• It can be made ahead. You can make this one or two days ahead and let it hang out in the fridge. Bring to room temp before serving.
• It’s supremely adaptable. While the recipe calls for eggplant, olives, bell pepper and capers, you can add (or subtract) whatever you wish, except the eggplant. So mushrooms, onions and celery are all welcome additions; a sprinkle of fresh parsley is welcome as well.
• It makes your house smell wonderful. To me, some of the things I cook, are more about the smell than the taste.

This recipe, by the way, is in the Serve It Up! cookbook, which was sold as a fundraiser for Autism. Many of the dishes in this book are ones you make ahead, since it was designed for serving after tennis matches.

So what are you waiting for? Get cracking at the Camponata recipe below.

Camponata Appetizer Recipe

Recipe by Kelley SchildCourse: AppetizersCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy

Servings

10

servings

10

minutes

Cooking time

1

hour 

9

minutes

Ingredients

• 1 eggplant

• 1 jar (8 ounces) pimento stuffed green olives

• 1 green, red or yellow bell pepper

• 1 jar (2 1/2 ounces) capers, drained

• 1/2 cup olive oil

• Garlic salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

Directions

• Pre-heat oven to 250 degrees.
• Peel and chop eggplant. De-seed and de-vein pepper and chop in large dice.
• Into a roasting pan, put eggplant, peppers, olives, capers, any other vegetables (mushrooms, onions and/or celery).
• Season thoroughly with garlic salt and fresh pepper. Mix together well and spread in an even layer.
• Drizzle olive oil on top of vegetables and bake until vegetables are soft, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Serve with crackers or slices of a warm French bread.

Notes

• If desired, sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley, after removing from oven.

Up Next: Mango Daiquiri

When Zeke proposed to me on Christmas Day in 2003, he invited me to New York on this date to go pick out the diamond for my engagement ring. The weather was freezing and I remember walking home from the Rainbow Room in bitter cold (like 20 degrees) with no cabs in sight. My old Air Florida pea coat didn’t cut it in New York City and I was not a happy camper.

We kept returning on that date, but after one memorable visit where we had to clomp through the snow to get breakfast, got stuck in our hotel for days and our flight cancelled due to a blizzard, I told him that, as romantic as it was, we didn’t really have to go in February.

But this year, unbeknownst to me, Zeke booked a trip to New York in February. Again. I read an article in the New York Times about how unpredictable the weather can be in February and the weekend before we left it was a mere 6 degrees! But we lucked out and the weather was fine. It was also Fashion Week in New York and, more importantly New York Restaurant Week. It’s like Miami Spice, but instead of trying to get diners to eat out in the sweltering summer in Miami, its fickle February in New York.

Our first stop, after deplaning, was Grand Central Station to have lunch at the Grand Central Oyster Bar. It was my Dad’s favorite restaurant in New York and is now a must-stop on every visit there. We often stop there first, as we did this time. We ordered a dozen of his and hers oysters. I always mark down the oysters we like for the next trip, but then invariably forget the list so this time we just asked our server to give us what was best.

I’ll get you a nice selection.

said our server.

We also ordered a cooked Oyster Special, which was good. We toasted to being back in New York with a glass of wine and beer and then it was time to check into our hotel.

Grand Central Oyster Bar Recommended Dishes: Bloody Mary Oyster Shooter, A Platter of Raw Oysters, Oysters Rockefeller, Oyster Pan Roast Stew

Dinner that night was at Vestry in Soho. Many years ago, we had one of the best dinners of my life for my birthday at a restaurant called Juni, so Zeke tracked down the chef. His name is Shaun Hergatt and he’s now at Vestry which is why we went there. It’s attached to a hotel and has a very cool, young vibe with high ceilings, lots of plants and fur-covered chairs.

It won Wine Spectator of the Year Award for 2022, but all the wine was tres expensive (like more than $100 a bottle) so I opted for The Vestry, a gin drink that was very refreshing. Zeke got a Japanese beer. While the restaurant touts itself as a seafood restaurant, it had a definite Asian vibe, with sushi as well as caviar options; we were here for New York Restaurant Week, so we ordered from that menu.

