Boca Raton magazine

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SUMMER TRAVEL GREAT GETAWAYS

STAR ON THE RISE

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THE [ONLY ] BOCA RATON MAGAZINE

THE LIST THAT HAS BOCA BUZZING

100 NEWSMAKERS, COOL EVENTS, HOT CHEFS, LOCAL HEROES AND SHOCKING MOMENTS FROM THE PAST YEAR

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eScApe the ordinAry And experience the extrAordinAry S.W. corner of St. AndreWS Blvd. & GlAdeS rd. | 6100 GlAdeS rd. in BocA rAton 561.482.9610 | WWW.SAlonoASiSofBocA.com | open 7 dAyS A Week connect With uS on SAlonoASiS ~ As Seen On Style Network ~

July/Aug. 2012, Vol. 32, Issue 4

features

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Style

Put the top down and give fashion a spin as summer style meets vintage automobiles. photography by bridges aderhold

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the Boca 100

It’s hard to believe just how much happened in and around Boca this past year— but you will after diving in to our annual list of the 100 newsmakers, heroes, events and oddities that defined our community. by kevin kaminski, cassie morien, marie speed and john thomason

110 Jantzen swimwear, price upon request (PUR), from Serendipity, Boca Raton; necklaces and earrings, PUR, from Oggi Murano Gallery, The Shops at Boca Center; Christian Louboutin shoes, $1,795, Prada clutch, $695 and Miu Miu sunglasses, $290, from Saks Fifth Avenue, Town Center at Boca Raton; Verdura compact, PUR, from Betteridge Jewelers, Palm Beach; rhinestone bangle, PUR, from Ann Taylor, Town Center when U want to know

Black Magic woMan

Retired Miami-Dade police detective Amy Godoy, perhaps the nation’s foremost authority on occult crimes, takes readers inside the world of Cuban Santería and Haitian voodoo. by gaspar gonzález

[ bocamag.com ]

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July/Aug. 2012 vol. 32 no. 4

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departments

16

Mail Readers comment on articles in recent issues of Boca Raton.

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Editor’s lEttEr As evidenced by the Boca 100, the centerpiece of our summer issue, the community has plenty to celebrate. by kevin kaminski

21

CurrEnts Boca Raton keeps you connected to South Florida with the latest trends, tips and news in five categories.

21 Shop: SPF beauty for the beach; stylish summer sandals 27 Body: Aquatic workout adventures; what’s happening at Scripps 33 home: Adding visual impact to flat spaces with dimensional tiles 39 Travel: Summer specials at the area’s most glamorous resorts 43 a&e: Classic record stores on the comeback; catching up with a Boca novelist; the summer Hot List

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Florida tablE We all scream for the inside scoop on ice cream in the summer edition of Boca Raton’s culinary section. Also, we check out the local restaurant scene and put the classic Reuben sandwich to the Challenge.

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FaCEs Meet a Boca native turning heads as an international supermodel, the man behind the iPic sensation at Mizner Park and one of the most polarizing figures on the Ultimate Fighting Championship scene.

by kevin kaminski and john thomason

84

spotlight: don shula The legendary former coach of the Miami Dolphins weighs in on his Hall of Fame career, life after football, his restaurant empire and much more.

by marie speed

131

dining guidE Don’t leave home without it—our comprehensive guide to the best restaurants in South Florida, including new reviews of two Boca entries: Mario’s Osteria and Philippe.

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our town Spend time with the locals who make our community so special—including a teen racing sensation, a man with a highflying hobby, the new football coach at FAU, a Boca woman for whom each day is a happy one and a high school student hitting all the right notes for charity.

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pEoplE You might just see some familiar faces in our snapshots from talked-about social events in and around Boca Raton.

by cassie morien

167

spEEd buMps Summer used to be the time to get out of town—but sometimes the best adventures are right in our backyard.

by marie speed

168

My turn A recent stay at Boca Raton Regional Hospital gives the author yet another reason to celebrate the selfless role of the caretaker. by john shuff

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by kevin kaminski, cassie morien, marie speed and john thomason

by bill citara

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july/august

The MasterCard Brand Mark is a registered trademark of MasterCard International Incorporated.

We give you credit for your great fashion sense.

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bocamag.com WEB EXTRAS

Check out these bonus items connected to stories in the July/August issue of Boca Raton.

GIRL GONE WILD: Meet

Gabby Wild, a former Miss Boca Raton-turned-animal activist who is raising awareness for endangered species one dress at a time.

INSIDE IPIC: A&E editor John Thomason takes readers inside iPic Theaters at Mizner Park for a peek at all the bells and whistles at the new cinema sensation.

FISTS OF FURY: Read more

from editor Kevin Kaminski’s interview with UFC fighter—and Boca resident—Rashad Evans.

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS:

Check out the suggested songs from the local bands mentioned in our “Boca 100” feature, and see trailers for each the 10 movies that made our Voodoo Film Festival list in the “Black Magic Woman” feature.

Rashad Evans

Gabby Wild

Do you LIKE Boca Raton magazine? Write on our Facebook wall:

[ ] Leah Eneas told us to keep up the great work. [ ] Miss Boca Raton 2013, Ieschia May, thanked us for including her in our May/June issue.

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BocaMag To-Go

Check out our mobile website on your smartphone!

Just visit bocamag. com to access dining reviews and local events.

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information in our Health/Beauty blog, “Spring Cleaning.”

[ ] Lindsay E. Usher shared a gallery of photos from Boston Proper’s “A Proper Affair.”

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Boca Raton is covering your community like never before, including exclusive video reports at bocamag.com with recaps of major local events, special segments based on stories in the magazine and behind-the-scenes footage from our fashion shoots.

Stay connected with our blogS: a&e: John thomason covers the local cultural scene—from concert, movie and art exhibit reviews to profile stories—Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

dining: Readers are hungry for food editor bill citara’s restaurant reviews and foodie news every Monday, Tuesday and Friday.

Shopping: Discover upcoming trunk shows, store openings, money-saving tips, hot new beauty products and fashion trends Tuesday through Thursday.

community: melissa malamut covers our health and beauty beat, while angela lutin tackles your tough dating questions. Read about local happenings every Monday, Thursday and Friday. delray beach: marie Speed reports on Delray events and news in our special Delray Beach blog, every Thursday.

Who’s hungry?

Our up-to-date dining guide is available at bocamag.com and on our mobile app.

Search the best restaurants in South Florida by name, price, dress code, as well as unique features, like waterfront dining, valet parking, and live entertainment.

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Check out the July/August “Web Extras” for more SPF beauty products, like Chanel “Vitalumiere Aqua” (SPF 15), $58, from Neiman Marcus, Town Center at Boca Raton

PICTURE THIS

Can’t get enough of the People photos in Boca Raton?

Head to our website, and click through our photo galleries at bocamag.com/photos.

july/august

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editor

VINTAgE CHANEL • WHAT gOES AROUND COMES AROUND • WILDFOX • WINK • 12TH STREET BY CYNTHIA VINCENT • 291 • 7 FOR

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HALO • BLU MOON • BOULEE • BYOD • CAMILLA • CAMILLA AND MARC • CHARLOTTE RONSON • CHASER • CHELSEA FLOWER • CLOVER CANYON • CORSON • CURRENT/ELLIOTT • CUT 25 • DAVID LERNER • DOUgLAS HANNANT PINK • ELIZABETH & JAMES • ENZA COSTA • ESCAPE BY MATHEW WILLIAMSON • ETOILE ISABEL MARANT • EQUIPMENT • gEMMA • gOLDSIgN • gRYPHON • HALSTON • HANKY PANKY • HAUTE HIPPIE • J BRAND • JENNIFER HALEY • JENNIFER ZEUNER • JENS PIRATE BOOTY • JEROME DREYFUSS • JOIE • JUST CAVALLI • LINE • LNA • LOVE SAM • LOVE QUOTES • MADISON MARCUS • MARA HOFFMAN • MASON BY MICHELLE MASON • MATTHEW WILLIAMSON • MCQ BY ALEXANDER MCQUEEN • MINKPINK • MINNIE ROSE • MISSONI SCARVES & SHOES • MW BY MATTHEW WILLIAMSON • MYNE • NATION LTD • NAVEN • OF TWO MINDS • PARKER • POUR LA VICTOIRE • RACHEL ZOE • RAMY BROOK • ROBBIE & NIKKI • ROBERT RODRIgUEZ • ROMY gOLD • SON OF JOHN • SMYTHE • SPANX • STRETTA • SYDNEY EVAN • T BAgS • TOP SECRET • TORN BY RONNY KOBO • TROVE TEEKS • VEDA • VINTAgE CHANEL • WHAT gOES AROUND COMES AROUND • WILDFOX • WINK • 12TH STREET BY CYNTHIA VINCENT • 291 • 7 FOR ALL MANKIND • 10 CROSBY BY DEREK LAMM • AKA NEW YORK • ALC • ALEXIS • ALICE + OLIVIA • AARON ASHE • AT PIECE • BLACK HALO • BLU MOON • BOULEE • BYOD • CAMILLA • CAMILLA AND MARC • CHARLOTTE RONSON • CHASER • CHELSEA FLOWER • CLOVER CANYON • CORSON • CURRENT/ELLIOTT • CUT 25 • DAVID LERNER • DOUgLAS HANNANT PINK • ELIZABETH & JAMES • ENZA COSTA • ESCAPE BY MATHEW WILLIAMSON • ETOILE ISABEL MARANT • EQUIPMENT • gEMMA • gOLDSIgN • gRYPHON • HALSTON • HANKY PANKY • HAUTE HIPPIE • J BRAND • JENNIFER HALEY • JENNIFER ZEUNER • JENS PIRATE BOOTY • JEROME DREYFUSS • JOIE • JUST CAVALLI • LINE • LNA • LOVE SAM

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cassie morien art directors

lori pierino kathleen ross photographer

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adrienne acton

contributing writers

gaspar gonzález melissa malamut john shuff contributing photographers

bridges aderhold cristina morgado pilar taurinski scot zimmerman food editor

bill citara

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home editor

brad mee

editorial/web interns

ashley harris jen stone

account managers

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carey mckearnan

director of special publications

bruce klein jr.

special projects manager

gail eagle

JES publishing 561/997-8683 (phone) 561/997-8909 (fax) www.bocamag.com

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Boca Raton magazine is published seven times a year

by JES Publishing. The entire contents of Boca Raton magazine is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher.

Boca Raton magazine accepts no responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts and/or photographs and assumes no liability for products or services advertised herein. Boca Raton magazine reserves the right to edit, rewrite or refuse material and is not responsible for products. Please refer to corporate masthead.

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july/august

JES publishing

president/publisher

margaret mary shuff group editor-in-chief

marie speed

controller

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circulation director

david brooks

subscription services

david shuff

JES publishing

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publishers of Boca raton / delray Beach Mizner’s dream / worth avenue greater Boca raton chamber of commerce annual salt lake / Utah Bride and groom Utah style & design / o.c. tanner Florida Magazine association 2011 charlie awards charlie award (first place) best new magazine (Delray Beach) best custom publication (Worth Avenue)

bronze award best overall magazine (Boca Raton)

2010 charlie awards charlie award (first place) best overall magazine (Boca Raton) best overall design (Boca Raton) best overall use of photography (Florida Table)

silver award best written magazine (Boca Raton)

2009 charlie awards charlie award (first place) best overall magazine (Boca Raton) best overall design (Boca Raton) best feature (Boca Raton)

silver award best written magazine (Boca Raton) best overall use of photography (Florida Table)

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2008 charlie awards (honors below all for Boca Raton) charlie award (first place)

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ServiceS [ directory ] Boca Raton magazine is published seven times a year, with February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October, November and December/January issues. If you have any questions or comments regarding our magazine, call us at 561/997-8683. We’d love to hear from you.

[ subscription, copy purchasing and distribution ] For any changes or questions regarding your subscription or to purchase back issues, call David Shuff in subscription services at 877/553-5363. To inquire about distribution points, ask for circulation director David Brooks at the same number.

[ advertising resources ] Take advantage of Boca Raton’s prime advertising space—put your ad dollars to work in the premier publication of South Florida. For more information, contact manager Carey McKearnan (carey@bocamag.com).

[ custom publishing ] Create a magazine tailored to fit the needs and character of your business/organization. Ideal for promotions, special events, introduction of new services, etc. Contact Marie Speed (editor@bocamag.com).

[ story queries/web queries ]

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Boca Raton magazine values the concerns and interests of our readers. Story queries for the print version of Boca Raton should be submitted by e-mail to Marie Speed (editor@bocamag.com) or Kevin Kaminski (kevin@bocamag.com). Submit information/queries regarding our website to Cassie Morien (cassie@bocamag. com). We try to respond to all queries, but due to the large volume that we receive, this may not be possible.

[ letters ] Your thoughts and comments are important to us. All letters to the editor may be edited for style, grammar and length. We reserve the right to withhold any letters deemed inappropriate for publication. Send letters to the address listed below, or to Kevin Kaminski (kevin@bocamag.com).

[ arts & entertainment ]

Dental Implants Change Lives!!!

Every day in my practice I strive for great results for my patients and I can assure you that, as a Board Certified Prosthodontist, I have the education and training and the experience to give all of my patients the smile that they have always wanted. My Prosthodontic training which took place under the tutelage of the Master Dentists in the Southern California area, gives me the ability to create a lifelike, beautiful smile that will enhance anyone’s life. I use dental implants for a lot of my work because they allow me to easily replace missing teeth, but make no mistake, it is the ability to work with porcelain in crowns and veneers that allows me to get the very best results. www.davidoffdental.com exists to educate the professsion and the patient population in understanding what can be achieved with dental implants and a sound Prosthodontic approach to dental restorations. If you are having problems with your teeth, or if you just want to improve your smile, www.davidoffdental.com is the place for you to start learning what can be done. If I can be of any service to you (I do see patients from all over the world), please feel free to contact Me… Read more about Dr. Davidoff and his Dental Practice at the world’s most popular dental implant site:

www.davidoffdental.com

[ dining guide ] Our independent reviews of restaurants in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. A fine, reliable resource for residents and tourists. For more information, contact Marie Speed or Kevin Kaminski.

[ people ] A photo collage of social gatherings and events in Boca Raton and South Florida. All photos submitted should be clearly identified and accompanied by a brief description of the event (who, what, where, when); photos will not be returned. E-mail images to people@ bocamag.com. Or mail photos to: “People” Boca Raton magazine 5455 N. Federal Highway, Suite M Boca Raton, FL 33487

S. Robert Davidoff, DMD, FACP • Board Certified Prosthodontist 3695 W. Boynton Beach Blvd. • Boynton Beach, FL • 561-734-0505

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Where to go, what to do and see throughout South Florida. Please submit information regarding fundraisers, art openings, theater, readings, concerts or other performances to A&E editor John Thomason (john.thomason@bocamag.com). Deadline for entries in an upcoming Arts & Entertainment section is three months before publication (e.g., to list an event in July/ August, submit info by April 20).

3/20/12 4:26 PM

july/august

THANK YOU FOR SUBSCRIBING TO BOCA RATON MAGAZINE!

We appreciate your business and want you to get the most from your subscription. This customer guide will help you contact us for all your subscription needs.

[ first issue ] Your first issue will be mailed four-to-six weeks after receipt of your order. Subsequent issues will arrive every other month and monthly in November and February.

[ missing or late issues ] Once in a while, production, transportation or the postal service may delay delivery. If you don’t get an issue, or if your magazine is repeatedly late, please call and report your problem to our subscription department at 877/553-5363, or send an e-mail to: subscriptions@bocamag.com.

Celebrating 25 Years

[ if you have questions about your invoice ... ] If you have already paid your bill and then receive a new bill, here’s what you should do: 1. If you have paid your bill within the past four weeks, ignore the new invoice. (The computer simply has not given your account credit quickly enough.)

2. It’s most likely that your payment and our notice just crossed in the mail; check the date on the notice to see when we mailed it.

3. If you get another bill or renewal notice, call our subscription department at 877/553-5363, or send an e-mail to subscriptions@bocamag.com, and we will straighten out the problem.

[ change of address ]

permanent: If you are changing your address, send us your complete old address, complete new address, including ZIP code, and the effective date of the change.

You can also leave us a message with your old and new address by calling 877/553-5363.

GO sILk HELMUT LANG • JEAN PAUL GAULTIER • RIck OwENs LILIEs • L’AGENcE MAJEsTIc • FIORENTINI + BAkER • HANdwRITTEN ROYAL PALM PLACE • BOCA RATON • 561-367-9600 LAS OLAS • FT. LAUDERDALE • 954-524-2585

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temporary or seasonal: Please send us your complete permanent address, your complete temporary address and the dates that you want your issues forwarded.

[ back issues ] If you are interested in purchasing any back issues, please call 877/553-5363, indicating the issue date you would like. The cost of each issue including shipping and handling is $9.95.

[ gift subscriptions ] You’ll find a subscription to Boca Raton magazine makes a thoughtful and useful gift that lasts throughout the year. If you’d like more information about giving a gift subscription, please call our subscription department at 877/553-5363.

[ online subscriptions ] Receive additional savings by subscribing online. Visit bocamag.com for more information.

[ for any of the above services, please contact our subscriptions services department ] Call TOLL FREE: 877/553-5363 E-mail: subscriptions@bocamag.com Write: Boca Raton magazine Subscription Department 5455 N. Federal Highway, Suite M Boca Raton, FL 33487

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mail

“Before you and your staff from Boca Nursing Ser vices star ted taking care of Helen and I, we existed; now we are living again! Thank you, Rose.”

-Dr. K.D.

Cover Kudos

One of my co-workers sent me a photo she took of the March/April cover of Boca Raton magazine at Barnes & Noble—[and it looked] FABULOUS! Thank you so much for thinking of us and including us in your [fashion] shoot.

Kizzy Sanchez Sherven Director of Marketing/Events Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens

Rose Glamoclija, R.N. Owner and Administrator

It’s The Personal Touch That Makes The Difference

Offering QuaLity Private Duty nurSing Care anD Care ManageMent ServiCeS

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editor’s note: Christine Gianacaci, 22, was one of the six members of the Lynn University family to die in the Haiti earthquake in January 2010. For more information on the nonprofit that Jean and John started in their daughter’s name—one that benefits organizations in and around Boca—visit christineshope.org.

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Thank you for the wonderful article that appeared in the March/April issue [Our Town] of the magazine. We have long been subscribers to Boca Raton and were so honored to be featured in such a widely read and respected magazine. This will undoubtedly bring more awareness to Christine’s Hope for Kids and enable us to help more children in need in South Florida.

Organizations such as yours, both by action and example, serve a large part in making Christine’s dream a reality. It is through [such] support that we are able to continue to strengthen our foundation and carry on our mission of helping kids and putting smiles on the faces of those less fortunate.

Jean and John Gianacaci Hopewell, N.J.

