Don't Rush to Get Limbaugh's Tea

​Under normal circumstances, you should probably avoid putting anything Rush Limbaugh related in your mouth.

But the conservative firebrand did recently release a Paul Revere-themed beverage, Two If By Tea, so Clean Plate Charlie decided to risk life, limb, and sanity to review the oxy-chaser summertime drink.   

Before you say the review can't possibly be fair because New Times is a liberal rag, as some media personalities and blog commentators on the right have surely claimed, know that Clean Plate Charlie went the extra step to make sure the writeup was apolitical and objective. ("Fair and balanced," as you people put it.)

To do that, seven New Times staffers participated in a blind taste test of four sweet teas: Two If By Tea, AriZona, Publix, and Betty's Soul Food brands. Participating New Timesers were given a slip of paper, where they wrote their political affiliation at the top, followed by their immediate impressions of each tea.

The results might shock you -- if you can find the time to put down your dog-eared (daresay, sticky-paged) copy of The Federalist Papers, that is.

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View a slideshow of Calypso Restaurant & Raw Bar here.

Candace West

Shrimp Bruschetta

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This week's review in Dish, we revisit the 21 year-old Pompano staple, Calypso Restaurant & Raw Bar located inside an unremarkable strip mall off Cypress Rd.

Husband and wife owners Chuck and Lora Ternosky, pride themselves as operating a casual fish house for foodies. It has been 10 years since New Times last visited Calypso, and still not much has changed. The same island decor decorates the bar and dining area and a similar menu serving fisherman favorites remains. Forget the rising prices of conch, Calypso still offers it -- get it grilled, cracked, in chowders, salads, and/or fritters. If the fresh fish isn't enough to warm you, the friendly hospitality sure will.

Here's an excerpt from our review.

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This week's review in Dish, we check out Asian fusion restaurant SAIA at the newly refurbished B Ocean Fort Lauderdale Hotel.

The new eatery located just off the beach on the corner of A1A and Sunrise Boulevard features small plates intended to be shared communally. Not only are we impressed with the delicious dishes but the cocktails are equally inventive. SAIA invested in special instruments that create slow-melting ice cubes for drinks. Try the fire soju martini infused with jalapeño and agave (Asian soju is a distilled beverage similar to vodka). Or order an after-dinner cordial, and watch your server create a perfectly sculpted ice sphere from a Japanese copper molder. Because the ice is so dense, with a two-inch circumference, it chills a drink without watering it down. 

Here's an excerpt from our review.

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This week's review in Dish, we check out the Mexican mini-chain, Dos Caminos at the newly refurbished Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Beach Hotel.

Is the new restaurant in the old Yankee Clipper on A1A? Yep, it sure is. Quite a curious choice for a trendy chain given other locations in hip areas of Manhattan and a luxury hotel in Vegas. Despite the fanfare associated with its other locations, Dos Caminos struggled to impress in Fort Lauderdale. Particularly, when three out of four diners got ill. Warning: There is a section in the second half of the review that squeamish readers may want to skip. 

Here's an excerpt from our review.

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fab4chiky

​The wait is over. Hoas Noodle Pan Asian Cuisine finally brings some good Chinese food to Florida.

With a menu that includes anything from fruit smoothies to a delectable fried whole snapper, More >>

Those are Smart for Life's oatmeal raisin cookies.

​A cookie diet sounds delicious. Like everyone else, I imagined some gooey chocolate-chip cookies, maybe some macadamia nut.More >>

flickr.com

​Ordinarily, when you're standing at a carving station and you say something like, "Give me some of that meat," it's a pretty straight-forward conversation. But if you're at a swingers club, like Trapeze in western Broward, it seems every word takes on a new, more complicated meaning.

If you saw the cover story by New Times' nightlife columnist (and all-around badass) Tara Nieuwesteeg in this week's print product -- about the inner workings of one of America's most popular swingers clubs -- you got a hint at the decadence inside Trapeze: the drinking, the dancing, the massive amount of sex, and of course, the sweetest part of all, the food.

Not long ago, I was invited by the club to stop by on a Saturday to sample what we were told was a completely world-class gourmet dining experience. And being the intrepid reporter I am, I couldn't resist.

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Spicy nakjikuksu is chili-covered udon noodles with octopus, onions, carrots, and zucchini.

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This week in Dish, we look at Korean food, and what better place to sample that than Myung Ga Tofu & Barbecue in Weston?

Weston? Yes, it's way the hell out there (sorry to our Weston readers). But it's worth the drive to Myung Ga to sample spicy-as-hell nakjikuksu, a noodle and octopus dish absolutely smothered in brick-red chili sauce. Or the fabulous barbecue dishes; shrimp, short rib, sliced pork, and more that come out sizzling on superheated cast-iron platters. Or the exquisite, housemade tofu, the wide array of banchan (small side dishes such as kimchi and sesame-marinated bean sprouts), and friendly service. Whether you're a fan of Korean food or you're new to the cuisine, Myung Ga is a great place to give it a try. Here's an excerpt from our review.
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Those strange chandeliers are striking -- and sort of look like white jellyfish.

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This week in Dish we look at Rack's Downtown Eatery and Tavern, the newest restaurant from self-made restaurateur Gary Rack and Mizner Park's latest multimillion dollar addition. Clocking in at a staggering $4 million, Rack's is a gorgeous, state of the art restaurant serving classic American food. It's posh decor -- highlighted by a series of interweaving white rope chandeliers -- is extravagant without feeling overly pretentious. But does the food, an eclectic mix of comfort dishes, fresh seafood, and pizzas, live up to the hype? Here's an excerpt from the review: More >>

jonathanb1989

Cook like a pro!

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So you're kicking back in a comfy chair, knocking back a glass -- or three -- of your favorite vino, watching as two chefs passionately prepare course after course of a pre-themed meal while peppering the how-to's with spontaneous and relatable narrative from their lives.

This may sound like yet another lonely night parked in front of the 46-incher with a wine-stained Snuggie and the Food Network to keep you company, but it is in fact a far superior replacement! No need to reply, "cheap Merlot and a repeat of Unwrapped" when your co-worker asks what you did last night.


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