A memorable Meal at Juniors

My dad commuted from Eastern Long Island to Brooklyn for 15 years. He used to bring me a cheesecake from Junior’s original location every year for my birthday.

I was about 12 when he started and it continued until he retired. He would then still make the trip to get me my favorite cake.

After my dad passed away and I moved to the Champaign, my mom started sending one for my birthday, as well as any time I needed cheering-up (like when I had surgery).

It’s now come full circle with over 40 years of Junior’s sharing my life.

I was in Florida for the newly opened of Junior’s in Boca Raton.  Mom and I will shared Junior’s in a third state, with another milestone -- she’s leaving Florida and moving to Illinois, so we can once again live in the same place.

Junior’s in Boca Raton looked just like the ones I was used to, with cheesecakes lining the shelves of the bakery area, red and white stripes everywhere, and walls full of nostalgia.

Photos of famous Brooklyn natives, including Barbra Streisand, Jimmy Kimmel, Neil Diamond, and members of the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team, were also all over the walls.

The only thing that made this location unusual was the year-round tables out on the patio.

I have to confess that we overdid it when confronted with the Junior’s menu we hadn’t seen in a long time, as well as few extras at this location.

We started with one of their Spiked Shakes, a concoction of a chocolate milkshake and Tito’s Vodka.

With those, the waiter brought us Junior’s complimentary starters, sliced beets and pickles, to eat while we were trying to decide what to get.

The Junior’s menu is a bit overwhelming as it’s filled with comfort food you’ll especially appreciate if you are a New Yorker.

We were guests of the restaurant and they were happy to bring us a selection of their best: a corned beef sandwich with steak fries, potato pancakes with apple sauce, and a turkey Rueben with Cole slaw.

Mom also had a shrimp cocktail. Everything was as good as we remembered from New York.

The hardest part, of course, was deciding which cheesecake to get. 

As a kid, the strawberry (with a delectable almond crust) was my favorite. I had since developed a strawberry allergy so that one was replaced by the Devils Food Cheesecake.

Devils Food Cheesecake puts all of my favorites together: chocolate cake and cheesecake, layered with fudge frosting and topped with chocolate shavings!

Our waiter encouraged us to try a second and we went with the plain cheesecake, topped with cherries.

Needless to say, we were stuffed when we walked out of Junior’s, but felt like we had just left a big meal “at home.”

Unfortunately, the Junior’s in Boca Raton closed soon after I was there. I guess it’s just not understood outside of New York.

If you can’t get to one of the New York locations (which I strongly recommend if you are ever in the area), I am happy to say that they still have cheesecake for sale online -- or you can try to make it yourself. 

Still More to See in Daytona Beach

It was day three in Daytona Beach, Florida, for my friend Betty and I. We were definitely not running out of things to do.

We decided to sleep in a bit and have breakfast downstairs at the Oceanside Inn. By 9:00 am we were still off to the Marine Science Center.

It was smaller than an aquarium, but still offered plenty to do, including the opportunity to touch sharks and stingrays, and see and learn about the rehabilitation and breeding of sea turtles.

We also saw examples about how things in the environment, especially garbage thrown into the water, affects marine life.

Before we drove off, we took a walk across the road for a short hike and a glimpse at the beach.

We were then off to the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse & Museum. It was very different from most National Historic Landmarks I have been to.

It wasn’t about famous people in history, it was more an honor to important people you may not know about.

In this case, the site pays homage to the light keepers and their families who lived and worked here. They were an important part of the expansion of this part of Florida.

We were able to walk through their houses and the museum, and climb the lighthouse steps.

It was a short ride to the Inlet Harbor Restaurant & Marina and we were quite hungry. It’s a cute place with boat-in dining.

We immediately were in agreement of taking advantage of the margarita special.

It was a bit more difficult for me to find something I could eat that wasn’t cooked with fish, but I finally settled on nachos and Betty really liked the fish tacos.

After a leisurely lunch, we took the Dunlawton Bridge to Canal Street in New Smyrna Beach and walked around this artsy neighborhood.

We found lots of galleries, as well as studios for pottery, jewelry and sculpture.

