BOCA Magazine May/June 2023

Photography – Ian Jacob Studios

Hair/Make up – Deborah Koepper Styling – Logan Horne

This special edition Roma Synergy debuts a 42mm steel case and an electrifying pink-purple guilloché dial decorated by Kari Voutilainen. Limited

This is Your Year

This is your place in the sun

40

The Boca Roundtable: Defenders of the Faith

Boca Raton, the state of Florida and the nation are witnessing an alarming rise in anti-Semitic incidents and attitudes. Three leaders from the Jewish community in the Palm Beaches discuss why it’s happening, how it’s manifesting and what can be done about it.

By JOHN THOMASON

46 Camera Ready

We train our lens on the season’s most show-stopping fine jewelry, set against the nostalgic backdrop of vintage cameras and accessories.

Photography By AARON BRISTOL

52 A Taste of Asia

Once dominated by Chinese takeout and hole-in-the-wall sushi, Asian cuisine is now at the vanguard of global food culture. A few of the region’s most innovative chefs explore how the continent, 45 countries strong, is feeding their creativity—and stirring our palates.

By CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT

cutlineWhitefish crudo at Le Colonial

14 Editor’s Letter

The heat is on but there are still reasons to honor the season.

By MARIE SPEED

17 The Local

An enterprising musician transforms into a one-woman band, Brightline’s spokeswoman takes us aboard the expanding rail service, and locals share their favorite things about the season Floridians love to hate. Plus, essential products for the ultimate beach day, a sojourn at a glamorous Miami hotel and more.

By TYLER CHILDRESS, MARIE SPEED and JOHN THOMASON

24 The Look

Tones of spring and summer blend this season, with vibrant colors and fun pastels perfect for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and beyond.

Photography by AARON BRISTOL

61 Backstage Pass

From working with legends of jazz and R&B to performing at Carnegie Hall, FAU professor Courtney Jones remains at the forefront of musical expression, education and motivation. Plus, Tiffany Haddish, Tori Amos, “Legally Blonde: The Musical” and 25+ more A&E happenings.

By JOHN THOMASON

87 Florida Table: Eat & Drink

See what our food critic has to say about La Condesa and Medi Terra. Plus, we spotlight the county’s top haunts for a fast gourmet meal, and discuss beef and benevolence with the philanthropic founders of the Red Meat Lovers Club.

By CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT

106

Social

George Snow supporters saddled up for charity, an NFL legend inspired hundreds at the YMCA, and local celebrities at the Brain Bowl Luncheon shined a spotlight on traumatic injuries.

By TYLER CHILDRESS

MAY/JUNE 2023 VOL. 43, ISSUE 5

112 Hometown Hero

Meet a woman who is integral to “keeping the promise” at Boca Raton Regional Hospital.

By MARIE SPEED

Unlock special Citi mortgage discounts

When you bank at Citi, enjoy: $500 off closing costs* or 1/8% — 5/8% off interest rate

Nelson Bekoff

Home Lending Officer

561-239-7311

nelson.bekoff@citi.com

citi.com/nelsonbekoff

NMLS# 60815

* Citi Mortgage Relationship Pricing — A Citibank deposit account is required to receive the interest rate discount or closing cost credit. Automated monthly transfers of the mortgage payment from a Citibank Deposit Account using automated drafting will be required. Actual interest rate discount or closing cost credit will depend on the level of the Citi Eligible Balances, which will be verified after final loan approval.

Deposit Account Balances must be in the account five (5) Business Days following final loan approval and Investment Account balances must be in the account six

(6) Business Days following final loan approval. Citi eligible accounts include a personal, consumer Citibank Deposit Account in which the borrower is a direct signer, Citibank IRAs, and Investments held in linked Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“CGMI”) accounts. The borrower must be an account holder on investment accounts. IRA and annuity positions shown on linked CGMI Account statements are eligible (except tax qualified annuities under sections 401, 403, or 457 of the Internal Revenue Code). Balances from Citibank Business / Commercial accounts, ERISA accounts, Keogh accounts, Bank Collateral accounts, Foreign accounts, Fiduciary accounts, and Trust accounts where the borrower is only listed as the Beneficiary are excluded. All Custodial type accounts are excluded with the exception of Custodial IRA accounts through Citibank or Pershing LLC where the borrower(s) is the beneficiary, which are eligible unless otherwise noted. Citibank IRAs that are not linked to a Citibank Deposit Account are excluded.

The closing cost credit offer will be applied at closing and may not be used prior to closing. In Texas, the credit may not result in you receiving cash back.

If you are interested in Citi’s banking account relationship offers, please contact your Home Lending Officer or Mortgage Representative. Speak to your loan officer about whether the relationship offer is best for you.

Citibank Mortgage Relationship Pricing for Citibank account holders can only be applied prior to loan closing and is subject to account and balance validation. Citibank Mortgage Relationship Pricing is subject to change without notice. Glossary of terms for this offer: Business Day means Monday through Friday and does not include federal holidays; Eligible Balances means total funds showing in the account at the time we verify the balances less any funds we determine you will need for a down payment or closing costs; Deposit Account means a Citibank personal checking and/or savings account as well as certificates of deposit and money market accounts; Investment Account means IRAs and investments held in Citigroup Global Markets Inc. accounts.

Terms, conditions and fees for accounts, programs, offers, products and services are subject to change without notice at any time. Offer may be modified or withdrawn at any time without notice. Offer cannot be combined with other offers, except when applied with specific Community Lending Programs. Offers are not applicable on Home Equity Loans and Lines of Credit. This is not a commitment to lend.

This offer contains information about U.S. domestic financial services provided by Citibank, N.A. and is intended for use domestically in the U.S.

GROUP EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Marie Speed

MANAGING EDITOR

John Thomason

WEB EDITOR

Tyler Childress

SENIOR ART DIRECTOR

Lori Pierino

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Rafael Quiñones

ASSISTANT PRODUCTION MANAGER/GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Aaron Henderson

PHOTOGRAPHER

Aaron Bristol

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Christie Galeano-DeMott, Margie Kaye (promotional writing)

VIDEO PRODUCTION/CUSTOMER SERVICE

David Shuff

FOOD EDITOR

Christie Galeano-DeMott

DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING AND MARKETING

Nicole G. Ruth

DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION AND SALES SUPPORT

Bruce Klein

SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER

Gail Eagle

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Karen S. Kintner

Jenna Russo

Heather Cox

Boca Raton magazine is published eight times a year by JES Media. 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.

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Custom publishing

GOURMET

“…you’ll find creative dishes that entice the palate.” Restaurant Review by Christie Galeano-DeMott. Boca magazine bocamag.com/restaurant-review-800-palm-trail-grill/

800 Palm Trail, Delray Beach, FL 33483

George Bush Blvd. just west of the Intercoastal Directly across from St. Vincent (561) 865-5235

For reservations: palmtrailgrill.com

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).

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Boca Raton magazine values the concerns, interests and knowledge of our readers about the community. Please submit story and profile ideas by email to Marie Speed (editor@bocamag.com). Due to the large volume of pitches, the editor may not respond to all queries. Boca Raton does not accept unsolicited, ready-for-print stories.

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Arts & entertainment

Where to go, what to do and see throughout South Florida. Please submit information regarding galas, art openings, plays, readings, concerts, dance or other performances to 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 reliable resource for residents and tourists. For more information, contact Christie Galeano-DeMott (christie@bocamag.com).

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). Email images to people@bocamag.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.

Rose Glamoclija, R.N. Founder and Administrator

Heat

Written by MARIE SPEED

y the time this comes out, summer will be slipping in from the south, wisping like smoke around the corners of our houses and buildings, blanketing the streets with heat. The breeze will feel damp and the air at the coast will be thick with the smell of sargassum, as the first wracks start reaching our shores. Most of the snowbirds will be gone, and the new year-round residents will wonder if it’s “always this hot.” The answer is yes. And you ain’t seen nothing yet. May and June offer the last gasp of spring; in another month or two it’s going to feel like Saigon.

Many people down here have mountain escapes out west or in the Carolinas or in upstate New York. Some jet off to Europe, or embark on a voyage somewhere odd and spectacular, like Antarctica.

But most of us stay put, relegating chores outside to morning hours and retreating indoors in midday. We understand how to live now, early morning dog walks, no outdoor dining, lots of hats and water and air-cooled diversions. I could go on a rant about climate change, which is beyond alarming now, between fiercer hurricanes, sea level rise, drought. I’ve been so sad for so long now about Florida—from climate to overdevelopment to population and culture change, I do not know anymore how to talk about it. So I talk about the moments that make me remember why I love it and have loved it—and no time is better than the hot cusp of summer to do that.

A few weeks ago a friend and I took Brightline to Aventura for a fancy stay

at the historic Surf Club in Surfside. (page 36) Now a Four Seasons hotel and residences, the original Club was a private beach club with all kinds of parties and shenanigans—elephants in the hallways, Winston Churchill painting in a cabana, all kinds of 1940s and 1950s movie stars sipping drinks out of coconuts. This is when Miami was one of the glamour frontiers, beautiful beaches and turquoise seas and music and romance and dancing in the moonlight. The Surf Club has been preserved and restored—and the hotel that surrounds it now is delicious and grand—and only 40 minutes by train. This is one of the good things.

Closer to home, maybe Delray and downtown Boca will be less crowded now; maybe you can get a dinner reservation before 9 p.m.— or maybe not even need one. The traffic should be lighter, too, and even the pace will slow as people shift into a very civilized but palpable summer survival mode: chill, hydrate, watch a movie. The air is soft, and the afternoon storms are dramatic. It’s quiet, too, and shimmers with cocoplum and wild coffee and palms and vines that bloom. There is an ancient sort of grounding when summer moves in—that this is real Florida at its core: the tropics. You have to accept that you are in a place that was once wild and harsh, with swamps and snakes and afternoon monsoons, almost as steamy then as it is now. It may be carpeted now in concrete but it still knows it’s Florida—and you should too.

That may be the first step in loving it again.

As summer rolls in, we have to hang on to the good in all that ugly

Vintage snapshots of The Surf Club

Welcome to the Proactive Side of Care.

Schedule your mammogram today.

Tamara was proactive about her breast health. A timely mammogram saved her life, and it could save yours too.

To schedule yours: BaptistHealth.net/Mammo

833-596-2473

Prescription and appointment required.

If you don’t have a referring provider for a prescription, call 786-596-2464 and we’ll connect you with one. Special pricing is available for patients without health insurance. If further care is necessary, you can count on Baptist Health Cancer Care to remain by your side and provide you with the most comprehensive care.

May 2023

Locals sound off on issues affecting our community.

Don’t-Miss Events

MAY 5–MAY 7: SUNFEST, downtown West Palm Beach along the waterfront. It’s our big one, the annual music festival here people have grown up with, featuring the best setting a festival could ask for—the West Palm waterfront along Flagler Drive. This year, the festival has cut its number of days, the fireworks and the art show in order to invest more in talent—and we are loving the lineup, which includes the Chainsmokers, Flo Rida, Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley, The Killers and many more.

“We are spending 15 percent more than last year on talent, with fewer headline acts,” said Executive Director Paul Jamieson.“We believe the quality overall is improved and hope that our fans agree.” Current pricing starts at $70 for a one-day pass, and $130 for a three-day pass. A full artists lineup and schedule can be found online at sunfest.com/lineup. For more information about SunFest, email info@sunfest.com or call 1/800-SUNFEST.

JUNE 8–JUNE 11: THE PINK RETREAT, various locations from Palm Beach to Jupiter. Think of this weekend as the ultimate girls’ getaway, doused with lots of Lilly Pulitzer and full of shopping, paint-and-sip events, walking tours, sunrise yoga, afternoon tea, boating adventures and way more. This year, the PGA National Resort will be the host hotel, with special perks and amenities available for those staying at this property. There are many activities and tours, and it’s an a la carte menu, but be reassured you’ll have access to many affordable aspects of the Palm Beach-Lilly experience, as well as opportunities to make new friends. Visit thepinkretreat.com for a full description of events.

What is your favorite thing about summer, the time of year everyone loves to hate?

“My favorite part of Boca summers is dropping my four kids off at surf camp, horseback riding camp, soccer camp and tennis camp, where it is 100 degrees. … and then going straight to my 69-degree office. They come back exhausted, and I couldn’t be more refreshed!”

—Alex Price, National Director of Community Investment, Office Depot

“As we run from A/C to A/C, summer gives us a chance to slow down a touch and focus on family, friends and being thankful we live in paradise!”

—Jay Brandt, Vice President of Development, George Snow Scholarship Fund

“I’m a triathlete and would compete in the Loggerhead Triathlon in August every year when I lived in Juno Beach. My favorite thing about summer is swimming in a much kinder, gentler (and flatter!) ocean; it’s refreshing!”

—Katrina Brandenburg, Communications Manager, Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce

SunFest

UMBRELLA: Anything that calls itself a “system” instead of a plain old umbrella is probably pretty good. The beachBUB All-In-One Umbrella System has a UPF of 50+, with a towel hook, carrying case, shovel, sand bags and sand gopher to keep the umbrella fixed and stable in the sand. It weighs nine pounds, which is hefty for an umbrella— but worth it on those windy days that can send most umbrellas careening. About $160.

4 BEACH MUST-HAVES

BEACH TUNES: Not that you’d want to throw your speaker in the ocean, but you could, maybe; the JBL Charge5“could handle being submerged in water to a depth of 1.5m.” This speaker, roughly the size of a wine bottle, features a 10W tweeter and a racetrack-shaped driver. About $180.

COOLER: We love the Yeti Hopper Flip 18 Soft Cooler with its roomy interior, convenient strap and Hitchpoint Grid feature for stowing tools and accessories. No leakage, tough as nails and best of all, no heavy dragging across the sand. It’s not only cool, it’s cold. $300.

May/June Holidays

This is a season of fun—and festivities. Here are the key dates:

CINCO DE MAYO, MAY 5: This day is supposed to mark the Mexican victory over the French during the battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. But we all know it’s really about margaritas and tacos, primarily— and rustling up a lively roomful in honor of same.

KENTUCKY DERBY, MAY 6: The grandest American horse race there is, complete with mint juleps, lavish hats and daylong Southern hospitality. Make yourself a little party and have some unbridled fun.

MOTHER’S DAY, MAY 14: We say forget all the gifts and go out to brunch for the best present of all: you, your family and someone else doing the cooking.

MEMORIAL DAY, MAY 29: This federal holiday honors and mourns U.S. military personnel killed in the

course of doing their duties. It’s a solemn holiday but also serves as the unofficial kick-off to summer.

FATHER’S DAY, JUNE 18: Ask him what he wants to do. And then let him do it.

JUNETEENTH, JUNE 19: This holiday commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the US. It was first celebrated in Texas, where on that date in 1865, in the aftermath of the Civil War, the final enslaved people learned they were declared free under the terms of the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation.

NATIONAL MARTINI DAY, JUNE 19: We have never heard of this holiday, but it appears to be a stroke of genius. We’ll have ours dry, with three olives.

CHAIR: The Homevative folding beach chair recommended by thespruce.com checks all the boxes: Transported like a backpack (which makes it easier to carry your other gear; see nine-pound umbrella), abundant storage, removable pillow, insulated cooler pouch, cup/phone holder, plastic gadget holder. Plus, and this is critical, it is a roomy 19 inches, has five different positions (including flat) and, best of all, it is a tall chair, so it’s easier to get on and out of. About $95.

2.2 billion

Number of mothers estimated to be in the world

93 Percentage of moms who report feeling burnt-out sometimes

$31.7 billion

How much we spent on Mother’s Day in 2022

“BEETLEJUICE”

WHEN : June 13-25

WHERE: Broward

Center for the Performing Arts, 201 S.W. Fifth Ave., Fort Lauderdale

COST: TBA

CONTACT:

954/462-0222, browardcenter.org

If we haven’t yet reached peak Gen-X nostalgia, this musical adaptation of Tim Burton’s cult comedy moves us one step closer up the mountain. The ghoulish horror-comedy seems perfectly attuned to its new format: Its title character, a scheming and maniacal bio-exorcist, is tailored for the footlights. As in the film, Beetlejuice is summoned by a newly deceased couple that only in death discover a zest for life; perhaps, with the help of their crazy-haired, stripe-suited fiend, they can have some fun haunting the absent father and morose little girl now inhabiting their former home.

Joining, of course, the Jamaican classic “Day-O” is a slate of fresh songs from Australian musical comedian Eddie Perfect, in this Broadway Across America tour.

LESLIE JONES

WHEN: May 13

WHERE: The Parker, 707 N.E. Eighth St., Fort Lauderdale

COST: $39.50-$65

CONTACT: 954/462-0222, browardcenter.org

It’s hard to imagine a time when Leslie Jones was not funny, but in her formative years in comedy, she evidently bombed: She endured boos when opening for Jamie Foxx, who advised her to “live life for a little while” before jumping into the Darwinian world of standup. So she took three years off, during which she cultivated a brash, voluble and magnetic style. When Chris Rock saw Jones perform in 2012, he helped her land an audition for “Saturday Night Live,” which changed everything: In 2014, Jones became the oldest cast member to join “SNL” (at 47). Major roles in “Ghostbusters” and “Coming 2 America” followed, along with her now-legendary live-tweeted commentary of the 2016 and 2022 Olympic Games. She’s even hosted a game show,“Supermarket Sweep.”This rare South Florida tour appearance finds Jones in her cultural primacy, the solo stage. These days, when she breathes, it’s funny.

BENN MITCHELL PHOTOGRAPHS

WHEN: June 14-Oct. 22

WHERE: Boca Raton Museum of Art, 501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton

COST: $12-$16 museum admission

CONTACT: 561/392-2500, bocamuseum.org

Gifted with an eye for composition and detail from the time he could hold a camera, Benn Mitchell sold his first photograph to Life magazine, in 1926, at the ripe age of 16. A year later, Warner Brothers granted him permission to shoot around Hollywood sets and sound stages, where his iconic “Humphrey Bogart” image captures the legend between takes, looking archetypally Bogartian while taking a drag off a cigarette. But Mitchell is perhaps most notable for his candid street images of quintessential New York City—its architecture, its bustle, its kinetic denizens. Mitchell’s oeuvre offers something like the visual equivalent of Damon Runyan’s prose: punchy black-and-white visions of art, commerce and nightlife, snapped in the right place at the right time.

MIAMI CITY BALLET: “ENTRADAS”

WHEN: May 12-14

WHERE: Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach

COST: $30-$115

CONTACT: 561/832-7469, kravis.org

The tradition of square dancing, a staple of Americana, migrates from the honkytonk to the concert hall in one of four eclectic works in Miami City Ballet’s “Entradas.” Conceived by George Balanchine in 1957, “Square Dance” marries classical ballet with the titular folk dance, whose high spirits the choreographer adored. A piece for 14 dancers, MCB’s “Square Dance” even brings back a live caller rapping directions to the dancers (“Two little ladies, up the track/sashay over, sashay back…”) and onstage folk musicians—immersive elements often removed in later productions. “Entradas,” a robust program closing MCB’s season, also includes Jerome Robbins’ sensual two-character ballet “Afternoon of Faun”; Robbins’ ethereal “Antique Epigraph,” an MCB premiere in which eight women dancers embody Greek statues to the music of Debussy; and Balanchine’s crackling “Symphony in Three Movements.”

Leslie Jones

Benn Mitchell’s “Humphrey Bogart”

“Afternoon of a Faun” from “Entradas”

To Boca and Beyond

Ali Soule’s passion for connecting others is helping to bring Florida together, one stop at a time

Written by TYLER CHILDRESS

More than 100 years ago, Henry Flagler’s railway tied the east coast of Florida together from Jacksonville to Key West. What were once fledgling cities grew into powerhouses of commerce, nurtured by the connection provided by the East Coast Railway. Beginning in 2018, Brightline took Flagler’s legacy a step further by introducing the state’s first high-speed rail service, built upon the same railroad lines that first connected the state. For Ali Soule, continuing this legacy of connection is precisely what drew her to Brightline in the first place.

“There are very few projects that can change the way a region and ultimately a state are connected and operate and grow,” says Soule, who has been with Brightline since the beginning, when the train service was barely more than a concept. Ten years later, Brightline trains speed along the East Coast Railway from Miami to West Palm—stopping at a new Boca Raton station just a 10-minute walk from Mizner Park—and Soule is the company’s vice president of community relations, working with local communities to identify areas where Brightline can make a difference. As a Florida native from Winter Park, working for a company that has a mission to connect the state through high-speed rail is “the perfect job.”

“I wanted to be part of a project that would bring substantial benefits to my backyard,” says Soule, and “benefit people that I know on a regular basis, and Brightline does that.”

Soule has helped deliver several community initiatives to South Florida’s “backyard” during her time with Brightline, including promoting and partnering with 211, an organization focused on delivering mental health resources and crisis prevention to those in need. In 2020, Brightline worked with 211 and Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (a nonprofit dedicated to promoting rail safety) to bring a mobile barbershop to high-risk neighborhoods along the Brightline corridor. The “Buzz Box” offered free haircuts to anyone who took the rail safety pledge.“The way we looked at it is if you look good, you feel good,” says Soule. Last year, Brightline partnered with Animal Services to host a pet adoption drive on National Dog Day, another of the many opportunities she’s found at Brightline “to put a smile on people’s faces and connect with our community.”

Soule’s passion for transportation began somewhat by chance, after graduating from the University of Florida, when she took a job with a PR firm that specializes in transportation infrastructure development. As she continued to grow in the field, she couldn’t imagine herself doing anything else. She credits mentors during her college years for helping her to discover her passion; she now mentors students in South Florida universities to help them do the same.

“You need to find your passion,” says Soule,“because once you find your passion it makes your job or your career so much more excit-

ing.”The most important piece of advice Soule says that she’s ever received, and one that she imparts on all of her mentees, is “if you don’t ask, you will not receive.”

Soule’s leadership in the local business community has earned her several accolades, including the 2020 ATHENA Young Professional Award by the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches and the 2019 PR Star of the Year from the Gold Coast Public Relations Council. She is currently a director on the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce board, providing valuable resources and networks to local businesses to help them achieve success.

