F2-St.Lucie West Living-Vol.565

Welcome to the Coop!!!

When you’re in the mood for delicious comfort food in a sports bar setting, you only have a few local choices in our area. The franchises and chains are good sometimes, but they don’t always boast the quality, homemade recipes that exist exclusively at a locally-owned and operated establishment. If you’re tired of catching the game at the same ol’ spot with the same ol’ food, then you need to visit The Howling Rooster in St. Lucie West! The owners — Will Cowdell and Chris Russo — are longtime locals who have created a fun, lighthearted sports bar atmosphere that offers a wide range of housemade meals, plus wine, beer, and cocktails... Welcome to The Coop!

For a uniquely delicious start to your meal, order the buffalo chicken wontons ($11)! Equal parts smoky and spicy, housemade buffalo chicken dip is stuffed into crisp wontons and served with a side of buttermilk ranch. Despite being fried, the wontons were not at all greasy, and they offered a satisfying crunch. Additionally, there were large, juicy chunks of chicken in the warm, creamy dip. Abby and I liked dipping the wontons in the ranch, but we got an extra side of blue cheese to try with them too. We ultimately preferred the blue cheese, as its earthiness perfectly complemented the smokiness of the chicken while tempering some of the dip’s spiciness.

If you’re more of a seafood fanatic, then try the farmhouse calamari appetizer ($13). Lightly-breaded and fried calamari rings are served with hot cherry peppers, then drizzled in a creamy lemon pepper aioli. The generously-sized rings were tender, with just enough breading to highlight their avor without overpowering it. The aioli was a nice touch, as it mimicked the taste of fresh-squeezed lemon and balanced out the heat from the peppers.

Of course, you cannot go to The Howling Rooster without trying some of their wings... With 11 wet sauces and 4 dry rubs to choose from, you’ll have tons of fun experimenting with both classic and creative avors! Abby got 6 bone-in wings with Carolina Golden BBQ wet sauce ($11), while I chose 6 boneless wings with Ragin Cajun wet sauce ($10).

Sweet and tangy, the Carolina Golden BBQ is a crowd-pleasing option. It’s like a traditional BBQ sauce, but with subtle, yet bright, notes of mustard and honey. Abby’s incredibly meaty, tender wings were generously smothered in the slightly sticky sauce, which she described as “delightfully yummy, plus fun to eat.”

I was slightly nervous that my Ragin Cajun sauce would be too spicy, but I was pleasantly surprised to nd that the heat is very minimal thanks to the addition of honey and butter. The “ragin” name, then, doesn’t refer as much to the sauce’s spiciness as it does to its addictiveness! I couldn’t stop inhaling those juicy strips of all-white chicken, as the smoothly sweet sauce expertly enhanced their savory avor.

Abby couldn’t get enough of her Gino’s Cousin Footlong Hot Dog ($16)! A 100% all-beef hot dog is piled high with succulent shaved ribeye, plus tender-cooked peppers and onions, then drizzled with the restaurant’s signature beer cheese sauce. Be prepared to eat if you order this belly buster! They aren’t kidding… the hot dog is most de nitely 12” long, as it extends way beyond the soft bun! It’s cooked well, with a crispy exterior and juicy inside, and the luscious beer cheese elevates the dish from tasty to “distinctively delectable,” according to Abby.

More of a burger person? The Gator Mike’s Burger ($17) will certainly satisfy your appetite… and your tastebuds! Topped with rich cheddar cheese, cider bacon, a fried egg, crisp hash

DiningOutReview

by Gabby Gregory with Gabby & Abby Questions/Comments? diningreview@mediaoms.com

sauce, the tender-cooked burger towers so high that you almost have to unhinge your jaw to take a full bite. The Howling Rooster doesn’t skimp whatsoever on ingredients, so you’re getting a great value! Plus, the Gator Mike’s Burger is a refreshing update to a regular ol’ bacon burger, as the addition of the egg and hash brown patty bring in more avors and textures. “This is the perfect selection,” Abby declared, “for those who need a pick-me-up. It’s a mood-brightener!” She added, “Or, if you’re recovering from a late night out, then this burger will most de nitely boost your stamina back to normal.”

