Last month, Margie and I took off by car on an eight day road trip of Florida. First stop was St. Augustine and we had dinners there with friends, one night at Alta Marea, the second night at Collage, both in the downtown area. Both were excellent and the wines lists varied and price approachable. Both recommended.
Next stop was Lauderdale by the Sea. Good friend Ed Maslanka graciously hosted us for dinner at the Lobster Bar Sea Grille and it was fabulous! Excellent wine cellar and staff. Highly recommended.
Next morning off to Miramar Lakes to catch up with Jack and Kathy Sylvester. The took us to the Miramar Lakes Beach Club for dinner. Being the offseason, we almost had the place to ourselves. Excellent food, service, wine list and a great view of the lake!
Then Avon Park, or at least close by. High school chum Mac Selvidge and his wife Charlotte opened their home to Margie and I and cooked a wonderful rack of pork ribs. We began happy hour around 2 that afternoon and burned through about four bottles of nice wines! Next morning over coffer Mac announce that I was not ever to come to his home again. When I reminded him that the damage for which I was being blamed had occurred AFTER we drank all that wine, when he, without provocation, pulled out a handle of his and my favorite Scotch, Famous Grouse, and began pouring it profusely, my banishment was lifted!
Next was Sarasota, another high school bud, Denny Sanderson. Wife Carla was working and missed our huddle. Our happy hour ran over, so, with no reservations, we hit the local Bonefish Grill. It was, Bonefish, consistently good with a weak wine list.
Our final stop was in St. Pete. Long time friends Ron and Debbie Broadway let us stay in the their condo on Treasure Island. We had the afternoon to ourselves and Margie wanted to at least have a glass of wine at Don Cesar Hotel. Cost to park, $40. Two glasses of wine, $40, tax, tip and valet, almost a hundred bucks for two glasses of Sonoma Cuter!
Ron and Debbie joined us for happy hour at the condo. They brought wine and hors d’oeuvres; we had done the same. That midweek happy hour went on and on and we ended up eating at a quaint Italian place close by the condo, Verducci’s Pizzeria and Trattoria. I had the veal Osso Bocco and it was over the top. And the only bargain dinner of our trip! I fail to recall the wine we enjoyed with dinner but it was fab and paired perfectly with the veal.
Great wines, great friends, great times! We don’t do it often enough.
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