Fun Playing With Our Two Favorite Gulf Coast Restaurants, Part 1

Much as I would like to name a "best of trip," that is impossible. We enjoyed so much fabulous food from so many wonderful places. But two places stood out just a bit above the rest. However, one can't really be ranked above the other. So, we'll explore the other in the next post.

The place to which we keep bringing our friends is Christiano's Italian Restaurant in Santa Rosa Beach. Chef/Owner Chris Chirum and his wife Rene offer genuine hospitality, killer fish and seafood, red sauce Italian, pizza, and house made desserts. The food and atmosphere are so welcoming, we forgive Chef for being a Steeler's fan!

The first basket of this luscious house-made focaccia bread is complimentary, and is accompanied by a savory dipping oil. You don't want to fill up on bread when there is so much goodness to come, do you?

Bob's:  Trout Meunière: Pan-sautéed Trout in a classic brown butter sauce with lemon and capers, with fresh asparagus and pasta marinara.         

We've had several different fishes prepared Meuniere style at Christiano's and they are always delicious. But my first entree this season hit the motherload.

Italian Whole Snapper al Forno

Locally caught whole Red Snapper baked with fresh herbs, lemon & garlic, encrusted with bread crumbs & Pecorino Romano Cheese was bone-licking good! The side of pasta with marinara went almost untouched (though it made a tasty left over the next day) but not one morsel of that snapper remained!

On our second visit, we were joined by a Cleveland area couple whose acquaintance we had just made, via  a Cleveland food group on Facebook. They are regulars to the Destin area in winter, but had never before enjoyed Chef Chris's hospitality. They left happy, sated, and impressed.

Christiano's is one of the few restaurants where I will eat the shrimp (which are generally sourced from Harbor Docks Wholesale Seafood Market together with much of the fin fish). So Bob and I began with an appetizer of Bad-a-Bing Shrimp.

Local shrimp are simmered in a Moscato wine garlic butter sauce with sun-dried tomatoes & scallions. Pristine and succulent. 

This time, I had the Meunière, prepared with Louisiana Redfish. It was splendid.

Bob, and one of our dining companions, opted for the classic Fettuccine Alfredo and they were both delighted with it. 

Our remaining dining companion chose the Pork Osso Buco, which was quite spectacular. It looked like the ones depicted in the video on Christiano's Facebook page, and our friend enjoyed every drop! Christiano's Pork Shank Food Porn.

For our third and final visit, we brought our dear friends Phil and Virginia for their first meal on their brief visit with us. I had so enjoyed my taste of Bob's Alfredo the last time, that I went for the Alfredo with Shrimp; it proved an excellent choice.

Bob decided to landlubber with the Veal Marsala. 

Veal Scaloppine was sautéed with mushrooms, onion & garlic in a dry Marsala sauce and served with pasta marinara. It melted in the mouth. 

Phil and Virginia love sweets, and persuaded us to join them in dessert. This was probably the only dessert we ordered on the entire trip, but oh, my it was worth the splurge!

House-made Key Lime Pie

The pie was perfect, from the tender flaky crust through the creamy filling and up to the top of the house-whipped cream. I do recommend that you sample one of Chef Chris's desserts should you dine at Christiano's!

If you want to try the whole fish, it is best to call and reserve an order, because they don't keep a lot of it on hand (especially in winter) so as to only serve the freshest fish. Prices for fish are commensurate with the neighborhood, but the prices overall are extremely reasonable and the service is always stellar. As you can see, the portions are substantial. Christiano's also had some nice value priced wines by the glass, as well as more high end selections. I don't know if they still have live entertainment in the lounge, but when offered, we enjoyed it. We always have fun playing with the food at Christiano's! 

Christiano's Italian Restaurant

4942 U.S. 98 Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459

(850) 267-2185 

Monday-Saturday 5pm-until

Fun Playing With Food in Destin, Florida - We're Baaack

We last visited Destin, the "Luckiest Fishing Village in the World," in February 2012. Since then, life intervened with some twists and turns. Beginning in December 2018, we not only returned to Destin, but for the first time, snowbirded there until March. We anticipate moving to the region sometime shortly. 

A lot has changed and a lot has remained the same, both culinarily and otherwise. Our condo overlooked the Gulf of Mexico and offered some lovely views.

From the terrace

From the private beach access

On the beach at sunset

We also took a short road trip to Delray Beach and Jacksonville, enjoying delicious eats along the way. 

Stone Crab Claws for dinner at Gleneagles Main Dining Room

Salvadoran Tamale at Rosy's, Jacksonville

The best plate of food from the trip? Was it this Chirashi at Sushimoto in Miramar Beach?

Or perhaps this whole Grilled Snapper at Christiano's in Santa Rosa Beach?