After stuf ng myself with appetizers, not to mention stealing some of the hot dog and burger, I wanted to try something a bit lighter, so I ordered the Italian Riviera atbread ($15). Chopped garlic, fresh Florida tomatoes, and creamy mozzarella cheese are beautifully-arranged on the mildly sweet atbread, then drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and a balsamic drizzle. Simple and straightforward, this meal makes the bright, juicy red tomatoes the star. The tangy sweet balsamic brings out more of their herbaceous avor, while the cheese adds a lovely creaminess with just enough salt.

To savor wonderfully-yummy, homemade comfort food in an enjoyable, laid-back, local sports bar setting, stop into The Howling Rooster! The restaurant boasts over 20 big screen TVs, Happy Hour specials, and a large covered patio seating area. On Friday and Saturdays nights from 7PM-10PM, you can even listen to live local music! So what are you waiting for?! Let Will, Chris, and the entire team at The Howling Rooster say, “Welcome to The Coop!”

The Howling Rooster is located in The Shoppes at St. Lucie West at 1319 St. Lucie West Boulevard in Port St. Lucie. The restaurant is open Sundays-Thursdays from 11AM-10PM and Fridays-Saturdays from 11AM-11PM. Celebrate Happy Hour on Mondays-Fridays from 11AM-7PM. For more information or to place an order, call 772-873-4234 or visit thehowlinrooster.com.

$5 Off Minimum Purchase of $30 or more

With this MLM coupon. Cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts. Expires 5/31/23

MY LIVING CONTENTS - ZONE F

Meet the doctor Jacques Benchimol

DDS. A er receiving his undergraduate degree from Boston University, he earned his dental degree from Tu s University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, where he graduated magna cum laude. University School of Dental Medicine in Boston.

personality and does very good work and is very reassuring and explain what he is doing. I’ve never felt more comfortable. He xed my broken front tooth and made me smile again. He’s amazing! And the staff and dental assistant are all awesome.”

For What It’s Worth

I know I’m not the sharpest tack in the box, but I must have been living under a rock not to have appreciated the full magnitude of AI. For those of you who do not know what those initials stand for, they are Arti cial Intelligence. You know those little boxes with the pictures in them, that you have to click on to make sure you’re not a robot. ey ask you to identify the squares with the motorcycles or trees or school buses? Well, apparently AI’s cannot think for themselves so they get stumped at the pictures because they have not been programmed to respond to them. Not yet. ankfully they can’t think for themselves. (I use the word “they” as if they have taken on a human form, but to date, they are just computerized machines as far as I know). You know what else they can do? Rumor has it that they can apply for jobs, on sites such as INDEED, which makes life easier for the applicant. But what if they could think for themselves? What if they evolve into a thinking and acting machine one day. e reason I ask is because I understand that people such as Elon Musk are asking for a “pause” on further development of AI’s because these people are “concerned” about what they might be able to do in the future if the rapid rate they are evolving continues. Now I don’t know about you, but when I hear the word “concerned,” it freaks me out. To me that is a code word for “what until you see what happens next”. Imagine if AI’s could actually think for themselves and begin to run amok. I have friends who say that is impossible. I’m sure Orville and Wilbur Wright were told

by Dr. Mel , Ph.D.

the same thing when they took their rst ight. Besides, AI’s don’t have to think for themselves to do damage. All they have to do is get programmed some whacko who wants to do harm to people or the country at large. And I don’t think I have to tell you we have bad people living among us.

