Boca magazine February 2021

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New name.

Same compassionate care.

BocaCare® and Bethesda Health Physician Group are now Baptist Health Medical Group North.

The names have changed, but our level of expertise hasn’t. So don’t put off seeking the medical attention you need. With convenient, multispecialty physician practices and a commitment to your health and well-being, we’re proud to be part of the Palm Beach County community.

BaptistHealth.net/BHMGNorth

For trusted family medicine and specialty care, look to Baptist Health Medical Group North Expert attention, patient convenience and ease of access define Baptist Health’s new physician practice group in Palm Beach County.

In a year that has challenged the health and well-being of far too many members of our community, BocaCare® and Bethesda Health Physician Group, two of Palm Beach County’s best-known multispecialty physician practices, have come together to form Baptist Health Medical Group North.

ensuring patients in our communities have access to physicians that are invested in their health,” says Nelson Lazo, CEO of Bethesda Hospital East and Bethesda Hospital West. “As the county’s health needs evolve, we’ll evolve with them.”

“While our community may soon begin to notice some visual changes, the professional connections and patient relationships these physicians have cultivated in this area for decades will remain in place — with a bright future ahead for additional growth,” says Lincoln Mendez, CEO of Boca Raton Regional Hospital and Baptist Health Medical Group North.

The new physician group will work closely with Baptist Health Medical Group, which operates physician offices in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. The Palm Beach County community now has referral access to the entire 11-hospital Baptist Health network, including renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences.

This newly aligned physician group gives residents and visitors access to a comprehensive network of clinicians committed to helping manage patients’ health and navigate advanced and long-term healthcare needs. Now, more than ever, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread, it is essential to continue prioritizing your health. That means regular visits with your physician — whether in person or virtually via telehealth.

Past patient satisfaction studies give the group’s physicians high marks for their empathy and compassion for patients’ worries and concerns. Patients also stated they have high confidence in these providers because they take the necessary time to use clear language to concisely communicate and explain patients’ problems and conditions, while including the patients in treatment discussions and decision making.

Baptist Health South Florida is a trusted healthcare organization known for providing expert patient- and family-centered care, delivered when and how patients want it. From traditional inoffice visits, strengthened with advanced safety measures to ensure social distancing, to the convenience of virtual telehealth visits from the comfort of home, Baptist Health Medical Group North is the latest example of the organization’s commitment to the health, safety and well-being of the Palm Beach County community.

“Our physicians now working under the Baptist Health Medical Group North banner share a common mission to prevent, treat and manage acute and chronic illnesses and diseases through ethical, evidence-based clinical practices. We are proud of our record of excellent patient safety and our satisfied patients, providers and employees,” says Gerald Robinson, M.D., vice president and physician lead for BocaCare®.

“As the population of Palm Beach County continues to grow, Baptist Health Medical Group North will play a key role in

Baptist Health’s culture of innovation will further benefit Palm Beach patient care. A new mobile app debuting in 2021 will make delivery and coordination of care even easier for patients.

For more information, call 844-94-MYDOC (844-946-9362) or visit BaptistHealth.net/BHMGNorth.

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FEBRUARY 2021 › VOL. 41, ISSUE 2

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Three years after his 17-year-old daughter lost her life to a gunman’s bullet, Parkland’s Fred Guttenberg shares how he has channeled bottomless grief into righteous activism.

This season’s jewelry shimmers against a wash of ocean treasures.

By JOHN THOMASON

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Single in 2021

Sociological shifts, internet algorithms and a global pandemic are reshaping how we date in a new decade. Meet the South Florida singles navigating this bumpy terrain.

By CHRISTIANA LILLY

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Sea Treasures

Photography by AARON BRISTOL

68

Florida Sons and Daughters

Florida’s Black leaders and entertainers, authors and pioneers, have been shaping American culture for more than a century. In honor of Black History Month, we honor 17 figures who broke barriers and broadened perspectives.

By JAMES BIAGIOTTI, MARIE SPEED and JOHN THOMASON

62 AARON BRISTOL

The Boca Interview

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20 Editor’s Letter

106 Backstage Pass

136 Hometown Hero

Fusty as they may seem today, the courtship rituals of yesteryear resonate with a clarity that is lost in the impersonal haze of dating in the 2020s.

Nicole Perry, South Florida theatre’s most sought-after intimacy director, reflects on how choreography, context and consent factor into performative kissing, touching and more.

Not long after the death of influential colleague Charlie Siemon, Festival of the Arts co-founder Wendy Larsen discusses the formation, legacy and future of their signature Boca event.

By JOHN THOMASON

By MARIE SPEED

By MARIE SPEED

23 The Local An entrepreneurial Boca couple breaks the news on their novel website, the Junior League celebrates a half-century of community improvement, and a Hall of Fame powerboat racer makes a splash in private equity. Plus, locals share Valentine’s Day plans, we follow the thread of luxury linens, and much more.

109 Eat & Drink

By JAMES BIAGIOTTI, MARIE SPEED and

By LYNN KALBER

JOHN THOMASON

34 The Look Bold reds, audacious sparkle and moto magic define our Valentine’s Day palette.

Photography by AARON BRISTOL

Our review-driven guide to the finest dining in South Florida spotlights Henry’s at The Breakers and Basilic. Plus, a Master Sommelier on the best dessert wines to sweeten a Valentine’s feast, and local restaurateurs expand meatless options to meet a growing demand.

34

130 Social As social gatherings gradually returned this past fall, locals personalized their pumpkins, learned about vaccine safety, and toasted Impact 100 with a Champagne bash at the Town Center Neiman’s.

By JAMES BIAGIOTTI

bocamag.com

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Advertising and event resources

The place with everything you’ve been looking for Whether you want to take a yoga class, get a great workout in the fitness room, lounge by the saltwater pool and poolside bar, enjoy award-winning cuisine at Farmer’s Table, listen to wonderful music under the stars on our Garden Terrace or simply enjoy a great cup of tea with friends in the TrendTea Lounge... just know that our dedication to your well-being will show.

At the Wyndam Boca we focus on healthy minds, spirts and bodies. Here you will find all of this as well as an amazing community-oriented staff that is proud to treat you like an old friend.

Newly Renovated Guest Rooms Private dining available for that special family or business occasion 561-368-5200 | WyndhamBoca.com

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Take advantage of Boca Raton magazine’s prime advertising space—put your ad dollars to work in the premier publication of South Florida. For more information, or to partner with Boca Raton on a community event, call 561/997-8683 ext. 300, or email nicole@bocamag.com.

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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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Letter to the Editor Boca Raton magazine 1000 Clint Moore Road, #103 Boca Raton, FL 33487

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 fine, reliable resource for residents and tourists. For more information, contact Lynn Kalber (lynn@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. bocamag.com

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February 2021

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FROM THE EDITOR

Single in SoFla 2021

Navigating modern love back in the day at least had guidelines Written by MARIE SPEED

n this issue we take a look at singledom in 2021, how single people meet other single people in South Florida, what it’s like “out there” and the joys and heartbreak of the wrong swipe.

We talked about this at the office. I asked some younger colleagues how it was to “date” these days, and they looked at me like I had two heads.

It appears that you only date people to whom you are practically engaged; otherwise, you travel in large packs from bar to bar or to brunch or to the gym, or you circumvent the formalities entirely and plunge directly into a one-night stand. Or four.

I could go on, but it only underscores how dismally out of touch I am when it comes to modern love. I know nothing.

Unlike when I was 16 or 17, and had everything figured out. This is that golden age when you do, in fact, know it all, including how to navigate what was our whole rock-solid dating system.

The process began with ascertaining interest on both sides—meaning each potential datee had to admit to “liking” the other one to at least one other witness—followed by a rapid and efficient chain of communication that could go from homeroom to fifth-period study hall in a matter of hours. This acknowledgement of two willing people officially “liking” one another was generally followed by a phone call no later than Wednesday night for a date the following weekend.

Wednesday night was key, as that was considered the very last weeknight one could arrange a date; after that, it was considered “last minute.” It just was not done.

The phone call was vital (the boy always called). And it invariably came before you were finished eating dinner with your family (another quaint tradition). You would hear the phone ring, but you knew you were not allowed to leave the table to answer it. Not even if someone thought it was Publishers Clearing House. In fact, you did not even bother asking. It was torture. You could tell by the ring it was him; you really could.

If he called back, and the date was arranged, he arrived around twilight Saturday night when your parents were trying to decide between two truly awful TV options: Lawrence Welk or “Hee Haw.”You had to bring him in to introduce him to your parents, and this was always awkward, especially as your father had a way of seeing though the boy’s eyelids straight to the back of his skull, like X-ray vision. He could sense weakness the way a lion scans the savannah for a wounded baby wildebeest. It was almost unbearable.

And that’s how dates began, and they either led to more dates or they did not. And if things clicked, you might go steady. Or some day you might break up and cry yourself to sleep, or maybe find yourself having another crush on another boy. It was all so ordered back then; things progressed in defined stages, and everyone knew what the rules were.

Today, I have no idea what the rules are. The idea of dating websites horrifies me. In fact, I am genuinely amazed when kids actually manage to get together. Then again, I imagine the heart will find a way—at least I hope it does—just as it did with us all that time ago.

EDITOR's LETTER FEB21.indd 20

1/7/21 5:05 PM

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Stephann L. Cotton, Licensed Real Estate Broker. *Membership, pricing and dues subject to change.

23 THE LOCAL B O C A C H AT T E R H OT L I S T CHARITY MEDIA ENTREPRENEUR T H E LO O K LU X U RY DRINK WO RT H T H E T R I P

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Little Palm Island

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THE LOCAL

17

Percentage of diners who opt for Italian food on Valentine’s Day

45

Percentage of adults who will not celebrate Valentine’s Day

9 million

Number of marriage proposals made on Valentine’s —wallethub.com

BOCA CHATTER

Community Love Story Hats off to Impact 100 Palm Beach County on its 10th anniversary year as a major grant funder in our area—in a way that spares us from yet another formal gala (which we can’t really do now anyway). Impact 100 PBC was founded in 2011 by Lisa Mulhall, Tandy Robinson and Cindy Krebsbach, based on a fundraising model that involved drafting women donors who would agree to pay $1,000 each directly to the organization and then awarding the combined total to a number of charities who would“prove their case”before the group.

No overhead, No fancy galas, no fuss. Just cold cash given directly to its deserving beneficiaries for specific programs and purposes.

The three women made the first $100,000 grant from Impact 100 PBC in April 2012 with 143 members.“We were inspired by the simple concept of one woman, one donation, one vote to grant millions of dollars to the southern Palm Beach County community,” said Robinson.“Impact 100 PBC’s goal is to grow our membership to new heights in order to provide more grant funding to the local community. We would love to have 600 members this year so we can grant $600,000 to deserving nonprofits.”

Tandy Robinson, Lisa Mulhall and Cindy Krebsbach

Since its inception, Impact 100 PBC has awarded more than $3.8 million in grants to 68 local nonprofits. For the 2020 grant year, the organization had 565 members and was able to grant $565,000 to local nonprofits in southern Palm Beach County between Boca Raton and Lake Worth Beach.

Congratulations to a visionary group of women whose “impact”becomes more powerful every year.

Locals sound off on issues affecting our community.

How will you celebrate Valentine’s Day this year?

“We’ll probably have a socially distanced dinner outdoors in Delray and then enjoy a walk around the Ave.” —ALLISON FERRANTE, TEACHER

“This Valentine’s Day I’ll start the day pre-dawn by running a few miles with my Valentine husband Nathan, make a Sunday breakfast of homemade chicken and waffles, have dinner at one of our favorite restaurants and, of course, have plenty of Chocolates by Mr. Roberts all day long!”

—MERRY MORRIS, HOSTESS WITH THE MOSTEST

AARON BRISTOL

—FRAN NACHLAS, RN, PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF SAFESUN™

“After a small traditional dinner party, we all play hearts in honor of our Valentines!”

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25 THE CHOCOLATE FIX This is not the month to deny yourself chocolate; this is the month that practically invented it. So here’s where to go to ostensibly buy a Valentine’s Day gift but really just to treat your own bad self.

Cristino Chocolates, founded by Gloria Hosh, is as elegant as the family’s jewelry store—and a whole lot more delicious. The name was inspired by her sons, Christopher and Constantine, and the flavor can be attributed to Gloria’s long experience working with world-famous chocolatiers.

From the understated, meticulous packaging to the rich and varied flavors, this is chocolate that went to college. We recommend it all but have a soft spot

for the chocolate truffle bears.

You heard us right. Cristinochocolates.com, 561/306-1569.

Since Paul Hoffman bought a small candy business in Lake Worth in 1975, the name Hoffman’s Chocolates has been synonymous with homemade chocolate (and a now-famous holiday display). There are four locations now in Palm Beach County with all kinds of goodies, but we think the Hoffman’s Chocoholic Survival Kit is brilliant, with everything from chocolate bars, chocolate-covered pretzels and a “snoodle,” described as“Hoffman’s original creation combining buttery smooth caramel and crispy pretzel pieces enveloped in our fine milk chocolate

and dappled with chocolate jimmies.” 5250 Town Center Circle, Suite 135, Boca Raton, 561/750-0021.

Chocolates By Mr. Roberts traces its lineage to Vienna and Switzerland, where Heinz Robert Goldschneider studied with top chocolate artisans back in the day. After moving to America and meeting with success in Manhattan, Goldschneider started Chocolates

By Mr. Roberts here in 1982, which is now a longtime Boca treasure. Although Heinz Robert Goldschneider died in 2011, his legacy remains in Boca, and that one-pound box of truffles is 32 pieces of wonder. 505 N.E. 20th St., Boca Raton, 561/3923007.

February Do-Not-Miss Events

Viennese rock crystal and silver gilt crane tazza, both from the Palm Beach Show

LOCAL CHATTER FEB21.indd 25

• The PalmBeach Show (formerly the Palm Beach Art & Antiques Show) is a top-notch art and antiques show that is currently scheduled Feb. 11-16 at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. No word yet on what accommodations will be made for social distancing, or if the Thursday night preview party will be a go.

650 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach, palmbeachshow.com

• “Real Bodies,” at the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium, which runs through April 11, uses actual human bodies preserved through liquid plastic and“takes visitors on a journey, asking them to explore who they are, where they come from and what they choose to do with the life and body they have.”The current exhibition, which has enjoyed much success elsewhere, now has a COVID component that shows the impact of the pandemic on the human body. 4801 Dreher Trail N., West Palm Beach, 561/832-1988.

• The 36th Annual Artigras Fine Arts Festival moves this year to an open-air, reduced-crowd-and-capacity event to Gardens County North District Park, 117 Court North, Palm Beach Gardens. This beloved fine arts exhibition will have hand washing stations, health checks and will require masks.

Sat., Feb. 13,10 a.m. to 6 p.m,; Sun., Feb. 14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $11 in advance, $15 at the door.

“Love is something sent from heaven to worry the hell out of you.”

—DOLLY PARTON

5

GREAT VALENTINE’S DAY MOVIES THAT ARE NOT “THE NOTEBOOK” Sleepless In Seattle Notting Hill The Proposal Letters to Juliet Something’s Gotta Give

1/11/21 2:18 PM

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THE LOCAL

HOT LIST

“CELEBRATING THE NORTON: EIGHTY YEARS”

WHERE: Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach WHEN: Feb. 5June 13 COST: $15-$18 CONTACT: 561/8325196, norton.org It’s been a year since any new exhibits, but the Norton is making up for lost time. “Celebrating the Norton” chronicles its own history through never-before-seen documents, photographs and other archival materials displayed alongside signature works the Norton has acquired over 80 years. Other exhibits opening this month are “Waiting for the Night to Bloom,” a survey of Colombian-born artist María Berrío; “Krome,” Jose Alvarez’s prison-made drawings; and “Art Finds a Way,” a series of artists’ responses to issues of racial injustice.

NOTE:

Some of these events may end up being canceled or postponed due to COVID-19.

Please confirm before purchasing tickets and/or attending.

—Ed.

bocamag.com

LOCAL HOTLIST FEB21.indd 26

••••

WHERE: NSU Art Museum, 1 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale WHEN: Feb. 27-Sept. 19 COST: $5-$12 CONTACT: 954/525-5500, nsuartmuseum.org Michigan-born fashion designer Anna Sui is nothing less than a pop-culture omnivore, saturating herself in every era, trend and style, and producing visionary ensembles rooted in myth and mystery. In the 75 collections she has designed since her 1991 catwalk debut, her themes have spanned from Swinging Sixties London to Nineties Grunge, Technicolor Cinema, the Wild West, Ballet Russes, French New Wave Cinema, Exotic Polynesia—even Vikings!“The World of Anna Sui,”arriving in Fort Lauderdale after its lauded tours in Shanghai, Tokyo and New York, features more than 100 of her looks, presented in the context of their original backdrops, and exploring her creative process; collaborations with supermodels, makeup artists and fellow-designers; and more.

JOSHUA JORDAN

“THE WORLD OF ANNA SUI”

Anna Sui retrospective

THE CAPITOL STEPS

WHERE: Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West

Sui iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

PALM BEACH OPERA OUTDOOR FESTIVAL WHERE: iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, 601-7 Sansburys Way, West Palm Beach WHEN: Feb. 19-27 COST: $20 and up CONTACT: 561/833-7888, pbopera.org For the first time, the opera is going al fresco.

Typically, Palm Beach Opera’s three-show season runs at the Kravis Center, but these are anything but typical times. Instead, the company will produce three outdoor operas, for two performances each.

They include some of the most beloved works in the operatic canon:“La Boheme,”about bohemian artists in Paris’ Latin Quarter (Feb. 19 and 24);“The Magic Flute,”Mozart’s beastly fantasy (Feb. 21 and 26); and “Pagliacci,”a meditation on the connection between life and art that is set around a traveling theatre troupe in Italy (Feb. 23 and 27). All three will be performed concert-style with minimal staging—and, yes, those golden-voiced actors will be placed at least six feet apart. So will you; the iTHINK Amphitheatre at the South Florida Fairgrounds will be limited to 30 percent of its usual capacity.

Palm Beach WHEN: Feb. 26-March 14 COST: $45 CONTACT: 561/832-7469, kravis.org Lordy, can the news cycle use a laugh! The Capitol Steps’ annual winter residency at the Kravis Center, assuming it goes on as scheduled, arrives following a year of political pandemonium and unrest, a public health crisis and an economic recession, none of which lend themselves to humorous headlines. But if any troupe can find the comic lining in clouds of tragedy, it’s the Capitol Steps, the collective of theatrically trained singers/actors celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

The Steps’ sets are a polished combination of“SNL”style sketches, song parodies and monologues heavy on spoonerisms and other Catskills-style wordplay. They have been plying their trade of nonpartisan satire across 43 albums, and are living proof, one hopes, that even in a time of political blood sport, we can still laugh at each other’s ideological foibles. I for one look forward to seeing Anthony Fauci belt out a scratchy standard, and to experience the Capitol Steps’ take on the Great Mask Divide.

Capitol Steps

February 2021

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THE LOCAL

CHARITY

The League Marches On

The Boca Raton Junior League marks its 50th year Written by MARIE SPEED

—Cristy StewartHarfmann

bocamag.com

••••

T

he old trope of the Junior League’s white-gloved approach to community service may have held true across America in the 1950s—but that was then. Today’s League is still all about community, but the projects are serious life changers.

And the impact is deep.

The League is an outgrowth of what was in the 1970s the old Junior Service League in Boca, which 27 women formed in 1971, just a few years after IBM arrived in Boca Raton, the Boca Raton Community Hospital was dedicated, the 26-story pink tower at the Resort went up and Marymount College became the College of Boca Raton.

“We started the League because Boca was expanding, and a number of Junior League members moved to Boca [from Fort Lauderdale and other places],” recalls Jeanne Bauer, now 89, who is one of the three original founders of the Junior Service League, along with Joan Moseley and LeeAnn Burns.“We would have to drive to Fort Lauderdale and the League to do our volunteer things. We felt that Boca should start a League,” she says.

“Joan flew to New York to get the bylaws for us to start our own league, but it couldn’t be a Junior League till it had a number of members under the age of 35. And that took us 20 years to finally get it all together—but we did start the Junior Service League.”

Bauer says back then most women were “housewives,” and the league was very different than it is today.

“It was so different then,” she says.“You had to be ‘known’ by so

many people [before you were accepted into membership], and it was all the white-glove-andreception-line thing. I am so glad it’s changed.”

In those early years, the Junior Service League focused on creating a Boca Raton Historical Society (under its “first motivator” Patsy Chamberlain, according to Baur) and organizing fundraisers to support it from the Front Porch Consignment Shop (1975) to traveling puppet shows, tennis tournaments and more. A campaign was also launched to relocate and restore the old Myrick house (ca. 1917) into the Singing Pines Children’s Museum (1976-1979), and along the way, the Fruit Mart (1976) emerged, distributing 20,000 pounds of fruit to community agencies. By 1977, there were 85 members; by 1984, it became an official Junior League.

“In the 1970s and ‘80s the majority of our members were stay-at-home women,” says current League President Cristy Stewart-Harfmann.“The Junior League was almost their career.

When the children went to school, they volunteered.

“Today, the majority of our members are working women trying to balance their volunteer work with working full-time and being a mother and a wife or best friend. It’s a lot more of a juggle these days than it was in the ‘70s,“ Stewart-Harfmann says.

This year, the Junior League of Boca Raton is celebrating its 50th anniversary and numbers almost 800 diverse members. Its focus has expanded to issues related to

Cristy Stewart-Harfmann

education, children, women’s issues, underserved populations, alcohol awareness, abused and neglected teenagers, and children and adults with disabilities.