5/18/12 3:22 PM

[John Shuff ’s] articles are always my favorite part of Boca Raton magazine—in fact, I usually open the back cover and read his page before even turning to the front cover. Both Phil and I each have adult children with disabilities. Sister Paulette had it right [March/April, “My Turn”] when she said, “Please remember that life is not a problem to be solved but a mystery to be lived.”

It is the wisdom of others’ experiences that lead us to answer our own mysteries. That is why hope is so powerful as we

july/august

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I was watching the “Today Show” this morning, and one of the lead stories was about the noticeable increase in the number of autistic children. Besides listing child developmental issues to watch for, the interviewee also, like [John Shuff ], mentioned how the word “autism” now covers a broader spectrum of terms formerly used for developmentally challenged tots and children.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the [February] column you wrote, a story that should have been showcased on that “Today” segment. Only someone as tender as you, John, who observed and understood a friend’s plight such as Paul’s, could have written a piece like that with so much feeling. It was very, very moving, and yet not sad.

Thank you for sharing that story with your readers. As you may recall, I also have a special needs grandchild, James, named for his father and my son. In your Valentine’s issue, reading “My Turn” helped bring them closer to my heart.

Dick Robinson Palm Beach Gardens

N

©2012. Owned and operated by Douglas Elliman Florida, LLC. Equal Housing Opportunity

walk difficult paths. As long as someone is alive, there is always hope; we do not have to do it alone. I have a wonderful acronym for hope—hearing other people’s experiences.

Thanks for sharing all of your experiences; you keep hope alive all year long.

Joyce Z. Hunter Lauderdale-By-The-Sea

EW

Boca Bacchanal

Thank you so much for all you did to make Boca Bacchanal 2012 a success.

It was a fabulous anniversary that was enjoyed by all. Your enthusiasm and willingness to work with us at all levels is vital to our success.

The Historical Society is very appreciative of the support we have received from Boca Raton magazine through the years.

We appreciate not only your sponsorship but also your advice and participation.

Thanks from all of us for your efforts—and the significant efforts of your staff, who contributed to a memorable weekend.

Mary Csar Executive Director Boca Raton Historical Society when U want to know

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[ b o c a m a g .5/21/12 c o m ]1:56 PM 17

editor’sletter [ by kevin kaminski ]

Boca’s New Reality N

othing ever happens in and around Boca.

We’re the poor man’s Palm Beach, a faux paradise for schemers and dreamers, a playground for the surgically enhanced ... the punch line in a “Seinfeld” episode.

These are the stereotypes that have long dogged our area, and while, yes, such generalizations typically require a small seed of truth to take root, it doesn’t mean that a local candidate will sweep the Boca vote this fall with a “Botox for Breakfast” promise.

OK. Maybe that would sway a few undecideds. But that’s not the point (pardon the needle pun).

The point is that perception, especially as you put the events of a given year in perspective, bears little resemblance to reality when it comes to our community.

Now, to be perfectly honest, we didn’t set out to play “MythBusters” last year when we debuted the “Boca 100”—the centerpiece of the July/August issue. It started as a way to chronicle the numerous (and varied) ways that our community makes headlines. But as often happens during production of a large-scale feature in our magazine, an underlying theme emerged.

In this case, that theme couldn’t be clearer. Boca is having a moment that stands to change the way our town (and its surrounding communities) is viewed. Don’t believe it? Then turn to page 89 and check out some of the storylines that defined the last calendar year.

In addition to hosting the president of the United States this spring, Florida Atlantic University opened the turnstiles to a new 30,000-seat football stadium and launched the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine. Follow the economic thread that ties on-campus football, the new medical school, and the rest of the services and jobs created by the university and its satellite campuses, and it’s estimated (according to a recent study) that FAU has an annual impact of $4 billion on the region.

Our other local college, Lynn University, will have its political moment in the spotlight this fall, when it hosts the last of the nationally televised debates between the presidential candidates. But that was hardly the only news coming out of Lynn, which, among other things, staged the coolest—and most secretive—concert of the year with a certain Piano Man. Boca’s benevolent spirit continued to make a difference

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throughout the community, whether it was the $25 million donated by Bernie Marcus’ foundation to create a neuroscience institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital, the simple, proactive premise behind the new Impact 100 event, or the labor of love co-founded

by Jay Van Vechten and Zack Rice that gives thousands of children and adults with disabilities an afternoon of boating memories.

And what about the local businesses and individuals that received national accolades, including the general manager of Broken Sound Club, John Crean, who was recognized as one of the best in his industry.

Is our slice of South Florida perfect? Hardly—look no further than the panty raids that went on at Victoria’s Secret this year (item No. 62 in the Boca 100 for those interested). So let the Chelsea Handlers of the world have a little fun at our expense.

We know the truth: that the digs about our retirees and silicone queens don’t even begin to tell the story of this community. It’s a story, as the Boca 100 shows, that gives us ample reason to cheer—and plenty to which to look forward.

Enjoy the issue—and have a great summer.

july/august

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Restaurants, Shops, Salons, Services, Live Entertainment, Class A Office Space and Luxury Rental Residences Federal Highway, South of Palmetto Park Road, Downtown Boca Raton For more information, please visit www.royalpalmplace.com or call 561.392.8920 Official Partner of

The Talk of the Town

currents [ by cassie morien ]

shop Here Comes the Sun

Who says you can’t radiate cool in the South Florida heat? As the following pages show, it helps to keep your skin smooth and safe with SPF beauty products. And it doesn’t hurt slipping perfectly pampered feet into the season’s hottest sandals.

when U want to know

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currentsSHOP

beach-approved beauty

Keep your face, hair and body beautiful (and safe from the sun’s harmful rays) this summer with a few of these SPF beauty products.

LiP baLm “Lemon Drop” (SPF 15), $3.29, Target, Boca Raton

fOundaTiOn “Matchmaker” (SPF 15), $33, MAC Cosmetics, Town Center at Boca Raton

face/necK PrOTecTiOn Kiss My Face “Face Factor” (SPF 50), $13.95, Whole Foods Market, Boca Raton

KnOw YOur TermS

SPF: Sun protection factor UVB: Ultraviolet-B light rays; the main cause of skin cancers UVA: Ultraviolet-A light rays; less likely to cause sunburn, but deeply affect the skin, causing wrinkling and aging damage Sunscreen: A sheer gel, lotion or cream that protects your top layer of skin from sun damage but does not usually protect down to your dermal skin layer.

Sunblock: Most often an opaque gel, lotion or cream that protects against both UVA and UVB rays.

Consists of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, two of the most important ingredients in sun protection.

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cOSmeTicS Bronzing powder, $23, MAC Cosmetics, Town Center

Hair care Aveda “Sun Care Protection Hair Veil,” $26, Dorjon Hair and Cosmetics, Boca Raton

daiLY uV care Chanel Précision UV Essentiel (SPF 50), $52, Saks Fifth Avenue, Town Center

Skin-cAre AdVice

Licensed paramedical aesthetician Janette Menosky specializes in antiaging, acne and preventative skin care at Siperstein Dermatology in Boca (950 Glades Road, 561/364-7774). She sheds some light on how to keep your skin safe this summer.

LOOKing fOr a medicaL-grade PrOducT? Try a doctorprescribed moisturizer like Intellishade from Revision Skincare, which Menosky says works on all skin types.

In addition to helping repair past sun damage, Intellishade works as a moisturizer, sunblock and foundation.

uSe ViTamin c as part of your skin-care regimen. Menoksy says Vitamin C and sunscreen complement each other. Vitamin C is an antioxidant and helps protect skin against everyday environmental challenges. It also helps prevent further hyperpigmentation.

dOn’T LeaVe THe HOuSe without applying an SPF moisturizer/base. wHen PurcHaSing SunbLOcK or sunscreen, check the zinc oxide and titanium dioxide levels. A sunscreen with SPF 70 is not as effective if it only has 2 percent titanium dioxide.

july/august

jewels in time ShoppeS at the Sanctuary

4400 n. Federal highway, Boca raton, Florida 33431 (1/4 mile south of yamato road, on the east side of the street)

(561) 368-1454 ▼ (888) 755-tIMe www.jewelsintime.com

Specializing in fine new & pre-owned timepieces Diamonds ▼ Fashion & estate Jewelry ▼ Buy - Sell - trade 5 not an authorized agent, representative or affiliate of any watch appearing in this advertisement. all watch names, dials & designs appearing in this advertisement are registered trademarks in the u.S.a.

currentsSHOP

Flashy Flats

Treat your feet this summer with a pair of bright, fashionable sandals.

Walk It Off Rebecca Minkoff “Bardot” T-Strap sandals, $275, Saks Fifth Avenue, Town Center

Rebecca Minkoff “Baha” tie-up sandals, $165, Saks Fifth Avenue, Town Center

Christian Louboutin “Vaudoo Flat,” $695, christianlouboutin.com

Loeffler Randall “Fawn” gladiator, $295, Saks Fifth Avenue, Town Center

dOn’t OverdO It: Most people schedule pedicures every two to three weeks; allow time between pedicures so that you avoid having too much cuticle removed.

Crystal Ankle Strap Sandal, $169, Boston Proper, bostonproper. com; available July 16

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Scrub-a-dub: Exfoliating with a great scrub, which removes dead skin, can help maintain feet that are dry and in need of some TLC. Organic sugar, wheat germ, oatmeal and other organic ingredients can be used to help hydrate the skin and nail beds.

Get SlIck: Soaking feet in water with essential oils can help rejuvenate the skin. Maui Spa offers clients a selection of lemongrass, lavender, sage, citrus oils and juniper.

Tory Burch “Aine” sandals, $225, Tory Burch, Town Center

24

sasha Connolly, spa director at The Maui Spa & Wellness Center in Boca (2100 N.W. Boca Raton Blvd., 561/395-7733), provides a few tips on how to keep your beachbound feet smooth.

HOW SWeet It IS: The chocolate pedicure offered by Maui Spa has nothing to do with dessert; the scrub and mask are chocolate, which contains antioxidants that help hydrate and heal the skin.

july/august

Youth, Confidence & Vitality Look and feel your best at any age!

Breast Breast Augmentation Breast Lift Breast Liposuction Breast Reconstruction Breast Reduction Breast Asymmetry Body Contouring Abdominoplasty Arm Contouring

Dr. Keusch is proud to announce CeLLuLa Ze: the brand new FDA-a pprove technology for Cellulite d !

Visit our w www.dr ebsite at keus for amazin ch.com g before and after photos.

FaCe and neCk Botox Exilis Therapy Eyelid Lift Facelift Fraxel Re:pair Laser Resurfacing Juvederm Neck Contouring Sidelaze Soft Tissue Fillers

Buttock Lift

skin Care and Laser Center BLU U Light Acne Therapy

Cellulaze

Elite MPX Laser

Exilis Therapy Liposuction Medial Thigh Lift Smart Lipo Thigh Contouring Total Lower Body Lift

Erbium Laser Resurfacing Exilis Therapy IPL Photofacials Laser Hair Removal Sapphire Three Photofacial Sclerotherapy

Like us at www.FaCeBook.CoM/drkeusCh and Be the First to Learn aBout our sPeCiaLs!

Excellence in plastic surgery, in our 22nd year!

Cristina F. keusCh, M.d., P.a.

950 Glades Road, Suite 3 Boca Raton, FL 33431 Tel. 561-368-9455 Fax 561-394-8210 www.drkeusch.com

currents [ by melissa malamut ]

body Fitness by the Sea

Pilar Taurinski

Who says that exercise enthusiasts have to spend the summer hibernating in an air-conditioned gym? Sure, it’s hotter than a bowl of five-alarm chili outside, but this is South Florida, which means we have an ocean in our backyard. Beat the heat—and shed some calories—with a workout in the Atlantic.

when U want to know

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currentsBODY

wide world of water sports

350 calories per hour

Turn your South Florida summer into a series of aquatic workout adventures.

Paddleboarding Calorie burn: The “it” workout of

500 calories per hour

Calorie burn: Small waves send the

more seasoned surfers up north, and that makes our area the perfect place for beginners. Surfing, in addition to burning up to 500 calories per hour, works the core, arms and legs—plus, it’s one of the best ways to improve balance. That said, it’s also the most physically demanding activity on this list.

Make sure you take a lesson before renting a board and heading into the water. rentals, etC.: Island Water Sports in Deerfield Beach (1985 N.E. Second St., 954/427-4929) offers free surfing lessons.

Also, check out “the shack” at Delray Beach Watersports (on the sand, a half-mile south of Atlantic Avenue; 561/279-0008).

Snorkeling Calorie burn: The swimming alone, a total body workout, can burn some 350 calories in one hour. Snorkel masks are available everywhere from Target to your local drug store. For more advanced masks, visit your local dive shop.

Where to snorkel: Check out Red Reef Park in Boca (1400 S. Ocean Blvd., 561/393-7974), which features an artificial reef close to shore; it’s great for beginners.

Count on spotting fish of all colors and stripes, the occasional sea turtle, and eels 28

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and stingrays. City residents can purchase a permit for $45; for nonresidents, it’s $16 during the week and $18 on weekends.

Coral Cove Park in Tequesta (1600 Beach Road, 561/966-6600) boasts a 12,500ton limestone boulder at the heart of a two-acre artificial reef designed to attract a plethora of fish—which it does, sometimes almost too many. Coral Cove also has the most shark sightings in our area.

Note: General estimates for calories burned are based on a 150-pound person.

kayaking Calorie burn: This fun and easy way to sightsee and tone arms can burn 375 calories in one hour.

Where to kayak: The Loxahatchee River in Jupiter (Riverbend Park, 9060 Indiantown Road) offers access points for kayaking. You may see manatees, deer and various birds along the way. Guided tours and kayak rentals are available through Jupiter Outdoor Center (1000 Coastal A1A, 561/7470063) and Canoe Outfitters of Florida (9060 W. Indiantown Road, 561/746-7053).

Check out The Spanish River Paddle Company (bocapaddle.com, 561/705-2716) or Gone Kayaking (gonekayaking.com, 954/326-0935) for rentals and tours of the great kayaking areas in south Palm Beach County like Deerfield Island Park and the Intracoastal Waterway.

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Pilar Taurinski

Surfing

summer 2012 can be performed as a swimming-style exercise, while laying or kneeling on the paddleboard, or as a surfing-style exercise that employs a specially designed paddle (thus, stand-up paddleboarding).

Best of all, it’s surprisingly easy to master.

Paddleboarding, which helps balance and posture, is a killer workout for your core and arms, and it can burn up to 400 calories in an hour. It’s so popular that Paddleboard Yoga and Paddleboard Pilates classes are now offered in our area. rentals, etC.: Call Ocean OM in Fort Lauderdale (954/453-7376, oceanom.com) about sessions for all levels, or check out Surf World in Pompano Beach (435 S. Federal Highway, 954/545-7873) or The Spanish River Paddle Company (see “where to kayak”) for equipment, lessons and classes.

calories per hour

july/august

WE’RE

mor e THAn

mammograms

With over 90,000 diagnostic procedures a year, we’re the region’s leader in breast care.

But at the Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health & Wellness Institute we’re so much more.

Like our Center for Pelvic Floor Disorders, offering the latest in clinical assessment, diagnostics and advanced treatments such as minimally invasive robotic surgery. At our Center for Women’s Specialty Care there are a host of programs including osteoporosis, weight management and a unique focus on preventative cardiology for women. Through our Center for Research and Education, we can provide community outreach events and expert speakers on a variety of health-related topics for women.

All with a focus on service and caring for the unique needs of women at every stage of their lives. The Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health & Wellness Institute. We’re more than mammograms.

6 9 0 M E A D O W S R O A D , B O C A R AT O N | 5 6 1 . 9 5 5 . 4 H E R ( 9 5 5 . 4 4 3 7 ) | B R R H . c o m

currentsBODY

What’s Up at scripps?

Here’s the latest news from South Florida’s renowned biomedical research center.

S

cripps Research Institute is one of the world’s largest nonprofit biomedical research organizations. The Florida facility, in Jupiter, is a 30-acre campus (with another 70 acres available for development in the future). Scripps works on finding treatments for human diseases like HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes, obesity, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and autism.

As always, Scripps is working on a variety of cutting-edge projects, including the following.

Hepatitis C: The National Institutes of Health awarded the Florida campus $1 million for a three-year study to develop new screening tests to find compounds that disable a protein essenTimothy tial to hepatitis Tellinghuisen C virus (HCV) replication.

Hepatitis C, a slow progressing disease that causes inflammation of the liver, affects more than 170 million people worldwide. The new research will focus on a potentially potent, but somewhat ignored, enzyme known as NS2. It breaks down proteins and is necessary for productive infections that produce new viruses.

“The NS2 protein is needed for hepatitis C infections,” says Timothy Tellinghuisen, a professor at Scripps Florida and the principal investigator of the study. “The new grant will help us develop potential chemical tools to look at the role NS2 plays in HCV biology.”

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LympHoma: The National Institutes of Health awarded Scripps $2 million to study B-cell lymphoma, a type of cancer that begins in the immune system and turns normal, disease-fighting cells into canJohn Cleveland cers. B-cell lymphomas tend to occur in older patients and in those whose immune systems have been compromised. It’s one of the most common cancers in the U.S.—and it kills about 20,000 Americans each year.

The study will focus on Myconcoproteins, which are active in more than half of all human tumors and accelerate the rate of cell growth.

“This grant allows us to focus on a new pathway that is controlled

by Myc that we think is suitable to target for the development of new, anticancer drugs,” says John Cleveland, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Cancer Biology and principal investigator of the new five-year study.

“We are very hopeful that learning more about this process will open the door for the development of new treatments.”

age-ReLated memoRy Loss: Scientists at Scripps have

shown that memory loss connected to aging may not be permanent.

In a new study published in the journal ProRon ceedings of Davis the National Academy of Science, Ron Davis, chair of the Department of Neuroscience at Scripps Florida, took a look at memory in the brains of young and old fruit flies. Davis and his team found that, just like in mice and humans, there is a defect that occurs in memory with aging due to age-related impairment of certain neurons. Amazingly, the scientists found that stimulating those same neurons can reverse age-related memory defects.

“This study shows that once the appropriate neurons are identified in people, in principle at least, one could potentially develop drugs to hit those neurons and rescue those memories affected by the aging process,” Davis says.

“In addition, the biochemistry underlying memory formation in fruit flies is remarkably [constant] with that in humans, so that everything we learn about memory formation in flies is likely applicable to human memory and the disorders of human memory.”

