Glasser’s poetry books include, “Naming the Darkness,”

“Light Persists” (winner of the Tampa Review Prize for

Poetry), “On the Corner of Yesterday,” and her prizewinning

chapbook, “The Long Life,” which is due to be

released by Poetica Publishing Company in the winter

of 2012.

Fairly recently, Glasser has moved into a new art form,

finding fascinating faces and figures in the beautifully

tangled roots of the ficus tree. She refers to creatures that

she finds lying within the tightly woven limbs and roots as

Root People.

As a member of the Fort Lauderdale Writers’ Group for

two years, her poetry readings have left most listeners

completely awestruck. Not only is Glasser’s poetry in a

class by itself, but when she reads her works, each spoken

passage can be easily compared to the feeling one gets

when listening to the magic of a Chopin waltz.

On this new journey with color pencils, Glasser takes

us visually to places never before seen, just has she’s done

with her pen, and with a special voice that weaves her

words into unforgettable tapestries.

As a new resident of Lighthouse Point, we thought it

appropriate to introduce Jane Ellen Glasser to you in this

way. We are proud to have her as a member of our

fine community.

Q: How did you first become fascinated with the ficus tree?

Glasser: My love affair with banyans, a fig tree of the

genus Ficus, started last March on a visit to Pinecrest

Gardens, “the crown jewel of the village’s park system.”

Boca Raton’s Town Hall parking lot features magnificent

specimens where, in the ’30s and ’40s, folks gathered to

discuss news and avoid the heat. On my daily walks, I

soon realized that fig trees, partcularly strangler figs, are

ubiquitous in south Florida. A beauty that I have often

photographed graces a home on Lighthouse Point Drive

and 42nd Street, two blocks from my residence.

Q: What inspired you to create the Root People drawings?

Glasser: When I moved to Florida two years ago, one

of my early purchases was the field guide “The Trees of

Florida.” I had left maples, dogwoods, magnolias and

sycamores behind and became fascinated with the rich

variety of palms, and fig trees, especially the strangler fig

and banyan with their aerial roots and long beards. Since                                          childhood, I have delighted in discovering images in the                                                commonplace, creatures in cloud shapes, demons in the                                                    shadows on night’s walls, faces in the whorls of my home’s                                               redwood ceilings. So it was no surprise when an entire                                                         colony of people showed up in the roots of ficus trees.                                                                Q: How do you go about the creative process when using                                                         color pencils?                                                                                                                              Glasser: Discovery has always been central to the creative                                                   process for me. Whether I’m working in art or poetry, I                                                          never start with a fixed notion of how the finished product                                                        will look. As Robert Frost wisely admonishes, if you know                                                        where you are going to end up, “No surprise for the writer,                                                        no surprise for the reader.” With The Root People drawings,                                                  I began by letting my eyes explore an enlarged photograph                                                        I had taken of part of a tree. Using charcoal and Prismacolor                                                colored pencils, I’d fill in what my imagination would find                                                  implicit in the tangle of roots. Image by image, torsos, arms,                                                  legs, hearts, animals appeared. Sometimes my hand reached                                                for bright colors—violet blue, Spanish orange, mulberry,                                              crimson red, blazing yellow. Two of the works wanted little                                                  more than charcoal and white. I tried to remain open, letting                                                    the unconscious have a say in what the eye would see.                                                                Q: A snake, fish, giraffe, cat, and other more fabulous                                                      creatures may appear in your drawings. What do they represent?                                    Glasser: Ficus trees traditionally were like outdoor                                                                  town halls, nature’s gathering places, so I was not                                                              surprised to discover animals living inside the roots.                                                            Besides, dangling roots readily suggest snakes and what                                                          better place for a bird to nest? I did wonder, nonetheless,                                                      how a giraffe from an African wooded savannah made its                                                          way to Florida.                                                                                                                                Q: Why do nude figures appear so prominently in your drawings?                                    Glasser:Would you really expect people to be wearing dresses                                               and suits in the Garden, man’s original state? It seemed to me                                            they’d be as naked as rabbits, birds, snakes, and the rest of nature.                                         I have always been drawn to the human figure. One summer years ago,                                   in a castle on top of a small mountain in the heart of old Salzburg, Austria,                     every 15 minutes a nude model would shift position for me and the other                             art students attending Oskar Kokoschka’s “School of Vision” to capture her anew.           With ficus trees, aerial roots that later become tree limbs actually resemble human limbs, torsos with long legs reaching to take hold of earth.                                                        Q: Several of the drawings seem to evoke holocaustimages. Was this a conscious decision?                                                                                                                                         Glasser: No, but viewers have had that association, particularly                                      with the two black, gray and white drawings that depict lines of seated or                 standing nude figures, their faces grimacing or downcast. As a Jew, however,          holocaust imagery is imprinted on my heart and my brain, frequently popping up, unannounced.                                                                                                                                        Q: How did you arrange your last exhibit at the Goddess Store & Studio in Hollywood?    Glasser: Anastasia Clark, Broward County Poet-in-Residence since 2009, was instrumental. An award-winning poet, she is a cultural treasure, promoting poetry readings and workshops in South Florida. Supportive of both my poetry and art,              this past fall she suggested I show The Root People at The Goddess Store & Studio. Carmen Garson, owner, hosts a Poetry and Open Word Circle and promotes the         work of a different artist each month during Hollywood Art Walk. I am indebted to her for the opportunity to share my work.                                                                                         Q: Does the cultural climate in South Florida meet with your satisfaction?            Glasser: The best thing to happen to me since I moved to Florida was finding a community of writers in the Fort Lauderdale Writers’ Group. Jon Frangipane and Wendell Abern head the eclectic gathering at our bi-monthly workshops.               Having a supportive audience to critique new work is more than a gift, it’s a necessity.   Q: Why have you selected Lighthouse Point as your permanent home?                    Glasser: Unlike the stereotypical Jew who, after retirement, falls south to Florida to play golf and soak in the sun, I was lured here by grandchildren. When my daughter Hara gave birth to a third, I started packing up. The moment she and my son-in-law Steve found their dream home on Lighthouse Point Drive, I began looking at real estate, nearby. I moved here in May and couldn’t be more pleased. My needs typically are met within walking distance of my condo—grocery store, an excellent library, yoga classes. The residents take pride in maintaining their properties; it is a safe and scenic place to explore on foot.                                                                                                                                    Q: Is there another new exciting project in the near future?                                       Glasser: Creative people are at the mercy of the muse. I never know what image, dredged from experience, memory or dreams, will ignite a poem or inspire a drawing. Recently, I woke at 4:00 am when lines about my deceased younger daughter began typing themselves in my brain. I raced to the computer. I have enough new work to begin shaping a manuscript for another substantial poetry collection. My prize-winning chapbook, “The Long Life,” is due out from Poetica Publishing Company in a few weeks. I’m hoping to find a national and local audience for these poems.

