In
addition to blue skies, sparkling ocean and miles of sugar sand beaches,
Florida presents one and all with blocks and blocks of great restaurants. Our
population down here includes large numbers of Jewish, Hispanic, Italians and
Germans along with other groups. It's virtually impossible not to please your
palate, no matter what your taste. Access to 24/7 fresh fish dining is simply
outstanding.
So,
shall we dine in or go out for the next meal?
It's not as easy as you might expect. Here's an example: I am an Eggs
Benedict fanatic, but one can only have so many Bennies at breakfast without
risking a trip to the coronary wing of the hospital. A lighter fare at home makes
sense from time to time. So too for lunch and dinner. My wife makes certain
meals that are also available in restaurants, but nowhere near as tasty. Not to
mention the shot my credit card takes whenever we dine out.
Dinner
is another challenge. At the end of a
long day it is certainly easier to stay at home. A lot of dining out, or not,
has to do with our (especially my) age group. Younger folk may well prefer the socializing
of meeting/greeting other folks. My wife and I had plenty of that when we were
younger; been there, done that. Also (although it's not yet Valentine's Day)
there’s a lot to be said for enjoying the exclusive company of your spouse.
When we do go out, we have long embraced The Early Bird sitting. That's not for
saving a buck, for I don't recall that we ever ordered one of the special
selections on the menu. Our reason for going early has to do with the simple
fact that the restaurants are less crowded at that time. Besides, any saving on
an EB course is always offset by the wine and beer that accompanies it.
Sunsets
in Florida are magnificent. Sunrises too, although I've never knocked back a
Heineken at dawn, enjoying cocktails overlooking the ocean as the sun goes down
surely enhances dining. I can't do that back in Philadelphia.
However,
in defense of The City of Brotherly Love, I should say that nowhere in Florida,
or anywhere else for that matter, is it possible to enjoy a truly delicious
legitimate cheesesteak like you can scarf down at Pat's, Jim's, Geno's or
Nudy's. Then too there's Taylor Pork Roll and Habersett's Scrapple.
Pardon
me for a moment. It's time to check out the refrigerator.
