Did I miss the Indian? I don’t want to miss the damn Indian.

Game Day Lady.

The Indian in question was the person at the beginning of the home games at F.S.U., dressed like a Seminole Indian, who would ride on to the field on horseback and throw a flaming spear into the ground to signify the start of the game. To my chagrin, I have found that I have become that old lady.

I HATE to miss the beginning of the Cane’s Football games, when they burst out of the locker room amid smoke and pounding music, I won’t watch a movie in a theatre if I’ve missed the beginning and I even want to hear the opening of my CBS This Morning Show, where a trumpet plays the theme song. I have grown attached to these initiations and rituals and feel disappointed if I miss them.

I don’t feel the same about the endings, however. I’ve left plenty of UM games at halftime, have walked out of movies I hated (Michael comes to mind) and don’t always watch CBS This Morning to the end, although I try. I’ve been thinking a lot about beginnings and endings lately, as it pertains to my life.

Jane Fonda said:

I divided my life into three acts of 30 years each, because every 30 years, I tend to change.

Jane Fonda

So, I guess I’m in the third act of my life and thinking about how I want it to go. I want to write more, spend more time with people I care about and become more of an activist. Like, when the lady next door who’s building her McMansion too close to our house goes to a hearing, I’m going to voice my displeasure that she gamed the system, by building first and asking forgiveness later.

And our Keys condo socked us with a huge assessment last year, which was a major hit, but Zeke and I agree we can’t complain if we never go to the monthly meetings (now on Zoom) and voice our opinion. So, basically, where I see injustice, I want to be a voice against it and not just personally, but overall. Now I sound like I want to be Wonder Woman, but of course I mean in whatever small way I can.

I got my Ancestry.com results and I was surprised to find I was almost as much Scottish (24%) as I am English (26%). Maybe that explains my frugality! My mother swears I act as if I was born in the Depression. I’m 15% Irish and 12% Southern Italian. In my 23 & Me results they said I was 13.9% Italian and Ancestry was more specific about the region in Italy, so I feel it gives more detailed results. I’m also 11% Welsh, 6% Swedish and 5% Aegean Islands and Greek, with 1% Nigerian. 23 & Me didn’t show me having any Nigerian DNA, so this is an interesting development. I feel a trip to Scotland, Wales and Ireland on the horizon, to go explore my roots.

I think third acts are also about exploring our past and looking to the future and what we want our legacy to be. How do we want to be remembered? And what do we want to do with the rest of this one precious life we were given?

My days in the Keys (Sunday through Wednesday) were peaceful and blissful. I saw the most beautiful sunset of my life Monday night (glad I skipped Final Jeopardy!), went paddle boarding Tuesday after a long hiatus, caught up on my reading and watched the heck out of Grace and Frankie. I ate out at two favorite spots- Key Largo Fisheries and Num Thai with a Mahi Cuban sandwich and Red Curry Chicken with Rice. Most of all, I felt like Greta Garbo- “I want to be alone.”

The food I made was simple; an Asian Chicken Soup with Noodles and Egg, a Spring Pasta with mushrooms, peas and onion, a recipe from Parade for Spicy Chicken Tacos on Tuesday. More than anything, I wanted comfort. I also tried a Tik Tok sensation for an easy, low calorie snack called Lettuce Chips.

They are basically Romaine Lettuce you tear into “chips” and dress with lemon juice, red wine vinegar and Himalayan salt. Well, I didn’t have red wine vinegar or Himalayan salt, so I used Apple Cider Vinegar and Kosher Salt and I have to say… they weren’t bad. You would never confuse them with actual potato chips, but they have the crunch, the salt and vinegar, so reminiscent of salt and vinegar chips and of course, so much healthier for you! Plus, calorie-wise, it’s zero calories vs. 160 for 11 Lays Wavy potato chips. So, it’s worth a try.

