“Did you think we’d make it this far?” I asked him. He told me no, that he’d told me he didn’t think it was going to work, four weeks in. I completely forgot about that! Like Ruth Bader Ginsburg noted, sometimes it’s better to be a little deaf with your spouse, while married.

Emma and Guillermo came over for dinner Tuesday. I reheated some delicious Lemon Chicken Thighs (recipe to come) I’d made the night before to go along with Caesar Salad (made by Zeke) and Sausage and Onion Pizza, that got a little burnt on the bottom. It’s getting harder and harder for Emma to navigate and she said when she drops things these days, she’s not sure she will even be able to get up. She was wearing some strap under her belly that a co-worker recommended for back pain. In my day, they told us to wear girdles! It reminded me of something a horse would wear, but, if it works, more power to her.

She was talking about things Guillermo did that drive her crazy while she’s pregnant and I was talking about things her Dad does that drive me crazy in general. Like putting soap in the kitchen sponge (who does that?), leaving little crumbs on the counter when he cuts bread (evidence that he’s been there) and re-loading the dishwasher after I load it. Come to think of it, most of my complaints about him revolve around the kitchen. Oh! And looking over my shoulder when I cook (and offering unsolicited advice). I hate that!

But an anniversary is not a time to nit pick, so off we went to Tam Tam, a Vietnamese restaurant downtown, across from the courthouse, that I’d heard was great. It was a very funky- not fancy- place. Kind of a funny pick for our anniversary, but the food was great and I loved it! It was interesting and adventurous, kind of like our marriage. We talked about favorite trips we’ve taken and future trips we want to take and came home and ate our Misha’s Cupcakes and Vegan Guava Cheesecake, compliments of Tam Tam.

My low point in our marriage was when we had three teenage girls at home, while I was going through menopause. I feel if I could survive that, I could survive anything. But, when kids are at home, you’re in the thick of it and now it’s just us and this big, empty house. It’s so quiet! All the grandkids are out of town (until July) and we are trying to navigate this next chapter in our life as Empty Nesters. We’ve been looking at houses, but the more we look, the more depressing it gets.

And, while twenty years is a big deal, like age, it’s just a number. The question is really: “How is your marriage today? Do you still do things to show that you love each other? Are you happy with each other?” Yes, yes and yes. It’s time for the next chapter in our lives and I am ready for it. After being married twice (17 years for #1) I think I’ve learned a couple things that are important in marriage.

#1 Communication #2 Compromise #3 Respect #4 Appreciation #5 Being a little deaf

The secret of a happy marriage is finding the right person. You know they’re right if you love to be with them all the time.”

Julia Child

Up Next: Lemon Chicken Recipe and Tam Tam review

“A.J. volunteered to help us move, but unfortunately Phoenix has Hand, Foot and Mouth disease,” Courtney said.

“What?” I asked, incredulously.

A.J. and Justin were going to a family wedding and had asked me to babysit the whole weekend, but since I already had the trip to Cassadaga planned on Friday, I told her I would come on Saturday. Saint Augustine was an hour away. A babysitter was with them before I got there, but A.J. had neglected to tell me Phoenix had Hand, Foot and Mouth. She just said he “had a little virus he picked up at school.”

There was no turning back at that point, but I’d gotten sick (from Zeke) in Boston and then in Tallahassee, Chris and Courtney were both sick and I got sicker. Looking back on it, I slept in Liam’s room where the mold was the worst, so maybe it was the mold that caused my headache and breathing issues. At any rate, I was sick of being sick, much less arriving at a home with more sickness in store.

I picked up two Happy Meals at McDonalds, because it was lunchtime and headed to A.J.’s house. I got greeted by Wyatt and Phoenix running to me, screaming “Gigi!” and giving me a big hug. Phoenix had little red dots all over his face and goo coming out of his nose. I proudly presented the two yellow and red boxes with the arched handles, only to be told by Wyatt “We just had those.” The babysitter had gotten them Happy Meals, which Phoenix was still eating. So, fail. I ate a Kid’s Hamburger from one of the meals. It was lousy and the fries were cold.

I brought them presents- a coloring book for Phoenix with 4 crayons from my bank and a rope bracelet kit for Wyatt, from Mystic, Connecticut. The babysitter Mia left, putting the car seat in the back seat of my car. Phoenix started coloring on the floor, Wyatt was on his I-pad on the couch and I let the dog (Mera) in. Personally, I think it’s a lot to just babysit two grandchildren, but adding a rambunctious Labrador puppy to the mix? A bit of overkill.

The crayons suddenly disappeared, with remnants of paper left behind.

“Did the dog eat the crayons? I think the dog ate the crayons,” I said, panicking.

“Don’t worry,” said Wyatt calmly, “she’s eaten a lot worse things.”

I asked what we could do, since I didn’t want to be stuck in the house all day (although driving somewhere seemed a bridge too far) and Wyatt suggested going to climb a tree nearby. So, we set out- Wyatt on his scooter, Phoenix on his bike (that seems too big for him)- to a huge tree a couple blocks away. Phoenix had a hard time pedaling, so I tried to help him, but Wyatt was whizzing away and I worried about cars coming and told Wyatt to watch out.

