JEWELS FOR THE SEASON THE FIGHT OVER FLORIDA'S COLLEGES
Arpels
A 1960s symphony in platinum, gold, and rubies.
In nite inspiration, right on the sand.
We set out to reinvent it entirely – with something smarter, faster and built around the lives of high-value homeowners. Omnio combines concierge-level service with comprehensive home coverage, all seamlessly managed through a single trusted point of contact. It’s not about fixing things. It’s about removing the burden, anticipating your needs, and delivering peace of mind with every interaction.
The loss of a child is a tragedy of seismic proportions. Meet five local parents who survived the unspeakable—and pooled their grief into transformative nonprofits.
Written by CHRISTIANA LILLY
Baubles from area jewelers have us inspired by their orchestral elegance.
Photography by AARON BRISTOL
After a two-year search, Florida Atlantic University finally has a new president. But the process for his selection repeated a pattern of government interference that has placed higher education as a battleground in the state legislature’s culture war.
Written by RANDY SCHULTZ
Writing about Boca Raton couples who found the resolve to change amid the shockwaves of grief recalls the heartbreaking, but inspiring, origin story of one of the city’s most essential services—a place of healing that evolved from a staggering loss.
Written by CHRISTIANA LILLY
Meet the FAU professor who has dedicated her life to preventing human trafficking, the YMCA director raising funds for his indispensable organization, a third-generation women’s boutique owner celebrating 65 years in business, and the podcaster and bon vivant with ringside seats for Boca’s pro-wrestling renaissance. Plus: Discover the Boca businesses turning 100 in 2025, give your scalp a refresh, and much more.
Written
by
CHRISTIANA LILLY and JOHN THOMASON
Dress to impress this gala season with timeless, head-turning ensembles that sparkle and shine.
Photography by AARON BRISTOL
A Lynn University string quartet traded pin-drop-silent concert halls for bustling arenas when they joined a reggaeton superstar’s sold-out tour. Plus, don’t miss Rembrandt masterpieces, Broadway’s “The Wiz,” comedian Tim Meadows and 25 more A&E highlights.
Written by JOHN THOMASON
See what our food critic has to say about Motek and Bourbon Steak. Plus, discover the catering companies ready to take the stress out of your next dinner party—and the local bakers specializing in more than just desserts.
Written by CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT
In this issue’s society pages, professional golfers and retired NFLers linked up at an inaugural Boca Raton golf tournament, vital nonprofits received more than $800,000 at Impact 100’s annual awards ceremony, the Fuller Center celebrated Earth Day, and a disco-themed restaurant boogied into Delray Beach Market.
Written by TYLER CHILDRESS
“Endless summer” isn’t just a movie title— it’s an ethos for letting the slow season extend beyond its expiration date.
Written
by MARIE
SPEED
ON THE COVER:
PHOTOGRAPHER: Carina Mask
GROUP EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Christiana Lilly
MANAGING EDITOR
John Thomason
WEB EDITOR
Tyler Childress
EDITOR EMERITUS
Marie Speed
SENIOR ART DIRECTOR
Lori Pierino
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Rafael Quiñones
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
James Karpinen
FOOD EDITOR
Christie Galeano-DeMott
EDITORIAL INTERN
Bret Marbach
At The Charlie Awards!
Boca magazine publisher JES Media was honored with 23 accolades at this year’s Florida Magazine Association (FMA) Charlie Awards ceremony in August. Competing against some of the state’s top publications, Boca magazine was awarded with nine Charlies—the FMA’s highest honor— for Best Feature Writing, Best Public Service Coverage, Best Website, Best Custom Publication, Best Advertorial—and more.
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As a resident since 1986 in Boca Raton, I really enjoyed your May/June issue of Boca Raton Turns 100! It was a beautifully curated edition. However, I did notice that the contributions and experiences of the Jewish community were only briefly mentioned. I’ve attached some historical information that may offer a fuller picture of what was happening at the time. I’m the director of America Connected, an international nonprofit focused on cultural diplomacy and strengthening connections between nations and people. One of our esteemed board members and my dear friend, the late Stanley Tate, often shared firsthand stories about the discrimination Jewish people faced in Boca Raton—including the painful irony that he was not allowed to live in the very development he built in East Boca, simply because he was Jewish.
Thank you again for your work on the magazine, and for considering this important part of Boca Raton’s story.
Warm regards, Marjorie Hope
Boca Memories
Hello Christiana—I was just reading your May/June 2025 issue of Boca magazine and read the stories of what Boca was like for early settlers. My family moved to Boca in 1976, and I joined them in 1977. There were no grocery stores—no restaurants—and Glades Road was a dirt road. I have wonderful stories of what life was like here when it was truly a village by the sea. The first person I met—at the only bank in west Boca—was George Snow. It was the Wild West in many ways. ... I read your short story about Temple Beth El of Boca Raton. I was there for the dedication of the synagogue in 1977, and the ceremony was in the lobby. ... I have some great stories to tell.
Diane Feen
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Arts & entertainment
Where to go, what to do and see throughout South Florida. Please submit information regarding galas, art openings, plays, readings, concerts, dance or other performances to John Thomason (john.thomason@ bocamag.com). Deadline for entries in an upcoming A&E section is three months before publication.
Our independent reviews of restaurants in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. A reliable resource for residents and tourists. For more information, contact Christie Galeano-DeMott (christie@bocamag.com).
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 Tyler Childress (tyler@bocamag.com).
Written by CHRISTIANA LILLY
don’t have children, so I can’t pretend to understand the bond between a parent and their child; the closest I can relate is the love I have for my nephews and nieces. When they cry (even during a poltergeist-like tantrum), I feel like I’m being torn apart.
I’ve been told having a child is like watching your heart live outside your body— when that is gone, it’s as if an appendage has been removed.
A child dying goes against our very biology; at the cellular level, we simply weren’t made to understand it. How do you comfort someone whose 10-month-old didn’t wake up one day, or whose college-age child went out to a party and never made it back home? There are parents right here in Boca Raton who do understand that unimaginable feeling of loss, though. For our special charity issue, I had the honor of sitting with three sets of parents whose children died from illness or accident. Somehow, these parents not only managed to go on, but they rose up to create nonprofits serving other families who are experiencing their same pain.
Sitting across from me at Carmela Coffee, they each shared the wonder their children brought to their lives—the silliness, the curiosity, the creativity, the little hugs, and their big dreams—and the feeling of having to continue with their lives without their son or daughter being a part of them. In our conversation, Michelle Makris, whose son died of a drug overdose in 2020, told me,“Every day you wake up to the same nightmare.”You can read about these incredible Boca Raton residents on page 56.
When I shared with a friend that I was writing this feature, she pointed out that these moving stories only add to Boca Raton’s legacy of philanthropy from pain. After all, our own local hospital was founded that way. In 1962, the Drummond family experienced unbelievable loss when two of their children died from arsenic poisoning; it turned out a neighbor boy tampered with the family’s milk. The kids had to be driven to what was then Bethesda Memorial hospital in Boynton Beach, the drive delayed by a traffic accident. Then their blood samples had to be driven down to Miami to uncover the cause of their violent symptoms.
The tragedy rocked the little town of Boca Raton, but it also highlighted a glaring need in the community: There was no local hospital. Gloria Drummond, the grieving mother of Randy, 3, and Debbie, 9, asked for donations at her children’s funerals and created a fundraising committee to build a hospital in Boca Raton. In 1965, she tossed the first shovelful of soil at the ground-breaking, and Boca Raton Community Hospital opened its doors in July 1967.
Make sure you also take a look at our annual Charity Register insert, a guide of local nonprofits working to make a change in all areas, from health care and the arts to education and food insecurity. There’s also plenty of people to meet in this issue who are making a change in Boca Raton and beyond.
We welcome “season” with open arms, and I hope to see you around town.
Lynn Cancer Institute now offers Pluvicto, a targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy for men with advanced prostate cancer. In clinical studies, nearly half of patients saw tumors shrink or disappear — compared to just 14 percent with hormone therapy. Delivered in a supportive outpatient setting, Pluvicto helps you stay strong, stay local and get back to what you love.
Scan the QR code to learn more.
Trusted across South Florida for over 70 years, Broten Garage Door Sales is a family owned and operated business, they’ve earned a 98.5% excellence rating backed by over 4,000 reviews. Let Broten show you how to turn boring in to extraordinary with a modern makeover on your garage door.
The Addison, once known as the Administration Building, celebrates its centenary this year. Turn to page 50 for more big anniversaries around town.
FABULOUS FIFTIES: THE ELLA & LOUIS YEARS
WHEN: Sept. 18 at Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum
WHAT: At the finale to the museum’s Summer Sips & Sounds, enjoy musical inspiration from Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong and other powerhouse performers of the time, as performed by Gianni Bianchini and Joanna and Jeff Kaye.
BATTLE OF THE BANDS
WHEN: Oct. 18 at BRiC
WHAT: Local businesspeople turn in their suits for rock star uniforms, rocking out onstage in this annual fundraiser for the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce’s Golden Bell Foundation, supporting local schools.
GO PINK LUNCHEON
WHEN: Oct. 31 at The Boca Raton
WHAT: The annual luncheon benefiting the Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation returns with guest speaker Cheryl Ladd, of “Charlie’s Angels” fame, sharing her breast cancer survival story.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION CONCERT: THROUGH THE DECADES
WHEN: Nov. 1 at Mizner Park Amphitheater
WHAT: The centennial festivities continue with a reprisal of the hit Festival of the Arts concert from earlier this year, which showcased Boca’s history through music and images from across the decades. The Festival Boca Jazz Orchestra will be led by conductor Kyle Prescott, and the performance will include a new centennial composition by FAU conductor Kevin Wilt.
Locals sound off on issues affecting our community.
Gala season is back in full swing—what is a cause or nonprofit that is important to you?
“My passion is helping young people gain an education, especially those that have the potential but not the needed financial platform. Over the past 25 years, I have been involved with almost every nonprofit organization in our community. I am a licensed Florida auctioneer and offer my services to nonprofit groups free of charge.”
– Frank Feiler, president/ CEO of F.D. Feiler Consultants, PA
“So many dogs are homeless, or people think they’re disposable; it makes me sick. We have adopted two dogs and a cat, and as a child [my family] also adopted two dogs from shelters. I really like Big Dog Rescue.”
– Jennifer Graber, luxury sales manager/controller, with her dog, Blue
“Sweet Dream Makers is very dear to my heart. There’s nothing more meaningful than helping a child sleep in a safe, comfortable bed. As a parent, it breaks my heart to think of any child going without that basic comfort, and I’m proud to be part of something that truly changes lives.”
– Kelli McLeod, founder of Hype Marketing + PR
Keep your skin in tip-top shape this event season with these locally sourced suggestions.
For Dr. Janet Allenby’s patients, she has been impressed by products from Plated Skin Science, which was formulated with research from Mayo Clinic. “Exosomes are packets of information that trigger actions by the tissue they’re targeting,” she explains. “When you use [the serum] for the skin treatment, it rejuvenates skin. When you use another version for scalp treatment, it promotes hair growth.” $258, Plated Skin Science Daily Serum, allenbydermatology.com
Facialworks opened its first Florida location recently in Mizner Park, and a cult favorite is the Sea Milk Hydrating Cleanser. “It contains a micro-algae, red tea and aloe to help combat environmental stressors from UV and blue light, provide antioxidant defense, and soothe the skin,” says Brooke Gross, LE, Facialworks’ director of education and product development. “Its cucumber extract is also super refreshing on the skin.” $44, Facialworks, Boca Raton; thefacialworks.com
Allyse Cirillo’s Saint Jō is a homegrown brand out of Delray Beach, utilizing a five-step daily skin care process. One of her top picks, though, is Step 2: Defend Serum “Defend is truly the foundation of our skin ritual,” Cirillo says. “Especially living in Florida where sun, humidity and daily exposure can impact the skin, Defend gives you that layer of protection and balance every day.” $98, Saint Jō, shopsaintjo.com
Boca Raton was named the 10th most generous city in the country by GoFundMe, which ranked cities based on the number of donors per capita who give to GoFundMe fundraisers. Per the report, more than 25,000 Boca residents donated more than $3 million to various GoFundMe causes in 2024, averaging about $115 per
donor. Local GoFundMe drives that the report highlighted include a fundraiser in memory of Mayra Brandt, which raised more than $115,000, and a fundraiser for the Costantino family following the death of Saint Andrew’s School teacher Chloe Costantino, which raised more than $50,000.
—Tyler Childress
BOCA BY THE NUMBERS
Bands competing in Golden Bell Battle of the Bands
Year of first Boca Raton Regional Hospital Ball
$1.37 million
Raised at 2024 Boca’s Ballroom Battle
75+
Charity events supported by Boca mag annually
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
— WINSTON CHURCHILL
WHEN: Oct. 9-Nov. 2
WHERE: The Wick Theatre, 7901 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton
COST: $119
CONTACT: 561/995-2333, thewick.org
To suggest that “The Fantasticks” has a lengthy shelf life in the American theatre is an understatement. The musical premiered off-Broadway in 1960 as a minimalist romance whose thrifty $900 set design included a cardboard moon. It closed, to the continued surprise of its humbled creators, 42 years later, after a record-breaking 17,162 performances. Its songs have become canonized classics (especially “Try to Remember”), and its story is both timeless and idiosyncratic: Scheming fathers, living in neighboring country houses, conspire to match up their children. Their plot involves hiring a charismatic villain to abduct the girl, leaving the boy to foil the kidnapping, save the damsel and win her heart, but complications ensue. Experience this austere marvel anew as the Wick’s 2025-2026 season opener.
WHEN: Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Coral Springs Center for the Arts, 2855 Coral Springs Drive, Coral Springs
COST: $44.25-$76.35
CONTACT: 954/344-5990, thecentercs.com
Critics used to say about Miles Davis that the great trumpeter shared a telepathic link with his bandmates—that their connection was so fluid and anticipatory that these improvising artists must have been connected on an extrasensory level. The same might be said of Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, improvisers of a more comedic sort, whose talents, whether on “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” or their longtime performances as a twosome, exhibit a Vulcan capacity for mind-to-mind communication. For 22 years, these improv giants have been sharing stages together, performing elaborate sketches based on audience inputs, and usually dressed in all black—the better to disappear into a variety of unexpected situations night after night. The comedy they create together is so inspired that they’re often accused of stealth scriptwriting before the show, to which Mochrie denied in a recent interview, stating,“it’s so much easier to make up crap than to sit down and write it.”
WHEN: Sept. 16, 8 p.m.
WHERE: Miami Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave., Miami Beach
COST: $47.38
CONTACT: miamibeachbandshell.com
Formed as a duo in London in 1990, the now-quintet known as Stereolab has, for most of its 35-year career, doggedly resisted generic pigeonholes. Whether exploring droning, guitar-propelled work on its early LPs or the electronic soundscapes of its later material—few artists have achieved more creative heights with analog Moog synthesizers—Stereolab has approached indie rock like sonic inventors forever polishing their patent for the music of the future. Jazz, bossa nova, French pop, lounge music and even funk have found purchase among the band’s foundation of 4/4“motorik”grooves popularized by German art-rock pioneers like Neu! and Can; in other words, their music is challenging but danceable—and always stimulating. Even casual fans should take note of this appearance: Scheduled in support of its 11th album, this year’s Instant Holograms on Metal Film, the concert marks Stereolab’s first South Florida show since 1994.
WHEN: Oct. 11, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach
COST: $45.43-$309.93
CONTACT: 561/832-7469, kravis.org
“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is the ultimate sleeper hit in movie history. To wit, the transgressive musical comedy holds the record for the longest-running theatrical release in all of cinema; it’s still screening, in mostly midnight showings, 50 years after its premiere. But if you only make one “Rocky Horror” event in 2025, this should be it. The anniversary tour features live appearances from three of its actors—Barry Bostwick, who played Brad Majors; Nell Campbell, the original Columbia; and Patricia Quinn, aka Magenta—who will host this multimedia celebration. With the film running behind them, a shadow cast will perform the movie’s action and lip-sync its dialogue live onstage. The audience is invited to interact with the movie and, yes, even throw stuff at the screen (props and directions will be provided by the venue). And finally, fans are invited to compete in a costume contest and enjoy a memorabilia display in the lobby.
I think every kid deserves an opportunity. Every kid deserves to be protected. And I think it’s the entire community’s responsibility to look after children and do the right thing at all times.”
—Dr. Heidi Schaeffer
The FAU professor and doctor is leading the pack to educate her peers on human trafficking and domestic violence
Written by CHRISTIANA LILLY
Aword of advice from Dr. Heidi Schaeffer: She’s not a fun dinner guest. Most likely, she’ll end up talking about ending domestic violence and human trafficking. “If we don’t talk about it, it stays hidden, and who wins? The perpetrators; they thrive in the silence.”
Schaeffer—a clinical affiliate assistant professor at FAU’s Schmidt College of Medicine— has been at the forefront of the battle since 2008. Citing a challenging upbringing as well as being a survivor of abuse, she has devoted her career to advocate for medical professionals being educated in recognizing abuse.
“Nobody wants to talk about sexual violence, human trafficking, mental health issues,” Schaeffer says.“You are going to have a patient who’s been raped, you’re going to have a patient, many patients, who’ve been trafficked.”
While in medical school at the University of Miami, her classmates were sure she would go into pediatrics, but she said she “couldn’t handle the loss of children.” Instead she became an internist, working in private practice, public health, and now teaching at FAU and UM (and Nova Southeastern University Health Professions Division’s advisory board).
effective enough, and so I started getting into legislation.”
Schaeffer has spoken before members of the U.S. House of Representatives and helped pass laws requiring medical professionals to complete continued medical education hours about human trafficking. She’s got other bills in the works, too, including making it a requirement for healthcare students to learn about human trafficking.
to really exercise all your principles of trauma-informed care and victim-centered approach, which I teach about as well, and hope ... they will eventually disclose.
page is a tribute
When she learned that Florida is ranked No. 3 in the country for human trafficking cases, Schaeffer was eager to sound the alarm.“The response wasn’t what I thought,” Schaeffer says.“A lot of doctors said, ‘I’m too busy. I don’t want to hear about this.’ So I started going to local hospitals at the time. … I would train them in the emergency room, but I felt like that wasn’t
Her work has earned her countless awards (Human Trafficking Community Advocate of the Year from the State of Florida, for one); she is active with Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA); she serves on the boards of the FLITE Center and ChildNet; she is a member of the American Medical Women’s Association’s Physicians Against Trafficking Humans Committee; and she previously served on the Palm Beach County Advisory Commission on the Status of Women and the Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches. Now, she’s looking to the next generation of doctors—and social workers. Last year, she founded the Dr. Heidi Schaeffer Resilience, Hope, and Healing Fund, supporting 10 students at FAU’s College of Social Work and Criminal Justice with $50,000 worth of grants. At this year’s Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton’s Honor Your Doctor Luncheon, she announced a $10,000 scholarship to an FAU medical student in need.
IDENTIFYING VICTIMS: [They are] not going to run into your office and say,“Rescue me, I’m a victim.” As a matter of fact, they’re hostile, they’re angry, they’re just eager to get [back to sex work] to make a certain quota…You’re going to have
CHANGING ATTITUDES: There’s been a shift. I think a lot of the advocacy work and maybe public exposure and social media, in some ways, has helped us advance the agenda of anti-trafficking efforts, and definitely in the medical realm, I’ve noticed a lot more openness when I bring this up. When I first started talking about this, in 2008, people didn’t understand trafficking. They would always say,“Drug trafficking?”I said,“No, humans— trafficking of humans.”They looked at me like I was a little bit nuts.
HER WHY: I’m actually a survivor [of domestic violence], and when I went through my ordeal... it was AVDA who took me in and wrapped their arms around me during a really difficult time. And as a result, I feel forever indebted to that agency for just the comprehensive care that they delivered to me. I’m a good testament, I guess, in the sense that even being an expert in the field—not only of domestic violence, human trafficking, child sexual exploitation, these are the kinds of things I’m nationally known for—anybody could be a victim.
If you are in need of assistance, contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888/373-7888 or text 233733.
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We’re not just raising dollars. We’re raising hope. We’re raising connection. We’re creating a place where people can thrive.”
As Boca Raton continues to grow, our local YMCA is bursting at the seams, calling for a capital campaign fundraiser
Written by CHRISTIANA LILLY
Things were looking grim for a member of the Peter Blum Family YMCA of Boca Raton— she had just lost her husband and was moving into an assisted-living facility. She told Bryan Hunt, the campus’s executive director, that it didn’t feel like home anymore. Always the problem solver, he and her friends from the Y collected photos and put them into picture frames. She was in tears when she opened the gift from her second family.
“Now she can take her Y to her home,” he says.“That’s what this facility does; that’s what this YMCA does.”
Hunt lives and breathes the YMCA—it was his first job as a teenager in New York City, and he’s since worked at the Cross Island YMCA in New York, Treasure Coast YMCA and Central Florida YMCA. But it’s here in Boca Raton that he’s grown roots. On the day Boca magazine visited, Hunt seemed to know everyone. He said hello to a man getting started on his workout at the gym, preschoolers swimming in the shallow end of the pool, two ladies chatting after their yoga class, and teens shooting hoops in the gymnasium. It wasn’t even a busy day, either. As the population of Boca Raton grows (we’re at more than 102,000 now), so do the needs of the community and the services provided by the YMCA.
“A lot of our programming is at capacity. Our childcare is at capacity, our after-school, our summer camp, our preschool is at capacity,” Hunt says.
Last spring, the YMCA launched the Building Possibilities capital campaign to raise funds to help grow the facility. The goals: increase space by at least 50% for the Y’s programming, as well as increase youth and community space by 65% for “highly curated and specialized programs.”That means expanding the preschool, wellness
center, gymnasium, great lawn, locker rooms and much more. In five years, this would impact an additional 8,000 members, particularly children, teens, members with special needs, seniors, and those needing financial assistance.
Hunt is confident in the endeavor, which will be funded by private donations and government funding. He points to Chase’s Place, an inclusive program for people with special needs ages 5 to 22 that was built in honor of Chase Donoff, who was autistic, thanks to his parents Craig and Judi Donoff’s $500,000 fund. Private donations are vital, especially as the YMCA is seeing cuts in government funding. In the meantime, Hunt’s problem-solving skills are coming in handy. For example, last summer, the YMCA partnered with Slam Boca to allow for 50 more summer camp spaces.
“We also serve underprivileged communities, and some of the funding for those areas is not coming in,” Hunt says.“We’re not receiving it, but we don’t want to stop serving them. … We have to find a solution.”
While the YMCA continues to push for the public to get involved in the Building Possibilities capital campaign, Hunt continues his work on campus. It’s all about connections, he says. Parents can work out while their kids play in daycare, teens can make new friends over video games, toddlers learn to swim, children and adults with developmental disabilities hang out at Chase’s Place, and then there’s the endless schedule of fitness, sports leagues, and cooking and arts classes.
Hunt says,“The level of impact that’s happening here on a day-to-day basis, sometimes it’s overwhelming.”
To support the YMCA, visit ymcaspbc.org/building-possibilities.
My grandmother and I were really close. It’s really special for me to be able to continue her legacy.”
— Cassie Walin
In its 65th year, the granddaughter of Barbara Katz takes the family boutique to new heights
Written by CHRISTIANA LILLY
It’s the grand opening of Barbara Katz at the Shops at Boca Center, and customers are admiring the new digs with glasses of sparkling wine in their hands. Wooden flooring, gold built-in shelves, sleek marble countertops, glass display cases, and a chic seating area for waiting spouses usher in a new era for the clothing store.
In the hall leading to the dressing room is a gallery wall of photos—from the early days of Barbara Katz’s boutique in North Miami Beach, family photographs with her daughter and granddaughter on buying trips, and even a Boca magazine ad from the 1980s. While the storefront may be new, this eponymous brand has been a South Florida mainstay for 65 years, outfitting Boca Raton’s women for decades.
“It’s very special for me to be able to take this to the next phase. My grandmother and I were really close,” says third-generation owner Cassie Walin.“It’s really special for me to be able to continue her legacy.”
The store has been a fixture in Walin’s life since she was a little girl. A Boca Raton native, she went to the boutique after school, did her homework in the break room, played hide and seek in the dressing rooms, sat on her grandmother’s lap at her desk, and played in the clothing racks. Now, her older daughter Bara, turning 4, does the same.
After college, Walin worked in fashion wholesale in New York City. She returned to Boca Raton to work for the family business, taking on different roles until she took the reins from her mother, Lauri Parker, in the thick of COVID in 2021. It was a blessing in disguise; business was slower, so it allowed her to ease into the new role of managing the company and learning to be a leader to the team.
“I had a very good understanding of the fashion business, the wholesale business, but this was a different side of it, being in retail,”Walin says.“But I think the biggest challenge and the biggest learning curve for me was really, like, managing a team.”
and she had no fear about starting her own business,”Walin says.