I returned Wednesday for a birthday lunch at North in Dadeland. I’d never been, but the Italian Salad I got was very good, as was the Cacio y Pepe Pizza. Thursday night a rain storm woke me up and, unable to sleep, I decided to make a recipe for Benne Cookies out of the New York Times Food section at 3 a.m. I like to try cookie recipes for meetings or parties I’m going to; that way I get to try them, but am not left with a cookie jarful at home to tempt me.

I took these to The Villager’s meeting at the Coral Gables Art Cinema Friday morning and they were a big hit. “Who made the Sesame Cookies?” someone asked. I proudly raised my hand and some ladies who hadn’t tried them, went down to grab a sample. This cookie is different than most. It’s buttery, nutty and crunchy, with a delicate flavor to it. Since I didn’t have enough white sesame seeds, I used black ones for half the seeds. Did you know sesame seeds can be white, yellow, black or red? I did not. They are also one of the oldest oilseed plants known, having been cultivated more than 3000 years ago.

I went from The Villagers Meeting to the End-of-the-Year Tennis Party for my Beta tennis team. I brought Meringues and the rest of the sesame cookies, as I want to get these babies out of my house! Too tempting and I have to get into Beach Body shape for our upcoming trip. Our tennis team didn’t have the best season, but it was a nice get together.

Friday night, we had a simple appetizer of Beef Carpaccio for Happy Hour at home. Zeke had gotten pre-sliced and plated Beef Carpaccio and I topped it with marinated artichoke hearts, sliced Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, sprinkled it with truffle salt and served it with toasted French bread. This is reminiscent of our favorite Beef Carpaccio at Blu, an Italian restaurant in South Miami that closed a couple years ago. You can buy the Wagyu Beef Carpaccio at Meat and Bone for $14.99. It makes an easy, yet impressive appetizer.

I had a Baby Shower Saturday at Deering Bay and friends came over for dinner Saturday night. I made a Poblano Chili Souffle, a delicious dish that I can NEVER give the recipe out for, as I’ve been sworn to secrecy. Since it was a Mexican dish, I had Tortilla Chips with Red Salsa, Guacamole Autentico and a Roasted Tomatillo Salsa Verde, all Trader Joe’s products. I can definitely recommend the Guacamole! It was slightly spicy, chunky and smooth and tasted homemade. Dump it into a molcajete and garnish with some chopped tomato, onion and cilantro, and your guests will think you knocked yourself out.

To go with the Poblano Souffle we grilled Pork Tenderloin and I made a Mexican inspired Salad with Romaine, Jicama, orange bell pepper, Pickled Red Onion and Pumpkin Seeds. It was a riot of colors and flavors and I dressed it with a Cilantro Lime Dressing from the Serve It Up! cookbook. It was delicious! Martha brought a homemade Flan for dessert.

Sunday, I was very excited to take my great niece Grace to Frozen, presented at Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, my Alma Mater. When I got the email about the play, I’d thought about taking her, but never got tickets. Well, the production got postponed twice, so when I had a second chance, I got tickets. She’d planned her outfit for days and looked adorable; she was so excited. I asked her if she’d ever been to a play before and she said she’d seen Frozen at Disney World and “it snowed at the end.”

I told her not to expect that at this play and, it didn’t snow, but it was magical in its own way. We didn’t linger long because Grace had a Tea Party Birthday to get to.

Being back in the cafeteria where I sat my Freshman Year to get my homeroom assignment, ate many mediocre lunches, made friends and performed in a couple productions on that same stage, flashed me back to my High School years at Lourdes. So much time has passed, but I’m essentially the same person I’ve always been.

I still love cooking, Elvis, reading, writing and traveling. It will be my 45th High School reunion next year. And this English, Scottish, Irish, Italian, Welsh, Swedish, Greek and Nigerian, Heinz 57 Lourdes Girl will be ready for it! I don’t want to miss the beginning or the ending of this story. While I’ve always liked beginnings, I’ve also favored sunsets over sunrises.

It’s funny how some distance makes everything seem small And the fears that once controlled me can’t get to me at all It’s time to see what I can do To test the limits and break through No right, no wrong, no rules for me I’m free.

