TWO LEAVES IN THE TABLE

AN EASTER STORY.....

Hubby and I escape every chance we get - it's good for us to get away from our daily routine, to explore new cities, new restaurants, new cultures. But this time I AM THE ESCAPE! That's right....my dear sister and brother-in-law were in town for a few days to celebrate Easter Sunday....just like the good old days.

We left New York City twelve years ago to "sort of" retire and enjoy warmer climes. And we do love it here in Florida. But unfortunately we left behind family - son, daughter, granddaughter, sister and of course dear old friends. It's a trade off really, and not an easy decision. We miss them all the time and eagerly await their yearly visits. But this visit was special because it was Easter, and we hadn't celebrated that holiday together in a very, very long time. So we pulled out all the stops.

There were ten of us at the table including our cousins who live here in Florida and it was just like old times. The five of us sister/cousins have been celebrating holidays together since we were babies - and it's a blessing to have our families that close throughout our lives. So it was a chance to be silly and wear some outlandish Easter Hats (expertly made by Aida). And of course there was all that food.

Hubby and I decided to go Spanish to pay homage to my roots, and despite his Italian roots he has a real talent for cooking like my mama used to. Here was the menu...and let me give a shout out to Angelo's kitchen bible, a book we bought in Puerto Rico many years ago "Rice & Beans & Tasty Things" by Dora Romano. It is well thumbed and covered with food spills and we love it. (I seriously think he was switched at birth and is really a Puerto Rican disguised as an Italian)

THE MENU

Roast Pork (Pernil)- Angelo's recipe, tender, flavorful

White Rice (the perfect vehicle to complement the beans)and of course, The Red Beans (wow)

Grilled Asparagus Spears (my contribution - yes I took the easy way out but I have many other fine qualities - I don't have to cook too!)

Sweet Plantains (Maduros) (Goya, Oh Boya)

Salads - Martha made a Fabulous Garden Salad and Green Bean Salad

Flan - perfectly executed by Grace, the Queen of Flan

Family gatherings are precious and the older we get the more we treasure our times together. Here's hoping we have many more years to celebrate - together! A La Familia!

SAKURA JAPANESE STEAK HOUSE, RIVERVIEW

At the last minute we decided neither of us wanted to cook so we settled on trying this restaurant. We love Asian food of most any variety and friends had spoken highly of Sakura. We were smart enough to call early for a reservation (highly recommended) and so it was with smug satisfaction that we elbowed our way through diners lined up two deep trying to get a table. It being Valentine’s weekend may have explained the crush but I would still call for a reservation as it’s a real reservation with a sign on your table…not one of those where you still have a half hour wait. We had asked for a table in the small dining room this time and left the Hibachi room for our next visit.

I ordered the Chicken Teriyaki which had a delicious but subtle sauce. The serving was plentiful and came with a bowl of white rice, a beautifully composed side of colorful vegetables (al dente) and also a fresh, crisp salad topped with Carrot Ginger dressing that was very good. The rest of our group went for the Shrimp Tempura and were wide eyed as the plates were set before them displaying a dramatic assortment of Shrimp and Vegetables. A very big portion especially considering the delicately crisp Tempura Batter was filling. Two people can share it. I find Tempura a little bland, but the texture was lovely and a bit of salt brought it to perfection.

Two things should be noted: I ate my entire meal with Chop Sticks - Bravo for me. And next time I'm determined to try the Sushi that I spied at a table we passed on the way out as it looked like bejeweled works of art.

Sakura Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar

10722 Big Bend Rd, Riverview, FL 33579

(813) 671-2388

www.sakurajapanesesteakhousefl.com

CONNECTION CAFE & BRADENTON FARMER'S MARKET

CONNECTION CAFÉ, 1207 3rd Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205 | (941) 251-4954

A friend of mine introduced me to this charming café tucked away on a side street off Old Main Street in Bradenton. Connection Café is a quiet, unassuming little place with quirky decor and just a few tables. But this family run café offers some very tasty food prepared and served with welcoming charm.