After a 3-hour trip through the Cambodian countryside, we arrived at Siem Reap for what was to be 3 nights at a beautiful Sofitel Royal Angkor Hotel. A true resort, it had a huge pool, multiple restaurants and landscaped gardens, and we were met by costumed dancers and band. Our first night’s dinner featured a buffet of regional foods and a show with the traditional dancers of the royal ballet. The elaborate costumes and much of the dance resembled those of Thailand and India with the same stylized hand movements.

Cambodian Dancer

Young girls can begin their training in the Aspara dance as young as 6. It was originally only taught at the palace and was only for women dancers with the sole exception of the male role of the monkey! There are now many male dancers. Few of the original teachers and costume designers survived the Pol Pot regime.

Province of Siem Reap    Cambodia’s thousand year-old temples have made this a major tourist destination. There are about 290 temples in a roughly 150-mile radius, but the city itself is charming with markets and upscale restaurants and a visual presence of the French influence in the architecture. There is a variety of cuisines scattered, mostly around the old market on Po Street. It has also been made famous by the movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, as Angelina Jolie kick-boxed her way through Ta Prohm, the Angkorian temple overtaken by jungle roots. The main mode of transport from hotel to market is via the tuk-tuk, a rickshaw-type carriage pulled by a motorbike. You can find them anywhere and everywhere and travel almost any distance for about $3.00. We ventured into town for lunch at the famous Red Piano, allegedly favored by Angelina Jolie while filming her movie there. They have a cocktail named in her honor.  

Dr. Fish foot massage is a favorite tourist activity in town. For about $2.00, customers are seated on a bench and place their bare feet into a clear tank filled with fish. The fish will nibble the dead skin from your feet. The fish vary in size, and we even discovered a place that advertised “No Pirahana!”  Good to know!

Siem Reap is also the only province in Cambodia that possesses the Mulberry Tree, necessary for the production of silk. A visit to the silk farm outside of town showed us the process from the growth of the worm on the tree, all the way through the dying and weaving processes. The dyes are, for the most part, natural even using rusty nails to produce the burnt oranges and browns. The labor force in the factory is predominantly women, and once the training period is completed, their wages are some of the highest in the country. The finished products are beautifully displayed in the shop where they are, of course, available for purchase.

The first stop on any visit to the Angkor sites is at the main entrance where you will have a photo taken. This photo is then placed on a temple pass needed for admittance to any and all of the Angkor sites. You are offered either a 3-day or a 1-week pass. They range in price from $40.00 for the 3-day pass to $90.00 for the full week.

Angkor Wat  A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is considered the masterpieces of Khmer architecture. A feat of both engineering and artistry built in the 12^th century, the mammoth stone construction is surrounded by a moat and walls. The stone was not quarried at the site, but brought from an area some 45 kilometers away. Thousands of elephants were used in construction.  The temple is thought to have been originally built as a temple to the God Vishnu and, as such, is full of bas-relief carvings depicting scenes from Hindu epics. It is also the only temple facing west, and restored as a Buddhist shrine in the 16^th century. When it was “discovered” in the 1860’s, it was greeted with a media blitz, but it was actually a working monastery at the time. Many of the local people sought refuge here during the Pol Pot regime. Any structure close to the jungles and left to its own devices will quickly be reclaimed by the jungle.  Some of the temples in this region have been “reclaimed” from the jungle on more than one occasion.  Most of them are in a constant state of repair.

The construction consists of 3 levels. The upper, or third level, carries the five towers and is reached by way of a steep outside staircase. It is said to only rise only 11 meters, but the steep angle makes the climb memorable! It took all the courage I could muster to attempt the climb; (I did not come all this way to miss anything) fearing mostly the return down the stairs. There was a long continuous gallery with niches containing carvings or statues, an occasional monk and a spectacular view of the surrounding area.

Angkor Thom    This was also built in the Khmer times during the 12^th century, and contrary to Angkor Wat, was built as a city; one of the largest ever built. It too is surrounded by a moat and encloses a square. The approach across the moat is via a causeway lined with stone statues. Each of the 2 rows of figures carries the body of a giant serpent, the 7-headed naga.                                                                                                              

The central tower, called Bayon, is the most striking with huge stone faces of Buddha facing the four corners of the compass. There are so many that it appears to be a stone forest of towers rising like mountain toward the center. Only 37 of the original 45 are still standing, some missing faces on the sides. It too contains beautiful bas-relief carvings, some in Hindu tradition, some Buddhist.

