So, as most of you know, I am an American born Filipina.  I just visited the Philippines for a very short trip this last September.  That was my first time back since I was 6 years old.  When I was there, there was all kinds of weather swarming around.  While it caused some flooding, it was really a minor inconvenience compared to the devastation that we are slowly hearing about from Haiyan.

We aren't rich, and we just opened seven months ago, so you know we aren't making a profit yet.  But, we want to do our part to help however we can.  So on Tuesday, November 26, we will be offering Philippine specials, and we will be donating 20% of sales to relief efforts.  Also, when you buy any T shirt for the rest of the month, we will donate half of the sale to relief efforts as well.

If you are interested in donating directly, here's some links:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/impact/

We are so fortunate to have such great guests and we appreciate your help!!!

xoxo  Christy

I hope we won't disappoint too many of our guests out there, but we are going to take a break on Fourth of July and celebrate independence day with all of you.  

Also it is Mike & my 21st anniversary since we first started dating all those years ago!  We met in college at FSU.  We both used to go to this club called Late Night Library - their motto was, "if your mom calls, tell her you're at the library".  Which is funny because no one had cell phones back then.  (Man, I feel old!)  

Anyhoo, getting back to the fascinating story of us.  One night, Mike came up to me at Late Night Library and told me how we were in Psychology class together, but he had to drop that class because he got mono.  So, we had a nice conversation, but that was it.  He didn't ask for my number or anything.  My friends and I used to attract weird people who just wanted to talk to us because we looked like freaks, so that's what I thought it was.  I was disappointed, because he was cute, but, whatever.  

So, later on, I saw him at the student union, and he didn't remember my name.  Oh well, definitely not interested... 

Then we had a summer geology class together.  My friend and I sat next to him because he was the only person we knew in the class.  Honestly, he didn't seem thrilled about it.  This row of like 6 freshmen girls sat directly behind him.  I could tell they had a thing for him because they were always asking him questions.  Asking questions in Geology- Rocks for Jocks.  Right.  

Anyway, my friend and I had trouble paying attention, because it was boring.  We seemed to embarrass Mike, as he was so attentive in class and didn't really talk to us.  But we kept sitting next to him anyway.

Then, the Thursday before Fourth of July, which was July 2nd, we both went to Late Night Library.  My bff and I were leaving the next day to go home, as my sister was getting married on the Fourth of July.  So, Mike was actually talkative again.  He asked me what my favorite band was.  Without hesitation, I said, The Cure.  Then he started telling me how he was the Cure's biggest fan and he had seen all their Florida shows and whatnot.  So, we talked all night.  And then when he was leaving with his friends, he leaned in to kiss me, and apparently I attacked him and stuck my tongue down his throat.  Romantic, eh?  I wonder though, if I hadn't mauled him, maybe we wouldn't have gotten together?

So please join us at Hot & Soul on the days that we will be open - Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday in celebrating independence day by coming to our independent restaurant!


- Christy

So, I've heard many guests say that we are hard to find.  To me, I think the place is pretty obvious, but I've been coming here for a while!  So, I'm going to try to clear up some confusion, hopefully.  

We are located on the Southwest corner of Oakland Park Blvd and N Federal Hwy.  We are in the "Coral Center" in the far back corner spot.  There is the Culture Room to one side of us, and Fernandas International Market on the other side of the center..   

- This means, if you are coming from Oakland Park from the west, we will be on the right side, right at the stoplight.  You will pass the marquis and make a quick right into the parking lot.
- If you are coming from Oakland Park from the east, we will be on the left.  You can get in the left turn lane - but get in the middle turn lane, not the far left one.  Then right after you turn left, you can make a right turn before or after the Coral Center marquis on which we are listed.
-  If you are coming from the north on Federal Hwy, cross Oakland Park Blvd and then make that right into the shopping center before or after the marquis.
- If you are traveling on Federal Hwy coming from the south, you will have to get in the left turn lane at the intersection of Federal Hwy and Oakland Park Blvd.  Then you will make a U turn and make one of the right turns into the shopping center before or after the marquis.
 
I'm used to finding new places using a maps app on one of our iphones.  We often miss a place and have to drive up and down a street and circle around shopping centers.  It is sometimes frustrating, but sometimes it is worth the little inconvenience to find a new little gem.  I hope that this is the way you will think of it, if you get lost trying to find our little nook in the back of the center.  Think of it as an adventure, a treasure hunt, or you being one of the first pioneers to discover a welcoming oasis!  

Oh, and also, let me give you a hint about the Culture Room shows.  They have shows on different nights of the week.  There is no set schedule.  Sometimes, the shows will mean that our parking lot will be full around the time that the doors open.  Sometimes not.  We always try to do our best to put out orange cones in spaces specifically labelled for Hot & Soul.  So, you can pull up to the space and move the cone forward and park in the space.  If, unfortunately, there are no cone spaces for Hot & Soul, you can park across the street in the Mattress Land parking lot.  There are many metered spaces over there.  If you need change, you can come in and ask us for change for the meter, and we will gladly give it to you.  Other than that, there are other parking lots of other businesses nearby, like the mall, but I cannot guarantee that your car will not be towed.  I hope that frustration over trying to find us or looking for parking doesn't discourage you from visiting our spot.  Fast food and chain restaurants are usually easy to find, and way more convenient, and you sometimes don't have to get out of your car to order, but I would like to think that our restaurant is more satifying for your tastebuds and your soul!

So, tomorrow night is Dining Out For Life.  It's a national event in which restaurants agree to donate a certain percentage of their sales to a local AIDS service organization.  Hot & Soul is joining the cause.  We will be open and taking reservations from 4pm - 11pm.  We will be offering our regular menu, as well as a few specials for the night.  If you would like more information, you can click on the link above, as well as visit our facebook page.  Thanks for your support, and we hope to see you tomorrow night!

So, these are in no specific order.  They are just the photos I can find of the restaurant before our renovation.  That seems ages ago - but it was only a few months ago.  We've come a long way to personalize what was once Danny's, and to make it Hot & Soul.  Of course, it's always a work in progress - as all great projects are!

So... it's been a long time coming to update this blog.  My sis took a bunch of photos the last time she was down for the soft opening.  I had wanted to post before and after photos... but I'm going to do it backwards.  So here's the after pics.  

So, I have been trying to post blogs, and by the time I get back to finishing a post, it's not relevant anymore.  So, this is not the ideal virgin voyage for this blog as I always pictured it as being more meaningful, dewey-eyed and roman... but let's just pop this cherry and get it over with already!

On the left, you have a country style pate that Mike made with pork and chicken and applewood smoked bacon.  

We can't really use our kitchen in the restaurant yet, so we still have to cook at home.  So, we've been eating pate for dinner a few nights in a row.  Such a light healthy snack after a vigorous 5 mile run, you know? 

Sorry, I think I'm getting into the wrong blog persona...  

The mustard colored smear on the side of the plate is..... mustard!  The FP (lol, I mean... Mike) made the mustard with Brooklyn lager beer and honey.  It was really effing good!  I hope he can recreate that again in a couple months!

Whelp, let's end this first blog post so we can begin a new one tomorrow!  Goodnight all!  Sweet and savory dreams!