“I want to make sure that the lessons and the time that were invested in me I can give back to other people and help them grow and reach whatever potential that they’re looking for,” says Soule.

2023 is shaping up to be a big year for Soule, with the birth of her first child (a daughter) and the opening of Brightline’s Orlando station not far from where her family lives.“I’m very excited for her to have her first Brightline ride,” says Soule.“I can take her up to visit my family still in Orlando, so there’s a lot to look forward to this year.”

There are very few projects that can change the way a region and ultimately a state are connected and operate and grow.”

—Ali Soule

Ali Soule

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Business SPOTLIGHT

Tanya Draskovic Artist

Tanya Phoenix Art

305-587-8695

tanyaphoenixart.com

Wildly colorful and undeniably alluring, artist Tanya Draskovic’s works of art draw you in with wonderment. Unknown to many, the colorful female figures she often depicts with glistening eyes and sultry lips are indeed a self-portrait of the artist herself.

Recently featured in Miami’s Art Basel and David Rosen pop-up Miami galleries, her uncompromising and vibrant self-portraits and abstracts have become a cherished favorite of galleries, private collectors and celebrities worldwide.

Ms. Draskovic’s work inspects issues of race, our material culture and the role of women that clearly resonate today. Her work also explores other eternal themes of identity, the human body and sexuality. Reminiscent of the portraiture of Frida Kahlo and the abstract expressionism of Jackson Pollock and Clyfford Still, her large-scale works are both modern and historically grounded.

Ms. Draskovic’s maternal grandfather, Ricardo Fischmann, was a well-known artist and poet in La Paz. He served as her mentor from a young age to unleash her lifelong fascination with art, culture and travel.

Her work also springs from her formal art education in Europe and the United States that focused on mixedmedia, film and photography. It led to her fascination with digital technologies and the embrace of new artistic methods she has developed to render her signature organic “splashes- of-color” that ignite her compositions.

For a limited time, Ms. Draskovic’s work is on display at Boca Raton’s Gallery Mavruk, along with her new Art-to-Wear Collection that includes clothing, shoes and accessories, which embody her art and its flair for the outrageous.

B.M. COMPANY blouse, $355, DISMERO pants, $345, both from Evelyn Rolleder Boutique

SUSANNE BOMMER vest, $430; MALÌPARMI belt, $130, both from Filly & Colt

ROBERT ZUR bag, $515, from Wish & Shoes

SOSPIRI sunglasses, $1,400, from Grove Opticians

Elizabeth Bennett, PRINCIPAL AND CEO

“Women need to be involved in their financial plans and have an understanding of where all of their assets are, and what they are used for,” says Certified Financial Planner™ Elizabeth Bennett.

As a woman who has reared a child, been through a divorce and is working toward her own financial future, she forges a relationship with her clients from her own personal experiences.

“You need be in control of your finances and not leave that responsibility to someone else,” she cautions. “Knowing the types of investments that you have, the log-ins for your accounts, and sharing that information with your spouse is very important. Being involved in reviews with your financial advisor and understanding how to access those assets is imperative,” Bennett says.

“Taking responsibility for your financial wellbeing, starting at a young age, is probably one of the best things you can do for yourself. You should take advantage of your employer’s retirement plan, understand what your short-term savings need to look like and what your assets’ tax implications are. Be aware of your spending habits and where all of your money is going, whether you are single or married. As women, we know the value of delegating. My advice is to take one thing off of your plate and reach out to an advisor to get your financial house in order with someone you can trust. I am here for you,” she says.

A division of:

Shades of Summer

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International Restaurants

Fashion Boutiques

Fine Jewelry

Fine Art

Salons & Spas

Specialty Shops

Financial & Legal Services

Class A Offices

Luxury Rental Residences

Federal Highway, South of Palmetto

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Tower of Song

Multi-instrumentalist Victoria Cardona builds music, one element at a time

Written by JOHN THOMASON

“Everything Everywhere

All at Once” isn’t just an Oscar-winning movie. It also describes Victoria Cardona’s approach to live performance.

Taking to the stage in ripped jeans for a gig this past February at The Square in West Palm Beach, Cardona played every instrument in her elaborate setup of three

guitars, a handful of percussion instruments she calls her“toys,”and, most crucially, the six effects pedals at her feet. These allowed her to record and then loop her rhythms live, creating a layered, metronomic groove out of whole cloth.

Pick your metaphor: Cardona is at once an architect, building a song brick by sonic brick—a bass line, then a cowbell, then a shaker, then her electric guitar— and a plate-spinner from some old vaudeville routine, ensuring every element in her arsenal is in motion at the same time. On top of it all, she sings.

Fastidious about every sound that reverberates from her stage, she has this balancing act down to a science.“You stack phrases upon themselves; it’s what a producer would do, but in a live setting— with no chance of erasing what you just put down,”she says.“The trickiest thing is the timing, and making sure that you start on the beat and stop on the beat, because otherwise it’s this wash of messy things that don’t align.”

A Wellington resident, Cardona has been honing her one-woman-band aesthetic for a decade, adopting a relentless performance schedule. She gigs about four nights a week at venues from Boca Raton (The Waterstone and Broken Sound Club among them) to Hobe Sound, performing sets that can span four hours. (She maintains an active calendar at victoriacardona.com.)

As for the material, it’s a reflection of her wide-ranging tastes, skill set and heritage. A first-generation U.S. native from a family of Cuban immigrants, she sings in Spanish and English, and the music of Havana, as much as the free improvisation of her favorite jam bands, permeates her sets. “My influences are all over the place, and that’s something that I think widens my audience, because I’m musically ADD,” she says.“I go from blues and jazz to Afro-Cuban to soul and R&B, just everything.”

At The Square, her set included Bill Withers’“Just the Two of Us,” Men at Work’s “Land Down Under,” Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” and Amy Winehouse’s “Back to Black,” with her versions often nominally resembling the originals. This is another of Cardona’s gifts: bringing a fresh ear to familiar cuts, prompting us to hear them in a new way.

Cardona’s repertoire for her solo project includes some 200 songs.

Ultimately, though, her ambitions exceed playing covers, no matter how imaginatively she interprets them. She holds a B.A. in Music Composition from the McNally Smith College of Music in Minnesota, and harbors a desire to score movie soundtracks. And she’s begun writing original music for her forthcoming debut album, which, owing to a connection she struck

at one of her shows, features an A-list backing band: pianist Bill Payne of Little Feat; bassist Jimmy Haslip, formerly of the Yellowjackets; and veteran Latin percussionist Jimmy Branly. These veteran musicians have been contributing their parts remotely, but Cardona expects to fly out to Los Angeles to achieve the immediacy of live-instudio playing.

She hopes to tour the project after the album is released; she already has captured an audience in Europe, particularly in places like Majorca, Spain and the Canary Islands. In the meantime, she’ll continue to pop up at a club or a bar or a hotel near you—hitting every note of every instrument, and living the dream of a full-time musician.

“I’m at work every day, whether it’s rehearsing or promoting or creating flyers or the recording aspect of it,” she says. “It’s a constant thing, but it’s my favorite thing in the world, and I can’t imagine what I’d be doing with my time otherwise.”

My influences are all over the place, and that’s something that I think widens my audience...I go from blues and jazz to Afro-Cuban to soul and R&B—just everything.”

Victoria Cardona AARON BRISTOL

GETTING THERE

Start your indulgent weekend with an indulgent transport mode: Brightline premier service from the new Boca station to the new Aventura station, and an uber from there to the Surf Club.

Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club

This dazzling yet understated hotel is a trip back in time— and a celebration of modern luxury

Written by MARIE SPEED

The original Surf Club, relegated to faded party pictures from the 1930s or ‘40s, may seem like a fragment of the lost Florida dream: the days of parties in a ballroom with Noel Coward or Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Frank Sinatra, the duke and duchess of Windsor. A private social club for the rich and famous north of Miami Beach in sleepy little Surfside, the Surf Club was the brainchild of tire tycoon Harvey Firestone and designed by Russell T. Pancoast as an exclusive oceanfront refuge as well as a place for “proper impropriety.”

It opened on New Year’s Eve 1930, and the elegant shenanigans began, from elephants parading down the grand Peacock Alley entrance, to a themed Arctic party with 300 tables made out of ice. As the world—and Miami— changed in the ‘60s and beyond, the Surf Club remained a longstanding private club (but without the elephants), a Mizner-esque Mediterranean bastion of sedate generational memberships and children’s pool parties—and, of course, the famous cabana life, which was at the center of it all.

What was left of the Florida

dream, though, was reborn with dramatic audacity and style in 2017 when Nadim Ashi, founder of Fort Partners, bought the nineacre property fronting a turquoise sweep of ocean.

Ashi teamed up with Parisian interior architect Joseph Dirand, designer Kobi Karp and architect Richard Meier to transform the club into its new iteration, three 12-story glass towers that disappear seamlessly into the blue Miami sky, cradling the original Surf Club at their base. The hotel, operated by the Four Seasons, numbers 77 guest rooms and 30 hotel residences and

121 private residential apartments in a configuration that floats above the gracious historic club like a glass beacon.

Preserving that dream of the Surf Club experience is now combined with an impeccable modernist luxury that is stunning throughout.

In upstairs guest rooms, floorto-ceiling glass sliding doors open to a wide blue view of surf and sky; downstairs, all the original appointments have been restored and honored, from the high-beamed vaulted ceilings, the grand colonnades and fireplaces, the original murals and tile floors. Both the property’s signature restaurants—The Surf Club Restaurant by Chef Thomas Keller and Lido Restaurant and Terrace by Chef Michael White—now occupy what was once the ballroom; the exquisite Champagne Bar is a centerpiece. Most importantly, the core of the Surf Club legacy— the beach cabanas shaped in a horseshoe around the pool—have been updated but preserved, body and soul.

Our stay at the Surf Club began with lunch at Winston’s—a casual but elevated al fresco dining experience with a view of the beach, and even better, of a gelato cart strategically stationed only 20 feet away. We spent the afternoon in a reserved cabana, poolside. In the old days, the cabanas were

AMENITIES

At the Four Seasons Surfside, the amenities have amenities. To find out more about these, visit fourseasons.com/surfside. This is the starter list:

• Luxury spa

• Fitness center and services

• Private cabanas

• Three swimming pools, including the “Quiet Pool,” an adults-only pool

• 24-hour room service

• Airline reservation service

where it all happened; Winston Churchill reserved two of them when he stayed in 1946—one for painting and one for napping. For us, it was relaxing by the pool, and an “amenity” appearing once every hour, from a tiny fresh fruit smoothie, to a cooling aloe gel, to any number of treats designed to remind guests that they are always being attended to, quietly and with much care.

Our evening began in the very grand Champagne Bar with the legendary Cocktail Trolley, a personalized craft cocktail experience delivered by an expert mixologist or barista, as they like to be called, who will involve guests in a sampling and a cocktail tailored expressly for them. The cart sparkles with tiny house-made infusions and rare liqueurs. Our experience was based on the vodka martini (what else), but there were detours involving vermouth infused with cherry blossoms, a gin bramble, Don Fulano tequila and a few other mysterious elixirs ordinary mortals would likely never attempt. As for dinner, try Lido or The Surf Club—because you won’t want to leave the property.

As Yankees legend Yogi Berra could have famously said about Miami,“No one goes there nowadays, it’s too crowded.”This hotel with its historic legacy tucked away from the Magic (and crazy) City is a perfect alternative.

OUR DON’T-MISS: Order the French toast at breakfast at the Lido Terrace. We were told it is the best in the world, and we can confirm this is unequivocally true. Just do it, as the Nike commercial used to say. It’s worth every naughty calorie.

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL AT THE SURF CLUB

9011 Collins Ave. Surfside

305/381-3333

Top, dining with a view, the Cocktail Trolley and entrance to The Surf Club; opposite, a grand hallway at The Surf Club and a fresh taste of local seafood

Have the Hair You Always Wanted!

One might think that by the time a woman reaches 50, she would have it all figured out. Faced with life changes, a time comes for reevaluation and sometimes reinvention. Reinventing yourself is not a bad thing. But for women struggling with thinning hair and hair loss, it’s difficult to forge ahead with confidence knowing that the world is judging you because of your hair – or lack of it.

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Boca Raton Insider

NORTHERN STAR CONSTRUCTION INC

This construction company delivers high-quality renovations including kitchen, bathrooms and all types of flooring. We work with you to create and design all projects from start to finish. We can also help you donate your existing kitchen for a tax benefit. We also are a preferred vendor for FPL’s insulation program, so you can cut those high electric bills. Northern Star Construction Inc is the top choice for all your renovation needs.

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R.S.B. DERMATOLOGY ROBERT S. BADER, MD

Dr. Bader has been a leader in his field and has served our community for more than 20 years. RSB Dermatology is a fullservice dermatology practice, offering skin cancer screenings, growth removal, advanced skin cancer detection, both surgical and non-surgical treatments for skin cancer, growth removal, and cyst removal, in addition to the many cosmetic services offered. Dr. Bader is fellowship-trained in Mohs’ micrographic surgery and Dermatologic Plastic Surgery. We asked Dr. Bader what he enjoys most about his practice. “What has been most rewarding over the years is the relationships that I have forged with my patients,” says Dr. Bader.

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DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH

Amid a rising spate of anti-Semitic incidents, three Jewish leaders speak out

Moderated and written by JOHN THOMASON

Participants:

e think of Boca Raton and Palm Beach County as welcoming places for Jewish people. In fact, 40 percent of Boca’s population is Jewish.Yet we are not immune to a troubling trend: In its newly released 2022 audit, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) tracked more than 269 incidents of anti-Semitism in Florida last year alone, and a 42-percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents across the state—this following a 50-percent increase in incidents from 2020 to 2021.

This past January at FAU, men set up a table with anti-Semitic propaganda at an event to promote student clubs. The same month, Boca Raton homeowners found plastic bags filled with anti-Semitic messages on their front lawns. Also in January, a swastika was projected onto a building in downtown West Palm Beach.

In February, the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office reported a swastika spray-painted on the side of a building in Century Village in West Boca. These are just the incidents we know about.

To explore this rise in anti-Jewish activity, we convened three of the region’s experts to discuss its provenance, the reality for local Jews on the ground and online, and possible solutions. Sarah Emmons is the Florida regional director for the Anti-Defamation League. Laurence Milstein is the director of the American Jewish Committee’s Palm Beach Region. And Efrem Goldberg is the senior rabbi for Boca Raton Synagogue, the largest Orthodox synagogue in the Southeast United States, with a congregation of more than 800 families.

SARAH EMMONS, Florida Regional Director for the Anti-Defamation League

LAURENCE MILSTEIN, Director of the American Jewish Committee’s Palm Beach Region

EFREM GOLDBERG, Senior Rabbi of Boca Raton Synagogue

JACEK GANCARZ

Why have we seen so much hatred against the Jewish community spring up, even in such a tolerant city and county, in recent years?

Emmons: One of the main causes of this proliferation of hate is we’ve seen a rise in extremist groups and extremist individuals who are asso-

that created a tremendous amount of economic distress, and we’re still dealing with that today.

Another factor is we’re living in an era where there’s a tremendous amount of mistrust of government institutions. That leads to conspiracy theories that abound about government and what’s happening in society. And at its core, anti-Semitism is another conspiracy theory. It

Where does Florida stand against other states in terms of reported anti-Semitism?

Emmons: The ADL publishes, and has since 1979, our annual audit of anti-Semitic incidents, which is not so much a thermometer—an exact measurement of anti-Semitic incidents—but more a barometer: What are the trends we’re seeing, and how many incidents are we able to capture? Our 2022 audit of anti-Semitic incidents again shows a rise, not only nationally but also in the state of Florida, of anti-Semitic incidents, which is unfortunate but expected, based on what we saw in 2021.

ciated with national organizations that are particularly prevalent here in Florida and have really increased their activity. The ADL tracked a 71-percent increase in extremist-related activity from 2020 to 2021. And we’re certainly seeing that play out—people traveling from not only across the state but also from other states to do hateful things here.

But it’s not only extremist groups. It’s also individuals who have become normalized to anti-Semitic beliefs, and have felt empowered to act on those anti-Semitic beliefs here in our Boca Raton and Palm Beach community.

Milstein: I don’t think we can point to one specific moment where we can say we transitioned into more anti-Semitism, but over at least the last decade, there have been several trends that have contributed to it. One is, as we get further removed from the Holocaust, there’s less shame associated with being able to publicly espouse anti-Semitic views. The other thing we know is that anti-Semitism tends to rise when there’s economic distress. We’re just coming out of a pandemic

gets traction when we’re living in this era of distrust.

The fourth trend is social media. The increasing prevalence of social media, with the ability to now take hate and anti-Semitism in a matter of seconds, and send it at lightning speed around the world to millions of observers, accentuates the problem we’re dealing with.

Goldberg: I would add a historical context. We shouldn’t react to this proliferation and this rise as if we’ve lived with safety and security throughout our history, and all of a sudden out of nowhere, there’s this hate that’s swelling. The truth is, we’re reverting back to a reality we faced for 2,000 years and beyond, that we had a 75-year reprieve from. Anti-Semitism is the world’s oldest hatred. Since there have been a Jewish people, there have been those who hate and have tried to eliminate the Jewish people. And that shouldn’t make us slow down or reluctant to tackle it and to confront it and to eliminate it, but it should sober us to the reality that we’re returning to what always was, not facing something new.

Nationally, we’re seeing a 36-percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents. Here in Florida, that statistic is a 42-percent jump. In Florida, since 2020, we’ve seen a doubling of anti-Semitism incidents.

In comparison to other states, this is not a space where Florida wants to be ranking high in the statistics. … We come in fourth, behind New York, New Jersey and California in terms of the total number of anti-Semitic incidents.

What kind of a role should the governor have in responding to numbers like these? What role should the president have?

Milstein: I think all public figures have a role, when anti-Semitism arises, to condemn it unequivocally. And that’s one of the key elements in combating it. Public officials, especially, should be on record condemning anti-Semitism and quite frankly any form of hatred or racism that is happening under their watch.

I’d like to give a little context to the ADL report. We’ve now released, for the past four years, the State of Anti-Semitism in America report… It’s actually two parallel surveys. One of them is a survey of the American Jewish community, to get their pulse on how they’re experiencing an-

"We’re reverting back to a reality we faced for 2,000 years and beyond—what we had a 75-year reprieve from. Anti-Semitism is the world’s oldest hatred.” —Rabbi Efrem Goldberg

ti-Semitism. One of the key findings was that 41 percent of American Jews said that they feel less secure in America today than they did one year ago. And that statistic is up 10 percent from when we asked the same question in 2021.

Another statistic from the same study: Four out of 10 American Jews said they’ve changed their behavior in the past year out of fear of anti-Semitism, and when we break it down, that meant they took off a star of David that they would wear, they took off a skullcap they would wear in public, or they didn’t go to a particular event or venue because they felt it was a target.

The Jewish community is really feeling this. … That’s why it’s so important that public officials, at a minimum, need to speak up against it. We need to keep it on the fringes of society as best we can.

Goldberg: I wonder about the data, which is important and instructive but also probably correlates to where Jews live, meaning the four states you mentioned are the four most highly populated Jewish states. In terms of the public officials … When I hear people, in almost

an extreme way, saying, ‘we’re going back to Germany in 1938,’ I say there’s one fundamental difference. Certainly we’re seeing trends, and they’re deeply troublesome. But in Germany in 1938, the government itself was enacting policies that were anti-Semitic.

Here, to the best of my knowledge, on our state level and federally, with President Biden appointing a special commission, we’re seeing leaders, politicians, public figures who are expressing an intolerance for anti-Semitism. If that were to change, if we see them hesitate, if we see them waver and equivocate, that would be an enormous warning sign to us, based on our history. But as long as we see that elected officials and public persons and other religions are standing with us and for us, it’s not a reason to relax our confron-

tation with anti-Semitism, but I do think it is reassuring. And those who are equivocating more, or hosting the wrong people in their domain, should be called out and should be pressured to make their position clear. The intolerance for anti-Semitism should be the same intolerance for homophobia and racism and bigotry and discrimination.

… I’m upset at the notion that people are changing their behavior. [It] is the exact opposite of what we need to be doing. I’m not saying we engage in risky behavior and put ourselves in front of those who might harm us, but I think now is the time that calls for greater practice, greater passion and greater Jewish pride. The way we are going to send it to the fringes and make this an outlier behavior is not to recoil and to hide and to sit in shame.

The Jewish community is really feeling this. That’s why it’s so important that public officials, at a minimum, need to speak up against it. We need to keep it on the fringes of society as best we can.”

Laurence Milstein

Rabbi Efrem Goldberg

Laurence Milstein

Sarah Emmons

JACEK GANCARZ

I think we’re failing to leverage this rise in anti-Semitism the way we could. If there are young Jews who were not in touch with their Judaism, who now feel targeted as Jews, let’s invite them to explore what Judaism means. Why don’t we embrace that?

In 2000 years we’re the strongest we’ve ever been, with a State of Israel with an incredible military and a wonderful U.S.-Israel relationship. We have public officials and politicians who are outspoken behind us. We can’t revert back to that reaction, for 2,000 years, of hiding in the corner. I think we have to be more assertive.

ADL Florida has a space on its website called the Changing Face of Anti-Semitism. What do you mean by that?

Emmons: We’re just starting to see anti-Semitism escalate and pop up in places we haven’t prior. This is a centuries-old issue, but it’s manifesting in new ways in our modern society. Social media has become a space where people are able to perpetuate anti-Semitic ideas, gather and have

conversations with other anti-Semitic individuals, and that space—that intersection of ideas on the internet— often leads to people coming together for demonstrations, for flyering, for laser projections like we saw here in Palm Beach County.

We at ADL are also looking into the role of online gaming. We know from a recent study at ADL that for adults, over 80 percent of them have experienced harassment online when playing games like Minecraft—identity-based harassment. More than 60 percent of people under 18 who are playing games have experienced this type of harassment. Here in Florida, we recently got an incident reported to us by a parent who said that her student was playing Minecraft, and someone wrote to him, ‘I know that you’re Jewish, and I know where you live.’ … We need our gaming companies and social media platforms to first have policies against hate speech on their platforms, and second to actually enforce those policies.

