The PBI Awards 2014

PBI AWARDS THE

Best of Palm Beach From glamping in the wilds of Okeechobee to catching an indie flick in an obscure black-box theater, Palm Beach is full of unique experiences. Here, we present some of the past year’s most remarkable highlights— though we are the first to admit there are far more that deserve recognition. Who made it onto our list of standouts? Turn the page to find out. —The Editors

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Best TABLE IN TOWN From rabbit sausage to carrot cake waffles, Tim Lipman’s Coolinary Cafe is nothing if not original.

THE PBI AWARDS

Photography by Rose E. Martin

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If you are a daring foodie, chances are you are all about the chef’s table concept, where you enter a restaurant with no preconceived notions and let a chef decide what you’re having for dinner.

If you’re going to trust one chef to dictate the menu, let it be Tim Lipman, the gastro-genius behind Palm Beach Gardens’ Coolinary Cafe. It works like this: You and five friends sit at a long table and nosh on house-made pickles, chips and deviled eggs while Lipman and his crew work their magic.

Five courses later, you will have tasted such creative fare as a before-and-after Scotch egg with house-made chicken sausage (hey, which came first?) or Buffalo-style sweetbreads, poached in buttermilk, lightly fried and glazed with chili.

What we think: Lipman’s fearless cooking style and his singular focus on fresh, real food puts the “cool” in Coolinary.

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Chef/owner Tim Lipman (above) presides over the exhibition kitchen at Coolinary Cafe. He and his team put out the ultimate comfort food—fresh, often locally sourced and heirloom ingredients prepared in an honest, straightforward style that has won the restaurant (and its chef) numerous accolades. Some of the most popular include (counterclockwise from top left) fried chicken and waffles, pan-seared local red snapper with roasted Brussels sprouts and lemon spaetzle, deviled eggs, chargrilled pizza, and peanut butter and jelly bread pudding.

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Paul O’Brien, Dennis Creaghan and Erin Joy Schmidt in Fighting Over Beverley

The lights dim. A drumroll thunders. Claves click, click, click. Pianos tune. Performers clear their throats—ahem. The lights rise. What do you see? One evening it’s the Latin styling of Tito Puente Junior. Another, a radio rendition of It’s a Wonderful Life. Visit on a different night and hear a jazz or blues performance, or catch the latest work by a local playwright or an inspiring production by student artists. At Arts Garage in Delray Beach, the possibilities are endless.

Last season, Arts Garage welcomed a myriad of national and international performers and produced new plays like Israel Horovitz’s Fighting Over Beverley and Will Aronson and Daniel Mate’s The Trouble With Doug. Nowhere else in Palm Beach County can you find experimental theater and established musicians under the same roof. Arts Garage also fosters a love of the arts through its all-ages-welcome academy, classes, summer camps and master workshops. With an arts haven this diverse, welcoming and vibrant, it’s no wonder Delray Beach is becoming the hippest hangout in South Florida.

A scene from The Trouble With Doug

Amy Pasquantonio

THE PBI AWARDS

Best GARAGE ENTERPRISE

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Best

REINVENTION

We’ve got to hand it to The Breakers. The resort never ceases reinventing itself to stay ahead of the style curve. The big story in the past year was the reimagining of Flagler Steakhouse. Already Palm Beach’s top choice for prime beef and seafood, the Flagler now has a crisp, modern edge that perfectly complements the stellar food. And just when we thought the view couldn’t be better, the terrace has been extended and climatized so we can enjoy those long fairway vistas—and our bone-in filet—in comfort.

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Best

A rainbow of Patrick Lézé macarons. Goldrimmed china platter

by Katy Briscoe Home, available at Saks Fifth Avenue, Palm Beach.

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REYNALDO MARTIN

THE PBI AWARDS

FRENCH ACCENT

Let us consider the macaron, shall we?

It seems simple enough—egg whites, sugar, a bit of almond flour—yet it is so impossible to get just right. Even restaurants that claim to offer authentic French macarons cannot achieve the elusive crumble-in-your-mouth fluffiness of, say, Ladurée or Chantal Guillon.

