Boca Raton magazine Feb. 2014 by JES Media

Festival oF the arts Your Backstage Pass

Heat of tHe MoMent Q& A: LeBron JAmes

Food For thought LocaL Dining Buzz

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the [only] boca raton magazine

sheer delight The Seasonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sexiest Styles

News of the

Weird straNge-But-true florida Crimes

M I Z N E R PA R K • B O C A R ATO N , F L 561 361 2311

www.thehourlounge.com www.vacheron - constantin.com

17th of September 1755. In the offices of the solicitor Mr. Choisy, a young Master Watchmaker from Geneva named Jean-Marc Vacheron is about to hire his first apprentice. This agreement is the first known reference to the founding watchmaker of a prestigious dynasty and it represents the establishment of Vacheron Constantin, the oldest watchmaking manufacturer in the world in continuous operation. Ever since this agreement, and true to the history that built its reputation, Vacheron Constantin has been committed to passing on its knowledge to each of its Master Watchmakers in order to guarantee the excellence and durability of its craftsmanship and of its timepieces.

Patrimony Contemporaine Hallmark of Geneva, Pink gold case, Hand-wound mechanical movement RĂŠf. 81180/000R-9159

Authorized Dealer: A. Lange & Söhne • Bulgari • De Bethune • FP Journe • Girard Perregaux • Harry Winston • Hublot • IWC Jaeger LeCoultre • Panerai • Parmigiani • Roger Dubuis • Vacheron Constantin • Van Cleef & Arpels Mizner Park, Boca Raton, FL • 561.361.2311 • lesbijoux.com

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Mediterranean Sea. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Gammaâ&#x20AC;? men in training. The diver emerging from the water is wearing a Panerai compass on his wrist.

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PANERAI BOUTIQUE BOCA RATON - 318 Plaza Real Tel. 561-361-6526 - bocaraton@panerai.com Exclusively at Panerai boutiques and select authorized watch specialists.

Look What’s Landing In Boca Meet the new jewel of the Boca waterfront, the Waterstone Resort & Marina, a stunning, new boutique hotel with a chic, modern décor, luxurious appointments and a vibe and energy all its own. With it, come two new restaurants - Waterstone Bar & Grill and Boca Landing, Boca’s only upscale, on-the-water dining experience. So why not come ashore and experience it all for yourself?

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Big Bang Shiny. A ladies’ chronograph watch in fully polished 18K red gold with a bezel adorned with 114 diamonds totaling 1.2 carats. Mirror-finish black dial set with 8 diamonds. Strap made of shiny black leather sewn onto rubber. www.hublot.com •

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IWC PIlot. EngInEErEd for avIators.

Spitfire Perpetual Calendar Digital Date-Month. Ref. 3791: In the days when the Spit-

thanks to the perpetual calendar will last for centuries to come.

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fire conquered the skies, there was no shortage of heroes. And where there were heroes, there were bad guys, too. Anyone up there without a wingman could only rely on his instincts â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and his IWC. Today, the IWC Spitfire Perpetual Calendar Digital DateMonth comes with up to 68 hours power reserve and a glass secured against drops in air pressure, all designed to give pilots a feeling of security. Which

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REINVENT YOURSELF

RENDEZ-VOUS TOURBILLON Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 978 Every woman has a Rendez-Vous, with herself. The Rendez-Vous Tourbillon timepiece is entirely crafted and gemset at the Manufacture in the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland. This timepiece celebrates an alliance between Haute Joaillerie and high-precision watchmaking. Its movement equipped with a tourbillon keeps pace with the constant changes in a woman’s life, as she perpetually reinvents herself. Rendez-Vous is more than a watch, it is a state of mind.

YOU DESERVE A REA L WATCH

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Chronomètre à Résonance - Ref. RT Synchronized twin mechanisms 18K solid Gold movement Platinum or red Gold case

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Can a hair dryer be worth $700? Yes it can… if it is an Icon Prive, the “Rolls Royce” of hair dryers. That’s because this unique hair dryer has a superior fan and heating mechanism. It dries hair faster with less heat, resulting in gentler haircare and less time required to get beautiﬁed.

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women’s magazines, videos and a built-in photobooth.

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L E T R EI D TRAVE L RESERV E T HE WORLD FOR YOU

announcing seabourn’s extended explorations New linked itineraries to explore more extensive regions in depth, at greater savings

Enjoy longer voyages on the World’s Best Small-Ship Cruise Line

Experts in the Art of Luxury Cruising and World Travel for over 40 years The Reid Travel Advantage Seasoned, knowledgeable well-traveled professionals to plan and manage your journey every step of the way

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Enhance your experience with added values on select destinations in 2014, such as: 46-day African Holiday • Nov 19 116-day Africa & Southeast Asia • Nov 19 41-day Africa & Indian Ocean • Dec 21 Exceptional savings Mediterranean & Northern Europe April to October 2014 12 to 33-day journeys Discover the Seabourn difference Intimate ships • award winning gracious service • gourmet dining with all venues complimentary Shipboard amenities included Ships’ Registry: Bahamas

We perfect each part of this watch by hand. Even the ones that you can’t see.

Although you will probably never actually see most of the

these lavishly finished parts are concealed. Fortunately, the

levers, wheels, and springs in the Richard Lange calibre,

sapphire-crystal back reveals the fascinating interaction of

Lange’s master watchmakers meticulously perfect them

quite a few of them. Treat yourself to a close-up look. For in-

by hand. Aficionados will appreciate the fact that not all of

stance at Les Bijoux in Boca Raton. www.lange-soehne.com

Mizner Park · 306 North Plaza Real · Boca Raton, FL 33432 · Tel. (561) 361-2311 · www.lesbijoux.com

Aura a new dawn of color

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The simple solution to your divorce. Jeffrey D. Fisher, Esq. Odette M. Bendeck, Esq.

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The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience.

EARRINGS IN 18K WHITE GOLD WITH BLACK RHODIUM FINISH, EMERALDS AND BLUE SAPPHIRES FRAMED WITH DIAMONDS

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a portion of the proceeds will go to crohn’s & colitis Foundation.

jewels in time ShoppeS at the Sanctuary

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Specializing in fine new & pre-owned timepieces Diamonds ▼ Fashion & estate Jewelry ▼ Buy - Sell - trade not an authorized agent, representative or affiliate of any watch appearing in this advertisement. all watch names, dials & designs appearing in this advertisement are registered trademarks in the u.S.a.

2013 Holiday Party Benefited the crohn’s & colitis foundation of america

Peter Dosik, Stephanie & Bernard Molyneux

Alex & Irene Mendyuk, Peter Dosik

Peter Dosik, Dr. Morty & Joyce Kobak

David & Homeira Hoffman

Boca Raton Police Chief D. Alexander, Peter Dosik

Judy & Rich Klitzberg, Peter Dosik, The Rothsteins

Guests, The Eisners, Nicholas Falcone, Jaclyn Pagnotta, Peter Dosik

Lori Bennett, Marcy Falcone

Peter Dosik, Susan & Howard Goldsmith

Dr. Murray & Sandy Pozner, Peter Dosik, The Lillys

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Mark & Hai Young Launer, Peter Dosik

Peter Dosik, Julia Mushlin, Arthur Dosik

Peter Dosik, Dr. Michael & Christine Ligotti

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ShoppeS at the Sanctuary 4400 n. Federal highway, Boca raton, FL 33431 (1/4 mile south of yamato road on the east side) (561) 368-1454 ▼ (888) 755-tIMe ▼ www.JewelsIntime.com

February 2014, Vol. 34, Issue 1

The Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane Dance Company performs March 7 at Festival of the Arts.

104

112

118

131

Is the Sunshine State the capital of strangebut-true crimes? We found enough surreal episodes in the past five years alone to justify that claim. by emily j. minor

Romance is in the air this month, reason enough to put some sizzle into your lingerie selections.

The history of the Kennedy family in Palm Beach is rich with power, privilege, sex and scandal.

Pack your clubs and plan a weekend getaway around a few of the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most talked-about golf destinations.

The 2014 edition of Bocaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual cultural extravaganza promises familiar faces and exciting new performances.

freaky florida

follow the leader

some like it hot

photography by ernesto sempoll

an island unto themselves

by john thomason

right on Course

by kevin kaminski

festival of the arts

[ bocamag.com ]

LoIS GReenfIeLd

features

February 2014 vol. 34 no. 1

departments

42 Mail

Readers comment on articles in recent issues of Boca Raton.

44 Editor’s lEttEr

94 tHE Boca intErviEw

When it comes to strange-buttrue crimes and misdemeanors, no state consistently makes headlines like Florida.

The biggest name in professional basketball—Miami Heat superstar LeBron James—opens up on everything from dealing with his celebrity to the one hot button that lights a fire under him.

by kevin kaminski

47 HoMEtown

by ira winderman

Celebrate the people, places and events that give our community its identity— including a wildlife ER, a woman whose business is blossoming, the restaurant that sells edible gold, and a real-estate star who survived life in war-torn Sarajevo.

by kevin kaminski, marie speed and bridget sweet

57 sHop talk

Find out why flower power is all the fashion rage, make scents out of the most interesting celebrity fragrances on the market, and hit the course in style with help from a staffer for the Allianz Championship.

by stefanie cainto

FEEl Good

We have you covered on the court— with a guide to the Delray Beach Open and tennis-related exercise tips from a local coach—and in the bedroom with help from a local sex therapist.

by lisette hilton

94 71HoME BasE

123 BackstaGE pass

Our A&E insider prepares you for this year’s Festival of the Arts by looking back on the event’s history with its founders. Also, Take 5 with one of South Florida’s most celebrated actresses.

Turn to stone and discover the many ways that rock-solid design can elevate the look of any South Florida bathroom.

by john thomason

by lisette hilton

Don’t leave home without it—our comprehensive guide to the best restaurants in South Florida, including a new review of Butcher Block Grill in Boca.

81Florida taBlE

In honor of Mardi Gras, our food editor dishes on a New Orleans staple— gumbo—with help from a local chef. Also, just in time for Valentine’s Day, we deconstruct a chocolate torte—plus, we raise a glass to a renowned hotel restaurant that takes its specialty drinks as seriously as it takes its cuisine. by bill citara

FacE tiME

Meet a celebrated horse trainer making her return to South Florida, a rare-coin dealer who isn’t afraid to voice his opinion, and a former “Late Show” employee-turned-entrepreneur. by marie speed and john thomason

153 dininG GuidE

183 out and aBout

You might just see some familiar faces in our snapshots from talked-about social events in and around Boca Raton.

by stefanie cainto

191spEEd BuMps

Here’s to the heroes who find a way to make love work over the long haul.

by marie speed

192 My turn

Find out how the cookie crumbles during Valentine’s month in and around Boca.

by john shuff

On the cOver

pHotoGrapHEr: Ernesto Sempoll FasHion: Hanro top, from Drawer Full

81 32

[ bocamag.com ]

of Lingerie, Boca Raton; Versace pencil skirt, from Saks Fifth Avenue, Town Center at Boca Raton; earrings, from Lord & Taylor, Mizner Park, Boca Raton stylist: David Arthur Fittin, Artist Management/Miami ModEl: Gintare Sudziute, Wilhelmina Miami Hair/MakEup: Mark Williamson, Wilhelmina Miami

57 november 2014

Boca Raton, town centeR Mall, 5800 Glades Rd. call 561.393.9100, VIsIt saKs.coM/BocaRaton, download tHe saKs aPP oR FInd Us on FaceBooK, twItteR and saKsPoV.coM. * UP to 3 MsGs/weeK. text STOP to cancel, HELP FoR InFo. MsG&data Rates May aPPly. VIsIt saKs.coM/PolIcIes FoR MoRe InFo.

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BOCA RATON

FOR FASHION ON YOUR PHONE: TEXT BOCA To 75283 (S5AVE) for inSidEr AccESS, EVEnT prEViEwS And MorE*

bocamag.com WEB ExTRaS

Check out these bonus items unique to bocamag.com, related to stories in the February issue of Boca Raton or pertaining to events in our area. SPORTS CENTER: Follow Boca Raton for updates and interviews connected to the area’s sporting events of the year—the Allianz Championship at the Old Course at Broken Sound and the Delray Beach Open tennis tournament. Also, we have LeBron James video to go with our story on page 94.

THE SCENT OF HOLLYWOOD: If you think the celebrity fragrances on page 60 are off the charts, check out the bottles that we didn’t have room for in our ShopTalk section. TRICKS OF THE TORTE: Anthony Pizzo, executive chef of Cut 432 and Park Tavern in Delray Beach, shares his mind-numbingly delicious Chocolate Volcano Torte recipe (see page 84)—only at bocamag.com.

YOU OUGHT TO BE IN PICTURES: We have the latest snapshots from events in and around Boca. Just click on the “Photos” link. CHECK US OUT: Bocamag.com has never been easier to navigate—we’ve updated and organized our website with new links and tabs that reflect the most popular areas of our award-winning online presence.

SEE IT NOW Boca Raton’s awardwinning video team covers the hottest South Florida events, catches up with celebrities that make local appearances and gives you behind-the-scenes glimpses into stories that appear in our magazine. Click on our “Videos” link for all the action.

The Naked TruTh

Find out if love is in the air Feb. 14 when our resident dating expert, angela Lutin, weighs in with her Valentine’s Day blog. Angela doles out advice each Thursday with her weekly installment of “The Naked Truth.”

FIND US ON FaCEBOOK

Keep up with the latest happenings around town, find out what’s trending locally, check out photos from events and store openings— and enter to win prizes throughout the year—by keeping tabs on our Facebook page (facebook.com/bocamag).

[ bocamag.com ]

february 2014

oys ter perpe tual yacht-ma s ter ii

Town Center at Boca Raton 561.368.6022

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oyster perpetual and yacht-master are trademarks.

bocamag.com ThE GREEN GOddEss featuring Alina Z.

I’m trying to watch my calories, but I also have a major sweet tooth. Do you have any suggestions that will satisfy my cravings without adding to my waistline? —Mad About Chocolate

Raw Vegan ChoColate Mousse

Dear Mad: Instead of digging into that box of chocolates this Valentine’s Day, how about trying some healthy sweet treats that won’t have you counting calories. Below, you’ll find two of my favorite recipes.

guilt-FRee Cookie Dough

2 ripe avocados 1/2 cup maple syrup 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 cup vanilla almond milk or coconut water 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon vanilla extract Raspberries Coconut shavings PrePArAtion: Blend first 6 ingredients in Vitamix (or other high-powered blender). Garnish with fresh raspberries and coconut shavings.

1 1/2 cups gluten-free oats 1 cup organic puffed rice cereal 5 cups raw cashews 3 tablespoons agave 4 medjool dates 1 tablespoon coconut oil 2/3 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup raw cacao nibs PrePArAtion: Place oats, cashews and puffed rice in high-speed blender and grind to make flour. Transfer flour into food processor and process well with agave, dates, coconut oil, vanilla and salt. When well combined, transfer to bowl and mix with cacao nibs by hand. Make into cookie dough shape. Enjoy!

ABOuT ThE GREEN GOddEss

alina Z., aka “the green goddess,” is a certified holistic health coach, detox specialist and raw-food chef (she conducts occasional classes at whole foods in boca). Visit alina’s website at alinaz.com, or follow her on facebook (facebook.com/couturefood) or twitter (@couturefood). the green goddess blog runs every other wednesday at bocamag.com.

BLOG CENTRAL

Stay connected to the community with our team of bloggerS: A&E: John Thomason takes readers inside the arts with concert, exhibition and movie reviews, cultural news and special profiles every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Dining: Bill Citara breaks down the tri-county restaurant

[ bocamag.com ]

scene—from new reviews and dining news to chef stories and kitchen gossip—every Monday, Tuesday and Friday.

through Thursday with Stefanie Cainto—and special fashion news from New York with Jo Peswani.

Shopping: Discover

Community: Health editor

upcoming trunk shows, store openings, money-saving tips and fashion trends Tuesday

Lisette Hilton delivers local news from the worlds of exercise and medicine, and our in-house

team keeps you on top of events and happenings in and around Boca throughout the week.

trAvEl: Visit bocamag.com for local resort news, special deals, international escapes, weekend getaways and other travel updates.

february 2014

BLACK AND WHITE AND

so chic

Find the latest trendsetting style at Mizner Park or at lordandtaylor.com

20%F OF

the [only] boca raton magazine

ents

w cli

to ne

group editor-in-chief

marie speed

editor

kevin kaminski

assistant editor

john thomason

web editor

stefanie cainto senior art director

lori pierino

assistant art director

nancy kumpulainen

photographer

aaron bristol

production manager

adrienne mayer

certified organic color and botanical hair care mintbeautyboca.com • 561.405.6994 • info@mintbeautyboca.com 261 E. Palmetto Park Rd. • Boca Raton, FL 33442

contributing writers

lisette hilton, emily j. minor, john shuff, bridget sweet, ira winderman

contributing illustrator/photographers

matt mignanelli, cristina morgado ernesto sempoll, scot zimmerman video production

david shuff, jen stone mintbeautyboca_brm1213.indd 1

12/5/13 10:36 AM

CASH! CASH! CASH! We Buy Designer Handbags, Shoes, Accessories & More We Paid $3,100

We Paid $375

food editor

bill citara

home editor

brad mee

sales director

mark gold

national account manager

tim schwab

senior integrated sales manager

georgette evans

director of special publications

bruce klein jr.

special projects manager

gail eagle

account manager

matthew krane

events coordinator

We Paid $250

sarah frank

We Paid $5,500

JES publishing

5455 N. Federal Highway, Suite M Boca Raton, FL 33487 561/997-8683 (phone), 561/997-8909 (fax) www.bocamag.com magazine@bocamag.com (general queries) kevin@bocamag.com (editorial)

ONLYBONAFIDE, LLC

WE COME TO YOU! onlybonafide_brm0214.indd 1 38 [ bocamag.com

]

Boca Raton magazine is published seven times a year by JES Publishing. The contents of Boca Raton magazine are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher. Boca Raton magazine accepts no responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts and/or photographs and assumes no liability for products or services advertised herein. Boca Raton magazine reserves the right to edit, rewrite or refuse material and is not responsible for products. Please refer to corporate masthead.

1.800.970.1111 12/12/13 11:20 AM

february 2014

JES publishing

president/publisher group editor-in-chief controller circulation director subscription services

margaret mary shuff marie speed jeanne greenberg david brooks david shuff

JES Publishing produces the following magazines: Boca Raton • Delray Beach • Mizner’s Dream • Worth Avenue • Boca Raton Chamber Annual • Salt Lake • Utah Bride and Groom • Utah Style & Design • The Canyons • Salt Lake Visitors’ Guide

Florida Magazine association 2013 charlie awards charlie award (first place) best overall online presence (Boca Raton) best department (Boca Raton)

silver award best overall magazine (Boca Raton) best column (Boca Raton)

bronze award best online video (Boca Raton)

2012 charlie awards charlie award (first place) best overall magazine (Boca Raton) best feature (Delray Beach) best photographic essay (Boca Raton)

silver award best overall online presence (Boca Raton) best use of photography (Boca Raton)

bronze award best in-depth reporting (Boca Raton)

2011 charlie awards charlie award (first place) best new magazine (Delray Beach) best custom publication (Worth Avenue)

bronze award best overall magazine (Boca Raton)

2010 charlie awards charlie award (first place) best overall magazine (Boca Raton) best overall design (Boca Raton)

2009 charlie awards charlie award (first place) best overall magazine (Boca Raton) best overall design (Boca Raton) best feature (Boca Raton)

2008 charlie awards charlie award (first place) best overall magazine (Boca Raton) best feature (Boca Raton) best single, original B&W photo (Boca Raton)

Food For Your Skin & You Fourth Annual Luncheon Presented by Seagate Spa and Elemis Skincare Experts

Saturday, March 8 | 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Coral Ballroom at The Seagate Hotel & Spa 1000 E. Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach Join us for a nutritious, prix fixe luncheon with mimosas and wine*, as Elemis experts demonstrate their newest anti-aging and resurfacing products specifically designed to feed and nourish your skin.

Space is limited! Call 561.665.4950 to ensure availability. A non-refundable $25 reservation deposit will be applied to your product purchase. Complimentary valet parking. *Must be 21 years or older to consume alcohol. State of Florida, Department of Health, Massage Establishment. License # MM 23691

follow the leader

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[ bocamag.com ]

services

The store you will just fall in love with...

[ directory ] Boca Raton magazine is published seven times a year, with February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/ October, November and December/January issues. If you have any questions or comments regarding our magazine, call us at 561/997-8683. We’d love to hear from you.

[ subscription, copy purchasing and distribution ] For any changes or questions regarding your subscription or to purchase back issues, call subscription services at 855/276-4395. To inquire about distribution points, ask for circulation director David Brooks at 877/553-5363.

Sizes Newborn to 14 Girls and Boys Over 87 Designer Brands

[ advertising resources ]

Accessories, Shoes, Books and Toys

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New to our store:

• Registry • Gift Baskets and Layette

Special Events

• Story Time, Art Classes, Yoga

Take advantage of Boca Raton’s prime advertising space— put your ad dollars to work in the premier publication of South Florida. For more information, contact sales director Mark Gold (mark@bocamag.com), national account manager Tim Schwab (tim@bocamag.com), senior integrated sales manager Georgette Evans (georgette@ bocamag.com), director of special publications Bruce Klein (brucek@bocamag.com), special projects manager Gail Eagle (gail@bocamag.com) or account manager Matthew Krane (matt@bocamag.com).

[ custom publishing ] Create a magazine tailored to fit the needs and character of your business/organization. Ideal for promotions, special events, introduction of new services, etc. Contact Marie Speed (editor@bocamag.com).

[ story queries ] sugarplumfairy_brm0214.indd 1

12/3/13 3:20 PM

Boca Raton magazine values the concerns and interests of our readers. Story queries for our print version should be submitted by e-mail to Kevin Kaminski (kevin@bocamag. com). We try to respond to all queries, but due to the large volume that we receive, this may not be possible.

[ web queries ] Submit information regarding our website and online calendar to Kevin Kaminski (kevin@bocamag.com).

[ letters ] Your thoughts and comments are important to us. All letters to the editor may be edited for style, grammar and length. Send letters to the address listed below, or to Kevin Kaminski (kevin@bocamag.com). Letter to the Editor, Boca Raton magazine 5455 N. Federal Highway, Suite M Boca Raton, FL 33487

[ arts & entertainment ] Where to go, what to do and see throughout South Florida. Please submit information regarding fund-raisers, art openings, plays, readings, concerts, dance or other performances to A&E editor John Thomason (john.thomason@ bocamag.com). Deadline for entries in an upcoming A&E section is three months before publication.

[ dining guide ] Our independent reviews of restaurants in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. A fine, reliable resource for residents and tourists. For more information, contact Marie Speed or Kevin Kaminski.

[ people ] A photo collage of social gatherings and events in Boca Raton and South Florida. All photos submitted should be identified and accompanied by a brief description of the event (who, what, where, when). E-mail images to people@bocamag.com. icejewelry_brm0214.indd 1 40 [ bocamag.com

]

12/16/13 10:41 AM

february 2014

[ directory ] tHANK yoU For SUBScriBiNG to BOCA RATON MAGAZiNe! We appreciate your business, and we want you to get the most from your subscription. This customer guide will help you contact us for all your subscription needs.

[ first issue ] Your first issue will be mailed four-to-six weeks after receipt of your order. Subsequent issues will arrive every other month and monthly in November and February.

[ missing or late issues ] Once in a while, production, transportation or the postal service may delay delivery. If you don’t get an issue, or if your magazine is repeatedly late, please call and report your problem to our subscription department at 855/276-4395, or send an e-mail to: subscriptions@ bocamag.com.

[ if you have questions about your invoice ... ] If you have already paid your bill and then receive a new bill, here’s what you should do: 1. If you have paid your bill within the past four weeks, ignore the new invoice. (The computer simply has not given your account credit quickly enough.) 2. It’s most likely that your payment and our notice just crossed in the mail; check the date on the notice to see when we mailed it. 3. If you get another bill or renewal notice, call our subscription department at 855/276-4395, or send an e-mail to subscriptions@bocamag.com, and we will straighten out the problem.

[ change of address ] permanent: If you are changing your address, send us your complete old address, complete new address, including ZIP code, and the effective date of the change. You can also leave us a message with your old and new address by calling 855/276-4395. You can also change your address online at bocamag.com. temporary or seasonal: Please send us your complete permanent address, your complete temporary address and the dates that you want your issues forwarded.

[ back issues ] If you are interested in purchasing any back issues, please call 877/553-5363, ext. 222, indicating the issue date you would like. The cost of each issue including shipping and handling is $9.95.

[ gift subscriptions ] You’ll find a subscription to Boca Raton magazine makes a thoughtful and useful gift that lasts throughout the year. If you’d like more information about giving a gift subscription, please call our subscription department at 855/276-4395.

[ online subscriptions ] Receive additional savings by subscribing online. Visit bocamag.com for more information.

[ for any of the above services, please contact our subscriptions services department ] Call TOLL FREE: 855/276-4395 E-mail: subscriptions@bocamag.com Write: Boca Raton magazine Subscription Department 5455 N. Federal Highway, Suite M Boca Raton, FL 33487

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12/12/13 1:59 PM

[ bocamag.com ]

mail

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12/6/13 12:45 PM

I just received the [December/January] issue of Boca Raton. I especially enjoy reading about restaurants in the area. I read the [lead] article on Super Dave’s Diner and was very excited about trying their soul food and barbecue. When we [went], there was a big sign on the front window saying the restaurant was for rent and there was nothing inside. In the future, before reviewing a restaurant, you should make sure that it’s not out of business before the magazine hits the stands. —Ioro e-mail Editor’s note: Unfortunately, as food editor Bill Citara reported in his Nov. 14 blog, Super Dave’s closed after our issue already was at the printer. These things happen in the magazine business. Chef/owner Dave Harmon is still doing catering, plus he has a food truck—which you can track down on his Facebook page.

I absolutely love [Angela Lutin’s] answers [to dating questions about picking up the check and an off-site job-training crush]. They were right on. I hope these ladies take your advice. —Vicky Kelly Bocamag.com

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Bad timing

Spot on advice

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DrDamas_brm0214.indd 1 42 [ bocamag.com

I just read [Marie Speed’s “Speed Bumps”] article in Boca Raton magazine [November issue]. As a dancer [in the Boca Ballroom Battle event] a few years ago, I couldn’t have said it better for all the same reasons. It is an experience I will never forget. Congrats on the courage to do what you did with style and grace. —Jerry J. Fedele President and CEO Boca Raton Regional Hospital

12/9/13 12:15 PM

Steve Bonner sounds like the coolest boss ever. [“Taking Care of Business,” November issue]. And he’s right. We all work too hard. Why shouldn’t the job be fun sometimes? —Bizback e-mail

party all tHe time Thank you and your group at Boca Raton magazine for the fantastic party at D’Angelo [Pizza + Wine Bar + Tapas in Delray Beach]. What a lovely event! I’ve been to a number of Boca Raton happenings over the years, and they get more terrific all the time. —Andrea Morris e-mail february 2014

EvEnt calEndar

Majestic

Hot Pink LuncH

Pedro Garcia

When: Feb. 9 Where: Swank Specialty Produce, Loxahatchee What: Join some of the area’s culinary stars, including chef de cuisine Matthew McGhee of Angle in Palm Beach, for a special “down-onthe-farm” Swank Table lunch event that benefits the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Tickets: $155 per person Contact: 561/202-5648, swankspecialty produce.com

Faliero sarti rick owens lillies Fiorentini Baker l’aGence enza costa

country cLub cHef SHowdown When: Feb. 11 Where: Addison Reserve, Boca Raton What: Chefs at country clubs throughout the area will battle it out in an “Iron Chef”-style competition. This year’s lineup includes Glenn Matusik (Delaire Country Club), Bart Messing (Woodfield Country Club), Steve Nardiello (Gleneagles Country Club) and Michael Schenk (The Polo Club at Boca Raton). Zach Bell of Addison Reserve won last year’s event. Tickets: $200 per person Contact: 561/265-6042, hpbcf.org/chef-south

SoutH beacH wine & food feStivaL When: Feb. 20–23 Where: Miami What: The 13th edition of this nationally renowned culinary spectacular promises a slew of foodie celebrities—from Giada De Laurentiis and Rachael Ray to Emeril Lagasse—along with star chefs from all over the country. Tickets: Check the website for availability. Contact: 877/762-3933, sobefest.com

caribbean cowboy baLL When: Feb. 22 Where: Red Reef Park, Boca Raton What: One of two signature fundraisers for the George Snow Scholarship Fund, this Caribbean-Western style extravaganza includes a live band, plenty of great food, an open bar, fireworks and “the best darn auction in Boca.” Tickets: $175 per person Contact: 561/347-6799, scholarship.org

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[ bocamag.com ]

editor’s letter

[ by kevin kaminski ]

Weird, Wild Stuff

ust to be clear, Florida is not the only state among the contiguous 48 (plus two) to report crimes and incidents that read like the setup to a “Weekend Update” punch line on “Saturday Night Live.” In December, paramedics in Georgia used WD40 to help free a woman stuck to a Home Depot toilet seat that someone had sprayed with construction-grade glue. That same month, at a Massachusetts mall, an 18-yearold “elf” dropped the dime on a Bad Santa, 62, for being very naughty—apparently St. Nick, in addition to incessant dirty talk at the Christmas photo booth, couldn’t keep his gloved hands off her holiday buns. And in Ohio, about three weeks before Thanksgiving, a man was sentenced to 11 months in prison for public indecency. His crime? Having relations with an inflatable pool raft. It marked the fifth time the man had been found in a compromising position with a blow-up raft—which no doubt came as further heartbreak to the inflatable pumpkin with which he previously had been caught fornicating ... in his neighbor’s front yard. In some states, a single strange-but-true story can become the stuff of local lore, the kind of tale that never fails to draw a chuckle at the neighborhood beauty salon or the Elks Lodge. In Florida, however, these peculiar episodes are so common that we need websites, paperbacks, newspaper blogs and three booking producers from “The Jerry Springer Show” just to manage them all. On the other hand, it did give us an endless well of inspiration from which to draw for the “Freaky Florida” feature that starts on page 98. In retrospect, we could have limited the source material to our own backyard; Florida Atlantic University, in the past six months alone, has given us everything from a fabricated mugging and allegations of a coke-snorting football coach to a library worker accused of posting hidden bathroom videos on multiple porn websites. But why deprive our readers of crimes and misdemeanors that have dropped the jaws of residents everywhere from the Panhandle to the Keys over the past few years? The selections, courtesy of contributor Emily J. Minor (the “J” is for journalism, as Emily is fond of saying), are so good that we didn’t even have room for the Polk County man accused last year of stealing 166 manhole covers—or the Volusia County man who tried to pay his water bill last September with an envelope of crack cocaine.

[ bocamag.com ]

Beyond the police blotter, the first issue of our 34th year of Boca Raton is packed with seasonal treats—from Valentine’s-inspired lingerie and spring floral fashion to the most expensive (and most decadent) ice cream sundae in town. We also added a few sports pages to our February edition, including items to put readers in the mood for the area’s annual pro golf and tennis spectaculars—the Allianz Championship at the Old Course at Broken Sound and the Delray Beach Open. In addition, Boca Raton is proud to feature an exclusive Q&A with the NBA’s most recognizable player—Miami Heat superstar LeBron James (page 94). My thanks to Ira Winderman—a comrade from my days as a sports writer, who has covered the Heat since its inception for the Sun Sentinel—for giving our readers a fascinating glimpse into LeBron’s world. It’s worth noting that LeBron’s PR team knew of Boca Raton’s award-winning pedigree and dynamic readership, a big reason why our publication is the only local magazine to score this interview. As always, Boca Raton continues to set the bar higher and higher when it comes to South Florida publishing. The same can’t be said for the Hollywood woman who called police in November from inside a sports bar to report that the establishment was filled with drunk people. Police arrived at the bar—and arrested the woman ... on felony possession of hydrocodone. Only in Florida. Enjoy the issue—and Happy Valentine’s Day.

february 2014

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hometown [ 47 local heroes • 48 boca by the numbers • 50 meet the expert • 52 what’s cooking • 54 behind the biz ]

Healing Habitat

The region’s indigenous animals have their own emergency room thanks to the South Florida Wildlife Center.

—Marie Speed

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AAron Bristol

n Egyptian goose with head trauma is resting quietly in its cage. An orphaned baby possum peeks out of another enclosure, not far from a small turtle that is recovering from a fishing hook injury. These are just a few of the patients in the South Florida Wildlife Center’s post-op room, part of a four-acre campus in Fort Lauderdale. The nonprofit center rescues and treats injured wildlife from throughout the urbanized tri-county region before releasing them back into the wild. Contact is minimized to prevent the animals from becoming acclimated to humans; even the babies are fed by volunteers wearing gloves and camouflage. The sun-dappled facility—not open to the public—is often full, with everything from ungainly shore birds (who have their own soaring compound) to a grumpy screech owl in a private enclosure. There are ducks with no mothers, a few random peacocks, even a guinea pig with a swollen eye. Rob RudeRman, 42, knows them all—and likely helped to rescue them. He started at the center more than two years ago after leaving his previous lives in New York and California and moving to Boca Raton. Formerly in real estate development and advertising, Ruderman says he felt unfulfilled; he knew his real calling was to help protect animals. “We’ve constructed a busy world here in South Florida with tons of highways and golf courses; we have taken away so much habitat,” he says. “There is much more conflict between humans and animals that endangers wildlife.” Ruderman says cars are the single worst predator, followed by carelessly discarded fishing tackle. During season, he says animal rescue goes on all day, every day. “Citizens need to make the extra effort to watch out for the wild animal, to not feed the wild animal, to give them their space.” If you find an injured animal or would like to help this organization, please call 954/524-4302. Boca resident Rob Ruderman at the South Florida Wildlife Center

[ bocamag.com ]

home town [ Boca By the NumBers ] What’s the buzz around town? These numbers tell part of the story involving

February and beyond.

1,044

The wine list at Caffé Luna Rosa in Delray boasts this many selections, just in case you’re thinking about popping the cork—and the question—on Feb. 14. Call 561/274-9404 and ask about Valentine’s night reservations. For those considering a spring getaway on the high seas, check out the website at Reid Travel. A recent search for cruises just in the month of May revealed more than 1,000 possibilities—with stops at destinations all over the world. Visit reidtravel. com or call 800/248-8404 for more information.

65,000 CARly OTNeSS/BFANyC.COM

Rocco Mediate shot a course-record 11-under-par round en route to winning his first Champions Tour event at last year’s Allianz Championship. See if Mediate can defend his title at The Old Course at Broken Sound when play begins Feb. 7. Check out allianzchampionship. com to find out which top golfers are coming to Boca—as well as a complete schedule of pretourney events.

