Crack Open the Bubbly!

Forget the midnight smooch at the ball drop, my favorite part of New Year’s Eve is the champagne. Even as a child in my native Scotland, my parents knew of my love of bubbles and they would even have a bottle of non-alcoholic apple cider available for me at the stroke of midnight on Hogmanay, the Scottish New Year’s Eve celebration.

 Champagne is one of my favorite things in the world as it turns every situation into a celebration.  Of course, real champagne can cost an arm and a leg so I’m usually sipping sparking wine knock-offs, like Andre, which my friends suggest will be the name of my first born. In order to enjoy the high life without breaking the bank, I like to take advantage of the many free wine and spirit tastings. These events are not only delicious but educational too. Total Wine locations will be offering free champagne tastings featuring six sparkling wines and champagnes that range in price from $10 to $50. Selections include Conde de Caralt Brut Caba, Montaudon Brut, Louis Bouillot Brut and Santi Nello Prosecco Valdobbiadene. Happy Hogmanay!

The Deal: Free Champagne Tastings

Friday and Saturday 12-6 p.m.

Boca Raton, 5050 Town Center Circle

561-391-1281

Boynton Beach, 850 N. Congress Avenue

561-731-5411

Fort Lauderdale, 1906 Cordova Road

954-828-9463

North Miami, 14750 Biscayne Boulevard

305-354-3270

Palm Beach Gardens, 11221 Legacy Avenue

561-622-7340

Pembroke Pines, 15980 Pines Boulevard

954-437-5557

Miami, 8851 SW 136^th Street

305-971-7615

Wellington, 960 South State Road 7

561-795-9229

www.totalwine.com

Saving on the Seven Seas

For many, Christmas Eve means breaking bread with loved ones instead of hitting stores for last-minute gifts and dinner courtesy of the drive-thru (ahem … Dad!). This year, I will be a part of one of my oldest and dearest friend’s Italian family’s tradition, the Feast of the Seven Fishes. I suspect this will be a huge upgrade from last year’s can of soup.

The Feast of the Seven Fishes originated in Southern Italy and commemorates the midnight birth of Jesus Christ. As Catholics refrain from eating meat or milk products on Fridays and certain holy days, the banquet consists of multiple (usually seven, hence the name) traditional fish dishes.

If you choose not to be a slave to the kitchen or didn’t get a best friend’s dinner invite, then take advantage of Sunfish Grill’s version of the Feast of the Seven Fishes, where you can savor the taste of Italy with a prix fixe, three-course menu featuring ciapino, a hearty fish stew created by Italian immigrants in San Francisco that gives you the seven fishes in one dish.

This feast starts with pan-seared foie gras with gnocchi, tastefully balanced with pear and apple slaw. The entrée is the star of the show, the aforementioned ciapino with scalllops, shrimp, clams, calamari, snapper, swordfish and salmon with roasted garlic crostini. If you still have room, end the meal with a sweet selection of eggnog crème brulee, warm panettone bread pudding or whiskey cake a la mode.

The Deal: Three-Course Feast of the Seven Fishes Dinner for $45

Friday and Saturday 5-10p.m.

Sunfish Grill

2775 E. Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale

954-561-2004

www.sunfishgrill.com

A Gourmet Gift for … YOU!

The countdown to Christmas is on and if you’re like me, you’re more excited about it being over than the actual festivities of the 25^th. So slow down, take a deep breath and give yourself a gift for the gut!

Santa Claus has made an early delivery to BGR The Burger Joint. Decked out in the traditional holiday colors, the Christmas burger features red beefsteak tomatoes, fresh green basil and delicious white mozzarella. To take your holiday indulgence to the extreme, splurge on an eggnog shake made with rich vanilla ice cream, farm-fresh eggnog and a dash of nutmeg. Available only until December 31, end the year with this festive feast before jump-starting the New Year full of resolutions and diet restrictions.

The Deal: Christmas Burger for $12.99

Eggnog Shake for $4.99

Offer Ends December 31

BGR The Burger Joint

232 Miracle Mile

Coral Gables, Florida

305-461-9989

www.bgrtheburgerjoint.com

Giving Back Never Tasted So Good

I grew up in a small seaside village in Scotland. Population: 400. Everyone was the same religion, race and held the same social status. Moving to America in 1995 was not only an emotional experience but also an eye-opener.

