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Sunday, November 6, 2011

FLAGLER MUSEUM - PALM BEACH, FLORIDA

FLAGLER MUSEUM
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA


Visited the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach.  Built in 1902 by Henry Flagler, Whitehall as it is named was Florida's first museum.  The massive home was built in only 18 months and was the most technologically advanced home in the country at the time with a telephone system, 22 bathrooms, electric lighting, and central heating.  It served as Flagler's place of residence for his stays in south Florida, but also as a personal, livable museum with original artwork and representations of America's Guilded Age where technology and high arts live side by side.  The home was hailed by the New York Herald as "more wonderful than any place in Europe".  I enjoyed strolling from room to room wondering who stayed here.  The furnishings are beautiful.  Loved the artwork, sculptures and design.  Really glad I stopped here for a tour.

























18 KARAT GOLD












FIVE GUYS BURGER AND FRIES - PALM BEACH, FLORIDA

FIVE GUYS BURGER
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA

I was introduced to Five Guys Burger and Fries while on a business trip to San Diego.  You can search this blog for the review.  While driving around my hotel, I saw a Five Guys here in Palm Beach.  I looked at my watch and it was noon.  Time for lunch I said.  I entered to find the place empty except for the four employees who all greeted me when I walked in.  Turns out my watch was off by one hour and it was only 11:00 am.  They had just opened the doors.  I ordered up a cheeseburger with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and jalapenos. Wow..the jalapenos were hot.  Really good burger for around $5.
Click link below for another post on Five Guys Burger;
http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2011/04/five-guys-burger-and-fries.html

FIVE GUYS BURGER WITH CHEESE, LETTUCE, TOMATO,
ONION, PICKLES AND JALAPENOS
A LOOK INSIDE - HOT...HOT JALAPENOS ON BOTTOM

MONTECRISTO LOUNGE - PGA NATIONAL RESORT, PALM BEACH, FL


MONTECRISTO LOUNGE
PGA NATIONAL RESORT
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA

I do not usually hang out in cigar bars.  Actually, this may have been a first.  After a great dinner at the PGA National Resort we ventured downstairs to the Montecristo Lounge.  We were greeted by a great gal who treated us like family. She brought us a glass of wine and went out of her way to make sure we were happy customers.  We asked to watch the LSU vs Alabama Football Game and she quickly changed the channels on all of the televisions for us.  We were joined by some good old boys from Houston and had a great time.


SMALL ENTRANCE ON LOWER LEVEL OF LOBBY BAR
COREY PICKS OUT A COUPLE OF CIGARS
PLUSH LEATHER CHAIRS AND GREAT ATMOSPHERE
COMFORTABLE PLACE TO WATCH THE LSU VS ALABAMA GAME

IRONWOOD GRILLE - PGA NATIONAL RESORT, PALM BEACH, FLORIDA


IRONWOOD GRILLE
PGA NATIONAL RESORT
PALM BEACH, FLORIDA


Enjoyed a great meal at the Ironwood Grille at the PGA Resort in Palm Beach, Florida.  The atmosphere was nice, the service was good and the food was tasty.  My friends were staying at the resort and treated me to a fabulous meal and great time.  We started the evening with a chilled platter of lobster, oysters and shrimp.  All were delicious.  The cheese platter had a smoked cheddar cheese that I just loved.  The Foie Gras Terrine was really good.  Could have eaten two or three of these myself.  I enjoyed an Iceberg Salad that was covered in a really good blue cheese dressing and topped with lots of bacon bits. I had a small Filet of Beef that was a bit dry but good once I added the sauce that accompanied the steak.  My friend ordered the monster 2lb Main Lobster.  It looked delicious and was he said.  This was an over the top meal that was enjoyed with great people and lively conversation.  Does not get much better than this.  Really blessed to have shared this experience and evening with them.

IRONWOOD GRILL

CASUAL UPSCALE INTERIOR ADJACENT TO LOBBY BAR
FRESH BREADS SERVED WITH BUTTER
AND OTHER GOOD DIPPING THINGS
RAW BAR FOR TWO
LOBSTER, SHRIMP AND OYSTER APPETIZER
HUDSON VALLEY FOIE GRAS TERRINE
ONION MARMALADE, BRIOCHE AND SHERRY GASTRIQUE
CHEESE PLATTER
CARPACCIO OF HEIRLOOM TOMATOES
MOZZARELLA PANNA COTTA, VINCOTTO
ICEBERG AHEAD SALAD
BABY ICEBERG LETTUCE, POINT REYES BLUE CHEESE,
BACON AND TOMATO
PAN SEARED VEAL SCALLOPINE WITH POLENTA
GRILLED BEEF TENDERLOIN
2LB MAINE LOBSTER FROM THE IRONWOOD TANK
GRILLED ASPARAGUS 
YUKON GOLD MASHED POTATOES
KEY LIME PIE

BURRITO BEACH - CHICAGO AIRPORT

BURRITO BEACH
CHICAGO AIRPORT 

Was delighted to find a Burrito Beach at the Chicago airport.  Since it was early in the morning, I decided to go with one of their Breakfast Burritos.  Egg, Chorizo Sausage, Cheese and Salsa for around $5.  This was a good breakfast burrito made fresh and fast.