200+

200,000 According to webmd.com, at least this many weight-loss surgeries are performed each year in the United States. Learn all about laparoscopic gastric bypass procedures Feb. 6 at Bethesda Hospital East during a special symposium by Miguel Lopez-Viego, medical director at the Bethesda Center for Surgical Weight Reduction. Call 561/737-7733, ext. 84688 for details.

Last year’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival set an attendance record that produced more than $5.1 million in ticket sales. Expect this year’s festival—Feb. 2023—to exceed those marks, with more than 60 events scheduled. Visit sobefest.com for ticket info.

100+ years 155 mph The kitchen magicians battling for top honors at the third annual Country Club Chef Showdown—Glenn Matusik (Delaire Country Club), Bart Messing (Woodfield Country Club), Steve Nardiello (Gleneagles Country Club) and Michael Schenk (The Polo Club at Boca Raton)—bring more than a century of combined culinary experience to the competition, Feb. 11 at Addison Reserve Country Club. The popular event benefits Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation. Call 561/265-6042 for more information.

[ bocamag.com ]

For several years, Andy Roddick held the mark for fastest serve in tennis history (recorded in 2004). The former Boca resident returns to the area to play in the ATP Champions Cup, part of the Delray Beach Open, which kicks off Feb. 14. Go to yellowtennisball.com for schedule and ticket info.

february 2014

home town [ meet the expert ] FLowER EMpowER FULL BLOOM: “Cut the stems [of roses] at an angle under cold running water,” Levina says. “Do that, and they’ll open up completely.” FOOd FOr thOUght: “When you pour the flower food packet into the water, let it sit for an entire day until the powder dissolves naturally. Otherwise, the flowers sit right on the granules, which blocks the stems.”

Special Arrangement

nyone who knows Tatyana Levina understands how much she loves flowers. So it would come as no surprise on birthdays and holidays that friends and family from out of town would send her bouquets and arrangements. But as much as she appreciated the gesture, the flowers themselves often disappointed. “I understood how much money people were spending; they probably ordered them from 1-800 whatever,” says the native of Belarus in Eastern Europe. “But two days after receiving roses, the heads were all bending to one side. Instead of making me happy, it would break my heart.” So after years of being a stay-at-home mom, the former computer programmer decided to take botanical matters into her own hands. In 2012, Levina launched FlowerToy out of the Boca Raton residence she shares with her husband and two children. The business combines her childhood passion for stuffed animals with her interest in creating fun, artistic—and long-lasting—

[ bocamag.com ]

arrangements. Her floral figures, which rely heavily on chrysanthemums, stay fresh anywhere from 10 days to two weeks. Levina, who had no background working with flowers, starts with floral foam, which she carves and shapes into the desired character. She then soaks the foam in water and begins inserting the flowers. By her own admission, her early efforts needed polishing. “My first project was supposed to be a bear,” she says. “It looked like a monkey. But it was a cute monkey.” As evidenced by her website (flowertoy.com), Levina clearly has perfected her craft. Customers from all over South Florida call on her to create everything from puppy dogs and teddy bears to snowmen and flower cakes. “Eventually, I’d like to be a franchise,” she says. “I want to bring something to the market that doesn’t exist—and I want to make my customers happy.”

—Kevin KaminsKi

february 2014

AAron Bristol

BUy the way: “You don’t have to buy the most expensive flowers, only the freshest—and you’re probably not getting those at the grocery. Also, flowers that are beautifully arranged will impress just as much as a dozen roses.”

Fine Sterling Silver Jewelry in Your Size

home town [ what’s cooking ]

Good as Gold

Golden Opulence

—Bridget Sweet

Serendipity SpecialS

Serendipity’s famous drink can be served in a double size ideal for couples. Roenbeck recommends the peanut butter version, which is his favorite.

Forbidden broadway Sundae ($12): Chocolate blackout cake is topped

pirate’s treasure chest ($75): If

Want extravagance without the cost? These affordable alternatives offer just enough sugar without the jaw-dropping price tag.

with chocolate and vanilla ice cream, hot fudge and whipped cream.

Frrrozen Hot chocolate ($11 for double): Decked out with two straws,

you’re willing to splurge on dessert but don’t have an extra $1,000 lying around, try the Treasure Chest. Overflowing with goodies, the chocolate chest contains ice cream, cakes, berries and cookies. It’s big enough to serve four, perfect for double dates.

february 2014

AAron Bristol

n investment in precious metal at Serendipity inside the Boca Raton Resort & Club (501 E. Camino Real; 561/447-3000) may not pay financial dividends. But what the store’s famed $1,000 Golden Opulence dessert lacks in profit margin it more than makes up for in delicious decadence. The original gold-encrusted sundae, served in New York City at sister restaurant Serendipity 3, earned the title “most expensive sundae in the world” by Guinness World Records in 2007. The Boca version is even bigger. The sundae requires advance notice—at least five hours—so materials can be ordered and prepared. A handcrafted chocolate spiral must be delicately arranged, and 32 scoops of ice cream, 16 toppings and chocolate truffles are added to the masterpiece. The hefty price tag speaks, in large part, to the fragile and edible 24-karat gold leaves and flakes. So what exactly does gold taste like? “It doesn’t taste like metal or iron or anything like that; it’s pretty neutral,” says andrew roenbeck, executive chef at the Resort (below). “You feel it more on your tongue than taste it on your tongue. It’ll start to melt in your mouth.” Roenbeck estimates that about seven Golden Opulence sundaes were sold during the first 11 months of 2013, mostly for occasions like birthday parties. Most of us will just have to imagine the thousanddollar sundae experience— but, as evidenced by the other treats at Serendipity (see sidebar), that doesn’t mean your Valentine’s Day can’t be just as sweet.

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home town [ behind the biz ]

Senada Adžem

the Director of luxury sales at Douglas elliman opens up on her experiences During the bosnian war.

n her first year with Douglas Elliman, Senada Adžem was the company’s top-producing residential real estate agent in Florida, with 2012 sales out of her team’s Boca-based office in excess of $50 million. Colleagues describe her as a study in polished professionalism, an engaging beauty who radiates savvy and confidence. But on this day, as she prepares to turn back the clock, Adžem is admittedly on edge. It’s been a little more than two decades since she first put pen to paper as a young teen in war-torn Sarajevo; rereading her journals on the eve of this interview has been like pouring salt on a wound that never quite healed. “I’m shaking just thinking about it; you don’t want to go back to that state of fear,” she says. “But it does put things in perspective. Twenty years ago, we had no food, no electricity. And now I’m going to stress over a bad hair day? No way.” Adžem was born in Goražde, in what was then Yugoslavia, and later moved to Croatia. But when war broke out there in 1991, her parents moved the family to Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina—which had declared independence from Yugoslavia. In April 1992, the Army of Republika Srpska (comprised of Bosnian Serbs trying to create a new state) encircled and blockaded the city, the start of an almost four-year siege that would claim, by some estimates, nearly 11,500 civilian lives—and wreak untold psychological havoc. In this installment of “Behind the Biz,” Adžem shares with Boca Raton what it was like living through an episode that led to the convictions of two Serb military commanders for, among other things, crimes against humanity, inhumane acts and inflicting terror on civilians. —Kevin KaminsKi

[ bocamag.com ]

■ When war broke out in Sarajevo, there was such confusion. We couldn’t make sense of it. Why would your own army turn on you? It would be the equivalent of the U.S. military attacking its own citizens. They cut off the electricity. The banks were closed. Water was shut off. It was like the city of nothing. ... I was 15. ■ Two days after the shutdown, snipers started shooting at people. Mortars were being launched from the mountaintops into our valley. You’d spend your days in the basement, huddled, sitting for hours on end. Once the shooting stopped at night, people would venture outside and try to find food and water. ■ I came across a page in my journal that I had colored in all red. Six children had been killed by a mortar, and their red blood was all over the [white] snow. Pieces of their bodies were scattered all around. ... They were purposely shooting at children. Soldiers were raping and impregnating women—and then holding them hostage for seven, eight months so they couldn’t abort the babies. You couldn’t believe such evil existed. You couldn’t rationalize the mindset of monsters who were committing so many atrocities. ■ Being on the receiving end of [psychological warfare] causes you to question everything—your beliefs, your values, your [day-to-day] life ... That constant state of fear can be unbearable. Some couldn’t handle it. People were going insane. ■ I remember it like it was yesterday. After humanitarian aid started [trickling] in, there was a United Nations station where we could get water. But we had to walk five kilometers to fill up these 5-liter canisters. I was going up this concrete block of stairs, which was exposed. It was dusk, so I figured the snipers couldn’t see me. All of the sudden— pop, pop, pop, pop. Not just regular sniper bullets—anti-aircraft sniper bullets, bullets that [upon impact] disperse shrapnel. ... I dove and tried to take cover. I thought my head was going to burst because I couldn’t take the fear. ■ And then it happened. Something in my brain just clicked. ... I thought this was the end. If I was going to die, then let’s do it. Just kill me. ... That’s when the shooting stopped. Before, I’m running, hiding, trying to stay in the shadows. But, now, I got up and calmly climbed the rest of the stairwell. I had faced death. I saw it. And I was cool with it. That was the turning point in my life. ■ The next day, I went to U.N. headquarters and volunteered to [help with humanitarian efforts]. I spoke good English, which was not common because Russian was mandatory. But I had private teachers since I was little. I started out as an interpreter. I worked with a British officer who had received information that there was a rape camp about five kilometers into Serbian territory; she immediately wanted to investigate. The soldiers pulled over every U.N. vehicle; if they found a “local employee,” they would pull them out of the truck and [likely] kill them. So I hid in the back under the bullet-proof vests. ■ We went on to find this old dilapidated hotel that was filled with women. It was the most horrifying thing I’ve ever seen, girls my age—15, 16—who were kept there for years. Raped. Tortured. ... But it became more important to me to follow up on that lead and find out about this rape camp than whether or not the Serbs found me. Death? I was fine with it. I was liberated. ■ I read somewhere where you really start living after you face your fears. I did.

editor’s note: Adžem’s humanitarian work would lead her to John Menzies, then the U.S. ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina. Menzies would help bring Adžem to America in 1996—on a full academic scholarship to Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa.

february 2014

AAron Bristol

“There were certain sounds after I moved to America ... like fireworks. I’d think it was shooting. Your first instinct is to throw yourself on the ground and cover your head. I did that. Twice. It was embarrassing. But that switch doesn’t flip off.”

follow the leader

[ bocamag.com ]

[ by stefanie cainto ]

shoptalk

Garden Party

This sweet, feminine trend may come around every spring, but your outfit doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to echo past seasons. Keep it fresh with pieces like this flirty alice + Olivia dress, which incorporates floral print through an orchid blue lace overlay. (Check availability and price at Nordstrom, Town Center at Boca Raton). For more ways to slip this style into your wardrobe, turn the page.

for more style tips, visit bocamag.com.

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[ bocamag.com ]

shop talk [ fashion ] [2]

Fl✿wer Power

It’s only fitting that floral prints are in full bloom this spring, adding style and splendor to a variety of wardrobe options. Here are just a few statementmaking selections.

[3] [4]

[1]

1. With Swarovski crystal details, this Oscar de la Renta statement necklace is sure to be a head-turner. ($595, Oscar de la Renta, oscardelarenta.com) 2. The black and white floral print tones down the loud lime color of this J.Crew top. (Check J.Crew, The Gardens Mall, Palm Beach Gardens, for availability.) 3. With its lightweight chiffon fabric, this flowing halter-top selection is the perfect spring sundress. ($139, Boston Proper, Town Center at Boca Raton) 4. This silk-printed pastel scarf adds a pop of color to any outfit. ($295, Calypso St. Barth, Worth Avenue) 5. The gold skull clasp on this lace-wrapped Alexander McQueen piece adds edge to the otherwise classic minaudiére. ($1,640, Saks Fifth Avenue, Town Center) 6. Point yourself in the right direction with this silk Paul Andrew pump. Its emerald green heel stylishly contrasts the bright poppy print. ($595, Neiman Marcus, Worth Avenue, Palm Beach)

Fashion alliance

Not long after launching its Phillip Lim line, Target announced yet another designer collaboration, this time with Peter Pilotto. The collection, which launches Feb. 9, also will be available through Net-a-Porter as part of Target’s efforts to take the collection international.

[ bocamag.com ]

[5] [6]

Trunk show

Luxury bedding receives a day in the spotlight Feb. 10, when closet Full of linens (2200 W. Glades Road, Boca Raton, 561/394-2424) hosts a grand-opening trunk show by Sferra. Guests can register to win a Sferra throw while perusing the brand’s latest sheets, blankets, pillows and more. february 2014

shop talk [ beauty ]

Scent of a Celebrity

If you can’t be the next singing sensation, why not smell like one? Fortunately, music superstars from Britney to Beyoncé have bottled their own special fragrances. Here are five that passed our sniff test. (All prices are approximate.)

Fantasy twist by britney spears Cost: $49.50 for 1.7 combined ounces available at: Kohl’s product spin: “Choose your fantasy.” sniff test: This two-in-one perfume concept by Britney and Elizabeth Arden— combining the singer’s two popular fragrances, Fantasy and Midnight Fantasy— snaps together to form one ball. But each scent is distinct. Fantasy (pink) is soft and sweet; Midnight Fantasy (purple) is strong and fruity. Think teenage Britney vs. grown-up Britney.

Heat by beyonCé Cost: $44 available at: Sears product spin: “Floral, fruity, woody perfume ... both feminine and irresistible.” sniff test: Like the woman herself, this fragrance is strong and powerful—with hints of red vanilla orchid, magnolia, neroli, peach, sequoia wood, tonka and amber. It’s certain to draw interest from those in your olfactory zone (so single ladies, take note).

Fame by Lady GaGa Cost: $21.75 for 1.7 ounces available at: Amazon.com product spin: “Tears of belladonna, crushed heart of tiger [orchid] with a black veil of incense ...” sniff test: On the packaging, Gaga describes the perfume as “black, like the soul of fame.” And in 2011, before its release, she said it smells like “an expensive hooker.” But at the end of the day, Fame embodies none of the meatwearing lady of pop’s crazy antics. It’s a light, sweet fragrance that qualifies as an everyday type of scent.

tayLor by tayLor swiFt Cost: $49.50 for 1.7 ounces available at: Macy’s, Lord & Taylor product spin: “Luscious fruits, blushing florals and soft woods ... alluring and unforgettable.” sniff test: She can’t play the innocence card after dating famed womanizer John Mayer and opening at the 2013 Victoria’s Secret fashion show. Still, that didn’t stop the country star from producing a light, powdery girl-next-door fragrance that captured the 2013 Fragrance Foundation Award for celebrity scent of the year.

minajesty niCki minaj Cost: $49.50 for 1.7 ounces available at: Macy’s product spin: “Luscious fruits and luxurious fresh florals, draped in creamy vanilla and pure musks.” sniff test: With a bottle as outrageous as Nicki herself, Minajesty emits a bold, fruity scent designed to help ladies “rule your queendom.” It’s not quite sophisticated enough for actual royalty—you won’t see Queen Elizabeth dousing herself in this—but it’s definitely a dominant, statement-making fragrance.

Go to boCamaG.Com For tHe Lowdown on more CeLebrity FraGranCes.

[ bocamag.com ]

february 2014

Our Annual

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With elfa and installation at 30% off, now’s the perfect time to create your dream closet. Between the endless options, gorgeous finishes and free design service, organizing everything in your wardrobe (including your collection of shoes, jewelry and accessories) is easy. But don’t wait because the chance to save this big on elfa and installation is as rare as finding that elusive perfect pair of heels.

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Our Blog whatwestandfor.com

©2014 The Container Store Inc. All rights reserved. *The minimum elfa installation fee is $180 before any discounts are applied, other restrictions apply. See store for complete details, or call 800-733-3532 or visit containerstore.com. Sale ends Tuesday, February 11, 2014. 20537 1/23/14

shop talk [ InspIratIon ] STYLE: Classic HIGHLIGHTS: Stylish golf shirts that add a pop of color, fashionable skorts, comfortable and chic golf shoes.

GET THE LOOK:

On the Links Danielle Husby, tournament coordinator for the upcoming Allianz Championship at the Old Course at Broken Sound (Feb. 3-9; allianzchampionship. com), takes a fashion-forward approach with attire that is comfortable on the golf course and stylish in the clubhouse.

Q&A

Nike two-tone sleeveless polo, $65, check Nike Factory Store, Sawgrass Mills, Sunrise, for availability

Cutter & Buck DryTec pleat front mock, $68, cutterbuck.com

Adidas ClimaCool gradient printed woven skort, $50, golfdiscount.com

Maggie Lane printed knit skort, $65, Golfsmith, Boca Raton

with Danielle

What is the general golf club dress code? It depends on the type of club. Private clubs tend to be more strict. No jeans, no T-shirts. You always want to wear a shirt with a collar. Given the dress code, how do you make your clothing stand out? You can accessorize as much as you would any other outfit, depending on your personality, but realize that you’re still playing a sport. You don’t want anything dangling off you. Rings, watches, and anything around your wrist and hands can get in the way. Is there an unspoken attire etiquette on the course? You should never put your golf shoes on in the parking lot. Take them into the locker room, and change your shoes there. Shorts, skirts or slacks? A skirt, because it makes you feel a lot more feminine when you’re on the golf course.

Nike Lunar Summer Lite golf shoes, $79.99, PGA Tour Superstore, Delray Beach

Adidas Adicross II mesh golf shoes, $80, Edwin Watts Golf Shop, Boca Raton

Visor or baseball cap? I prefer caps. You can get a lot more choices in them to match along with your outfits.

[ bocamag.com ]

february 2014

Stay Where you are. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be right over. Home HealtH care Living at home offers aging adults an important sense of well-being. MorseLife is at the forefront of supportive home heath care that promotes independence, security and comfort.

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The first & only Hyaluronic Acid (HA) filler FDA-approved to instantly add volume to cheeks…resulting in a mini lift!

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e b r at i n g

Look & feel your best… at any age!

[ by lisette hilton ]

feelgood if you go What: Delray Beach Open Where: Delray Beach Stadium and Tennis Center (201 W. Atlantic Ave.) When: ATP Champions Cup singles matches, Feb. 14–16; ATP World Tour singles and doubles matches, Feb. 17–23 Tickets: $40 to $250 for individual seats More info: Call 561/330-6000 or visit yellowtennisball.com

Court is in session Alese & Morton Pechter / Pechter Photo

Championship men’s tennis returns to Delray Beach for the 16th year with a new tournament name—and a star-studded roster of current and legendary standouts. The Delray Beach Open by The Venetian Las Vegas, the only combined ATP World Tour and ATP Champions Tour event, kicks off on Valentine’s night. Turn the page for more on the tournament field—as well as exercise tips for the amateur player.

follow the leader

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feel good [ fitness ]

Players to Watch

Bill Dorton

Several current top 20 players and a former Boca resident highlight the fields at the Delray Beach Open.

Andy Roddick

Andy Roddick: The 2003 U.S.

John isneR: The top-ranked

Open champ and former No. 1 player in the world, who grew up in Boca, makes his Champions Cup debut at the same event where he made his pro debut at age 18. Roddick retired in 2012 with a career singles record of 612-213.

American player in 2013 (No. 14) is one of the favorites to win the World Tour event, having reached the semifinals in Delray the past two years.

GoRAn ivAnisevic: The Croatian, winner of the Wimbledon singles title in 2001, makes his first appearance in Delray. MAts WilAndeR: The great Swede, who captured seven Grand Slam singles titles during his 15-year career, has been a regular at the Delray Champions event.

DiD You Know?

toMMy hAAs: At age 35, the 2006 Delray Beach champ is coming off a year that included a quarterfinal appearance at the French Open and a win over Novak Djokovic. BRyAn BRotheRs: Considered the greatest doubles team of all time, twins Bob and Mike have collected 15 Grand Slam doubles titles— including three in 2013.

[ bocamag.com ]

[ 1 ] Need for speed: Tennis players need bursts of speed in all directions. Rubber-band resistance training and explosive jumping movements help improve onthe-court quickness. [ 2 ] Work the core: If you think tennis is all about arm strength, think again. Especially when it comes to serving, Dorton says, a strong core and the ability to rotate your trunk come into play. [ 3 ] Sound body, sound mind: Stamina is half the battle in tennis. Dorton says cardio training helps with both physical and mental toughness. “[Tennis is] such a mental game,” he says. “Once your body tires, your brain tires. Players need to keep their mental fatigue level down.” Instead of sustained distance running, Dorton suggests doing intervals of 100-meter sprints. Or, run hard for 20 to 40 seconds before taking a brief rest. [ 4 ] Get a leg up: Running isn’t the only key to a strong foundation. “You have to work from the ground up— through your legs—to get the rotation out of your core,” Dorton says. “If you have weak legs and a strong core, you can’t coordinate your movements properly.” He suggests resistance exercises to develop leg strength.

Expect everything from live music and street performers to the return of the “VolleyGirls” at this year’s Delray Beach Open, according to executive director John Butler.

40 hours 66

Bill Dorton, personal trainer at The Gym 111 in Delray Beach (111 E. Atlantic Ave., 561/274-7477) and conditioning coach for the Broward College girls’ tennis team, shares his top fitness tips for tennis players.

of the tournament will be televised nationally on the Tennis Channel—with more than 50 hours broadcast internationally. february 2014

AAROn BRISTOl

AlESE & MORTOn PEcHTER / PEcHTER PHOTO

Fit to Play

“Dr. Cabrera’s honesty and his talent as a surgeon set him apart. His staff is very caring and I always feel very comfortable when I’m there.” - Natalie R., 78

This is an actual patient of Dr. Rafael Cabrera. To see her “before” picture, visit www.pssbocaraton.com

561.393.6400 | 951 NW 13th Street, Suite 4A, Boca Raton, FL | www.pssbocaraton.com

feel good [ health ]

Sexual Healing

Rachel Needle

Sex is supposed to be one of life’s great pleasures. But when couples experience problems in the bedroom, the very idea of sex can create stress, relationship woes and self-esteem issues. Rachel Needle, a West Palm Beach-based psychologist and certified sex therapist (1515 N. Flagler Drive, Suite 540, 561/822-5454), explores common issues—and possible solutions—with Boca Raton. 1) Low sexuaL desire Needle says: “There are a number of possible contributors to [any] sexual problems—from biological or hormonal factors to contextual and interpersonal factors to lack of appropriate stimuli. The first thing is to rule out a medical problem.” Possible solutions: Think about things that used to turn you on or give you desire. Communicate with your partner about what you want and what you need. Give direction. (If these don’t work, give any of the solutions in the next section a try.)

2) inabiLity to reach orgasm Needle says: “A lot of things can contribute to females having difficulty reaching orgasm, such as anger and resentment toward their partner, having an inexperienced partner and feeling out of touch or not comfortable with [their] own body.” Possible solutions: Get to know yourself and your body. Figure out, on your own (when you’re comfortable), what turns you on. Think sexy thoughts; fantasize. Don’t evaluate and

the benefits of sex

[ bocamag.com ]

observe your performance during sex. Also, stay focused. “A lot of women find themselves distracted during sex,” Needle adds. “You’re much less likely to be able to have a wonderful orgasm and enjoy sexual activity when your mind is in 100 different places.” Don’t focus on the results. Instead, focus on the buildup of sensations, how you feel in the moment and what feels good.

3) erectiLe probLems Needle says: “Medications can still be helpful in these situations, but I want to make sure we’re addressing other contributing factors, as well.” Potential solutions: Before men pop a pill to increase blood flow, they should answer the following questions: Can they achieve an erection when masturbating or do they have morning erections? If so, chances are the blood is flowing—and a pill may not be necessary. In that case, try communicating. Have an open dialogue with your partner about your needs, concerns and what you want. Are you anxious about your sexual performance? Addressing that can help. Finally, think about what turns you on, and don’t be afraid to try new things.

• Sex is exercise and works off about five calories per minute. • Having an orgasm releases a hormone that helps diminish pain.

• Sex can soothe stress and anxiety, improve sleep, boost your immune system—even lower blood pressure and protect you from heart disease.

onLine resource For more information about sexual education, as well as how to locate a certified professional, visit The American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT) at aasect.org.

Fyi: Some people need medical attention to treat sexual dysfunction. Others will revive their sex lives by changing the ways they think, communicate and approach sex.

Source: webmd.com/sexrelationships/guide/10-surprisinghealth-benefits-of-sex

february 2014

Frank Cirisano, MD GY NECOL O GIC O NC O L O GY

Fernando Recio, MD

SP ECIALIS T

M E D I C A L DI RECTO R O F R O B O T I C S URGERY

TECHNIQUE MEETS TECHNOLOGY D A V I N C I ® R O B O T I C S U R G E R Y . Conceived originally for remote-controlled surgery on the battlefield or in space, it’s now providing patients with a minimally invasive surgical option for even the most complex of cases. This incredibly sophisticated technology allows surgery to be performed through the smallest of incisions. For patients, that means a significant reduction in blood loss and post-operative pain, a shorter hospital stay and faster return to normal activities. But having this technology is only half the equation. At Boca Regional, it’s placed in the hands of some of the most experienced and accomplished robotic surgeons in the region. Ones whose skills have made us the busiest center for robotic surgery in Palm Beach County. Boca Raton Regional Hospital – where technique meets technology to provide our patients with the best in minimally invasive surgery.

Bentley of Boca Raton

40 Years of Experience Centrally Located in East Boca Raton Specializing in Rolls Royce, Bentley & European Luxury Automobiles Rolls Royce & Bentley Factory-trained Personnel Pick-up & Delivery Service Available Vehicles Washed & Vacuumed Upon Return 4201 NW Oak Circle, #47 • Boca Raton, FL 33431 • (561)395-0006 • bentleyofbocaraton@yahoo.com bentleyofboca_brm0214.indd 1

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homebase

[ by brad mee ]

Rock StaRS

It may be old as dirt, but stone is breathing new life into bathrooms of all types. Surprising treatments and unique fixtures are elevating the material to dazzling, dynamic heights. Turn the page for more rock-solid inspiration.

Get the Look

Barely visible patterns in CaesarStoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s white quartz animate this cutting-edge modern bathroom. Backlighting the translucent quartz walls and floors accentuates the materialâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s luminosity and shadowy white tones.

follow the leader

[ bocamag.com ]

home base

Turn To STone

From glowing onyx and classic marble to ornate agate and patterned granite, stone has become today’s decorative must-have for splashy spaces, from showy powder rooms to luxurious master baths.

Earth tonE A cantilevered asymmetrical sink brings color and light into this stunning powder room, while the use of undulating sandstone in the wall grounds the space with an earthy vibe.

Scot Zimmerman

Vanity ProjEct

Take IT From The Pros

Basins fashioned from CaesarStone’s white quartz transform a bathroom vanity into a modern work of art. The natural stone’s inherent shadings and tone-on-tone patterns add visual depth to the monochromatic space.

Scot Zimmerman

Need a big style statement in your small bath? Think showy stone, but don’t overuse it. To make your space livable over time, limit eye-catching stone to an accent wall, shower stall, backsplash or trim that accents neutral treatments.

Sink it Crosshatch sections of agate create a stunning patterned backsplash in a handsome powder room. The treatment is positioned at mid-wall level where it could be easily studied and admired.

[ bocamag.com ]

Soak it UP

PErfEct comPlEmEnt

Carved from a single block of natural stone, Stone Forest’s Travertino soaking tub can create an unforgettable statement in bathrooms of all styles.

Natural stone balances the glitz of glass tile in this master bathroom. A tray-like travertine sink sits atop a quartz countertop, and the same quartz performs as a base for a wall-mounted faucet, unifying the multistone treatment. february 2014

1730 lands end road, manalapan

$8,895,000

Having built hundreds of homes for the Hamptons’ most discerning buyers, Farrell Building Company is now pleased to announce its ﬁrst offering here in the Palm Beaches. On the southern point of Manalapan Island, this spectacular 7,600± SF residence is presently underway, encircled by 360± feet of sprawling shoreline, offering panoramic views of almost unimaginable beauty. Stylishly appointed and cleverly equipped, completion is anticipated in the fall of 2014. Brokers protected. Open listing. bridgehampton, ny

palm beach, ﬂ

631.537.1068

farrellbuilding.com

home base

Green calcite Veronica sconce, Matthew Studios, matthewstudiosny.com Limestone soap dish, Jayson Home, jaysonhome.com

Like a Rock

Crosshatch agate stone mosaic, Inside Out Architecturals, insideoutarchitecturals.com

Polished fixtures and sparkling accents bring the natural beauty and timeless essence of stone to modern bathrooms.

Selenite votive holders, Z Gallerie, Boca Raton Custom smoky-quartz cluster knob, Matthew Studios, matthewstudiosny.com Alabaster swirl accent lamp, Baker Furniture, DCOTA, Dania Beach

Beekman marble two-leg single washstand, Waterworks showroom, Miami

Onyx 101 Here are the pros and cons of incorporating the most stunning stone into a bathroom.

Stone Forest amber onyx drop-in vessel sink, Ferguson Bath & Kitchen Gallery, Boca Raton

[ bocamag.com ]

Cons ■ Onyx is soft; it scratches and stains easily. Avoid acidic liquids and any objects that will scrape the surface. Seal onyx after installation, and clean with stone cleaner on a regular basis to help prevent scratching and staining. ■ Check your wallet. Onyx is one of the most expensive natural stone options and not a top choice for those on a tight budget.

Pros ■ Onyx is unique and rare, making it a standout choice for those interested in a one-of-akind look for their bathrooms. ■ Onyx is available in a broad selection of colors and features distinctive patterns and veining that create bold visual statements. ■ The translucent quality of onyx allows you to accentuate its beauty with backlighting.

february 2014

Before she calls to RSVP, she calls…

Dr. Dardano.

Anthony n. DArDAno D.O., F.A.C.S. not an actual patient

Excellence in Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery DOUBLE BOARD CERTIFIED 951 NW 13th Street, Suite 4D • Boca Raton, FL 33486 Phone: (561) 361-0065 • www.drdardano.com Become a fan of Dr. Dardano on Facebook

Your luxury boutique for bed, bath & table linens. Specializing in accessories for the home and yachts. Welcoming interior designers.

Save 20% on Selected merchandiSe

designers guild

“kashgar” - Damask Printed 300 Thread Count Cotton sateen

Chantelle • Wacoal Oscar de la Renta Natori • Hanro Sanchez • Wolford Jacques Levine Lejaby • Le Mystére Hanky Panky Cosabella • Champion Verena • Priamo Spanx • Body Wrap Fitting our customers for 30 years! Best Florida store for personalized fittings! Featured on Oprah & The Today Show! Listed as an expert in the bestseller “How Not to Look Old” by Charla Krupp

Glades Plaza in Boca Raton 2200 W Glades Rd., Suite 103-B • 561-394-2424 • drawerfulloflingerie.com • closetfulloflinens.com closetfulloflinens_brm0214.indd 1

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Be in the

Center of it all!

Boca center’s new center stage! Feb. 1st 7:00-9:00pm SYNERGY

Feb. 21st 7:00-9:00pm Solid Brass

Feb. 8th 6:00-8:00pm Movie Night - Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2

Feb. 28th 7:00-9:00pm Replay Band

Feb. 15th 7:00-9:00pm Samantha Russell Band

MARCH

FEBRUARy

Events, Music, Movies & More this Season!

F ine d ining

h ome & d écor

h ealth & B eautY

S erviceS

Brio Tuscan Grille Café 5150 English Tap & Beer Garden Morton’s Steak House Rocco’s Tacos Sushi Ray Uncle Tai’s

Duxiana Beds Oggi Murano Vertu Fine Art

Grove Opticians Spalano Salon & Spa

F aShion

Accenture Bank AT&T Wireless Marriott Hotel Verizon Wireless

McDonald’s Panera Bread Salad Creations Starbucks Tasti-D-Lite

F ood & W ine Joseph’s Classic Market Hoffman’s Chocolates Total Wine & More

Allen Edmonds Boutique A La Mode Bella Boutique Chico’s En Vogue Guy LaFerrera Jos. A Bank

Q uick B iteS

J eWelrY Silver’s Fine Jewelry

Mar. 7th 7:00-9:00pm Turnstiles- Billy Joel Tribute Band March 8th 6:00-8:00pm Movie Night

Mar. 22nd 7:00-9:00pm Wonderama Band Mar. 29th 7:00-9:00pm JD Danner Band

5150 Town Center Circle Boca Raton, FL 33486 For more information, please call (561) 361-9804 or visit us on the web at www.bocacenter.com.

c hild & Y outh Rooms for a Prince & Princess

Florida’s oNlY MEN’s HaBErdasHErY to rEcEivE EsquirE MagazinE’s Gold staNdard

561-620-0011 The Shops at Boca Center on Military Trail GuyLaFerrera.com

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Located on MiLitary traiL north of PaLMetto Park road, in front of the Marriott in boca12/4/13 raton. 9:40 AM for More inforMation caLL: 561-361-9804 or visit us on the web at www.bocacenter.coM.

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arT For You & Your HomE

Presenting direct from Italy: Murano Glass Sculptures | Lighting | Jewelry | Gift Items | Designer Italian Exotic Skin & Leather Handbags

The Shops at Boca Center 5250 Town Center Circle #127 561.394.5067

oggimurano.Com

803B E. Las olas Blvd. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301 954.764.7750

Bacchus Beckons... March 28-30, 2014

Indulge in a weekend of wine, food and true luxury at the Boca Raton Resort & Spa

The Best in Wine & Food comes to Boca Bacchanal

The Boca Bacchanal is all about bringing the best in food and wine together for a spectacular 3-day event in Boca Raton and this year promises to impress your taste buds on every level. Top chefs from all over the United States will be serving delicious delicacies inspired by the menus of their renowned restaurants.

Chefs attending the 12th Annual Boca Bacchanal: • Chef Matthias Merges of Yusho restaurant in Chicago, IL • Chef Chris Jakubiec of the Plume in Washington, DC • Chef Gonzalo Rivera of Copita in Sausalito, CA • Chef Ian Schnoebelen of Mariza in New Orleans, LA • Chefs Brian & Shanna O’Hea of Academe at the Kennebunk Inn in Kennebunk, ME

Vintners attending the 12th Annual Boca Bacchanal: • Chef Daniel Zeal of The Cloister in Sea Island, GA

• Cakebread Cellars – Napa Valley, CA • Benzinger – Sonoma, CA • Hollywood and Vine 2480 – Napa Valley, CA • Piper Heldsleck, France • Darioush – Napa Valley, CA • Château Tanunda – Australia More to come!

