10 YEARS IN PRINT There’s too many people to thank, but you know who you are. Sept/Oct 2022 Issue 58 2
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9.02 PERRY STRAIT 4PM 9.02 FUSIK 9PM 9.03 BRYCE ALLYN BAND 9PM 9.04 BROCK PILGRIM 4PM 9.09 LOW GROUND 4PM 9.09 TOMMY SHUGART TRIO 9PM 9.10 KILLBILLIES DUO 4PM 9.10 MIGHTY MYSTIC 9PM 9.11 THAT MAN AD ROBIN 4PM 9.16 MATT WALDEN 4PM 9.16 DRUM AND COMPANY 9PM 9.17 NOUVEAUX HONKIES 4PM 9.17 SOULJAM 9PM 9.18 EMILY BROOKE 4PM 9.23 DUBBLE JAMES 4PM 9.23 FUNKIN’ GRATEFUL 9PM 9.24 JOHNNY DEBT 4PM 9.24 FAYUCA WITH HOWI SPANGLER OF BALLYHOO! 8PM 9.25 THE MONTHLY SPECIAL 4PM 9.30 BRETT STASKA 4PM 9.30 XPERIMENTO 9PM 10.01 CLEMENT AUBREY AND FULL AH VIBES 9PM 10.02 NIP N TUCK 4PM 10.07 ANIMO CRUZ 10.07 MISHKA WITH OF GOOD NATURE 8PM 10.08 POCKIT 4PM 10.08 TAND 9PM 10.09 JAMBUSH 4PM 10.14 JAKOB TAKOS 4PM 10.14 SOULTAXI 9PM 10.15 JOEY TENUTO BAND 9PM 10.16 DUBBLE JAMES 4PM 10.21 FOX MAPLE 4PM 10.21 UNLIMITED DEVOTION 9PM 10.22 JOHN LEONARD TRIO 4PM 10.22 MAD THAI 9PM 10.23 THE MONTHLY SPECIAL 4PM 10.28 BRETT STASKA 4PM 10.28 MARVELOUS FUNKSHUN 9PM 10.29 THE LEAFY GREENS 4PM 10.29 TASTY VIBRATIONS 9PM 10.30 VICTORIA LEIGH 4PM
the road less traveled toward dining success 36
duo 20
son
Interwebs
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West Palm’s second
steady and slinging good vibes 40 FAU
Surfer Blood
indie fave paddles into their
Husband and wife take Soul Rebel
Still rockin’ Football Season Preview
to speed on Owl football before your next game 44
decade 32
Brian and Brian sit down to chat fifteen years of hootenanny
We have
The Sticky Bun
Pete & Kepa Mendia
father
Uproot Hootenanny
Catching up with and surfing
a website and yes it has articles, too CONTENTS
Get up
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10 YEARS IN PRINT
OCTOBER 8
EVENTS
Fayuca w/ Howi Spangler of Ballyhoo @ Guanabanas Jupiter
SEPTEMBER 17
Mishka
The Pietasters
Sandoway’s Shark Day @ Sandoway Discovery Center Delray
OCTOBER 22 Mad Thai @ Guanabanas Jupiter
The Flyers @ Maxi’s Lineup Jupiter
@ The Sticky Bun Deerfield
SEPTEMBER 10
Oktoberfest Celebration @ Mathews Brewing Lake Worth
Wu-Tang Clan & NAS @ iThink Amphitheater WPB
“Tour De Trash” Beach Cleanup @ Lake Worth Pier (9/16 @ Palm Beach Island, 9/17 @ Deerfield Beach, 9/18 @ Tequesta, 9/25 @ Carlin Park/Jupiter)
@ Guanabanas Jupiter
Bryce Allyn Trio @ Maxi’s Lineup Jupiter
The Heavy Pets @ Crazy Uncle Mikes Boca
OCTOBER 9
The Leafy Greens (4pm) & Tasty Vibrations (9pm) @ Guanabanas Jupiter
11th Annual Witches of Delray Beach Bike Ride
Tommy Shugart Trio @ Guanabanas Jupiter
Follow @atlanticcurrent on Instagram for updates
OCTOBER 7
Justin Enco
@ Respectable Street WPB
Bryan Smith & Friends @ Maxi’s Lineup Jupiter
Loggerhead Marinelife Center
The Flyers @ Crazy Uncle Mikes Boca
SEPTEMBER 20
SEPTEMBER 9
Brian & Brian
SEPTEMBER 23
For a whole lot more, visit theatlanticcurrent.com/events
Zac Brown Band @ iThink Amphitheater WPB
OCTOBER 28
SEPTEMBER 24
The People Upstairs @ Mathews Brewing Lake Worth
@ Guanabanas Jupiter
Mighty Mystic @ Guanabanas Jupiter
SEPTEMBER 15
Respectable Street 35th Anniversary Block Party WPB
FAU vs UCF @ FAU Stadium Boca
Surfer Blood @ Propaganda Lake Worth
5th Annual Halloween Party @ Mathews Brewing Lake Worth
@ The Sticky Bun Deerfield
OCTOBER 29
10 Year Anniversary Party
We will be having a ten year anniversary party and yes you should be there. It won’t be in September and it won’t be in October, but it will probably be in November. Maybe December. We’ll let you know.