Zeke ordered all the recommendations from our helpful server, while I ordered other options, as I like to sample both, but I was having buyers remorse.

So you’re telling me, everything he ordered was a Home Run and what I ordered isn’t as good?

I asked the waiter.

“Pretty much, yes,” he said.

The Celeriac Soup Zeke ordered was presented before him with a Honeycrisp Apple and Black Truffle Panna Cotta quenelle in the soup bowl. The soup was poured by our server; it was garnished with a celery leaf and Parmesan tuille.

The Celeriac Soup at Vestry was the best soup I’ve ever eaten. It was smooth, rich and luscious, with the apple and truffle panna cotta lending a contrast in flavor and texture, along with the crunch of the baked Parmesan tuille. I got a Hamachi appetizer, which was fresh, light and flavorful. It was good, but it was no Celeriac Soup.

One thing this chef does beautifully, besides deliver delicious food, is presentation. He is known for his “painterly” presentations, which is what I remembered from Juni. My main course was Organic Chicken, which came as two bald pieces of chicken breast and one roulade of chicken thigh meat in a brown sauce. It was good, but the best part was the flattened out chicken skin, which was crisp and lovely and shattered in the mouth.

The chicken was good, but that little skin thingy- I could’ve eaten ten of them.

I said to the waiter.

“You’re funny,” he answered.

I wasn’t trying to be funny. I was dead serious. Zeke got the Sea Bass with Spaghetti Squash and potatoes for his entree which he enjoyed. It was a large portion but his Cheesecake for dessert took the cake!

It came out on a light blue, ceramic plate, looking like a piece of Swiss Cheese, with a little grated apple mouse with hazelnut ears, lurking nearby. So adorable he almost didn’t want to eat it, but it was smooth, creamy and without a crust, unlike any cheesecake I’ve ever had. I got the chocolate dessert- a Guanaja Chocolate dessert, served in a martini glass and topped with gold flake. Again, very good but no Vestry cheesecake.

So when I go out to eat, I do so in the unlikely hope I can be wowed and shown something new. It’s the same reason I read books, attend plays, go to art galleries. It doesn’t happen often, especially at my age, but I have to say Vestry wowed me. I would definitely come back, but probably for New York Restaurant Week, because it is quite pricey.

Vestry Recommended Dishes: Celeriac Soup, Chicken Skin, Cheesecake

The next morning we had tickets to see The View. Long story short, didn’t happen. I went to drown my sorrows in Chinatown at the oldest Dim Sum restaurant in New York. I can’t say Zeke went to drown his sorrows because he didn’t even want to go to The View. We had seen a long line of people out the door the last time we visited Chinatown, which is why we wanted to try Nom Wah Tea Parlor, Chinatown’s first Dim Sum restaurant.

Luckily, there wasn’t a line out the door, but it is a small, rather cramped place. Let’s just say you make friends with your neighbors and see what they’re ordering as you eat there. I “Yelped” the popular dishes here and we ordered a variety of dim sum.

The OG Egg Rolls were unlike anything else I’d ever seen- huge, with a puffy, crunchy shell encasing vegetables within. On it’s own, they didn’t have much flavor, so I added sweet and sour and hot sauce to it. The Rice Roll with Spare Ribs was interesting, but the spare ribs were a little fatty and boney for my taste. More successful was the House Special Roast Pork Bun– steamed white dough, fluffy and filled with sweet roast pork. Very good, but I always wish there was more pork in the pork buns! My favorite dim sum was the steamed Shrimp and Chive Dumplings, which came out green in color. Delicate dumpling skin, savory interior. Delicious!

We both got beer, but the teas they offered varied from Jasmine and Chrysanthemum to Earl Grey. If I’d known I would’ve ordered dessert, which they are known for, particularly their Almond Cookies and steamed Lotus and Red Bean Buns. Also the table next to me ordered a soup that looked intriguing. Next time!