We got to the tree, they climbed it and once Phoenix got up there, he spontaneously jumped into my arms, laughing. He does this without warning and without making sure you are looking- from trees, kitchen counters and couches. It is very dangerous; he has no fear. I had a mini heart attack but Wyatt desperately needed to use the bathroom. I told him to pee in the bushes but it was #2, so off he went on his scooter and off we went with Phoenix on his bike and me desperately trying to keep up with Wyatt.

I could no longer see Wyatt after he turned down his street and I was panicking. “What if someone kidnaps him? What if he gets hit by a car? What if…?” No matter, that when I was a child we could take off all day on our bikes and be home by dinner without any supervision whatsoever. But times are different. And being a Gigi is different than being a parent.

Luckily, his scooter was in the garage when we arrived and he was inside, safe and sound. Phoenix (thank you God) took a nap and Wyatt and I played a fun game called Jumanji. I miss the one-on-one time with Wyatt, because it’s impossible to focus on anything but Phoenix when I watch the two of them.

I gave them baths and contemplated dinner. When I asked A.J. what she had for me to eat for dinner, she said: lentils, turkey slices and frozen pizza. The frozen pizza seemed like our best bet, but when I opened the freezer it was a Publix vegetable pizza. There’s not much of anything sadder than a Publix vegetable pizza for dinner. Unless it’s lentils or turkey slices, so (at Wyatt’s suggestion) we ordered Papa John’s Stuffed Crust Cheese Pizza. It was good.

Dessert was a couple pieces of Halloween candy, but I definitely didn’t want them to eat too much because sugar + kids = chaos. UM lost to FSU but we couldn’t watch the game because I couldn’t figure out the TV and A.J. and Justin were at their wedding so couldn’t explain it to me. We watched Elf on my computer instead. It’s a little early for Christmas movies, but what the heck. Desperate times…

Wyatt wanted Hot Chocolate to drink while watching Elf, but when I opened the pantry, there was no Swiss Miss or the like. There was Hershey’s Cocoa, so I attempted to make hot chocolate with the little bit of milk remaining and something called coconut sugar (which I’ve never heard of).

“This is really strong,” said Wyatt.

It was, but what’s a Gigi to do? I added some water to it and we watched Elf. Phoenix didn’t seem too interested in it and then, exhausted, we went to bed. At least, I was exhausted. I read Phoenix a couple books and then we slept, with Wyatt at one end, me at the other and Phoenix lying between us, making a giant H in the bed. Phoenix coughed all night and I wondered how Hand, Foot and Mouth disease would present in adults. I had a lousy night’s sleep.

Woke up, tried to take a shower in A.J.’s bedroom but had a hard time figuring it out. Hot, cold, bath, shower? There was no soap, only body wash. What do people have against soap these days? I like soap. And I longed for my own shower with soap, my own coffee maker I know how to use, regular sugar, homemade meals, my own bed and my own TV. Even though I can’t always figure out our TV, I have Zeke at home to help me.

When the babysitter arrived to relieve me at 10 a.m., I took out of there like a bat out of hell. So quick, in fact, I left with Phoenix’s car seat in the back seat of my car. I’d never used it and totally forgot it was there. Oh well. So goes Gigi’s Adventure’s in Babysitting. Wyatt asked when the next Gigi Camp would be. I told him maybe we would do a Winter Edition, but we’ll see. I need to regain my strength first.

Up Next: Eating House

All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey…

Here in Miami, all the leaves aren’t brown, but the sky is grey and rainy, due to incoming Hurricane Ian. Yes, while the rest of the country begins to bundle up for the Fall nip in the air, we here in South Florida are still in the midst of Hurricane season, dodging bullets and crossing fingers the latest “tropical depression turned hurricane” doesn’t come our way.

But, good news! It actually is officially Fall.

The first day of Autumn was September 22nd- last Thursday. I usually take photos of my garden the first day of each season, but this year my little herb and vegetable garden is empty and covered with black plastic. I’m waiting until it cools down a bit to start planting.

Still, my starfruit are plentiful and avocados keep falling from two trees. I also have a beautiful butterfly pea plant with brilliant purple flowers and white, fragrant jasmine blooming, which give me a reason to go outside in this hot, humid weather.

Fall means all things PUMPKIN!

You’re either a pumpkin lover or a pumpkin hater. I fall into the first category, loving Pumpkin Lattes, Pumpkin Pancakes, Pumpkin Bundt Cake and Pumpkin Ice Cream. My favorite (and easy!) way to enjoy pumpkin, is to sprinkle a little Pumpkin Pie Spice into my morning coffee because (spoiler alert) most “pumpkin flavored” items, are actually just” pumpkin spice” flavored.

A couple weeks ago, when it was still Summer, I had leftover lobster and corn, so I turned it into one of my favorite ways to use leftovers and made a summery Lobster and Corn Pizza. For some reason, Monday’s became Pizza Day in our house (I think it was when we watched The Bachelor together in the Pandemic), where we would order a pizza from Miami’s Best and chow down, while watching “the most dramatic season ever”.