12th Annual Boca Bacchanal promises to be an extravaganza you won’t want to miss! Purchase your wine weekend tickets today. For more information visit www.BocaBacchanal.com @BocaBacchanal

/BocaBacchanalFest

florida table [ 82 gumbo mania • 84 deconstructing the dish • 86 specialty cocktails ]

Taste of New Orleans New Orleans is often described as a melting pot of peoples and cultures, and gumbo is its most literal representation. This wickedly savory cross between soup and stew, as closely identified with the Big Easy as Mardi Gras and jazz, draws its inspiration from almost every corner of the city. Its reach, however, extends all the way to South Florida—as evidenced by the ensuing recipe and tips from a Delray chef who knows a thing or two about gumbo.

The word “gumbo” is thought to derive from the African “ngombo,” meaning “okra” in the local dialect of slaves shipped to Louisiana, who contributed the name as well as the vegetable. French influence is seen in the inclusion of roux, an equal mix of fat and flour used for flavoring and thickening gumbos; filé powder, finely ground sassafras leaves also added for flavoring and thickening, is said to have come from the Choctaw people.

AAron BrisToL

Chef Dennis Teixeira from City Oyster in Delray Beach

DID YOU KNOW?

follow the leader

[ bocamag.com ]

florida table [ eat ]

Shrimp, Crab & Andouille Gumbo Chef Dennis Teixeira, City Oyster, 213 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 561/272-0220

[ bocamag.com ]

PreParatIon 1. Melt butter in heavy pot over low to medium heat. Add flour and stir until there are no lumps and mixture turns dark brown; be careful not to burn. 2. add sliced vegetables and sautĂŠ until tender. 3. When vegetables are done, add seasonings and 1 cup at a time of clam juice (or chicken

stock) to roux, stirring with each addition to make sure there are no lumps. 4. add andouille and simmer to heat. 5. Just before serving, add shrimp and crab and simmer briefly until shrimp turn pink. 6. Serve with jasmine rice. Enough for 6 to 8 people.

february 2014

aaron briStol

IngredIents 1 1/2 pounds andouille sausage, sliced 1 onion, diced 3 stalks celery, diced 1 green bell pepper, diced 1 1/2 pounds okra, sliced 2/3 pound each, butter and flour 2 quarts clam juice (can substitute chicken stock) 2/3 teaspoon filĂŠ powder Sprigs of fresh thyme and bay leaf 2 1/2 pounds shrimp (8/12 count), peeled and deveined 1 pound jumbo lump crab 4 cups cooked jasmine rice

Gumbo confidential

Dennis Teixeira shares some chef secrets about the art of preparing gumbo. Stock exchange: “You can use chicken stock as long as it’s well-seasoned, but [the gumbo] won’t be as rich and seafood-y. Bottled clam juice is not that hard to find.” Making a roux: “Go low and slow. Use a low flame, and take your time. Stir it a lot. Don’t walk away from it for too long.”

more cajun classics Racks Fish house + oysteR BaR 5 S.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach, 561/450-6718: In addition to Creole-style calamari and Thursday night gumbo, Racks serves up a killer barbecue oyster po’ boy with lettuce, tomato, red onion and Creole sauce.

city Fish MaRket 7940 Glades Road, Boca Raton, 561/487-1600: The New Orleans seafood gumbo with chicken andouille is a menu staple.

the Funky Biscuit 303 S.E. Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton, 561/4653946: The menu at this Royal Palm Place club includes a bayou gumbo, as well as a signature cochon de lait po’ boy—slow roasted pork on French bread with Funky Biscuit slaw.

tRuluck’s 351 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, 561/391-0755: Complement your fresh fish selection at the popular Mizner Park seafood house with a side of New Orleans barbecue shrimp.

The thick of it: “The more you cook a roux, the less thickening power it has. If you want a roux that thickens heavily, you barely cook it. You keep it blond. The roux in gumbo is really for flavor.” Accept no substitutes: The infinite variations of gumbo make full use of ingredients indigenous to the region, from tasso (a spicy ham) to shrimp and oysters. However, “gumbo has to have andouille, okra and the ‘trinity’—onion, celery and green pepper. Or else it’s not gumbo.”

New Orleans barbecue shrimp from Truluck’s in Mizner Park

Last ones in the pool: “If you put [the shrimp and crab] in at the beginning they’re going to be completely overcooked. Put them in [at the end] and simmer until barely poached.”

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florida table [ eat ]

Deconstructing the Dish Anthony Pizzo

Forget French. Chocolate is the language of romance. And anThony PIzzo speaks fluent chocolate. To celebrate this most romantic of all months, the executive chef of Delray Beach restaurants Cut 432 (432 E. Atlantic Ave.), Park tavern (32 S.E. Second Ave.) and the new el Camino (15 N.E. Second Ave.) shares his spin on a delectable and surprisingly easy dish that delivers the kind of bracing chocolate intensity that can make all but the most hard-hearted Valentine swoon.

GET ThE rECiPE AT BoCamag.Com.

ChoColate VolCano torte 1. The good stuff, part I: Pizzo uses, and highly recommends, Valrhona chocolate, a high-quality chocolate made in a small town in France. “It’s just a superior product; it’s 61 percent cocoa whereas other [chocolates] are 58 percent. The cake is so simple you want to emphasize the beautiful chocolate.”

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2. The good stuff, part II: No sense mixing high-quality chocolate with middlingquality butter. Pizzo recommends Plugrá or another Europeanstyle butter with at least 83-percent butterfat content. “High butterfat [butter] gives the cake more richness and silkiness. Any time you have a higher fat

content, it’s going to enrich [the cake] and bring it together better.” 3. Double boiling: So you’ve got great-quality butter and chocolate. Now you have to blend them. A double-boiler is the only way to go, Pizzo says. “With a doubleboiler you never want to put it on high heat. You want to cut the

chocolate as small as possible; cut the butter to the same size so they both melt at the same rate. Make sure the water [in the doubleboiler] doesn’t touch the bowl; you only need an inch or so to create steam.” 4. Leave nothing to chance: When you’re pouring the chocolate

[into a mixture of eggs, egg yolks and sugar], do it in three increments so it incorporates evenly. And never trust your mixer. After each increment, take a spatula and run it around the edge [of the mixing bowl] from the bottom to the top to make sure it’s fully incorporated.” —BILL CITara

february 2014

florida table [ drink ] CoCktail Shrubbery?

Mix Mastery Not all that long ago, a bartender’s duties mostly consisted of pouring beer, assembling a few classic cocktails and floating rum on top of ridiculous tropical drinks. Not anymore. These days, the bartender is a mixologist, applying a chef’s knowledge, creativity and ingredients to the business (and pleasure) of mixing inventive, exciting, genre-bending cocktails. That’s precisely the recipe for the bar at Jové, the contemporary Italian restaurant that opened late last year inside the Four Seasons Palm Beach (2800 S. Ocean Blvd., 561/582-2800). As restaurant general manager Karma Tsepal puts it, “Mixology is the study of mixing cocktails, and mixologists are chefs on the beverage side.” In addition to incorporating locally sourced and seasonal ingredients in its cocktails, Jové makes its own ginger syrup and cinnamon syrup. “We’re [also] making certain orgeats; they’re almond-flavored, something between a paste and a syrup,” Tsepal says. “They’re a classic ingredient.” —Bill Citara

“Shrubs are something we’re messing with,” Tsepal says. “They’re a vinegar-based means of preservation, something farmers used. We made a peach and thyme shrub. Take whole peaches, thyme and sugar, and cook them down with a nice Champagne vinegar until almost a syrup. It will definitely go with bourbon, probably more toward the springtime.”

■ the roman Mule: Muddled cucumber, cucumber vodka, Amaro, lemon juice and ginger beer. “Super fun and refreshing,” Tsepal says. “You can drink four or five of them.”

■ Fernet Manhattan: Rye, Fernet Amaro and citrus bitters. “This is for those who like to taste their liquor,” Tsepal says.

Strega Malvagia (“WiCked WitCh”) Courtesy of Jové kitchen & bar

Fresh blackberries and mint 1 1/2 ounces Pussers Old Navy rum 1/2 ounce Strega liqueur 1/2 ounce simple syrup 1/2 ounce lemon juice to serve: Muddle blackberries and mint. Add remaining 4 ingredients to cocktail shaker and shake vigorously. Double strain into rocks glass and top with crushed ice. Garnish with fresh blackberries. FYi: “This cocktail is based on the Bramble, a classic cocktail from the 1980s,” Tsepal says. “It’s very refreshing and easy to drink.”

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february 2014

facetime [ by john thomason ]

Michelle Nihei

ONe Of the cOuNtry’s tOp hOrse traiNers prepares her stable Of taleNt fOr raciNg seasON at gulfstreaM park.

efore dawn each day, Michelle Nihei wakes up to visit her friends. They have names like Charlie A. and Rogue Romance and Morning Calm and Twigazuri Straits—14 of them in all. They wait for her in nice neat rows, often inside one of the 40 barns at the 400-acre Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton Beach, but sometimes in similar formations in Tampa, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., or Louisville, Ky. By the time Nihei, 42, arrives at her barn, at around 4:30, some of her employees already have visited her friends: washing them, applying treatment to their legs, laundering their bandages, cleaning their stalls. Nihei will promptly inspect their legs, analyze their eating habits and address any medical issues. Then, per the day’s set list, which she conceives the night before, Nihei will grab her chamois, saddle cloth, rub pads, saddle, girth, channels and yokes and take them out to the track, where they’ll walk, jog, gallop or “work”—that is to say, run a timed practice furlough in preparation for an upcoming race. Nihei’s friends are equines, of course—specifically thoroughbreds that compete at major parimutuel events across the country. Nihei is their trainer, and she loves them as a parent loves her children, often speaking of them in similar terms. “Horses are so smart,” she says. “They know everything. If it’s close to feed time, which is 10:30, they’ll start banging on doors. They anticipate. They feel stress. I don’t know

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if ‘happy’ is a great word, but they know when they’re comfortable. They know how to relax. They know how to feel that things are safe.” It’s Nihei’s job to ensure that her thoroughbreds are not only safe but in race-ready shape for their owners, jockeys and legions of bettors at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach (where her horses are racing now) and other prestigious venues. She’s the unseen hand behind her horses’ successes or failures—her months of training decided in races lasting a minute and a half. Since December 2007, when Nihei’s stables officially opened for business, her horses have won more than $2 million in the purse structure. In 2012, her horses placed first, second or third 26 times out of 101 starts, which sounds low unless you understand the numbers. “We came out of Gulfstream last year with a 25-percent win rate, which is phenomenal,” Nihei says. “Isn’t that amazing, that you can lose 80 percent of the time and still feel good about what you’re doing? That’s part of how our business goes. “Our lifetime statistics are compromised by having a couple tough years where we [didn’t have] much stock,” she adds. “For a barn this size, we’re still pretty new. We’re still working our way forward.” There’s a good reason Nihei’s business is only six years old. While the Calgary native has been a lifelong horse lover—she rode her first Shetland pony around the age of 2—her career was supposed to take a different path. Her father, Taiichi, was a biochemist, and Michelle fol-

lowed in his footsteps. She graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1996 with a Ph.D. in neuroscience and then joined the junior faculty at Johns Hopkins in Maryland, where she spent four-plus years on research and clinical trials. She entered the medical field for all the right reasons, but it eventually burned her out. “You get where you think you’re supposed to be, and it ends up being more about the politics than about the ideal perspectives you were chasing—saving the world, having your hero cape on, wanting to be the person to bring education, information and wonderful ideas,” she says. “I found myself spending more time looking at races and reading stories in the newspapers about great horses that were still around, and I still had a couple of horses I was fooling around with, jumping and showing. “It was a gradual thing, [but] I just decided if I’m going to be this miserable, I’d rather be broke and doing what I love.” So Nihei spent the early 2000s working up the ranks from exercise rider to assistant trainer to the proprietor of her own boutique stable. The costs of her decision are both monetary—more than $10,000 per month on feed and bedding, $1,200 a month on supplements—and social. Nihei is unmarried and does not have children; her job is close to a 24/7 commitment, leaving little time for such concerns. Besides, she has her horses. “We spend every day of our lives with these guys,” she says. “Being around them that much makes them feel like family.” february 2014

On Working in a MaleDominated Field “Frankly, maybe other than modeling or the fashion industry, I don’t know what isn’t [dominated by men]. It’s gotten to the point where this business has had some very prominent, successful women. It is one sport where we’re allowed to compete on equal terms. In races, being stronger isn’t going to help you. Being talented helps you. And women can be just as talented as men. “I don’t think [sexism] is worse in this industry than it is anywhere else. And I think that there’s so many smart, responsible ways to deal with sexism. Just by ignoring it and not tolerating it is pretty effective.”

Left and above: Nihei prepares on the morning of opening day at Saratoga Race Course in New York.

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facetime [ by john thomason ]

James DiGeorgia rare cOin Dealer, financial analyst

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• One Of my favOrite areas Of numismatics is ancients. To hold a coin that was struck during the lifetime of Alexander the Great, with Apollo on the obverse, and the decorative signature from the Mint and the ruler it was struck under on the reverse, just grabs you. • Gold has been a longtime tool for conservative investors who are worried about inflating debt, rapid monetary growth, and excesses in the systems. I often tell people that gold is your insurance against the stupidity and greed of politicians. ... On the left, I would say that you don’t need economic disaster, you don’t need the dollar to be debased, and you don’t need terror and chaos for gold to appreciate in value. If you believe the world is going to grow economically, and that new inventions and new technologies are going to drive the next decade, then ... gold should be a part of your portfolio. • I don’t think there’s a day when the dollar will collapse. I see the United States re-emerging as the center of technology, the center of thought, the center of creativity. I’m very bullish on this country, and I wouldn’t be surprised, in the next three to five years, if we see the stock market hit 25,000. I wouldn’t be surprised that the disparity between the 1 percent and the 99 percent starts to contract instead of being at an all-time wide disparity. • I think that the potential of this country is unbounded. • I don’t see the wisdom of following people who believe in superstition. They call it religion; I call it superstition. What did a person

know when Constantine invited all the religious leaders to Constantinople to establish what later became the Catholic Church? Did they know about electricity? Did they have any idea what the modern world was? • In the next 10 years, technology is going to accelerate; what we would have discovered in 100 years will happen in 10 years. Apple is going to start selling mini supercomputers. It’s just the very start. • There’s an age of science and technology that no matter what right-wing fanatics decide to do with voter suppression, denying women rights, fighting immigration ... nothing is going to stop what’s coming. There are kids all over this country, from Hoboken to Anchorage, that are growing up with computers that are going to get infinitely more powerful— computers that actually think. • I could care less what anybody else thinks of my politics. february 2014

aaron bristol

ames DiGeorgia’s expertise in numismatics—the study of currency—dates back to age 7, when he evaded a babysitter, sneaked into his father’s dresser drawers and discovered a 1922 peace dollar. His mother, a registered nurse, wanted her son to be a doctor; his father, a Juilliardtrained musician, wanted him to enter the arts. But DiGeorgia was more interested in the rare coins he would be rewarded for every hour he played the piano. Growing up in New York City and then Danbury, Conn., DiGeorgia’s entrepreneurial spirit started early, and it centered on rare coins. Coin collecting “went from a hobby into a vocation and then eventually a career,” he recalls. He opened his first rare-coin business, Gem Coins, while he was a junior in high school, and he was a self-made millionaire before he turned 21. He’s spent upward of $400,000 on single coins. He expanded his purview to cover precious metals as well, and in the early 1990s he moved to Boca Raton, where he soon became editor of the Silver & Gold Report, a precious metals newsletter that would kick-start his second career as a financial analyst. These days, DiGeorgia, 54, writes books, appears as a pundit on cable networks and publishes high-end newsletters for the financial services industry. He also runs a health products company that sells supplements via direct mail— plus, he owns black belts in jiujitsu and judo. The bookish polymath—a dyed-in-thewool liberal, who could just as easily host a political talk show as bestow investment advice or discuss coins from czarist Russia— shared a few nuggets of insight and advice with Boca Raton.

A renowned course deserves a legendary teacher.

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facetime [ by marie speed ]

Jackie Berlowski

verything Jackie Berlowski has done in her career has prepared her for this moment, from time with a local direct-response marketing company to a stint in media sales for WPTV NewsChannel 5—not to mention nearly five years working with David Letterman. As she prepares to launch her own Delray-based company, BiziBubble.com, she sees her culmination of marketing skills coming to the fore. BiziBubble, a subscription-based service that delivers feminine hygiene products directly to its customers’ doors, may seem a far cry from the Ed Sullivan Theater, home to the “Late Show with David Letterman.” However, Berlowski sees a thread from the day, during her final semester at Ohio State University, when she was selected from 2,000 applicants as one of 10 interns for the “Late Show.” That internship led to a job with the Oxygen Network, followed by a return to Letterman as a full-time talent and music associate. Berlowski booked everything from musical guests to “Stupid Pet Tricks” and worked closely with top celebrities, ensuring that everything ran smoothly, from makeup to rehearsals. It was a heady time in her life, and one that helped lay the groundwork for her business today. “It’s all marketing,” she says. “The blood, sweat and tears you put into whatever you’re doing—whether it’s a TV show or booking talent for a radio show—translates because you want the finished product to be incredible. When I was working with Letterman ... I wanted the end result to be magical for the viewer. In what I’m doing now, I want the end result to be a real experience for the customer.” Berlowski’s work at Deerfield-based The Schwartz Group after she relocated to Florida

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in 2007 also has informed her business approach. The Schwartz Group makes infomercials and is a top marketer of gadgets like the Wow Cup, the Slice-O-Matic, the Perfect Brownie and other successful products of the “but-wait-there’s-more” variety. The BiziBubble model has its own “more” component: Every order delivered has a special gift surprise enclosed. “We package their order with favorite brands they already love,” she says. “On top of that, we are including a surprise gift item. It could be body lotion, hand moisturizer, decadent chocolate, a lifestyle item, popcorn, cosmetics—anything that makes women feel good during that time of the month. And we really give them a surprise and delight factor. “That’s the whole idea behind the business; it’s all done with a wink and a smile. We want it to be whimsical. When they open that package, they not only get their monthly needs, but they also get a gift item just for being the women that they are.” Berlowski thinks she has a winner, with more and more women buying online and the premium placed on convenience. But whatever the outcome, Berlowski knows now is her time. “I’ve always wanted to work for myself eventually, and I was darn lucky enough to learn from the best of the best in the business—producers at Letterman, the producers and directors of The Schwartz Group ... I want to create my own path. I want to bring something to women out there in my own way. I want to take everything I have learned and apply it now moving forward. “I’m married, I have a son, I am in my mid30s. I’m ready to take the bull by the horns and see where this goes.”

Berlowski’s Top 10 Letterman Moments [ 10 ] The moment she learned she got the internship, “the beginning of it all.” [ 9 ] Traveling around the country looking for “Stupid Pet Tricks” and meeting “the most outrageous people” in America. [ 8 ] Staff members dressing up in full makeup and costume for a skit called, “How many Star Wars characters can fit into a Starbucks?” Staffers filed in one by one into the Starbucks across the street from the Ed Sullivan Theater. (She was Queen Amidala.) [ 7 ] When everyone worked on Thanksgiving and put on a huge show. Food was catered for the staff, and everyone watched the Thanksgiving parade from above Broadway, looking out the “Late Show” windows.

[ 6 ] Going to the Emmys every year in Los Angeles. [ 5 ] Watching Dave come down the stairs from his dressing room and walk onstage every night. [ 4 ] Her first day on the job, and several years later, her last day on the job, when Willie Nelson was the musical guest. “Let’s just say getting him out of his trailer for rehearsal was something I will never forget.” [ 3 ] Meeting Jane Fonda. [ 2 ] Meeting Bill Clinton. [ 1 ] When Oprah arrived at the studio (which was kept at a chilly 51 degrees) and locked arms with her all the way up in the elevator, saying her name over and over again so she would remember it.

february 2014

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theBOCAinterview [ by ira winderman ]

The Life of King James

MiaMi Heat superstar LeBron James—tHe doMinant player in His sport and one of tHe Most influential atHletes on tHe planet—pulls back tHe curtain on His life and career in tHis exclusive interview witH Boca Raton.

here is no game today, but that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been work. LeBron James has just completed drills alongside Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and his Miami Heat teammates at AmericanAirlines Arena. As he walks from the practice court that sits hard alongside Biscayne Bay and into a hallway, sweat drenches his red jersey and drips to the floor. Outside of another door, to his right, are dozens of basketballs that need to be autographed, part of the team’s annual “signing day,” an assembly-line process that accounts for much of the Heat’s memorabilia donations. Few athletes in the world understand the corridors that run between work, obligation and personal life better than the fourtime NBA Most Valuable Player, who, at age 29, is trying to lead the Heat to a third consecutive league championship. He’s also a recently married father of two (both sons, with wife Savannah Brinson), a dedicated philanthropist and a Madison Avenue icon (Sports Illustrated ranked him No. 2 behind boxer Floyd Mayweather on its 2013 list of the highest-earning pro athletes, with a combined $56.5 million in salary and endorsements). Though the demands on his time—on this and every day— are considerable, James is firmly in the moment. The native of Akron, Ohio will thoughtfully answer questions on a variety of topics, many of which have little to do with basketball. Occasionally, there are brief pauses, as if the nine-time All-Star is formulating a course of attack against Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant or Carmelo Anthony. There seemingly is as much meticulousness to this process as to his ultimate passion. The man known as King James is both soft spoken and well spoken as he opens up to Boca Raton about life on and off the court.

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You’re one of the most recognizable athletes on the planet. athletes in similar positions have used that platform for a varietY of reasons—personal, political, philanthropic, social. What do You Want to accomplish With Your time on this stage? The game of basketball has given me so much, and I want to use that to be able to inspire the youth to be great, to strive for greatness, to feel like their dreams can become reality. ... If they need to use me as inspiration, I’m all for it. It puts a lot of pressure on me, to go out there and represent in that manner every single day. [But] that’s what it’s about to me.

do You feel comfortable With What You’ve achieved to that end? There’s always things you wished you would have addressed or done better, because you feel like you might have let down some of those kids or some of those people that looked up to you.

But I feel that the hardships that come with what life brings make you a better person at the end of the day.

hoW do You staY grounded given that You’re the center of attention no matter Where You are? everYWhere You go, You’re “lebron.” are there points Where it’s difficult, or because it’s been there since a Young age, is it easier? Well, I mean, it’s been going on since I was 15. Obviously, it can become difficult at times. There [are] times where you wish you could do certain things with your family. You wish you could do certain things individually, out in public. But you just can’t. And I understand that; I’ve learned that over the years. At the same time, I don’t take for granted what this spotlight has given me. It’s given me so much. I just try to live the best way I can and be excited and be happy about the opportunity that this life has shined upon me and my family. I stay grounded with that. february 2014

The LeBron File Born: Dec. 30, 1984 Hometown: Akron, Ohio Position: Forward Height: 6 feet, 8 inches High school: St. Vincent-St. Mary College: None; drafted out of high school by the Cleveland Cavaliers with the first overall pick in 2003. Pro career: Cleveland, 2003-2010; Miami Heat, 2010 to present

NBA photos

NBA highlights: Rookie of the Year (2004); seven-time All-NBA First Team; nine-time NBA All-Star; four-time NBA MVP (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013); two-time NBA Finals MVP and NBA Champion (2012-2013) Regular-season career averages (entering 2013 season): 27.6 points per game, 7.3 rebounds per game, 6.9 assists per game follow the leader

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theBOCAinterview You’ve rubbed shoulders with prominent people in all walks of life. who made the biggest impression on You? I think [the opportunity to meet] Muhammad Ali was an unbelievable moment for me. And Jay-Z, also. He’s like a big brother of mine, a mentor. I still talk to him on a weekly basis. Also Warren Buffett, the advice he’s given me. It’s not [just] the advice, it’s being in their presence and knowing what they have accomplished in their life—not [just] in their businesses but in their personal lives, as well.

are there people with Your kind of fame that You’ve talked to about handling everYthing that comes with this kind of celebritY? No, I haven’t. There’s no book on life, or no book on how to handle certain situations. Everyone is different. And everyone’s trials and tribulations are different, no matter how famous you are or what comes at you. So, I’ve been able to handle it in my way and just take the advice from my loved ones and the people around me.

after making nearlY a dozen trips to china (both basketball and endorsement related), what do You know about that countrY that would surprise people? The excitement around the game of basketball, man, is unbelievable. [So is] their knowledge of the game. When people were recognizing me outside of Akron, I thought that was cool. When I was like in Chicago or went to Salt Lake, and I started getting recognized there as a teenager ... [but] to know that you’re recognized in China— and far, far away places [that] you’ve only seen in geography books and things of that nature— that was unbelievable.

what sparked the involvement of the lebron James familY foundation with at-risk thirdgraders in akron? is it true that You not onlY send them letters of encouragement but that You’ll phone kids who are missing school?

NBA photos

Absolutely. I give them all calls before the start of the school [year] to let them know, “OK, this is an important season for you guys, just like it’s an important season for me. Listen to your teachers. Make sure you’re on time to school.” Then, once school [starts], some miss [class] because they’re sick or [some other reason], so I check in with them and make sure they’re doing OK.

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february 2014

So you’re the truant officer? Yeah, I’m like the patrol officer after school. I mean, it’s something I have a huge passion about. And to have hands on with that is great.

“This game is much bigger than LeBron James. I can’t play forever. ... I’ve got a higher calling than just playing the game of basketball.”

you obviouSly have a lot of time left in your career. are you the kind of perSon who takeS the long view, or do you try not to look ahead? I’m a little bit of both, but I’m more in the “living-in-the-moment” phase. I have given it thought. I know I want to continue to inspire the youth, like I said, as far as my foundation. There’s so much more that we can do, and we’re going to continue to strive for that. ... After I’m done playing, I’ll have an opportunity to see my kids on a day-to-day basis. My kids love to play sports; they’re athletic right now. So we’ll see what happens with that.

So many playerS come through miami, and even though they played the heat team, they Speak of how they meaSure up to you. do you SenSe that opponentS are meaSuring themSelveS againSt you? I don’t sense it. I mean, I wish I knew beforehand—because I’ll take the challenge on my individual match-ups. I love stacking myself up against guys, too. I don’t want anyone to try to get the upper edge on me or base their success on me on one night. That’s why I come with the intensity and knowledge of the game every time I step on the floor. follow the leader

I don’t think there’s a button [that] can do it. There’s nothing on the basketball court someone can say to get me out of my game. I know the importance of what I’m out there to accomplish. I really don’t talk too much trash, but if someone wants to talk, I’m OK with it. I can do both. But I don’t really get involved in that too much. I just go out and do my job.

do younger guyS in the league Seek your counSel? and if they do, iS it freely offered, or iS it like when pat riley SayS that a player Shouldn’t conSort with the enemy? I mean, if they’re genuine about wanting to learn how to play the game of basketball or learn about it off the court, I’m OK with it. And I’m fine with lending a hand. This game is much bigger than LeBron James. I can’t play forever. So I’ve got a lot of knowledge that I can give to the younger guys that may challenge me. I’m OK with that. That doesn’t stop me from when I get out on the floor and we line up across from each other. But, for me, I’ve got a higher calling than just playing the game of basketball.

how do you make collaborationS SucceSSful? iS it Something you’ve learned in miami along the lineS of “i’ve had my time aS a Stand-alone Star; now i want to make it work aS part of a team?”

you go home in the offSeaSon, and you talk about your love for akron. but the more we See of you, the more it SeemS you’ve adapted to South florida life. do you feel like thiS iS a Second home?

nBA pHotos

Nah, it was how I was molded from when I first started playing sports. I never played an individual sport. I was never fond of playing golf or playing tennis. It was basketball. It was football. From the first time I stepped on the football field or the first time I stepped on the basketball court, I always loved the team aspect of it. And my little-league coaches always preached that. My first time playing organized basketball, we won a championship. My coach gave us all the MVP—and I know he knew I was the best player. That let me know, right then ... [that] this is about the team, and no one individual is bigger than the rest of the guys. You can’t go out and beat a group of five by yourself. So I didn’t need to go through the seven years in Cleveland. I didn’t need to go through the three-plus years here. Or the four years of high school. I learned that when I was 9.

there’S Such a reSpect factor for you, but there are guyS who might try to get under your Skin. are opponentS conStantly Searching for the button to puSh?

what’S the one hot button Someone can puSh that will light a fire under you? The only thing that lights a fire under me is if they say LeBron is selfish. And that’s on or off the court.

I feel like this is one of my homes, and I feel comfortable. My family is comfortable. My kids are in school. My wife is opening a healthy Juice Spot here. My mom is here all the time. I am extremely comfortable with being here and calling this a home away from home—or one of my homes. When I go back [to Akron] in the offseason, I have an unbelievable time. I love being there, as well. But I’m extremely happy being here. continued on page 190

have you heard that?

about the author

Absolutely. Yeah, I’ve heard it before.

ira Winderman has covered the Miami Heat since its 1988 inception for the Sun Sentinel, including each of the past four seasons with LeBron James. His work, including his Miami Heat blog and daily mailbag, can be found at sunsentinel.com/heat.

how angry doeS that make you? It’s like, “I guess you really don’t know me.” I’m far from selfish. The thing with me is [that] sometimes I’m not selfish enough. And that plays a big part in who I am, daily.

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february 2014

y k a e Fr a d i r o Fl Is the Sunshine State the capital of bizarre, head-scratching crime? You be the judge. By Emily J. minor illustrations By matt mignanElli aybe it’s the heat. Perhaps it’s the influx of strangers—an estimated 80 million tourists wintered or vacationed here last year alone. Or, given the number of scams perpetuated in the Sunshine State, maybe it’s our reputation for being easily duped. On the other hand, it could be nothing more than sheer stupidity. Whatever the explanation, Florida, according to a recent survey by the Associated Press, is the undisputed champion of strange-but-true news. There are blogs and websites devoted to our state’s seemingly never-ending wave of weird crime. Like the shapely woman who was smuggling cocaine in her breast implants. Or the faux physician who went doorto-door offering free breast exams. Police see it all the time; another numbskull making life interesting. “It seems that there’s a magnet over Florida,” says follow the leader

Stephanie Slater, public information officer for the Boynton Beach Police Department. “There’s always a Florida connection. “Always.” As Florida residents, it’s certainly nothing of which to be proud. However, it does make for good reading. Here are some of our favorite surreal episodes—all from the past five years.

Don’t they have Groupons in this town? Going to the dentist is expensive. But patients in Golden Gate, near Naples, discovered a steal of a deal from a guy named Juan Diego Garcia-Castano, 32, who was doing dental work on the cheap in a rented, one-car garage. (He even had a comfy leather chair that tilted back.) Working on a tip, sheriff’s detectives visited Garcia[ bocamag.com ]

Castano’s clinic to get an estimate for a root canal, which turned out to be $400—about $1,000 less than the going rate at a typical dental office. The officers returned with a search warrant, and Garcia-Castano was charged with practicing dentistry without a license. Sure, the garage was clean, but rules are rules.

The RazoR’s edge Megan Mariah Barnes, 37, was driving her Thunderbird south on U.S. 1 in the Florida Keys when she rather violently rear-ended a family from Palm Bay. What happened? Apparently, Barnes was shaving her pubic hair—while driving—in pre-date preparation for a meeting with her boyfriend in Key West. The accident probably came as no surprise to police in the Keys, who see their share of freakish escapades. But this story took an even stranger turn when authorities realized Barnes was driving with a suspended license because of a DUI conviction—which happened the day before. Even weirder: The woman’s ex-husband was driving with her, steering the car while she took care of business. Sounds like a reality show in the making.

The defense ResTs ... and is aRResTed

Matthew Oliver, 23, of New Port Richey was fooling around on Facebook one day when he noticed the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office had named their “Fugitive of the Day.” And it was him! Oliver couldn’t resist posting in his own defense; he claimed that he was in the hospital the day of the robbery, so it couldn’t have been him. He went on to add that a crackhead had set him up. How dare the police accuse him! The post went on and on and on and on ... giving deputies ample time to knock on his door and cuff him.

Pain in the Ass

Oneal Ron Morris, a transgender man who identifies as a woman, was arrested in Miami Gardens for injecting total grossness into the behinds of other transgenders who wanted curvier posteriors. Police said Morris used a frightening cocktail of cement, super glue, mineral oil and Fix-A-Flat tire inflator, injecting the mixture right into the behinds of the JLo wannabes. Naturally, someone became sick and called police, and Morris’ living-room clinic was shut down. Police later posted full-length pictures of the famous “toxic-tush” nurse, who had obviously injected himself a few times. We’re betting he didn’t charge himself the customary $700.

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Something got hiS goat Stealing is wrong, of course. But stealing your neighbor’s goat for sex? Well, that’s just a whole lotta wrong. A 48-year-old Panhandle man was put in jail after the goat, Meg, died of apparent asphyxiation at some point during their private encounter. (Hey, don’t blame the messenger.) The charges didn’t last long. In Florida, home of the weird, sex with a goat wasn’t illegal. That is, until state Sen. Nan Rich got involved. Rich—already fired up over an incident involving a blind man arrested for having sex with his guide dog—sponsored an anti-bestiality bill that, in 2011, finally was signed into state law. The penalty for having relations with an animal? It’s a first-degree misdemeanor.

holy FaShion Faux PaS! We’re not dissing the power of prayer, but a man named Anthony Jason Garcia had a different kind of inspiration after a restful moment in a Catholic church near Disney World. About 12 people were wandering the grounds of the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe, when Garcia, 31, left the chapel, rushed into the gift shop and demanded the cash drawer from one of the largest church stores in the Southeastern United States. Unfortunately for Garcia, his style selection came back to haunt him. Unable to handle the haul—and keep his trendy-but-slouchy pants from falling down—he eventually stumbled. A maintenance man tackled Garcia and kept him in a headlock until police arrived, at which time Garcia was hauled to jail and charged with felony robbery. Charges from above are still pending.

But DoeS She Do WinDoWS? Next time your mom tells you to clean your room, do it. Maybe that’s the lesson from an arrest in Zephyrhills last fall. Police said they found Stephanie Thompson, 28, screaming and crying with a burn mark on her face after her mother, Cynthia Alexander, 48, used a taser gun to, um, “encourage” her grown daughter to clean the mobile home they shared. The 28-year-old refused to press charges, police said, telling them she loved her mom and that they’d work it out. Together. With Pledge and a soft rag.