Nom Wah Tea Parlor Recommended Dishes: Steamed Roast Pork Bun, Steamed Shrimp and Chive Dumplings, Almond Cookies

That night we had the play Funny Girl with Lea Michele (of Glee fame) so we ate in Times Square at an Indian Restaurant Zeke had found which offered New York Restaurant Week named Saar. I was totally stumped as to what to order for dinner (and still a little depressed about missing The View) so I asked the waiter what to get. I always ask the servers what they recommend at restaurants, even if I’ve already made up my mind. Because sometimes I change it.

I got the Beetroot Cutlets for my appetizer, which came with a Tamarind Aioli. I believe it was fried but it was delicious! Zeke got Prawn Balchao, a spicy shrimp appetizer that was very good, in a nice glaze. For my entree I got Pistachio Chicken, that came with a green cilantro sauce, with a little kick. Zeke got the Rogan Josh, tender lamb in a spicy red sauce. The entrees came with rice and we ordered a Chili Naan as well.

Zeke overdid the spicy dishes so luckily got Rice Pudding for dessert to cool it down. I got Ras Malai, a dessert with softened cheese with thickened milk. Kind of strange and not my favorite, but I did like Saar. Our waiter was very friendly and they offer 3-course dinners for $45, so you don’t have to wait for New York Restaurant Week.

Saar Recommended Dishes: Beetroot Cutlet, Prawn Balchao, Pistachio Chicken

Lunch the next day was at Le Rivage, before we went to see A Beautiful Noise, which was a play about Neil Diamond. I’m always looking for good restaurants in Times Square, which is known for its Broadway Plays but not so much its restaurants. I was happy to find Le Rivage, which is a charming, cozy French bistro with excellent service and delicious food.

While they did offer a New York Restaurant Week menu, the every day Prix Fix Lunch Special offered more variety, for just a couple dollars more, so that is what we got. We ordered a bottle of wine and I got the Baked Seafood Crepe, which was amazing! A fluffy, light crepe, stuffed with scallops, shrimps and mushrooms and blanketed in a velvety sauce- I loved it! Zeke got Escargot, which came in the traditional manner, with butter and garlic, perfect for dipping the slices of French baguette in.

My entree was the Truite Almondine, which was a large and delicious portion with toasted almonds in a lemon butter sauce and a side of Haricots Verts. Zeke enjoyed his Boeuf Bourguignon, a perfect lunch for a chilly day and it reminded us of our trip to Paris. Dessert for me was the Tart du jour- an Apricot Tart served with whipped cream. Zeke got our favorite dessert, Creme Brulee. Of course I had to try a bite, but I was worried about staying awake for the play after all that food and wine!

I will definitely keep Le Rivage in mind next time we have a play date in New York. The waiter also highly recommended their Roast Duck, which they are known for.

Le Rivage Recommended Dishes: Baked Seafood Crepe, Truite Almondine

I really enjoyed A Beautiful Noise and we stopped into Junior’s after the play to pick up one of their famous cheesecakes for a friend. What I wasn’t excited about was our dinner reservation. It was for a one Michelin star Mexican restaurant in Brooklyn. I was tired of Ubers and rushing and fancy meals, so we ended up eating Italian at a restaurant near our hotel called Serafina. More relaxed and enjoyable.

We split an order of meatballs and I got Truffle Ravioli, which was rich and delicious but I couldn’t finish. Zeke got Lasagna and we went back to our hotel, happy and full. Now that Global Warming seems to have taken effect, perhaps New York in February isn’t so bad! And there’s always New York Restaurant Week to tempt me to return. We already have our list of things to do in New York for next year.

The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time, in its first wild promise of all the mystery and beauty in the world.

F. Scott Fitzgerald

London is satisfied, Paris is resigned, but New York is always hopeful. Always it believes that something good is about to come off, and it must hurry to meet it.

Dorothy Parker

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That’s the book Jeff Bridges, one of my favorite actors, is reading and it’s the amount of time we have in our life if we live until 80. It seems like a lot and, then again, not enough.

