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ORGANIC EATING IN FORT LAUDERDALE
Eating out or take outs
Juice Appeal
Their motto is “Health is Wealth be Healthy”. This was one of the three places I found to be mostly organic. It’s a great little cafe to pop in to when visiting Josh’s market (see suppliers). It has internet access, a snack bar with very tasty and very reasonably priced organic salad and sandwiches type food and juices. Robin, the partner, who served me was very enthusiastic and dedicated. .
1955 Harrison Street, Downtown Hollywood 954 927 8588
Nature Boy
A cheery small eatery decorated with bright colours and furnished with very comfortable bar seats. The owner, Maria, is friendly and happily proud of her food. Some dishes are organic during the day, such as the rice. However, in the evenings from Wednesday to Saturday (open till 9.m). they serve predominantly organic ‘raw’ food. Maria suggested that I try the Lasagne followed by Apple Pie. If I closed my eyes I could have thought I was really eating lasagne and pie, such was the amazing taste of the raw food. I cannot wait to make a return visit. Because the raw food is cold it makes an ideal take-out. The food looks and tastes great and (as a take out) is perfect with a glass of your favourite wine.
220-C Commercial Blvd. Lauderdale-By-The Sea. 954 776 4696
Simply Natural Café (organic)
This was a truly joyful eating experience with lots of choice and everything I tasted was delicious. The soup was terrific; the stir-fry was fresh and the vegetables cooked just right. I wasn’t the only one savouring the meal - there were some seasoned ‘organics’ eating at the next table and they looked blissfully happy as they ate their, beautifully presented chocolate desert. I asked Shahrooz, one of the owners, how they can keep the prices so very reasonable. Shohrooz explained. “We just wanted people to realise they can eat organic food without paying too much over the top but we do cut down on our profit margin,” she told me. Shahrooz worked at the famous Unicorn for 10 years - the first health food restaurant in Miami.
Shahrooz and her husband Richard host the ‘Pearl of Health’ radio show on WLVJ AM 1040 on Sat & Sun at 10-11am. Their guest speakers include scientists and doctors giving some of the latest information on nutrition and health -so they certainly know their product.
8271 Sunset Strip, Sunrise, FL 33322 www.esimplynatural.com
Restaurants
Seraphina
I have to say this is my favourite restaurant, not because it’s the only one that I can get a full organic meal in this part of Florida, but because it is so delicious and the choice is amazing, all that wild fish and even steak. You can eat outside on the terrace overlooking the water with yachts floating at arms length away. Alternatively, you can sit inside the romantic Florentine-styled dining room with Italian music playing in the background, creating the perfect setting for a romantic evening. Of all the up-market restaurant owners I have met and talked to, Shari wood is the most committed to putting organic foods on the menu. She is the chef and she eats organic herself. She suggests that if you would like to call her the day before, she will do her best to make sure your meal is fully organic and to your taste. However, there is always something organic on the menu, even meat and chicken. The fish is all wild (not farmed) and sustainable, and she supports the local farmers. During my previous visit, I sampled the high-grade seared Tuna which was fabulously fresh with delicious greens. This time I tried the steak, which was cooked to perfection. I felt like a child that had a new toy! Organic in Broward - I was over the moon. The service was excellent and our server certainly knew his wines. This is the only one of two restaurants that I found willing to try to accommodate the ‘organic’ clients. A
Area: Victoria Park, 926 Northeast 20th Av. 954 463 2566 www.serafinabistro.com
Sublimes
I went to an opening tasting at Sublimes and Steve Sponder, one of the partners, told me it is the only restaurant in the State that is fully vegan, with natural foods and a little organic. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find a full meal on the menu that was organic. He did say that they are looking to add more organic food but suggests it is going to be much more expensive. “If the customers support us and don’t mind the extra payment, we will work with them.” Again it was suggested to call the day before. He pointed out that it’s not just the fruits and vegetables - it’s also the dressings and sauces. For example, herbs can make the price very high. If you want to buy organic bay leaves, you get so little compared with chemically grown ones, it makes it difficult for caterers. He mentioned that organic olive oil can be five times more expensive in catering size containers. However, the restaurant does have a good selection of wines and cocktails that are organic. That is at least a start.
Marks
The only restaurant on Las Olas that I could find with an organic dish on the menu. It was a real delight to eat in this tastefully designed restaurant. Many people drive from Miami to experience Chef Mark’s food. Not all ‘Marks’ restaurants have organic food on the menu but Chef Mark,Las Olas likes to have organic greens at hand and if you add this to one of his superb wild fish dishes then you have an organic meal. If you tell him you only eat organic food, he will suggest the best wild fish dish for you. However, you will probably have to miss out on the sauce. It is hard to go wrong here - the chef, Mark Militello, has received so many awards, including the coveted James Beard Foundation's ‘Best Regional Chef in the American Southeast.’ He certainly makes a visit to his restaurant a unique culinary experience.