When making your own pizza, you have different choices for the crust. The easiest is to buy a pre-made crust, like Boboli. The middle option, is getting the pizza dough from the Bakery section of your grocery store. They also have a pizza dough in the can (Pillsbury), but I’m not a fan of this method. The most labor intensive option is making pizza dough from scratch. This is what I did for this pizza. It was a Bobby Flay recipe and, while good and not that hard, I feel the one from Publix Bakery tastes just as good. Just remember it needs to sit in the bag an hour before baking.

For my Lobster and Corn Pizza, I used Pesto as the sauce on the bottom, added cherry tomatoes, the lobster and corn and topped it with mozzarella cheese and chopped chives. Can you say Summer on a pie? It turned out great, as did the tomato sauce with basil and fresh mozzarella one I made, since the recipe made two balls of dough. Emma and Guillermo ate with us. While they stayed for Jeopardy, they did abandon us before The Bachelorette started.

Tuesday, I made an easy dinner of Marinated Chicken Thighs in Teriyaki sauce. They sell frozen ones at Trader Joe’s, already de-boned and de-skinned, which makes preparing them a breeze. Just marinate in your favorite marinade for a couple hours, then grill or bake.

I was excited to try my new Our Place Always Pan, which I purchased through Katie Couric’s newsletter during a Labor Day sale. Apparently Katie loves this pan, which comes in many pretty colors, and it’s supposed to take the place of 8 pieces of cookware. I sauteed red bell pepper, onions and carrots in the pan and they turned out great. It’s non-stick, so the vegetables slid right out.

Having said that, there are some rules with this beautiful (and expensive) pan. You can’t heat it over medium heat and never, ever use metal utensils in it, or it will ruin the non-stickiness of the pan. Also, it can’t go into the oven. I was trying to figure out how it replaces 8 pans, but it actually says 8 utensils. It comes with a steamer basket, lid, wooden utensil and a natural sponge to clean it.

While I like my Always Pan, for me- Cast Iron Skillets that can be heated to scorching, put in the oven and scraped with a metal spatula- offer the most bang for the buck. They are pretty much indestructible! But, the Always Pan is good for eggs and other delicate items you don’t want to stick and I like the idea of the steamer basket. So, there’s room in my kitchen for both Kumbaya pans. One’s a Mac Truck, the other a Maserati.

Inspired by a Cooks Illustrated Instagram post, I made Soba Noodles with Chicken (leftover from the night before), veggies (also leftover) and edamame in a peanut sauce. Trader Joe’s sells a tasty, Spicy Peanut Sauce should you not want to make your own. Soba noodles, a tradition Japanese noodle, are made from buckwheat flour, so are healthier than noodles made with white flour. They need to be soaked before cooking, They are low glycemic, high in B vitamins, antioxidants and minerals and contain all 8 amino acids.

Friday I had my first Miami Spice of the Season at TUR Kitchen (see previous post) and Saturday, out on the boat, enjoyed a Publix Italian Sub. Delicious! We were going to meet friends Doug and Heidi at Lorelie, but rain and lightening threatened, so we headed the other way to Gilberts, for a stiff drink and to listen to the band- Cutler Stew.

Sunday, I watched Wyatt and Phoenix for A.J., who is now the new Event Planner and Wedding Coordinator for Patch of Heaven Sanctuary in the Redlands. Dinner was Spaghetti Sunday with pasta, sausage, meatballs, sauteed peas, salad, garlic bread and Eggplant Parm that Emma made. I was planning on making Lemon Sorbet, but with watching the kids, Phoenix bonking his head, etc…, it didn’t happen.

Good news for Miami and Coral Gables!

Bon Appetit has a list of Best New Restaurants and three South Florida Restaurants- Los Felix, Paradis Book + Bread and Sunny’s Steakhouse– made the list. The New York Times Food Section announced their Restaurant List 2022 and two Coral Gables restaurants- Zitz Sum and Mamey– made the list. I’ve been to (and enjoyed) both these restaurants. Congrats to Chefs Pablo Zitzmann and Nivel Patel on this honor!

Did you watch The Emmys? I was so surprised to see Abbot Elementary’s Sheryl Lee Ralph in the audience. Nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, she was much more glammed-up (and younger looking), than the maternal character she plays on the show, which I love. She won and wow! She belted out a song (Endangered Species) acapella that captivated the audience; her speech following, was equally inspirational.

To anyone who has ever had a dream … and thought your dream wouldn’t come true. This is what believing looks like.

Sheryl Lee Ralph

The Emmys gave me a whole new list of things to add to my “Must See” TV (or streaming) list, starting with White Lotus, which won a lot of awards. Also- Succession, Ozark, Ted Lasso, Only Murders in the Building, Killing Eve, The Morning Show, Yellowjackets, Hacks, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Dopesick, The Staircase, Pam and Tommy and Maid. Some of these I had heard of, some I’d started watching, but others, I had not.

I also read a good suggestion regarding streaming services in a AARP newsletter. They suggested to subscribe to just one or two streaming services, binge-watch the series you’re interested in, and then cancel. Right now I have six services and that’s just crazy.

Equally crazy, I’m bookmarking yummy-looking Fall Dishes like Chicken Enchiladas, Baked Vidalia Onions, Hasselback Sausages, Butter Pecan Cookies and S’more Donuts from Instagram to sample soon, in this “Fall” Season. Fall also calls to mind anything Apple– crisp, cold apples, Apple Martinis, Apple Cider, Apple-Glazed Donuts, Apple Strudel, Apple Fritters and Apple Crumble. I love apples!