Today would have been my Dad’s 87th birthday. He died at 67. At the time he died- almost 20 years ago- that seemed young to me. Now, at 62 years old, it definitely seems young. My Dad was extroverted, a thrill-seeker and the life of every party. He flew planes, captained boats, water skied, snow skied (even with his oxygen tank) and, when he couldn’t drive his Porsche anymore, went around the neighborhood on his electric scooter. His last trip- a couple months before he died- was to the Abacos, Bahamas. He took his boat- The Wild Rice- over and back. Even at the end of his life, he was looking for new adventures. As an introverted, shy little girl, stuck in my room reading most of the time, my Dad pushed me to do things I never would have tried otherwise.

Any week I don’t get to see my grandchildren seems like a week wasted to me. Last week, I was supposed to watch them twice, but both times fell through. (Insert sad face emoji). We did celebrate Zeke’s 60th birthday with dinner at North Italia. Emma met us for drinks first at Riviera, where Symphony and Antoinette serenaded him with a sweet rendition of Happy Birthday and a slice of Key Lime Pie, which we ate before dinner at North Italia, a restaurant at Dadeland.

It has Beef Carpaccio (for Zeke), Expresso Martinis (for Emma) and the most delicious Heirloom Tomato and Burrata Salad I was planning on getting, but after the White Truffle Cheese Bread and the toasted bread with the Beef Carpaccio, I was ‘breaded” out and got a Hanger Steak with grilled asparagus. Zeke really liked his Squid Ink Pasta and Emma her Spicy Rigatoni; we ended with a Hazelnut Torta. Our waiter was excellent and service was great. We’ll be back! North Italia is a chain restaurant and the menu varies with each location.

Meals at Home

Eating Out

Any day I get to go out in nature is a good one and we went out on the boat Saturday to Nest Key. Nest Key is an area close to our condo where people gather to anchor their boats, swim, play music and relax. It’s like the Sandbar for Baby Boomers. We had fun there and went home to grill some fresh Yellowtail, which I served with Mango Salsa, Jasmine Rice and Papaya Salad. I was trying to replicate the Green Papaya Salad I had at a Thai restaurant recently, but when I cut into it, the papaya was orange and ripe. Oh well! It was still good.

We finally finished the tortuous documentary The Staircase, the true crime series about novelist Michael Peterson and the death of his wife Kathleen. After suffering through hours and hours of the story and trial, we finally reached the last episode The Verdict. The verdict was read and the series was over. After all the lead-up, I found myself disappointed at the abrupt ending. I looked it up and apparently the French filmmaker revisited the family for a 2-hour sequel in 2012. And, while the verdict was announced, (no spoilers here) that was not actually the end of the story. Now I’m going to have to watch the darned sequel. At least it’s only two hours of my life!

I hope Foodie in Miami readers have a wonderful Fourth of July! I made Chocolate Chip Cookies and Mango Ice Cream, two favorites of my Dad’s, to celebrate. I will be thinking of him and the one thousand weeks I have left. That’s assuming I live ten more years and, of course, no one knows. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, so, as Tammy Faye used to say, eat dessert first!

If today was not an endless highway If tonight was not an endless trail. If tomorrow wasn’t such a long time Then lonesome would mean nothing to you at all.

Words by Bob Dylan, sung by Elvis

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I’m thinking love Love, love, love More sweet than bitter.

So I finished Atlas of the Heart, the new book by Brene Brown about the eighty-seven emotions humans experience and how they effect our lives. I related to a lot of the passages, but was especially moved by Bittersweet.

The bittersweet side of appreciating life’s most precious moments is the unbearable awareness that those moments are passing.

Marc Parent, Believing It All

“Bittersweet is a mixed feeling of happiness and sadness,” as Dr. Brown defines it and I think I find it so poignant precisely because of the innate mix. It’s not positive or negative, but a combo, so that also makes it a confusing emotion.

I thought about this while driving down Old Cutler Road and passed by cars, trucks and vans decked out with balloons and painted up to celebrate Gulliver School’s Graduation. I can remember that feeling at my High School Graduation of happiness that I was finally finished, but sadness that I would never see these girls from my All Girl School, under these circumstances, again. “We may never pass this way again,” by Seals and Croft, was a popular song during my Senior Year at Lourdes and that song really summed up the transience of our experience.