I had never met a Jewish person before, mush less had a friend who was Jewish, but that quickly changed. Since living here, I consider the times I have spent with my Jewish friends and most importantly their families as some of the best and most memorable moments of my life. The epiphany of my first taste of matzo ball soup at the Krieger’s holiday dinner, house-smoked brisket and endless laughter at the Kalin’s, and the tearful sight of my oldest friend Dan walking down to the chappah with his parents on the day of his wedding.  I wish my Jewish friends and future ones, a Happy Chanukah!

Today, in celebration of the holiday, Jewish cultural center Next@19^th invites all to enjoy a festive evening of Chanukah music from around the world in Hebrew, English, Yiddish and Ladino. Of course, no holiday celebration is complete without food! Holiday bites include traditional favorites and Next@19th’s signature guava rugelach cocktail, named after the center’s annual musical, with L’Chaim vodka,. Guests will also receive a bottle of Bad Jew Kosher barbecue sauce upon arrival. Frugal foodies, if that isn’t enough of an incentive to attend, a donation of two kosher items to the JCS Kosher Food Bank will reward you with a ticket discount.  

The Deal: Bring Two Kosher Food Items for 50% off $15 tickets

Wednesday 8 p.m.

Next@19^th

137 NE 19^th Street

Miami

305-542-7732

www.Nextat19th.org

Beer & Bites with a Side Dish of Art

Located in the heart of Miami’s culinary hot spot Wynwood Kitchen & Bar (WKB) has become not only a gourmand destination for hipsters and Miami’s young professionals, but also a hub of contemporary culture.

Opened just before the 2010 Art Basel, diners are welcomed to the restaurant by an 11 foot tall multi-colored striped figure sculpted by David Benjamin Sherry, a floor-to-ceiling collage mural by acclaimed graffiti artist Shephard Fairey, best-known for his iconic poster of Barack Obama and bright, panoramic canvases by Berlin abstract expressionist Christian Awe. If you’re like me and you prefer to sit outside, al fresco dining commands views of Wynwood Walls, a series of murals created by leading artists including RETNA, Kenny Scharf and Ron English.

But wait this is a food blog! Never fear WKB’s Beer & Bites menu is a masterpiece with $2 options and discounts off artisanal beers, select house brand liquors and wines.  Chef Miguel Aguilar’s menu highlights local ingredients that are simple yet colorfully prepared with global-Latino flavors. Choose from house-made hummus with warm pita bread, cucumbers and roasted peppers, pico verde with freshly made tortilla chips, chicken skewer with scallions and chipotle aioli, skirt steak skewer with chimichurri, and the signature Ropa Vieja chicken empanadas with cilantro crema, and my favorite snack of all time: deviled eggs! Most of these items are usually priced between $6 and $10, so the deal is just as trendy as the neighborhood.

The Deal: Beer & Bites $2 Menu and 30% Discount on Artisanal Beers, Select House Brand Liquors and Wines

Monday – Friday 5:30p.m.-7:30p.m.

Wynwood Kitchen and Bar

2550 NW Second Ave.

Miami

305-722-8959

http://www.wynwoodkitchenandbar.com/

 

Put on Your Safety Goggles: Stone Crab Mania at Kitchen 305

Co-ordination and grace have never been my strong points; therefore my dear friend Dean was rather anxious about his safety when we found ourselves cracking away at gargantuan stone crab claws.

From October 15^th to May 15^th, stone crabs are harvested and available everywhere from the back of ominous pick-up trucks on the side of the road to award-winning restaurants like 3030 Ocean for $19 per claw. With many restaurants serving stone crabs right now, I thought I would share with you my Hot Scot Savings approved location: Kitchen 305, located inside the Newport Beachside Hotel and Resort in Sunny Isles Beach. 

Seafood lovers can indulge in an all-you-can-eat-feast on Friday nights beginning with freshly baked sourdough bread served with either New England clam chowder or a Caesar salad, followed by the main event: a plate of large stone crab claws served with lemon wedges and mustard sauce, and two sides which change regularly and include rile pilaf, mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. We were served cheddar-cheese wrapped tomatoes that are quickly “charred” as well as house made coleslaw, which I heartily give two thumbs up. The wait staff is quick to refill plates with six claws per round. All of this for the unbeatable price of $55.

The staff keeps a record of the most claws eaten, which is eight pounds or roughly 40 claws. I made it to 12 claws but with seven months of practicing left before the promotion and stone crab season ends, I’m pretty confident I’ll be establishing a new record in the near future.

The Deal: $55 All-You-Can-Eat Stone Crabs on Friday Nights

            Kitchen 305

16701 Collins Avenue

Sunny Isles Beach

305-749-2110

www.newportbeachsideresort.com

More, Please!

