vine
$15.00 per person (will be applied to any purchase from the entire portfolio)
Artisan Brands & Hollywood Vine Presents
Michael Urquhart, proprietor of
The world’s largest & best Single Malt Scotch Portfolio
Date:
Time:
Location:
954-922-2910
Single Malts to be tasted:
Lowland
Bladnoch 15yr
Islands
Bunnahabhain 14yr
Speyside
Benromach Organic
Speymalt from Macallan 1990
Strathisla 25 yr
Clynelish 10yr
Old & Rare
Glenrothes 30 yr
Glen Grant 30 yr
These labels will all be available for sale during the tasting at a discounted price, as well the entire catalog is available for special order
954-922-2910
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Survivor week 4
There are several good plays on the slate this week. Denver should beat KC easily and San Diego should win at Oakland BUT both are on the road and facing division rivals. Experience tells me to pass on both. There are two better home team plays this week. Carolina is home against Atlanta and Pittsburgh is home on Monday night against Baltimore. Both are division rivals but there are no other stronger non-division matchups so we are forced to go with one of the these two. Let's go with Carolina this week.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Sunset Fridays @ China Grill
Beginning Friday, September 19th from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m., Sunset Fridays at China Grill Fort Lauderdale offers complimentary Ketel One Cosmopolitans for ladies with the music of DJ Anthony Pisano and Joey Martorano (son of Steve Martorano), theme parties, fashion shows and much more, along the Ft. Lauderdale waterway. China Grill Fort Lauderdale at the Fort Lauderdale Grande Hotel, is open daily for dinner from 6 to 10 p.m. 1881 SE 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale (954-759-9950)
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
China Grill Ft Lauderdale tasting Menu
China Grill Ft. Lauderdale is offering a six-course ‘classics tasting menu’ for dinner nightly – except Saturday nights - priced at $69.00 per person (excluding tax and gratuity) with specials such as Confucius Chicken salads; Spicy Beef & Scallion Dumplings in a soy ginger sauce and Lobster Pancakes stir-fried with wild mushrooms, red chili, scallions and coconut milk, Grilled Szechuan Beef with sake, soy, spicy shallots and cilantro and Grilled Garlic Shrimp with black fettuccini and red curry coconut sauce, and Duck Two Ways, with chocolate-orange sauce and ‘Moo Shu’ style confit of leg with spicy hoisin sauce. Dinner is available from 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. China Grill Fort Lauderdale, 1881 SE 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale 954-759-9950
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Survivor Week 3
This week there are 3 strong plays. Giants at home against Cincy, New England at home against Miami and Buffalo at home against Oakland. Giants are a lock but you may want to stash them for later. NE should win easily but it is a division rival so I hold.
Go with Buffalo. Stout defense and improving young QB face a below average team making the long trip with an early start time. This will probably be the best time to use Buffalo.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Wine Down Wednesday @Chef Allen's
Featuring Torres Wines
September 24, 2008
6:30pm
MENU |
Pan Roasted Jumbo Wild Florida Shrimp White Bean and Chick Pea Ragu, Pistachio Pesto Torres Vina Esmeralda Wood Grilled Local Swordfish Grilled Zucchini, Shiitakes, Kimchee Slaw Torres Gran Sangre de Toro Tamarind Braised Pork Short Ribs Green Pea Risotto Torres Salmost Priorat Chocolate Raspberry Paradise Chocolate and Espresso Mousses, Raspberry Sacher, Valrhona Cocoa Dust $59 per guest |
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Miami Spice Lunch Winner
I was in the Brickell area today around lunch time and figured it was a good
opportunity to finally try Abokado. They are one of the few restaurants that are open for lunch on the weekend AND offering a spice menu. I was hesitant to do the spice menu at first because I really wanted to try some of their interesting rolls. However, after reviewing the menu it became obvious that their spice menu was a great deal based on their regular prices. My meal would have easily been 2x more. (whether the normal prices are too high can be the topic of another post and irrelevant to this one)
In a nutshell, the meal was very good and much better than I anticipated. I did go in with low expectations despite being a big fan of the sushi chef from his prior stint at Bond St. I have no idea if he is still affiliated with Abokado but I assume so since I have not seen anything to the contrary.
I started with the Crispy Cheese which is a combination of roasted tomato, gorgonzola, cilantro, queso blanco and wrapped in a spring roll. It comes with a chili based dipping sauce. The spring roll portion was light and did not interfere with the cheese and roasted tomato. Portion size was small (2) but that was fine for a four course lunch. Probably not somethimg I would normally order but it worked and I enjoyed it.
Next up was the Himachi Tiradito. This combination was serrano pepper, cilantro, guacamole and a chil ponzu sauce. This was a good size portion with I think 6 pieces of Himachi. (Tiradito is similar to sashimi.) Flavor combinations worked well and the Himachi was fresh. I would order again.