I always got teary-eyed when my kids left one grade for another, but the one that really sticks in my mind was Christopher’s graduation from Kindergarten. I had volunteered a lot in his class, so knew the children and his wonderful teacher- Miss Citerella. I felt that bittersweet feeling on his last day, that my youngest child was moving from the protected cocoon of kindergaten to becoming a full-fledged first grader, with tests and assignments.

The kids in the class had each colored a page in a big book they made that illustrated Louis Armstrong’s song It’s a Wonderful World and, when they all sang it to the Kindergarten parents, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. When Courtney, Christopher’s fiance, asked me a couple years ago what song I wanted to dance with Christopher to at their wedding, it only took a minute to realize It’s a Wonderful World was the perfect choice.

EATING OUT THIS WEEK IN MIAMI

We celebrated Emma’s birthday on Tuesday with dinner out at Terre Del Sapore. I met Emma when she was a shy little four year old; she turned 24 Tuesday. I posted a photo of her at my wedding as a flower girl and from her UM Graduation just last week, with the caption: “You’ve come a long way baby!” Of course, she’s not familiar with the Virginia Slims slogan, but the sentiment is still true.

Zeke picked this particular Italian restaurant because he’d passed by it on Giralda many times and because they had Beef Carpaccio, a family favorite. The place was very casual, with metal chairs, wood tables, exposed ductwork and a wood burning pizza oven. The food, including the Beef Carpaccio, was very good and the prices were reasonable; we all liked our Pasta dishes. I got a Porcini Mushroom Ravioli in cream sauce that was delicious, as was the Delicata Salad with figs, burrata, walnuts and arugula, which we shared.

Unfortunately, the service was just awful. There was one young kid, by himself, waiting tables, and he didn’t seem to care much. We even had to ask for the Birthday dessert of Tiramasu (even though Zeke had already told them), so I don’t know if I can recommend this restaurant. Maybe for takeout?

Monday, we ordered what is my new favorite pizza from Miami’s Best– The Italian. It’s a white pizza (no red sauce) with Fresh Mozzarella, Burrata and topped with prosciutto, arugula and cherry tomatoes with a Balsamic drizzle. We got a Medium for $22. Yum!

Thursday I met a friend for lunch at Chana Thai Kitchen, in the TJ Maxx Plaza by the Falls. We both loved our entrees- Red Curry with Tofu ($16) and Chicken with a garlic, pepper sauce (Pad Gra Tiem Prik Tai, also $16) which was a little spicy and delicious. Both came with Jasmine Rice on the side. This is a perfect, healthy option if you’re in that area. They also serve sushi and have lunch specials.

Thursday I took Wyatt to his last tennis lesson of the season at Riviera and then met A.J., Justin and Phoenix for dinner upstairs with Zeke. It was nice to spend some quality family time with them, since Justin has been working a lot and can’t usually get away. I did watch Phoenix Monday so A.J. could attend Wyatt’s Kindergarten Graduation. I’m feeling like, I’ll just blink and my first grandson will be getting his Driver’s License next. It goes by so fast!

I had my Book Club meeting at Guta’s Friday night for Atlas of the Heart. She said she was cooking vegetarian, so I brought some Onion Dip and Wavy Lays potato chips (because vegetarians shouldn’t be punished). Book Club at Guta’s is always a treat, but a bit bittersweet this time, as she has recently put her house on the market and may be moving away. We had so many appetizers- grape leaves, hummus, pita bread, onion dip, veggies and the most delicious bread (Panzanella) Salad with tomatoes and burrata- that we skipped the main course and went straight to dessert. She served Pomegranate Sangria with strawberries to drink and had a flourless chocolate cake and cookies for dessert.

And then to the Keys for Memorial Day weekend.

MY WEEK OF DINING DANGEROUSLY

I watched Desi and Lucy on Amazon Prime. It’s a documentary about their relationship, directed by comedian Amy Poehler. I really enjoyed it, but it was also, in it’s own way, sad. These two people- brilliant and talented- who started an empire (Desilu Studios), created the most beloved sitcom of all time (I Love Lucy) and who loved each other so much- just couldn’t make their marriage work. Ironically, the show about the “happily married” Ricardos didn’t reflect reality and after 20 years of marriage, they divorced. Still, the last person to talk to Desi on his death bed, besides his daughter and nurse, was Lucille Ball. Her message? “I love you, I love you, I love you.” Bittersweet.

