Nick’s Summer Stimulus Package
The Friday Palm Beach Post overflowed with restaurant ads, most of them announcing special pricing – sunset dinners, week night specials, free desserts, etc. One that caught our attention was the summer stimulus special at Nick’s Tomatoe Pie on Indiantown Road in Jupiter.
We’ve stopped at Nick’s once before with positive results so decided to stimulate our appetites. We’d skipped lunch plus it was our last evening in Florida; we were ready to sit back and exhale. Cold drinks were served along with a loaf of bread accompanied with roasted garlic cloves in olive oil. The bread is in a white paper sack, no knife for cutting, the tear off a chunk method is used here. A bowl of the Joe “Mow the Lawn” green salad served family style soon arrives.
Judy and I often share entrees. On this evening we choose shrimp parmigiana served with penne pasta and marinara sauce and rigatoni with prosciutto and peas in a vodka sauce. I don’t think I’ve ever seen shrimp parmigiana on a menu before. There were jumbo shrimp lightly breaded and sautéed in olive oil – absolutely delicious. We also loved the vodka sauce, tearing off additional pieces of bread to soak up every last drop.
For future reference I confirmed with our waitress that next time we could order the shrimp parmigiana with the rigatoni and vodka sauce. I consider that a plan.
Full of bread and pasta we skipped dessert. On our last visit I ordered cannoli to go – well worth the calories.
The dining room wears lots of red, white and green and Sinatra posters with matching music. Booth and table seating with white paper table covering – the easiest way to clean up all those bread crumbs.
Service was efficient but indifferent. I very much dislike a service person slapping something down on the table as if it’s a huge bother and they have better things to do. Our waitress was guilty of little or no eye contact and a minimum of communications. We’re use to friendlier Western hospitality.
Nick’s shrimp parmigiana and the summer stimulus gives plenty of reason to return.
When You Go: Nick’s Tomatoe Pie, 1697 W. Indiantown Rd. (at Maplewood Dr.), Jupiter, Florida, 561-744-8935.
Nick’s Tomatoe Pie – Jupiter, Florida
The
ble for the prize drawing.
Driving down Military Trail, it’s easy to miss the entrance to the garden. The 14-acre botanical oasis is nearly hidden among strip malls, parking lots and the local driver’s license office. Once inside the gate that busy world is left behind as the sweet smell of oleander catches our attention.
Palms sway overhead as we wander through rose, herb, palm and tropical foliage gardens. We search for small labels identifying angel trumpet, ponytail palm, and rainbow eucalyptus. Some plants are unusual variations of the familiar; a huge prickly pear variety demonstrates what happens when a cactus grows in a humid climate with lots of rain. Orchids trail from the crook of a tree and complex delicate blossoms adorn the tips of ugly twisted, thorny stems. We assign descriptive names to unique unidentified foliage – wilted cabbage, Jurassic Park platter, and torpedo palm.
When You Go: 
I searched Internet sites such as Trip Advisor for customer comments. The Zagat Guide has granted an “Excellent” rating every year since 2004. Chef/proprietor Scott Philip has been featured in Great Chefs of the West. The positive reports made us put the cafe on our“To Do” list. During a January visit Judy, Janis and I headed to Hurricane Cafe for Saturday breakfast. Despite a bit of morning chill we chose an outside table instead of waiting for one inside.
rench Toast, thick slices drizzled with caramel sauce, sprinkled with pecans, all topped with sliced bananas. Judy and Janis ordered eggs benedict – one with tomatoes and spinach, one with smoked salmon and fresh hollandaise. We left well satisfied, armed with to go boxes because of the generous servings. We would have another morning savoring our Hurricane breakfast offerings.
Growing up in Central Illinois a visit to Steak ‘n Shake was our idea of dining out. In Champaign the iconic 1950s drive-in was on Green Street a few blocks west of the U of I campus. A flash of the headlights signaled your need for service, a carhop would rush out to the car to take your order returning with a tray piled high withsandwiches, fries and shakes. the tray clipped to the outside of your window. When all was finished, with another headlight flash she’d come to retrieved the tray.
On our latest stop we learn the company is proudly celebrating its 75th anniversary. The original opened in Normal, Illinois, just 50 miles from our hometown, in February 1934. A reputation was built on freshly ground steaks for the burgers and creamy, hand-dipped milk shakes. I fondly remember how much my father loved his strawberry milkshake and mother her orange freeze.
Where To Go - Travel USA 