We decided to split two entrees so as to enjoy the best of both. And certainly the portions were more than enough to accommodate our appetites. The Roasted Beet Salad with Brie and Orange was dressed with a Balsamic reduction…very fresh and tasty. The Mushroom Crepe was delicious and while I found both dishes to be very satisfying, my friend admitted that both were better the last time she dined there. I'll have to visit often and in the interest of further 'research' try some of their other offerings and get back to you.

DOWNTOWN BRADENTON FARMER'S MARKET

Perhaps the big plus of the day was enjoying the Bradenton Farmer’s Market. Open every Saturday from October through May, the hours are 9AM to 2PM. Located on Old Main Street in downtown Bradenton, the market covers about three blocks and offers fresh fruits and vegetables, Organic Honey, homemade Italian specialties, amazing freshly baked breads, Red Gulf Shrimp, Olive Tapenade, fresh baked goodies, Vegan specialties, arts and crafts…..and much more to feast your eyes (and your taste buds) upon.

The atmosphere is made even more pleasant by live music – mostly local bands and performers who delight the crowds.

On my second visit here I brought hubby who was delighted with all the free food tastings like...... Shrimp with Panzanella Salad; Olive Tapenade; Crusty Bread with a variety of flavored dipping oils; Pretzels and a variety of Creamy Dips; Italian Chocolate…..oh my it was wonderful. We plan on visiting this market often and bringing our friends. I can’t think of a more pleasant way to spend a Saturday morning. Check out the Realize Bradenton website to learn more about the Market, the Riverwalk and surrounding neighborhood attractions.

http://www.realizebradenton.com/farmers_market

ESCAPE TO DAYTONA BEACH

Hubby and I recently celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary and decided to escape to Daytona Beach for a few days. The weather was brilliant and we spent our time visiting the boardwalk, checking out curiosities, and relaxing on our ocean front beach front balcony. And of course we sampled the local cuisine. Here’s a recap of our favorites.

CHARLIE HORSE 810 S. Atlantic Avenue, Ormond Beach, FL 32176 | 386-672-4347 http://www.charliehorserestaurant.com/

For a quick casual meal on our first night in town we headed over to Charlie Horse Restaurant on the recommendation of the hotel’s concierge. The place was lively and a dozen or so people were lounging on the front porch waiting for their tables. We couldn’t find parking so I popped in to ask the hostess where we should park and she directed us to enter the next door Bone Fish driveway and pull around back to park there. That was a little odd but we figured it out. The wait for a table wasn’t too long and made pleasant by chatting with other touristy folks comparing notes on Daytona Beach in general.

Hubby ordered Sirloin Steak with a side of Garlic Mashed and brown gravy and declared it good. I opted for a Salad topped with Sliced Grilled Sirloin and it was very good. Honestly we were so tired this first night that we just ate quickly and headed to the hotel to call it a night. The place was noisy and we just weren’t in the mood – but I’d definitely go back and maybe try their all you can eat crab legs since that seemed to be the hot menu item.

Rossellini’s Restaurant & Lounge 136 S Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach, FL 32118 | Phone: 3862538333 http://www.rossellinisrestaurant.com/

We were in the mood for elegant Italian food and Rossellini’s seemed the perfect choice for dinner. The restaurant has a charming atmosphere and it was a quiet Monday evening midway between Christmas and New Year’s. Next time we’d like to return on a night when they have live music on the patio deck.

We started with an appetizer of Seafood Saute that featured clams & mussels in a garlic and white wine sauce. Delicioso! Way too much of their good crusty bread was employed to sop up the savory juices.

I indulged in Veal Scallopini Marsala and it was tender and tasty, a good portion size, and came with a mushroom risotto and vegetables. I ate every morsel. Hubby had Veal Parmigiana with Spaghetti and he was quite satisfied. Our waitress fussed over us with a celebratory glass of champagne and a slice of their amazing Lemoncello Cake to mark our special occasion 25th Wedding Anniversary. Here’s to the next 25 years!