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OCTOBER 30
OCTOBER 15 Boca Pumpkin Patch Festival @ Mizner Park Amp
SEPTEMBER 30
Tand
EVENTS
Copyrightthem.
THE COVER
Ralph Notaro Shane Grace Tony Arruza Zak Bennett
Ten years felt like forever starting out, but feels like nothing look ing back. Crazy how time passes when there’s always a deadline for the next edition around the corner. But this milestone was a good time to reflect, look back at old issues and relive some of the early days. It wasn’t always pretty (looking through old mags was a clear reminder) but we were able to pull some editions that we still like to this day for the 10 year cover. We brought about twenty into the studio, dropped them on the table, moved ‘em around a little and snapped a few frames. Each of these covers bring up their own set of memories. From throwing a boom box into a pool fifty times to last minute changes we ended up liking it’s all there. Some good, some decent, some cringe…but hey, it’s all part of the story. Fortunately, our story has another chapter. As we close this one, we can’t wait to be better in the next. Dustin Wright
Danny Wright
Aaron Gray Ava
PHOTOGRAPHY
THANKS
PUBLISHER
2022 by the Atlantic Current LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. The Atlantic Current is a reg istered trademark of The Atlantic Current LLC.
WEB EDITOR
EDITOR
AV Photography
I@atlanticcurrent T@atlanticcurrent F/atlanticcurrent theatlanticcurrent.com
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
WRITERS
Ava Bourbeau
Dustin Wright
Richard Vergez
…to our advertisers who make this local mag you’re about to enjoy both possible and free. As you’ll notice, we’ve worked hard over the years to curate our sponsorships with businesses we know you’ll enjoy. They’ve become an integral part of our mag being one cohesive piece and we can’t thank them enough. Please support us by supporting
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130 SOUTH H STREET LAKE WORTH, FL MATHEWSBREWINGCOMPANY.COM33460561-812-3738 TUE-THUR 3:30PM-10PM FRIDAY 3:30PM-12AM SATURDAY 12PM-12AM SUNDAY 12PM-8:30PM Enjoy 14+ Craft Beers on Tap CASK ALES, Live Music, Food Trucks, Outdoor Beer Garden & More DOG & KID FRIENDLY • FREE PARKING fMATHEWSBREWING iMATHEWSBREWINGCO OCT. 8, 2022 OCT. 28, 2022 OKTOBERFESTCELEBRATION2PM-12AM 5TH ANNUAL HALLOWEENPARTY6PM-12AM Live Music Schedule Girlfriend Material 8pm w/ special guests cris & alex duo 4pm maximum friction 2pm $5.50 pints OKTOBERFEST, HEFEWEIZEN, VIENNA Special Oktoberfest Food SILVER SPORK MOBILE EATERY BANDS MAXIMUM FRICTION SANDMAN SLEEPS SOUND JUNKIES ONE46REBELLION&TOOL (TOOL TIRBUTE) AUDIO ECHO (CHRIS CORNELL TIRBUTE) BEER LINEUP COCONUTE CREAM ALE MILKSHAKE IPA’S FRUITED TART BEERS ORANGE GOBLIN FUNKY FRESH FLAVORS FULL LINEUP OF OUR PREMIUM CRAFT BEERS SOUVENIR GLASS GIVEAWAY W/ PURCHASE OF FIRST BEER (LIMITED QUANITITES) 12 NOON Costume Contest w/ CASH PRIZES FOR BOTH HUMANS AND DOGS - 8:30PM Food provided by Rolling Chefs BREWAPALOOZA 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY & MUSIC FESTIVAL DECEMBER 3, 2022 | NOON - 1AM UPCOMING EVENTS AT Live Music Schedule The Chili Peppers 9pm Red hot chili peppers tribute product of rage 7pm rage against the machine tribute maximum friction 6pm FOOD PROVIDED BY SILVER SPORK MOBILE EATERY • KRAZY CUBAN FLAVOR • GOOD DAYS PIZZA
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SURF
SurfingBloodlines
PHOTO: DARIN
It’s hard to believe my visit to the Mendia’s house was seven years ago. As I re-read the article, entitled “Grom Life with Kepa Mendia,” I was thankful for print outlets like Atlantic Current in our digital-heavy world, because the article not only seeks to entertain, but it shows just how far Peter and Kepa have come in their surfing careers.