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Behind the Police Blotter When it comes to weird cases, nothing seems to surprise

public information officers at police departments throughout South Florida. Well, almost nothing. ark Economou has been the public information specialist at the Boca Raton Police Department for five years. He thought he’d pretty much seen it all. Then this happened. This past October, about 5 in the morning on a Friday, the department received a call on its emergency line. A man had stopped at a Walgreens to run an errand when he noticed something rather alarming. “He said he saw a man talking to a large duffel bag,” Economou says. “And he saw a female arm coming out of the duffel.” The police scrambled into action, looking for the car, the man and the woman attached to the arm. Was it a carjacking, a kidnapping, a domestic? “After three or four hours, we found the car,” Economou says. As it turned out, the man was in rehab, the woman in the bag was his girlfriend, and ... Well, he was sneaking her in for some one-on-one. “Those are the kind of weird stories I guess you are referring to,” he says. Economou says Florida’s propensity for national headlines probably stems from three things: the state’s liberal public-record laws, the immediacy of social media and “a different day and age.” It’s different, all right. Consider the guy in Oakland Park who pulled into a gas station and parked his van over the in-ground gasoline tanks. According to Dani Moschella, public information officer for Broward Sheriff’s Office, the man apparently had researched some sort of bizarre hydraulic system that allowed him to tap into the underground tanks and then pump stolen gasoline into the barrels he was hauling. “I always wonder if somebody in Whatever County, Wis., is doing the same thing,” Moschella says. One place renowned for acts of drunkenness and tomfoolery is Mile Marker 0, our very own Key West. But despite its reputation, police spokeswoman Alyson Crean says she doesn’t think her city is all that strange. “There was a guy arrested several years ago in San Diego with monkeys in his pants,” she says. “Weird stuff just happens.”

From the Vault

here are tWo Strange-But-true FloriDa ePiSoDeS From our State’S StorieD PaSt. ✘ the galS at Southern Bell telePhone Co. in miami worked a pretty swell scheme back in 1950. led by a meter maid named ruth mcnab, a few ladies—at least three, maybe more—would stuff their bras with coins brought in from the pay phones. on a good day, a buxom lady could smuggle out 10 rolls of quarters, an extra $150 a day. the less-endowed workers found the arrangement less lucrative.

✘ SaD, But true. hedy lamarr, the austrian movie siren once billed as the most beautiful woman alive, was arrested a few years before her death in 2000 on shoplifting charges outside orlando. She was charged with stealing $21.48 worth of laxative tablets and eye drops from an eckerd drugstore.

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Giving Someone a Hand... Gone Wild

Phillip Winikoff, 81, was pretty convincing, what with his little black bag and his earnest concern. But it turned out the free breast exams he was offering door-to-door in a Lauderdale Lakes apartment complex were free for a reason: He’s no doctor, just an old guy who likes touching breasts. When Winikoff took his traveling “free breast exam” ruse on the road, one woman, incredibly, invited him for an impromptu appointment. (She got nervous when his hands wandered elsewhere.) Police said by the time the woman called 911, Winikoff already had found a second victim. Women’s health advocates used the opportunity to remind ladies of this one simple truth: Breast examiners don’t go door to door.

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Man vs. Woman The online geeks who run the Twitter feed “Florida man ...” and “Florida woman ...” post all kind of weird Sunshine State behavior—each of them starting with the words “Florida man” or “Florida woman.” Here are a few of our favorites.

The Ladies

The Men ➔ Florida man sprinkles wife’s ashes in her favorite

lenscrafters ➔ Florida man arrested in favorite McDonald’s twice in one day ➔ Florida man spent years posing as Dea agent just so he could get into strip clubs free ➔ Florida man is beaten up by grandma he was trying to rob ➔ Florida man films himself driving speedboat through tornado ➔ Florida man sits naked on beach, surrounded by dozens of plastic pink flamingos ➔ Florida man steals ambulance with patient still inside ➔ Florida man beats Jets fan with pvc pipe for insulting the Dolphins ➔ Florida man in jail after fight over hard-boiled egg ➔ Florida man gives quote on Zimmerman trial to local newspaper, says name is “howie Felterbush”

Drop the Dual-Shock controller, now!

It might have been just a toy, but Port St. Lucie police weren’t amused when Giovanna Borge, 19, marched into the bedroom she shared with her boyfriend—and started shooting him with a plastic squirt gun. Borge was actually taken to jail and charged with simple domestic battery after neighbors told police they heard the boyfriend screaming like crazy. (What? Was he melting?) Borge, who had been in the relationship about a year, told police she’d had it with her man playing Xbox, which is what he was doing when she got all trigger-happy. See? Video games do cause violence.

Monkey See, Monkey Do Not every bank robbery call is run of the mill, if there is such a thing. Naples police found follow the leader

Florida woman stabbed boyfriend in eye because he didn’t want to have a threesome Florida woman arrested for taking shirt off in bar, tells cops “it’s titty time.” Florida woman once known for incurable hiccups now known for murder conviction Florida woman warns cop she doesn’t have pants on after being stopped for Dui Florida woman says dead husband trying to contact her through potato Florida woman caught stealing beef jerky from walmart, blames bucket list Florida woman says Jesus endorsing her for mayor Florida woman arrested for riding bus naked Florida woman tries to disguise marijuana as tampon Florida woman banned from wearing mermaid costume in community pool

this out for sure when they responded to a 911 call from a Wells Fargo Bank branch and found Mark Loescher, 51, claiming to be the “half-orangutan director of the CIA.” He also threw around some pretty lofty inside connections—including a friendship with then-President George Bush and a blood linkage to Elvis Presley. Police figured the stories were fake, but Loescher’s gun wasn’t. So they carted him off to jail.

can he keep hiS rollover MinuteS?

Generally speaking, it’s a bad idea to “butt dial” the authorities in the middle of a murderous rant. But Scott Simon, 24, apparently fell asleep during that part of class. Simon was arrested in Broward County after he accidentally (we’re assuming) pocketdialed 911 in the parking lot of a Waffle

House. On the call to the recorded line, Simon could be heard yelling at Nicholas Walker, 33, mad as all get-out, threatening to follow him home and kill him. When Walker was shot dead minutes later, detectives showed up at Simon’s door. Simon wasn’t accused of being the gunman, but, rather, of orchestrating the death. Police said it was the first time they’d ever had a thug tattle on himself.

source material Eliot Kleinberg, author, Weird Florida; Frank Cerabino, Palm Beach Post; Dave Moreland’s “Bozo Crime of the Day,” found at electricferret. com/bozo; Florida Man, found at twitter. com/_FloridaMan; Florida Woman, found at twitter.com/_FloridaWoman; Fark.com; newsoftheweird.com; mentalfloss.com; and the websites of the Miami Herald, Palm Beach Post, Sun Sentinel, WPTV, Naples Daily News, Orlando Sentinel and Sarasota Herald-Tribune. [ bocamag.com ]

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Bra and panties, from Drawer Full of Lingerie, Boca Raton; Prada shoes, from Saks Fifth Avenue, Town Center at Boca Raton; earrings, from Lord & Taylor, Mizner Park, Boca Raton

e k i l e m o S ! t o h t i

Add some sizzle to your Valentine’s Day (and night) with the season’s sexiest lingerie. PhotogrAPhy by ErnEsto sEmPoll

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november 2013

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Etro jacket from Saks Fifth Avenue; bustier, from C. Madeleineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Miami; Dior slip, from Serendipity, Boca Raton

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november 2013

Bra, from Forever 21, Town Center; sheer cardigan and necklace, from Anthropologie, Town Center; Stella McCartney shorts, from Saks Fifth Avenue

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Bustier, from Victoriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Secret, Town Center; shorts, from Anthropologie; Prada shoes, from Saks Fifth Avenue; Yves Saint Laurent tux bib, from Serendipity; earrings, from Lord & Taylor

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february 2014

AlaĂŻa crop jacket and DSquared2 pencil skirt from Saks Fifth Avenue; earrings, from Lord & Taylor; bustier, from Victoriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Secret

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Roberto Cavalli jacket and Prada shoes, from Saks Fifth Avenue; bra and high-waist panties, from Victoriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Secret; earrings, from Lord & Taylor

StyliSt: David Arthur Fittin, Artist Management/Miami Art director: Lori Pierino Model: Gintare Sudziute, Wilhelmina Miami HAir/MAkeup: Mark Williamson, Wilhelmina Miami StyliSt ASSiStAnt: Desiree Di Tomaso locAtion: Blue House, Design District, Miami

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february 2014

Hanro top, from Drawer Full of Lingerie; Versace pencil skirt, from Saks Fifth Avenue; earrings, from Lord & Taylor

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BoB DaviDoff/DaviDoff StuDioS

left: President Kennedy and Vice President Johnson, circa 1960 right: Easter Sunday at the Kennedys’ Palm Beach compound, April 1963

An Island Unto Themselves The legendary Palm Beach history of the Kennedy dynasty was anything but politics as usual. By John Thomason

he lavish beachfront home at 1095 N. Ocean Blvd., built by Addison Mizner in 1923 for department-store tycoon Rodman Wanamaker, originally bore the name “La Guerida,” Spanish for “bounty of war.” For a good portion of the 20th century, the occupants of this 100-foot-long estate brought their own brand of war to Palm Beach. The Kennedy family called 1095 N. Ocean Blvd. (currently owned by financier John Castle and wife Marianne) their high-season home for six decades; during the years when Secret Service guarded the fortified enclave, it would be known as the “Winter White House.” It marked an era when the world’s first family regularly visited Palm Beach, attending church, enjoying the beach, shopping and dining. But there was a darker side to the Kennedy

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history, one that would shadow the family for decades, especially here in South Florida. The Kennedys would battle their share of personal demons and indulge in their share of vices at the North Ocean Boulevard property and other spots in Palm Beach—secrets and lies, tragedies and controversies, and historic dramas that riveted a nation. A little more than 50 years after Jack Kennedy’s death, Boca Raton revisits what was once America’s most famous dynasty—the Kennedys—and their storied connection to Palm Beach.

Bound for Gloria In the early 1930s, much of America was in a state of abject depression: millions lost their jobs after the stock market crash, and they couldn’t even drink their problems away, at least not legally. The same could not be said

about Joseph P. Kennedy—father of John, Robert and Ted, among other privileged offspring—who had plenty of cash and booze. As a distributor of forbidden libations, Kennedy had earned the nickname “Bootlegger Joe”; thanks to Prohibition, he became a millionaire in his early 30s. In 1933, at age 45, he purchased La Guerida from Rodman Wanamaker for $115,000, about a third of its precrash market value. According to Murray Weiss and Bill Hoffman’s Palm Beach Babylon, a compendium of area scandals, the town of Palm Beach had been in Joe Kennedy’s heart long before one of its most luxurious properties came into his possession. “Some of Joe’s most pleasant memories were of playing with his two infant sons on the beach outside the Breakers Hotel,” write the authors. Perhaps more importantly for the budding

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Clockwise from left: Bobby Shriver, Ted Kennedy, Rose Kennedy, Eunice Shriver, Joan Kennedy, Patrick Kennedy, Timothy Shriver and Sarge Shriver standing outside St. Edward Church in April 1981.

Kennedy, Palm Beach provided prime real estate for picking up girls. A movie buff of questionable taste, Kennedy had become involved with film production, funding forgotten, preCode B-pictures like “Naughty Nanette” and “Splitting the Breeze.” Along the way, he went into business with Hollywood starlet Gloria Swanson, falling in lust while finding her roles. In the winter of 1928, Kennedy invited Swanson to the Royal Poinciana Hotel, where he was

staying. The actress brought her third husband, French nobleman Henry de La Falaise, but his presence didn’t stop Joe from making his move. As Weiss and Hoffman report it, Kennedy organized a fishing trip for Henry on his private yacht, just to get him out of the way. The moment the yacht set sail, Kennedy showed up unannounced at Swanson’s door and put his lips on hers before she could mutter anything; it was just like in the movies. Swanson reciprocated. As she would later write of the encounter, “He was like a roped horse, rough, arduous, roaring to be free. After a hasty climax, he lay beside me, stroking my hair.” Thus began a torrid two-year affair between the 29-year-old Swanson and the businessman 11 years her senior. Kennedy continued to shuttle Henry de la Falaise anywhere his wife wasn’t, including designating him as head of operations for media company Pathe’s Paris studio, a position that required him to relocate to Europe. The relationship ended over a dispute about—what else?—money. This is a Palm Beach story, after all.

BoB DavIDoff/DavIDoff STuDIoS

Camelot in Palm BeaCh Decades later, La Guerida was the first place that John F. Kennedy visited as presidentelect, turning up on the island two days after his electoral victory in November 1960 (the Palm Beach compound was also one of the last places Kennedy would visit, enjoying his final respite at La Guerida on Nov. 18, 1963).

The SToryTeller Part-time Palm Beach resident and historian Laurence Leamer has written extensively about the Kennedy dynasty, including his best-selling tomes The Kennedy Men and The Kennedy Women. He’s also the author of the compelling exposé that pulls the curtain on Palm Beach’s elite, Madness Under the Royal Palms; his most recent book is The Price of Justice. He shared his thoughts on the Kennedys and Palm Beach with Boca Raton.

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You’ve written thorough studies on the KennedYs, and You’ve aLso written about PaLm beach, where the KennedYs haPPened to winter. is this a coincidence, or did one subject Lead You to the other? I came down to Palm Beach the first time in 1991 to attend the William Kennedy Smith rape trial, as part of the research for the first of my three Kennedy books, The Kennedy Women. I stayed at the Chesterfield. I found Palm Beach one of the strangest places I had ever seen. Where was the life? It was all inside hidden away. I decided I would buy a place on the island and one day write a book about Palm Beach.

did anY of the KennedYs saY anYthing to You about PaLm beach? The Kennedys loved coming to Palm Beach. The whole ethos of the family was formed overwhelmingly in two places: Hyannis Port and Palm Beach. It showed the two sides of the family. In Hyannis Port one saw the sportive, competitive Kennedys. In Palm Beach one saw the social side of the clan. i’ve read that the KennedYs were considered PaLm beach “outsiders,” even when theY sPent Long stretches of time over manY Years on the isLand. whY do You thinK that is? Some Palm Beachers have this arrogant man-

february 2014

ner of declaring everyone but themselves “outsiders.” Joe was a member of the Everglades Club. He didn’t like it, and he quit. That doesn’t sound like an outsider to me. What is the general reaction toWard the Kennedys today from Palm Beach regulars? I think the controversial aspect of the Kennedys is largely gone these days, and people remember with a certain fondness the excitement the Kennedys brought, especially during JFK’s presidency. Ethel Kennedy still comes down to the island each winter, and so do a number of others. But they are largely left alone.

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What imPact, if any, do you thinK the William Kennedy smith raPe case had on defining Palm Beach’s image and rePutation for the nation at large? The William Kennedy Smith rape trial was important as a precursor to the media orgy of the O.J. Simpson trial. I think it had little impact on the island’s image. Though remember what Mr. Smith’s defense was. He said he was having sex with a woman he had met at a bar on the beach beneath his mother’s window. Not exactly typical Palm Beach behavior. One hopes she wasn’t looking out on the ocean.

BOB DavIDOFF/DavIDOFF STuDIOS

The Kennedys as children, from left: Eunice, Robert, Teddy and Jean. Right: President Kennedy at Palm Beach International Airport in 1963.

The Kennedy estate La Guerida was the first place that John F. Kennedy visited as president-elect.

should he have Been found guilty, as many Believe? I was in the courtroom, and by the evidence presented, the verdict was correct. But do I believe he was guilty? Yes. But some good news came out of the case. Roy Black, the defense attorney, kept looking up at one attractive juror. She’s his wife now. What do you thinK of the restorations that have Been made to the Kennedy estate, under the castles’ oWnershiP? I wouldn’t call it a restoration. I’ve been there, and it looks like a Days Inn.

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BoB DaviDoff/DaviDoff StuDioS

President Kennedy, Easter 1963 Sen. Ted Kennedy at St. Mary’s Hospital

It was here in Palm Beach, in a largely forgotten event less than a month after Kennedy defeated Richard Nixon by the narrowest of margins, that 73-year-old Richard Paul Pavlick, a retired postal worker from New Hampshire, attempted to assassinate the president. Citing that he believed Kennedy “bought the election,” Pavlick was the Wile E. Coyote of would-be assassins, preparing his car with seven sticks of dynamite and planning to ram Kennedys’ limousine as he left for Sunday Mass at St. Edward Church. Ever a gentleman, Pavlick backed out of his plan because he didn’t want to hurt the president’s family, which accompanied him to church. Palm Beach police officer Lester Free arrested him four days later. Much has been written about JFK’s voracious sexual appetite; the apple, in this case, didn’t fall far from the tree. Like his father, Kennedy would use La Guerida for his sexual dalliances, which, if you believe the rumors, number into the hundreds. Also like his father, John would find ways to dispose of his paramours’ probing loved ones; to enjoy the company

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of Florence Pritchett Smith, daughter of Wall Street investor and North Ocean Boulevard neighbor Earl Smith, Kennedy tried to appoint Mr. Smith his ambassador to Sweden. Only when he was convalescing from back surgery, in the mid-1950s, did Kennedy keep his libido in check. While recuperating at La Guerida—a time when he reportedly wrote most of Profiles in Courage, his Pulitzer Prize-winner— his wife arranged for mutual friend Grace Kelly to show up in a sexy nurse outfit and administer a feeding. John didn’t even notice her. As Weiss and Hoffman describe it in Palm Beach Babylon, Kelly reportedly lamented, “I must be losing it.”

Beginning of the end With two idealistic Kennedys buried from assassins’ bullets, Camelot had disappeared by 1968, and the stories that would emanate from 1095 N. Ocean would no longer contain the joie de vivre of the family’s political ascendancy. If the manse was still something of a pleasure palace, it was a far less glamorous one, and stories of drug abuse and alcoholism

tarnished the Kennedy brand. While driving in Palm Beach in the winter of 1968, six months before the travesty at Chappaquidick, an inebriated Ted Kennedy missed a turn and, per Weiss and Hoffman’s description, “hopped a curve and barreled through a mass of heavy shrubbery, barely missing a cement wall.” The senator’s chauffeur made the entire incident go away, without a word of thanks from Ted. After Ted Kennedy’s first failed presidential bid, in 1980, he began to use La Guerida as something of a transient hotel, and the place went to seed. In her book Life With Rose Kennedy, Barbara Gibson noted “how run-down and shabby everything was … with red tiles falling off the roof and wooden window frames rotting away. Falling coconuts had cracked the glass-topped tables on the patio.” Two of the bedrooms “looked like the inside of a cheap motel.” Weiss and Hoffman were even more unsparing in their diagnosis: “With Joe Kennedy dead and matriarch Rose absent, La Guerdia became little february 2014

more than a multimillion-dollar flophouse.” The Kennedys’ biggest Palm Beach tragedy up to that time would hit the family not at La Guerida but at the Brazilian Court Hotel, four miles away, on April 25, 1984. The Kennedys hosted a grand party that Easter weekend, but they didn’t have room in the mansion for David, Robert F. Kennedy’s wayward, 28-year-old third son. So they sequestered him at the Brazilian, known at the time for its “shabby elegance” and its discretion. David Kennedy would need it: He was a recreational drug abuser, a habit he credited to the unspeakable trauma of watching

“By all accounts, [they] had sex,” writes J. Randy Taraborrelli, in his careful review of the case in his recent book After Camelot. Taraborrelli presents an appropriately murky account of the evening’s events, which included, at the very least, rough but consensual sex spurred by too much alcohol and, at the worst, rape on the pool deck. Weiss and Hoffman, who reported on the case for the New York Post, take a potentially libelous route of printing Bowman’s side as fact in Palm Beach Babylon: “Smith pushed aside her dress and raped her as she continued to scream in vain for help.” Both books report

his father assassinated on television. On the Monday following Easter, David dined with German model Marion Niemann at a candlelit table at Chuck & Harold’s, a seafood restaurant near The Breakers. He drank six or seven vodkas in a little more than an hour, according to Weiss and Hoffman, and brought Niemann back to room 107 in the Brazilian, where he reportedly wept into her arms and snorted cocaine. The next morning, on the day he was scheduled to leave Palm Beach, he died from a cocktail of Demerol, cocaine and Mellaril, an antipsychotic tranquilizer that he injected into his groin. Two bellhops, Peter Merchant and David Dorr, were charged with selling him the coke.

The end Before O.J. Simpson, the Ford Bronco chase and “if the gloves don’t fit, you must acquit,” the 1990s already had spawned a contender for Trial of the Century, and it happened right here in Palm Beach. On Good Friday in March 1991, Ted Kennedy decided to corral his son, Patrick, and nephew William Kennedy Smith for a nowinfamous night on the town. They visited the Au Bar nightclub on Royal Poinciana Way, where the younger Kennedys picked up a couple of girls. William, 30, continued to dance with Patricia Bowman, a 29-year-old single mother from Jupiter, well after Ted and Patrick had left the premises. Bowman drove William back to the Kennedy compound, where, around 4 a.m., the inebriated couple began to make out by the Olympic-sized pool. The rest of the story is up for debate—and would be decided by a jury. follow the leader

that Patricia left the compound and returned shortly afterward to charge rape; that she told William he was a “wonderful guy” before accusing him; and that she frequently referred to him as “Michael,” which Taraborrelli credits to her drunken state and which Weiss and Hoffman consider a result of her rape trauma. Taraborrelli paints William as arrogant and inattentive during the pretrial process. Told that it would take time and money to fight the charges, William replied, “Oh, that’s easy. We have both.” At one point, when William was distracted during a meeting with their attorneys, his mother, Jean, calmly approached a bookshelf, grabbed a heavy tome and dropped it on the table in front of William with a resounding thud. There’s no question which side had more influence in the courtroom. The Kennedys assembled the best defense money could buy, painting a picture of a reckless, unreliable plaintiff who snorted cocaine, had three abortions and birthed a child out of wedlock; they even dredged up 17 traffic tickets she had accrued. The trial was lurid: The number of the defendant’s ejaculations was studied in detail, and upon hearing the results, prosecutor Moira Lasch memorably asked Kennedy Smith the rhetorical flourish, “What are you, some kind of sex machine?” The media loved it, from the tabloids to the New York Times. More than 900 journalists filled rooms at the Colony, the Breakers and the Brazilian Court. While Bowman’s testimony was compelling—“your client raped me,” she famously told the D.A.s—the jury found her testimony inconsistent, and William Kennedy Smith was acquitted of all charges, avoiding a 15-year prison

Like his father, Kennedy would use La Guerida for his sexual dalliances.

Top: William Kennedy Smith listens to testimony. Below: Defense attorney Roy Black makes his opening statement at the trial.

sentence. The court of public opinion has sided overwhelmingly with Bowman, however, and civil suits of sexual harassment have continued to follow William into the new millennium, where he is a prominent physician specializing in rehabilitation from landmine disabilities. The rape trial would be the last time the national media would swarm Palm Beach for a Kennedy drama. In 1995, the family sold La Guerida to the Castles for a reported $4.92 million. The new owners spent more than $6 million on a two-year restoration based on Mizner’s original design. Local architect Jeffery Smith took the job, and the mansion was renamed Castillo del Mar, or “Sea Castle.” For the first time, the manse had air conditioning. The edifice may look like the palace Joseph Kennedy purchased in 1933, but the Castles have done their part to paint over the previous tenants’ politics. “The house will no longer be Democratic,” John Castle told the New York Times after buying the property. “I’m a Republican.” [ bocamag.com ]

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The

Florida Swing

Walk in the footsteps of golf legends at classic Sunshine State courses like Bay Hill in Orlando. By Kevin Kaminski

The devilish par-3 17th at Bay Hill is pleasing to the eyeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;until you step in the tee box and take aim at the flag.

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february 2014

A Bay hill cluB & lodge Where: 9000 Bay Hill Blvd., Orlando distance from Boca: 200 miles or three-plus hours by car Phone: 407/876-2429 WeBsite: bayhill.com

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rnold Palmer may hold the legal documents to Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, but as any golf enthusiast familiar with the annual tournament played here each spring knows, this course is owned by Tiger Woods. If that thought hasn’t crossed your mind at least once over the first 17 exhilarating— occasionally paralyzing—holes at Bay Hill, it will at 18. It’s here, at the 458-yard par-4, that Tiger has worked his magic time and again en route to eight tournament victories in 14 years. Like the slippery 24-foot birdie putt he buried to capture the 2008 event that prompted one of his signature celebratory outbursts—a triumphant Tiger slam of the golf hat that rivaled a touchdown spike. Or the 16-footer he drained on the final hole of regulation in 2009 to complete the largest Sunday comeback (five strokes) of his career. Of course, that’s all well and good when you wield the flat stick like Tiger Woods.

But for high-handicappers like myself, the real moment of truth is back on the fairway, standing some 185 yards from a green ruthlessly protected by a rock-lined pond that gives 18 it’s well-earned nickname— Devil’s Bathtub. The devil, in this case, is begging you to take the plunge. The question, knowing that 18 consistently ranks as the toughest hole at Bay Hill when it hosts the Arnold Palmer Invitational, is whether you’re man enough—or fool enough—to tempt fate. Do you play it safe and bail out to the left, where a bunker is sure to snag your approach? Or do you take dead aim at a right-side pin placement with precious little green fore and aft—and risk sending your Titleist down the Bathtub drain? For those of us who count Masters weekend as a legal holiday, this is the beauty of living in Florida. Not only do golfers have access to the links year-round, we also can test our mettle throughout the Sunshine State on renowned courses and iconic [ bocamag.com ]

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Great Golf Destinations

In addition to Bay Hill, check out three other top Florida golf getaways. Florida wetlands that has everything from wind-swept dunes to some 160 pot bunkers. There’s also a lighted par-3 course for golfers who can’t wait for the sun to come up— plus, a David Leadbetter Golf Academy. resort highlights: The Mokara Spa offers a full range of massages, facials, pedicures and manicures; restaurants include Zen, with its Pan-Asian cuisine, and David’s Club, a sophisticated sports bar with a four-star menu unlike anything you’ve ever seen at Hooters. Contact: 407/390-6664, omnihotels.com

Golf against a waterfall backdrop at Turnberry Isle

3 the world, a 25,000-squarefoot sanctuary that has to be seen to be believed; the 7,500-square-foot Laguna Pool features private cabanas with refrigerators and flat-screen TVs; Bourbon Steak, the chic contemporary steak house by Michael Mina, may be one of the best restaurants in all of South Florida. Contact: 305/932-6200, turnberryislemiami.com

The pool at Turnberry Isle

Turnberry Isle MIaMI Where: 19999 W. Country Club Drive, Aventura Tee it up: The resort’s signature Soffer Course— redesigned by Ray Floyd in 2007—snags the lion’s share of the attention with aesthetic splendor on virtually every hole, including a signature

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island green on the 18th. But don’t pass on a round at the less intimidating but equally entertaining Miller Course. Ask for a caddie or forecaddie; they have killer tips—and great stories about the celebs who’ve played here. resort highlights: The Spa & Fitness Center is consistently ranked among the best in

OMnI OrlandO resOrT aT ChaMpIOnsGaTe Where: Just outside of Orlando Tee it up: Greg Norman designed two beautifully manicured courses of more than 7,000 yards—the National, carved out of orange groves and wetlands; and the International, an inspired British links-style tract built around Central

WOrld GOlf VIllaGe Where: St. Augustine Tee it up: There are two championship courses on the grounds of the World Golf Hall of Fame—King & Bear, the only course designed jointly by Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus; and Slammer & Squire, named after consultants Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen. Check out the full-service PGA Tour Golf Academy with hightech hitting bays and state-ofthe-art club fitting. resort highlights: The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village, which underwent a $10 million renovation a few years back, features more than 300 guest rooms; dining options include the perfect spot for golf enthusiasts—Murray Bros. Caddyshack, from Mr. “Cinderella Story” himself, Bill Murray. Contact: 904/940-6088, golfwgv.com

february 2014

welcome to their world

When a resort the size of orlando world center marriott embarks on a cosmetic overhaul, the face-lift better be dazzling for guests to take notice. In this case, the obvious eye candy includes the addition of two 200-foot twisting, turning waterslides—and one 90-foot heart-thumping speed slide— to Falls Pool Oasis, already considered one of the top hotel pools in town. The ninth hole at Bay Hill

But it’s the more understated, yet equally compelling, renovations that will continue to drive in-state travelers to this mammoth 2,000-room property, positioned within minutes of Disney. Along with upgrades to a quarter of the guestrooms and the lobby-level Starbucks, which now rivals one of the coffee chain’s stand-alone stores, World Center introduced Siro Urban italian Kitchen. The ever-revolving tapas menu of fresh, innovative offerings at Siro already is drawing a following. Think salumi and formaggio plates; veal meatballs drenched in pomodoro sauce inspired by chef Anthony Burdo’s grandma; Pinot Grigio-steamed mussels; rock shrimp with banana peppers; special handmade pasta dishes; and a green, egg and ham personal pizza with arugula, prosciutto and a sunny-side-up topping. For golfers, World Center is a paradise unto itself with a challenging par-71 championship course at hawk’s landing club and an on-site Bill Madonna Golf Academy. Not to be outdone, the Spa at world center offers dozens of specialty massages, skin and nail care services, and body treatments—including a selection of soothing packages that run the better part of four hours. Throw in another nine restaurants and lounges, tennis courts, a state-of-the-art fitness center, special events and seasonal discounts, and the World is more than enough for any visit to Orlando. (407/239-4200; marriott.com/hotels/ travel/mcowc-orlandoworld-center-marriott)

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holes, many of which have brought some of the game’s greatest players to their knees. To that end, Bay Hill belongs on every golfer’s bucket list—if for no other reason than the possibility of holding court with the King himself. The property has been in Arnold Palmer’s name since the mid-1970s, when he exercised his lease option to purchase a 270-acre tract that feels more like an undulating North Florida layout than a Central Florida destination just minutes from downtown Orlando. Palmer maintains a winter residence at Bay Hill and, according to several staffers, couldn’t be more genial and approachable while in town from October to April. Though technically a member’s-only club, you don’t need to be a direct descendent of

Unlike some of the more all-encompassing resort/golf experiences—at destinations like Turnberry Isle in Miami (see sidebar)—Bay Hill really is all about the links. That’s good news for purists, especially those who take advantage of the off-season rates and less-crowded tee boxes between May and September. The reward is in a twisting, turning layout that has more doglegs than golfers can shake a stick at. Palmer himself oversaw the most recent renovations, in 2009, which included complete revamping of the greens with Emerald Dwarf Bermuda grass. But the spirit of the challenging course, originally built in 1961, remains the same. Holes like the par 5 16th, which starts at elevation, or the picturesque par 3 17th, fronted

This monTh in Boca: The allianz championship, Feb. 7-9 at Broken sound club Arnie’s Army to book a tee time. The lodge portion of Bay Hill consists of 70 rather pedestrian rooms that, on the plus side, afford guests golfing privileges. Those enrolled in the Palmer Golf Academy Program—with its detailed instruction and personalized approach—also are guaranteed course time. Academy rates, depending on the length of stay and time of year, run anywhere from $295 to more than $2,600. On the amenities side, Bay Hill features a full-service spa and salon that offers everything from body wraps and cleansing facials to waxing, nail care and a handful of massage treatments. Dining options include lighter fare at the Terrace Café and the Bay Window, and breakfast, lunch and dinner inside the more upscale Grill and Classic rooms.

by a lake that reflects the afternoon sky like a mirror, are sights to behold from the tee box. But then it hits you that your approach on 16 is over a stream and onto a green dramatically sloped to send any ball hit short spinning into the water. Or that, in addition to navigating the lake on 17, you face a bunker so large that it could sustain beachfront condos. By the time I reached my second shot at 18, I felt battle-tested and ready to stare down the Bathtub. I grabbed a long hybrid club that had served me well all afternoon, and let it rip, right at the flag. The ball would find one of the two back bunkers; unfortunately, there would be no Tiger-esque chip out of the trap for birdie. But at least I left 18 knowing that I had given the devil his due. [ bocamag.com ]

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backstagepass [ 124 hot list • 126 take 5 • 128 festival of the arts through the years ]

[ by john thomason ]

Masters of IllusIon lIve Where: Coral Springs Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Drive When: Feb. 19 Details: The amount of weaponry onstage could resemble the arsenal of an especially theatrical militia: buzz saws, chainsaws, swords, caged tigers, uncaged snakes. Danger even accompanies benign props; there are very few boxes that don’t wind up engulfed in flames or housing sawed-off appendages dangling for dear life. But chances are pretty close to 110 percent that nothing will actually go wrong at this elaborate magic show, staged by the folks behind the short-lived but fondly remembered TV series of the same name (“Masters of Illusion” will return to television this year, courtesy of the CW). The show will feature escapologists, illusionists, dancers and quick-change artists, including such renowned magicians as Ed Alonzo, Jason Byrne and Christopher Hart; the latter’s disembodied hand became worldfamous after starring in the three “Addams Family” films. tickets: $40.28–$50.88 contact: 954/344-5999, coral springscenterforthearts.com

More A&e coverAge At bocAMAg.coM Visit bocamag.com for all your local A&E coverage, including John Thomason’s Monday breakdown of the upcoming week’s cultural events; movie, concert and theater reviews; interviews with local entertainers—and much more.

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backstage pass

hotlist Where: Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach When: Feb. 24 Details: An estimated 23 million people have watched Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre perform—in 48 states, 71 countries and six continents. John F. Kennedy saw AAADT as ambassadors of American culture when he authorized a Southeast Asian tour for them, and it’s a label that has held true for half a century. At its best, the largely AfricanAmerican company, which choreographer/ dancer Ailey founded in 1958, communicates the specific through the universal—the American black experience through the global language of modern dance. This program will close with Ailey’s most enduring masterwork: “Revelations,” an epic three-part ballet that the New York Times called “modern dance’s unquestionable greatest hit.” Its muscular dancers will writhe, contort, reach for the heavens, sink to the ground and “swim” through troubled waters in an emotionally spectrum-spanning piece inspired by spirituals, song-sermons, gospel and holy blues. tickets: $25 and up contact: 561/832-7469, kravis.org

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre

South Beach Wine & Food Festival

sOuTh BeAch Wine & FOOD FesTivAl Where: Various South Beach locations When: Feb. 20–23 Details: Now in its 13th year, this four-day foodie extravaganza has earned its reputation as the Art Basel of culinary events, once again turning South Beach into a cultural mecca for the rest of the country. The biggest celebrities in the gastronomic world—from Martha Stewart and Anthony Bourdain to Rachael Ray and Emeril Lagasse—will be on hand to host events, cook and share insights. The festival opens Feb. 20 with a poolside party with the 2014 Sports Illustrated swimsuit models and closes Feb. 23 with the East Coast premiere of Wayne Wang’s latest food-centric film “Soul of a Banquet,” to be screened on a 7,000-square-foot projection wall at the New World Center. There will be dozens of activities in between, including a Sammy Hagar concert, a celebrity chef golf tournament and, of course, the opportunity to savor countless entrées and libations, paired with impeccable skill and innovation. tickets: Prices vary per event contact: 877/762-3933, sobefest.com

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“OTher DeserT ciTies”

AngelA PhAm/BFAnyc.com

Alvin Ailey AmericAn DAnce TheATre

Where: Maltz Jupiter Theatre, 1001 E. Indiantown Road, Jupiter When: Feb. 16–March 2 Details: This Pulitzer Prize- and Tony-winning “dramedy” is set over the 2004 Christmas holiday in the home of the Lymans, an upper-crust Palm Springs family whose patriarch is a former actor in Hollywood B-movies turned powerful figure in Republican politics (farfetched, I know). His children are on the other side of the fence ideologically, but the play’s central theme transcends debate about George W. Bush’s policies; it’s about a traumatic event in the family history that is about to be revisited in a controversial memoir published by troubled daughter Brooke. As this revelation opens old filial wounds, the political becomes personal and vice versa in what has become one of the best plays of the past decade; it’s no surprise that it’s become the fourth most-produced play in regional theaters across the country this season. Look for the Maltz to bring to life every caustic quip and heated exchange. tickets: $52 and up contact: 561/575-2223, jupitertheatre.org

february 2014

The FAB FAux

The Fab Faux includes Will Lee (middle) and Jimmy Vivino (right of Lee).

