Haiyan Help

As most of you know, the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan hit very close to home, as I am Filipino - American.  I had not been to the Philippines for about 33 years.  I went back with my sisters this September for a very short trip to bury my mom’s ashes.  Having just left the country, I have a closer connection to the country than I’ve had these 33 years.   It saddens us to see such tragedy and not be able to go there and help.  


We truly appreciate everyone’s concern.  There has been so many people stopping by and asking about my family and how they can help.  


So, we are doing what we can to help.  Next Tuesday, as we all start our Thanksgiving preparations, we will be hosting a Typhoon Haiyan benefit night. 20% of sales that night will go towards a donation to NAFCON  We will be serving our regular menu, and in addition, we will be doing some Philippine specials; sisig, siopao, tocino, & shrimp ukoy.  

So please join us on Tuesday in supporting the relief efforts.  Thank you for your support!

 
Upcoming Events


Nov 26 - Haiyan benefit night, all night, 20% of sales donated to NAFCON

Nov 28 - Closed for Thanksgiving (reopening Nov 29 for lunch & dinner)


Nov 30 - Shop Small - get $10 credit when you use your registered Amex card at participating restaurants and stores (including Hot & Soul and JJ Whimsy!) 

Dec 3 -  Lifestream Wellness Spa “Jingle Bell Rocks w/stocking & socks” benefit in Coral Center for Special Olympics FL $25/person, music, raffle baskets, beverages & tastings.  We also will be open for regular service as well

Dec 25 & 26 - closed for Christmas Day (reopening 27th for lunch & dinner)

Dec 31 - open for regular dinner service, no cover, no high price prix fixe menu...

Jan 1 - regular dinner service


Regular hours of service:
dinner: Tuesday - Saturday 4pm - 11pm

lunch: Thursday - Saturday 11am - 2pm

brunch: Sunday 11am - 3:30 pm

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

So, to give you all (y'all) a heads up, we will not be open for brunch, Sunday, September 22.  Spread the word.  No cats will be harmed in making cathead biscuits this Sunday, lol.  

Also, we will be taking a break October 6 - 14.  That means, we will be closed for a whole week, and then open the following Tuesday.  Please don't judge us or hate us!  But please help us be able to pay our bills before the break and come in to eat and drink before then!!!  

Have a great rest of your week!!!

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, it's Memorial Day weekend.  Which means, rather than taking time off, we are going to open more hours for you guys to enjoy our company, our atmosphere, our food and drinks!!!!  Hopefully it will just rain all weekend and you will have to come in!  Just kidding, really, but you can come by before or after you head off to the beach!

So we will be open regular hours tonight, Friday night, and Saturday night.  And we will open at 11 for brunch on Sunday, as usual.  But we will also be open Sunday and Monday night.  There will be shows at the Culture Room Sunday and Monday nights, so get here early.  We will have orange cones reserving a few parking spots for Hot & Soul.  You can use those spots, or you can always park across the street at the metered spots by Mattress Land.  If you need change for the parking meters, please come in and ask us, and we will gladly pay for your parking!

So, as a trial run, we will be open tomorrow for lunch 11:30 - 2.
Here's our lunch offerings:

Home Salad
Steak & Arugula Salad
Soba Noodle Salad
Beet and Manchego Salad
Veggie Sandwich w/Manchego and Romesco Sauce
Vegan Yum Bowl
Chicken Adobo
Pulled Pork, Fries and Slaw Sandwich


Memorial Day Weekend 2013 Schedule:

Friday 11:30 - 2 (lunch), 4 - 11(or til)
Saturday 4 - 11(or til)
Sunday 11 - 3:30 (brunch), 3:30 - 11(or til)
Monday 5 - til

So, I got this crazy idea to do mainly vegetarian specials all next week.  Why, you ask?  Because we like vegetarian food too, and it's kind of more of a challenge to come up with vegetarian specials than meat and seafood ones.  I mean, you can make a special with anything, and then put shrimp in it, and people will buy it when they hear the word shrimp.  

We love vegetables, grains, and seeds and nuts.  Yes, I did say it.  We love nuts.  lol.  So, our challenge for next week is to make vegetarian specials and actually get you guys out there to come in and try these specials!  They will be exciting and delicious, and some of them might even be healthy too!!!  (some of them might be healthy)

stay tuned for updates!

So, it's only been a month!  I feel like the days have gone by fast... and the nights, slow.  Although, we've appreciated every single guest who has walked through that door!  Those nights when there has been some life in the restaurant have given us the forward momentum we've needed.  We spent so much of our pre-opening time with getting the physical space up and running, but none of it on how we were going to get guests into that space!

So, for me, every day at Hot & Soul is Mother's Day.  My mom, Luzviminda, was part of the inspiration and driving force for opening Hot & Soul.  Not to get too heavy on you, but my mom passed away three years ago, May 20th.  I miss her, but I celebrate her life and try to honor her by creating a homey restaurant with soulful food.  My mom was always welcoming everyone into her home, and offering plate after plate of delicious home cooked food.  And in some way, I try to emulate that.

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!