Of course the other side of the argument is that AI’s can do so much good in the health care eld, possibly coming up with solutions to medical problems and make advances that can save lives some day. at would be for the greater good, but there is potential to do the greater bad, and I don’t like it. On a personal level I am discouraged if not downright disgusted by the fact that AI’s have crept their way into the novel writing arena. If they are given a plot, some characters, and a genre, such as mystery or love story, they can come up with a pretty darn good book, and soon writers like me (who are still waiting to get my book on Amazon, but soon I hope) don’t have a chance, and what’s worse, when you, the buyer, purchase a book, you won’t know whether it was written buy a real author or an AI. AI’s have also made their way into the world of academia, and are doing homework, writing term papers and book reports, and even thesis papers as we speak. To me, all that might look good on paper, but it’s just going to make students stupid if they don’t have to do the work themselves.

Look, I don’t have all the facts, but from what I’ve heard, I’m getting a little nervous about the future. I mean we

already have enough trouble communicating with each other with the addition of texting, and social media substituting for actual phone calls and good old fashion letter writing. Imagine this scenario. You want to have a ght with your husband, but he always bullies you into giving up. He can’t win an argument with you because once you start crying, he caves. But suppose each spouse programs their AI (in the future of course, when they live with you) to ght each other while you both go to bed. Each of you enter the necessary information, and your AI’s duke it out, without emotions. en, you wake up in the morning and nd out who wins the argument. Science ction? Maybe. But what if it isn’t? For what it’s worth, I like a good old fashioned argument where we say stupid things, and then make up. It keeps the relationship new and our brains in good working order. We win some, and we lose some. If I want to make a point, I certainly don’t want to have a machine take the credit, but that’s just me.

Comments or Suggestions

IMPROVE

OVERALL WELL-BEING.

By Gabby Gregory

Every 5,000 miles, like clockwork, you take your car to get its oil changed and tires rotated. It’s basic, routine maintenance, but that consistent attention and upkeep is vital for your vehicle to run e ciently, especially over a number of years. Your body, much like your vehicle, requires regular care and treatment to keep it healthy. And, again like your automobile, your body needs support from someone other than yourself, a professional who can guide it to achieving its utmost abilities and to retaining its peak performance.

Getting older, playing sports, or having a condition like sciatica or arthritis shouldn’t hold you back from living your life! You can feel like your younger self again, the one who didn’t feel any aches or pains when walking, running, jumping, or even sitting… all you have to do is visit Stretch Zone.

Drew Brees, former quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, is the newest partner at Stretch Zone who advocates for people to regularly get stretched. A er personally going to Stretch Zone for an assisted stretching session, Drew was impressed with the uniquely e ective and nationally accredited Stretch Zone Method®, which is administered by a highly-trained and Stretch Zone-certi ed stretch practitioner.

Here’s How It Works:

1.) Your rst session begins with lling out an intake form and having a consultation with your experienced and knowledgeable stretch practitioner. Based on your medical background and your personal goals, the stretch practitioner will personalize the ensuing 30-minute assisted stretching session to meet your individual needs. On subsequent visits, you’ll simply do a check-in with the practitioner to update your medical pro le with any recent changes and/or any new pain or discomfort that you might be experiencing.

2.) e stretch practitioner initiates the rst steps of the approved Stretch Zone Method®, utilizing Stretch Zone’s special patented straps to encourage your body to relax and ease into the stretches. You won’t nd these straps anywhere else!

Comparable to a thunder jacket for your pets, they are meant to calm your mind so that your entire body is perfectly loose, thus allowing the stretch practitioner to stretch your body to its full potential and, as a result, provide you with both preventative maintenance and pain relief.

3.) Assisted stretching (a/k/a passive stretching) is di erent from physical therapy in that your body is being stretched by someone else, you’re not actually doing any work. roughout your 30-minute session, the stretch practitioner will be steadily interacting one-on-one with you, ensuring that you are completely comfortable and not experiencing any pain. Ultimately, you are in control of the stretch, even as your practitioner guides your body through each and every step, because you tell the practitioner when you feel your best stretching position. e more you communicate, the better results you’re going to get!