It monitors and advocates for legislation. Along the way, it won a James Beard award for its 1999 cookbook and established the annual Woman Volunteer of the Year luncheon, which has bestowed a highly prestigious award to a notable volunteer for 33 years now.

The pandemic has presented the League with plenty of challenges this year, like everyone else. It has galvanized the League to start a diaper bank at Boca Raton Innovation Campus. The luncheon was replaced by a virtual celebration of the league and volunteerism.

Stewart-Harfmann says,“The word is flexibility right now in these COVID times. It’s trying to figure out how we can still make the greatest impact in the community. And we have three different focus areas: child welfare, nonprofit support and hunger—feeding our community. We continue to partner with nonprofits in the area to continue to make an impact in all of those areas.”

LUANN WARNER-PROKO

The word is flexibility right now in these COVID times. It’s trying to figure out how we can still make the greatest impact on the community.”

February 2021

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THE LOCAL

MEDIA

News Fix

A Boca couple launches an information site free of political influence Written by JOHN THOMASON

It’s condescending to constantly tell people, ‘we have to tell you how to interpret this story.’

I can’t be the only one who thinks this way.”

—Paul Einbinder

I

t’s Nov. 3, the day of the 2020 presidential election. But the headlines on a west Boca entrepreneur’s news website have nothing to do with vote counting, battleground states, controversial tweets or any of the era’s Beltway paroxysms large and small.

Instead, visitors to Paul Einbinder’s NewsWithoutPolitics.com find articles about what the hibernation of bears can teach humans, how the children’s song“Baby Shark” became the most-viewed YouTube video of all time, and the best way to increase the trees and shrubs in your home garden by using hardwood cuttings. Einbinder’s venture, which he launched in June 2020 with his wife, Karen Isaacs, is as straightforward as its name, offering a respite from the political news that has come to dominate mainstream and alternative media alike. So the site’s founders scour the internet for reliably sourced information and human-interest stories that don’t make it onto cable newscasts or the front pages of newspapers.

“The real crime is that you have to dig,”says Einbinder, 63.“You have to creep around to find that, say, 150 people died in an explosion in Nigeria...We’re being denied quick access to other information.”

Einbinder and Isaacs chose a bitterly polarized year to start a website that endeavors to exist above the fray, which makes Einbinder’s work that much more challenging; sometimes he has to rewrite or edit out biases in the articles he aggregates.

“It’s condescending to constantly tell people,‘we have to tell you how to interpret the story,’”Einbinder says.“I can’t be the only one who thinks this way...It’s like, it’s enough already! What else is out there?”

Later in 2020, the couple launched NewsWithoutBias.com to cover the day’s political stories without a slant.

A self-described“semi-hippie” in his youth, Einbinder grew up on Long Island with an avid interest in emerging green technologies.

But he ended up sharing a career with his father, who ran a business in Manhattan’s Garment Dis-

trict. It wasn’t until 2019 that he circled back to his passion for eco initiatives, founding Eco Prefer Solutions, an online company selling natural pest-control products, bamboo drinking cups and more.

Paul and Karen moved to west Boca full-time in 2017.“We said, ‘let’s just stay here and reinvent ourselves,”Einbinder recalls. Today they balance their time between NewsWithoutPolitics, NewsWithoutBias and Eco Prefer.

And though NewsWithoutPolitics is a labor of love—it has not welcomed advertisers as of this writing—it is gradually catching on, and the founders have an ambitious business plan, hoping to add sponsored content, video interviews and, possibly, a cable TV show as early as this year.

Einbinder sees in his target audience the overly saturated consumer eager for an escape.“You might check out the politics of the morning [in other media] and fill yourself up with it—but I want to make it an easy go-to place to see what else is out there.”

AARON BRISTOL

Paul Einbinder and Karen Isaacs

bocamag.com

••••

February 2021

LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR FEB21.indd 30

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19 WORLD-CLASS

OCEANFRONT RESIDENCES

ARTIST’S CONCEPT

A PREMIER OCEANFRONT LIVING EXPERIENCE IN SOUTH FLORIDA Our exquisite Ocean Delray condo development, which sits on more than 200 feet of private shoreline, is perfectly designed for the most exclusive lifestyles. Personal privacy, including 9 private and semi-private lobbies and elevators, intersects with luxury living at our one-of-a-kind development that features only 19 units. This exclusivity, paired with our luxury condo amenities, separates Ocean Delray from anything else in the marketplace.

On-site construction continues at a rapid pace and we will be delivering in early 2021.

Ready to see this piece of paradise for yourself? Reach out today to schedule your on-site tour.

If you’re in the area, visit our design center at 1053 E. Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach.

W IT H O NLY 50% O F T HE RESIDENC ES REMAINING, TH E TIME TO AC T I S N OW! O C E A N D E LRAY.C O M 800.793.9783 | INFO@OCEANDELRAY.COM 1053 E. ATLANTIC AVE, DELRAY BEACH, FL 33483 RESIDENCES STARTING AT $5.8M TO $9M Oral representations cannot be relied upon as correctly stating representations of the seller. For correct representations, make reference to this brochure and to the documents required by section 718.503, Florida statutes to be furnished by a seller to a buyer or lessee. All dimensions, features, and specifications are approximate and subject to change without notice. Brokers warmly welcomed.

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ENTREPRENEUR

Power Broker

In business or on the water, entrepreneur and provocative powerboat champion Dave Branch is flying high

D

SUPER DAVE Over the past year, Branch was recognized by these organizations for his work with Viper Equity Partners: BEST OF 2020 in Investment Banking by the Miami Beach Award Program TOP 100 in Finance

by Top 100 magazine ONE OF 2020’S TOP 100 Global Leaders in Finance at the Global Conference on Insurance & Finance

bocamag.com

••••

ave Branch has been making waves his entire life.

Today, he’s making a big splash in the private equity world with Viper Equity Partners, a leading consultation firm for the medical industry. The company has closed more than $2 billion in deals and built up a 97-percent closing rate, scooping up accolades in the process. He has achieved it through the relentless drive he has brought to all of his endeavors, whether dressed in cuff links or swim trunks.

It started when he was a child, splitting his formative years between Delray Beach and the Bahamas, where his father was a builder, and where he describes himself as a “total hell-raiser.” He took up surfing, and by 13 he was riding waves professionally. That was his life for five years.

Branch once drove a pickup truck, with a surfboard, a Rottweiler in the backseat, and a mattress on the truck bed, from Maine to Key West, sleeping in his car and hitting every major surf spot along the way.“I’d pick up extra money by cleaning restaurants or bars at night for a case of beer and 50 bucks,”he recalls.“I’d get to the next town, and if they had good surf I’d stay for a month.”

Following his tenure as a surfer, Branch attended Loyola University in New Orleans, where he took a shine to Cajun cuisine—bartending on Bourbon Street and cooking crawfish for wealthy patrons to help pay for college. One client, Popeye’s Fried Chicken owner Al Copeland, invited Branch to join him on a powerboat race in which Copeland was competing. As Branch remembers it,“these 50 powerboats came into the first turn at 100-plus miles

per hour, and I said,‘that’s me.’ I’m going to do that, whatever it takes.

So once I got the means to do that, in 1994, I started my own team, and the rest is history.”

History, indeed: Branch and his Love Muscle Racing team—his boat’s symbol was an image of a tongue licking its lips—have been enshrined in the American Powerboat Association Hall of Fame, on the strength of 11 national championships, three world titles and 73 checkered flags.“We went on to be the winningest team in the history of the sport,” he says.

With the glory came injury, even near-death.“I broke my neck twice. I broke every bone in my body. I did it for 25 years—you’re not exactly sitting on the couch,” he says. Once, when he took a turn too fast, the boat capsized and ruptured its oxygen tanks, leaving Branch drowning at the bottom of the ocean until rescue divers cracked through the boat’s roof and pulled him out.“All I remember is waking up to the sound of helicopters hovering over me,”he says.

“It’s like anything in any sport—there’s a line. Surfing was the same. If you’re going to pick a wave that’s going to come in close to the ocean, and there’s coral there, and you fall and you hit that coral, you’re dead. If you’re going to fly a motocross bike excessively high, and you lose control of that, you end up in a wheelchair or worse. You’re always very aware of where the line is.”

Offshore, Branch cultivated a notorious brand, marketing himself as Diamond Dave, a heavily tattooed hair-metal hedonist, and hosting macho festivals in Sarasota and Miami. On some years,

caged exotic dancers performed.

“I love women. I love rock ’n’ roll, and everything about the wild side of life,”he told a Sarasota reporter in 2013. (To me, he said,“I don’t want it to sound off-color, but I’ve always appreciated the finer things in life.”)

And yet Branch can also claim the mantle of family man. He’s been married for 33 years to his college sweetheart, has raised two adult children, and owns four dogs. His lucrative business career has long run parallel to his sporting life. Prior to starting Viper, he founded Horizon Sarasota LLC, a pioneering chain of MRI centers, and expanded it from one location to 75 in the Southeast U.S., before selling the company.

He retired from powerboat racing in 2015, which coincided with a move back to Palm Beach and the formation of Viper, which connects financial partners with medical providers in the fields of dentistry, dermatology and plastic surgery. Now 58, he is a particularly outspoken advocate for the latter.

“I’ve had plastic surgery, so I could really understand it,”he says.

“People need to realize, it isn’t what it was 20 years ago.You’re probably going to live to your 80s and 90s.

We all start going downhill at 50.

Simple things like Botox, injectibles, can make yourself feel better.”

One thing connects his dual careers of businessman and sportsman. He named his firm “Viper”after the fastest striking snake in the world, a reflection of his longtime motto,“one life, one speed.”

“It’s all over everything I have,” Branch says.“Except if I’m making a pot of gumbo. … It’s the only thing I don’t really attack.”

AARON BRISTOL

Written by JOHN THOMASON

February 2021

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November/December 2020

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34

THE LOCAL

THE LOOK

In the Pink

These girlie handbags are good to go when you are

BOTTEGA VENETA leather hobo bag, $1,250, Saks, Boca Raton MOSCHINO lacetrim shoulder bag, $995, Saks, Boca Raton

AARON BRISTOL

MARC JACOBS Snapshot camera bag, $295, Saks, Boca Raton

bocamag.com

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••••

February 2021

1/11/21 4:02 PM

Celebrate Our 2020 HEALTHCARE

S

Benefiting the Ron and Kathy Assaf Center for Excellence in Nursing

With Sincere Appreciation, We Recognize Our Premier Sponsor

Stanley Barry and Jerry Glassman Honorary Chairs

Our Exclusive Media Sponsor

Amy Ross and Judi Larkin Co-Chairs

Dwek Foursome Gottsegen Foursome

Keeley Foursome

GOLF 2020 THANK YOU AD FINAL.indd 1

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THE LOCAL

THE LOOK

BURBERRY jacket, $1,990, Saks, Boca Raton VERSACE bustier, $775, Saks, Boca Raton BALENCIAGA sunglasses, $350, Grove Opticians BACIAMI skirt (back shown), $325, Baciami Moda, Boca Raton CHRISTIAN DIOR J’Adior slingback pumps, $890, Saks, Boca Raton

bocamag.com

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••••

From Day to Dinner

Wear your heart on your sleeve all Valentine’s Day in this fresh take on business dressing

February 2021

1/8/21 12:44 PM

ENNIS PLASTIC SURGERY B E AU T I F U L M E D I C I N E ™ Sometimes Pictures Really Are Worth A Thousand Words

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Younger.

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ENNIS PLASTIC SURGERY L. Scott Ennis, MD, FACS Donna S. Ennis, ARNP The Gentle Injector

w w w.Enni sMD.com 561-266-4439 | 233 S Federal Hw y, Boca Raton, FL

38

THE LOCAL

THE LOOK

Sunnies Love Try on some sweet new sunglasses 1. YSL heart glasses, $420, Grove Opticians 2. IO glasses, $550, Grove Opticians 3. ETE glasses, $690, Grove Opticians 4. FABULOUS FANNYS glasses, $390, Grove Opticians 5. OSCAR & FRANK glasses, $249, Eye Catchers Optique

1

6. ETNIA BARCELONA glasses, $285, Eye Catchers Optique 3

4

5

AARON BRISTOL

6

LOCAL LOOK FEB21.indd 38

1/13/21 9:56 AM

At Royal Palm Place you can find something for everyone, as it boasts a fabulous variety of boutiques, art galleries, jewelers, salons, spas, and an array of specialties and services.

Set amidst flowering gardens, Mediterranean fountains and tranquil piazzas, you can indulge yourself or find that perfect gift for a special someone on your holiday list Federal Highway, South of Palmetto Park Road.

Downtown Boca Raton. www.royalpalmplace.com For Information (561) 392.8920

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THE LOCAL

THE LOOK

Moto & Shine

Mix it all up—from biker chic to glam sequins and sparkle

MOLLY BRACKEN jacket, $136, Sunday State Style Heart sunglasses, $25, Sunday State Style DOLCE GABBANA sequin midi skirt, $2,395, Saks, Boca Raton

CHLOE glitter sneakers, $550, Saks, Boca Raton

LOCAL LOOK FEB21.indd 40

AARON BRISTOL

AMINA MUADDI crystal mules, $985, Saks, Boca Raton

1/11/21 4:11 PM

Marshall Jacobs, General Manager/COO and Garrett Jacobs, LFD/Owner Operator

42

GLASSES FROM TOP CARTIER glasses, $945, Grove Opticians MAYBACH glasses, $2,450, Grove Opticians MAUI JIM glasses, $329, Eye Catchers Optique JOHANN VON GOISERN glasses, $399, Eye Catchers Optique

FENDI scarf, $630, Saks, Boca Raton

BURBERRY wallet, $190, Saks, Boca Raton

Boy Prizes

AARON BRISTOL

Here are a few Valentine’s gifts for the man in your life

bocamag.com

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••••

AARON BRISTOL

FENDI belt, $450, Saks, Boca Raton

February 2021

1/8/21 12:45 PM

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THE LOCAL

LUXE

Bedtime Story

Go on. Time to upgrade your linens and discover what sweet dreams are all about Written by STAFF

O Katie Green

Denise Silverman

Marissa Murphy

nce you sleep on luxury linens—names like Frette, D. Porthault, Pratesi, Sferra—there’s almost no going back.

Going for the best of the best may be out of reach for most, but you can always upgrade to more beautiful linens than those Costco ones in your cabinet (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

First, choosing what to buy begins with whether you opt for percale or sateen, which describes the way the threads are woven. (Percale is a “straightforward over-under grid,” while sateen has an “over-three, under-one pattern.”) Percale is considered “crisp,”and sateen is regarded as “smooth”or“silky.”

Thread count has long been a gauge of sheet quality, but the kind of cotton used in weaving sheets is actually a far more important indicator. Katie Green, who has been selling fine linens at DEA for 29 years, says the whole thread count thing is way overblown.

“It’s really the fiber that is used.

It should be Egyptian cotton or Supima cotton—woven and finished by someone who knows

what they’re doing. That would be the Italians, the Swiss, the Germans.”

Denise Silverman, president of Boca’s Closet Full of Linens, agrees.“There are some sheets with what may be a 1,000 thread count, but you sleep on them and it’s like sleeping on cardboard,”she says. Higher threadcount sheets can also cost more and may not perform as well in terms of “breathability;” in other words, they can heat you right up. The National Sleep Foundation recommends a 400 thread count or less, because anything more can trap body heat.

Instead of thread count, people who know their sheets know it’s all about the“fiber length”—the longer the better—and Egyptian and Pima are the preferred kinds of cotton for truly luxurious sheets.

DEA’s Green says the most beautiful sheets the third-generation house of DEA sells are embroidered, or trimmed in lace; she maintains that sheets should be only ivory or white.

Marissa Murphy of Pioneer Lin-

ens, family-owned since 1912, says the top cotton in terms of quality is Giza, and Pioneer’s two top lines are its private label Pioneer Linens Signature Collection, and sheets from another family mill in Portugal called Celso de Lemos.

“They are phasing out Egyptian cotton because it has been over-harvested, so the next cotton you are looking for is in Portugal or Italy.”she says.“A long staple cotton which is the next level below the Giza.”

Silverman swears by Closet Full of Linens’ Sferra Giza Egyptian cotton sateen or Milos sateen.

“They are from Italy, and they are really nice quality—the fabrics are absolutely beautiful and they wash beautifully.”

The million-dollar question, however, is if luxury linens make you sleep better—and the answer is a resounding“yes” from everyone we talked to.

DEA’s Green says,“You lay your head down on that beautiful pillow and you say ‘wow, this is really nice,’ and you close your eyes in a happy little blissful sleep.”

CLOSET FULL OF LINENS, 2200 Glades Road, Suite 103B, Boca Raton, 561/394-2424 DEA LUXURY ITALIAN LINENS, 341 Worth Ave., Palm Beach, 561/3661203 PIONEER LINENS, 210 N. Clematis St., West Palm Beach, 800/207-5463 Pioneer Linens

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THE LOCAL

DRINKS

Tequila Rita

This tequila margarita is berry, berry good Written by LYNN KALBER

J

ust as all vodka concoctions in a martini glass have automatically assumed the mantle of “martini,”so has tequila become the single defining factor in a battery of “margaritas.”

But we aren’t complaining.

This fresh pineapple, lime and blackberry Rita from Cutwater Spirits is a happy variation on the theme, and a delicious new addition to our South Florida craft cocktail repertoire.

2 OZ. CORRALEJO REPOSADO TEQUILA 1 ounce pineapple juice 1 ounce lime juice 1/2 ounce agave syrup 5 fresh blackberries Salt (for rim)

AARON BRISTOL

TO MAKE: Salt the rim of your glass.

Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake hard to chill and combine ingredients. Strain into your glass over fresh ice. Garnish.

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THE LOCAL

WORTH THE TRIP

Little Palm Island

This luxury resort in the Keys is back—and better than ever Written by MARIE SPEED

A

fter being walloped by Hurricane Irma in 2017, the legendary Keys resort Little Palm Island opened last spring after a complete makeover. Everyone’s heard of Little Palm. A private island a few miles off Little Torch Key (about 30 miles north of Key West), the island has long been known as a high-end romantic getaway—no phones, no TVs, fabulous gourmet dining—the island in the stream geared for couples seeking the privacy and luxury of a privileged world apart from ordinary life.

And it’s still like that.

Guests meet at the elegant little visitor’s check-in center on Little

suites and Premier suites are yet another option, which offer larger apartments and first-rate amenities on the island.

Neatly kept shell paths meander through the property, and there is a pool and the outdoor Palapa bar, which is where most people I saw spent their days. Of course you can arrange for other diversions such as fishing or snorkeling expeditions, or rev yourself up at the new fitness center. Spa lovers can lose themselves in the indulgent SpaTerre (which, by the way, offers “sound therapy” with Himalayan singing bowls, which you don’t see every day on spa menus).

Still, I suspect most who stay

THOMAS MAHR

LITTLE PALM ISLAND 28500 Overseas Highway, Summerland Key, 305/684-8341

Torch and take a private launch to the island (the island is also accessible by private boat or seaplane), which emerges from the aqua water like a British Colonial outpost in the West Indies. There are 30 thatched bungalows amid dense tropical foliage, all rimmed by the ocean, all with vaulted ceilings, cozy sitting rooms and decks, deep “boudoir” tubs, private outdoor showers and long views of the blue ocean. Guests can upgrade to an Island Romance Suite, which includes a large terraced deck with a copper outdoor tub, a couples’ lounger, and a private sand beach with a fire pit, among other amenities. Island Grand

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Scenes from Little Palm Island

here are happy to plant themselves pool- or beachside and simply decompress, the soft Keys breezes a welcome replacement for screen time, phone time, FaceTime. (The island does have Wi-Fi, but it can be spotty.) If you can’t bear another minute without TV, you can always wander over to the stately Great Room where you can catch that must-see game or event, or lounge a little with a book or a board game.

Little Palm now, as always, offers outstanding dining; mainlanders come here sometimes just for dinner. Chef Danny Ganem, formerly of the Betsy and the Raleigh hotels in Miami, is a rock star who has elected to transcend garden-variety culinary school pretentions for genuine mastery of fine cooking, with a profound respect for locally sourced fish and produce. He excels at preparing dishes you want to eat that showcase natural flavors with nuanced combinations. His menu at The Dining Room (with its seaside magic) changes often and offers a wide

range of appetizers, from cold water oysters and Key West pink shrimp to duck Rilette cannelloni and foie gras crème brulee. There are salads and steaks, of course, but the seafood and fish is what Little Palm makes you crave.

We swooned over our grilled tripletail, the mangrove snapper, the black grouper. All were simply prepared and finished brilliantly.

There is local Florida rice on the menu as well, and a sinful corn jalapeño pudding, among other sides. The Dining Room is the jewel in Little Palm’s crown, and Chef Ganem will be your favorite person at the resort, next to the person you came with.

There’s a reason this understated luxury resort is a standard bearer for the Florida Keys at their best; there’s a reason it was voted in 2020 one of the Top 50 Best Resorts in the World, and Number 7 in the United States, by Condé Nast Traveler’s Reader’s Choice Awards. It’s earned a reputation over the past decades, and it’s managed to exceed that now, in its new post-Irma iteration.

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THE BOCA INTERVIEW

FRED GUTTEN BERG Three years after a life-altering tragedy, this activist and author remains dedicated to his cause Written by JOHN

THOMASON

At the beginning of his Zoom call with Boca, Fred Guttenberg texted his son, Jesse, to let him know he was on an interview. “I always make sure my kids know they can reach me one way or another,”he said, and then caught himself.“Well, let my son know. It’ll take me forever to not say ‘my kids.’”

Guttenberg sat at his office computer in his Parkland home, behind which hung a framed performance photo of his daughter, Jaime—in Fred’s description“a tough-as-nails 14-year-old dancer with a huge heart”—aloft and ecstatic against a black background. It’s a stirring image to remember her by, unlike the final photograph ever taken of Jaime Guttenberg, on the third floor of Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School, with a black digital oval placed over her body by law enforcement.