Goldberg: Meyers Leonard, who played for the Miami Heat, was a big gamer. He used an anti-Semitic expression that he later said he didn’t

know what it meant, and that he learned it in that space, where it’s apparently normalized to use language and be violent. I was introduced to him by someone we had in common. He’s a case study in what can go right with this, because he took responsibility right away, apologized, spent a couple years educating himself, and it’s an amazing story of redemption.

… It’s an example where, we collectively could have called him an anti-Semite. And then he might have become a spokesperson for that. Instead, we developed a relationship with him, and now he’s at the forefront of speaking out against anti-Semitism. We won a friend, and we won an advocate.

What are the subtle forms of anti-Semitism, where it might not be a swastika plastered somewhere, but it could be more insidious than that?

Goldberg: Micro-aggressions, you could call them. … So whether it’s a professor in a classroom who is not respecting religious freedom of when [a student] can take a test, or where

JACEK GANCARZ

it’s a reference to Jews and money. And in interpersonal daily life, someone who looks askance at a Jew, or is not as courteous to a Jew because they’re visibly dressed Jewishly. … I was walking with my family in Saint Augustine last winter, and a woman stopped and looked at one of my daughters, and said, ‘you’re an ugly Jew.’ She didn’t raise a swastika or physically attack us. I got a sermon out of it, but it was jarring. That’s one of those smaller examples.

Emmons: We’re seeing that more and more—people making statements toward Jews, either outright because they have some sort of hatred, or because they don’t know better. Maybe they’ve heard somewhere that Jews are powerful or greedy or run the banks or run Hollywood; these are beliefs people have, and they play out. We’re seeing it more and more in schools; kids are starting to say things to one another because they have beliefs about the Jewish community. And that is anti-Semitism. There really is an education piece, to help people learn more about the community—not just the Holocaust but the richness of the Jewish community, so people are not anti-Semitic in their words.

We recently put out a study around anti-Semitic attitudes, which have seen a tremendous jump over the past few years. We found that 20 percent of adults surveyed held six or more anti-Semitic beliefs—things like, Jews have too much power in the U.S. today, or Jews are more loyal to Israel than to America, or Jews are dishonest. That’s a massive jump. That number in 2019 was 11 percent. And those ideas play out in interactions.

What about usage of a term like ‘globalist’? Is that a dog whistle?

Milstein: Absolutely. It depends on context. It seems like a very innocuous word for someone who perceives the political or economic world

through an international lens. But when it’s used in certain contexts, and applied just to Jews, it raises the specter of another anti-Semitic trope, which is that Jews don’t have allegiance to their home country; they have this allegiance to this international world order financial system that they’re hoping to benefit from and influence. That’s one of the words in our Translate Hate guidebook that can be a dog whistle. Another one is George Soros, whose name is thrown around. He’s a Hungarian Holocaust survivor who happens to be very progressive, with liberal views, but his name is often used as a symbol of Jewish power, control or influence. When it’s used in that context, it’s a dog whistle.

Goldberg: It’s ironic. Some use him in that context, and too many Jews think he’s a self-hating Jew. He gets beaten up on both sides.

Milstein: That’s anti-Semitism. We always get it from both sides. We get it from the left, the right—we’re communists, we’re capitalists …

Following up on the rabbi’s Meyers Leonard story, is education the solution, or are most extremist ideas essentially incurable?

Milstein: It’s case-specific. There are many examples of it being used as a learning opportunity. We know for sure that education can make a difference. One fact from our study is that only 53 percent of the general population knew that 6 million Jews were killed in the Holocaust. But we also found, from the same study, that the more knowl-

edge that people have of Holocaust education, the more they appreciate the dangers of anti-Semitism.

Emmons: I’m not a psychologist, but when I think about why people are anti-Semitic, I think a lot of it has to do with fear, and a lot of it has to do with loneliness. Especially during COVID, we saw a lot of people gravitate toward extremist or conspiratorial thinking. But giving people an opportunity to feel more comfortable in themselves, to learn about anti-Semitism, about the Jewish community, I think those can be really instructive moments. We believe in counsel culture versus cancel culture.

Goldberg: We’re living in the age of sound bites and outrage. So if we’re not careful what we label anti-Semitism … if everything’s anti-Semitism, nothing’s anti-Semitism. If nothing’s anti-Semitism, we’re in big trouble.

Sometimes, someone is an unrepentant, unabashed anti-Semite. The likelihood you’re going to turn them around is very small. Nobody’s turning [Louis] Farrakhan around on his views about Jews. Then you have Meyers Leonard, who’s a good guy, and he just didn’t know.

There was a story about a white supremacist who grew up in that world, who was invited to a Shabbat meal in someone’s home, and who ended up turning around and leaving a world of extremism and supremacy. You add humanity to it, and you give people a personal experience.

We need to have a scalpel, not a machete, and be really nuanced in our attitude and approach to these issues. If we call for canceling, and label everything anti-Semitism, we’ll end up hurting ourselves.

Giving people an opportunity to learn about the Jewish community ... can be really instructive. We believe in counsel culture versus cancel culture.” —Sarah Emmons

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A Taste of Asia

Written by Christie Galeano-DeMott

As Asian cuisine sweeps the country (and South Florida), we talk to a few of the chefs who are bringing it home

Papaya salad from Le Colonial

behemoth in land size and population, Asia and its countries, cultures and cuisines span far and wide. Our world’s largest continent is home to more than 4.5 billion people and more than 45 countries, and yet its food woefully at times has been vaguely defined by mainstream dishes like fried rice and sushi or condiments like soy sauce.

While some may shy away from the term “Asian fusion,” in a way isn’t all American food some sort of mash-up? Immigrants have been bringing their cuisines to the States for centuries. Over generations, flavors, spices and techniques began to blend together to create new experiences. Still, honoring traditions and family heritage—while also maintaining a clear culinary vision—is as important as innovating.

Japanese native Nobu Matsuhisa, who launched the iconic Nobu brand in the early ‘90s alongside actor Robert De Niro, merged his Japanese training with his love for Peruvian ingredients. Another chef who helped usher America’s love for contemporary Asian flavors was first-generation American David Chang, who used his Korean culture as inspiration for Momofuku, launching a noodle empire that debuted in New York City in the early aughts. Other trailblazing chefs include restaurateur and TV personality Joyce Chen, Miami restaurateur and James Beard semifinalist Niven Patel, Iron Chef Anita Lo (whose New York restaurant Annisa garnered a Michelin star and three stars from the New York Times) and “Top Chef” champ and TV host Kristen Kish.

Chef Eric Baker of AlleyCat attributes the evolution of a cuisine to a chef’s lineage, both ancestrally and professionally. Home cooking and traditions are passed down from generation to generation, and chefs turn that knowledge into professional careers; their skills are handed down from chef to chef, micro-changes occurring with each person. Nobu, for example, has a line of people who worked and learned under him and helped him execute his vision. Those chefs, like notable Nobu alum Masaharu Morimoto, moved on and opened their own empires. “It spreads through the hands of the people who create it,” Baker says.

Recently we’ve seen a greater growth in our American palates. We’re hungry to taste even more cultures, and no longer pigeonhole cuisines. Asia’s vast assortment of dishes, from Japanese ramen and Indian curry to Korean barbecue and Vietnamese bahn mi, are having a moment these days globally but also closer to home, thanks to local chefs who are sharing their cultures with us through their curated menus.

We sat down with a few of our local leading chefs to discuss how they’ve thoughtfully created menus that masterfully weave their heritage and distinct life journeys together to bring innovative dishes straight to our dinner table.

NEIL JOHN BURGER

Chefs Nicole Routhier and Huy Hoang LE

COLONIAL

o one is happier to see American audiences becoming more adventurous eaters than Nicole Routhier. More than 30 years ago, when she moved from Vietnam to the States to attend the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, she says Vietnamese food was a tough sell because people didn’t know what it was—even though it’s a cuisine rooted in traditions that date back centuries. Although we are familiar with banh mi and pho, Vietnamese cuisine is delicate and sophisticated, with a much larger repertoire.

When Routhier was asked to create Le Colonial’s first menu decades ago for its debut location in New York, she started with traditional Vietnamese classics and modernized them with French ingredients and beautiful presentations. Le Colonial’s fifth location opened in Delray Beach this past February, with several more cities in the pipeline.

Le Colonial’s menu respects tradition, Routhier says proudly, and avoids modern techniques like foam or sous vide.“At the end of the day it comes down to flavors. If you blend your flavors in harmony with each other, then you don’t need to wow people with some obscure technique,” Routhier says.

TIPS

• Always have fresh herbs available.

• Buy a rice cooker.

• Freshness is everything. If you start with fresh ingredients, you’re 90 percent there.

When owners Joe King and Rick Wahlstedt, alongside Routhier, were looking for an executive chef to oversee the Delray outpost, they found the perfect match in Huy Hoang, a Vietnamese native who most recently ran the celebrated Katsuya brand’s concept at the SLS South Beach. His hometown of Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) had been ruled by France for nearly 100 years, and thus its cuisine was heavily influenced by the colonists. Hoang says he grew up eating French food with Vietnamese flavors without even knowing certain dishes drew inspiration from the French. Historically meat was a luxury, so while the French wanted a steak and a starch, Vietnamese chefs interpreted the dish by slicing steak, cooking it on the wok and presenting it with a generous serving of greens and herbs to make the dish seem more abundant.

• Marinate meat first with fish sauce, garlic, lemongrass, shallots, Thai spice powder and sugar. Let it sit for 15 min. Slice the meat before it hits the wok.

Both Routhier and Hoang underscore the cuisine’s attention on fresh vegetables and herbs.

Huy Hoang

Nicole Routhier

Goi-Cuon

NEIL JOHN BURGER

Chef Eric Baker ALLEYCAT

ne of Eric Baker’s first memories of Asian food was trying sushi with his parents when it hit New York City’s dining scene in the early ‘90s. So, although Asian food has been pervasive in our culture for decades, he says it’s the recent elevation of these cuisines into the realm of fine dining, alongside French and Italian gastronomy, that has shifted society’s perception and thus contributed to the increased demand for Asian restaurants, whether that’s Japanese, Korean, Thai or Indian.

“At the end of the day, what dictates American cuisine are the restaurants commanding a high price point, that are bringing in a high revenue,” Baker explains.“Now that those (Asian) cuisines are commanding a higher price point, that’s why they’re exploding all over the country.”

A testament to this is Baker’s decision to close Rebel House this March, one of Boca’s iconic restaurants for a decade (he owned it for the last four years) to give the much larger space to AlleyCat, his Japanese izakaya restaurant he started with David Bouhadana of Sunset Sushi and Sushi by Bou in late 2021. Baker has been a student of Asian culture for his entire career, traveling extensively throughout the continent. When he was thinking about his next concept, he landed on Japanese izakaya because of its fun atmosphere, where food is paired with cocktails or sake and shared

TIPS

• Go to a local Asian market, wander around, familiarize yourself with the products. This will also be helpful when reading a recipe.

• Be a student first: Read and learn about ingredients and vocabulary.

amongst loved ones. That sense of community and the opportunity to taste different types of food in small plates spoke to him. He says there’s a beauty to its simplicity, which he thinks is palatable to our chaotic minds. In a sense, the food is calming. Baker also has seen a shift in diners’ perception of value. No longer looking for value in portion size, we’re now looking for value in the quality of products and their preparation.

One of his most interesting takes is the pastrami sando, a Western-inspired Japanese sandwich (see, fusion works both ways!) usually made with Wagyu that’s lightly breaded and fried. The meat reminded him of pastrami, so he went with it.“That’s what I think is great about AlleyCat; I can bring in my off-the-wall ideas, and they fit. You don’t feel like they’re forced or that they don’t belong. That’s what I search for and stay true to.”

Baker’s favorite dishes: AlleyCat’s spicy scallop roll and Big in Japan’s Wagyu beef tartare with Asian pear and barbecue brisket that’s smoked for 16 hours.

Trending Now: “Korean food is having its moment. It’s very cool for that to happen, because I think their cuisine is very exciting.” He also hopes that as Boca grows, we see more homegrown concepts, and that operators flourish.

CARLOS JOSE GALLEGO II

AARON BRISTOL

GLOSSARY

While some readers may already know these terms, to some this list might be unfamiliar. So test your Asian culinary lingo or continue reading to learn a few key words.

BÁNH MI

Baguette sandwich

BAO BUN

Fluffy, sweet, flour bread

DAL

Lentil stew

DIM SUM

Chinese meal made of small plates, like Spanish tapas

GHEE

Clarified butter

HOISIN

Sweet, savory, tangy Chinese condiment—can be used as a marinade, dipping sauce, or drizzled over a dish

KOFTA

Minced or ground meat rolled into a meatball with onions and other spices

KOREAN BARBECUE

Thinly sliced beef prepared on a grill in the middle of the table

MASALA

Broad term for any spice mix in Indian cuisine

MOCHI

Rice cakes with different fillings, like ice cream or peanuts

NAAN

Leavened flatbread

NORI

Dried seaweed, can be used in making sushi

NIGIRI

A type of sushi where rice is molded by hand, and fish (or other topping) is pressed on top

OMAKASE

A Japanese phrase that means “up to you,” so in a restaurant setting diners allow the sushi chef to curate the dishes they will eat, like a tasting menu

PANEER

A non-melting fresh cheese that’s cubed

PHO

Vietnamese soup made of broth, rice noodles, herbs and meat

ROTI

Unleavened round flatbread, also known as chapati

SAMOSA

Pyramid-shaped dumpling stuffed with a variety of items like potatoes, onion, peas, lentils and ground meat, and then deep-fried

SPICES TO HAVE ON HAND

PUSHKAR:

SASHIMI

Fresh fish or meat sliced into thin pieces

TANDOORI

A dish made in a tandoor, or cylin-

Lemons or limes

Sugar

Salt

Thai chili (fresh or dried)

Onion

Garlic

Mustard seed

Curry leaves

CHEF NICOLE & CHEF HUY:

Fish sauce

Lemongrass

Thai spice powder

Star anise

Garlic Sprouts

Lime leaves

Chef Pushkar Marathe

STAGE & ELA CURRY KITCHEN

ushkar Marathe says Stage has its roots in India, but the flavors are from all over, a menu that reflects a global map, whereas Ela Curry Kitchen focuses specifically on India’s map. Born in India, trained in Switzerland and with a résumé that spans the world from the Middle East to the Caribbean, Marathe tributes all those cultures and people he worked with as influences that helped him create his own cooking style and his interpretation of Asian cuisine today.

“My heritage will always be with me; that’s a part of me,”he explains. “So marrying that knowledge and my upbringing with the global cultures is really what America is about. The real sense of the new American restaurant is that there should be no cultural boundaries.”

Marathe used a butter chicken tomato sauce base with cumin and turmeric to make mac and cheese, an American dish with his twist. He uses spices to add dimension to dishes, to enhance flavors without changing their integrity. The skill comes in balancing each flavor, like his bang bang cauliflower, for example. The dish is spicy, tangy, sweet, salty and with a slight crunch that will make all your taste buds happy. His famous chicken liver pâté is a testament to this as well; Marathe took inspiration from a north Indian dish called liver masala and added his take to the renowned French dish by adding yogurt, cardamom and cumin and then torching brown sugar to add sweetness.

As the second-most-populated country in Asia (and the world), India’s food is often overlooked in terms of Asian cuisine, he says, and so his goal is to take patrons on a journey of flavors they have never experienced before. He notes the impact Asia had on the global food scene dating back to the Silk Road spice route that introduced the western world to spices like cinnamon, cumin, turmeric and nutmeg—all ingredients featured on his menus.

“This is an art; I love what we do,”he says.“I love watching people eat. The smiles on their faces are the biggest accolades I can ever get.”

Marathe’s favorite dish: chapati, or unleavened Indian bread that’s eaten with curry. He says when you’re making this fresh, you don’t keep count—you just eat until you’re satisfied. It’s made from simple flour ingredients, but it’s a magical experience.“It represents my upbringing, my childhood”—so his mom trained the cooks at Ela to perfect this craft.

TIPS

• Start small and simple.

• Indian cooking is not about recipes; it’s really a practice, and it’s all about simplicity.

• Start to use Indian spices by adding them to dishes you already know, like tomato sauce. That will help you get used to those ingredients.

• Go to Indian grocery stores and get better acquainted with ingredients.

Chef Pushkar

Marathe, butter chicken, bang bang cauliflower

Chef Danny Kou

KOUSINE PERUVIAN ASIAN

anny Kou’s life goal is to share his culture’s flavors with the world. Peruvian-born of Chinese descent, his life has always been a blend of cultures and flavors. His grandfather immigrated to Peru from China in the 1940s and established one of the first Chinese restaurants in Lima. By the time Kou was born, his father owned and operated six restaurants, so continuing the family business was second nature to him. But before opening his two South Florida restaurants, Kou cut his teeth in California kitchens and refined his skills at Gastón Acurio’s esteemed La Mar restaurant in San Francisco as its executive chef.

Five years ago, when Kou was ready to open his own concept, he decided to equally spotlight his Peruvian and Chinese heritages with Kousine Peruvian Asian, his take on both cuisines. He opened his first location on Fort Lauderdale Beach and chose Boca for his second location, a city he was very familiar with thanks to childhood vacations to visit family and friends who lived here. Peruvian Chinese cuisine, known in Peru as chifa, has a tumultuous history of Chinese immigrants arriving to Peru as inexpensive laborers after slavery was abolished in the mid-nineteenth century. They brought their food with them and cemented it into the Peruvian culinary scene with ingredients like rice, soy sauce and ginger. They also introduced the wok to Peru. These days, many dishes are prepared

TIPS

• Find the best quality fresh fish—sushi-grade for ceviche.

on the deep cooking pan, including classic dishes called the lomo saltado, or stir fry, and arroz chaufa, or fried rice.

“The two cultures, they go very well (together),” he explains.“So, it’s been natural for me to develop my dishes.”

• Invest in a wok to develop the technique. To make a stir fry: Make sure it’s very hot, add a little oil (sesame or canola), sear the protein (one minute each side for beef). Vegetables always go at the end. Add soy sauce, oyster sauce, chicken stock, red wine vinegar and finish with butter.

• Watch the heat; don’t get burned.

Kousine’s signature dishes include the causa, similar to a layered terrine, made with whipped potato prepared in a yellow pepper and lime juice sauce and topped with avocado, tuna tartare mixed with sesame oil and Peruvian rocoto pepper sauce and finished off with jumbo shrimp. Another dish he’s proud of, the Kam Lu Wantan, is a stir fry dish made with barbecue pork, shrimp, beef and chicken mixed with Chinese vegetables like bok choy, bean sprouts, snap peas and pineapple that’s then tossed in a homemade tamarind sauce served with fried wontons. The sauce, a secret recipe that was passed down to Kou from his grandfather, has been a staple in all the family’s restaurants since Peru.

• Go to a Latin grocery store and check out the products for yourself.

Kou’s favorite dish: ceviche.“I could eat classic ceviche every day. I feel like I have more energy, and it’s so light.”

Chef Danny Kou and his kam lu wantan

Chef Akira Back AKIRA BACK

kira Back is all about change. When creating dishes for his international portfolio of restaurants, he seeks to open people’s ideas of his modern Japanese cuisine. Lucky for us, he opened his namesake restaurant at The Ray hotel last year, bringing his interpretation of Asian cuisine to the sands of Delray Beach. Born in Seoul, Korea and raised in Colorado, Back’s first career was as a professional snowboarder. But he would moonlight at a Japanese restaurant, and that’s where his passion for cooking started to blossom. Throughout the years, he’s traveled, worked and eaten around the world, opening his eyes to endless culinary possibilities. His concept of Asian cuisine is always evolving—into a melting pot of much more than just Asian dishes and ingredients. While he uses hints of local influences or Korean flavors to enhance his childhood favorites (like his favorite, Korean fried chicken), his cooking style is traditional Japanese, an undying nod to his masterful training.

When bringing his cuisine to Delray Beach, Back’s goal was to bridge the gap between Miami and West Palm Beach. Back wanted to showcase what he could do at a boutique hotel that would allow him to focus on the food, its ingredients and stellar service. Signature Akira Back dishes include the AB tuna pizza, a paper-thin wafer topped with tuna and drizzled with umami aioli, white truffle oil, micro shiso, marinated masago, or roe, and chojang, a sweet and spicy Korean sauce.

These days, Back doesn’t have to be in Asia to enjoy amazing Asian food. He attributes this to society’s craving for healthier, light cuisines— like Japanese and Korean—that are still packed with flavor.

“The idea that someday we as a collective can grow to a point where we all share the same love for one another’s traditions and food shows me just how open we all can be to new ideas and new flavors,” he says.“I can’t wait to see the next 50 years.”

G

WEB EXTRA:

For more on signature Asian dishes, please visit BOCAMAG. COM/MAY-JUNE-2023.

Chef Akira Back; left, king crab legs and right, tuna “pizza”

Courtney Jones

Courtney Jones

Performance, pedagogy and philosophy come together for this inspiring FAU music professor

Written by JOHN THOMASON

Whether it’s performing onstage or relaxing in his plant-filled office, trumpeter

Courtney Jones’ joie de vivre is infectious.

I witnessed him in both modes, first at a January fundraiser for Florida’s National Society of Arts and Letters. Clad in a three-piece suit and colorful socks, Jones led a quartet through Gershwin standards and bossa nova favorites from guitar god Antonio Carlos Jobim, his brows arched, his eyes as big as the notes he was playing.

In between compositions, he shared his thoughts on the power of music to heal the world—a lofty sentiment he would echo a couple of weeks later at FAU, where he has served as assistant professor of trumpet and artistic director of the university’s jazz and chamber ensembles since 2017. Educated in the contemporary classical canon, the Georgia native has enjoyed a borderless career, scoring music for series such as “Glee” and “Criminal Minds” and collaborating with artists as diverse as Rihanna, Boy George and trailblazing jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell.

From his office near FAU’s University Theatre, Jones discussed his wide-ranging work and his belief that,“for me, there is no genre. It’s style. Do you feel the beat on 1 and 3, or 2 and 4?”

Did you know early on that music would be your passion?