Small Plate, Large Savings

One of the biggest trends of the culinary world this past year has been the “small plate” dining concept, an updated version of traditional Spanish tapas with either a global flair or a trendy twist on American classics. I am not a big fan of this trend. Even though you get to sample many bites, you end up spending a small fortune on glorified snacks.

Mini Bratwurst Sliders with Violet Mustard and Red Bliss Potato Salad

PL8 Kitchen, which opened earlier this year in the Himmarshee District of Fort Lauderdale, is just a quick stroll from my apartment so I decided to take advantage of their promotions. A small budget like mine can’t always afford the trendy “small plate” venues, but PL8 caters to the downtown hipsters and artists, offering specials a few times a week.

On Thursdays, pair half-price bottles of wine with $2 individual sliders. The slider selection is impressive and includes fried chicken breast with watermelon, Creekstone Farms ground brisket and short rib with racelette cheese, mini bratwurst with violet mustard and red bliss potato salad, seared scallop with kimchi and spicy aioli, and shitake mushroom and mozzarella. I’ll take one of each, please!

Korean Shortribs with Sweet and Hot Purple Kimchi

Before heading home from work on a Friday night or hitting the bars of Himmarshee, stop by PL8 Kitchen’s side bar for “Appy Hour.” The last thing you need to do is blow your weekend budget on a Friday night so indulge with $3 appetizers and two-for-one drink specials. I enjoyed the mahi-mahi taco with a spicy green tomato relish, frisee and purple cabbage remoulade while my friend enjoyed the Korean shortribs with sweet and hot purple kimchi so much that he orders two plates. Other menu options include brick oven chicken wings with a caramelized onion dressing and chili-dusted sweet potato wedges with house made spicy raspberry jam (I prefer them without the jam, but a cool aioli would be divine). The menu changes regularly.

The Deal: $2 Sliders and 50% off Bottles of Wine

Thursdays

$3 Appetizers and Two-for-One Drinks

Fridays 5-9p.m.

PL8 Kitchen

210 SW 2^nd St.

Fort Lauderdale

954-524-1818

www.pl8kitchen.com

Chicken Tacos, Which Appears Regularly on The Rotating "Appy" Hour Menu

A Lunch Fit for A Mad Man

Want to eat like a big shot and treat that special client this holiday season? Morton’s The Steakhouse wants you to take a break out of the busy work day and spend lunch time in leisurely Mad Men style with a menu of American classics like steaks and seafood.

Baked Five Onion Soup

The notorious business man’s lunch of a few martinis and a juicy steak has been replaced with sandwiches of questionable ingredients and a Red Bull. This tendency to rush lunch and eat at our desks makes us forget the most important part of a meal: taking time to get to know the people you spend the majority of the day with- your co-workers!

Chicken Christoper with Garlic Beurre Blanc Sauce and Mashed Potatoes

During the holiday season, splurge on an hour-Long lunch break and spoil your secretary (or garner points with your boss!) by enjoying Morton’s “Prime Lunch Selections.” Choose a starter option of lobster bisque, baked five onion soup (delicious!), Morton’s salad or Caesar salad. Next up is the entrée, with choices that include signature dishes of filet mignon, broiled salmon or chicken Christopher. Morton’s is known for its high prices as it is for its steaks, but this prix fixe menu is available for a very affordable $35.

The Deal: $35 Prix Fixe Lunch Menu

 Monday – Friday 11:30a.m. - 2:30p.m.

Morton's Fort Lauderdale

500 East Broward Blvd.

954-467-9720

Morton's Boca Raton

5050 Town Center Circle

561-392-7724

Morton's West Palm Beach

777 South Flagler Drive

561-835-9664

www.mortons.com

Morton's Signature Filet Mignon!

PRIME Savings and Sushi

I love eating like a queen for a pauper’s price. My favorite frugal food finds are restaurants that don’t sacrifice quality or portions for lower prices. The best way to save money on eating out is by avoiding high traffic dining hours and by taking advantage of happy hour specials and lunch promotions.

 Located on Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach, PRIME specializes in certified USDA prime beef and top class seafood served in an upscale dining room of  marble flooring and chandeliers. Operated by the senior and junior Steven Pellegrinos, the restaurant is a favorite of movers and shakers of the business and social community of Palm Beach County. For those of us hoping to live the high life on a budget, Executive Chef Peter Masiello has prepared a special lunch menu of ten items featuring pan roasted salmon, rigatoni alla vodka with grilled chicken, braised short ribs with creamy polenta and PRIME’s meatloaf sandwich. The cost? A mere $10, a superb deal considering you can easily drop $8 for a gourmet sandwich from a food truck or burger and fries meal at a drive-thru.

