Morton's Steakhouse - Coral Gables

I recently did a survey on Facebook asking my fans which steak they loved best: the Filet Mignon, the Porterhouse or the Ribeye. The results were pretty split among the three cuts, but one thing was certain. A hefty number of the population feels passionate about steaks! They were quick to share how they loved the tenderness of the filet mignon and the "best of both worlds" quality of the Porterhouse. But the winner among these meat lovers, was the Bone in Ribeye.  I can't say I blame them.

Last week I was feeling a bit carnivorous and I took a drive over to Miracle Mile in Coral Gables, in search of a juicy steak to satiate my hunger. I immediately found my destination: Morton's The Steakhouse, located at 2333 Ponce de Leon Blvd. I had been to this location a couple of times before for happy hour but it had been a while. The story behind Morton's is quite interesting, comprised of elements that tend to intrigue us: the 70's "Me Decade", the Playboy Club, and a "Million-Dollar Hamburger". It all started when its founders, Klaus Fritsch and Arnie Morton, worked together in the Playboy Club in Montreal. During a change of menu, Fritsch cooked a burger for Morton to sample. When Morton bit into it, he immediately wanted to know who was responsible for the creation of this burger. Fritsch, unsure of whether it was a hit or miss, nervously stepped forward. Morton exclaimed that it was the best burger he'd ever had, and from that day on, it became known as the "Million-Dollar Hamburger." In 1978, they opened their first restaurant and the rest as they say, is history. Thirty years later, there are 69 locations to choose from.


The Coral Gables location is very well situated in the heart of the action. It is beautiful inside, boasting an elegant indoor ambiance and a separate bar with  flat screen T.V.s for those days the Miami Heat are playing (like tonight). Morton's also has outdoor seating, where patrons can sit and engage in people-watching up and down Ponce de Leon and The Mile.


From the moment we walked in, we were greeted in a warm and friendly fashion and taken to our table. Not long after that, Connie, our waitress, came by to welcome us with a nice loaf of warm onion bread. It was Friday and I wanted to unwind with a cocktail, so after I told Connie I liked my libations sweet, she suggested I try the French Raspberry; a Bartender's Special made with Grey Goose Le Citron Vodka, Chambord and Pineapple Juice. I did and it was fabulous.

Ahi Tuna Tower

Jumbo Lump Crab Cake

The menu at Morton's is not your typical steakhouse menu. It has a great deal of variety and besides the meat, offers an impressive selection of seafood. I tried to resist the urge to order my trademark appetizer, but my deep love of it surpassed my desire for change. Thus, I started with the Ahi Tuna Tower. The minute Connie brought it out to us, it reminded me of my first trip to Pisa in Italy, and I nicknamed it the Leaning Tower of Tuna. It was a sight for tuna-loving eyes. A layered treat of refreshing, seasoned tuna, avocado, mango, pico de gallo and crushed wonton crisps sat slightly tilted on the plate, surrounded by a row of wonton chips. The combination of the simple, clean flavors blended together in mouth-watering harmony. As a second appetizer, we ordered the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake. The crabmeat was fresh and somewhat sweet, loosely held together in a palate-pleasing balance. The mustard mayonnaise that came on the side was delicious, and I found myself wondering what else I could dip in it.

Chicago Style Prime Bone-In Ribeye

Chilean Sea Bass Fillet a la Nage

We ordered some Pinot Noir as we decided on our entrees. Morton's offers a vast selection of fine wines to pair with your meal. Since the seafood sounded as tantalizing as the steaks, we chose one of each: the Chicago Style Prime Bone-In Ribeye and the Chilean Sea Bass Filet a la Nage. The Bone-In Ribeye was juicy, richly marbled, and intense in flavor. I was glad I had an appetite because it was huge.  The tender Chilean Sea Bass Fillet was poached in a court bouillon made with jumbo lump crab, lemon butter and asparagus.  It gave the dish a rich, buttery taste that slightly lingered after every bite. It was pure delight! As a side dish, we shared the "Twice Baked" Au Gratin Potatoes, and once again, it was a hit. The potatoes were cheesy and velvety; complementing the entrees well.