How Peter and Kepa Mendia Have Become World-Renowned Talents While Calling South Florida Home
If you visit beaches in Palm Beach County during a swell, you’re likely to see a surfer sending saltwater in every direction, hack ing, carving and destroying the walls of each wave he surfs. That’s what Peter Mendia’s been doing for decades. The South Florida native began surfing at 10 years old, traveled around the world on the competition circuit, and found his niche as a freesurfer.
That’s why I had come to the Mendia’s South Florida home on a weeknight in 2015 to write about this budding surf grom for Atlantic Current
At 9:30 p.m., the Mendia house was buzzing. As Peter Mendia packed for an upcoming surf trip to Costa Rica that his youngest son, Kepa, would join him on, his wife, Ali, and his oldest son, Egan, kept me busy in conversation. When Peter reached a stop ping point, he told Kepa to give me a tour of his quiver.
Kepa shyly showed me his surfboards an arsenal of 4’4s and 4’7s shaped by Todd Proctor that matched his 9-year-old frame. After Kepa said that he was using these boards in surf competi tions, Peter reiterated the importance of keeping surfing fun.
I realized the ultimate paradox: It seems that so much has changed with Peter and Kepa since then. But at the same time, it doesn’t seem like much has changed at all.
BY CASH LAMBERT
PHOTO: SHANE GRACE
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PHOTO: TONY ARRUZA
“It’s pretty incredible to see him evolve and just get better and better…and actually like it,” Peter told me. I asked him if he was pushing Kepa in surfing, because sometimes a parent pushing a child too hard in a sport can lead to stress and burnout. “I don’t tell him anything,” Peter said. “I want him to enjoy it for himself. Surfing is supposed to be fun.”
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When he was old enough, Kepa started going on strike missions with his dad, like the Costa Rica trip they were packing for when I ventured to their house in 2015.
First.”Comes“Fun
Plus, he’s been at the epicenter of surfing as it migrates from contest to contest, coast to coast. In 2019, just minutes before the start of the Billabong Pipe Masters on Oahu’s North Shore, young Kepa was freesurfing with contestants. He stood up on a massive Backdoor wave, disappeared behind a blue curtain, and exploded out of it. The world’s best surfers saw the wave from the beach, and, after the clip went viral in the global surfing community, those who didn’t know the grom were introduced to his talents. Either way, the sentiment was in agreement: the wave was a perfect 10.
As Kepa grew, so did his boards 4’4s became 5’7s and 4’7s be came 5’8s. He’s added hardware to his name, including a handful of National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) titles.
Peter Mendia’s staple, from his grom days to now, is his patented power surfing. He’s also known for charging the biggest and gnarliest waves, resulting in jaw-dropping barrels. Mexico, Hawaii, Indonesia, the Bahamas…the location doesn’t matter. Peter’s surfing brilliance is on display wherever he goes.
If you see Peter in the water, you’ll probably see Kepa sitting next to him and showcasing his surfing repertoire: throwing buckets, hunting for barrels and launching sky-high airs.
“Fun comes first,” Kepa told me, echoing Peter’s sentiment. “He’s not trying to get in my head. He wants it to come easy and for me to have fun.”
In a sport that is now seeing a rapid growth of coaching the majority of junior surfers as well as professionals have surf coaches Kepa decided that in order to keep things fun, he
Catching up with Peter and Kepa for this 10th Anniversary issue, the most obvious change was Kepa’s surfing skill. It’s clear that he is one of the top junior surfers today. When I catch up with them again for the 20th Anniversary issue, I have a sneaking suspicion of what I’ll be writing about, based on Kepa’s current goal: “My dream is go on World Tour, and I’m going to compete until I do that.”