Ta Prohm    This temple was built by the king to commemorate his mother. The trees here are slowly taking over the crumbling remains and are responsible for the atmosphere of the temple. The jungle has become part of the architecture, making inroads through fissures in the stone, maybe where birds have deposited seeds. Famous as the temple used in the filming of the Angelina Jolie film, “Tomb Raiders,” it is a perfect example of how the jungle will reclaim any structure left too long, unchecked. It is now being somewhat restored, however archeologists have determined that to remove many of the larger trees and roots would cause the walls to fall. It is thought to be a good example to visitors of the condition in which many of the temples were “discovered.”

Banteay Srei     This city is located near the Kulen National Park, once a place of pilgrimage due to its significance. Historically, this is the site where King Jayavarman II proclaimed his divine kinship, marking the beginning of the Khmer Empire. Banteay Srei is distinguished by the beautiful pink sandstone color. It was off-limits to visitors for many years, due to Khmer bandits in the area. A small Hindu temple built during the 10^th century, it was not built as a royal temple, and sometimes referred to as the Citadel of Women. It too has been dedicated to Vishnu and Shiva. There are 3 main towers and most noticeable are the detailed bas-relief carvings and architectural details, such as the mitered corners on the doorways. It has been described as the “jewel of Khmer art and achieved notoriety when Andre Malraux, Minister of Culture under DeGaulle, began removing and selling some of the apsaras. The pieces were recovered and restoration began in 1931.

Visits to the open-air markets and Les Chantiers-Ecoles, the vocational school training 650 apprentices per year in the traditional crafts, concluded our stay in Siem Reap. We were ready for an early evening flight to Hanoi, Vietnam.

Hanoi, Vietnam      Here is the thousand year-old capital city of Vietnam. The original name was Thang Long, or the City of the Soaring Dragon and sits in the far north of the country in the Red River Delta. There are said to be over 300 new buildings in the city, but the Old Quarter is picturesque and a composite of French colonial architecture.  Most of the narrow network of streets and alleys have retained the names of the trader’s guilds and are known as the “36 streets.” The merchandise is offered by “subject.” There is Shoe Street, Cloth Street, Rice and Silk Streets, etc. You will also find a KFC and upscale restaurants within the old city.  It is along these streets that one will see the heart of the city and its people at their everyday work. 

Typical of the Vietnamese culture, most of the sanctuaries are built around local legends. On a tiny island in the Hoan Kiem Lake (The Lake of the Restored Sword) in the center of the city, stands the Tortoise pagoda. The legend dates back to the 15^th century states that when the Chinese occupied the country, a turtle living in the lake gave a local fisherman a sword used to destroy the invaders. The fisherman was made emperor and returned the sword to the turtle.  To this day, the turtles within the lake are revered. Ngoc Son, Temple of the Jade Mountain sits near the north shore. The entire lake is surrounded by a lovely walkway and park-like setting making a perfect 1.5 mile walk on a good day. Traveling around the lake you will find restaurants, banks and shops, many of famous designers such as Gucci and Prada. We also spotted a Playboy store!

The grand old hotel of Hanoi, The Metropole,  was built by the French in 1901 and still reigns as the most famous hotel in Hanoi. She was recently in the news when an underground bunker was discovered during some garden renovations. These were used as a place of protection for many of the famous visitors to Hanoi during the Christmas Bombings of Hanoi in the Vietnam conflict. It is a favorite location for brides to be photographed, and we saw a steady parade of couples during our 3-night stay. It is within a block of the magnificent Opera House (another favorite bridal photo stop).                     

The Temple of Literature is a series of walled courtyards and gates, built in the 10^th century and was Vietnam’s first University, a center of Confucian philosophy. The structure is dedicated to the scholars of the city who, when they have successfully completed their exams return to have their names engraved on tablets in the courtyard and become candidates for imperial civil service. They date back for centuries, some of them almost smooth due to the weathering.  There is a pavilion in the center containing a bronze tortoise worn shiny in places as it is rubbed for luck! The gardens are full of topiaries and colorful floral displays.

The Ho Chi Minh Memorial complex includes the Ho Chi Minh mausoleum, museum and the simple stilt house where he spent his final days. The mausoleum was opened in 1975 during the reunification period. Ho Chi Minh lies in a glass-enclosed coffin in the air-conditioned hall, contrary to his wishes to be cremated! The body is sent each year to Moscow for “cosmetic restoration.” The huge concrete structure is guarded at the top of the steps by soldiers, and the entire complex is surrounded by a park. Also nearby is the Presidential Palace that was the residence of the former French Governor General of Indochina. Ho hated the building and the simple wooden structure nearby was built for and presented to him as a birthday gift.  You can visit his office and bedroom quarters on the second level.

A short walk away is the One Pillar Pagoda, a Lotus shaped pagoda emerging from the middle of a Lotus pond. This 11^th century monument was originally made of wood and survived for centuries, until it was destroyed by the French when they abandoned the city in 1954. It has been replaced by a concrete pillar.

A visit to the notorious “Hanoi Hilton,” where American POW’s were held captive, gave us insight into that portion of history. Only 1/3 of the prison remains as a museum, while the rest of the property has been removed and replaced by an office building and condominium. The prison was originally built by the French in the center of the town to hopefully serve as a deterrent to crime. Again, much of the documentary has a distinct Vietnamese slant, including photos of prisoners (they refer to them as detainees!) enjoying volleyball, a lavish Christmas dinner, and opening gifts from family. John McCain was “rescued” by locals from his downed plane in the West Lake outside of town and interred here for many years. There are photos of him receiving medical care for his injuries.

