Florida Agenda

By RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN

Crab legs are coming to the Alibi and you heard it here first. After a super successful summer promotion of Tuesday night all-you-can-eat lobster at $39.99, the outside patio at Wilton Manor’s most established gay gathering spot is looking to shake things up with crab. Lobster is out and crab is in on all-you-can-eat Tuesday nights for the next few months, we’re told. We will, of course, be leading the crush to get a table, bib in hand.

A few years ago, when Alibi eliminated tortilla-wrapped sandwiches from its menu, we were openly disappointed. The café replaced its lighter fare with bigger plates for heartier appetites—a trend that continues still. Heavy on burger entrees, Alibi does make an admittedly amazing assortment of flavorful hamburgers. It’s no wonder that their 10-ounce 100 percent Angus beef patty has been repeatedly named the Best Burger in Fort Lauderdale.

Our favorite of the selection is the Bleu Moon Burger ($11), with blue cheese and bacon on an artisan Challah bun. We always get ours with caramelized onions, and a side of cole slaw, though you can request fries, potato salad or potato chips on the side if you prefer. The Classic Alibi Burger ($10) comes with lettuce, tomato and raw onion, and has its share of fans.

A carry-over from the old menu is the White Chicken Chili ($4). This is a superb chili, full of chunked chicken meat and beans, topped with a dollop of sour cream and colorful tortilla chips. It’s the perfect compliment to the Chicken Cobb Salad ($11.75), with its large helping of romaine lettuce mixed with bacon, tomato, egg, avocado, red onions, and grilled chicken breast, all tossed with a ranch dressing. Yum. If fish is your favorite, let your fingers do the walking down the menu to the Ancho Mahi Mahi Club ($10) which features toasted thickly-sliced white bread surrounding a hearty cut of Mahi Mahi rubbed with Ancho chilis, and served with lettuce, tomato, bacon and guacamole. Or, the place makes an awfully tasty Albacore Tuna Salad Sandwich ($9.50) on multi-grain bread. Savor the house-made mix of capers, lemon juice, and pickled red peppers on a leaf of romaine, and you’ll discover perfection.

While the full menu is available until 11 p.m., the kitchen stays open until 1:30 a.m., serving late-night specialties including its Baja Chicken Breast Sandwich ($9.50) plated on a ciabatta roll. What makes this choice so special is the caramelized onions, melted provolone cheese, jalapeno peppers and slash of roasted garlic mayo. If that’s too much of a good thing, eat lighter with Tezza’s Southwestern Eggrolls ($7), which blends corn, black beans, Jack cheese, jalapenos, red peppers, spinach, and grilled chicken breast—all wrapped in a fried flour tortilla.

An excellent size for a late-night graze. On Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., a Jazz Brunch takes center stage. There’s a special menu for the occasion (although the regular menu is available as well). A good choice for healthy eats is the Breakfast Burrito ($9), which dishes up scrambled eggs, housemade chorizo, cheddar cheese, and salsa. Olé. Should originality prove too difficult for a Sunday morning, your fall-back position can always be the Steak and Eggs ($12), a rather predictable slab of beef known as a Flat-Iron Steak topped with two overeasy eggs and Béarnaise sauce, served with oven-roasted potatoes and arugula. Wash it down with a Bloody Mary ($2.50) and tell them The Agenda sent you.

ALIBI
2266 Wilton Drive
Wilton Manors, FL 33305
954-565-2526

Georgie’s Alibi

By RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN

A few years ago, we spent an hysterically funny Valentine’s Day evening at P.F. Chang’s, the Chinese food emporium at the Galleria Mall. Like all branches of this national chain, the entrance to the restaurant is guarded by giant copies of the famous battle mounts of the terra cotta soldiers of Xian, China. The 11th century warriors who rode those steeds stake their claim to fame inside the eatery, where statues preside over the dining room.

This particular Valentine’s Day, we arrived at the scheduled time for our reservation, only to discover that it had somehow been lost in the system, and while we were promised the “very next table,” it was a wait of nearly an hour. Such is the popularity of P.F. Chang’s.

