Florida Agenda

By RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN

STORK’S BAKERY, COFFEE HOUSE & CAFÉ
2505 NE 15th Ave.
Wilton Manors, FL 33305
954-567-3220

We admit it. We’re a sucker for a Pilgrim Wrap. Although we were first introduced to the sandwich years ago while living in Provincetown, Massachusetts, land of the Mayflower, we recently reacquainted ourselves with the joy of this taste treat at Stork’s Bakery, Coffee House & Café in Wilton Manors. The local variety serves up a delicious sliced oven-roast turkey combo with cornbread stuffing, cranberry vinaigrette, chutney, beefsteak tomato, lettuce and mayo in a spinach wrap. At $8.49, it’s the signature sandwich of Stork’s, a local institution for the past 15 years. Over that time, there’s been a few changes to the menu, but the Pilgrim Wrap has always made the cut.

In case you’re new to the neighborhood, or haven’t stopped by recently for a fast, wholesome meal, Stork’s blends a menu of salads, sandwiches, soups, and quiches with their famous housemade desserts. This day, we tasted our way through a fresh-from-the-stove Creamy Veggie Soup ($8.95), a smack-yourlips Caprese Salad with field greens, tomato, mozzarella, basil, chives, and cracked black pepper ($7.99), a Baked Eggplant Lasagna ($10 per pound) that had just the right amount of heft to counter the light tomato sauce, and a large slice of Storkberry Pie, which, if you haven’t tried it, is heaven between a crust. The Storkberry, which should have its own patent, is a unique blend of strawberries, cherries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries, with a flaky lattice-work oatmeal crust, at $4.00 per slice. At breakfast, the spotlight is on Stork’s 13 different whole bean blends of coffee, with Snickerdoodle Decaf our vote for the moment, though they’ve got an equally large variety of fresh brewed teas. Where else could you find a tea called Get Gorgeous, which, when consumed, promises to produce the clearest skin this side of Snow White? At breakfasttime, it’s an aroma orgy inside the shop, as coffees fence with baked goods for bragging rights to um-um good.

Yet as great as the café and coffee are, Stork’s shines when the bakery is placed front and center.

There is nowhere else in town with as consistently a great German Chocolate Cake: Moist chocolate with coconut sweetness, tempered with a sprinkle of pecan at $4.15 a slice. Another favorite, which is often out of stock, is the White Chocolate Pistachio Cheesecake ($4.15). It should be illegal, and maybe it is, since it seems to vanish from the display case as soon as it arrives. It’s a white chocolate pistachio ganache that’s made sinful with the addition of pictachio pieces that circle the rim of the outside of the cheesecake. The first bite will tell you you’re in big trouble.

Those who know such things swear by the Kahlua Marble Cheesecake ($4.15), with its coffee swirl atop a dark chocolate crumb crust. While it’s too adult for us to even try, the baker insists it’s a winner.

So, too, is Stork’s within the community.

It is not unusual to see the company logo on charity fundraisers for not-for-profit organizations, particularly within the LGBT arena. They continue to be a major presence during the annual SmartRide (this year, it’s November 16-17), as well as the monthly Tea Cruise benefiting the Brian Neal Fitness and Health Foundation. Thank them for that when you next drop by, and, of course, tell them Agenda sent you.

A Touch of Paris in South Florida

Rendez Vous Bakery1576 East Oakland Park Boulevard, Oakland Park, FL 33334-4425 (954) 563-2228

By TIM SLIVINSKI

Sometimes we all need to get away from the usual. Of course, a European vacation visiting the countryside of France would be a great venue for that. But when busy schedules and/or finances do not permit such an extravagance, do not fear. We are fortunate to have a wee (or should I say “oui”) touch of France right in our own backyard. The Rendez-Vous Bakery and Bistro will permit you to enjoy a bit of French wine, food, and pastry for a fraction of the cost of a trip overseas.

Rendez-Vous offers options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so whatever time of day that a desire for something French hits you, you can be assured your wish can be fulfilled. Because I generally dislike the mess and fuss of fixing breakfast, I often opt to eat my first meal of the day out. A recent Sunday morning found me seated at a roomy wooden booth at Rendez-Vous, contemplating a wide menu of options to get my day going. A crepe sounded delicious, as did something called eggs forestiere, which consists of two eggs dipped in a wild mushroom sauce. After sipping a cup of coffee, my eye was drawn to a selection of quiches on the menu. I finally decided on the quiche Florentine. It promised a puff pastry shell filled with egg batter, spinach and Swiss cheese. I asked for the grilled potatoes as an accompaniment, though a salad was also an option. The quiche arrived with a golden, flaky crust and a savory filling that offered a perfect blend of ingredients. It was rich without being too powerful. As I leisurely forked my way to the last bite, I vowed to return to try other quiches on the menu. My partner, going a more traditional route, selected the eggs benedict. It was a traditional benedict, but he especially enjoyed the lemony tang in the hollandaise sauce as well as its, according to him, “not too thick and gooey texture.”

Lunch on another visit displayed a menu filled with both French – as well as more traditional American – fare. Several savory crepes with options such as chicken, ham or seafood sounded tempting. If you are not a carnivore, there is a vegetable crepe on the menu, as well. Several entrees, both cold and hot, also caught my attention, making a final choice even more difficult. Deciding that the theme of the bistro was clearly French, I opted for a hot entrée: merguez on a baguette. Let me explain. It offers two lamb sausages and onion marmalade on a fresh baguette. I felt as if I would be speaking French at any moment. It was a wonderfully savory choice that took me out of my food comfort zone. Rich and a tad spicy, without any one flavor overwhelming the others, the onion marmalade offered just a touch of sweetness that contrasted well with the earthy sausage. A smoky, spicy harissa sauce on the side was offered for an extra kick! A more than generous portion of French fries —what else! — accompanied the sandwich. A fresh baguette is, to me, always a great vehicle for a sandwich. It made a perfectly filling lunch.

My partner was intrigued by and selected the Assiette Campagnarde salad. He was presented with a beautifully colorful arrangement of mixed greens, red tomatoes, brie, prosciutto, saucisson sec, paté and cornichons. It was a plate of freshness that offered an array of textures as well as flavors. He was pleased, very pleased.

While dining at Rendez-Vous, it is imperative to take note of the day’s selections of pastries and desserts. Displayed in a case along the wall, each dessert looked not only delicious, but also like a work of art. Bright, vivid colors against dark chocolate and fresh, colorful fruits in mini-tart shells beckoned each person to try just one. Perhaps on my next visit I will succumb to the decadent goodness and richness of at least one of them. Nevertheless, each one was a feast for the eyes.

Rendez-Vous also offers a selection of wines if you care to sip a bit of the grape, either before or with your lunch or dinner. The list leans heavily toward French varietals, as one might expect. The price points for both glass and bottle selections are very reasonable. If you want to be truly French and summery, try a bottle of the Cote de Provence Rosé. Rosés from Provence are among the best in the world, and they offer a light, fruity, refreshing contrast to the South Florida summer heat.

The next time the mood for a quick trip to Paris strikes your fancy, sample a touch of France right here in South Florida. The Rendez-Vous Bakery and Bistro can transport you, at least for an hour or two, to a quaint little bôite that you just happened to find along a French country road.