Jaime was the second-to-last victim—but the first identified casualty—of the school shooting that ended the lives of 17 people on Feb. 14, 2018. Since then, Fred Guttenberg has spent most of his waking hours fighting for stricter gun safety measures and criticizing politicians who accept campaign contributions from the National

Fred and Jaime Guttenberg

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Fred Guttenberg with a photograph of his daughter at a press conference in 2018

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THE BOCA INTERVIEW

Rifle Association. He helped start the Orange Ribbons for Jaime movement, which was embraced everywhere from Parkland to Broadway, where cast members of“Hamilton”and “Lion King”donned the ribbons. His advocacy contributed to the ousters of 17 NRA-backed politicians during the 2018 midterm elections.

In a city that has become defined by its activism on this issue, Guttenberg has wielded one of its loudest

Below, Guttenberg addresses a town hall on gun violence at Coral Springs Center for the Arts

megaphones, accruing some 359,000 Twitter followers and traveling to Washington to lobby his cause. He was handcuffed and detained by Capitol Police at the 2020 State of the Union address for letting his emotions get the best of him, and he received a cold shoulder when he introduced himself to Brett Kavanaugh at the Supreme Court Justice’s confirmation hearings.

But he’s made allies too: among them Joe Biden, who first called him 10 days after Jaime’s murder.

Guttenberg documents his journey from grief to action in Find the Helpers, his 2020 book combining self-help and memoir, in which he spotlights the people—and animals—that have helped him cope.

He discusses this and more in our candid conversation.

This issue will come out in February, when many Americans will celebrate Valentine’s Day. But this day means something very different to Parkland. What is the day like at your house?

The day used to be my wife’s favorite holiday. It used to be a day

that we always made a big fuss over.

It’s not anymore. It’s a day that we make very private. We go to the cemetery. We spend it with limited family, talking to some friends but in a very quiet way. In the last two years, in the run-up to the day, we were very active in going out, and maybe doing interviews. On Feb. 14 we stay home.

You write about experiencing good days and bad days in terms of your grief. For those who are going through a tough grieving process, how do you recommend overcoming the bad days?

It really gets to the name of the book: Know who your helpers are.

Know who the people are that you can reach out to, not necessarily to have someone work at making you feel better, because there are days you just don’t feel like feeling better.

But someone who is just going to be there, to talk to you, to hear you out.

Also, know the kinds of things that you can do that may be distracting to you. For me, it’s music. On some of my worst days, I get out in my car, just me, nobody else, and I put on Billy Joel. His music has been with me my entire life. I love a lot of music, and a lot of musicians, but he is the guy I listen to when I just want to clear my head.

RMV VIA ZUMA PRESS

And I love that you mention your dog as a helper, too.

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Listen, four months before Jaime was killed, we got our second puppy.

I was not a fan of getting a second dog. We had one perfect dog. But after my brother died [at 50, from pancreatic cancer, four months before Jaime’s passing—Ed.], it was just something my wife and kids wanted. Thank God for that dog, because he saved our life.

Our dogs are my kids, they’re with us all the time, and yeah—animals are helpers.

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53 What is it like for you to visit or drive by MSD these cutline days; do you see an A-rated school, or do you see a crime scene?

I see the place where my daughter took her last breath. And I avoid driving by it whenever possible. I go around it. My son is no longer there.

I have no desire to maintain a connection to it. In fact, the behavior of that school administration and of the district towards the families has been atrocious. So I do not care to maintain a relationship. They’ve gone out of their way to try to sanitize what happened. They’ve gone out of their way to move on. But you can’t move on from the reality that 17 people died there, and at a minimum, they ought to be doing everything they can to act like New York did after 9-11, and to recognize the horror of that scene. But that scene also could be a place of healing.

Are you saying that perhaps the building could become a memorial, and the students could go to a different school?

The intention is that that’s eventually going to happen. The state attorney has wanted that building to stay up, to be used in the trial. I suspect a new state attorney is probably going to make a different decision on that, which will free that building to come down, and the plan is for a memorial to eventually be built there. What’s amazing to me is how the school right now has wiped the premises free of the names of the 17 who died.

What will you be pushing for in the Biden Administration in terms of gun policies?

The things I will be asking for is, no. 1, public safety isn’t just about policy. It’s also about the way we talk. It’s about the way we lead. And I’ll be looking forward to that difference in the way a president talks

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Fred Guttenberg being rebuffed by Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh

It’s about saving lives. It’s not about infringing on any legal, lawful gun owner. But the gun violence death rate has been going up, up, up; we need to start bending that curve.” and leads because that will, in and of itself, drive a level of public safety.

But on gun safety, I am looking for a comprehensive plan. I’m not looking for a piecemeal approach, where we try to get background checks done here, and when that’s done, we’ll try to get red flag laws done next. I would like a comprehensive vision on what a gun safety plan looks like, and a comprehensive package to pass the House and Senate that will deal with background checks, not only on weapons but ammunition as well. There’s already

400 million weapons on the street, so we need to know who’s buying the bullets.

Red flag laws or extreme risk protection orders, raising the [gun-buying] age to 21, CDC funding, banning high-capacity magazines and banning assault weapons … There’s a whole host that we can do to save lives, and that’s what this is about.

It’s about saving lives. It’s not about infringing on any legal, lawful gun owner. But the gun violence death rate has been going up, up, up; we need to start bending that curve.

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THE BOCA INTERVIEW

Below, Guttenberg speaks at a press conference ca.

2018

The issue of gun reform has receded from our politics, because we’ve been putting out other fires. And it’s often the case that politicians only talk about it after there’s been a horrific shooting, at which time the NRA’s defenders often say that it’s too soon to talk about it. When is the ideal time to talk about this?

pandemic, is the politics of the pandemic and the politics of gun safety are very similar. And the pandemic has led to a gun surge across this country that needs to be dealt with.

It’s not when the NRA says. As far as I’m concerned, they are irrelevant to the process of our public safety.

They don’t care about our public safety, so I don’t care what they say the right time is. The right time is every minute of every day that too many Americans are dying of gun violence.

So that means we should always be talking about it.

What is unique now, with a news cycle that is properly dominated by this

It sure does. And what got overlooked that day is that another lawsuit got filed in Washington, D.C. by their attorney general to deal with some other components of laws being broken by the NRA. I’ve always said the majority of NRA members are actually very supportive of gun safety.

And the NRA leadership did not represent them. What’s ultimately going to do the NRA in is that they were stealing from their members to fund a

There was a lawsuit filed last summer by the New York Attorney General to dissolve the NRA. Do you think it has a chance of actually putting an end to this organization?

Guttenberg, left, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Ted Deutch

TAIMY ALVAREZ/TNS VIA ZUMA WIRE

very lavish lifestyle for those in charge.

And it’s going to be financial, criminal behavior that will do this organization in. I do think this organization is going to suffer some serious setbacks and defeats.

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You’ve proven to be such a fighter on this issue.

Did you surprise yourself with the fire that you’ve brought to your activism, or did you know that this side of your personality was in you?

I’ve always known I’m a relentless pain in the you-know-what. I guess maybe, when I was in my business, it probably served me well, although it probably bothered people to some extent. In this mission, it is serving me well. What people need to understand is there is a difference in the Fred

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55 Guttenberg before February 14, 2018, and after. I’ve lost the capacity for fear.

My daughter had fear, running down a hallway, knowing there was an AR-15 at her back. I’ll never have the fear that she had, because I’ve lost the ability to have it.

And so I can’t be stopped now from challenging people who are not doing what we need them to do for our public safety. In the time that we do this interview, somebody’s going to be burying a victim of gun violence.

Somebody’s going to find out they were a victim of gun violence; somebody’s going to be planning a funeral for a victim of gun violence. That’s not OK; it’s not normal. And I’m not going to sit down while there are legislators who we count on to do things, and who refuse to do it.

You write briefly about the inspiring student activists from the school, several of whom have become household names.

How does your activism dovetail with theirs?

We’re all fighting for the same end goal, which is public safety, and for a different civil leadership. I’m not sure that we all have the same ideas on all the details, but we’re fighting for the same end goal. But these kids are amazing. And we’re not connected in how we go about this; in fact, for the most part, I chose my own unique and direct path. I will connect and coordinate with anybody who wants to do something about this issue.

The trial of Jaime’s murderer has been delayed, like so many things, because of the virus. When it does commence, will you be there?

As often as I can, and that’s hopefully every minute. I’m not expecting the trial to begin, at this point, until 2022, because of the pandemic, because of the actions of the defense to continue causing this thing to move so pathet-

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Guttenberg being escorted out of the 2020 State of the Union address

There is a difference in the Fred Guttenberg before Feb. 14, 2018, and after. I’ve lost the capacity for fear.” ically slowly while they spend time defending this killer, and not worrying about the families.

What do you hope will be his sentence?

Here’s what I would love. I wish that he didn’t need to be protected now. I wish he could be put into the general prison population now, and I’d love the prisoners to short-circuit the entire process and take care of this now. But assuming that’s not going to happen, I want him to get the death penalty.

Has losing so many close people altered the way you feel about death, about an afterlife, about the soul continuing on?

A few things for me … it’s definitely had an impact on my relationship with God. As I tell

people often, I’m not sure we’re on a full-on divorce, but papers have been served. It has changed the way I look at life in the present. I used to be a very long-term thinker. I always used to not only worry about what was going to happen today, but the impact of that five years down the road. I have lost the ability to look long-term. I look day by day now.

As for an afterlife, I’ve never really been sure what happens to us. Listen, I’m always looking for signs from my brother and my daughter. And every once in a while, I feel very confident that I get them. And it gives me hope that somewhere in this universe we are still connected. And at some point we’ll be connected in a more meaningful way again in the future.

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56 Special Report:

in Between online dating apps and pandemic issues, being single in South Florida is no picnic Written by CHRISTIANA

LILLY

nce upon a time, we went steady, carried little black books, got busy necking in the backseats of cars, nervously dialed the number of our crush’s home phone—hoping their roommate wouldn’t pick up.

Today, we text, swipe right (or, yikes, swipe left), FaceTime, and when things are going good, tell friends we’re “talking” or “hanging out.”

For more than 25 years, the modern landscape of dating has been shaped by the intervention of online dating. Match.com hit the internet in 1995, followed swiftly by JDate, eHarmony, Christian Mingle and even more niche dating sites. Once taboo or potentially even embarrassing, now online dating has become the norm.

“It’s interesting because earlier on, some of the clients that I met, they would lie to their parents and to their family members about how they met,” says Sten Garcia, who used to shoot wedding videos.“And over the years, I’ve had couples that are open about it, and as a matter of

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fact, they talk about it during the wedding speech and the reception.”

According to a study at Stanford University, in 2017, a full 39 percent of heterosexual couples met online. That was up from 22 percent in 2009. Today, some of the most popular free dating apps are Hinge and Bumble, with paid services like Match.com still drawing singles looking to meet a partner.

In a 2020 poll by Pew Research, one in three Americans say they’ve used a dating app. However, among 18- to 29-yearolds, the number goes up to 48 percent. LGBTQ people are also more likely to use a dating app; according to the study, 55 percent of LGBTQ respondents had used a dating app. And with the pandemic forcing us to interact with one another with social distancing, online dating has almost become the only way to date. Almost a year after the lockdown started: What is the state of modern dating?

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58 Study of Love A friend joked that since Sten Garcia, 38, of Miami, was so good at listening, he should start a dating podcast. A few days later, another friend excitedly told him that he had just built a podcast studio in his office. Garcia saw the writing on the wall and started recording “Sten on Men and Women” in early 2019, now in its third season. With a different theme each season, guests come on the show to talk about dating and relationships.

Single himself, Garcia uses dating apps and says that just like anything else, there are pluses and minuses that come with them.

People don’t seem to take dating as seriously since they have so many options available to them, he noticed. Eager to sample the menu of men and women, they seem to spend less time actually getting to know someone before writing them off. Or, people aren’t clear with one another what their intentions are.

“We’re living in a culture of instant gratification,” he says.

“People feel like they have so many more options now because of dating apps or the ease of the internet, or even just sliding into somebody’s DMs (direct messages) and picking up a girl.”

When he first started his podcast, he conducted an experiment. He put away the apps and asked friends to set him up on blind dates.

On both sides, they would not investigate each other on social media or receive photos or any background information. He went on five or six blind dates. They didn’t

Tatiana Lora

“People feel like they have so many more options now because of dating apps...” bocamag.com

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lead to anything serious, but what he took away from the experiment was how excited people were to try dating offline.

“A lot of people were really intrigued by it,” he recalls, of the blind dates.“That in itself allowed the beginning of the daters to lose some of the nervousness of going on a first date. We started talking about it immediately.”

Dating is Work When it comes to online dating, it reminds Caleb Kerins, 28, of his job in human resources for a maritime company. Some prospective employees will interview well on the phone or on Zoom, but as soon as they come into the office for an in-person meeting, they can’t hold up a conversation. The same thing happened to him with a woman he was talking to—after texting nonstop for days, they met up and the chemistry completely evaporated.

“It’s not the true person that’s behind the screen,”he says.

For Tatiana Lora, 37, director of public relations for a luxury hotel company, dating is also like a job hunt.“It’s almost like vying for a job—who’s got that great resume? Who stands out the most?”she says.

While she feels like meeting someone “in real life” can lead to a stronger foundation when the relationship starts, online dating has proven to be a better fit with her busy work schedule. Lora is able to filter through a number of men at one time and narrow down who she wants to talk to—much like women at a bar, who will take in a man’s clothing, height and other attributes at first glance, too.

After years of dating, she’s made a rule for herself: no in-person dates until they’ve at least talked on the phone or by video chat. If the conversation is spark-free there, it won’t improve in person. For the first date, she also purposefully chooses activities with a time limit so she has an easy out if the date is not going well—her go-to is a round of TopGolf or bowling. If the conversation is flowing and she’s enjoying herself, she’ll suggest another round or to go to the bar for a drink.

“That way you’re not just sitting there

MOST POPULAR DATING APPS TINDER

7.86 million BUMBLE

5.03 million PLENTY OF FISH

4.28 million MATCH.COM

1.95 million OKCUPID

1.79 million GRINDR

1.64 million HINGE

1.21 million ZOOSK

910,000 MEETME

910,000 ASHLEY MADISON

850,000 source: statista

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59 looking at each other. It’s fun, it’s lighthearted and you’re moving around,”she says.“I’m living my best life. I very much would love to find a partner that I can share that with and have those memories with. I believe what’s going to happen is going to happen, and it’s going to be meant for me. The UPS guy isn’t going to just drop me off some great, good-looking man.”

Unfriendly in South Florida?

Like many singles, Kerins goes through phases of deleting and downloading dating apps onto his phone; with his job, he wants some privacy. However, at the end of the day, he prefers to meet people while he’s out and about. While meeting in person is more difficult with social distancing, during the lockdown he still has been able to meet

women through mutual friends at small gatherings. However, since he moved to Fort Lauderdale from Pittsburgh two years ago, he immediately noticed a difference in the dating scene.

“Living in Pennsylvania or the Midwest, everyone is friendlier and more willing to have a conversation you strike up at a bar,” he says.“Here, you want to go chat with somebody, they’re probably nine times out of 10 going to walk away.”

Michael Kuong, who moved to Fort Lauderdale from Dallas a decade ago, also noticed the difference. The 39-year-old owner of Syphon Fitness says that meeting women at bars has not worked out for him—people just don’t seem as friendly. And after using more popular online dating apps, he says he just doesn’t enjoy it—he’d prefer to meet women through friends or through activities.

AARON BRISTOL

“Even if there is interest, it seems like it’s just a lot easier to ghost somebody.”

Michael Kuong

5 UNIQUE FIRST DATES

So you’re set to meet I.R.L., and dinner and a movie is both clichéd and, if you’re not hitting it off, potentially awkward. Try these options unique to Palm Beach County, where fun prevails even if chemistry doesn’t.

SILVERBALL MUSEUM, 19 N.E. Third Ave., Delray Beach; 561/266-3294 Like a clangorous casino for pinball nostalgists, Delray’s favorite barcade is awash in adult beverages and retro entertainment, all of it set to free play for a modest entry fee. Note to straight guys: Yes, you should let her win at skeeball.

MORIKAMI MUSEUM AND JAPANESE GARDENS, 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach; 561/495-0233 There may be no lovelier setting in the Southern Palm Beaches than this oasis of Japanese horticulture, with its picturesque bridges, tranquil lake, Buddhist sculptures and avian cameos. Everybody looks and sounds more appealing when surrounded by burbling brooks and birdsong.

FAU OBSERVATORY, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton; 561/597-7827 Science-minded singles eager to contemplate their existence in an incomprehensible universe—typical first-date conversation—can do so in Boca, at no cost. Public viewing nights are typically on the first Friday and third Tuesday of each month (check for COVID cancelations).

You know what they say: When the moon hits your eye …

THE MASTER ESCAPE ROOM, 1700 N. Dixie Highway, Suite 126, Boca Raton; 561/5715381 Working together to escape an Egyptian tomb or a “Jurassic Park”-like dinosaur island is a great way to test your compatibility, your skill sets and your teamwork, while having a blast in the process.

And if you don’t make it out in time, that’s OK: It’s not necessarily a metaphor for a doomed relationship!

PINOT’S PALETTE, 7491 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton; 561/939-1057 You can invite your date to a noisy bar to have a drink, and leave the place with nothing but empty calories. Better yet, you can schedule a date at Pinot’s Palette Paint & Sip Studio and bring home a souvenir and a story following that glass or two of zinfandel.

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60 Tamika Bickham

AARON BRISTOL

Jacqueline Bayliss

I’ve been trying to maybe at least connect with some people out there. ... I’ve had much better success in meeting people. I don’t know what it is about South Florida that I haven’t really been able to meet anyone, even to have a conversation.”

Hiding Behind the App On the other hand, Jacqueline Bayliss, who has lived all over Florida, says dating is hard no matter where you are—full of “the typical douchebags.”The 36-year-old landscape architect in West Palm Beach says before online dating, she was approached at bars all the time by men. Now, it’s a rare occurrence.

“People hide behind the comfort of swiping,” she says.“You don’t have to have the ego stroke or your ego let down when you approach a woman and you get rejected. But if you’re swiping, comfortable in your bed or your couch, that fear of rejection isn’t there.”

In her experience, people dating online haven’t taken it seriously. In one instance, she dated a man she found out was married only after they parted ways. She also recently got a text message from a number she didn’t know she had saved—it was the live-in girlfriend of a man she was dating, telling her they had children together.

Something Bayliss thinks is missing from dating is the romance—she misses talking on the phone instead of texting back and forth all day. On multiple dates, men have suggested she pay for the meal.

“People hide behind the comfort of swiping.

You don’t have to have the ego let down when you...are rejected.” bocamag.com

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AARON BRISTOL

“Even if there is an interest, it seems like it’s just a lot easier to ghost somebody. People’s interest will diminish pretty quickly as they’re going through the dating site because it seems like it’s just really easy to swipe left and right,” Kuong says.

However, he did find MeetMindful, which has introduced him to more spiritual women. During the pandemic, he has signed up for virtual improv and acting classes, joined a tantra group that offers online speed dating, and also has enjoyed some Zoom dates.

“I’ve met people from different parts of the country,” he says.“I’ve also been thinking about moving to L.A., and so

Or, the new “Netflix and chill” is inviting a woman over for dinner. Once a romantic gesture, now “he just wants me in his house,” Bayliss said.

“I’m losing hope. I’m losing hope and I’m thinking that I just might be a spinster,” she says with a laugh.“That chivalry is dead.”

Tamika Bickham, 33, agrees. The founder of TB Media Group, a marketing and public relations firm, Bickham first moved to South Florida to attend the University of Miami, moved to Alabama for work, then returned in 2012. She feels like online dating is just not as organic as meeting “in real life.”

“It’s like, hey, I’m shopping, which is very intentional, which can take [away] the spontaneity, the romance, the natural spark,” she says.“We all in general still have this desire to have a spark, a connection when you meet someone.”

While “shopping,” Bickham says she tries not to be what she calls a “window shopper” and is instead more intentional.

She tries to devote time in the morning and evening to focusing on the dating apps. With that, it feels like she’s the one making most of the moves—starting conversations, giving out her number, asking if a man she’s interested in would like to go out. When South Florida was

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“It’s a weird world, but I just honestly feel like I need to be committed to it if I want to date during this weird COVID time,” she says.

She also started her own podcast during the pandemic, Lift U Up, where she interviews people with inspiring health stories. This, Bickham adds, has introduced her to a lot of new people, including a few attractive men.“I still feel optimistic,” she says, about finding love.

“If I didn’t, then what am I doing trying to online date?”

other guests, and could talk as much as they wanted during the movie.

Carter likes that he got to know Libby a bit before they actually met in person, a typical step in dating today. While things have changed with dating, he does think other things have stayed the same, even though it might look a little different.

While someone can suddenly stop responding to messages after a great conversation, how is that any different from someone no longer taking your phone calls after a date?

However, some things haven’t changed at all—Carter still gets flowers for his

Love in the Time of Corona

South Florida may be notoriously difficult when it comes to meeting other single people, but we think everyone thinks that about where they live. Here are a few ways you might be able to meet someone in person—in real life.

The gold standard is introductions through friends and family. Period. So get the word out.

Young friends groups/cultural organizations. Like PULSE (under 40) through the Boca Chamber, YPAD at the Delray Chamber, Young Friends of the Norton Museum of Art (21 to 49). The Ghost Light Society at the Broward Center is another.

Bars. That old idea that you can’t meet anyone “nice” in a bar has cobwebs on it.