What excites the Mendia household today is their own version of giving back to the local surf community: Mendia Board ing School. The surf camp has run every summer for nearly a decade, and is a source of stoke and pride for the family. A com bination of soft tops, small summer waves, and the Lake Worth
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There’s no doubt that we are all products of our environment. While South Florida may not get the credit it deserves for being a training ground for surfers, it has shaped Peter and Kepa’s worldclass surfing resume.
@petemendia@k_epic_mendia_
“Whenever there’s waves at home, I’m trying to surf as much as possible,” Kepa said. “I’ve met kids from other places who don’t care to surf as much. I’m frothing to surf anything.”
Pier set the scene for what Peter calls “the pureness” of surfing. For someone who surfs some of the gnarliest waves in the most exotic locations, Peter gets just as psyched watching kids learn how to surf in the same waves that he once learned in.
SURF
PHOTO: ALI MENDIA
didn’t want a coach. “He is the only kid near his level that doesn’t have a coach,” Peter told me. Kepa’s excellent contest results to date speak for themselves.
So much has changed since Atlantic Current’s last feature on the Mendias, but at the same time, it doesn’t seem like much has changed at all.
“You don’t take surfing for granted living here,” Peter said. “If there’s a wave, you have to go.”
Keeping little feet on solid ground for 30 years. 561-706-4222Callwww.poolfence.comtodayforafreeestimate LIFETIME WARRANTY SELF-CLOSING & SELF-LATCHING GATES
MUSIC
HootenannyUproot
Brian Bolen (left) and Brian Trew (right)
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PHOTOS BY DUSTIN WRIGHT
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PHOTO: NATHAN HAMLER
If you’re one of the lucky ones, you’ll have spent your life living out your passion. If you’re one of the ultra lucky ones, this would entail traveling, jamming out on stage, sharing good vibes with thousands and thousands of people, and making life-long friendships all in a day’s work.
BY DARIEN DAVIES
Meet Brian and Brian,
The band began in 2007, with a lineup that included Brian Bolen, David Welch, Mike Kayne, Beau Myer, and Mike Kane.
“Crazy it’s been 10 years, that was a great party at Kahunas!,” said Brian Trew, recounting the band’s performance at Atlantic Current’s inaugural release party a decade ago. “Yeah, a ton has happened with us. We’ve played loads of festivals, released an album, traveled up and down the East Coast, went to Ireland more than a dozen times, had some really great times. We’ve gone through some line up changes, but the Hootenanny spirit has never changed.”
who, by this standard, are some of the luckiest craic-loving people out there.
15 Years of Good Pickin’
“It’s a southern term meaning ‘an informal gathering of folk music and dancing.’ Bar owners would kind of look at us like, ‘you know we only booked a two piece, right?’ We just love playing for people, and we still love it,” Trew said. “I’m excited to have my 2-year-old come out to shows and experience live music. Maybe one day come up and play with the old man, haha!”
Much like the rest of the music world, COVID put a kink in their performance schedule, so when venues didn’t have the budget for a full band, the Brian duo started their own “Whiskey Wednesday” act at local places to just get by and keep spirits high. Slowly, and thankfully, the band is getting back to normal, welcoming bass player Chris Bonelli back to the stage, joining Bolen on guitar/vo cals and Trew on fiddle/vocals. For bigger shows, you’ll find banjo player Nigel Ledford from Firewater Tent Revival joining in as well.
MUSIC 22
fter playing some open mics and picking up some paying gigs around town, the band basically just formed around the people that were out at the gigs. It seemed like we provided a place for social gatherings of like-minded people in search of a good time,” said Bolen, who started playing electric guitar when he was 10, which is when he felt that he was actively engaging and emulat ing the music he was listening to, instead of being kind of passively compelled by it. “If we were friends and you played an instrument, you were basically in the Hootenanny. The band was a very natural and organic manifestation.”
Then along came Brian Trew, who was studying classical music at FAU, who caught their show at the Irishmen in Boca and started talking to the group while they were on a break. You know, just the casual “I have a fiddle in my car” comment and it was a match made in let’s-see-what-happens heaven.
In the beginning, there would be anywhere from four to 11 people on stage, which is a party in itself. According to Trew, this is where the name “hootenanny” came from.
“A
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“There’s an amazing feeling I get when we are set up to play a show and I pause for a minute and think, ‘For the next few hours, my only job is to enjoy myself and play music I love with the people I love.’ Life becomes very simple and free. Your bandmates become your family, and the music and the audience become your world.”