She continues,“I always remember her owning these conversations with men who primarily ran these businesses that she was working with. It was so amazing to see the way that she communicated and the way that she held herself—she was such a strong woman and a strong force.”
Barbara Katz expanded to stores in South Miami, Bal Harbour, Plantation and, in the early ‘80s, Boca Raton. Parker took over the company in the early 2000s, and this summer, Walin relocated the boutique to the Shops at Boca Center. Some of the staff has worked there since the days Katz was at the helm; for example, the woman in accounts payable has been with the company for more than 50 years.
“We had to reinvent the whole layout,”Walin says of the move.“The flooring, the ceiling, the lighting, the carpet, like every little detail was planned out. And it was pretty crazy, especially being pregnant [Walin’s second daughter was born this summer.—Ed.], but it was amazing because I got to design exactly what I wanted.”
The business, of course, has changed since the days of being in a carport. Walin added e-commerce to the business, which now makes up 25% of sales. Customers can still get on-site alterations done, and in the new space, she added a photo studio for the website as well as social media. This has introduced a whole new demographic to the world of Barbara Katz.
“We pretty much utilize Instagram every single day, coming up with new concepts, new reels, at least just posting stories,”Walin explains.“That’s our way of getting in front of people who aren’t here too, and they can shop just as easily as someone who lives here can.”
Cassie Walin, the third-generation owner of Barbara Katz
Walin’s grandmother, Barbara Katz, founded her eponymous boutique in 1959 in the carport of her North Miami Beach home, then a storefront in 1963; Walin admires her grandmother’s entrepreneurial spirit in a time when it was rare for women to own a business.“She wasn’t afraid,
The base clientele is women of leisure 40 and older who are searching for clothing to wear to their next luncheon or clubhouse gathering. But rather than skew younger when she took over, Walin has looked to expand their customer base by bringing in new brands, including denim and children’s clothing.
And the question Walin gets constantly: Could a fourth-generation owner be in the future?
“She says she works at Barbara Katz,”Walin says of her daughter, Bara, with a laugh.“But it’s up to her.”
With gala season upon us, pull out all the stops from local boutiques
You can never go wrong with a classic black silhouette
For Certified Financial Planner ™ Elizabeth Bennett, managing money is more than a career—it’s a passion, and its roots are personal. Bennett’s father died when she was 7, and her widowed mother became so overwhelmed with financial burdens that she had declared bankruptcy by the time Elizabeth turned 18. Bennett went on to earn a B.S. in Accounting from Penn State University so that she would not fall into similar financial hardship.
Now, as head of Intercoastal Wealth Planning in Boca Raton, she shares her insights from nearly 35 years in finance with a wide range of clients, designing custom plans to steer them toward financial freedom and independence. These include widows and divorcees, soonto-be retirees, and others undergoing major life changes.
Bennett is familiar with the mistakes that amateur investors often make without the advice of a professional fiduciary— such as playing the stock market ineffectively. Bennett is an expert at reversing these habits, and excels at providing solutions for her clients during times of market volatility.
“I pride myself on building a client’s portfolio based on what their risk tolerance is,” she says. “We always start with a financial plan. I need to understand who you are and what your goals are, and where you are today, so I can help you get to where you want to go.”
Contact Elizabeth’s office to schedule a private, complimentary consultation on your financial planning and investment needs.
PEDRO ANTON pumps, $275; from Wish and Shoes
MARIA ELENA flower bag, $1,575, bracelet, $755; both from Boca Raton Bridal
LAMARQUE feather bustier, $295; from Michelle Farmer
CULT GAIA bag, $598; from Saks
Add some sparkle to daytime ensembles
26 Restaurants + Galleries, Spas, Boutiques and More
Accessories for the attendee who knows how to make an entrance
Rex rabbit fur snood, $395; MICHELLE FARMER sequin top, $500, and shorts, $485; EMM KUO shell clutch, $850; feather earrings, $315; all from Michelle Farmer
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN mules, $1,595; from Saks Boca
MARIA ELENA sunglasses, $300; from Boca Raton Bridal
Hair can’t grow to its full potential if follicles are clogged.”
Hair heaven—that’s where the new head spa trend will take you
Written by ANGELA CARAWAY-CARLTON
By now, you’ve probably seen the viral videos on social media: waterfall-like hair showers and decadent scalp massages using an arsenal of odd-looking tools, all part of the trending head spa experience which focuses on the health of the scalp.
While Haus Head Spa in Boca Raton opened just a year ago, husband and wife co-owners Tron Truong and Lily Nguyen are no strangers to the concept.“My wife owned a head spa in Vietnam before it was cool,”Truong says.“We grew up in Asia, where people do this several times a week. It’s part of the culture—go to the beach, then swing by the hair spa.”
At Haus Head Spa, it all starts with a scalp analysis using a camera scope to assess scalp health.“It’s the most daunting part, as most people have never actually seen their scalp,”Truong says.“We check for clogged hair follicles, hair density, and signs of new follicle growth.” After the analysis, you’ll head to a serene treatment room with five spa beds, slip into a cozy robe, and lie back on a warm bed. One way that Haus Head Spa differentiates itself from other head spas: All of their technicians are licensed massage therapists.“A lot of places you see in those viral videos, they overdo it on the tools. While it looks cool, for real stimulation and to unclog hair follicles, we focus on massage. There’s nothing like strong hands,”Truong says.
that these scalp treatments are especially vital during gala season, when people overload on styling products.“Regular shampoo won’t remove all that buildup. The more put-together the client, the worse their scalp analysis usually is.”The treatment wraps with a blissful rain shower rinse, quick blow dry and a follow-up scalp check. “You’ll leave floating,”Truong says. Prices start at $75 for an express treatment and go up to $210 with add-ons like facials and handand-foot treatments.
Head spas are popping up all over town, promoting scalp health.
Their signature 60-minute Japanese Head Spa service ($130) includes a scalp massage, deep cleansing, and exfoliation (think of it as a facial for the scalp) using both manual techniques and specialized tools to boost blood flow and hair growth.“Hair can’t grow to its full potential if follicles are clogged,”Truong says, noting
Meanwhile, longtime hairdresser Linda Cavasini recently pivoted after 40 years behind the chair to open H2Oasis Shampoo Bed Spa in east Delray Beach, a one-suite head spa where she concentrates on making clients feel as good as they look.“You have a healthy scalp, you have healthy hair,” Cavasini says.
Clients start by picking out an organic tea and their preferred essential oil. Then Cavasini performs
a scalp analysis before beginning the treatment with a red-light therapy brush.“Great for circulation,”she notes. From there, it’s a multi-step process: shampoo, exfoliation, another shampoo and a rich conditioning treatment followed by a luxurious steam session under a hood dryer.“That’s when I turn on the massage bed and let them zone out,”Cavasini says.“We have a lot of people who fall asleep.”She finishes with a quick blow dry or a braid and reveals the client’s freshly detoxed scalp with the camera. “They say their head feels lighter, and their hair has way more body and shine,”she says. Treatments range from $150 to $175 depending on hair length, and it’s extra for a blow dry or a cut and style.
Haus Head Spa: 10075 Yamato Road, Boca Raton; 561/826-7435; IG: @haus_head_spa
H2Oasis Shampoo Bed Spa: 1325 N. Federal Highway, Suite 122, Delray Beach; 561/389-4750; h2oasis.glossgenius.com
Obstetrics & Gynecology
1601 Clint Moore Road, Suite 210 Boca Raton, FL 33487 561-488-1801 mirawomenshealth.com
Founded in August by New York-trained physicians Dr. Kenneth Konsker and Dr. Emily Woodbury, MIRA Women’s Health has quickly emerged as Boca Raton’s premier boutique OB/ GYN practice offering discerning women medical excellence, personalized care, luxury health-related amenities, and concierge-level service, all while still taking medical insurances.
The MIRA team led by Drs. Konsker and Woodbury proudly includes three experienced and compassionate allied health providers:
Polina Goldenberg, APRN, CNM- A Certified Nurse Midwife with a master’s degree from Frontier Nursing University and a background as a Labor & Delivery nurse, Polina is fluent in Russian. She provides comprehensive OB/GYN care and delivers babies, all with a strong focus on supporting women’s autonomy and wellbeing across all life stages. Her patients simply adore her.
Charla O’Neil, APRN, CNM- With 30 years of experience as a Certified Nurse Midwife, Charla brings deep expertise to her role in private practice. She has served as a hospitalist midwifery director, taught obstetrics at a collegiate level for nursing school, and leads childbirth education classes at MIRA. She is also a Certified First Assistant in surgery. Charla provides full-scope OB/GYN care and deliveries with warmth and clinical excellence.
Jennifer Lopez, MPAS, PA-C- A Boca native, Jennifer earned her master’s at the University of Texas-PanAm and has dedicated her career to women’s health. Trilingual in English, Spanish, and Portuguese (with additional proficiency in French), Jennifer is known for her inclusive, empathetic care of patients from adolescence through menopause, with an emphasis on a holistic approach. She has earned an especially loyal following in the Latin and Brazilian communities.
“MIRA is our vision of blending medical excellence with accessible concierge-level care for all women,” says co-founder Dr. Woodbury. “Polina, Charla, and Jennifer each bring something exceptional to our patients, and we are so excited to share them with the Boca community.”
I’m always learning and growing as an artist, because I realized my art is creating these matches and these storylines and putting it together.”
—Matthew Maschler
Matthew Maschler combines his passions for pro wrestling and community involvement
Written by JOHN THOMASON
Like many kids, young New Yorker Matthew Maschler found himself drawn to the world of professional wrestling, with its mix of pageantry and braggadocio, testosterone and theatrics. And like many adults, he aged out of the hobby, ignoring the wrestling scene for 30 years—until his twin children, aged 7, reignited his interest in 2011.
“Shortly after the first time we put [wrestling] on as a lark, Wrestlemania was in Miami in 2012,” Maschler, then working as a real estate broker in Boca Raton, recalls.“And it was John Cena vs. The Rock. I watched it with the kids in Miami, not expecting it to go past that. But then the next year it was going to be at MetLife Stadium in New York. We have friends and family up there, and that turned into six years in a row of going to Wrestlemania with my son.
“And then he got out of it through the natural course of aging—he lost interest. But I still watched it, and then I missed it during COVID, and I started my company.”
That company is Boca Raton Championship Wrestling (BRCW), which Maschler, CEO and chairman, launched in 2022. While still working in real estate, Maschler moonlights around the ring—developing characters, conceiving narratives and, when it’s a match day, introducing fights and joining the commentary team. As with many large-scale events with copious moving parts, the experience has come with a learning curve.
“I think the most recent show [in May] went very smoothly, but there’s still 15 things [to address] … I’m always learning and growing as an artist, because I realized my art is creating these matches and these storylines and putting it together.”
As for the commentary aspect of his job, Maschler says,“I like to talk.”His gift of gab—which he also demonstrates on his typically wrestling-themed podcast,“MatthewMania”—has led him to stoke friendships with such pro-wrestling veterans as Brutus “the Barber”Beefcake, whom Maschler brought on as commissioner of BRCW, and“the Mouth of the South,” Jimmy Hart. These legends from wrestling’s golden age make cameo appearances at BRCW matches, bridging the gap between generations of wrestling fans.
Vinicious, a brawler who goes by the moniker “The Brazilian Destroyer”; and Luigi Primo, who dresses like an Italian chef, complete with a prop pizza tray. The wrestlers’ various gimmicks allow Maschler to indulge in occasional stereotypes, which are intended in jest.“We did a Chanukah show at my synagogue, called the Festival of Fights, and I brought in a tag team of Israeli wrestlers,” he says.“I didn’t bring in a Muslim sheikh character for them to beat up; it seemed too on the nose. … There’s a line, but you can play with it.”
As for the name of his league, Maschler was quick to lean into his hometown city, despite its stubborn national reputation as a retirement haven—a seemingly unlikely place for a rowdy wrestling league to thrive. “When you’re from here, I guess you forget that that’s the impression people have,”Maschler says.“There’s so many stereotypes of Boca that can be true, like ‘Seinfeld’s’ Del Boca Vista. But there’s also mansions and millionaires and billionaires. There’s also college students. There’s also South American people. So you have everything. I wanted to create a family-friendly community event, so putting the name of the city in the company implied that.”
The city’s institutions have responded in kind. The 16 matches Maschler has hosted have been presented at venues ranging from Boca Black Box to the Studio at Mizner Park to the YMCA to the Renaissance Hotel and the Loft on Congress. At the time of our conversation, Maschler was planning a guerrilla-style film shoot that would see his wrestlers grappling in Mizner Park, in Matteo’s and at the beach.
Community means a great deal to Maschler; he’s on the boards of the George Snow Scholarship Fund (he danced in Boca’s Ballroom Battle in 2018), Caring House, and the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, and BRCW events can serve as extensions of his local outreach. He’ll often shout-out Boca businesses, birthdays or anniversaries from the ring. For one recent match, he hired senior drummers from West Boca High School’s marching band to add pomp and circumstance to a wrestler’s introduction. And Maschler only uses local vendors for his events, which is why he doesn’t take his productions on the road.
Matthew Maschler
They join BRCW’s extensive roster of current, multinational talent, many of whom learned the craft at Coastal Championship Wrestling, a Pompano-based wrestling school. They include such whimsical characters as Skitz, a crazed clown in horror-movie makeup;
“I just love the product we’ve created,” he says.“I love watching my fans watch the show. I love the little kid’s face when they realize they can say, ‘you suck!’ to a grown man. I love when they give me hugs after the show—everything about it.”
On Nov. 9, The Addison is hosting a birthday party to honor the centennials of the City of Boca Raton, Boca Raton Police Department, FP&L and Gunster Law.
“Those special moments, they become so much more celebrated when you embrace one another, and that’s why I wanted to do it with everybody,” The Addison Vice President Zoe Lanham says.
Boca Raton celebrated its centennial in May with a big bash, but we’re not the only ones around here blowing out 100 candles.
Written by CHRISTIANA LILLY
On Nov. 9, 1925, Addison Mizner opened the doors to the Administration Building, the headquarters for Mizner Development Corp as his team worked to open the Cloister Inn, now known as The Boca Raton. Mizner had an apartment, Boca Raton got its first restaurant, and resort staff lived in dorms on the premises.“His plan was to bring in these potential investors from all over, mainly New York … and he would wine and dine them in the courtyard,” explains Zoe Lanham, vice president of The Addison, formerly the Administration Building.
The venue hosts countless weddings, holiday parties, Mother’s Day brunches, and countdowns to the New Year in spaces where, a century ago, draftsmen were busy dreaming up a new Boca Raton. Generations of families have hosted their celebrations under the shade of the banyan trees or within the storied walls of the building, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Lanham has been with the venue for close to two decades and remembers that her first office was
within Mizner’s apartment space.“You feel an energy in there,” she says.“There’s so much history, and it’s inspiring to know that those tiles were stepped on by this major man in our community.”
Instead of receiving birthday gifts, in June The Addison donated $100,000 in grants to 10 local nonprofits.
After the incorporation of Boca Raton came the need for policing. Chief Charles Raulerson served as town marshall from 1925 to 1926 and earned $175 per month.
The department’s equipment: five revolvers, two motorcycles, one car and three pairs of handcuffs. Compare to now: 219 law enforcement officers and 112 civilians, as well as a SWAT team, underwater search and recovery team, bomb squad, crisis negotiation team, forensics services, an Honor Guard and even more.“As times change and crime changes, so have we,” a representative says, pointing to the use of both old-school street patrol and newer methods like body- and in-car cameras.
In 2013, the Boca Raton Police Foundation was founded to provide financial support to the police department. This year, Boca Raton police were reaccredited for the sixth year by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation as an Excelsior agency, the only department in Florida to earn the distinction. Police Chief Michele Miuccio is one of a handful of women chiefs in the state.
In honor of the department’s centennial, officers received a commemorative badge.“This is a special time for our department—a time to reflect on our history and the progress we’ve made over the years,”the representative notes.
Electricity made its way to 58 communities across South Florida thanks to the incorporation of Florida Power & Light in December 1925—that meant power for 76,000 customers, 230 miles of transmission lines and 1,149 miles of distribution lines, producing 70 megawatts of power. In 1926, Boca Raton was hooked up and never looked back.
“We started as a small utility company, but it also included a collection of small electric plants, ice plants, a sponge fishing boat and 35 mules,” says Sarah Gatewood, senior communications manager at FP&L.
During the Space Race, FP&L built a power plant in Cape Canaveral, ensuring that NASA had the power it needed at the Kennedy Space Center. Its hurricane response has also grown over the decades, too—no one is happier to see an FP&L lineman after a hurricane. The company is also exploring alternate power sources, such as solar power. In 2016, Manatee Lagoon opened, allowing the public to enjoy the sea cows during the winter months as they flock to the warm waters surrounding the power plants.
While there is no longer a team of mules, today FP&L is the largest power company in Florida, providing service to 12 million customers, and it has more than 73,000 miles of distribution and transmission lines and a capacity of 22,000 megawatts.
One of the oldest law firms in the state, Gunster Law was founded by attorneys John Kenneth Williamson and William Quiggin Cain. They opened an office in West Palm Beach only to be welcomed by two major hurricanes and the Great Depression. The firm saw a boon in business during the World War II era and hired Joseph F. Gunster, the firm’s namesake, in 1942. With 13 offices throughout Florida, the firm has more than 320 attorneys and consultants and 300 staff members specializing in private wealth services and e-discovery. Gunster Law opened its Boca Raton office on Technology Way in 2015, its 11-person team headed by Elaine Bucher. The firm also works with more than 530 local organizations—Gunster himself was president of the Society of the Four Arts, and his wife Ruth was a
member of Volunteers for Victory during World War II.
Some major cases Gunster Law has been a part of: representing U.S. Sugar Co. in the sale of 26,000 acres to the South Florida Water Management District for Everglades restoration; CNN in a $300 million defamation suit brought by Alan Dershowitz; and defeating a $500 million claim against Hemera Biosciences.
In honor of its centenary, Gunster Law produced a coffee table book with author Laura Mize.“Our history is one that we are proud of, and we look forward to sharing it with our colleagues, clients and community partners,” the firm says.
CIPRIANI RESIDENCES MIAMI
Brickell (Miami)
THE RESIDENCES AT MANDARIN ORIENTAL, MIAMI
Brickell Key (Miami)
RESIDENCES, MIAMI Downtown Miami
Fort Lauderdale
Written by Christiana Lilly • Photography by Carina Mask
IT GOES AGAINST THE NATURAL ORDER OF THINGS, a parent burying their child. It’s simply not supposed to happen, nor do we plan for it. But whether it be an accident or illness, there are parents who face this tragedy. We spoke with five Boca Raton parents who managed to rise above their grief to found nonprofits to help countless other families rewrite the future for their own children.
Meet Myla, Dori and Brice’s parents.
Camilla Goodwin knew something was wrong before the doctor sat her and her husband, Mike, down with a diagnosis for their 6-year-old daughter. Born to Polish immigrants in Sweden, she overheard their doctor on the phone, telling a family member in Polish they would be late coming home—“I have a really bad case.”
“The last thing that I remember is Mike saying, ‘OK, but if it’s spread, that means that it’s cancer, right?’ And [the doctor] says, ‘Yes.’ And then I blacked out,” Camilla says.
It was Dec. 26, 2017; the Goodwins were new to Boca Raton and in the process of opening Crazy Uncle Mike’s. They were also taking their youngest daughter, Myla, to the hospital after she had been complaining of pain in her hip, stomachaches at school, and
night sweats. Around Christmas of 2017, things escalated. Myla had a light fever and was fatigued after a gymnastics competition; she always looked forward to family events, and she wasn’t up for a birthday party for her aunt. The Goodwins took their daughter to West Boca Medical Center, where they ran blood tests, an X-ray, CT scans and an ultrasound. The result came back: Wilms tumor, stage four kidney cancer that had spread to Myla’s lungs.
“Right after she got diagnosed…she went from a little baby to our teacher,” Mike says.“It’s really incredible, because something happens when a kid gets like that, they get an insight that other kids don’t have.”
Born in Las Vegas, Myla was a “big baby,” weighing 9.5 pounds when she was born. Mike and Camilla—who met through work— laugh that while their family tends to be more spontaneous, Myla
was a planner, even handwriting her own birthday party invitations when she was 6.“I mean, our invitation for our wedding was an email,” Mike says. The youngest of three girls, Myla was also eager to keep up with her big sisters.
But with her cancer diagnosis, Myla’s focus was no longer on gymnastics, but getting well. Her right kidney and the tumor were removed, and she underwent radiation to try to shrink the tumors in her lungs. The day before her Make-aWish trip to Paris, she was struck with headaches—doctors discovered she had a 5-centimeter tumor in her brain. Even after radiation, the tumor grew back to the same size in a matter of weeks. By December of 2019, tumors were found in her spinal fluid. She died on Jan. 1, 2020.
“Mike buried himself in work, and I started nursing school because I was going to go lobby for a change…I parlayed it into a psychology degree, and now I’m finishing my Master’s,” Camilla says.“Everybody grieves differently, but we allowed each other to grieve how we needed to grieve.”
After Myla died, the Goodwins kept finding leaves in odd places—in their bedsheets, shopping cart, or on the seat next to them. This was the impetus for the name of their nonprofit, Myla’s Beleaf.“Whether it’s real or not, it’s real to me,” Mike says.“I feel like she’s with me everywhere I go, because there’s leaves everywhere I go.”
The couple registered the nonprofit in 2022 and hosted their first gala at Crazy Uncle Mike’s in 2023, raising $650,000. The bar was transformed into a tween girl’s dream room, filled with pink table cloths, unicorns and rainbow cake. Myla’s Beleaf works with social workers around Florida to vet applicants and properly distribute money, depending on if the child is in active treatment, in remission and other factors and needs. They’ve worked with more than 200 families thus far, helping pay for medical care, travel costs, household expenses, birthday and milestone celebrations, and more.
“Unfortunately, a lot of our applicants are single mothers, so when you have one person that’s responsible for the bills and no longer can do it because they have to stay in the hospital—it’s heartbreaking stories,” Camilla says.
To help children navigate cancer treatment, Camilla wrote Who Are You Cancer? Myla is illustrated as a spunky 8-year-old with a unicorn headband and wrists filled with bracelets—she loved making them on her rainbow loom—and likening cancer cells to LEGO pieces, describing how a port works, and referring to her hospital stays as checking into the Ritz-Carlton.
Part of the advocacy, unfortunately, requires revisiting trauma from their own experience. Camilla remembers one time in particular where she went to visit a child and his family—it turned out he was in the same hospital room that Myla was in when she had her craniotomy.“At that point I was there for somebody else, not for me. So I just said, ‘Give me one second.’ I turned around and literally cried for two seconds. I’m like, ‘All right, I can do this.’” mylasbeleaf.com
In 1996, 14-year-old Dori Slosberg wrote a poem, one of many. Part of it read, “We are here—life as we know it / It happened so fast we can’t remember.” A week later, she died in a horrendous car crash that still haunts Boca Raton to this day.
Dori, her twin sister, Emily, and five of their friends met a 19-year-old man and his 17-year-old friend. All nine piled into his Honda Civic to go to a party, none wearing seatbelts. The driver sped down Palmetto Park Road, lost control of the vehicle, and crashed into a car with three passengers.
Irving Slosberg got a call from his daughters’ friend; she was the last number on the girls’ beeper, so law enforcement had notified her of the accident. Slosberg rushed to Delray Medical Center and asked a deputy where his children were—he was told one was at Gun Club Road, the county morgue.“I ran through all the operating rooms at the Delray trauma center,” Slosberg remembers.“I couldn’t find her in any of the rooms. Finally, the last room, I found Emily, and she was on life support.”When she woke up, she asked for her sister.
Five of the teens were killed, including Dori. One was left paralyzed. The following Monday, buses picked up middle school children from their schools to go to funerals, and the Boca Raton News printed the funeral services for the five teens. Emily, still in the hospital on a ventilator, was unable to attend her sister’s funeral.
“That was the day I got old,” Slosberg says.“But then as time went on, I realized that this is happening all over the state of Florida, all over the United States and all over the world. … Between 1.2 and 1.5 million people die in traffic crashes every year in the world.”
Hope is the last thing that dies… The writing might be all over the walls for everybody else, but the parent is the last one that sees it.
– Camilla Goodwin
The driver was convicted of reckless driving and served 13 years in prison. To this day, there are four crosses and one Star of David erected at the scene of the accident at Palmetto Park Road and Boca Rio Road.
Dori was a Boca Raton native with her barely younger twin sister, Emily, and their older sister, Wendy. She loved to write poetry and dreamed of going to UCLA to study law. Her family nicknamed her Dollar Dori because of her frugality.“She was always saying, ‘Daddy, you spend too much money. We could get it cheaper at the next store,’” Slosberg laughs.