"Twice Baked" Au Gratin Potatoes

Legendary Hot Chocolate Cake

Grand Marnier Souffle

When we ordered our main dishes, Connie explained that while they had a selection of decadent desserts we could order at the end of our meal, they also offered a few others that required a bit more preparation time.  The two she mentioned were Morton's Legendary Hot Chocolate Cake and their Grand Marnier Souffle. Once I heard "chocolate" and "souffle", the decision was made. We ordered both and once we finished our entrees, the eye-catching delights arrived. The molten lava cake was exquisite; with a light texture and a semi-sweet taste. It was served a-la-mode with creamy vanilla ice-cream. The Grand Marnier Souffle was larger than any other I'd had before. It was a fluffy ending to a hearty meal. While we were finishing our desserts, I was able to snap a picture of the dessert tray and although I could not ingest another bite, I must say the sheer presentation of each was enough to make me want to start the whole adventure over.

Dessert Tray

Morton's certainly lived up to their slogan this particular Miami evening, serving us The Best Steak...Anywhere, along with some other remarkable dishes along the way. Service was impeccable from beginning to end, and I noticed how the manager continuously walked around the dining area, speaking with the guests and ensuring all was well. After a couple of Frangelicos to help us digest this amazing feast, we were on our way. Until next time, Morton's The Steakhouse! For more information, you can visit them online at http://www.mortons.com/ or call them directly at 305-442-1662.

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Spanish Gardens Cafe

This has been one adventure-filled year and  I thought I'd celebrate my blogaversary by returning to the place I wrote one of my first posts on:  Spanish Gardens Cafe; tucked away at Mile Marker 80.9 in Islamorada, at 80925 Overseas Highway. Just as I felt a year ago, a trip to the Florida Keys must include treating my taste buds to one of Chef Jose's healthy, expertly prepared dishes. Originally from Santander, Spain, Chef Jose Luis Palomino takes great pride in using only fresh, organic ingredients in his dishes to achieve maximum flavor - and he will be more than happy to explain each detail for you. That is how much passion he has for his craft!

With Chef Jose Luis Palomino

On a recent afternoon, we took a drive down to the charming spot for an early dinner. On the walls continue to hang beautiful paintings by a local artist and this time we also got to enjoy a colorful Christmas tree carefully decorated for the holiday season. Chef Jose greeted us, as he does with all his customers, and we sat down to embark on a culinary trip to La Madre Patria - Espana. While we looked at the menu, we munched on some warm bread and an exceptional herb/olive oil mixed with garlic.

Mediterranean Sunshine Salad

Pan Seared Yellowtail Snapper

Octopus

Something that always stands out in Chef Jose's food is its freshness and quality. He purchases most of his produce from local farms and insists on getting the best for his customers. This is one of the reasons we wanted to start out with a salad: the Mediterranean Sunshine. Generous enough to share, it was a flavorful medley of feta cheese, organic tomatoes, fresh greens and a variety of olives. As usual, it was outstanding. Next we ordered a recommendation from the Chef: the most amazing Octopus I have ever had. Prepared with onions, leeks and garlic, it was drizzled with basil oil and served with a delicious black ink sauce and chopped tomatoes. The combination of warm and cold, mixed with the intense, bold flavors, caused my senses to reel. I couldn't get enough. Following that palate party, we ordered the Pan Seared Yellowtail Snapper. It was exquisitely prepared with black and green olives, tomatoes, capers and came atop a bed of arugula. The fish was tender and buttery, and each forkful became yet another flavor explosion!

Spanish Chorizo Sausage

We decided to sample one more dish and ordered the Spanish Chorizo, with fingerling potatoes and piquillo peppers. Like the other dishes, the seasoning was unbelievable and in the center of the plate sat a fried egg. It was the finishing touch to an authentic Spanish dish.

Chef Jose's desserts made the holidays
even sweeter!