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After unsuccessfully trying to pin down their musical genre, they came up with Americeltic Pubgrass, which, in a way, fits, because it makes little to no sense. But it feels like it’ll be fun, right? Lots of clapping, tapping, dancing and craic-inducing good times, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
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PHOTO: NATHAN HAMLER
“It’s still as fun as ever making people smile, and hopefully being the highlight of their week,” said Trew, who is excited that the band still plays locally every Thursday through Sunday. “Playing Ireland is always a blast. The last time we were there was for a huge festival, so that was definitely a memory I won’t forget. Just traveling with the lads in the van, having a laugh, playing tunes… you definitely pinch yourself sometimes that this is your living.”
“Communicating with bandmates and audiences through music is an incredible experience that I feel so fortunate to be able to participate in. There’s music for every mood, yet music can also set a mood. Somewhere in between is where the communication between the performer and audience takes place,” Bolen said. “There’s an amazing feeling I get when we are set up to play a show and I pause for a minute and think, ‘For the next few hours, my only job is to enjoy myself and play music I love with the peo ple I love.’ Life becomes very simple and free. Your bandmates become your family, and the music and the audience become your world.”
And a fun, energetic, memorable living at that. It’s almost some thing that you can’t quite describe, and that’s okay because the band can’t either.
They also have a trip to Ireland planned for Sept. 2022, which always gives them a big boost, and Bolen has been writing some new tunes so they’re looking forward to releasing an EP.
“South Florida is such an awesome community, with so many great restaurants, bars and venues for live music. We’ve been to gether for 15 years now and it’s all because folks keep coming out and keep it alive,” Trew said. “I mean, it’s the dream! Get paid to play tunes with your buddies, travel, drink on the job, make peo ple happy, it’s the best! Since I was 12 I’ve been in a band. Making music and making people happy is what I always want to do.”
@uproothootenanny
“I’ve been writing some new music as well as revisiting some ideas from years ago that we never really put together. This is a similar formula that led to our previous albums,” said Bolen, who can’t really remember a time when he wasn’t into music (and it shows). “We like to let nature take its course while recording and usually end up with some groovy, some folky, some jammy, some Celtic, and some whiskey songs. We’re looking forward to the future.”
But, for the band, it has been and always will be about playing their fast-twitch fingers for their friends and fans.
PHOTO: ZAK BENNETT
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MUSIC
Surfer Blood
Growing up in West Palm Beach, John Paul Pitts was writing songs as soon as he picked up a guitar. “Once I learned I could record my music on a computer I never looked back,” John recollects to Atlantic Current When he moved up to Orlando to attend the University of Central Florida, he met drummer Tyler Schwarz. “Tyler had a Built to Spill poster. We liked all the same bands, that college radio music. So, we started fleshing out songs that I wrote,” John said.
Left to right: Michael McCleary, Lindsey Mills, Tyler Schwarz, John Paul Pitts
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They put some of those early renditions of Surfer Blood songs on the internet. To their surprise, they garnered a devoted following, including one pivotal person, Thomas Fekete. “We met Thomas at a party in Miami. He said he loved our songs and wanted to learn them. We thought he was joking at first. But then he came over and learned all our songs on guitar,” John said.
West Palm Indie Faves Paddle Into Their Second Decade
BY DAVID ROLLAND
It was around 2009 when they bought a van on Craigslist and booked a run of shows around the country off Myspace and hit the road. John’s memories of audience’s collective indifference still bums him out. “I remember we played Chicago and only four people bought tickets and they were all our friends. I remember playing in Raleigh and people at the bar seemed bothered by our playing music,” John said. It was at a New York City show when things changed. They signed to the indie label Kanine Records, who agreed to put out their debut record “Astro Coast.”
PHOTO: AV PHOTOGRAPHY
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They’re also continuing to play live shows including a club gig on Friday, Sept. 23 at Propaganda in Lake Worth. On Saturday, Oct. 1, they will also play at Jupiter’s Abacoa Amphitheater where they will share an unlikely bill with ‘90s bands the Spin Doctors and Sister Hazel.
and a record of covers titled “Covers,” where Surfer Blood puts their spin on OutKast’s “Hey Ya!” and Modern English’s “I Melt With You.” John says there are plans afoot for even more Surfer Blood music. “I’m working on some demos. We have a studio space down in Boynton called Shade Tree Studios. It’s nice to have a place to go late at night if you want to lay down a drum track and not wake anyone else up,” John said.