It may be 88 degrees outside, with 90% humidity here in Miami but I want my Fall, darnit! Just like Sheryl Lee Ralph, if I can believe it, it can happen. Even Fall in Miami.

Up Next: Overnight Oats

• Gin. Gin seems to be having a moment, with many different flavors becoming available. When I recently purchased Bombay Sapphire Gin, it came with a small bottle of Bombay Bramble flavored gin. There are also gins flavored with strawberry, cucumber, Rose wine and Earl Grey Tea. Some of these are good for G & T’s, others for martinis. There’s also a Miami gin called Tempt launched by Wayne Eldred, the former owner of Tarpon Bend. It is billed as a Tropical Gin with simple elegance and a citrusy taste, available at select eateries in Miami.

• Lapsong Souchong Tea. This type of tea, a smoked tea of the Camellia sinensis leaf, was mentioned in two NYT Food articles recently, one for a mocktail and one as a flavor popping up in new products, so it must be trending. This tea can be used and infused in cocktails, main dishes and ice cream.
• Wellness Waters. Also known as “functional beverages”, these waters (both sparkling and still) are supplemented with every thing from Magnesium, B-Vitamins and more. They promise everything from anti-inflammatory properties, to stress relief, sharpening focus and beyond. Do they work or is this the new snake-oil of our day? Wellness and stress relief is obviously on the forefront of everyone’s mind with the Pandemic, so it makes sense these products are trending.
• Collagen supplements. This isn’t exactly a food, but I have seen this popping up ALL over Instagram, so it must be trending hard. Celebrities, from Jennifer Aniston, Elle McPherson to Jillian Michaels (of Biggest Loser fame) are hawking these collagen supplements you stir into beverages. Ingesting collagen is supposed to improve your skin, hair and nails. Does it work? I don’t know- ask your dermatologist.
• Korean Food. Ok, so Thai and Vietnamese cuisine have had their day (and I love both so I hope their day never ends), but it’s time to broaden our horizons and try other Asian cuisines. The front page of the NYT featured Korean Essentials, with recommended dishes to try cooking. Korean food uses rice, veggies, seafood and meat, with very little dairy. Bibimbap, a rice dish that’s popular right now is an example of this cuisine. Also seasoned, roasted seaweed called gim and the spicy condiment gochujang, a red chili paste, are also trending. Luckily we have a Korean market in Miami called Kimchi Mart in Palmetto Bay, should you wish to try your hand at Korean cooking. Or just eat out.

• Bourbon flavored… everything. Bourbon, long a favorite in Kentucky, home to the Bourbon Trail, is trending and showing up in products as diverse as coffee, cheeses and candies. Bourbon Ball anyone?
• Plant-based Alternative Proteins. Is a trend that shows no sign of stopping, if anything, it’s getting bigger as the products being developed improve in quality and taste. Health, always important, has become the ultimate luxury pre, post and mid Pandemic. Hungry Girl just put out a newsletter with 16 plant-based Food Finds, so those pesky plants are sneaking into our everyday snacks and treats as well.
• Upscale Steak and Seafood Restaurants. Maybe it was the pent-up desire built from not being able to dine out in the Pandemic, but consumers realize what a luxury it is to eat out and eat well. The restaurant industry has responded in kind with top-of-the-market Meats (think Wagyu and Kobe) and Seafood in new restaurants opening Post-Pandemic.

• Upscale Japanese/Sushi Restaurants. In the same vein, people who love sushi are ready to kick it up a notch with expensive, Omakase meals where the chef decides which dishes to serve diners, based on the freshest ingredients that day. Sushi’s never been cheap, but people are now willing to shell out big bucks to experience premium seafood and sushi dinners. Naoe, on Brickell, is one restaurant that serves the Omakase menu. Your mouth will thank you; your pocketbook will not.

• Tasting Menus & Prix Fixe Menus. This may also be a result of the Pandemic and restaurants wanting to control food costs with selecting exactly what will be served instead of trying to field a huge menu. It also appeals to diners ready to have a special experience at restaurants, instead of same-old, same-old. I’ve seen this trend cropping up in New York and Miami, two good predictors of Dining Trends. Zits Sum, the Asian-inspired restaurant in Coral Gables helmed by chef Pablo Zitsmann, is now doing a six-course tasting menu for $85 per person, with an optional sake/wine pairing for $35 more. Personally, I love tasting menus, as they let you have a little taste of everything. My husband, who can be a cheapo, does not.
• Pizza restaurants. Pizza is perhaps the ultimate comfort food and it’s also affordable, making it a win-win. New pizza restaurants seem to be popping up on a regular basis. Whether it’s a restaurant that serves your basic pies, or a fancy wood-fired pizza with creative ingredients, pizza is a trend that keeps on rolling out. The Miami Herald recently named three Miami spots- O ‘Munaciello, La Leggenda Pizzeria and Stanzione– as finalists in the 50 Top Pizza places, by an Italian pizza guide, so go get yourself a slice!