The Vietnam Ethnology Museum gives glimpses of the daily life of the 54 ethnic groups residing in the country. Outside are traditional houses, each with its specific furnishings and surrounded by typical vegetation. We were unprepared for the extremely graphic sexual depictions of the sculptures surrounding the homes—leaving nothing to the imagination (Bill took plenty of photos, but this is a family magazine).

After dinner at a local restaurant, we were transported to the new, but small Hanoi airport where we did all that last minute “airport shopping” we needed to finish before our return to the US.  Passing through the security line required the usual passport check, as well as a digital fingerprint scan. Although on this trip we did miss some of the cities whose names are familiar to us from the Vietnam War era, we saw a wonderful cross-section of a country ravaged by war, famine, and poverty, yet vibrant and full of life. The restorations and new modern hotels built since the 60’s have made both Vietnam and Cambodia prominent tourist destinations; each for its own reason. It was a beautiful and memorable trip.

This is basically a thankless job, but sometimes out of the blue someone says something nice about Lighthouse Point Magazine.

This morning I was speaking with Patty Berian regarding her ad in our magazine, and we were wishing each other the very best in 2012, when she said, “Jon, I just love your magazine. Every month I send a copy up north to my mother who loves the photos and articles, and it brings back fond memories of time spent here.”

Just those kind words from Patty were all I needed to start the year off right. All thoughts involving the complexities involved in meeting deadlines every month for almost ten years now seemed to disappear during that phone call.

Still, after all this time, when a new issue comes off the press, I hold it my hand, look at the cover, smile and I think, “Hey, maybe this ain’t such a bad job, after all!”

A Fish Out of Water

As I reflect back to 2002 when deciding what community in Broward County would be the best place to start a newsletter, my associate at the time, Patti Smith, said she had lived briefly in Lighthouse Point and thought it would be an ideal area to begin the publication.

Little did I know at the time that Lighthouse Point was for the most part, a  Republican community, so I decided to deal sparingly with political issues and concentrate on families and events. As an independent, I thought this a wise business decision and as a result the magazine has flourished.

Periodically, I write a column called Accountability, which appears in this particular issue. And, as an independent, I believe I can view both the Democratic and Republican parties with unjaundiced aplomb. Surprisingly, the column has become popular, especially with those who ideology is not set in stone.

The articles are meant to stir interest, and in some cases provoke readers to write back to me in response to critical issues. There is nothing better than a healthy dialogue in an attempt to find solutions in a world in turmoil.

Yes, at times I do feel like a fish out of water, but when I do, I think of Mark Twain when he said, “I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters of religion and politics, a man’s reasoning powers are not above a monkey’s.”

The owners, Don and Joan Hoy, run their restaurant with their chef sons, Kyle and Stephen.  A third son is in Boston busy attending college and aspiring to be a professional hockey player. With Don and his sons running the kitchen, Joan is responsible for making sure that everything runs smoothly and makes what should be known as the best key lime pie around.

HALF RACK OF RIBS & WINGS

Don has a solid history in the food industry working at Dan Dowd’s Steakhouse, Yesterday’s, Manero’s Steakhouse and Bodega Steakhouse. Don and Joan, as previous owners of the Landlubber’s Raw Bar and Grill in Plantation for twenty years, decided to downscale to a more intimate setting, enjoying the charm and ease of Lighthouse Point residents. The inspiration for the popular signature Lighthouse Point marinade of teriyaki, pineapple and ginger used for some of their shrimp, rib eye, chicken and burger dishes came from locals who stopped in to visit while they were busy getting the restaurant ready to open.

As they like to say, “We will cater to all of your needs.”

Clearly this began in earnest even before they opened the doors on October 3, 2011. If you happen to be a successful fisherman, they will happily cook any filleted and cleaned fish that you bring to the restaurant. Cooked anyway you like at $9.95, it includes side dishes, so you can literally have your fish and eat it too!

They are lucky to still have a staff on board that have been with them since they first opened their first restaurant in Plantation, over twenty years ago.  The workers are friendly, efficient and knowledgeable about a rather extensive menu.

Starting with a mound of boiled in pickling spices Peel  ‘n  Eat Shrimp ($5.95), accompanied by homemade cocktail sauce piqued with horseradish, the warm Soft Pretzel Sticks ($4.99) served with both spicy ground and honey mustard complemented nicely the raw oysters on the half shell from Galveston Bay ( ½ dz. for $7.99).

Followed by a cup of the Lobster Crab Bisque ($4.99), it was described as, “the best bisque you will ever have” by Jeff Coleman an ardent follower of Don and his restaurant. Both Jeff, from Sunrise and Hank Kutos from Coral Springs, make a point of traveling across town to eat at Lito’s because, well the “food is superb!” After a couple spoonfuls of crab laden chunks of tomato creamy bisque goodness, it was easy to agree.

Don makes a point of flying in fish three times a week and to ensure freshness he cuts his own fillets. Sourcing local fish as well, mahi-mahi, grouper, tuna and yellow tail snapper are regularly featured on the menu. Perhaps one of the few restaurants to offer Ipswich clams (2 dz. for $19.95), either steamed or fried, they are flown in every Wednesday night from Maine and offered until they run out, which is usually pretty quick. Sweet and briny, they are served the authentic way with real drawn butter. Joan’s recommendation is to get in early as this special typically, “lasts until it lasts.”