Before we left, we stopped at the New Smyrna Beach Brewing Co. I’m not a big beer drinker so I let Betty sample a few of the beers. She gave them a thumbs up while I enjoyed their root beer, a treat I occasionally indulge in.

We took a short stroll around Flagler Avenue in Daytona Beach before heading back to the hotel to chill a bit before dinner.

There were a few restaurants options for us and we definitely picked the right one. Kona Tiki Bar and Grind Gastropub were a lot of fun (the two are really combined).

We listened to some great beach music and had the best meal of the week.

I had a delicious pizza with fig, feta cheese, and prosciutto, drizzled with balsamic, while Betty raved about the Lobster Mac N Cheese.

We sipped some cocktails and relaxed before heading back to the Oceanside Inn. It had been a wonderful few days in Daytona Beach, but it was time to pack up and head home.

Check the new TripAdvisor for hotel deals in Daytona Beach. 

Following the Ocean to Daytona Beach

I’ve spent a lot of time in Florida, but one place I haven’t visited much was Daytona Beach. When the tourism board contacted me about doing a trip, it didn’t take a lot of convincing.

The plans went quickly into action with my friend Betty coming along for her first trip exploration with me.

We had a very early flight out of Bloomington, Illinois, but the next one would have gotten us into Daytona too late in the day so we went for it and planned a fairly light day ahead.

We had also decided to make our first stop to get in the downtime mood by finding a Groupon for manicures and pedicures at Aadvanced Bodyworx. 

It was definitely relaxing and we were ready to get the flip flops on!

Just down the road from the spa was Woody’s BBQ. Judging by the lunchtime crowd, it seemed to be a popular local place.

We weren’t disappointed. We ordered combination plates and the roast turkey, mac n cheese, and coleslaw were delicious. 

The pulled pork looked a bit dry, but when I put one of Woody’s barbecue sauces on it the whole dish changed.

Our schedule was light the first day, but kept us going until the end. We couldn’t help making a short stop to see the ocean before we went any further.

Since I grew up and spent most of my life only a few miles from the ocean on Long Island I love just listening to the waves, but Midwesterner Betty enjoyed the full experience.

The first official stop was at the Ormond Beach Memorial Art Museum & Gardens.

It looked like it might rain so we decided to wander the gardens first. The trail was colorful and relaxing. We found it quite peaceful as we meandered through the unusual flora and waterfalls.

We also took a walk through the Labyrinth, an ancient symbol for wholeness and healing. More of that could never hurt!

The Memorial Art Museum is not large, but it’s worth a look. They also have various art classes and programs for children and adults.

From the museum we went to the hotel to check in.

The Oceanside Inn was right on the beach. It’s a comfortable hotel with a restaurant, bar, and pool.

We had a room with a perfect view of the ocean. It also had a kitchenette and sitting area, which come in handy when you are spending a few days.

We took just a short time to relax before heading to Ocean Deck for dinner. The tourism board had told us it was a favorite of locals and was directly on the beach.

It definitely was. Some of the tables were just a step from the sand and ours wasn’t much further.

Ocean Deck Restaurant on Daytona Beach. Cloudy, but great view of the beach from our table.

We had hoped to catch a nice sunset, but it was too cloudy.

Still we enjoyed the view with some tropical cocktails.

As much as I love going to waterfront restaurants, it’s always a challenge with a seafood allergy. Ocean Deck Restaurant was very accommodating.

While Betty enjoyed the fish special, I really liked the veggie burger with mango and guacamole they made me.  

We saved some room for desserts, Snickers Pie and Chocolate Cream Pie.

The early morning flight was catching up with us and we were ready to go back to the Oceanside Inn to get some sleep.

We were going to need it because the schedule for day two in Daytona Beach was packed with fun. 

24 Hours in Palm Beach, Florida

It was a short trip, but I had some time before meeting my mom for her birthday celebration, so I decided to go for it.

I had flown into West Palm Beach Airport more times than I can remember. 

From there I always headed straight into Delray Beach without even exploring the area, even though I never actually got to the “beach,” the area didn’t disappoint.