Summer race calendar JuLy 4: Runner’s Edge Foundation’s Patriot Dash 5K and 1-Mile (FAU, Boca Raton; 7:15 a.m.; 561/3611950) JuLy 19: Run, Sweat & Beers 5K (Adolph & Rose Levis JCC, Boca Raton; 7 p.m.; levisjcc. org/5k) JuLy 21: Eighth Annual Dreher Park Dash (West Palm Beach, runpalmbeach.com; 7 p.m.; 561/596-0445) JuLy 28: Fourth Annual North Palm Beach Kid’s Triathlon (Village of North Palm Beach; 7 a.m.; 561/841-3386) aug. 11: Greater Fort Lauderdale Road Runner’s Kickoff 5K (Birch State Park; 7 a.m.; 954/4615515) aug. 11: Runner’s Edge Foundation’s South Florida Olympic Games (Boca High School track; 5 p.m.; 561/361-1950)

july/august

“Dr. Cabrera’s honesty and his talent as a surgeon set him apart. His staff is very caring and I always feel very comfortable when I’m there.”

—Natalie richmaN, retired psychologist

before

after

PatieNt

Natalie Richman Dr. Rafael C. Cabrera, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Plastic Surgery Specialists of Boca raton 951 NW 13th Street, Suite 4A Boca Raton, 561/393-6400 pssbocaraton.com

As a retired family therapist, Natalie Richman, made it a point to always provide a professional environment and appearance.

“Because of my profession, I always cared about how I looked,” she said. “It’s a part of who I am.”

Last year, when she peered in the mirror, Natalie noticed that some of the fullness in her face had been eroded by time and age.

“You couldn’t really see the structure of my jawbone,” said Natalie, 78. “I thought it could just look a little softer.”

After trying fillers and injections, Natalie turned to Dr. Rafael Cabrera, a Board Certified Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon who

came highly recommended.

“Natalie was showing some of the typical signs of aging in her mid-face and neck,” Dr. Cabrera said.

Dr. Cabrera recommended a cheeklift and necklift to give Natalie the natural looking improvement she was seeking.

Utilizing simple one-pill sedation, the surgery was performed in one of Dr. Cabrera’s four fully-accredited operating rooms. After a comfortable stay in the recovery suite, Natalie returned to the comfort of her own home.

Soon after, she was joined by a recovery nurse provided by Dr. Cabrera’s office who spent the first night at Natalie’s Boynton Beach residence.

“Our first concern is always patient safety,” Dr. Cabrera said. “Once safety is assured, then our next priority is comfort.”

ADVERTISEMENT

For Natalie, the professionalism of Dr. Cabrera’s team is one of the key reasons why she is recommending him to others.

“When you’re in his office, you never feel like a number,” she said.

Dr. Cabrera believes it’s important for patients not to feel as if they’re a burden.

“Our goal to exceed expectations and to ensure a seamless experience for the patient.

From our anxiety-free sedation options, to our beautiful fully-accredited surgical facility to the level of care from our staff, we don’t make any compromises.”

The combination of professionalism and Dr. Cabrera’s skill, Natalie said, have given her a total experience she was very pleased with.

“They’re very caring and very efficient. I think he does wonderful work,” she said. “I really like what I see in the mirror!”

a s p e c i a l p r o m ot i o n

july/august oct

jul

11-14

14-15

Blue Bell Pirate Weekend NYC Wine & Food Festival Celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Food & Wine, October 11–14. The world’s best chefs, culinary personalities and wine and spirit producers once again join forces in the Big Apple for an unforgettable weekend of food, fun and fighting hunger.

Schedule, tickets and charity info at nycwff.org.

Enjoy family fun activities fit for pirates and princesses over this swashbuckling weekend. Pirates & PJs will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, and Pirate/Princess Funday runs from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. The cost is $10 for adults; kids are admitted free with adult paid admission. Presented in partnership with Blue Bell Ice Cream.

Cornell Museum of Art & American Culture at Old School Square 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach 561/243-7922 oldschool.org

From left: Jenny Jin, Frank Bennardo, Marta Batmasian

Fine Wine & Canines Nearly 400 people attended the Third Annual Fine Wine and Canines Event held on April 18 at Royal Palm Place.

More than $12,000 was raised to benefit PROPEL (People Reaching Out to Provide Education and Leadership).

bocamag.com/events Visit our website for more information on upcoming events and happenings around Boca. You can even submit your own event, which will appear on our website and smartphone mobile app.

home

currents [ by brad mee ]

Added Dimension

Papered, painted, plastered or paneled ... if you think these concepts exhaust your wall treatment options, think again. What about 3-D tile? This cutting-edge alternative is all the rage, transforming vertical surfaces from drab to daring in rooms throughout Florida.

In this design by Michael Berman, large, green ceramic tiles from Walker Zanger dress walls in modern glamour. The sheen of the tiles reflects light, enhancing and visually enlarging this high-style space.

when U want to know

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currentsHOME

Put It there Dimensional tile is not only a natural in

kitchens and baths, but it also performs like artwork on walls throughout the house, adding moxie anywhere its depth and pattern can be appreciated.





DeSIGN A BACKDrOP

eNLIVeN the KItCheN

Reflecting the Northern California art movement of the 1950s and ‘60s, these handcrafted tiles by Ann Sacks add depth and timeless character to a kitchen backsplash.

This Ann Sacks tile boasts a neutral color that allows its modern pattern to stand out—perfect as a theatric backdrop for most displays in the home.



eMBeLLISh AN eNtrY

When used in the entry of a home, contemporary tiles like these from Ann Sacks instantly introduce and establish the ultrachic tone of the interior beyond.

 GLAM the BAthrOOM

Dimensional tile from Walker Zanger provides a commanding backdrop for this vanity and whiteframed mirror. The 3-D surface is limited to a single wall, amplifying its visual impact.

Placement Pointers 3-D tile isn’t cheap, so it’s important to get the most impact from its placement. Savvy eye-level spots

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include foyer walls, hallway niches, fireplace surrounds, alcoves behind freestanding tubs, panels above mantles and

backsplashes in the kitchen. Pay close attention to the locale’s lighting; without ample light, a tile’s texture and reliefs fall flat.

july/august

worth

it’s an afternoon evening or weekend

worth-avenue.com | 561/659-6909

currentsHOME

Making Projections Flat is just that. Why not give your

walls some dimensional character?

Tile Trends 101

Symmetry Ceramic by ann sacks

Studio Moderne Petite Imperial & Paramount Clover

by Walker Zanger

Marquis Octagon

by Walker Zanger

ron shaeffer, operations manager of Dolphin Carpet and Tile (1471 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach, 954/725-9700), breaks down the latest trends in tile here in South Florida. [ ] There has been a continuing trend of using largEr and largEr tilEs over the last few years. [ ] We’re noticing a variation this year of rEctangular tilEs by tHEMsElvEs—or in tandem with square tiles of the same pattern and color.

Blue Fretwork Border by Walker Zanger

[ ] Most tiles today are made to simulate natural stone products and, by nature, are neutral in color. draMatic diffErEncEs in flOOr cOlOr and wall colors can make areas look larger or smaller.

5

Tricks of The Tile Trade

[1] Less is More: Limit yourself to one wall or vertical spot in a room when using 3-D tile. Too much of the bold treatment can detract from its visual impact.

[2] cost-cutting Measure: Looking for a wallet-friendly way to incorporate 3-D tile in

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[ bocamag.com ]

Keystone and field glass tiles

by Oceanside glasstile

your decor? Mix the dimensional pieces with simpler, less expensive field tile to create a dramatic but more affordable decorative statement.

[3] tone it down: Afraid that 3-D tile may seem a little gaudy in your home?

Choose more muted tile tones. If the design and dimension already are doing the talking, you don’t need the added impact of a loud color.

Nottinghill Honeycomb in Veil by ann sacks

[4] rise and shine: Use 3-D tile in a space devoid of detail. Its lines and geometry add instant architectural interest boosting the wow-factor of the room.

[5] rough and ready: If high-sheen ceramic tiles look too slick, try pairing them with adjacent stone surfaces that naturally ground the shiny tiles and prevent an over-the-top modern vibe.

[ ] Flooring products like wood and carpet have a new relevant sustainable story. They use renewable resources to manufacture their current offerings. tHE lifE cyclE Of cEraMic tilE is MucH lOngEr tHan OtHEr flOOring prOducts, and therefore replacement waste disposal is usually many cycles behind most other flooring. [ ] Larger format tiles generally make rooms look large. Small rooms will benefit from this effect. sMallEr tilE can bE usEd as accEnt piEcEs and can also isolate a section within a larger area. [ ] In houses with open floor plans, most people are only willing to take rEtrO Or brigHt cOlOr fasHiOn risks in sMall arEas like bathrooms or kitchen walls. [ ] tExturE and OtHEr variatiOns can create interesting and natural appearance. Using glass or metal accent pieces can add a modern upscale look to even the blandest tile.

july/august

Not all hospices are the same…

As a nonprofit hospice, our compassionate care is based on your needs and comfort.

Our hospice care allows you to…

• Stay in your own home • Continue seeing your doctor • Continue medications and treatments that ensure comfort As a nonprofit, our services are available to everyone who needs and is eligible for hospice care, regardless of ability to pay.

Expert Medical Care • Emotional Support Spiritual Care • Music Therapy • Grief Support

“We chose Hospice of Palm Beach County and hospice care at home.

We were watching my dad slip away... He was, to them, a total stranger and yet they treated him like a member of their family.”

- Matt Lauer

Referrals & Admissions 561.227.5140 • hpbc.com

Referrals & Admissions 954.267.3840 • hobc.org

Licensed since 1981. Accredited by The Joint Commission. 501(C)(3) not-for-profit organization.

Jewish Accreditation by the Palm Beach Board of Rabbis.

On the behalf of families in our community who are facing the end of life, Hospice of Palm Beach County would like to thank Boca Raton Magazine for its continued support.

currents [ by kevin kaminski ]

travel

Super Summer Escapes

Ready for a much-needed slice of paradise? Check out the high-end staycation options in our backyard— as well as an international adventure aboard a luxury cruise ship.

Poolside aboard the Seabourn Quest

when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

39

Here’s the Deal Luxury resorts in and around Boca are offering summer specials for those seeking a getaway close to home.

Weekday escape

Where: The Breakers Address: 1 S. County Road, Palm Beach The speciAl: Why wait for the weekend to decompress—especially when The Breakers is offering weekday rates starting at $289?

Continental breakfast, meals and day camp for the kids, unlimited tennis and fitness classes are all compliments of the resort, but the savings don’t end there. Greens fees at The Breakers

Boca Raton Resort & Club

access to the members-only world of the Resort for rates starting at $239 per night (for a room at the Beach Club; the package also applies to rooms at the main resort).

In addition to waiving its valet parking and resort fees, as well as providing complimentary breakfast for two, the Resort is offering 25-percent-off discounts on everything from greens fees at its two championship courses to signature treatments at Spa Palazzo to daily fun at Camp Boca (for children ages 3 to 12). Oh, and no need to rush out on the morning of your departure—checkout for this special isn’t until 2 p.m.

When: Through Sept. 30 conTAcT: 888/543-1286, bocaresort.com

girls JUst Want to Have Wine

the famed on-site Ocean course are reduced ($135 per person for 18 holes, $80 for nine holes), overnight valet parking is only $10, and we suspect there will be some specials at The Spa and retail shops, as well as at The Breakers’ nine restaurants and bars.

When: Through Sept. 30 conTAcT: 888/273-2537, thebreakers.com

Where: The Seagate Hotel & Spa Address: 1000 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach The speciAl: In addition to summer rates for its courtyard rooms that start at $159, The Seagate is giving local ladies a chance to cut loose and relax at the same time. As part of an overnight package in a deluxe room, the hotel has created a fourhour getaway-within-a-getaway involving four grape-inspired spa treatments (pedi-

cure, facial, body polish and massage). Each spa experience—and here’s where the “cut loose” part comes in—is accompanied by a complimentary wine offering (oh yes, and some cheese). The package is $700 for the first guest; additional guests, staying in the same room, can book for $462.

When: Through Sept. 30 conTAcT: 877/577-3242, theseagatehotel.com

BeaUty and tHe ritz

Where: The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach Address: 100 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan The speciAls: Pampering is on the menu all summer—and well into December—at the Ritz, which is offering a couple of specials involving award-winning Eau Spa. “Rejuvenate You,” which requires a two-night minimum stay (rates start at $379 per night), includes a 60-minute spa treatment, a one-hour yoga class for two and lunch for two; “Beauty and the Beach,” starting at $429 per night, includes a $200 credit for treatments at Eau Spa. When: Through Dec. 20 conTAcT: 561/533-6000, ritzcarlton. com/en/Properties/PalmBeach

The Seagate Hotel & Spa

UniqUely Boca package

Where: Boca Raton Resort & Club Address: 501 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton The speciAl: Perfect for a family getaway, this summer special gives locals 40

[ bocamag.com ]

july/august

South of our Border

The greaT escapes conTinue aT Top resorTs in MiaMi—as well as on The high seas.

tWo for the roAd Where: Mandarin Oriental, Miami Address: 500 Brickell Key Drive, Miami the speciALs: The Mandarin is making it tougher to leave for guests already finding that one night at the elegant resort just isn’t enough.

In addition to its “More in Miami” deal—book two nights and receive a third night for free— the resort is offering daily dining or spa credits ($50 for a room, $100 if you’re staying in a suite) to guests staying two nights or longer.

FYI: The Spa at Mandarin Oriental is one of the best in all of South Florida. Rates for this “Luxury Breaks” package start at $479.

When: Through Aug. 31 contAct: 305/913-8288, mandarinoriental.com/miami

Mandarin Oriental, Miami

The Four Seasons in Miami

Life on the edge Where: Four Seasons Hotel Miami Address: 1435 Brickell Ave., Miami the speciALs: As if the exquisite service, chic rooms and killer views inside the tallest building (70 stories) in the South weren’t enough to earn Four Seasons its AAA five-diamond status, the hotel also has re-captured one of its crowns. A few months after the November 2011 opening of Edge, Steak and Bar—the chic new seventh-floor restaurant helmed by executive chef Aaron Brooks—Four Seasons decided to bring back brunch, a one-time award-winning Sunday staple at the 221-room downtown resort.

Judging by the reaction of locals and hotel guests, it was the right call. On any given Sunday, between 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., diners are apt to find everything from a seafood tower with stone crabs and oysters to themed culinary stations offering a taste of Mexico (slow-braised Angus short ribs) and Cuba (roast suckling pig) to soups, salads and smoothie shots—and a table of to-die-for desserts. While the kids are at the cotton candy station, adults can have their own fun at the build-your-own Bloody Mary bar. Cost is $75 for adults; $32 for children (ages 5 to 12).

The clean, contemporary vibe at Edge has breathed new life into the space formerly occupied

by Acqua (which closed last July). That energy is matched by an affordable (for resort dining) dinner menu filled with creatively prepared dishes—like the Prince Island mussels cloaked in a sauce of orange, bacon, shallots and beer—that take advantage of locally sourced ingredients.

In addition to the culinary fare, the hotel is offering a complimentary third night this summer with the purchase of two room nights.

When: The Sunday brunch goes on year-round. contAct: 305/358-3535, fourseasons.com/Miami

Around the World in 116 dAys ForT lauderdale is The sTarTing poinT For an inTernaTional advenTure aboard seabourn QuesT.

when U want to know

The world may not be enough for James Bond villains, but it’s the perfect backdrop for a travel experience like no other aboard the latest luxury cruise ship from Seabourn.

Seabourn Quest, the exquisite 650-foot boutique ship (maximum 450 passengers) that stopped in Fort Lauderdale last fall during its inaugural year at sea, returns to our

area this winter to begin a global adventure that spans four months and 40-plus destinations.

The 116-day “World Quest,” leaving Fort Lauderdale Jan. 6, 2013, includes stops in French Polynesia, Australia, Bali, China, Thailand, India, Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Croatia and Italy.

Abbreviated versions of the trip—40-, 61-, 75and 90-day itineraries— also are available.

Five-star service and equally over-the-top dining only adds to the Quest experience.

For those in it for the long haul—all 116 days— prices start at $49,640 for ocean-view suites (295 square feet) to $125,200 for an owner’s suite (up to 1,067 square feet).

Call 866/755-5619 or visit seabourn.com for additional information and shipboard credit deals.

[ bocamag.com ]

41

SCAN

IMAGINE A CAREER IN BROADCAST MEDIA

PALM BEACH GARDENS & MIAMI CAMPUSES

CONNECTICUT SCHOOL OF BROADCASTING TELEVISION - RADIO - NEW MEDIA FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL

1-800-TV-RADIO

www.gocsb.com

a&e

currents [ by john thomason ]

arts & entertainment

Spin the black circle

Hard as it may be to believe in this techsavvy era, music lovers are rediscovering vinyl.

That’s good news for local retailers who never stopped believing in the venerable 33 1/3. Turn the page for more on this record revival.

More A&e coverAge At bocAMAg.coM Visit the new bocamag.com for increased A&E coverage, including John Thomason’s Monday breakdown of the upcoming week’s big cultural events; movie, concert and theater reviews; interviews with local entertainers—and much more.

when U want to know

Mike Ramirez of Radio-Active Records

[ bocamag.com ]

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spotlight currentsa&e

RecoRd Time

For many collectors, records have eclipsed CDs as the medium of choice, a comeback few would have predicted a decade ago. Here’s a look at our area’s top retailers—and the personalities behind them.

Radio-active RecoRds

845 N. FedeRal HigHway, FoRt laudeRdale, 954/762-9488, Radio-active-RecoRds.tumblR.com The feedback regarding Victoria Park’s Radio-Active Records speaks for itself. Of the more than 25 reviews recently found on Yelp.com, the average is five stars, and none of them rate it below four. Alternative weeklies such as New Times regularly cite it as the best record shop in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Why do so many consider it the gold standard of South Florida record stores? For starters, it’s as well-stocked, well-priced and well-managed by knowledgeable music nerds as the best record shops in any major city. And it’s grown where so many music retailers have toppled.

“People come to us because of the products, because of the professionalism, because of the rapport,” says manager Mike Ramirez, the public face of the store and fellow collector. “It’s what builds a community and builds a store.”

It wasn’t always this way. When the store was founded 10 years ago, it had the banal name “CD Collector,” reflecting a bygone era when people, you know ... collected CDs. Cognizant of plummeting CD sales (thanks to iTunes) and spiking record sales (because music aficionados still liked to buy physical products), Ramirez shifted the store’s focus to vinyl in 2005, expanding its small space in the Gateway Plaza and rebranding it Radio-Active Records.

It was during this time that the shop built its reputation as a go-to place for unusual new and used records, with Ramirez employing his encyclopedic knowledge of pop, rock and jazz to order titles that run from Top 40 to the best in underground music.

“Our clientele ranges from 15-year-old girls to 70-year-old men,” Ramirez says. “If you’re going to come in and look for something, we’re going to help you out.”

The latest step in the shop’s evolution was its migration, in October of 2011, to a more cost-effective and visible storefront a mile away. “We’ve had an increase in new customers just from people driving back and going, ‘What is this? Who are you? How long have you been in business? Is this new?’ It was the best decision we could have made.”