Not necessarily. ... I never thought it was going to be a career, because I thought that everyone was able to do this. Later on, my teacher at Columbus State helped me figure [it] out.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned the differentiation between passion and gift. I’m passionate about cooking.

WEB EXTRA

For

I’m passionate about botany. But I don’t have a restaurant, and I’m not opening a nursery. A gift, however, is music, and everything that is under that awning. ...

If you can wake up in the morning and think about nothing but that one thing, that is your gift. And that’s what you should be doing.

You’ve played with a lot of legends. What did you pick up from working with them that you take into your own practice?

Empathy. Gratitude. I knew those words; I didn’t understand them until I got older.

You’re already in the industry; you’ve done “Glee” and “Cougar Town,” so you don’t really get star-struck. My job is to go on set

at Paramount Studios. My job is to go do these pre-records, and after that, I can go have dinner and hang out. But then you sit down, you walk in, your name is on a long list of names, and there’s BB King and Dee Dee Bridgewater and Lalo Schifrin, who wrote the “Mission: Impossible” theme, and then all of a sudden Stevie Wonder bumps into you, and he says, ‘oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there.’ Oh, he’s blind, he just made a joke! I’m surrounded by all these people. There’s love, there’s no ego. … There is a level of respect that’s beautiful.

Can you speak about the versatility of the trumpet?

[It goes] from the band hall to the concert hall, from the solo setting to the chamber setting … and if you limit yourself to one thing, then you’re missing out on what the divine has provided for you. … I played at the beginning of a metal band’s show. We came in, and we played this piccolo fanfare, then they went into this thrash metal. And it paid well. The best 30 seconds I ever had!

You played Carnegie Hall for the first time last year. What was that like?

Invigorating. Astonishing. It was a check off the bucket list. We sold out our performance with an orchestra and musicians who happen to be BIPOC—Black, indigenous, and people of color. And these are all people that are in the upper echelon of their careers, and we came together to perform in this space that was built [to] bring people together. It wasn’t built for one class of people. It was built for music, and music has no color, music has no boundary. And to be in this place, it was just breathtaking.

Do you get nerves when you walk onto a stage like that?

Always. I’m nervous right now. I’m an extroverted introvert. And I use those nerves, even when I perform, as fuel—as adrenaline, to help block that energy. Because if you’re nervous, that means you care. Because you don’t want to mess up.

We have this idea that practice makes perfect. That’s incorrect. Practice makes improvements. It makes progress. Because we are human, and it’s OK to make a mistake. … You never really master your instrument. You’re always learning your craft.

“I try to teach my students to not be mediocre. Don’t be lukewarm. Be hot or cold. For me, you have to put it at 100 percent, and even when you don’t want to do it, still get up and do it. … If you’re not seizing the day, do something else; don’t do music.”

more with Courtney Jones, visit BOCAMAG.COM/ MAY-JUNE-2023.

Now-May 14:

“Million Dollar Quartet” at the Wick Theatre, 7901 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton; various show times; $79-$99; 561/9952333, thewick.org. The hit rock ‘n’ roll jukebox musical, inspired by the fabled 1956 Sun Records jam session between Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis, features 23 of their iconic hits performed in an atmosphere of competition and collaboration.

Now-May 21:

Whitfield Lovell: “Passages” at Boca Raton Museum of Art, 501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; $12-$16 museum admission; 561/392-2500, bocamuseum. org. “Passages” marks the most comprehensive survey yet of this contemporary artist, including drawings on pencil, oil stick, charcoal or crayon, often paired with found objects salvaged and manipulated from flea markets and antique shops. His art addresses historical brutalities toward African-Americans through the prisms of identity and memory.

Now-June 4:

2022 Benjamin Mkapa African Wildlife Photography Awards at Society of the Four Arts, 102 Four Arts Plaza, Palm Beach; $10; 561/655-7226, fourarts. org. In this revealing exhibition, image-makers from around the world traveled throughout Africa to capture wildlife in its natural habitat and amid its relationship with humans, competing in categories such as “Coexistence & Conflict,” “African Wildlife at Risk” and “Fragile Wilderness.”

May 6:

Patrick Lamb at Funky Biscuit, 303 S.E. Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton; 6 and 9 p.m.; $30-$45; 561/395-2929, funkybiscuit. com. One of the youngest people to be inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame, philanthropist and saxophonist Lamb has enjoyed a versatile career as both sideman and composer, performing with Smokey Robinson, Gino Vanelli and Bobby Caldwell and traversing jazz, blues and pop idioms with ease.

May 7:

Delray String Quartet at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 188 S. Swinton Ave., Suite 3698, Delray Beach; 3 p.m.; 561/808-5084, delraystringquartet.com. In its final program of the 2022/2023 season, the renowned string quartet will perform Haydn’s Fifth Quartet, Beethoven’s Quartet Op. 95, Mendelssohn’s Quartet Op. 12 and “Romanian Folk Dances” by Béla Bartok.

May 12:

For King and Country at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, 601-7 Sansburys Way, West Palm Beach; 7 p.m.; $47 and up; 561/795-8883, westpalmbeachamphitheatre.com. Performing under the moniker For King and Country, Australian-born and Nashville-raised brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone have become one of the nation’s leading Christian pop acts, marrying lyrics of faith and worship to a secular sonic palette whose influences range from U2 and the Beatles to epic film scores.

Kaido Haagen’s “Lion Family” from the Benjamin Mkapa African Photography exhibition

“New York Vanguard”

Patrick Lamb

Kaido Haagen’s “Lion Family” from the Benjamin exhibition

Now-June 11:

“New York Vanguard: Promised Gifts from Stephen and Madeline Anbinder” at Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach; $15-$18 museum admission; 561/832-5196, norton.org. The 10 cutting-edge artists featured in this exhibition—including Elaine de Kooning, Helen Frankenthaler and Adolph Gottlieb—worked in New York in the mid-20th century, forming a new international vanguard to compete with Paris’ post-WWII dominance.

Now-July 16:

“At the Dawn of a New Age: Early 20th Century Modernism” at Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach; $15$18 museum admission; 561/832-5196, norton.org. This exhibition draws from the first 30 years of the 1900s—a watershed period in American art, as traditional notions of realism in painting and sculpture gave way to an increasing embrace of experimentation and abstraction of color, form and subject matter.

May 4:

Mastodon and Gojira at Sunset Cove Amphitheater, 20405 Amphitheater Circle, Boca Raton; 6:30 p.m.; $44.50-$60; axs.com/events. Among the most acclaimed metal bands of the 21st century, Grammy winners Mastodon combine crushing guitar riffs with a literary lyricism and psychedelic leanings. French heavy metal act Gojira, which also takes a progressive approach to the genre, co-headlines; the opening act is Lorna Shore.

May 5-14:

“Blue, a Rhapsody in Blubber” at Theatre Lab at FAU, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton; 7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 3 p.m. Sun.; $25; 561/297-6124, fauevents.com. In this solo theatrical experience by Lynn McNutt, the actor/playwright portrays three characters with more in common than meets the eye: Old Man, Blue Whale and Middle Aged Woman, all of whom try to forge connections with past loved ones through various means of communication.

May 12-14:

Tiffany Haddish at Palm Beach Improv, 550 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach; 7 and 9:45 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 7 p.m. Sun.; $40-$50; 561/8331812, palmbeachimprov.

com. One of Time ’s 100 most influential people of 2018, comic actor Haddish is a multiplatform powerhouse who has won a Grammy and Emmy and found success everywhere from big-screen comedies to cutting-edge live-action and animated series. She explores new material in this rare, intimate club gig.

May 12-27:

“Disenchanted” at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; various show times; $55-$65; 561/832-7469, kravis.org.

Fans of “Into the Woods” may appreciate this similarly revisionist interpretation of the Grimm fairy tales-turned-Disney-products. A hit off-Broadway, the musical, mounted by MNM Productions, features heroines from “Snow White” and “Cinderella” as they shed their tiaras and share their truth.

May 16-21:

“Legally Blonde: The Musical” at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; various show times; $31-$104; 561/832-7469, kravis.org. On tour for the first time since its 2007 Broadway debut, this musical adaptation of the comedy film follows sorority sister Elle Woods, teacup Chihuahua in tow, as she defies the judicial world—and her hair color—by excelling in male-dominated Harvard Law School.

May 19-June 4:

“The Producers” at Willow Theatre at Sugar Sand Park, 300 S. Military Trail, Boca Raton; various show times; $35; 561/347-3948, sugarsandpark.org. Local company Entr’Acte Theatrix returns with its production of the cherished Mel Brooks musical about a down-in-the-dumps Broadway producer and his accountant colleague, whose scheme to finance a deliberately unsuccessful musical about Hitler becomes an unexpected success.

“At the Dawn of a New Age”

Mastodon “Legally Blonde”

May 24:

Art & Jazz on the Avenue in downtown Delray Beach; 6 to 9:30 p.m.; free; 561/243-1077, downtowndelraybeach.com. Live and roving jazz musicians are often one of myriad attractions at this three-hour outdoor party, which also includes interactive art vendors, dancing and dining in the street, and more entertainment to be announced. See it all on Atlantic Avenue from Third Avenue to Sixth Street.

May 26:

The Four Horsemen at Boca Black Box, 8221 Glades Road, Suite 10, Boca Raton; 8 p.m.; $31.50-$41.50; 561/483-9036, bocablackbox.com. Touting themselves as the “only album-quality Metallica tribute band on the planet,” the dedicated metalheads in the Four Horsemen clearly have egos the size of Lars Ulrich’s. See if they live up to the hype with a set list pulling primarily from Metallica’s first four seminal albums.

May 26-28:

Harid Spring Performances at Countess de Hoernle Theatre, 5100 Jog Road, Boca Raton; 7:30 p.m. Friday, 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; $20-$25; 561/9988038, harid.edu. The esteemed dance conservatory will present its Spring 2023 showcase, featuring excerpts from Act II of “La Bayadère,” the pas de deux from “La Fille Mal Gardée” and the premiere of a contemporary ballet by resident choreographer Mark Godden.

June 5:

Founders’ Day at Flagler Museum, 1 Whitehall Way, Palm Beach; noon to 5 p.m.; free; 561/655-2833, flaglermuseum. us. In honor of its anniversary, the historic former home of Henry Flagler opens its doors to the public at no cost, allowing visitors to tour the museum’s first floor, view its permanent collection of Gilded Age art, and hop aboard Flagler’s private railcar.

June 10:

Nikki Glaser at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; 7 p.m.; $29.75$39.75; 561/832-7469, kravis. org. Comedian Glaser’s star has been on a consistent rise since her debut Netflix comedy special, “Perfect,” in 2016. Her everywoman observations on modern life have been heard across three hosted podcasts and celebrated tours like this one.

June 10:

Walker Hayes at Mizner Park Amphitheater, 590 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; 6:30 p.m.; $60-$141.50; 561/393-7890, mizneramp.com. Hayes takes his working-class country music seriously: After being dropped by a major label, he worked at Costco in between stints on the Hot Country charts. Fame has stuck around in the 2020s, though, with Country Stuff: the Album and hit single “Fancy Like” establishing him as a fixture in the genre. Arrive early for openers Ingrid Andress and Breland.

Nikki Glaser Walker Hayes Harid Spring Performances

May 27:

Emilie-Claire Barlow at Arts Garage, 94 N.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach; 8 p.m.; $40-$45; 561/450-6457, artsgarage.org. Celebrating the release of her 13th album this year, the two-time Juno Award-winning Canadian jazz singer will perform American Songbook standards, bossa nova favorites and pop ballads, aided by her signature warmth and humor, and backed by a five-piece band.

May 28:

The Victory Dolls at Pompano Beach Amphitheatre, 50 W. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach; 2 p.m.; $35; pompanobeacharts.org. In celebration of Memorial Day, an all-star cast of South Florida theatre’s top leading ladies performs a concert of standards from the World War II generation, from “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” to “Rum and Coca-Cola.”

May 28:

Chris McDonald’s Memories of Elvis at Boca Black Box, 8221 Glades Road, Suite 10, Boca Raton; 7 p.m.; $46.50$61.50; 561/483-9036, bocablackbox.com. Elvis impersonator MacDonald, a dead ringer for the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, will pay tribute to Presley’s legacy with this theatrical production. He’ll perform songs from the many eras of Elvis’ career, supplemented with costume changes, backup singers, dancers and an eight-piece concert band.

June 2:

Chris Porter at Boca Black Box, 8221 Glades Road, Suite 10, Boca Raton; 9 p.m.; $32$42; 561/483-9036, bocablackbox.com. A Los Angeles comedian by way of his native Kansas, Chris Porter channels both the West Coast and the Midwest in his act, cultivating a blue, angry, everyman persona that borrows from Bill Hicks as much as Sam Kinison. Porter made it to the finals on season four of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.”

June 14-Oct. 22:

Sri Prabha: “Resonator –Reanimator” at Boca Raton Museum of Art, 501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; $12-$16 museum admission; 561/3922500, bocamuseum.org. An artist who creates interactive installations in the Fluxus tradition, Prabha’s site-specific exhibition at the Boca Museum invites attendees to climb in and around it, while considering its relationship to the video projections, wall sculptures and archaeological fossils surrounding it.

June 14-Oct. 22:

Sari Dienes: “Incidental Nature” at Boca Raton Museum of Art, 501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; $12-$16 museum admission; 561/3922500, bocamuseum.org. In a career spanning 60 years, the late Dienes helped bridge gaps between the Abstract Expressionism of the 1950s and the Pop Art of the 1960s.

“Incidental Nature” focuses on the Austrian-born artist’s “Sidewalk Rubbings,” in which she appropriated urban symbols such as manhole covers and subway gratings into geometric compositions.

June 15:

Authors Speak: Dr. Marquis Bey at Arts Garage, 94 N.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach; 6 p.m.; free with online registration; 561/450-6457, artsgarage.org. The Spady Cultural Heritage Museum’s ongoing speaker series on the impact of race on American society welcomes Dr. Marquis Bey, a professor at Northwestern University, whose book “Black Trans Feminism” explores the radical possibilities of these three identifiers.

June 17:

Tori Amos at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; 8 p.m.; $39-$119; 561/832-7469, kravis.org. A child piano prodigy at the age of 5, Amos emerged as one of rock’s most influential women with her instant-classic 1992 debut, Little Earthquakes

Fifteen diverse and sophisticated releases have followed, including her latest, Ocean to Ocean; this tour marks the continuation of the singer-songwriter’s first American tour since the pandemic.

Emilie-Claire Barlow

The Victory Dolls

Dr. Marquis Bey

Man to man, get to know these select go-to guys whose varied careers make for an interesting read and resource. Discover their unique personalities and the power that fuels their success.

Cutler Altier, President & CEO William Altier, Vice President

Tristan Altier

Altier Jewelers

Old-time tradition and family values shine as brightly as the inventory at Altier Jewelers, Boca Raton‘s very first jewelry store.

Cutler Altier and his brother William (Will) are the third-generation owners of Altier, filling their grandparents’ sizable shoes with the personalized, honest service that would have made Joseph and Marjorie Altier proud. “They built this business over 60 years ago, with a strong work ethic and morals. Will and I try to carry on their legacy and service to the community,” says Cutler. “We have clients from Naples, Tallahassee, Tampa and Key West who travel to us because we provide them with an experience they have enjoyed. We are always acting in a client’s best interest,” he explains.

Altier offers fine jewelry and watch repair services, important diamond sales and branded jewelry such as Gucci, Roberto Coin, Hulchi Belluni, Montblanc and Temple St. Clair. They are also authorized dealers for Patek Philippe and Cartier timepieces. Will handles many of the VIP clients and important diamond sales, and manages the jewelry lines. He has great experience with high-end sales as well as wholesale.

“We started at the ground level and worked our way through every inch of this business. We complement each other. Neither one of us would want to run this business without each other,” says Will.

Cutler explains, “my son Tristan Altier is a very talented, 21-year-old addition to the family business, learning everything from the back of the house to the front. He will be a great representation of the fourth generation and will carry our family legacy to new heights.”

Altier Jewelers

701 S. Federal Highway

Boca Raton, FL 33432

561.395.3462

Altierjewelers.com

Tristan Altier

Cutler Altier

William Altier

David Zappitell, Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer

Zappitell Law Firm

Each day in his boutique personal injury law firm in Delray Beach, David Zappitell encounters very painful wrongful death cases and is consumed with consoling grieving families who have lost loved ones. Zappitell considers his firm to be an old-school law practice, achieving great results for people by treating them the way they deserve to be treated.

“My people-first strategic approach of practicing law yields excellent results for my clients. Other lawyers seek my advice frequently. It is as much about the process as it is taking care of people and comforting them—a part of my job I take very seriously,” he explains.

The most credentialed Civil Trial Lawyer practicing personal injury south of West Palm Beach and north of Fort Lauderdale, Zappitell has been in practice for more than 30 years. Along with his passion for his profession and philanthropy, art has always been a tremendous part of Zappitell’s life.

“Art gives me a more human, less lawyer-like perspective”, he says. “I have recently expanded my talents on a grand scale with a company I started, Zappitell Projects, featuring a stunning modern industrial home that I built as an extension of my creativity, and another way of thinking outside the box. This incredible one-ofa-kind-home in Delray Beach is just a two-minute walk from the beach and a block from Atlantic Avenue, offering the best of all worlds.”

Zappitell reflects, “the true work of art in my life has actually been raising my three kids. They have been a huge part of my grounding, and who I am as a person.”

Zappitell Law Firm

200 NE 2nd Avenue, Suite 103

Delray Beach, FL 33444

561.330.6330

Florida.law

Benjamin Rusnak

Daniel P. Nolan, Founder Nolan Construction Company

Daniel P. Nolan started his construction career working summers as a land surveyor for his father’s civil engineering firm in Fort Lauderdale. He then moved on to various positions, including laborer, carpenter and foreman, during his summer breaks while attending the University of Alabama. After graduating with degrees in business management and real estate, he spent time gaining invaluable experience as a high-rise superintendent for a large developer and a project manager for a well-respected general contractor. Parlaying his years of experience, the Boca Raton native founded Nolan Construction Company in 1999 to provide quality commercial and residential constructionrelated services to select clients in South Florida.

Nolan’s hands-on construction experience prepared him to take on commercial projects ranging from retail centers and office buildings to storage facilities, multifamily, restaurants and exclusive residential projects.

His project and client lists are broad, ranging with projects including North Boca Self-Storage, a 126,000-square-foot facility in Boca Raton for Rosemurgy Properties and Sentry Self-Storage, to the Colony Hotel in Palm Beach, where Nolan Construction Company recently renovated the 80 guest rooms, retail space and common areas for the iconic hotel, and Lyons Retail Center in West Delray for Bayan Development.

Nolan explains, “a construction project is like a three-legged stool in which the ownership, design and construction teams must work together as a cohesive unit to ensure a successful project. We cater to our clients in an effort to provide more of a personalized Building Quality experience.”

Nolan Construction.com

Benjamin Rusnak

Alan Kaye, Managing Director Transworld Commercial Real Estate

As one of the largest business brokerage firms in the world, Transworld Business Advisors has more than 40 years of expertise in dealing with all business transactions, from main street business sales to large-scale mergers and acquisitions.

With 25 years of commercial real estate expertise, seasoned broker and former practicing attorney Alan Kaye was well prepared to take the helm in the newly conceived commercial division as Transworld’s Florida Managing Director for Commercial Real Estate. Kaye’s vast industry experience has resulted in more than $1 billion in commercial real estate transactions.

“Transworld’s competitive market advantage enables us to create maximum value for the business, whether local small businesses or mergers and acquisitions, all while maximizing the value of the real estate as well,” Kaye says. “Sometimes, because of the emotional attachment owners have towards the business they have spent years growing, they have an unrealistic expectation of its true value. By getting clients more money for the real estate, we have been able to bridge the gap between their expectations and market value.”

In 2021, Kaye was involved in the sale of the iconic Mai-Kai Polynesian Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale. As the restaurant was nonoperational due to a roofing issue, Transworld was able to achieve more for the real estate, finding the perfect buyer to rebuild the restaurant with plans to build a Polynesianthemed hotel on the surplus land.

“This deal represented the benefits our clients receive every day by having Transworld be the single point of contact to represent them, as opposed to dealing with one firm for the business, and one for the real estate,” Kaye reflects.

Transworld Business Advisors

5101 NW. 21st Ave. Suite 300 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309

954-558-8058

akaye@tworld.com

Gina Fontana

Keith Gamble, President and Owner

Northern Star Construction

Keith Gamble is a master at building and remodeling high-quality custom kitchens and baths to fit any lifestyle and budget. His company, Northern Star Construction in Coral Springs, has established a reputation for excellence that is unparalleled in the business.

“My dad was a builder, so I’ve been in the business since I was a kid, growing up in Boston and visiting South Florida for summer breaks,” Keith points out. “I moved down here in 2000, and in 2009, I obtained my General Contractor’s license and opened Northern Star Construction.”

“I hire top skilled subcontractors who specialize in areas such as demolition, tile work, countertops and custom kitchen cabinetry,” explains Keith.

He resides in Coral Springs with his wife, Michelle, 6-year-old son, Kaden, and 5-yearold daughter, Jacqueline.

Keith highlights: “I will not start demolition until we have all the materials and work to tighten my schedule so we do not have as much downtime for the client.”

Keith utilizes his degree in communications to concisely explain to his clients all of their options. He genuinely enjoys taking the journey of remodeling and building with his client, as well as the pride and joy of a beautifully finished project. That, along with his artistic eye, his collaborations with high-end designers and his expertise in the field, sets Keith apart from his competitors.

Northern Star Construction

12253 Glenmore Drive

Coral Springs, FL 33071 786-201-5522

nst4r.com

Benjamin Rusnak

Real estate broker Anne De Marzo has received national acclaim for her impressive achievements in representing the finest luxury properties in Boca Raton. Ranked in the top 1% of Coldwell Banker real estate agents nationwide, Anne is leading the luxury landscape in Boca Raton and beyond.

In her exemplary 45-year career, Anne has successfully negotiated over $1+ Billion in sales ranging from luxury estate homes and oceanfront properties.