Hubby is obsessed with Raw Clams on the Half Shell. This craving harkens back to his NYC upbringing where he was known to indulge in eating 2-4 dozen on his own, heaped with cocktail sauce, horse radish and lemon juice. As a matter of fact it was hubby that introduced me to raw clams, something I’d never had any desire to try. Well he got me hooked as well and I especially like when he prepares my clams just so to make sure they’re dressed correctly. With this in mind we set out to find a restaurant for lunch that served Raw Clams and well that turned into somewhat of a fiasco. We’ve noticed since moving to Florida that most restaurants with a Raw Bar serve Oysters, not Clams. Yes we’ve found a few but they’re rare. On this day we finally got a tip where to go – Boondocks, an outdoorsy place right on the marina. I wouldn’t even mention them now since they had no clams that day, but the hostess was so very nice and referred us to one of their competing restaurants she was sure would have what we were after. That makes me determined to try Boondocks next time we’re in town! BOONDOCKS | 3948 S. Peninsula Drive, Wilbur By The Sea, FL 32 127 | 386-760-9001 | http://www.boondocks-restaurant.com

And here at last we found our Raw Bar – We ordered two dozen Littleneck Clams on the Half Shell and slurped them up in no time. I followed that up with a salad topped with grilled tilapia, and hubby got a Shrimp Po Boy. The weather was brilliant and we enjoyed sitting on the open deck – a most pleasant experience. Our Deck Down Under is a terrific casual place that families will enjoy. We sure did!

It was the perfect way to celebrate our big day and we were so enchanted by all that Daytona Beach has to offer that we will be returning later this year and bringing some friends with us.....the more the Jollier! OUR DECK DOWN UNDER , 78 Dunlawton Ave., Daytona Beach, FL | http://www.ourdeckdu.com/

La Septima Cafe, Brandon

It’s possible that I have a soft spot for this restaurant because it’s owned and operated by the Fernandez family and hey - my maiden name is Fernandez! Alas there’s no familial connection so I can’t claim the family discount. What I can do is enjoy food reminiscent of that prepared by my mother. Cuban food and Puerto Rican food are very much alike. So when I order the chicken and rice I can almost hear my mother calling me to the table. Foolish little girl that I was I never did partake in mama’s black beans. It wasn’t until I was 40 years old that my Italian husband convinced me to try his black beans and wowza I fell in love with them. These days I am in charge of black beans at our house as I have perfected them through the years, and every now and then I look up into the sky and say “sorry mama I should have eaten your beans when I had the chance”. La Septima’s black beans and yellow rice are great.

Salad is served on a vintage wrought aluminum plate – these are lovely and I’m reminded of similar serving pieces laid out on my family table. I still own three pieces inherited from a favorite aunt and employ them for special family dinners. They make me smile.

Although I usually order one of the traditional menu items, tonight we both decided to go for the special: Bacon wrapped sirloin with a skewer of four large shrimp served with La Septima’s awesome yellow rice. For $12.99 it was a terrific value and better yet, it was delicious. My one disappointment was that the bacon wasn’t crisp and we set it aside. However, it had served to impart its flavor into the meat and so I forgave the lack of crispness. I resisted the temptation to order flan for dessert but if you're so inclined do give it a try when you go. It's very good with a cup of café con leche. Of course its no where near as good as my beloved Tia Graciela's legendary flan. Thankfully her recipe lives on with her namesake daughter Grace and if the family asks/begs/pleads with her enough she will make it for us. La Septima's is a close second.

The service here is very good. Our waitress Desire was attentive and efficient, quick to refill hubby’s soda or my wine and even mama Dahlia swooped in to bus our table as soon as our last bite was taken. If I have one complaint it’s that we were sitting on the end aisle along the servers’ station and it felt a little obtrusive for the owner and six servers to be standing two feet behind hubby’s back having a mini meeting about how to lay out tables for a big party. I feel they should have moved to the back for that meeting.