Chocolate Valencia

Key Lime Pie

At this point, we were ecstatic with the meal and all the spectacular tapas we had indulged in. But I wasn't going to finish this adventure without something sweet to share with you. I bring you the Chocolate Valencia and Chef Jose's homemade Key Lime Pie. The Chocolate Valencia is an original creation made with oranges and Grand Marnier, then layered with chocolate. A fluffy cloud of handmade whipped cream topped the masterpiece. It was sweet and refreshing. The Key Lime Pie was everything a key lime pie should be: a perfect balance of sweet and tart. I especially enjoyed  the freshly baked, slightly toasted, warm meringue covering the cool pie.

I was happy that I returned to Spanish Gardens Cafe for my one year blogaversary and that it continues to be such an amazing gem in Islamorada. For more information, you can visit them online at http://www.spanishgardenscafe.com or call them at 305-664-3999.

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Norwegian Cruise Line's Epic Lunch

If you follow my blog, you know how much I love cruising. And while opinions may vary, I happen to think cruise ships have come a long way in the culinary arena. Dining on a ship has become a gourmet experience, where each meal is filled with surprise and flavor. This past summer, I wrote a post on my 7-day cruising adventure through the Caribbean and all the fabulous food I indulged in.  More recently, I got to sample the cuisine that will be available in the Norwegian Breakaway due to set sail this coming summer. (See post Norwegian Cruise Line - Norwegian Breakaway).

It is because of this infatuation with eating on board a moving vessel that I was excited to receive an invitation a couple of weeks ago to a delectable lunch on the Norwegian Epic. Although this ship wasn't going anywhere with me on it, the mind is a powerful thing and I could envision myself setting sail to a tropical port as soon as I set foot on the ship.

The incredible chefs who prepared our outstanding lunch

Ahi Tuna Tartare

Short Crust Tartlet

While I enjoy eating at the Main Dining Room when I cruise, and usually stick to it, I had a taste of the Epic's signature French restaurant Le Bistro. Ooh La La, I loved it! I started with two delicious appetizers (I couldn't decide on just one) the Ahi Tuna Tartare (surprised?) and the Short Crust Tartlet. The Ahi Tuna Tartare was exquisite, with an orange wasabi glaze and a sesame crisp.  The tartlet was a flavor explosion of goat cheese, sun dried tomato chutney, basil oil and kalamata olive tapenade. With a beginning like this, I was captivated!

Cleansing our palates between courses

Surf and Turf

Chocolate Log

To honor the land and sea, I had the Surf and Turf as the main dish. It was an amazing feast of a tender and sweet lobster tail paired with a juicy filet. These two delicacies were accompanied by broccoli, sauteed mushrooms and country potato wedges. I'm sure the thought of stowing away would've entered anyone's mind at this point, but wait, there's more. As a grand finale to this enticing lunch, I ordered the Chocolate Log, a sweet surrender consisting of "spiced" dark rum-infused banana cocoa mousse. It was a combination of sweet flavors and textures that left me breathless.

In addition to this wonderful meal, I got an up-close and personal tour of the Norwegian Epic, including the "coolest" part of the ship (and by cool, I mean a whooping 17 degrees F.). Let me take you on a virtual tour of my adventure...

Welcome to The Haven; the most luxurious section of the Norwegian Epic. Here is where you find the Penthouses, Family Villas and Owners' Suites.

Guests have access to the exclusive courtyard area, Concierge Lounge, private restaurant and bar. It gives a whole new meaning to the term "The Suite Life".

We all know how hot it can get out on the Caribbean, so the Epic found a solution. Need to cool down? Just go to the Svedka Ice Bar and problem solved. Inspired by the original ice hotels in Scandinavia, it is one of only 14 in the world and the only one at sea. They'll even lend you a Parka and some gloves so you can hold your drink served in a glass made of ice.

My favorite: The Sunburst Yellow

Sadly, I had to wave goodbye from the port as I watched others cruise away, but the incentive is there to return real soon. If I enjoyed the Epic's culinary temptations so much in just one sitting, I can imagine what kind of adventures I'll have in a week.

For more information on Norwegian Cruise Line, visit their site at http://www2.ncl.com/.

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