Top-Ranked Broker in Southeast Florida Legends Society Award | 2022

International President’s Elite | 2022

International President's Premier | 2021

International Diamond Society | 2020

EXHIBITIONS

Through May 21, 2023

Whitfield Lovell: Passages

Oswaldo Vigas

June 14 - October 22, 2023

Sri Prabha: Resonator - Reanimator

Sari Dienes: Incidental Nature

Matthew Schreiber: Drawings and Holograms

Benn Mitchell Photographs: Hollywood to NYC

MEMBERS ENJOY MORE

More Fun - Invitations to exclusive member parties and previews

More Art - Discounts at the Museum Store and Art School

More Connection - Free or discounted talks, concerts, family activities, and more

Learn more about exhibitions and membership at BOCAMUSEUM.ORG

private education camp guide 2023

The following section presents helpful information provided by prominent private schools and camps in Palm Beach County.

All listings include a brief synopsis of the programs’ achievements, curriculum highlights, and many more important details families look for when choosing the best fit for their children.

This comprehensive guide is designed to help you make informed decisions at a glance.

High Expectations

Extraordinary Futures

From kindergarten through high school, DKJA students dive into an exciting curriculum of unparalleled opportunities and individualized learning experiences. Faculty balance high expectations with nurturing support to encourage the best out of each student. College-preparatory academics prepare graduates for admission to the best colleges and universities, while Judaic studies instill the wisdom and values to navigate a complex world and the passion to make a difference. It all adds up to an education of extraordinary power and purpose.

For admission inquiries or to schedule your personal campus tour call: (561) 852-3310 or email: admissions@dkja.net.

The Most Personalized Summer School in the World

SPECIAL SUMMER PRICING!

Does your child need to make up a grade? Get a tough class out of the way before the fall? Or build some confidence in a fun, personalized environment? Fusion offers classes for credit, tutoring, and college/post-secondary counseling in a one-to-one environment (just one student and one teacher per classroom).

A great school year starts this summer! Connect with us today to build your perfect summer program at Fusion.

Tutoring/Mentoring College/Post-Secondary Counseling

Completely Personalized Grades 6-12

Special Summer Pricing!

At Levis JCC Zale Early Childhood Learning Center, we believe children are capable of extraordinary things. Our passion and goal is to provide your child with developmentally appropriate learning opportunities, love and support while nurturing their academic growth.

Featuring:

• Baby & Me to Pre-K Programs

• Low student to teacher ratios

• Multiple playgrounds, library, movement room, gymnasium, outdoor garden, plus a splash pad

• Secure, gated 100 acre campus

ADVENT SCHOOL

- Grades: Infants - 8th

- Students: 450

- Tuition Range: $5,000 - $15,000

- Student-Teacher Ratio: Varies by class

- Denomination: Christian

At Advent, your child will become a CONFIDENT, CAPABLE, CHRISTIAN LEADER making a difference in the world! Advent combines rigorous academics with leadership development in a safe environment. Innovative programs include Elementary & Middle School STEM enrichment, 1:1 technology, Spanish for K -8 th grade as well as Dual Language and Emergent Reader groups in the Early Childhood School. Advent also provides opportunities in spiritual growth, fne arts, robotics and athletics. Aftercare and camp programs offer engaging extra-curricular activities. We accept VPK vouchers and state scholarships (FTC, FES-EO and FES-UA). Need based tuition assistance is available. Advent serves Infants to 8th Grade – you can grow with us!

300 E. Yamato Road • Boca Raton • 561.395.3631 • AdventSchoolBoca.org

DONNA KLEIN JEWISH ACADEMY

- Grades: K - 12th - Tuition Range: $26,450 - $29,840

- Students: 652

- Student-Teacher Ratio: 7:1

- Denomination: Jewish

Donna Klein Jewish Academy (DKJA) provides an education of extraordinary power and purpose for each of its students through a rigorous curriculum designed to meet the individual needs of a diverse student population. DKJA offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities including JV and Varsity sports, and an extensive fne arts program including music, dance, drama, and visual arts. Our students are provided with the skills and knowledge required for success in college and beyond.

FRENCH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

- Grades: K - 8th - Tuition: $12,500

- Students: 100

- Virtual Classes: Optional

- Student-Teacher Ratio: 16

- Denomination: Non-sectarian, Co-educational

The French American International School (FAIS) offers a bilingual dual curriculum, satisfying American and French academic standards. As an International Baccalaureate (IB) candidate school, FAIS offers the PYP to all primary school students. Students not only become profcient in a second or third language but have access to an array of enrichments courses. Program available in-person and on-line. Call us for a visit: (561) 479.8266. Merci!

2500 NW 5th Avenue • Boca Raton • 561.479.8266 • Faisbr.org

FUSION ACADEMY

- Grades: 6th - 12th

- Students: 149

TRINITY DELRAY LUTHERAN SCHOOL

- Tuition Range: Customized

- Student-Teacher Ratio: 1:1

- Denomination: Independent

Fusion Academy is an accredited middle and high school where classes are oneto-one: one teacher and one student per classroom. This allows us to completely personalize the education experience for each student, from curriculum to scheduling. This summer, we’re offering special pricing on classes for credit, tutoring, and college/post-secondary counseling. Summer is a great time to catch up, make up a grade, get ahead in a tough class, or build confdence before the school year starts. Connect with us today to learn more about our Boca Raton and Palm Beach Gardens campuses.

866.751.0535 • fusionacademy.com

CONFIDENT RESPONSIBLE REFLECTIVE INNOVATIVE ENGAGED

Trinity Delray is a Cambridge International School. Our students develop thinking and learning skills –ready to tackle the demands of tomorrow’s world, capable of shaping a better world for the future. We encourage students to become confident, responsible, innovative, and engaged- equipped for success in our fast changing modern world.

Ages 1 through 8th Grade, Schedule your private tour today!

Private Education & Summer Camp Guide

GRANDVIEW PREPARATORY SCHOOL

- Grades: EC 3 - 12th - Tuition Range: $15,800 - $26,300

- Students: 400

- Virtual Classes: Yes

- Student-Teacher Ratio: 11:1

- Denomination: Independent

Founded in 1997, Grandview is a small, diverse community committed to the philosophy that education is a personal endeavor. Grandview pairs timeless ethics with modern thought with an emphasis on developing durable and transferable skills designed to lead to success in college and life beyond. Our students (prekindergarten - grade 12) are encouraged to be curious and active learners who seek real world opportunities in and out of the classroom.

LEVIS JCC BETTY & MARVIN ZALE EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER

- Ages: 2-PreK - Price Range: $4,496 - $21,387

- Students: 235

- Student-Teacher Ratio: 1:4, 1:5, 1:6

- Denomination: Jewish

At the Levis JCC Betty & Marvin Zale Early Childhood Learning Center we provide an enriching multi-faceted early childhood program designed to foster your child’s imagination, curiosity and intellect. Our fundamental goal is to provide the highest quality preschool education in a warm and nurturing environment. Zale teachers work closely with each child to provide innovative experiences that help build a strong foundation in language, math and early literacy while instilling a love for learning that will truly last a lifetime.

PINE CREST SCHOOL FORT LAUDERDALE

- Grades: PreK - 12th - Tuition Range: $33,015 - $42,040

- Students: 1,815

- Virtual Classes: No

LANDMARK COLLEGE SUMMER PROGRAMS

- Ages: 16-22

- Students: 200-225

- Virtual Classes: Yes

- Tuition Range: $1,850 - $8,500

- Student-Teacher Ratio: 11:1

Landmark College offers summer programs to assist a wide range of students with learning differences, including high school students, graduating high school seniors, and students enrolled at colleges around the country. All of the programs are designed to enable students to identify their learning strengths and differences. Students learn specific strategies to be successful in formal academic settings and grow personally and academically in an intentional and supportive academic community. A diagnosed learning difference (such as dyslexia, ADHD, or autism) is not required to participate in these programs.

19 River Road South • Putney, VT • 802.387.6885 • www.landmark.edu/summer

PINE CREST SCHOOL BOCA RATON

- Grades: PreK - 8 - Tuition Range: $33,015 - $38,670

- Students: 868

- Virtual Classes: No

- Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1

- Denomination: Independent

True to tradition and inspired by innovation, Pine Crest School offers a researchbased, challenging curriculum complemented by arts and athletics. We believe that building social and emotional competencies in a safe, secure, and inclusive learning environment is fundamental to our students’ success. Pine Crest classrooms foster creativity and innovation, giving students opportunities to practice ethical thought leadership and to become curious, adaptable learners. Our goal is to send our graduates out into the world as leaders who know their strengths and who have the courage to challenge norms, break barriers, and move forward with confidence. #PCFutureReady

SPANISH RIVER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

- Grades: PreK3 – 8th

- Students: 540

- Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1

- Denomination: Independent

True to tradition and inspired by innovation, Pine Crest School offers a researchbased, challenging curriculum complemented by arts and athletics. We believe that building social and emotional competencies in a safe, secure, and inclusive learning environment is fundamental to our students’ success. Pine Crest classrooms foster creativity and innovation, giving students opportunities to practice ethical thought leadership and to become curious, adaptable learners. Our goal is to send our graduates out into the world as leaders who know their strengths and who have the courage to challenge norms, break barriers, and move forward with confidence. #PCFutureReady

1501 NE 62nd Street • Fort Lauderdale • 954.492.4100 • pinecrest.edu

TRINITY DELRAY LUTHERAN SCHOOL

- Grades: Age 1 – 8th

- Students: 425

-

Tuition Range: $4,910 - $11,690

- Student-Teacher Ratio: Varies

- Denomination: Lutheran

Trinity Delray, Excellence in Christian education since 1948. For over seventy years, Trinity Delray Lutheran School has been providing academic excellence in a Christ-centered environment. Trinity Delray is committed to providing the best instructional environment for students. Trinity Delray is a Cambridge International School. Cambridge International helps students become confident, responsible, reflective, innovative, engaged, and ready to tackle the demands of tomorrow’s world, capable of shaping a better world for the future. We offer class sizes that give students the opportunity to have curriculum differentiated to their needs. Trinity Delray students develop critical thinking skills that are needed to be successful after elementary and middle school.

- Tuition Range: $4,115 - $10,985

- Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1

- Denomination: Presbyterian

Preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds (Gold Seal Quality Care Program). Academic program K-8th with high quality, challenging academics enhanced by robust technology innovation in the classrooms; leadership skill building; strong fine arts and performing arts programs; critical thinking and project based learning. High school-level honors Algebra 1, Geometry, and Spanish I for middle school students. Accredited by CSF and MSA. Before and after-school programs. Interscholastic Sports program. After school enrichment for elementary. State-of-the-art technology, including 3-D printing, video productions, coding. Competitive robotics. Stanford Achievement Test. Lunch program. Clinic with fulltime nurse. Uniforms required. Parent-Teacher Fellowship. Summer Camp.

2400 Yamato Rd • Boca Raton • 561.994.5006 • Spanishriverchristianschool.com

TWISTERS GYMNASTICS BOCA RATON

- Ages: 5 - 10

- Dates: June 5th - Aug 4th

- Pricing: From $479/Weekly

- Denomination: Gymnastics

Whether your child spends a session, a day, a week or the whole summer at Twisters, their time here will be filled with loads of fun! Our professional and safety certified staff will lead your children in gymnastics instruction, games, organized activities, fitness, arts & crafts, and supervised play in our fun, clean, safe, and fully air conditioned facility! Dates may vary at each location.

IF YOU GO

PARKING: Parking lot

HOURS: Mon.–Sat., 12–3 p.m., 5–10 p.m.

PRICES: $8–$52

WEBSITE: mediterraboca. com

Medi Terra

301 Via de Palmas #99, Boca Raton; 561/367-9779

CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT

completely new concept is harder.

and his father Michael have done. The father-son duo bought Ristorante Sapori in Royal Palm Place last year, but after operating it through the summer they decided that a complete overhaul was necessary. Their venture together needed to reflect them

Medi Terra embraces western Mediterranean cuisine with a menu that can be thoroughly enjoyed with a small plates experience or with individual entrées.

I usually opt for tapas to savor the most out of the chef’s creations and flavors he has curated for his menu.

Our tapas selections included the grilled za’atar pita ($14), truffle burrata ($16), croquetas de jamon y Manchego ($18) and pulpo a la gallego ($20). The menu is seasonal and revolves around what the Velicus can currently source, so make sure to wait for the specials before making any final decisions.

For example, the evening I visited they had a scallop tapas special. Perfectly cooked and seared, each piece was topped with a pesto cilantro sauce that I wish they bottled. If it’s featured when you visit, order it tout de suite. The toasty pita is served with simple, not overly seasoned, thick hummus that allows the freshly pureed chickpea flavor to stand out. There are two octopus dishes on the menu; if you like paprika, order the one we tried. Slightly crispy and very tender, it’s served with hummus and a side of crispy chickpeas. As we tasted our way through the tapas, I was happy to be enjoying dishes that embody the Mediterranean way of cooking—using simple, fresh ingredients and letting those flavors be the stars. Another example is the burrata. A soft exterior gives way to a creamy interior that oozes out and is met with a delightful sweet balsamic glaze. The croquetas hit the table next with a whimsical presentation. Gooey and not overly breaded or fried, the right balance of ham and cheese was

enhanced with a garlic aioli.

The Velicus use their specials as trial runs for possible new dishes, like the recently added paella Valenciana ($52), which was so well received by diners that it made it onto the menu full-time. The rice was expertly cooked, tender but not mushy, and the presentation with hearty portions of clams, calamari, shrimp, chorizo and chicken was on point. I personally would have liked the fish stock taste to be turned down and the flavor of the saffron turned up. It was a good portion for one person but also excellent to share with the table.

For dessert, classics like tiramisu and tartufo are on the menu, but there was also a ricotta pistachio torta, limoncello sorbet flute and the one we ordered: torta de la nonna ($12). The thin and not overly sweet slice of dense pastry cream topped with powdered sugar was both crunchy and soft. Daniel has perfected his housemade limoncello, a fresh, citrusy sip that’s a far cry from other sugar bombs I’ve tried, and I was happy to cap off the night with it.

Clockwise from bottom: Pulpo a la galena, grilled za’atar pita with hummus, and paella Valenciana

IF YOU GO

PARKING: Parking lot

HOURS: Mon.–Thurs., 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Fri. –Sat., 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Sun., 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.

PRICES: $10.50 - $42

WEBSITE:

lacondesamexican.com

Condesa

3320 Airport Road, Boca Raton; 561/931-4008

CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT

exico’s bold, colorful and lively culture is reflected in its cuisine, and it’s evident at La Condesa. What was once a dimly lit, stark Irish pub has been revamped into a contemporary, bright space with subtle Mexican details.

The outdoor patio, airy bar and spacious interior were all buzzing the mid-week evening I visited. It was thrilling to see our community embrace this family-owned business, which debuted its take on Mexican fare about a year ago.

Our first stop into our Mexican food journey were the margaritas. Tequila lovers will find an impressive variety for every palate. I started with the jalapeño margarita ($14.99). It brought the heat but didn’t linger, and finished with refreshing citrus notes, which I enjoyed. Non-tequila enthusiasts have plenty of options, including mojitos, beers, wines and other specialty tropical cocktails.

The menu is sizable, with a wide selection of popular dishes like nachos, street tacos and burritos. While a plethora of online reviews serve as testaments that diners

have enjoyed them, I wanted to try Mexican plates that perhaps haven’t made it mainstream yet. So, we traded taquitos and guacamole for goat cheese jalapeños ($12) and La Condesa tostadas ($12) and entrees like fajitas and quesadillas for the mole cazuelitas ($18.99). I did see that the guac is prepared tableside, allowing you to customize exactly what you want in it.

The moment we sat down, a basket of warm, crispy tortilla chips hit our table with a spicy salsa that enthusiastically sneaked up on our palate. The tostadas (two per order) are handmade corn tortillas with melted Oaxaca cheese that are then topped with tender steak, pico de gallo, avocado and lettuce. The meat was bursting with flavor, and the avocado gave the dish a creamy texture that complemented the tortilla’s crunchiness. The jalapeños, which were hollowed out and devoid of their spicy white seeds and ribs and then sauteed until blistered, were then stuffed with creamy goat cheese. The mellowed-out peppers still have a hint of spice, but the cheese, balsamic glaze and cilantro garlic salsa do

an excellent job of softening it.

Mole, considered Mexico’s national dish, is a type of sauce. However, depending on where you are or who you’re talking to, it can come in many variations. Mainly consisting of nuts, seeds, chili peppers, dried spices and even dried fruit, it is sold in massive mounds of grounded powder that can then be made into the thick sauce. It’s usually used to dress meats, and in the mole cazuelitas it’s generously poured all over chicken strips, giving the dish layered notes of smokiness, sweetness and a light spice.

We ended the meal on a sweet note with a typical Mexican dessert: the churro ($6.99). Warm and crispy, it was dusted with cinnamon and sugar and drizzled with honey and chocolate. Its name, which is a chic and stylish Mexico City neighborhood, also translates to “countess,” and La Condesa’s friendly staff definitely gives its patrons the royal treatment.

Condesa tostadas and pescado Baja

Executive Chef / Restauranteur Steven Botta has added the former Kathy’s Gazebo to his portfolio of high end restaurants. The 40 year tradition of excellence continues in a newly reimagined and newly renovated space.

The name and decor may have changed but the menu has all the old menu favorites with some exciting new ones which will delight the palate. From the moment you arrive you will quickly realize that you have entered a restaurant where old world service is still the norm rather than the exception.

A throwback to the days when where guests become family and a place to make new memories while reminiscing about past ones. Come join us and see what all the excitement is about. We look forward to seeing you. Yevette, Steven and Anthony.

Yevette, Steven and Anthony

FLORIDA TABLE Dining Guide

DINING KEY

$: Under $17

$$: $18–$35

$$$: $36–$50

$$$$: $50 and up

Palm Beach County BOCA RATON

Abe & Louie’s —2200 Glades Road. Steakhouse. All Americans are endowed with certain inalienable rights, among them the right to a thick, juicy, perfectly cooked steak. At this posh, comfortable (and expensive) meatery, the USDA Prime steaks are indeed thick, juicy and perfectly cooked, also massively flavorful and served in enormous portions. Don’t miss the New York sirloin or prime rib, paired in classic steakhouse fashion with buttery hash browns and ubercreamy creamed spinach. Chased with an ice-cold martini or glass of red wine from the truly impressive list, it’s happiness pursued and captured. • Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner nightly. Brunch on Sat. and Sun. 561/447-0024. $$$$

AlleyCat—409 S.E. Mizner Blvd. Japanese. Chef Eric Baker’s Japanese izakaya, or a casual spot for drinks and bites, is serving up dishes like sushi, dumplings and fried rice that have an unexpected whimsical element. Here you’ll find king crab tacos and hot fried chicken alongside the hamachi ponzu and spicy scallop roll. And to deliver the freshest sushi in town, he has partnered with celebrated sushi chef David Bouhadana of Sushi by Bou. • Dinner Tues.-Sat. 561/717-8415. $$

Arturo’s Ristorante —6750 N. Federal Highway. 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 the veal shank served on a bed of risotto. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/997-7373. $$$

Basilic Vietnamese Grill —200 S. Federal Highway. Vietnamese. This popular restaurant offers satisfying food and reasonable prices. Plus, there’s bubble tea. Opened in 2014, it has a wide range of Vietnamese favorites, such as cha gio tom heo, fried shrimp and pork Imperial rolls, all kinds of pho, noodle bowls, chicken curry and more. • Lunch and dinner six days a week; closed Tuesdays. 561/409-4964. $$

Bluefin Sushi and Thai—861 N.W. 51st St., Suite 1. Sushi/Thai. Arrive early for a table at this Asian hot spot—it’s popular with no reservations for parties fewer than six. Don’t skip the tempura lobster bomb, big in both size and taste. The ginger snapper will impress both Instagram and your stomach. Try the chicken satay and pad Thai. Bluefin offers a variety of dishes from multiple cultures, all well done. • Dinner daily. Lunch Mon.-Fri. 561/981-8986. $$

Burtons Grill & Bar —5580 N. Military Trail. New American. Known for its reliable food as well as its non-gluten, Paleo and “B Choosy” kids menu, the first Florida location for this restaurant is deservedly crowded, so make reservations. Don’t miss the General Tso’s cauliflower, the pan-seared salmon (Paleo), the crab cakes or the Key lime pie. Popular half-portions are available, too. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/465-2036. $

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 the pan-fried calamari to the restaurant’s signature spin on the Cobb salad (lunch only) 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 nightly. 561/368-1077. $$$

Casa D’Angelo —171 E. Palmetto Park Road. Italian. Chef Rickie Piper, who has mastered the menu and cuisine of this fine-dining staple for more than a decade, knows when to say when with both plating and ingredients. His dishes, including the sides and accompaniments, are visually appetizing and aromatic. A grilled veal chop easily 3 inches thick proved tender and juicy, and the wild mushrooms served alongside in a marsala added earthiness. • Dinner nightly. 561/996-1234. $$$

Casimir French Bistro—416 Via De Palmas, Suite 81. French. Take a trip overseas without leaving the city and enjoy excellently prepared traditional French dishes, such as duck l’orange or beef bourguignon, or go with Cajun chicken and veal Milanese. The comfortable dining room is a Parisian experience, as is the apple tarte tatin. This is a local favorite, and may we add they have what is as close to real French bread as anyplace in Boca? • Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. 561/955-6001. $$$

Chez Marie French Bistro —5030 Champion Blvd. French. Marie will greet you at the door of this nicely decorated, intimate, classic French restaurant tucked in the corner of a strip shopping area. This feels like an intimate neighborhood bistro and is a welcome discovery. From escargot encased in garlic butter, parsley and breadcrumbs to a tender duck a l’orange to an unforgettable crepe Suzette, you’ll be in Paris all evening. Voila! Also on the menu: pan-seared foie gras, tasty onion soup, coq au vin, rack of lamb, salads and more desserts. French food in an unassuming atmosphere.• Dinner Mon.-Sat. (closed on Mon. in summer) 561/997-0027. $$

AARON BRISTOL

Wagyu dumplings from AlleyCat

Chops Lobster Bar —101 Plaza Real S., Royal Palm Place. Steak, seafood. There is nothing like a classic chophouse every now and then for a special dinner. At this upscale downtown restaurant, 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 Nova Scotian tails flash-fried and served with drawn butter or sizable Maine specimens stuffed with lobster. Let’s face it: Trendy menus come and go, but a great steakhouse is a win-win on all occasions. • Dinner nightly. 561/395-2675. $$$$

Corvina Seafood Grill —110 Plaza Real S, Boca Raton. Seafood. The seafood-centric menu incorporates South Florida’s varied Latin and Caribbean culinary influences into it. Peruvian and Honduran ceviches share the menu with Brazilian fish stew. You’ll also find plantain crusted corvina in a Creole curry sauce alongside Jamaican jerk chicken and island spiced pork ribs. With a focus on sourcing local ingredients, the menu spotlights several daily specials so look out for those. Then there’s the indoor/outdoor bar that invites you to come in and stay a while, especially during its daily happy hour. • Dinner & Sunday Brunch. 561/206-0066. $$

Cuban Café —3350 N.W. Boca Raton Blvd., Suite B-30. Cuban. One thing Boca needs more of is coffee windows—and real Cuban restaurants. Part of the charm of South Florida is its melting pot of Latin cultures, and Cuba is the granddaddy of them all. Which is undoubtedly why diners pack this traditional Cuban restaurant for lunch specials that start at $10.95, including slow-roasted pork served with white rice and black beans. Other highlights include the Cuban sandwich, the media noche and (on the dinner menu only) lechón asado. Full bar. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/750-8860. $

Dorsia—5837 N. Federal Highway. Continental. The simple pleasures of the table—good food, personable service, comfortable ambience—are what this modestly stylish restaurant is all about. The menu has a strong Italian bent, evidenced by dishes like a trio of fried zucchini blossoms stuffed with an airy three-cheese mousse, and a cookbook-perfect rendition of veal scaloppine lavished with artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes and a tangy lemon-white wine sauce. • Dinner nightly. 561/961-4156. $$

Farmer’s Table —1901 N. Military Trail. American.

