my recent trip to Florida

"Kate Connally" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Thu. night we went to Carrabbas, an Italian chain restaurant.
Supposedly a step above Olive Garden.

I didn't know Carrabas had expanded outside the Houston area. Their original
location in Houston, is, IMO, WAY better than any of the other locations
I've visited (not unlike other local chains).

Mary

"MareCat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Kate Connally" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thu. night we went to Carrabbas, an Italian chain restaurant.
Supposedly a step above Olive Garden.

I didn't know Carrabas had expanded outside the Houston area. Their
original location in Houston, is, IMO, WAY better than any of the other
locations I've visited (not unlike other local chains).

I hear commercials on the radio for Carrabas all the time -- in Maryland, I
think (I'm in Virginia). Not sure if it's the same chain.

C

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I didn't know Carrabas had expanded outside the Houston area. Their
original location in Houston, is, IMO, WAY better than any of the other
locations I've visited (not unlike other local chains).

I hear commercials on the radio for Carrabas all the time -- in Maryland,
I think (I'm in Virginia). Not sure if it's the same chain.

It is owned by Outback.

"Jumping Jack Flash" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I didn't know Carrabas had expanded outside the Houston area. Their
original location in Houston, is, IMO, WAY better than any of the other
locations I've visited (not unlike other local chains).

I hear commercials on the radio for Carrabas all the time -- in Maryland,
I think (I'm in Virginia). Not sure if it's the same chain.

It is owned by Outback.

Hmmmmm...you're right: http://www.carrabas.com/company_story.asp.

Too bad (but at least it explains the poor quality of all locations except
the original one...).

Mary

In article <[email hidden]>,

MareCat said:

"Kate Connally" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thu. night we went to Carrabbas, an Italian chain restaurant.
Supposedly a step above Olive Garden.

I didn't know Carrabas had expanded outside the Houston area. Their original
location in Houston, is, IMO, WAY better than any of the other locations
I've visited (not unlike other local chains).

There are several Carrabas restaurants in the Philadelphia area. In
fact, I ate at the Carrabas in Bensalem a couple of weeks ago. Some
friends and I went there for dinner. The food was respectable, but for
the same price, I would have much preferred a local mom & pop Italian
restaurant, of which there are many in this area.

Kate, it sounds like you ate at all chain restaurants during your trip.
All the places you ate at in Florida do business in Pennsylvania. One of
my little rules of thumb is to avoid eating at any chain restaurant when
I travel if it has a branch near to where I live. I guess you don't have
that rule? Huh?

"Stan Horwitz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

MareCat said:

I didn't know Carrabas had expanded outside the Houston area. Their
original
location in Houston, is, IMO, WAY better than any of the other locations
I've visited (not unlike other local chains).

There are several Carrabas restaurants in the Philadelphia area. In
fact, I ate at the Carrabas in Bensalem a couple of weeks ago. Some
friends and I went there for dinner. The food was respectable, but for
the same price, I would have much preferred a local mom & pop Italian
restaurant, of which there are many in this area.

Yeah, learn something new everyday and all that. I've only visited Carrabas
locations in the Houston area and have never seen any outside of this area.
And as I said, the original location (on Kirby, in Houston, for those in
this area) is MUCH better than any of the other locations (at least in this
area), IMO.

Although there are also many "mom & pop" Italian places in this area
(Damian's http://www.damians.com/, for one--owned and run by the same guys
that founded Carrabas), there are, unfortunately, WAY too many more chain
Italian (and other) restaurants.

Mary--from PA

Kate Connally said:

So, what is the deal? Is Key Lime Pie out? Is the only place you
can get it these days in actual Key West? What the heck is going on?
Dammit, I want some Key Lime Pie!

Kate

I've been to florida many times and stayed in different places (tampa,
orlando, miami beach, key west) and I really only saw key lime pie on a
regular basis down in the keys. I think i may have seen it in a few places,
but really it was mostly down in the keys.

My big disappointment was that I had somehow heard or decided or dreamed that
they had key lime popsicles down in key west. I never found one!

--
..:Heather:.
www.velvet-c.com
Step off, beyotches, I'm the roflpimp!

All key-lime pies are not created equal.

I believe that, the farther South you travel, the better and the more
common is the key-lime pie. Here in Ft. Lauderdale, it's quite common
but not all restaurants will serve it all the time. Secret recipies
abound and many claim that the only "true" key-lime pies are baked in
the Keys, of course by conchs. <G>

There are, sadly, many trashy imitations of true key-lime pie. The
most common offense is to make the pie with ordinary lemon juice,
(from a bottle, no less!) Real key limes, if you've never seen or
tasted them are relatively small, more spherical than egg shaped, are
very green and are quite bitter. The difference shows.

You would not want to eat a key lime. And, most assuredly, you don't
use them for lemonade. But other limes, although pretty sour, are
eatable (somewhat) to most folks.