PuRPle Haze

3514 lake woRtH Road, lake woRtH, 561/357-7474 A sign hanging inside Purple Haze says it all: “Take a peek—you never know what you may find.”

It’s a kaleidoscopic time warp of a store, as hip and spaced-out as the Jimi Hendrix cut that inspired its name. It has a solid record selec44

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tion, to be sure, specializing in vintage rock, jazz and punk, but vinyl isn’t the half of it. It’s easy (and fun) to get lost in this rock nerd’s paradise, with its extensive collection of music-related books and movies, as well as rare memorabilia—from Rolling Stones bobble-head dolls to framed backstage passes from a Pink Floyd concert.

“Where else can you go in and, under one roof, find everything from incense to a Johnny Cash record to an FBI file on William S. Burroughs to a hookah?” says co-owner Kenny Five, whose brother-in-law founded the eclectic store 18 years ago as a throwback head shop. At that time, Five was running his own record shop across the street, and he needed a new venue after his business partner succumbed to cancer. “When we actually brought the records in and married that with the ’70s smoke shop atmosphere, that’s when Purple Haze really took off.”

Kenny Five is, as you may have guessed, a stage name used by a man who has spent a fair amount of time on the other side of the music business. A Detroit native, he was in a rock band called Loudhouse in the early ’90s; he signed with Virgin Records and befriended guys like George Clinton, Iggy Pop and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Through these connections, he started producing music videos, which has led to a number of film-editing jobs.

But Purple Haze remains his passion, and Five credits the shop’s success to its uniqueness as much as its variety. One visit to the purple-colored, stand-alone building confirms that it isn’t the run of anybody’s mill, with items that, as Five says, “you can’t get out of any catalog.” His demographic runs the gamut from high schoolers discovering classic rock to an 80-year-old regular who spends entire days scouring the record bins.

Pretty good for a shop that was opened as “a place to store our cool junk.”

toP Five RecoRds

10 s. J st., lake woRtH John O’Keefe is an unusual businessman. His establishment, Top Five Records, which opened in spring of 2010, has no telephone number, no website and no e-mail address. O’Keefe does have a Facebook and Twitter account for Top Five, but the last of his seven tweets was dispatched on July 6, 2010.

What Top Five does have is a killer july/august

all record shop photos by aaron bristol

From left: Kenny Five and Ricky Lee Kramer of Purple Haze

location—in downtown Lake Worth, across the street from the Bamboo Room and Propaganda—and the kind of merchandise that sells itself. For decades, O’Keefe made his money in the bar business while amassing one of the most impressive personal record collections you’ll ever come across. Now, he says, “It’s time to pass them on.”

Top Five gets its fair share of hot new albums, and it is a top local retailer for Record Store Day every April, where independent music shops receive scores of limited-edition releases. But O’Keefe’s bread-and-butter is selling his own priceless treasures. He has thousands at home and refills his bins with more every day.

“We’re very unique in that we don’t do Internet sales,” he says.

“Go into any store in the country and you won’t see these records.”

O’Keefe’s store couldn’t be further from dusty clutter of Kelly’s Klassics or the toyshop playfulness of Purple Haze. Top Five is small and immaculately maintained; all of the records are sold in brand-new protective sleeves often emblazoned with stickers touting them as “Original,” “Sealed,” “Pristine” or “Rare.”

It’s a great place to visit if you’re seeking, for instance, a hard-to-find LP by ’60s psychedelic act Question Mark when U want to know

& the Mysterians, but look elsewhere for a common Billy Joel record. And while he sells many ultra-rare albums, his stock is priced to move, with offers that usually trump online auctions, including a treasure trove of one-dollar 45s.

In a short time, and with almost no marketing, O’Keefe has built a strong word-of-mouth reputation, proof that sometimes, if you build it, they will come.

“I set this up for music people in Lake Worth and the Palm Beaches,” he says. “The real record people know I’m here.”

Kelly’s Klassics

1431 s.W. 12th ave., PomPano Beach, 954/568-2580, KellysKlassics.com The effect is overwhelming, especially for first-time visitors. You enter the nondescript Pompano Beach storage facility in a singlefile line, flanked on both sides by towers of records. Continue along the constricting path to the main room, and records are everywhere, piled this way and that, on the floor and in boxes, on shelves and on tables.

Even on its most “organized” days, Kelly’s Klassics resembles the aftermath of a mini tornado.

“I have areas for the Beach Boys, the Beatles,” owner Kelly Massing says. “But if you want to look for [an obscure] 12-inch single, you’re on your own. If you have all day, knock yourself out.” [ bocamag.com ]

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currentsa&e

spotlight B SideS

Craving even more vinyl? These establishments have got you covered.

ConfuSion ReCoRdS 848 Park ave., Lake Park, 561/848-1882 Confusion owner John Clements has been selling records for more than 20 years, originally on the flea market circuit, then at his shop in Stuart.

These days, he’s one of several stores in the quaint town of Lake Park.

Great tunes, solid prices, gloriously unkempt atmosphere.

MuSiC, MovieS and MoRe 2640 forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach, 561/696-0002 This local institution has been specializing in variety for more than 30 years, offering new and used movies, records and CDs alongside figurines, incense, a panoply of wind chimes and other gifts. (musicmoviesandmore. com) Kelly Massing of Kelly’s Klassics

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[ bocamag.com ]

Massing carries every genre under the sun, but be prepared to dig like an archeologist to find what you’re looking for. This process, collectors will tell you, is half the fun. Don’t go to Massing if you’re pining for one specific record by a certain band. Go to him if you have the urge to expand your 1950s lounge or ’90s alternative collections.

Massing began as a record collector and expanded into retail when he opened Kelly’s Klassics in Wilton Manors in 1982. He relocated to the current Pompano Beach warehouse in 2005, where he estimates he carries some 100,000 records. The most money anyone has paid him for a record is $6,000 for a 45 by the early-’50s doo-wop group The Larks.

Selling records is not Massing’s full-time occupation, at least not anymore; he also performs home-theater installation. But as someone who has been buying, selling and promoting vinyl long before it became mainstream again, he can appreciate the foresight of his business.

“Ten years ago, people said, ‘What are you going to do with all these records?’” he says. “For a while, I thought, I’m going to die with all this crap; they’ll have to bury me with it. [Now], people [are] buying records.”

THe ReCoRd RaCk 2767 atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach, 954/783-5004 Like Radio-Active Records, this boutique retailer began as another “CD Collector” location, before switching to a vinyl-centric business model. Owner Ritchie Siegrist has built a loyal following, specializing in classic prog-rock and the many subgenres of metal. (therecordrack.net)

july/august

take5 Steven M. Forman Boca-BaSed author

B

oca Raton is never a safe place in the novels of Steven M. Forman.

In his 2009 debut Boca Knights, his retired policeman protagonist Eddie Perlmutter tangles with the Russian mafia and investigates the murder of a golfer. His 2010 follow-up, Boca Mournings, deals with Neo-Nazis, cybercrime and medical malpractice. And Boca Daze, released in January, has a ripped-from-headlines checklist of South Florida crimes, from Ponzi schemes to pill mills to abuse of the homeless. Forman’s witty, reckless and easily enraged hero winds up with his share of bumps and bruises, but he usually catches the bad guys.

“Eddie says everything that should be said, and he does everything that should be done, the way that you wish you could if you were as crazy and independent as I’ve written him to be,” says Forman, his native Boston accent coloring his words. “I don’t think a guy like Eddie really can exist, because he has no fear and he has no limitations. But people live vicariously through him, and hopefully they’re figuring out how they can do it with their own limitations.”

His Eddie trilogy completed, Forman, 70, is currently working on Small Giants, an ambitious epic, spanning three generations, about the families of genocide escapees.

But he credits our city with spawning his writing career: “I wouldn’t have done it without Boca.”

Q1

What do your books have to say about the city of Boca?

When I first came here, I knew nothing about this city, nothing about gated communities, about retired people. I named it the Land of the Used to Be. Whenever I asked somebody what they did, they said, “I used to be a doctor, I used to be a lawyer.” Nobody was anything anymore. At first it was a joke, but the longer I stayed, the more impressed I became by the retired talent pool that was here.

when U want to know

Q2

Boca Daze addresses several issues that affect South Florida. do you draw inspiration from true crime cases?

Just about everything I write is from the newspapers. I take things that are going on in real life, and I insinuate my characters into them.

For example, there was a situation in Delray where four guys came into a donut shop and shot the place up and killed a few people. Well, I made that part of my book, putting Eddie into the coffee shop to become part of the adventure.

Q3

one of the things that defines your work is witty repartee—which is tailor-made for television. have you thought about writing for tV? I think Eddie would make a great television character, along the lines of HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire.” That [show] is a good analogy, because that’s what my books are about: new adventures with the same central characters and based on facts. I can see Robert De Niro or Ed Harris in the part of Eddie.

Q4

did you know?

Before he became a writer, Forman spent 45 years in the food distribution business, and he is still CEO of Forman Industries.

His claim to fame was building a relationship, in 1974, with a little-known sandwich chain called Subway, which operated 12 stores. Thirty-five thousand locations later, Forman’s company still supplies Subway with tuna.

this being your fourth book, what have you learned about the process since the first one?

I don’t mind my editor’s criticisms. If you don’t have thick skin, it can be a very tough experience.

But I do have thick skin, and everything he tells me I write down. Being creative doesn’t get any easier, but the process has gotten much easier for me. I hope I improve with every book.

Q5

have you changed as a person since publishing your first book?

I’ve become more studious, because you’re not just writing a story that takes place wherever—you’ve got to learn about “wherever,” and what roads lead to “wherever.” Once you start a sentence, it makes a lot of demands on you.

I’m writing a book now that starts in 1917, just before the end of World War 1. God Almighty, I had to learn so many cities. It may be two paragraphs, but you better be accurate. [ bocamag.com ]

47

currentsa&e

theHOTlist laSt SummeR on eaRth touR

Blues Traveler

July 18

Big aRt/ miniatuRe golf

July 21-22

Reptile and exotic animal Show

Where: The Box Expo Center, 2223 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd., West Palm Beach Details: All things creepy, crawly and unusual will hiss, slither and croak across the 16,000 square feet of The Box, Palm Beach County’s newest convention space, for the popular “Repticon” event. Expect more than 100 vendors offering reptile pets, supplies and merchandise, plus raffles, seminars and children’s activities. Last year, visitors tasted fried mealworms at a World of Wildlife “Fear Factor” contest, tarantulas were given free reign on organizers’ arms and an albino alligator made a dramatic cameo—hinting at the kind of fun in store for this summer’s expo. tickets: $5–$12 contact: 561/296-6669, repticon.com 48

[ bocamag.com ]

Where: Boca Raton Museum of Art, 501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton Details: The world’s most elaborate miniature golf courses have required more than an understanding of slope and artificial carpet. In some cases, dramatic and complex hole concepts have a certain artistic quality. As summer creeps into fall, the Boca Raton Museum of Art will be attempting one such adventurous course in its main gallery, with holes designed by 18 artists. Better still: It’s completely playable. “We are always looking for ways to excite new audiences and to demonstrate the relevancy of the arts,” says Steven Maklansky, executive director at the museum. “[That so] many people in this part of the world are occasional duffers led us to the notion [that] enticing people to work on their short game inside an art museum could be inspirational.” tickets: $4–$8 contact: 561/392-2500, bocamuseum.org

Where: Cruzan Amphitheatre, 601-7 Sansburys Way, West Palm Beach Details: Hey, remember the ’90s? The four bands on this pop-rock mini-festival certainly do, because that’s when they enjoyed most of their commercial acclaim. Brought together on a single stage, Barenaked Ladies, Blues Traveler, Big Head Todd & the Monsters and Cracker represent a period when sweet melodies and actual guitar riffs could make it on Top 40 radio. All of these bands are still active today, but by plying their veteran trades in a time of digital backing tracks and auto-tuned vocals, they can’t help but peddle a nostalgia that I for one miss. tickets: $19–$75 contact: 561/795-8883, livenation.com

July 18oct 7

july/august

Race

July 7aug. 5

Where: GableStage, 1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral Gables Details: Post-racial, my @$$. David Mamet, the theater world’s master of the profane, perceptive and provocative, returned to Broadway in 2009 with “Race,” a play exploring society’s racial tensions in the age of Obama. It’s also a play about the law, as two attorneys— one black and one white—receive the opportunity to defend a white man against charges of raping a black woman. After 297 performances on Broadway, “Race” arrives on our shore courtesy of GableStage’s Joseph Adler, who is sure to mount a superlative production. As his version of “The Motherf***er with the Hat” proved earlier this season, GableStage is awfully good at plays with dirty words. tickets: $37.50–$42.50 contact: 305/445-1119

The Donkey Show

Where: Adrienne Arsht Center, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami Details: The words of William Shakespeare July 13have inspired far-flung aug. 12 adaptations in the forms of the teen comedy (“10 Things I Hate About You”) science-fiction allegory (“Forbidden Planet”) and samurai drama (“Throne of Blood”). In this context, perhaps a disco musical based on “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” isn’t much of stretch. The concept certainly has garnered heaps of praise for director Diane Paulus, who turned the Bard’s comedy into a sensational 2009 disco revue for the renowned American Repertory Theater in Boston. Whether or not you know the source material, you’ll enjoy classic disco chestnuts in a new context. The show is presented as a stageless club party, where the audience is on the same level as the performers and is encouraged to become a part of the production. tickets: $35–$50 contact: 305/949-6722, arshtcenter.org

Coming Next Issue: FALL FASHION Boca Raton magazine readers are super shoppers.

Last year they spent millions on fashion: • $12 million on jewelry • $184 million on women's clothing and accessories • $70 million on men's clothing and accessories • Boca Raton magazine readers are 252% more likely to shop Town Center Mall than the average market adult.

Source: The Media Audit 2011 Palm Beach & Broward County and the Annual Consumer Buying Power Report

To advertise, call 561/997.8683 x300 or email sales@bocamag.com. Space close: July 3

1 w hcomingnextissue_fallfashion_brm0712vb.indd en U want to know

[ b o c a m a g .5/24/12 c o m ]2:10 PM 49

B O C A R AT O N M a g a Z I N E ’ s

Preview Calendar j u ly / a u g u s t 2 0 1 2

enjoy THe seagaTe spa – even if you’re noT a HoTel guesT Escape to our 8,000 square-foot destination spa for a complete range of massage, skin care and body treatments. The Seagate Spa features seven private treatment rooms, Vichy shower and a Hot Yoga studio.

For more information, visit theseagatespa.com or call 561/665-4950

assaggio del forno inTroduces Happy Hour Assaggio del Forno introduces happy hour to West Boca nightly 5:00-6:30 and 8:30-10:00. Enjoy classic Italian snacks paired with wine, beer and cocktail specials. Salute!

561/613-6460 assaggiodelforno.com Dinner: Sun-Thurs 5-10pm; Fri-Sat 5-11pm Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm

red, THe sTeakHouse Serving only the finest Certified Angus Prime Beef available, Red, the Steakhouse combines a sophisticated atmosphere with an unprecedented menu redefining your steakhouse experience.

Our made-from-scratch Neapolitan pizza and large antipasti selections will revolutionize your love of Italian cuisine. Rosso, Italia combines passionate cooking with quality ingredients.

1901 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton redthesteakhouse.com or rosso-italia.com 561/353-9139

If you’d lIke to partIcIpate In thIs specIal promotIon, e-maIl sales@bocamag.com.

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Great Getaways Boca Raton magazine readers LOVE to travel!

Affluent Boca Raton magazine readers with household income of $100,000+ are 58% more likely than the market average to frequently stay in hotels.

Boca Raton magazine readers spent (last year): • $40 million on lodging • $130 million dining at full service restaurants • $111 million on personal care services (includes services at spas) • $71 million on airfare Source: The Media Audit 2011 Palm Beach & Broward County and the Annual Consumer Buying Power Report

[ 58 ice cream basics 60 where to scoop 62 boca challenge 63 the buzz]

floridatable

Here’s the Scoop

Frozen yogurt may be the politically correct treat of choice, but some of us still scream for ice cream—especially during the dog days of South Florida summer. So grab a waffle cone and learn more about this timeless dairy classic—including how to make it at home.

when U want to know

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floridatable

Ice cream Through The ages

N

ero wasn’t just fiddling while rome burned; he was eating an early precursor to ice cream. actually, it was more like sorbet—ice brought back from the mountains and mixed with fruit. Though the ancient Persians and chinese of marco Polo’s time are often credited with the “discovery” of everyone’s favorite chilled summer confection, ice cream as we know it became popular with european royalty in the 1600s.

Ice cream came to america in the 1700s; among its biggest fans were george Washington and Thomas Jefferson. The first ice cream parlor was said to have opened in New York city in 1776, the first commercial ice cream plant in Baltimore in 1851. The ice cream cone was introduced to american sweet teeth in 1904 at the World’s Fair in st. Louis. syrian immigrant ernest hamwi is generally given credit.

Think modern flavors like popcorn caramel, avocado and jackfruit, and evergreen (no kidding!) are weird? according to National Geographic, a vintage New York cookbook (circa 1790) included recipes for ice creams flavored with Parmesan cheese, ginger and brown bread.

What’s the Difference?

These days, there are more variations of ice cream/yogurt than you can shake a Popsicle stick at. Don’t know what separates one from the other?

Here’s the lowdown.

Ice cream: This whipped mixture of dairy products (typically milk and cream) contains a small percentage of egg yolk and flavorings that range from various sweeteners to chocolate, fruits, nuts and, in more adventurous preparations, “savory” herbs and spices.

Gelato: This concoction contains more milk and egg yolk but little or no cream; also, air is beaten in during the churning process. Though it has less fat than ice cream, the additional egg yolk and reduced amount of whipped-in air makes it denser and creamier.

Frozen custard: It’s ice cream with less air and more egg yolk. soFt-serve: Typically, soft serve has a lower milk-fat content than ice cream, but more air. Plus, it’s frozen at a lower temperature. It contains no egg yolk but usually some sort of stabilizer/emulsifier. sherbet: This is fruit-based rather than dairy-based, and it contains no more than 2 percent butterfat (i.e., cream) and no egg yolk.

Frozen yoGurt: It’s all the rage, as evidenced by the self-serve businesses all over South Florida. Frozen yogurt eliminates the cream and egg yolk (and sometimes milk as well) from ice cream, and has yogurt’s distinctive tang.

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july/august

Tools of the Trade

Do It Yourself

Making your own ice creaM is surprisingly easy. here are the three Main types of ice creaM Machines.

Ice cream begins as basic custard, to which you can add as many (or as wacky) flavorings as your palate and imagination will allow. Here’s the basic recipe.