In the pantheon of healthy dining, Farmer’s Table is a standout in Boca, one of the first restaurants to elevate natural foods to fine dining. Fresh, natural, sustainable, organic and local is the mantra at this both tasty and health-conscious offering from Mitchell Robbins and Joey Giannuzzi. Menu highlights include flatbreads, slow-braised USDA Choice short rib and the popular Ramen Bowl, with veggies, ramen noodles and shrimp. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/417-5836. $$

Gary Rack’s Farmhouse Kitchen —399

S.E. Mizner Blvd. American. Natural, seasonal, sustainable. You’ll enjoy the varied menu, and won’t believe it’s made without butters or creams. Try the too-good-to-be-true buffalo-style cauliflower appetizer, the seared salmon or buffalo burger, and have apple skillet for dessert. Healthy never tasted so good. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/826-2625. $$

The French Gazebo —4199 N Federal Highway, Boca Raton. French. Formerly Kathy’s Gazebo, this space has been a staple in our community for 40 years, but its new owners updated the design while keeping the same French classics on the menu like escargots, crêpes, dover sole and duckling. Its vintage character still reigns but now with an airier, contemporary undertone. Dinner Mon.-Sat. 561/395-6033. • $$$

Everyday Favorites

For an affordable bite at any time, consider these durable chains and homegrown Boca favorites—where the attire is understated and reservations are rarely necessary.

Biergarten—309 Via De Palmas, #90. 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 the popular “Biergarten burger.” • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/395-7462. $$

Bonefish Grill—9598 Glades 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. Lunch on Saturdays. Brunch on Sundays. 561/483-4949. (Other Palm Beach County locations: 1880 N. Congress Ave., Boynton Beach, 561/732-1310; 9897 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth, 561/9652663; 11658 U.S. Highway 1, North Palm Beach, 561/799-2965) $$

The Cheesecake Factory—5530 Glades Road. American. Oh, the choices! The chain 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, 561/802-3838; Downtown at the Gardens, Palm Beach Gardens, 561/776-3711). $$

Nick’s New Haven-Style Pizzeria—2240 N.W. 19th St., Suite 904. 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 of 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. 561/3682900. $$

P.F. Chang’s—1400 Glades Road. Chinese. There may have been no revolution if Mao had simply eaten at the Boca outpost of 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) $$

The Sandwich Shop at Buccan—350 S. County Road, Palm Beach. Takeout stop. Like big sister Buccan Italian restaurant, the Sandwich Shop is full of flavor and builds your favorite sandwich with just a touch of delicious creativity you won’t find elsewhere. Owned by celeb chef Clay Conley and partners, the menu has hot or cold sandwiches, salads, sides and drinks (both alcoholic and non). Good-sized portions mean the Italian and prosciutto subs include leftovers if you have some willpower.• Lunch daily. 561/833-6295. $$

Shake Shack—1400 Glades Road. American. We’re not sure there is really any such thing as a bad burger joint and when you have a really good one—like Shake Shack— there’s a little piece of heaven just a short order away. Shake Shack in University Commons has great all-Angus burgers, non-GMO buns, and a frozen custard that makes grown men weep. Throw in some crinkle-cut fries and life is the way it should be. And the outdoor patio is a definite bonus in these times. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/932-0847. $

Steve’s Wood Fired Pizza—9180 Glades Road. Italian. With an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients and rigorous preparation—the hand-rolled dough rises for three days before use—this reliable purveyor offers varieties of ‘za that are both familiar and novel, from BBQ chicken and veggie primavera to Mom’s White Roasted Garlic and the Mupsa (mushroom, pepperoni and sausage) . • Lunch and dinner Tues.-Sat., dinner Sun. 561/483-5665. $$

Tap 42 —5050 Town Center Circle, Suite 247. Gastropub. This hugely popular nouveau-Industrial gastropub is not for the faint of eardrums when packed, but don’t let that discourage you. The kitchen here executes the hell out of a short, simple all-day menu. Grilled salmon chopped salad with tomatillo ranch dressing is delightful, as is guacamole studded with fat chunks of bacon and charred corn. Same goes for decadent shrimp mac-n-cheese. The wicked-good chocolate bread pudding with salted caramel sauce would be the envy of any Big Easy eatery. • Lunch Mon.-Fri. Brunch Sat.-Sun. Dinner nightly. 561/235-5819. $

Fries to Caviar —6299 N. Federal Highway. Contemporary American. Going one better than soup to nuts defines this Boca restaurant, an easygoing, affordable bistro that really does offer fries, caviar and more. Four varieties of fish eggs are

shown off nicely crowning a quartet of deviled eggs, while the thick-cut fries complement a massively flavorful, almost fork-tender hanger steak in the classic steak frites.Try the seasonal soups as well. • Dinner Tues.-Sun. 561/617-5965. $$

Fast Company

Fine dining has its time and place, but sometimes you want something easy, casual and equally as tempting. We’re spotlighting a few concepts that are bringing new and exciting dishes to our food scene.

Written by CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT

BIG IN JAPAN

Chef Eric Baker and partner David Bouhadana followed the success of AlleyCat with this handroll restaurant in the former Mr. Goode’s space, a takeout joint they started that never took off. Well, enter Japanese handrolls. The casual counter concept serves up a variety of mini rolls from spicy tuna to uni alongside warm plates like fried rice and ribs. Baker’s creativity comes through in dishes like the Wagyu beef tartare with Asian pear, hot fried chicken in a honey miso, and barbecue eel and foie gras, as examples. The space is perfect for hungry diners who are looking for fresh, fast fare they can either enjoy on a lunchtime crunch or savor over sake in the evening.

1159 S. FEDERAL HIGHWAY, BOCA RATON; 561/931-2131

BUCCAN SANDWICH SHOP

Sandwiches really can be eaten for any meal, and Chef Clay Conley’s gourmet sandwiches will keep you coming back for more handheld goodness. The shop, which has outposts in Palm Beach and West Palm Beach, offers madeto-order hot and cold sandwiches and salads alongside housemade chips, cookies and drinks like a classic margarita, cold-brew coffee and ginger lemonade. The menu features selections for all cravings, from NY strip, ham and corned beef to a vegan sweet potato wrap and smoked yellowfin tuna. The walk-up shops are adjacent to Conley’s two restaurants, Buccan and Grato, and offer catering for larger parties.

1901

MISTER 01 EXTRAORDINARY PIZZA

Hailing from Italy, chef Renato Viola achieved the American dream when he moved to South Florida under an 01 Visa and launched his Extraordinary Pizza empire. Debuting in Miami, the shops have been popping up all over and have now landed in Boca, right across from Mizner Park. Visually his pizza is intriguing—a pie that’s not round but star-shaped, each point stuffed with creamy ricotta. The thin crust is soft and airy, allowing you to eat more enticing slices without feeling overly full. And with

topping combinations like bacon, onions and ranch dressing or Spanish chorizo, avocado and jalapeño sauce or gorgonzola, honey and coffee—you’ll be tempted to try them all.

THE O.G.

After a massive seven-figure renovation, the ultra-cool hangout debuted a reimagined outdoor bar, covered patio, vivid murals and a taco-inspired menu that also includes other handhelds like the Thai basil chicken sandwich, wings, smash burger and churros. Come for the laidback vibe and stay for the cocktails and bites. 166 S.E. SECOND AVE., DELRAY BEACH; 561/865-5639

350 S. COUNTY ROAD, PALM BEACH; 561/833-3450

S. DIXIE HIGHWAY, WEST PALM BEACH; 561/404-1334

555 N. FEDERAL HIGHWAY, SUITE 5, BOCA RATON; 786/677-2903

Roll from Big in Japan

Steak bomb from Buccan Sandwich Shop

ANTHONY NADER

Mister 01 Extraordinary Pizza

The O.G.

The Grille On Congress —5101 Congress

Ave. American. Dishes at this longtime favorite range from tasty chicken entrees and main-plate salads to seafood options like Asian-glazed salmon or pan-seared yellowtail snapper. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/912-9800. $$

Houston’s —1900 N.W. Executive Center Circle. Contemporary American. Convenient location, stylish ambience and impeccable service are hallmarks of this local outpost of the Hillstone restaurant chain. There are plenty of reasons why this is one of the most popular business lunch spots in all of Boca, including menu items like Cajun trout, the mammoth salad offerings and the tasty baby back ribs. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/998-0550. $$$

Il Mulino New York Boca Raton —451

E. Palmetto Park Road. Italian. From the four pre-menu bites to the after-dinner coffee from freshly ground beans, this is a white-tablecloth venue that delivers on its upscale promises. Try the langostino, the red snapper, the risotto, the pasta, or go for the ceviches, caviars and seafood tower. Save room for dessert and complimentary lemoncello. Make a night of it. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/338-8606. $$$

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

Kapow Noodle Bar —402 Plaza Real. Asian. Kapow delivers an effervescent ambiance that makes you want to relax and stay a while. Its varied menu has something for every craving, from crispy rice and tacos to rolls and even Peking duck. Up your dinner game by reserving a seat at the separate omakase bar serving chef-curated bites that aren’t on the regular menu. And if you’re looking for a memorable night out, book one of the three karaoke rooms.• Lunch and dinner daily. 561/567-8828. $

Ke’e Grill —17940 N. Military Trail, Suite 700. Traditional American. In this busy dining scene for more than 30 years, you will find a lot of seafood (fried calamari, blue crab cakes, yellowtail snapper Francaise and lots more), a few steak, chicken, lamb and pork options, and a quality house-made apple crisp. Your traditional choices are baked, fried, breaded, grilled, broiled, sauteed. With Provencal, Francaise, maple mustard glaze, toasted macadamia nut pesto and piccata twists. A consistent crowd for a consistent menu. • Dinner nightly. 561/995-5044. $$$

Kousine Peruvian Asian —1668 N. Federal Highway. Peruvian/Asian. Chef and owner Danny Kou shares his Peruvian heritage with a curated menu of dishes that accurately represent his country’s famous ceviche while introducing patrons to unique dishes that are just as tempting. Kousine’s space is bright and modern, with exposed industrial ceilings complemented with warm woods and greenery. Lunch and dinner daily. 561/430-3337. $$

La Nouvelle Maison —455 E. Palmetto Park Blvd. French. Elegant, sophisticated French cuisine, white-glove service and a trio of stylish dining rooms make Arturo Gismondi’s homage to Boca’s storied La Vieille Maison the home away from home to anyone who appreciates the finer points of elegant dining. The cuisine showcases both first-rate ingredients and precise execution, whether a generous slab of silken foie gras with plum gastrique, posh lobster salad, cookbook-perfect rendition of steak frites and an assortment of desserts that range from homey apple tart to bananas Foster with chocolate and Grand Marnier. • Dinner nightly. 561/338-3003. $$$

Buzz Bite I

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo with Tequila & Mezcal

The Mexican holiday (which is not its Independence Day; that’s September 16) has evolved in the States into a massive celebration of Mexican culture and food.

Cinco de Mayo is a holiday south of the border that commemorates the army’s victory over France in the Franco-Mexican War in 1862. These days, Mexico’s kaleidoscope of colors and flavors inspires festivities around town. And what pairs best with a party? Mexico’s celebrated spirits: tequila and mezcal. While some may have uncomfortable memories of tequila hangovers, the intricate process to make it might make you think twice about just shooting it next time. The spirit, which has been around in some form for centuries, started out as a fermented drink the Aztecs called pulque. To be called tequila it must be made in Jalisco and with at least 51 percent Weber Azul agave; most high-end tequilas are made with 100 percent. Mezcal, on the other hand, can be made from any type of agave. Basically, all tequila is mezcal, but not all mezcal is tequila. For tequila, the plants are harvested by hand only when they’re between five and seven years old and then cooked in brick ovens for several days to extract the sugar and juice before fermentation, distillation and aging. Mezcal is also hand-harvested but then cooked in the ground, giving it its smoky flavor. It’s the same artisanal process that’s been used for centuries. Each distillery tweaks the process, but be weary of additives like color enhancers and sugar. Check out tequilamatchmaker.com to put your favorite tequila to the test, and then enjoy sipping on it this Cinco de Mayo.

—Christie Galeano-DeMott

tually scream “creativity” can’t compare to the quiet pleasures served here—like cool, soothing vichyssoise, delicate fillet of sole with nutty brown butter sauce or perfectly executed crème brûlee. Good food presented without artifice at a fair price never goes out of fashion. • Dinner nightly. 561/620-0033. $$

Loch Bar —346 Plaza Real. Seafood. This sister restaurant to Ouzo Bay includes fried oysters, moules frites and Maryland crab cakes. The bar offers literally hundreds of whiskeys, a noisy happy hour crowd and live music most nights. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/939-6600. $$

Louie Bossi’s —100 E. Palmetto Park Road. Italian. This jumping joint serves terrific Neapolitan pizza (thin crust), but don’t miss the other entrées. Start with a charcuterie/cheese plate and grab the amazing breadsticks. All breads and pastas are made on the premises. Other faves include the carbonara and the calamari, and save room for house-made gelato. Unusual features: Try the bocce ball court included with the retro Italian décor. • Lunch and dinner daily, weekend brunch. 561/336-6699. $$$

Luff’s Fish House —390 E. Palmetto Park Road. Seafood. A renovated 1920s bungalow houses this shipshape restaurant, in addition to two large, outdoor deck and patio areas. It’s known for familiar dish names with new tweaks: smoked fish-hummus dip, falafel fish fritters, crab guacamole, mussels in coconut curry broth, plus the paella on Sundays only. Don’t leave without the enormous slice of the Key lime pie, topped with meringue on a graham cracker crust. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/609-2660. $$

Maggiano’s —21090 St. Andrews Blvd. Italian. 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, a salad, two pastas, two entrées and two desserts. The menu also includes lighter takes on staples like chicken parm, fettuccine alfredo and chicken piccata. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/361-8244. $$

Mario’s Osteria —1400 Glades Road, Suite 210. Italian. This popular spot features rustic Italian fare in a sleek environment. Signature dishes like the garlic rolls, lasagna and eggplant “pancakes” are on the new menu, as are butternut squash ravioli and thick, juicy rib-eye served “arrabiata” style. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/239-7000. $$

Matteo’s —233 S. Federal Highway, Suite 108. 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 nightly. 561/392-0773. $$

La Villetta —4351 N. Federal Highway. Italian. This is a well-edited version of a traditional Italian menu, complete with homemade pastas and other classic dishes. Try the signature whole yellowtail snapper encrusted in sea salt; it’s de-boned right at tableside. Shrimp diavolo is perfectly scrumptious. • Dinner nightly. (closed Mon. during summer). 561/362-8403. $$$

Le Rivage —450 N.E. 20th St., Suite 103. French. Don’t overlook this small, unassuming bastion of traditional French cookery. That would be a mistake, because the dishes that vir-

Max’s Grille —404 Plaza Real. Contemporary American. After 24 years in Mizner Park, This modern American bistro is a true local classic. The food and decor are both timeless and up to date, and the ambience is that of a smooth-running big-city bistro. Service is personable and proficient. The menu is composed of dishes you really want to eat, from the applewood bacon-wrapped meatloaf to the wickedly indulgent crème brûlèe pie. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Brunch Sat–Sun. Dinner nightly. 561/368-0080. $$

Morton’s The Steakhouse—5050 Town Center Circle, Suite 219. Steakhouse. 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. While the star of the beef show is the giant bone-in filet mignon, seasonally featured is the American Wagyu New York strip. Finish off your meal with one of the decadent desserts.• Dinner nightly. 561/392-7724. $$$$

New York Prime —2350 N.W. Executive Center Drive. Steakhouse. This wildly popular Boca meatery Monday, Monday 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 rib-eye 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 nightly. 561/998-3881. $$$$

Patio Tapas & Beer —205 S.E. First Ave. Spanish. Be transported to the Iberian Peninsula with a variety of tapas. Chef Bryant Fajardo, who trained under celebrated chef José Andrés, specializes in one of Spain’s most traditional and iconic cuisines and delivers both classic selections like Manchego cheese and anchovies alongside premium nibbles like seared duck and foie gras. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/419-7239. $

Prezzo —5560 N. Military Trail. Italian. A reincarnation of a popular 1990s Boca venue, this version has updated the dining room, kept the yummy oven-baked focaccia bread slices, and added a 21st-century taste to the menu. Don’t miss the tender bone-in pork chop, thin-crust pizza and seafood specials. Vegetarian and gluten-free choices are on the menu, too. • Lunch Mon.-Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/314-6840. $$

Rafina —6877 S.W. 18th St. Greek. If you find the ambience of most Greek restaurants to be like a frat party with flaming cheese and ouzo, this contemporary, casually elegant spot will be welcome relief. Food and decor favor refinement over rusticity, even in such hearty and ubiquitous dishes as pastitsio and spanakopita. Standout dishes include the moussaka, the creamy and mildly citrusy avgolemono soup and the precisely grilled, simply adorned (with olive oil, lemon and capers) branzino. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/409-3673. $$

Ruth’s Chris—225 N.E. Mizner Blvd., Suite 100. Steakhouse. Not only does this steakhouse favorite emphasize its New Orleans roots, it also distinguishes itself from its competitors by just serving better food. The signature chopped salad has a list of ingredients as long as a hose but they all work together. And how can you not like a salad topped with crispy fried onion strings? Steaks are USDA Prime and immensely flavorful, like a perfectly seared New York strip. The white chocolate bread pudding is simply wicked. • Dinner nightly. 561/392-6746. (Other Palm Beach County locations: 651 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach, 561/514-3544; 661 U.S. Highway 1, North Palm Beach, 561/863-0660.) $$$$

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 Wilson Road, Palm Beach Gardens, 561/625-5852.) $$

SeaSpray Inlet Grill—999 E. Camino Real. American. Unobstructed views of Lake Boca Raton, soaring palm trees and coastal décor peppered with fringed umbrellas all set the mood for a relaxing experience that will make you feel as if you’re on vacation. The menu accommodates different dietary preferences with gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options. Don’t sleep on the pear tortellini pasta starter; it’s a star item. Portions are hearty and can be easily shared. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/226-3022. $$

Six Tables a Restaurant—112 N.E. Second St., Boca Raton. American. The dimly lit chandeliers, burgundy velvet curtains and smooth Sinatra lyrics set the mood for a memorable evening that’s dedicated to fine dining without pretention. With

a seasonal menu that’s ever changing, you can rest assured that whatever husband and wife chef-proprietors Tom and Jenny Finn prepare for you, it will truly be special and made with love. • Dinner Thurs.-Sat. 561/347-6260. $$$$

Sushi Ray —5250 Town Center Circle, Suite 111. 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 $22. • Lunch Mon.–Fri., dinner nightly. 561/394-9506. $$

Taverna Kyma —6298 N. Federal Highway. Greek/ Mediterranean. Hankering for a traditional Greek meal, and a menu that offers just about everything? This is where you want to try the meze plates (cold, hot, seafood, veggie), saganaki, grilled entrees and kebobs. From the taramosalata to the branzino and pastitsio, servings are generous and good. Don’t forget dessert. • Lunch Mon.-Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/994-2828. $$

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 service is at a level not always seen in local restaurants. Pay attention to the daily specials, especially if they include impeccably done langostini oreganata and the restaurant’s signature jumbo shrimp saltimbocca. • Dinner nightly. 561/393-6715. $$$

Twenty Twenty Grille —141 Via Naranjas, Suite 45. Contemporary American. You’ve probably licked postage stamps that are larger than Ron and Rhonda Weisheit’s tiny jewel box of a restaurant, but what it lacks in space it more than makes up for in charm, sophistication and imaginative, expertly crafted food. Virtually everything is made in-house, from the trio of breads that first grace your table to the pasta in a suave dish of tagliatelle with duck and chicken confit. Don’t miss the jerk pork belly and grilled veal strip loin. • Dinner nightly. 561/990-7969. $$$

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 people-watching 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 plus bottles (all available by the glass) offers a multitude of choices, especially among Italian and California reds. The menu of “Italian tapas” includes roasted red peppers with Provolone, as well as ricotta gnocchi with San Marzano tomatoes. • Dinner Tues.–Sat. 561/869-0030. $$

Warike Peruvian Bistro —2399 N. Federal Highway. Peruvian . Classic dishes, such as aji de gallina, and classic drinks—Warike Sour—make this small restaurant a place to remember. Modern, clean décor and a menu that includes well-prepared seafood, meat or vegetarian meals means it’s a busy venue, so reservations are recommended. • Lunch and dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/465-5922. $$

Yakitori —271 S.E. Mizner Blvd. Asian. This Japanese restaurant that has sat for nearly a decade in Royal Palm Place is still welcoming devoted diners and delivering consistent, premium dishes. Sip on one of its refreshing cocktails like the lychee martini or green tea mojito before perusing the vast menu that offers everything from sushi and sashimi to fried rice, ramen and entrées from the robata grill. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/544-0087. $$

Lamb chops from Rafina

AARON BRISTOL

As a top-tier Agent with expertise honed over 30 years, Geri Penniman is ranked nationally among the top 1% of real estate professionals. She is highly respected for her inside knowledge of some of Boca Raton’s most exclusive enclaves, including Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club.