Our frustration over finding a magnifique macaron this side of the Seine ended at precisely the moment Patrick Lézé opened in Palm Beach. Lucky for us, the French pâtissier and his wife fell in love with the island during a motorcycle tour—and stayed.

Now we can enjoy his colorful confections (peach apricot, how do we love thee?) anytime. Bonus: They’re perfect when we need a hostess gift in a hurry.

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APOTHECARY

REYNALDO MARTIN

Palm Beachers can now heed the words of William Shakespeare and “Get thee to an apothecary!” thanks to Babalu. Owners Paolo Ambu and Greg Melvin opened the Palm Beach outpost of their famed Miami institution in November, selecting an intimate alcove in Via Mizner to house a trove of goods like Pastiglie Leone candies, Sapone al Melograno soaps, Jonathan Adler coasters, and books on topics like dogs, Aston Martins and yachts. Follow the scent of the curated perfume bar, and you’ll know where to find us.

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Best WAY TO COMMUNE WITH NATURE

THE PBI AWARDS

Camping in the woods? When the campsite is on the grounds of Pine Creek Sporting Club, the answer is a resounding “Yes, please!”

Imagine waking up to the mournful coo of doves and looking out of your tent at a misty sunrise. Nearby, the fire pit is lit and the scent of coffee brewing tickles your nose. A great day in nature awaits.

Welcome to Camp Fort Drum, the latest offering at Pine Creek Sporting Club in Okeechobee. The camping pavilion consists of two outfitter tents that sleep eight in utter comfort, a cooking area, the aforementioned fire pit, an archery range and a game-viewing tower. This is glamping at its best, folks.

Opening October 1 for members and guests, the camp is nestled within the loblolly pines, oak trees and sable palms and overlooks acres of palmettos. Wildlife, including white-tail deer, Osceola turkeys and quail, roam the grounds, adding to the richness of the experience.

The best part is the educational aspect. During monthly camping excursions, children will learn survival basics and get to know the native ecosystem with master naturalist Jerry Walls. All that, and s’mores too.

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Glamping-style tents sleep eight and offer a host of creature comforts for the best of both worlds.

The main lodge at Pine Creek Sporting Club (left) is a central meeting point for excursions in nature.

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Supporting area businesses is a concept that hits close to home at Shoppe 561, a sunny boutique of gifts made by Florida artisans, like bangles of sea glass, custom dog collars and handmade baby clothes. The store introduces patrons to the craftsmen through their bios, displayed around the shop, and in classes such as soap making and chocolate tasting. Continuing its feelgood mission, Shoppe 561 has donated more than $1,500 to Hope House, Florida, a safe house for victims of sex trafficking. “To me, the shop is all about hope—hope to end modern-day slavery, hope to help artisans achieve their personal goals, hope for customers to feel inspired and a mindset of change,” owner Janelle Lang says. “I just want people to feel like they’re home.”

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ROSE E. MARTIN

THE PBI AWARDS

Best PLACE TO SHOP LOCAL

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Best

CULTURAL FESTIVAL

Since 2007, the Festival of the Arts Boca has been a mecca for classical music, jazz, dance and literature. The Schmidt Family Centre for the Arts at Mizner Park established the event to bring to Boca Raton seasoned performers and writers—like violinist Itzhak Perlman and author Doris Kearns Goodwin—to promote cultural arts in the community. In 2014, the festival had one of its most successful years ever with ticket sales nearly tripling from 2013 and a total attendance of 15,000, the second-largest crowd in its history. The festival offers many reasons to applaud: It engages the community with author discussions and intimate performances; it brings the arts to new audiences via master classes and open rehearsals; and, it imbues Mizner Park with an unparalleled aura of excitement. The 2015 festival is scheduled for March 5-15, so prepare to shout “Bravo!”

ROBERT STOLPE

For 10 days, the Festival of the Arts Boca brings international artists to Mizner Park.

