I’m a sucker for a good Indian restaurant. Several years ago, I wasn’t all that adventurous, preferring to stick to turkey burgers or standard Chinese food when I ate out with friends. Luckily, several years ago, a good friend of mine got me hooked on Indian and I never looked back. These Indian restaurants, located in and around Fort Lauderdale and a very short drive from the Desoto, have tasty selections and authentic atmosphere.

Bombay Café

I went here with some friends a few weeks ago, and we stayed so long in the red, brown, and yellow dining room that we forgot about our movie plans and just stayed, chatting over generous helpings of jasmine rice and chicken curry. A wonderful local find, I’m stunned I managed to never set foot in there before. Located on Andrews Avenue and West Oakland Park Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, Bombay Café has excellent service, decent prices, and a wonderfully authentic feel to the place. Call 954-568-0600 for more information or go here.

Udipi’s Café

Hidden away in a South Florida strip mall off of University Drive, just north of Sunset Strip, Udipi’s Café is the place to go for all vegetarian Indian food. If you’re not a carnivore, you’ll love the veggie and bean filled dishes of this fantastic little café. Many of the main dishes have a garbanzo or lentil bean base. Huge potato dosas are served with the meal and be sure to stop by on Sundays for Udipi’s authentic – and very inexpensive – all you can eat Indian buffet.  The décor is simple, the walls lined with paintings of Ganesha, the god of writing and luck. Udipi’s is charming, calm, and authentic, truly one of South Florida’s best kept secrets.

Royal India

Awarded four stars by the Gourmet Society and serving Fort Lauderdale for over 20 years, this classic Indian restaurant serves every kind of dish imaginable. Both meat eaters and vegetarians will find plenty to satisfy their taste buds at Royal India. Whether you drop by for lunch to sample their daily buffet, or mingle with the dinner crowd, Royal India is one of South Florida’s best places to go for authentic Indian cuisine.

What kind of Indian restaurant sounds good to you? Where will you go?

By Marissa Cohen

Photo By eliazar

The post Fort Lauderdale’s Best Indian Food appeared first on Hollywood Florida Ocean View Hotels.

Diners are considered as American as mom’s apple pie. A good diner is, usually, not a chain restaurant, but instead is a place that has its own character. Some of these South Florida diners are newer than others, some are open 24 hours, and some have the best dessert I’ve ever tasted. Enjoy your blue plate special – where even vegetarians have dishes to call their own. Whether you’re a local on a good staycation or planning your South Florida summer vacation, these Fort Lauderdale diners will leave you full and happy, and all of them are open 24 hours.

The Peter Pan Diner

Kitschy is as kitschy does at this Fort Lauderdale institution. Borderline trashy with a menu that looks like it was created on a dot-matrix printer, you know this is the place to go before or after a concert or play, or if you want to rub elbows with everyone from college kids to slightly shadier characters.  Spent your evening dancing the night away at one of FTL’s clubs? Then this inexpensive diner is the place to be.  Good coffee, huge deserts, and back booths where you can be as anonymous as you want.

Lester’s

I have fond college memories of this Fort Lauderdale truck stop, cramming for finals and drinking cup after cup of their 14 oz cup of coffee. As with Peter Pan, the deserts are huge, but here the waitresses are sassy, gossipy, and eager to share their life stories. The food is solid, well-priced, and really, really good – a classic South Florida diner, 1950s style (even though it first opened in 1967). Lester’s was famous – and some say it was the inspiration for Mel’s Diner from the hit 70s tv show, Alice. 

The Floridian

This dive diner has long been a fixture for locals. While I’ve heard some lucky friends tell me that this been-there-forever diner now accepts credit cards, I’d play it safe and go with cash in hand. Located at the end of Las Olas, The Floridian’s huge portions and reasonable prices make this one of my all time favorite Fort Lauderdale diners. This old-style Florida hang out hasn’t lost its charm since it opened in 1937.

What’s your favorite thing about 24 hour diners?

By Marissa Cohen

Photo By dicharry

The post A Taste of Fort Lauderdale’s 24 Hour Diners appeared first on Hollywood Florida Ocean View Hotels.