• Artisinal Ice Cream. First it was Azucar, then Sweet Melody and then Portland original, Salt and Straw. Another comfort food treat that won’t break the bank, ice cream is loved by virtually all. With wild and delicious flavors like Orange Zest with Olive Oil and Dark Chocolate (Azucar) and Goat Cheese Marionberry with Habanero (Salt & Straw), this isn’t your typical Whip and Dip experience. Sweet Melody has a Zodiac flavor that changes with the sun signs. This month’s Gemini features Whipped Coffee Ice Cream with Biscoff Cookie Butter. Sounds delicious! They also give you a free cone on your birthday if you register to get their e-mails.

• Global Condiments. Remember when we only had the basic Heinz Ketchup, Yellow Mustard and Hellmans Mayo on the condiment aisle? Condiments have gone crazy these days and taken their inspo from all over the world! Curry Ketchup, Japanese BBQ Sauce, Kimchi Mayo, Hot Honey Dijon Mustard are just the beginning. Visiting the condiment aisle at Publix is now like taking a trip to different countries, with a dizzying array of choices.

Up Next: Hawaii.

Oh, it’s raining again. Oh no, my loves at an end. Oh no, it’s raining again, And you know it’s hard to pretend.

If you live in Miami, you know it rained constantly last week.

We dodged it, trying to get our “free” hot dogs at Riviera on Monday for Memorial Day, without getting soaked. It was iffy the rest of the week and then, on Friday and Saturday, turned into Monsoon-like weather. There’s a lake-size puddle behind our house and branches and leaves have dropped all over the yard. Summer, not officially on the calendar yet, has begun in Miami. It is Hurricane Season; our roof has sprung another leak.

My sister Kelley officially became Jewish last week. The ceremony took place at Matheson Hammock, where she was fully immersed in the water in the lagoon. She wasn’t allowed to wear jewelry, makeup or nail polish, but had to come exactly as if she were a newborn baby. Luckily, she was allowed to wear a bathing suit. The water recreates the environment of the womb and when the convert emerges, it is the death of all that has gone before and the beginning of her new life as a Jew. Mazel tov!

Coincidentally, Zeke’s nephew got baptized for a second time last Sunday. He entered the dunk-type tank, set up outside the church, fully clothed, although he did remove his shoes, socks, watch and wallet before entering. This was at Renew church, a Pentecostal church in Homestead. My nephew recommitted to Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior. Kelley, who has been Christian her whole life, now refers to Jesus as a “good Jew.”

Tuesday night I went to the new Downton Abbey movie- A New Era– at Merrick Place with friends. It’s not going to win any acting awards, but it was good to see the old Grantham gang back together again, this time with a Hollywood film crew crashing the estate. I also saw the Top Gun: Maverick movie Saturday night with Zeke. It was very entertaining and kept me on the edge of my seat, but I was a little disappointed there was no mention of Kelly McGillis, who played Maverick’s love interest in the first film. I guess they “lost that loving feeling” for Kelly, aka Charlie in the movie. There were a lot of nods, however, to the original.

If you saw the first Top Gun, you know the pilots all had nicknames. I was especially enamored with Rooster, played by the adorable Miles Teller. He plays Goose (Anthony Edwards) and Meg Ryan’s son and sports the same stache and Hawaiian shirts his father favored. (I just realized both father and son have bird names.) He does this dance on the beach, now coined the Rooster wiggle, that’s been a sensation on Tik Tok. Google it. It was so nice to finally go to the movies with an audience, after the isolation we’ve all suffered in the Pandemic! Spontaneous applause was frequent; it seems like we all craved this action-packed, feel-good movie that let us forget about life for a while.

On Netflix, Zeke and I finished Bad Vegan (very weird!) and started The Staircase, a creepy, real life murder mystery. I’m still plowing through Grace and Frankie and am now on the last season. I definitely want to check out the Julia Child documentary on HBO (which means subscribing to HBO) and have heard Ozark, on Netflix, is must-see (streaming) TV.

Wednesday, I was very excited to see Courtney and Liam, who were flying in that day from Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I’m not sure what I expected of my reunion with my middle grandson, but Liam walked right past his Gigi to play with the basketful of baby toys in the living room. He seemed completely indifferent to me, despite the fact I hadn’t seen him in months. I made Teriyaki Chicken Thighs, Jasmine Rice, Stir fried veggies and a big salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing for dinner. Chris and Courtney were supposed to move back to Florida in July, but that’s now up in the air.

The highlight of our week was going to dinner at Red Rooster, Marcus Samuelsson’s restaurant in Overtown; the original is in Harlem, New York. I was supposed to go there for lunch after The Villager’s meeting at the historic Hampton House, but it got cancelled at the last minute, so was so happy to finally visit.

Red Rooster has a fun vibe, with a large bar in the front room as you enter; the well-lit main dining room features terrazzo floors, an open kitchen, bistro seats and marble topped tables lit with brass domed lights. Funky wallpaper- both tropical and Art deco- adorn the walls and memorabilia, such as Green Book guides, decorate the entrance. It has a not-so-secret speakeasy feel to it. There was a lot to take in and a beautiful room to the right, closed due to the rain.