When he went back to work, he found a note in his drawer from Dori that read,“I love and miss
you, daddy.” For two years, his routine was going to her grave to cry. A shift came when he realized the community pitied him; he didn’t want to be pitied. Instead, he decided to change road safety laws by running for state representative. Slosberg managed to beat out Democratic incumbent Curt Levine and was voted into the Florida House of Representatives in 2000. When he went around the Capitol to introduce himself to his new colleagues, he reminded them to wear their seatbelts.
Slosberg’s first big victory was passing the Dori Slosberg Driver Safety Education Act in 2002, a bill that allowed county commissioners to add $5 to traffic tickets to fund driver education programs in schools. It expanded statewide in 2011. He credits his colleagues in the House for getting it done.“I didn’t pass this by myself. I passed this with the cooperation of the Republican Party and the Democrats and the people who helped me pass this legislation,”he says. It took him years, however, to pass the Dori Slosberg and Katie Marchetti Safety Belt Law in 2009. This made not wearing a seatbelt a primary offense and allows police officers to pull over drivers for not wearing a seatbelt. The bill failed repeatedly in the Senate, with dissenters concerned about personal freedom and racial profiling. In 2005, Slosberg and Emily registered the nonprofit Dori Saves Lives. Volunteers travel to school to talk to students about driving safety, including sharing a 22-minute video from a woman who drove drunk, killing a man in South Beach in 2013. She served three years in prison and now attends the workshops. The nonprofit also hosts the Drivers Education Conference, a DUI -0- Tolerance Luncheon, and bus driver safety training.“You feel naked when you get in your car if you don’t put on your seatbelt. Well, that’s because of education, not because of the law,”Slosberg says. Emily took the torch from her father when she successfully ran for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives in 2016. She continued the mission to amplify traffic safety and passed the Dori Slosberg Hands-free Florida Ban on Texting While Driving Law, making it illegal to text and drive while in school and construction zones. The goal is to make it applicable everywhere, and local schools have posted signs reminding parents.
For the Slosbergs, they also have a living reminder of the family member they lost: Emily named her first daughter Dori. dorisaveslives.org
I thought to myself, you know, little people can do big things… I’m gonna turn this tragedy into triumph.
– Irving Slosberg
People often say to me, ‘I can’t imagine going through that.’ My first comment is, ‘Don’t.’ Don’t imagine it.
– Michelle Makris
It was 6:34 a.m.—John Makris remembers the exact time when he got the call that his son, Brice, was hospitalized after relapsing on opioids. He and his wife, Michelle, rushed to Bethesda Hospital, where he was on a ventilator. With no hope of recovery, they made the difficult decision to take him off life support.
“He was victim to what is now the No. 1 cause of death with our youth between 18 and 45 years old,” John says, citing numbers from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Brice was 23 when he died of a drug overdose, and his autopsy revealed that the Percocet he took was laced with fentanyl. Rather than shy away from his cause of death, the Makrises were open about it. It’s included in his obituary, and during Brice’s funeral, the couple sounded the alarm about the opioid epidemic and collected $10,000 in donations. Within days, they registered the Friends of Brice Foundation.“It whipped us into action. It gave us purpose. At the same time, we really didn’t give ourselves a chance to grieve,” Michelle says.“It would seep out in other aspects of our life just when you least expect it.”
The two partnered with the Hanley Foundation, a local nonprofit that works with those impacted by substance abuse disorder, and created the Brice Makris Endowment Fund. They’ve hosted four Brice Makris Brunches to raise money for the recovery scholarships—costs can be up to $60,000 for a month in a rehabilitation facility. The fund has provided scholarships to more than 300 people.“Everybody seems touched by this crisis,” John says.“Whatever group [we have spoken] in front of, there were people that were involved or had lost somebody, or overcame substance use disorder.”
The Makrises remember their son as a “really old soul,” one who was curious; Michelle recalls catching him in bed at night with a flashlight under the covers to read books. He went to camp in the Berkshires, where he made lifelong friends and also became a counselor. In 2019, he graduated from Florida State University with degrees in chemistry, biology and psychology; he was interested in researching treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.
While the Makrises will never know how his substance abuse started, they do know that he had back pain from a weightlifting injury in his teens and had surgery on his nose later. Or, he may have been introduced to it through friends.“That’s really the agony of all
this. We just don’t know the whole story,” Michelle says.
Close to his college graduation, it was clear that something was wrong. Brice delayed his graduation date, and his grades were slipping. He told his parents he had a problem with prescription drugs; within four hours, he was checked into a treatment program. After 30 days, he moved into a halfway house in Delray Beach. Up to 90% of people with opioid addiction relapse, and Brice was no different. After a score, he returned to the halfway house, sick and sweating. He went into respiratory failure and died on March 12, 2020.
“The pandemic was a blessing in disguise for me, because nobody was urging me to get out of bed and function. I was able to hide out for a whole year,” Michelle says.
After four years on the board of the Hanley Foundation, John found it too difficult to relive his son’s death. Today he is more involved in other nonprofits, including Place of Hope, the Golden Bell Foundation and Best Foot Forward; for him it’s being a part of drug abuse prevention. He also serves on the Palm Beach County Advisory Committee on Behavioral Health, Substance Use and Co-Occurring Disorders.“With all the work we’ve done and all the reward that we feel from it, you know, I still go into a very dark place sometimes,” John says.
Michelle currently serves on the Board of Directors at the Hanley Foundation, which nominated her for the Junior League of Boca Raton’s Woman Volunteer of the Year in 2024.
This November, Brice should be the best man at his brother’s wedding. The Makrises also see his friends reaching milestones that their son will never attain; during a friend’s wedding, the groom gifted John a set of cufflinks with his son’s initials. Their friends also know, though, that they can call the Makrises if they think someone they care about is struggling with opioid addiction.
“It’s not uncommon for me to get a phone call from a panicked mother who sees the signs and just doesn’t know what to do, doesn’t know where to go,” Michelle says.“I’ve also talked with other mothers of loss, just to sort of have a camaraderie that nobody else can really appreciate or understand.”
And for Michelle, she never leaves the house without Narcan— because you never know who might need it.
hanleyfoundation.org/get-involved/brice-makris-endowment-fund
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FAU’s new president is just one example of the governor flexing unprecedented influence on our state’s universities
WRITTEN BY RANDY SCHULTZ
n October 2021, Florida State University hired Richard McCullough as president—and it would be the last university presidential search in Florida to happen without Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ interference.
In 2023, after the retirement of Florida Atlantic University President John Kelly, the governor attempted to dictate the choice of the school’s next president. Two days after the search committee failed to make that choice for finalist—which was then-State Rep. Randy Fine—State University System Chancellor Ray Rodrigues halted the search. Five months later, the Board of Governors, which oversees the state university system, voided the search entirely.
The board told FAU to start over.
FAU thus went more than two years without a permanent president after Kelly’s retirement at the end of 2022.
This February, a second search finally produced Kelly’s successor: former State Rep. Adam Hasner.
What happened in Boca Raton exemplifies the control that DeSantis
has exerted and continues to exert over higher education in Florida. It began with laws against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) that the American Association of University Professors called“culture-war-inspired censorship”and has moved into direct control from the governor’s office of who runs the state’s public colleges and universities.
“It’s those sorts of southern red states where we see politics come in most,” Judith Wilde, a public policy and government research professor at George Mason University in Virginia told the Florida Phoenix.“The most egregious by far is in Florida. …DeSantis makes it clear what he wants, and his people make sure that’s what happens.”
FAU Faculty Senate President William Trapani said of the Hasner selection,“We saw that that was the deal. It’s quite clear that the governor and the Board of Governors [which must approve trustees’ choices for president.—Ed.] believe that they need to have control with their friends and political allies.”
Richard Schmidt served on the first search committee; his family foundation is FAU’s largest private donor. Most notably, it endowed the Schmidt Family Complex for Academic and Athletic Excellence. He continues to defend the first search. The Board of Governors’ stated reason for voiding it—that the committee failed to properly advertise an informal straw poll of applicants—was“bogus,”Schmidt said.
He noted the difference between this search and the one that produced Kelly in 2014. Jeff Atwater, a former state senator and insurance commissioner, was lobbying to be FAU’s president. But the trustees, Schmidt among them, were “pretty unified. We didn’t want a politician.”
Kelly, Schmidt said, was “outstanding in his presidency.” Kelly had been at Clemson University for almost three decades, holding a variety of leadership positions. Hasner—like almost all of DeSantis’ choices—has no higher education experience. He most recently worked for GEO Group, the Boca Raton-based private prison and detention company; Pablo Paez, a GEO Group executive, served on the search committee that selected Hasner. (In 2013, strong student and public opposition killed the company’s deal for naming rights to the football stadium. Critics called the stadium “Owlcatraz.”)
Though that job and some of his comments while in Tallahas-
see worried some at FAU, Hasner looked good compared to Fine, DeSantis’ initial push for the university’s top spot.
In 2019, as a member of the Florida House, Fine suggested shutting down the University of Central Florida for “five or 10 years” over a spending issue. He also called a political opponent “a whore,” and he has faced ethics investigations. Now a member of the U.S. Congress, Fine responded to the May murders of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington, D.C. by calling for the U.S. to drop atomic bombs on Gaza.
“The intersection of politics and higher education is a dangerous one,” Schmidt said. Still, he knew Hasner from his service on an advisory board to FAU’s business school. Schmidt said of Hasner,“I’m glad he was acceptable to everyone he had to be acceptable to.”
University president politicking is not new. In 1984, well-connected Palm Beach lawyer Marshall Criser called in all his chits to become president of the University of Florida. In 1994, when Florida’s Democrats still had clout, former Education Commissioner Betty Castor—a Democrat—became president of the University of South Florida.
The best recent example is John Thrasher. In 2014, with Republicans in control of Tallahassee, the former Florida House speaker and Senate president declared his interest in the FSU presidency. The search committee didn’t even meet, acknowledging that no credible outside candidates would apply with one of the state’s most prominent Republicans in the mix.
Those examples, however, turned on the person seeking the job, not the governor at the time. In the present-day climate, DeSantis exerts far more control than any of his predecessors.
To do so, DeSantis has exploited a 2022 exemption to the state’s Sunshine Law, keeping the name of presidential applicants secret unless they become finalists. The rationale for this, according to DeSantis and his supporters, is that top-tier candidates wouldn’t apply if their current employer knew about it.
But the FSU search, which took place before the new law, undercuts that argument. McCullough, the eventual choice, had held the second-highest academic post at Harvard University. He had worked at Carnegie-Mellon University, also one of the country’s top schools. All three finalists at FSU were high-level academics. One had been the provost—the No. 2 leadership position—at the University of North Carolina. The other had been vice president for research at Tulane.
Armed with secrecy under the Sunshine Law exemption, DeSantis has taken a different approach. In almost every case, he has chosen a former Republican politician from Florida—like Hasner— who has no experience in higher education.
Three months after the bill took effect, DeSantis engineered the choice of former U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse at the University of Flori-
“[Adam Hasner] is not [Richard] Corcoran at New College. He has shown a willingness to learn. I am cautiously optimistic.”
– FAU Faculty Senate President William Trapani
“If we can get good, strong conservative leaders to be willing to run universities, that should be a good thing. You want the governor involved in ensuring that.”
– FL Gov. Ron DeSantis
da. Sasse was the only finalist after what the university called an “exhaustive” search. Sasse lasted just 17 months, leaving amid revelations that he had hired top administrators who never moved to Gainesville but were making $300,000 and $400,000 a year in UF salaries. Sasse also spent lavishly on himself. According to an audit, his $14.8 million spending was a 72% increase from the previous year. This included $6.4 million for a consulting firm that “did not demonstrate the benefit the University received,” and $563,825 for catering eight events.
But no choice has caused more controversy than the installation of former Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran at New College of Florida in Sarasota. The smallest of Florida’s 12 public universities (710 students in 2023), until recently it was what the Washington Post described as a “quirky” campus where students designed their own studies.
After winning his first gubernatorial term in 2018, DeSantis arranged for Corcoran to be Florida’s education commissioner. In early 2023, DeSantis removed enough New College trustees to create a whole new board majority; at its first meeting, the newly reconfigured board fired the existing New College president and named Corcoran as its interim. Nine months later, Corcoran got the permanent post in a pro-forma vote.
Through Corcoran, DeSantis made New College the whipping boy for what he called “woke indoctrination” on college campuses. New College dropped such courses as gender studies, and books with LGBTQ subjects were tossed in a dumpster.
Corcoran hired a former Tallahassee lobbyist, David Rancourt, to
be dean of students; at a comedy club, Rancourt made anti-LGBTQ jokes. Fred Piccolo, who served as spokesman for Corcoran during his time in the House, was hired as the director of marketing in December 2024 and then fired four months later when he was arrested for indecent exposure. It came to light that he had been arrested three times prior to his time at New College with the same charges.
But DeSantis didn’t stop at New College, and this year had a hand in the presidential selection process at a flurry of other schools (see sidebar)
DeSantis had named Marva Johnson chairwoman of the Florida State Board of Education in 2015; her later selection as FAMU president drew opposition from FAMU’s faculty and alumni, as they favored the school’s chief operating officer, which was the same position Stacey Volnick held at FAU before the board named her interim president after Kelly’s retirement. Although Volnick served well over 26 months, sources say she was told not to apply for the permanent job. Due to the Sunshine Law exemption, there’s no way to know whether she did.
Why did DeSantis call the now U.S. Rep. Randy Fine“a good choice” to be president of Florida Atlantic University? For one thing, they were aligned politically. In 2022, Fine sponsored the House version of
what critics called the“Don’t Say Gay”bill—a bill that limits education on issues of sexuality in the classroom—and he also sponsored legislation to ban diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in higher education.“These programs are being used all over the country,”Fine said.“Imagine how great our universities will be when we are the only ones who are not.”
But Fine had another key ally—Barbara Feingold. When the presidential search began, she was the vice chair of the FAU Board of Trustees. She wanted the university to open a dental school endowed by her with $30 million and named for her late husband, dental entrepreneur Jeffrey Feingold. The Feingolds are longtime Republican donors. Sources close to
• In February, Florida International University trustees declined to renew the contract of President Ken Jessel, even though FIU led all universities last year in the Board of Governors performance metrics. At DeSantis’ urging, former Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez became the interim. In May, she got the permanent job after being the only finalist.
• University of West Florida President Mary Saunders resigned after criticism from DeSantis. Immediately, talk began that Education Commissioner Manny Diaz would get the job. Diaz pronounced himself “open to it” before being se-
lected as interim president. He is another former Republican legislator with no experience in higher education. Former FL Rep. Jerry Maygarden, who has a 50-year history with the school, told the Miami Herald, “If you name him the interim president, you will shut down the applicant pool…Top-drawer candidates will not want to sacrifice their current positions for a political process that appears to be, as one Tallahassee insider said, ‘a done deal.’” In June, Diaz was confirmed by the Board of Governors as the new president.
• Florida A&M University trustees chose Marva Johnson, a telecommunications lobbyist, as president. She has no higher
education experience and was added late to the list of finalists, but was confirmed by the Board of Governors. In June, FAMU’s trustees approved a $650,000 annual contract for Johnson—a nearly $200,000 increase from the salary of the school’s last president—forcing the university’s foundation board, composed of many alumni who opposed Johnson’s hire, to foot $450,000 worth of that bill.
pioned DEI at Michigan, he claimed that his views on it had “evolved.” Just to make sure, his contract required that he “prohibit the use of any public or private funds from being spent on DEI or political or social activism.” The provost and all deans “must be firmly aligned with and support the principles guiding higher education in Florida.”
• The biggest drama happened at UF. The trustees unanimously chose Santa Ono to succeed Sasse. Like Sasse, he was the only finalist. Like McCullough of FSU, though, he is a traditional academic and had been president of the University of Michigan. Though Ono had cham-
That language, though, was not enough. Donald Trump, Jr. called Ono “a woke psycho.” Republicans who are not DeSantis allies, such as U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, also criticized the choice.
UF Trustee Chair Mori Husseini, a strong DeSantis ally, defended Ono. Under Ono, Husseini argued, UF could displace Michigan in the national rankings. But for the first time, the Board of Governors rejected a presidential nominee.
“The intersection of politics and higher education is a dangerous one.”
– Richard Schmidt, member of FAU presidential search committee
the search tell Boca magazine that Barbara Feingold worked through James Uthmeier—DeSantis’ then-chief of staff and now state attorney general—to secure the presidency for Fine. As the first search was progressing, Fine helped to secure $40 million in the state budget for the dental school, and the Board of Governors fast-tracked approval of the school.
Schmidt chairs the Schmidt Family Foundation, FAU’s largest private donor, and he served on the first search committee. He said, “If I had had to name all of our priorities, a dental school wouldn’t have made the top 25.”
In 2024, after Fine’s rejection, the Legislature rejected FAU’s request for more dental school money. Fine and DeSantis have since had a falling out. Trustees have paused the dental school. Feingold is no longer on the board of trustees.
To put it in perspective, FAU’s rejection of Fine, DeSantis’ initial selection for university president, was one of only two examples of trustees defying the governor on a presidential choice. In May 2023, Florida Gulf Coast University trustees—by one vote—picked someone other than who DeSantis wanted.
DeSantis has made clear that he wants presidents based on ideological purity, not academic success. Speaking this year against House Bill 1321, which would have weakened his control over choosing presidents, DeSantis said,“What the bill would do [is] neuter our ability to keep universities in line and to build off the success.
“Because you know what, if we can get good, strong conservative leaders to be willing to run universities, that should be a good thing. You want the governor involved in ensuring that.”
Among other things, HB 1321—which was introduced by Republican FL Rep. Michelle Salzman—would have ended the secrecy around applications and removed the requirement that the Board of Governors ratify a board of trustees’ presidential choice. DeSantis got shriller as the bill passed the House 104-8 before dying in the Senate. HB 1321, he said, would“pave the way for the ‘rewokification’ of Florida’s higher education system.”Supporters“do not want to hold universities accountable. They will revert back to leftist ideology.”
DeSantis has largely bent the Board of Governors and Boards of Trustees to his will; he has appointed or reappointed 14 of the 17 members of the Board of Governors. At FAU, 11 of the 13 trustees are appointed by the governor or the Board of Governors, which DeSantis controls.
However, no one on the Board of Governors has noted that almost all the higher education growth and “success” on which DeSantis wants to build came from the work of traditional academics, not ex-politicians. They include Bernie Machen and Kent Fuchs at UF, Judy Genshaft at USF, Ken Jessel at FIU, John Hitt and Alex-
ander Cartwright at UCF, and Mary Saunders at West Florida. For example, during Saunders’ eight-year tenure, West Florida reached record enrollment and fundraising. But this year, DeSantis appointed new trustees who questioned Saunders about DEI issues and university sponsorship of a drag show.
DeSantis will be out of office after 2026, perhaps for another presidential run, but the results of his ideological purge may last much longer. However, multiple FAU sources for this story expressed relief that the university has been able to maintain some degree of autonomy.
Fine is not president. DeSantis did not appoint trustees like the controversial Scott Yenor at West Florida, who described “independent women” as “medicated, meddlesome and quarrelsome.”Yenor also questioned whether women and Jews were qualified for leadership positions in the U.S. Senate, before he resigned in April.
Comparing itself to FIU, Trapani, the FAU Faculty Senate president, said,“The president was deposed. We did not have that.” Hasner, he added,“is not Corcoran at New College. He has shown a willingness to learn. I am cautiously optimistic.” Hasner’s first big test at FAU will be the hiring of a provost, the chief academic officer. The choice will show whether Trapani’s cautious optimism is well-founded.
In a March welcome email from Hasner, the newly installed president wrote,“I am fully committed to listening, learning and collaborating with the entire University community to create a culture where every student thrives, every faculty member has the opportunity to innovate, and every staff member feels valued.”
Boca magazine has tried repeatedly to secure interviews with FAU Trustee Sherry Murphy, who chaired the second search, and Trustee Chair Piero Bussani. Neither have responded.
Because of your transformational support of Transcend Tomorrow: The Campaign for Florida Atlantic University, we are
• Graduating record numbers of students
• Attaining unprecedented research excellence
Your philanthropy continues to build a legacy of achievement and excellence for the next generation. We are
• Expanding community programs
• Addressing tomorrow’s challenges today
We remain eternally grateful to our transformational donors:
Eleanor R. Baldwin
Barbara Campbell and the late Bobby Campbell
Avron B. and Wendy Fogelman
Arthur Gutterman
Michelle and Michael Hagerty
The Lappin Family and the Legacy Foundation of Palm Beach County
Let’s Have a Smile Scholarship Fund
Christine E. Lynn and the E.M. Lynn Foundation
The Harry T. Mangurian, Jr. Foundation
The Marcus Foundation
David J.S. and Lynn Nicholson
The Sandler Family and the Harvey and Phyllis Sandler Foundation
Barb Schmidt and Dick Schmidt, and the Schmidt Family Foundation
Susan Smith and the late Phil Smith
Richard Stone
The Taft Foundation
Holli Rockwell Trubinsky and Joseph Trubinsky
Marilyn Wallach and the late Kurt Wallach
Ann Wood and the late John Wood
To learn more, visit transcendtomorrow.fau.edu.
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A: No chipmunk-cheeks or duck-lips allowed! Using the correct technique ensures natural-looking results. A multitude of tools are used to regain a more youthful appearance. Over-lasering the face or over-filling the cheeks and lips to hide every last wrinkle is not flattering. Ultimately, patients rely on my expertise, esthetic judgement, trust and integrity.
Q: What procedures are popular for men?
A: Since men now work longer, retire harder, and can maintain muscle mass by exercising, it is important to have their face match their body. Droopy eyes and a sagging neck is a stark contrast from their otherwise sharp, on-the-ball appearance and physique. An eye and neck lift can greatly improve their appearance.
Dr. Robert Bader’s dermatology practice, R.S.B. Dermatology in Deerfield Beach, offers comprehensive skin, hair and nail treatments that include Mohs’ micrographic surgery, reconstructive surgery and dermatologic plastic surgery. Dr. Bader takes great pride in his versatile Ivy League training, board-certified expertise, and the personal connection he forges with his patients. Dr. Bader graduated from George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences with Distinction, completed an internship at Yale New Haven Hospital, served as Chief Resident in Dermatology at Hahnemann University, and completed a fellowship in Mohs’ and Dermatologic Plastic Surgery at Affiliated Dermatology, a program affiliated with Columbia University.
Q: What are the best non-surgical treatments for wrinkles?
A: Many procedures are available that do not involve “the knife.” Non-ablative laser resurfacing and Ultherapy are great skin tightening options that are completely non-invasive. Morpheus, Secret RF, fillers, toxins and threads are excellent minimally invasive options to tighten skin or reduce lines and folds. Chemical peels and fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing are still great ways to reduce fine lines and even out skin tones.
Q: Can I lose fat and tighten the skin without any surgery or downtime?
A: Yes, TruSculpt iD uses radio frequency to create heat, which destroys fat cells and tightens the skin. Treatments are painless, take 15 minutes and require no downtime.
Q: Some believe that Mohs’ Surgery leaves scars. Is that true?
A: Mohs’ micrographic surgery is a method of tumor removal which removes the least amount of non-cancerous skin. The reconstruction after is largely responsible for how the area will look after the surgery. In some cases, leaving a wound to heal by itself can have a great outcome.
Dr. Javier Sanchez humbly describes his medical training as “honorable,” referring to the M.D. earned from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, an anesthesiology residency at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, and an impressive tri-institutional pain fellowship at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell’s Hospital for Special Surgery and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. With prestigious credentials, years of expertise in complex pain issues and a comforting bedside manner, Dr. Sanchez has opened the doors to his new practice, Dero Pain Specialists, where patients find dedicated, personalized pain management care when they need it most.
Q: What is your approach to treating pain?
A: It’s very personalized and not at all algorithmic. I listen to what patients have to say because everyone’s pain affects them differently. My goal is to first understand the diagnosis or root cause of the pain and how that pain interferes with the patient’s life, and then based on those findings, we develop a treatment plan.
Q: What kind of painful conditions do you treat?
A: Through minimally invasive interventions, I treat many types of pain syndromes that can occur in the body including neuropathy, arthritis, joint pain, facial pain, pelvic pain, spine and disc pain. In many cases, pain can be treated by either burning a nerve or stimulating that nerve to hide the pain which provides relief for many conditions.
Q: How is interventional pain management different from the tainted version of pain management “pill mills?”
A: Interventional pain management is a newer field of medicine and is rapidly evolving. We near-never prescribe opioids. Rather, we offer multi-modal interventions and minimally-invasive procedural treatment options. The field is ideal for patients who are not candidates for high-risk procedures or have been told there is no solution for their pain. Our treatments have very few side effects and much better results than opioids which the body will simply get used to and will stop working after some time.