I see trees of green, red roses too I see them bloom for me and you And I think to myself, what a wonderful world!

I hear babies cry and I watched them grow They’ll learn much more, than I’ll ever know. And I think to myself, what a wonderful world!

Yes, I think to myself, what a wonderful world!

Sung by Louis Armstrong

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The cousins took my aunts to their apartment in Rome, where they had lunch. Part of the lunch was Pickled Eggplant, served on Saltines. My Aunt Josie was the cook in the family and she learned how to make it from her Italian cousins that afternoon. After lunch, they all changed into their nightgowns and took a nap. La vita bella! I think she told me dinner was a smaller meal than lunch, but she also told me that ever since that day, she always kept a jar of Pickled Eggplant in her refrigerator.

About ten years ago, I asked Josie to come over and show me how to make it. She was probably almost 90 years old at that point, and I figured it was best to learn from the maestro! Recipes are fine, and in fact I did have her recipe for Pickled Eggplant which she typed up and Xeroxed to give out, but there is no substitute for watching how a recipe is made. In person. Now, that Josie is gone, I’m so glad we had that morning together. She did have an issue with my eggplant, however.

This is the eggplant you got?

said Josie, picking it up disdainfully.

“Yes,” I said. “What’s wrong with it?”

“I like to get firm eggplants,” she said.

So, when you get your eggplant to make this, make sure it’s firm. I used two small eggplants, instead of one large, because that’s what I had from Empower Farms.

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This is bad news for me (and Oprah!) as I love bread in any form. Toasted rye is my drug of choice with my eggs in the morning and an English muffin is, of course, a requirement for Eggs Benedict. I like a Cafe Au Lait and a buttery croissant while I watch the French Open and a lovely scone with butter and jam lathered on, as I watch Wimbledon. What would Indian food be without the Na’an to sop up the sauces, or Middle Eastern without pita to spread Hummus and Baba Ganoush on? What are bagels without cream cheese, pulled pork without a Hawaiian Roll Bun or Thanksgiving without those little, buttery heat-n-serve Parker House rolls? And no Bar-B-Que would be complete for me without out a fat, buttery slice of Texas Toast. So, there we have it. My core is toast.

A couple weeks ago I had three birthday lunches in one week! Sacre Bleue!

My daughter A.J. took me to Fiola’s for a postponed Birthday lunch (my birthday is in November). I think Fiola’s is the perfect spot for a birthday lunch. They have indoor and outdoor seating, the decor is beautiful, presentation lovely and the service impeccable. Oh, and they have delicious bread (available on request). The bread comes served to you warm and deposited on your plate with tongs, by your waiter, along with a little plate of olive oil. The only thing missing is a small pinch of salt (which you can ask for) and it is heavenly. I actually liked the whole wheat bread better than the white (I had both); it was crusty on the outside, warm and fluffy on the inside. Yum.

The reason I love Fiola’s for lunch is because they have a Prixe Fix menu for $29, which is a great deal. If you go you should get what I did, because it was molte bene! The Tuna Tartare as a starter (or the ceviche depending what is available), the Grilled Skirt Steak with olive oil mashed potatoes and grilled endive as an entree and the Tiramasu for dessert. If you tell them it’s a Birthday Lunch, they will give you a little card congratulating you and a free dessert (but it won’t be tiramasu).

The tuna tartar comes on a pretty glass plate, atop a bowl of crushed ice, with a green leaf peeking through. The chopped red tuna is topped with pickled red onions, a black garlic puree, fried shallots and microgreens, a perfect conglomeration of flavors and textures that prompted my daughter A.J. to ask:

Can I lick the plate?

A.J.