Crispy, medium spicy buffalo chicken wings, paired with a half rack of ribs ($15.99), were perfectly smothered in a rich, slightly sweet barbeque sauce. The meat literally fell off the bones.  Sauce for the wings, which can be ordered from mild to x-hot includes lemon pepper, barbeque honey, garlic, teriyaki, jerked, garlic parmesan or raspberry! Rib choices include dry rub, Sweet Carolina or spicy barbeque.  Look for 59-cent wings Monday thru Saturday from 3-6 pm, and all day Sundays until 5 pm.

Lito’s famous 10 oz. Bacon Cheddar burger ($8.99) was nicely thick with smoky strips of bacon served on your choice of Kaiser roll, Texas toast and more.  Served with curly fries, be adventurous and try the sweet potato fries, potato salad, or coleslaw. Avoiding the usually oversweet base of most coleslaws or potato salads you might find in other restaurants, Lito’s makes both with a nicely slightl vinegary base of mayonnaise and red wine vinegar that complements rather than smothers the natural taste of the ingredients. The use of red potatoes for the potato salad and celery seed in the coleslaw is a nice touch.

The star of the dishes has to be their most popular item, the Tsunami. At a reasonable $12.95, it is clear why diners return again and again craving for more. Nicely-plated on an asymmetrical shaped black platter, seaweed salad is surrounded by calamari that has been marinated in lime and ginger. Served with a plum sauce and a cucumber wasabi dipping sauce, the thin slices of black and white sesame- seed- seared tuna were artistically layered around the edges of the plate. Kudos to the chefs in the kitchen! This is a wonderfully delightful dish, presenting a complex blend of flavors, as well as being a visual and textural sensation.  The cucumber wasabi is a bit of culinary inspiration bringing the dish from excellent to hovering just a bit above sublime. This is a must try!

Running nightly specials, such as ‘Dolphin in the Weeds,’ featuring dolphin served over sautéed spinach in a garlic butter sauce, has become very popular. “We are a catering company,” says Joan. “We want to be sure that the Hoy family conveys a relaxed, casual atmosphere, one that each and every restaurant customer dining in their restaurant can experience.”

With a wide assortment of wines, imported, domestic and draft beers to choose from, a local Key West Sunset Ale; a standout is their extensive list of microbrews available produced both locally and imported nationwide. With a rotation of offerings, it includes Inlet Monk in the Trunk ($4.25) from Jupiter, described as “an organic, Belgian style amber,” sounded particularly interesting; a must try on the next visit. Happy hour runs Monday thru Thursday all day and night, Friday and Saturday from 3-6 pm and Sundays until 5 pm. Domestic beer is $2 and import beers $3.

Joan’s outstanding, not to be missed key lime pie, has a light delicate key lime flavor. Topped with real whipped cream, the walnut and brown sugar crust makes it an especially delightful mix of creamy and crunchy. A New York styled cheesecake with raspberry sauce was firm and light. The chocolate layer cake was definitely created with chocolate lovers in mind. Rich with layers of chocolate filling, a fudgy topping, whipped cream and mini chocolate pieces, it melted in the mouth. What a great way to end a meal!

The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Monday – Thursday is 11 am- 10 pm, Friday and Saturday 11 am until 11 pm. On Sunday, 11 am – 9 pm. Delivery, take-out and catering are also available.

Lito’s Turf & Surf is located at 2460 North Federal Highway, Lighthouse Point. Tel: (954-782-8111) Check our their site at www.litosurfandturf.com.

Article by Valerie Amor              Photos by Jon Frangipane

Noah Silkworth turned 5 on November 5

Al Rubino turns 4 on February 6

Story by Jon Frangipane           Photos by Jeff Graves

John Offerdahl

Fun, games, music, celebrity athletes and extraordinary cuisine samplings highlighted this great evening under threatening skies. But spirits were high and the festivities continued, undeterred.

The crowd was able to get up close and personal with some of the greatest Dolphins to ever take the field of football during this charity event. Proceeds from the Grill-Off go to Offerdahl’s Hand-Off Foundation that benefits 4Kids of South Florida that receives 60% of the proceeds, Here’s Help Culinary Program that receives 20% of the proceeds, and the Miami Dolphin Foundation that also receives 20% of the proceeds.

Some of the personal recipes shared and cooked to perfection were Shula’s “Undefeated” Bone-in-Filet, Crash J Flank Steak, Dan Marinos “Throw-a-Lot-a” Civolata, Mercury Morris’ “Perfectville” BBQ Ribs, Pat Surtain’s Grilled Veal Shoulder “Pad,” Troy Stradford’s Short Ribs, Louis Oliver’s Duck Confit, Don McNeal’s “Quail Mary,” Sam Madison’s Spicy Sea Scallops, Dick Anderson’s Pigskin Pork Belly Sliders, Dwight Stevenson’s HOF Grilled Dolphin, Bob Kutchenberg’s “Perfect Seasoned” Salmon, Keith Sim’s Seasoned Swordfish, AJ Duhe’s  Caino Prawns, Joe Rose’s “Big Dog” Veal Tenderloin, Mark Duper’s Skirt Steak and Nat Moore’s Little Lamb Chop.

John Offerdahl was in rare form as he introduced the celebrities, sharing the emcee duties with John “Foote” Kross, Paul Catronovo and David Gergely.