After being seated, we placed an order for Chinese 5 Spice Duo of Duck ($19.95), which is the wrong thing to order if you’re in a rush. Fortunately, after waiting an hour for a table, we were in no hurry for the food, content to just be seated. Twenty minutes into our order, the server announced that our duck had been delivered to the wrong table, and had been eaten by another guest!

When last our duck finally arrived, it turned out to be a very good meal—a slowed-cooked leg and breast, perfectly crispy with a cherry ginger chutney and sesame watercress salad. It still remains one of our preferred dishes at this restaurant that roams all over China to find its assortment of recipes.

Our favorite dish on the whole menu is the Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps ($7.95), with its filling of wok-seared minced chicken, mushrooms, green onions and water chestnuts, wrapped in crispy iceburg lettuce cups. It’s a Cantonese dish from the Olde Country that was originally made with minced pigeon. The version served here is a delight not to be missed. So, too, is the deliciously spicy Chang’s Chicken Noodle Soup ($7.95), a made-to-order chicken broth containing white hot pepper, shitake mushrooms, pin rice noodles, and grape tomatoes. Take the time to explore this subtle soup.

In Northern China, rice is a rarity, with wheat serving as the starch of choice. It’s translated here at P.F. Chang’s in its noodle dishes. Our very favorite is the Wok-Seared Lamb ($15.95), featuring semi-crisp egg noodles stir-fried with vegetables and a succulently-sauced, tender lamb cooked just so. It’s served with cilantro over cooling shredded lettuce.

The Szechuan region gets its nod with a classic Kung Pao Chicken ($13.95), prepared as you would expect with peanuts, chile peppers and scallions. Since Szechuan chefs use hot and pungent spices liberally, expect your taste buds to tingle. As this is Chinese cuisine sieved through the filter of American palates, the hot and spicy factor is on the mild side. You can increase the dose of heat at the table with the abundant selection of chili sauces available.

Vegetarians are not forgotten here either, with any stir-fried dish on the menu available in a tofu version. There’s also a flavorful selection of fish, as well. Our go-to preference is the Lemongrass Grilled Norwegian Salmon ($18.95), featuring a glaze of ginger, red peppers and lemongrass that is grilled to order and served atop asparagus.

Finish your meal off with Banana Spring Rolls ($5.95), six small sections of bananas wrapped in spring roll dough and lightly fried. These are served with a scoop of coconut pineapple ice cream with caramel and vanilla sauces. As you’re saying “yum,” tell them Florida Agenda sent you.

P.F. CHANG’S—Galleria Mall
2418 E Sunrise Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
954-565-5877

 
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By RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN

BurgerFi
2477 E Sunrise Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
954-835-5514

BurgerFi is so proud of its logo that it hot-brands the thing on top of every one of its buns. It’s a clever concept, and one that ensures you’ll remember that this is no ordinary fast-food burger chain.

The place is the brainchild of John Rosatti, the owner of the huge Plaza Auto Mall as well as several luxury yachts, including the 162-foot Remember When. Legend has it that setting foot on the yacht is akin to visiting Buckingham Palace. He also owns his own Gulfstream jet, so money is not the issue here. Health, on the other hand, is. Rosatti recently lost 50 pounds and began BurgerFi as a fast-food fine dining experience for those of us who need to watch our n i c k e l s , and our calories.

The end result is a rather fresh and lively experience in fresh-cooked cuisine, heavy on Angus Beef. The standard BurgerFi Burger at $5.47 is a double-pattied affair with lettuce, tomato and secret sauce on the aforementioned branded bun. Flavorful, filling, and fun particularly when you add any of the free extras (mayonnaise, relish, white onions, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, grilled onions, ketchup, mustard, jalapeños, A-1 Sauce, and barbeque sauce). For an extra $1, you can select from Blue Cheese, American Cheese, Swiss Cheese, White Cheddar Cheese, a Fried Egg, Cherry Peppers, Salt & Vinegar Potato Chips, Grilled Mushrooms, a giant Onion Ring, Chili, Peter Luger Steak Sauce, or Heinz Organic Ketchup. Now that’s what we call a burger.

For $6.77, the non-meat-eaters among us can get the VegeFi Burger, which is a doggone great imitation of substantial goodness. It’s a crisp quinoa burger (which tastes a lot better than it sounds) with white cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and secret sauce on a wholewheat bun. We had it served with a side of Fresh Cut Fries ($2.77), which are cooked any way you like them. We selected well done, and got extra crispy delicious potatoes that somehow disappeared off the plate without chewing or swallowing—they were that good.