Some hot spots around here include Tin Roof, the courtyard between Dublin and Kapow (Mizner Park, Boca Raton); Sand Bar (across from the ocean, Delray); Voltaire on Clematis Street and more. Also, Drive Shack and anyplace that offers axe throwing appears to be big (go figure).

• Church. So? It happens.

• Matchmakers.

AARON BRISTOL

Online dating has almost been forced upon us as opportunities to meet at a bar or even a grocery store have diminished.

For Chad Carter, 39, of Delray Beach, the odd circumstances helped him find someone special. In the past he had met women through friends or classes and didn’t really enjoy online dating. But that all changed during the lockdown while using the dating app Hinge: He met his girlfriend Libby.

The two messaged each other, moved on to talking on the phone, then decided to meet in person—a bigger deal than normal since the state was on lockdown.

Without the typical options of meeting up for a drink at a bar or getting dinner downtown, Carter suggested that the two of them go for a walk on the Palm Beach Lake Trail.

“I thought it would be maybe a mile or two and just walk around for an hour or so and chat,” he recalls. “We walked for 7.5 miles and it was a three-and-ahalf-hour date. And then we went on four more dates the next week.”

Again, because of the coronavirus, they were forced to come up with more creative—and perhaps even more fun— ways to spend time together. On another date, they ate fast food on the tailgate of Carter’s truck and then went to a drive-in movie. Since they weren’t surrounded by

WHERE TO MEET SINGLES THAT IS NOT ON YOUR PHONE

Chad Carter

We just match well. We go together pretty well.

A little bit of luck, a little bit of good fortune...

girlfriend and opens the door for her. To celebrate their time together, they went back to the Trail and drank Champagne.

“We just matched well, we go together pretty well,” he says. “A little bit of luck, a little bit of good fortune from the way dating is kind of working these days, and then also the good fortune of being a good match for each other.”

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Gold diamond burst pendant, two-tone Florentine-finish diamond earrings and cuff, gold smoky topaz, citrine, diamonds and Champagne diamonds fashion ring, fancy color diamond fashion ring, all from Devon’s Diamonds & Decor bocamag.com

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63 Yellow Radiant diamond ring in platinum and gold setting with trillion cut side stones, heart-shaped fancy yellow and white diamond pendant, yellow and white diamond bracelet, all by David Rosenberg from Rosenberg Diamonds & Co.

This season’s jewelry sparkles against the natural wash of ocean wonders Photography by AARON BRISTOL Home accessories and props provided by OUR BOAT HOUSE, Delray Beach February 2021

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Gold chain with gold shark and sterling silver Spanish coin with emerald eyes and diamond accents, gold men’s ring with ruby star and baguette diamonds, Roberto Coin Animalier diamond enamel Nemo Coil cuff and ring, Cerrera Y Cerrera diamond dolphin gold-hinged bangle bracelet, all from Jewels By Kim at the International Jewelers Exchange bocamag.com

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Gold brushed finished ovals and white pearl necklace on gold double chain, Chopard white ceramic and rose gold Happy Sport chronograph with diamond bezel and floating diamonds on white rubber band, white gold diamond and silver pearl ring, multi-colored South Sea pearl and gold nugget Yvel necklace, all from Jewels in Time

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Oxidized scalloped round diamond earrings, freshwater pearl and diamond dangle drop earrings, freshwater pearl and Tahitian necklace with oxidized diamond balls, oxidized scalloped diamond bracelet, all from Gregory’s Fine Jewelry, Inc

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FROM TOP: Gold and diamond band, multirose and diamond band, right-hand ring with pink and white diamonds from the Mosaic collection, white gold right-hand ring, white and rose gold three-row diamond bangle, diamond and tanzanite pendant, white, yellow and rose gold diamond band, white gold and three-row diamond engagement ring, wide shank engagement ring, all from Simon G at Diamonds Direct STYLING BY LORI PIERINO

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Florida Sons

and Daughters Meet some of the Black leaders and luminaries who once called Florida home Written by JAMES BIAGIOTTI, MARIE SPEED and JOHN THOMASON

lorida’s history is peopled by dreamers and desperados, stars and trailblazers. The list of Black leaders and celebrities and historymakers in Florida is long—and varied.

From early North Florida civic leader and educator John Gilmore Riley and artist Augusta Savage to Clarence Fort, who organized the first Black sit-in at a lunch counter in Tampa in 1960. Or Fort Lauderdale’s Dillard High School’s former band director, saxophonist Julien “Cannonball” Adderley. UF alum and Dallas Cowboys star Emmitt Smith. “SNL” alumna Maya Rudolph, born in Gainesville to singer Minnie Riperton and composer Richard Rudolph. The list goes on and on and on. Here are a few more Black Americans with a connection to our state’s history—and America’s culture.

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Ray Charles, James Weldon Johnson, Mary Bethune Cookman, Thelma “Butterfly” McQueen, Angela Bassett, Zora Neale Hurston, Alfred Hair, Barry Jenkins, Sam Moore, Sidney Poitier

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Though she was born in New York City, Angela Bassett called St. Petersburg, Florida, home for much of her childhood. She attended Boca Ciega High School, where she was the first African-American student to be admitted to the National Honor Society. After receiving a Master’s degree from the Yale School of Drama in 1983, she cut her teeth in the New York theatre scene in the mid-1980s before quickly transitioning full-time to screen acting. Bassett first garnered praise and reached the public eye for performances in “Boyz n the Hood” and “Malcolm X” in 1991 and 1992, respectively. Her body of work across both film and television spans more than 35 years, and includes acclaimed portrayals of notable Black women including Betty Shabazz, Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, and Tina Turner in the 1993 biopic “What’s Love Got to Do With It.” For her role in the latter, she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress and became the first African-American woman to be awarded the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy.

Perhaps best known to younger audiences for her recent role in the blockbuster“Black Panther,” Bassett is revered as one of the greatest actresses of her generation, and shows no signs of slowing down; she currently stars in and produces the hit television series“9-1-1” on Fox.

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Mary Jane McLeod Bethune

Angela Bassett with her ”Waiting to Exhale” co-stars, Loretta Devine, Whitney Houston and Lela Rochon

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Mary Jane McLeod was born in 1875 to former slaves in Maysville, South Carolina, working in the fields alongside them from age 5. Her burning desire for education led her to the Scotia Seminary in North Carolina and Moody Bible Institute in Chicago in hopes of becoming a missionary. That aspiration shifted to teaching, and her first jobs were in Georgia and South Carolina, where she married Albertus Bethune, with whom she had a son in 1899. The couple moved to Palatka, Florida, where Bethune sold insurance. When the marriage ended, Bethune opened a boarding school, the Daytona Beach Literary and Industrial School for Training Negro Girls, which eventually merged with the all-male Cookman Institute to form the private liberal arts Bethune-Cookman College in 1929.

Bethune was a champion of both civil rights and gender equality, a woman far before her time in the backwater that was Florida then. A friend of Eleanor Roosevelt, in 1936, Bethune became the highest-ranking African-American woman in government when President Franklin Roosevelt named her director of Negro Affairs of the National Youth Administration, where she remained until 1944. In 1940, she became vice president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), a position she held for the rest of her life.

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to his first recording contract. Despite a heroin addiction, which he beat, Charles went on to develop his own sound, signing with Atlantic Records in 1952 and producing an early hit,“I’ve Got A Woman,”followed by the 1959 hit that propelled him to lifelong stardom,“What’d I Say.” Charles produced more than 60 albums, won 12 Grammys and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. He died in Los Angeles in 2004.

Ray Charles with Quincy Jones

James Weldon Johnson Ray Charles

Ray Charles Music critic Patrick McDonald attributed iconic musician Ray Charles as the first musician to use the world“soul”to describe his music. Although Charles won international acclaim for his work and lived most of his adult life on the west coast, his ties to Florida date from infancy, when he moved to Greenville in North Florida at 3 months old, from Albany, Georgia. Charles became blind by the age of 5 due to untreated glaucoma, and attended the Florida State School for the Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine as a young teenager, before moving to Jacksonville and Tampa where he began a modest musical career. His big break came after he moved to Seattle in his late teens and met a young Quincy Jones, who would later collaborate with him, and Jack Lauderdale, an L.A. record producer who signed him

Jacksonville native James Weldon Johnson was the first African-American executive secretary of the NAACP, the first Black professor to be hired at New York University, and the first Black American admitted to the Florida Bar Exam, all under the scourge of Jim Crow.

His acceptance to the Bar in his native Duval County required a two-hour oral examination in front of three attorneys, one of whom was so unwilling to approve a Black lawyer that he left the room. Weldon’s parents were remarkable Floridians, too: His father rose to headwaiter at Jacksonville’s luxurious St. James Hotel, and his mother taught at the historic Stanton College Preparatory School, where young James would earn a public education. That led to an extraordinary career in politics, activism and the arts that included composing music on Broadway, penning 1899’s“Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing”—a poem that came to be known as the Negro National Anthem—acting as consul to Venezuela and Nicaragua during the Theodore Roosevelt Administration, and writing a seminal novel about the Black experience, The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man.

James Weldon Johnson

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Sam Moore Miami resident and aspiring singer Sam Moore met his performing partner, Dave Prater, on a lark at the legendary King o’ Hearts nightclub, which had posted a help-wanted sign for a comedian and emcee. On a dare from his buddies, Moore approached the owner and lied about his credentials: He claimed he was a comic (he wasn’t) and a rock ‘n’ roll singer (he sang gospel), and that he opened for Frank Sinatra at the Fontainebleau (he very much did not).

The club hired him anyway, at $8 per night, and while his jokes bombed, his songs killed—especially after he formed a rapport with Prater, a baker and fellow-aspiring entertainer. Their chance meeting at the King o’ Hearts led to the formation of Sam & Dave, which became a headlining act at the club, then around the Southeast, then the world. The Sam & Dave archive includes benchmarks of R&B, among them“Soul Man”and“Hold On, I’m Comin.’”

Now an elder statesmen of soul, the 85-year-old Moore has outlived Prater by more than 30 years. And despite releasing only two solo albums, his respect among his peers and across genres is almost unparalleled; he has collaborated with acts as disparate as Garth Brooks and Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin and Elton John, Mariah Carey and Lou Reed.

Alfred Hair

Alfred Hair

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Alfred Hair was a key figure in the Highwaymen movement, a group of 26 self-taught Black landscape painters in the 1950s and ‘60s who sold their vibrant paintings along highways from the backs of their automobiles or door to door, as back then in the Jim Crow South they could not achieve representation in art galleries. Hair was born in Fort Pierce in 1941, and was“discovered”by his high school art teacher, who introduced him to A.E.“Beany”Backus, a highly respected landscape painter, who gave him painting lessons as a teenager. Hair joined prominent highwayman

Harold Newton; the two of them were at the core of the group, known for their“fast painting”of tropical landscapes on Upson board, complete with lurid sunsets, dazzling Royal Poinciana trees, idealized Everglades scenes. In those days, paintings went for $20 or $25; today they can sell for between $5,000 and $15,000.

In 1970, Hair was killed in a barroom brawl, and the Highwaymen era was over. There was a renewed interest in the mid-1990s, however, sparked by Florida art historian Jim Fitch, who bestowed the label“Highwaymen” on the group in an article he wrote for the St. Petersburg Times, and Highwayman expert Gary Monroe, who authored books about the group. The Highwaymen are estimated to have painted 200,000 paintings.

COURTESY OF DORETHA HAIR TRUESDELL

Sam Moore

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Local Trailblazers

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JOSEPH BERNEDEL, born in Haiti and emigrating to the United States in 1975, co-founded Toussaint L’Ouverture High School for Arts and Social Justice in Delray Beach in 2001. Bernedel is the first person of Haitian descent to open a public school in the United States. The school launched the Haiti Museum of Arts and Culture in 2002, designed as a “repository of the oral traditions of the Haitian people” in greater Delray Beach.

Then-police chief Delsa Bush DELSA BUSH began working as the first Black female police officer in West Palm Beach, and was named its first Black female police chief from 2004 to 2011.

During her tenure, the city saw a double-digit drop in its crime rate. Bush resigned in 2011 amid differences with then-mayor of West Palm Beach Jerry Muoio and was named director of security and risk management at Palm Beach State College in 2019.

for the Palm Beach County Health Department, where she helped the school board change its policy of expelling pregnant students; founder of the Sickle Cell Foundation of Palm Beach County & Treasure Coast; and mayor of West Palm Beach, becoming the first Black woman to hold the position.

Alex Hughes Early Boca Raton resident ALEX HUGHES was one of the first landowners in Boca Raton’s first all-Black community, Pearl City, purchasing his lot for $25 in 1915 with wages earned farming. As more residents moved to Pearl City, Hughes opened a Sunday School for the community’s children in his own home, and eventually petitioned the School District of Palm Beach County to allocate a teacher for the children in the neighborhood. Today, Hughes Park on Northeast 14th Street in Boca Raton is named in his honor. Each year, the city’s Martin Luther King Day parade is held in Pearl City before culminating in the park.

Born in Alabama in 1915, EVA WILLIAMS MACK made her mark on Florida after she moved to West Palm Beach in 1948. Her varied achievements include that of nurse and public administrator

One of the original crusaders for racial justice in Palm Beach County, CHARLES SPENCER POMPEY was a towering figure in South Florida education and activism. In 1942, he was one of three Black teachers who sued the Palm Beach County School Board and superintendent over the pay disparity between Black and white teachers. In the 1950s, Pompey protested segregation of beaches in Delray Beach and fought for the creation of organized recreation programs for Black children in the city.

He coached and taught at Delray Beach’s all-Black Carver High School before eventually becoming the school’s principal. Though he was met with resistance while fighting for reform, his legacy lives on—Pompey Park in Delray Beach is named in his honor.

A World War I veteran and an early health-care luminary in segregated Florida, DR. JAMES SISTRUNK opened Fort Lauderdale’s first African-American

medical facility, Provident Hospital, in 1938. He made house calls for the financially strapped, and delivered more than 5,000 babies in 44 years of practice; today the main boulevard in the city’s most historic Black community bares his name.

Solomon D. Spady Living by the philosophy of “God, country and the people first; self last,” SOLOMON D. SPADY alighted in Delray Beach in 1922 from his native Virginia to serve as the city’s third African-American schoolteacher/principal. His tireless advocacy inspired generations of Black youths: He organized the school’s PTA, drama club, glee club, sports teams and literary societies; outside the classroom he served as Sunday school teacher, church clerk and lodge grand master, among other civic priorities.

His legacy continues to be honored at Delray’s Spady Cultural Heritage Museum, located in his former Mission Revival home.

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Zora Neale Hurston

Hurston with an African “hountar” drum

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Zora Neale Hurston is one of Florida’s most famous homegrown writers, born in 1891 in a self-governing Black community called Eatonville about six miles north of Orlando.

Hurston worked in many disciplines, including anthropology and folklore, but she was first and foremost a writer with an impressive 30-year career launched at Howard University and at Barnard College in New York, where she fell in with other Black writers who would form the influential Harlem Renaissance movement of the Cab Calloway-Billie Holiday days.

Hurston was electric and talented, producing four novels, two folklore books, an autobiography, short stories, articles, essays, and a play with poet and writer Langston Hughes; her most famous work is Their Eyes Were Watching God. By the 1950s, the world had changed and Hurston had published her last novel. She died penniless and largely unknown, and was buried in Fort Pierce. It wasn’t until the mid-1970s when novelist Alice Walker (The Color Purple) sparked a revival of Hurston’s work that the novelist was given a new audience and renewed accolades. Walker even found Hurston’s unmarked grave and had a tombstone erected upon it that reads:“Zora Neale Hurston, A Genius of the South, Novelist, Folklorist, Anthropologist.”

A true Florida native, acclaimed director Barry Jenkins was born and reared in Miami, the city that would later serve as the primary setting for his breakthrough film “Moonlight.” Jenkins attended Miami Northwestern Senior High School and then Florida State University, and first left the Sunshine State four days after his college graduation to move to Los Angeles and launch his career in film. It wasn’t until Barry Jenkins 2016’s “Moonlight,” a surprise critical and commercial smash hit, put Jenkins on the map that he became a household name.“Moonlight,”which Jenkins wrote and directed, featured a star-making performance from an ascendent Mahershala Ali but had an even greater impact on the trajectory of Jenkins’ career. The powerful drama, which featured an all-Black cast and LGBTQ themes, eventually won the 2016 Academy Award for Best Picture and earned Jenkins a nomination for Best Director. It is now widely considered one of the greatest films of the 2010s.

In 2017, Jenkins was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People, for which filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow wrote that he is“one of the rare artists who are willing to look into the deeper places of themselves and society in order to provide a lens through which we may discover the humanity at our core.”

Thelma “Butterfly” McQueen Tampa-born character actor Butterfly McQueen’s tenure in Tinseltown was a fraught one.

A gifted singer and dancer, who adopted her name after dancing the butterfly part in a 1935 production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,”McQueen forged a brief but indelible career in a film industry that devalued Black talent. Despite the starry potential of her comic timing and distinctive chipmunk voice, she received few opportunities to play characters other than domestic workers, like that of her most famous role, as Prissy, Scarlett O’Hara’s maid in “Gone With the Wind.”And though she delivered one of

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Thelma “Butterfly” McQueen in “Gone With the Wind”

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the most famous lines in the film—“I don’t know nothin’ ‘bout birthin’ babies!”—McQueen was prohibited from attending the movie’s theatrical premiere, which was hosted at a whites-only cinema.

Like most Black entertainers of the time, she weighed the financial benefits of a life in show business with the moral considerations of perpetuating stereotypes. Too cognizant of the latter, she mostly left Hollywood after 1957, working as a Macy’s sales clerk, taxi dispatcher, waitress, restaurateur, radio show host, dance teacher and factory worker. She spent her twilight years on social work projects in Harlem before dying in a kerosene fire in her Georgia home in 1995.

Sidney Poitier

Above, Sidney Poitier in “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner?,” receiving the Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama, winning an Oscar in 1963

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A man who broke through racial barriers and onto the silver screen, Sidney Poitier is one of the defining figures of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Born in 1927 while his parents were visiting Miami from their home in the Bahamas, he was granted American citizenship and found his first showbiz success on Broadway in the 1940s. His breakout film role came shortly thereafter in“Blackboard Jungle,” and he quickly became one of Hollywood’s most sought-after leading men. Poitier is best known for roles in “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,”“In the Heat of the Night” and “Lilies of the Field,”for which he became the first African-American to win the Academy Award for Best Actor. His films dealt with issues of race relations that were seldom discussed, let alone spotlighted, in major films in the mid-20th century. In time, Poitier turned his efforts from on-camera to behind-it, finding success as a director, and to civic life, serving as the Bahamian ambassador to Japan for 10 years. In 2009, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.

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We had the opportunity to speak with a diverse group of professionals to learn about what inspires them to do what they do so well.

Turn the pages and prepare to be enlightened by each of these exceptional experts and their interesting contributions to our community and lives.

SPONSORED CONTENT

The Expert in Legacy Fine Art Portraiture LuAnn Warner-Prokos WARNER-PROKOS PHOTOGRAPHY/ WP PORTRAITURE Award-winning portrait photographer LuAnn Warner-Prokos has been serving South Florida with her premier photography artistry for more than 10 years. Her boutique studio, Warner-Prokos Photography, provides women, men, children, and families a personalized experience, whether in-studio or on location. Her passion is more than capturing the digital image; it’s about creating wonderful memories and exquisite heirloom quality products to be treasured and displayed for generations to come. Photography sessions are personally stylized for each individual client and designed to capture their unique personalities.

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What does the session include?

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What inspired you to create these kinds of portraits?

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What types of products enhance your portraits’ beauty?

The experience is always unique and customized, from clothing consultations (We even have a wardrobe collection for women and girls!) to makeup and hair, to stylizing the scene and flow of photos. Then comes artistic editing, the “reveal session” where the perfect images are selected with the client, and finally, the selection of the perfect product to showcase their images. I also personally deliver and place wall art in the clients’ desired spaces, making sure it receives the attention and acclaim it deserves.

We offer unique heirloom quality products to capture a moment in time and serve as priceless pieces of art for others to admire and cherish. We have carefully selected top photographic product creators from around the world including framed watercolor-paper prints, contemporary metal wall art, canvas art, Italian-made folio boxes with matted images; chic, modern albums, and more. We are a full-service studio, taking special care of our clients from the first consultation to the exciting presentation of beautiful art.

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I realized that there was a need for luxe individual and family fine art portraiture—whether formal or lifestyle portraiture—images that captured the personality, soulfulness, beauty, and strength of each client that I find in front of my camera, as well as the love and joy and different personalities in each family.

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The Expert in Residential New Development Rochelle LeCavalier PINK PALM GROUP, DOUGLAS ELLIMAN Rochelle LeCavalier is Executive Director of the Luxury Sales, Sports & Entertainment Division for Elliman Florida, and is consistently ranked in the top 1 percent of local agents with sales of over $150 million. With a professional background in construction, development and sales; an MBA; and as a member of Who’s Who of Luxury Real Estate; Rochelle is sought out as the local authority on luxury residential new development in the region.

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How did you get started in real estate?

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What is a project ambassador?

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To what do you attribute your high-profile, prestigious client base?

I began working in a civil engineering firm doing feasibility studies for master planned communities in Las Vegas in the ‘90s. Eventually I trained and managed new development sales teams, most recently at The Residences at Mandarin Oriental in Boca Raton. Today, I work with every major luxury new development in the region; for many, I am a project ambassador.

Some luxury new development projects have enlisted me to train their salespeople. Others have me promoting their projects using my international and interstate connectivity, and my platform as a featured Douglas Elliman speaker and robust social media presence. My buyers benefit, as I can provide this specialized expertise when they are shopping for new development opportunities.