Where: Parker Playhouse, 707 N.E. Eighth St., Fort Lauderdale When: Feb. 22 Details: Beatles tribute bands are a dime a dozen, ranging from glorified karaoke acts to talented mimics in period regalia and mop-tops. The Fab Faux distinguish themselves from the herd of Beatle-maniacs by putting the focus squarely on the music: This is a peerless rock band, playing Fab Four tunes with enviable accuracy, and without the accoutrements of vocal imitation and cheesy wigs. Known for playing entire Beatles LPs in sequential order—and for performing the difficult, more obscure numbers the Beatles themselves never played live—the Fab Faux is led by TV personalities Jimmy Vivino, of Conan O’Brien’s house band, and Will Lee, of David Letterman’s CBS Orchestra. Expect a hodgepodge of Beatles material, with contributions from the Hogshead Horns and the Crème Tangerine Strings. tickets: $42.93–$95.93 contact: 954/462-0222, parkerplayhouse.com

AndreA Bocelli Where: The BB&T Center, 1 Panther Parkway, Sunrise When: Feb. 14 Details: In the span of one month in early 2013, Andrea Bocelli performed at the 61st annual National Prayer Breakfast at the White House and Moscow’s Kremlin. This feat, which would have probably been impossible 30 years ago, was just another month for the indefatigable 55-year-old Italian tenor, whose voice is borderless. He sings in six languages in concert and on his albums, which have moved more than 80 million copies worldwide, making him the best-selling artist in the history of classical music. Celine Dion is one such fan, saying in 1998 that “If God would have a singing voice, he must sound a lot like Andrea Bocelli.” His set lists run upward of 25 songs, from the sacred and operatic canon as well as Broadway and crossover pop hits, and he specializes in love songs—hence this Valentine’s Day booking, which has become a popular staple at the BB&T Center. tickets: $80–$380 contact: 954/835-8000, thebbtcenter.com

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wicktheatre_brm0214.indd[ 1b o c a m a g . c o m ]

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backstage pass

take5 Bradshaw with actor Dan Leonard in Palm Beach Dramaworks’ production of “The Chairs.”

To read some of molly IvIns’ besT polITIcal sound bITes, vIsIT bocamag.com.

“In the course of a run of a play, I would love to come off once and feel like, that was it! I nailed it! I don’t think you ever feel that way, and if you do, maybe you should get out of the business.”

Barbara Bradshaw Actor

hen it comes time for carbonell judges to tally the best work in any given year of South Florida regional theater, chances are Barbara Bradshaw’s name will be somewhere on their short list. Bradshaw is one of the community’s tireless workhorses, with more than 200 roles to her credit and local experience dating back to the birth of the caldwell theatre company (then the caldwell Playhouse) in 1975. She received the first of her 14 carbonell nominations two years later; she’s won four times. For a while, Bradshaw, who lives in Delray Beach, was synonymous with the caldwell, acting in 48 of its productions. In recent years, she’s been everywhere, her portrayals including a nameless woman absurdly shuffling chairs in a post-apocalyptic world (“the chairs,” Palm Beach Dramaworks); a renowned fiction writer in an intellectual property war with a promising protégé (“collected Stories,” Mosaic theatre); and the matri-

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arch of a powerful political family, trying to keep an explosive secret at bay (“other Desert cities,” Actors’ Playhouse). In all her roles, Bradshaw exudes warmth and humanity; she disappears into her characters, etching unforgettable portraits driven as much by steely glances and subtle gestures as by the words on the page. only now, with a career’s worth of iconic roles on her résumé, is Bradshaw taking on every actor’s most dangerous game: her first solo show. From Feb. 28 to March 16 at the Willow theatre (300 S. Military trail, Boca raton, 561/347-3948), Bradshaw will portray Molly Ivins, the populist pundit from texas, in the Women’s theatre Project production of “red-Hot Patriot: the Kiss-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins.” She had just begun researching the role when she sat down with Boca Raton. “I keep falling down all these rabbit holes with Molly Ivins,” she says. “I feel like I’m getting to know somebody who’s going to be my best friend.” february 2014

Is it a different kind of intimidation doing a one-woman show, knowing you don’t have anyone else to fall back on? It’s sheer terror, to tell you the truth! I feel like I’m staving off the terror by doing research. The terror will come when I have to learn 40 pages of dialogue.

Do you have to like every character you play, even if you’re playing the biggest villain in the show? Yes, because that villain doesn’t think he’s the biggest villain in the show. One of the things an acting coach in New York City once said to me is that the most important thing you can do when doing your character research is to find their sense of humor. Sometimes that’s very hard, but when you do find their sense of humor, that’s the door that opens to liking them.

You’ve won four Carbonell Awards and are a favorite of South Florida critics. How do you not let all the praise go to your head? Because you are your worst critic. I think a lot of actors have said this, but I always wonder, secretly, how much longer can I keep fooling them? I’m the most insecure actor. It’s always nice to have your work appreciated, but out of the 200-plus shows, I can think of five, maybe, that I look back and go, “I did it.”

Have there been times onstage where the lines just disappear from memory? More and more often as the years go by! The worst thing you can do is panic. There’s a little inner voice that goes, “Take a deep breath. Wait for it. Wait for it. There it is.” There are times when it doesn’t come, and that’s when you trust your actors. Chances are that if they’re pulling you out tonight, you’re going to do it for them a couple of nights down the road.

program III

jan 31–f eb 2

TICKeTS from $20

Jerome Robbins’ brilliantly theatrical west side story suite , plus the Company Premiere of Balanchine’s episodes, and tschaik ovsky pas de deux .

kR avis CenteR

(305) 929-7010 toll-fRee (877) 929-7010

feb 21–23

miamicityballet.org

BRowa R d CenteR

THIS PROJECT SPONSORED IN PART BY AN AWARD FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS. FUNDING FOR THIS EVENT IS PROVIDED IN PART BY THE BROWARD COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AS RECOMMENDED BY THE BROWARD CULTURAL COUNCIL. SPONSORED IN PART BY THE STATE OF FLORIDA, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, DIVISION OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS, AND THE FLORIDA COUNCIL ON ARTS AND CULTURE. PALM BEACH COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800) 435-7352 WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. MCB REGISTRATION NUMBER: CH1034. PHOTO © GIO ALMA.

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12/16/13 4:41 PM

GIF TS FOR

HER

Are there drawbacks to this life you’ve chosen? Yes there are, but the positive aspects of it far outweigh any drawbacks. The drawbacks would be that I had children, and when they were young, I would go away sometimes for two or three months at a time. I wish I had that time with them again. And the insecurity of it; it’s a cliché, but it’s very true: Every job is your last job.

954-462-0222 browardcenter.org

561-832-7469 kravis.org

SW Corner of Copans and Federal Hwy.

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+H I M

MACY’S J.C.PENNEY SEARS ♥ LOWE’S

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backstage pass [ insider ]

The Cultural Engine That Could

Festival oF the arts Boca, entering its eighth year, continues to chug along, trying to oFFer something For everyone.

n March 2008, Festival of the Arts Boca had just launched its second annual event, and Charlie Siemon and Wendy Larsen, its co-executive producers, were in crisis mode. The award-winning Greek composer Teodor Currentzis was scheduled to conduct three programs with the Russian National Orchestra, including one with opera powerhouse Renée Fleming. Days before Currentzis’ first appearance, Siemon and Larsen were told that he didn’t yet have a visa, but no worries—he would get it in time. He didn’t, and the Festival faced its first serious crisis. The substitute proposed by IMG Artists, the international booking organization that works with Siemon and Larsen, was $50,000 more than the budget allowed. In a pinch, the Festival ended up booking Mexican conductor Alondra de la Para, who flew in from Switzerland and made history by becoming the first woman to conduct the Russian National Orchestra. “I think she read the music all night on the plane coming over,” Larsen recalls. “That was a lesson; we shouldn’t go into the festival thinking it’ll be fine. Assume that something’s going to happen and be prepared to deal with it.” By now, Siemon and Larsen have the festival protocol down to a science, juggling classical, jazz and dance performances with lectures from provocative thinkers and esteemed novelists during a 10-day cultural bonanza. Launched in 2007, the event has become Mizner Park’s biggest cultural draw; Larsen says visitors now schedule their Florida vacations around it. Of course, the founders also hear plenty of criticism—for picking obscure names, for not picking enough obscure names, for event delays and even for the weather. As the 2014 Festival of the Arts approaches its eighth event next month (March 6-15)—promising a rare klezmer/ classical music hybrid from Itzhak Perlman and

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a performance from the legendary Bill T. Jones Dance Company (go to page 131 for a complete rundown)—Siemon and Larsen reflect on some of the challenges, joys and frustrations of trying to please everyone, all the time.

In the BegInnIng Siemon: Those first three years we spent a lot of money to get art here at a very high level, and we thought we had to do that to establish a reputation. Today, we have bargaining power, because young artists want to be here, and older artists want to come back. Larsen: There are lots of reasons why we don’t go into the real pop music end, and one of them is financial. It’s not because of our personal choice of music. Those acts are half a million, a million bucks apiece. If you can only sell 2,600 seats, you won’t be able to afford it. Siemon: Our smallest festival cost $750,000, and our biggest festival cost $2.1 million. 2009 was the biggest. We had Itzhak Perlman; Salman Rushdie, who was our most expensive author ever; the Russian National Orchestra, which included four artists, all of whom sang at the Met, and a 125-person chorus. Larsen: I don’t regret booking anybody for controversial reasons. We’ll have a donor who wants us to bring so-and-so, and somebody will say, “He’s so conservative,” or “He’s so liberal.” What we want to know is, have we had that kind of person before, and will it promote some discussion and thought in the community? That’s what we focus on.

Moscow. The bad news is it’s peak season, so you go to the hotel on bended knee and say, we thought we needed 85 rooms, and now we need 99. ... But they’ve been generous in accommodating us. Larsen: In 2011, a terrible windstorm came through when Milos Karadaglic, the classical guitarist, was playing very quietly. People think that there is something you can do about it ... that if something [like that] goes wrong, it’s all our fault. Siemon: They pay $50 for a ticket that would cost $150 at Kravis, and then they can’t believe that you can’t control the wind. We write them back these nice little notes that we’ve learned to manage a number of things, but one of them is that it’s somebody else’s job to do the weather.

RealIty checks Siemon: Last year, Peter Oundjian, who conducted the New World Symphony for us, came up afterward and said, of the 20-[plus] festivals he had conducted at in his career, with major orchestras, that this was the best festival venue he had ever performed in. That made us feel really good, because that’s a part of what we try to do.

Only In BOca

Larsen: Last year, a lot of people praised us because we got cutting-edge people [such as performance artist Amadeus Leopold and organist Cameron Carpenter]. A lot of people said, I hope you won’t go back to household names. This year, Perlman is a household name, but he’s of a stature where it’s not like we’re repeating Jackie Evancho.

Siemon: We have a curse and a blessing. The blessing is an early March festival in South Florida; it’s about the best time to attract artists from London and New York and

Siemon: “Three weeks before the festival, you don’t want to go out with us for drinks at night, because the sky is falling.” february 2014

From left: Pianist Marika Bournaki, Charlie Siemon and Wendy Larsen

Festival Fab 5

Picking favorite moments from the Festival’s first seven years must be like picking favorite children—most of them, at least, are pretty great. Nonetheless, Charlie Siemon and Wendy Larsen narrowed down their respective lists. Larsen’s 5 [ 1 ] renée Fleming: Simply magic. [ 2 ] Kodo: Their power and dramatic artistry was truly exceptional. [ 3 ] Joshua Bell: At the pinnacle of his career

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[ 4 ] Milos Karadaglic: In his U.S. premiere, it was one of the best performances ever at the Festival. [ 5 ] Time for Three: Unusual, generationskipping attraction.

sieMon’s 5 [ 1 ] Doris Kearns Goodwin: Everyone’s favorite presidential historian—a wonderful author, speaker and storyteller. [ 2 ] itzhak Perlman and the reprise of PBs’ “at the Fiddler’s House”: Worldclass klezmer artists from all over the globe celebrated the legendary violinist.

[ 3 ] Perlman, the russian national orchestra and Beethoven’s 9th symphony: Great artists performed one of the most beloved symphonies of all time—a Festival “bucket list” item. [ 4 ] stars of the american Ballet Theater: World-class dancers took the stage at Mizner Park Amphitheater in a dazzling display of artistry. [ 5 ] Preservation Hall Jazz Band: Great music performed by a legendary band with a local touch from Nicole Henry and great interaction with local school jazz bands.

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Sinatra Damone Bennett Jones Fitzgerald Tyrell Stewart Francis Krall Martin Cole Clooney Como Connick Callaway Maye Pizzarelli TormĂŠ Basie James

A Dick Robinson Entertainment Station

Festival of the Arts

March 6–15, 2014 A 1 0 - d Ay c e l e b r At i o n o f m u s i c A n d l i t e r At u r e

About the FestivAl estival of the Arts Boca ushers in its eighth season March 6 to 15 at the Schmidt Family Centre for the Arts’ Count de Hoernle Amphitheater and Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center in Boca Raton. This 10-day cultural arts spectacular showcases jazz and classical musicians, authors, thinkers and dancers—providing an intimate venue for world-class virtuosi while simultaneously cultivating the stars of tomorrow, in the revered tradition of the Tuscan Sun Festival in Cortona, Italy and the Napa Valley Festival del Sole in California, among others. “This year’s Festival of the Arts Boca promises to be our best ever,” says Charlie Siemon, co-founder of the event. “The stellar lineup,

compelling programming and international appeal makes this a cultural attraction anyone in the world would want to attend.” Individual tickets range from $15 to $125. Packages are available for admission to all events. For more information, call 561/368-8445, and to purchase tickets visit festivaloftheartsboca.org or call 866/571-2787. o

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Festival of the Arts schedule oF evenTs

Festival of the Arts Boca* festivaloftheartsboca.org

Wednesday, March 5 7:30 p.m. Free Festival “Plus” event: Jorge luis Prates, pianist, with Orchestra of the americas venue: amphitheater

Thursday, March 6 7:30 p.m. itzhak Perlman, violinist, with Festival Orchestra Boca conducted by Constantine Kitsopoulos PrOgram: mendelssohn violin concerto venue: amphitheater

sunday, March 9

Thursday. March 13

4 p.m. authOrs & iDeas: Barbara schmidt, author and speaker, “vicktor Frankl’s ‘man’s search for meaning’” venue: Cultural arts Center

7 p.m. authOrs & iDeas: Doris Kearns goodwin, author: “the Bully Pulpit: theodore roosevelt and William howard taft” venue: amphitheater

7 p.m. itzhak Perkman, violinist, with Yitzchak meir helfgot, chief cantor of Park east synagogue, and members of the Klezmer Conservatory Band; hankus netsky, music director and russell ger, conductor; traditional Jewish and Yiddish music venue: amphitheater

7:30 p.m. Cirque de la symphonie acrobats, with Festival Orchestra Boca conducted by Constantine Kitsopoulos venue: amphitheater

Friday, March 14

saTurday, March 15 Monday, March 10

Friday, March 7 7:30 p.m. Bill t. Jones/arnie Zane Dance Company With live chamber ensemble venue: amphitheater

7 p.m. authOrs & iDeas: Daniel J. levitin, neuroscientist, musician, author, in conversation with Constantine Kitsopoulos: “Your Brain on music” venue: amphitheater

saTurday, March 8

Tuesday, March 11

4 p.m. authOrs & iDeas: James Fallows, journalist and author: “how shall We think about China?” venue: Cultural arts Center

7 p.m. authOrs & iDeas: anna Deavere smith, actress, playwright and professor: “reclaiming grace in the Face of adversity” venue: Cultural arts Center

7:30 p.m. arturo sandoval with the henry mancini institute Orchestra with special guest monica mancini: “tribute to Dizzy gillespie” venue: amphitheater

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* showtimes, performers and programs subject to change Festival of the arts Boca 2014, presented by the schmidt Family Centre for the arts at the Count de hoernle amphitheater (mizner Park), 590 Plaza real, Boca raton, 561/368-8445; and mizner Park Cultural arts Center, 201 Plaza real, Boca raton, (second floor)

Wednesday, March 12 7 p.m. authOrs & iDeas: geraldine Brooks, “the art of the historical novel” venue: Cultural arts Center

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7:30 p.m. Forte, multicultural operatic tenor trio from “america’s got talent,” with the henry mancini institute Orchestra venue: amphitheater

For information, please call 561/368-8445 Tickets: 866/571-2787

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performing

LOIS GREENFIELD

artists Itzhak Perlman

the BIll t. Jones/arnIe zane Dance comPany

Undeniably the reigning virtuoso of the violin, Itzhak Perlman enjoys superstar status rarely afforded a classical musician. Born in Israel in 1945, Perlman was propelled into national recognition with an appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1958. He won the prestigious Leventritt Competition in 1964, which led to a burgeoning worldwide career. Since then, Perlman has appeared as violin soloist with every major orchestra, and in recitals and festivals around the world. Perlman has further delighted audiences through his frequent appearances on the conductor’s podium, and his 2013-14 season has taken him throughout North America and the world. In 2003, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts granted Perlman a Kennedy Center Honor celebrating his distinguished achievements and contributions to the cultural and educational life of the United States. He has performed multiple times at the White House and was honored to take part in the inauguration of President Obama in 2009, premiering a piece written for the occasion by John Williams alongside cellist Yo-Yo Ma, clarinetist Anthony McGill and pianist Gabriela Montero. He proudly possesses four Emmys and 15 Grammy Awards. One of Perlman’s proudest achievements is his collaboration with Williams in Steven Spielberg’s Academy Award-winning film “Schindler’s List,” in which he performed the violin solos.

The Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company was born out of an 11-year collaboration between Bill T. Jones and Arnie Zane (1948-1988). Since then, the 10-member company has performed worldwide in more than 200 cities in 30 countries on every major continent and is recognized as one of the most innovative and powerful forces in the modern dance world. Last year, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company celebrated its 30th anniversary with performances in Germany, Italy, France and the Netherlands; a 24-city U.S. tour; a New York City season at the Joyce Theater with the Orion String Quartet; and the much-anticipated premiere of a new dance-theater work, “A Rite,” commemorating the 100th anniversary of the premiere of Igor Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring.” The company has received numerous awards, including New York Dance and Performance Awards (“Bessies”) for “Chapel/Chapter at Harlem Stage” (2006), “The Table Project” (2001), “D-Man in the Waters” (1989 and 2001), musical scoring and costume design for “Last Supper at Uncle Tom’s Cabin/The Promised Land” (1990) and for the groundbreaking Joyce Theater season (1986). The company was nominated for the 1999 Laurence Olivier Award for “Outstanding Achievement in Dance and Best New Dance Production” for “We Set Out Early ... Visibility was Poor.”

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arturo sanDoval

A protégé of the legendary jazz master Dizzy Gillespie, Arturo Sandoval is one of the world’s most acknowledged guardians of jazz trumpet and flugelhorn, as well as a renowned classical artist, pianist and composer. He is one of the most dynamic and vivacious live performers of our time, and has been seen by millions at the Oscars performing with Celine Dion, at the Grammy Awards as a bandleader and at the Billboard Awards. Sandoval has been awarded nine Grammy Awards and been nominated 19 times; he has also received six Billboard Awards and an Emmy Award, the latter for his composing work on the entire underscore of the HBO movie based on his life, “For Love or Country,” starring Andy Garcia. Soon to be released is a new book chronicling his relationship with Dizzy Gillespie entitled The Man That Changed My Life, whose explosive mixture of jazz, classical, rock and traditional Cuban music caused a sensation throughout the entertainment world. Sandoval’s versatility can be heard on recordings with everyone from Gillespie, Woody Herman, Woody Shaw, Michel Legrand, Bill Conti and Stan Getz to Johnny Mathis, Frank Sinatra, Paul Anka, Rod Stewart and Alicia Keys. He has performed with John Williams with the Boston Pops, and in the Super Bowl with Tony Bennett and Patti LaBelle.

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robert stolpe

Daniel azoulay

artists Cirque de la Symphonie

ConStantine KitSopouloS

cirque de la symphonie is a new production formed to bring the magic of cirque to the music hall. it is an exciting adaptation of artistic performances widely seen in theaters and arenas everywhere. artists include the most amazing veterans of exceptional cirque programs throughout the world—aerial flyers, acrobats, contortionists, dancers, jugglers, balancers and strongmen. each artist’s performance is professionally choreographed to classical masterpieces and popular contemporary music in collaboration with the maestro.

constantine Kitsopoulos’ musical experience spans the worlds of opera and symphony, where he conducts in such venues as carnegie hall, alice tully hall and royal albert hall, as well as musical theater, where he leads orchestras on broadway. this is his fourth season with the festival of the arts boca. Kitsopoulos is in his sixth year as music director of the Queens symphony orchestra and continues as general director of chatham opera, which he founded in 2005. of Kitsopoulos’ conducting, the New York Times wrote “constantine Kitsopoulos makes the supple, sensitive orchestra sound like an extension of thought.” highlights of a recent season include a philadelphia orchestra debut at the saratoga performing arts center and a summer tour of “Dream with me” with singing sensation Jackie evancho at the ravinia and sun valley festivals, atlanta symphony, Dallas symphony and at the omaha holland performing arts center. his first recording—baz luhrmann’s production of “la bohème”—was released by Dreamworks in 2002. his recording of Kurt Weill’s “happy end” was released in 2007 by ghostlight records. the cast album of “a catered affair” was released in 2008 by ps classics.

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the henry manCini inStitute at the FroSt SChool oF muSiC originally founded as a summer institute in los angeles and relocated to miami, the henry mancini institute at the frost school of music (hmi) has evolved into a comprehensive graduate training institute for aspiring professional musicians. its new artistic director is multiple grammy-winning composer and iconic trumpeter, terence blanchard. at the core of the henry mancini institute is a multigenre “crossover” orchestra featuring outstanding student musicians who recognize that the professional world they will enter after graduation is vastly different than the traditional music world of the past. many have noted that such classical concert artists as Yo-Yo ma and Joshua bell are stretching their musical explorations to incorporate a broader spectrum of styles into their recordings and live performances; future artists know they must do the same. the school assembles the best classical and jazz student musicians from around the world and trains them to play a full range of musical genres. by doing so, they are introducing new musical works that are attracting younger, larger and more diverse audiences to the performing arts scene. recent henry mancini institute events have featured such marquee guest artists as violinist mark o’connor, rock musicians bruce hornsby and steve miller, bluegrass star ricky skaggs, film composers Dave grusin and Jorge calandrelli, vocalists patti austin, Jon secada and monica mancini, and instrumental greats arturo sandoval, John clayton, gary burton, Dave Koz and Nestor torres.

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liz lynch

david rose

aUTHORS AnnA DeAvere Smith

DoriS KeArnS GooDwin

JAmeS FAllowS

hailed by Newsweek as “the most exciting individual in american theater,” anna Deavere smith uses solo performance as a public medium to explore issues of race, identity and community in america. Deavere smith began interviewing people (more than 2,000 now) across the country some 20 years ago. Without props, sets or costumes, she translates those encounters into profound performances, each drawing verbatim from the original recorded interview. she has an uncanny ability to inhabit the characters—or rather the people—she’s representing onstage, regardless of their race, gender or age. While her approach to cultural commentary is now widely imitated, she remains the master of the form. she has created more than 15 one-person shows based on hundreds of interviews, most of which deal with social issues. her most recent one-person show, “let me Down easy,” focused on health care in the U.s. three of her plays have been broadcast on “american playhouse” and “great performances” (pbs). in popular culture, you have seen her in “Nurse Jackie,” “the West Wing,” “the american president,” “rachel getting married,” “philadelphia” and others. books include Letters to A Young Artist and Talk to Me: Listening Between the Lines. she serves on the boards of the museum of modern art, the aspen institute and grace cathedral of san francisco. she received the Dean’s medal from stanford medical school and is a professor at NYU. prizes include the National humanities medal, a macarthur fellowship, the Dorothy and lillian gish award, two tony nominations, two obies and others.

returning to boca raton is Doris Kearns goodwin, pulitzer prize-winning presidential historian and the festival’s Distinguished Writer in residence. goodwin has been writing and speaking around the world about politics and baseball for more than two decades. author of several best-selling biographies and a memoir of her childhood love for the brooklyn Dodgers, she currently serves as an Nbc-tv news analyst as well as a consultant and on-air person for pbs documentaries on lyndon b. Johnson, the Kennedy family, franklin roosevelt and Ken burns’ “the history of baseball.” goodwin received her b.a. from colby college and her ph.D. in government from harvard University, where she later taught. she served as an assistant to president Johnson in his last year in the White house and later assisted Johnson in the preparation of his memoirs. goodwin’s books include Lyndon Johnson & The American Dream; The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys; No Ordinary Time—Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front In World War II; Wait Till Next Year: A Memoir; and Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. her newest book, The Bully Pulpit: Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and the Golden Age of Journalism, was released in october 2013.

James fallows is a national correspondent for The Atlantic and has written for the magazine since the late 1970s. he has reported extensively from outside the United states and once worked as president carter’s chief speechwriter. his latest book is China Airborne. he was reared in redlands, calif., received his undergraduate degree in american history and literature from harvard, and received a graduate degree in economics from oxford as a rhodes scholar. in addition to working for The Atlantic, he spent two years as chief White house speechwriter for Jimmy carter, two years as the editor of US News & World Report, and six months as a program designer at microsoft. he is an instrumentrated private pilot. he is also now the chair in U.s. media at the U.s. studies centre at the University of sydney, in australia. fallows has been a finalist for the National magazine award five times and has won once; he has also won the american book award for nonfiction and a N.Y. emmy award for the documentary series “Doing business in china.” he was the founding chairman of the New america foundation. his recent books, Blind Into Baghdad (2006) and Postcards From Tomorrow Square (2009), are based on his writings for The Atlantic.

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randi baird

aUTHORS Dr. Daniel levitin

GeralDine Brooks

BarBara schmiDt

Dr. Daniel levitin is the author of the No. 1 best-seller This Is Your Brain On Music (Dutton/penguin, 2006), which was published in 19 languages and spent more than one year on the New York Times best-seller list. his second book, The World in Six Songs (Dutton/penguin, 2008), hit the best-seller lists in its first week of release. levitin earned his b.a. in cognitive psychology and cognitive science at stanford University, and went on to earn his ph.D. in psychology from the University of oregon, researching complex auditory patterns and pattern processing in expert and non-expert populations. he completed postdoctoral training at stanford University medical school (in Neuroimaging) and at Uc berkeley (in cognitive psychology). he has consulted on audio sound source separation for the U.s. Navy and on audio quality for several rock bands and record labels (including the grateful Dead and steely Dan). he’s also served as one of the “golden ears” expert listeners in the original Dolby ac3 compression tests. he worked for two years at the silicon valley think tank interval research corporation. currently, he is a James mcgill professor of psychology, behavioural Neuroscience and music at mcgill University (montreal, Quebec).

australian-born geraldine brooks is an author and journalist who was awarded the pulitzer prize in fiction in 2006 for her novel March. her most recent novel, Caleb’s Crossing, was a New York Times best-seller. other novels, Year of Wonders and People of the Book, are international best-sellers, translated into more than 25 languages. she is also the author of the nonfiction works Nine Parts of Desire and Foreign Correspondence. brooks grew up in the western suburbs of sydney, and attended bethlehem college ashfield and the University of sydney. she worked as a reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald for three years as a feature writer with a special interest in environmental issues. in 1982, she won the greg shackleton australian News correspondents scholarship to the journalism master’s program at columbia University in New York city. later she worked for the Wall Street Journal, where she covered crises in the middle east, africa and the balkans. in 2006 she was a fellow at the radcliffe institute for advanced studies at harvard University.

barbara schmidt is a businesswoman, philanthropist and spiritual teacher with more than 30 years devoted to spiritual development and research. she has studied with thich Nhat hanh, Deepak chopra, scott peck and marianne Williamson, among many other notable teachers. as founder of spirit of giving Network and cofounder and past president of ronald mcDonald children charities of south florida, schmidt has raised millions of dollars for children and families in need. in 2001, schmidt partnered with florida atlantic University’s peace studies program to promote dialogue in the greater community on the topic of inner peace. additionally, she taught a class on meditation and spiritual practices as part of the lifelong learning program at Nova southeastern University for five years. for the past 10 years, schmidt has produced quarterly workshops and weekly classes on spiritual practices and has facilitated lectures by many notable speakers, including the Dalai lama, Dr. Jane goodall, caroline myss, James finley, Dan millman, Dr. mona lisa schultz and gabrielle bernstein. in 2011, schmidt founded peaceful mind peaceful life, through which she teaches the practice, a threepart guide to practical spirituality in today’s modern world. a well-respected not-for-profit, peaceful mind peaceful life has quickly expanded to include an online community via facebook and through the daily blog at peacefulmindpeacefullife.org.

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deborah james The Deborah James mission is to be the first in its market to debut emerging looks in the fashion industry. Since 1987, Deborah has traveled to Europe and around the U.S., using her acute personal sense of style to select from fashion’s emerging designers and discover the season’s key trends. 402 Via De Palmas, Boca Raton • 561/367-9600 623 E. Las Olas, Fort Lauderdale • 954/524-2585 deborahjames.com

unique boutique Unique Boutique, the name says it all! Brimming with dazzling collections of artisan crafted/fine jewelry, leather handbags/belts, shawls and jackets, the Boutique enjoys the wonderful business of helping women enhance their beauty! Stop in any one of our three seaside locations for your own exceptional shopping experience! 204 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach 561/272-6654 • uniqueboutiquejewelry.com

mystique of palm beach Discover Palm Beach’s best kept secret since 1978. Mystique specializes in diamond jewelry replicas exquisitely crafted in solid 14K gold, 18K gold or platinum. Every feature of fine jewelry is captured to perfection, from the brilliance of the gems to the intricacy of the settings. Seeing is believing! Featured are 14K gold eternity bands starting at $550. 250 Worth Ave., Palm Beach 561/655-3008 • mystiquegems.com

special advertising section

Great Gift Ideas Slip into the festive spirit of the season with gifts for all of the special people in your life.

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four seasons beauty bar Our passion and love of unique beauty brands have been available at fourseasonsproducts.com since 1999. In 2013, we brought the Four Seasons Products concept to streetlevel retail. At our Beauty Bar, discover some of THE best and rarest brands, such as Carthusia, Penhaligon’s, Amouage, Keiko Mecheri, Clive Christian, Fragonard and many more beautiful scents, skin, hair, makeup and home good brands. Polo Shoppes, 5030 Champion Blvd. G-11 A, Boca Raton 561/499-6400 • fourseasonsproducts.com

verdi jewelers Verdi Jewelers of Boca Raton offers the finest collection of unique and original designs. Verdi’s creations withstand changing trends and are meant to last a lifetime for the classic, chic woman. At Verdi Jewelers, only impeccable is acceptable. 78 Royal Palm Place, Boca Raton 561/393-3532 • verdijewelers.com

special advertising section

Boca Raton's

insider advertising • promotions • events

Feb. 20

Feb. 9

british classic car show at royal palm place

the artists' Guild Gallery openinG reception

Don’t miss the 21st annual British Classic Car Show at Royal Palm Place on Feb. 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. See more than 100 classic Jaguars, Aston Martins, Triumphs and more. Enjoy free admission and parking. 101 Plaza Real South, Boca Raton • 561/392-8920 royalpalmplace.com/events/21st-annual-britishclassic-car-show/

deborah james supports heart health

trunk show by VirGins & anGels at ice jewelry

Join us Thursday, Feb. 20, 6 to 8 p.m. for the opening of the February exhibit. Meet the local artists and Signature Members who create original fine art. Openings are free to the public. Visit our website or call the Gallery for information. 512 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach 561/278-7877 • bocaguild.com

Please join Deborah James in supporting the efforts in cardiac research at The University of Miami. Join us for a glass of bubbly while shopping between Feb. 10-14; a percentage of sales will go toward the Cardiovascular Division of the University of Miami Health Services. Royal Palm Place, Boca Raton • 561/367-9600 Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale • 954/524-2585 deborahjames.com

ICE Jewelry, Boca's favorite "go to" affordable luxury jewelry boutique, will be featuring a Trunk Show by Virgins & Angels on Saturday, Feb 15. For 2014, we've launched some great new collections such as Rebecca Jewelry, Virgins Saints & Angels, Meira T Designs and many more. 6000 Glades Road, Suite 1355 C, Boca Raton 561/706-7488 • icejewelry.com

Visit bocamag.com/events for more information.

p r es e n t

A n n uA l

Savor

the

Avenue ~Reserve Your Seat~ Thursday, March 27, 2014 Mark your calendars for a memorable evening of dining under the stars—and down the double yellow line of famed Atlantic Avenue—at the food and wine event of the year. Join hundreds of guests—and an estimated 16 of Downtown Delray’s finest restaurants—at Florida’s longest dining table, one that runs more than five blocks. Savor the Avenue reservations are made with the restaurants directly beginning February 1, 2014. This is the event you don’t want to miss. For more information, visit bocamag.com or downtowndelraybeach.com or call 561/243-1077.