Even though John and the rest of the band are working day jobs to pay their bills, looking back he can’t see Surfer Blood as anything but a major rock and roll success story. “I feel so lucky. We got to play in 23 countries. After a show you’d get to talk to locals and get an un-touristy view of the rest of the world. To do that in my 20s with great friends was amazing,” John said.
PHOTO: DAVID HAMZIK
But the good times didn’t last. Shortly after completion of their third record, “1000 Palms,” guitarist Thomas Fekete had to leave Surfer Blood after being diagnosed with cancer. On May 30, 2016, Fekete passed away at only 27 years of age. “He was the most de termined and smartest person I ever knew,” John said. “He taught me all the cool bands. When I met him, I only listened to Pavement and that’s it. He opened my horizons. He worked at a Delray record shop Backbone Music. A lot of times the owner didn’t have money to pay him, and he got paid in records, so he had a crazy collection. He was the accelerator of the group and was impossible to replace.”
“That first album was the first 10 songs I ever wrote. The songs on ‘Astro Coast’ were all demos. We thought we would re-record them, but the label was like, ‘nah,’” John said. The label made the right decision. “Astro Coast” got all kinds of love for Surfer Blood from rave reviews from the music media to appearances on nation al television to the chance to open for some of their musical heroes like the Pixies and Guided by Voices.
Surfer Blood went on though. Guitarist Michael McCleary and bass ist Lindsey Mills joined the band for their last two original albums
On one of those international shows, John remembers see ing what that next level of rock stardom could have been like. “We were playing these festivals in Australia. We were flying between cities, and we just happened to be on the same plane as The Strokes. We were just watching them. At baggage claim, they were dressed very cool waiting for their bags in their leather jackets and sunglasses. Tom still had his neck pillow on and asked us, ‘How can I look that cool?’ We were like, ‘maybe take off the neck pillow,’” John said.
@surferblood
PHOTO: AV PHOTOGRAPHY
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MUSIC
But Surfer Blood has had their share of success. Surely they must have occasionally been recognized from their appearances on Jimmy Fallon or being written up on Pitchfork? “It happens,” John admits. “When I lived in LA more often. When I was at the bank or Whole Foods or Ikea. I’m always happy about it. I take a picture with them, but every time I notice I’m dressed like abso lute shit. Guess that means I should start dressing nicer.”
YOURADHERE info@theatlanticcurrent.com561-449-2263 Support your local mag and promote your business at the same time.
WarmBuns,
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FOOD
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BY DARIEN DAVIES
Pauline’s idea was to open a little coffee shop where she’d bake out of the back and sell really good key lime pie, biscuits and the like, from a menu complete with only 10 items. But then the word spread, and the community grew hungrier. Mike decided to incorporate his love of smoking meats and expanded the menu to include pastrami, bacon and pork belly, and the rest is hospi tality history.
In our current days of restrictions, uncertainty and focusing on positivity or my personal favorite, “fake it ’til you make it” cooking for yourself and others isn’t just about filling your belly, it’s about filling your soul. And that’s exactly what husband and wife duo, Mike and Pauline, do every single day at their smallbut-mighty breakfast, brunch and lunch spot, The Sticky Bun.
Your alarm goes off, you rub your eyes, stretch your toes, and acknowledge that you’re starting your day. First step is breakfast. Your fridge might hold all the contents for the most important meal of the day, but who the heck wants to go through the effort.
Could and did. Mike and Pauline worked in the restaurant indus try for more than 20 years before they decided that if they were going to work mornings, nights, weekends and holidays, that they were going to do it for themselves.
“Everything is homemade. It makes a huge difference to us because it’s our name,” said Pauline, a kitchen girl at heart who bakes everything at the Bun. “It’s a little joint; the ‘little engine that could.’”
Cold Heart
Pauline and Mike Hrabovsky
The Sticky Bun’s Winning Recipe
PHOTOS BY DUSTIN WRIGHT
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The secret to their success? Effort and zero refrigerator space.
“We hate old food,” Pauline said. This is what makes the seeming ly simple menu so arguably delicious.
It might sound like a BLT, but it’s not. It’s the 6 Slicer BLT made with housemade bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado and mayo. Or the anti-standard House Biscuit with sausage, egg and cheese. And the House Smoked Brisket? So much yes with the cherry chipotle BBQ, pickled jalapeños and slaw on a toasted challah bun. Don’t blink past the House Smoked Turkey or you’ll miss a perfect combo of greens, tomato, and cranberry aioli on multi grain bread. If you’re busting at the seams, you’re ready for des sert, which includes Pauline’s famous sticky bun, paleo muffin, granola bar, key lime pie or slice, or dessert of the day. Order one for eating now and two to go, like a local.