When I went for another birthday lunch, I’d ordered the chicken, but this time I went with the steak. It’s a 4 ounce grilled skirt steak (petite portion), that was perfectly cooked to medium rare and topped with chimichurri sauce; it’s served with silky mashed potatoes and grilled endives, that read like bone marrow when they arrive at the table. It was one of the best steaks I’ve ever eaten! A.J. got the Caesar Salad with Shrimp, which she enjoyed, but not as much as my steak, because let’s face it, a Caesar Salad is a Caesar Salad. The Branzino is also good, if you’re not into red meat, but if you are into red meat, get the steak.

I had tried many other desserts at Fiola’s, but never the tiramasu, as I feel it’s overdone at many restaurants. Silly me! It was the BEST tiramasu I’ve ever eaten, hands down. It arrives in a little white terrine, with a pretty chocolate wafer with Fiolas on it in gold. Dig in and it’s a liquid feast of a creamy coffee sauce and zabglione, until you hit the center of chocolate cake which lends some texture. On top of that is a scoop of chocolate gelato, melting into the rest of the tiramasu. Amazing and very rich- I could only eat half.

A.J. and I had a lovely time, but service is leisurely, so plan accordingly. Our lunch took an hour and a half, so she had to call Justin to pick up Wyatt from school. This is a lunch you want to enjoy and not rush.

The very next day I had lunch at Root and Bone in South Miami to celebrate my friend, and old tennis partner, Sherida’s birthday. There is free parking available on the side, which is a nice plus and inside and outside seating. We sat outside. I was first to arrive and asked the waiter what he recommended, something I usually do on the regular. I hate when a server says “Everything” because I think that’s just a lazy answer. To his credit, our waiter didn’t say that. He suggested the Lunch Plate Special of Fried Chicken & Waffles & Watermelon Salad ($16), the Brussel Sprouts and Farro Bowl ($14) or the Autumn Pear Salad ($14).

When Ellen and Sherida arrived we talked so much it took us a while to look at the menu. Sherida wanted the Fried Chicken, which is normally served Family Style with other sides, but that’s all she got.

I know it’s not good for you, but that’s what I want.

Sherida

But it was her birthday lunch, so go for it! Ellen is in Weight Watchers and used to be a WW Leader, so is always watching what she eats. I’m a Weight Watcher drop out who now just watches my weight rise. She couldn’t decide between the Brussel Sprout and Farro Bowl and the Autumn Pear Salad, so I suggested we get both and split it between the two of us, which is what we did.

Both were solid choices and Ellen said she would have a hard time picking between the two. The Brussel Sprouts and Farro Bowl, was less a bowl than an artistic arrangement of ingredients, all of which- charred cauliflower, brussel sprout leaves, roasted tomato, goat cheese and farro, were delicious. It came with a charred lemon slice and lemon vinaigrette on the side. I’m not sure if it was Weight Watcher-approved (it tasted a little greasy), but it was delicious.

The Autumn Pear Salad had watercress as its base; I feel watercress is an underutilized green and it’s delicious and healthy. It came with thin shavings of pickled pear, roasted corn kernels and spiced hazelnuts, but the kicker was the crunchy and golden sweet potato croquettes that topped it. They had a creamy, sweet interior and came with an aioli to dip them in; it took the salad from good to yes please! I felt the brown butter vinaigrette was a little too heavy for this salad, but overall, I really enjoyed it.

Our friend Ellen had gotten her second vaccine, so we were celebrating that, and life returning to normal in general (please God!), as well. I have known many people who have already gotten their vaccine. Good for them! If you have and want to celebrate, now you know where to go in Miami to toast to your health and enjoy good food. By the way, although I didn’t have them this time, the Angel Biscuits at Root and Bone are to die for!

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Tik Tok Feta Tomato Pasta Recipe

• 2 baskets cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
• 1 block of Feta Cheese (the kind that comes in water)
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil (about 1/4 cup)
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
• Red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon (optional)
• Pasta, 1/2 pound

These ingredients are tailored to a two-person dish, so I used a 9 x 9 inch pan, as opposed to the 9 x 13 inch called for. Also, I love the Heavenly Villagio Marzano tomatoes; although they’re a little pricey, they are worth it.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Generously oil the pan. You don’t want to skimp on the olive oil, thoroughly coat the bottom of the pan, so the tomatoes don’t stick. Slice cherry tomatoes in half and place, cut side down, into the oiled pan. Place a block of feta cheese in the middle (I used half) and sprinkle on seasonings, if desired. I sprinkled mine with some red pepper flakes.