For the next course I opted for the Revolucion roll. (2 other roll options were available) The roll was a good size and the individual pieces were sized perfectly. Oh yeah, the roll was spicy tuna with asparagus topped with albacore tuna and a ginger ponzu sauce. Great roll. Fresh and a tasty combination. Rice played a small roll and did not get in the way.
I also had the opportunity to try the spicy snow crab roll which I haven't seen outside of New Orleans and was very good. For dessert I opted for the yuzu cheesecake. Not a dessert person but this was a nice end to the meal.
I would definitely recommend trying their spice menu if you are in the area and I look forward to going back for dinner and trying more of their rolls and sushi.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Survivor week 2
On to week two- Giants @ St Louis is a solid pick but goes against my strategy to avoid road teams.
I also really like Tampa v. Atlanta but they are division rivals.
Tampa is the best play but if you want to avoid a division matchup
Take Houston at home over Balt
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
"GOLD MEDAL WINE TOUR" DINNER SERIES
The Gold and Double Gold medal winners from the 2007 American Fine Wine Competition will be "on tour" at South Florida's premiere restaurants. Each dinner features a Sparkling Wine reception, five Gold medal wines paired with a five-course wine country inspired dinner, a silent auction to benefit End Childhood Hunger, and a few surprises...
Paradiso 625 Lucerne Ave, Lake Worth Sept 10, 2008
Cafe Maxx 2601 E Atlantic Blvd, Pompano Beach Sept 17, 2008
Two Chefs Too 2286 NE 123rd St, North Miami Sept 24, 2008
Ortanique 278 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables Oct 15, 2008
Opus 5 5050 Town Center, Boca Raton Oct 22, 2008
Cafe Boulud 301 Australian Ave, Palm Beach Oct 29, 2008
Seating is limited For reservations and information contact Shari Gherman goldmedalwinetour@gmail.com or call: 954-949-7580. Cost: $175, all inclusive (prepay is $150) Checks should be made to End Childhood Hunger
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
NFL Survivor week 1
and will post my weekly pick/advice in case anyone else cares...
For people who are unfamiliar with Survivor aka last man standing, all you have to do is pick 1 winner each week regardless of point spread. You can only select the same team one time during the season. Sounds easy, right? NOT
The Chowfather has a couple of rules he follows. 1. Avoid road teams and 2 avoid conference rivalries. I also look to go against teams making a long road trip.
WEEK 1 has 4 teams that I think are strong options
1. Indy at home v Bears
2. Pittsburgh at home v Houston
3. Eagles at home v Rams
4. San Diego at home v Carolina (long trip)
** New England is obviously a strong play BUT I am going to save them for later in the year**
I am going with Indy this week. They have a very tough schedule and will not be as strong this year so there is no reason to save them. Take the week one W and move on..
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
NFL Predictions
AFC East
1. New England- Still #1 in division
2. J-E-T-S- Jets should be much improved and in a battle for a playoff spot.
3. Buffalo- Bills could surprise and make a playoff appearance.
4. Dolphins- Parcells and crew will turn this team around. 5 wins would be a good season.
AFC South
1. Indy- Can a team with Peyton be on the decline? They will be solid but not as strong as recent teams.
2. Jacksonville- Can win division. Garrard underrated.
3. Tenn- No one will want to play this team. Should be in every game, can Young take next step??
4. Houston- Tough schedule
AFC North
1. Pittsburgh- Browns are gaining but Pitt's defense and addition of rookie power back Mendenhall keep them in first
2. Browns- Can they take next step? Will push for division and playoffs
3. Cincy- Need to clean up act
4. Baltimore- This team going in wrong direction.
AFC West
1. San Diego- Cream of crop in division
2. Denver- Ehhh 7 wins
3 Kansas City- Great draft and should be competitive
4 Oakland- McFadden will be special. Expect improvement
NFC East
1. Giants- Everyone on Dallas bandwagon, not me. Wade will not get them to next level.
2. Dallas- Two words- Joe Simpson
3. Philadelphia- Underrated
4. Washington- New coach, new system no good.
NFC South
1. New Orleans- Must start off better than last year
2. Carolina- Does Stewart emerge?
3. Tampa Bay- There is some talent on this team. Does Garcia have anything left?
4. Atlanta- With the first pick in the 2009 NFL Draft....
NFC North
1. Minnesota- Hard to put them here with Jackson at QB but Petterson and DL make up for him
2. Chicago- Hard to gauge
3. Green Bay- Bust
4. Detroit- great WR's, Millen factor...
NFC West
1 Seattle- default
2. Arizona- Warner?? Oy. Has some weapons though, sleeper in fantasy
3. San Fran- Martz and Gore but...
4. St Louis- what happened tp them?
AFC Wildcards
1. Jacksonville
2. Jets
NFC Wildcards
1. Dallas
2. Philly beats out Carolina
AFC Title
Jacksonville v San Diego
NFC Title
New Orleans v Giants
Super Bowl
??? stay tuned