We were less thrilled with the hot dog selection, since the sampled Chicken Apple Dog ($4.27) didn’t have the familiar pop when your teeth pierced the casing, and came with a sauce that tasted like Cheez Whiz to us. Even so, it was a filing serving, accompanied by some superb Onion Rings ($3.77).

For dessert, BurgerFi serves a sinful Frozen Custard in cups and cones ($3.97, $4.97, $5.97—one, two or three scoops), made with cream from nearby farms. Get it with BurgerFi Mix-in toppings for $5.57 under the Concrete menu. They’ve got a Key Lime Pie, Beach Blast (chocolate custard, peanut butter, chocolate chips and brownie chunks), and Fort Lauderdale Surfer (caramel, mango and coconut)—all $5.57, and tasty, too.

BurgerFi serves an array of Craft Beers, including our favorite Magic Hat #9 and Orange Blossom Pilsner, among others. They also serve up by-the-glass Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Grigio, as well as a new taste to us—the Rex Goliath Merlot. It lingered with the taste of plums, cherries and wild red berries that was an excellent accessory to the BurgerFi staples.

By asking for any item Green Style, they’ll skip the branded bun and wrap it in lettuce. And if you really can’t make up your mind, ask for a 1/2 Stack Burger, which isn’t on the menu, but will get you an Angus Beef patty topped with American cheese, plus a quinoa patty with white cheddar cheese. Enjoy, and tell them Agenda sent you.

The Fiesta Begins on Las Olas

By RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN

It’s tough to miss the bar in Rocco’s Tacos, the popular Mexican eatery on Las Olas Boulevard. It stretches across the entire west wall of the restaurant, with five shelves full of assorted liquors including 220 types of tequila alone. Twice we tried counting the entire inventory, running out of fingers and toes long before we hit a tally of 350 bottles.

The bartenders—female, cute, and obviously having a good time—take the vast stock in stride, seeming to have a sixth sense about how to find any particular label.

Surrounded by carved wood, the bar looks like it belongs in a vintage pub, and sets the tone for this place that is at-once seasoned and current. This is an eatery full of attractive people having a raucous time, confirming Rocco’s Tacos place as the current in-spot to go for a good time. The fact that the food keeps pace with the high energy level of the joint is in itself a bonus.For that we can thank executive chef Adam Dumbrowski and co-owner  Rocco Mangel.

The house specialty, as you might guess from the restaurant’s name, is Tacos. Select between chicken, roasted pork, spicy beef, chorizo, mushroom, shrimp, skirt steak and blackened mahi ($2.95-$4.25). Having tasted them all, on multiple occasions, we give five stars to all the varieties, though the Cochinitas Achiote (slow-roasted pork) is particularly succulent. All tacos come in hard shell or soft corn tortillas.

For California purests there is a platter of three California Fish Tacos, filled with lightly battered and fried Mahi Mahi, cabbage slaw and avocado ranch dressing, nustled in place by a heap of spice white rice and black beans.

At $17, this is an expensive choice, made all the more so because it doesn’t really taste that great. (Where California Fish Tacos are concerned, we set the bar quite high, thanks to repeated visits to Mamá Testa Taqueria in the Hillcrest District of San Diego. Mamá, who knows these things, swears catfish is the fish of choice-not too fried, and not too covered in Mexican slaw.)

Rocco's Tacos and Tequila Bar

At Rocco’s Tacos, every item on the menu comes with a price tag, including customarily free chips and salsa. They are given the authentic name of Totopos and cost $3. For that price, you get a basket of homemade corn chips seasoned with cumin, cinnamon, and perhaps cayenne, although the exact recipe seems to be a house secret. For $12, the servers will bring a serving cart to your table and prepare Guacamole from scratch with your choice of three different degrees of wam! We opted for medium hot, which was the perfect complement of pepper to avocado.