JANET ALLENBY, DO
Allenby Cosmetic Dermatology
6290 Linton Blvd., #204
Delray Beach, FL
561-499-0299
Dr. Janet Allenby is an artist dedicated to harmonizing medical prowess with an aesthetic touch. With an illustrious career spanning nearly three decades in South Florida, Dr. Allenby’s approach continues to go beyond traditional dermatology, with a focus on sculpting timeless beauty that enhances both the physical and mental well-being of her patients.
“My passion lies in helping patients actualize their aesthetic goals using cutting-edge technology in injectable products, devices and skin care. Each patient undergoes a comprehensive assessment, leading to a personalized treatment plan targeting specific concerns. Our most sought-after services include skin rejuvenation, facial balancing and structural correction, with the aim of minimizing downtime and delivering efficient, effective results,” explains Dr. Allenby.
Q: What procedures can patients do to look radiant for the holidays?
A: We offer some fantastic procedures, including a bamboo carbon facial. When used on the tissue, followed by laser, it creates a skin tightening effect we call the “Hollywood Glow.” Patients’ skin looks smooth and glossy after one treatment. It’s non-painful and can be done 2-3 days prior to an event.
Q: What treatments do you offer for intimate wellness?
A: We utilize treatments and devices to help peri-menopausal, menopausal and post-menopausal women combat some of the bodily changes that occur as we age, including a procedure for skin laxity performed with radio frequency. There are different kinds of modifications in each category to make patients feel their best and improve their intimate health.
Q: What procedures are popular for male patients?
6290 Linton Blvd., #204
Delray Beach, FL
561-903-4945
Allenbydermatology.com BodySquad
Thebodysquad.com
A: Men typically prefer devices over fillers, and have found great success with Ultherapy, an FDA-approved, noninvasive treatment that uses ultrasound technology to lift and tighten loose skin on the face, the jowls and sagging skin on the neck. Male and female patients alike can choose the areas they wish to improve with this treatment.
s a Board-Certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, I have the ability and privilege to transform patients’ appearance with precision, symmetry and beauty,” says Dr. Kevin Mosca, who has garnered a respected reputation of excellence from Miami to Boca Raton, Delray Beach and worldwide. With meticulous expertise in a full range of cosmetic procedures, including his highly sought after “Mommy Makeover” procedure, Dr. Mosca provides patients with exquisite body transformations that resonate with their own unique vision of beauty and self-confidence, no matter their age. He has been sharing his artistic expertise with patients for more than nine years as a solo practitioner.
Q: What makes the Mommy Makeover so popular with your patients?
A: My patients travel from all over the world, because of the visibility and trust we’ve built through the @drbocaraton social media brand. This procedure is incredibly popular at our practice because of my personalized, patient-centered approach. Every procedure is carefully tailored—there’s no standard formula. Our patients come in expecting that level of detail and customization to match their body, lifestyle, and goals.
Q: Who is the typical Mommy Makeover patient?
A: Any woman in her 30s to 40s who is done having children or has lost a significant amount of weight and wants to rejuvenate her body, especially in their breasts and midsection, is a great candidate. Postpartum patients frequently experience abdominal diastasis, loose skin, or volume loss that can’t be improved through diet or exercise alone.
Q: What kind of breast implants do you find to be the safest?
A: The newest devices are silicone “gummy bear” gel implants that are so durable they won’t rupture no matter how vigorously you test them. There could be reasons to change them out over time depending on the patient’s size, weight, and age, but they could safely be considered a life-long implant.
An accomplished dental professional with prestigious training from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine and a master’s degree in public health, Dr. Martine Forrester Cadette specializes in general and preventive dentistry, restorative dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, oral surgery, obstructive sleep apnea and more.
With dedication and passion, her focus on achieving and maintaining a healthy, beautiful smile in conjunction with overall health and wellness for her patients is enhanced by her indepth knowledge and training in esthetic treatments to further complement the facial appearance. Creating a unique dental practice, Dr. Forrester Cadette and her team at Boca Dentique have elevated the standard into a true luxury dental experience with welcoming ambiance and the ultimate in pampered, professional care.
Q: How does your dental work correlate with facial esthetics?
A: I consider the face as a work of art in a picture frame, including the smile and teeth, the lips and the soft tissue. Most of my female patients want a more youthful appearance without looking like they’ve had work done. Dedicated dental care and esthetic treatments provide fantastic options and results.
Q: How does the Morpheus8 treatment work?
The Morpheus8 technology, combined with our signature Smile Lifts treatment, is a total-package, natural game changer featuring a non-invasive way to turn back the hands of time. It utilizes radiofrequency microneedling to stimulate collagen production, tighten the skin and smooth wrinkles so that patients look refreshed with a youthful glow without having surgery.
Q: How do you help people with sleep apnea?
A: Sleep apnea is a condition I treat by utilizing a custom precision small oral appliance designed to keep the airways open during sleep by repositioning the jaw and tongue. It is a simple, easy-to-use mouthpiece that is comfortable, non-invasive and helps patients to sleep better and reduce snoring—and, most importantly, to live longer, healthier lives.
Board-certified rheumatologist Dr. William Sunshine has spent the past 30 years dedicated to diagnosing and treating complex inflammatory diseases, guided by a deep commitment to helping others. His practice blends the personalized attention of a solo practitioner with the strength and resources of the American Arthritis & Rheumatology Associates (AARA), the largest rheumatology super-group in the nation. As a founding member and 10-year board member of AARA, Dr. Sunshine has helped shape clinical standards by developing effective treatment algorithms and delivering innovative care through a state-of-the-art infusion suite.
Q: What do you think sets you apart in your field?
A: Our office offers the personalized experience of a concierge practice—without the concierge price tag. My care philosophy is centered on building and nurturing a compassionate partnership with each patient. This means listening attentively, closely monitoring outcomes and ensuring that every patient is an active participant in their individualized treatment plan.
Q: What additional protection against COVID should immunocompromised patients consider?
A: In addition to the new vaccines now available, a newly FDA-approved IV medication has been specifically indicated to help prevent COVID in high-risk patients. We are proud to be among the first practices in the nation offering this treatment, administered in our on-site infusion suite.
Q: How has your specialty evolved over your 30 years in practice?
A: We now have a deeper understanding of how the immune system functions in each disease, enabling earlier, more precise diagnoses and targeted treatment with biologic agents. Our office also offers a comfortable outpatient alternative to hospital settings for patients needing infusion therapy for inflammatory conditions of the eyes, gut, and nervous system.
Dr. Hara Berger is double board-certified in endocrinology and internal medicine and has 15 years of experience treating a broad range of hormonal conditions, including reproductive endocrine disorders, thyroid disorders, and metabolic issues. Specializing in women’s hormonal health, she helps women navigate hormonal imbalances and educates physicians on menopause, polycystic ovarian syndrome and endocrine issues in pregnancy.
She is the founder of LiveWell Endocrinology, a boutique direct-care practice in Boca Raton that offers personalized care without the time pressures or limitations of traditional insurance-based models. Dr. Berger is known for her attentive listening, clear communication, and evidence-based approach that empowers patients to take control of their health and feel their best at every stage of life.
Q: How can you help patients experiencing bothersome symptoms in perimenopause and menopause?
A: I see patients daily suffering from symptoms relating to female hormone changes. Those include hot flashes, mood changes, sleep issues, and vaginal dryness. I offer hormone therapies—estrogen, progesterone, testosterone—as well as non-hormonal options like lifestyle changes, supplements, and symptom-relief medications. With a comprehensive approach, patients often experience significant improvements in quality of life and overall well-being.
Q: What type of thyroid conditions do you treat?
A: I specialize in treating a range of thyroid conditions, including hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, autoimmune thyroid conditions (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease), thyroid disorders in pregnancy, along with evaluation of thyroid nodules. My personalized approach ensures comprehensive care, focusing on accurate diagnosis, effective treatment plans including medications and supplements, and ongoing management to optimize thyroid health.
Q: What infertility treatments do you provide?
A: Many women experience infertility due to hormonal imbalances like irregular periods, ovulation issues, or thyroid dysfunction. I help evaluate and optimize hormone levels as a first step. Some patients go straight to IVF, but in many cases, that may be premature— restoring hormonal balance can often lead to natural conception.
With a Master’s and doctorate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University, Dr. Lori Fish brings both academic excellence and real-world experience to her clinical work. As the founder of Palm Beach Therapy Center, LLC. in Boca Raton, she leads a team dedicated to helping individuals, couples, and families find healing and promise for life’s challenging issues.
Her specialties include navigating life transitions, anxiety, depression, trauma recovery, grief, perinatal mental health as well as couples and marital therapy. With more than 12 years of experience and numerous certifications in areas such as Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, and EMDR, Dr. Fish tailors every treatment plan to the unique needs of her clients, offering practical, results-driven care in a supportive and warm environment.
Q: What challenges do couples face, and how do you approach their treatment?
A: I work with couples at all stages of life—from new parents adjusting after childbirth to older couples navigating retirement. My advanced training in perinatal mood disorders helps me support clients through postpartum challenges. Life transitions can affect identity, communication, and connection, and I provide a supportive space to help couples grow and strengthen their relationships through these changes.
Q: What makes your practice unique?
A: Our practice includes three other clinicians, including my sister. We work collaboratively, especially with couples, sometimes offering individual sessions alongside relational work. With client consent, we consult as a team to ensure thoughtful, tailored treatment plans. This integrative approach allows us to support each client or couple with the care and outcomes they’re truly seeking.
Q: How long do clients need to attend therapy?
A: Everyone moves at their own pace, and I deeply respect each client’s unique process. Many begin to see meaningful progress within just a few sessions, as we tailor our work to their individual needs and preferences. My training in evidence-based models and solution-focused brief therapy supports clients in achieving their goals with greater clarity, intention, and efficiency.
Dr. Marina Yuabova is a trusted expert in functional and holistic medicine, specializing in hormone balance, fertility, thyroid health, gut health and anti-aging. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice from SUNY Stony Brook and advanced training in both Naturopathic and Functional Medicine.
An author of three books on autoimmune disease, thyroid health and fertility (available on Amazon), Dr. Yuabova also educates health care practitioners in functional medicine. She has served as faculty at the City University of New York and is known for helping patients restore health naturally through her integrative approach.
Q: With your vast expertise, what services do patients most often seek in your practice?
A: Patients come to me seeking answers to complex health challenges. My approach focuses on identifying and addressing underlying causes that prevent optimal health. Through personalized care, functional lab testing and education, I guide each patient back to their natural state of balance and vitality.
Q: What treatments help women with fertility
A: I care for women from their mid-twenties to fifties experiencing hormonal challenges such as anovulation, PCOS, endometriosis or early perimenopause. By evaluating the entire endocrine system and overall body function, I uncover connections that traditional care often overlooks. Using comprehensive health analysis and advanced hormone testing, I design personalized functional treatment plans to restore balance, improve fertility and help women feel like themselves again.
Q: What concerns do male patients have?
A: Many men come to me feeling exhausted, experiencing low libido, low testosterone, poor sleep, digestive issues and weight gain. They’re often frustrated by being told “everything is normal.” Using a root-cause functional medicine approach, I restore their energy, hormonal health, cognitive clarity and fertility so they feel strong and confident again.
Paula Barbisan’s journey to becoming a dentist was sparked in childhood by her dentist in Brazil—whose compassionate care left a lasting impression and marked the beginning of her career. After dental school and a Ph.D. program in Brazil, she moved to the U.S. in 2015. She earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree at Harvard School of Dental Medicine and completed a hospital-based Orofacial Pain residency at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Barbisan is among a select group of dentists nationwide specializing in orofacial pain, the newest ADAaccredited specialty, and recently launched a specialized dental office focused on managing orofacial pain and sleep apnea.
Q: What is the correlation between dentistry and the conditions you treat?
A: While dental pain is the most frequent type of orofacial pain, various conditions can mimic tooth pain and lead to misdiagnosis. These include conditions like trigeminal neuralgia, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, headaches, myofascial pain, and other neuropathic pains. It’s crucial to differentiate between odontogenic (tooth-related) and non-odontogenic (not tooth-related) causes to ensure appropriate treatment and avoid unnecessary procedures.
Q: What conditions do you most commonly treat?
A: As a board-certified Orofacial Pain Specialist, I frequently see patients who struggle with chronic jaw pain (commonly known as TMJ or TMD) and report poor sleep quality. Many are surprised to learn they may also be living with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)—a condition in which the airway repeatedly collapses during sleep, reducing oxygen flow and disrupting rest.
Q: What are the implications of pain on patients’ lives?
A: Many patients come to us after seeing multiple providers without relief. Using in-house CBCT imaging, we offer personalized, non-invasive treatments—custom-fitted orthotics, laser therapy and botulinum toxin and trigger point injections— and collaborate on sleep apnea care with oral appliances and specialists, providing comprehensive solutions beyond what general dentistry typically offers.
When Dr. Rondi Walker submitted her CV for the position of medical director at As ō ka MedSpa, her training from Georgetown University School of Medicine and Yale University, and double board certification in Plastic Surgery and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery made an immediate impression, leading to a significant addition to their staff.
With a broad range of expertise spanning nearly three decades, from roles in a plastic surgery emergency room and covering hospital physicians at various hospitals to her own plastic surgery practice, Dr. Walker brings her medically based approach to longevity and aesthetic services to the helm at As ō ka MedSpa.
Q: Do you personally perform medical services at the spa?
A: Along with our nurse practitioner, I will perform laser procedures, injectables, fillers, structural fat grafting and oversee bioidentical hormone therapy, specifically the subcutaneous insertion of testosterone pellets. Bioidentical hormone therapy was integrated into my practice in Washington, D.C. Our highly skilled, licensed estheticians perform the facials, hydra facials, and recommend skin care regimens.
Q: What other services do you oversee?
A: As the medical director, I oversee everything that goes on in the spa to assure the safety and satisfaction of our clients. We not only offer esthetic services, we provide counseling for nutrition, sexual health, menopause, and weight loss.
Q: Why would clients come to Asōka MedSpa instead of their regular healthcare provider?
A: With the array of physician-led treatments we provide, people feel comfortable being pampered in a tranquil, soothing environment while receiving the affordable tools and treatments to enhance their appearance and confidence. We utilize only topical and local anesthesia for our minimally invasive cosmetic treatments and refer clients back to their own physicians for their comprehensive medical care.
Much has evolved in the orthodontic profession since the early days of shiny brackets and bands designed to correct the bite and straighten smiles. With prestigious dental training from Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine, where she earned an orthodontic specialty degree followed by a master’s degree, Dr. Svitlana Koval has become an internationally recognized expert in the treatment of sleep disordered breathing in children and adults worldwide and opinion leader for T-scan digital occlusal analysis applications in orthodontics. Providing the most sophisticated procedures and state-of-the-art technology, Dr. Koval is helping to make life-changing physical and aesthetic differences in the lives of her patients.
Q: What is the DTR treatment you offer in your practice?
A: DTR (Disclusion Time Reduction) treatment involves special equipment used for reducing the occluso-muscular component contributing to tension headaches, facial pain, trigeminal neuralgia and Meniere’s disease. I’ve been practicing this particular technique for 13 years and am a certified DTR provider in Florida.
Q: What are the benefits of MARPE? (Mini-screw Assisted Rapid Palatal Expander)
A: The unique MARPE orthodontic technique effectively addresses narrow upper airway and bone deficiency related to dental crowding; improves nasal airway function potentially reducing symptoms of sleep apnea and snoring and helps to improve facial symmetry and aesthetics.
Q: What is the correlation between sleep disorder breathing and children’s bed wetting?
A: Mouth breathing or snoring are evident signs of sleep disorder breathing where the airway is very congested. We see children bed wetting from an early age up to 12 years old. We have successfully resolved this issue with an approach that increases the airway passages and the body undergoes a chain reaction where the hormones normalize within the body and bed wetting reactions cease and correct.
As the founder and Medical Director of Concierge Medicine of Boca Raton, Dr. Caitlin Prickett takes a proactive, whole-body approach that centers on patient health, wellness, and longevity. She is a board-certified internal medicine physician whose practice is specifically designed with the individual needs of busy individuals and executives in mind. All physicians at the practice, including Dr. Jaron Schaumberg, share Dr. Prickett’s philosophy of personalized care.
Concierge Medicine of Boca Raton’s concierge level of service offers membership-based comprehensive, proactive, personalized healthcare in a calming environment, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Q: What is the difference between your concierge medicine model and conventional medicine?
A: At our practice, we go above and beyond the standard of care, resulting in a much more improved experience and personalized relationship. Our goal is to be advocates during a patient’s health journey and to optimize their health. We accomplish this with longer visits, same-day sick visits, and time with them as their primary care physicians.
Q: What are the innovative tests that you offer and why are they beneficial to patients?
A: We offer expanded labs, assessing more biomarkers than the typical practice, including micronutrient testing—assessing vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, which affect the way our body functions. Our cardiac scans use AI technology to assess plaque buildup in the arteries to uncover asymptomatic blockages. And, our whole-body MRIs are an excellent tool to look inside the body for cancers, aneurysms, etc. By intervening early, we can be more proactive with treatment.
After practicing dentistry for more than 30 years, Dr. Thomas Schopler continues to seek knowledge, just as he did as a student at the University of Maryland Dental School, where he earned his DDS degree. His training continued at prestigious institutions including Misch Implant Institute at the University of Pittsburgh and Harvard University, School of Dental Medicine.
From his 10 dental offices throughout Florida to his remaining location, Atlantic Florida Dental (AFD) in Dania Beach, Dr. Schopler has cared for thousands of smiles in his career. Now, with five dentists and more than 25 years of experience, they share their expertise in dental implants, crowns, bridges, repairs, full-mouth rehabilitation and restorative dentistry.
Q: What do you attribute to your loyal patient following all these years?
A: My thousands of loyal patients are willing to travel from afar to take advantage of my lifelong expertise, passion for my profession and the latest equipment that most dentists don’t have. I can not only provide one-day crowns, but also do a oneday bridge or full-mouth rehabilitation.
Q: How are your fees different from most dental practices?
A: We take pride in being able to serve most people’s dental needs by offering affordable in-house financing at 0% interest. Our fees are very, very reasonable, as we charge approximately 30 to 40% less than customary fees in the United States.
Q: Why do you still continue to work at such a steady pace after all these years?
A: I always make sure that I’m staying ahead of what’s happening with this dental explosion of technology. I even traveled in a snowstorm last year to take a course at Harvard again. There’s still so much to learn. I love what I do and the relationships I share with my patients. It’s all about helping people.
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF BOCA RATON
THE BOCA RATON • 6:30 PM
RESERVED TABLE OF 10 WITH SIGNAGE: $10,000 • GALA TICKETS: $495 PER PERSON
George Long Award: Town Center at Boca Raton, Sal Saldaña
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2025
Town Center at Boca Raton – 6000 Glades Road (North Entrance) Boca Raton Registration 8:00 a.m. | Walk 9:00 a.m. | Wrap-Up 11:00 a.m.
BENEFITING THE LOUIS AND ANNE GREEN MEMORY AND WELLNESS CENTER OF THE CHRISTINE E. LYNN COLLEGE OF NURSING AT FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY®
September 26, 2025 | 6:30 - 9:00 PM
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Bad Bunny toured with strings attached—four of them from right here in Boca Raton
Written by JOHN THOMASON
Auroras, as any astronomy buff knows, are nature’s pyrotechnics—the astonishing light displays, brought on by enhanced solar activity, that blanket our sky in Arctic and Antarctic climes. So it’s fitting that the Aurora String Quartet, founded at Lynn University, would be chosen to tour with one of the most stratospheric artists in modern music, one whose elaborate productions light up stadiums across the country with a similar grandiosity.
The most influential name in reggaeton music, Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny sought to bring a 24-piece philharmonic orchestra on his 2024 Most Wanted Tour. The Aurora String Quartet, formed in 2023 at Lynn’s famed conservatory, had been performing concerts for only about a year when one of its violinists, Ruvit Bracho Marquez, connected with Bad Bunny producer and orchestra director Carlitos Lopez. Soon enough, the quartet hit the road for 52 Bad Bunny dates last year in the U.S. and Canada. The tour would end up grossing $211 million— the seventh-biggest-selling tour of 2024.
Having come back down to Earth—and graduating from Lynn—the quartet, composed of Marquez, violinist Mable Lecrone, violist Rosa Ortega Iannelli and cellist Joel Osinga, sat down with Boca to discuss the extraordinary opportunity and how it has changed them.
What was it like playing in a packed stadium versus a more modest concert hall?
LECRONE: It was crazy. It was an experience we were not prepared for, literally and emotionally. You can’t comprehend how many people were in the stadiums. The average was 15,000 to 18,000. A lot of the shows were sold out. At some point it becomes unreal. Having never played for an audience that big and that loud, it took us a good month to feel comfortable playing in a situation where you can’t hear yourself, because it is so loud.
IANNELLI: It gave all of us an opportunity to grow as musicians. It was so … distracting’s not the word. But there are all these people, and they’re all yelling, and they’re all so excited. And there’s fog coming up from the stage, and there’s lights going off, and they’re setting off pyrotechnics. It was a sensory experience that could almost be overwhelming in a good way, like, wow, I can’t believe this is what I’m living right now.
Are you the kind of musicians to be rattled by nerves?
OSINGA: I find myself getting more nervous for more intimate performances where you can perceive your audience, and point them out one by one, versus being surrounded by thousands and thousands of people. You almost become desensitized to the huge degree.
What does it say about Bad Bunny as an artist that he’s integrating classical orchestras into his sound?
OSINGA: There is a certain element of grandeur that comes with an orchestra, and having us as general artists and collaborators, he’s picking and choosing the way that he uses our presence, both as musicians and for what we stand for.
IANNELLI: He liked the image and the sound of the orchestra so much that once we settled on which of the songs off the set list he wanted us to perform on during the concert, he also asked the conduc-
tor/composer to compose an overture for the whole show; it turned into three short overtures that opened the show. People would go crazy; some people had never seen an orchestra before, and were never exposed to it. And they loved it.
MARQUEZ: He wanted us onstage, but he also had us play in the crowd. He made the orchestra a part of the show. He wanted the action of performing; that adds more value to it.
Has this experience had a positive impact on you financially as well?
OSINGA: Being a college student, I was very dependent on my parents. My dad is over 70 and is still working full-time. But this tour gave me the opportunity to allow my parents to start working toward worrying about themselves. I have savings I never thought I would have. The ripples of that effect are still felt to this day.
MARQUEZ: I’m an immigrant, so I don’t have my parents here, so I’ve always had to work to support myself. It was the first semester I was able to not work for a living, because I had some savings. I could give more attention to my violin. I showed how much I could improve when I had the time.
How did the Lynn faculty, and working in such an important conservatory, make you better musicians?
LECRONE: Lynn really added to my experience in working with other people, and learning how to navigate professional relationships. You learn a lot about that when working with people in close proximity for an extended period of time. They really want to collaborate, so that’s a great thing about Lynn.
Now-Sept. 14:
“West Side Story” at Delray Beach Playhouse, 950 N.W. Ninth St., Delray Beach; various show times; $45; 561/2721281, delraybeachplayhouse. com. Rooting the story in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” composer Leonard Bernstein and lyricist Stephen Sondheim’s shattering musical about young lovers on opposite sides of a New York City gang war has lost none of its power, humor and empathy over its nearly 60 years of productions and adaptations.
Sept. 6:
Now-Sept. 28:
“The Art of Peace: Jizai Okimono” at Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens, 4000 Morikami Park Road, Delray Beach; $10-$16 museum admission; 561/495-0233, morikami.org. Translating as “articulated decorative objects,” the sculptures known as jizai okimono flourished in Japan’s peaceful mid-Edo period. These finely detailed creations typically focused on animal and insect life. “The Art of Peace” gathers 19 examples of the remarkably realistic art form.
Selwyn Birchwood at Arts Garage, 94 N.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach; 8 p.m.; $45-$50; 561/450-6357, artsgarage. org. Florida native Birchwood, a towering blues-rock presence with a cult following in his home state and beyond, returns in support of his sixth LP Exorcist , an apt name for his raucous, spirit-moving sound, which combines psych-rock, blues, funk and soul into a signature gumbo he calls “Electric Swamp Funkin’ Blues.”
Now-Sept. 28:
“Pop Culture” exhibition at Cornell Art Museum, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach; free (donations welcome); 561/6542220. This splashy exhibition showcases modern adherents of the Pop art style popularized by Andy Warhol and others. Among the participating artists is GWAK, whose celebrity “Army Men” sculptures riff on G.I. Joes; and Annina Rust, a technology-based artist whose playable works of art include a “Pac-Mom” game that explores gender inequity and food insecurity.
Sept. 13:
Pantera at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre, 601-7 Sansburys Way, West Palm Beach; 7 p.m.; $56 and up; 561/7958883, westpalmbeachamphitheatre.com. Billed as “the heaviest tour of the summer,” this outing continues Pantera’s comeback tour that began in 2023, with metal royalty and Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde and Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante filling in for the late Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul. Arrive early for Swedish death-metal veterans Amon Amarth.