Fortunately, I have represented an impressive clientele during my 20-year career, including industry leaders, celebrities, professional athletes and heads of state. Having the opportunity to serve this echelon of buyers and sellers of luxury real estate is directly related to my ability to execute and my willingness to serve their interests above all.

561-300-2648 PinkPalm.com

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The Expert in Understanding the Digital Revolution Matt Munro GROOVYTEK “Prior to the pandemic, learning more about technology for non-digital natives would be have been “nice” or elective, but now the demand for needing to understand how to use your personal technology is essential,” explains Matt Munro, CoFounder of GroovyTek. The education-based company he launched in 2015 now with a convenient Boca Raton location, offers one-on-one, in-home personal technology training sessions for smartphones, tablets and computers. Built upon a personalized problem solving technique known as the Groovy Method, his Florida team of 12 GroovyTek trainers serve clients patiently to remove the frustrations people feel initially, and to help them to feel excited about exploring personal technology in relatable, understandable terms.

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What is a non-digital native?

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Why is being tech-savvy so important?

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What services you provide?

Anyone over the age of 40, born after the digital big bang of the internet who can use some guidance, because technology isn’t second nature to them. We are about empowerment for this generation being left behind in the technology loop.

From telehealth calls to having groceries delivered to your home and communicating through applications like Zoom-- if you can’t do these things now and moving forward, there’s going to be a big lag. We’ve stepped in to be a resource for the underserved, very powerful segment of the population, the non-digital natives.

In-home and over the phone training sessions to adjust to changes in software operating systems; getting wireless printers synced and set up; understanding how to navigate different streaming services and more. In addition, GroovyTek’s ultra-cool 3,500 square-foot TekFun center in Boca welcomes visitors to explore in-house resources and workshops on communication, applications, staying safe online, and more!

561-560-0123 Groovytek.com SPONSORED CONTENT

The Expert in Artistic Plastic Surgery L. Scott Ennis, MD, FACS ENNIS PLASTIC SURGERY & AGE MANAGEMENT Double board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ennis knew as early as high school that he had a keen eye and knack for 3D facial and body features when he won the Congressional Art Show for his drawings.

He graduated from medical school at University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and was recruited for a plastic surgery fellowship at the University of Virginia, considered one of the best Ivy League university hospitals in the country.

Dr. Ennis and his wife Donna recently relocated their practice to Boca Raton full time to serve his international clientele.

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How has your artistic talent impacted your surgical techniques?

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What is it that draws people worldwide to seek your services?

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What other difference-making procedures do you offer?

I find it easy to put all of the pieces together to create a masterpiece for my patients, capturing their unique characteristics and ethnicity, providing natural looking results without the unsightly pulled look of overdone plastic surgery.

Similar to people who have natural musical talent, mine is visual.

Results with unique procedures such as the Deep Plane Facelift where I tighten the tiny facial muscles to achieve a very natural, yet dramatic youthful result. I also perform breast augmentations through a tiny incision in the under arm and place the new highly cohesive gummy bear implants so there is no scar on the breast.

561-285-3848 EnnisMD.com

PHOTO: AARON BRISTOL

Procedures such as buccal fat pad removal, lip lifts, endoscopic brow lifts and even the non-surgical Lip Flip which can be performed in as little as five minutes—it is a great non-surgical way to give the upper lip fullness without using fillers!

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The Expert in Grief Support Carla Bang, LCSW TRUSTBRIDGE Carla Bang, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist, state-qualified clinical supervisor, and a bereavement specialist with more than 20 years in the field. Carla has worked with women’s and family issues, children’s mental health, and student populations. For the past 10 years, Carla has focused on older adults, serious illness, and grief. Carla is skilled in individual, group, and family settings, as well as clinical supervision and consultation. She is also a talented presenter and trainer on numerous topics. This diverse background keeps her active, balanced and prepared to assist clients to continuously build and evolve their best and happiest selves.

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What is grief and how can I help someone who is grieving?

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When do you get over grief?

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What grief services are available?

Grief is a normal and inevitable response to a loss; the loss of a job, a relationship, a lifestyle (as with COVID), and certainly, the death of a loved one. Show patience and respect for the unique loss the other person is experiencing. Ask how they feel, what they need, and if they don’t know, just be with them.

In a way, you never do, you work your way through it.

Often when someone dies, the love continues, and the relationship can continue too, as your loved one’s influence in your life is permanent. Then you rebuild around the loss and return to thriving in your deepened self.

PHOTO: EMILIANO BROOKS

We offer a wide variety of counseling services, groups, special events and workshops for adults, families and children, as well as grief camps for kids—all at no cost to you. We welcome you to reach out for services designed to reflect your needs at any time you feel you’d like support.

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888-499-8393 Trustbridge.com

The Expert in Marital and Family Law Doreen Yaffa, Esquire YAFFA FAMILY LAW GROUP With more than 26 years of experience in family law, Doreen Yaffa has successfully helped numerous divorce clients reach the next great chapter of their lives. Doreen is one of a handful of attorneys who is board-certified in marital and family law by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education, and is specially trained in collaborative divorce. Doreen focuses on educating clients, strategizing on their best path forward and assisting them to achieve the results they desire. Being divorced herself, and now remarried with a happily blended family, Doreen has walked in her clients’ shoes and intimately understands their concerns. This perspective, paired with vast experience, makes Doreen one of Boca’s preeminent family law attorneys.

Q A

Are there different ways to get through divorce?

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What are the benefits for clients to engage a family law practice?

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As a mentor, what values do you emphasize to young lawyers?

If you are seeking advice on a divorce, ask about options other than costly and time-consuming litigation, such as collaborative divorce, mediation, limited representation and consulting. There is even a “DIY” way of getting you through the process for those with a mostly uncontested case.

Helping clients move past the difficult time of divorce and into a happier place where the family as a whole benefits is our goal. Since families come in all different forms and a new co-parenting family is sometimes best for everyone, including the children, my practice provides the assistance needed to see families through these transitions.

561-276-3880 Yaffafamilylawgroup.com

PHOTO: RICK GOMEZ

I have helped many young people realize their dreams of becoming a lawyer and opening their own firm. My newest endeavor is to share my expertise as a lawyer, business owner and mom of four with women lawyers, emphasizing the importance of life balance and sensibly reaching goals without burnout.

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The Expert in Luxury Real Estate Sandra Amani SIGNATURE ONE LUXURY ESTATES, LLC Sandra Amani’s success as a top producing realtor is steeped in a combination of her Midwestern mentality and tenacious New York-style 24/7 work ethic. Selling waterfront luxury properties comes as naturally to her as rehabbing and renovating 29 properties in Chicago’s South Shore; it’s all about providing a lifestyle that makes people feel at home.

Sandra explains, “When a client hires me, they benefit from my unrelenting dedication and expertise, cultivated over 20 years in three markets. My multi-faceted background serves them well throughout the entire process—every interaction, negotiation and communication.”

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How important is staging a home and pricing it right?

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What sets you apart in your profession?

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What is the Knock Home Swap program your firm offers?

Buyers want a move-in ready, HGTV home. By staging and neutralizing a home, a buyer can envision themselves in it and are more likely to make an offer. If you price over market, statistically, you end up selling for 20 percent less; more market time means less money.

I’ve done it all; sold foreclosures, short sales and even ranked #1 in sales during the crash. There’s very little that surprises me and that’s incredibly important, especially in Florida where attorneys aren’t typically involved in real estate transactions. I make sure to watch every detail and keep clients out of trouble.

PHOTO: EMILIANO BROOKS

This program empowers you to buy and move into a new home before listing your house for sale, provides funds for prepping for the sale, the new home down payment, and for mortgage payment coverage. It is the ultimate combination of convenience, certainty, and cost-effectiveness. I am one of the only agents in this market who can provide you access to it.

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561-320-1474 Sandra@SignatureOneLE.com

The Expert in Private Charter Jet Travel Erica Lorenzo MY CORPORATE JET, INC. Erica Lorenzo’s career has been “up in the air” since 2014 when she joined My Corporate Jet and found her calling, using her great customer service skills and meticulous attention to detail to provide passengers with the ultimate in hassle-free private jet service.

My Corporate Jet is a FAA-certificated Part 135 air charter, and cargo service operator in Ft. Lauderdale. Erica coordinates all of the flight schedules, landing permits, quotes and sales. “We are a nonscheduled commercial airlines. We fly on your schedule, not ours.

With more than 40,000 hours of logged flight time, our expert pilots will get you to your destination safely and on time,” Erica says.

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Is it expensive to charter a private jet?

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How much notice do you need to book a flight?

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What amenities do you offer passengers?

It depends where you are going. The shorter the flight, the higher the fare. A flight to New York averages $2,400 per hour plus fees. But when you consider that the fare is for up to six passengers, it’s a great way to fly, especially in the age of Covid.

Sometimes only 24-hours, subject to availability, but usually about a week. All you have to do is pack your bags, (preferably small luggage due to the limited storage capacity) pull up to the plane and go.

954-361-4844 Mycorporatejetinc.com

PHOTO: EMILIANO BROOKS

Convenience and safety are the top ones! We offer a unique and luxurious experience. Nobody is going to check what size shampoo you have, and you can even bring a case of your favorite wine onboard! We are pet friendly and provide complimentary light catering so passengers can enjoy a picnic in the clouds!

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The Expert in Dermatologic Care Robert S. Bader, MD R.S.B. DERMATOLOGY Dr. Robert Bader’s multi-specialty dermatology practice, R.S.B. Dermatology Inc., bears his initials, a testament to the pride he takes in his versatile Ivy League training, board-certified expertise, and the personal connection he forges with his patients.

Dr. Bader graduated from The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences with Distinction and is fellowship-trained in Mohs’ and Dermatologic Plastic Surgery from Affiliated Dermatology, a program affiliated with Columbia University. Along with comprehensive, full scope dermatologic care, Dr. Bader performs Mohs’ and reconstructive surgery in his office during one appointment, thus saving patients time and money. Patients may have the latest in lunchtime cosmetic procedures to improve their appearance and look more youthful.

According to Dr. Bader, achieving a natural look is paramount and requires an artistic approach that is scientifically based.

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What special treatments do you provide?

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What is TruSculpt iD and how does it work?

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What is your patient philosophy?

The many facial procedures I perform include fillers, toxins, age spot treatments, chemical peels, CO2 laser resurfacing, acne scar treatments, scar revisions, microneedling with radiofrequency, earlobe repair, & blood vessel removal. I also perform sclerotherapy for spider veins, laser hair removal, stretch mark treatments, scar treatments, and fat reduction treatments.

TruSculpt iD is the most advanced non-invasive, non-surgical fat reduction technology available. Using electrical energy that generates heat, fat cells are destroyed and skin is tightened in a 15-minute treatment with no downtime.

PHOTO: AARON BRISTOL

I have my patients’ best interests in mind, am cost conscious, and strive to give patients the best experience possible. For my cosmetic patients, I want them to look more youthful, have a natural appearance, and not look fake.

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954-421-3200 Drbader.com

The Experts in Compassionate End of Life Preparation Garrett Jacobs, CEO, Funeral Director Marshall Jacobs, GM/COO THE GARDENS OF BOCA RATON CEMETERY & FUNERAL HOME The Gardens Cemetery and Funeral Home is a family-owned and operated business, grounded by the personal attention and compassion of Funeral Director Garrett Jacobs, a 25 year industry veteran and CEO of The Boca Gardens Funeral Home, and his brother Marshall, who have helped the Gardens Cemetery grow exponentially in the community since acquiring the property in early 2016.

“My brother Marshall and I both feel a large responsibility to our community to personally watch over families and loved ones through the difficult times when a death occurs, and in the following years when family and friends visit to pay their respects.

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How has Covid affected your industry?

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Do you have plans to expand?

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Do you handle all aspects of funeral and burial plans?

The many challenges during these times include higher stress levels, emotional and financial strain, loneliness, and the inability for families to grieve a death together. We need to have even more patience and understanding about the emotions families are experiencing by not getting the closure they would “normally” have when all of their loved ones could be together during their time of grief.

With Garrett not only being an owner, but also a licensed funeral director, we have a rare opportunity that at the time of a death of a loved one, funeral and burial plans can be made at the same time. We often hear how convenient and valuable this is to the community when they are in need.

561-989-9190 Thegardens.com

PHOTO: CARLOS ARISTIZABAL

With more than 20 acres in the center of the city, and developed on only 11 of them, we have plenty of space left for many generations of loved ones to be laid to rest together.

Marshall Jacobs

Garrett Jacobs

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The Expert in Luxurious Italian Designer Fashion Isabella Kron, Designer and Founder ISABELLA KRON Isabella Kron grew up in Milan, a city synonymous with designer fashion. Her early studies in languages didn’t satisfy her real passion for the industry, nor serve as a foundation for her illustrious training and collaborations with world icons Giorgio Armani, Calvin Klein and Gucci’s Tom Ford. It was her innate artistic talent, sophisticated design skills and unique sense of style and hard work in learning the trade that led her to a fairy tale career in luxury fashion and the launch of her own brand in Delray Beach, now making a mark all her own.

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How did you get into the competitive fashion industry?

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You also worked with Calvin Klein and Gucci?

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What defines your brand?

From a very young age I was always attracted to fashion and my desire became a reality. I was very fortunate that my mentor and my maestro, Giorgio Armani, saw something in me and believed that I could do it. We worked together in his design studio for eight years.

People started noticing the accessories I designed for Armani. I joined Calvin Klein in 1992 after meeting with him in person at Villa d’Este in Lake Como. My work drew attention to a rising star in fashion, Tom Ford, then newly appointed Creative Director at Gucci. We started a partnership that lasted a decade, while rebuilding Gucci to stardom.

PHOTO: AARON BRISTOL

My fashions are timeless to pair with anything in your wardrobe for a unique look. From the perfect leather hobo bags, to belts, shoes, watches, scarves, shawls, denim and resort wear. I create a diverse aesthetic. I design all of my prints, manufactured in Como’s renowned factories. I really wanted to make sure I was doing this right as my name is on everything.

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561-865-5224 Isabellakron.com

The Expert in Personal Injury Law Abraham S. Ovadia OVADIA LAW GROUP, PA Abe Ovadia grew up in Boca Raton and attended FAU as an undergraduate. He later earned his law degree from FIU College of Law in Miami. After law school, he opened his first office out of his mother’s apartment, filing lawsuits against insurance companies that wrongfully chose not to pay doctors’ bills. He filed more than 1,000 lawsuits that first year. Now in his 11th year of practice, specializing in personal injury cases, Abe has a staff of seven attorneys and divides his time each week between his three office locations in Boca Raton, Doral and Fort Myers.

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What is your involvement with educating doctors about personal injury laws?

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Why is it important for you to give back?

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How do you stay competitive in your field?

I have been approved by the State of Florida to provide continuing education units (CEUs) to medical providers about state and federal laws related to personal injury law. My lectures educate medical providers on legal pitfalls to avoid when treating a patient with an injury case and how to properly document their injuries.

It’s my duty—and pleasure. In December I hosted my ninth-annual toy giveaway, where I personally bought and distributed hundreds of toys to needy kids and donated food to hungry families during the holidays. I was thrilled to return to my alma mater, FIU College of Law, a few years ago with a $400,000 gift to enhance the university’s career planning and placement office, which now bears my name.

800-674-9396 WeSetTheStandards.com

PHOTO: AARON BRISTOL

My firm is enrolled in core values training to ensure the ultimate in client customer service. We insist on being available by phone any time to answer clients’ questions, and we make it a point to reach out to clients regularly.

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The Experts in South Florida Real Estate The Pam & Toni Team COMPASS The Pam and Toni Team has earned an excellent reputation for their steadfast commitment and proven results in South Florida residential real estate, specializing in the Boca Raton and Delray Beach markets. With more than $65 million in total sales in 2020, Pam Thomes and Toni Valentino possess combined industry expertise spanning more than 40 years and boast numerous awards and designations including consistently being ranked among the top 1 percent of realtors in Florida by Real Trends and The Wall Street Journal. The Pam and Toni Team believes in providing the highest level of professionalism in every transaction, and pride themselves on their astute attention to detail, persistence and integrity in each step of the process.

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What skill set defines you and your team?

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What marketing tools do you use to stay competitive?

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Why should clients hire your team?

Teamwork. We are a team of four consisting of two principal agents, a dedicated buyer’s specialist and an operations and marketing manager. We collaborate without ego. When you work with one of us, you are really getting a team that is committed to achieving the best results for you.

Compass leads the industry in marketing. We work directly with our in-house marketing and advertising teams to target the right audience across the most effective channels to elevate the style and story of your home. With Compass Insights, our exclusive analytical tool, we assess marketing strategies in real-time and evolve as needed.

PHOTO: EMILIANO BROOKS

We approach each client from the perspective that home is more important than ever. It should be comfortable, functional and safe for you and your family. Whether buying or selling, our goal is to meet the needs of your unique lifestyle. Let us guide you home!

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Pam: 561-716-7526 Toni: 561-843-6950 Pamandtoni.com

The Expert in Executive Coaching and Business Management Skills Development Nancy Proffitt PROFFITT MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS Nancy Proffitt is a Certified Executive Business Coach specializing in the development of a People-Service-Profit culture. After a successful 25-year career in senior management at FedEx, Nancy founded Proffitt Management Solutions to help corporations and individuals make a difference in themselves through the development of the right attitudes, skills and processes to make a difference in the business world. She has learned that the biggest challenge most business owners face is that they know their product and their services, but don’t know how to get their employees to find the same passion and desire to deliver that cutting edge service.

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What is involved with Corporate Coaching?

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How do you accomplish this?

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What about individual coaching?

Corporate coaching and development is the most effective means of promoting positive, rapid and lasting organizational change. It happens because everyone from the top down—and throughout the organization—is involved in the same mission, vision and values.

We help leaders model the behaviors to get people to want to do what they need to do. We look at attitudes, situations, problem-solving skills, decision-making and communication, and collaborate as a team to make it happen.

561-582-6060 Proffittmanagement.com

PHOTO: AARON BRISTOL

Individual coaching involves building a non-judgmental action-oriented get-off-your-duff-and-get-it-done business plan. We work with people’s strengths—not their weaknesses—to leverage those strengths to steer their behavior in positive ways, overcoming obstacles and taking action so they feel accomplished.

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The Expert in Nursing Home Abuse Law Michael Brevda SENIOR JUSTICE LAW FIRM Attorney Michael Brevda of Senior Justice Law Firm narrowly focuses on cases involving nursing home abuse and neglect.

Michael Brevda is recognized nationally for his work in this subspecialty and his firm has offices throughout Florida, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington DC.

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How do I select the best nursing home for my parent?

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What is nursing home abuse? How will I know if my parent is neglected?

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Why pursue a claim if my parent passed away from nursing home negligence?

Start by using Medicare.gov’s Care Compare tool to rank facilities in your area. Once you have a short list, visit each facility. Look past the shiny lobby or renovated common areas. Ask to see where the residents live. Speak with staff and ask tough questions. Choose the facility where you feel most comfortable.

Abuse is the withholding of care, supervision or services needed by a vulnerable adult. The most common nursing home abuse injuries we see are bedsores, broken bones, patient falls and wrongful death.

PHOTO: TRACEY BENSON

Overwhelmingly, nursing homes are for-profit entities.

They are run by MBAs, not doctors. Their focus is on profits. Due to lenient government oversight, facilities usually go unpunished for neglect-related injuries. This means if you do not take the company’s money for harming your parent, they will continue to neglect residents. Our firm’s mission is to economically disincentivize nursing home abuse. The only accountability and justice available is by making a claim.

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561-717-0817 SeniorJustice.com

The Expert in Residential and Commercial Lending Ryan Brandenburger CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE An early education in customer service gained while working in the hospitality industry during college paved the way for branch manager and mortgage specialist Ryan Brandenburger’s success in the mortgage business. After obtaining his real estate license in 2002 followed by a mortgage broker’s license in 2003, Ryan put his skill set and people- pleasing demeanor to work, providing FHA, Conventional, Jumbo, VA financing for both residential and commercial lending at Cross Country Mortgage.

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Is it more difficult to finance condos and why?

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What is the minimum down payment to buy a primary, second home or an investment property?

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What are the benefits of a 15-year mortgage vs. a 30-year mortgage?

Unlike a single-family home, a condo has extra layers of underwriting, including the financial strength of the condo building, making it more challenging and involved. You have to look at the condo’s insurance, budget and bylaws, and they have to be strong, along with the buyer’s income assets and credit. The extra layer of underwriting creates extra risk, so it’s important that you work with a lender who understands and is proactive in that underwriting.

The minimum down payment is as little as 3% for a primary residence with conventional and FHA financing. For a second home it’s 10%; investment properties are 15% and 100% percent financing for US veterans. Jumbo mortgages are a little trickier and could require a minimum of 5-20% for down payment.

561-717-0778 Teambrandenburger.com

PHOTO: MICHAEL LLOYD

With a 15-year mortgage, the interest rates are lower, payments are higher, and there is a lower amount of interest over the term. A 30-year fixed mortgage has a slightly higher interest rate, lower payments and higher amount of interest over the loan. If you can afford a 15-year mortgage vs. a 30-year mortgage I strongly suggest it.

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The Expert in Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Rafael C. Cabrera, MD, FACS PLASTIC SURGERY SPECIALISTS OF BOCA RATON Dr. Rafael C. Cabrera is a double board-certified plastic surgeon.

He has been practicing plastic and reconstructive surgery in Boca Raton for more than two decades and is on staff exclusively at Boca Raton Regional Hospital. Dr. Cabrera received his BA with Distinction from Cornell University in 1985 before graduating from New York University School of Medicine in 1989. He completed his General Surgery Residency and Plastic Surgery Fellowship at the New York University Medical Center Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and the prestigious Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital. Dr. Cabrera is very excited to be an early adopter of the EMSCULPT NEO platform, the first and only non-invasive body shaping treatment the uses radiofrequency for fat reduction and electromagnetic energy for muscle strengthening and toning.