Take advantage of Stretch Zone’s incredible Special: get one FREE 30-minute

stretching session! Anybody and everybody can and should be stretched. In fact, one Stretch Practitioner I spoke with at Stretch Zone says, “98% of the people I see in front of me really need to be stretched. is is something you should not live without.” Remember, it’s just like getting your oil changed! Plus, celebrities and professional athletes have been getting stretched for years, so it’s time for the general population to be clued into the secret!

Get Stretch Zone’s Special for yourself or get them for a friend or loved one… what better way to say you care than to give the gi of making life easier, of feeling healthier, lighter, and younger, and of feeling like yourself again?

✓ 3 HAVE MORE ENERGY TO DO ALL OF THE THINGS YOU LOVE? ✓ IMPROVE YOUR GOLF GAME, TENNIS SKILLS OR OTHER SPORTS PERFORMANCE? ✓ MANAGE TENSION AND STRESS MORE EFFECTIVELY? ✓ EASE FRUSTRATING MUSCLE ACHES AND PAINS? ✓ INCREASE YOUR OVERALL HEALTH AND WELLNESS?

SUDOKU PUZZLE

Don’t Wait Until

The Top 9 Bene ts of Hurricane Impact Windows

By Gabby Gregory

1.) Stronger Protection and Greater Insulation from Storms Impact windows (a/k/a hurricane windows) are designed to withstand Category-5 hurricane winds (200-mph+). An interlayer is situated between two thick layers of glass, ensuring that absolutely no water, debris, and/or wind will enter your home to cause damage. Even if the outer glass of the window is somehow punctured, the glass is designed to crack in a spiderweb pattern, thus eliminating the possibility of the window blowing out entirely.

2.) Energy-Ef cient

Hurricane windows seal off the interior of your home so well that your air conditioning bill can decrease. You don’t have to worry about your air, or your money, going out the window—literally.

3.) Less Time, Energy, and Anxiety

With alternative storm protection methods, you need to invest your time and energy preparing your home for the impending storm. This preparedness can cause you stress if something suddenly does not work or requires more than one person to work. Hurricane windows, on the other hand, are hassle-free and require no work on your part.

4.) Increased Lighting with UV Protection

In the event of a hurricane, with impact windows, you can rely on having natural light as a resource without compromising your security. Additionally, the glass has greater UV protection, so any light that does come through will not cause fading on your carpeting or furniture.

5.) Noise Reduction

Impact windows are thicker, so you can relax in your home without having to hear the hustle and bustle of the outside world... or any neighbors’ pets.

6.) Intruder Protection

If 200-mph winds cannot destroy hurricane windows, then burglars stand no chance! Would-be intruders will be disappointed to learn that your home has impact windows because there is little chance that they will be able to break them.

7.) Lower Insurance Rates

Your insurance company will be so excited to learn that you are giving your home the best protection possible that it will likely reduce your rates.

8.) Higher Property Values

Homes with hurricane windows have higher property values. If you ever sell your house in the future, you will attract buyers who are willing to pay more for the added protection.

9.) Made in the U.S.A.

Hurricane windows from Max Guard are crafted entirely in the United States of America. When you choose Max Guard impact windows, you are supporting the American workforce and economy!

So, what are you waiting for? Give the professionals at Max Guard a call today to nd out more about how their hurricane windows will protect you, your family, and your home.

The new Max Guard Hurricane Windows showroom is located at 2257 Vista Parkway, Suite 28, in West Palm Beach. It is open Monday through Friday from 9AM to 6PM and Saturday 10AM to 2PM. For more information, please call 561-566-5MAX (5629) or visit MaxGuardHurricane.com.

It’s Greek to Me!

By Stephen Melniszyn

Alexander the Great, Plato, Aristotle, the mighty Spartans, and the great Parthenon in Athens all illustrate the timeless history of Greece that spans over 1,500 years. Though just a small country, Greece’s in uence has been felt across the known world. Not only has it been felt, but it has been tasted as the rich and savory dishes of the land have made their way here to the United States as hard working immigrants brought with them not only their resplendent culture, but their avorful dishes.