Sept. 19:
Tom Segura at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; 7 and 9:30 p.m.; $68.43-$114.43; 561/8327469, kravis.org. Segura, a top-charting comedian with a loyal following and a gifted command of long-form comic narrative, is the co-host of the long-running podcast “Your Mom’s House” and has five Netflix specials to his credit. Segura also penned a book of comedic essays, 2022’s I’d Like to Play Alone, Please, and he created and starred in the 2025 Netflix series “Bad Thoughts.”
Now-Oct. 5:
“Artists’ Jewelry: From Cubism to Pop” at Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach; $10-$18 museum admission; 561/832-5196, norton. org. Diane Venet, one of the world’s foremost authorities on jewelry by major artists, guest-curates this exhibition culled from her collection, with its miniature masterpieces from the likes of Picasso, Koons, Calder, Man Ray and many more, which the Norton will pair with works in its collection from the same artists.
Now-Oct. 26:
“Glasstress” at Boca Raton Museum of Art, 501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; $12$16 museum admission; 561/392-2500, bocamuseum.org. “Glasstress” marks the latest in the museum’s ongoing collaboration with Berengo Studio in Murano, Italy, the international locus of blown-glass art. The 2025 iteration has proven to be another blockbuster show, with artists including Magdalena Campos-Pons, Sean Scully, Tony Cragg, Thomas Schutte and Chinese provocateur Ai Weiwei.
Michael Winslow at Boca Black Box, 8221 Glades Road, Suite 10; 8 p.m.; $43.50-$53; 561/483-9036, bocablackbox.com. Known as the “Man of 10,000 Voices,” Winslow honed his craft as a bored child in Spokane, Washington, in which he would imitate sounds of the natural world to pass the time. He took his talent to comedy clubs and eventually the movies, where his role in the seven “Police Academy” comedies would cement his celebrity status.
“Modern Love: The Artist Couple” at Boca Raton Museum of Art, 501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton; $12-$16 museum admission; 561/3922500, bocamuseum.org. Theresa Bernstein and William Meyerowitz married in 1919 and remained inseparable until Meyerowitz’s death in 1981. Affiliated with the Ashcan School of urban realism, they often focused their brushes on the working men and women of New York City and Massachusetts. “Modern Love” features more than 50 paintings and works on paper.
Sept. 20:
Brian Simpson at Funky Biscuit, 303 S.E. Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton; 6 and 9 p.m.; $44.40-$55.25; 561/3952929, funkybiscuit.com. Pianist Simpson has forged a three-decade career on the nexus of smooth jazz and R&B, touring with Janet Jackson, Michael Brecker and Dave Koz, and spending a pivotal 10 years touring with legendary keyboardist George Duke. His 11 releases as a solo artist include his most recent LP, 2023’s Soul Connection
Tim Meadows at Boca Black Box, 8221 Glades Road, Suite 10; 7 and 9 p.m.; $43.50$53.50; 561/483-9036, bocablackbox.com. Meadows was a staple on “Saturday Night Live,” with a residency on the sketch series from 1991 to 2000, on which he developed iconic characters such as the talk show host Leon Phelps (aka “The Ladies’ Man”). Since departing the short-format comedy world, Meadows has enjoyed a fruitful career on the big screen, but this appearance will find Meadows returning to his standup roots.
Sept. 26:
Eric Johanson at Arts Garage, 94 N.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach; 8 p.m.; $50$55; 561/450-6357, artsgarage.org. This accomplished guitarist from the American music capital of New Orleans comes from a lineage of musicians—his grandfather was a jazz clarinet player, his grandmother a pianist— which he continues through a raw but accessible blend of blues rock that acknowledges the style’s forbears while looking forward to a genre-fluid future.
Oct. 3:
Commodores at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; 7:30 p.m.; $44.85-$159.85; 561/832-7469, kravis.org. With founding member and multi-instrumentalist William King still leading and choreographing the band, the Grammy-winning Commodores will perform selections from their decades of eclectic and foundational funk and soul classics, from the ballads “Easy” and “Night Shift” to the roof-raising “Brick House.”
Oct. 3-19:
“The Little Shop of Horrors” at Lake Worth Playhouse, 713 Lake Ave., Lake Worth Beach; various show times; $40-$48; 561/586-6410, lakeworthplayhouse.org. Based on a 1960 B-movie by schlock maestro Roger Corman, “The Little Shop of Horrors” was adapted into this 1982 stage musical about a meek employee of a flower shop who discovers an unusual plant, names it after his unrequited beloved, and watches it grow … and grow … and grow, all the while feeding off—what else?—human blood and flesh.
Oct. 3-4:
Billy Gardell at Boca Black Box, 8221 Glades Road, Suite 10; 7 and 9 p.m.; $48.50-$68.50; 561/483-9036, bocablackbox. com. Best known for his work opposite Melissa McCarthy on the beloved sitcom “Mike & Molly,” Gardell has since portrayed Col. Tom Parker on CMT’s “Sun Records” and acted in “Young Sheldon” and Clint Eastwood’s “Jersey Boys” film. His observational standup style reflects his working-class roots, often addressing his complicated childhood and family life.
Phil Varca & the SlamJammers at Arts Garage, 94 N.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach; 7 p.m.; $50-$55; 561/450-6357, artsgarage.org. This Long Island trio, fronted by guitarist-vocalist Varca, has been plying its durable rockin’ blues trade for more than three decades, wearing its Jimi Hendrix/Stevie Ray Vaughan influences on its sleeve. Varca’s SlamJammers opened for rocker Robin Trower on his last tour and have shared stages with Buddy Guy, Joe Bonamassa and many others.
Oct. 18:
Jeff Scott Soto & Jason Bieler at Funky Biscuit, 303 S.E. Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton; 9 p.m.; $39.24-$50.09; 561/3952929, funkybiscuit.com. Described by the artists as a “rock ‘n’ roll comedy extravaganza,” this bespoke evening features music, storytelling and jokes from hard rock veterans Soto, who has performed with Journey and Trans-Siberian Orchestra; and Bieler, a guitarist for Saigon Kick. Expect deep cuts, fan favorites and surprises.
Oct. 21-26:
“The Wiz” at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; various show times; $TBA; 561/832-7469, kravis. org. “The Wiz,” a Tony winner for Best Musical in 1975, reimagined “The Wizard of Oz” through the lens of contemporary African-American culture, from its all-Black cast to its rousing songs blending soul, rock, gospel and funk. This latest Broadway tour features choreography from Beyoncé collaborator JaQuel Knight.
Oct. 24-Nov. 9:
“The Mountaintop” at Palm Beach Dramaworks, 201 Clematis St., West Palm Beach; various show times; $75-$115; 561/514-4042, palmbeachdramaworks.org. Playwright Katori Hall’s award-winning speculative fiction of 2009 imagines the final night of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life. It’s set in the Lorraine Motel on April 3, 1968—following the civil rights leader’s “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech—and wrestles with King’s legacy, “warts and all.”
11:
“The Café on Main” at Arts Garage, 94 N.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach; 2 and 8 p.m.; $40; 561/450-6357, artsgarage.org. Jeff Perlman, mayor of Delray Beach from 2003 to 2007, remains actively involved in the city’s commercial, nonprofit and civic sectors, while moonlighting as a writer. His play “The Café on Main,” directed in this production by Michelle Diaz, is inspired by the song “Moon River” and takes place in a Long Island café where love stories unspool at its prime table.
Oct. 15:
The Rock Orchestra By Candlelight at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; 8 p.m.; $43.70$129.95; 561/832-7469, kravis.org. Opposites attract in this singular marriage of disparate genres, as 14 classical musicians join rock instrumentalists for inspired interpretations of Metallica, Nirvana, Rage Against the Machine, AC/DC and more, supplemented by elaborate sets, costumes and lighting.
Oct. 25-April 6:
“Art and Life in Rembrandt’s Time: Masterpieces from the Leiden Collection” at Norton Museum of Art, 1450 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach; $10-$18 museum admission; 561/832-5196, norton.org. This exhibition, curated from one of the most prominent collections of 17th-century Dutch art worldwide, presents more than 70 works by 27 artists, including 17 pieces by Rembrandt van Rijn, as well as highlights from Johannes Vermeer, Carel Fabritius, Frans Hals and Jan Steen.
Oct. 16:
Coco Montoya at Funky Biscuit, 303 S.E. Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton; 7 p.m.; $50.09-$55.25; 561/3952929, funkybiscuit.com. This left-handed blues guitarist learned his craft under legends Albert Collins and John Mayall, performing with both before striking out on his own with 1995’s Gotta Mind to Travel. He has released 11 forceful but melodic albums since then, including 2017’s Writing on the Wall. Arrive early for opening act the Steepwater Band, veterans of Chicago blues-rock.
Oct. 26:
The Joe Cotton Band at Arts Garage, 94 N.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach; 7 p.m.; $30$35; 561/450-6357, artsgarage.org. “Joe Cotton” is the musical nom de plume of South Florida singer, songwriter and guitarist Steve Martel, whose original music echoes with the classic rock of a generation, from the Beatles to Neil Young to the Grateful Dead. Martel and his four-piece will perform selections from their 2020 release My Place and beyond.
Oct. 17:
Popa Chubby at Funky Biscuit, 303 S.E. Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton; 9 p.m.; $39.24-$50.09; 561/3952929, funkybiscuit.com. This renegade blues rocker cut his musical teeth in the New York City punk scene, emerging alongside artists like the Ramones and Richard Hell. Their anarchic sound continues to inspire his tempestuous, high-energy output as a solo artist whose oeuvre has been described as “The Stooges meets Buddy Guy.”
Oct. 26-Nov. 9:
“Misery” at Maltz Jupiter Theatre, 1001 E. Indiantown Road, Jupiter; various show times; $74 and up; 561/5322890, jupitertheatre.org. This theatrical adaptation of one of Stephen King’s most notorious novels arrives just in time for Halloween. Unlike its various other forms, playwright William Goldman’s stage version of “Misery” jettisons any scenes of the outside world, confining the action entirely to Annie Wilkes’ remote cabin—thereby enhancing the story’s inherent claustrophobia and amplifying its menace.
Oct. 29-30:
The Magnetic Fields at Kravis Center, 701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach; 7:30 p.m.; $68.43-$114.43; 561/832-7469, kravis.org. More than 25 years ago, this eclectic indie-pop quintet released 69 Love Songs, an epochal 3-CD box set in which its singer-songwriter, Stephin Merritt, penned love songs in myriad genres of music, from neoclassical to synthpop, punk, jazz and country. On this anniversary tour, Merritt & Co. will perform the entire 69-song suite over two nights.
ceviche
Written by CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT
he Michelin Guide’s expansion into the Palm Beaches was an impressive nod to our dining scene, but fortunately, we’ve had incredibly talented chefs in our backyard for ages. One of those is Michael Mina, who opened the Aventura outpost of his now-famous Bourbon Steak in 2007, and since then, his empire has grown to include more than 30 restaurants, a Michelin star, and countless additional accolades. Earlier this year, Mina debuted his second Bourbon Steak in Florida inside The Seagate in Delray Beach.
sommelier appeared with the menu. After we placed our order, Mina’s signature duck fat fries arrived with three dipping sauces. I couldn’t stop dipping the crispy slivers into the barbecue sauce.
IF YOU GO
PARKING: Valet
HOURS: Sunday – Thursday
5 – 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 5 – 10 p.m.
PRICES: $17 – $135
WEBSITE: bourbonsteakdelray.com
I have dined at Bourbon Steak Miami several times, so I hoped the brand’s top-notch service, attention to detail, swanky interiors and, of course, signature dishes would take center stage in Delray as well. Thankfully, they did.
This location’s design is more relaxed, but so is Delray when compared to Miami. Where Miami’s is sultry and sexy, Delray’s is bright with a coastal sophistication.
We asked to see a wine bottle list, and within seconds, a jovial
We started with another of Mina’s specialties, the tuna tartare ($32). Ruby red fish is folded into a quail egg, pine nuts, mint and Asian pear tableside and topped with habanero-sesame oil for a hint of heat. There were also two herbs I couldn’t pinpoint. I played a fun guessing game with our server, who was also curious. Mystery solved: tarragon and chervil, which gave the dish whisps of anise I loved. Details, like the waiter’s willingness to play along and then inquire for me, made this dinner memorable. His service was impeccable: Glasses were always full, and sharing utensils came with dishes. My only note for the tartare was that I wished for an elevated version of the white sandwich bread that came with it.
We also ordered the mahi mahi ceviche ($21) and bacon-wrapped scallops ($29). I was enamored
by how crispy the bacon was but how moist and tender the scallops were, so our server again queried the kitchen staff. The ceviche, added to Delray’s menu by executive chef Pablo Valencia, showcases his Colombian heritage with a smoky corn espuma and plantain chips. I loved it, but if someone is loyal to a traditional, citrus-forward ceviche, this may be a miss.
Bourbon Steak sources only the best meat, including USDA prime hormone-free beef and Japanese Wagyu. We ordered the Senku Farms skirt steak ($52) and a side of mac and cheese ($17). The meat was perfectly cooked, tender and juicy. The side was a four-cheese blend topped with black truffle shavings. What else could I ask for in a steakhouse? Oh yes, dessert. The beignets ($24) nearly put us in a food coma with their three dipping custards.
On my next visit, I can’t wait to try more signature dishes, like the whimsical caviar Twinkie. Until then, I’ll be dreaming about the scallops and how to re-create them at home.
Clockwise: Mushroom hummus, Moroccan fish, and lamb shawarma
5377 Town Center Road, Boca Raton; 561/922-3319
Written by CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT
As we approach Motek, a crowd surrounds the hostess, dwarfing her stand. I’m stunned because it’s an out-of-season weekday, and yet, while still relatively new, Motek is slammed. Located in Midtown Boca’s Restaurant Row, the Mediterranean concept took over the former Fiolina Pasta House space, swapping out dolce vita vibes and crimson umbrellas for its signature vibrant yellows, lush greenery and warm contemporary design.
The family-owned restaurant has celebrated a significant expansion since opening its first location in 2020. Motek Boca is its seventh location in South Florida and first in Palm Beach County. Known for its Mediterranean and Israeli-inspired menu, its dishes tell the family’s story by bringing its native Tel Avivian flavors stateside.
PARKING: Parking lot
HOURS: Mon. – Thurs., 11
a.m. – 10 p.m.; Fri., 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
PRICES: Entrées $11.95 –$28.95
WEBSITE: motekcafe.com/ boca-raton
We started with mushroom hummus ($17) and labneh za’atar ($13). Both were great portions to share and were excellent overall, with the labneh taking first prize in my book for its simple but rich thickness. The hummus is topped with whole mushrooms, pine nuts and a small spoonful of s’chug, a Middle Eastern condiment usually made of blended garlic, chiles, parsley, cilantro and other spices like cumin and coriander. It gave the dish a little bit of heat. It’s very creamy; I love chunkier hummus, but that’s my texture preference.
My dinner guest loves cooking but was unfamiliar with Israeli cuisine. Dishes did include many new flavors for her, like the s’chug, za’atar, sumac and
even the labneh. Unfortunately, our server wasn’t as knowledgeable about the dishes to facilitate a seamless, enjoyable journey into Israeli cuisine as I’d hoped. The hummus comes with warm, toasty bread that he called pita, but it seemed more like laffa, a thicker and chewier version. Nonetheless, we slathered both the hummus and ultra-creamy labneh all over it with big smiles on our faces.
We also ordered the lamb shawarma ($38) and Moroccan fish ($39). I would return just for the lamb. It was perfectly cooked, seasoned and presented. Tender, thin pieces of lamb are served on pita and drizzled with tahini. They’re topped with pickled onions, and I loved that combination of flavors. The flaky sea bass is served with sesame seed challah, which I happily used to sop up the flavorful, spicy tomato and chickpea sauce. Unfortunately, we had to wait for serving spoons, and after each course, several dirty dishes were left on the table, so we placed them on a nearby credenza.
The space is stunning, the ambiance is lively, and the dishes deliver, so you’re sure to have a fun night out. Connecting through food is undeniable, regardless of where you’re from. Food is a way of expressing love and bringing people together. I hope my experience with our unprepared waiter was an isolated incident, because Motek has an opportunity to invite guests into the Israeli culture through its vibrant cuisine.
388 Italian Restaurant By Mr. Sal —3360 N. Federal Highway. Italian. This family-owned outpost of its Long Island flagship prides itself on nostalgic, quintessential dishes. Pastas like alla vodka, marinara and spicy rigatoni share the menu with chicken and veal entrees in beloved preparations like masala, Milanese and parmigiana. Choose from half or whole portions to share with the table. It’s also known for its lively ambiance, so come here for an Italian feast but stay for the party. Dinner nightly. 561/794-3888. $$$
Abe & Louie’s —2200 Glades Road. Steakhouse. All Americans are endowed with certain inalienable rights, among them the right to a thick, juicy, perfectly cooked steak. At this posh, comfortable (and expensive) meatery, the USDA Prime steaks are indeed thick, juicy and perfectly cooked, also massively flavorful and served in enormous portions. Don’t miss the New York sirloin or prime rib, paired in classic steakhouse fashion with buttery hash browns and uber-creamy creamed spinach. Chased with an ice-cold martini or glass of red wine from the truly impressive list, it’s happiness pursued and captured. • Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner nightly. Brunch on Sat. and Sun. 561/447-0024. $$$$
AlleyCat—297 E.Palmetto Park Road. Japanese. Chef Eric Baker’s Japanese izakaya, or a casual spot for drinks and bites, is serving up dishes like sushi, dumplings and fried rice that have an unexpected whimsical element. Here you’ll find king crab tacos and hot fried chicken alongside the hamachi ponzu and spicy scallop roll. And to deliver the freshest sushi in town, he has partnered with celebrated sushi chef David Bouhadana of Sushi by Bou. • Dinner Tues.-Sat. 561/353-5888. $$
$: Under $17
$$: $18–$35
$$$: $36–$50
$$$$: $50 and up
Arturo’s Restaurant—6750 N. Federal Highway. Italian. After 40 years of feeding our Boca community, the Gismondi family is still going to great lengths to take care of its patrons, who, over the years, have become honorary family members themselves. Arturo’s brings generations of diners together with its warm ambiance, classic and consistent Italian fare, and its award-winning 1,000+-bottle wine cellar. • Lunch and dinner Tues.-Fri., dinner Sat.-Sun. 561/997-7373. $$$
Basilic Vietnamese Grill —200 S. Federal Highway. Vietnamese. This popular restaurant offers satisfying food and reasonable prices. Plus, there’s bubble tea. Opened in 2014, it has a wide range of Vietnamese favorites, such as cha
gio tom heo, fried shrimp and pork Imperial rolls, all kinds of pho, noodle bowls, chicken curry and more. • Lunch and dinner six days a week; closed Tuesdays. 561/409-4964. $$
Bluefin Sushi and Thai—861 N.W. 51st St., Suite 1. Sushi/Thai. Arrive early for a table at this Asian hot spot—it’s popular with no reservations for parties fewer than six. Don’t skip the tempura lobster bomb, big in both size and taste. The ginger snapper will impress both Instagram and your stomach. Try the chicken satay and pad Thai. Bluefin offers a variety of dishes from multiple cultures, all well done. • Dinner daily. Lunch Mon.-Fri. 561/981-8869. $$
Burtons Grill & Bar —5580 N. Military Trail. New American. Known for its reliable food as well as its non-gluten, Paleo and “B Choosy” kids menu, the first Florida location for this restaurant is deservedly crowded, so make reservations. Don’t miss the General Tso’s cauliflower, the pan-seared salmon (Paleo), the crab cakes or the Key lime pie. Popular half-portions are available, too. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/465-2036. $
The Capital Grille —6000 Glades Road. Steaks. This is one of more than three dozen restaurants in a national chain, but the Boca Grille treats you like a regular at your neighborhood restaurant. Steaks, dry-aged if not Prime, are flavorful and cooked with precision, while starters from the pan-fried calamari to the restaurant’s signature spin on the Cobb salad (lunch only) are nicely done too. Parmesan truffle fries are crispy sticks of potato heaven; chocolate-espresso cake a study in shameless, and luscious, decadence. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/368-1077. $$$
Casa D’Angelo —171 E. Palmetto Park Road. Italian. Chef Rickie Piper, who has mastered the menu and cuisine of this fine-dining staple for more than a decade, knows when to say when with both plating and ingredients. His dishes, including the sides and accompaniments, are visually appetizing and aromatic. A grilled veal chop easily 3 inches thick proved tender and juicy, and the wild mushrooms served alongside in a marsala added earthiness. • Dinner nightly. 561/996-1234. $$$
Casimir French Bistro—416 Via De Palmas, Suite 81. French. Take a trip overseas without leaving the city and enjoy excellently prepared traditional French dishes, such as duck l’orange or beef bourguignon, or go with Cajun chicken and veal Milanese. The comfortable dining room is a Parisian experience, as is the apple tarte tatin. This is a local favorite, and may we add they have what is as close to real French bread as anyplace in Boca?
• Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. 561/955-6001. $$$
Chez Marie French Bistro —5030 Champion Blvd. French. Marie will greet you at the door of this nicely decorated, intimate, classic French restaurant tucked in the corner of a strip shopping area. This feels like an intimate neighborhood bistro and is a welcome discovery. From escargot encased in garlic butter, parsley and breadcrumbs to a tender duck a l’orange to an unforgettable crepe Suzette, you’ll be in Paris all evening. Voila! Also on the menu: pan-seared foie gras, tasty onion soup, coq au vin, rack of lamb, salads and more desserts. French food in an unassuming atmosphere.• Dinner Mon.-Sat. (closed on Mon. in summer) 561/997-0027. $$
Chops Lobster Bar —101 Plaza Real S., Royal Palm Place. Steak, seafood. There is nothing like a classic chophouse every now and then for a special dinner. At this upscale downtown restaurant, steaks are aged USDA Prime— tender, flavorful and perfectly cooked under a 1,700-degree broiler. There’s all manner of fish and shellfish, but you’re here for the lobster, whether giant Nova Scotian tails flash-fried and served with drawn butter or sizable Maine specimens stuffed with lobster. Let’s face it: Trendy menus come and go, but a great steakhouse is a win-win on all occasions. • Dinner nightly. 561/395-2675. $$$$
Corvina Seafood Grill —110 Plaza Real S, Boca Raton. Seafood. The seafood-centric menu incorporates South Florida’s varied Latin and Caribbean culinary influences into it. Peruvian and Honduran ceviches share the menu with Brazilian fish stew. You’ll also find plantain crusted corvina in a Creole curry sauce alongside Jamaican jerk chicken and island spiced pork ribs. With a focus on sourcing local ingredients, the menu spotlights several daily specials so look out for those. Then there’s the indoor/outdoor bar that invites you to come in and stay a while, especially during its daily happy hour. • Dinner & Sunday Brunch. 561/206-0066. $$
CVI.CHE 105 —6000 Glades Road. Peruvian. Classic Peruvian ceviches share the menu with contemporary takes. Chef Juan Chipoco flexes his skills and imagination in both the kitchen and the whimsical space’s design. The menu features tiraditos, causas, sushi rolls and entrées like the lomo saltado and aji de gallina. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/221-0940. $$
Dorsia —5837 N. Federal Highway. Continental. The simple pleasures of the table—good food, personable service, comfortable ambience—are what this modestly stylish restaurant is all about. The menu has a strong Italian bent, evidenced by dishes like a trio of fried zucchini blossoms stuffed with an airy three-cheese mousse, and a cookbook-perfect rendition of veal scaloppine lavished with artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes and a tangy lemon-white wine sauce. • Dinner nightly. 561/961-4156. $$
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood —201 Plaza Real. Steak & Seafood. Eddie V’s is famous for its seafood and premium steaks, but this restaurant has also perfected the art of entertaining with nightly live music and a few tableside surprises. • Dinner nightly. 561/237-0067. $$$$
Farmer’s Table —1901 N. Military Trail. American. In the pantheon of healthy dining, Farmer’s Table is a standout in Boca, one of the first restaurants to elevate natural foods to fine dining. Fresh, natural, sustainable, organic and local is the mantra at this both tasty and health-conscious offering from Mitchell Robbins and Joey Giannuzzi. Menu highlights include flatbreads, slow-braised USDA Choice short rib and the popular Ramen Bowl, with veggies, ramen noodles and shrimp. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/417-5836. $$
For an affordable bite at any time, consider these durable chains and homegrown Boca favorites— where the attire is understated and reservations are rarely necessary.