Let It Go, Frozen

Up Next: Benne Cookies

Chinese

Oh, how I miss you New Chinatown! That was my go-to for Chinese Food, but it’s long gone. No Name was in South Miami for a while, but that was a twist on Chinese and pricey. It’s also now gone, replaced with Cracked, Chef Adrianne’s restaurant. So where do I go to get Chinese? The plus to both of these spots, is they serve Dim Sum! In fact, that is what I usually order there. Disclaimer: I haven’t been to Canton Palace in a while, but just went to Kon Chau.

Kon Chau Chinese 8376 S,W, 40 Street, Miami 33155

This place is in a strip mall where a Lucky Asian market is also located. They have the traditional Chinese Favorites- Egg Foo Young, Lo Mein, Happy Family, Mongolian Beef, Moo Goo Gai Pan and General’s Chicken. The dim sum I’ve tried were: Steamed Shrimp & Pork Dumplings, Chive Dumplings, Steamed Roast Pork Bun, Green Tea Duck Dumpling, Roast Pork Noodle Crepe, Deep Fried Taro Dumpling and Soup Dumplings. Yum yum! By the way, their website announces No Delivery! so plan to eat in or take out.

Canton Palace 7980 S.W. 8th Street, Miami 33144

This spot is also located in a strip mall, right off the Palmetto Expressway. Although I haven’t been in a while, we always came for the Dim Sum, which you check off on a sheet by the piece. Favorites on Yelp include: Steamed Shrimp Dumplings, Fried Rice and Salt and Pepper Squid. This place is totally no frills, but they do take out and delivery.

Japanese

Matsuri 5759 Bird Road, Miami 33155

Hands-down, my favorite Sushi Spot, especially for lunch, where they have great lunch specials. It’s in a strip mall in the Red Bird Shopping Center and parking tends to fill up quickly. I almost always get the same thing for lunch- Bento Box Lunch Special C. Chicken Teriyaki. It comes with Miso Soup, House Salad, California roll and an orange for only $9! That’s the best deal in town. Zeke usually gets A- Sashimi and Tempura. There are also dinner specials. Matsuri has super fresh sushi and my meals here have always been good.

Runner Up: Su Shin Izakaya

When I used to meet Zeke for lunch, we would often come to this spot in Coral Gables. The owner greets you with “Hello!” and says “See you tonight!” when you leave. An Izakaya is a Japanese restaurant where businessmen/women stop on their way home from work. When we go, it’s usually packed with people on their lunch breaks. They have lunch specials, but are a little pricier than Matsuri ($12.95) and fair warning, their ginger salad dressing is rather tasteless. Lunch Specials comes with Miso Soup, Salad, Shrimp and Vegetable Tempura, California Roll and entree of your choice.

Thai

Atchana’s Homegrown Thai 3194 Commodore Plaza 33133

Atchana’s restaurant was in a hotel in Coconut Grove, but now has found a permanent home on the corner of Commodore Plaza. My husband and I went there for lunch, pre-covid, but have since ordered food to-go from there. I would recommend the Mee Grob ($14) or Steamed Asian Dumplings ($9) to start, with Pad Thai as an entree and Thai Doughnuts ($10) to end. Just like the old days. There are many other dishes, plus a Thai Trio with salad, summer rolls and soup for $13 which sounds like a great, light lunch idea. There’s also a neat Sriracha menu with a wide array of Thai hot sauces. And I thought there was only the one with the Rooster!

Moon Thai & Sushi 1118 S. Dixie Highway, Coral Gables, 33146

This place, right across from U.M., is fun because you can get Thai or Sushi, depending on your mood. Honestly, we usually get the sushi rolls- Sloppy J and Spicy Lover’s Rolls are two favorites, but there’s also a full selection of Thai, which according to the menu is a blend of Chinese and Indian, based on Rice and Noodles.