 If you usually skip lunch due to a busy schedule, then make PRIME your after-hours destination with All You Can Eat Sushi Tuesdays. I could easily eat my weight in sushi so this endless sushi offer is my ideal gluttonous pleasure. The sushi menu includes a tempura Maine lobster roll, the Big Kahuna made with spicy tuna and barbecue eel, and the Rainbow Roll with tuna, salmon, lump crab, cream cheese and himachi: these items regularly cost $28 each! But this all-you-can-eat deal is just $24.95 and you can choose one or all nine options. Eat your money’s worth!

The Deal: $10 Lunch Menu

11a.m.-3:30p.m. Monday- Saturday

All You Can Eat Sushi $24.95

5p.m.- Close Tuesdays

PRIME

110 E. Atlantic Ave.

Delray Beach

561-865-5845

www.primedelray.com

Leave Christmas Dinner to the Experts

Zagat, the foodie’s bible, recently released it’s top restaurant picks in Broward County. Winners of the 2012 Top Pick’s edition include Canyon, Casa D’ Angelo and Café Sharaku -all deserving restaurants but in my opinion Zagat overlooked Fort Lauderdale’s newest culinary treasure and my favorite restaurant, Market 17. 

Poached Florida lobster with tarragon butter, shitake mushrooms, pecans, collard greens and sage caramelized gnocchi 

Opened by brother and sister team Aaron and Krista Grauberger in 2010, the restaurant focuses on “wine country cuisine” and features an organic menu with dishes emphasizing seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients. Chef Daniel Ramos changes the menu daily and main dishes are available in petite or entrée size.

If you’re looking to stay out of the kitchen this holiday season, then give yourself the gift of culinary bliss by indulging in Market 17’s Christmas menu. The promotion, which is available on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, features such dishses as house made duck ham with fig ravioli; pasture-raised turkey with sage stuffing and garlic potato puree; winter vegetable risotto with basil goat cheese sauce; and house made egg nog ice cream with gingerbread and gum drops! Considering Market’s 17’s rave reviews, the $65 per person four-course meal is a save-ory steal.

Grilled Okeechobee ostrich filet with sauteed broccolini, crispy potato, thyme garlic, shallot rosti and caramelized apricot

Entrees typically range around $30, SO this Hot Scot can’t afford to go to Market 17 as often as I would like (every day) but I always make it my first choice for out-of-town guests and special occasions. Special events include Scotch-tasting dinners and THE UNiQUE “Dining in the Dark” are value for money and the four-course tasting menu is an unbeatable deal for only $85, which includes wine pairings.

After one bite at Market 17, I guarantee you’ll want to share this gourmet gem with your friends, so pick up a $100 gift certificate and receive a complimentary $20 gift certificate for yourself. Being generous, never tasted so good!

The Deal: Four Course Christmas Dinner for $65

December 24^th and 25^th

Buy $100 Gift Certificate, Receive $20 Gift Certificate

Market 17

1850 SE 17^th Street

Fort Lauderdale

954-835-5507

www.market17.net

Duck confit ragu with house made fresh fettuccini, braised mustard greens and preserved lemon

Hottest Saving of the Week: Brio Tuscan Grille

I’m a girl with caviar and champagne dreams but with a fish sticks and Miller High Life budget. So, when I find a deal that satisfies my culinary demands without breaking the bank, I’m there! And there is Brio Tuscan Grille, which recently opened a new location in Boca Raton.

The stunning location, with high ceilings, Italian marble and outdoor seating was packed with diners enjoying the large portions and top-class service on a Monday night. While waiting for my reservation to be called, I sat down at the bar and discovered a jackpot for frugal foodies. The Tuscan Taster menu is ridiculously low-price at $2.95 each enabling bar flies to devour a savory array of bar bites. Try the roasted garlic spinach and artichoke dip, or four Brio sliders with house-made chips; or maybe the ravioli Caprese. Other offerings include beef Carpaccio; spicy shrimp and eggplant; margherita flatbread; sausage and pepperoni flatbread; and roasted red pepper and fresh mozzarella bruschetta.

