24 Hour Yippee-ki-yay Adventure Trip :: Daytona, Florida. part 6

Night
After the day we had, only someplace really special would do for refueling. Again, quite honestly, I wasn’t expecting anything in Daytona to knock my socks off, fine-dining wise. Wrong again. (Well, at least I admit it when I’m wrong…unlike should we say… Bruce.)

When we reached Martini’s Chophouse I knew we were in for something special, possibly ever Bucket List worthy. You enter this sophisticated setting through a magazine-cover stylized garden setting, complete with a 20 ft. lighted waterfall, atmospheric central fire pit, surrounded by artsy outdoor dining furniture and exotic greenery. The owners, Claudia and Clay Butters (an extremely attractive couple who look like they’d be more at home in South Beach) together with their chef, use only the freshest, juiciest, most mouth-wateringly ingredients for their creative New American cuisine. To insure absolute freshness, the menu changes daily so I’m not sure if my faves will still be on it, but if they are, you should start with the Florida Blue Crab Stack- an artistic high-rise of flavorful crab, avocado and salsa, followed by the Dijon Rubbed Rack of Lamb, served with a Berry and Sundried Cherry Wine Sauce, that in less talented hands would have been cloying but here, provided the perfect gilding. The wine list offers some unique choices by the glass, or you might want to try their $1.00 Martini Specials on Thursday Nights.

Nighty night: Don’t forget to set the alarm for your 5:00 AM wake-up!