For a meal with more substance, explore the tasty Molcajetes. Traditionally, a molcajetes is a bowl made from volcanic rock. The Rocco’s Taco version uses the molcajetes as the baking dish for a fajita-like concoction that comes in three varieties: Seafood (shrimp, scallops, and mahi mahi, served with poblano chiles, calabaza squash, and charred tomatoes), Carne (skirt steak, chicken, and chorizo, prepared with three pepper rajas, rojo, and tequila) and Surf & Turf (steak, chorizo, chicken, and shrimp). This specialty act doesn’t come cheap-$22 for a molcajetes serving one; $38 for two.

In case you’re missing the point, there is a recurring theme here—expensive and fun. Crack open your piggy bank and make the scene. And tell them Agenda sent you.

ROCCOS TACO’S AND TEQUILA BAR
1313 E Las Olas Blvd.
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
954-524-9550

By RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN

Sitting outside and dining alfresco at the recently-opened Tee-Jay Thai Sushi in Wilton Manors is akin to experiencing local life in a microcosm. Situated as it is dead-center in the Shoppes of Wilton Manors, down the strip mall from popular Georgie’s Alibi, this newest branch of the Thai restaurant dynasty (that includes a Tee-Jay branch on North Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale, Thai House II in North Miami Beach, and Tamarind Asian Grill in Deerfield Beach) is sexy, sophisticated, and priced to proved the point.

On Friday and Saturday nights, you really, really need to want to eat here to handle the wait, as the line stretches out of the 80-seat eatery into the parking lot. On other nights, the mood is more zen should you choose to sit inside among the orchid plants, and sultry purple and blue lighting thats aimed to make you look your best.

We always judge a Thai restaurant by its Green Papaya Salad, a super-simple dish that many joints manage to fuss up to the point that it’s indistinguishable from the real deal.

Tee-Jay’s version is an excellent and healthy choice ($7.95), mixing shreds of fresh green papaya with carrots, green beans, crushed peanuts and lime juice. As with everything at Tee-Jay, you get the option of choosing how intense your selection will be. From mild all the way to Thai spicy, the choice is yours. Here’s your only warning on the subject: Tee-Jay loves things on the hot side, so even medium will set your mouth on fire. Enough said?

A specialty of the house, and an alltime favorite item of ours, is the Ginger Fish ($24.95), a whole snapper that’s been breaded and deep-fried, and layered with a sauce made of mushrooms, carrots, scallions, grated ginger, and celery. Succulent and a slur of flavors that will leave you cleaning your plate.

The Miso Soup ($1.95) is an excellent starter with its not-too-salty broth, coupled with tofu, seaweed, and scallions. For something a little heartier, we highly recommend the Thai Dumplings ($6.25). These four steamed temptations blend ground chicken, shrimp, and shitake mushrooms with a soy-ginger based dipping sauce.

For sushi purists, the list of made-to-order rolls is extensive. They range in price from $3.95 (for a wonderful Tuna Roll) to $23.95 (a lavish Fancy Lobster Roll with lobster tempura, eel, scallions, cucumber and avocado, served inside out and topped with seared tuna, tempura flakes, magago, and kimchee sauce—heaven).

If the Grilled Sea Bass ($27.95) is calling your name, know that it is spiced with passion and served with an ultra-fluffy jasmine rice and sautéed mixed vegetables. Three tasty dipping sauces come along for the ride—a low-salt Teriyaki with a surprising apple after-glow; Peanut, as rich and fattening as you would expect; and Wasabi, creamy and clear-your sinuses strong. In truth, the Sea Bass stands up on its own merits without any added extras, and the jasmine rice is a meal in itself.

The aromatic Soft Shell Crab Panang Curry ($19.95) is made rich and creamy with its peanut base, smoothed with coconut milk, bell peppers, and basil leaves. And if you have an ounce of room left in your stomach, finish the night off with Fried Bananas and Ice Cream ($5.95), served in a sliver-thin rice paper wrap, and drizzled with a lovely chocolate sauce that gives new meaning to the word decadence.

When you’re done licking your plate, tell them Agenda sent you.

TEE-JAY THAI SUSHI
2254 WILTON DR.
WILTON MANORS, FL 33305
954-537-7774

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By RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN

Whoever said size doesn’t matter has never walked through the front door of Primanti Bros., a Pittsburgh institution since 1933, and a local Fort Lauderdale favorite since 1970. While many know the place for its pizza—along with Humpy’s in Wilton Manors, it’s easily the best pizza in town—the big attraction at Primanti Bros. are its huge Almost Famous Sandwiches.