Vietnamese

Miss Saigon Bistro 148 Giralda Avenue, Coral Gables, 33134

The only Vietnamese restaurant I know of in Miami, now that Hy Vong is closed, is Miss Saigon Bistro in Coral Gables. They used to have an outpost in Pinecrest, but that has changed to a Pho restaurant. I love coming here and seeing the servers in their beautiful Thai gowns. I always get the same thing- the Miss Saigon Rice Noodle Bowl ($13.95), because it’s so delicious. Rice noodles are tossed with herbs and include pork, chicken, shrimp and chopped up crispy spring rolls, which are then tossed, table side with chopsticks, with hot sauce. It’s a big serving, but I usually seem to finish it. When I don’t, it makes good leftovers. I’ve tried to replicate this dish at home, without success.

Asian Fusion

Lan Pan Asian Cafe 8332 South Dixie Highway, Miami, 33143

This restaurant in Dadeland Station, is part of the same restaurant group as Su Shin Izakaya, the Japanese restaurant above. Bright, light and usually crowded, I love to stop here for lunch while shopping. Lunch Specials are a great deal with Soup, Salad, California Roll included with your entree. I always used to get the Chicken Dumplings ($11.95), but have branched out to try Tamarind Shrimp, Thai Basil Chicken and Grilled Salmon. Please note, this is the ONLY place I’ve had cooked salmon that I like, but my friend Tami wasn’t a fan.

Noodle Restaurants

OHHO Noodles Market 1100 S. Dixie Highway, Coral Gables 33146

This restaurant, near Ponce Middle School, is usually filled with U.M. students. You order at the counter, get a number and wait in the funky, grafitti-decorated interior. They have other menu items besides noodles- buns, dumplings, chicken dishes and Bibimbop. The most popular noodle dish, and my favorite, is the Singaporean Laksa Lemak ($18) with rice noodles, spicy coconut broth, chicken, shrimp, bean sprouts, tofu and egg. There are a variety of hot sauces on the counter to be added to your dishes, if desired. They offer Pick-up and Delivery.

InRamen 5829 S.W. 73 Street, South Miami, 33143

This restaurant, in South Miami, is super casual with the doors open and indoor and outdoor dining. It was the first place I saw the (now ubiquitous) QR code, as they wish you to open it on your phone, order and even pay contactlessly. Genius! (They do have paper menus for the technologically-challenged.) They have other menu items than noodles- buns, dumplings, bibimbop and chicken dishes- but the noodles are hand made right in front of you, so that’s always what I get. It’s pricier than Ohho, with the Ramen Beef Short Rib Ramen my daughter recently got costing $26. I’ve gotten the most popular dish- Chashu Ramen with pork belly, tonkotsu broth, noodles, egg, corn, mushrooms and bamboo shoots. The Spicy Chicken ($18) sounds good and I like the music they play in here, which is a sometimes overlooked feature in restaurants.

Sea Siam 12735 S. Dixie Highway, Pinecrest, 33156

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Sea Siam, in a strip mall in Pinecrest and where we used to meet our friends Brooks and Sharon. We would sit at the bar and all always got the same appetizer- Steamed Shrimp Dumplings with Spicy Mayo and extra scallions (off menu). For entrees, we were all over the place. The Crispy Duck ($26) is delicious, and was my favorite, Brooks liked the Ginger Fish ($26), which is a whole fried snapper and Sharon usually got a sushi roll, like SuSa ($20) with tuna and avocado.

So there is a by-no-means complete list, but some of my favorite places to eat Asian food in Miami. I’m also dying to try Zitzsum in Coral Gables, with the chef from No Name Chinese. It has been nominated for a James Beard award Best New Restaurant.

In a Good News/Bad News situation the principal plays with Hy Vong restaurant were doing Pop-Ups and Pick-ups of some of their food during the Pandemic. They participated in the South Beach Food and Wine Festival this year and, since Hy Vong closed, had been doing Pop Ups and pick-ups of their food in South Miami. Their last pickup was March 12 and they announced they’ve officially hung up their aprons and will no longer be offering their delicious food. The Good News is they will be doing Cooking Videos on how to make some of their dishes. I will definitely sign up for that!