Biergarten—309 Via De Palmas, #90. German/Pub. Part vaguely German beer garden, part all-American sports bar, this rustic eatery offers menus that channel both, as well as an excellent selection of two-dozen beers on tap and the same number by the bottle. The food is basic and designed to go well with suds, like the giant pretzel with a trio of dipping sauces and the popular “Biergarten burger.” • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/395-7462. $$
Cuban Café —3350 N.W. Boca Raton Blvd., Suite B-30. Cuban. One thing Boca needs more of is coffee windows—and real Cuban restaurants. Part of the charm of South Florida is its melting pot of Latin cultures, and Cuba is the granddaddy of them all. Which is undoubtedly why diners pack this traditional Cuban restaurant for lunch specials that start at $10.95, including slow-roasted pork served with white rice and black beans. Other highlights include the Cuban sandwich, the media noche and (on the dinner menu only) lechón asado. Full bar. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/750-8860. $
Los Olivos Bistro —5030 Champion Blvd. Argentine. The family-owned bistro’s menu honors familial Argentine roots with typical crave-worthy dishes like empanadas and plenty of red meat. Still, it also honors the cuisine’s Spanish and Italian influences with its standout paellas and housemade pasta. • Lunch and dinner Mon.Sat. 561/756-8928. $
Rocco’s Tacos —224 Clematis St. Mexican. Big Time Restaurant Group has crafted a handsome spot that dishes Mexican favorites, as well as upscale variations on the theme and more than 425 tequilas. Tacos feature housemade tortillas and a variety of proteins. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/650-1001. (Other Palm Beach County locations: 5250 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton, 561/416-2131; 110 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 561/808-1100; 5090 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens, 561/623-0127) $
The Sandwich Shop at Buccan—350 S. County Road, Palm Beach and 1901 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach. Takeout stop. Like big sister Buccan Italian restaurant, the Sandwich Shop is full of flavor and builds your favorite sandwich with just a touch of delicious creativity you won’t find elsewhere. Owned by celeb chef Clay Conley and partners, the menu has hot or cold sandwiches, salads, sides and drinks (both alcoholic and non). Good-sized portions mean the Italian and prosciutto subs include leftovers if you have some willpower.• Lunch daily. 561/833-6295. $$
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. $
Tropical Smokehouse —3815 S. Dixie Highway. Barbecue. When you take the distinct tastes of Florida/Caribbean/Cuban dishes and pair them with barbecue, you end up with a place you visit a lot. Local celeb chef Rick Mace smokes the meats himself, and his recipes include all kinds of citrus in tasty spots (sour orange wings, pineapple carrot cake); you’ll discover new favorite flavors. Don’t miss the BBQ pulled pork, brisket and ribs. Try the hot and sweet hushpuppies or the homemade chorizo queso in this very casual spot that we can happily say is also unique—there’s nothing else like it. • Lunch and dinner Tues.-Sun. 561/323-2573. $$
Gary Rack’s Farmhouse Kitchen —399
S.E. Mizner Blvd. American. Natural, seasonal, sustainable. You’ll enjoy the varied menu, and won’t believe it’s made without butters or creams. Try the too-good-to-be-true buffalo-style
cauliflower appetizer, the seared salmon or buffalo burger, and have apple skillet for dessert. Healthy never tasted so good. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/826-2625. $$
The French Gazebo —4199 N. Federal Highway. French. Formerly Kathy’s Gazebo, this space has been a staple in our community for 40 years, but its new owners updated the design while keeping the same French classics on the menu like escargots, crêpes, dover sole and duckling. Its vintage character still reigns but now with an airier, contemporary undertone. Dinner Mon.-Sat. 561/395-6033. • $$$
Gallaghers Steakhouse —2006 N.W. Executive Center Circle. Steakhouse. At this chophouse, the staff is laser-focused on service, the bar pours stiff drinks, and the kitchen dishes out perfectly cooked steaks—a pure embodiment of what you’d expect from a steakhouse. While Gallaghers proved itself a master of its craft, don’t overlook the other items on the menu, like the stuffed shrimp and veal chop. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/559-5800. $$$$
The Grille On Congress —5101 Congress Ave. American. Dishes at this longtime favorite range from tasty chicken entrees and main-plate salads to seafood options like Asian-glazed salmon or pan-seared yellowtail snapper. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/912-9800. $$
Houston’s —1900 N.W. Executive Center Circle. Contemporary American. Convenient location, stylish ambience and impeccable service are hallmarks of this local outpost of the Hillstone restaurant chain. There are plenty of reasons why this is one of the most popular business lunch spots in all of Boca, including menu items like Cajun trout, the mammoth salad offerings and the tasty baby back ribs. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/998-0550. $$$
Il Mulino New York Boca Raton —451 E. Palmetto Park Road. Italian. From the four pre-menu bites to the after-dinner coffee from freshly ground beans, this is a white-tablecloth venue that delivers on its upscale promises. Try the langostino, the red snapper, the risotto, the pasta, or go for the ceviches, caviars and seafood tower. Save room for dessert and complimentary lemoncello. Make a night of it. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/338-8606. $$$
Josephine’s —5751 N. Federal Highway. Italian. Tradition trumps trendy, and comfort outweighs chic at this Boca favorite. The ambience is quiet and stately but not stuffy, and the menu is full of hearty dishes to soothe the savage appetite, like three-cheese eggplant rollatini and chicken scarpariello. • Dinner nightly. 561/988-0668. $$
maple mustard glaze, toasted macadamia nut pesto and piccata twists. A consistent crowd for a consistent menu. • Dinner nightly. 561/995-5044. $$$
Kousine Peruvian Asian—1668 N. Federal Highway. Peruvian/Asian. Chef and owner Danny Kou shares his Peruvian heritage with a curated menu of dishes that accurately represent his country’s famous ceviche while introducing patrons to unique dishes that are just as tempting. Kousine’s space is bright and modern, with exposed industrial ceilings complemented with warm woods and greenery. Lunch and dinner daily. 561/430-3337. $$
La Condesa —3320 Airport Road. Mexican. Mexico’s bold, colorful and lively culture is reflected in its cuisine, and it’s evident at La Condesa. This family-owned restaurant’s take on Mexican fare offers a sizable menu with a wide selection of popular drinks and dishes like margaritas, nachos, street tacos and burritos. You can also opt for less mainstream dishes like the mole cazuelitas, and you won’t be disappointed. Lunch and dinner daily. 561/931-4008. $
La Nouvelle Maison—55 E. Palmetto Park Road. French. A dining experience at a French restaurant is never just about satiating your hunger. It’s about the entire experience, and La Nouvelle Maison embraces that joie de vivre from the moment you step inside. Whether you delight in the garlic-infused escargots, steak tartare or beef Bourgogne, none of the classic French dishes disappoint here.• Dinner nightly. 561/338-3003. $$$$
La Terraza Tapas & Bar —21170 St. Andrews Blvd. Spanish. La Terraza Tapas & Bar instantly transports you to Spain. Its brick barrel ceiling, moody lighting, crimson walls and wooden furniture create a charming, rustic aesthetic reminiscent of a Spanish taverna. Start with the Tabla Terraza charcuterie board before enjoying a few warm tapas, like the croquetas de jamon, camarones ajillo and octopus. • Lunch and dinner Wed.Sun., dinner Mon.-Tues. 561/576-3040. $$
La Villetta —4351 N. Federal Highway. Italian. This is a well-edited version of a traditional Italian menu, complete with homemade pastas and other classic dishes. Try the signature whole yellowtail snapper encrusted in sea salt; it’s de-boned right at tableside. Shrimp diavolo is perfectly scrumptious. • Dinner nightly. (closed Mon. during summer). 561/362-8403. $$$
Michelin Powered Kasumi’s James Beard Award-winning chef, Takashi Yagihashi, received a Michelin star and appeared on both “Iron Chef” and “Top Chef.”
Kapow Noodle Bar —402 Plaza Real. Asian. Kapow delivers an effervescent ambiance that makes you want to relax and stay a while. Its varied menu has something for every craving, from crispy rice and tacos to rolls and even Peking duck. Up your dinner game by reserving a seat at the separate omakase bar serving chef-curated bites that aren’t on the regular menu. And if you’re looking for a memorable night out, book one of the three karaoke rooms.• Lunch and dinner daily. 561/567-8828. $
Kasumi —999 E. Camino Real. Japanese. As the Waterstone Resort & Marina’s second waterfront restaurant, this modern Japanese eatery delivers an elevated level of cuisine. Its shareable menu features sushi rolls, nigiri, sashimi and a variety of larger entrées. • Dinner nightly. 561/226-3033. $$$
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 housemade apple crisp. Your traditional choices are baked, fried, breaded, grilled, broiled, sauteed. With Provencal, Francaise,
Loch Bar —346 Plaza Real. Seafood. This sister restaurant to Ouzo Bay includes fried oysters, moules frites and Maryland crab cakes. The bar offers literally hundreds of whiskeys, a noisy happy hour crowd and live music most nights. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/939-6600. $$
Louie Bossi’s —100 E. Palmetto Park Road. Italian. This jumping joint serves terrific Neapolitan pizza (thin crust), but don’t miss the other entrées. Start with a charcuterie/ cheese plate and grab the amazing breadsticks. All breads and pastas are made on the premises. Other faves include the carbonara and the calamari, and save room for house-made gelato. Unusual features: Try the bocce ball court included with the retro Italian décor. • Lunch and dinner daily, weekend brunch. 561/336-6699. $$$
Luff’s Fish House—390 E. Palmetto Park Road. Seafood. A renovated 1920s bungalow houses this shipshape restaurant, in addition to two large, outdoor deck and patio areas. It’s known for familiar dish names with new tweaks: smoked fish-hummus dip, falafel fish fritters, crab guacamole, mussels in coconut curry broth, plus the paella on Sundays only. Don’t leave without the enormous slice of the Key lime pie, topped with meringue on a graham cracker crust. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/609-2660. $$
Maggiano’s —21090 St. Andrews Blvd. Italian. Do as the Italians do, and order family-style: Sit back and watch the endless amounts of gorgeous foods grace your table. In this manner, you receive two appetizers, a salad, two pastas, two entrées and two desserts. The menu also includes lighter takes on staples like chicken parm, fettuccine alfredo and chicken piccata. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/361-8244. $$
Mario’s Osteria —1400 Glades Road, Suite 210. Italian. This popular spot features rustic Italian fare in a sleek environment. Signature dishes like the garlic rolls, lasagna and eggplant “pancakes” are on the new menu, as are butternut squash ravioli and thick, juicy rib-eye served “arrabiata” style. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/239-7000. $$
Matteo’s —233 S. Federal Highway, Suite 108. Italian. Hearty Italian and Italian-American food, served in giant “family style” portions, needs no reinventing. Though there is no shortage of local restaurants cooking in that genre, it’s the details of preparation and service that make Matteo’s stand out. Baked clams are a good place to start, as is the reliable chopped salad. Linguini frutti di mare is one of the best in town. • Dinner nightly. 561/392-0773. $$$
Max’s Grille —404 Plaza Real. Contemporary American Since 1991, this modern American bistro in Mizner Park has been 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. $$
Meat Market — 2000 NW 19th St. Steakhouse. Meat Market has infused Midtown Boca Raton with glamour. Its posh interiors and high energy complement its diverse menu that revolves around steak but is also sprinkled with daily specials and sushi that shouldn’t be overlooked. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/245-6777. $$$$
Medi Terra —301 Via de Palmas #99. Mediterranean. Embracing western Mediterranean cuisine, the menu is seasonal and revolves around what the owners can freshly source, so make sure to wait for the specials before making any final decisions. The father-son duo bought Ristorante Sapori in Royal Palm Place and redesigned it to reflect their passion for Mediterranean cuisine. Dinner Mon.-Sat. 561/367-9779. $$
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. $$$$
Narbona —5250 Town Center Circle. Uruguayan. This restaurant-market hybrid offers house-made pasta, private-label herbs and honey, fresh fish and meats, grab-and-go prepared items, and countless Narbona Wine Lodge wines. You can also opt for a sit-down lunch or dinner at its central restaurant or at one of its two bars. The menu, with Italian and Spanish influences, features its pasta alongside a selection of meat and fish dishes. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/692-3933. $$
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,
With dessert season soon to be in full swing, we salute our homegrown bakeries
Written by CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT
Although it may be nearly trick-or-treating season, Halloween shouldn’t have all the fun. These local bakeries are creating decadent pastries and desserts for you to enjoy all year round.
Damn Good Hospitality continues to expand its empire, swapping cocktails for cookies. The group behind bars like Stache Drinking Den and Backyard Fort Lauderdale opened its first bakery two years ago, steps away from its other concept, Warren Delray.
Executive Pastry Chef Julian Belon runs the whimsical shop, where treats sometimes aren’t exactly what they seem, and bigger is always better. A former pastry chef at several luxury hotel chains and Miami culinary institutions like Nikki Beach and Barton G, Belon has always had a talent for creating with his hands.“I gravitated toward baking and pastry because of the limitless opportunities to be artistic and innovative,” he explains.“It’s where I truly found my passion.”
The shop features a variety of ice cream, cookies and macarons, but his signature creation is The Pear. It’s a petite mousse that looks exactly like the fruit until it’s cut open to reveal the mousse made with pear liqueur, pear compote and olive oil cake. He’s also known for the petite gâteaux, which are equally beautiful from the outside as they are inside. The treats come in a variety of flavors including Biscoff, Key lime, coconut and chocolate. For Belon, he always finds himself grabbing a chocolate chip cookie or a warm brown butter cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. damngoodsweets.com
Bülent and Dilge Kiymir’s last few years have been a whirlwind. At the end of 2023, they left their native Turkey for Boca Raton without ever having visited our city, and the following February, they opened their
French patisserie and café steps north of Royal Palm Place.
Dilge is the mastermind behind the swoon-worthy pastries, croissants, sandwiches and quiches displayed in the illuminated glass cases. Bülent praises his wife, an imaginative baker laser-focused on quality, and describes himself as merely the barista who supports her in the shop. While he may prepare a killer cup of Julius Meinl coffee, Bülent is more than just a barkeep. He’s a retired hospital administrator and Dilge is a former publicist, but in Boca, they’ve transformed into confection cognoscenti.
At Tartelette, everything is made in-house with first-rate ingredients like Belgian chocolate and Turkish pistachios. Bestsellers include fruit art, triple chocolate mousse cake and pavlova. Dilge, who isn’t a classically trained chef, has taken the passion for baking that her grandmother instilled and refined. They recently introduced high tea service. Plus, this isn’t her first bakery; she opened one of the first French bakeries in Istanbul years ago.
“Everything at this store is French except us,” Bülent chuckles. They have more than 20 types of pastries and will debut another 20 products for the fall.“We would love to be known as a French brand born in Boca but incubated in Turkey.” tartelettepatisserie.com
This American Dream success story begins with love. Antonio and Gelasia Cao met at a bakery in Cuba, where she worked as a bookkeeper and he as a baker. They moved to Miami for a better life, saved their money, and bought a bakery in Hialeah. When it burned down, they didn’t give up. They purchased an established wholesale bakery named Vicky Bakery; one of their granddaughters was even named Victoria in honor of the bakery that helped the Caos achieve their American Dream. Today, the family-owned brand, operated by the Caos’ four children, has 26 locations, including Boca Raton. The now-retired couple still inspects a box of pastries delivered to their home weekly to ensure the quality meets their standards.
Known for its flaky pastelitos and coffee, Vicky Bakery is recognized in the community as more than just a shop. Its family values of warm hospitality and high-quality standards are embedded in every level of the company, from the board to the employees, explains Samantha Sanchez, the company’s marketing manager. The family hasn’t changed the recipes since 1972, and while its guava pastelitos are hands-down Vicky Bakery’s superstars, its ham croquettes are not far behind.
This fall, a limited-time pumpkin y queso pastelito, filled with cream cheese and pumpkin, will be the perfect addition to pumpkin spice latte season. vickybakery.com
but don’t neglect the New York strip or steak-house classics like oysters Rockefeller, garlicky spinach and crusty hash browns. • Dinner nightly. 561/998-3881. $$$$
Patio Tapas & Beer —205 S.E. First Ave. Spanish. Be transported to the Iberian Peninsula with a variety of tapas Chef Bryant Fajardo, who trained under celebrated chef José Andrés, specializes in one of Spain’s most traditional and iconic cuisines and delivers both classic selections like Manchego cheese and anchovies alongside premium nibbles like seared duck and foie gras. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/419-7239. $
Penelope —431 Plaza Real. Southern. Penelope honors a blend of cuisines and delivers comforting fare in a whimsy atmosphere. Its menu features a variety of New Orleans, southern and French-inspired dishes such as pimento cheese dip, oyster casino, shrimp po’boy and bouillabaisse. It also offers several well-labeled gluten-free dishes (or those with a GF alternative). Lunch and dinner daily. • 561/896-1038. $$
Prezzo —5560 N. Military Trail. Italian. A reincarnation of a popular 1990s Boca venue, this version has updated the dining room, kept the yummy oven-baked focaccia bread slices, and added a 21st-century taste to the menu. Don’t miss the tender bone-in pork chop, thin-crust pizza and seafood specials. Vegetarian and gluten-free choices are on the menu, too. • Lunch Mon.-Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/314-6840. $$
Rafina —6877 S.W. 18th St. Greek. If you find the ambience of most Greek restaurants to be like a frat party with flaming cheese and ouzo, this contemporary, casually elegant
spot will be welcome relief. Food and decor favor refinement over rusticity, even in such hearty and ubiquitous dishes as pastitsio and spanakopita. Standout dishes include the moussaka, the creamy and mildly citrusy avgolemono soup and the precisely grilled, simply adorned (with olive oil, lemon and capers) branzino. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/409-3673. $$
Red Pine Restaurant & Lounge —1 Town Center Road. Chinese. The menu is designed to be enjoyed family-style, with substantial portions of classic dishes like housemade vegetable eggrolls, fried rice and General Tso’s chicken, to name a few. The space is bright and lively, with floor-to-ceiling windows, an expansive bar, and several dining spaces accentuated with crimson banquettes. • Dinner Tues-Sun. 561/826-7595. $$
Rino’s of Boca —39 S.E. First Ave. Italian. Guests can expect nightly live entertainment that pairs perfectly with its Italian-American dishes like rigatoni vodka, bucatini carbonara veal parmigiana and chicken marsala.• Dinner nightly. 561/2448282. $$$
Seasons 52 —2300 Executive Center Drive. Contemporary American. The food—seasonal ingredients, simply and healthfully prepared, accompanied by interesting wines—is firstrate, from salmon roasted on a cedar plank to desserts served in oversized shot glasses. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/998-9952. (Other Palm Beach County location: 11611 Ellison Wilson Road, Palm Beach Gardens, 561/625-5852.) $$
SeaSpray Inlet Grill —999 E. Camino Real. American. Unobstructed views of Lake Boca Raton, soaring palm
This September brings us the return of even more restaurant months: Flavor South Florida and Downtown Delray Beach Restaurant Month are back. The Delray campaign celebrates 10 years of dining specials and is set to spotlight more than 40 local restaurants and their specially curated menus. It’s also debuting an app for diners for an easier way to find those dining deals. Flavor South Florida continues to expand its reach from St. Lucie to Boca. This year, look out for even more participating restaurants and even more delicious, budget-friendly multicourse meals. downtowndelraybeach. com/restaurantmonth and flavorpb.com
—Christie Galeano-DeMott
At Boca Raton ’ s preeminent Italian steakhouse , USDA Prime cuts are flown in from Chicago and fresh catch is reeled in daily . E ery dish is crafted with heart , soul , and century - old family tradition just for you
Scan QR code for reservations and news , events , and wee ro otions
trees and coastal décor peppered with fringed umbrellas all set the mood for a relaxing experience that will make you feel as if you’re on vacation. The menu accommodates different dietary preferences with gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options. Don’t sleep on the pear tortellini pasta starter; it’s a star item. Portions are hearty and can be easily shared. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/226-3022. $$
Six Tables a Restaurant—112 N.E. Second St., Boca Raton. American. The dimly lit chandeliers, burgundy velvet curtains and smooth Sinatra lyrics set the mood for a memorable evening that’s dedicated to fine dining without pretention. With a seasonal menu that’s ever changing, you can rest assured that whatever husband and wife chef-proprietors Tom and Jenny Finn prepare for you, it will truly be special and made with love. • Dinner Thurs.-Sat. 561/347-6260. $$$$
Taverna Kyma —6298 N. Federal Highway. Greek/ Mediterranean . Hankering for a traditional Greek meal, and a menu that offers just about everything? This is where you want to try the meze plates (cold, hot, seafood, veggie), saganaki, grilled entrees and kebobs. From the taramosalata to the branzino and pastitsio, servings are generous and good. Don’t forget dessert. • Lunch Mon.-Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/994-2828. $$
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. $$$
Twenty Twenty Grille —141 Via Naranjas, Suite 45. Contemporary American. You’ve probably licked postage stamps that are larger than Ron and Rhonda Weisheit’s tiny jewel box of a restaurant, but what it lacks in space it more than makes up for in charm, sophistication and imaginative, expertly crafted food. Virtually everything is made in-house, from the trio of breads that first grace your table to the pasta in a suave dish of tagliatelle with duck and chicken confit. Don’t miss the jerk pork belly and grilled veal strip loin. • Dinner nightly. 561/9907969. $$$
The fast-moving staff is choreographed to deliver dishes such as shrimp pad Thai that’s light, delicate and happily filled with shrimp. The Thai fried rice is unusually delicate too, with lots of egg, and is some of the best around. The sushi rolls are as fresh and inventive (try the Daimyo roll) as they are beautifully presented. Go early or call for a reservation. • Lunch Mon.-Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/883-0202. $$
Chloe’s Bistro —6885 S.W. 18th St. Italian. One of the few venues that’s on the water, with food to match the view. Try the seafood linguine, the large snapper filets in Marechiara sauce, and the desserts to end on a sweet note. House-made pasta and a good wine list ensure a pleasant, satisfying meal. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/334-2088. $$
City Fish Market—7940 Glades Road. Seafood. A multimillion-dollar remodel of the old Pete’s has turned it into an elegant seafood house with a lengthy seafood-friendly wine list, impeccably fresh fish and shellfish cooked with care and little artifice. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/487-1600. $$
Ditmas Kitchen —21077 Powerline Road. Contemporary kosher. This west Boca restaurant is named after a Brooklyn avenue in a district known for its food. Here you’ll find very good casual food, and no dairy products are used. Try the Hibachi salmon, all-kale Caesar salad, the shnitzel sandwich. • Dinner Sun.-Thurs. 561/826-8875. $$$
DVASH —8208 Glades Road. Mediterranean. The menu, a collection of Mediterranean fusion dishes with a variety of daily specials, caters to an array of diets, including vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free. The Cohen family, who previously owned Falafel Bistro & Wine Bar in Coral Springs for more than a decade, now welcomes diners to this West Boca restaurant that’s tucked away in the Publix Greenwise strip mall. • Lunch and dinner Tues.-Sun. 561/826-7784. $$
Embarcadero 41—8188 Glades Road. Peruvian. Embarcadero 41 offers exceptional Peruvian and Nikkei (Japanese-Peruvian fusion) cuisine. This family-owned establishment has four locations, including one in west Boca. Order a bright ceviche and a sushi roll—or two— and you’re sure to be completely satisfied. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/405-6014. $$
Proteins Aplenty
Oliv Pit offers up to 13 protein options for its Mediterranean dishes, from New York strip steak and lamb souvlaki to salmon, falafel and grilled mushrooms.
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. $$
Yakitori —271 S.E. Mizner Blvd. Asian. This Japanese restaurant that has sat for nearly a decade in Royal Palm Place is still welcoming devoted diners and delivering consistent, premium dishes. Sip on one of its refreshing cocktails like the lychee martini or green tea mojito before perusing the vast menu that offers everything from sushi and sashimi to fried rice, ramen and entrées from the robata grill. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/544-0087. $$
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.