Or could it have been something we cooked ourselves, like this Seared Tuna sourced from Blalock's Seafood & Specialty Market in Destin?

Please join me in the posts to follow as we seek out Fun Playing with Food in Destin and its environs.

Fun Playing With Fried Fish in Solon

Ash Wednesday ushers in the Lenten season, which is heartily observed in Northeast Ohio. Heck, even southern Ohio is in on the act; the Filet o' Fish was invented by a Cincinnati area McDonald's franchisee who saw his burger business dry up between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. 

We enjoyed delightful food, music and libations at Grove Hill Restaurant on Fat Tuesday, but for some reason, the day after had me craving fried fish. If I have learned one thing living in Cleveland for over 20 years, it is that well prepared, fresh fish is a hard thing to come by, even during "the season." How happy that Solon's Bar 50/20, under new ownership since September 2016 and soon to be re-branded as "Mish Mosh,"  started their Lenten fish fry tonight. 

For $18 each, Bob and I were each first served a lovely salad topped by an obviously house-made Balsamic Vinaigrette.

Then, three magnificent pieces of crispy battered fried Haddock, accompanied by house-made Coleslaw (which didn't look pretty at first blush, but which had been allowed to age to the perfect flavor point), house made tarter (easy on the pickles, so the fish shone through), and fries.

Our first two visits to Bar 50/20 had been uneven - beautiful burgers and fries the first visit (sans camera) and so-so the same plates a few weeks later. But tonight's fish fry left no doubt - owners Jamie and Howard (Howard also being the Chef) are bringing some fun, together with well sourced and prepared food, to the Solon area. And the patio looks like it will be a lovely place to relax and play with your food come the springtime! But in the meantime - the fish fry will be offered every Friday during Lent.

Bar 50/20

5020 Brainard Rd

Solon, Ohio

(440) 349-7300

Fun Playing With Food in South Florida

We did something completely different for Thanksgiving this year. Instead of visiting friends or Bob's family or cooking, we winged it to Highland Beach Florida and spent a long week and the holiday with my parents. My sister and brother also joined us for several days, so it was a nice family reunion. We enjoyed a nondescript Thanksgiving Dinner at my parents' club, then proceeded to do some playing with the local restaurant food. 

The siblings all stayed at Delray Sands Resort Collection in Highland Beach. This was Bob's first trip following cervical spinal surgery, and we were distracted by a few health issues over the first few days. But the weather was mostly delightful, as were the ocean views from the beachfront hotel.

We were even treated to some rainbows!

Our first meal outside the hotel was at the Green Owl Restaurant, a small, cash-only breakfast-and-lunch establishment in downtown Delray Beach.

Bob's Corned Beef Hash & Eggs,

Mine: Cheese Omelet with Grits

We each received a serving of rye toast on the side. Even though Green Owl is owned by Steelers fans, we recommend them for a nice breakfast and the lunch food looked good also.

Our first dinner out together was at City Oyster, also on the Atlantic Avenue strip in Delray Beach. 

Bread Service

We started out with a smoked fish dip for appetizer, which was accompanied by the most lovely house-made crackers.

Whitefish dip with homemade crackers and pickles,

Bob's:  Yellowtail Snapper Hong Kong Style

Bob's fish was pan roasted, and accompanied by Jasmine Rice, Sesame & Ginger Sauce, and Vegetables.

Mine

This dinner special of Swordfish over fresh tomato ragu and polenta offered a refreshingly different take on the fish dinner. Both dishes featured fresh fish prepared well. I couldn't finish mine and enjoyed the leftovers at my parents' place the next day. Yeah, City Oyster is a little pretentious and expensive - but the food and service were very good. 

Just a few doors down from City Oyster is a newish place called Tryst, where we had another aquatically themed dinner, this time composed of small plates which we shared. I confess, I missed the house-made crackers with the fish dip, but the dip itself was delicious. 

This dip, rather than relying on whitefish, was made from salmon and yellowtail. Different than the whitefish dip, but very tasty. 

IPA Steamed Florida Clams  with Housemade chorizo, serrano chile, basil, orange, blistered grape tomatoes & ciabatta

Plate-licking good, though they need to serve it with a spoon (or two). The only plate we came close to finishing (we were a little overly generous in ordering).

"Angry Pig" Slider: Sicilian Pulled Pork, Orange Marmalade, Pickled Fresno Chilies, Fennel Slaw, Basil

This sandwich is as small as it looks, but packs a lot of flavor! We split it in half and it was enough, given how much else we'd ordered.

Nueske's Bacon Mac & Cheese

Proving that I am capable of ordering a non-fish/seafood dish when in Florida. It had Neuske's bacon, after all! One of the best mac n cheeses we've sampled.