Legend has it that when the brothers Primanti (Joe, Dick, and Stanley) opened their original location on Smallman and 18th Streets in the warehouse district of Pittsburgh, they created a sandwich that included side dishes of fries and slaw between two super thick slices of Italian bread. The concept suggested that the sandwich and sides could be eaten by truckers with one hand after unloading their beds and getting back on the road.

This behemoth of an item comes in the usual assortment of flavors: Genoa salami, Italian sausage, bacon and egg, cappicola, turkey breast, roast beef, tuna fish, pastrami, corned beef or your basic burger—all mounded with provolone cheese. The resulting sandwich is easily three-inches thick, with the slaw and fries alone accounting for a good inch. It’s messy and gooey and heaven on earth. The sandwich ranges in price from $6.29-$6.69, so it’s easy on the pocketbook, especially considering that it’s a two-meal serving.

Less popular but definitely worth considering: the Lotsa Mozzarella Cheese Oven-Baked Hoagies. Served on a crispy crust 9” Italian bun, our favorite from this group is the Sicilian Cheesesteak ($6.99).

This traditional favorite includes premium cut sliced beef with grilled onions, mushrooms, and a ladle of marinara sauce, all smothered in mozzarella. The sauce is what makes it Sicilian, but the taste is what makes it our favorite.

As if to prove that it’s more than just a pizza joint, Primanti’s offers up full course meals with housemade bread and a side salad. These are definitely not the Bros. specialty, and as if to prove the point, they make you wait extra long to receive your meal. However, when you do, there is a whopping portion with equally great taste.

Recommended here is the Chicken Marsala ($11.79), served with a pasta. The chicken is sautéed in Marsala wine with mushrooms, extracting a flavor that’s both subtle and defined.

In an unusual treat, the Home-Style Baked Cheese Raviolis deliver a delightful spin on the Italian standard. In the Primanti version, the raviolis become akin to mini lasagnas with their ricotta cheese filling. The fresh marinara sauce is prepared with fresh tomatoes, mushrooms, peppers and onions, and all for $10.99. Mamma mia!

Primanti Bros. has a 24-hour location on the beach, at 901 N Atlantic Blvd. as well as branches at 516 E Oakland Park Blvd. in Oakland Park. (954-565-7100) and 2019 N University Dr. in Sunrise. (954-578-3900).

At the non-beach locations, Tuesdays and Thursdays are boys-night-out Family Pizza Event from 5 p.m. to closing. On those nights, $16.99 gets you an 18” pizza with three-toppings and a pitcher of soda pop. (A pitcher of beer costs $1.50 more.)

The delicious single Big Slice Pizza ($2.49) may just be the best bargain not only in Primanti Bros. but in all of Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors. It measures a full 12-inches along the top crust, and only the most gluttonous will be able to consume two. Try anyway, and tell them Agenda sent you.

RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN

SEAWATCH ON THE OCEAN
6002 North Ocean Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
954-781-2200

There was always something so relaxing about SeaWatch on the Ocean, a local favorite since 1974. The nautical ambiance of heavy dock rope, ship lanterns, 12-spoke wheels, and dusty ancient maps and books competing for wall space was a home-away-from- home for many Floridians, who found the restaurant’s fresh seafood as comforting as its sagging red banquettes.

All that changed about a year ago, when the popular place closed its doors for months, as its owners remodeled the eatery in what was its first update in its 38-year history. The menu received a full fluff-and-fold as well, with the resulting transformation as sophisticated as it is complete.

The restaurant sits on the sand some 50 yards from the Atlantic, and on nights of the Full Moon, the joint is packed to capacity to celebrate the lunar experience, as it creeps over the horizon and showcases the jubilant crowd. (The next full moon party is August 30th.) During those parties, there’s an outdoor barbecue and DJ Alex spinning in the booth.