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Best

There’s more than just java percolating at Subculture Coffee in West Palm Beach. A joint venture of Sean Scott and Rodney Mayo, Subculture arrived on Clematis Street in March and has become an urban gathering place for artisan roasts, lattes bearing works of coffee art, organic teas and even local beer. The coffee beans arrive from direct- and fair-trade farms in areas like Sumatra and the Sierra Madre and are roasted each morning on a large red Diedrich IR-12 on display at the entrance. Passionate baristas are eager to talk about their products, and patrons who want a taste of something more can learn about coffee 101 at one of the shop’s free cupping classes. While Subculture’s ethically minded cup of joe is delicious, its best brew is the sense of belonging it has come to foster—both for visitors and as a thriving, eccentric contributor to the neighborhood.

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REYNALDO MARTIN

THE PBI AWARDS

ARTISAN COFFEE

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FARM TO TABLE

Boca’s obsession with clean eating has found its spiritual home.

Gyorgy Papp, Papp Photography LUCIEN CAPEHART PHOTOGRAPHY

It’s a stormy Thursday and Farmer’s Table, that altar to all things fresh and healthy, is packed to the rafters. Not even an apocalyptic downpour can keep Boca Raton’s faithful away.

There’s a good reason for that. The restaurant’s self-styled “feel-good food”—made with whole, recognizable ingredients, many from local farms—is so savory and satisfying, it might not occur to you this is clean eating. But it is, and it’s highly addictive. We can’t get enough of the kale hummus or the Santa Fe veggie burger with zucchini bacon, which will make a believer of the most hard-core carnivore. Even the kids’ menu is healthy (whole wheat mac and cheese! gluten-free chicken fingers!)—now that, sadly, is novel.

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Best DEBUT

eatre T he Wick Th seum e Mu and Costum CA RATON

Cast Marilynn Wick Producer………….… imberly Wick ive ut ec Ex d an r …K Founde m……..…

Costume Museu Vice President, .

The year is 2013 tre in Boca Raton. ea Th ll we ld Ca er e form The setting is th Act I r a new space to rly, are looking fo es. By choosing the be m Ki , er ht ug costum d her da Marilynn Wick an nowned collection of Broadway lifelong dreams: to start a -re eir th rld of wo e eir on l th lfil e fu hous so Theatre, they al ter company. former Caldwell thea theater, refurbish e Wicks gut the the shows with th ile wh n io iss restaurant, cast 10-minute interm [There will be a a Tavern on the Green-inspired e million costume pieces into n on sig an th de e y, e mor the lobb l talent and mov museum space.] national and loca the new ectacAct II tre produces a sp n, the Wick Thea Sound of Music, White tio va no re n llio ing The hly $1.3 mi Following a roug ason of Broadway classics, includ nolias and Ain’t Misbehavin’. ular inaugural se Street, The Full Monty, Steel Mag Christmas, 42nd ard Act III are looking forw year, the Wicks Folles, Man of La st fir eir th in d thriving ge aux After surviving an ason with Swing!, Mame, La Ca ng many more visitors to the 2014-15 se ma! and Dames at Sea and inviti museum. e Mancha, Oklaho eir new and improved costum into th

1

Amy Pasquantonio

THE PBI AWARDS

BO

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WATER FEATURE

Fancy a hammam but can’t get to the Orient? Book a ticket to the Waldorf Astoria Spa instead.

If you’ve ever been to Turkey and indulged in the hammam experience, you will appreciate the Ritual Baths at the Waldorf Astoria Spa (formerly Spa Palazzo) at Boca Raton Resort and Spa. This isn’t your typical soak-and-shower. The ritual starts with a leisurely tub bath and exfoliation and progresses to a Erika high-pressure (okay, Sunnegardh andtorrential) Swiss shower, followed by an immersion in aperform personalinspa tub. The latter starts out as Ryan McKinny a relaxing soak but Opera’s ends with a deluge—think of it as aquatic the Palm Beach productionWe of Salome

by It’s intense. But it leaves you inacupressure. won’t lie: Richardjust Strauss. vigorated, like the hammams in the old country.

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In her small Jupiter kitchen, Dianna Muscari has concocted hundreds of delicious meals: searroasted haddock with blood-orange salsa; sparkling guava coolers; amaretto pumpkin pie. Her best dish, though, is a combination of recipes, vivid photography and heartfelt stories—the ingredients for her cheerful blog, The Kitchen Prep.