While the weekend almost always comes to an end too soon, a Sunday brunch can help you enjoy it a bit longer. With the abundance of restaurants all over South Florida, they are often visited for dinners. Many restaurants open on Saturday and Sunday mornings for those who are looking for a good brunch. This offers visitors a chance to taste some alternative menu choices and discover some local hot spots. Whether you are in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale or West Palm, you are sure to find a brunch spot that you can visit to extend that weekend fun!

Miami

OTC in Brickell offers brunch on both Saturday and Sunday. Short for ‘over the counter,’ the offer a fast, moderately priced, quality meal in a laid back, social environment. With the menu offered until 4:00, you can enjoy bottomless drinks like mimosas, bellinis and sparkling wine all day long!

Head down to Miami Beach to enjoy an outdoor brunch at News Cafe. Don’t worry if you’re late, they are open 24 hours! Since 1988 this has been a popular spot for locals and tourists. Breakfast is served 24 hours so you can enjoy french toast, pancakes, steak and eggs and more – all day long!

Ft. Lauderdale

Centrally located near the downtown area, Big City Tavern on Las Olas Boulevard is a bruncher’s paradise. With a great menu and bottomless mimosas and bloody mary’s, you will be sure to satisfy both your hunger and thirst! The crab cake benedict is one of the most popular items here! The rustic feel of the restaurant will take you back to the old tavern feel of cities like New York and Boston while still remaining in sunny South Florida!

Rosie’s Bar & Grill in Wilton Manors is another hot spot. Their Sunday Funday Brunch includes a DJ and drink specials. Their brunch menu is filled with fun-named items like the Fat Elvis, a ripe banana smothered in peanut butter and stuffed into challah bread and fried! From eggs to pancakes, they certainly have it all – and more!

West Palm

If you want an ocean-view brunch, head to Benny’s on the Beach, located directly on the Lake Worth Pier. They open early to offer a huge breakfast and brunch menu. Try the different french toast like the island, stuffed with tropical cream cheese and topped with fresh fruit! The omelet options are also great, the zesty volcano and athenian are only a few of them! This place is often referred to as a hidden gem, but now you can check it out for yourself!

There is said to be a legend of Johnny Longboat. A poor fisherman who used his boat to help people get back to the mainland after a bad hurricane in 1928. This Singer Island restaurant honors the local legend with fresh food and a good time! Their benedicts include eggs, crab, smoked salmon and corned beef. Stuffed french toast and blueberry pancakes are made hot and fresh. They have special items for seniors and kids, so you can enjoy a good meal with the whole family!

This weekend try one of these hot spots for brunch or discover somewhere new.

What is your favorite South Florida brunch spot?

By Lauren Grossberg

Photo By thomasglobal

The post Brunching Around the Town in South Florida appeared first on Hollywood Florida Ocean View Hotels.

Eating well and living a healthy lifestyle greatly involves the choices you make as far as the food you put into your body. At Choices Cafe in Miami, every choice you make does just that! This vegan vegetarian restaurant offers you items for breakfast all the way to dinner! When I say everything I mean it! Breakfast smoothies, salads, wraps, pizza and more!

Super Smoothies

I was very impressed by the extended menu of smoothies that Choices Cafe offers. Ingredients like young coconut, almond butter, sea salt, flax and chia are just some of the many healthy ones included in them. Whether you are more of a fruity fan (try the tropic escape) or like to stick to the greens (the green envy) you are sure to find something to your liking. What I like about the menu is that they really include the Miami spirit by offering a Miami Heat smoothie! This delicious choice includes mango, jalapeno, lime, plantain, hemp, flax, chia seeds and ice. Now that sounds like a Miami smoothie!

Cantina Time

Don’t have time to head to the store? That’s what the cantina is for! Every time you purchase something here, you automatically earn points. When you reach 500 points, you can redeem them for a $25 gift certificate! Use it to make more online purchases on yummy items and food. If you are dining in, you can also earn points. Besides the food and desserts, you can even order t-shirts to represent the store!

Juice Xpress

As with many other health stores and restaurants, they offer juicing cleanses to help you get healthier from the inside, out! Since no two people are alike, there are different levels of the cleanses. If you are new to juicing, you can read up on the process of it here. You can click on each cleanse to learn about what is included and what the purpose of the ingredients are in regards to your health.