We ordered entrees from “The Classics” section of the menu. I really liked the Fried Yard Bird (fried chicken), served with spicy honey and a cabbage slaw. The chicken was juicy, well seasoned, with a satisfying crunch to the crispy skin; it was a large portion. Zeke also enjoyed his Red Red Shrimp and Grits, which were actually quite red in color, probably from the stewed tomatoes in the sauce.

My favorite menu items were the appetizers of Marcus’s Cornbread with curry butter and the Deviled Eggs with chicharron and caviar. The cornbread melted in your mouth, slathered with soft butter and topped with flakes of Maldon salt. The deviled eggs, (which come three to a portion so we added an extra), were creamy inside, but had the contrasting crunch of the sliver of pork rind, bacon bits and the sophisticated dollop of caviar and chives on top. Maybe the best deviled eggs I’ve ever had!

We weren’t madly tempted by any of the desserts, so off we went into the still-rainy night, full, happy and grateful to our friends who took us out. The place was quite full and bustling when we left, but being the old timers that we were, we headed home to watch the end of our murder mystery. We turned in to the sound of the falling rain, to hopefully wash away our sins and our trespasses.

Up Next: A Simple Chicken Stock

On our trip home, we were doomed to Florida Turnpike eating, so stopped and got Wendys. My go-to order there is a Single Burger with lettuce, tomato, onion, mustard and extra pickles, but they were advertising a New! Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich, so what the heck? I tried it. I have to say it was pretty good, but I was surprised a fried chicken sandwich, with Monterey Jack cheese and bacon, was almost the same amount of calories as my normal Single.

Back at home, I made Pizza out of Flatbreads I’d gotten at Trader Joe’s for dinner, since I figured we’d be tired from our trip and would want to do something easy. It was also an homage to Wolfgang Puck, the Austrian-American Chef who popularized Wood-Fired, Gourmet Pizzas in the ’80’s when he opened Spago’s in Beverly Hills. I actually met him at Spago’s a couple days before the Academy Awards were to take place., years ago. He caters one of the big Oscar after-parties, so I asked him how it was going.

Oh, that’s so far away.

Wolfgang Puck

It was actually in three days! If I was hosting a small dinner party in three days, I’d be freaking out, but I guess he’s done it so much, he’s got it down pat. Alas, I didn’t get a photo with Wolfgang Puck, but did get one with Sidney Poitier that day, who passed away this year and was honored at this year’s Oscars In Memoriam tribute.

One pizza we made was inspired by Miami’s Best California Dreaming, which has tomato sauce, goat cheese, spinach, artichoke hearts and sun dried tomatoes. The other pizza we made had fresh tomatoes, burrata cheese, garlic and basil. I added the burrata and basil after the pizza was cooked. The verdict? We liked the Burrata Pizza better, but I wasn’t crazy about the Flatbread aspect of it and would just stick with a regular pizza crust next time.

I guess I was one of the 7 people watching the Oscars when the slap heard round the world occurred. Although two friends I was texting with just said “What just happened?” It was hard to focus on anything else after that.

While I went for a walk the next morning, I ran into my old neighbor Maggie, who was in the neighborhood and decided to “torture herself” and come look at the huge monstrosity of a house being built, where her cute little cottage used to be. I took her around in my backyard to see it.

It’s big.

she said.

Kind of an understatement. “She told me she was going to build a small house for her parents,” Maggie explained about the buyer. This is definitely NOT a house for her parents.

Zeke measured where her future house is from our property and it’s less than 11 feet. It’s supposed to be 15! He’s written the Miami-Dade Zoning Board about this, so we’ll see. We figure she’s just going to build it and ask forgiveness later. Oy Vey!

Maggie is now living in Coconut Grove, where she can walk everywhere and she loves it. I told her we were thinking about downsizing as well, but as of right now, my house has become a storage unit for multiple adult children’s stuff. Speaking of which, Chris and Courtney, after much back and forth, are staying in Colorado, at least until the summer.

We met a relative of Zeke’s at Versailles Monday, on their way to the Everglades for a family vacation. There was a wait, so we put in our name and I got a Cafe Con Leche and a Ham Croquetta as we waited. I didn’t have milk for my coffee that day, so hadn’t had coffee and I don’t think a coffee has ever tasted as good. And the ham croquetta- big, creamy and delicious. Versailles is one of those Miami Institutions I would be devastated if it ever closed. As would most of Miami, I’m sure!

I had a bunch of chicken backs in the freezer (weird, I know), so decided to make Chicken Broth with them. I got this book called Simple to Spectacular, by Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Mark Bittman, where they take one simple recipe and elevate into three, progressively more complicated ones. The one I’ve used the most is One-Hour Chicken Stock. It’s easy, fast and delicious. It could be a base for other soups, but I love it just the way it is.

Phoenix loved it as well, and it’s just a homey and comforting broth for anyone.

I also made a Corn Chowder from Joy of Cooking, because I had corn cobs on hand. I served it with Broiled Shrimp and Ciabatta Bread. It was less successful, as I felt it needed a little oomph. I added some Korean hot sauce- Gochujang- which I mentioned in an earlier post, to spice it up.

