(Jalapeno peppers at “Robert Is Here” Farmstand, Homestead, Florida)I need to apologize but somehow I have lost a week of time in our traveling adventure! We are finishing our sixth week on the road but somehow I have only written four weeks worth of the GYPSY KITCHEN blogs. I guess doing all this vacationing has taken it’s toll on me and I have entered into a time warp of some type. Rather then writing two blogs back to back – I’ve decided to combine the past two weeks into this blog and hopefully get back to the present. I’m going to keep this short as possible – but there is a lot to get threw so here goes…
I have heard from several of you asking various questions about our trip but several of you have asked how are we picking what places to eat at and review. We are picking dining locations largely based on what you are suggesting! Sometimes, our choice is due to what’s available at the time, where we can eat while having the dogs with us – but most of the eateries are from suggestions from readers and/or fellow travelers…so PLEASE keep sending us your suggestions.
Almost everyone we spoke to while staying on the Keys said that we had to check out the “NO NAME PUB”, located on Big Pine Key. They are known for their pizza and claim that the “NO NAME PUB” serves the “Greatest Pizza in the known universe” due to the fact that years ago they employed a couple of cooks from Italy who mastered the recipe for the NO NAME PUB Pizza's and when they retired, they wrote the recipe on the kitchen wall – that recipe is still used today! This is a casual eatery and the owner has spent tens of thousands of dollars on interior decorations – well actually the customers have spent tens of thousands of dollars on interior decorations as the entire place is cover from floor to ceiling with dollar bills signed and/or decorated by visitors from both near and far.
(Dollar bills lining the ceiling and walls of the “NO NAME PUB”)
The menu is somewhat limited and they only serve beer and wine. We dined on a cool Sunday evening and when we arrived around 8:00pm they were calling a 45 minute wait for a table but had two available seats at the bar – we choose the bar seats. The NO NAME Amber Ale was deliciously refreshing, Cindy’s glass of red wine was okay. We opted to try the Smoked Local Fish Dip Appetizer which was really tasty and obviously fresh, served with several packages of assorted crackers (the two pack variety), some lettuce leaves for color and served on a paper plate – did I mention that this place is casual? We selected the Royal Pub Pizza which included Pepperoni, Italian Sausage, Fresh Mushrooms, Fresh Onions, Fresh Green Peppers and Black Olives atop a 12–inch thin crust dough complete with a classic red sauce. This thing was loaded with toppings and was certainly a god reason to have visited. Our bartender/server was extremely pleasant and accommodating and although we were more then stuffed (actually we had to package some of the pizza to take home), she sold us on a piece of NO NAME PUB Key Lime Pie, which we also took with us. The next day we enjoyed the pie and found it to be good – not the best we experienced on the Keys but still enjoyable.
The NO NAME PUB is a really cool, friendly and delicious experience.
The NO NAME PUB rates:
Well worth the drive to experience.
Some new friends we met while in the Everglades told us we had to check out MICCOSUKEE RESORT & GAMING just outside of Miami on the corner of Route 41 and Krome Avenue. Cindy and I are not big gamblers, although I have been known to sit at the Black Jack or Roulette Tables for a while so I thought that his might be fun. Upon entering, we quickly realized that MICCOSUKEE RESORT & GAMING is 90% slot machines, 8% BINGO and 2% Texas Hold’em Poker…no other games of chance (i.e. slim to no chance of leaving with the same amount of money you entered with). Anyway, we decided to stay for dinner. We were seated next to a lovely baby grand piano being expertly played by a talented pianist/vocalist, overlooking and overhearing hundreds of “One Arm Bandits” with lights a flashing and bells a whistling. Our server was extremely professional as well as friendly, we decided to try the Conch Fritter Appetizer due to the fact that they were being advertised as “the best north of the Bahamas” – these are some of the best Conch Fritters that I’ve ever had – they really were delicious!!! The rest of our meals were pleasantly well prepared and of high quality. If this eatery was not located in the middle of a smoky, noisy and flashy gaming room, it would have been a really great find – with that said, it was still an enjoyable evening.
MICCOSUKEE RESORT & GAMING rates: 
for food and service
and rates: 
for atmosphere…
As we were leaving the resort we couldn’t help but notice a row of automobiles that would make any car buff jealous – 3 Rolls Royce+'s; 2 Bentleys; 2 Maybach’s and a Lincoln Town Car. These are owned by the Miccosukee Elder Leaders. I couldn’t help but chuckle at the fact that the Native Americans are finally gaining some degree of prominence – ironically by offering the “White Man” the opportunity to “waste” their money at “games of chance”.