Lighthouse A’Glow Christmas Tree

Jane McLaughlin and John Trudel

Story By Judy Sullivan     Photos by Bill Sullivan

There is a striking contrast between the bustling Vietnam and the more tranquil Cambodia. It remains a land immune to the flow of time. It too, has 2 distinct seasons: rainy with high humidity, and the dry season when the temperatures can reach as high as 104 degrees.

Bill Sullivan with new friends

Cambodia, about the size of the state of Missouri, has changed its name a number of times. Most recently, during the reign of the Khmer Rouge, they insisted on the name Kampuchea. It is now known officially as the Kingdom of Cambodia, a constitutional monarchy with an elected king, chosen by the Royal Throne Council as head of state and a Prime Minister.  All life centers on the family, and the family includes anyone in the bloodline reaching even remote cousins, no matter how far removed.

Sometimes, the travel experience is enriched by the foods we find. There are exceptions, however. The majority of the population is country folk and they find nothing strange in eating insects, algae or fish bladders. They will brew up brains or BBQ a frog, or anything that will sustain a body. This is not strange given their legacy of periods of famine. One signature dish we did sample and enjoy was Amoc. This is fish with coconut, lemon grass and chilies baked in a banana leaf. Rice porridge is a national tradition and can be found for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

No meal is complete without rice. Baguettes and donuts were introduced by the French and are still sold in baskets on the street sometimes even in artistic and imaginative shapes. We even found some shaped like crocodiles. It is never a challenge to find a beer. Like its counterpart, Tiger Beer in Viet Nam, Angkor Beer, the national beer of Cambodia, was tasty, plentiful and could be purchased on draught for under a dollar. The dollar is welcome here, too. In fact, this is the only country in the world we have visited where the ATM machines will, if prompted, deliver US dollars.

Fisherman

The typical greeting in Cambodia is the pressing of the hands together (as in prayer), and a slight bow. The higher the hands and the deeper the bow, the more respect is conveyed. We received this greeting at every encounter at the hotel, from the bus drivers and even some merchants in the street. Their social customs and taboos are similar to the Vietnamese, such as removing shoes and hats and covering the shoulders at religious sites, never showing the bottom of the feet, and never leaving the chopsticks in a bowl upright. Reminiscent of incense sticks at the temples, it is a symbol of death. They too, are a predominately Buddhist country and it is estimated there are over 60,000 monks there. Frequently, becoming a monk is the best, if not the only way, to receive an education. The duration of service ranges from a few years to a lifetime. We saw some on the streets dressed in the traditional saffron robes who appeared to be as young as 5.

Cambodia does have a pollution problem. Like their Vietnamese neighbors, the majority of the country suffers the ill effects of virtually non-existent sanitary facilities, even in urban areas. The river is used for the disposal of waste, garbage and sewage, a situation that is extremely hazardous to health. Traveling on the  river, boats can be seen with an “outhouse” on the back.  This is nothing more than a primitive wood structure for the purpose of modesty. The waste enters the river through a hole in the deck.

We began the cruise to Phnom Penh on the Tonle Sap River, a tributary of the Mekong, fed by the Tonle Sap Lake. During the wet season, the current in this river reverses its flow and fills the lake with its flood waters, protecting the Delta area from flooding.

Phnom Penh, the vibrant capital city, blends golden–roofed temples with French colonial buildings. It features wide boulevards and the Tonle Sap riverside walk where there is exercise equipment seemingly used constantly. It is the perfect introduction to the culture of the country, and we began with a cyclo tour of the city. These cyclos were more in the tradition of the rickshaw, hence more comfortable. We hurtled through the city, dodging bus and motorbike traffic. Seeing the sights from the street level gives one the opportunity to see everything, from the side streets with barbers cutting hair on the sidewalk, to Lexus dealerships and elegant embassies and government buildings. We circled the huge Independence Monument celebrating Cambodia’s independence from France in 1953 in a traffic island south of the Palace Quarter.

Our first visit was the magnificent Imperial Palace, inspired by the architecture of the ancient Khmer but built by the French in the 19^th century.  The area around the palace is known as the Palace Quarter with a large square used in the evenings as a gathering place for all ages. We enjoyed watching the children chasing the flocks of pigeons. I Guess children are children everywhere!

Located behind a protective wall the Palace is a huge complex divided into 3 compounds: the Silver pagoda, the Khemarin Palace and the central throne hall, still used for royal ceremonies. It is all surrounded by beautifully-maintained gardens and courtyards. The Silver pagoda is named for its floor paved with over 5000 silver tiles, each weighing a kilogram.  It supposedly survived the Khmer Rouge in order for them to demonstrate to the outside world its concern for the conservation of Cambodia’s cultural riches. Inside, is a huge standing Buddha adorned with diamonds and a seated emerald Buddha. There is an equestrian statue of King Norodom outside. The Throne Hall has a 193-foot spire with 4 sculpted faces similar to those at Bayon at Angkor. Strikingly, there is also a French Pavilion given by Napoleon III as a gift to King Norodom, which bears no resemblance to the architecture of the surrounding buildings.  

The Khmer Rouge reached Phnom Penh in 1975, led by Pol Pot, calling himself Brother No.1.  Few anticipated the hell that followed.  Pol Pot  immediately evacuated all the cities and sent the entire population on forced marches to rural work projects. Proclaiming this the year zero, they attempted to rebuild the country’s agriculture on the model of the 11^th century. This began unfathomable nightmares of cruelty and suffering and ruthless destruction of cultural heritage. Anyone suspected of being from the educated middle class was systematically tortured and murdered. They discarded western medicine, and destroyed temples, libraries and schools. At least 2 million Cambodians out of a population of 8 million, I quarter of the total population, died from executions, overwork, starvation and disease giving rise to the term Killing Fields.