Bucket: This really is your granddaddy’s ice cream

maker, a wooden bucket with a bowl inside. Fill the space between the two with a combination of ice and rock salt, then insert a paddle into the bowl and crank away until your ice cream base freezes. Or go high-tech (or a little higher, anyway) and use an electrically operated paddle. Depending on size, they cost from $25 to $50.

Ice cream Base turquoise reusable 1-pint ice cream container, $13

canister: One step up on the ice cream maker food

chain, these devices operate on the same principle as granddaddy’s bucket but utilize a metal canister filled with freezable gel instead of the ice/rock salt combo. The canister must be removed and placed in the freezer for 12 hours or more; then add the ice cream base and churn with a paddle, either by hand or courtesy of FP&L. Canisters cost as little as $15 and as much as $60.

red cuisinart classic frozen yogurt, ice cream and sorbet maker, $59.95

coMpressor: Now we’re getting serious. Once

you’ve got your ice cream base, all you need to do with these puppies is pour it in, turn on the machine and start licking your lips for fresh-made ice cream.

Compressors keep the ice cream mixture chilled, while the machine does the churning for you. It takes about 30 minutes. Of course, you’ll pay for all this convenience—from $200 for a less-expensive model to more than $1,000 for a professional-quality Lello Musso.

2 cups heavy cream 1 cup whole milk 3/4 cup sugar 6 egg yolks 1. Add sugar, half of cream and half of milk to saucepan. Bring just to boil to dissolve sugar. (If you’re going to steep anything in liquid—vanilla bean, cinnamon stick, mint, coffee, etc.—do it now.)

2. Beat egg yolks in another bowl; slowly add about half milk-cream-sugar mixture to yolks, whisking constantly to prevent curdling (called “tempering” the eggs). Return mixture to saucepan and cook, stirring constantly over low heat until mixture thickens and coats back of spoon.

3. Strain into bowl with remaining milk-cream mixture and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.

dream ice cream Machine, $1,200 all from sur la table (palm Beach gardens or surlatable.com)

Ice cream classIcs Banana splIt the scoop: Said to be

invented in 1904 by a young Pennsylvania pharmacist, the basic formula—scoops of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice creams bordered by a halved banana and garnished with toppings—has been altered but not improved. local find: Ellie’s 50’s Diner, 2410 N. Federal Highway, Delray Beach, 561/276-1570

shakes and floats

sundae

the scoop: More

eight cities claim ownership of the first ice cream sundae, a name supposedly taken from Sunday, when in one of those cities—Evanston, Ill.—the consumption of ice cream soda was banned on the Sabbath, prompting canny shop owners to serve ice cream with sauce instead. local find: Friendly’s, 14701 Military Trail, Delray Beach, 561/498-8873

refreshment than dessert, shakes and floats combine ice cream and milk or soda in different ways. Add a few spoonfuls of malted-milk powder to a shake for the underrated malt.

local find:

Cheesecake Factory, 5530 Glades Road, Boca Raton, 561/3930344

the scoop: At least

Ice cream sandwIch the scoop: Owing

its life to such timehonored cream-andpastry confections as trifles and charlottes, the ice cream sandwich merely takes the concept and freezes it. Its inventor is unknown, but it first gained popularity as street-cart fare in New York in the 1920s. local find: Carvel Ice Cream & Bakery, 255 Spanish River Blvd., Boca Raton, 561/394-0411

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floridatable

Stone Cold ICe Cream

t

Where to Scream for Ice cream don’t want to make it the old-fashioned way? then check out one of these local ice cream establishments.

Where: 1155 E. Atlantic Ave, Delray Beach, 561/272-3112 (additional locations at benjerry.com) Fascinating Flavor: Stephen Colbert’s AmeriCone Dream (vanilla ice cream, fudge-covered waffle cone pieces, caramel swirl)

Cold stone Creamery

Where: 2200 Glades Road, Boca Raton, 561/447-0700 (additional locations at coldstonecreamery.com) Fascinating Flavor: The Pie Who Loved Me (cheesecake ice cream, Oreo cookie, graham cracker pie crust, fudge)

Kilwin’s

Where: 512 Lake Ave., Lake Worth, 561/493-9249 (additional locations at kilwins.com) Fascinating Flavor: New Orleans Praline Pecan (vanilla ice cream, caramel swirls, pralinecoated pecans)

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marBle slaB Creamery

Where: 6030 S.W. 18th St., Boca Raton, 561/750-3710 (additional locations at marbleslab.com) Fascinating Flavor: Swiss Cocoa Buttercup (chocolate Swiss ice cream, Nestlé Crunch Bars, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, fudge)

sloan’s

Where: 329 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, 561/338-9887 Fascinating Flavor: Tracy’s Scrumptious Pretzel (caramel ice cream, milk chocolate salty pretzels, peanut butter swirls)

sprinKles

Where: 279 Royal Poinciana Way, Palm Beach, 561/659-1140 Fascinating Flavor: Triple Chocolate (chocolate ice cream, chocolate chips, fudge)

AARON BRiSTOL

Ben & Jerry’s

ake your basic ice cream, a granite slab chilled to between 3 and 5 degrees, an almost infinite number of garnishes and lots of imagination, and you’ve got the formula of Cold Stone Creamery.

One of two major national chains that take a fresh daily/DIY approach to ice cream, Cold Stone outlets start each day making several gallons of nine different-flavored ice creams from a standard base, according to Boynton Beach manager Gerri Dragovich. Those join more than two dozen other flavors—from amaretto to white chocolate—and when combined with 60-plus “mix-ins” create 20 “Signature Creations” and any “Custom Creation” an ice cream-loving addict can imagine.

The creation of those Creations takes place to order on that frozen granite slab, where your desired mix-ins are incorporated into your favorite flavor of ice cream(s) with a pair of large metal spoons called “spades.”

What mix-ins get mixed in most often? Rainbow sprinkles, chocolate chips, M&Ms, nuts and gummi bears, says Dragovich.

Gummi bears? Well, why not?

Gerri Dragovich of Cold Stone Creamery

july/august

floridatable the boca challenge

reuben sandwich I

t’s a sandwich! It’s a cultural icon! It’s a complete meal in your hand! It’s a boon to cardiologists everywhere! It’s the Reuben sandwich, and there’s no deli worth its weight in corned beef that doesn’t slap together its own version of this American culinary institution, whose origins are about as mysterious as the relevant protein of corn, which has nothing whatsoever to do with the golden ear of sweet-starchy lusciousness that’s a staple of backyard barbecues.

Composed of all the major food groups—meat (corned beef), cheese (Swiss), vegetable (sauerkraut), starch (rye bread), fat (Russian dressing) and more fat (butter to sauté the sandwich in)—the Reuben is indeed a one-stop meal, a sandwich that doesn’t so much assuage your hunger as it does grab it by the throat and strangle it.

So what better object for this month’s Boca Challenge? We gorged on Reubens from five local delis, judging them on quality of corned beef, quality of everything else, the balance of various elements and value to come up with an overall rating.

Then we took an extra Lipitor.

—Bill Citara CORNED BEEf

THE REST

BALANCE

VALUE

OVERALL

GOURmET DELi HOUSE

A generous portion of just-fatty-enough corned beef is balanced by a tangy dressing, nutty-tasting Swiss cheese and tart, earthy sauerkraut. A damn good sammie, even at $12.49.

mARTi’S

Good-quality corned beef and lots of it, though I would have liked a bit more cheese. Excellent dressing and just the right amount of kraut. A good deal for $9.50.

Corned beef comes right from the steamer to your sammie, though flavor is curiously bland. Dressing is sweet, and even the kraut is a little sweet. It’s good but not my favorite. $9.50.

NESTOR’S

You can’t beat the value here. However, the corned beef tastes salty rather than meaty, and there is too much kraut. Love the proportion of dressing and cheese. At $8.75, it’s the least costly.

TOOJAy’S

Zinger’s “corns” its own brisket, and you can taste the rich, meaty difference. Lots of molten cheese, just enough sauerkraut and sweet-tart Russian dressing. Pricy at $12.99, but it’s worth it.

ZiNGER’S

ratings:

fair

Gourmet Deli House, 7117 Lake Worth Road, Wellington, 561/965-1605

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good

marti’s, 1159 S. Federal Highway, Boca Raton, 561/392-7272

very good

Nestor’s, 7050 W. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, 561/391-0999

excellent

TooJay’s, 419 Lake Ave., Lake Worth, 561/582-8684

Zinger’s, 7132 Beracasa Way, Boca Raton, 561/826-7323

july/august

buzz the

soBe or NoT soBe? That is the question, at least on Atlantic Avenue, downtown Delray’s answer to Ocean Drive. Hoping to capture that young, hip crowd that left Buzz in the dirt several eons ago (and made South Beach Party Central USA), a pair of lounge-y/ clubby dining spots have staked out their own square inch of that busily buzzing turf.

Waltzing into the old Caliente Kitchen space is “Asian Fusion Gastrolounge” Union (8 E. Atlantic Ave., 561/330-4236), mixing contemporary Momofuku-esque cuisine with pop culture design references like a giant wall of 16 flat-screen TVs, a disco ball, an artificial turf patio and a cotton candy machine (that spins out a very nonretro litchi-flavored confection).

Giving nightlife a Mediterranean-Middle Eastern flavor is Breathe (410 W. Atlantic Ave., 561/330-4526), where hipsters can inhale the fragrant fumes of outdoor hookahs or the heady mix of luxury in a VIP room with personal butler service. Of course, there are DJs and

Union in Delray Beach

when U want to know

Inside Assaggio del Forno

live music, plus a menu of Med-like specialties such as grilled shrimp tabbouleh, porcini ravioli and steak frites. skeTches of spaiN: Pretty as a picture is Tapas 210 (210 E. Ocean Blvd., 561/533-5438), the newish Spanish restaurant/tapas bar in Lantana that took over the drop-dead gorgeous indoor-outdoor space once home to the very good (and also very weird) Apicius.

Chef-proprietor is David Rodriguez, who worked at Gloria and Emilio Estefan’s Lario’s and Oriente restaurants, and also owns Tapas Latin Fusion in Stuart. His menu features small plates and big flavors, from such tapas bar staples as pan con tamate, albondigas and ham-n-white-bean stew, and gambas al ajillo, as well as several types of paella.

Another pretty space with a new Spanish tenant is the former Moquila in downtown Boca, now The Spaniard Tapas Bar & Café (99 S.E. Mizner Blvd., 561/347-7000). The handsome space (bar and dining room) has an Old World, hacienda-ish vibe, with giant wrought-iron chandeliers, a wood-beamed ceiling and a nicely appointed outdoor patio.

The extensive array of tapas choices include octopus with smoked paprika and olive oil, spicy patatas bravas, and chorizo with sherry and caramelized onions. In addition, The Spaniard offers a number of different platters, paellas and tasting menus, plus a roster of reasonably priced Spanish wines.

Buzz LiTe: Say hello to a trio of newbies. Five Guys, the insanely popular fast-but-still-edible burger joint, has opened its 10 bazillionth location, this one on the 300 block of Clematis Street in West Palm Beach. Corner Bakery Café, a national chain of Paneralike purveyors of upscale soups, salads and sandwiches, is now purveying in Boca Commons (2240 N.W. 19th St.). And the space in Palm Beach’s Sun & Surf condos that’s seen eateries like The Oasis and Eggsotic is now Matteo’s Garden Club (140 Sunrise Ave.), an Italian eatery from ex-Cucina dell’Arte chef Matteo Vicinanza. [ bocamag.com ]

63

cristina Morgado

Max-iMuM TasTe: As if Max’s Harvest wasn’t already one of the buzz-iest (and busiest) restaurants on the suddenly smokin’ local dining scene, Maximum Gourmand Dennis Max now has a second hottie, this one offering a variety of Italian tastes, from pizza and pasta to salumi and formaggi (those would be cured meats and cheeses).

Assaggio del Forno—translation: “Taste of the Oven”—is in west Boca’s Regency Court at Woodfield (3011 Yamato Road, 561/613-6460), where Maximum Designer Adolfo Galvez has crafted a comfy-rustic restaurant full of reclaimed wood and Chicago brick, mosaic tiles, leather seats and lots of country-style stone accents.

The accent of the food is pure Italy, with a raft of imported ingredients to trick out a selection of thin-crust pizzas and pastas as swanky as tagliatelle with lobster, peas and truffle sauce and as lusty as gnocchi with pork ragu. There are apps, salads and entrées too, plus Buzz’s favorite, a selection of cured meats, Italian cheeses and nifty accompaniments (fruit mostarda, spiced walnuts, grape-fennel agrodolce and the like), which just sound maximally irresistible.

MOBILE BOCA RATON WHERE to eat, WHAT to do, HOW to get there

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style

Start Your Engines Fashion shifts into high gear this summer when sizzling styles meet vintage automobiles.

PhotograPhY bY Bridges Aderhold Shot on location at ragtoPS MotorcarS, WESt PalM bEach

Trina Turk dress, $378, Prada clutch purse, $1,495, bangle, $175 and Christian Dior sunglasses, $325, all from Neiman Marcus, Town Center at Boca Raton; beaded earrings, price upon request, from Oggi Murano Gallery, The Shops at Boca Center; necklace, $78, from Anthropologie, Town Center [ bocamag.com ]

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style

Givenchy dress, $3,950, and Fendi handbag, $3,670, from Neiman Marcus; Prada shoes, $1,450, from Saks Fifth Avenue, Town Center; sunglasses, $450, from Grove Opticians, Boca Raton; clutch, price upon request, from Jimmy Choo, Palm Beach; bangle, $430, from Nordstrom, Town Center; small bangles and rhinestone necklace, prices upon request, from Ann Taylor, Town Center

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style Akris dress, $2,450, and Prada handbag, $2,820, from Neiman Marcus; necklace, price upon request, from Oggi Murano Gallery; Marni bangles, $340 (white) and $430 (color), from Nordstrom; Lanvin vintage ring, price upon request, from Serendipity, Boca Raton; Marni earrings, $275, from Nordstrom

StyliSt: David Fittin Model: Helen Le Van, Ford Models/Miami Art directorS: Lori Pierino, Kathleen Ross HAir: Daphney Antoine, URunway Salon/Boynton Beach NAilS: Nancy Reagan, Bella Reina Spa/Delray Beach ASSiStANt: Eduardo Vazquez To learn more about the vintage autos at Ragtops, visit ragtopsmotorcars.com.

Fendi dress, $2,360, Givenchy handbag, $1,120 and yellow bangle, $250, from Neiman Marcus; shoes, price upon request, from Gucci, Palm Beach; vintage Lanvin bangle, price upon request, from Serendipity [ bocamag.com ]

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Hunter and Gatti

faces

a few minutes with the people who help define south florida

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july/august

Lindgren and fellow Muse model Georgie Badiel (inset, right) have launched Models 4 Water, an organization that is helping to provide clean water for residents of one of the poorest countries in the world.

Badiel grew up in Burkina Faso, a land-locked country in West Africa with an estimated population of 15 million; water there is so unsanitary that some 20,000 children under the age of 5 die each year from diarrheal diseases, according to the World Health Organization. Through a partnership between Models 4 Water and The Water Project, which has irrigation teams in Africa, a drilling company recently created a well for a village of 5,000 people.

Visit models4water.org for more information.

mark baptiste

models 4 water

Heide Lindgren InternatIonal supermodel

D

on’t get Heide Lindgren wrong. She loves playing dress-up in the latest designer fashions, including her current stint as the face of Guess by Marciano.

She digs that her passport has stamps from more than 15 countries, from Greece and Sweden to Panama and Portugal. And she appreciates, more than anything, how far her skyrocketing career has come in the decade since landing her first paid modeling gig for a Sears catalog.

But if one thing drives the Boca native batty about her profession, especially given her own work ethic, it’s the randomness of it all. It’s that doing A and B in the world of modeling doesn’t lead to C. “No matter how hard you work, no matter what agency you’re with, there is no guarantee that you’re going to get to where you want to go,” says Lindgren, whose father, Jack, has spent more than 30 years at LindgrenPitman, the Pompano-based business that manufactures commercial/recreational fishing equipment. “There are women who don’t care, and they’re so successful. And then there are girls who kill themselves and just can’t make it. There is no science to it.”

Lindgren is no exception to the rule of randomness. She remembers going to a casting call with her friend at age 12 and being when U want to know

rejected after showing up in “a sparkly, blue, floor-length ball gown, while the other girls were wearing cool jackets with cool hair. I cringe when I think about it.”

A year later, while at a Britney Spears concert in Miami with her aunt, a booker from Irene Marie, a modeling agency in Miami, spotted Lindgren in the crowd and made a beeline for her. Within the year, while still in eighth grade at St. Paul Lutheran in Boca, she had scored a national campaign with Lids, the caps and apparel retailer.

“We went on our eighth-grade field trip that year to Washington, D.C., and my picture was on the Lids ad at the airport,” says Lindgren, 24, who also attended Boca Raton and Spanish River high schools. “The whole class saw it. ... That was pretty cool.”

Not nearly as cool as what happened after she bolted for New York at age 19 and signed with a then-fledgling agency called Muse Model Management. Shortly thereafter, the 5-foot-10 Lindgren, a loner by her own admission (“I keep to myself and keep to my family; my close friends are the ones I’ve had since I was 3 and in Boca”), moved to Paris, where she spent six months working on several editorial shoots.

“That changed everything for me,” she says.

Not only did the likes of Abercrombie &

Fitch come calling, Lindgren (don’t be fooled by the Swedish name; mom Sherry tells her daughter that she’s an all-American “Heinz 57” mix) graced the covers of Playboy France in 2010 and GQ South Africa last September.

For the former pictorial, shot at Joshua Tree National Park in California, Lindgren wore pieces by the likes of Marc Jacobs and Givenchy—however, the images leave nothing to the imagination.

“I’m sure [posing nude] surprised some people who know me,” says Lindgren, who comes from a family of faith. “But I was comfortable with the people involved ... You have to make the conscious decision to just do it and not worry about anything.”

Other than becoming a little anxious between assignments—it’s that work ethic gene kicking in—Lindgren has little to worry about these days. She lives in Harlem with her longtime boyfriend and two adopted pit bulls. And if her affable, easygoing nature is any indication, she couldn’t be more grounded, despite the trappings of being a supermodel.

“I make it a point to not be around people who will treat me differently because of my career,” she says. “I feel like I have the ability to read people well. ... That may explain why I like to keep to myself.”

—Kevin KaminsKi

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faces Hamid Hashemi

H

amid Hashemi is sitting in his office at Mizner Park, just above Ruby Tuesday’s. On the wall are countless swatches representing some of the hundred-plus materials, finishes and designs that he considered for the interior of iPic Theaters.

Hashemi’s latest upscale movie theater, which opened this May in the old Mizner Park Cinema space, has its own gourmet restaurant, state-of-the-art digital projection and creature comforts like pillows, blankets and reclining chairs. Even for Hashemi, who has launched eight iPic locations across the country, this hometown project proved taxing.