Sponsored by:

event Details Where & When

Location: Downtown Delray Beach on East Atlantic Avenue from Swinton Avenue to East Fifth Avenue (U.S. 1) Date: Thursday, March 27, 2014 Rain Date: Friday, March 28, 2014 Time: 5:30–9 p.m. Event Charity: Restaurants will donate $2 for every attendee at their restaurant to the Delray Beach Shore Beautification project.

reserve Your seat

Review the restaurant listings within this section. Each restaurant will be serving a specially designed fourcourse dinner paired with complimentary wines. The menus are available only online at bocamag.com or downtownderlaybeach.com/savor-and-tastemakers or at the restaurant. Contact the restaurant of choice to make your reservation. Seating is limited. Guests must be 21 or older. Last day to reserve seating is Thursday, March 20, 2014.

hoW to CheCk in

Arrive the evening of March 27 and make your way to the restaurant location on East Atlantic Avenue. Each restaurants’ tables will be set near their physical location. Check in with the host/hostess to receive your Savor the Avenue bracelet. Show the bracelet to receive a complimentary cocktail at your restaurant at 5:30 p.m.

raffle prize

Local artist Patricia “Pati” Maguire has generously offered her painting of Savor the Avenue 2013 (pictured) as a raffle prize. She will be onsite the evening of March 27 to sign posters of the painting, which will be on sale for $20. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Delray Beach Shore Beautification project.

Greet, toast & Dine!

5:30–6:15 p.m.—After checking in, enjoy a complimentary drink during the welcome reception provided by each participating restaurant. Locate your seats at Florida’s longest dining table, and prepare to enjoy a beautiful night! 6 p.m.—Seating begins. 6:15 p.m.—Welcome comments, Grand Toast, Table Decor Contest Winner announcement, raffle drawing 6:30–9 p.m.—Four-course dinner to be served with donated custom adult-beverage pairings Attire—Downtown Delray Beach evening casual

parkinG

Public parking lots and garage parking are available, as well as some valet locations. Atlantic Avenue will be closed during the event. Side streets will remain open for vehicle access. Visit downtowndelraybeach.com/parking for more parking information. Old School Square Parking Garage: Northeast First Street and Northeast First Avenue ($5.00 for the evening) Robert Federspiel Garage: Southeast First Aveune

32 east Chef Nick Morfogen changes his menu daily to accommodate only the freshest local and seasonal ingredients. 32 East has a neighborhood bistro ambience, offering a fine dining experience in a comfortable setting. There is a street-side terrace providing an outdoor dining option, along with our lively, full-service bar and lower- and upper-level dining rooms. 32 E. Atlantic Ave. / 561-276-7868 / 32east.com

50 ocean Located above the iconic sports bar, Bostonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on the Beach, 50 Ocean features a sophisticated, Old Florida atmosphere, panoramic ocean views, and exquisite cuisine with exciting local influences, presented by a knowledgeable and seasoned staff. Awardwinning chef Blake Malatesta is a master talent at creating unique dishes, offsetting different textures and custom sauces in his signature dishes of seafood and meats. 50 S. Ocean Blvd. (A1A) / 561-278-3364 / 50ocean.com

cabana el rey caffé luna rosa

Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence 2013 ZAGAT 2013: For Miami flavors “without the drive,” Latin lovers in Delray and West Palm head to these “ festive,” “ fun spots” for “perfectly spiced” Nuevo fare, “real mojitos” and “top-notch sangria,” all at “reasonable” prices; “alfresco people-watching” and a strong “singles scene” are standouts at the more popular Delray locale. 105 E. Atlantic Ave. / 561-274-9090 / cabanarestaurant.com

Caffé Luna Rosa is the Italian restaurant on the beach and the oldest Italian restaurant in Delray Beach. Caffé Luna Rosa offers an oceanview dining experience where great food and a great environment come together. 34 S. Ocean Blvd. / 561-274-9404 / caffelunarosa.com

city oyster & sushi bar

Featuring fresh seafood delivered and prepared daily, City Oyster has a full sushi bar and a rotating selection of fresh oysters from both coasts. House-made desserts, pies, bread, crackers and pasta are fresh from our bakery located above the restaurant. Our large selection of wines is recognized by Wine Spectator as one of the premier wine selections in the country. 213 E. Atlantic Ave. / 561-272-0220 / cityoysterdelray.com

cut 432 CUT 432 continues to please. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been six years since CUT 432 opened its glass doors and began to challenge the idea about what a steak house could and should be. It offers succulent cuts of beef, inventive dishes and a great wine list. 432 E. Atlantic Ave. / 561-272-9898 / cut432.com

lemongrass asian bistro prime

Lemongrass Delray Beach has been the place to go for Thai, Japanese sushi and Vietnamese since opening. With all rolls and dishes made to order, the chefs can create just about anything to your liking. The notable wine and sake list provides the perfect pairing to any entrée. Zagat 2004–2008: “Excellent”; Sun-Sentinel: Top 10 Asian Restaurants in Florida; Florida Trend: Best New 20 Restaurants in South Florida. 420 E. Atlantic Ave. / 561-278-5050 / lemongrassasianbistro.com

Discover the age of decadence at PRIME, Delray’s first and only authentic prime supper club. This glamorous supper club, inspired by the 1940s, promotes dining as a social experience. The largest restaurant on Atlantic Avenue, PRIME, brings the best of land and sea to guests with spectacular yet affordable menu selections. 110 E. Atlantic Ave. / 561-865-5845 / primedelray.com

racks

fish house + oyster bar

A New England seafood house featuring refreshing, unique cocktails and Grand Central Oyster Bar-inspired steam kettles, RACKS Fish House + Oyster Bar features a unique, nouveau-nautical decor along with a responsibly sourced ocean-to-table menu that excites and inspires. Guests will discover ever-evolving recipes for oysters Rockefeller, pan roasts and poâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; boys as well as an extensive live raw bar featuring whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fresh and in season. 5 S.E. 2nd Ave. / 561-450-6718 / racksdelray.com

salt 7 Our concept presents Prime Steaks, award-winning sushi and premium cocktails in a trendy upscale atmosphere. We pay attention to every detail to ensure your experience is remarkable from the moment you step into the restaurant. The ownership group has more than 15 years of experience in upscale dining and nightlife. They have traveled the world, having visited the hottest spots in the top destinations across the country and overseas. 32 S.E. 2nd Ave. / 561-274-7258 / salt7.com

solita

italian restaurant & the parlor lounge

sundy house

Enjoy the tastes of SoLita, “South of Little Italy,” where our Italian-American recipes have been passed down for generations. We splurge on the freshest and finest hand-picked ingredients, and our tasty, made-to-order dishes will take you to an experience you can only get at our “home.” 25 N.E. 2nd Ave. / 561-899-0888 / solitaitalian.com

The renowned Sundy House restaurant features globally inspired fare inspired by the seasons and an extensive wine list. Dine al fresco, enjoying the sights, sounds and tropical breezes of our one-acre Taru Garden or enjoy the unique ambience indoors in one of three distinct dining rooms. Open for lunch Tuesday-Saturday, dinner Tuesday-Sunday and for our award-wining Sunday Brunch. 106 S. Swinton Ave. / 561-272-5678 / sundyhouse.com

taverna opa

Taverna Opa is the embodiment of the Greek spirit of Opa–a gathering place for guests to celebrate the basic elements of life–food, drinks and music enjoyed with family and friends. Come experience a different approach to dining that energizes, where previous dining norms are broken and spirits are lifted with every single napkin in the air. 270 E. Atlantic Ave. / tavernaopa.com

the office Feast on delicious, gourmet comfort food, at this outstanding American gastropub, where the food is as important as the creative cocktails, the selection of craft beer, and the noteworthy wine list. This wonderful, four-course meal will showcase gifted executive sous chef Derek Ernsting’s innovative cuisine, including refreshing salads, sublime small plates, award-winning burgers, enticing chicken, steak, and fish dishes, and delectable desserts. 201 E. Atlantic Ave. / 561-276-3600 / theofficedelray.com

tryst vic & angelo’s

Tryst is a local restaurant with a neighborhood pub feeling. We offer lunch, dinner, happy hour and late-night bites. The menu is inspired by the rich bar culture of Europe, with an emphasis on seasonal, mostly local, farm-fresh ingredients. 4 E. Atlantic Ave. / 561-921-0201 / trystdelray.com

Dine on mouthwatering, rustic Italian cuisine created by talented executive chef Erick Miranda. The expansive menu truly pays homage to the fine culinary traditions of Italy. This enticing, four-course meal will showcase the restaurant’s superb salads, house-made pasta, fresh fish and seafood, scrumptious veal and chicken entrées, and decadent desserts. The full bar features inventive cocktails, as well as an impressive selection of wine and beer. 290 E. Atlantic Ave. / 561-278-9570 / vicandangelos.com

Restoring the Legacy of our Delray Beach Shore Since 1899 when Delray’s beach was dedicated to the public by Sara Gleason, Belle G. Dimick Reese and Ella M. Dimick, Delray Beach has provided recreational pleasure to millions of residents and visitors throughout the years as well as winning numerous awards—including, in 2013, Best Restored Beach, from the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association. Over the past several years, the citizens, organizations and the city staff have created a Beach Master Plan to restore our Delray Shore. This plan includes many phases from beach sand restoration, signage, sidewalk enhancements, landscaping and a new Beach Pavilion. This project has been led by the Implementation Committee of concerned citizens raising funds to assist in developing the new Delray Shore. The funds needed to complete the project are over $2 million. The first phase of this project is the new Beach Pavilion, which will be completed in February 2014. This pavilion is a replica of the 1927 beautiful Beach Pavilion that was destroyed in the 1929 Hurricane. The pavilion will be double the size of the previous structure that was a replica of the Orange Grove House of Refuge and will be the main entrance way onto our award-winning beach. Being such a huge part of our Village by the Sea, the restaurants and the DDA have selected this project, the Delray Beach Shore Beautification, to receive a portion of the proceeds generated from Savor the Avenue. This will allow the community, restaurants and the event to contribute to the enhancement of our crown jewel—Delray’s Shore. For more information about the project or ways to contribute, please visit downtowndelraybeach.com or call 561-243-1077. The new Beach Pavilion on Ocean Blvd./SR A1A

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“I F YOU M A K E GR E AT FOOD T H E Y W I L L COM E ” Walking distance from the Boca Resort Dinner nightly 5:30 - 10 p.m. Sunday - Thursday • 5:30 - 11 p.m. Friday - Saturday Private Rooms Available for Parties of 6 - 45 499 East Palmetto Park Rd, Boca Raton • 561-393-6715 www.trattoriaromanabocaraton.com

diningguide [ 154 butcher block grill review • 160 sushi sensations • 162 the boca challenge • 166 neighborhood pick • 173 buzz bites ]

for starters six tables

112 N.E. Second St., Boca Raton, 561/347-6260

Inside Six Tables

cristina Morgado

here really are only six tables inside Six Tables, Jon Fyhrie’s charming, intimate, nine-year-old Boca Raton restaurant. What’s more important is what is not in Six Tables. There is no DJ, no hordes of yelping scene-sters, no trendy pork-belly-with-everything menu, no Disneyland decor or rock concert ambience. Instead, there are a half-dozen tables dressed with crisp white linens, a menu its chef and owner describes as “classical European with a modern twist,” a modest selection of thoughtfully chosen wines, and the calm but convivial atmosphere of adults out to simply enjoy a good meal. In this have-it-your-way era, there is something else. Six Tables offers only a five-course, $79 prix-fixe menu that changes quarterly. Dinner is by reservation only; no walk-ins. And no online bookings. “I want to talk to people,” Fyhrie says. The result is an intensely personal dining experience, with Fyhrie stopping by each table to make a connection before disappearing into the kitchen to cook the entire meal by himself. (In addition to being the sole chef, he’s also the “manager, bookkeeper, marketing agent, janitor and repairman.”) The concept may not be for everyone, he says, but Six Tables occupies “a niche, a very unique niche. I have the catbird seat in Boca. It couldn’t be better.” —Bill Citara

IF YOU GO PrIce ranGe: $79 prix-fixe menu HOUrs: Open Tues.-Sat., one seating only at 7 p.m. websIte: sixtablesbocaraton.com

follow the leader

Canard l’orange

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dining guide

review BUtcHEr BLocK griLL 7000 W. Camino Real, Boca Raton, 561/409-3035

he first steak house was pretty basic: woolly mammoth + fire. That lasted several thousand years, until man learned how to domesticate animals and cook with a degree of competence. This new steak house endured for many years too, eventually done in by the invention of mahogany furniture, brass railings, aged beef and creamed spinach. For several years thereafter, that pretty much defined the steak-house concept: stuffy restaurants designed to appeal to middle-aged men large of belly and larger of bank account. Today, thankfully, those clubby, stuffy, stilted temples to pricy designer beef are getting a serious kick in the sirloin. At Butcher Block Grill, for example, the steak house has been re-imagined as a casual, contemporary, almost completely open-air restaurant devoted to chanting the local, seasonal, sustainable mantra that’s become as emblematic of chefs everywhere as sharp knives and comfortable shoes. It also offers a heaping helping of sizzle to go along with the steak, from the smallish, industrial-chic dining room and expansive covered outdoor patio to the compact but smartly assembled menu that meshes Mediterranean flavors with all-natural, aged, grass-fed beef, adding the crowd-pleasing sideshow of mozzarella made right at your table. If the restaurant has weaknesses, they’re the wine list and service. The former is surprisingly puny for such an upscale spot; the latter is willing but amateurish at times, with (on the night I went) long waits between courses and such basics as opening a wine bottle apparently untaught. Still, when a personable young waiter wheels out his mozzarella cart and begins massaging curds and hot salted At Butcher Block Grill, water into fresh, creamy-milky cheese, meat and poultry is all that is forgotten. He pinches off vegetarian-raised, little balls (bocconcini, if you must hormone and antibioticfree. Seafood is wildknow) and arrays them on a plate with caught, much of it local. slices of heirloom tomato and a spray Produce comes from of micro basil, along with a drizzle of Farmer Jay’s, Swank and good olive oil and vin cotto (a balsamGreen Cay. Eggs come ic-like reduction of red wine). from Heritage Hen Farms, Tuna crudo is not the most inventive heirloom tomatoes from example of its genre, but it’s a pleasant Farmhouse Tomatoes. and lighter alternative, slabs of ruddy raw tuna fanned like dominos over more slices of heirloom tomato, with some mashed avocado and a tangy Meyer lemon vinaigrette. Salmon, wild-caught and expertly grilled, is vastly superior to the fatty, stinky farm-raised abomination, and is simply and winningly presented with a sort of warm tomato salad and fat spears of grilled asparagus (their ends properly peeled—yay!). Steak here is something to savor, with a distinctive taste and texture that says this is not just another overpriced hunk of designer cow. The 12-ounce New York strip has a rich, earthy, almost gamey flavor that first surprises, then seduces, with a texture at once firm and tender. It arrives with “Butcher butter” and a puddle of red wine sauce (both fine but unnecessary), plus terrific steak fries, coated with malt vinegar salt. If dessert—dry-ish apple-flecked bread pudding—didn’t quite measure up, its accompanying vanilla ice cream with a crunchy praline crust was fair compensation, as is the rest of the food at Butcher Block Grill, one of the best things to happen to the steak house since the woolly mammoth.

Farm to (Your) table

Veal tomahawk chop with grilled asparagus

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PrIce ranGe: Entrées $16-$79 HOUrs: Daily 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Sun.-Thurs. 5-10 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 5-11 p.m. websIte: butcherblockgrill.com

[ bocamag.com ]

cristina Morgado

IF YOU GO

—Bill Citara

february 2014

THE ART OF FINE DINING S A V O R T H E F R E S H E S T F L O R I D A S T O N E C R A B. F R O M O U R T R A P S T O Y O U R TA B L E I N H O U R S.

Every Monday night, join us for all-you-can-eat fresh Florida Stone Crab for one fair price. Make your reservation today.

“Best Seafood” & “Best Service” – Boca Raton Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards “Award of Excellence” – Wine Spectator Magazine

In Mizner Park at

351 Plaza Real www.trulucks.com

561 391 0755

dining guide Dining Key

$ Inexpensive: Under $17 $$ Moderate: $18–$35 $$$ Expensive: $36–$50 $$$$ Very Expensive: $50 +

n ext sta r sau r a n ts st to r e h e gu ide: n in t rato Bo ca a l l H r e m a of f

palm beach county boca raton abe & louie’s—2200 W. Glades Road. Steaks. This outpost of the Boston steak house cooks up slabs of well-aged, USDA Prime beef like nobody’s business. Two of the best are the bone-in ribeye and New York sirloin. Start with a crab cocktail, but don’t neglect side dishes like steamed spinach and hash browns. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. Brunch Sun. 561/4470024. $$$

Happy Days

chops hosts a killer happy hour all night Sunday and Monday, and from 5 to 7 p.m. tuesday through Saturday. Deals include well drinks ($6.50), wines by the glass ($5.75) and more than a dozen entrée-worthy appetizers.

arturo’s ristorante—6750 N. Federal Highway. Italian. Arturo’s quiet, comfortable dining room; slightly formal, rigorously professional service; and carefully crafted Italian dishes never go out of style. You’ll be tempted to make a meal of the array of delectable antipasti from the antipasti cart, but try to leave room for main courses like giant shrimp with tomatoes, cannellini beans, rosemary and an exceptionally well-done risotto. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner daily. 561/997-7373. $$$ biergarten—309 Via De Palmas. German/ pub. Part vaguely German beer garden, part all-American sports bar, this rustic eatery offers menus that channel both, as well as an excellent selection of two-dozen beers on tap and the same number by the bottle. The food is basic and designed to go well with suds, like the giant pretzel with a trio of dipping sauces and an upscale burger featuring Florida Wagyu beef, knockwurst, cheddar cheese and more. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/395-7462. $

bistro provence—2399 N. Federal Highway. French. With the convivial ambience and hearty good food of an authentic Parisian bistro, this inviting, unpretentious restaurant deserves its local popularity. Mussels are a specialty, and roasted duck is excellent too. • Dinner nightly. 561/368-2340. $$

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bonefish grill—21069 Powerline Road. Seafood. Market-fresh seafood is the cornerstone—like Chilean sea bass prepared over a wood-burning grill and served with sweet Rhea’s topping (crabmeat, sautéed spinach and a signature lime, tomato and garlic sauce.) • Dinner nightly. 561/483-4949. (Other Palm Beach County locations: 1880 N. Congress Ave., Boynton Beach, 561/732-9142; 9897 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth, 561/965-2663; 11658 U.S. Highway 1, North Palm Beach, 561/799-2965) $$

Road. american. Oh, the choices! The chain even has a Sunday brunch menu in addition to its main menu, which includes Chinese chicken salad and Cajun jambalaya. Don’t forget about the cheesecakes—from white chocolate and raspberry truffle offerings. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/393-0344. (Other Palm Beach County locations: CityPlace, West Palm Beach, 561/8023838; Downtown at the Gardens, Palm Beach Gardens, 561/776-3711) $$

brio tuscan grille—5050 Town Center

al Palm Place. Steak, seafood. Steaks are aged USDA Prime—tender, flavorful and perfectly cooked under a 1,700-degree broiler. There’s all manner of fish and shellfish, but you’re here for the lobster, whether giant Australian tails flashfried and served with drawn butter or sizable Maine specimens stuffed with crab. • Dinner nightly. 561/395-2675. $$$$

Circle. Italian. The Boca outpost of this national chain of 100-plus restaurants does what it set out to do—dish up big portions of well-made, easily accessible Italian-esque fare at a reasonable price. If you’re looking for bruschetta piled with fresh cheeses and vegetables, house-made fettuccine with tender shrimp and lobster in a spicy lobster butter sauce, and a creditable version of the classic tiramisu, you’ll be one happy diner. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner daily. Brunch Sat.–Sun. 561/392-3777. $$

the capital grille—6000 Glades Road. Steaks. This is one of more than three dozen restaurants in a national chain, but the Boca Grille treats you like a regular at your neighborhood restaurant. Steaks, dry-aged if not Prime, are flavorful and cooked with precision, while starters from Wagyu beef carpaccio to a lighter version of the hardy chopped salad are nicely done too. Parmesan truffle fries are crispy sticks of potato heaven; chocolate-espresso cake a study in shameless, and luscious, decadence. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner daily. 561/368-1077. $$$ casa d’angelo —171 E. Palmetto Park Road. Italian. Angelo Elia’s impeccable Italian restaurant is a delight, from the stylish room to the suave service to the expansive wine list, not to mention food that’s by turn elegant, hearty, bold, subtle and always delicious. Dishes off the regular menu make excellent choices, like fat prawns wrapped in pancetta and grilled. But pay attention to specials like pan-seared snapper and scallops in a spicy, garlicky cherry tomato sauce. • Dinner nightly. 561/338-1703. $$$ the cheesecake factory—5530 Glades

chops lobster bar—101 Plaza Real S., Roy-

cuban café—3350 N.W. Boca Raton Blvd. cuban. Diners pack this traditional Cuban restaurant for lunch specials that start at $7.95, including slow-roasted pork served with white rice and black beans. Other highlights include the Cuban sandwich and (on the dinner menu only) lechón asado. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/750-8860. $ grand lux cafe—Town Center at Boca Raton. american. The Cheesecake Factory’s sister brand is an upscale take on the original formula, with an atmosphere inspired by the great cafes of Europe. The menu offers a range of international flavors, and the specialty baked-toorder desserts are always a big hit. • Lunch and dinner daily; breakfast on Saturday and Sunday. 561/392-2141. $$ the grille on congress—5101 Congress Ave. american. Dishes range from tasty chicken dishes and main-plate salads to seafood options like pistachio-crusted snapper or simply grilled yellowfin tuna. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.– Sat. 561/912-9800. $$ houston’s—1900 N.W. Executive Center Circle. american. With rustic features like butcherblock tables and comfy padded leather booths, Houston’s has created a “nonchain” feel, february 2014

r i s tO r a N t e

For 31 years the family tradition continues...

distiNguished restauraNt Of NOrth america

Authentic itAliAn cuisine New elegaNt OutdOOr PatiO available perfect for After dinner drinks + cigArs

Open daily for dinner and lunch (M-F) and special events for parties of 6-150. Live music nightly.

6750 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton | 561-997-7373 | www.ArturosRestaurant.com

dining guide although there are more than 40 nationwide. The menu is straightforward—big burgers on sweet egg buns, Caesar salad, roasted chicken, filet mignon—but it’s not lacking in ingenuity. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/998-0550. $$

josef’s table—5030 Champion Blvd.

the Flatter the Better

Check out the variety of flatbreads at Maggiano’s, about 10 offerings in all— including Italian sausage, and pepperoni with arugula.

Continental. Josef’s touts itself as offering “the slightest dash of nostalgia,” and that’s a good thing. Though the kitchen does have a timid hand with sauces and seasonings, there’s no quibbling about the execution, whether a light, refreshing “tower” of lump crabmeat with mango, cucumber and tomato; rosy-rare double-cut lamb chops with port wine-mint sauce; pan-seared hogfish with orange beurre blanc; or the richly decadent half-moon chocolate tart. • Dinner daily. 561/353-2700. $$$

josephine’s—5751 N. Federal Highway. Italian. Tradition trumps trendy, and comfort outweighs chic at this Boca favorite. The ambience is quiet and stately but not stuffy, and

Buzz Bites i Foodie News: Reborn after six years is one of Delray’s longtime favorites, Out of Denmark (2275 S. Federal Highway, 561/276-2242). The father-son team of Jorgen and Christian Moller are back running the kitchen and front of the house, welcoming guests and turning out favorites like pecan-crusted rainbow trout, sweet-and-sour cabbage, and the complimentary tri-level tray of appetizers. ... There’s turnover at the top of the kitchen at Café Boulud in Palm Beach (301 Australian Ave., 561/655-6060). Exec chef Jim Leiken has departed, replaced by Boulud alum Rick Mace, who comes to the restaurant from the RT Lodge in Tennessee. Pastry chef Arnaud Chavigny is gone too. Taking his place is Eric Snow, who’s done his sweet magic in several high-end restaurants. ... Add casual dining to the Delray roster: It’s Sazio Express (1136 E. Atlantic Ave., 561/276-2637), a sleek little pizzeria and deli in the old Coco’s Café location. Look for pizzas, salads and sandwiches, with a pizza window open late and delivery through Delivery Dudes.

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the menu is full of hearty dishes to soothe the savage appetite, like three-cheese eggplant rollatini and chicken scarpariello. • Dinner nightly. 561/988-0668. $$

sauce or perfectly executed crème brûlee. Good food presented without artifice at a fair price never goes out of fashion. • Lunch Tues.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/620-0033. $$

kapow noodle bar—431 Plaza Real.

maggiano’s—21090 St. Andrews Blvd. Italian. It’s the neighborhood spot where families congregate for great food and a good time. Do as the Italians do and order family-style, sit back and watch the endless amounts of gorgeous foods grace your table. In this manner, you receive two appetizers, two salads, two pastas, two entrées, two vegetables and two desserts. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/361-8244. $$

Pan-Asian. This wickedly stylish Asian-inspired gastropub delivers a delicious and inventive punch to the taste buds. Among the hardest hitters are green tea-cured salmon with micro and fried basil and longan berries stuffed with yuzu kosho gelee, and cheesecake springrolls with a nothing-exceeds-like-excess banana caramel dipping sauce. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/347-7322. $

kathy’s gazebo café—4199 N. Federal Highway. Continental. This local stalwart smoothly rolls along with its signature blend of French and Continental dishes. The ornate, formal dining room and equally formal service are anomalies these days but are comforting nonetheless. Classic dishes like creamy lobster bisque, house-made duck paté, broiled salmon with sauce béarnaise and dreamy chocolate mousse are as satisfying as ever. • Lunch Mon.– Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/395-6033. $$$

kee grill—17940 N. Military Trail. American. The attraction here is carefully prepared food that is satisfying, flavorful and reasonably priced. The fist-sized crab cake is a good place to start, followed by sea bass with a soy-ginger-sesame glaze. • Dinner nightly. 561/995-5044. $$$ la rosa nautica—515 N.E. 20th St. Peruvian. Expect no ambience, no pretensions, low prices and food that satisfies on a very high level. Good starters include antichuchos, chunks of grilled beef heart, and causa, a terrine-like layering of mashed potatoes and chicken salad. Ceviche and the lomo saltado are among the best in South Florida. • Lunch daily. Dinner Tues.– Sun. 561/296-1413. $$ la tre—249 E. Palmetto Park Road. Vietnamese. For almost two decades, this elegant little spot has been celebrating the delicate, sophisticated flavors and textures of traditional and contemporary Vietnamese cuisine. A house signature, shrimp tossed with coriander curry pesto, is an inspired riff on Vietnamese classics. Service and wines match the refinement of the cuisine. • Dinner nightly. 561/392-4568. $$ la villetta—4351 N. Federal Highway. Italian. This is a well-edited version of a traditional Italian menu, complete with homemade pastas. Try the signature whole yellowtail snapper encrusted in sea salt, deboned tableside. Shrimp diavolo is perfectly scrumptious. • Dinner nightly. (closed Mon. during summer). 561/3628403. $$

le rivage—450 N.E. 20th St. French. Don’t overlook this small, unassuming bastion of traditional French cookery. That would be a mistake, because the dishes that virtually scream “creativity” can’t compare to the quiet pleasures served here—like cool, soothing vichyssoise, delicate fillet of sole with nutty brown butter

mario’s osteria—1400 Glades Road. Italian. This popular spot is swanky in its reincarnation, but the rustic Italian and Italian-American fare keeps with an osteria’s humbler pretensions. Signature dishes like the garlic rolls, lasagna and eggplant “pancakes”—basically deconstructed eggplant Parm—are on the new menu, as are posh veal osso buco ravioli in truffle cream sauce and thick, juicy rib-eye served “arrabiata” style. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/239-7000. $$ matteo’s—233 S. Federal Highway. Italian. Hearty Italian and Italian-American food, served in giant “family style” portions, needs no reinventing. Though there is no shortage of local restaurants cooking in that genre, it’s the details of preparation and service that make Matteo’s stand out. Baked clams are a good place to start, as is the reliable chopped salad. Linguini frutti di mare is one of the best in town. • Dinner daily. 561/392-0773. $$ max’s grille—404 Plaza Real, Mizner Park. Contemporary American. Though its signature California-influenced cookery and “American bistro” ambience are no longer furiously trendy, this stylish restaurant is as popular as ever due to consistently tasty and well-prepared food. Dishes run haute to homey, from seared-raw tuna to meatloaf wrapped with bacon. And don’t miss the luscious crème brûlée pie for dessert. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Brunch Sat.–Sun. 561/368-0080. $$ morton’s the steakhouse—5050 Town Center Circle. Steak house. There’s seemingly no end to diners’ love of huge slabs of high-quality aged beef, nor to the carnivores who pack the clubby-swanky dining room of this meatery. The star of the beef show is the giant bone-in filet mignon, which trumps with unusually deep and meaty flavor. The side of Grand Marnier soufflé is a cloud of luscious, citrus-y beauty that says while beef may be what’s for dinner, I am what’s for dessert. • Dinner daily. 561/392-7724. $$$

new york prime—2350 N.W. Executive Center Drive. Steak house. This wildly popular Boca meatery packs them in with swift, professional service, classy supper club ambience and an extensive wine list. And, of course, the beef—all USDA Prime, cooked to tender and juicy lusciousness over ferocious heat. The bone-in ribeye is especially succulent, but don’t neglect the New York strip or steak-house classics like oysters Rockefeller, garlicky spinach and crusty hash browns. • Dinner daily. 561/998-3881. $$$$ february 2014

dining guide nick’s new haven-style pizzeria—2240 N.W. 19th St. Italian. Cross Naples (thin, blistered crust, judicious toppings) with Connecticut (fresh clams and no tomato sauce), and you’ve got a pretty good idea of the pies coming out Nick Laudano’s custom-made ovens. The “white clam” pizza with garlic and bacon is killer-good; Caesar salad and tiramisu are much better than the usual pizzeria fare. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/368-2900. $

ninja spinning sushi bar—41 E. Palmetto Park Road. Japanese/sushi. “Whatever floats your boat” isn’t just a saying at this hipster sushi bar. Your sushi really does float on a boat, one of many bouncing along a channel cut into the top of the restaurant’s large, square sushi bar. High notes are the Mexican roll with tempura shrimp and avocado, and the sneakily fiery jalapeño-laced tuna tartare. If sushi doesn’t float your boat, gingery gyoza and crispy fried shrimp with a drizzle of spicy mayo probably will. Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner daily. 561/361-8688. $$

sushi sensations With their curious names and endless combinations of ingredients, sushi rolls continue to pique the interest of foodies. These five local spots put their own unique spin on the popular delicacy. Fah’s Sex on the Moon roll

pellegrino’s—3360 N. Federal Highway. Italian. The bold, brash flavors of New York-style Italian-American cuisine are as in your face as a Manhattan cabbie at this low-key favorite of chefowner Bobby Pellegrino, nephew to the clan that owns the legendary Rao’s in East Harlem. Pungent smells of garlic, anchovies, tomatoes and peppers fill the air; dishes like the rarely seen spiedini alla Romana, chicken Scarpariello and seafood spaghetti in Fra Diavolo sauce fill your belly and tantalize your taste buds. Don’t miss the housemade desserts, including a killer cheesecake. Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/368-5520. $$$ p.f. chang’s—1400 Glades Road. Chinese. There may have been no revolution if Mao had simply eaten at P.F. Chang’s—the portions are large enough to feed the masses—and the exquisite tastes in each dish could soothe any tyrant. We particularly like the steamed fish of the day, as well as the Szechuan-style asparagus. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/393-3722. (Other Palm Beach County location: 3101 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens, 561/691-1610) $$

piñon grill—6000 Glades Road. Contempo-

Raising the Bar

The chic bar inside Piñon Grill may be one of the coolest in town, with a towering wall of beautifully lit bottles, great ambience and an inspired selection of craft cocktails.

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rary American. The menu seemingly lists every recent trendy dish to come out of modern American restaurant kitchens, but Piñon succeeds with spot-on execution, mammoth portions and reasonable prices. Try the grilled artichokes with a zippy Southwestern-style rémoulade, a pair of giant crab cakes with more of that good rémoulade or a chocolate-peanut butter pie that is the irresistible definition of lusciousness. • Lunch and dinner daily. Brunch Sat.–Sun. 561/391-7770. $$

racks downtown eatery + tavern—402 Plaza Real. Contemporary American. Though the menu generally falls under the heading of modern American comfort food, that can mean anything from elegant presentations like the jaw-dropping lobster cobb salad to homier offerings like burgers and pizza, fiery Buffalo-style calamari, succulent chicken roasted in the wood-fired oven and an uptown version of everyone’s campfire favorite, s’mores. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/395-1662. $$

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Yama Japanese RestauRant Address: 200 N.E. Second Ave., #110, Delray Beach, 561/2669929 Recommended roll: Sunshine Roll ($15.95) What’s inside: Salmon, tomato, cilantro, avocado and Tobiko (flying fish roe), wrapped in soy paper and topped with mixed nuts and eel sauce.

sushi RaY Address: 5250 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton, 561/394-9506 Recommended roll: American Dream ($11) What’s inside: Tempura shrimp, baked conch

sauce, cucumber and asparagus, served inside out with fish eggs and avocado on top.

tempuRa house Address: 9858 Clint Moore Road, #112, Boca Raton, 561/8836088 Recommended roll: Love Star ($16.88) What’s inside: Chopped lobster tail, spicy mayo, cucumber, crab, scallions and sesame seeds.

Fah asian BistRo Address: 7401 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton, 561/241-0400

Recommended roll: Slim Lady ($7.95) What’s inside: Asparagus, cucumber, carrot, avocado, Kampyo (dried gourd strips) and spinach brown rice wrapped in soybean paper.

YakitoRi sake house Address: 271 S.E. Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton, 561/544-0087 Recommended roll: Sweetheart ($13) What’s inside: Eel, avocado, Kani (crab) and Masago (Capelin roe), topped with salmon, tuna and wasabi mayo. —BrIdget Sweet

february 2014

The names will bring you in… but the food will bring you back!

Vic & Angelo’s serves up delectable, rustic Italian cuisine, including soul-satisfying house-made pastas, crispy, thin-crust pizzas, refreshing salads, fresh fish and seafood, and enticing veal and chicken dishes, in a warm and welcoming setting.

The Office is a modern American gastropub that serves delicious, gourmet comfort food, in a setting reminiscent of a luxurious home office. Menu favorites include an array of juicy burgers, inventive salads, swell sandwiches, wonderful appetizers and mouthwatering seafood, chicken and beef entrees.