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How does EMSCULPT NEO work?

Q A Q A

What areas are commonly treated with EMSCULPT NEO?

PHOTO: CARLOS ARISTIZABAL

Using simultaneous radiofrequency (RF), the temperature in the subcutaneous fat, gently increases to levels that results in permanent fat cell damage. These fat cells are then slowly removed from the body. During the same application, the high intensity focused electromagnetic energy (HIFEM) contracts 100 percent of the muscle fibers in the area at intensities that are not achievable during voluntary workouts, resulting in a 25 percent increase in muscle mass.

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EMSCULPT NEO can be applied over the abdomen, buttocks, thighs, arms and calves.

What is the protocol?

Four 30-minute sessions, scheduled 5-10 days apart.

There is NO downtime, the effects are felt immediately and final results are seen around 3 months after the last treatment. Treatments feel intense but should never be painful.

EMSCULPT NEO is completely non-invasive and does not require surgery, needles or anesthesia. There is no other device in the industry that treats both fat and muscle in a single treatment.

561-393-6400 Pssbocaraton.com

The Experts in Concierge Real Estate The Newland Smith Team DOUGLAS ELLIMAN Accomplished professionals each in their own right well before they joined forces, Colleen Newland and Kirsten Smith’s combined talents and impressive expertise have taken their careers to exceptional heights as the Newland Smith Team at Douglas Elliman.

Colleen’s prestigious education from Vanderbilt University with an MBA from Columbia Business School paved the way to a successful investment banking career and an easy transition to analytics-based real estate.

After graduating from the University of Florida with degrees in Public Relations and Spanish, Kirsten dabbled in the music business.

Q A

What makes your partnership work so well?

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Why should clients consider hiring your team?

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What is the focus of your blog?

I was born and raised in Boca Raton so I know the area and all of the changes that have occurred. Colleen is a mother of two who relocated from Manhattan to downtown Delray and understands the family-centric perspective and all it entails.

Together, we can run the gamut, specializing in residential real estate and relocations in Palm Beach County.

We are a one-stop real estate purveyor with a strong foundation of analytics, social media networks and marketing expertise. We are full time agents who provide meticulous, comprehensive concierge services and access to all the South Florida market has to offer. We are actively involved in the community with our finger on the pulse 24/7.

Colleen: 917-478-7059 Kirsten: 561-350-0348 Newlandsmithteam.com

PHOTO: AARON BRISTOL

Our blog is an Insider’s Guide to various neighborhoods, happenings and events, posted twice a week. We interview locals to share their insights on what they love about where they live, a calendar of events and interesting tips.

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The Expert in Multi-Generational Wealth Preservation Steven J. Giacona, CPA, MST, TEP; Founder, CEO ROUND TABLE WEALTH MANAGEMENT “It’s not what you make, it’s what you keep. Preserving wealth through holistic planning is what we focus on 100 percent of the time,” explains Steven Giacona, founder of Round Table Wealth Management. “Holistic planning is about everything that affects your financial well-being like taxes, insurance, investments, estate planning and philanthropy. With offices in NYC, NJ, and Boca, we serve clients with liquidity between $1 million to $150 million.

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What is Women of Clarity?

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Why is Round Table different?

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Why should clients hire Round Table advisors?

We have a special program when working with women in transition who are recently divorced, widowed or looking for financial empowerment. Knowing what is most important to a woman allows our customized and empathetic approach to be more effective than a “one size fits all” offering.

We have a culture of wealth preservation and service. Our experience allows us to proactively serve individuals and families, cross-border families, residency issues when moving to Florida, retirees and business owners.

We are experienced on the do’s and don’ts of U.S. and nonU.S. tax and investment issues.

PHOTO: MIKE JURUS

We are in the business of serving families and providing value as fiduciaries. Our mission is to “create happiness by reducing financial stress.” If your advisor is not proactive and thinking about your financial concerns holistically, we welcome an introduction and a complimentary review to get to know each other.

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561-569-8239 Roundtablewealth.com

The Expert in Complete Beehive Removal Willie Sklaroff WILLIE THE BEE MAN, INC A swarm or hive of bees often numbers in the thousands, but neither bees in flight nor bees permanently located cause any worry or fear for Willie the Bee Man. In fact, he considers each day’s work exciting! Willie removes bees and their hives from residences, schools, parks, and commercial properties from the Florida Keys to Vero Beach. Florida’s Department of Agriculture has been recommending Willie to property owners with bee problems since he registered as a beekeeper in 1993. Vice President of the Certified Pest Control Operators Association of Florida, Willie teaches and attends continuing education classes on the behavior of bees.

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What is done when bees present a problem?

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What myths about bees need to be debunked?

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Where do bees typically build their hives?

Frequently, home or business owners are afraid of swarming bees on their property. The particulars of their bee situation indicate the procedures I will use to solve their problem. When I locate the bees, I remove the bees and their whole hive, including all the honey and the honeycombs.

When several bees are flying together, they are ready to attack. FALSE! When the queen bee dies or is removed, the bees in that hive die. FALSE! It is illegal in Florida to kill bees, especially honey bees. FALSE! Bees nearly always build their hives in trees. FALSE! It is illegal to raise bees on private property. FALSE!

Dade: 305-933-2337 Broward: 954-947-2337 Palm Beach: 561-571-2337 Treasure Coast: 772-800-2337 Williethebeeman.com

PHOTO: AARON BRISTOL

Bees, like other animals and insects, often seek respite from the intense Florida sun, so they frequently build their hives inside soffits, barbecue grills, walls, garbage cans, mail boxes, bird houses, laundry rooms, flower pots, water meters, irrigation boxes, and sheds. Bees need only 1/8” to get into a structure. When you see bees on your property contact us to arrange for a complete bee hive removal any day of the week.

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The Expert in Decorative Koi Ponds, Fountains and Water Features Chanin Holland SOUTHERN POND & FOUNTAIN, INC Walking across the bridge he built with his dad Charlie Holland in 1976, leading to their 50 year-old family owned pet shop and animal lovers’ institution Fins, Furs N’ Feathers, Chanin Holland is thankful for his father’s inspiration. To this day, the shop is still owned and operated by his sisters, Debbie and Lisa. Chanin’s shared aquatic passions mirrored his dad’s and morphed into his own business, Southern Pond and Fountain, an outlet to provide modest ponds and fountains up to six-figure mega koi systems. “I love what I do. My clients mean more to me than just business, they become my friends,” says Chanin.

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Are Koi ponds hard to maintain?

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What is the Crazyclear®Koi Pond Filtration System?

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What services does your company provide?

They don’t have to be! With proper planning and execution from the very start, along with the use of state-of-the-art filtration, like my CrazyClear® Pond Filtration Systems, success is guaranteed.

Crazyclear® is a koi pond filter system I designed and trademarked, providing the absolute easiest, top quality, simple method for clients to self-care for their ponds. However, we certainly offer an array of maintenance programs.

PHOTO: EMILIANO BROOKS

Consultation, installation, renovation, repair and maintenance of fish ponds, fountains and all types of water features. There is truly no project too small and absolutely no project too large. We’ll get that water flowing!

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561-948-4626 Southernpond.com

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Q A

How does the process work?

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Jewelry often has sentimental value that outweighs any amount of money. Therefore, I recommend a loan so that ownership can be retained. However, I advise selling outright when jewelry has not been worn for ages. My job is to provide you with all of the options so you can make an informed decision that’s best for you.

Jewelry equity loan allows a person to borrow money against the liquid value of their fine jewelry, which is a tangible asset that traditional banks don’t accept. I can provide instant access to capital as most loans are funded the same day and they’re non-recourse, so your credit and financial history are never affected. The items are kept in an undisclosed, secure location until the loan is paid back, at which time the jewelry is returned to you. Diamond Banc is uniquely flexible in regard to the repayment structure of loans. There is no minimum or maximum time limit to the loan duration. We pride ourselves on offering the highest values and lowest interest rates in the area!

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one of America’s  Great House Museums right here in Palm Beach

The Cultural Consortium of Greater Boca Raton Members: Boca Ballet Theatre • Boca Raton Historical Society and Museum Boca Raton Museum of Art • FAU College of Arts and Letters • Festival of the Arts Boca Florida Intergenerational Orchestra • Friends of Gumbo Limbo Nature Center • The Harid Conservatory Lynn University • Mizner Park Amphitheatre • Primal Forces Productions • Sol Children Theatre Sugar Sand Park Community Center • The SYMPHONIA, Boca Raton • Youth Orchestra of Palm Beach County

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Nicole Perry South Florida’s premier intimacy director finds valuable work in a post-MeToo world Written by JOHN THOMASON

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issing, heavy petting and other carnal acts have been a part of live theatre since the days of Aristophanes, not to mention Shakespeare on up to Tennessee Williams. But only in the past decade or so have professional standards developed around intimacy choreography, ensuring that physical touch between actors serves the story’s needs in a way that respects consent.

Tonia Sina, Siobhan Richardson and Alicia Rodis founded Intimacy Directors International in 2017, which happened to be the same year #MeToo began trending on social media. With awareness of inappropriate behavior in the workplace at an alltime high, intimacy direction has risen from a niche specialty to an essential element for producers who see the value in staging sexy the right way.

In the world of South Florida theatre, dancer, choreographer and teacher Nicole Perry has emerged, over the past three years, as the profession’s go-to artist helping companies navigate the“Five Pillars” of intimacy direction: Consent, Context, Communication, Choreography and Closure. The Plantation resident has worked for companies including Theatre Lab at FAU and Measure for Measure Theatre, and had been contracted at Main Street Players in Miami Lakes and Maltz Jupiter Theatre before the coronavirus blacked out theaters everywhere.

While Perry has lost some income to the virus, she believes that when productions resume again, her job may be more important than ever. She expects to discuss questions such as “What choices do we have that we don’t have to touch and can keep it distant?

How do we talk about boundaries and consent, so that everybody feels they have the option to say no?

Hopefully people will see the importance of it, and not go back to old patterns.”

was through that that I heard about intimacy direction. … I went to a one-day workshop at the University of Miami that spring [2018], and I was hooked. I thought, this is something our industry definitely needs.

What drew you to this field?

I was working as a high school theatre and dance teacher, and had a student who had to kiss another student. And she was very nervous about it, because she had never done that in real life. I always say,

Oftentimes in this market, straight actors play LGBTQ roles, or vice versa.

Is part of your job to make actors feel comfortable doing certain things onstage that they would not experience in their offstage life?

it’s not a prerequisite— there’s plenty of things you haven’t done in real life. We don’t expect you to have had a swordfight. We teach you how to do those things. So I Googled “teaching teenagers to kiss”—which you should probably never Google—and it

What tendencies do actors exhibit that are improper—that you need to correct?

I think some of the wrongness of intimacy comes from a lack of clarity. The director’s like, “and then you kiss.” That’s why choreography is one of the pillars. It should be said that each actor knows what is going to happen to their body throughout the course of a scene.

It should be repeatable, so every audience gets the same show. And it should tell the story that we want to tell. So it’s not so much wrongness on the actor’s or the director’s side. It’s just having a vocabulary to talk about it, and having a comfort level to talk about it.

Yeah. It comes down to movement, and that’s how I talk about it.

This hand goes here, this hand goes there, it’s done for this many beats, we’re going to close the space, we’re going to open the space… it becomes choreography. It’s not about, do you like this other person? It’s about, can the two of you execute movement properly?

Are there “bucket list” shows you’d like to work on?

For musicals, I would love to do “Gypsy.” … The stripteases in that could be such fun. Play-wise, “In the Next Room (Or the Vibrator Play)” is the highest on my list. “Hair” needs one. … There’s all sorts of shows that desperately need them.

If an onstage fight is done well, it has the illusion of real conflict, and we don’t see the staginess. If you do your job well, should your work also be invisible?

Yes. It’s a little bit of a joke between my friends. With the first two shows I did, I didn’t get mentioned in any of the reviews. People skipped over my name in the program. I’m kind of fine with it. It means they don’t actually know what my job was, which means I did it well.

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I’m not the fun police, which sometimes people think; I’m actually here to make it as sexy as possible, within the actors’ boundaries and the director’s vision.”

—Nicole Perry

February 2021

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109 EAT & DRINK

Southern onion rings from Henry’s Palm Beach

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Clockwise from bottom: cedar plank Antarctic salmon, cauliflower salad, Mangrove snapper

I F YO U G O PARKING: Street parking, valet service HOURS: Dinner Mon., Wed.-Fri., 5 to 10 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 3 to 10 p.m. Weekend brunch, Sat.-Sun., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Tuesday.

PRICES: Entrees $16-$58 WEBSITE: thebreakers.com/dining/henryspalmbeach

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Henry’s Palm Beach 229 Royal Poinciana Way, Palm Beach, 877/724-3188 Written by LYNN KALBER

“Always do sober what you said you’d do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut.”

—Ernest Hemingway (from Henry’s drink coasters)

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lways in elegant, understated style, the patrons will always be the standouts at Henry’s, even with masks on.

Henry Morrison Flagler looks down from a large portrait in the dining room, surrounded by historical images of the grand opulence that was Palm Beach then, and still exists behind plaster walls today.

From the luxury linen plum-andmustard napkins and tablecloths to the wine list with“La Tache”Grand Cru, Burgundy, 1990, for $7,200 a bottle, you know you’re on Breakers real estate. But even average folks can dine here, without breaking the bank, and revel in well-prepared dishes worthy of Henry’s name.

This off-property restaurant stands where longtime gathering spot Testa’s used to live.

There are quite a few happy hour/ comfort appetizers—among them pigs in a pretzel dough blanket ($18), Southern onion rings ($16), beer can corn ($12), avocado fries and more. The bar is a beautiful setting where you can see out the large windows overlooking the Royal Poinciana sidewalk. Or move to more solid plates with salads and sandwiches (the $34 lobster roll is popular); entrees that include butter crumb Dover sole ($52), chicken pot pie ($31), spaghetti Bolognese made with veal, beef and pork ($32); and desserts. We tried the onion rings with a horseradish dipping sauce and the shaved cauliflower salad ($17) with Parmesan, dates, Calabrian peppers, Marcona almonds and a honey lemon vinaigrette. The salad was light, creamy and full of

almonds and dates. A cedar plank Antarctic salmon with miso ginger glaze ($36) was served with wasabi sauce and char-grilled asparagus.

The tender fish was cooked perfectly, the sweet glaze melding with the sweetish asparagus.

Fish of the day was Mangrove snapper ($43), pan-seared with house-made tartar sauce, creamy Parmesan rice grits and asparagus. A vanilla crème brulee with blueberry and nuts streusel on top wasn’t an unusual dish, but it was a delightful mix of tastes, and the French-press coffee was a perfect complement. There was outdoor seating, but that was only until the next-door retail neighbors moved in. Otherwise, Henry’s wasn’t designed with an outdoor dining option. Henry’s lives up to The Breakers: top quality, great service and a memorable meal. If you go early enough, the parking is free.

February 2021

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Authentic Italian Cuisine 6 7 5 0 N o r t h F e d e r a l H i g h w a y, B o c a R a t o n

561-997-7373 w w w

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Basilic Vietnamese Grill 200 S. Federal Highway, Boca Raton, 561/409-4964 Written by LYNN KALBER

I I F YO U G O PARKING: Pay parking on street or in nearby garage HOURS: Wed.-Sun., noon to 8:30 p.m.

PRICES: Entrees $11.50 to $17.75

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t’s easy to see why Basilic Vietnamese Grill is a favorite with locals.

The food is consistently satisfying, and the prices are extremely reasonable. Clearly, it’s become the go-to for area diners who enjoy the banh mi sandwiches, the long list of pho bowl options, the fact that there’s a vegetarian part of the menu. Plus, there’s bubble tea.

Since it opened in 2014, Basilic has introduced Boca to a wide range of Vietnamese specialties, such as cha gio tom heo: fried shrimp and pork Imperial rolls ($8), served with slightly sweet sauce, lettuce, pickled veggies and mint.

The three crispy rolls are made with a thin dough, so these are light, and the shrimp/pork stuffing only adds flavor, not weight.

Crispy calamari and shrimp ($15) arrive with red bell peppers, onions and ginger, all lightly crisped, and the calamari, while a bit chewy, is worth finishing. Meanwhile, the complimentary shrimp chips act as a palate cleanser between appetizers.

Entrees aside from the popular pho bowls include vermicelli noodle bowls (I had the sauteed beef lemongrass bowl), which are served with bean sprouts, pickled veggies, herbs (cilantro, basil, mint), peanuts and shallots. The Vietnamese sauce is served with these bowls, too, but the dish didn’t really need it.

Try the house fried rice, a combo of beef, shrimp and chicken ($16), which is not the same as Chinese fried rice—it’s lighter and has more mixed flavors, even if the

ingredients seem the same (carrots, peas, onions). There are pork chops, chicken curry, lemongrass chicken. Or the vegetarian pho, with stir-fried noodle and tofu, among other vegetarian dishes.

The décor is done in shades of green, gray and vermicelli noodle-white, with black accents. It’s a spare but attractive dining area.

There is outside seating with an awning, which was closed the night we visited, due to a heavy rain.

This is a sister restaurant to the original Lauderdale-by-the-Sea location. The only downside to Basilic’s popularity is that when it got busy, the one server was stretched a bit thin and service slowed down. So book some time to enjoy your Asahi beer or iced Vietnamese coffee.

February 2021

1/12/21 10:04 AM

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RESTAURANT DIRECTORY

DINING GUIDE 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/brunch Sun.-Fri., dinner nightly. 561/447-0024. $$$$

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Arturo’s Ristorante—6750 N. Federal Highway.

Beef carpaccio from Casa D’Angelo

Italian. Arturo’s quiet, comfortable dining room; slightly formal, rigorously professional service; and carefully crafted Italian dishes never go out of style. You’ll be tempted to make a meal of the array of delectable antipasti from the antipasti cart, but try to leave room for main courses like the veal shank served on a bed of risotto. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/997-7373. $$$

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. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/981-8986. $$ Boca Landing —999 E. Camino Real. Contemporary

DINING KEY $: Under $17 $$: $18–$35 $$$: $36–$50 $$$$: $50 and up

American. The Waterstone Resort & Marina’s signature restaurant, Boca Landing, offers the city’s only waterside dining and shows off its prime location and views. Heavy on small plates, the menu features tuna crudo, fried calamari and a killer cheese and charcuterie board. Probably the best dish, though, is the charred filet mignon with a red wine bone marrow reduction, with wickedly luscious house-made hazelnut gelato coming in a very close second. • Dinner nightly.

561/226-3022. $$$

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

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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 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 daily.

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, seabass Bouillabaisse, coq au vin, rack of lamb, salads and more desserts. • Dinner nightly. 561/997-0027. $$

Chops Lobster Bar—101 Plaza Real S., Royal Palm Place. Steak, seafood. At this upscale downtown restaurant, steaks are aged USDA Prime—tender, flavorful

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115 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. $$$$

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.

Cuban Café—3350 N.W. Boca Raton Blvd., Suite B-30.

Biergarten—309 Via De Palmas, #90. German/Pub. Part vaguely German beer garden, part all-American sports

Cuban. One thing Boca needs more of is coffee windows—and real Cuban restaurants. Which is undoubtedly why diners pack this traditional Cuban restaurant for lunch specials that start at $7.95, including slow-roasted pork served with white rice and black beans. Other highlights include the Cuban sandwich and (on the dinner menu only) lechón asado. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/750-8860. $

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. $$

Domus Italian Restaurant—187 S.E. Mizner Blvd. Italian. The “Best Spaghetti & Meatballs Ever” dish is pretty darn close to being just that. Who says we have too many Italian restaurants? The burrata with tomato carpaccio, melt-in-yourmouth Dover sole almondine, orecchiette con sausage and linguine vongole are part of a very good menu. From Sicilian fish salad to veal piccata, a light calamari fritti to chicken Parmesan, you can find something for all appetites. Save room for the tartufo. • Dinner nightly. 561/419-8787. $$$

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.

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 Buddha Bowl, with veggies, udon noodles and shrimp. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

561/417-5836. $$

Frank & Dino’s —39 S.E. First Ave. Italian. The Rat Pack is alive and well here in both décor and soundtrack.

So, too, are traditional Italian dishes such as Dentice oreganata, capellini Pomodoro and tiramisu. But you may want to get there early for one of the longest happy hours around (11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekdays) for Damiano meatballs, filet mignon sliders or antipasto misto between lunch and dinner. • Lunch Mon.-Fri.; dinner nightly. 561/218-4636. $$$

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. 561/8262625. $$

Grand Lux Cafe —6000 Glades Road, inside Town Center at Boca Raton. American. The Cheesecake Factory’s sister brand is an upscale take on the original formula, with an atmosphere inspired by the great cafes of Europe. The menu offers a range of international flavors, and the specialty baked-to-order desserts are always a big hit.

• Lunch and dinner daily; brunch on Saturday and Sunday.