Mouthwatering Menu

The extensive menu really does include just about everything. I couldn’t possibly list all the items here. But, some that have caught my tastebud’s attention include the tofu scramble, the chipolte walnut wrap and the simran burger. These items not only look and sound good, but they are good for you, too! The only way to know for sure is to head to Choices Cafe for yourself!

Follow them on Facebook to stay updated!

By Lauren Grossberg

The post Make the Right Choice at Choices Cafe! appeared first on Hollywood Florida Ocean View Hotels.

Wine and Food Festivals are a great way for people to eat, drink and be merry! If you missed some of these major events in Florida this past year including the Epcot Wine and Food Festival and the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, you are in luck because next week marks the start of the Las Olas Wine and Food Festival!

Filling the Streets

On April 19th, Fort Lauderdale’s famous Las Olas streets will be closed off for the event. Whether you are a local or in town for a visit, you may know Las Olas as the strip of restaurants, bars and lounges. The event used to take place inside merchant stores and restaurants, but as popularity grew, it soon took over the streets! It now takes place between 6th Ave. and 11th Ave. There are so many vendors here that are showcasing featured wine, chefs, food and more! Your street festival ticket includes a 6 1/2 oz. wine glass, butler tray and unlimited sampling from over 70 of the best local restaurants, 45 tables of wine and micro brews from 7.30 p.m. – 10 p.m.

More Than 1 Night

The streets are filled with great food, wine and musical entertainment. Although the actual festival is on the 19th, you can enjoy other events such as a wine sampling on Sunday the 14th at Las Olas Wine Cafe, or a 5 course Tapas menu paired with wines from the E&J Gallo Winery at the Riverside Hotel on Wednesday, the 17th.

For a Good Cause

Tickets to the festival on Friday night cost $100 and you can purchase them here. Proceeds from the event benefit the American Lung Association’s local lung health programs, education, patients and research at the local and national level on diseases.

For the price of a ticket to the event you can indulge a little and also help to give back to a great cause. Cheers to that!

By Lauren Grossberg

Photo By Martin Cathrae

The post Wine and Dine Down Las Olas appeared first on Hollywood Florida Ocean View Hotels.

Many restaurants describe themselves as “green”. This could be in reference to their natural ingredients, their organic produce, their plant-based recipes or any combination of them all! At Green Wave Cafe, you can be sure that all these important marks are hit. Not only is Green Wave Cafe a an organic and vegan restaurant, but it is raw, too. Some people may be a little curious as to what this raw food movement is about since it is not relatively known, but I can tell you that trying it for the first time myself – I am a fan!

Behind the Scenes

Green Wave Cafe is a small, cozy spot located in Plantation, Florida. Easy to get to, you will feel right at home with the casual dining atmosphere. Not only is the food delicious but it is nutritious! Raw food basically means that dishes are prepared while conserving the foods natural state of nutrition and enzyme density, which allows for the best nutrients and flavors to surface. Green Wave’s organic ingredients are specially prepared in advanced to ensure the best for the customers. The recipes are made from scratch and the ingredients are all produced in house, even the almond milk, nut cheeses and bread!

Delicious and Nutritious

When I went here for dinner, I had The Green Goddess Salad, a yummy mix of assorted organic veggies sitting on a bed of organic greens. Topped with sprouts and homemade dressing, it was one of the most delicious and freshest salads I had ever had! We also got a plate of the famous Super Nachos. These were not regular nachos, made from refried bean pate, topped with cheese and guacamole and salsa on top of a crisp chip. They were delicious and fast to be eaten! For me, who had never tried raw food before, I could not tell the difference, but definitely noticed the great taste!

More Than a Meal

They offer more than just a good meal. There are raw cooking classes that you can sign up for and learn more about this cooking technique and the delicious meals you can make by using it. They also sell some items in the store for you to take on the go. A farmer’s market is also something they put on, allowing you to purchase some of the very best in local and organic produce.

Whether you are looking to try something new, improve your eating habits or just get a good meal – I highly recommend checking out the Green Wave Cafe. Your body will thank you (and so will your tastebuds)! Here is a look at their burrito and soup!

Photo By Lina Gonzalez

Main Photo and Post By Lauren Grossberg

The post Catch the Green Wave! appeared first on Hollywood Florida Ocean View Hotels.