I also tried a Roasted Cauliflower with Golden Raisins and Pine Nuts Recipe, which sounded interesting. I’m always on the search for new cauliflower recipes and this one, clipped from The Miami Herald, sounded promising, but I was unsure about one part. While you roasted the cauliflower, you sauteed onions and leeks in olive oil to add on top. I felt this would uncrisp the crispy cauliflower and I was right, so this recipe goes in la garbage. I have too many to try, too little time!

Since I had sauce leftover from Sticky Chicken (see previous post), I tried it again, but this time seasoned the chicken thighs with Chinese Five Spice and marinated it in Teriyaki Sauce. It made all the difference and was delicious. The rest of the week, I basically ate out, including a Poisson, which is, I discovered, a Spring Chicken. Kind of like a Cornish Hen, but smaller and quite delicious. So, it was a very chicken-y kind of week!

I listened to a Podcast while I walked with Author and Researcher Brene Brown, where she talked about trying to control ones partner. This was on Glennon Doyle’s podcast We Can Do Hard Things. They discussed why when we feel our partners are trying to control us, it makes us feel like they don’t trust and respect us. At which time, I came home from my walk and told Zeke I thought he was trying to control me; he turned the tables and said I try to control him. I denied it and asked for an example.

Like yesterday when you told me the Pad Thai I wanted to order was 1000 calories.

he said.

“I’m trying to educate you, in case you weren’t aware of it,” I said. “I care about your health.”

Or when we go out to eat and you try to change my order.

Zeke said.

This one I am completely guilty of. But, in my defense, it usually comes when Zeke says he’s going to get one thing (like Spring Chicken) and when the server comes to take our order, he’ll change it to something completely different, like Crab Cakes. Then I will say “But I thought you were going to get the Spring Chicken”, which isn’t controlling his decision, it’s just stating a fact.

Because what he orders affects what I order. If there are two things I want to try on the menu and he orders one, I’ll order the other so I can taste both. I don’t see any point in us getting the same meal, especially with dinners like Miami Spice, where I want to try as many delicious dishes as possible. So I defend my behavior as selfish and self-serving, but not controlling.

Two people who seemed to have worked their control issues out are Claudia and Joe Greenberg, who were honored last Saturday night at the Temple Judea’s Springing Forward Gala. During the celebration at Riviera, they also renewed their vows after 54 years of marriage. Mazel Tov!

Claudia, when I met you, you changed my life. You lifted me up when I needed support and you challenge me to be a better person every day.

said Joe.

We all teared up a little bit after the renewal and then we ate, drank and danced too much. Or maybe that was just me.

Zeke said he will never renew his vows with me.

Why not?

I asked.

“I’m afraid you’ll say no.”

Anyway, if you’re not a Spring Chicken you can still eat one. And they are delicious, by the way. Not that I’m trying to get you to change your order or anything! It’s just merely a helpful suggestion.

Up Next: Simply Spectacular Chicken Stock

The last time Christopher had been in Boston was when I took him there on his 13th birthday and he remembered getting clam chowder in a bread bowl, so our first stop was for Clam Chowder at the Boston Chowda Company. Chris and I got clam, Courtney got the healthier seafood with a tomato-based broth. The creamy clam chowder was good, with chunks of tender potatoes and clams. I had an emergency bottle of Tabasco hidden in my purse to spice it up. Courtney enjoyed her seafood chowder.

We made the rounds, walking up and down Quincy Market with its beautiful dome in the middle, to decide what to eat. I remembered hearing carolers singing from the second story one December, during my Air Florida days. There was an Oyster House that looked tempting (we all love oysters) but we figured we’d have lots of chances to eat them at less expensive prices.

Courtney circled back to the beginning for a hot dog- a Boston Barker– at the Doghouse. She proclaimed her hot dog “really good.”

Once I saw the sign on Regina Pizzeria for “Best Pizza in America”, the dare was on and I had to try it. I got a slice of their Mushroom Pizza, but Christopher’s Pepperoni Pizza was freshly made and looked and smelled delicious. We both really liked this pizza, with a thin, almost-cracker like crust that let the toppings, including fresh mozzarella, shine. It’s also the official pizza of the Boston Red Sox and what I saw most of the people in Quincy Market munching on, so it gets the seal of approval from Bostonians.

For dessert Courtney got a Raspberry Gelato from Joey’s Gelateria that she had heard about on a You Tube video. Unfortunately, you had to get more than one scoop, so she got mango as well. The scarlet colored raspberry gelato served in a cup was amazing! Fresh, full of raspberry flavor and delicious. The Mango Gelato wasn’t as good, a little on the sweet side. The raspberry would go well paired with vanilla ice cream instead.

Our last stop was to get a Whoopie Pie and a Cannoli to go from the North End Bakery. The North End of Boston, not far from where Quincy Market, is known as “Little Italy.” Chris and Courtney had heard about the whoopie pies there- a New England favorite of soft, pillowy chocolate cake with a fluffy, marshmellowy interior- so we got one to go.

We took the baked goods back to our resort in Kennebunkport, Maine. I can’t really attest to how good the Whoopie Pie was since I ate it late at night, after a couple glasses of wine, but it seemed pretty good at the time and lasted more than one day.