The afternoon tour of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum was chilling. It is estimated that over 14,000 people were detained, tortured and killed here. It is surrounded by 2 rows of corrugated iron fence covered with dense barbed wire. It is located in the former primary and high school taken over by Pol Pot’s security forces and turned into a prison designed for detention, interrogation and inhumane torture. As soon as “confessions” from detainees were received, they were killed. There are photographs of the prisoners, some as young as 5, with paintings and eyewitness accounts of the murderous insanity here. The upper-floor corridors are wrapped in a fishnet of barbed wire in order to keep the prisoners from committing suicide by throwing themselves over the rail. 14 bodies were recovered following the liberation. These were the last of the prisoners to be tortured and killed by S-21 forces before they fled. They were unidentifiable, due to decomposition but are buried in the courtyard. 

No less a grim experience, was the visit to Choeung Ek, the Killing Fields. This site is about 9 miles south of the prison and the location where the majority of the prisoners held at S-21 were executed and buried in mass graves. It is a stark reminder of the hideous cruelty of those times. Most were bludgeoned to death, or stripped naked and thrown into the crocodile pits to save precious bullets. The mass graves are said to contain remains of over 17,000 people. It is now a peaceful place with a glass-paneled memorial stupa, filled with approximately 8,000 skulls. In front of it are the craters of the excavated graves and a small museum. There are 43 of the known 129 graves unexcavated, but heavy rains will frequently bring teeth, bones and cloth fragments to the surface. 

Three years, 8 months and 21 days after his entrance into Phnom Penh, the regime’s belligerence toward Viet Nam prompted an invasion by them, causing the Khmer Rouge to flee.  Pol Pot escaped into the jungle, where he lived until 1998.  His death was reported numerous times, and the population refused to believe his death, until his body was seen in the newspaper or on TV.

On a lighter note, the National Museum is home to some of the most beautiful of Khmer sculpture and artifacts along with bronzes and pottery from the 4^th to the 8^th century. It is built of terra cotta with four courtyards facing a central garden located near the Royal Palace.  They claim that bats living in the roof come out at sunset, although we saw none. With an afternoon at leisure, we joined a group of fellow travelers at a local Irish pub, appropriately named Paddy Rice (He was a famous Irish boxer). Being from Scotland, they were interested in the current World Cup Rugby match being shown on TV there. 

Cruising the river the next morning brought us views of village life. Floating markets, fishing boats, tombs and temples overlooking the river passed by until we reached the Khmer river community of Chong Koh.  The island village is famous for its weaving, and the boat was met by children all anxious to wave hellos and practice their English. There were children getting their morning baths in the river and the cows tethered to the surrounding trees. Stepping off the boat brought hundreds of barefoot brown children all ready to sell you the weaving of their mothers and sisters. We had a walk through the village, but those who had “attached” themselves to us never left our sides! At the end of the tour, we purchased hand-woven scarves and tablecloths of Cambodian cotton (no silk is woven here) at very reasonable prices, and chatted with the children who had the most remarkable grasp of English! Our special friends were Vera, Lida and Lei, all who assured us they themselves had woven the scarves we purchased!

Kampong Cham is the heart of the Cambodian rubber industry.  Rubber plantations stretch all across the province. Many are no longer commercially used, but are tapped by locals for their uses. We stopped at a large one, Chup Rubber Plantation, where we saw the trees and their cups. Kampong Cham is also known as the “waiting port,” a gateway to eastern and northern provinces. A hub for both the road and the river, enhanced by the opening of the bridge, it is the first and largest to span the Mekong in Cambodia.

We visited the hilltop temple of Wat Hanchey. This visit required a long, steep climb to the top of the hill, where again met by the children who all wanted to “hold our hand.” At the top of the hill, we were afforded a stunning view of the river below. The temple itself was built in the 8^th century, but there is a large modern wat (places of worship, like churches) and is surrounded by small religious sites scattered along the hillside. There was a carnival atmosphere here, as it was still the celebration of P’chum Ben, a sort of All Souls day. During this 15-day festival, respects are paid to the dead through offerings at the wats. Gifts of food are brought to the tombs to honor the dead, as well as gifts of rice and paper money to the monks. We witnessed the parade of the monks who followed masked and costumed priests and received offerings of rice from those along the route.

The Twin Holy Mountains of Phnom Pros and Phnom Srei are still used in many traditional Khmer festivals. They are often referred to as Man Hill and Woman Hill. Legend has it that 2 teams, one male and the other female, worked in a competition at night to construct a stupa (burial tomb) on the hilltop before daybreak.  The women built a fire; the men mistook it for daylight and ceased their work. Since the women won, it became tradition that the woman no longer had to ask for the man’s hand in marriage, the previous tradition. There are gardens with sculptures showing the life of Buddha, a huge reclining golden Buddha and a beautiful “library” (this term is often used for those buildings for which no known actual use can be determined). The gardens are also frequented by roving bands of monkeys.

On our return to the ship, we stopped at Amica Village. Lifted right out of a picture book, we found water buffalo returning home, workers gathering and planting rice, small children playing in the dirt and homes built on stilts with hammocks and animals beneath.  Our guide enlisted the services of a small and very curious young boy to show us the way that the traditional scarves are used as a modesty drape for both men and women while relieving themselves without the benefit of indoor and private plumbing.  For his services he received a small token of money which he proudly ran to show to his mother! The Pandaw line has adopted this village and the children are beautifully behaved; shy and staring with their big brown eyes.  We had stopped outside of town at a small store to purchase candy and treats for the children and they were eagerly awaiting their chance to sing their song for the visitors (and get their rewards). They wanted to hear our song as well so we lapsed into a chorus of “If You’re happy and you know it, clap your hands”!