Place in oven, uncovered, and bake for about 30 minutes, or until feta is creamy.

In the meantime, boil your pasta water. Also chop your basil and garlic.

*A note here about the garlic, I guess you were supposed to bake the garlic with the tomatoes, but I liked the raw garlic tossed with the pasta, for a fresh taste and the pasta kind of cooked the garlic, so it wasn’t too strong.

The pasta type to use for this sauce is one with room in the middle (like penne or rigatoni) for the yummy sauce to fill, but honestly, any pasta would do.

Follow directions for boiling pasta and IMPORTANT! save some pasta water from the pot (after pasta is boiled), about 1 cup. Drain. Do not rinse the pasta.

Remove the pan from the oven, scrape up the tomatoes from the bottom and blend with the feta. Add the garlic and basil and stir. Then add the pasta water, to form a creamy sauce.

Add drained pasta to the pan with tomatoes and feta and enjoy.

This dish is easy enough to cook on a busy weeknight and luckily, the ingredients are probably ones you already have at home. I like Trader Joe’s feta cheese for this one.

Up Next: Easy Sauce for Smoked Pulled Pork.

My husband Zeke and I went to Italy a couple years ago with a great deal I found on Travelzoo– a week in Tuscany, with a rent-a-car, breakfast every morning and round-trip airfare, for less than $1000 a person. We picked up our car in Milan, drove to Tuscany and stopped in Bologna to eat lunch at a restaurant that I’d read about in a Bon Appetit. The restaurant was in a house and you could see the mom (or nona) in the back kitchen, rolling the pasta dough with a rolling pin. I couldn’t make up my mind between the ricotta and pumpkin tortellini in cream sauce, so the waitress suggested I get both. It was the best meal of that trip and one I will never forget.

I’ve never attempted to make my own stuffed pasta from scratch, as I find the ones found in the freezer section are quite good. Trader Joe’s has an interesting variety of raviolis such as: Ricotta with lemon zest, Sweet Corn, Burrata and Basil, Roasted Cauliflower and Cheese, and Butternut Squash. Of course, the selection depends of when you visit and if they are stocked with the particular frozen items. It’s a bit of a crap shoot with Trader Joe’s.

I recently picked up a package of Rana Mushroom and Cheese Ravioli at Publix that were delicious. Honestly, I could have eaten them plain, but this recipe from the Serve It Up! cookbook, takes it to another level. The browned butter gives it a nuttiness, the balsamic vinegar a sweetness and the nuts, a crunch, that makes for one flavor-packed ravioli dish. Also, on the plus side, it’s ready in no time with a minimum of fuss.

This recipe was contributed by Ellen Hamlin, a friend of my sister Kelley’s from Our Lady of Lourdes high school. I don’t use all the butter (it’s a stick!) and didn’t have walnuts, so substituted pistachios. Almonds, pine nuts and hazelnuts, all favorites in Italy, would also work nicely. I skipped the Parmesan cheese and topped mine with chopped scallions, but chopped parsley or basil would also be good, depending on the type of ravioli.

Balsamic Brown Butter Ravioli

1 stick butter 1/3 cup roughly chopped walnuts, toasted 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar salt and pepper, to taste 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 18-20 ounces ravioli

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat, reduce to a simmer and cook according to the package directions, while tender but still firm. Drain and place in bowl.

In a medium saucepan, cook the butter over medium heat, stirring occasionally. When the foam subsides and the butter begins to turn golden brown (about 3 minutes), turn off the heat. Let it cool about one minute and then stir in the balsamic vinegar. Stand back, as it will bubble up. Taste and season as necessary.

Transfer the ravioli to the saucepan with the balsamic brown butter, sprinkle with walnuts and parmesan cheese and serve immediately. Great with a salad and crusty Italian bread.

Up Next: Key West Food Tours