561/392-2141. $$

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Bonefish Grill—21065 Powerline Road. Seafood. Market-fresh seafood is the cornerstone, like Chilean sea bass prepared over a wood-burning grill and served with sweet Rhea’s topping (crabmeat, sautéed spinach and a signature lime, tomato and garlic sauce.) • Dinner nightly. 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, 561/965-2663; 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). $$ Nick’s New Haven-Style Pizzeria—2240 N.W. 19th St., Suite 904. Italian. Cross Naples (thin, blistered crust, judicious toppings) with Connecticut (fresh clams and no tomato sauce), and you’ve got a pretty good idea of the pies coming out of Nick Laudano’s custom-made ovens. The “white clam” pizza with garlic and bacon is killer-good; Caesar salad and tiramisu are much better than the usual pizzeria fare. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/368-2900. $$ 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. $

True—147 S.E. First Ave. American. True is the only place in South Florida to eat authentic Baltimore crab cakes. This small, unpretentious venue reminds us of a Key West food shack. The food is fabulous. Try anything with crab (crab dip, crab soup, crab sliders), but don’t miss the bacon-wrapped dates, beef brisket sliders and Fetacomply salad.• Dinner Tues.-Sun. 561/417-5100. $$

The Grille On Congress—5101 Congress

Houston’s —1900 N.W. Executive Center Circle. Con-

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. $$

temporary 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

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Veggie Table

As more Americans turn vegetarian, local restaurants are getting the message Written by LYNN KALBER

I

VEGGIE STARS FARMER’S TABLE,

1901 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton; 561/417-5836; dinefarmerstable. com

ELISABETTA’S,

32 E. Atlantic Ave., Boca Raton; 561/560-6699; and 185 Banyan Blvd., West Palm Beach; elisabettas.com

CORELIFE EATERY, 8170

Glades Road, Boca Raton; 561/9312535; locations. corelifeeatery.com/ corelife-eatery458bb7a833d9

AMICI MARKET,

155 N. County Road, Palm Beach; 561/832-0201; amicimarket.com/ venchi

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are constantly adding new items,” says Brad DeGrazia, franchisee co-owner of the CoreLife Eatery locations in Boca Raton and Royal Palm Beach along with his brother, Drew DeGrazia. That includes“new additions that are not heavily relying on meat proteins, which are the Sweet Potato Buddha Bowl and the Maple Bacon Brussels Sprout Bowl (very little bacon is included).”

Chef Summa points out,“I love to treat a vegetable as the hero or center of the plate like you would a steak, chop or a filet of fish. Italians treat their fish very simply, adorning them with a fresh-pressed grassy olive oil, sea salt, lemon juice and a little fresh Serrano chili. This same treatment is delicious on freshly grilled vegetables such as zucchini squash and grilled radicchio.”

The veggie takeover is all part of the changes we saw by the barrel-full in 2020, and taste changes aren’t going to slow down any time soon.

Joey Giannuzzi

GYORGY PAPP

Lisabet Summa

was inhaling a very good piece of vegetarian pizza from Palm Beach’s Amici Market when I realized how many of my friends had decided to give up meat during the pandemic. It’s apparently a national trend for a number of reasons.

Restaurants have noticed. Sure, it’s good for the planet, and good for our health, but it’s cheaper. Veggies have been easier to find during lockdowns, too. The New York Times found that 14.5 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases can be attributed to livestock. Says the Times: “Some of the environmental effects that have been associated with meat production are pollution through fossil fuel usage, animal methane, effluent waste, and water and land consumption.”

That all adds up to bring you more vegetarian dishes on menus, as well as new vegetarian restaurants opening. Established restaurants are altering menus for the same reason. Plus, as Elisabetta’s chef/ owner, Lisabet Summa, says,“Rock on, veggies! They are the most exciting and diverse ingredients a chef has to work with!”

Palm Beach County has seen a number of sustainably conscious or plant-based restaurants pop up in the past few years, along with some planning to open (maybe): CoreLife Eatery (Boca, Royal Palm Beach), True Food Kitchen (Boca, Fall 2021 in West Palm Beach), Farmer’s Table (Boca Raton, North Palm Beach), Planta and Pura Vita (once planned to open in WPB).

Boca’s Farmer’s Table got in front of the trend years ago with its vegetarian and vegan menus. Says co-owner Joey Giannuzzi, “We are currently featuring an already larger number of these dishes than most restaurants. Our daily chef’s creations are also heavily vegan and vegetarian-oriented.”

“The majority of our entrees are already offered in vegetarian form, and we

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E AT & D R I N K RESTAURANT DIRECTORY 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. $$$ Jimmy’s Fries to Caviar —6299 N. Federal Highway. Contemporary American. Going one better than soup to nuts defines Jimmy Mills’ Boca restaurant, an easygoing, affordable bistro in the old Darbster space that really does offer fries, caviar and more. Four varieties of fish eggs are shown off nicely crowning a quartet of deviled eggs, while the thick-cut fries complement a massively flavorful, almost fork-tender hanger steak in the classic steak frites.Try the seasonal soups as well. • Dinner Tues.-Sun. 561/617-5965. $$

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 three-cheese eggplant rollatini and chicken scarpariello. • Dinner nightly. 561/988-0668. $$

Kapow! Noodle Bar—431 Plaza Real. Pan-Asian.

This Asian-inspired gastropub delivers an inventive punch to the taste buds. Among the hardest hitters is its angry shrimp dumplings and the char sui pork belly bao bun. The Saigon duck pho is yet one more reason to go. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/347-7322. $$

Kathy’s Gazebo Café —4199 N. Federal Highway.

Traditional French. Elegance, civility and very good food meet here for dinners that last at least two hours, and it’s worth it.

Try the Dover sole (pricey, but it won’t disappoint), the escargot, coq au vin if it’s a nightly special, gazpacho, duck, veal, lobster and more. Don’t forget the rich, well-crafted desserts. Classical dining at a longtime standard; jackets recommended. • Lunch Mon.-Fri. Dinner Mon.-Sat. 561/395-6033. $$$

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. $$$ 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. $$$ La Villetta—4351 N. Federal Highway. Italian. This is a well-edited version of a traditional Italian menu, complete with

Established 1991

OPEN DAILY! BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER 80 S. Federal Highway • Deerfield Beach, FL • (954) 480-8402

www.olympiaflamediner.com

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Just Desserts

Sweet dessert wines are a Valentine’s Day staple Written by LYNN KALBER

“Our life is frittered away by detail… simplify, simplify.”

—Henry David Thoreau

A

AARON BRISTOL

Valentine’s Day meal at home with someone special needs to be simple. That allows you to spend as much stress-free time together as possible—the best gift you can give someone you love.

When it comes to ending your meal, pair your simple (but delicious) ending with a dessert wine that elevates the entire meal to a higher plane.

Here’s the really basic part: Dessert wines don’t have to be sweet. They can be paired with anything you serve, and they come in all price ranges.

That’s the short and sugar-sweet advice from Master Sommelier Virginia Philip, who owns Virginia Philip Wine Spirits & Academy on Palm Beach. She is also wine director for The Breakers, a judge in many wine and cooking competitions, and an instructor with wine education programs, among other pursuits.

Philip’s favorite dessert wine is sherry.“We have a cream sherry, Alvear, that’s great with milk or white chocolate,”she says.“Or a vintage or ruby port or zinfandel are terrific with dark chocolate.

“Most people think dessert wines are expensive, and while some are, there are so many options that (we stock that) are affordable.

“The Alvear is $22, and there’s a Bodegas Hidalgo sherry from Pedro Ximenez Triana that’s $18.49 and pairs well with milk or white chocolate, too. You don’t have to spend a lot for very good dessert options.

“People automatically gravitate toward sauternes and Hungarian dessert wines, which are good,”adds Philip.

“But there’s a nice off-the-wall wine from Australia— Dandelion Vineyards, Pedro Ximenez—that’s beautiful with chocolate (maybe raspberry chocolate?!) that’s $23.99 for a half-bottle. Try Italian, where the Sicilian passito is good with any sweets ($29 for 500 ml).”

Dessert wines should be chilled correctly, but they can end your meal on a note that warms the love.

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119 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 virtually 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. $$

Madison’s —2006 N.W. Executive Center Circle.

American. This location is something of a Bermuda Triangle for restaurants, with at least four restaurants preceding this local outpost of a Canadian chain that styles itself a “New York grill and bar.” What Madison’s has going for it is an exceedingly handsome and capacious space, and service that is as professional as it is personable. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/994-0808. $$$ Maggiano’s —21090 St. Andrews Blvd. Italian. Do as the Italians do, and order family-style: Sit back and watch the endless amounts of gorgeous foods grace your table. In this manner, you receive two appetizers, a salad, two pastas, two entrées and two desserts. The menu also includes lighter takes on staples like chicken parm, fettuccine alfredo and chicken piccata. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/361-8244. $$ Mario’s Osteria—1400 Glades Road, Suite 210. Italian.

This popular spot is swanky, but the rustic Italian fare keeps with an osteria’s humbler pretensions. 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. $$

Buzz Bite I Delivering Celebrities to Your Doorstep

H

ave a margarita the Dwayne Johnson way with his tequila, Teremana Blanco.

Relax at the end of the day with a glass of white wine with Sarah Jessica Parker, or at least with her Invivo X SJP wine.

If you’ve looked for these and other alcoholic products made by or endorsed by celebrities and haven’t been able to find them, GrapeStars would be your answer.

Launched last summer by Miami childhood friends Stephan Fortier, Jean Pelletier and Robert Pelletier, this app-based company delivers celebrity-driven spirits, wine and beer anywhere you can receive alcohol.

I asked Fortier about GrapeStars and its celebrity clients.

How actively involved are the celebrities with the products that bear their names?

“Surprisingly, very active. With their core income from movies and music greatly reduced compared to years ago, and the very lucrative recent transactions in the spirit industry (George Clooney, Ryan Reynolds), celebrities now see their wine or spirit brands as their potential main cash cow. Plus, with the high-quality celebrity products being put out there, they need to really take this seriously to be able to compete in an already busy and high-performing landscape.”

Do the celebs own the name of the bottle(s) or the actual production connected with the product, i.e. the vineyard?

“It’s a mix of both. Some, like Brad Pitt, Clooney, (Ryan) Reynolds, own the brand, and some are doing endorsement deals with existing brands.”

GrapeStars is a good, novel niche for delivering drink products. Who came up with the idea and how?

“It was through a lot of research. Compliance is a real challenge when selling wine and spirits. We took years to come up with the business model, but in the end we found a really elegant solution to a very complex problem.”

The founders brought Kevin Harrington on board as chairman and investor. Harrington is known as one of the original sharks on “Shark Tank,” and helped launch a number of successful businesses.

The app is available on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.

—Lynn Kalber

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. $$$$

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 February 2021

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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. $$

Rebel House —297 E. Palmetto Park Road. American Eclectic. As wild visually as it is in the kitchen, this place rocks on all points. Start with the popcorn flavor of the day (instead of bread) and don’t miss the cauliflower Caesar salad, Uncle Pinkie’s Fried Rice, the lobster meatballs or whatever duck option is on the menu. You can’t miss with these dishes. • Dinner nightly, brunch Sat.-Sun. 561/353-5888. $$ Ristorante Sapori —301 Via de Palmas, Royal Palm Place. Italian. Sapori features fresh fish, veal and chicken dishes imbued with subtle flavors. The grilled Italian branzino, the veal chop Milanese and the zuppa di pesce served over linguine are especially tasty, and the pasta (all 17 kinds!) is available in full and half orders, with your choice of 15 zesty sauces. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/367-9779. $$

AARON BRISTOL

Ruth’s Chris —225 N.E. Mizner Blvd., Suite 100.

Seared veal from Twenty Twenty Grille

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.) $$

Six Tables a Restaurant—112 N.E. Second

Grape Menu

Vino in Boca boasts 250plus wines from all over the world.

St., Boca Raton. American. Chef/owner Jonathan Fyhrie has a unique, elegant, one-seating, prix-fixe dinner and only six tables.

The decor reflects the food, which is innovative in unexpected but attractive ways. Open since 2004, this restaurant’s staying power proves the pull of a beautiful space, amazing food and special attention from a talented staff. The velvety lobster bisque is a signature dish. The night’s options can include rack of lamb, filet au poivre, wild Scottish king salmon, crispy duck and more, all done beautifully. Plan on a two-to-three-hour dinner. It’s worth it. • Dinner nightly. 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. $$

Tanzy—301 Plaza Real. Italian. Part of the swanky iPic Theater complex (though it does not service the theater), this handsome spot relies on quality ingredients and careful preparation instead of culinary special effects and car chases. The Parma Bar, a sort of sushi bar for meat and cheese fanatics, also does terrific quattro formaggio fiocchi and spiced pear. The scarletta pepper steak and bone-in pork chops are excellent, as are the braised Angus beef short ribs with toasted bocamag.com

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pearl barley and collard greens. For dessert, try the red velvet bread pudding and your choice of a trio of sorbets. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. Brunch Sat.–Sun. 561/922-6699. $$

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. $$

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. $$

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121 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. $$

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. $$

Ditmas Kitchen—21077 Powerline Road. Con-

Prime Catch—700 E. Woolbright Road. Seafood.

temporary 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. $$$

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. $$

La Ferme—9101 Lakeridge Blvd. French/Mediterranean.

Classic style and classically oriented French cuisine come together at this elegant yet comfortable restaurant in a west Boca shopping mall. Though there are a few Asian and Italian-inflected dishes on the menu, at its heart Le Ferme (“the farm”) is as French as the Eiffel Tower. Start with the foie gras terrine and proceed to lamb rack or pan-seared salmon with braised baby artichokes. C’est délicieux. • Dinner nightly. 561/654-6600. $$$

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. $$

Tempura House—9858 Clint Moore Road, #C-112.

Japanese/Asian. Dark wood, rice paper and tiles fill the space.

An appetizer portion of Age Natsu, fried eggplant, is a consummate Japanese delicacy. Don’t miss the ITET roll with shrimp tempura and avocado, topped with spicy mayo, tempura flakes and eel sauce. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/883-6088. $$

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

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. $$ 50 Ocean—50 S. Ocean Blvd. Seafood. The former Upper Deck at Boston’s on the Beach is now the more upscale, seafood-oriented spot. The menu ranges from familiar to slightly more inventive, from a classic lobster bisque and crisp-tender fried clam bellies to rock shrimp pot pie and baked grouper topped with blue crab. The cinnamon-dusted beignets are puffs of amazingly delicate deep-fried air and should not under any circumstances be missed. • Lunch Mon.-Sat. Dinner nightly. Brunch Sun. 561/278-3364. $$

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. $$

Buzz Bite II Get Swank-ing With Notable Chefs, Dinners, Brunches

T

he Swank Table dinner and brunch events are putting a little normal back in our lives, and managing to stay safe while doing that.

This is one of the premier experiences in Palm Beach County, where great people (Darrin and Jodi Swank) open their hydroponic farm and bring together SoFla’s top chefs, mixologists and brewers for dinners and brunches that leave wonderful memories. The meals are filled with all-local products from farms and purveyors. Even better—each event benefits a local charity.

There are the dinners and two brunches remaining. Masks are required when not eating and drinking, and there will be hand-washing stations throughout the space. Tickets are limited to 120 people, which leaves plenty of space between diners under the pole barn roof.

February 6 — Chinese New Year February 21 — Mardi Gras February 28 — 20th Anniversary April 4 — Easter Brunch May 9 — Mother’s Day Brunch

The Chinese New Year features Chefs Clayton Carnes, Eric Baker and Pastry Chef Loic Autret, and much more. Tickets are $160 and include a welcome cocktail and appetizers, dinner, desserts, live music, a farm tour and a great time. The two family-friendly brunches are for Easter and Mother’s Day and will be hosted by the farm’s chef liaison, Emerson Frisbie.

The Swank farm is at 14311 North Road, Loxahatchee; 561/202-5648. Find more at swankspecialtyproduce.com.

—Lynn Kalber

The Banyan—189 N.E. Second Ave. American. Snuggled under its namesake banyan tree in Pineapple Grove, this modern restaurant boasts a bright pink neon bar with bright cocktails, too. Try the purple Aviation gin cocktail paired with the Maryland crab bites or the Yum Yum Shrimp with spicy-sweet sriracha aioli.

Sliders, tacos, mac trios and flatbreads do not disappoint. Order the crème brûlée cheesecake if it’s available. • 561/563-8871. $$

Beg for More Izakaya—19 S.E. Fifth Ave. Japanese Small Plates. The large sake, whisky and beer menu here pairs

Darrin and Jodi Swank beautifully with the small plates full of everything except sushi. No February 2021

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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. $$

Date Night

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. $$

Dada in the historic Tarrimore House (ca.

1924) marks 20-plus years in Delray this year! And still has those wicked goat cheese dates on the menu.

Buddha Garden—217 E. Atlantic Ave. #3. Pan Asian. Don’t miss a meal at this stylish Asia-meets-industrial chic spot with a view of the Delray skyline. Chinese-influenced dim sum is inspired, while rock shrimp tempura and Tokyo beef skewers with twin chimichurri sauces touch the heart and the taste buds. Veggie fried rice is exemplary thanks to the kitchen’s application of wok chi. • Dinner nightly. 561/450-7557. $$ 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. $$

AARON BRISTOL

Caffe Luna Rosa—34 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach.

Scamponi Nero from Caffe Luna Rosa

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. Open since 1993, and a success since then, 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—9 S.E. Seventh Ave. Italian. You’ll get what you pay for here: very good Italian food in an upscale, modern, cool gray and white restaurant that is a refreshing change from busy Atlantic Avenue. The antipasti (bread, balsamic/honey dipping sauce, Parmesan chunks, bruschetta) are so good, they could be dinner. But save room for the pollo Parmigiana, the scallopine piccate al limone, the four kinds of risotto, and dessert.

• Lunch and dinner daily. 561/563-7492. $$$ City Oyster—213 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood. This stylish mainstay of Big Time Restaurant Group serves up reasonably priced seafood that never disappoints, such as shrimp and grits with a jumbo crab cake. This is the place to see and be seen in Delray, and the food lives up to its profile. • Lunch Mon.–Sun. Dinner nightly. Outdoor dining. 561/272-0220. $$ 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. $$$

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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, 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-turnedrestaurant 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. $ 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. $$ The Grove—187 N.E. Second Ave. Contemporary American. Chef and sommelier Michael Haycook and Dining Room Manager Paul Strike change their menu biweekly, turning out dishes exhilarating in their freshness, creativity and elegant simplicity.

An appetizer of octopus with olive oil, crushed potato aioli and lemon is outstanding. • Dinner Tues.–Sat. 561/266-3750. $$ Harvest Seasonal Grill & Wine Bar—1841 S. Federal Highway. American. You don’t have to worry about calories (most dishes are under 500), you don’t have to worry about finding something you haven’t tried before (new items are added every three months) and freshness is the silent ingredient throughout.

Try the pesto Caprese flatbread, the supergrain salad and the steak or salmon or chicken. Desserts offer big tastes in small jars. • Lunch and dinner daily; brunch on weekends. 561/266-3239. $$ 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.

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123 Don’t forget to inquire about the stunning array of 10 specials—every night. • 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). $

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

Prime—29 S.E Second Ave. Steak/Seafood. Prime is aptly named for its heart of the action location, neo-supper club decor, extensive wine list and roster of designer steaks. Starters and desserts fare better than entrées, especially the Maryland-style crab cakes and luscious chocolate bread pudding. Service is strong so with a bit of work this restaurant will fully live up to its name. • Dinner nightly.

561/865-5845. $$$

Racks Fish House + Oyster Bar—5 S.E. Second Ave. Seafood. Gary Rack, who also has scored with his spot in Mizner Park, certainly seems to have the restaurant Midas touch, as evidenced by this updated throwback to classic fish houses. Design, ambience and service hit all the right notes. Oysters are terrific any way you get them; grilled fish and daily specials are excellent. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/450-6718. $$$ 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,

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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

AARON BRISTOL

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. $$

Seafood entree from Sazio

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.

Meat With a Beat

DJ Kirill Basov, The Breakers’ in-house entertainment director, provides the thumping soundtrack to meals at HMF.

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. You’ll want to take home some of the prepared meals after you’ve visited, too. • Lunch daily. 561/562-6673. $

LAKE WORTH BEACH Couco Pazzo —915-917 Lake Ave. Italian. Despite the name, there’s nothing crazy about the cooking at this homey eatery. It’s the hearty, soul-satisfying Italian cuisine we’ve all come to know and love. Spaghetti Bolognese is a fine version of a Northern Italian classic. • Dinner nightly. (Tues.–Sun. during summer). 561/585-0320. $$ Paradiso Ristorante —625 Lucerne Ave. Italian. A Tomasz Rut mural dominates the main dining

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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 musttry. 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. $$$

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. $$$

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. $$

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

Buzz Bite III Roadhouse Brings Kosher Food, Noted Chef to Boca Raton

R

oadhouse, opened in November, is the brainchild of Owner/Executive Chef Seth Warshaw, also of ETC Steakhouse in Teaneck, N.J., where Warshaw is known for his culinary vision and creativity with a kosher kitchen.

This Institute of Culinary Education-trained chef put dishes on the menu such as the Wicked Waffle (sloppy joe, maple bacon, jam), Angel’s Envy (sweet bourbon brisket, scallions, garlic mayo, Alabama white sauce), Lower East Side (pastrami, whole wheat sourdough, sauerkraut, pickle, Russian dressing, warm potato salad), the Early Bird (spatchcocked Cornish hen, roasted corn, warm potato salad) and a lot more. It is kosher-certified by the ORB. In Teaneck, he turns out dishes from China, Mexico, the Caribbean and France. He created a version of the pan tarte flambee without dairy. He and a friend founded a company called Rustic Elegance, which designed kosher catered trips in the country’s national parks.

And all of this inventiveness is here at Roadhouse. There is also outdoor dining.