“I’ve never done a project this complicated,” he says. “It is very detailed, and to make all of these elements work together has been very challenging.”

Hashemi has faced his share of challenges, but he has a history of overcoming them. In 1978, he arrived in the United States from his native Iran; like many of the country’s intellectuals, the third-year medical student fled the country during the Islamic Revolution. He carried with him one suitcase, $700 and a hastily obtained student visa.

He was accepted by Vermont’s Windham College, a private university that had fallen on hard times, having invited more than 75 international students to enroll there to stay afloat. The day Hashemi arrived, he walked toward the campus only to see police cruisers and news cameras: The university had

filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy that very day. Hashemi joined his brother in Iowa, smack-dab in conservative Middle America.

“Shortly after I came, they took the hostages, and there was a lot of anti-Iranian sentiment in colleges,” he recalls. “When I went to school in Iowa, it was all blonde and blue-eyed.

Whenever I walked into a restaurant, heads would turn.”

Hashemi eventually relocated to South Florida, a more hospitable melting pot. He enrolled at Florida Atlantic University, but he left nine hours shy of an accounting degree. He decided to go into real estate instead, running Professional Services Realty throughout the 1980s. That led to the purchase of a now-defunct three-screen cinema in Coral Springs called Movie Center 3.

“I said, ‘Well, this is really an easy business—all you do is sell tickets and sell popcorn,’” Hashemi recalls. “Little did I know, it is much more complex than that.”

When General Cinemas opened a multiplex behind Coral Square Mall, eating all of Hashemi’s profits, he began researching the cinema business in a way that he never did before. After visiting some of the most revered movie palaces in the country, Hashemi came away with two business essentials that

the joke’s on him Upon arriving in the U.S., Hashemi learned English by watching American television. Two of his favorites were “Sesame Street” and “Three’s Company.” Though in terms of the latter show, “The blonde jokes don’t really work in Iran,” he says. “There are all these jokes, and there’s all this laughter ... you’re saying, what is so funny about this? I don’t get it. Every country has a different sense of humor.”

AAron Bristol

CEO, iPiC EntErtainmEnt

still resonate in today’s oversaturated media market: aesthetics and personal service.

He developed his theater company, Muvico, with this in mind (Hashemi founded Muvico in 1984, selling his assets to Regal in 1995 but keeping the name). Unlike competing chains, Muvico theaters had powerful architectural visions—the Davie location, now a Cinemark, is modeled after Egypt’s Karnak Temple Complex. His innovations to the service side—like an on-site daycare center, fine dining and premiumclub theaters—are becoming necessities in the Darwinian theater business.

Hashemi sees iPic as an evolution of his Muvico ideas (he left Muvico in 2005 over creative differences). The box offices at iPic look less like ticket counters than reception areas at high-class hotels. Building materials are imported from throughout the world. All of this comes at a price, of course, with tickets running from $12 to $24, depending on whether you’re a member or whether you purchase premium or premium-plus seats.

“If we can give you an experience that you can’t find anywhere else, and it exceeds your expectations, you’ll pay for it,” Hashemi says. “When you go to another theater, you pay for popcorn, for advance tickets, for 3D glasses, which are all free [at iPic]. When you add it up, I argue that we’re too cheap.”

—John Thomason

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july/august

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faces

Rashad Evans

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship light-heavyweight title holder

I

n the weeks prior to Rashad Evans’ April battle for the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) light-heavyweight crown, the Boca Raton resident cast an imposing presence over Times Square in the form of a five-story-long billboard promoting his eagerly anticipated showdown with title-holder Jon Jones.

But as powerful impressions go, Evans points to the town some seven hours northwest of the Big Apple—Niagara Falls, N.Y.—where he grew up with as many as nine siblings and half-siblings in the house at any one time.

“It’s survival of the fittest, especially when you’re trying to compete for the attention of a single mom who is constantly working,” says Evans, 32. “There was always a fight of some kind in the house; my older brother, who was much more physically dominant than me, beat the heck out of me every day. It toughened me up.

“After that experience, there was nothing that anyone in the world could say to even remotely bother me; I’d already been picked on by people who knew me best. It actually was good training.”

Not that the former UFC light-heavyweight champion—and one of the most compelling fighters in the full-contact sport that combines boxing, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, kickboxing, judo and other disciplines—went straight from his boyhood home to the octagon.

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Evans first honed his skills as an amateur wrestler. In 2000, while attending Niagara County Community College, he captured the National Junior College wrestling championship at 165 pounds.

He later transferred to Michigan State University, where he wrestled and earned his degree in psychology.

After graduating, he worked briefly as a bouncer at a bar in East Lansing, Mich.

It was there, while helping to break up a fight, that he met someone who invited Evans to an underground mixed martial arts club.

“The place looked like something out of ‘Fight Club’—it was under a bridge in this dilapidated old warehouse,” Evans says.

“Inside, it’s all dark and damp; rats are scurrying everywhere. We enter this room where the funk and steam are overwhelming—and there are two guys on a mat beating the hell out of each other.

“I think I was a natural for the sport because of my athletic ability, my wrestling background and the fact that I took karate when I was young. So I started coming back and participating.”

In 2005, shortly after launching his professional mixed martial arts career, Evans received the invitation that would change his life; he was selected as one of nine heavyweights to compete on the Spike TV reality show “The Ultimate Fighter 2.” Despite being the shortest (5 feet 11) and one

of the lightest (225 pounds) contenders, Evans won the competition and, with it, a three-year contract with UFC. Three years later, after brutally knocking out UFC icon Chuck Liddell in his prior bout, Evans stopped Forrest Griffin in the third round to capture the light-heavyweight title.

“What I do is draw from everything inside—the pain, the heartache, everything that drives you in life; I’m able to harness that and just go for it,” says Evans, who dropped a unanimous decision to Jones in their April title fight, only the second loss of his career against 22 victories.

“When I fight, if I lose, that’s fine. But the person standing across from me? He’ll never want to fight me again the rest of his life.”

Evans has taken a liking to the Boca area; he owns a home here now and works out in Delray Beach at the Jaco Hybrid Training Center. Though he still has some years left inside the cage, Evans, who’s made movie and television appearances, is considering his next career move.

“I can’t fight forever,” he says. “I’m on borrowed time. I want to find something to continue to challenge myself.”

—Kevin KaminsKi

For an additional Q&a with rashad Evans, as wEll as our vidEo intErviEw prior to his Fight with Jon JonEs, visit bocamag.com.

july/august

mixed martial arts vs. boxing

when U want to know

aaron bristol

“The most challenging part of our sport is training for all the different disciplines,” Evans says. “An opponent good on the ground may have a whole series of different techniques that can bring a fight to an end—leg locks, arm chokes, neck cranks.

On your feet, you can use elbows, kicks, punches, take-down moves. It can get really confusing.

“Who is going to break first? That’s what it’s all about in a mixed martial arts fight. Who is going to be the first to say uncle and concede to the fact that they just can’t win.”

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FIFTY YEARS in education has taught us you can fill their minds and open them at the same time.

Fifty years ago, we had a vision to create a school that stressed excellence in both academics and character, all in a nurturing, caring environment. Today, as an independent, co-educational school for Grades JK- 12, we are still building upon and perfecting those founding principles. Academically, 80% of the Class of 2011 was accepted at a college rated either Most Competitive or Highly Competitive by the 2011 Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges. We take special pride in our students’ cultural diversity, strength of character, and respect for others. As a result, a true sense of community exists among our educators, parents, and students.

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spotlight [ by marie speed ]

Catching Up with The Coach

The man who gUided The miami dolphins To Their greaTesT glory, hall of fame CoaCh Don Shula, weighs in on his former Team, Chasing perfeCTion and a greaT sTeak.

w

ho knows when don shula last had to buy a drink in miami? or wasn’t asked to autograph a picture or a football? even now, 17 years after he retired as head coach of the miami dolphins, the winningest coach in national football league history remains a legend here.

The don, now 82 and “on the injured reserved list,” according to wife mary anne, has some back issues and may have slowed down, but he’s still in the game. in fact, shula and son david just launched a new chain of upscale burger franchises, shula Burger, in addition to his long-established shula’s restaurants, which now number 33 across the nation. we met up with shula during the opening weekend of the postcard inn and flagship shula Burger at the former holiday isle resort in islamorada. here’s what the man whose 1972 super Bowl squad remains the only team in nfl history to finish a season without a loss or tie had to say about his life these days.

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Life after retirement: “After coaching 26 years in Miami and seven in Baltimore—33 years of being a head coach in the National Football League—I was ready to just not do much of anything. But then we got into the restaurant business, and that proved interesting and exciting.

We kept expanding, and we enjoyed that becoming part of our lives. My wife will tell you [that, at first] I had some difficulties; she would say, ‘Don’t you have anything to do today? Get out of the house.’

“Another difference is not having the pressure of game day. Everything you did in coaching was graded out by how you did on game day, what your record was at the end of the year, what your record was in your career. That determined what kind of a coach you were and what kind of success you had. In the restaurant business it’s a little harder to put your finger on it. [And you have a lot of different factors]. You want to be successful there the same way you want to be successful in the coaching profession.” true story: “[When] the Dolphins were looking for a new coach, [team owner Stephen Ross] said he wanted to hire a ‘young Don Shula.’ I called him the next morning and said, ‘I’m only 81!’”

What’s Wrong With the DoLphins: “It’s hard to say. There are so many things that enter into it. It’s how you draft, decisions that you make [regarding] who you keep on your team, the actual game management. There are a lot of things that enter into winning and losing—but that’s how you keep score in the NFL. The team [that doesn’t win fires] the coach and looks for somebody else to come in and hopefully get them straightened out.”

“i don’t know any other way to lead but by example.”

—Don Shula

on the perfect season anD Whether it WiLL be matcheD: “I thought, and a lot of other people thought, that Green Bay last year was going to run the table. They were that good and that dominating. But every year somebody steps up and beats the team that is undefeated. july/august

Don Shula with wife Mary Anne

when U want to know

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spotlight The Shula legacy ›› Coach of the only NFL team to finish a season without a loss or tie (1972 Dolphins, 17-0) ›› 33 seasons as an NFL head coach ›› Two Super Bowl victories with Miami (VII, VIII) ›› Most coaching wins in NFL history (347) ›› Most NFL games coached (526) ›› NFL conference titles as coach: 1964, 1968, 1971–73, 1982 and 1984 ›› Shula’s teams reached the playoffs in 20 of 33 seasons. ›› In 26 seasons at Miami, Shula’s Dolphins finished below .500 only twice. Since 2004, the Dolphins have finished below .500 six times. ›› Coached five different quarterbacks to Super Bowl appearances, including Earl Morrall, John Unitas, David Woodley, Bob Griese and Dan Marino ›› Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year in 1993 ›› Elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1997 ›› Things named after him: Shula Stadium at John Carroll University; Don Shula Expressway, Miami; Shula Bowl, the annual game between Florida Atlantic University and Florida International

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The Coach joins the Shula Burger team during its opening weekend at the Postcard Inn in Islamorada.

Since 1972 we’ve been the only team that’s ever done that.

[If the league moves to an 18-game regular season] it obviously would be harder. It’s been a long period of time—50 some years before and 40 years later—and no one else has done it [except the Dolphins].

Rules changes and how they’ve impacted today’s game: “There’s one that drives me nuts every Sunday. They’ve moved the kickoff up 5 yards, so now it’s an automatic touchback.

So you line up, you’ve got 22 players [on the field], everyone is hoping to see a good play—and the ball is kicked into the end zone or out of the end zone and nothing happens. They did it for safety, but I think they are going to revisit that rule—it takes some of the drama out of the game. ... “[When I was] on the competition committee, we tried to make the game as safe as possible—and as exciting as possible. That was always our whole thrust.” his shining moments: “I just think consistency, knowing that we always [did] things within the rules. Our record indicates that we have done it better than anyone else.

“The highlights were the big games, the great victories, the accomplishments—the

perfect season, winning the most games, back-to-back Super Bowls. I coached in six Super Bowls. Those were always exciting.” on becoming a successful RestauRateuR: “It’s the same thing as when I coached. You surround yourself with good people and try to hire the best assistant coaches and then draft the best players. In the restaurant business you try to do the same thing. You surround yourself with the best people, give them a job to do, and then do it better than your competition.

We treat it like a coaching job—instead of a general manager, we have a head coach in some of our restaurants.

“You have a playbook. And partners. You train them well, hold them accountable, keep them motivated, change around the edges but not where your core is—and you maintain consistency.” his favoRite steak at shula’s: “The cowboy steak—but I want to change the name; I want to call it the Dolphin steak.” on whetheR he’s eveR had to buy a dRink in miami: “People have been nice. When somebody wants my autograph I feel like it’s a privilege to be asked. That’s the attitude I take.” july/august

presents

t o s e f • •b

boca • • &

B e yo n d

Save the Date: November 15, 2012 Official Unveiling of the Spectacular, New Courtyard at The Shops at Boca Center Join Boca Raton magazine—and start the season in style—at our annual “Best of Boca & Beyond” celebration at The Shops at Boca Center. Featuring tastings from 30+ restaurants, live music, strolling fashions, wine, spirits, an after party and more! Check out the November issue for details.

Sponsorship Opportunities available, deadline August 15th.

For more information, call 561-997-8683 x300 or visit bocamag.com.

Sponsored in part by:

A portion of the proceeds to benefit:

The Boca

What didn’t happen in and around Boca over the past 12 months? It’s been a year of everything from presidential visits to Bieber Fever—and a host of accomplishments to make us all proud (well, most of them). Join Boca Raton as it pays tribute to the 100* newsmakers, cultural and culinary standouts and local heroes that defined our community.

By Kevin KaminsKi, Cassie morien, marie speed and John Thomason note: Items are not numbered in order of significance.

when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

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[1] oBama

Charles Pratt

comes to FaU Ingdra Zaw, one of 4,000-plus students to score the lottery ticket of the year at Florida Atlantic University, wasn’t a fan of the 44th president.

But after she heard Barack Obama deliver a 34-minute speech about the wealthiest 1 percent shouldering a heavier tax burden, the undergrad biology major—who pays for her own schooling and holds a part-time job—changed her tune. “I’m definitely voting for the president,” Zaw said. Obama became the first sitting president to visit FAU since Lyndon Johnson attended the college’s dedication ceremony in 1964.

[2] Let there Be rock

Unforgettable shows that rocked South Florida during the past 12 months U2 at Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens Swans at Respectable Street, West Palm Beach O.M.D. at Grand Central, Miami Paul Simon at Hard Rock Live, Hollywood Elton John at BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise

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[3] Best Laid PLans The Business Plan Competition at FAU—the brainchild of Kimberly Gramm, director of the Adams Center for Entrepreneurship—continues to celebrate the spirit of innovation and enterprise like no other event in the area. This spring, more than 200 teams, armed with original business concepts, competed for a share of $200,000 july/august

[4-8] Major Donations

Boca residents and organizations, as always, gave generously during the past year.

Here are just a few of the noteworthy donations.

■ The Marcus Foundation, the charitable organization launched by Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus (left), donated $25 million to Boca Raton Regional Hospital—the largest philanthropic gift in hospital history—to create the Marcus Neuroscience Institute.

■ Harold and Mary Ann Perper donated $1 million to Florence Fuller Child Development Centers, jump-starting a capital campaign for a student activities building.

■ The foundation started by LPGA golfer and Boca resident Morgan Pressel (below, third from the right) presented $250,000 to Go Pink Challenge, which benefits the Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health & Wellness Institute/Center for Breast Care.

■ The Junior League of Boca Raton launched the first Diaper Distribution Network in the region, providing diapers to low-income families through partner organizations such as Caridad, Family Promise, Florence Fuller and the Milagro Center.

Regina Kaza

■ The Quantum Foundation, celebrating 15 years of serving health and welfare needs in the county, surpassed the 1,000-grant mark (totaling more than $100 million).

in cash and prizes.

Among the winners: Neil Parsont, who earned a prize package worth $15,000 in the FAU student category for an online service that helps to pair students with tutors.

[9] MinD our Manners

Foursquare, a location-based social networking app for smartphones, checked its databases for foul words last year and compiled a list of the Top 20 rudest [English speaking] cities in the world. Boca Raton ranked 12th. What the %#&?

Neil Parsont

when U want to know

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[11] Mad Max: THe sequeL

Lending a Hand The challenging economy didn’t stop Boca Helping Hands from celebrating a recordbreaking year in terms of the support it provided the community. The nonprofit, led by executive director Jim Gavrilos (above, left), served more than 43,000 hot meals (a 54 percent increase compared to 2010) and 20,000 pantry bags filled with groceries (a whopping 191 percent increase) to those in need.

During the 1970s and 1980s, with then-partner Burt Rapoport, Dennis Max (inset) introduced South Florida to New American cuisine through a string of restaurants; the only survivor is Max’s Grill, still a landmark at Mizner Park. After a “15-year midlife crisis,” Max launched three new restaurants this year: Max’s Harvest, a farm-to-table masterpiece in Delray; retro Italian Frank & Dino’s in Deerfield; and Assiaggio del Forno at Regency Court in Boca. All three are getting great reviews. Max is back.

nSpa at Delray Beach Marriott

The Maui Spa and Wellness Center

The Seagate Hotel and Spa

[12-14] finding BLiss

The path to pampering this past year led us to three local spas providing unique stress-busting treatments.

TreaTmenT

Where

Time

Price

DeTails

THe Luana

The Maui Spa & Wellness Center

50 minutes

$105

Luana means to “relax” or “enjoy” in Hawaiian, and that’s exactly what you’ll do with this classic massage of long strokes, kneading and friction. The treatment removes body toxins, delivers nutrients to tissues, and helps relieve pain.

BLissfuL sTone Massage

nSpa at Delray Beach Marriott

50 minutes/ 80 minutes

$130/$160

This hot-stone massage relaxes muscle tension, aches and pains with soothing heat therapy. Warm coconut milk also is incorporated to help hydrate dry skin.

Rain Massage

The Seagate Hotel and Spa

80 minutes

$180

Enjoy a full-body exfoliation with warm sugarcane and coconut oil. Warm water cascades on your body as the therapist delivers a relaxing massage focused on calming the nervous system.

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july/august

[15] the piano Man (Quietly) plays Boca raton It’s not often in South Florida that a Billy Joel concert goes virtually unnoticed, but that’s just the way the folks at Lynn University wanted it. Joel’s Feb. 23 appearance at the Wold Performing Arts Center was open only to Lynn students and faculty. The nearly threehour event included songs, stories and a Q&A. The stories were hilarious, and the hits were the greatest, with Joel riffing amiably on all topics and playing solo compositions on the two pianos he brought with him. At one point, a man who had broken his back many years earlier was reunited with Joel, who had visited him in the hospital. It was one of many touching moments in this one-of-a-kind concert.