Up Next: The Villages

My gateway into Asian cuisine was like most of us, through Chinese food. When we think of Chinese food, it’s typically Cantonese or Szechuan. My family, growing up, didn’t dine out that much (there were 6 of us!) but when we did it was typically Black Angus (my Mom’s favorite), Italian (Sorrentos) or Chinese Food at Canton.

At Canton, I loved the round tables, crunchy noodles and endless cups of tea, which we drank with lots of sugar added. Egg rolls, Spareribs and Won Ton or Egg Drop soup to start and then onto covered plates of Honey Chicken, Beef with Broccoli, Almond Duck and maybe a Seafood Dish, served with hot white and Pork Fried Rice followed. The eating was communal, as we shared all the dishes and you could have a little of this, a little of that, which is my favorite way to eat. And then, to end, the hard-as-a-rock Fortune Cookies for dessert. Which, by the way, aren’t Chinese, but an American creation started in California.

In the 80’s I discovered Japanese Cuisine in the form of sushi, sake, tempura and miso soup. It was all the rage back then and my favorite was (and still is) the California Roll, which come to think of it, doesn’t sound Japanese at all. I did venture out to try sashimi, hand rolls, salmon, spicy tuna and even uni (sea urchin) eventually, which has a very unique taste and texture. Sushi is one food I crave on a regular basis.

Thai Food– with its fresh ingredients, unique tastes and five flavor profile- spicy, sweet, salty, bitter and umami- is one of my favorite Asian cuisines. I remember going to the Thai restaurant on US-1 (which is now Diced) which was run by Atchana’s family. Atchana was a friend of my sister Elise, so when we dined there, we would begin with crunchy, sticky and sweet Mee Krob, sent over to the table, complimentary if Atchana was there. Pad Thai would follow, possibly with Chicken Satay or a Curry Dish (red, yellow or green) and we would end with Hot Thai Donuts, served with sweetened condensed milk, also on the house.

Vietnamese Cuisine follows the same five flavor profiles as Thai and also uses fresh ingredients with aromatics like lemongrass, ginger, mint, Thai Chile and lime, as well as fresh herbs and vegetables. Fish sauce is more popular than soy and one of my favorite sandwiches- the Bahn Mi– originates from Vietnam. The first time I ate Vietnamese food was at the iconic Hy Vong restaurant on 8th street.

I went there with my Mom and sisters and I remember getting the Whole Fried Fish. On other visits I got the Pumpkin Soup, Spring Rolls (served with fresh mint, lettuce and a dipping sauce) and the Pork Rolling Cakes, possibly my favorite appetizer of all time. I recently read the story of Hy Vong’s creation in a book called Mangos and Peppercorns. It was fascinating and filled with recipes I want to try, but not the Pork Rolling Cakes- it’s way too complicated.

I tend to eat Asian food at restaurants, but, a couple weeks ago I decided to try some recipes at home. One was a Spicy Ramen Soup with Pork Meatballs, from Parade magazine. Although I don’t know anything about Korean cuisine, this recipe called for an ingredient- gochujang chile paste– which is Korean. I also needed baby bok choy, and fresh ramen noodles, so made a trek down to Kimchi Mart on 153rd Street.

While it calls itself an Asian Mart, this store is actually Korean. It’s clean and bright and I love looking at all the interesting products and vegetables you can’t find at Publix. The baby bok choy were adorable little things and the fresh ramen noodles tasted so much better than the dried ones you get in the package. The recipe for the Ramen Soup was a little complicated, but I made the Pork Meatballs one day and the rest of the soup the next. It was delicious (A.J. loved it!) and I made it last for days, by continuing to add chicken broth to it.