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Did You Know?

Oli’s Fashion Cuisine takes its name, in part, from accountant Charles Oliver Wellington, who purchased 18,000 acres in what is now Wellington, to give the village its name. The first Oli’s opened—in Wellington, naturally—in 2010.

WEST BOCA

Boon’s Asian Bistro —19605 N. State Road 7. Japanese/Thai. This is one of two Boon’s (the other is in Delray Beach), and it’s where the rush to eat excellent sushi started. The fast-moving staff is choreographed to deliver dishes such as shrimp pad Thai that’s light, delicate and happily filled with shrimp. The Thai fried rice is unusually delicate too, with lots of egg, and is some of the best around. The sushi rolls are as fresh and inventive (try the Daimyo roll) as they are beautifully presented. Go early or call for a reservation. • Lunch Mon.-Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/883-0202. $$

Chloe’s Bistro —6885 S.W. 18th St. Italian. One of the few venues that’s on the water, with food to match the view. Try the seafood linguine, the large snapper filets in Marechiara sauce, and the desserts to end on a sweet note. House-made pasta and a good wine list ensure a pleasant, satisfying meal. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/334-2088. $$

City Fish Market —7940 Glades Road. 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 nightly. 561/487-1600. $$

Ditmas Kitchen —21077 Powerline Road. Contemporary kosher. This west Boca restaurant is named after a Brooklyn avenue in a district known for its food. Here you’ll find very good casual food, and no dairy products are used. Try the Hibachi salmon, all-kale Caesar salad, the shnitzel sandwich. • Dinner Sun.-Thurs. 561/826-8875. $$$

DVASH —8208 Glades Road. Mediterranean. The menu, a collection of Mediterranean fusion dishes with a variety of daily specials, caters to an array of diets, including vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free. The Cohen family, who previously owned Falafel Bistro & Wine Bar in Coral Springs for more than a decade, now welcomes diners to this West Boca restaurant that’s tucked away in the Publix Greenwise strip mall. • Lunch and dinner Tues.-Sun. 561/826-7784. $$

Oli’s Fashion Cuisine —6897 S.W. 18th St. Modern American. With the unusual name comes a menu sporting lobster risotto to tuna tacos, grilled mahi and more. There are Italian, vegetarian, steak, flatbreads, salads and desserts, all pleasing to the eye and palate. Inside is a bit noisy, so try the outdoor, lakeside patio for a quieter meal. • Lunch and dinner daily, breakfast weekends. 561/571-6920. $$

Oliv Pit Athenian Grille —6006 S.W. 18th St. Modern Greek. The owners’ goal of bringing together the best of Greek cooking under one roof, much like the melting pot that is Athens, is covered here in an extensive menu. The best way to enjoy the food is to share it: the Pikilia trio with tzatziki, spicy feta and eggplant spread is a starting place. Try the mix grill platter and the hearty red Greek wine. End the night with a unique, velvety frappe cappuccino. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/409-2049. $$

Skyfin Asian Bistro —8221 Glades Road. Asian. After nearly a decade of dishing out elevated Beijing cuisine at MR CHOW inside the posh W South Beach, chef Aden Lee left his sous chef position to venture out on his own. Here, you’ll find both playfully named sushi rolls and fresh sashimi alongside protein-rich house specials, fried rice and noodles. Don’t miss the Toro Roll and Tangerine Peel Beef. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/556-1688. $$

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 nightly. 561/470-0112. $$

BOYNTON BEACH

Driftwood —2005 S. Federal Highway. Modern American. Take food combos that sound unusual (popcorn sauce, avocado chocolate ice cream) but that taste wonderful and you’ve got Chef Jimmy Everett’s ideas on the table. They don’t last long, because they taste terrific. Try the smoked swordfish, the lobster with pickled okra, ricotta dumplings, the burger with gouda, the grilled octopus and pastrami’d chicken breast with roasted cabbage. • Brunch Sun. Dinner Tues.-Sun. 561/733-4782. $$

Josie’s Italian Ristorante—1602 S. Federal Highway. Italian. Famed chef and South Florida culinary godfather Mark Militello is back at Josie’s after a brief stint at Boca’s Prezzo, and his magic in the kitchen of this cozy, old-school Italian restaurant is duly noted. His influence is evident in the daily specials, but old favorites like beefy short rib meatballs, an upmarket version of the classic San Francisco cioppino, and Josie’s signature veal Bersaglieri (veal medallions with artichokes, olives and roasted peppers in lemon-white wine sauce) don’t fail to satisfy either. • Lunch Mon.-Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/364-9601. $$

Prime Catch —700 E. Woolbright Road. Seafood. Waterfront restaurants are few and far between in our neck of the woods, and those with good food are even more rare. Prime Catch, at the foot of the Woolbright bridge on the Intracoastal, is a best-kept secret. The simple pleasures here soar—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. $$

Sushi Simon 1628 S. Federal Highway. Japanese

It’s been called “Nobu North” by some aficionados, and for good reason. 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. $$

DELRAY BEACH

3rd and 3rd —301 N.E. Third Ave. Gastropub. This 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, stunning delicious roasted cauliflower with Parmesan mousse and bacon, and wicked-good espresso panna cotta on it at your visit. • Dinner Mon.-Sat. 561/303-1939. $$

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 rock shrimp pot pie and baked grouper topped with blue crab. The cinnamon-dusted beignets are puffs of amazingly delicate deep-fried air and should not under any circumstances be missed. • Lunch Mon.-Sat. Dinner nightly. Brunch Sun. 561/278-3364. $$

800 Palm Trail Grill —800 Palm Trail. American This contemporary space is serving up American fare and classic cocktails. The menu has a steak-and-seafood-house feel to it but without any stuffiness. Instead, you’ll find dishes that entice

Tony fries from Ditmas Kitchen

AARON BRISTOL

the palate, like the loaded baked potato eggrolls and Wagyu boneless short rib. • Lunch and dinner daily, with patio dining. 561/865-5235. $$

Akira Back, 233 NE 2nd Ave., Delray Beach. Japanese

Chef Akira Back’s Seoul restaurant earned a Michelin star a few years ago and now he’s showcasing his talented take on Japanese cuisine at his namesake restaurant inside The Ray hotel. Born in Korea and raised in Colorado, Back blends his heritage with Japanese flavors and techniques he has mastered to deliver dishes that are unique to him. With plates made to be shared, the menu is divided into cold and hot starters followed by rolls, nigiri/sashimi, robata grill, mains and fried rice. Dinner. 561/739-1708. $$$$

Amar Mediterranean Bistro —522 E. Atlantic Ave. Lebanese. From the moment you step inside, there’s a familial feeling, a hidden gem that everyone is drawn to. Amar is a quaint bistro amidst the buzzy Atlantic Avenue that serves Lebanese food. But this isn’t your typical hummus and pita joint. Here, the proprietor’s family recipes take center stage alongside Mediterranean favorites that have been elevated with slight tweaks. • Dinner nightly. 561/865-5653. $$

Angelo Elia Pizza • Bar • Tapas — 16950 Jog Road. Italian. Nothing on the menu of Angelo Elia’s modern, small plates-oriented osteria disappoints, but particularly notable are the meaty fried baby artichokes stuffed with breadcrumbs and speck, delicate chicken-turkey meatballs in Parmesan-enhanced broth, and Cremona pizza with a sweet-salty-earthy-pungent mélange of pears, pancetta, Gorgonzola, sun-dried figs and mozzarella. • Lunch Tues.-Sun. Dinner nightly. 561/381-0037. $

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 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. $$

Avalon Steak and Seafood—110 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood/Steakhouse. The enticing reasons we all go to a steakhouse are present here—boozy cocktails, a diverse wine list, dry aged steaks, prime cuts, rich accompaniments, decadent sides and indulgent desserts. The menu is then enhanced with a selection of seafood like a raw bar medley of oysters, shrimp and crab alongside the customary octopus, fish, scallops and lobster. Don’t miss Avalon’s signature dish, the Angry Lobster, and for an unusual surprise check out the kimchi fried rice. • Dinner nightly. 561/593-2500. $$$$

Bamboo Fire Cafe—149 N.E. Fourth Ave. Caribbean. The Jacobs family joyously shares its Latin and Caribbean culture through food that’s bursting with bright island aromas and flavors. Tostones, plantain fries and jerk meatballs share the menu with curry pork, oxtail and conch. • Dinner Wed.-Sun. 561/749-0973. $

Bar 25 Gastropub —25 S.E. Sixth Ave., Delray Beach. American. Taking inspiration from the Northeast, the menu boasts staples like Philly cheesesteak, Rhode Island clams, pierogis, Old Bay fries and plenty of mootz (aka mozzarella). Loyal to its gastropub DNA, dishes here aren’t complicated or complex but satisfying, interesting takes on the familiar without being boring. • Lunch and dinner daily, weekend brunch. 561/359-2643. $

Buzz Bite II

International Martini Day

International Martini Day on June

19 celebrates the cocktail in all its forms. The martini is said to have been created in the U.S. in the late 1800s when vermouth, a fortified French wine, hit the scene as a cocktail mixer.

The classic is made with gin (not vodka) and a hint of dry vermouth, stirred quickly through ice, poured into a chilled glass, and garnished with a lemon twist or olives. Other iterations include the popular vodka martini; the dirty martini with its cloudy olive brine; and the Gibson, or classic martini, garnished only with a cocktail onion. For those with a sweeter palate, of course, there are also the fruitier versions like the cosmopolitan, lycheetini, cucumber martini and appletini.

—Christie Galeano-DeMott

Carnivores Who Care

Delray-based Red Meat Lovers Club supports local charities

Written by CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT

While the scent of sizzling steaks lures hungry members in, it’s the sense of camaraderie and philanthropy that has made the Red Meat Lovers Club a standout. Meals really do bring us together.

“It’s the greatest business networking club,” says founder Evan Darnell.“And the way that we do it is through eating, philanthropy and coming together to be united in causes.”

Darnell created the club for red meat enthusiasts like himself while attending Tulane decades ago. During his successful 20-year stint in Manhattan’s hospitality industry, which included a partnership with“Top Chef”celebrity chef Carla Hall, he paused the club until he moved to Delray Beach six years ago. Darnell looked to transform his collegiate red meat brotherhood into a professional and inclusive network when he restarted the club within weeks of his move in 2017. The first 14-person dinner has organically grown into a nationwide membership of 5,000 meat lovers.

“I truly believe it’s better to do business with people you like. It just feels better,” he says.“The business networking that has come out of our club is incredible.”

The following year, the club began raising money for local charities, and to date it has raised more than $1 million for community causes. Darnell partners with businesses that support the club through corporate sponsorships and defers to them to handpick the event’s beneficiary. It raises proceeds through live and silent auctions and raffles. Events are hosted mainly throughout Palm Beach County at unique venues from car showrooms to boxing clubs.

To date, there isn’t a membership fee for the club, except for ticket purchases made for the monthly dinners or events. Plus, members are invited to monthly “meats” at sponsors’ complimentary lunches. Darnell also hosted his fifth kosher dinner earlier this year and hopes to organize a few more in the coming months.

The club has grown into a nationwide organization in part due to its partnership with cigar brands like Montecristo and cigar shops. The Red Meat Lovers Club even has its own line of cigars, which will be available nationwide later this year. Darnell and several of his South Florida-based members organize and host about eight out-of-state events, each benefiting a charity working within that specific community. Past cities include New Orleans, Austin and Paramus.

For Darnell, affectionately known as the “secretary of steak,” his hope is for his son, Tyler, to take over the club one day. For now, the sixth-grader is his father’s muse and the club’s “commander-in-beef.”At home the family enjoys cooking rib-eyes on the cast-iron pan Darnell has had for 20 years.

“I’m a salt, pepper guy. I keep it simple. But I am a fan of spending money on butter, and Maldon sea salt goes on everything.”

For more information and upcoming events visit rmlc.com, or join its private group on Facebook.

Evan Darnell

Selections for a Red Meat Lovers Club “meat”-ing

Beg for More Izakaya—19 S.E. Fifth Ave. Japanese

Small Plates. The large sake, whisky and beer menu here pairs beautifully with the small plates full of everything except sushi. No sushi. And that’s fine. Try the takoyaki (octopus balls), the crispy salmon tacos and anything with the addictive kimchi, such as the kimchi fried rice. There are pasta, teriyaki and simmered duck with bok choy dishes—or 16 varieties of yakitori (food on skewers). You’ll be back to beg for more. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/563-8849. $$

Brulé Bistro —200 N.E. Second Ave. Contemporary American. The regular menu of this Pineapple Grove favorite always has satisfying dishes. Its specialties include crab tortellini with black truffles, chicken meatballs with coconut broth and cashews, plus signature dessert pistachio crème brùlée. Spirits and house cocktails steeped in speakeast style are paired with an ever-changing menu. Outside tables offer the best option for conversation. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/274-2046. $$

Burt & Max’s —9089 W. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. This bastion of contemporary comfort food in west Delray is approaching local landmark status, forging its own menu while borrowing a few dishes from Max’s Grille, like the hearty chopped salad and bacon-wrapped meatloaf. Other dishes are variations on the comfort food theme, including a stellar truffle-scented wild mushroom pizza. • Dinner nightly. Sunday brunch. 561/638-6380. $$

Cabana El Rey —105 E. Atlantic Ave. Cuban tropical. Little Havana is alive and well in Delray. The menu is a palette-pleasing travelogue, including starters like mariquitas (fried

banana chips) and main courses such as seafood paella (think mussels, shrimp, clams, conch, scallops and octopus). • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/274-9090. $$

Caffe Luna Rosa—34 S. Ocean Blvd. Italian. This multiple Delray Beach-award winning restaurant has sparkling service, comfort food taken to a higher level, and a setting just steps from the Atlantic. A success from day one, they dish up big flavors in a tiny space, so call for reservations. Try the calamari fritto misto, then the rigatoni pomodoro and leave room for dessert. Or come back for breakfast. • Open daily from breakfast through dinner. 561/274-9404. $$

Casa L’Acqua Ristorante Italiano —9 S.E. Seventh Ave. Italian. Casa L’Acqua is touted as a fine-dining establishment, and correctly so; diners can expect white tablecloths, tuxedoed staff and attentive service. The wine list is Italian-focused but does offer a variety of bottles from around the world, and each dish is expertly prepared with sizable portions. The main dining room, with its vibey bar and wine cellar, is cozy, and so is its fully enclosed patio in the back. • Dinner nightly. 561/563-7492. $$

City Oyster —213 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood. This stylish mainstay of Big Time Restaurant Group serves up reasonably priced seafood that never disappoints, such as shrimp and grits with a jumbo crab cake. This is the place to see and be seen in Delray, and the food lives up to its profile. • Lunch Mon.–Sun. Dinner nightly. Outdoor dining. 561/272-0220. $$

Coco Sushi Lounge & Bar —25 N.E. Second Ave. Asian. Local hospitality veterans Tina Wang and chef Jason

Zheng continue to grow their restaurant empire with this concept. The extensive menu caters to any palate, dietary restriction or craving and features both traditional and creative dishes. Soups and salads lead into sushi selections and appetizers divided into cool and hot. Cooked and raw rolls are followed by rice, noodle, land and sea entrée options. • Dinner Mon.-Sat. Sunday brunch. 561/908-2557. $$

Costa By OK&M —502 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. Costa takes chef/owner Coton Stine’s dedication to farm-to-table fare to an elevated level with its seasonal menu. Working closely with local farms and vendors, Stine curates deliciously healthy dishes that tempt your palate while fueling your body. For those with dietary restrictions, the dishes are clearly labeled gluten-free or vegan, which adds a sense of ease to the experience. The corner space is comfortable and embraces natural elements with its wicker chairs, lanterns, greenery and expansive sliding doors. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/501-6115. • $$

Cut 432 —432 E. Atlantic Ave. Steakhouse. 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 Rockefeller are first-rate, while the wet-aged beef is appropriately tender and tasty. • Dinner nightly. 561/272-9898. $$$

Dada—52 N. Swinton Ave. Contemporary American. The same provocative, whimsical creativity that spawned Dada the art movement infuses Dada the restaurant, giving it a quirky charm all its own. The comfort food with a moustache menu has its quirky charms,

Latitude Adjustment

At Latitudes, diners can choose between no less than five distinct dining spaces— from the outdoor terrace to the Chef’s Seafood Bar to the Wave Pool Bar.

too, like shake-n-bake pork chops with sweet-savory butterscotch onions, and a brownie-vanilla ice cream sundae with strips of five-spice powdered bacon. The wittily decorated 1920s-vintage house-turned-restaurant is, as they say, a trip. • Dinner nightly. 561/330-3232. $$

Deck 84 —840 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary 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 stellar flatbreads, the thick and juicy 10-ounce special blend burger or homey seasonal cobbler. And the waterfront location just seems to make everything taste better. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Brunch Sat.–Sun. Dinner nightly. 561/665-8484. $

Eathai —1832 S. Federal Highway. Thai. If you’re craving approachable and affordable Thai food, put Eathai at the top of your list. While you can expect to find curries, noodles, soups and fried rice on the menu, the dishes here aren’t the typical ones you’ll find around town. Indulge in the Thai Chicken French Toasted or Crispy Duck Breast with Lychee Curry Sauce or Oxtail Basil Fried Rice to savor the true talent of owner and chef Sopanut Sopochana. • Lunch and dinner daily, except Tuesday. 561/270-3156. $

El Camino —15 N.E. Second Ave. Mexican. This sexy, bustling downtown spot is from the trio behind nearby Cut 432 and Park Tavern. Fresh, quality ingredients go into everything from the tangy tomatillo salsas to the world-class fish tacos clad in delicate fried skin, set off by tart pineapple salsa. Cinnamon and sugar-dusted churros are the perfect dessert. And check out the margaritas, especially the smoky blend of mezcal and blanco tequila. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/865-5350. $$

Elisabetta’s —32 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. An ornate Italian spot, with classically prepared dishes including spiedini shrimp, burrata de prosciutto bruschetta, costoletta di vitello (veal), a guanciale pizza, cacio e pepe pasta, malfadine Amatriciana and gemelli puttanesca. Portions are large and that, thankfully, goes for the homemade gelati, too. The best seating outdoors is the second-floor balcony overlooking Atlantic Avenue. • Lunch and dinner daily; weekend brunch. 561/650-6699. $$

Ember Grill —233 N.E. Second Ave. Contemporary American. The Ray Hotel’s modern bistro is helmed by Joe Zanelli, who has created a variety of globally inspired dishes. Seafood, steaks and house specialties like the duck pancakes share the menu with delectable desserts like the baked Alaska ablaze on your table or the refreshing frozen pineapple. • Dinner nightly. 561/739-1705. $$

The Grove—187 N.E. Second Ave. Contemporary American. The Grove, which has been tucked inside the tranquil Pineapple Grove district for nearly a decade, continues to surprise diners with its vibrant dishes. The upscale but casually comfortable nook has an international wine list that spans the globe and a seasonal menu that’s succinct and well thought out. • Dinner Tues.Sat. 561/266-3750. $$

Henry’s —16850 Jog Road. American. This casual, unpretentious restaurant 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. $$

Il Girasole —2275 S. Federal Highway. Northern Italian. If you want Northern Italian in a low-key atmosphere,

and nobody rushing you out the door, this is your spot. Start with something from the very good wine list. Try the yellowtail snapper, the penne Caprese and the capellini Gamberi, and leave room for the desserts. Reservations recommended. • Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/272-3566. $$

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. This is is a bona fide local go-to spot that never disappoints. • Lunch and dinner Tues.–Sat. 561/272-3390. $$

Jimmy’s Bistro —9 S. Swinton Ave. Contemporary American. This small gem off noisy Atlantic Avenue is big on taste and ambience, and has been busy since 2009. You can travel the world with dumplings, conch fritters, pork schnitzel, rigatoni Bolognese, étouffée and more. Reservations are recommended at this laid-back, comfortable venue. • Dinner nightly. 561/865-5774. $$

Joseph’s Wine Bar —200 N.E. Second Ave. Mediterranean-American. Joseph’s is an elegant, comfortable, intimate nook in Delray’s Pineapple Grove, and an ideal place for a lazy evening. This family affair—owner Joseph Boueri, wife Margaret in the kitchen, and son Elie and daughter Romy working the front of the house—has all tastes covered. Try the special cheese platter, the duck a l’orange or the rack of lamb. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/272-6100. $$

La Cigale —253 S.E. Fifth Ave. Mediterranean

Popular venue since 2001, with Greek and Italian dishes and more. Highlights are seafood paella, roasted half duck and grilled jumbo artichoke appetizer. Lots of favorites on the menu: calf’s liver, veal osso buco, branzino, seafood crepes. Nice outdoor seating if weather permits. • Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/265-0600. $$

Latitudes —2809 S. Ocean Blvd. Modern American

You should come for both the sunset and the food. This oceanfront restaurant is a gem tucked inside the Delray Sands resort. From the airy, bubbly interior to the raw bar, the décor is soothing and fun. Try the lobster and crab stuffed shrimp, the miso-glazed Skuna Bay salmon, the branzino or the veal Bolognese. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/278-6241. $$$

Lemongrass Bistro —420 E. Atlantic Ave. PanAsian. 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). $

Lionfish —307 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood. Focusing on sustainable and locally sourced ingredients, Lionfish’s menu is diverse while its coastal décor is both stylish and comfortable. Choose from oysters, octopus, specialty sushi rolls, fresh catches and, of course, the namesake white flaky fish in a variety of preparations including whole fried and as a bright ceviche. Make sure to save room for the Key lime pie bombe dessert. • Dinner nightly, brunch weekends. 561/639-8700. $$$

Lulu’s—189 N.E. Second Ave. American. Lulu’s in Pineapple Grove offers a relaxed ambiance with unfussy, approachable food.