With a name like that, you can be sure that you are going to find a great selection of healthy and natural foods at Green Bar & Kitchen! This new Fort Lauderdale restaurant offers a wide variety to their selections. Ingredients they use include whole grains, nuts, seeds, veggies and more. You can find great soups, fruit, cold-pressed juices, superfood salads, smoothies, raw treats, and vegan/gluten-free bakery items, basically something for everyone!

A Meal for Your Eyes

I first visited this restaurant a few weeks ago and I was impressed! First of all, the decor is beautiful. It has a very calm and quaint feeling, with lots of white and green throughout. There is also an outside patio where patrons can enjoy their food. The space is split in a way where people can dine in, or just shop in the market. The staff is very friendly, offering you help in deciding which delicious treat to try! They use the best local and organic foods and even have environmentally-friendly packaging. Foods free from gluten, additives, and hormones and bursting with vitamins, minerals, and flavor, provide you with the best of the best.

Superfoods

A plant-based diet is what their foods revolve around. They use many superfoods like maca and spirulina, to help your body get what it needs. When I went, I tried the Superfood Salad, which has a mix of many greens including kale and spinach and other delicious  ingredients like hemp seeds and coconut chips. I included a smoothie with my meal, which also contained different greens! I enjoyed my meal so much. It left me feeling good about the food I had eaten and the choices that I had made.

On-the-Go Green

The restaurant is also great if you are on the go. They have prepackaged salads and meals that you can grab and go. There are also other pre-bottled drinks and juices for your convenience. Other options they offer are craft beers, wine and other juices. Green Bar & Kitchen is also constantly adding new things. For example, they have started a raw food cooking class.

Green Bar & Kitchen exists to help you take care of your health. By eating this way, you can feel alive and healthy! Visit their website here!

Photo and Post By Lauren Grossberg

The post Eating Green at Green Bar & Kitchen appeared first on Hollywood Florida Ocean View Hotels.

A little bird told me that the vegan baked goods company Babycakes might soon have a store in South Florida. According to a chef friend, the vegan, kosher, soy-wheat-and-gluten-free baked goods chain may be expanding their locations to include Miami.

Oh, I can only dream. It’s only a barely-whispered rumor at this point, but it was more than enough to wet my appetites. Here’s hoping the rumor is correct.

Vegan Goodies + South Florida = Fingers Crossed

Currently, Babycakes has stores in New York, California, and Orlando’s Downtown Disney. All the stores are popular, as are the two cookbooks released by Babycakes’ founder Erin McKenna. Celebs like Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds) and Natalie Portman (Black Swan) are members of the Babycakes “fan club” and are featured in the first cookbook.

So why get into Babycakes? Simply put, their cookies, cupcakes, and scones are out-of-this-world yummy. Hopefully, that will soon mean that Babycakes is a short drive away in Miami, but until then, at least there’s a bakery in Downtown Disney and there’s always the cookbooks, for those interested enough to cook with agave nectar and rice flour.

Food Restrictions? Babycakes is For You

The recipe for success is simple. If you have many food restrictions, are a vegan, or just want to stay away from the high-fat, high-sugar content of traditional baked goods, then you’ll love Babycakes. The scones, pies, cookies, and cakes are delicious. Best of all, the bakers at Babycakes use a variety of flours in their food. White enriched flour isn’t good for insulin spikes, and while whole-wheat flour can be a good secondary option for cakes and cookies, it can add a heavier texture to your desserts. I’ve been a Babycakes fan for years, and I love that they use a variety of flours in their kitchen, ranging from the protein-packed and nutty-tasting garbanzo bean flour to rice flour. As their vegan status suggests, there’s no dairy in these tasty treats, and soy, almond, or coconut milk are substituted for regular milk.

Babycakes is Healthy

McKenna started Babycakes NYC (the first Babycakes bakery) in Manhattan in an attempt to offer healthier alternatives. After all, as the website says, it’s easy for vegans or diabetics to feel left out of healthy snacking, but with Babycakes, no one has to go hungry.

Have you ever tried a vegan cupcake? If a Babycakes opens in South Florida, would you go?

By Marissa Cohen

Photo By extra-minty

The post Vegan Cupcakes in South Florida? appeared first on Hollywood Florida Ocean View Hotels.

South Florida is known the world over as a beautiful vacation spot – but it’s also refreshingly quirky.