This time, with an invitation to stay at The Chesterfield, a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, I decided to stick around Palm Beach – at least for 24 hours. While I was there I decided to check out a few restaurants.

The Palm Beaches include many towns, including Ocean Ridge, Palm Beach Gardens, South Bay, West Palm Beach, and Riviera Beach.

The area has its own airport so I was able to fly right in from Chicago. 

Palm Beaches Tourism arranged for a car to pick me up and take me to Avocado Grill for lunch, where I would learn more about this region – while enjoy a fantastic lunch.

I knew I would have to come back here when I had more time to see more of the beaches, boutiques, and attractions. I also found a restaurant I wanted to return to.

Ashely, Director of Public Relations and Communications for Discover The Palm Beaches, and her Colleague, Veronica, arranged for my pick up at the airport and took me to Avocado Grill.

This bright restaurant was a dream for a flexitarian like me, with a ton of vegetarian (and even vegan) options.

We decided to go for a bunch of small plates and I bowed to their tantalizing suggestions as I sipped a fruity mule.

The Grilled Avocado Wedges were filled with a mango and watermelon salad and I could have made a meal on these alone, but there was so much else to eat.

I loved the Mushroom Fricassee with cheddar grits, truffle oil, and chives, and the guacamole was perfectly tasty and not too spicy – the way I like it.

My favorite of all were the Stuffed Crispy Zucchini Blossoms. They were stuffed with goat cheese and topped with walnuts, tomato jam, and mints. I highly recommend the trip to Avocado Grill in Palm Beach for these alone.

Dessert was even more satisfying. You can never go wrong with peanut butter and chocolate and Avocado Grill’s Brownie deliciously satisfied my sweet tooth.

I checked into The Chesterfield after lunch. It is a boutique property with a feeling of welcoming luxury.  

I especially loved the courtyard patio and pool, both offering privacy and comfort.

My room was large and comfortable. It felt a bit like an old fashioned B&B, but had updated touch-ups like a large soaking tub. (I was glad to see this hotel had not given way to the awful trend of eliminating bathtubs.)

I finished up some work before my friend Susan, who lives down in Florida, came to meet me for dinner.

The choice for dinner was the opposite of what my lunch had been. 

The Meat Market was a sophisticated nightspot that reminded me of South Beach. And, as you can tell by the name, the menu was a lot different than Avocado Grill.

Meat Market is a high end steakhouse with a few surprises and we were anxious to try as many as possible, starting with the salads.

We also shared the Roasted Beet Salad, which was quite flavorful. It had herbed goat cheese and was covered in a truffle honey vinaigrette.

For entrees, Susan thoroughly enjoyed the Buffalo Tenderloin, with a chili and a coffee rub, topped with a mole butter.

I got the fantastic Short Rib, which is usually served with a Lobster Risotto, but they let me get a full short rib order since I’m allergic to seafood.

We loaded the table with side dishes as making a decision was difficult. With the help of the waitress, we ordered the best, only regretting that we couldn’t finish any.

You can’t go wrong with any of these. In fact, I wouldn’t mind making a meal of just the side dishes at Meat Market:

Asparagus grilled just right and topped with an herbed butter;

Absolutely delicious Gouda Tator Tots;

White Truffle Mashed Potatoes;

Mac and Cheese, which was prepared with linguine in a rich sauce;

Lobster Risotto.

The dessert menu was tantalizing and it was difficult to narrow down the choices. We went with The Palm Beach Sampler and the S’Mor.

The Sampler included small tastes of the Mango Cheesecake, Crème Brulee, Sorbet, and Dulce de Leche Brownie. All were very good.

The S’Mor was a warm brownie, topped with graham cracker ice cream and marshmallow, than drizzled with a brandy filled caramel sauce. Yes, it was as good as it sounds.

Susan dropped me off at The Chesterfield, where I had a good night’s sleep, followed by a fresh and fruity room service breakfast.

My daughter, Sam, picked me up and we headed to surprise Mom with a birthday girls’ weekend.

I couldn’t have as asked for a better introduction to the Palm Beaches.