Tuna "Poke" Lettuce Wraps: Toasted cashews, pineapple sambal

More pristine fish with beautiful accompaniments. Tryst was my favorite culinary find of the trip.

On Sunday, we treated my parents to the Unlimited Champagne Brunch Buffet at Latitudes Restaurant, at the Resort. The Resort was formerly a Holiday Inn, but the entire property (including the food service) has been renovated over the past 2 years. My parents had brunched here before in the old incarnation, and we all looked forward to seeing what the renovations would bring. Given the $50 per person price point, I expected better than average hotel food service, and Latitudes did not disappoint. 

My "first course" plate

Though the sushi rice lacked profundity, the fish and seafood was of very good quality. The smoked salmon and trout, and seared tuna were nice, and yes, those are shrimp at the back of plate - no smell or taste of pyrophosphate on them. The crab gazpacho was mostly gazpacho and a little crab, but the shellfish was pristine. 

My "second course" plate

Staying with the seafood theme, I can endorse both varieties of scallop and shrimp on this plate. The pulled pork (which I put over potato cake rather than tortilla) and guacamole were both good but nothing to write home about. I did not care for the coconut crusted fish, left middle, which didn't taste fresh.

 The buffet included a selection of charcuterie, carved meats and casserole-type dishes.

And a bountiful selection of sweets, many of which were food-service grade. Despite it's likely Sysco origins, I really liked the red velvet doughnut.

The blintz, which is also offered on Latitudes's regular breakfast menu, was also food service and not made from scratch (the cheese filling suffered a little from the freeze-thaw cycle). The key lime parfait was very tasty. And of course, I could never say no to caramel.

Carmel Parfait

The Mimosas (and coffee, for those who care about coffee) kept on coming, and there were many other food options on the buffet that I didn't try or photograph, as well as an egg/omelet "made to order" station. We enjoyed our brunch in a most leisurely fashion and never felt rushed as we enjoyed the food, beverages and the built-in ocean view. We ate at Latitudes several times over the course of the trip, and the service was always exceptional and the food mostly good to very good. Prices were reasonable.

Our next adventure took us to Gary Rack's Fat Rooster, also on the strip in Delray Beach, for brunch. As of Thanksgiving 2015, they've eliminated separate brunch and lunch menus in favor of a single midday menu 7 days a week. Worked for us!

Fat Rooster has a "fun playing with food" feel and an eclectic environment and menu. Our server used to live in Northeast Ohio, near to us!

Bob's

This "Special" consisted of a housemade biscuit, pulled pork. 2 fried eggs, tomato, hollandaise, potato-sweet potato hash. 

Mine also featured their signature biscuit, topped  with Fried Green Tomato, Avocado Smash, Fried Egg, BBQ Hollandaise and served with the same potato-sweet potato hash. I loved this slightly lighter/smaller take on the typical Eggs Benedict.

For Bob's 65th birthday, my folks took us all out to City Fish in Boca Raton for dinner. And here I hit the culinary motherload: a perfect stone crab claw. I loved the way the fishes and seafood product were displayed where the diner can see them, and the server was expert on everything served.

A thing of beauty, loaded with sweet crab meat

This salad comes with every entree. Pre-plated and a little cold, but very nice.

Bob's: Blackened Black Grouper and Fries 

Mine: Sauteed Black Grouper and sweet potato 

My sister had to leave on Monday, but since Bob's actual birthday was Tuesday, we who remained assembled at Josephine's in Boca Raton for dinner accompanied by a song stylist. We had a great time, though I don't think I'd order fish there again (though the clams were excellent - the taste of the veal I sampled was even better).

You can see that the bread isn't really fresh; toasting saved it.

This clam appetizer was lovely; a shame that the fin fish didn't have the same freshness and skill of preparation. Beautiful shellfish, cooked just right.

The salad was way too cold, and a bit slimy. First fail.

Bob and I both got this; he ate his

Fish "special": Swordfish, olives, capers, tomato sauce, pasta. Fish was overcooked and old, pasta from a box nothing special. Mom gave me a few clams from her dish that she didn't want, and I was good.

For our last meal in Florida, we headed south on the Intracoastal to Prime Catch in Boynton Beach, where we enjoyed a lovely lunch. 

CRISPY THAI SHRIMP

Sweet Thai Chili Sauce, Rice Paper & Scallions - this shrimp passed inspection, though frying does cover a thousand sins! The fried rice paper was a nice touch and deftly sopped up the chili sauce. A very successful dish.

Bob and I both had Yellowtail Snapper: Bob's grilled with the Thai Chili Sauce on the side and fries, mine pan seared with paprika, sweet potato fries. The oil must have been a little too hot when they dropped my fries, because they were a little overcooked. But other than that, a fresh and delightful lunch to see us out of town. We had fun playing with South Florida food!