(Tiger Tail families “island” in the middle of the Everglades)
A short drive from MICCOSUKEE RESORT & GAMING, on Route 41 you pass by the Miccosukee Tribal Village which offers a gift store, village tour and air boat rides. We couldn’t resist the latter, especially for $10 per person. We purchased our tickets, waited about 10 minutes only to discover that our trip would be a private ride (just crazy luck). We set out across the Everglades, “the sea of grass”, on our swift air boat along with our private guide pointing out the alligators, birds, various grasses as we moved with such grace upon the shallow waters, making our way out to “Tigertail’s Hammock” (a home to the Tigertail family, who are part of the Miccosukee tribe, up until the early 1970’s). Our total tour lasted about 35 minutes and was well worth the price.
We rolled into Naples around 3:45pm and checked into our RV resort, set-up the coach and headed down the street for a quick “fast-food” lunch. We discovered “BUDDY’s BURGERS” located on the corner of Collier and Beck Boulevards. A former “Checkers” location, BUDDY’s is an independently owned, single-unit burger joint which features fresh, juicy and delicious burgers, fries and more. Cindy opted for the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich and I couldn’t resist the “Black & Blue Burger” (a blackened burger topped with Bleu cheese and sautéed onions, lettuce and vine-ripened tomato). Both sandwiches were unbelievably delicious as were the fresh cut, cooked to order fries. This is not a quick “fast food” restaurant due to the fact that everything is cooked to order…we waited about 10minutes for our meals to be prepared – but it was well worth the wait.
BUDDY’s BURGERS rates: 
Well worth a check if in the area.
That evening, Cindy and I headed down to the popular 5th. Avenue area of Naples, full of unique retail shops, restaurants and realtors’ offices…this is where you go to “People Watch”. All we wanted was a couple of cocktails and an appetizer to split. We settled on a table outside at McCABES IRISH PUB and GRILL, a terrific place to take in all of the activities. The “Black & Tan” was a refreshing libation which took me back to Dublin, Ireland – if only for a moment.
(McCABES IRISH PUB & GRILL, Naples, Florida)
I was a little disappointed at the menu selection after reading how Mr. McCabe had spent over a year searching the great pubs of Ireland for inspiration before building this landmark restaurant. Having spent some personal time in many an Irish pub, I was a bit surprised to find menu selections such as Corned Beef and Cabbage (never seen in Ireland), individual pizza’s, chicken quesadillas, Key West Tilapia???
The Brie and Guinness Appetizer looked the most interesting…and it was. Small wedges of brie cheese that has been dipped into a Guinness spiked batter, fried to golden brown and served with a raspberry coulis and dusted with powdered sugar…this was really tasty…Cindy commented that it reminded her of the beignets we had enjoyed at Huey’s Cajun Restaurant in Savannah, Georgia – and yes they did but the creaminess of the brie and the slight bitterness of the Guinness added a unique taste sensation and called for a second “Black & Tan”. Our young server was very friendly and attentive and covered his section (which was rather large) with finesse and confidence.
McCABES IRISH PUB & GRILL rates: 
Fun for a beer and quick appetizer.
(The pier and beach, Naples, Florida)
The next day we visited Naples Pier, the beach and then ventured back to 5th. Avenue, visited several of the shops and had a leisurely late lunch at CAFE LUNA which offered a Bottle of Wine and Two Entree Special for $29.99. In addition, we started with a traditional Calamari Fritti Appetizer which was good, we then shared a Caesar Salad which was fresh and full of garlic, yummy. Cindy enjoyed the Lemon-Pepper Trout as I happily devoured the Veal Saltimbocca.
CAFE LUNA rates:
A great place for some delicious Italian.
After that we headed up the west coast until we landed in the town of Ruskin and checked into the E.G. Simmons County Park. The sites here are huge and most of them back up to a series of inlets off of Tampa Bay…the fishing is supposedly unbelievable, although I have yet to catch fish # 1 – I’m beginning to get a fishing complex!!!
A good friend from Maine emailed me and said that we had to go into the Ybor City section of Tampa (the old Cuban/Spanish section) and dine at one of two spots – the SILVER RING or the COLUMBIA RESTAURANT.