Pets

Sure, you’re ready to enjoy the best that South Florida has to offer, but what about your puppies? Good news. Your best friend can now have his or her own staycation in South Florida. Synder Park’s Bark Park is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (with the exception of Thursday mornings when the park is closed until noon) and features an agility course. The park is free during the weekdays. Weekends, admittance to the Bark Park is $1 per car per hour of $5 per car for the entire day. The Bark Park at Synder Park is located at 3299 SW 4th Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. Call 954-828-4341 or go here for more information.

Water Sports

South Florida offers a wide array of water sports on both the Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale beaches. From swimming to snorkeling, jet skis to surfing, playing in the water is a relaxing and refreshing way to spend the day.

Green Items

South Florida is a gorgeous vacation spot, but summer in South Florida can be intensely muggy and humid (like “I’m going to try to fit my entire body in the freezer” humid). On days when the temperature soars to 95 degrees in the shade, visit a thrift store like Out of the Closet in Wilton Manors or downtown Fort Lauderdale or a quirky, cozy bookstore like Second Edition Book Shop in Hollywood.

Food

The carnivores among us can’t go wrong with Lester’s Dinner in Fort Lauderdale. Locals know that the walls of this kitchy, 50s-style truck stop/diner have seen it all. It’s also the home of the famous 14 ounce coffee cup. If you’re a local, you probably remember stuffing your face with Lester’s cheese fries after a late night of heavy college partying. The ambiance of Lester’s is half the fun. Check it out if you want to chat with waitresses who’ve got all the South Florida gossip.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo By jodimarr

The post Pets and Huge Coffee Mugs: Local SoFL Hangouts appeared first on Hollywood Florida Ocean View Hotels.

I lost my heart to San Francisco many years ago, when a good friend of mine moved out there and then turned into a one-man hosting committee. The reasons that I fell hook, line, and sinker for this green-friendly city and its surrounding areas are almost too many to mention, but I’ll try to count them. One of the major reasons to love the Bay Area? The food, of course!

Behold…the Berkeley Bowl

One of the highlights of all my California trips, hands down was the wonder of the Berkeley Bowl. The first time I walked into the Berkeley Bowl and was confronted with the size of the original 40,000 square foot store on Oregon Street, I seriously considered going home only to put my house on the market. Some people move for love or for new careers, but it made perfect sense to me to at least consider packing all my worldly goods in order to experience this behemoth of a food store on a regular basis. It seemed everywhere I looked, I saw a tremendous range of locally grown or organic produce at rock-bottom prices. (However, if I moved, I’d miss South Florida’s farmer’s markets! So much good food, so little time!)

Greens

Whether you’re a vegetarian or just appreciate fantastic vegetarian cooking, the motherload is San Francisco’s Greens. This award-winning restaurant is known for its world-class cuisine. Plus, most of the wood inside the restaurant has been recycled or reused. For those who like their veggie dishes with a side order of spirituality, the San Francisco Zen Center founded this landmark restaurant in 1979; its Green Gulch Farm provides Greens with fresh produce all year. Green Gulch Farm is also where chef Annie Sumerville conducts her famous cooking workshops.

Rainbow Grocery

Also worth mentioning is the fantastic Rainbow Grocery, a worker-owned cooperative founded in 1975. The Folsom Street store in San Francisco offers a generous array of items (including organic produce and wheat-free goodies). Like Greens, Rainbow Grocery also has a basis in the spiritual community and was originally started by an ashram with a bulk food program. Over time, the ashram opened Rainbow Grocery which supports all manner of green living and is a member of the Bay Area Green Business Program. Plus, they always offer a 10% discount to members of the SF Bike Coalition (one more reason to leave the car at home and ride around gorgeous San Fran!) and a 15% discount for the entire month of February when you show a receipt from a participating co-op.

The Whole Shebang

As if the joys of vegetarian and vegan food weren’t enough, check out the rest of the veggie culture. For more information about California’s Bay Area, feast your eyes on this handy guide to all things vegetarian in the Bay Area, including vegetarian meet up groups, political activism information, and much more.

By Marissa Cohen

Photo By dboy

The post Get Your Green Yummies in California’s Bay Area appeared first on Hollywood Florida Ocean View Hotels.