I recommend getting a few to share with a friend (on Wednesdays, make it a ladies’ night paired with the $5 martini special). My hands-down favorite was the spicy shrimp and eggplant, which is served in a delicious black pepper cream sauce that will kick the workday blues out of your system! The eggplant is crusted in Romano cheese and breadcrumbs, while the shrimp is pan-seared: a great texture balance. Other stand outs include the beef Carpaccio(our enthusiastic server Adam’s favorite)and the flatbreads. But for $2.95, why not try all nine items? You won’t be disappointed!

The Deal: Tuscan Tasters Menu Items for $2.95

Monday – Friday 3:30p.m.-6:30p.m.

Monday- Thursday 9p.m.- Close

$5 Martinis Wednesdays

Brio Italian Grille

5050 Town Center Circle

Boca Raton

Call 561-392-3777

Visit www.brioitalian.com for other S. Florida Locations

Saddle Up for Savings at High Steaks BBQ

Barbecue is not just for backyard grillers and neighborhood rib joints. Barbecue is the “IN” cuisine and is regularly featured in gourmet magazines and national television shows like Food Network’s BBQ with Bobby Flay and TLC’s BBQ Pitmasters. If the word barbecue has you salivating already, then get out your napkins as it gets better: barbecue with savings. High Steaks BBQ is giving back to fans this holiday season with the deal of buy one platter and get one 50% off (valid through December 31^st).

This newbie in the dining scene features a cozy fireplace, vintage art work and showcases the different regions of barbecue on the platter menu: pork from the Carolinas ($11), Texas brisket ($12), Memphis-style ribs ($20 for full rack; $14 for half) and Kansas-style steak ($32). The key ingredient to their meats, which are cooked over hickory wood in the restaurant’s pit,  is their signature Memphis-style rub with key flavors of cumin and chili.  Platters are served with hush puppies and the choice of French fries and coleslaw or red beans and rice. After licking your fingers clean, pick up a fork and dive into their home made chocolate cake ($6).

The Deal: 50% off purchase of a second platter

High Steaks BBQ

57 NW 37th Avenue

Miami

305.642.7447

www.highsteaksbbq.com

Yo Quiero Savings

It used to be that the only good thing about Tuesday was, well, nothing. But the anonymous spin doctors behind national food days (like“Turkey Neck Soup Day” or “Rhubarb Pie Day”) have given this day a make-over with Taco Tuesdays.

Here are a few reasons and places to help you celebrate one of the most non-celebratory days of the week:

Tijuana Flats: My neighborhood location is always packed with families on Tuesday nights. The Deal:  $4.99 for two tacos of your choice- chicken, beef, steak, refried beans or black beans. The deal includes a side of chips and a drink. It can get busy, so to avoid the queues I call ahead for pick-up. Online ordering is also available. Visit www.tijuanaflats.com for locations.

Mercadito Midtown: This trendy hotspot in the heart of Miami’s culinary center upgrades the taco with a wide choice of fillings: pescado (grilled tilapia), pastor (adobo pork), camaron (shrimp), carnitas (chipotle barbecue pork), carne (steak), hongos (mushrooms), pollo (adobo chicken) or estilo baja (beer battered mahi-mahi). The Deal: $2.50 tacos starting at 5p.m. Must order a minimum of two tacos of the same filling. Mariah Carey, Shakira and Kate Hudson are fans of the food.  Mercadito Midtown is located at 3252 NE First Ave., Miami. Call 786-369-0430 or visit www.mercaditorestaurants.com. 

Tequila Sunrise: What goes better with tacos than tequila? A side of savings! The Deal: $2 tacos (chicken, beef or pork) and to get the fiesta really started, try the premium 100% Agave Camarena Silver Cadillac Margaritas for ONLY $5.99. This Mexican grill is located at 4711 N. Dixie Highway, Oakland Park. Call 954-938-4473 or visit www.tequilasunrise.us.  

THE ULTIMATE DEAL: Surf Road Taco: California is to tacos what New York is to pizza. Hermosa Beach, California natives and Surf Road Tacos owners Caite and Chris share their love of So-Cal style tacos and fresh ingredients with choices including Baja (tempura-battered mahi-mahi), South Bay (grilled mahi-mah), Shorty (grilled shrimp-my favorite), Land Lover (shredded beef), Frube (chicken), Big Spender (pork), OC Veggie (this one is obvious) and Croco (yes, it is alligator). The Deal: $2.25 for two tacos, which are sold in duos, instead of individually. Deal valid until 3p.m. Surf Road Taco is located at 101 NE Third St., Hallandale Beach. Call 954-239-0128 or visit www.surfroadtaco.com.

TUNE IN NEXT WEEK FOR EVEN MORE TACO TUESDAY DEALS….

Yum! Surf Road Tacos!