Marks - Las Olas. 954 463 1000
An Organic edible garden on your balcony
Desiree, a very dedicated lady, specialises in gardens that are organic and edible. When Hurricane Wilma came, she didn’t have to worry about stocking up with food, as she could eat straight from her garden. She showed me how easy it was as we walked around eating different delicious leaves straight from the plants.
I was particularly interested in her unique plant pots for homes or balconies. You can have a specially designed, fully organic garden growing on your balcony in a variety of plant pots.
Desiree Fields. Chef and consultant for Organic Veggies & Herbs 954 922 4082 or 305 915 3587
Bring the chef home
Chef Eddie helps people stay healthy with his training in raw and organic food. His determination and faith in healthy eating was strengthened when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He decided to work on his mind, body and spirit. He was strict with his diet, eating raw food and he exercised. He worked on his mind with mediation and the result of this new combination of regimes was that within six months he had cleared the cancer. “It changed the acidity in my system to an alkaline environment where cancer can’t live” he told me. Preservatives have acidity and the body latches onto it, so it is important to change your diet if you are at risk of cancer.
Chef Eddie, Private Chef. Eddie. 954 551 1285
Just Like Mom’s Personal Chef Service
A mother and daughter team that have created a Personal Chef Service that serves Ft. Lauderdale and Western Broward County. They will come to your home and prepare a selection of organic meals. The Personal Chef Services include an initial consultation/assessment, planning, preparation, shopping, cooking, and packaging/storage. You have the option of having your personalized meals delivered or you can pick up at our convenient shop on West Broward Boulevard
Nancy Livingston Personal Chef http://www.justlikemomspersonalchefs.com/contact.html 954 581 5346
Joes Picasso’s Café
If you would like a cup of excellent 100% organic coffee, Joe Picasso’s is a great place to take a break. There are lots of different flavours to choose from, but alas it’s only the coffee that’s organic but it’s a good place to people watch on Las Olas.
888 E. Las Olas Blvd. 954 462 2551.
Spars and Hairdressers:
Faces& Beyond Day Spa
They serve complimentary organic coffees, teas and wines.
2306 E Atlantic Blvd, Pompano Beach 954 783 2220
Tease
Hairdressers that serve organic drinks and have a choice of organic hair products. It is beautifully designed for client comfort; even down to the washbasin neck rests specially designed to be soft. All the staff are health conscious and would love to find somewhere organic to eat on Las Olas. Just off Las Olas 954 524 7400
Suppliers:
Visit Josh’s market (Sundays only) for the best choice of organic vegetables and fruit. I noticed that people were regularly going up to Josh to congratulate him or give him a hug. I felt like doing that myself when I saw the wonderful fresh food. Much of it picked the day before with magnificent colours and smelling like real food.
Hollywood. Opens Sundays only 8am-5.31pm. Directly on the Beach next to Ramada Hollywood Beach Resort.
Glasser Organic Farms have an organic market every Saturday. Good to buy in bulk full of wonderful goodies, even raw ice cream.
19199 SW 137 Ave, Miami 305 238 7747
Whole Foods - always clean fresh with good service, they now have a small selection of organic food in their restaurant. Their West Branch (Peters Road) has exceptional service and has good supplies of Golden Fleece, a non-homogenized milk, most organic milk is homogenized.
Publics has a small selection of organic food, some of their new stors are mostly organic. Please come here!!
Mediterranean Market - although not an organic store, it has a very good selection of fresh fish. I have found it very dependable, always friendly with a place to park at the back, which is a must on Las Olas.
Mediterranean Market 1021 E Las Olas Blvd. 954 463 1212
Rakkasan Chef
Shawn Eric Fralin
305-298-1212
e-mail: shawnrakkasachef@yahoo.com Featured last month. The celebrity chef is available for parties and functions and specialises in organic food
Vegetarians:
I’m afraid it’s not good news if you are a vegetarian and want to eat out organically. Since you can’t eat fish; it is going to be very difficult. At the most there are a few restaurants that would have an organic salad. I haven’t found any restaurants, with the exception of Nature Boy and Juice Appeal, which have organic vegetables. If you are vegetarian you might end up starving or staying home. I would appreciate any suggestions please contact me on v12austin@aol.com
Happy Eating!!!
Easy ways to diet on organic foods:
If you would like to use hypnosis to help with your healthy diet an inexpensive way would be to purchase Self Hypnosis, (Thorsons) by Valerie Austin it can be ordered from major bookshops, Amazon or her website. “The book is recommended reading for many hypnotherapy training schools” Valerie explained. She is the author of six self help books and holds training courses and group therapy afternoons around the world. Her specialties are weight, excess social drinking and training courses for becoming a hypnotherapist. Her next training course is in UK in August. Valerie will be lecturing in South Florida in the Fall and winter for contact:
http://www.intimatehypnosis.co.uk email:valerieaustinhyp@aol.com
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