I had the privilege once more to sit with Dimitri, the owner and operator of Zeus Coffee Bar. He might sound familiar to you as you may have seen one of his many featured businesses in our magazines. The Great Greek, the City Diner of Stuart, Burger Fi, just to name a few are under the spirited leadership of Dimitri. It has been the aspiration of Dimitri to bring to Tradition, Stuart, and West Palm Beach a taste of his homeland. I can say with honesty that he certainly has brought to Florida some great dishes of Greece.

Now, Dimitri brings a sweet deal to the table with Zeus Coffee Bar in Tradition. Along with the great savory cuisines of Greece, he entertains the palette with some tasty sweet Greek desserts and traditional Greek Coffee to help spark your morning.

Who doesn’t love a great cup of coffee in the morning, the afternoon, and well, at night? Coffee is’nt hard to nd these days, but if you are looking for a taste of Greece, then Zeus Coffee Bar is where you need to be! Greek coffee is and has been a cornerstone of Greek social gatherings, rich in avor and in the culture itself. Unlike other coffees and lattes, Greek Coffee is prepared the traditional way. “Ellinkos Kafes” or Greek Coffee is

Sugar is added to water as it is heated at a low temperature. As the temp rises, foamy bubbles form and then it is removed to settle and done once more. After the second round of foam, it is removed and poured into the vessel of choice.

It is rich, dark, bold, and ahhh, so good! It is worth the wait. After drinking the cup, I believe I ran 100 laps around my of ce building that day. Now the coffee takes a few minutes to make, but as the saying goes, “great things come to those who wait”. Zeus Coffee bar also offers lattes, both hot and iced, cappuccino, espresso shots, as well some sweet drinks such as frozen lemonade and if you want a small jolt, they even have an espresso frozen lemonade.

A Sweet Deal

When one has a delicious cup of traditional Greek coffee, one certainly has to have a sweet treat with it. Dimitri, our gracious, host treated us to some sweet and decadent Greek pastries. The pastries are made fresh daily and trust me, they do not disappoint the taste buds. There in the glass case, the various pastries stared at me. So many divine choices!

I decided to start with Galaktobouriko ($5.10), a Greek milk cake that has a custard like texture, topped with airy layers of pyhllo, with honey underneath. It was light, delicate, and creamy. The honey sweetened it just enough not to over power the light and delicate layers above. Followed by the milk cake, we were treated with the chocolate Kok (sounds like coke) Cake ($5.10). No, not a Coca-Cola cake if you are wondering. This beautiful small cake is topped with a chocolate glaze and pastry cream. The cake itself was light and airy. I was in dessert heaven! Lastly, I had the staple dessert that is popular in Greece, Baklava ($4.07), made of layers of crispy phyllo dough, nuts, and honey. It was made to perfection. I could have stayed there all day and worked my way through the entire menu, but, alas, I did not have the time. So, say you are looking for the perfect date day, or just

DiningOut Review with

want to spend some time out in Tradition, take your loved one, or some friends to the Great Greek for an awesome lunch with traditional greek dishes and when you are done, come on over to the Zeus Coffee Bar and grab some sweet pastries with a cup of coffee to top off the day! If you don’t want to sit inside, the cafe offers outside seating that can accommodate up to 100 people.

Zeus Coffee bar has a lot to offer if you are seeking to satisfy your inner sweet tooth and a variety of coffees perfect for the coffee connoisseur. Don’t take my word for it, come on down to Zeus Coffee Bar and perk up!

Dimitri the Great

Lastly, I have to commend Dimitri on his dedication and hard work. The food business is not for the faint of heart and most will leave due to the high stress of the trade. He brings his love, passion and talent to the business. It is because of this that he loves what he does everyday and

enjoy some avorful desserts and coffees that are sure to appease your palette.