Oli’s Fashion Cuisine —6897 S.W. 18th St. Modern American. With the unusual name comes a menu sporting lobster risotto to tuna tacos, grilled mahi and more. There are Italian, vegetarian, steak, flatbreads, salads and desserts, all pleasing to the eye and palate. Inside is a bit noisy, so try the outdoor, lakeside patio for a quieter meal. • Lunch and dinner daily, breakfast weekends. 561/571-6920. $$
Oliv Pit Athenian Grille —6006 S.W. 18th St. Modern Greek. The owners’ goal of bringing together the best of Greek cooking under one roof, much like the melting pot that is Athens, is covered here in an extensive menu. The best way to enjoy the food is to share it: the Pikilia trio with tzatziki, spicy feta and eggplant spread is a starting place. Try the mix grill platter and the hearty red Greek wine. End the night with a unique, velvety frappe cappuccino. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/409-2049. $$
Skyfin Asian Bistro —8221 Glades Road. Asian. After nearly a decade of dishing out elevated Beijing cuisine at MR CHOW inside the posh W South Beach, chef Aden Lee left his sous chef position to venture out on his own. Here, you’ll find both playfully named sushi rolls and fresh sashimi alongside protein-rich house specials, fried rice and noodles. Don’t miss the Toro Roll and Tangerine Peel Beef. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/556-1688. $$
Villa Rosano —9858 Clint Moore Road. Italian. You can be forgiven for imagining yourself in some rustic Italian hill town as the smells of garlic and tomato sauce waft through the air. Start by sopping up the house olive oil with slices of crusty bread, then move on to a stellar version of clams Guazzetto and delicate fillets of sole done a la Francese. • Lunch Mon.-Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/470-0112. $$
Driftwood —2005 Federal Highway. American. Driftwood consistently serves inventive dishes infused with chef Jimmy Everett’s fine-dining experience. It also stands out thanks to its dedication to guests, local purveyors and talented staff. Farmto-table isn’t just a cliché saying here. Everett’s goal as a native South Floridian is to support local farms and fishermen by sourcing hyperlocal ingredients. The menu may change based on what’s available. • Dinner Wed.-Sun. 561/733-4782. $$
Josie’s Italian Ristorante— 650 E. Woolbright Road. Italian. This cozy, family-owned restaurant is looking better than ever after a renovation that gave its dining room a more modern, elegant atmosphere in which to enjoy chef Mark Militello’s classic Italian fare. It’s easy to fill up on the hearty portions of its pasta and meat entrees, but be sure to save room for dessert to try the absolutely decadent sixteen layer chocolate cake. In the cooler months, opt for patio seating for waterfront views. • Lunch Mon.-Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/364-9601. $$
Prime Catch —700 E. Woolbright Road. Seafood Waterfront restaurants are few and far between in our neck of the woods, and those with good food are even more rare. Prime Catch, at the foot of the Woolbright bridge on the Intracoastal, is a best-kept secret. The simple pleasures here soar—a perfectly grilled piece of mahi or bouillabaisse overflowing with tender fish. Don’t miss one of the best Key lime pies around. • Lunch and dinner daily, Sunday brunch. 561/737-8822. $$
Sushi Simon 1628 S. Federal Highway. Japanese. It’s been called “Nobu North” by some aficionados, and for good reason. Local sushi-philes jam the narrow dining room for such impeccable nigirizushi as hamachi and uni (Thursdays), as well as more elaborate dishes like snapper Morimoto and tuna tartare. Creative, elaborate rolls are a specialty. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/731-1819. $$
50 Ocean—50 S. Ocean Blvd. Seafood. The former Upper Deck at Boston’s on the Beach is now the more upscale, seafood-oriented spot. The menu ranges from familiar to slightly more inventive, from a classic lobster bisque and crisp-tender fried clam bellies to rock shrimp pot pie and baked grouper topped with blue crab. The cinnamon-dusted beignets are puffs of amazingly delicate deep-fried air and should not under any circumstances be missed. • Lunch Mon.-Sat. Dinner nightly. Brunch Sun. 561/278-3364. $$
800 Palm Trail Grill—800 Palm Trail. American. This contemporary space is serving up American fare and classic cocktails. The menu has a steak-and-seafood-house feel to it but without any stuffiness. Instead, you’ll find dishes that entice the palate, like the loaded baked potato eggrolls and Wagyu boneless short rib. • Lunch and dinner daily, with patio dining. 561/865-5235. $$$
Akira Back —233 NE Second Ave. Japanese Chef Akira Back’s Seoul restaurant earned a Michelin star a few years ago and now he’s showcasing his talented take on Japanese cuisine at his namesake restaurant inside The Ray hotel. Born in Korea and raised in Colorado, Back blends his heritage with Japanese
flavors and techniques he has mastered to deliver dishes that are unique to him. With plates made to be shared, the menu is divided into cold and hot starters followed by rolls, nigiri/sashimi, robata grill, mains and fried rice. Dinner. 561/739-1708. $$$$
Amar Mediterranean Kitchen & Bar —25 S.E. Sixth Ave. Mediterranean. No longer a quaint bistro, this new version is buzzing with energy while still as charming and welcoming as ever. Dishes deliver solid, bright flavors that honor owner Nicolas Kurban’s Lebanese roots, as his family recipes take center stage alongside Mediterranean favorites that have been elevated with slight tweaks. On some evenings, there is belly dancing entertainment. • Dinner nightly. 561/865-5653. $$
Avalon Beach House—110 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. This steakhouse was transformed into a chic coastal haven for seafood and lively cocktails. Its menu features a variety of casual dishes like ahi tuna poke, fish tacos, double smash burger and short rib ragu. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/593-2500. $$
Bamboo Fire Cafe —149 N.E. Fourth Ave. Caribbean. The Jacobs family joyously shares its Latin and Caribbean culture through food that’s bursting with bright island aromas and flavors. Tostones, plantain fries and jerk meatballs share the menu with curry pork, oxtail and conch. A quintessential Delray gem. • Dinner Wed.-Sun. 561/749-0973. $
Beg for More Izakaya —19 S.E. Fifth Ave. Japanese Small Plates. The large sake, whisky and beer menu here pairs beautifully with the small plates full of everything except sushi. No sushi. And that’s fine. Try the takoyaki (octopus balls), the crispy salmon tacos and anything with the addictive kimchi, such as the kimchi fried rice. There are pasta, teriyaki and simmered duck with bok choy dishes—or 16 varieties of yakitori (food on skewers). You’ll be back to beg for more. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/563-8849. $$
Brulé Bistro —200 N.E. Second Ave. Contemporary American. This Pineapple Grove favorite always has satisfying dishes. Its specialties include crab tortellini with black truffles, chicken meatballs with coconut broth and cashews, plus signature dessert pistachio crème brùlée. Spirits and house cocktails steeped in speakeast style are paired with an ever-changing menu. Outside tables offer the best option for conversation. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/274-2046. $$
Burt & Max’s —9089 W. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. This bastion of contemporary comfort food in west Delray is approaching local landmark status, forging its own menu while borrowing a few dishes from Max’s Grille, like the hearty chopped salad and bacon-wrapped meatloaf. Other dishes are variations on the comfort food theme, including a stellar truffle-scented wild mushroom pizza. • Dinner nightly. Sunday brunch. 561/638-6380. $$
Casa L’Acqua Ristorante Italiano —9 S.E. Seventh Ave. Italian. Casa L’Acqua is touted as a fine-dining establishment, and correctly so; diners can expect white tablecloths, tuxedoed staff and attentive service. The wine list is Italian-focused but does offer a variety of bottles from around the world, and each dish is expertly prepared with sizable portions. The main dining room, with its vibey bar and wine cellar, is cozy, and so is its fully enclosed patio in the back. • Dinner nightly. 561/563-7492. $$
City Oyster —213 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood. This stylish mainstay of Big Time Restaurant Group serves up reasonably priced seafood that never disappoints, such as shrimp and grits with a jumbo crab cake. This is the place to see and be seen in Delray, and the food lives up to its profile. • Lunch Mon.–Sun. Dinner nightly. Outdoor dining. 561/272-0220. $$
Coco Sushi Lounge & Bar —25 N.E. Second Ave., Suite 208. Asian. Local hospitality veterans Tina Wang and chef Jason Zheng continue to grow their restaurant empire with this concept. The extensive menu caters to any palate, dietary restriction or craving and features both traditional and creative dishes. Soups and salads lead into sushi selections and appetizers divided into cool and hot. Cooked and raw rolls are followed by rice, noodle, land and sea entrée options. • Dinner Mon.-Sat. Sunday brunch. 561/926-9434. $$
Costa By OK&M —502 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. Costa takes chef/owner Coton Stine’s dedication to farm-to-table fare to an elevated level with its seasonal menu. Working closely with local farms and vendors, Stine curates deliciously healthy dishes that tempt your palate while fueling your body. For those with dietary restrictions, the dishes are clearly labeled gluten-free or vegan, which adds a sense of ease to the experience. The corner space is comfortable and embraces natural elements with its wicker chairs, lanterns, greenery and expansive sliding doors. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/501-6115. • $$
Cut 432—432 E. Atlantic Ave. Steakhouse. Hipper decor, a more casual vibe and an inventive take on steak-house favorites make this sleek restaurant just different enough to be interesting. Starters such as ceviche (prepared Peruvian style) and ultrarich oysters Rockefeller are first-rate, while the wetaged beef is appropriately tender and tasty. • Dinner nightly. 561/272-9898. $$$
Sunday Best
Sunday brunch options at Drift include deviled hen’s eggs, pecan raisin French toast and overnight smoked brisket—plus live entertainment from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Caffe Luna Rosa—34 S. Ocean Blvd. Italian. This multiple Delray Beach-award winning restaurant has sparkling service, comfort food taken to a higher level, and a setting just steps from the Atlantic. A success from day one, they dish up big flavors in a tiny space, so call for reservations. Try the calamari fritto misto, then the rigatoni pomodoro and leave room for dessert. Or come back for breakfast. • Open daily from breakfast through dinner. 561/274-9404. $$
Campi Italian —233 N.E. Second Ave. Italian. The Ray Hotel’s Campi Italian exudes a warm, relaxing ambiance. It’s perfect for an aperitivo and excels in pasta. Contemporary glass chandeliers illuminate its swanky bar and cozy rattan booths, while crisp white tablecloths adorn the tables. • Dinner nightly. 561/576-8366. $$$
Dada—52 N. Swinton Ave. Contemporary American. The same provocative, whimsical creativity that spawned Dada the art movement infuses Dada the restaurant, giving it a quirky charm all its own. The comfort food with a moustache menu has its quirky charms, too, like shake-n-bake pork chops with sweet-savory butterscotch onions, and a brownie-vanilla ice cream sundae with strips of five-spice powdered bacon. The wittily decorated 1920s-vintage house-turned-restaurant is, as they say, a trip. • Dinner nightly. 561/330-3232. $$
Deck 84—840 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American Burt Rapoport’s ode to laid-back tropical dining is like a day at the beach without getting sand between your toes. Though the restaurant is casual, the kitchen takes its food seriously, whether the stellar flatbreads, the thick and juicy 10-ounce special blend burger or homey seasonal cobbler. And the waterfront location just seems to make everything taste better. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Brunch Sat.–Sun. Dinner nightly. 561/665-8484. $
Drift—10 N. Ocean Blvd. American. Inside the Opal Grand Resort & Spa, the restaurant’s coastal décor is polished with warm woods, textured stone walls, rope detailing and living walls. The bar is spacious, and several nooks overlook the ocean
and the buzzy Atlantic Avenue. The all-day menu covers all the bases. You’ll find easy dishes to snack on after the beach, or if you’re craving an extended Happy Hour experience, enjoy the cheese board, hummus, baked oysters and poke alongside casual burgers, flatbreads and salads. The entrées offer something for everyone, including chicken, steak, lamb and fish. Lunch and dinner daily. 561/274-3289. $$
Eathai —1832 S. Federal Highway. Thai. If you’re craving approachable and affordable Thai food, put Eathai at the top of your list. While you can expect to find curries, noodles, soups and fried rice on the menu, the dishes here aren’t the typical ones you’ll find around town. Indulge in the Thai Chicken French Toasted or Crispy Duck Breast with Lychee Curry Sauce or Oxtail Basil Fried Rice to savor the true talent of owner and chef Sopanut Sopochana. • Lunch and dinner daily, except Tuesday. 561/270-3156. $
El Camino —15 N.E. Second Ave. Mexican. This sexy, bustling downtown spot is from the trio behind nearby Cut 432 and Park Tavern. Fresh, quality ingredients go into everything from the tangy tomatillo salsas to the world-class fish tacos clad in delicate fried skin, set off by tart pineapple salsa. Cinnamon and sugar-dusted churros are the perfect dessert. And check out the margaritas, especially the smoky blend of mezcal and blanco tequila. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/865-5350. $$
Elisabetta’s —32 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. An ornate Italian spot, with classically prepared dishes including spiedini shrimp, burrata de prosciutto bruschetta, costoletta di vitello
(veal), a guanciale pizza, cacio e pepe pasta, malfadine Amatriciana and gemelli puttanesca. Portions are large and that, thankfully, goes for the homemade gelati, too. The best seating outdoors is the second-floor balcony overlooking Atlantic Avenue. • Lunch and dinner daily; weekend brunch. 561/560-6699. $$
The Grove —187 N.E. Second Ave. Contemporary American. The Grove, which has been tucked inside the tranquil Pineapple Grove district for nearly a decade, continues to surprise diners with its vibrant dishes. The upscale but casually comfortable nook has an international wine list that spans the globe and a seasonal menu that’s succinct and well thought out. • Dinner Tues.-Sat. 561/266-3750. $$
The Hampton Social —40 N.E. Seventh Ave. American. The Hampton Social is known for its “rosé all day” tagline, but it doesn’t just slay its rosé; its food is equally as tempting. It does a standout job of incorporating its casual coastal aesthetic into not just its décor but also its menu, from its seafood-centric dishes to its droll cocktail names like the vodka-forward I Like It a Yacht. • Lunch and dinner daily, weekend brunch. 561/404-1155. $$
Henry’s —16850 Jog Road. American. This casual, unpretentious restaurant in the west part of town never fails to delight diners. Expect attentive service and crisp execution of everything—from meat loaf, burgers and fried chicken to flatbreads and hefty composed salads. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/638-1949. $$
Its name may be misleading, but the legendary German festival in Munich is mainly celebrated in September, this year from Sept. 20 to Oct. 5, to be exact. That said, across the pond, most of us celebrate it in October with plenty of refreshing German beers, pretzels and schnitzel. Boca’s Biergarten will host festivities throughout the month. Further south, check out Checkers Old Munchen in Pompano Beach. Up in Lake Worth Beach, the American German Club hosts its annual celebration on Oct. 10 to 12 and 17 to 19. biergartenboca.com; checkersoldmunchen.com; oktoberfestflorida.com
—Christie Galeano-DeMott
local companies cater to diners’ every whim
Written by CHRISTIE GALEANO-DEMOTT
As we ease into the holiday season, entertaining at your home can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. These local catering companies will relieve you of all the stressful hosting duties and ensure your soirée is flawless.
Chef Christos Bisiotis’s passion for cooking ignited during his childhood in Greece, when he watched his grandmother in the kitchen. When he founded his catering company three years ago, he named it in her honor. This came after the pandemic halted plans to open a restaurant in New York City, leading him to help launch several Miami restaurants. After years of working for others, Bisiotis forged his own path.
Terpsi Hospitality specializes in Greek, Italian and Israeli cuisine, but “we will do whatever it takes to satisfy the client,” he says. It can handle every detail for parties of up to 300 guests, including menu design, rentals and audio/visual needs. His experience in high-stress kitchens enables him to effortlessly multitask, communicate clearly with clients and staff, and provide a fine-dining level of
reliability and professionalism. Plus, hosts are guaranteed direct access to him throughout the entire process. Bisiotis prides himself on giving his clients the ability to immerse themselves in their party and then go straight to bed after the last guest has left.
PRO TIPS: Hire a cleaning service for the day. Hire a waiter who can both serve and assist with clearing empty plates and glasses. christosbisiotis.com
Jason Savino turned a bartending job into a full-service event company that celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this year. It hosts elaborate parties with unique offerings like a live-rolling sushi station, an ice sculpture caviar bar, and a smoked bourbon station with decadent garnishes.“We try to make sure guests have a memorable experience instead of just walking away with a good fish taco—that’s the key with catering,”Savino says.“Anyone can make a good slider, but we do a kicked-up multi-level slider bar with eight different sliders and 10 types of seasoned fries.”The company also offers Glatt kosher and kosher-style menus.
The 80-person company includes chefs, florists and bakers, ensuring that every aspect of the party is handled in-house according to Savino’s high standards. Most of the holiday house parties he caters have 75 to 125 guests, but weddings and mitzvahs often exceed these head counts. Based in Boca, the company serves the tri-county area and the west coast, and it takes pride in serving nonprofits like the American Lung Association.
For Savino, whether it’s a fundraiser or a holiday party, it’s about being the caterer that people can rely on.“We truly enjoy doing it ev ery day. Seeing guests have an incredible smile is worth more than anything.”
PRO TIP: Choose small hors d’oeuvres that can be eaten in one bite. potionsinmotion.com
Chef Wendell Ordonez and Cynthia Betancourt are the husband-and-wife team behind this company. The powerhouse couple has more than 40 years of combined hospitality experience, bringing a high level of fine-dining service and cuisine to each event. Ordonez has worked with
renowned chefs like Laurent Tourondel and Palm Beach darling Clay Conley, while Betancourt holds her advanced sommelier certification.
When the couple was forced to close their restaurant, Ishilima, two years ago, they pivoted. They combine their restaurant’s warm personality with the masterfully executed process needed for a party. As Wendell explains,“100% goes into hosting, or 100% goes into cooking, so both will suffer if you try to do both.”
Ishilima handles everything from menu selections and table rentals to garbage removal at the end of the night. Betancourt excels in her tablescapes and shares invaluable knowledge for perfectly paired wines. Ishilima thrives in intimate parties with fewer than 100 guests, where Ordonez prepares every dish.
While his passion lies in Asian fusion, the chef’s formal training enables him to create beautifully plated and decadent dishes regardless of the cuisine. The company also provides sushi boats and shareable plates, which it delivers to homes for smaller gatherings.
Il Girasole —2275 S. Federal Highway. Northern Italian. If you want Northern Italian in a low-key atmosphere, and nobody rushing you out the door, this is your spot. Start with something from the very good wine list. Try the yellowtail snapper, the penne Caprese and the capellini Gamberi, and leave room for the desserts. Reservations recommended. • Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/272-3566. $$
J&J Seafood Bar & Grill —634 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood. This local favorite on Atlantic Avenue—owned by John Hutchinson (who is also the chef) and wife Tina—serves up everything from burgers and wraps to a menu brimming with seafood options. Don’t forget to inquire about the stunning array of 10 specials—every night. This is is a bona fide local go-to spot that never disappoints. • Lunch and dinner Tues.–Sat. 561/272-3390. $$
Jimmy’s Bistro —9 S. Swinton Ave. International. Jimmy’s Bistro is a casual neighborhood concept serving consistently delightful dishes from a diverse menu that can transport diners to Italy with house-made pasta or Asia with its delicate dumplings and tender duck. • 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. $$
Latitudes —2809 S. Ocean Blvd. Modern American. You should come for both the sunset and the food. This oceanfront restaurant is a gem tucked inside the Delray Sands resort. From the airy, bubbly interior to the raw bar, the décor is soothing and fun. Try the lobster and crab stuffed shrimp, the miso-glazed Skuna Bay salmon, the branzino or the veal Bolognese. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/278-6241. $$$
Le Colonial 601 E. Atlantic Ave. Vietnamese French. Le Colonial radiates classic elegance that is as sophisticated as it is comfortable. Created to showcase Vietnamese cuisine and its French influences, Le Colonial has a standout method of curating classic Vietnamese dishes that appeal to various palates, from meat lovers and pescatarians to vegetarians. The space immediately transports you back to Saigon’s tropical paradise of the 1920s. Lush birds of paradise and palms line the halls that lead into intimate dining nooks throughout the 7,000-square-foot restaurant.• Lunch (on weekends) and dinner daily. 561/566-1800. $$$
Lefkes Estiatorio —33 S.E. Third Ave. Greek. This redesigned space, inside the former Delray Beach Market food hall, is home to Greek wines, traditional Greek classics, and a few contemporary takes on the cuisine. Make sure to save room for the baklava. If you’re looking for a lively late-night Mykonos vibe, complete with napkin throwing and pulsating tunes, Lefkes also delivers. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/908-2331. $$$
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Lemongrass Bistro —420 E. Atlantic Ave. Pan-Asian 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. 561/567-0442. (Other Palm Beach County locations: 101 Plaza Real S., Boca Raton, 561/544-8181; 1880 N. Congress Ave., Boynton Beach, 561/733-1344). $
Lulu’s —189 N.E. Second Ave. American. Lulu’s in Pineapple Grove offers a relaxed ambiance with unfussy, approachable food. The quaint café is open every day and serves an all-day menu including breakfast until 3 p.m. and a selection of appetizers, sandwiches, salads and entrées that are ideal for an executive lunch, lively tapas happy hour, casual dinner or late night snack (until 2 a.m.). • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/453-2628. $
MIA Kitchen & Bar —7901 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach. Contemporary American. Owner Joey Lograsso and chef Jason Binder have curated a balanced choreography of fascinating yet approachable dishes. The menu travels the world from Italy to Asia and showcases Binder’s formal training with elevated dishes that are exceptionally executed. It’s vibey with a great playlist, and the design, reminiscent of a cool Wynwood bar, is industrial with exposed ducts, reclaimed wood and sculptural filament chandeliers. It’s a place that amps up all your senses. • Dinner Tues.-Sun. 561/499-2200. $$$
The Office —201 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. Your office is nothing like this eclectic gastropub, unless your office sports more than two dozen craft beers on tap and a menu that flits from burgers and fries to mussels. Don’t miss the restaurant’s winning take on the thick, juicy Prime beef burger and simply wicked maple-frosted donuts with bacon bits and two dipping sauces. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/278-3796. $$
Papa’s Tapas —259 N.E. Second Ave. Spanish. This family-owned restaurant will make you feel welcomed, and its cuisine will satisfy your craving for Spanish tapas. Start with a few shareable plates and then enjoy a hearty paella that’s bursting with a selection of seafood, chicken or vegetables. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., dinner Sun. 561/266-0599. $
Park Tavern —32 S.E. Second Ave. Contemporary American. Check out the high-top seating or bar stools during an excellent happy hour menu that includes deviled eggs, pork sliders, chicken wings and a happy crowd. Entrees are generous and well executed. Try the fish and chips, one of six burgers, fish tacos and more. • Dinner nightly. Brunch Sat.-Sun. 561/265-5093. $$
Racks Fish House + Oyster Bar keeps its happy hour simple: Everything on the menu (excluding bottles of wine) is 50% off from 4 to 6:45 p.m.
Racks Fish House + Oyster Bar —5 S.E. Second Ave. Seafood. Gary Rack, who also has scored with his spot in Mizner Park, certainly seems to have the restaurant Midas touch, as evidenced by this updated throwback to classic fish houses. Design, ambience and service hit all the right notes. Oysters are terrific any way you get them; grilled fish and daily specials are excellent. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/450-6718. $$$
Rose’s Daughter —169 N.E. Second Ave. Italian. Chef-owner Suzanne Perrotto, who also owns Brulé Bistro, celebrates her family’s Italian roots and its beloved recipes here—especially when it comes to her house-made pizza and pasta. Perrotto’s famous short rib pappardelle was even featured on Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” Dinner Wed.-Sun. • 561/271-9423. $$
Sazio —131 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. This long-lived venue on crowded Atlantic Avenue is a reason to sit down and take a breath. Then take up a fork and try the linguine with white
clam sauce or the ravioli Sazio or grilled skirt steak or pretty much anything on the menu. Prices are reasonable; leftovers are popular. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/272-5540. $$
Taki Omakase —632 E. Atlantic Ave. Japanese. Taki Omakase, a shining example of omakase done right, has opened not one but two locations in our community (the other is at 1658 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton). It is pricy—an experience is more than $100 per person—but it’s worth it, with one caveat: You must enthusiastically love eating raw fish. Every night is different because it prides itself on importing fish, meat and seasonal ingredients from Japan that arrive daily. So, if you do pine for the delicacies of the sea, buckle in and get ready for the talented chefs at Taki Omakase to guide you through a culinary journey unlike anything else.• Dinner nightly, lunch hour Fri.-Sun. 561/759-7362. $$$$
Terra Fiamma —9169 W. Atlantic Ave. Italian. The pleasures of simple, well-prepared Italian-American cuisine are front and center here. Enjoy the delicate, pillow-y veal meatballs in Marsala sauce; lusty chicken Allessandro with mushrooms, spinach and artichoke hearts; and a finely crafted tiramisu that’s as satisfying as it is familiar. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/4955570. $$
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. $$$
Vic & Angelo’s —290 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian . People watching is a staple ingredient here, a complement to the Italian fare. The wine menu is robust, mainly grounded in Italy but with choices from around the world. Larger than personal pies, thin-crust pizzas are family-friendly, while you won’t want to share the Quattro Formaggi Tortellini, fluffy purses filled with al dente pear and topped with truffle cream. For a protein, try the traditional chicken parmigiana, a hearty portion of paper-thin breaded chicken breast topped with a subtly sweet San Marzano sauce under a gooey layer of fresh mozzarella, and a substantial side of linguine pomodoro. If you have room for dessert, the classic sweets include cannoli and tiramisu. • Dinner nightly; brunch weekends. 561/2789570. $$
Oceano Kitchen —512 Lucerne Ave., Lake Worth Beach. Contemporary American. Chefs and owners Jeremy and Cindy Bearman have a talent for crafting a simple daily menu of ever-changing dishes that explode with flavors and are curated with thoughtfulness and the utmost detail. Genuine hospitality is at the core of their restaurant. For newcomers, it’s cash only and it doesn’t take reservations, so get there early or be prepared to wait. Dinner Tues.-Sat. 561/400-7418. $$$
Paradiso Ristorante —625 Lucerne Ave. Italian. A Tomasz Rut mural dominates the main dining room, and there is also a pasticceria and bar for gelato and espresso. Chef Angelo Romano offers a modern Italian menu. The Mediterranean salt-crusted branzino is definitely a musttry. Plus, the wine list is a veritable tome. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/547-2500. $$$
Ravish Off Ocean —210 E. Ocean Ave. International. Ravish Off Ocean is a delightful dining experience less than a mile from the powdery sands of South Palm Beach. The coastal vibes are evident here with sea-inspired options like local fish ceviche, tuna tartare, fish tacos and a daily catch. • Dinner nightly, Sunday brunch. 561/588-2444. $$
The Station House —233 Lantana Road. Seafood. If you’re hungry for Maine lobster, plucked live out of giant tanks and cooked to order, this modest replica of a 1920s train station is the place to go. Lobsters come in all sizes (up to 6 pounds) and are reasonably priced. • Dinner nightly. 561/801-5000. $$
Acqua Café —2875 S Ocean Blvd. Italian. This quaint neighborhood restaurant serves quality Italian favorites with a coastal twist. It’s part of the Al Fresco Hospitality Group portfolio, which also includes Via Mizner’s legendary Renato’s.• Lunch and dinner daily, weekend brunch. 561/547-0005. $$$
Bice —313 Worth Ave. Italian. Bice continues to hold the title of favorite spot on the island. The venerable restaurant offers a marvelous array of risottos and fresh pastas and classic dishes like veal chop Milanese, pounded chicken breast and roasted rack of lamb. The wine list features great vintages. • Lunch and dinner daily. Outdoor dining. 561/835-1600. $$$
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. $$$
Echo—230A Sunrise Ave. Asian. The cuisine reverberates with the tastes of China, Thailand, Japan and Vietnam. The Chinese hot and sour soup is unlike any other, and the sake list is tops. This offsite property of The Breakers is managed with the same flawlessness as the resort. • Dinner nightly (during season). 561/802-4222. $$$
This isn’t a hoax. While Halloween is the epitome of sweet treats, you don’t have to wait until then to indulge. Celebrate International Chocolate Day on Sept. 13 and National Chocolate Day on Oct. 28 with whatever type of decadent delight you desire. Some may be loyal to milk chocolate or white chocolate, but remember that to increase its health benefits while treating yourself, opt for dark chocolate with more than 75% cocoa. There’s no better way to celebrate cocoa than by supporting local Boca shops like Gourmet Market for French delights or Mercato Italiano for its Adriatic-inspired treats. Venture south to Jan’s Homemade Candies in LauderdaleBy-The-Sea for high-quality confections that will satisfy any sweet tooth.