Billy Joel

[16] the year of the Break-up

in the restaurant world There were notable nosedives in the dining industry this past year. The ugliest falling out appears to be between David Manero (Vic & Angelo’s, The Office) and partners, which had Manero exiting stage right—and lawyer-ing up. Then there was SpoonFed, the well-received Delray restaurant helmed by chef Glen Manfra, who left before the new paint was dry. And what about Asian boy wonder Roy Villacrusis, who left Kapow! Noodle Bar and restaurateurs Rodney Mayo and Scott Frielich due to those pesky “creative differences?”

[17] Miracle on the 14th Corey Pavin’s playoff victory at the Allianz Championship, his first on the Champions Tour after 35 starts, included a final-round shot that had to be seen at the Old Course at Broken Sound to be believed. On the par-3 14th, Pavin scorched his tee shot over the green and down a hill; the ball settled against a thick tree root. He grabbed an 8-iron, turned it 180 degrees, and chopped at it left-handed (he’s a righty); incredibly, the ball settled to within 4 feet, and Pavin saved par. He later called it “a once-in-alifetime shot.”

[19-23] here and there

Five random items that caught the attention of locals over the past year.

■ The Shops at Boca Center adds Brio and English Tap & Beer Garden to its lineup.

■ Sixty-four students receive their white coats last August as FAU welcomes its inaugural class to the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine.

■ Good news at Mizner Park: Lord & Taylor announces it will take over the old Robb & Stucky space; women everywhere rejoice. Bad news: the arrival of parking meters.

■ Ex-IBM wunderkind Pete Martinez announces plans to launch a for-profit Palm Beach Medical College in Boca Raton.

■ Savor the Avenue (sponsored by Delray Beach and Boca Raton) draws more than 1,000 people to a table that stretches as far as the eye can see down Atlantic Avenue.

[18] Mazel tov!

Ben’s Kosher Deli of Boca topped seven other restaurants to earn the title “Best AllAround Matzah Ball” at this spring’s Forest Trace Golden Matzah Bowl competition. In addition to the accolades, Ben’s won a $500 check for the charity of its choice, Jewish Community Services of South Florida. when U want to know

Savor the Avenue

[ bocamag.com ]

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[24 ] Wild at Heart

Ken Kawamoto

Visit bocamag.com for the complete interView with gabby wild.

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A former Miss Boca Teen USA, now attending Cornell Veterinary School, is changing the way we view endangered species—one dress at a time.

Throughout 2012, Gabby Wild is raising awareness through her foundation regarding the plight of 12 animals facing extinction. The 23-year-old is working with fashion designers—including contestants from “Project Runway”—to produce eco-friendly dresses inspired by that month’s featured animal (such as the Chinese giant salamander in this outfit worn by Wild and created by Luis Valenzuela). The “12 in 12 for 12” campaign will culminate in a January 2013 event at the Museum of Natural History in New York, where the dresses will be auctioned; proceeds will go to organizations involving the endangered animals.

july/august

[25] south florida after dark Where is the late-night crowd getting its groove on in and around town? Try Spin, which opened at Mizner Park last June. This place has everything: stage, dance pit, daybeds, three fully-stocked bars and a media wall all packaged in a Moroccan-inspired atmosphere.

Club New York at CityPlace brings the Big Apple to town. Graffiti art murals cover the walls surrounding three bars, plus a giant screen provides a live glimpse of Times Square.

[26] Naked but eco-frieNdly Delray Beach’s Naked Hair Salon was named the third most environmentally friendly salon in the world at the Davine’s Eco-Salon of the Year contest in Miami. The earth-conscious creation of Adam and Janine Shuman features recycled furnishings, natural lighting and chemical-free products. In addition, the purchase of a certain hair color service results in the planting of five trees through the salon’s Reforest Action lot in Senegal, Africa.

Adam and Janine Shuman

[27-32 ] Notable Noshes

Several local restaurants shined this past year, but these six, especially, tickled the taste buds of Boca Raton’s food editor, Bill Citara.

Buccan: Clay Conley’s hip, exciting smallplates restaurant in Palm Beach nails it on all counts: precisely executed and inventive food, suavely professional service, and a thoughtful design that combines the best of chic and comfort.

Buddha Sky Bar: Three stories up from the bustle of Atlantic Avenue, this stylish dim sum/sushi house spot could have been another “too cool for you” South Beach wannabe, but dishes from a simple veggie fried rice to the ridiculously elaborate dessert bento box say it’s just right.

Buddha Sky Bar cocktail

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Café Boulud: Always a paragon of effortless style and sophistication, this elegant Palm Beach retreat for the 1 Percenters now has a bolder, sharper, more adventurous and consistent culinary edge, thanks to recently arrived chef Jim Leiken.

Scuola Vecchia pizza

Max’s Harvest: In the hands of executive chef Chris Miracolo, “farm to table” is another way of saying “fresh, seasonal and delicious”— look no further than the mapleglazed heritage pork belly with peaches and mustard greens at this Delray newcomer.

Pangea Bistro: Artfully melding Latin and tropical flavors in a smartly designed space that registers more hip urban than horsy suburb, this Wellington concept by a trio of chefs from the Four Seasons Palm Beach dishes food with enough big-city flair to make your palate sit up and take notice.

Scuola Vecchia: Have your pies in Delray the way they’ve been made for centuries in Naples, the birthplace of pizza.

The perfect crispchewy crusts and impeccably fresh, commonsensible toppings, applied with a judicious hand, have us saying, “Now, that’s Italian.”

Buccan tuna tartare

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festivities were marred by gunshots in its closing weekend, which led to an immediate lockdown of the fairgrounds. Two people were injured, and the alleged gunman was later arrested.

[35] Royal palm plaCe Roundup

Royal Palm Place continued its high culinary profile with the rocking Biergarten and Yakitori, but our favorite new spot would have to be The Spaniard Tapas Bar & Café. This place feels like Spain, and it tastes like heaven. Bill Citara, food editor of Boca Raton, described the jamon Iberico as “insanely delicious.” The menu offers a refreshing array of great Spanish dishes, like the traditional tortilla, paellas, and even rabbit and snails. Throw in the flamenco show on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, and you’ve got a party.

[33] Hope Comes to Haiti

On the two-year anniversary of the earthquake that devastated Haiti, 42 families in Croix-des-Bouquets moved into a new community that honors the spirit of the six Lynn University students and faculty who died in the disaster. The Journey of Hope Memorial Village (pictured above), constructed by Food for the Poor with earthquake-resistant materials, features a school and community center, clean drinking water and dwellings for hundreds of survivors of Jan. 12, 2010—many of whom were living near a garbage dump. The village celebrates the lives and the sacrifice of students Stephanie Crispinelli, Britney Gengel, Christine Gianacaci and Courtney Hayes, and faculty Patrick Hartwick and Richard Bruno, who were in Haiti that day on a Journey of Hope mission trip with Food for the Poor. Back in Boca, Lynn University honored its fallen in March with the opening of an on-campus Remembrance Plaza.

[34] a Good Ride spoiled

Attendance for the 2012 South Florida Fair was 588,370 this past January, a 4 percent improvement from the year before, and for good reason: The South Florida institution turned 100, filling the fairgrounds with special centennial activities, including the successful “Party of the Century” social event and betterthan-average music that included Fuel and Grand Funk Railroad. It’s a shame that the

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[36-45] In MeMorIaM

The past 12 months marked the passing of several prominent locals.

Caridad Asensio, 79, was the charismatic co-founder of the Caridad Center in Boynton Beach in 1992, launched to provide medical care to farm workers and poor families in the Palm Beach County agricultural reserve.

Lucien Henry Capehart Jr., 65, was the foremost Palm Beach society photographer for more than 40 years. With his longtime friend Bob Eigelberger, Capehart was a founding member of the Gentlemen of the Garden, which supports the Ann Norton Sculpture Garden and other horticultural causes.

Seafood paella from The Spaniard Tapas Bar

Harriet Wilkes Cornell, 85, was a philanthropist and ardent supporter of Cornell University as well as organizations throughout South Florida. The Cornell Museum at Old School Square and Cornell Café at the Morkami Museum are named after her and her husband, George.

Gloria Drummond, 81, was the driving force behind a community initiative to build the Boca Raton Regional Hospital 50 years ago, after she lost two children who were poisoned and unable to receive medical care in time. In 1962, Drummond organized the Debbie-Rand Memorial Service League and began raising money through bake sales, projects and ultimately a thrift shop.

Ken Feigl, 84, was the quintessential man about town in Boca Raton. The former treasurer of Times Mirror Magazines was president of the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce as well as the Exchange Club of Boca Raton; he served local organizations from the Boca Raton Museum of Art to United Way of Palm Beach County.

Michael Elwood Gochenour, 59, made waves in the early 1990s when he opened Elwood’s Dixie Bar-B-Q by the railroad tracks on Atlantic Avenue. A pioneer in the Avenue’s renaissance, he also brought live original music to downtown Delray through rockabilly bands like The Dillingers and Slip & the Spinouts.

Jenny Joy, 50, was a Saint Andrew’s grad and a young community volunteer, logging in significant time at the Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens, the Gulf Stream School and St. Joan of Arc, among others.

Don Kirshner, 76, was the music publisher of hits like “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” and “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin.’” Years after guiding the early music of The Monkees, he would achieve individual notoriety as the host of “Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert.”

Joanne Wollenberg, 81, was known for her exquisite fashion sense and fashion shows, as well as her upscale designer boutique, Nina Raynor, a fixture in Delray Beach for the past 27 years.

Eleanor Zaccagnini, 75, was a much-beloved member of the Boca community. Zaccagnini was a devoted community volunteer, especially with the Boca Raton Regional Hospital Debbie-Rand Memorial Service League and the Junior League of Boca Raton.

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[46-50]

[51] Welcome to the club

What’s in store?

The following new retail establishments made big splashes on the local scene.

■ Lululemon Athletica: Town Center at Boca Raton welcomed the popular apparel store, which offers well-fitting activewear for yoga, dancing, running and “other sweaty pursuits” for men and women. The store also offers complimentary in-store yoga classes on Sundays.

■ Bare Escentuals: Known for its award-winning bareMinerals line, the preservative-free company, which opened at Town Center, also offers juicy lip colors, electric eyeshadow shades, sun-protection products and self-tanners.

Indi-Chic

Bare Escentuals Lululemon Athletica

Ann Taylor concept store

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■ Indi-Chic: Dan and Michelle Jaffe, a husband/wife team with an eye for style, opened this gem in Royal Palm Place. The spacious store is filled with indie finds ranging from cashmere sweaters and staple T-shirts to fringe handbags and funky flats.

■ Ann Taylor: The iconic brand debuted a concept store at Town Center with a lavish grand-opening bash (sponsored by Boca Raton magazine) at the Seagate Beach Club in Delray Beach, where guests browsed the modern, feminine, sophisticated line. Ann Taylor opened another concept store in Palm Beach Gardens in May. ■ Forever 21: Before most of Boca was awake, hundreds of shoppers lined up inside Town Center for the grand (re)opening of Forever 21 in January. The first 400 shoppers were given gift cards with varying amounts of credit to use in the new 19,000-square-foot, twostory, expanded store. The youthful line is known for its overwhelming (and outrageously affordable) selection of men and women’s clothing and accessories.

After decades of running exclusive clubs, John Crean now belongs to one as well.

The general manager at Broken Sound Club in Boca, who has drawn raves for his commitment to sustainability, qualified for membership in the Honor Society of the Club Managers Association of America— an appointment that only a select group of club managers around the world have earned. Crean, who has led Broken Sound Club to prestigious five-star Platinum Club of America status, also achieved Certified Chief Executive honors.

John Crean

[52] Yes, Virginia, there is

a Wine shop She was always a big deal—one of only a handful of women in the world to pass the Court of Master Sommeliers diploma exam—and now she is branching out. Virginia Philip (inset), a longtime fixture at The Breakers, opened Virginia Philip Wine Shop & Academy this year in West Palm Beach, complete with classes and wines, tastings and advice. She’ll also be a virtual wine sommelier (her menu pairings will be available on a tabletop iPad) at Stéphane’s, the new contemporary French/American undertaking with chef John Belleme opening in Boca this summer.

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[53] One Giant Leap

This past year was a banner one for Miami City Ballet.

Last summer, the company drew raves for three weeks during a summer dance festival at Paris’ Théâtre du Châtelet, performing numbers by Balanchine, Tharp and Robbins to screaming, sellout crowds of 2,500. “Having a triumph [in Europe] opens you up to the rest of the world,” artistic director Edward Villella told Boca Raton. Two months later, Villella, who turned 75 last year, announced his retirement at the end of the 2011-2012 season. One month after that bombshell, the ballet made its national television debut on PBS’ “Great Performances” series. Next season will be a tough act to follow.

Edward Villella

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Kapow!

Noodle Bar

[54-59] Bite-sized Buzz

Boca Raton food editor Bill Citara dishes on six trends that defined our culinary scene.

(Note: Visit bocamag.com for contact info on the restaurants in this section.)

■ Big-city themes go local: Trends including farm-to-table/organic (Max’s Harvest, DIG), world tapas (Buccan, Cha Cha), less familiar Italian regions (D’Angelo Trattoria), modern dim sum (Buddha Sky Bar) and noodles bars (Kapow!, Joy Noodles) swept the local dining scene.

■ Burgers rule: Where’s the beef? It’s all over town. On the lower-priced end: BurgerFi, CG Burgers, Chuck Burger Joint, Relish and the coming Shula Burger. More upscale patty purveyors include Burger Bar

by Chef Allen (aka, original Mango Gangster Allen Susser).

Seaside Café at the Boca Raton Resort & Club’s Beach Club

■ Food trucks: Check out locals like Curbside Gourmet, Stocked-N-Loaded, PS561 and the Fire Within.

■ Big chefs/restaurants discover PBC: We saw several chefs and restaurants of renown make a splash in the area, including Philippe Chow, Chris Miracolo (Max’s Harvest) and Red, The Steakhouse.

■ Local restaurateurs kick it up a notch: Though “outsiders” have contributed much to the county’s dining scene, homegrown restaurateurs are at the forefront of ambitious new concepts. Give thanks to Burt Rapoport (Deck 84), Carmine Giardini (Umi Fish Bar), Rodney Mayo (Kapow! Noodle Bar), the Coniglios (Cha Cha’s), and Brandon Belluscio and Brian Albe (Cut 432 and Park Tavern).

■ Toes in the sand: Finally. Dining on the beach. New at the Boca Raton Resort & Club’s Beach Club is Seaside Café, a casual on-the-sand café (its menu is written on a surfboard) featuring blue crabs and beer, lobster cookouts and peel-your-own-shrimp.

[60] sudden impact Behind a simple premise and the involvement of 148 local women, our community did itself proud this spring through a vehicle known as Impact 100. Started by a Cincinnati woman in 2001, the event has spread to other cities, landing in Boca thanks to Tandy Robinson, a Delray resident, and significant support from the Junior League of Boca Raton. The idea: Call on local women to donate $1,000 each, solicit

presentations from area nonprofits, and then have the contributors vote. Five organizations received grants—with the grand prize of $100,000 going to Parent Child Center for its new program designed to intervene and advocate for children trapped in domestic violence situations.

[61] mizner’s march madness

Festival of the Arts Boca was the talk of the town for 11 straight days in midMarch. The event drew a stronger overall turnout than last year, according to festival chairman Charles Siemon. Constantine Kitsopoulos, the Festival’s newly appointed music director, oversaw two crowd-pleasers: the sold-out screening of “Casablanca,” with live Constantine Kitsopoulos orchestration from the Boca Symphonia, and “Opera Goes to the Movies,” a soaring collection of songs from contemporary movies, performed by a renowned tenor, soprano and mezzo-soprano. Doris Kearns Goodwin, the festival’s distinguished writer in residence, drew a huge crowd for her “Road to the White House” speech. While Time for Three didn’t play to a packed house, the hip, young string trio from Philadelphia certainly had those in attendance buzzing after performing a staggering 34 songs—and inviting the crowd onto the stage.

[62] panty raid

Local shoplifters have taken the “sexy steals” advertised at Victoria’s Secret quite literally.

Panty thieves have targeted the stores at the Town Center and Boynton Beach malls more than a dozen times (combined) since last fall, including a spring heist of some 600 pairs of thongs, cheekies, V-strings and other Victoria’s Secret underwear offerings. The March theft came after Boca police arrested two Miami women for allegedly swiping $6,000 in merchandise from the Town Center store—and then trying to return it at other Victoria’s Secrets in the area. Translation: There could be a panty posse at large.

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[63-65] Tales from The Gridiron

Howard Schnellenberger

Here are three local stories that had us talking football.

Greg Bryant: What can the state’s top high school running back possibly do for an encore? Last season, the 5-foot-11, 205-pounder from American Heritage rushed for 2,180 yards and 35 touchdowns, leading his Delray-based team to its third Class 3A state title in five years. Bryant, rated No. 29 on ESPN’s list of the top 150 college prospects for 2013, verbally committed to Oklahoma this spring.

John Kelley

Howard Schnellenberger: It wasn’t the way that the legendary head coach wanted to go out, but forget the one-win season and consider a legacy that includes building FAU football from scratch, leading the team to a bowl game (and victory in 2007) faster than any program in Division I-A history, and spearheading the new oncampus stadium that opened in 2011—a 30,000-seat landmark that city officials agree will change the face of FAU and Boca Raton.

Blair Walsh

Blair Walsh: Minnesota Vikings fans were up in arms that the team used its sixthround draft pick on a kicker. But the Bocabred Walsh, who connected on 73 percent of his field goals at the University of Georgia, has a chance to make the team as a kickoff specialist and kicker-in-waiting behind Ryan Longwell, who will be 38 this season.

[66] BesT in show

Boca Raton A&E editor John Thomason selects his top local art exhibitions from the past 12 months.

■ “The World According to Federico Uribe,” (pictured) Boca Raton Museum of Art ■ “Artist Unknown/The Free World,” Art and Culture Center of Hollywood ■ “Jenny Saville,” Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach ■ “How Soon Now,” Rubell Family Collection, Miami ■ “Martin Schoeller: Close Up,” Boca Raton Museum of Art

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[67] Clay Conley Rolls

aaron bristol

First there was the casually chic Buccan, arguably the hottest dining ticket in Palm Beach—and an instant hit for South Florida’s cutest chef, Clay Conley. Next, Conley was nominated “Best Chef South” by the James Beard Foundation (although he did not make it to the finals, hard as that is to fathom.) Finally, he opened the Zen-like Imoto, a Japanese café and sushi bar next to Buccan. We’d say Conley is recasting “The Palm Beach Story”—as the undisputed culinary star of the island.

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[68] Eau So Good If the Readers’ Choice Awards presented

by SpaFinder are the Oscars of the industry, then Eau Spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach enjoyed a “Titanic”-like haul.