And the gochujang sauce, which I think is trending because I’ve heard about it lately, was a revelation. Like hot sauce, but darker, thicker, with an umami, sweet and spicy flavor. While I used it on the soup, it also would be great on scrambled eggs, vegetables, sandwiches- anyplace that you want a a bold heat and complexity. It has a thick texture which is derived from brown rice, and is typically served over Bibimbap, the yummy Korean rice bowl dish. Best of all, the Chung Jung One brand I bought can be found at Publix. This would also make an awesome and different Chicken Wing sauce! Move over Frank’s Hot Sauce.

The second dish I made, for Sticky Hawaiian Drumsticks, was less successful. It was a relatively easy recipe (also from Parade) with teriyaki sauce, ketchup, crushed pineapple, ginger and garlic which the drumsticks were brushed with and then grilled. I couldn’t bare to put in the whole cup of honey it called for, which might be why it didn’t turn out quite as “sticky” as promised. I served it with jasmine rice and stir fried bok choy, Japanese Eggplant and mushrooms. I concluded (and Zeke agreed) I’m not a big chicken drumstick fan. I would much rather eat chicken thighs and not deal with the tendons, lack of meat, etc… in drumsticks. But I do love teriyaki.

My Dad and I didn’t have much in in common, but we both loved teriyaki and I remember eating Teriyaki steak on our family trip to Hawaii. When we returned from Hawaii, I was so enamored of the islands, I ordered a How To Cook a Luau book, as well as How to Speak Hawaiian and the Mrs. Hawaii Cook Book. The first dish I ever remember making for my family growing up was the Walnut Chicken recipe from that cook book. I wrote next to it “O.K.”

Although Asian Fusion is a a popular concept now, it’s been a thing for a while in Hawaii, where cuisines from China, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Portugal, have been melded into a distinct blend of cuisine known as “local food”. At one point, twelve chefs came together to create a Hawaiian Cuisine style typified by local ingredients and a fusion of ethnic culinary influences.

I’m very excited to return to Hawaii this summer. Zeke and I went to Maui on our honeymoon 19 years ago, but this time we’re going to hit the other islands- Hawaii, Oahu and Kauai- as well. While this article only touched on some Asian cuisines, obviously there are a lot more out there to explore. I would love one day travel to Asia, try the local cuisine and even take a couple cooking classes.

But first… Hawaii.

Up Next: Foodie in Miami’s Favorite Asian Restaurants

Whenever I go to Trader Joe’s (not much, lately!) I make sure to get two things: Cheese and Wine. Their selections and prices are the best! I usually get the Toscano with Syrah cheese (my favorite!), some type of blue and a goat cheese, as cheese board gurus suggest a “hard, a soft and a blue” for a well-rounded spread. I go a little crazy on wines- Rose, Pinot Grigio, Prosecco- but here are some other suggestions to get you started.

Best 5 Wines from Trader Joe’s under $10 from Real Simple

Floriana Veltiner Gruner (white from Hungary)

Cecilia B Spumante Rose (Sparkling Rose)

Susumamiello Ruggero Di Bardo (Red)

Espiral Vinho Verde (White from Portugal) $5

Corvelia Zinfandel (Red from California)

The only one of these I can personally attest to is the Esprial Vinho Verde, which I usually buy every time I visit Trader Joe’s because it’s good and super cheap. My in-laws once bought this type of wine for a Fourth of July weekend at Ocean Reef; the wine guy suggested it as the type of wine to pour over ice, with a squeeze of lime, to enjoy while sitting by the pool. It’s also delicious just cold and straight from the bottle, if you like wines with a little fizz; the perfect summer wine.

Speaking of Trader Joe’s, they are reconsidering changing the names of their ethnic foods, as they had previously announced. So, for now, Trader Jose, Trader Ming and Trader Giotto are staying on the shelf. I always thought these names were tongue-in-cheek (you know- a joke) but apparently someone started a petition to eliminate the “racist packaging”, which got Trader Joe’s to rethink their branding choices. Is it possible to be too politically correct?