While SeaWatch has a multipage menu featuring some top-notch house specialties— Bouillabaisse, a rich soup of lobster, shrimp, scallops, calamari, white fish, mussels, clams, and saffron-chicken broth, with a hint of Pernod ($29.00); a Seafood Paella, heavy with king crab, chicken, shrimp, spicy chorizo, clams, salmon, and mussels served on a bed of Spanish rice ($28.00); and a slow-roasted 16-ounce Prime Rib with a zesty horseradish sauce and flavorful au jus, plus a side of Yorkshire pudding ($32.00)—it’s the lunch specials that have lately kept us smiling.

In an off-season promotion running daily between 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., SeaWatch offers Sail the $7 Seas, a host of $7 lunch items, including some extremely good paninis. The grilled and pressed sandwiches range in choice from Salmon BLT with smack-your-lips applewood bacon on multi-grain bread to a Classic Corned Beef Reuben, with sauerkraut, swiss cheese on delicious sliced caraway seed loaf. All the paninis are served with a dill pickle wedge and a bag of Miss Vickie’s Simply Sea Salt Potato Chips.

Not in the mood for a Panini? Try Maria’s Tortilla Salad, sliced lean sirloin steak mixed with iceberg lettuce, tortilla chips, beans, chopped tomatoes, and cheddar cheese with a creamy Italian dressing—Maria’s special contribution. Also priced at $7: An amazingly flavored Shrimp Penne Pasta, with grilled pancetta, sun-dried tomato and arugula.

SeaWatch also has a very nice grilled Cheeseburger and Fries with caramelized onions, sliced pickles, tomato and a secret sauce, or a forget-the-calories Grilled Hot Dog with catsup, mustard and sweet relish. That one comes with fries as well, and plenty of them.

For dinner, the vast daily menu is available from 6 p.m. until closing. For those special few who want to see the place as the moon comes up, try Dinner at Dusk from 5-6 p.m. For $20.95, select your choice of 1¼ pound Broiled Lobster, Blackened Mahi Mahi, Roasted Half Chicken, Slow-Roasted Prime Rib, or the Broiled Combination Platter that features shrimp, scallops, and mahi mahi in a garlic, herb and butter sauce that’s a two-napkin taste treat.

Be sure to say hi to Mary at the upstairs bar, Jeannette at the door, and Beth, who manages the joint as if it’s her own nightly party. And, as always, tell them Agenda sent you.

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.

By RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN

Masked in the guise of a neighborhood pizza parlor, Fort Lauderdale Pizza & Pasta is a family-run trattoria that divines some angelic dishes beyond the expected fare of 12”, 14” and 16” thin crust pizzas ($11- $18.00), plus Stromboli ($7.50), Calzone ($6.50) and Sausage Roll ($6.00).

Located in a typical strip mall just west of Federal Highway and East Oakland Park Boulevard, the specialty meals served at this homey eatery are like stepping back in time to Mama’s Italian kitchen.

There’s nothing particularly fancy about the wholesome cooking except the taste, and that is where Fort Lauderdale Pizza & Pasta excels. We were amazed at the texture of the Filet of Tilapia Françese, lightly egg-battered fish swimming in a sea of wine butter reduction ($13.95), served with a side order of spaghetti, a green salad, and housemade garlic rolls. The Françese is repeated with veal or shrimp ($14.95), both surprisingly light, yet abundant with the garlicked flavor of a seasoned chef. The Chicken Cacciatore ($13.95) is falloff- the-bone tender, and is served with onions, white mushrooms, and green peppers in a marinara sauce. There is just enough sauce remaining to wipe up your plate with the garlic rolls that keep being baked fresh in the pizza ovens all night long.

We were less thrilled by the Sausage and Peppers (11.95) delivered over thick spaghetti. While the flavor was pleasant enough, there was a decidedly left-over quality about the peppers, as if yesterday’s batch was stretched on to today’s menu. For those willing to walk on the opposite side of the street, take a taste of the Penne a la Vodka with Grilled Chicken ($14.95). While we tried to force the recipe from the chef, the closest we could get to uncovering the secret of this fashionably subtle dish was a mix of marinara and crème sauce that was a little Alfredo and a lot Southern Italy. While we didn’t taste Vodka, what we did taste was pure pleasure.

Fort Lauderdale Pizza & Pasta also offers an assortment of Italian Subs and Wraps that are aimed at the hardy and hungry among. We’ve never gotten a bad choice from this group, and we’ve tried the Veal Parmigiana ($7.00), the Solid White Tuna with Melted Provolone ($6.50), the Steak and Onions with Mozzarella ($7.00), and the Meatball and Pepper Sub ($6.50), which is the bargain on the entire menu.