It's common to have key-lime trees in a back yard here. The annoying
part of it is that they all seem to ripen at the same time at which
point we're sort of awash with key limes. The same with mangos and
other tropical fruits. We squeeze and freeze at that point. It doesn't
take very much juice at all to make a pie.

It sort of depends upon whether the growing season has been wet or
dry. If wet, only two, average-sized limes are enough. If it's been
dry, four or more are needed.

A Google search will yield a lot of info about key limes.
Pixmaker inFLL
==========================
It's not the heat, it's the humidity!
==========================
(Think the humidity's bad?
You should watch us vote!)
==========================

25 years ago, things were a lot different in Florida (And everywhere
else too)

Every city/town in Florida back then had many small, but good
establishments, usually always serving good fresh fish, shellfish, and
many always did have good pies, especially Key Lime.
There's always the big argument what a "genuine" Key Lime Pie is topped
with, whipped cream, or merengue? It is my understanding that it is
merengue, and not whipped cream, but both IMO are good!

Now, every town in Florida has been desecrated with all the large food
chains up, and down their main drags, and to tell the truth, most really
suck big time. They forced the little guy out of business.

My new philosophy for the new year, is to boycott each, and every one of
them. Mark

Mark D said:

25 years ago, things were a lot different in Florida (And everywhere
else too)

Every city/town in Florida back then had many small, but good
establishments, usually always serving good fresh fish, shellfish, and
many always did have good pies, especially Key Lime.
There's always the big argument what a "genuine" Key Lime Pie is topped
with, whipped cream, or merengue? It is my understanding that it is
merengue, and not whipped cream, but both IMO are good!

Now, every town in Florida has been desecrated with all the large food
chains up, and down their main drags, and to tell the truth, most really
suck big time. They forced the little guy out of business.

My new philosophy for the new year, is to boycott each, and every one of
them. Mark

I agree with you. More that 30 years ago when I first went to Florida, I
could taste the fresh, squeezed orange juice every mile of the way. There
were a lot of citrus trees every where, but not a glass of Florida oj to
be found. Most of the places had oj from California. sheesh.

In the "off season" for oranges, I can see "canned" juice, but I still
thought it would be Florida juice. We were there several times during
orange season, but still no fresh juice.

That wasn't very good PR on Florida's part. Kinda like Key Lime Pie.

Elaine, too

Chris said:

"MareCat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Kate Connally" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Thu. night we went to Carrabbas, an Italian chain restaurant.
Supposedly a step above Olive Garden.

I didn't know Carrabas had expanded outside the Houston area. Their
original location in Houston, is, IMO, WAY better than any of the other
locations I've visited (not unlike other local chains).

I hear commercials on the radio for Carrabas all the time -- in Maryland, I
think (I'm in Virginia). Not sure if it's the same chain.

C

It is I would think - there is one in Newport News, VA.

I really like that place 🙂

Roberta (in VA)

Quoted message said:

I agree with you. More that 30 years ago when I first went to
Florida, I could taste the fresh, squeezed orange juice every mile of
the way. There were a lot of citrus trees every where, but not a
glass of Florida oj to be found. Most of the places had oj from
California. sheesh.

In the "off season" for oranges, I can see "canned" juice, but I still
thought it would be Florida juice. We were there several times during
orange season, but still no fresh juice.

That wasn't very good PR on Florida's part. Kinda like Key Lime Pie.

Elaine, too

Well I was born an raised in the Miami area (59 years ago). My wife's family
was one of the founding families in South Florida, dating from the 1600. I
can attest to the fact that Florida has changed. It was a great place to
grow up in but my wife and I have retired to Lexington, Kentucky never
wanting to return to Florida even to visit. As for the foods there, with the
large influx of Latin's from Cuba, South , and Central America. Most of the
foods served in S. Florida now have those flavors, some of which are pretty
good others not so good.

--

Joe Cilinceon

(Mark D) said:

25 years ago, things were a lot different in Florida (And everywhere
else too)

Every city/town in Florida back then had many small, but good
establishments, usually always serving good fresh fish, shellfish, and
many always did have good pies, especially Key Lime.
There's always the big argument what a "genuine" Key Lime Pie is topped
with, whipped cream, or merengue? It is my understanding that it is
merengue, and not whipped cream, but both IMO are good!

Now, every town in Florida has been desecrated with all the large food
chains up, and down their main drags, and to tell the truth, most really
suck big time. They forced the little guy out of business.

My new philosophy for the new year, is to boycott each, and every one of
them. Mark

You go Mark and I do so agree with you. I lived in Myrtle beach in the
early '70s and most places were mom and pop establishments and it was
a wonderful town. Now? Well now they have been taken over by the
corporate bigwigs and it stinks, in my opinion that is.

I haven't shopped in a WalMart for over 15 years now when I realized
what they actually did to a small town and small businesses. Won't
step foot in one for any reason whatsoever.

GQ

On Fri, 23 Dec 2005 06:51:11 -0500, "Joe Cilinceon" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I agree with you. More that 30 years ago when I first went to
Florida, I could taste the fresh, squeezed orange juice every mile of
the way. There were a lot of citrus trees every where, but not a
glass of Florida oj to be found. Most of the places had oj from
California. sheesh.

