The view from lunch

Saluté is one of our favorite spots -- a fine sea breeze and great views ringside at the volleyball pitch on Higgs Beach (if you can ignore the crazy Frisbee man), with dozens of bikers, runners and walkers streaming down the asphalt path by the front gate.

The food's been indifferent in the last year, and so was the former owner's attitude toward his lease payments (the county owns the land). So it was a great relief when Richard, who owns Blue Heaven over in the Village, got the county's blessing to take the place over a month or so ago.

They were still on the old menu the last time we dropped by, but today there was the new lineup. Gone was my beloved sausage sandwich; but the Tuscan white bean soup was still there, along with the orzo as a side dish (now warm, and better than ever). And now: burgers, shrimp salad, a roast chicken sandwich. . . .

Richard was buzzing around the place, bussing the occasional table before he dashed off to play the host in Nutcracker Key West out at the college.

When I lamented the loss of the sausage, he assured me I sould try meatballs the next time: better marinara and homemade meatballs (the previous owner served store-bought -- who knew?).

It's an offer I can't refuse.