Eggs Benedict with spicy cashew nuts from Eathai

AARON BRISTOL

Buzz Bite III

Brunch Time

Weekends were made for fun—and brunch. Here are some of our favorite local spots to unwind while sipping and savoring the afternoon away.

LOUIE BOSSI’S ITALIAN RISTORANTE

If you’re looking for a lively scene, this is the spot. Enjoy people-watching while you sip on unlimited mimosas, bloody Marys, Bellinis or Aperol spritzes. If you can’t decide on breakfast or lunch, pair one of its famous pizzas with the hearty French toast topped with fruit compote and then get ready for the best afternoon nap.

COSTA BY OK&M

Healthy doesn’t mean boring or bland here. At this organic kitchen, the dishes will please both your body and palate. Start with a cold-pressed mimosa before you dive into a menu that includes selections like the peanut butter and banana pancakes, cashew toast, and kale and salmon bowl.

THE FRENCH BAKERY

Stop into this quaint bakery before or after the beach. Toasty breakfast sandwiches like the spinach and gruyere cheese croissant share the menu with fruity bowls and quiches. And don’t forget the baked goods like its muffins, biscuits and always-fluffy croissants.

THE REGIONAL

Chef Lindsay Autry has relaunched her famous Sunday brunch with a succulent buffet. Look forward to classic dishes including Old Bay Florida pink shrimp, deviled eggs, fried chicken with honey biscuits and loaded grits. Cocktails, which will be served by the glass or carafe, include brunch favorites like mimosas and Bellinis.

—Christie Galeano-DeMott

The quaint café is open every day and serves an all-day menu including breakfast until 3 p.m. and a selection of appetizers, sandwiches, salads and entrées that are ideal for an executive lunch, lively tapas happy hour, casual dinner or late night snack (until 2 a.m.). • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/453-2628. $

What’s In a Name?

Sazio, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year, takes its name from the Italian for “extremely satisfied.”

MIA Kitchen & Bar —7901 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Contemporary American. Owner Joey Lograsso and chef Jason Binder have curated a balanced choreography of fascinating yet approachable dishes. The menu travels the world from Italy to Asia and showcases Binder’s formal training with elevated dishes that are exceptionally executed. It’s vibey with a great playlist, and the design, reminiscent of a cool Wynwood bar, is industrial with exposed ducts, reclaimed wood and sculptural filament chandeliers. It’s a place that amps up all your senses. • Dinner Tues.-Sun. 561/499-2200. $$$

The Office —201 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. Your office is nothing like this eclectic gastropub, unless your office sports more than two dozen craft beers on tap and a 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. $$

Papa’s Tapas —259 N.E. Second Ave. Spanish. This family-owned restaurant will make you feel welcomed, and its cuisine will satisfy your craving for Spanish tapas. Start with a few shareable plates and then enjoy a hearty paella that’s bursting with a selection of seafood, chicken or vegetables. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., dinner Sun. 561/266-0599. $

Park Tavern —32 S.E. Second Ave. Contemporary American. Check out the high-top seating or bar stools during an excellent happy hour menu that includes deviled eggs, pork sliders, chicken wings and a happy crowd. Entrees are generous and well executed. Try the fish and chips, one of six burgers, fish tacos and more. • Dinner nightly. Brunch Sat.-Sun. 561/265-5093. $$

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. $$$

Rose’s Daughter—169 N.E. Second Ave. Italian. While not your traditional Italian trattoria, it is a place to find new favorites and revisit old standards updated with delicious ingredients and high standards. Try the Monet-colored lobster risotto, or house-made pasta, pizza, bread and desserts. From the mushroom arancini to the tiramisu, you will be glad Owner/Chef Suzanne Perrotto is in the kitchen. Indoor and outdoor seating. • Dinner Wed.-Sun. 561/271-9423. $$

Salt7—32 S.E. Second Ave. Modern American. All the pieces needed to create a top-notch restaurant are here: talented chef, great food, excellent service. From the pea risotto to the crab cake to the signature steaks and a lot more, this is a venue worth the money. Thanks goes to Executive Chef Paul Niedermann, who won TV’s notorious “Hell’s Kitchen” show, and his talent is displayed here on the plate. • Dinner Mon.-Sat. Brunch Sunday. 561/274-7258. $$$

Sazio —131 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. This long-lived venue on crowded Atlantic Avenue is a reason to sit down and take a breath. Then take up a fork and try the linguine with white clam sauce or the ravioli Sazio or grilled skirt steak or pretty much anything on the menu. Prices are reasonable; leftovers are popular. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/272-5540. $$

Sundy House—106 S. Swinton Ave. Contemporary American. Set in a lush, tropical garden, the outside tables here are the most coveted, second only to the tastes and combinations in the shrimp and grits, or the eggs Benedict, Taru burger, Nutella French toast and prime rib roast. This is a place to sit and savor your meal and the surroundings. • Brunch Sat.-Sun. Dinner nightly. 561/272-5678. $$$

Taverna Opa —270 E. Atlantic Ave. Greek. Yes, you can order a side of belly dancing and napkin tossing with your moussaka and baklava at this chain. But the moussaka and baklava are very good; so is the rest of the food at the downtown Delray outpost. Also worth your while (and appetite) are appetizers like melitzanosalata, whipped eggplant with orange zest and roasted red pepper, and tarama, a creamy emulsion of bread, olive oil and salmon roe. Whole grilled bronzino is finished with lemon and orange juices for a citrusy flavor boost, while tongue-tying galaktoboureko goes baklava one better by adding vanilla-scented custard to golden, flaky phyllo. • Dinner nightly. 561/303-3602. $$

Terra Fiamma—9169 W. Atlantic Ave. Italian. The pleasures of simple, well-prepared Italian-American cuisine are front and center here. Enjoy the delicate, pillow-y veal meatballs in Marsala sauce; lusty chicken Allessandro with mushrooms, spinach and artichoke hearts; and a finely crafted tiramisu that’s as satisfying as it is familiar. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/495-5570. $$

Tramonti —119 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. In a world where restaurants chase trends with the relentlessness of Casanova in full Viagra heat, Tramonti stands out as a classic outpost of authentic Italian cookery. Not trendy hardly means stodgy, however, as evidenced by expertly crafted, robustly flavorful dishes like the signature spiedini di mozzarella Romana, spaghetti al cartoccio and braciole Napoletana. Torta della nonna is a triumph of the highly refined simplicity that lies at the heart of true Italian cuisine. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/272-1944. $$$

Veg Eats Foods —334 E. Linton Blvd. Creative Vegan This is comfort food for everyone; the dishes will impress carnivores, too. Smell the fresh coconut vegetable curry soup, which tastes as good as it sounds. Try the grilled brawt sausage, the Ranch chixn, the banh mi and a Ruben—all from plant-based ingredients that will fool your taste buds. • Lunch daily. 561/562-6673. $

Vic & Angelo’s —290 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. People watching is a staple ingredient here, a complement to the Italian fare. The wine menu is robust, mainly grounded in Italy but with choices from around the world. Larger than personal pies, thin-crust pizzas are family-friendly, while you won’t want to share the Quattro Formaggi Tortellini, fluffy purses filled with al dente pear and topped with truffle cream. For a protein, try the traditional chicken parmigiana, a hearty portion of paper-thin breaded chicken breast topped with a subtly sweet San Marzano sauce under a gooey layer of fresh mozzarella, and a substantial side of linguine pomodoro. If you have room for dessert, the classic sweets include cannoli and tiramisu. • Dinner nightly; brunch weekends. 561/278-9570. $$

LAKE WORTH BEACH

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 salt-crusted branzino is definitely a must-try. Plus, the wine list is a veritable tome. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/547-2500. $$$

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 6 pounds) and are reasonably priced. • Dinner nightly. 561/547-9487. $$

Home-made sangria from Papa’s Tapas

AARON BRISTOL

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, pounded chicken breast and roasted rack of lamb. The wine list features great vintages. • Lunch and dinner daily. Outdoor dining. 561/835-1600. $$$

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 nightly. 561/833-3450. $$$

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, the elegant lounge or the sophisticated dining room. • Dinner nightly. 561/655-6060. $$$

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. $$$

Echo—230A Sunrise Ave. Asian. The cuisine reverberates with the tastes of China, Thailand, Japan and Vietnam. The Chinese hot and sour soup is unlike any other, and the sake list is tops. This offsite property of The Breakers is managed with the same flawlessness as the resort. • Dinner nightly (during season). 561/802-4222. $$$

Henry’s Palm Beach —229 Royal Poinciana Way. American Bistro. Part of The Breakers’ restaurant properties, this venue opened in 2020 and is an elegant addition to The Island. Try the pigs in a pretzel dough blanket, beer can corn, the lobster roll, butter crumb Dover sole and chicken pot pie. All comfort food with a Palm Beach twist, and it’s all delicious. • Lunch and dinner daily. 877/724-3188. $$$

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 housemade fingerling potato chips, the sexy wild boar empanaditas, chicken albondigas tacos and Korean-style short ribs. The wine list is encyclopedic. • Dinner nightly. 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. • Dinner nightly. 561/833-5522. $$

Meat Market—191 Bradley Place. Steakhouse

“Meat Market” may be an inelegant name for a very elegant and inventive steakhouse but there’s no dissonance in its food, service or ambience. Multiple cuts of designer beef from multiple sources can be gilded with a surprising array of sauces, butters and upscale add-ons. Whole roasted cauliflower is an intriguing starter, while a meaty Niman Ranch short rib atop lobster risotto takes surf-n-turf to a new level. Cast your diet to the winds and order the dessert sampler. • Dinner nightly. 561/354-9800. $$$$

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-boo —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. $$

WEB EXTRA: check out our complete tri-county dining guide only at BOCAMAG.COM

RHINESTONE COWBOY BALL, “BOOTS & BLING”

WHERE: Boca West Country Club

WHAT: Supporters of the George Snow Scholarship Fund pulled on their boots and saddled up for the 29thannual Rhinestone Cowboy Ball at Boca West Country Club. More than 300 guests were treated to a luxury cowboy experience that included a country-themed buffet, live music and dance, and whiskey tastings from Warren American Whiskey Kitchen. This year’s Cowboy Ball, emceed by Paige Kornblue and WPBF 25 Meteorologist Glenn Glazer, set a new fundraising record of more than $150,000 to benefit the George Snow Scholarship Fund’s mission of providing financial and support services to hardworking South Florida college students. During the night’s festivities, both the Boca Raton Airport Authority and Ed Ventrice were honored with Community Service Awards for their dedication in serving the City of Boca Raton. This year’s Cowboy Ball was sponsored by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (title sponsor), Amy & Mike Kazma, the James & Marta Batmasian Family Foundation and many more.

1: Kate and Kyle Stewart, Anne Marie and Mike Pontillo

2: Dorothy Bradshaw, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw

3: Melissa and Jay Whelchel

4: Dr. Nathan Nachlas, Lisa Kaufman, Tim Snow

5: Erica Kasel, Emily Snyder, Paige Kornblue

6: Andrea Virgin, Bonnie Halperin, Justin Ely, Rochelle LeCavalier

7: Mike Pontillo, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, Paige Kornblue, Glenn Glazer

8: Jackie Reeves, Robin Deyo

9: Matthew Maschler, Neil Glazier, Tim Snow, Cindy Sprott

10: Joe and Donna Biase, City Councilwoman Fran Nachlas, Dr. Nathan Nachlas, Linda Petrakis

11: Colonel Bobby Allen, Darlene Allen, Scott and Janie-Lyn McCleneghen

16TH-ANNUAL BOCA RATON CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE

WHERE: The Boca Raton

WHAT: Luxury car enthusiasts and fans of standup comedy were equally delighted with this year’s Concours d’Elegance in Boca Raton. The weekend-long event, chaired by Potamkin Automotive Group President Frank Peña, kicked off with a private VIP experience, then revved up the laughs the next night with a Grand Gala that featured a performance by comedian Howie Mandel and an awards ceremony that honored Dale Earnhardt Jr., General Motors Chair and CEO Mary T. Barra and Holman Enterprises Chair Mindy Holman with the “Automotive Lifetime Achievement Award.” The Boca Concours wrapped with a stunning car show that showcased hundreds of vintage and exotic vehicles, with “Chasing Classic Cars” host Wayne Carini serving as the event’s Grand Marshal for the 12th consecutive year. Founded by Rita and Rick Case of The Rick Case Automotive Group, the Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance has raised more than $10 million for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County since its inception.

1: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Amy Earnhardt

2: Julie McDonnell, Joe McDonnell, James E. McDonnell IV

3: Greg Travaline, Rita Case, Raquel Case

4: Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County Jim & Jan Moran Unit Members

5: Matt Organ, Frank Pena, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chris Gentile

YMCA OF SOUTH PALM BEACH COUNTY’S 21ST-ANNUAL INSPIRATION BREAKFAST

WHERE: Peter Blum Family YMCA in Boca

WHAT: The YMCA of South Palm Beach County hosted its 21st-annual Inspiration Breakfast to benefit the organization’s mission of connecting members of the community with each other and their own potential. NFL legend Emmitt Smith served as the event’s keynote speaker, delivering an impassioned speech about the services provided by the Y to local youths. Chaired by Alex Price and Vice Chair Brad Winstead, the sold-out event brought in more than 600 guests under the grand tent at the Peter Blum Family YMCA in Boca. The Inspiration Breakfast raised more than $400,000 to support the Y’s financial assistance program, which provides scholarships for individuals and families to participate in Y programs.

CARLOS ARISTIZABAL

2

1. Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton with Emmitt Smith

2. Brad Winstead

3. Jerry Fedele, Victoria Matthews, Nancy Walsh, Terry Fedele, Nicole Flier

4. Dan Davidowitz

5. Joe Martin, Rosie Inguanzo-Martin, Jon Stormont, Robert Weinroth

NINTH-ANNUAL BRAIN BOWL LUNCHEON

WHERE: Boca West Country Club

WHAT: This year’s Brain Bowl Luncheon brought together nearly 900 supporters to Boca West Country Club to raise awareness and funds for those living with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and dementia in our community. Pat Dean served as honorary chair for the luncheon, and Concussion Legacy Foundation CEO Dr. Chris Nowinski delivered a riveting presentation on the effects of post-concussion syndrome as keynote speaker, in line with the event’s theme of focusing on dementia-related concerns caused by traumatic injury. The luncheon also featured a fashion show which included former Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders and NFL football players as the volunteer models and local personalities Olivia Hollaus, Michelle Olson Rogers and Hollani Davis serving as emcees and commentators. In addition to addressing dementia in our community, the volunteer committee pledged a $100,000 commitment to the Brain Bowl Project, an intergenerational community room supported by the Fuller Center and Volen Center in which seniors and children can interact, play and enhance each other’s lives. This year’s luncheon was dedicated to members of the Boca Raton community who died in the past year due to Alzheimer’s disease, including former Mayor Susan Whelchel.

1: Hollani Davis, Michelle Olson-Rogers, Olivia Hollaus and Alan Veingard

2: Doug and Marcia Mithun

3: Dr. Chris Nowinski

4: Ariel Polani, Pamela Higer-Polani, Mark Polani

5: Mayor Gregg Weiss, Commissioner Maria Sachs, Boca councilmembers Andrea O’Rourke, Fran Nachlas, Yvette Drucker, Joseph Abruzzo

CONCERT-4KINDNESS

WHERE: Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium

WHAT: Boca kicked off the new year with a compassionate start with the Concert-4-Kindness at Florida Atlantic University’s Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium, presented by Marilyn and Jay Weinberg. Award-winning singer/songwriter Montana Tucker emceed and headlined the concert, which featured more than 125 performers from diverse backgrounds joining together for a stirring “We Are the World”-style performance. The concert was hosted by FAU’s Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, and conceived, organized and produced by longtime FAU supporters and Concert-4Kindness Co-Chairs and Vision Sponsors Bonnie and Jon Kaye of Kaye Communications PR & Marketing. Sponsors included Sklar Furnishings, Waterstone Resort & Marina, the Barry and Silvana Halperin Foundation and more.

May/June 2023 issue. Vol. 43, No. 5. The following are trademarks in the state of Florida of JES Media, and any use of these trademarks without the express written consent of JES Media is strictly prohibited: Savor the Avenue; Tastemakers of Delray; Tastemakers at Mizner; Florida Style and Design; Delray Beach magazine; Boca Raton , South Florida At Its Best; bocamag.com; Florida Table ; Boca Raton magazine. Boca (ISSN0740-2856) is published 8 times a year (September/October, November/ December, January, February, March, April, May/June and July/August) by JES Media. Editorial, advertising and administrative offices: 1000 Clint Moore Road, Suite 103, 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: $19.95/8 issues, $29.95/16 issues (shipping fee included for one- and two-year rates). Single copy $6.95. 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.

1. Richard and Alisa Cohen, Michael Horwell, Sylvana and Barry Halperin

2. Sponsor Rosie InguanzoMartin and Elizabeth Petrocelli

3. Bonnie Kaye, Cindy Krebsbach, Joe Trubinsky, Holli Rockwell Trubinsky, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing Dean Safiya George, Ph.D. and Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters Dean Michael F. Horwell, Ph.D.

4. Jon Kaye, Bonnie Kaye, Montana Tucker, Marilyn and Jay Weinberg

Joan Wargo

Meet the longtime force of nature when it comes to volunteering—and delivering the promise—for Boca Raton’s first hospital

Written by MARIE SPEED

Joan Wargo and her husband, the late Don Wargo, met in the early ‘50s in Miami, when Joan was a charge nurse and Don was a physician at Jackson Memorial. They moved to Boca in 1958, where Don established an OB-GYN practice in 1959 with offices in Boca Raton and Delray Beach. After the tragic 1962 poisoning deaths of two Boca children, Debra and Randall Drummond—with the closest hospital in Delray—Joan Wargo and a small group of Boca women helped found the Debbie-Rand Memorial Service League, named after the children, to raise funds for Boca’s first hospital, known as the “miracle on Meadows Road” when it opened in 1967. Her husband was one of the 25 founding members of the medical staff of the then Boca Raton Community Hospital.

In the decades since, Joan Wargo has been an unwavering supporter of what is now Boca Raton Regional Hospital, and at 93, she’s still logging in hours. (“I have not stopped working; I just put in 10 the other day.”) To date, the official volunteer hours count is 35,000. And growing. Her other involvement in the community has included the Junior League, the Excalibur Society, Lynn University (raising money for scholarships), the Pioneer Club and the Historical Society. These days, she is Director Emeritus on the Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation board and is an emeritus member of the FAU Christine E. Lynn School of Nursing. And she has never missed a hospital ball. Not one.

ON HER PASSION FOR THE MEDICAL FIELD:

Number one, I have a passion for the patients. And number two, with Debbie-Rand, we raised a barrel of money for the hospital, and I loved working on the projects so we could contribute to Debbie-Rand.

WHAT SHE’S MOST PROUD OF:

In truth, my two sons. But I don’t know. I would guess the number of hours that I’ve worked, the money we raise for the School of Nursing. And Debbie-Rand raised a lot of money, and so has the Foundation. That I’ve been to every hospital ball in the past 60 years— I’ve been chairman of three of them, honorary chair of one, and co-chair of one.

HOW SHE HAS SEEN THE MEDICAL FIELD CHANGE

SINCE SHE FIRST HELPED LAUNCH THE HOSPITAL:

It’s unbelievable. We have gone partners with Baptist,

and that was a great move. I don’t know how many doctors are on the staff now; I think it’s 700 and something. The hospital is always full. We have very good doctors, very good administrators; everybody at the hospital does a very good job. We have the Go Pink luncheon with 1,200-1,500 people there now; it also brings in a lot of money.

But the only reason we were able to get the medical care campus we have is because of the people who live in Boca who are very wealthy and very generous and very caring.

WHY SHE GIVES BACK:

It’s [been all about] benefiting the hospital and the community and the people of Boca Raton that need medical care. That was the initial thing when the two kids died; there was no medical facility here. And that’s all we’ve done. I wanted people to be taken care of. That’s what I want. I guess it’s whatever the lord put in me when I was born; I just enjoy helping people who need it.

This page is a tribute to community citizens who have demonstrated exemplary service and leadership to the city of Boca Raton and is in memory of John E. Shuff.

I wanted people to be taken care of. ... I guess it’s whatever the lord put in me when I was born; I just enjoy helping people who need it.”

—Joan Wargo

Joan Wargo

EDUARDO SCHNEIDER

World-Class Care in Palm Beach County

You don’t need to travel far to find our top-ranked multispecialty services. Our providers treat a wide range of conditions, from common to more complex, for adolescents to adults.

We are pleased to welcome Dr. Cristina Figueira and Dr. Eliud Sifonte to our team.

Cristina Figueira, MD Internal Medicine

101 North Clematis Street Suite 110 West Palm Beach 561-365-3000 #1 hospital in New York; and ranked #1 in the nation for excellence in high-quality outpatient care.

Named

David Selzer, MD Internal Medicine, Nephrology, Obesity Medicine

Thomas Rockland, MD Family Medicine

Alexandra Volo, DO Family Medicine

Raquel B. Dardik, MD Gynecology

Steven Cohen, MD Cardiology

Ivan Coronado, MD Cardiology

Stephen Saltz, MD Cardiology

Louis Snyder, MD Interventional Cardiology

Dennis A. Cardone, DO Sports Medicine

John G. Kennedy, MD Orthopedic Surgery, Foot & Ankle Surgery

Zulmary Andino, DPT Physical Therapy

Nicole Cox, DPT Physical Therapy

Kirsten Pierson, NP Internal Medicine

Yvette McFarlane, NP Internal Medicine

Heather Gawron, NP Cardiology

Eliud Sifonte, MD Endocrinology