EGG, CHORIZO, CHEESE AND SALSA - PRETTY GOOD!


ORDER AT COUNTER IN FOOD COURT
BREAKFAST BURRITO

Saturday, November 5, 2011

AMERICAN AIRLINES ADMIRALS CLUB - CHICAGO

AMERICAN AIRLINES ADMIRALS CLUB
CHICAGO AIRPORT 

One new perk from American Express is being able to use American Airlines Admirals Club at many airports.  With a four hour layover at 5:00 am, I wanted to clean up and get on the computer.  The Admirals Club near Gate K6 is awesome.  Huge open areas with wide screen t.v.  comfortable seating all over the place.  Rows and rows of private desks with free internet access and a bar and restaurant.  They even have showers you can use.  They serve breakfast, lunch and entrees and have a few free snacks and beverages.  Really comfortable and functional for business travelers.




AMERICAN AIRLINES 767 - FIRST CLASS

DO NOT KNOW THIS LADY.  JUST PICKED THE PHOTO
OFF OF THE INTERNET TO SHOW SEATING
AMERICAN AIRLINES 767
FIRST CLASS SERVICE


I was at the American Kiosk checking into my Coach seat.  A prompt came on the screen asking if I wanted to upgrade to First Class for 45,000 miles.  Sure I thought.  This was an 8 hour flight.  I punched in "yes" and was told that no more First Class seats were available, but I could be on a stand by list.  I clicked yes again to stand by not thinking I would get the upgrade.  With just two minutes prior to boarding, my name was the last called to the podium.  The attendant happily informed me that I was the last person upgraded on this flight.  45,000 miles gone.  The seating was terrific.  Chairs reclined to almost a bed like setting.  There was a bit of dialog between the lady in front of me and the flight attendants.  Seemed the guy next to her and right in front of me had a very bad body odor.  I mean horrendous.  If the air blew towards me I got a smell and almost went for the little white bag in front of me.  This guy had the worst body odor I have ever smelled in my life.  Everyone around him was talking about it.  As he slept, the flight attendant sprayed a disinfectant or something around him.  When he got up to go to the bathroom, the flight attendant quickly went to his seat, held her nose and sprayed his seat again.  How the lady sitting next to him lived through this I do not know.  If I were next to him, I would have asked to move back to an empty coach seat.  I kid you not.  It was that bad.  The food was bad too.  I had a salad of those bitter greens that every restaurant is serving these days.  Just give me regular Lettuce or Romaine and I am happy.  The Ginger Dressing was good.  The meal was prepared by Chef Sam Choy of Honolulu.  I like Sam Choy's restaurant, but would never eat the Macadamia Nut Crusted Chicken they served on the plane.  This was a big chicken breast coated in bland bread crumbs with chucks of Mac Nuts.  Had no flavor at all.  There was a sauce on the side but it too was terrible.  The spinach laying beneath the chicken was bland and unseasoned.  Yuck.  The star of the dish was the mashed potatoes.  These were actually good.  I at the potatoes, two pieces of bread and left the chicken and spinach on the plate.  Thank goodness the Flight Attendant had a nice pouring arm for the Merlot.

NO PERSONAL MEDIA OR DISPLAY AT SEAT
LARGE SALAD WITH GINGER DRESSING
LOTS OF LEG ROOM
MACADAMIA NUT CRUSTED CHICKEN BREAST WITH
MASHED POTATOES AND SPINACH.  YUCK.....






MAHI MAHI WITH CAPERS, TOMATO AND BEURRE BLANC SAUCE

MAHI MAHI WITH CAPERS,
TOMATO AND BEURRE BLANC SAUCE
DINNER AT HOME

My wife loves fresh Mahi Mahi.  She found some nice pieces at the market and made a fabulous Beurre Blanc Sauce.  Finished the sauce with capers, tomato and fresh basil.  This was a meaty yet delicate fish that really satisfied.  The Baby Bok Choy vegetable was served with a delicious Oyster and Garlic Sauce and accompanied by some wild rice.  Really good and quick meal.