There’s a lunch menu served between 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at Fort Lauderdale Pizza & Pasta that’s heavy on an assortment of fine pasta dishes. The sauces—meat, marinara, tomato, mushroom and garlic & oil, are all housemade—and do not disappoint. Mix and match them across pasta selections of Rigatoni, Cappellini, Penne, Lingine and Spaghetti. The prices are a low $7.00-$7.50, and the serving size will give you enough for a doggie bag for the cagna Italiana.

Should you find a spare inch for dessert, we recommend the Cannoli ($3.50) for its crisp pastry shells filled with delicious sweetened ricotta cheese and sprinkled with powdered sugar; or the tiramisu—pure decadence priced at $4.00. And don’t forget to tell them Agenda sent you, even if you have to speak with your mouth full. We completely understand.

Fort Lauderdale Pizza & Pasta

2100 East Oakland Park Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306 (954) 566-5226

By RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN

We admit it. We’re an absolute sucker for pupu platters—the kind of nibbles that come sized for two or four, and we end up eating all by ourselves. In some places, these are called “tapas,” but at Wilton’s Bier Garden, that just-on-the-bend dive of merriment and sex appeal, these are called “bites.” The Deutsche Sausage Platter is square in size and filling in content, with two German Bratvurst, two Bavarian Weisswurst, and a giant soft pretzel that’s baked to perfection and is pull-apart delicious.

The entire temptation comes with sauerkraut (ask for it heated) and spicy brown mustard for dipping with any and all of the above. For the uninitiated, German Bratvurst is the four-inch long dark sausage that is made of pork, veal, or beef, depending on the city of origin. As for Weisswurst, it’s the sausage that’s lighter in color, a result of the spices more than the meal, and is still typically made of veal or pork. In Germany, there’s a saying that Weisswurst should never be allowed to hear the church bell’s noon chime.

Translation: they are made in the morning, and eaten in the morning. In the Bier Garden version, they are served all night, church bells not withstanding. And at $12 for the platter (that’s supposed to serve two), it’s worth every penny. The bar & grill suggests downing your platter with a bottle of König Ludwig Weissbier Dunkel, a Bavarian Dunkelweizen beer by Schloßbrauerei Kaltenberg brewery, which is always a safe bet where beer is concerned. Ordering it may take some rehearsal, but the results are superb.

The sandwich selection is quite large, and we can safely recommend any of the Garden’s specialty versions, made on an incredible rye bread. When toasted, it has a crunch and texture that delights the palette, regardless of what’s stuffed inside. In our case, we opted for the Bavarian Ruben ($8.00), which should actually be spelled “Reuben,” but who’s keeping track—in this case, with dark Bavarian bread. It involves a deliciously thin-sliced corned beef with aged Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing. Ask for extra dressing, double toasted, and hold your squeals of delight until out of shouting range, lest you embarrass yourself.

That, of course, is hard to do at Wilton’s Bier Garden, which opened a few months back, and has been an instant hit on the Drive. Special events pack the place on a regular basis—our favorites being Sunday night’s “Divas on the Drive,” starring Amanda Austin, and “Super Mug Thursdays,” on the Alfresco Patio. It is at times like those that you want to order the Jumbo Hot Dog with sauerkraut and brown mustard ($7.00). This masterpiece is a showstopper to eat, since it is a tasty foot-long all-beef frankfurter with a six-inch sour-dough roll—giving you six-inches of overhang, and endless material for puns and comments.

The Bier Garden also makes a wonderful tuna melt called the Fisherman ($8.00), which is layered with light tuna salad, sliced tomatoes, and Swiss and Provolone cheese, melted to a brown fresco over artisan bread. The real glory of Wilton’s Bier Garden is its selection of 100 bottled beers and 16 draft favorites, with a selection of unique wines from Europe, North and South America, and Africa, of all places. There are four rooms in the joint: The aforementioned Alfresco Garden Patio , the WBG Bar, the Sky Terrace Lounge, and the VIP Video Lounge. Check them all out, and remember to tell them Agenda sent you.