We were treated to some beautiful Spanish guitar music by a talented young man sitting near the front bar and that just added to the atmosphere. All in all it was a great dining experience and we will definitely be back soon.

www.laseptimacafe.com

702 West Lumsden Road, Brandon FL 33511 Phone: (813) 685-0502

Woody's River Roo, Ellenton

After a hectic day of shopping at Ellenton’s Prime Outlet Mall hubby and I escape the frenzied crowds and head over to Woody’s River Roo. It's a hidden gem on a small bay that runs adjacent to US301 and it affords a view of I75 as it crosses the Manatee River. It’s our favorite outdoor dining spot here in the Tampa Bay area perhaps because on our very first visit to Woody’s ten years ago we turned to each other and at the same time said “Rockaway”. To prove my point, the first is a photo of a waterside restaurant we frequented in Rockaway New York and the second is a photo of Woody’s Ellenton.

I have to say the food at Woody’s is hands down ten times better than the Rockaway restaurant whose name I can’t even remember. We went there for the view and a drink. Happily we go to Woody’s for the food AND the view – a win win.

The first thing you’ll notice is a jam packed parking lot and at least 20% are motorcycles. There’s a large patio with umbrella shaded tables, a narrow deck with some high tops, and a sand bar you see pictured with lots more seating and charming thatched umbrellas. The atmosphere is casual and tropical and lovely. Woody’s offers live music most every day of the week and while we’ve seen some terrific talent there it can get so loud you can’t talk and be heard. We prefer to go for lunch to enjoy the view and avoid the noise.

The food is always good. The Grouper Bites are delicious as is the Salmon BLT (Grilled Salmon Topped with Crisp Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato on Toasted Sourdough Bread – it is perfection. Their burgers are terrific too and I often get the salad topped with shrimp. And for heaven’s sake, do yourself a favor and order the home made potato chips – they’re to die for. Everything is always fresh and tasty and the service is friendly and attentive.

With the holidays just around the corner I'd strongly recommend you hit the Outlet Mall, shop till you drop and then relax and recover at Woody's River Roo.

http://woodysriverroo.com/

Ava (AH-va) which roughly translates from Italian as "Breath of Life"

This month’s pick for our dining out group began as an enigma to me but like any other ‘pick’ our group designates, the mandate is to give it a try and keep an open mind. My problem was in figuring out the online menu, the first thing we all do when an ‘escape’ is announced. The menu offered a challenge to my culinary vocabulary. But our waitress was not only adorably costumed in a skeleton leotard for Halloween, she was professional, attentive and very knowledgeable about the menu. So here’s what I learned. Nduja is a spicy pork sausage. Sugo is any type of tomato sauce. And fregola is pasta that is a close relative to couscous.

A few of us ordered the diet friendly special Grouper over seasonal vegetables and it was quite delicious. I paired mine with a lovely glass of Chianti. Cheryl indulged in a Veal Chop served over celery root puree and declared it to be top notch. It should be noted that the bone went home in a doggie bag with an eye toward making some fabulous soup. I loved that idea! Ray’s Pasta tasted as good as it looked. And Hollie’s Scallops were big and tender and perfect. Hubby opted for the Sirloin over seasonal vegetables and he quite enjoyed it. .

It figures that on a night when I was resolved not to eat any bread I was faced with this incredibly tempting sight. This custom made Acunto -brand wood burning pizza oven was imported from Italy to churn out the magnificent loaves you see here. It's a beautiful element in the dining room, a hearth that welcomes you into their home.

Principal owner Michael Stewart, who grew up in South Tampa also owns the restaurant 717 South directly across the street from Ava on S. Howard Avenue. One of his partners is former Tampa Bay Rays player Joe Maddon who has always had a passion for restaurants and wines, and had a hand in developing the wine list and some very interesting cocktails. While the interior is lovely, I must say we had a bit of a problem finding the restaurant because there is only a little sign above the corner entry that you could easily miss if you were traveling south from Swann. We were seated in a back room that featured an awesome barn door that could close it off for a private party.

And just for fun, check out these nifty one handed salt and pepper shakers. We gals were so taken by them that we immediately whipped out our iPhones to find where to buy them. I got mine via amazon.com for about $26 and they’re due to arrive this week…can’t wait. We all left the restaurant satisfied with the total experience and headed over to Kathy & Ray's for dessert and coffee, the nicest way to end the evening with good friends.