• Lunch & Dinner Served Daily • • Early & Late Happy Hour at Indoor & Outdoor Bars • • Brunch Served Saturday & Sunday • • Indoor and Outdoor Dining •

• Lunch & Dinner Served Daily • • Early & Late Happy Hour at Indoor & Outdoor Bars • • Dine Indoors or on the Patio •

290 E. Atlantic Ave. • Delray Beach • 561-278-9570 4520 PGA Blvd. • Palm Beach Gardens • 561-630-9899 vicandangelos.com

201 E. Atlantic Ave. • Delray Beach • 561-276-3600 theofficedelray.com

dining guide the boca challenge

chocolate truffles

f Cupid had chocolate, he wouldn’t need a bow and arrow. After all, why mess around with all that, “Ready, aim, fire” stuff when you can go to your local chocolatier and pick up a few (or a few dozen) morsels of pure chocolate love. Though any chocolate is better than no chocolate, for this month’s challenge we opted for chocolate truffles, for reasons as simple as they are hedonistic. Truffles offer that uniquely sinful, sensual pleasure of biting a hard (but not too hard) chocolate shell to reach the creamy, dreamy, palate-caressing filling within. To double our pleasure (and, really, doubling your pleasure is what chocolate is all about), we tasted both milk and dark chocolate truffles from three local chocolatiers. “Local” is key, because when it comes to truffles (or any chocolate, really), the more time from production to mouth, the more quality that is lost. Luckily, all the truffles we sampled were impeccably fresh and full of bracing chocolate flavor. They were judged on that flavor (milky/intense), and on texture (rich/creamy) and value, with the results totaled for a final score. If you want to play Cupid, you now have plenty of weapons. —BiLL Citara

taste

texture

VaLue

tOtaL

the dish

J. WiLLiams ChOCOLate COmpany

It’s the nuances that earned these truffles the top score of this month’s Challenge. Milk chocolate truffles are lusciously creamy with a faint, beguiling floral note. Dark chocolate truffles are inky little flavor bombs of bitter and sweet chocolate intensity. Both are terrific. $18/box of 9.

ChOCOLates By mr. rOBerts

These little nuggets of rich, creamy chocolate luxury are a fine value, especially when purchased individually for $1.10 each. The milk chocolate filling is exceptionally silken and milky; dark chocolate truffles have that same suave texture to go with their potent bittersweet flavor. $35/1 pound

paLm BeaCh COnfeCtiOns

Though more expensive than J. Williams and Mr. Roberts, PB Confections’ truffles also are twice the size. Surprisingly, the milk chocolate truffle is more bracingly chocolate-y than the dark, which seems sweeter and less complex. I wouldn’t kick either out of bed, though. $16.95/6 ounces

ratings:

fair

good

J. Williams Chocolate Company: 1253 Old Okeechobee Road, West Palm Beach, 561/296-2413

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very good

Chocolates by Mr. Roberts: 505 N.E. 20th St., Boca Raton, 561/392-3007

excellent

Palm Beach Confections: 6000 Glades Road, Boca Raton, 561/395-7611

february 2014

dining guide raffaele—508 Via De Palmas. Italian. The simplicity of true Italian cuisine is on display—from sea-sweet lump crab and earthy-tasting green beans lightly dressed with lemon juice and olive oil to squid-ink tagliolini with delicate tomato sauce and shellfish. Oven-roasted quail wrapped in pancetta and stuffed with sausage, pine nuts and raisins is exquisite. • Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/392-1110. $$

Bone-in filet mignon from Red

red the steakhouse—1901 N. Military Trail. Steak house. While it does provide the level of comfort, luxury and beef-centric cuisine affluent carnivores demand, Red does so with a lighter, fresher and more casual touch. It also serves some of the best—and best cooked— steaks in town. Try the succulent, gum-tender steak tartare. Meat not on your menu? Gulf shrimp in a seductive white wine-garlic-Dijon butter sauce will have you lapping up every last drop. Do the giant donut holes for dessert. • Dinner daily. 561/353-9139. $$$ renzo’s of boca—5999 N. Federal Highway. Italian. The buzzword is fresh at Renzo’s. Fish is prepared daily oreganata or Livornese style, sautéed in white wine with lemon and capers or grilled. Homemade pasta is artfully seasoned, and Renzo’s tomato sauce is ethereal. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/994-3495. $$

cRiSTiNA MoRgADo

ristorante sapori—301 Via de Palmas, Royal Palm Place. Italian. Sapori features fresh fish, veal and chicken dishes imbued with subtle flavors. The grilled Italian branzino, the veal chop Milan and the zuppa di pesce served over linguine are especially tasty, and the pasta (all 17 kinds!) is available in full and half orders, with your choice of 15 zesty sauces. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/367-9779. $$ ristorante saporissimo—366 E. Palmetto Park Road. Tuscan. This little restaurant is making culinary magic. Here, a taste of Italy is brought to life with rabbit cacciatorá (Tuscany style), veal ossobuco, homemade pasta with wild boar sausage, and a tasty rack of venison. Homemade desserts, including tiramisu, panna cotta and zuppa ingles, will take your breath away. Service is out of this world. • Dinner nightly. Outdoor dining. 561/750-2333. $$$

Sizzling Fare

The USDA Prime offerings at Ruth’s Chris—from filet mignon to New York strip—are served on pipinghot 500-degree plates.

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ruth’s chris steak house—225 N.E. Mizner Blvd. Steaks. This is a refreshing departure from the ambience common to many steak houses; the room is comfortable, and conversation is possible. Naturally, we come here for the steak (they are sublime), but the lobster and fish are great. All your favorite sides are here, too. • Dinner nightly. 561/392-6746. (Other Palm Beach County locations: 661 U.S. Highway 1, North Palm Beach, 561/863-0660; CityPlace, West Palm Beach, 561/514-3544) $$$ seasons 52 —2300 Executive Center Drive. Contemporary American. The food—seasonal ingredients, simply and healthfully prepared, accompanied by interesting wines—is firstrate, from salmon roasted on a cedar plank to desserts served in oversized shot glasses. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/998-9952. (Other Palm Beach County location: 11611 Ellison

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Wilson Road, Palm Beach Gardens, 561/6255852) $$

sushi ray—5250 Town Center Circle. Japanese/Sushi. Impeccably fresh and exactingly prepared sushi and other Japanese specialties are on display. The Nobu-esque miso sea bass gives a taste of this modern classic at a fraction of the price of the original, while the chef’s sushi assortment offers a generous arrangement of nigiri and maki for a reasonable $20. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner daily. 561/394-9506. $$ table 42 —399 S.E. Mizner Blvd. Italian. A contemporary Amer-Italian osteria with pizza describes Gary Rack’s reborn Coal Mine Pizza. The menu is compact but offers mix-andmatch opportunities done with great attention to detail—like irresistible honey balsamic chicken wings with grilled onions and blue cheese; and linguine in deliriously rich and creamy pesto. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/826-2625. $$ tanzy—301 Plaza Real. Italian. Part of the

swanky iPic Theater complex (though it does not service the theater), this handsome spot relies on quality ingredients and careful preparation instead of culinary special effects and car chases. The Parma Bar, a sort of sushi bar for meat and cheese fanatics, also does terrific ricotta-stuffed fried squash blossoms. Panseared branzino and massive bone-in veal chop are excellent, and the ethereal rosemary beignets with rosemary-olive oil gelato are luscious and cutting edge. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner daily. Brunch Sat.–Sun. 561/922-6699. $$$

taverna kyma —6298 N. Federal Highway. Greek/Mediterranean. Few present Greek cuisine better. Expertly prepared dishes cover the spectrum of Mediterranean cuisine, from cold appetizers (dolmades; grape leaves stuffed with rice and herbs) to hot starters (spanakopita, baked phyllo with spinach and feta cheese) to mouthwatering entrées like lamb shank (slow-cooked in a tomato sauce and served on a bed of orzo), massive stuffed peppers or kebobs. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/994-2828. $$ february 2014

Our Luxury Events and Concierge Services are not about compromises, they are about getting what you desire whenever you desire it. Your happiness is our success, so let us help you:

phone: 561.962.4248 | email: info@fabandchicevents.com | web: fabandchicevents.com

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dining guide trattoria romana—499 E. Palmetto Park Road. Italian. This local mainstay does Italian classics and its own lengthy list of ambitious specials with unusual skill and aplomb. The cozy dining room is a welcome respite from the outside world, and service is at a level not always seen in local eateries. Pay attention to the daily specials, especially if it includes impeccably done langostini oreganata and the restaurant’s signature jumbo shrimp saltimbocca. • Dinner daily. 561/393-6715. $$$

truluck’s—351 Plaza Real. Seafood. This stylish and sophisticated Mizner Park restaurant applies the steak house formula of classy, clubby ambience, formal service and an extensive wine list to seafood from across the nation, with great and consistent success. Crab is the specialty here and there are myriad versions—stone, Dungeness, Alaskan, soft-shell and more. Crispy soft-shells stuffed with crab and andouille are very good, if served without a drizzle of ketchup-y sauce on top. • Dinner nightly. 561/391-0755. $$$

uncle julio’s—449 Plaza Real, Mizner Park. Mexican. Taking Tex-Mex cuisine gently upscale with better-quality ingredients and more skillful preparation, this colorful eatery offers more than the usual suspects. You can get frog’s legs and quail, as well as beef and chicken fajitas, and one of the only palatable tamales around. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/300-3530. $ uncle tai’s—5250 Town Center Circle. Chinese. In an area with more cookie-cutter Chinese restaurants than cookies, Uncle Tai’s stands out for the elegance of its decor, the professionalism of its service and its careful preparation of familiar and less-familiar dishes. The “specialties” section of the menu has exciting dishes, like the Hunan vegetable pie, finely minced veggies sandwiched between sheets of crispy bean curd skin, and Hunan-style lamb, whose seared and succulent meat shows off the kitchen’s skill in the use of wok qi. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/3688806. $$$

Super Special

The venerable Uncle Tai’s offers a four-course “Oriental Sunset Dinner”—starting at $13.75—every day from 5 to 6:15 p.m.

villagio italian eatery—344 Plaza Real. Italian. The classic Italian comfort food at this Mizner Park establishment is served with flair and great attention to detail. The reasonably priced menu—with generous portions—includes all your favorites (veal Parmesan, Caesar salad) and some outstanding seafood dishes (Maine lobster with shrimp, mussels and clams on linguine). There is a full wine list and ample peoplewatching given the prime outdoor seating. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561-447-2257. $$

vino—114 N.E. Second St. Wine Bar/Italian. An impressive wine list of some 250 bottles (all available by the glass) offers a multitude of choices, especially among Italian and California reds. The menu of “Italian tapas” includes breaded and fried artichoke hearts, and ravishing ricotta and fig-stuffed ravioli with prosciutto, balsamic syrup and brown butter. • Dinner Tues.–Sat. 561/8690030. $

WeSt BoCa city fish market —7940 Glades Road.

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neighborhood pick ITalIO 1658 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton, 561/392-7778

he self-described “modern Italian Kitchen” that is Italio is sandwiched between a Chipotle and a Dunkin’ Donuts in Boca Raton Shopping Center, a strip mall that’s the closest thing east Boca has left to a budget plaza (there’s also a dry cleaner, a supermarket called Deal$ and a “boutique” Goodwill). Don’t be fooled by the surroundings. Italio is a hip foodie enclave that stands by its cheeky slogan: “Just like grandma made. But totally different.” The food is prepared in front of customers in a step-by-step, assembly-line formation: Start with a pasta bowl, wrap or salad bowl, then choose the entrée to go in it—chicken, sausage, steak, shrimp or veggie—then select the sauce, pesto or dressing before closing with a variety of toppings, from sun-dried tomato caponata to hot chili oil. The process is efficient without feeling rushed,

the salads are tossed with care, and the pastas are generously portioned. Diners can eat inside the trendy, industrial-chic dining room, with its metal furnishings, art-deco lighting and exposed ceiling, but many prefer carryout. The clientele skews toward twenty- and thirtysomethings. Guests eat cheaply at Italio; a couple can consume a hearty, eclectic meal for $10. Better still, the food is high caliber, with imported ingredients and a customizable concept that lets diners control the process. I enjoyed the best option for firsttime visitors: a “Pick Two,” which includes a pasta bowl or wrap, plus a soup or side salad, for $8. My salad included such unusual toppings as bruschetta, chickpeas and piadina croutons, which gave it a thin-crisp crunch. Halfway through the meal, the manager, Hans Richter, came by my table (and others) with free Italio Sticks, nearly foot-long slabs of cheese-lovers’ paradise, with the melted goodness spilling from a flaky crust. Now that’s some fast food made with love. —john thoMaSon

THe ITalIo RevoluTIoN

Florida-based Italio opened this Boca flagship in the summer of 2012, and in late 2013 it added a second SoFla spot in Fort Lauderdale (2151 N. Federal Highway). A Coconut Creek chain is projected to open this spring. Richter hopes to follow the success of Chipotle—spreading the speedy Italian concept across 2,000 locations nationwide.

Seafood. A multimillion-dollar remodel of the old Pete’s has turned it into an elegant seafood house with a lengthy seafood-friendly wine list, impeccably fresh fish and shellfish cooked with care and little artifice. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner daily. 561/487-1600. $$

phuket thai restaurant—Palms Plaza, 22191 Powerline Road. thai. It’s nothing to look at—just another little restaurant in another west Boca strip shopping center. But appearances

can be deceiving; this restaurant serves excellent and authentic Thai cuisine in a cozy and unpretentious atmosphere. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/447-8863. $$

sybarite pig—20642 State Road 7. Contemporary american. A labor of love, pork and beer, everything at the Pig but the coarse-grain mustard is made in-house, from the bread for sandwiches to the eclectic sauces to the variety of terrific sausages. Creamy cotechino, savory duck

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and subtly spicy “Hellswine” are among the standouts. • Dinner Tues.–Sun. Brunch Sun. 561/883-3200. $

tempura house —9858 Clint Moore Road, #C-112. Japanese/Asian. Dark wood, rice paper and tiles fill the space. An appetizer portion of Age Natsu, fried eggplant, is a consummate Japanese delicacy. Don’t miss the ITET roll with shrimp tempura and avocado, topped with spicy mayo, tempura flakes and eel sauce. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/883-6088. $$

BREAKFAST • LUNCH • DINNER

Daringly Traditional. You crave it. We serve it. The Triple J Sandwich Corned beef, roast beef, turkey and Swiss cheese rolled with lots of Cole slaw and Russian dressing. Exclusively at TooJay’s Gourmet Deli

villa rosano —9858 Clint Moore Road. Italian. You can be forgiven for imagining yourself in some rustic Italian hill town as the smells of garlic and tomato sauce waft through the air. Start by sopping up the house olive oil with slices of crusty bread, then move on to a stellar version of clams Guazzetto and delicate fillets of sole done a la Francese. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner daily. 561/470-0112. $$

boynton beAch bäd ragaz—1417 S. Federal Highway. bavarian. The Swiss municipality of Bad Ragaz is known for the healing powers of its thermal waters. This Bäd Ragaz is known for the healing powers of a different liquid: beer, some two dozen on tap and another 50 or so by the bottle. The suds-centric food has its hits and misses, but is generally on target more than not. Good choices are the Black Forest ham-stuffed mushrooms, generously portioned smoked trout salad, and crispy and golden Vienna veal schnitzel. Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/3363297. $$

bar louie —1500 Gateway Blvd. eclectic. Attempting to split the difference between happening bar and American café, Bar Louie mostly succeeds, offering burgers, pizzas, fish tacos and a variety of salads, all at moderate prices and in truly daunting portions. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/853-0090. $

china dumpling—1899-5 N. Congress Ave. chinese. The dim sum basket is an absolute must-try. A choice of signature steamed dumplings are likewise spot on. The steak kew is delicious, and the clay pot casseroles are enticing. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/737-2782. $ prime catch —700 E. Woolbright Road. Seafood. Simple pleasures soar—full-belly clams, fried sweet and crispy, or a perfectly grilled piece of mahi or bouillabaisse overflowing with tender fish. Don’t miss one of the best Key lime pies around. • Lunch and dinner daily, Sunday brunch. 561/737-8822. $$

Since 1981, TooJay’s Gourmet Deli has been delighting diners with an exciting and eclectic menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. When the craving strikes indulge in authentic NY–Style deli sandwiches or settle in with slow roasted turkey, old fashioned pot roast and other time–honored comfort food favorites. Friendly, professional service is a part of every meal, so make plans today to join us for “a little taste of home”.

sushi simon —1614 S. Federal Highway. Japanese. Local sushi-philes jam the narrow dining room for such impeccable nigirizushi as hamachi and uni (Thursdays), as well as more elaborate dishes like snapper Morimoto and tuna tartare. Creative, elaborate rolls are a specialty. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/731-1819. $$ Legendary desserts: carrot cake, black & whites, chocolate Killer Cake.

delrAy beAch 3rd & 3rd—301 N.E. Third Ave. Gastropub. John Paul Kline’s quirky, individualistic, obscurely located little place is one of the most important restaurants in Delray. The menu changes frequently, but hope the evening’s fare includes plump scallops with caramelized mango sauce, shrimp and chorizo skewers with corn puree, stunning delicious roasted cauliflower with Parmesan mousse and bacon, and wickedgood espresso panna cotta on it at your visit. • Dinner Mon.– Sat. 561/303-1939. $$

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Boca Raton Polo Shops (561) 241-5903 • Regency Court Plaza (561) 997-9911 Glades Plaza (561) 392-4181 • Locations also in Coral Springs, Plantation, Boynton Beach and West Palm Beach • www.toojays.com

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dining guide

a modern continental restaurant full liquor bar over 20 wines by the glass craft beer on tap

32 east—32 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. At a time when chefs and restaurants seem to be constantly shouting their own praises, Nick Morfogen and 32 East go quietly about their way of serving thoughtfully conceived, finely crafted dishes with a minimum of fuss and artifice. The menu changes daily, but recent examples of Morfogen’s culinary expertise include plump scallops given an elegant bouillabaisse treatment and fork-tender venison with a terrific Asiago-fig risotto. When the food is this good, you don’t need to shout. • Dinner daily. 561/276-7868. $$$ 50 ocean—50 S. Ocean Blvd. Seafood. The former Upper Deck at Boston’s on the Beach is now the more upscale, seafood-oriented spot. The menu ranges from familiar to slightly more inventive, from a classic lobster bisque and crisp-tender fried clam bellies to duck confit egg rolls and well-executed potato-crusted grouper. The cinnamon-dusted beignets are puffs of amazingly delicate deep-fried air and should not under any circumstances be missed. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner daily. Brunch Sun. 561/278-3364. $$

5837 N. Federal Highway | Boca Raton 33487 561-961-4156 | www.dorsiarestaurant.com dorsia_brm0513.indd 1

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Chef Paul Collange offers a selection of timeless French classics in a warm and friendly environment, which is sure to delight your senses and your palate.

atlantic grille—1000 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood/Contemporary American. This posh restaurant in the luxurious Seagate Hotel & Spa is home to a 450-gallon aquarium of tranquil moon jellyfish and a 2,500-gallon shark tank. Savor deliciously inventive cuisine that takes the contemporary to the extraordinary. Bold flavors, inspired techniques and the freshest ingredients make every meal a culinary adventure. • Lunch and dinner daily. Brunch Sat.–Sun. 561/665-4900. $$ buddha sky bar—217 E. Atlantic Ave. Pan Asian. Don’t miss a meal at this stylish Asia-meets-industrial chic spot with a view of the Delray skyline. Chinese-influenced dim sum is inspired, while rock shrimp tempura and Wagyu tenderloin skewers with twin chimichurri sauces touch the heart and the taste buds. Veggie fried rice is exemplary thanks to the kitchen’s application of wok chi. • Dinner daily. 561/450-7557. $$

burt & max’s—9089 W. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. Burt Rapoport and Dennis Max have struck gold with their first collaboration in years, bringing an accessible and affordable brand of contemporary comfort food to the underserved denizens of west Delray. A few dishes from Max’s other eatery, Max’s Grille, have made the trek, like the hearty chopped salad and bacon-wrapped meatloaf. Other dishes are variations on the comfort food theme, from crispy potato and taro chips with ranch dipping sauce to a stellar trufflescented wild mushroom pizza. Dinner daily. Sunday brunch. 561/638-6380. $$$ cabana el rey—105 E. Atlantic Ave. Cuban tropical. Little Havana is alive and well in Delray Beach. The menu is a palette-pleasing travelogue. Mariquitas (fried banana chips) are a tasty way to start your meal. For dinner, seafood paella is a winner, with mussels, shrimp, conch, octopus, scallops and clams. And the churrasco is terrific. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/274-9090. $$

Open for Lunch Tuesday to Friday 11:30am-2:00pm • Open for Dinner 7 Days 5:00pm-9:00pm

450 NE 20 St • Shore Centre • Boca Raton • 561-620-0033

www.restaurantlerivage.com

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caffé luna rosa—34 S. Ocean Blvd. Italian. This favorite is always lively, and alfresco dining is the preferred mode. Entrée choices are enticing, but we went with the penne alla vodka with pancetta, tomato and basil. Also delicious was the costoletta di vitello, a center-cut 14-ounce veal chop lightly breaded and served either Milanese or parmigiana. For dessert, you can’t go wrong with the cheesecake imported from the Carnegie Deli. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/274-9404. $$ casa di pepe —189 N.E. Second Ave. Italian. A welcoming staff, familiar Italian dishes done right and moderate

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february 2014

prices define this cozy spot with a spacious outdoor patio. • Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/2797371. $$

efeller are first-rate, while the wet-aged beef is appropriately tender and tasty. • Dinner daily. 561/272-9898. $$$

ceviche tapas bar & restaurant—116 N.E. Sixth Ave. Spanish/tapas. With

d’angelo trattoria—9 S.E. Seventh Ave.

more than 100 different tapas, plus paellas and entrées, this cozy, bustling eatery in the old Falcon House location has all the small platesgrazing bases covered. There’s also an equally expansive wine list. Among the best dishes to pique your palate are the well-made house ceviche and cooling gazpacho. The towering tres leches cake is merely divine. • Dinner daily. 561/894-8599. $$

Italian. Don’t go expecting the tired old “Italian” culinary clichés at this wickedly stylish trattoria. Instead, open your palate to more authentic and exciting Roman-style cuisine, like roasted veal bone marrow with brisk caper-parsley pesto, creamy-dreamy burrata with roasted fava beans and watercress salad, the classic tonnarelli cacio e pepe (“cheese and pepper”) and the best gelato this side of a real Roman trattoria. • Dinner daily. 561/330-1237. $$

city oyster—213 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood.

deck 84 —840 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary

This stylish mainstay of Big Time Restaurant Group serves up reasonably priced seafood that never disappoints, such as crab-stuffed shrimp with jalapeño cheddar grits, bacon, shiitake mushrooms and warm vinaigrette. • Lunch Mon.–Sun. Dinner nightly. Outdoor dining. 561/272-0220. $$

American. Burt Rapoport’s ode to laid-back tropical dining is like a day at the beach without getting sand between your toes. Though the restaurant is casual, the kitchen takes its food seriously, whether the steallar flatbreads, the thick and juicy 10-ounce special blend burger or homey apple cobbler. And the waterfront location just seems to make everything taste better. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Brunch Sat.–Sun. Dinner daily. 561/665-8484. $

cut 432 —432 E. Atlantic Ave. Steak house. Hipper decor, a more casual vibe and an inventive take on steak-house favorites make this sleek restaurant just different enough to be interesting. Starters such as ceviche (prepared Peruvian style) and ultrarich oysters Rock-

dig—777 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. This organic-healthy-sustainable eatery is all about “Doing It Green” with dishes

like plump pan-seared diver scallops with pineapple-mango salsa. The different greens mixes at the salad bar are crisp and pristinely fresh. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner daily. 561/2791002. $$

fifth avenue grill—821 S. Federal Highway. American. Since 1989, this upscale tavern has been a Delray favorite. The straightforward menu focuses on entrées, especially the famed Allen Brothers beef; choose from numerous cuts and preparations—and add a lobster tail for good measure. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/265-0122. $$

greek bistro—1832 S. Federal Highway. Greek. Flaky, overstuffed spanikopita and light and delicate beef meatballs should be at the top of your appetizer list, and though entrées don’t always reach those heights, both a long-braised lamb shank and grilled whole snapper are certainly satisfying. And the baklava is great. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/266-8976. $

the grove—187 N.E. Second Ave. Contemporary American. Chef-partner Michael Haycook and chef Meghan O’Neal change their menu biweekly, turning out dishes exhilarating in their freshness, creativity and elegant simplicity. An appetizer of octopus with sun-dried tomato tapenade is merely terrific, as are rosy

Innovative Italian small plates from the culinary maestro behind Casa D’Angelo

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dining guide slices of gum-tender duck with cauliflower gratin and nickelsized coins of crisp-chewy shiitake mushroom. • Dinner Tues.–Sat. 561/266-3750. $$

henry’s—16850 Jog Road. American. This casual, unpretentious restaurant from Burt Rapoport in the west part of town never fails to delight diners. Expect attentive service and crisp execution of everything—from meat loaf, burgers and fried chicken to flatbreads and hefty composed salads. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/638-1949. $$ house of siam —25 N.E. Second Ave. Thai. The normally riotous flavors of Thai cuisine are muted at this family-friendly downtown spot, but that seems to suit diners just fine. Dishes, well-prepared and generously portioned, include steamed chicken and shrimp dumplings with sweet soy dipping sauce and crisp-fried duck breast in a very mild red curry sauce. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner daily. 561/330-9191. $$ il girasole —1911 S. Federal Highway. Northern Italian. This South Florida classic is not trendy, but it offers a level of comfort and consistency that has been bringing people back for 30 years. The food is fine hearty Italian, with excellent service. Try the veal Kristy or the frogs legs. • Dinner Tues.– Sun. 561/272-3566. $$

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jimmy’s bistro —9 S. Swinton Ave. Eclectic. Best bets are a lovely salad of ripe tomatoes and fresh, milky house-made mozzarella; a rich, elegant version of lusty Cajun etouffee; and caramelized bananas in puff pastry with silken vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. • Dinner daily. 561/865-5774. $$

Readers’ Choice Winners: 2012 Best ItalIan Best sunday Brunch Best WIne lIst 2013 Best ItalIan

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la cigale—253 S.E. Fifth Ave. Mediterranean. True culinary professionals turn out gently updated and classically oriented dishes notable for the quality of their ingredients and careful preparation. Sweetbreads in chanterelle cream sauce are glorious; a barely grilled artichoke with mustardy remoulade is gloriously simple. Watching your server skillfully debone an impeccably fresh Dover sole is almost as satisfying as eating it. • Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/265-0600. $$ lemongrass bistro —420 E. Atlantic Ave. Pan-Asian. Casually hip ambience, friendly service, moderate prices and a blend of sushi and nouveau pan-Asian fare make this a popular destination. The quality of its seafood and care in its preparation are what gives Lemongrass its edge. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/278-5050. (Other Palm Beach County locations: 101 Plaza Real S., Boca Raton, 561/544-8181; 1880 N. Congress Ave., Boynton Beach, 561/733-1344). $

max’s harvest—169 N.E. Second Ave. Contemporary American. Dennis Max, instrumental in bringing the chef and ingredient-driven ethos of California cuisine to South Florida in the 1980s, is again at the forefront of the fresh, local, seasonal culinary movement. Max’s Harvest soars with dishes like plump Cedar Key clams with house-made tasso, savory bourbon-maple glazed pork belly, and crispy-skinned wild sockeye salmon with yuzu-truffle vinaigrette. • Dinner daily. Brunch Sat.–Sun. 561/381-9970. $$

34 S. Ocean Blvd, Delray Beach • 561-274-9404 caffelunarosa.com • facebook.com/caffelunarosa

the office—201 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American.

Open 7 days, serving Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Weekend Brunch. Live Entertainment • Valet Parking Available

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j&j seafood bar & grill—634 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood. This local favorite on Atlantic Avenue—owned by John Hutchinson (who is also the chef) and wife Tina—serves up everything from burgers and wraps to a menu brimming with seafood options. Don’t forget to inquire about the stunning array of 10 specials—every night. • Lunch and dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/272-3390. $$

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Your office is nothing like this eclectic gastropub, unless your office sports more than two dozen craft beers on tap and a 12/12/13 12:44 PM

february 2014

Buzz Bites ii Max is in the house:

Not one to be letting any arugula grow under his feet, restaurateur Dennis Max has teamed up with Delray entrepreneur Wes Spicer to open The Sonoma House (220 N.E. 11th St., 561/756-9474), a private event and catering venue near Mizner Park. The one-acre site, formerly the Ellenville Green Market, includes a rustic and elegant, California-style villa. Along with gardens and a vine-bedecked gazebo, it can accommodate from 50 to 350 guests for everything from weddings and dinner parties to business retreats. It’s already been the site of one big bash, the Whiskey Bent Hootenanny, a sort of upscale urban country fair to benefit the Tri County Humane Society. As for catering, it will all be done by Max Group chefs, following the “farm-tofork” ethos that has made Max’s Harvest and Max’s Grille two of the most popular restaurants in Palm Beach County.

menu that flits from burgers and fries to mussels. Don’t miss the restaurant’s winning take on the thick, juicy Prime beef burger and simply wicked maple-frosted donuts with bacon bits and two dipping sauces. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/276-3600. $$

park tavern—9 S.E. Second Ave. Contemporary American. The guys from Cut 432 have done it again with this hip, casual modern American tavern. The menu is tightly focused and tightly executed, whether Maryland crab cake featuring fat chunks of succulent crab or crisply sautéed pork belly with apricot mostarda. Don’t miss the behemoth slab of tender, juicy prime rib for a near-saintly $29—or the decadent soft pretzel bites, perfect for the cocktail hour munchies. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/265-5093. $$

prime—110 E. Atlantic Ave. Steak/Seafood. Prime is aptly named for its heart of the action location, classy neo-supper club decor, extensive wine list and roster of designer steaks. Starters and desserts fare better than entrées, especially plump, crabby Maryland-style crab cakes and indecently luscious chocolate bread pudding. Service is a strong suit too, so with a bit of work this good-looking restaurant will fully live up to its name. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/865-5845. $$$ racks fish house & oyster bar—5 S.E. Second Ave. Seafood. Gary Rack, who also has scored with his spot in Mizner Park, certainly seems to have the restaurant Midas touch, as evidenced by this updated throwback to classic fish houses. Design, ambience and service hit all the right notes. Oysters are terrific any way you get them; grilled fish and daily specials are excellent. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/450-6718. $$$ follow the leader

sundy house—106 S. Swinton Ave. Contemporary American. “Top Chef” Lindsay Autry and pastry chef Sarah Sype have transformed the Sundy House menu into a “soulful” blend of Mediterranean flavors and Southern comfort food—served in arguably the most beautiful restaurant and gardens in Delray. Menus are seasonal and imaginative. Try the crispy whole branzini, the roasted bone marrow or any of the fresh local fish dishes. • Lunch Tues.–Sat. Brunch Sun. Dinner Tues.– Sun. 561/272-5678. $$ tramonti—119 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. With its roots in New York’s Angelo’s of Mulberry Street, this venue is always packed. Homemade stuffed manicotti is aromatic and glorious. Tramonti’s platter for two, containing fillet marsala, veal cutlet with prosciutto, fried zucchini and potato croquettes, is terrific. • Dinner daily. 561/2721944. $$ tryst—4 E. Atlantic Ave. Eclectic. It’s tough to beat this hotspot with the lovely outdoor patio, well-chosen selection of artisan beers and not-the-usual-suspect wines, and an eclectic “gastropub” menu of small and large plates. Try the crisp-fried rock shrimp with chipotlemayonnaise sauce. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/921-0201. $$

union —8 E. Atlantic Ave. Pan-Asian. This purveyor of “Asian comfort food” has brought in wacky-maki expert Candyfish Gourmet Sushi as a restaurant-withina-restaurant. Salt-and-pepper calamari, pot stickers with panang curry sauce and “volcano” chicken wings are well-prepared. Candyfish’s sushi rolls blend all manner of fish and shellfish with cream cheese, fruits and veggies. • Dinner Tues.–Sat. 561/330-4236. $$

vic & angelo’s —290 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. God is in the details at this upscale trattoria, and He doesn’t miss much, including stellar service and an outstanding wine menu. Ingredients like Buffalo mozzarella, house-made pastas and San Marzano tomatoes are first-rate, and execution is spot on. Try the “Old School” meatball to start, the whole-wheat tagliatelle with garlic and chili-infused olive oil and the perfectly cooked veal chop. Portions are substantial, so expect leftovers. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/278-9570. $$$

NYY STEAK, a premium steakhouse inspired by the most successful baseball franchise in history. Featuring dry-aged Prime USDA steaks and five-star seafood dishes. ONLY AT SEMINOLE CASINO COCONUT CREEK. WELCOME TO THE BIG LEAGUES.