“It just kind of happened. People want the real deal,” said Pauline, who still makes fresh biscuits, buns, muffins and more every morning. “Once you have our bacon, you know the differ ence. It just caught on. Our bread is good bread, too. We’re kind of a savage in the kitchen. Sometimes you just can’t help it.”
As their menu and following grew, so did their restaurant, as it doubled in size from when they first opened their oven doors in April 2015 over the course of about seven years. Pauline said they just kept getting bigger and bigger and busier and busier. Now, there’s something always going on, regardless of if it’s the smoker, the catering business or the wait to get in the door on the weekends.
There’s live music on Sundays, four-legged family members are always welcome and there’s indoor and outdoor seating for those who prefer either option. Or, grab your order and walk to Sulli van Park on the Intracoastal where you can spread out and let the kiddos run around. Everyone’s welcome, so come hungry and leave happy, which is how Pauline and Mike prefer it.
“This is laid-back, nonfine dining. We’re not going to get to you at all times to refill your coffee. But it’s quick and friendly service and a fun vibe,”
1619 S.E. Third Court, Deerfield Beach @the_sticky_bun
said Pauline, who has a love-hate relationship with being her own boss. “Our logo is ‘Warm Buns, Cold Heart,’ which is me, not Mike. I’m a kitchen girl learning how to deal with the front of the house. But our locals are freakin’ awesome and where else can you laugh, curse and joke around while you’re busting your ass all day with a bunch of fun young people!”
Even after decades in the cutthroat restaurant world, it’s a higher calling (and a tiny bit of insanity) to go into business for yourself and with your spouse, to boot. It’s personal and it’s never taken for granted, even on the earliest of mornings and the latest of afternoons.
“At least we made it, right? That’s a blessing,” said Pauline.
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Drew said, “Sure, we sell juices and all ingredients found in one, but really it’s a vehicle to impact people’s lives in a positive man ner on a regular basis.”
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What Soul Rebel offers truly is unique. In Drew’s words, “Where else in Palm Beach County or South Florida can you find a salad, grain bowl, toast, wrap, side dish, and/or dessert and more, from a menu curated by a Michelin Star chef, in a quick-service setting?”
Comfort food isn’t always deep-fried. At Soul Rebel, it’s pressed in house, fresh caught, and served with purpose. This is a non-ne gotiable standard to owner, Drew Thompson, who said, “Ethically sourced, organic foods are important to us for the same reasons kindness is important. You’ve got to be kind in this world. Kind to family members, kind to friends, kind to strangers, but most importantly and most overlooked; kind to yourself.”
Chris Morgan, the aforementioned Michelin Star chef, cultivated a menu of top-notch offerings. Refined ingredients like mascar pone and whipped ricotta are featured in Mind Bender (a toast with whipped ricotta, mascarpone, honey, black pepper, seasonal berried, granola and basil), and an omega-3 fix is also an option
One of the most prominent distinctions from just “juice bar” is Soul Rebel’s energy. Drew emphasized the importance of food as fuel, creating a loyal community, and establishing positive hab its. “Energy is contagious, and our goal is to have you vibrating at a higher frequency when you leave than when you came,” said Drew.
Since the last time Atlantic Current spoke to Soul Rebel, the business has undergone a huge transformation involving a menu expansion and interior remodel. Formerly Rock Steady, now Soul Rebel, this Jupiter staple has redefined what it means to be a “juice bar.” In terms of what Soul Rebel offers, the label is underwhelming.
PHOTOS BY NOTHING NEGATIVE CO. Drew Thompson (left) and Chris Morgan (right)
BY AVA BOURBEAU
Soul Rebel StillSteadyRockin’
201 N. US-1, Suite C5B, Jupiter @besoulrebel
“The menu items with musical influence were opportunities to not only shine light on these incredible artists, but also a creative
with Fish Outta Water (a salad with spicy dill buttermilk dress ing, lox, red cabbage, spinach, romaine, red onion, watermelon radish and cucumber).
Even if you’re looking to add to your playlists, look no further than the menu. You’ll find legends like The Beatles in Strawberry Fields Forever (a salad with strawberry tahini dressing, spinach, arugula, kale, strawberries, goat cheese, chickpeas, pickled red onion and cilantro), and The Grateful Dead as Ripple (a breakfast bowl with granola, labneh, almond butter, blueberries, strawber ries, honey, cinnamon and medjool dates).
opportunity to help tell the story of Soul Rebel and our beliefs. It is the message within the song and/or a feeling/experience while listening that has stuck with me throughout the years,” said Drew.