Roadhouse, 7000 W. Camino Real, Boca Raton; 561/544-8100; roadhouseboca.com —Lynn Kalber

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www.patioshoppes.com February 2021

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honey-ginger sauce to dry-aged steaks and an assortment of pizzas. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/835-3500. $$

WEST PALM BEACH Banko Cantina —114 S. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach. Northern Mexican. Start with the Adelita cocktail and don’t look back. The bacon-wrapped shrimp, the Al Carbon steak tacos and the house guacamole add up to a full-flavor dinner. The west-facing rooftop bar is a nice sunset option, and the Pan de Elote (homemade sweet cornbread with vanilla ice cream and berries) is a delightful end to the evening. • Dinner daily. 561/355-1399. $$ Café Centro —2409 N. Dixie Highway. Modern American. A cornerstone in the Northwood neighborhood, this venue draws because of a complete package: food, drinks and great nightlife and music. Take some char-grilled oysters, add shrimp pesto capellini or a marinated pork chop with polenta, plus local singing fave Tessie Porter, and you have a fun and delicious night out. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly.

561/514-4070. $$ French Corner Bistro & Rotissorie—4595 Okeechobee Blvd. Classic French. It’s France in a tiny venue, with big-taste dishes that include all the faves: beef bourguignon, rack of lamb, duck à l’orange, frog legs Provencale, veal kidneys, tender branzino and simple desserts to end the meal. Reservations are mandatory for dinner. • Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. 561/689-1700. $$

AARON BRISTOL

Grato —1901 S. Dixie Highway. Italian. “Grato” is Italian

Marinated pork chop with grilled polenta from Cafe Centro

for “grateful,” and there is much to be grateful for about Clay Conley’s sophisticated yet unpretentious take on Italian cookery. Anyone would be grateful to find such delicate, crispy and greaseless fritto misto as Grato’s, ditto for lusty beef tartare piled onto a quartet of crostini. Spinach gnocchi in porcini mushroom sauce are a revelation, so light and airy they make other versions taste like green library paste. Don’t miss the porchetta either, or the silken panna cotta with coffee ice cream and crunchy hazelnut tuille. • Dinner nightly.

Sunday brunch. 561/404-1334. $$

Leila—120 S. Dixie Highway. Mediterranean. Flowing drapes and industrial lighting complete the exotic decor in this Middle Eastern hit. Sensational hummus is a must-try. Lamb kebab with parsley, onion and spices makes up the delicious Lebanese lamb kefta. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sun. 561/659-7373. $$

Marcello’s La Sirena—6316 S. Dixie Highway.

Italian. You’re in for a treat if the pasta of the day is prepared with what might be the best Bolognese sauce ever. • Dinner Mon.–Sat. (closed Memorial Day–Labor Day). 561/585-3128. $$

Carrying the Mantle

NYY Steak’s aesthetic is rich with references to the Bronx Bombers, including framed photos and diamond-shaped dinner plates imprinted with retired Yankees numbers.

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Pistache —1010 N. Clematis St., #115. French. Pistache doesn’t just look like a French bistro, it cooks like one. The menu includes such bistro specialties as coq au vin and steak tartare. All that, plus guests dining al fresco have views of the Intracoastal Waterway and Centennial Park. • Brunch Sat.–Sun. Lunch and dinner daily. 561/833-5090. $$

The Regional Kitchen & Public House —651 Okeechobee Blvd. Southern with Mediterranean twist. Across from the PBC Convention Center and next to Kravis Center for the Performing Arts means it’s a shoein for an excellent pre-theater meal. Or a post-theater drink and nosh. Executive Chef/Co-owner Lindsay Autry’s version of pimento cheese (prepared tableside), fried chicken, pickled shrimp and tomato pie are dishes you thought you knew,

until you try these. Memorable, delectable comfort food, and bartenders who know what they’re doing. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/557-6460. $$

Rhythm Café —3800 S. Dixie Highway. Casual American. Once a diner, the interior is eclectic with plenty of kitsch. The crab cakes are famous here, and the tapas are equally delightful. Homemade ice cream and the chocolate chip cookies defy comparison. • Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/8333406. $$ Rocco’s Tacos —224 Clematis St. Mexican. Big Time Restaurant Group has crafted a handsome spot that dishes Mexican favorites, as well as upscale variations on the theme and more than 425 tequilas. Tacos feature house-made tortillas and a variety of proteins. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/6501001. (Other Palm Beach County locations: 5250 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton, 561/416-2131; 110 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 561/808-1100; 5090 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens, 561/623-0127) $ Table 26°—1700 S. Dixie Highway. Contemporary American. Take a quarter-cup of Palm Beach, a tablespoon of Nantucket, a pinch of modern American cookery and a couple gallons of the owners’ savoir faire, and you have Eddie Schmidt’s and Ozzie Medeiros’s spot. The menu roams the culinary globe for modest contemporary tweaks on classically oriented dishes.

Try the fried calamari “Pad Thai.” • Dinner nightly. 561/8552660. $$$ Tapeo —118 S. Clematis St. Spanish. The casual dining is downstairs, and it’s more formal on the second floor, but the paella Valenciana and red sangria is just as tasty in both. A colorful dining room is backdrop to tapas you won’t want to share.

Try the home-smoked, cured salmon plate, camarones al Ajillo, tortilla Espanola or blackened ahi tuna with seaweed salad and soy reduction. It’s traditional with a few current additions, and it adds up to a good dinner. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/5140811. $$ Todd’s by Todd English—2119 S. Dixie Highway.

Modern American. Celeb chef/owner Todd English does pop in to WPB from time to time, and the happy hour here is popular, and rightly so, for both the drinks and the bar bites. Don’t miss the mini salmon cakes with sweet chili sauce, the beet root tartare or the oyster raw bar specials. Décor is a mix of old building/new colors, such as the bright purple couches. Set in the EmKo compound, with abundant artwork inside and outside. • Dinner nightly, brunch weekends. 561/227-3511. $$

Broward County DEERFIELD BEACH Chanson —45 N.E. 21st Ave. Contemporary American/ French. A little bit of Palm Beach, a little bit of France come to Deerfield Beach in the form of this elegant, sophisticated restaurant in the oceanfront Royal Blues Hotel. Service is as stellar as the views from the cozy, modestly opulent dining room, notable for the 1,500-gallon aquarium embedded in the ceiling. Consistency can be an issue with the food, but when it is good it is very good. • Breakfast and lunch daily, dinner Tues.-Sat., brunch Sun. 954/857-2929. $$$

Oceans 234—234 N. Ocean Blvd., Deerfield Beach. Contemporary American. One of the only oceanfront (as in, on the beach) options in South Florida, this familiar-with-a-twist venue is fun to both visit and eat. Try the Infamous Lollipop Chicken

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Wings, a starter that could be an entrée. Seafood is definitely top-shelf, as are the desserts. A true Florida experience. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/428-2539. $$

So fresh it ought to be slapped!

Tradition —626 S. Federal Highway. French. This is a petite place with a large following, for good reason. Owners Eric and Anais Heintz start meals with an amuse-bouche and a menu that spans the length of France. Order a creamy Caesar salad with a light anchovy-based dressing. Try the coq au vin (sauce cooked for two days), and if you like calves’ liver, this is the best you’ll find in the area. End with a Grand Marnier soufflé (worth the 15-minute wait), and make your next reservation there before going home. • Dinner Mon.-Sat. 954/480-6464. $$

LIGHTHOUSE POINT Cap’s Place—2765 N.E. 28th Court. Seafood. Eating here requires a boat ride, which is very SoFla and terrific for visitors. This is one of—if not the only—family-run, old-Florida seafood restaurants you’ve never heard of, open since the 1920s.

The heart of palm salad is the best and purest version around.

Seafood abounds; fish can be prepared nine ways and much more. (There are non-seafood dishes that are done well, too.) Go for the short boating thrill and for the food. • Dinner Tues.-Sun. 954/941-0418. $$ Le Bistro —4626 N. Federal Highway. Modern French.

The menu is modern and healthy—98-percent gluten-free, according to chef Andy Trousdale and co-owner Elin Trousdale.

Check out the prix-fixe menu, which includes pan-roasted duck to beef Wellington. • Dinner Tues.–Sun. 954/946-9240. $$$

Seafood World—4602 N. Federal Highway. Seafood.

This seafood market and restaurant offers some of the freshest seafood in the county. Its unpretentious atmosphere is the perfect setting for the superb king crab, Maine lobster, Florida lobster tails and much more. Tangy Key lime pie is a classic finish. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/942-0740. $$$

POMPANO BEACH Calypso Restaurant—460 S. Cypress Road.

Caribbean. This bright little dining room and bar (beer and wine only) has a Caribbean menu that is flavorful, imaginative—and much more. Calypso offers a spin on island food that includes sumptuous conch dishes, Stamp & Go Jamaican fish cakes and tasty rotis stuffed with curried chicken, lamb or seafood. • Lunch and dinner Mon.–Fri. 954/942-1633. $ Darrel & Oliver’s Café Maxx —2601 E. Atlantic Blvd. American. The longstanding institution from chef Oliver Saucy is as good now as when it opened in the mid-1980s. Main courses offer complex flavor profiles, such as the sweet-onion-crusted yellowtail snapper on Madeira sauce over mashed potatoes. Parts of the menu change daily.

• Dinner nightly. Brunch Sunday. 954/782-0606. $$$

7959 West Atlantic Delray Beach, Florida 33446

COCONUT CREEK

Sunday - Thursday / 11:30AM - 9:00PM Friday & Saturday / 11:30AM - 10:00PM

NYY Steak—Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, 5550

Curbside take-out and delivery available

N.W. 40th St. Steakhouse. The second incarnation of this Yankees-themed restaurant swings for the fences—and connects—with monstrous portions, chic decor and decadent desserts. The signature steaks are a meat lover’s dream; seafood specialties include Maine lobster and Alaskan king crab.

• Dinner nightly. Brunch Sun. 954/935-6699. $$$$

561-501-6391

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FORT LAUDERDALE 15th Street Fisheries—1900 S.E. 15th St. Seafood.

Surrounded by views of the Intracoastal, this Old Florida-style restaurant features seafood and selections for land lovers. We love the prime rib. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/763-2777. $$

Sea Watch. Decked out in a pervasive nautical theme, this is definitely tourist country, but it’s pretty and on the beach. The perfect entrée for the indecisive: The broiled seafood medley brochette, with lobster tail, jumbo shrimp and scallops, yellow squash, zucchini, mushrooms and pineapple. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/781-2200. $$

3030 Ocean—Harbor Beach Marriott Resort, 3030 Holiday

Timpano Italian Chophouse—450 E. Las

Drive. American. Now led in the kitchen by Adrienne Grenier of “Chopped” fame, the new-look 3030 has a farm-to-table focus, along with an emphasis, as always, on locally sourced seafood. • Dinner nightly. 954/765-3030. $$$

Olas Blvd., #110. Italian. Sink yourself into oversized booths with elegant white tablecloths and prepare to dive into excellent signature bone-in steaks. The menu includes chops and a diverse array of fresh fish and pasta dishes. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 954/462-9119. $$

Bistro 17—Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Hotel, 1617 S.E. 17th St. Contemporary American. This small, sophisticated restaurant continues to impress with competently presented food.

The menu is surprisingly diverse. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 954/626-1748. $$ Bistro Mezzaluna—1821 S.E. 10th Ave. Italian. The bistro is all Euro-chic decor—mod lighting, abstract paintings. It also has good food, from pastas to steaks and chops and a wide range of fresh seasonal fish and seafood. Don’t forget the phenomenal wine list. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/522-9191. $$

Café Martorano—3343 E. Oakland Park Blvd. Italian.

Standouts include crispy calamari in marinara sauce and flavorful veal osso buco. Our conclusion: explosive flavor, attention to all the details and fresh, high-quality ingredients. Waiters whisper the night’s specials as if they’re family secrets. • Dinner nightly.

954/561-2554. $$

Canyon—620 S. Federal Hwy. Southwestern. Billed as a Southwestern café, this twist on regional American cuisine offers great meat, poultry and fish dishes with distinctive mixes of lime, cactus and chili peppers in a subtle blend of spices. The adobe ambience is warm and welcoming, with a candlelit glow.

• Dinner nightly. 954/765-1950. $$

Burrata from Casa D’Angelo

Casablanca Café —3049 Alhambra St. American, Mediterranean. The restaurant has an “Arabian Nights” feel, with strong Mediterranean influences. Try the peppercorn-dusted filet mignon with potato croquette, Gorgonzola sauce and roasted pepper and Granny Smith relish. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/764-3500. $$

Play it Again ...

Casablanca Cafe, offering waterfront al fresco dining, resides in the first home constructed—and the oldest remaining structure—on Fort Lauderdale Beach.

Casa D’Angelo—1210 N. Federal Highway, #5A. Italian.

Many dishes are specials—gnocchi, risotto and scaloppine. The marinated grilled veal chop is sautéed with wild mushrooms in a fresh rosemary sauce. A delightful pasta entrée is the pappardelle con porcini: thick strips of fresh pasta coated in a light red sauce and bursting with slices of porcini mushrooms. • Dinner nightly.

954/564-1234. $$

Chima—2400 E. Las Olas Blvd. Steaks. The Latin American rodizio-churrascaria concept—all the meat you can eat, brought to your table—is done with high style, fine wines and excellent service. The sausages, filet mignon, pork ribs and lamb chops are very good. • Dinner nightly. 954/712-0580. $$$ Il Mulino—1800 E. Sunrise Blvd. Italian. This modest, unpretentious Italian restaurant doesn’t attempt to reinvent the culinary wheel. Instead, it dishes up big portions of simple, hearty, flavorful food at extremely reasonable prices. Zuppa de pesce is a wealth of perfectly cooked seafood over linguini in a light tomato-based sauce. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/524-1800. $

Sea Watch—6002 N. Ocean Blvd. Seafood. For a righton-the-beach, welcome-to-Florida dining experience, there’s bocamag.com

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HOLLYWOOD Taverna Opa—410 N. Ocean Drive. Greek. Bring all your friends here and order a million mezes (Greek appetizers). Try the keftedes, Greek meatballs, and the lamb chops or snapper, which is filleted at the table. Don’t be surprised when your waiter pulls you up on the table to dance. • Dinner nightly. 954/929-4010.

(Also: 270 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 561/303-3602). $$

LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA Blue Moon Fish Company —4405 W. Tradewinds Ave. Seafood. This is one of the best spots in Broward County for waterside dining. Choose from a raw bar and fish nearly every which way, as well as daily, seasonal fish specials. • Lunch and dinner daily. Brunch Sun. 954/267-9888. $$$

Miami-Dade County AVENTURA Bourbon Steak—19999 W. Country Club Drive.

Steaks. Michael Mina’s elegant steak house in tony Turnberry Isle features impeccable service, an encyclopedic wine list and a roster of USDA Prime Angus, Wagyu and Kobe steaks. • Dinner nightly. 786/279-6600. $$$$

BAL HARBOUR The Palm— 9650 E. Bay Harbor Drive. Steaks. The portions are giant, but you’ll surely clear your plate of 3- to 7-pound jumbo Nova Scotia lobster or a tender filet mignon. S&S cheesecake shipped from the Bronx is pure heaven. • Dinner nightly. 305/868-7256. $$$

CORAL GABLES Caffe Abbracci—318 Aragon Ave. Italian. The dining room is handsome and understated, a fitting ambience for Miami’s movers and shakers. That’s just part of the draw of Abbracci, though the regional Italian fare has achieved its own status as some of the best in the Gables. You can’t go wrong with the porcini risotto or the pounded veal chop “tricolore.” • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 305/441-0700. $$

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

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magazine

Boca Raton

Insider

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Shoppes at the Sanctuary 4400 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton 561.368.1454 Jewelsintime.com

7TH ANNUAL BRAIN BOWL

Please join us for the 7th Annual BRAIN BOWL as we Bark & Browse to End Alzheimer's at the Burt Aaronson South County Park. $20/per person. A socially-distant outdoor vendor event, all safety precautions will be adhered, including face coverings. Proceeds to help those living in our community addressing Alzheimer's, Dementia and Parkinson's. For more information, contact Pamela Higer-Polani, Esq. Pamela Higer-Polani, Esq. 561.496.4222 BrainBowlEvents.org

SPONSORED SECTION

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SOCIAL

FALL FEELS AT BOCA CENTER

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WHAT: Back in October, there was no better place to get into the fall spirit than at Boca Center, where fall fun activities included personalized pumpkins, a festive photo booth and more.

To ensure safety and social distancing, guests reserved time slots in advance to get their faux pumpkins personalized by artist and calligrapher Julianne Noel. One hundred percent of proceeds from personalized pumpkin sales benefited the Junior League of Boca Raton. Attendees were also able to strike a pose in front of the fall-inspired photo wall designed by Daniel Events.

WHERE: Boca Center

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9 1. Julianne Noel works on crafting a personalized pumpkin as a young fan observes.

2. Calligrapher Julianne Noel 3. Completed pumpkin 4. Antoinette Chimner with kids Jacob and Ivy 5. Jason and Jenna Marcus with their kids, Leo and Emma 6. Nancy Dockerty drives by to pick up her personalized pumpkin.

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7. Boca magazine contributing writer Michelle Olson-Rogers and her daughter Avery pose with their personalized pumpkins.

8. Michelle Adams and Victoria Adams 9. Mary Lauderdale and Brandon Balfe 10. Aden and Avery with their personalized pumpkins 11. Victoria and Les Matthews

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SECOND-ANNUAL VACCINATE BROWARD

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WHAT: During the Second-annual Vaccinate Broward event, nearly 300 children and young adults in Broward County received free vaccinations at four Broward Health and Memorial Primary Care locations.

Vaccinations were available for children and young adults between the ages of 4 and 20, including any child who had fallen behind on their vaccination schedule. Vaccinate Broward was launched last year by Broward Health, Memorial Healthcare System and Community Care Plan to help educate the public about disease prevention, dispel common misconceptions about vaccinations, and provide free vaccinations to those in the community who need them.

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WHERE: Throughout Broward County 3

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1. Dustin and Meghan Murdock 2. Mason and Jordan Deleon

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3. Tracy Flores 4. Ken Walters, Marvin Martin, Melida Akiti, Jennifer Reilly-Miller and Dionne Proulx 5. Dr. Margaret Grell 6. Ashley Melo and Jeena St. Fleur-Bryan 7. William Green and Dr. Aldo Calvo 8. Arianna Hodges and Joyanna Flynn 9. Kylee and Christine Ammann 10. Daniel Juarez, Vicki Losasso, Ingrid Cepero, Maria Jam-Crease 11. Dixiana, Danna and Johnana Castro

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IMPACT 100’S “MEMBERS & MOET” AT NEIMAN MARCUS WHAT: To kick off its 10th anniversary year, Impact 100 Palm Beach County hosted “Members & Moet” in Neiman Marcus at Boca Raton’s Town Center mall. The event was open to prospective members who wanted to learn about the nonprofit organization’s mission to award high-impact grants to better the community. The socially distanced gathering included a Moet & Chandon Champagne lounge, an artist to paint custom face masks for attendees, and a raffle with prizes from Neiman Marcus.

WHERE: Neiman Marcus Boca Raton 3

2

1. Lauren Johnson and Kathy Adkins 2. Suzie Aijala, Carolyn Cassidy, Courtney Parmenter 3. Nicole Granata and Sarah Doyle 4. Julie Peyton and Karen Donvito 5. Lisa Warren, Nicole Mugavero and Kathryn Gillespie

February 2021 issue. Vol. 41, No. 2. 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: 561/9978683. Please address all editorial and advertising correspondence to the above address. Periodicals postage paid at Boca Raton, Fla., and additional mailing offices. Subscriptions: $24.95/6 issues, $34.95/12 issues (shipping fee included for one- and two-year rates). Single copy $5.95. No whole or part of the content may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of Boca magazine, excepting individually copyrighted articles and photographs. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Boca magazine, P.O. Box 820, Boca Raton, FL 33429-9943.

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HOMETOWN HERO

Wendy Larsen

Together with her late friend and business partner, one woman has helped bring world-class art to Boca Written by MARIE SPEED

W

endy Larsen commuted to Boca Raton from her law office in Chicago in the 1980s until 1994, when she moved here full-time. She and her longtime law partner, the late Charlie Siemon, with whom she had worked since 1975, were prominent land use attorneys and experts in vested rights litigation.

And they were also fierce advocates for the arts in Boca Raton.

Today, both are credited for spearheading the cultural dimension of Mizner Park, and more recently, the annual, highly regarded Festival of the Arts Boca.

HOW IT STARTED: “Charlie and I got a phone call one day from Barrett Wissman, who was head of IMG Artists at the time. He said ‘I have a big idea.’ At the time he had just started a festival in Napa and one in Italy and he wanted [a Boca festival] to be

the sister festival in the U.S. And so he really helped us that first couple of years. That first year, in 2007, we had pretty incredible artists—including Itzhak Perlman, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, the greatest baritone of all time, and Salman Rushdie. It was an unbelievable year.”

WHY YOU AND CHARLIE WERE SO PASSIONATE ABOUT MUSIC: “Charlie spent a lot of time in his early years with an aunt who sang at The Met. And his mother played the piano quite well. She was never a competitive pianist, but he remembered many, many years of a lot of joy with all of that. I was dragged to classical music and opera when I was young by a grandmother of a friend of mine, so I was exposed to that at a very early age. We, in some ways, thought it was our obligation to help keep classical music alive.”

WHY THE FESTIVAL IS IMPORTANT TO BOCA: “I am actually sort of surprised at how the city has really adopted it as its own. Originally we didn’t get a dime from the city [They now support it financially, with a donation of about $200,000 a year—Ed.] and they soon realized that this was placing Boca on the map. And what Charlie and I always wanted to do and what was the whole point of developing the north end [of Mizner Park] was imbuing it with cultural activities.

We wanted it to be the heart of downtown. And in some ways it has become that.”

AND THE FUTURE? After COVID [This year’s festival will be virtual—Ed.], I’m hoping we go back to normal. We’ve got a lot of young people on our board now; as we die off, I hope they’ll take over…

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.

bocamag.com

••••

AARON BRISTOL

The late Charlie Siemon with Wendy Larsen at a Festival event

February 2021

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