“The World is changed by your example, not by your opinion.” Pablo Coelho

Another thing I often get at Trader Joe’s is their Almond Butter, but it usually has a layer of oil on top when I go to use it, eventually leaving a solid layer of not-very-easy to spread gunk underneath. The solution? Store it upside down in your pantry. Also, if you buy cheeses, take them out of their plastic wrapping and rewrap them in parchment paper before putting them in the fridge. I guess they are kind of alive and the plastic suffocates them, so let your cheeses breathe, people!

If you buy herbs, such as parsley, cilantro or basil the best way to keep them fresh is to snip off the ends and stick them in a glass of water. And you know how those delicate raspberries you buy go bad, like right away? Soak them in a 1:10 mixture of vinegar to water to get rid of mold spores. Rinse them well and store in fridge. I got these tips from food52.com.

I just returned from Publix in the Keys and there was no 409, no Fantastick, not even the pricey Mrs. Meyers lurking on the shelves. What to do if you need a disinfectent spray? Make your own. You will need a spray bottle, easily recycled from an old 409 bottle or purchased at the dollar store. The nice thing about this recipe is you can customize the scent to whatever you like and it doesn’t have that heavy, artificial floral scent. It’s also considerably cheaper than the store-bought stuff. I can’t testify to the germ-killing quality of the this mixture but it will clean and smell good. From the thefrugalgirls.com.

Homemade 409

2 TBLS Distilled White Vinegar

1 tsp Borax

1/8 cup Dawn Dishwashing Liquid

1 cup Hot Water

8 drops of essential oil, your choice (I like lavender or lemongrass)

Pour vinegar, borax and hot water into a spray bottle. Continue to fill with cool water. Add Dawn last, gently tilting back and forth. Add essential oil, if desired.

Random Ramblings
Sexiest Foods ( a question Ellen asked Diane Keaton during a game of Burning Questions) She gave the answer of: “A Creamy Soup.” It got me thinking about My answer: Oysters on the half shell, sushi, lobster with melted butter, chocolate covered strawberries, champagne and caviar, heart-shaped creme brûlée.

Should you get a hankering to “get out of Dodge” and visit Key Largo (only an hour from Miami), here are some restaurants I feel comfortable dining at right now. All have outdoor seating.

Key Largo Restaurants

Sharkey’s Bar & Grill Great food and beer, fun atmosphere, on a canal.

Snooks A little touristy and pricey, but live music, good food, a killer Bloody Mary.

Lazy Lobster A big chickee hut out back, by the same people who own Lazy Days.

The Pilot House Started by two pilots, on the water, good happy hour, live music.

Skippers By the Holiday Inn, oceanside, live music. Get there early to get a seat outside.

Mrs. Macs II Reliably good food and service, like diner food with a Keys twist.

For Take Out, it’s all about the Thai, ’bout the Thai, no pizza… for me.

The Key Thai & Sushi for: Drunken Noodles, Tom Kar Soup, Thai Papaya Salad.

Num Thai for: Crispy Duck, Green Curry and Stuffed Tuna.

And since I’m being really random, this has nothing to do with food, but everything to do with how I spend my Friday and Saturday nights. This poem is dedicated to Zeke, my partner in crime watching.

Dateline

A baseball bat by the side of the road A knife ditched in a bush A gun tossed in an inky lake These are the instruments of death, But who committed the crime?

Bum, bum, bum.

First take a close look at the boyfriend or girlfriend Husband or wife, Significant other Disgruntled lover, then the Ex-husband or wife, always prime suspects Sometimes, it’s even a Random Stranger.

Bum, bum, bum.

Not very likely, though But I did see one the other night A guy pretending to buy a house strangled a perfect stranger to death and left her on her own bedroom floor.

Bum, bum, bum.

Now, in prison, he’s a Preacher Proclaiming his innocence, of course Despite insurmountable evidence to the contrary. Why is this the way I spend my Friday nights? Giddy at each bloody clue.

Bum, bum, bum.

But when I hear those opening notes… And that Baritone voice beginning “It was a perfectly sunny Colorado morning the day Shelly Wong accidentally fell off a cliff. Or did she?”

Bum, bum, Bum.

Up Next: Still, who knows?