LAkE worth couco pazzo —915-917 Lake Ave. Italian. Despite the name, there’s nothing crazy about the cooking at this homey eatery. It’s the hearty, soul-satisfying Italian cuisine we’ve all come to know and love. Spaghetti Bolognese is a fine version of a Northern Italian classic; house-smoked mozzarella—breaded, fried and presented with a tangy tomato-basil fondue—is equally tasty. • Dinner nightly. (Tues.–Sun. during summer). 561/585-0320. $$ paradiso ristorante—625 Lucerne Ave. Italian. A Tomasz Rut mural dominates the main dining room, and there is also a pasticceria and bar for gelato and espresso. Chef Angelo Romano offers a modern Italian menu. The Mediterranean sea bass branzino is definitely a must-try. Plus, the wine list is a veritable tome. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/547-2500. $$$ safire asian fusion—817 Lake Ave. Pan-Asian. This stylish little restaurant offers food that gently marries East and West, plus a roster of more traditional

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dining guide Thai dishes and inventive sushi rolls. Menu standouts include tempura-fried rock shrimp or calamari cloaked with a lush-fiery “spicy cream sauce.” Expect neighborly service and reasonable prices. • Lunch Tues.–Fri. Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/588-7768. $

LANTANA the station house—233 Lantana Road. Seafood. If you’re hungry for Maine lobster, plucked live out of giant tanks and cooked to order, this modest replica of a 1920s train station is the place to go. Lobsters come in all sizes (up to 8 pounds) and are so reasonably priced that getting a taste of one without reservations is highly unlikely. • Dinner nightly. 561/547-9487. $$$

PALM BEACH bice —313 Worth Ave. Italian. Bice continues to hold the title of favorite spot on the island. The venerable restaurant offers a marvelous array of risottos and fresh pastas and classic dishes like veal chop Milanese, sautéed chicken breast and stuffed rack of lamb. The wine list features great vintages. • Lunch and dinner daily. Outdoor dining. 561/8351600. $$$

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buccan—350 S. County Road. Contemporary American. Casual elegance of Palm Beach meets modern culinary sensibilities of Miami at the first independent restaurant by chef Clay Conley. The design offers both intimate and energetic dining areas, while the menu is by turn familiar (wood-grilled burgers) and more adventurous (truffled steak tartare with crispy egg yolk, squid ink orrechiette). Dinner daily. 561/8333450. $$ café boulud —The Brazilian Court, 301 Australian Ave. French with American flair. This hotel restaurant gives Palm Beach a taste of Daniel Boulud’s world-class cuisine inspired by his four muses. The chef oversees a menu encompassing classics, simple fare, seasonal offerings and dishes from around the world. Dining is in the courtyard (not available during summer), the elegant lounge or the sophisticated dining room. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/6556060. $$$ café l’europe —331 S. County Road. Current international. A Palm Beach standard, the café has long been known for its peerless beauty, the piano player, the chilled martinis and the delicious Champagne and caviar bar. Try one of its sophisticated classics like Wiener schnitzel with herbed spaetzle, grilled veal chop and flavorful pastas. • Lunch Tues.–Fri. Dinner nightly (closed Mon. during summer). 561/655-4020. $$$

chez jean-pierre —132 N. County Road. French. Sumptuous cuisine, attentive servers and a see-and-beseen crowd are hallmarks of one of the island’s premier restaurants. Indulgences include scrambled eggs with caviar and the Dover sole meunière filleted tableside. When your waiter suggests profiterolles au chocolat or hazelnut soufflé, say, mais oui! • Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/833-1171. $$$ cucina dell’ arte —257 Royal Poinciana Way. Italian. The wide range of items on the menu and the great quality of Cucina’s cuisine, combined with its fine service, ensures a fun place for a casual yet delectable meal—not to mention being a vantage point for spotting local celebs. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Outdoor dining. 561/655-0770. $$

echo —230A Sunrise Ave. Asian. The cuisine reverberates with the tastes of China, Thailand, Japan and Vietnam. franktheatres_brm0214.indd 1 172 [ bocamag.com

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Crispy jumbo shrimp with soybean plum sauce is delectable, the Chinese hot and sour soup is unlike any other, and the Mongolian beef tenderloin is perfection. Sake list is also tops. This offsite property of The Breakers is managed with the same flawlessness as the resort. • Dinner nightly (during season). 561/802-4222. $$$

hmf —1 S. County Road. Contemporary American. Beneath the staid, elegant setting of The Breakers, HMF is the Clark Kent of restaurants, dishing an extensive array of exciting, inventive, oh-so-contemporary small plates. Don’t depart without sampling the dreamy warm onion-Parmesan dip with house-made fingerling potato chips, the sexy wild boar empanaditas, chicken albondigas tacos, Korean-style short ribs and terrific butterscotch panna cotta. The wine list is encyclopedic. Dinner daily. 561/290-0104. $$ imoto —350 S. County Road. Asian Fusion/Tapas. Clay Conley’s “little sister” (the translation of Imoto from Japanese) is next to his always-bustling Buccan. Imoto turns out Japanese-inspired small plates with big-city sophistication, like witty Peking duck tacos and decadent tuna and foie gras sliders. Sushi selection is limited but immaculately fresh. The mille-crêpe cake is 20 layers of lacy, mango-sauced goodness. • Dinner daily. 561/833-5522. $$

leopard lounge and restaurant—The Chesterfield Palm Beach, 363 Cocoanut Row. American. The restaurant offers excellent food in a glamorous and intimate club-like atmosphere. In fact, it’s advisable to make early reservations if a quiet dinner is the objective; the place becomes a late-night cocktail spot after 9. The menu is equally decadent. • Breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner daily. 561/659-5800. $$

Buzz Bites iii Bonjour to Boca: Filling the French restaurant gap left by the closing of Stephané’s is L’Etoile (99 S.E. Mizner Blvd., 561/347-7000), Hervé Maestripieri’s classically European restaurant in the downtown Boca space once occupied by Moquila and The Spaniard. Top toque is Geoffroy Ruiz, who made his culinary reputation cooking in Michelin-starred restaurants in France. His menu includes such elegant touches a black truffle soup, lobster salad, Angus beef tenderloin a la Rossini (with foie gras and truffles) and grilled shrimp with Provencal vegetables. Pastry chef Gineau Stephane’s desserts range from Key lime pie to Paris-brest, a donut-shaped pastry filled with hazelnut cream. The restaurant itself is a modern, elegant space done in cool grays and blacks, with coffered ceilings, glittering chandeliers, even a weekend DJ and wine classes.

follow the leader

nick & johnnie’s —207 Royal Poinciana Way. Contemporary American. Expect flavorful, moderately priced California-esque cuisine in a casual setting with affordable wines and young, energetic servers. Try the short-rib or jerk chicken quesadillas as appetizers, and don’t miss the four-cheese tortellini as a main course. • Lunch and dinner Mon.–Sat. Breakfast Sun. 561/655-3319. $$

Uncork one.

renato’s —87 Via Mizner. Italian with continental flair. This most romantic hideaway is buzzing in season and quietly charming all year long with Italian classics and a Floridian twist—like the sautéed black grouper in a fresh tomato and pernod broth with fennel and black olives and the wildflower-honey-glazed salmon fillet with crab and corn flan. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/655-9752. $$$

ta-boó —2221 Worth Ave. American. This self-described “American bistro” is less typical “American” restaurant or classical French “bistro” than it is posh-casual refuge for the see-and-be-seen crowd in and around Palm Beach. The eclectic menu offers everything from roasted duck with orange blossom honey-ginger sauce to dry-aged steaks and an assortment of pizzas. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/835-3500. $$

trevini ristorante —290 Sunset Ave. Italian. Maitre d’ Carla Minervini is your entrée to a warm experience, complemented by a stately but comfortable room and excellent food. We love the crispy fillet of herb-crusted sole in a rich, buttery sauce and the veal scallopini in a lemon caper Chardonnay sauce. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/833-3883. $$$

pAlm beACh gArdens cabo flats—11701 Lake Victoria Gardens Ave. mexican. Mexican cuisine often has more personas than Madonna. This highly stylized cantina adds another—that of California’s Chicano culture. All your favorite Mexican dishes are there, as well as enormous margaritas, but also niftier items like the terrific tuna ceviche in “tomatillo broth.” • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/624-0024. $

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ONLY AT SEMINOLE CASINO COCONUT CREEK. WELCOME TO THE BIG LEAGUES.

café chardonnay—4533 PGA Blvd. Contemporary American. This longtime stalwart never rests on its laurels. Instead, it continues to dish finely crafted American/Continental fare with enough inventiveness to keep things interesting. The popular herb-andDijon-mustard rack of lamb, regular menu items like duck with Grand Marnier sauce, and always superlative specials reveal a kitchen with solid grounding in culinary fundamentals. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner daily. 561/627-2662. $$

wesT pAlm beACh b.b. king’s blues club—550 S. Rosemary Ave. American. The restaurant at this club-dining spot won’t leave you singing the blues, but it will leave you wishing for more than a spoonful of the lusty flavors of its Southern/ New Orleans cuisine. Punch up the flavors of pan-fried catfish and shrimp with jambalaya sauce and chickenfried chicken on a bed of mac ’n’ cheese, and you could let the good times roll. Buffalo wings, fried pickle chips and luscious banana bread pudding are good bets. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/420-8600. $

cabana las palmas—533 Clematis St. nuevo latino. With its bold, vibrant decor and flavors, this colorful restaurant is a treat for the palette and palate. Must[ bocamag.com ]

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dining guide

Celebrating Our 5th Anniversary!

orders include mariquitas, thin, crispy plantain slices that are the irresistible Cuban answer to potato chips; cookbookperfect ceviche of shrimp, octopus and calamari that shows how chili heat can be both fiery and subtle; and the signature “Coco Cabana,” a habanero and coconut milk-infused curry with a wealth of veggies, tubers and fat, succulent shrimp. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/833-4773. $$

café centro —2409 N. Dixie Highway. Italian. There are many things to like about this modest little osteria—the unpretentious ambience, piano nightly after 7 p.m., the fine service, the robust portions and relatively modest prices. And, of course, the simple, satisfying Italian cuisine. The kitchen breathes new life into hoary old fried calamari, gives fettucine con pollo a surprisingly delicate herbed cream sauce, gilds snowy fillets of grouper with a soulful Livornese. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner daily. 561/514-4070. $$

Meet the artist: Gabriel Ofiesh March 7th & 8th 3-9 p.m. 204 E. Atlantic Ave Delray Beach, FL 33444 561.272.6654

1185 Third St. So. Naples, FL 34102 239.643.8900

Mon-Wed 10am-9pm Thu-Sat 10am-11pm

Mashpee Commons Cape Cod, MA 02649 508.477.3900

china beach bistro —409 Northwood Road. Chinese. South Florida may not be a hotbed of fine Chinese cuisine, but anyone who loves the incredibly diverse, sophisticated food of the Middle Kingdom should be fired up about this chic restaurant. From exquisite dim sum (like steamed chicken and mushroom dumplings perfumed with kaffir lime leaf) to a superb version of Peking duck with impossibly crisp skin, tender meat and house-made pancakes, the food here is a revelation. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.– Sat. 561/833-4242. $

Sunday 11am-6pm

leila—120 S. Dixie Highway. Mediterranean. Flowing

www.uniqueboutiquejewelry.com

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“Before you and your staff from Boca Nursing Services started taking care of Helen and I, we existed; now we are living again! Thank you, Rose.” -Dr. K.D.

drapes and industrial lighting complete the exotic decor in this Middle Eastern hit. Sensational hummus is a must-try. Lamb kebab with parsley, onion and spices makes up the delicious Lebanese lamb kefta. Take your Turkish coffee to the patio for an arguileh (water pipe) experience. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sun. 561/659-7373. $$

marcello’s la sirena—6316 S. Dixie Highway. Italian. You’re in for a treat if the pasta of the day is prepared with what might be the best Bolognese sauce ever. Another top choice is the chicken breast, pounded thin and filled with fontina and prosciutto. • Dinner Mon.–Sat. (closed Memorial Day–Labor Day). 561/585-3128. $$

pistache —101 N. Clematis St. French. Pistache doesn’t just look like a French bistro, it cooks like one. The menu includes such bistro specialties as mussels mariniere, coq au vin and steak tartare. • Brunch Sat.–Sun. Lunch and dinner daily. 561/833-5090. $$

Rose Glamoclija, R.N. Owner and Administrator

rhythm café —3800 S. Dixie Highway. Casual American. Once a diner, the interior is eclectic with plenty of kitsch. The crab cakes are famous here, and the tapas are equally delightful. Homemade ice cream and the chocolate chip cookies defy comparison. • Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/833-3406. $$

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Serving Broward, Palm Beach, Martin & St. Lucie Counties 342 E. Palmetto Park Rd., Suites 1 & 2 Boca Raton, FL 33432

340 Royal Poinciana Way, Suite 322-B Palm Beach, FL 33480

Fax (561) 347-7567

Fax (561) 833-3460

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rocco’s tacos —224 Clematis St. Mexican. Big Time Restaurant Group has crafted a handsome spot that dishes Mexican favorites, as well as upscale variations on the theme and some 150 tequilas. Tacos feature house-made tortillas and a variety of proteins. Made-to-order guacamole is a good place to start, perhaps followed by a grilled yellowtail (an occasional special) with mango-pineapple salsa. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/650-1001. (Other Palm Beach County locations: 5250 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton, 561/416-2133; 5090 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens, 561/623-0127) $ table 26°—1700 S. Dixie Highway. Contemporary American. Take a quarter-cup of Palm Beach, a tablespoon of Nantucket, a pinch of modern American cookery and a couple february 2014

Buzz Bites iV Elia ComEs to WEst DElray: With downtown Delray al-

ready filled to the brim with good places to eat, restaurateurs are now looking west. Like Angelo Elia, who’s opened the third South Florida outpost of his D’Angelo Pizza + Wine Bar + Tapas (16950 Jog Road, 561/381-0037) at Addison Place. The spacious (235-seat) restaurant features a dining room marked by warm chocolate hues, white quartz countertops, glass-walled wine room and wood-fired ovens at a “pizza bar.” Outdoors is a lushly landscaped, sheltered space boasting white Gobi stone walls, silver travertine floor and illuminated planters. The menu, executed by chef de cuisine Peter Masiello, offers such taste treats as poached egg crostini with fava beans, asparagus and truffled prosciutto vinaigrette, pizzas topped with everything from burrata and eggplant to pancetta and gorgonzola, pastas like lobster and shrimp cannelloni, and house-made gelatos and sorbets. On a somewhat related note, Elia has also sold his interest in downtown Delray’s D’Angelo Trattoria to partner Danny Scaramellino. gallons of the owners’ savoir faire, and you have Eddie Schmidt’s and Ozzie Medeiros’s spot. The menu roams the culinary globe for modest contemporary tweaks on classically oriented dishes. Try the fried calamari “Pad Thai” or the fist-sized pair of Maryland crab cakes with irresistibly crispy sweet potato fries. • Dinner daily. 561/855-2660. $$$

top of the point—777 S. Flagler Drive. Contemporary American. The food is not only good but surprisingly adventurous, and the service is exceptional at this finedining spot along the Intracoastal. Though there are plenty of steaks for the more conservative of palate, there also are edgier offerings, like smoky grilled octopus with “Catalan salad.” • Dinner Tues.–Sat. 561/832-2424. $$$

browArd county CoCoNUT CrEEK nyy steak—Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, 5550 N.W. 40th St. Steak house. The second incarnation of this New York Yankees-themed restaurant swings for the fences—and connects—with monstrous portions, chic decor and decadent desserts. The signature steaks, dry-aged for 21 days, are a meat lover’s dream; seafood follow the leader

specialties include sautéed sea bass, Maine lobster and Alaskan king crab. Don’t miss the NYY Steak 151 volcano for dessert. • Dinner daily. Brunch Sun. 954/9776700. $$$$

dEErfiEld bEACh

Step up to the plate.

tamarind asian grill & sushi bar —949 S. Federal Highway. Asian. Quiet and soothing, this multicultural venue serves sushi, sashimi, yakitori and wide-ranging Japanese appetizers, but Tamarind also presents a full menu of Thai classics and a sake lounge. Try the complex masaman curry. Finish with the red bean or green tea ice cream. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/428-8009. $$

forT lAUdErdAlE 15th street fisheries—1900 S.E. 15th St. Seafood. Surrounded by views of the Intracoastal, this Old Floridastyle restaurant features seafood and selections for land lovers. Entrées come with soup, salad, a sorbet course and fresh breads. We love the prime rib. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/763-2777. $$ 3030 ocean—Harbor Beach Marriott Resort, 3030 Holiday Drive. American. The menu is heavy on seafood and changes several times a week. We recommend the sautéed Florida red snapper or the indulgent butter-roasted Maine lobster. For dessert, try the popular roasted banana crème brûlée. • Dinner nightly. 954/765-3030. $$$

bistro 17—Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Hotel, 1617 S.E. 17th St. Contemporary American. This small, sophisticated restaurant continues to impress with competently presented food. The menu is surprisingly diverse, with everything from seafood chowder, burgers and pizza to cherry-glazed breast of duck. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 954/626-1701. $$

bistro mezzaluna—1821 S.E. 10th St. italian. The bistro is all Euro-chic decor—mod lighting, abstract paintings. It also has good food, from pastas to steaks and chops and a wide range of fresh seasonal fish and seafood. Don’t forget the phenomenal wine list. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/522-6620. $$

NYY STEAK, now open every Sunday for Brunch featuring Bourbon and homemade Bacon French Toast! 10:30AM-2:30PM ONLY AT SEMINOLE CASINO COCONUT CREEK. WELCOME TO THE BIG LEAGUES.

bongusto ristorante—5640 N. Federal Highway. italian. This is a well-kept secret, featuring dishes that will meet the standards of those who savor authentic Italian. Mussels with scallions, garlic and heavy cream sauce is an appetizer highlight. Involtini capricciosi—tender-rolled veal stuffed with spinach, prosciutto and fontina cheese— is equally satiating, while the yellowtail snapper oreganatta melts in your mouth. • Dinner Tues.–Sat. 954/771-9635. $$ by word of mouth—3200 N.E. 12th Ave. Eclectic. It’s not just the words from the mouths of satisfied customers that make this obscurely located restaurant so consistently popular; it’s the homey, satisfying food that goes into those mouths. The menu changes, but you can always count on home cooking with a gourmet spin, like pork tenderloin with raspberry jalapeno sauce, or coconut-crusted snapper. Go all out with any of a dozen or so unique and decadent desserts, cakes and pies. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Wed.–Sat. 954/564-3663. $$ café martorano—3343 E. Oakland Park Blvd. italian. Standouts include crispy calamari in marinara sauce and flavorful veal osso buco. Our conclusion: explosive flavor, attention to all the details and fresh, high-quality ingredients. Waiters whisper the night’s specials as if they’re family secrets. • Dinner daily. 954/561-2554. $$

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Mark your calendars for Join the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America Mark your calendars for for the ANNUAL

ANNUAL ANNUAL

Book of Hope Book ofof Hope LUNCHEON

Monday, March 17, 2014 at the Boca Raton Resort & Club Silent auction begins at 10:30 am, luncheon begins at noon Monday, March 17, 2014 Featuring keynote speaker Monday, March 17,Resort 2014 & Club at the Boca Raton Tommy Spaulding at theauction Boca Raton Resort & Club am, Silent begins at 10:30 For tickets, please call am, Silent auction begins at 10:30 luncheon begins at noon Amanda Niklaus begins at luncheon at noon Monday, March 17,561-218-2929. 2014Featuring keynote speaker Featuring keynote speaker at the Boca Raton Resort & ClubSpaulding Tommy Tommy Spaulding Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America – Florida Chapter 501 (C) 3 For tickets, please call Silent auction begins at 10:30a.m., For tickets, please Amanda Niklaus at call luncheon begins at noon.Amanda Niklaus at 561-218-2929. 561-218-2929.

LUNCHEON LUNCHEON

For tickets, please call Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America – Florida Chapter 501 (C) 3 Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America – Florida Chapter 501 (C) 3 Amanda Niklaus at Featuring keynote speaker 561.218.2929 option 1, ext. 2. Tommy Spaulding

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dining guide café sharaku—2736 N. Federal Highway. Fusion. This Japanese-French restaurant features sophisticated offerings, from an ethereal bay scallop soufflé with an unctuous sauce Americaine to roasted duck breast with a divine port-foie gras sauce. • Dinner Tues.–Sun. 954/563-2888. $$ canyon—1818 E. Sunrise Blvd. Southwestern. Billed as a Southwestern café, this twist on regional American cuisine offers great meat, poultry and fish dishes with distinctive mixes of lime, cactus and chili peppers in a subtle blend of spices. The adobe ambience is warm and welcoming, with a candlelit glow. • Dinner nightly. 954/765-1950. $$

casablanca café—3049 Alhambra St. American, Mediterranean. The restaurant has an “Arabian Nights” feel, with strong Mediterranean influences. Try the peppercorn-dusted filet mignon with potato croquette, Gorgonzola sauce and roasted pepper and Granny Smith relish. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/764-3500. $$ casa d’angelo—1201 N. Federal Highway. Italian. Many dishes are specials—gnocchi, risotto and scaloppine. The veal chop is grilled and blanketed in a thick layer of Gorgonzola. A delightful pasta entrée is the pappardelle con porcini: thick strips of fresh pasta coated in a light red sauce and bursting with slices of porcini mushrooms. • Dinner nightly. 954/564-1234. $$ chima—2400 E. Las Olas Blvd. Steaks. The Latin American rodizio-churrascaria concept—all the meat you can eat, brought to your table—is done with high style, fine wines and excellent service. The prime rib, sausages, filet mignon, pork ribs and lamb chops are very good. • Dinner daily. 954/7120581. $$$ china grill—1881 S.E. 17th St. Pan-Asian. “Less is more” is

! y t ret

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not the mantra of this huge edition of Jeff Chodorow’s iconic nouveau pan-Asian eatery. The food, too, is all about more— more of it, more flavor and more satisfaction with dishes like plum and sesame-glazed lamb spareribs and deeply savory Korean-style kalbi beef. • Breakfast and dinner daily. 954/7599950. $$$

eduardo de san angel—2822 E. Commercial Blvd. Mexican. Try master chef Eduardo Pria’s pan-sautéed Florida blue crab and yellow corn cakes. As far as soups go, there’s the pasilla-chile-flavored chicken broth with fresh “epazote” (fried corn tortilla strips, sliced avocado, sour cream and homemade cheese). The pan-seared beef tenderloin filet mignon is sublime. • Dinner Mon.–Sat. 954/772-4731. $$$

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emunah café—3558 N. Ocean Blvd. Kosher, organic. Don’t let the New Age “spirituality” throw you off. Focus on the fresh, organic ingredients that are incorporated into inventive sushi, soups and salads and (mostly) Asian-influenced entrées. • Lunch and dinner Sun.–Thurs. Sat. late evening hours. Closed Fri. 954/561-6411. $

SEALING

il mulino —1800 E. Sunrise Blvd. Italian. This modest,

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unpretentious Italian restaurant doesn’t attempt to reinvent the culinary wheel. Instead, it dishes up big portions of simple, hearty, flavorful food at extremely reasonable prices. Zuppa de pesce is a wealth of perfectly cooked seafood over linguini in a light tomato-based sauce. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/524-1800. $

check out our awardwinning, tri-county dining guide—and follow food editor Bill citara’s weekly Blog postings—only at Bocamag.com.

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In your Premier playground, there’s plenty of time for after-hours and weekend socializing at the Boca Beach Club or deal-making on the golf courses or tennis courts; spa afternoons, romantic dining to casual family meals by your choice of pools; kite flying or surf lessons on a 1/2 mile of pristine beach, personal and business celebrations, and holiday festivities. You’ll only find it all here at the Boca Raton Resort & Club and Boca Beach Club, Waldorf Astoria® Resorts. To schedule your private tour, please contact Premier Club Membership Sales at 561-447-3100.

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out&about

[ by stefanie cainto ]

SheRRy FeRRAnTe

[1]

LORD & TAYLOR GRAND OPENING EVENT

WhERE: Boca Raton AbOuT ThE EVENT: More than 1,300 guests descended on Mizner Park for the highly anticipated return of Lord & Taylor to Boca Raton. At a special sneak preview event, the crowd mingled with the likes of “Project Runway” judge Nina Garcia while enjoying Champagne, cocktails and small bites. The two-story, 80,000-square-foot store, which created 120 new jobs, marks Lord & Taylor’s first full-line venture in Florida in more than a decade. [ 1 ] Laura Beighley, Cindy Sperling, Lorraine Aber, Carolyn Miller and Juli Greely

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More event coverage Visit bocamag.com for photo galleries from social events, store openings, charity fundraisers and other community gatherings in and around Boca Raton. To submit images for Out and About, e-mail appropriate material to people@bocamag.com.

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lord & taylor grand opening event (cont.) [ 2 ] Marie Caradonna, Ken Feinsilver, Cindy Bergman, Lauren Friedman [ 3 ] Christopher Bruck and Molly Morgan [ 4 ] Jonathan Areller, Joseph Abboud, Coleen Harkins, Jose Milian and Roe Palermo [ 5 ] Laura Stoltz and Wanda Harrold [ 6 ] Mandee Baulo and Shanna Vinig

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february 2014

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lord & taylor grand opening event (cont.) [ 7 ] Casey Cole, Nina Garcia and Timolin Cole [ 8 ] John Criddle, Stephanie Moore, Brielle deMartino and Andrew McKinney [ 9 ] DJ-Dutch [ 10 ] Derek Vander Ploeg, Joyce DeVita and Thom DeVita [ 11 ] Ann Goldschmidt and Natasha Muratov [ 12 ] Michael Majhess, Kristen Ross, Janie Lyn McCleneghen and Cindy Gaus

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Sherry Ferrante

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out&about WILLOW COLLECTION LAUNCH

WHERE: Boca Raton ABOUT THE EVENT: Guests previewed David Yurman’s latest jewelry and timepieces during a special in-store shopping event at the jeweler’s boutique inside Town Center at Boca Raton. A portion of the proceeds from the event, which celebrated the launch of the women’s Willow Collection, went to The HARID Conservatory, the Boca-based ballet training school.

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[ 1 ] Janice Czarniecki and Lauren Czarniecki [ 2 ] David Hamilton, Susan Folks, Gordan Wright and John Wargo [ 3 ] Joan Wargo, Mark Swillinger and Marilyn Swillinger

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PLACE OF HOPE

WHERE: Boca Raton ABOUT THE EVENT: Bloomingdale’s partnered with Place of Hope at the Haven to host a private fashion show and luncheon that supported the organization’s cause. Place of Hope works with foster children to provide emergency and long-term care, along with special services like family outreach, intervention and maternity care.

[ 4 ] Kimberly Witzenberger, Elissa Spiro, Marsha Rubin and Lori Schecter [ 5 ] Brenda Lewenstein, Arlene Hyman and Meri Pifko

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february 2014

[6]

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THE GREAT SOIREE

[ 6 ] Carmel Pasquale, Peter Baronoff and Linda Petrakis [ 7 ] Patty Maczko and Randy Nobles [ 8 ] Susan Haynie, Sharon Ramsey and Constance Scott [ 9 ] Hugo Vargas and Michelle Vargas [ 10 ] Dave Aronberg and Lynn Lewis

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Janis Bucher

WHERE: Boca Raton ABOUT THE EVENT: Some 250 members of the community celebrated the start of high season—South Florida’s busiest economic period—during the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce’s 61st annual blacktie gala. Dancers from the local Fred Astaire studio entertained attendees of The Great Soiree, which honored outgoing chairman Keith O’Donnell and welcomed incoming chair Randy Nobles.

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out&about [1]

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light up the night

Where: Boca Raton About the event: More than 200 guests filled Prime Cigar & Wine Bar for an evening that raised some $13,000 for Junior Achievement of South Floridaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entrepreneurial, global economy and financial literacy programs. The event, part of the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Festival Days, included appetizers, cocktails, a complimentary cigar, a silent auction and gift bags for attendees.

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

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Vida Boyce, Diane Fish and Jeannette Robichaud Shana Overhulser and Scott Berger Karina Ramirez and Holli Lapes Dave Shula and John Bacon Joel Kamphuis, Chelsea Onstott and Dave Bull

[4]

Janis Bucher

[5]

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We point them in the right direction, but they discover the way. As an independent, non-profit, coeducational school for Grades JK- 12, Saint Andrew’s School provides the education and nurturing environment that students need to reach their full potential. Just as important is our support of each student’s unique talents, interests, and process of self discovery. Academically, over 75% of the Classes of 2011, 2012, and 2013 were accepted at a college rated either Most Competitive or Highly Competitive by the Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges. Educating in the Episcopal tradition, we stress a respect for others and strength of character, while enthusiastically welcoming students of all faiths. As a result, Saint Andrew’s School is a community in the truest sense of the word.

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theBOCAinterview continued from page 97

With your marketing, unlike some other players, it seems like you go out of your Way not to get overexposed. is that by design? It’s great to see yourself on television. My kids love it. But I don’t have enough time to be able to continue to do spots here and there, and put myself on television. When I get an opportunity, and I get a few hours on the days off, if the timing is right, if the spot is right, then we’ll shoot it. But I have so much going on during the season that it doesn’t allow me to do too much.

there’s such a familial feel to your commercials, especially recently. We’re seeing your kids, We’re seeing your Wife, other people in your life. is that marketing, or is that really, “hey, this is my life, and i Want people to knoW What matters to lebron James?” Those are the easiest spots to shoot. That’s my family. We don’t sugarcoat anything. I mean, I put my family all over Instagram and all over social media. And people see that, my fans see that. It’s an opportunity for me to interact with my fans in a way where I know I can’t touch ’em every day, but they can see how I live. So it’s not much of a marketing thing. It’s just who I am.

are you as comfortable as you appear right noW? you appear like you’re in a really good place in your life—and for more than Just championships? Well, life is always good. Life is great. Obviously, you’re always going to have some days where you want more or you feel better this day than the next day. But at the end of the day, when you look it all up, the best things that are going on to the worst things that are going on, you just don’t take it for granted. You say it could be worse. There’s times where I wish I was happier. There’s times where I wish I could spend more time with my family. There’s times where I wish can just play basketball. But everything comes with the territory, and I’ve been able to prioritize everything to get to a point where I’m extremely comfortable. February 2014 issue. Vol. 34, No. 1. The following are trademarks in the state of Florida of JES Publishing Corp., and any use of these trademarks without the express written consent of JES Publishing Corp. is strictly prohibited: Florida Funshine and Florida Style. Boca (ISSN0740-2856) is published seven times a year (September/October, November, December/ January, February, March/April, May/June and July/August) by JES Publishing Corp. Editorial, advertising and administrative offices: 5455 N. Federal Highway, Suite M, Boca Raton, FL, 33487. Telephone: 561/997-8683. Please address all editorial and advertising correspondence to the above address. Periodicals postage paid at Boca Raton, Fla., and additional mailing offices. Subscriptions: $14.95/7 issues, $19.95/14 issues. Single copy $5.95. No whole or part of the content may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of Boca magazine, excepting individually copyrighted articles and photographs. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Boca magazine, P.O. Box 820, Boca Raton, FL 33429-9943. naimerinhuntercodman_brm0214.indd 1 190 [ bocamag.com ]

12/16/13 5:32 PM

february 2014

speedbumps [ by marie speed ]

Love Stories HEROES OF A HALLMARK HOLIDAY

“You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, and the bad news is that you never completely get over the loss of your beloved. But this is also the good news. They live forever in your broken heart that doesn’t seal back up. And you come through. It’s like having a broken leg that never heals perfectly—that still hurts when the weather gets cold, but you learn to dance with the limp.” —Anne Lamott Gladys and Jerry Kuhman built the first house in our neighborhood, across the street from me; that must have been 60 years ago. A year or two ago, they moved in with their daughter in Delray—that was after Gladys went to get Bud’s Fried Chicken and ended up in Hialeah. Which wasn’t too long after she fell off the roof when she got up there to adjust the TV antenna (and they had cable). Gladys was up in her 90s then, and as feisty as anyone I’ve ever met. It was hard to accept it when she died a couple of months ago. Gladys had too much spunk to go—she was a legend on Douglas Drive. So when I saw Jerry yesterday, back for a visit to their old house, I asked him right away how he was doing. “I miss Gladys,” he said, staring off down the street, his pale blue eyes filling. “It will never be the same. I won’t be the same.” There wasn’t much I could say. I kissed him on the cheek. I watched him go into the house, closing the screen follow the leader

door behind him. They had been married 72 years. A lifetime. I suspect there is a lot of that going around, more people than you know who stick it out, who married young and had kids and struggled and worked hard and stayed married and are growing old together, just like the story goes. It’s a story that is easy to forget with half of all marriages today ending in divorce, mine included. It’s easy to think it’s all a myth, that we are all destined to die alone, and that you only get so many chances at love. You have to keep moving, without thinking too much. Then again, this is the month of Valentine’s Day, the holiday of great romances, and Shakespearian sonnets and full moons and flowers. We can either call it a joke, or maybe we can indulge ourselves by conjuring up a few love stories we still believe in. Like my parents, who had some rocky years, but ended up taking good care of one another after they retired on a whim 2,000 miles away to a tiny mountain town he called “God’s Country.” There is my big brother, who met his wife on R&R in Australia; he mailed her an engagement ring from Vietnam, and she said yes. That was 44 years ago. Carl and Kay Doverspike in Lighthouse Point, married for 62 years, met one Sunday at a skating rink in Pennsylvania. Kay still has the skates Carl bought her when she was 13, and she says she can “still skate backwards.” Or the people I work for, John and Margaret Mary Shuff (50 years), who battle his MS every day while managing a business, and never run out of things to talk about. There are a million of those stories; they are all around us. The old man in white compression socks and orthopedic oxfords holding his wife’s purse while she shops at Macy’s. Two kids picking out a tiny diamond at Zales, asking if they can put it on layaway. Those strangers on a date at Max’s who are clearly falling in love even before the appetizer is served. I can see the light on at Jerry’s house as he moves from room to room. I know he is probably thinking about Gladys, or wondering at the strange emptiness there without her. Or maybe he is just daydreaming, filling up the rooms with a lifetime of memories, with the knowledge that he did it. He loved her for 72 years. He went the distance. [ bocamag.com ]

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my turn

[ by john shuff ]

Crazy Little Thing Called Love

t’s February, the month of love, passion, lacy stuff from Victoria’s Secret, Valentine’s Day—and to some degree, the Cookie Monster. That last one started decades ago, with my children who grew up on “Sesame Street,” the PBS children’s program that premiered in 1969. The late Jim Henson and his Muppet characters were a staple in our home, performing in a vehicle that challenged our kids’ imaginations and helped them learn. Characters like Bert and Ernie, Kermit the Frog (It ain’t easy being green), Miss Piggy and Big Bird captured our hearts. They filtered life through a lens our children could relate to and accept. The main man for me was Cookie Monster—the big guy with shaggy blue fur, googly eyes and an obsession with cookies. I can hear his gruff voice yell, “Cookie, Cookie, Cookie” looking for his favorite one, chocolate chip, which he devoured along with a lot of other things that weren’t remotely edible. On the sweetest day of the year, Valentine’s Day, I’d like to share some ideas for celebrating the occasion. To accommodate my Cookie Monster craving for chocolate chip cookies and homemade vanilla bean ice cream, as well as terrific food, I am heading north to Rhythm Café in West Palm Beach; the best thing you can order after a romantic dinner is a sack of these delectables to take home. Yum! Another option is 32 East in Delray Beach, where the food is stellar (always has been) and the oversized chocolate chip cookie topped with vanilla ice cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce is uncommon. These are my top recommendations for a

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terrific dinner followed by a sublime chocolate chip cookie experience. And of course, for a truly romantic evening, Old World style, nothing beats the ambience and food at Arturo’s in Boca Raton. The nightly piano music adds to the magic of this restaurant, and although there are no chocolate chip cookies, the desserts prepared by owner Vinny Gismondi’s daughter, Elisa, are lip-smacking. (If you need a chocolate fix, order the chocolate cream puffs to share with your spouse or friend.) I’ve gone from my favorite Muppet, Cookie Monster, and his obsessive love for chocolate chip cookies, to restaurants—tangible experiences that you and your partner can share. But that’s all Valentine’s Day hype; you have to go just a tad deeper to define what love really means to you, and what it entails. “Sesame Street” almost always had a happy ending or a lesson learned; real life is not that easy, and love is even harder. Let’s face it, all the cookies and Russell Stover candy boxes and 1-800-FLOWERS in the world don’t make it any easier. Love is elusive, often misunderstood—and the one something we all long for. Prior to our marriage, my wife, Margaret Mary, gave me the following from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, which speaks best to what love really is: “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” Happy Valentine’s Day. And save a cookie for me.

february 2014

From the Cookie monster to Corinthians, love is sweet—and tough to navigate.