(COLUMBIA RESTAURANT, Ybor City, Florida)
We thought we would check out the SILVER RING only to discover that it has gone out of business, so a short walk down 7th Ave in Ybor City brought us to the COLUMBIA RESTAURANT. This restaurant opened in 1905 is is still run by the same family – 5th generation. Through the years the COLUMBIA has grown from a small one room bar-like eatery into a huge, city long block formal restaurant which can accommodate up to 1700 diners! The day we were here was very busy, but the service was impeccable and the food better then the service. Each course is served tableside, beginning with a pitcher of fresh made Mojito’s. Next came the House Salad which was a combination of a Caesar-style and a Chef salad, again tossed tableside – delicious. I ordered the Half Cuban Sandwich and Gazpacho soup which was served again tableside (the soup comes in a cup and then the server offers brunoise of red pepper, onion, cucumber, tomato – all fresh, all delightful. The Cuban sandwich was again wonderful.
(Dessert flambéed tableside at COLUMBIA RESTAURANT)
Normally we would have skipped dessert but spotted one of the house specialties which of course was flambéed tableside – so we had to give it a try – another hit.
The COLUMBIA RESTAURANT rates:
A must try if a visit to the Tampa area is on your agenda. (We learned later that Ybor City, although cleaned up recently, is a place to visit during daylight rather then at night, perhaps that’s why this place was so busy during the day).
On a different day, we were checking out the Ruskin area and asked a local merchant where we should go for lunch, he quickly suggested BEANIE’S SPORTS BAR AND GRILL, which was located directly across the street from his hardware store. A bit reluctantly, we entered as I am not a big “Sports Bar” fan – at least from a food point of view.
Our server was very bright and cheery and extremely attentive. She made a few great suggestions of which Cindy picked the Reuben and I opted for the Sausage and Sliced Beef Sandwich. Both were served with house made potato chips that were out of this world good! Both sandwiches were delicious and much better then either of us expected.
BEANIE’S SPORTS BAR AND GRILL rates:
Make sure to get the Potato Chips!!!
I often get asked if I learned to cook from my mother. My mom has always been a very creative person and can do anything she sets her mind to – unfortunately, she rarely set her mind to cooking as she saw that as a task rather then a passion. She would rather make new curtains for the entire house rather then worry about dinner.
Fortunately for me, my mom was friends with a lot of people who were extremely talented and passionate cooks. One such friend was Teresa Burt, who with her husband and three sons moved to our hometown from Kansas City, Kansas when I was in grammar school. The Burt’s youngest son, Tim and I became quick friends and Mr. & Mrs. Burt and my parents became the best-of-friends. I think out of pity for my family, Mrs Burt one day shared her recipe for Kansas City Barbecue Beef Brisket with my mom who would make this dish often for our family…we all loved it!
(Visiting with Mr. & Mrs. Burt, Oldsmar, Florida)
This weeks recipe that I am sharing with all of you was inspired by Mrs. Burt’s dish. Cindy and I had a great time visiting Mr. and Mrs. Burt this past week as they live in Oldsmar, Florida outside of Tampa and we were treated to delicious Strawberry Shortcakes with Fresh Florida Strawberries and Homemade Biscuits and Whipped Cream!!! I love the Burt’s and thank them for their hospitality and their cooking skills. I hope you enjoy the recipe for Mrs. Burt’s BBQ Beef Brisket, you must be a subscriber to get the recipe.
Please support your local restaurants and let them know how much you enjoy their hard efforts.
Have a great week, our daughter Jennifer is coming down next week for a few days visit as the GYPSY KITCHEN Tour ‘09 continues it’s adventure up the western side of Florida.
Until next week,
Chef John
in the “Gypsy Kitchen”
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For information and/or directions for any of these establishments, please visit our interactive “Gypsy Kitchen Tour ‘09” map.
Make sure to log onto www.gypsy-kitchen.com and subscribe to receive FREE weekly recipes (this week’s recipe: “Mrs. Burt’s BBQ Beef Brisket”) and chance to win a 3–course dinner for 10 guests performed by the GYPSY KITCHEN in the comfort of your own home.
Ratings Scale:
= Needs Work, Most Likely Would Not Return
= Good Basic Find, Things Could Be Improved, Would Probably Try Again
= As Expected, Good Choice, A Few Things Could Be Better, Almost Certainly Visit Again
= Better Than Expected, Great Choice, Would Definitely Revisit
= Totally Blown Away, Every Point Exceeded Expectation, Would Drive Out-Of-Way To Revisit
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