A strong personal mission has also stuck with Drew throughout the years. “Soul Rebel is a byproduct of seven years in business as Rock Steady; listening to the customers, learning from our mistakes, pivoting to the conditions of the market and filling a void within the community.” South Florida can certainly find comfort in that.
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PHOTO: FAU ATHLETICS
Starting quarterback Perry will also be enjoying his swan song as he is set to end a six-year collegiate playing career that started at the University of Miami and will eventually close in Boca Raton.
“I’m just excited by the growth and watching these guys develop,” said Owls coach Willie Taggart, who is in his third year at the helm after previous stints at Florida State and Oregon.
The Owls would like to finish off both eras in style while celebrat ing a bowl game appearance later this fall. And they already got off to a fast start.
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“We’ve played a lot of guys when they were young and because of that COVID year, they’re still young. So these young guys got some good experience then and we think that’s going to pay divi dends for us now. I’ve already seen that during this camp.”
Here’s Everything You Need to Know About FAU Football This Season
FAU’s home opener last Saturday, Aug. 27 against Charlotte marked the beginning of its final year competing within Confer ence USA as the entire athletics program will be moving to the American Athletic Conference in July 2023.
One player Taggart doesn’t have to worry about as far as expe
Two important eras will come to an end for the Florida Atlantic University football team when the Owls take the field this season.
The season-opening win was validation for an FAU squad that came together as a team during a strenuous training camp in the summer heat.
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BY AARON GRAY
Perry threw for 256 yards, tossed one touchdown, and rushed for another in FAU’s 43-13 win over Charlotte. Larry McCammon rushed for a team-high 118 yards as five different players scored touchdowns for the Owls. Among them was Justin McKithen, who returned an interception 63 yards for a score.
Taggart is also in his third year with the program. The high wa termark for success was set before he arrived in Boca Raton after his predecessor, Lane Kiffin, led the Owls to two Conference USA championships in 2017 and 2019.
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On the other side of the ball, the FAU defense will feature a heady linebacking corps led by veteran Eddie Williams and soph omore Chris Jones. Big-time transfers Morven Joseph (Tenessee) and Jamie Pettway (Missouri) will also bring a spark.
“[Perry] is a lot better than last year, and I thought he wasn’t bad last year,” Taggart said last week from the team’s on-campus practice field.
The Owls’ leading wideout from last year, LaJohntay Wester, along with the explosive Je’Quan Burton will be among Perry’s top targets in 2022. The signal-caller should also benefit from a stacked offensive line that returns four starters, not including Brendan Bordner, who transferred to FAU from Rutgers and will protect Perry’s weak side.
PHOTO: RALPH NOTARO
A much-improved defensive line will rely on Jaylen Joyner, who had four sacks last season, to wreak havoc coming off the edge.
“Now I just want to show that I am capable of doing that again, but at a higher and more successful rate. We’re going to win games this year. That’s all we’re focusing on.”
“I think this year fans will get to see a more aggressive defense along with an offense that will be exciting and will play more consistently,” he said. “We’re going to score some points.”
Taggart recruited Perry to join the program as a transfer last summer after he spent the previous four years with the Hurri canes.
“This is my last season of college, but to me, this is my most im portant year because prior, it was my first year of where I started from the first game to the very last,” said Perry, who threw for close to 2,800 yards with 20 touchdowns during his first season under center for the Owls.
“I think Perry now having some more weapons and having a whole year here, you will see the comfortability, and you will see how he is handling every rep. He has put in the work, too,” said Taggart, who praised Perry, a former Ocala Vanguard standout, for his commitment in the months leading up to training camp. “That young man was in the office all offseason, not by himself but with a receiver.”
Teja Young will anchor a secondary that has some holes to fill as cornerback Zyon Gilbert is now a rookie for the New York Giants. Look for junior Romain ‘Smoke’ Mungin to also make noise.
rience goes is Perry, who led the offense to a 5-7 campaign last season and will get the ball again in 2022.
“I’m hearing at training camp that Smoke is a lot more vocal than he’s been before,” Taggart said. “It’s all maturity. A lot of these guys are older now and a lot of them are in Year 3, so those things are supposed to happen.”
@faufootball
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