—Christie Galeano-DeMott
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Henry’s Palm Beach —229 Royal Poinciana Way. American Bistro. Part of The Breakers’ restaurant properties, this venue opened in 2020 and is an elegant addition to The Island. Try the pigs in a pretzel dough blanket, beer can corn, the lobster roll, butter crumb Dover sole and chicken pot pie. All comfort food with a Palm Beach twist, and it’s all delicious. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/206-1896. $$$
HMF—1 S. County Road. Contemporary American. Beneath the staid, elegant setting of The Breakers, HMF is the Clark Kent of restaurants, dishing an extensive array of exciting, inventive, oh-so-contemporary small plates. Don’t depart without sampling the dreamy warm onion-Parmesan dip with housemade fingerling potato chips, the sexy wild boar empanaditas, chicken albondigas tacos and Korean-style short ribs. The wine list is encyclopedic. • Dinner nightly. 561/290-0104. $$
Imoto —350 S. County Road. Asian Fusion/Tapas. Clay Conley’s “little sister” (the translation of Imoto from Japanese) is next to his always-bustling Buccan. Imoto turns out Japanese-inspired small plates with big-city sophistication, like witty Peking duck tacos and decadent tuna and foie gras sliders. Sushi selection is limited but immaculately fresh. • Dinner nightly. 561/833-5522. $$
Meat Market—191 Bradley Place. Steakhouse “Meat Market” may be an inelegant name for a very elegant and inventive steakhouse but there’s no dissonance in its food, service or ambience. Multiple cuts of designer beef from multiple sources can be gilded with a surprising array of sauces, butters and upscale add-ons. Whole roasted cauliflower is an intriguing starter, while a meaty Niman Ranch short rib atop lobster risotto takes surf-n-turf to a new level. Cast your diet to the winds and order the dessert sampler. • Dinner nightly. 561/354-9800. $$$$
Renato’s—87 Via Mizner. Italian with continental flair. This most romantic hideaway is buzzing in season and quietly charming all year long with Italian classics and a Floridian twist—like the sautéed black grouper in a fresh tomato and pernod broth with fennel and black olives and the wildflower-honey-glazed salmon fillet with crab and corn flan. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/655-9752. $$$
Austin Republic—4801 S. Dixie Highway. Barbecue. The casual backyard atmosphere sets the scene for chef James Strine’s unpretentious barbecue with a unique Mexican flair. The menu isn’t extensive, but all the barbecue greats are there alongside its Mexican counterparts. Brisket, ribs and pulled pork share the space with tacos, burritos and enchiladas. And don’t sleep on the chicken sandwich. Trust us. • Dinner Tues.-Sat. $
Moules Mondays at Pistache means all-you-can-eat mussels, with the purchase of a mussels entree, to start the workweek.
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. $$
The Blue Door —5700 S. Dixie Highway. Mediterranean. The Blue Door’s vibrant hospitality welcomes you the moment you step through the arched, sapphire-hued entrance. Its lush landscaping and casual yet refined menu take you straight to the southern European coastline. • Dinner nightly. 561/360-2064. $$$
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. $$
French Corner Bistro & Rotisserie — 4595 Okeechobee Blvd. Classic French. It’s France in a tiny venue, with big-taste dishes that include all the faves: beef bourguignon, rack of lamb, duck à l’orange, frog legs Provencale, veal kidneys, tender branzino and simple desserts to end the meal. Reservations are mandatory for dinner. • Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. 561/689-1700. $$
Grato —1901 S. Dixie Highway. Italian. “Grato” is Italian 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. $$
The House —7301 Georgia Ave. Modern American. Located inside The Park, West Palm Beach’s public golf course, The House has a bright contemporary aesthetic with massive floor-to-ceiling windows that spotlight the course’s natural beauty. The menu is approachable and offers something for everyone. It also features unique and interesting takes on dishes like spiny lobster corn dogs. • Lunch and dinner Wed.-Sun., weekend brunch. 561/530-3791. $$
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. $$
Marcello’s La Sirena —6316 S. Dixie Highway. Italian. You’re in for a treat if the pasta of the day is prepared with what might be the best Bolognese sauce ever. • Dinner Mon.–Sat. (closed Memorial Day–Labor Day). 561/585-3128. $$
Pink Steak —2777 S. Dixie Highway. Steakhouse. This steakhouse offers plenty of choice cuts and classic chophouse appetizers, such as Caesar salad and shrimp cocktail, but don’t miss the other noteworthy options, like sushi and beef tartare. The pink-hued space is accented with tropical murals, plush avocado-green booths, plume-like chandeliers and plenty of flamingoes. It’s undoubtedly a vibe. • Dinner nightly, Sunday brunch. 561/557-9083. $$$$
Pistache —1010 N. Clematis St., #115. French. Pistache doesn’t just look like a French bistro, it cooks like one. The menu includes such bistro specialties as coq au vin and steak tartare. All that, plus guests dining al fresco have views of the Intracoastal Waterway and Centennial Park. • Brunch Sat.–Sun. Lunch and dinner daily. 561/833-5090. $$
Planta—700 S. Rosemary Ave. Vegan. For those who savor every juicy, tender and flavorful bite of a well-prepared burger, patronizing a vegan establishment may seem like a sacrilegious act. But what if a restaurant served up plant-based dishes that surprised your taste buds with exploding flavors? Here vegans don’t have to worry about ingredients making the cut, and non-vegans can enjoy approachable and appetizing plant-based dishes that won’t make you yearn for a steak. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/208-5222. $$
Rhythm Café —3800 S. Dixie Highway. Casual American. Once a diner, the interior is eclectic with plenty of kitsch. The crab cakes are famous here, and the tapas are equally delightful. Homemade ice cream and the chocolate chip cookies defy comparison. • Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/8333406. $$
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. 561/855-2660. $$$
Chanson —45 N.E. 21st Ave. Contemporary American/ French. A little bit of Palm Beach, a little bit of Italy comes to Deerfield Beach in the form of this elegant, sophisticated restaurant in the oceanfront Royal Blues Hotel. Service is as stellar as the views from the cozy, modestly opulent dining room, notable for the 1,500-gallon aquarium embedded in the ceiling. Consistency can be an issue with the food, but when it is good it is very good. • Breakfast and lunch daily, dinner Tues.-Sat., brunch Sun. 954/857-2929. $$$
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 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. $$
Tradition —626 S. Federal Highway. French. This is a petite place with a large following, for good reason. Owners Eric and Anais Heintz start meals with an amuse-bouche and a menu that spans the length of France. Order a creamy Caesar salad with a light anchovy-based dressing. Try the coq au vin (sauce cooked for two days), and if you like calves’ liver, this is the best you’ll find in the area. End with a Grand Marnier soufflé (worth the 15-minute wait), and make your next reservation there before going home. • Dinner Mon.-Sat. 954/480-6464. $$
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. $$
Calypso Restaurant—460 S. Cypress Road. Caribbean. This bright little dining room and bar (beer and wine only) has a Caribbean menu that is flavorful, imaginative—and much more. Calypso offers a spin on island food that includes sumptuous conch dishes, Stamp & Go Jamaican fish cakes and tasty rotis stuffed with curried chicken, lamb or seafood. • Lunch and dinner Mon.–Fri. 954/942-1633. $
Café Maxx —2601 E. Atlantic Blvd. American. The longstanding institution from chef Oliver Saucy is as good now as when it opened in the mid-1980s. Main courses offer complex flavor profiles, such as the sweet-onion-crusted yellowtail snapper on Madeira sauce over mashed potatoes. Parts of the menu change daily. • Dinner nightly. Brunch Sunday. 954/782-0606. $$$
South Bar & Kitchen—165 N.E. First Ave. Southern Serves southern comfort cuisine in a dazzling space with plush emerald-green banquettes, warm wood detailing, and a spacious indoor/outdoor bar leading out to an expansive terrace and second bar. • Dinner Tues.-Sun., weekend brunch. 954/890-2000. $$
NYY Steak—Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, 5550 N.W. 40th St. Steakhouse. The second incarnation of this Yankees-themed restaurant swings for the fences—and connects— with monstrous portions, chic decor and decadent desserts. The signature steaks are a meat lover’s dream; seafood specialties include Maine lobster and Alaskan king crab. • Dinner nightly. Brunch Sun. 954/935-6699. $$$$
15th Street Fisheries —1900 S.E. 15th St. Seafood. Surrounded by views of the Intracoastal, this Old Florida-style restaurant features seafood and selections for land lovers. We love the prime rib. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/763-2777. $$
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. $$
Casablanca Café—3049 Alhambra St. American, Mediterranean. The restaurant has an “Arabian Nights” feel, with strong Mediterranean influences. Try the peppercorn-dusted filet mignon with potato croquette, Gorgonzola sauce and roasted pepper and Granny Smith relish. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/764-3500. $$
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 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. $$
WEB EXTRA: check out our complete tri-county dining guide only at BOCAMAG.COM
The Mountaintop · Oct 24 - Nov 9, 2025
The Seafarer · Dec 12 - 28, 2025
Driving Miss Daisy · Feb 6 - Mar 1, 2026
The Crucible · Apr 3 - 19, 2026
Vineland Place · WORLD PREMIERE May 15 - 31, 2026
Join us for an evening of entertainment and exceptional Asian cuisine at Morikami’s annual fundraiser to support Education, Exhibitions, Emotional Well-Being Programs, and Expansion of the Museum and Gardens.
Ticket Price | $300
For tickets or more information scan the QR code.
Discover the tranquil beauty of Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach—where lush landscapes, captivating exhibits, cultural demonstrations, and engaging educational programs bring Japan and Florida together.
The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens offers a one-of-a-kind setting for weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations. With stunning indoor and outdoor spaces, serene gardens, and exclusive catering by our on-site restaurant, it’s the perfect venue for an unforgettable event!
For more information or to schedule a tour, scan the QR code.
WHERE: Boca West Country Club
WHAT: The women of Impact 100 Palm Beach County celebrated another blockbuster year of fundraising during its 14th-annual Grand Awards Celebration. Hosted at Boca West Country Club and emceed by CBS12’s Liz Quirantes, the nonprofit awarded a total of $837,000 to local charities in the focus areas of Arts, Culture & Historic Preservation; Education; Environment & Animal Welfare; Family; and Health and Wellness. Impact 100 also awards a series of merit grants, which this year were bolstered by support from the Junior League of Boca Raton. Awardees of this year’s $100,000 grants included Baptist Health South Florida Foundation, Roots & Wings, Delray Beach Children’s Garden and more. Sponsors for the Grand Awards celebration included Marta Batmasian, Jo Ann Procacci, Boca magazine, Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation and several more.
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5: Amy Kazma, Kathy Adkins, Kelly Fleming
6: Peg Anderson, Zoe Lanham, Marta Batmasian
7: Shannon Moriarity, Jessica Baskies, Laura McMullen
8: Cindy Krebsbach, Lisa Mulhall,
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WHERE: The Oaks at Boca Raton
WHAT: Local nonprofit Touch A Heart’s Annual Spa Day returned for its 21st year for a day of relaxation, shopping and giving back, hosted at The Oaks at Boca Raton. More than 300 attendees enjoyed a catered lunch, yoga, pickleball and tennis clinics, psychic readings, and perusing home goods from a bespoke shopping boutique. The fundraising event was Touch A Heart’s most successful yet, raising more than $100,000 to support the organization’s programs that provide vital services to underserved children and families in South Florida. Sponsors included the Hindin-Bahn Team at Lang Realty, The Oaks at Boca Raton, Brightway Insurance Boca North, The Oak Room/ Restaurant Partners, Inc. and more.
WHERE: The Old Course at Broken Sound in Boca Raton
WHAT: PGA Tour Champions linked up with Pro Football Hall of Famers for a celebration of golf, football and philanthropy. It was a jam-packed weekend of festivities, including the Folds of Honor Friday that honored veterans, the Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health & Wellness Institute Women’s Pro-Am that benefited the Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation, the construction of a Habitat for Humanity home for a deserving South Florida family, and much more. Visitors enjoyed the spectacle of a tournament consisting of 78 PGA professionals and 26 NFL Hall of Famers, where Ángel Cabrera clinched the victory, and the team of Tim Brown and Tim O’Neal won the Hall of Fame division.
1: Hunter Lansing, Jeff Strom, Sean Gadd, Calvin Johnson
2: Jeff Shreve, Joe Hawkins, Ángel Cabrera, Vince Guardado
3: Miguel Angel Jimenez, Marshall Faulk, John Daly, Warren Sapp, Darren Clarke, Ronde Barber, Lawrence Taylor, Jerry Kelly
WHERE: Sir Winston yacht
WHAT: The Research Park at Florida Atlantic University hosted a festive gala aboard the Sir Winston yacht in honor of the tech and business hub’s 40th anniversary. During the evening’s festivites, awards were given to John Temple for Distinguished Service, Dan Johnson for Distinguished Entrepreneur, local startup ModMed, and more.
1: Andrew Duffell, John Temple, Dr. Stacy Volnick
2: John Temple
WHERE: Susan Whelchel Community Garden at Meadows Park
WHAT: More than 100 Fuller Center supporters—including parents and kids in the nonprofit’s after-school programs, teen volunteers and community partners—gathered at the Susan Whelchel Community Garden at Meadows Park to celebrate Earth Day with an afternoon of environmental education and activities. Deputy Mayor Fran Nachlas kicked off the event with a moving welcome to guests, followed by a powerful presentation on the meaning of Earth Day from teen volunteers Kyle and Jordyn Kelman. “This was more than just an event—it was a living expression of how we come together as a community to nurture both the Earth and each other,” said Fuller Center CEO Eric Roby.
WHERE: The Addison
WHAT: Tri-County Animal Rescue (TCAR) invited supporters and their four-legged friends to a decadent luncheon fundraiser at The Addison. The fourth-annual Bark & Brunch Luncheon, chaired by Joanne Polin and Neil and Trisha Saffer, treated more than 200 guests to brunch, a cocktail reception, and live music by Arnie Steinberg to raise critical funds for TCAR’s rehabilitation and re-homing programs for abused animals. During the afternoon’s festivities, longtime TCAR supporter Ted Campbell was honored for his ongoing support of animal welfare. “This event is truly a celebration of love, compassion and the bond we share with our pets,” said Tri-County Animal Rescue Executive Director Suzi Goldsmith. “We are beyond grateful to our guests, volunteers and sponsors, whose generosity helps us continue our life-saving work.”
1: Andy Colton, Andrea Kline
2: Neal Saffer and Sam Karrigan with Daisy
3: TCAR Board President Maria Tsheshkovskaia, Ken Ronan
4: (Seated) Christine Lynn, (Standing) Rick Goldsmith and Mary Stern
5: Ted Campbell, Suzi Goldsmith
6: Jim Batmasian, Dave Aronberg and Marta Batmasian
September/October 2025 issue. Vol. 45 No. 7. The following are trademarks in the state of Florida of JES Media, and any use of these trademarks without the express written consent of JES Media is strictly prohibited: Savor the Avenue; Tastemakers of Delray; Tastemakers at Mizner; Florida Style and Design; Delray Beach magazine; Boca Raton, South Florida At Its Best; bocamag.com; Florida Table; Boca Raton magazine. Boca (ISSN0740-2856) is published 8 times a year (September/October, November/December, January, February, March, April, May/June and July/August) by JES Media. Editorial, advertising and administrative offices: 1000 Clint Moore Road, Suite 103, Boca Raton, FL, 33487. Telephone: 561/997-8683. Please address all editorial and advertising correspondence to the above address. Periodicals postage paid at Boca Raton, Fla., and additional mailing offices. Subscriptions: $24.95/8 issues, $34.95/16 issues (shipping fee included for one- and two-year rates). Single copy $6.95. No whole or part of the content may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of Boca magazine, excepting individually copyrighted articles and photographs. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Boca magazine, P.O. Box 820, Boca Raton, FL 33429-9943.
WHERE: Good Night John Boy at Delray Beach Market
WHAT: Good Night John Boy (GNJB) entered Delray Beach’s nightlife scene with an electric slide during a festive grand opening celebration. Guests were given a preview of Forward Hospitality Group’s ‘70s-inspired discotheque, enjoying groovy craft cocktails, live DJ tunes, and dancing in the neon-soaked ambiance. Taking its name from “The Waltons” TV show, GNJB marries the aesthetics of your grandparents’ woodpaneled basement with the electric disco atmosphere of Studio 54, transporting guests back to the “Swingin’ 70s” to boogie all night on the multi-colored LED dance floor.
1: Hitting the dance floor at Good Night John Boy
2: Emily Batten, Tiffany Tino, Sofie Corrigan, Elizabeth Johnson
3: Beth McLeod, Bobby Sotka
4: Alba Quintero
5: ‘70s-inspired thrills at Good Night John Boy
Intercoastal Wealth Planning is a financial planning firm that focuses on guiding clients through challenging markets, understanding their risk and other Life transitions. Working with clients who are accumulating wealth as well as business owners who need to understand how to turn their life‘s work into their retirement income stream. We have a new location at 6751 North Federal Highway, Suite 400 • Boca Raton, FL 33487. Call us for an appointment at 561.210.7339.
The Rotary Club of Downtown Boca Raton is partying for a cause on Nov. 1, celebrating 100 years of Boca Raton history and a decade of the club’s Mayors Ball fundraisers. The black-tie gala at The Boca Raton features an evening of dining, dancing, and indulgence, as well as honoring community members with its four prestigious awards: the George Long Award, J.C. Mitchell Award, Susan Whelchel Award, and the Addison Mizner Award. Since 2015, the event has created an immeasurable impact, raising funds for the Club’s Service Above Self grants.
561.289.0436 rotarydowntownbocaraton.org info@rotarydowntownbocaraton.org
Wish & Shoes is Boca/Delray’s premiere women’s boutique. Featuring clothing, shoes, handbags jewelry and accessories from some of the hottest American & European designers, Wish & Shoes has built a solid reputation through the years of sourcing many unique items that you won’t find anywhere else. Women who know fashion shop at WISH! Those who don’t, WISH they did.
325 E. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, FL • 561.919.9474 16850 Jog Road, Delray Beach • 561.638.7700
E. Indiantown Road, #B-01 Jupiter, FL 33477 • 561.821.9474
wishandshoes.com
Written by MARIE SPEED
It’s only a few weeks until fall kicks in, marking the official end of summer silliness and the start of serious back-to-school, back-to-work, and getting battle-ready for the onslaught of our foreboding social season. In South Florida, I think they call this “shoulder season,” which kind of feels like a surplus summer, a holding pattern before real life begins. It’s also our last two months of hurricane season, also known as Real Hurricane Season, with no Saharan dust protection, no cool-down—just a successive line of menacing nunchuks propelled off the coast of Africa and aimed squarely at the State of Florida.
Tracking hurricanes and wondering if we’ll ever be able to open our windows again is a poor substitute for reviewing the family vacation photos of everyone I know on Facebook, which was a highlight of my summer. It was also a source of wonder, as it reminded me every day how different things are now from when I was a kid.
This summer, there were people whose kids went to summer camps with resort-sized pools and beaches and all kinds of activities, from horseback riding to underwater exploration. Many families went to Paris or Tuscany or to five-star cruises in the Mediterranean. Everyone had pictures of obscure historic sites, which they dutifully explained in excruciating detail. (“The microstate of San Marino is the site of Guaita Castle, one of the three towers of San Marino, also called the First Tower, dating back to the 11th century, although it was rebuilt in the 15th century, and was used to protect the tiny city on Mount Titano, before becoming a prison.”)
When I was a kid, the family vacation involved at best an epic car trip, usually across most of America, including the Mojave Desert. We always left before dawn to “make good time”—Rule No. 1 for my father, who followed his carefully plotted AAA TripTik map like a pilgrim burning toward Mecca. We stayed in roadside motels that had neon signs saying “Vacancy” or “No Vacancy,” and if God was good, they had a swimming pool and a color TV.
I remember a great road stop was Stuckey’s, and I can’t remember where we ate but I am sure no one ever took pictures of their food. We always went to national parks along the way, but there were no “timed passes” back then or crowds or selfies in front of the yawning Grand Canyon. We three kids were relegated to the backseat all day, and we played the license plate game or Auto Bingo and tried not to get carsick as we stared at the endless parade of cornfields sliding past our windows.
That kind of vacation is largely gone, and summer now unofficially ends before August, unlike the old days when you had up until Labor Day. We are, however, still living in whatever that “shoulder season” means, and we need the solace of Things To Look Forward
To. So here they are: SEC football, already underway; Boca’s Ballroom Battle Sept. 20; stone crab season Oct. 15; and massive 12-foot light-up Halloween skeletons at Home Depot starting now.
Summer may be over for the rest of America, but not here, not yet. We can still rustle up some memories now, and extend those vacations right up to November.
Chef Rino Aprea Brings Brooklyn’s Fine Italian Fare to Boca Raton
From Angelo’s of Mulberry Street and Ponte Vecchio in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, Rino’s brings fine Italian fare and a lively atmosphere to downtown Boca Raton.
FRIDAY LOBSTER NIGHT - 1 1/4 lb Lobster Served Over Linguine With Choice of Spicy Red or White Sauce - $42 ALL NEW SPECIALS
$55 PRE FIXE MENU - Tuesday - Saturday 5pm-6:45pm! Choose From 9 Starters, 10 Entrees, Plus Dessert
HAPPY HOUR - Daily 5pm-7pm at Bar Only
LADIES NIGHT - Ladies Drink Free Thursdays at Bar Only
•Live Music Thursdays & Saturdays
•Private Party Room • Off-Premise Catering • Gift Cards - For Every $100 - Get $20 Free CALL FOR RESERVATIONS 561-244-8282 • rinosofboca.com 39 SE 1ST AVENUE, BOCA RATON, FL 33432
RINO’S 3RD ANNUAL HALLOWEEN PARTY
Friday Oct 31st - Music, Costume Contest & Prizes
HOURS: 5PM-10PM - CLOSED SUNDAY & MONDAY, JULY - SEPTEMBER Open on Mondays Starting October 1st and 7 Days a Week After October 20th