In the "off season" for oranges, I can see "canned" juice, but I still
thought it would be Florida juice. We were there several times during
orange season, but still no fresh juice.

That wasn't very good PR on Florida's part. Kinda like Key Lime Pie.

Elaine, too

Well I was born an raised in the Miami area (59 years ago). My wife's family
was one of the founding families in South Florida, dating from the 1600. I
can attest to the fact that Florida has changed. It was a great place to
grow up in but my wife and I have retired to Lexington, Kentucky never
wanting to return to Florida even to visit. As for the foods there, with the
large influx of Latin's from Cuba, South , and Central America. Most of the
foods served in S. Florida now have those flavors, some of which are pretty
good others not so good.

I agree with you. It is just another way that part of our culture has
been thrown away to the wind because of immigration, legal and
illegal. legal immigration is good for this country like back before
1965. The immigrants actually assimilated into our country but now,
they do not and expect us to speak their languages and such as that.
That is not assimilation and it is wrong to put American citizens
through all of that.

GQ

Naturally, times, and things have changed, and I suppose one can't
expect things like cheap prices to stay in effect forever.

I began to visit Florida around 1980 in the Venice-Sarasota area, and
things were pretty quaint, and a lot quieter back then.

I can remember many Oyster Bars serving Oysters on the 1/2 shell for 5
cents, or 10 cents apiece. Or restaurants like the Crow's Nest in
Venice having Raw Bars, with 5 Oysters, or shrimp for $1 during "Happy
Hour".

Many good restaurants back then, serving fresh Grouper, Pompano, etc,
and prices were good.

The Crow's Nest still exists down by the Jetty (Intercoastal Waterway),
but it's pretty tough getting out of there spending less than $50 for 2
people.

Of course Sarasota has grown considerably (And so has Venice).
Going back 40 years, probably all that was there, was celery fields, and
cattle.

Property has been quite expensive over the years there, but I understand
in just the last couple years, property has really skyrocketed again.
Mark

Mark D said:

25 years ago, things were a lot different in Florida (And everywhere
else too)

Every city/town in Florida back then had many small, but good
establishments, usually always serving good fresh fish, shellfish, and
many always did have good pies, especially Key Lime.
There's always the big argument what a "genuine" Key Lime Pie is topped
with, whipped cream, or merengue? It is my understanding that it is
merengue, and not whipped cream, but both IMO are good!

Now, every town in Florida has been desecrated with all the large food
chains up, and down their main drags, and to tell the truth, most really
suck big time. They forced the little guy out of business.

My new philosophy for the new year, is to boycott each, and every one of
them. Mark

Two of my favourite restaurants are privately owned. In St. Cloud
(near Kissimmee) is "Bonnie Lee's" where I found the best fried chicken
ever. In Titusville, is "Dixie Crossroads" that serves seafood. Their
fried rock shrimp is excellent. I don't know if they still have key
lime pie because I never go for dessert after their meals. ....Sharon ,
who wishes there was a trip to Florida in my plans this year....

biig said:

Mark D said:

25 years ago, things were a lot different in Florida (And everywhere
else too)

Every city/town in Florida back then had many small, but good
establishments, usually always serving good fresh fish, shellfish, and
many always did have good pies, especially Key Lime.
There's always the big argument what a "genuine" Key Lime Pie is topped
with, whipped cream, or merengue? It is my understanding that it is
merengue, and not whipped cream, but both IMO are good!

I've been living in FL for over 35 years and have never eaten key lime
pie with merengue. I've read that some people eat it that way, but I've
never seen it served with anything but whipped cream.

BTW, I've got my fingers crossed that my key lime tree will recover from
it's bout with Hurricane Wilma.

ttfn,
jan

On Sat 24 Dec 2005 04:15:46p, Thus Spake Zarathustra, or was it ?

Quoted message said:

biig said:

Mark D said:

25 years ago, things were a lot different in Florida (And everywhere
else too)

Every city/town in Florida back then had many small, but good
establishments, usually always serving good fresh fish, shellfish, and
many always did have good pies, especially Key Lime.
There's always the big argument what a "genuine" Key Lime Pie is topped
with, whipped cream, or merengue? It is my understanding that it is
merengue, and not whipped cream, but both IMO are good!

I've been living in FL for over 35 years and have never eaten key lime
pie with merengue. I've read that some people eat it that way, but I've
never seen it served with anything but whipped cream.

Trouble is, you don't have a meringue tree!

Quoted message said:

BTW, I've got my fingers crossed that my key lime tree will recover from
it's bout with Hurricane Wilma.

ttfn,
jan

--
Wayne Boatwright *¿*
__________________________________________________________________
And if we enter a room full of manure, may we believe in the pony.

Belieive it or not but you could have found you key lime pie at
Denny's. We just had it for dessert. My wife picked it up yesterday
and it was pretty darn good. Our area ones (Miami) have it all the
time.

Mike