This marked the end of the cruise portion of the trip so after breakfast, we boarded a bus for the 3 hour trip through the Cambodian countryside to Siem Reap and the Angkor portion of the trip.

                                (Next month see Part 3 on Cambodia and return to Vietnam)

Article by Linda Kaufman     Photos by Jon Frangipane

After more than fifteen years, Hot Tomatoe, the Italian Bistro in Deerfield Beach known for its freshly prepared and consistently good Italian food, has changed ownership. Elsa Addario, the dark-haired, engaging Italian woman has sold the business to Tony Bianco, an Italian businessman from Montreal.

Although Elsa is still involved with greeting and serving her loyal customers whose favorite dishes she is all too familiar with, and with whom she is on a first name basis, Tony has introduced some important changes.

Knowing fully well that Hot Tomatoe’s longevity in the restaurant business is due to Elsa and her brother, Chef Vincenzo, Tony has kept them on, but has favorably tweaked the menu and wine list. The 50-seat dining area now has re-upholstered chairs in a deep, crimson red, with dim lighting, an open black ceiling, and golden Florentine walls, decorated with artworks of the local artists. You will hear pleasant background music of Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Chris Botti.

RACK OF LAMB

Having lived and traveled extensively from Europe to the Far East, Tony has cultivated a worldly knowledge and appreciation for fine food, aside from being a true Italian whose passion for food is inbred. As in many Italian families, he grew up with parents and grandparents who loved to cook and share their love through food and congregating as families around meals. His grandfather had his own farm in Italy and his parents used to make almost everything from scratch, including their tomato sauce and roasted peppers. In fact, his parents still jar their own tomatoes in Montreal.

With his collaboration with Chef Vincenzo, certain dishes that were offered only as specials have now become permanent menu items, such as the beautifully prepared wild salmon that is grilled and topped with roasted garlic and sundried tomato cream sauce. It’s always a treat to find wild salmon on a menu, especially for those who shy away from farm-raised salmon. Fortunately, the Osso Bucco ($33), the soft, fall-off-the-bone braised veal shank that melted in my mouth, was also added to the menu, permanently.

ANTIPASTO

The Italian Antipasto ($18) we started with was enormous and absolutely divine. Served on a large, white platter, it included homemade mozzarella cheese that makes it almost impossible to return to store-bought mozzarellas, marinated eggplant that I could devour a whole platter of, as well as the freshly marinated mushrooms, homemade roasted red peppers, prosciutto di Parma, salami, capicollo, and artichokes.

The Prince Edward Island mussels, another appetizer that we tried, was in a delicious, light red sauce and was large enough for a party of two or more to share.

Although I am not a huge fan of cream sauce, the Penne Enzo ($17) that is penne pasta tossed with large, succulent shrimps, onions, and peas in a light cream sauce, was surprisingly good.

Now that I had ventured out of my usual longing for the Linguine with White Clam Sauce (which is fabulous here), I have opened up my horizons having discovered new dishes to order at Hot Tomatoe! You cannot possibly go wrong with my own daughter’s standard favorite, the Veal Parmigiana ($19), the tender veal that is layered with mozzarella, parmesan cheese and tomato sauce, and sprinkled with fresh basil. All pasta, chicken and veal entrees include a house salad and homemade bread. A side of pasta accompanies the meat entrees.

Another Italian specialty that Tony added, the Rack of Lamb ($38), brushed with Dijon mustard and coated with garlic, rosemary, pepper and homemade breadcrumbs, was perfectly cooked and very flavorful.  All specialty entrees come with a choice of broccoli, broccoli rabe, escarole, spinach or small roasted potatoes.  And I can assure you that the vegetables are superb here! I’ve been coming here for almost fifteen years, and I do understand why this restaurant has stayed in business so long!

The bottle of Chianti Reserva ($55) that we were served was deep and full-bodied, yet extremely smooth. There is an excellent Italian wine selection at Hot Tomatoe you can take advantage of on the first Tuesday of each month when they host a wine tasting with a fixed menu for a reasonable price. The sold out December event, was co-sponsored by Opici wines, and included homemade pappardelle pomodoro and rack of lamb, and featured several different selections of fine wine. They will also be including organic wines to their list soon.

No matter how much food I consume, one can’t pass up their homemade desserts. This night, we were served the warm, pumpkin bread pudding I am still dreaming of. Moist and delicious without being too sweet, the bread pudding is one of my favorite desserts here. Using fresh, seasonal ingredients, Chef Vincenzo makes pumpkin bread pudding only in the fall and winter. As mentioned in my past article on Hot Tomatoe, the fresh homemade pasta that they make daily is worth the visit. For those who have never tried it, you will find it difficult to go back to dried, packaged pasta!

For those value-conscious diners, there is an early dinner menu of Homemade Pasta, Chicken Marsala and Parmigiana, to name a few for only $13.95 that includes soup or salad, coffee, tea and dessert. Tony will also be creating a bar menu consisting of select appetizers for only $6 each that will include popular items, such as fried calamari, meatballs, mussels, and personal pizza, as well as half-priced house wine from 5 to 7pm.

Hot Tomatoe is open seven days a week for dinner. They do catering and host parties, as well.  The address is 626 South Federal Highway, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441. For reservations, please call (954) 480-6464.  To visit their website, go to www.hottomatoe.com.

(THIS ARTICLE IS FOR PROMOTIONAL PURPOSE ONLY)