So, if you happen to stop by Quincy Market, I would recommend the Pizza at Regina Pizzeria, the Raspberry Gelato at Joey’s Gelateria and the Whoopie Pie at North End Bakery. You may get these items served with an extra helping of attitude, depending on the staff working, but remember you’re in Boston.

Up Next: Belmont Stakes/Anniversary Party

First, our temperatures were taken, with a non-contact thermomater, then we were asked our choice of still or sparkling water and handed a bag with different brochures, including one describing all the dishes and recipes for them. You were supposed to be able to download music to accompany the different courses, but I couldn’t get it to work and no one could tell me how to resolve the problem. I just gave up and there was live music playing anyway, so it didn’t matter much.

A long wooden tray was handed to us, along with bamboo cutlery in a little pack and then the courses started. Of course, the first courses stand out more in my memory because, as I ate I got less hungry and the dishes started to blend together. The first course was a Strawberry Gazpacho with a Shrimp skewer by NIU Kitchen. I liked it, Zeke didn’t. The second course was three different vegan sushis from Planta. I didn’t expect to like it but I did! Especially the Torched & Pressed Miso Truffle Sushi. Delectable!

I’m not going to go through all the courses, but I will give you my top three. The Paellla Croquetas by Cafe La Trove (Michelle Bernstein) were very tasty and she is known for her croquetas, but when I looked at the recipe list and saw mussels involved, I stopped eating after the first bite. I’m extremely allergic to mussels and didn’t want to take a chance of projectile vomiting, especially all over Zeke’s car, while I still had seven more courses to go.

One of the courses- Papillote of Langoustine by L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon– didn’t appear at all. In its place was a Foie Gras Royale, Parmesan Blanc-manger, Essence of Maury “Vielles Vignes, served in a plastic cup. No, I don’t know what any of that is either (except the foie gras). It was very rich and decadent, but needed something to crunch with it, like a cracker.

So… my favorite dish was Indian Spiced Chicken Thighs with Cauliflower Raisin Amchar (a Trinidadian spice) by Balloo. It came topped with microgreens, a creamy sauce was underneath and a sprinkling of spices rained down on the whole shebang; it was flavorful, juicy and delicious. The Amchar Salad, with roasted cauliflower, golden raisins, cilantro, onion, pepper and spices was a perfect complement to the chicken thighs.

Second and Third Place was a tie between Harry’s Mushroom Pizza by Harry’s Pizzeria (Michael Schwartz) and Meatballs and Tomato Sauce by Carbone Miami. Dishes at the Resy Drive-Thru Event were served in a plastic box. I was surprised at how well Harry’s Mushroom Pizza held up in the plastic box, which has a tendency to steam food items. But, the crust was still crunchy on this wood fired King Oyster mushroom pizza which came with fontina cheese, black truffle crema and carmelized onions. The flavors tantalized the old taste buds and I ate the whole thing.

The Meatballs by Carbone Miami, a newly opened red sauce Italian restaurant in Miami Beach, came three to an order. They were packed with flavor, delectable and were garnished with salty shavings of Parmigano-reggiano. I ate one and took the rest home. They were just as delicious the next day when I had them for lunch, possibly more so because I wasn’t semi-stuffed. The other positive about this dish is it’s the only one of all the recipes I would attempt to make at home.

As for the desserts, the Yuzu Key Lime Sando by Pubbelly Sushi was absolutely addictive. The tart key lime and yuzu juice cut the richness of the condensed milk and heavy cream in the semifreddo. This was piped onto a graham cracker, which was topped with meringue and another graham cracker to make this amazing Ice Cream sandwich, with rainbow sprinkles coating the sides. I couldn’t stop eating it and ate the whole thing! After 10 courses! Well, 9 and a half.

There was music, tents, dancers and blow up balloons of donuts, hamburgers and meatballs, creating a festive atmosphere in the midst of the parking lot where the Miami Herald building used to be. As we left, we were directed to what looked like a disco car wash, with flames and smoke, a neon sign reading “The Eat is On” and girls dressed in white jumpsuits dancing. Once inside, an interior of Pepto Bismal pink dripping entrance, opened up to a gold room with gold curtains, gold disco balls and gold dressed dancers handing out gold bags. This was all to hammer home (not too subtly) that this Resy Drive-Thru was a Gold American Express event. Inside the bag was a donut from The Salty Donut, specially made for this event.

It was a Rose and Strawberry Donut, with 24 hour Brioche filled with strawberry jelly, dipped in rose champagne glaze, topped with gold-dusted meringue, dark chocolate curls, gold chocolate pearls and 24 Karat gold leaf. It was just as stunning to look at as it was amazing to eat. But I didn’t eat it that night. I split it the next morning with Wyatt for breakfast. Just what I needed for breakfast after a ten course meal!

While I really enjoyed the Resy Drive-Thru event and it was a fun and different way to experience dishes from some of Miami’s Top Chefs, I still prefer going out to dinner, sitting down at a table and enjoying a glass of wine with friends for a delicious meal. The other downside to the event was that our car smelled like ten different courses of food the next morning. I rolled the windows down to air it out, but it took days for the lingering scents to vanish. But definitely less time than it will take to lose the pounds I put on that night!

Here’s the Meatball recipe from Carbone.

Up Next: My experience with the Asparagus tart recipe that’s sweeping the internet.