A self-taught cook, writer and food photographer, the South Florida native reinvents recipes or creates her own from scratch. More than just a virtual cookbook, The Kitchen Prep is also a public journal sprinkled with compelling snippets from Muscari’s life—like how she’s expecting her first child in November, the impetus for her recent “mocktail” experiments. A true DIYer, Muscari uses her Canon to photograph each dish in her “studio”—aka, her living room coffee table, which only adds to The Kitchen Prep’s labor-of-love essence. “My life revolves around food,” Muscari says. “Whether I’m on vacation or making a weeknight meal or thinking about what I want to eat, I’m always thinking about how I can share it on the blog, make it relevant and connect with people.”

ROSE E. MARTIN

THE PBI AWARDS

Best KITCHEN BLOG

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POLO TRADITION

lila photo

Whether you are into the fanfare of Sunday polo or prefer to take in the less-hyped, but equally exciting, midweek games, there are many ways to spectate. Our favorite spot is always fieldside, as close to the action as possible. How to do fieldside in style? Tailgate! International Polo Club Palm Beach offers 48 slots, though they sell out every season (yes, there is a wait list). For those lucky enough to score a slot, tailgates may range from cowboy chic to feasts fit for royalty—such as this beautiful spread conceived by Palm Beach designer Chad Renfro in partnership with Veuve Clicquot.

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THE PBI AWARDS

HIDDEN GEM

Lake Worth is full of hidden gems: Boutique restaurants, eclectic shops and cooler-than-cool hangouts dot the city’s downtown streets. But the area’s best-kept secret is nestled next to one of its biggest attractions. The Stonzek Theatre, an offshoot of the Lake Worth Playhouse, sits adjacent to its parent organization on Lake Avenue. A hole-in-the-wall black box, The Stonzek opened in 1995 to present an ongoing cinematic installation of indie-art flicks, foreignlanguage films and documentaries. Since then, it has become the home of critically acclaimed yet belowthe-radar cinema and a beloved partner of the Palm Beach International Film Festival. It has also expanded its mission to include live theater as part of the Playhouse’s Black Box Series, which produces works suited for the intimate atmosphere. This year, The Stonzek produced one-act plays by Woody Allen and Amy Herzog’s Pulitzer Prize-nominated 4,000 Miles.

In the coming season, The Stonzek will add a new cabaret series to the mix and continue to present nearly daily film showings on its 70-square-foot screen. Can you say, “Pass the popcorn”?

Coming ATTRACTIONS This month, The Stonzek hosts two events in addition to its reel of art flicks: ● September 12-14 and 19-21: The Black Box Series kicks off the 2014-15 season with Search and Destroy by Howard Korder. ● September 26-28: The Stonzek’s annual L-Dub Film Festival, now in its fifth year, includes film screenings from up-and-coming auteurs as well as creative and industry workshops.

This season, the Black Box Series included Woody Allen's Central Park West (left) and Amy Herzog's 4,000 Miles.

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FOOD ARTIST

If making sushi is an art, the Picasso among local chefs is Roy Villacrusis, the experimenter behind the sushi bar at Aah Loi, which Thai Chef Charlie Soo opened last September in Jupiter. Influenced by Japanese culture, self-taught Villacrusis has been developing what he calls “Asiatic cuisine,” an interpretation of traditional dishes presented in a contemporary way. With seating for only 44, Aah Loi treats a handful of diners to inventive and beautiful sushi that might incorporate foie gras, truffles instead of mushrooms or even Italian ingredients. The ambitious among us opt for the omakase tasting menu, in which Villacrusis serves a surprise of whatever he feels like creating for as many courses as desired (the record is 25). He may be a big fish in a small pond, but Palm Beach County, where his culinary journey began, hasn’t stopped inspiring him to grow. “There’s really something about West Palm Beach. … [Here, I can] be as creative as those

libbyvision.com

chefs in those cities,” he says. «

Villacrusis’ uni shooter contains sea urchin with momiji.

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