The 42,000-square-foot sanctuary walked away with top honors in five categories: Best Accommodations, Best in Luxury, Best Interior Design, Favorite Spa Professional (Lori Pavlack, massage therapist) and Best Brand.

[69] bonkErS for ballroom

The annual Boca’s Ballroom Battle benefiting the George Snow Scholarship Fund has emerged as the must-see event of the summer. Last year’s event, themed “Viva Las Vegas,” drew more than 750 attendees (another 100 were on a waiting list) and raised some $220,000. Local dignitaries, who

[70] boatinG bEnEvolEncE

Eau Spa

spend weeks preparing for the event, left it all on the dance floor—but only two (one male, one female) were crowned champions: Congratulations to Jay DiPietro (president, COO and general manager of Boca West Country Club) and Jackie Reeves (managing director at Bell Rock Capital). The folks at George Snow Scholarship Fund swear that this summer’s event will be even bigger.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of co-founders Jay Van Vechten and Zack Rice, along with countless volunteers, Boating & Beach Bash for People with Disabilities has emerged as one of Boca’s most heartwarming events. More than 2,000 children and adults with disabilities were treated in March to an afternoon on the Intracoastal aboard yachts (30 in all) donated by members of Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club. The event featured exhibitors with connections to the special-needs community. “It was a joy-filled celebration of physical and intellectual diversity,” Van Zack Rice and Jay Van Vechten Vechten says.

[71-75] faShion rEport

The following trends, most still going strong locally, were all the rage during the past year.

■ Pastels: Our closets are filled with the softest shades of mint green, blush, orchid, powder blue, lemon, peach and rose after this year’s pastel bloom. Wear the delicate palette all year by pairing light fabrics with darker tones in the fall and winter.

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■ Oxfords: Last spring, fashion news sources predicted that Oxfords—the plain, lace-up, usually leather shoe—would make headlines. Even fashionistas, however, had to be surprised by the popularity of the footwear, which has been revamped with floral patterns, eyelets and electric suede hues.

■ Fringe: Flapper fashion has received a major face-lift this season with the recent fringe explosion. This motion-friendly trend can be seen on shoes, bracelets, purses, dresses, crop tops and more.

■ Top knots: Skyhigh, messy hair never looked so good. Runway models and Atlantic Avenue shoppers are continuing to rock this chic, stylish, effortless look.

■ Color blocking: Graphic mash-ups of bold, bright, neon colors are still being incorporated in everything from dramatic platforms to shift dresses and statement jewelry. Although some are tired of hearing about (and seeing) this trend, it shows no signs of going away.

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Steven Maklansky

[76] MuseuM for the PeoPle

This time last year, the Boca Raton Museum of Art began a new chapter with the appointment of Steven Maklansky as its new executive director. The loquacious Maklansky soon concluded that the museum’s progress should be applied in baby steps, not drastic changes. “Our challenge is one of evolution, not revolution,” he says. “We want to make sure we’re perceived as accessible to the community. We want to alleviate any perception that we are an art castle.” To that end, Maklansky has spearheaded a turn toward exhibitions that are as playful as they are spectacular. Look no further than last winter’s “The World According to Federico Uribe”—and this summer’s “Big Art/Miniature Golf ” exhibition that features a playable 18 holes.

[77] Boca catches BieBer fever The fact that Justin Bieber paid an underthe-radar visit to Saint Andrew’s School this April wasn’t nearly as compelling as the reason why. Sixth grader Briana Finocchiaro, responding to Bieber’s national challenge to solicit funds for his favorite charity, Pencils of Promise (a nonprofit that builds schools in the developing world), raised more money than any student in the entire country—$51,738.

Briana, 12, created a website to draw donations; her twin siblings (ages 9) helped with the project. Bieber, who came to Boca

to thank Briana, performed “Baby” for Saint Andrew’s students amid Beatlemania-like shrieking. “It was a dream come true,” Briana says. “I got to hug Justin Bieber. More importantly, many schools will be built because of everyone’s generosity.”

three films that had the biggest impact with his audiences over the past year (all of which are available on DVD).

“Poetry”: “The film powerfully portrayed universal issues the audience could relate to; the overall theme of finding beauty within a world filled with ugliness and brutality was particularly strong.”

“Cherry Blossoms”: “This poignant, bittersweet and sometimes humorous but always human story of a husband and wife who visit their children and become separated by death resonated deeply with my audiences.”

“The Barbarian Invasions”: “This 2004 Oscar winner provided a brilliant reflection of many of the major social issues— health care, mortality, friendship, addiction, family—affecting the demographic of my audience.”

[78] foreign legions This past year was a busy one for local film scholar Shelly Isaacs, an advocate for arthouse cinema in Palm Beach County and beyond. His “Café Cinematheque” series offers exclusive screenings of foreign-language movies seven times a month at Movies of Delray and six times monthly at Movies of Lake Worth. We asked Isaacs to pick the

Cindy newnam

Briana Finocchiaro with Justin Bieber

iPic Theaters at Mizner Park

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[79] cinema like never before

With this summer’s opening of iPic Theaters at Mizner Park, Boca has become South Florida’s epicenter for cinematic comfort. Premier Club at Cinemark Palace already offers in-theater dining, but iPic steps it up a notch with reclining seats, large but intimate movie theaters, pillows and blankets, an in-house gourmet restaurant and the ambience of a luxury hotel. Founder Hamid Hashemi (see profile on page 72) has a sterling track record as the brains behind Muvico; here’s hoping his innovations continue to raise the bar for moviegoing in the 21st century. Also worth noting on the cinema scene: Living Room Theaters at FAU (which also has in-theater dining) has been a godsend for lovers of independent films that, otherwise, would never find their way to Boca.

[80-83] PreP SPortS in the SPotlight

High school athletes and teams from Boca and Delray made headlines throughout the year.

■ American Heritage: Two of the Delray school’s sports juggernauts continued their winning ways. The girls soccer team won the Class 2A championship for the third consecutive year behind two goals each in the title game from Yulie Lopez and Tatiana Panagos. It marked the eighth straight state final appearance for American Heritage, which has captured five titles in that span. The football team, led by star running back Greg Bryant (see item No. 63), rolled to the Class 3A championship with a 30-3 thrashing of Madison County—the Stallions’ third state title in five years.

■ Saint Andrew’s School: The boys tennis team captured the Class 1A state championship, including a title-clinching doubles performance by Andrew Dykeman and Nicholas Mill (son of Chris Evert and Andy Mill) ■ Boca Raton High: Junior standout Hunter Bandy, a consensus all-county player of the year for both major local newspapers, scored 11 goals and added 16 assists for the Bobcats, which lost in the semifinal of the Class 5A state tournament.

■ Spanish River: Two talented Sharks repeated as state champions. In boys tennis, senior Zach Gross won the No. 4 state singles title for the second straight year. And in girls golf, senior Christina Ocampo overcame a five-shot deficit to claim her second consecutive Class 2A individual title. With her two-day score of 3-over-par, Ocampo joined Morgan Pressel as the only prep golfers from our county to ever repeat as individual champion.

Cindy newnam

Nicholas Mill

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[84-87] Cultural News of Note ■ Exit stage left: Two nonprofit South Florida theaters fell victim this year to the struggling times. The Promethean Theatre Company at Davie’s Nova Southeastern University campus folded after eight years.

And Palm Beach County’s beloved Florida Stage filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after just one season at the Kravis Center.

■ Upgrade in the works: Thanks to a $2 million donation from area philanthropists Don and Ann Brown, Palm Beach Dramaworks unveiled its new Clematis Street Theater last November. The move has led to the development of towering, multistory set designs—and largecast productions like “The Pitmen Painters”—that could not have been staged before.

■ Reel expansion: For its 26th annual event last year, the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival launched “FLIFF On-Location,” expanding the brand for screenings in markets like Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, Amelia Island, the Bay Harbor Islands and Grand Bahama Island.

“We’ve been mobile in our efforts to reach out to other groups,” says Gregory von Hausch, executive director of FLIFF. “So far, we’re batting .1000.”

■ Hot “Stuff”: Palm Beach County won a staggering 13 of 20 Carbonells, the awards for theatrical excellence in the tri-county area. Michael McKeever, arguably South Florida’s most prolific playwright, won Best New Work for his play “Stuff.” Premiering at the Caldwell Theatre last July, it dramatized the lives of the Collyer Brothers—New York’s notorious hoarders, who collected garbage long before the disease had its own TV show. The play also won Best Scenic Design and Best Supporting Actress.

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The winning team at the Iron Chef competition celebrates its victory.

[88] boCa’s iroN Chefs

The second annual Boca Bacchanal Iron Chef competition, co-chaired by Allison Lane and Kimberly Rosemurgy and benefiting the Boca Raton Historical Society, was one of the year’s most entertaining events. Fifteen teams—each with 12 participants—cooked up a storm under the watchful eye of chef (and judge) Andrew Roenbeck (the other judges were FAU president Mary Jane Saunders and our own Marie Speed). The menu was filet mignon, shrimp, salad and risotto; each team spun its own version. Our toques go off to the winning team: Robin and Charles Deyo, Emily McMullin, Reagan Such, Dorothy MacDiarmid, Tim Snow, Jon and Trisha Summersfield, Cindy and Mike Krebsbach, Dave Coroy and Amy Kazma.

[89] she’s Got Game It took an 11-year-old girl from Boca to finally bring success to the Miami Dolphins.

That’s because Ava Shmueli, a fifth-grader at Pine Crest, did something the team she represented has done only once in the past 11 seasons—she won a division title. Shmueli, sporting a Dolphins jersey, captured the girls 10-11 national title at the NFL’s Punt, Pass and Kick finals in January. Her third time in the competition proved a charm—she totaled some 255 feet on her punt, pass and kick efforts, a personal best by 20 feet.

[90] Coolest GaraGe iN towN

The Arts Garage in Pineapple Grove, which recently celebrated a smashingly successful first anniversary, continues to offer jazz and classical music, film, art, drag shows and theater to culture-craving residents.

The cabaret-style venue has a decidedly hip vibe, from its roster of recurring performers to its BYO-whatever policy regarding food and alcohol. If you think the Arts Garage is impressive now, just wait until Executive Director Alyona Ushe moves her operation to its expansive, 15,000-square-foot permanent home a few blocks away—hopefully by this time next year.

Ava Shmueli

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Beth and Craig Peschl

[91] Year-round Green Markets

Seasonal green markets are seasonal no more. It started with Ellenville’s Moonlit Farmers Market at the Ellenville Garden Center, owned by Craig and Beth Peschl, who have been hosting a green market Thursdays from 4 to 8 p.m. since last fall. The event features prepared dishes (the paella man has a devoted following) with food trucks and other items, but there are veggies for sale, as well as wine and beer. The downtown waterfront in West Palm Beach is hosting its first summer GreenMarket, Wednesdays from 5 to 8 p.m. through Sept. 19. More than 60 vendors are expected, offering fruits and veggies, flowers and plants, baked goods and more.

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[92] Let the Debate begin

Preparation for Lynn University’s role as host of this year’s final presidential debate (Oct. 22) prompted major donations from two Boca residents involving entrances into the college. Robert Sheetz pledged $1 million for renovation and expansion of the front entrance, including the planting of 62 new trees; and Benjamin Olewine III pledged $1 million for development of a new back entrance on Potomac Road. The university estimates that upward of 10,000 people, including thousands of journalists from all over the world, will descend on Boca for the debate.

[95] angeLo Does it again

Angelo Elia already has made an impressive name for himself in both Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton with his Casa D’Angelo restaurants, and his entry into the Delray dining scene with D’Angelo Trattoria has been explosive. Taking over what was once Carolina’s Pizza, Elia gutted the interior and revamped the old house into a sleek but cozy trattoria. The menu is even cozier, from homemade pastas, roast piglet and locally sourced burrata to actual slabs of bone marrow (talk about a Paleo diet). Big flavor, big talent, big success—and very big news for Delray Beach.

[96-100] strange but true

The following five South Florida incidents all happened during a three-month stretch in early 2012.

Mr. President, how could you? A man wielding a handgun and wearing a Barack Obama mask robbed a Riviera Beach McDonald’s of about $1,000.

Plains

[93-94] LocaL Musicians Making noise Boca Raton web editor Cassie Morien singles out a pair of South Florida acts that took significant steps toward stardom in the past year. ◆ Dreaming in Stereo: The progressivepop band out of Miami rocked SXSW this year and opened for Filter at Revolution Live in April. The five-piece band is led by singer/ songwriter and founder of Forward Motion Records, Fernando Perdomo. Listen to: “Fill My Sky” ◆ Plains: Chicago transplant Michael McGinnis, who now calls Miami home, is the head singer/songwriter of this indie-rock quartet whose debut album garnered a heap of positive press last summer. With McGinnis’ raspy vocals and the band’s perfected blend of drums and guitar, we couldn’t agree more. Listen to: “Innovator” Visit BocaMag.coM to listen to the songs Mentioned aBoVe.

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He struck out swinging: A road-rage episode on Palmetto Park Road in Boca escalated when the instigator began eye-gouging the other driver before attacking him with a baseball bat. The victim, a mixed-martial arts fighter, secured the bat—and beat his attacker with it.

Hold the mustard: A Key West man was arrested for screaming profanities in the middle of an Old Town street. The man, ranting about tourists ruining the town, was completely covered in ketchup.

Is the island going to pot?

The U.S. Border Patrol arrested a Bahamian man whose boat washed ashore in Palm Beach. Inside the 21-foot boat, agents found 427 pounds of marijuana valued at $342,000.

Do you work for the secret service? A Boynton Beach man was charged with strong-arm robbery following an argument with an escort. The man, disappointed with the dance the escort was hired to perform in his bedroom, reportedly snatched her purse—and took back the $200 he paid.

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[ Boca 100 ResouRce Guide ] AmericAn HeritAge: 6200 Linton Blvd., Delray Beach, 561/495-7272, ahschool.com

ellenville’s moonlit fArmers mArket: 220 N.E. 11th St., Boca Raton, 561/245-7347

Art And culture center of Hollywood: 1650 Harrison St., Hollywood, 954/921-3274, artandculturecenter.org

festivAl of tHe Arts BocA: 433 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, 561/368-8445, festivaloftheartsboca.org

Arts gArAge: 180 N.E. First St., Delray Beach, 561/450-6357, artsgarage.org AssAggio del forno: 3011 Yamato Road, Boca Raton, 561/613-6460, assaggiodelforno.com Ben’s of BocA rAton: 9942 Clint Moore Road, 561/470-9963, bensdeli.net BocA Helping HAnds: 1500 N.W. First Court, Boca Raton, 561/417-0913, bocahelpinghands.org BocA rAton HigH scHool: 1501 N.W. 15th Court, Boca Raton, 561/338-1400 BocA rAton HistoricAl society: 71 N. Federal Highway, Boca Raton, 561/395-6766, bocahistory.org BocA rAton museum of Art: 501 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, 561/392-2500, bocamuseum.org BocA rAton regionAl HospitAl: 800 Meadows Road, Boca Raton, 561/955-7100, brrh.com BocA rAton resort & cluB: 501 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton, 888/543-1277, bocaresort.com tHe Bridge Hotel: 999 E. Camino Real, Boca Raton, 561/368-9500, bocaratonbridgehotel.com Broken sound cluB: 2401 Willow Springs Drive, Boca Raton, 561/241-6800, brokensoundclub.org, allianzchampionship.com BuccAn: 350 S. County Road, Palm Beach, 561/8333450, buccanpalmbeach.com BuddHA sky BAr: 217 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 561/266-9898, buddhaskybar.com cAfé Boulud: 301 Australian Ave., Palm Beach, 561/655-6060, cafeboulud.com cluB new york: 700 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach, 561/659-0100, clubnewyorkwpb.com

pAngeA Bistro: 10140 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington, 561/793-9394, pangeabistro.net

florence fuller cHild development centers: 200 N.E. 14th St., Boca Raton, 561/391-7274, florencefullercenters.org

pine crest: 2700 St. Andrews Blvd., Boca Raton, 561/852-2800, pinecrest.edu

floridA AtlAntic university: 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, 561/297-3000, fau.edu • living room theaters: 561/549-2600

QuAntum foundAtion: 2701 N. Australian Ave., Suite 200, West Palm Beach, 561/832-7497 quantumfnd.org

fort lAuderdAle internAtionAl film festivAl: 1314 E. Las Olas Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, 954/760-9898, fliff.com

royAl pAlm plAce: 101 Plaza Real South, Boca Raton, 561/392-8920, royalpalmplace.com • Biergarten: 309 Via De Palmas, 561/395-7462, biergartenboca.com • indi-ChiC: 348 Esplanade, 561/245-7487, indichicboca.com • Yakitori: 271 S.E. Mizner Blvd., 561/544-0087, yakitorisakehouse.com • the spaniard tapas Bar & Cafe: 99 S.E. Mizner Blvd., 561/347-7000

frAnk & dino’s: 718 S. Federal Highway, Deerfield Beach, 954/427-4909, frankanddinos.com george snow scHolArsHip fund: 1860 N. Dixie Highway, Boca Raton, 561/347-6799, scholarship.org ipic tHeAters: 301 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, 561/299-3000, ipictheaters.com imoto: 350 S. County Road, Palm Beach, 561/833-5522 Junior leAgue of BocA rAton: 261 N.W. 13th St., Boca Raton, 561/620-2553, jlbr.org lynn university: 3601 N. Military Trail, Boca Raton, 561/237-7000, lynn.edu • wold performing Arts center: 561/237-9000 (box office) tHe mAui spA & wellness center: 2100 N.W. Boca Raton Blvd., Boca Raton, 561/395-7733, themauispa.com mAx’s HArvest: 169 N.E. Second Ave., Delray Beach, 561/381-9970, maxsharvest.com miAmi city BAllet: 2200 Liberty Ave., Miami Beach, 305/929-7000, miamicityballet.org mizner pArk: 327 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, 561/362-0606, miznerpark.com nAked HAir sAlon: 10 S.E. First Ave., Delray Beach, 561/265-3396, nakedhairsalon.com

d’Angelo trAttoriA: 9 S.E. Seventh Ave., Delray Beach, 561/330-1237

norton museum of Art: 1451 S. Olive Ave, West Palm Beach, 561/832-5196, norton.org

eAu spA At tHe ritz-cArlton, pAlm BeAcH: 100 S. Ocean Blvd., Manalapan, 561/540-4960, eauspa.com

nspA At delrAy BeAcH mArriott: 10 N. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach, 561/278-8111, nspas.com

when U want to know

pAlm BeAcH drAmAworks: 201 Clematis St., West Palm Beach, 561/514-4042, palmbeachdramaworks.org

ruBell fAmily collection: 95 N.W. 29th St., Miami, 305/573-6090, rfc.museum sAint Andrew’s scHool: 3900 Jog Road, Boca Raton, 561/210-2000, saintandrews.net scuolA veccHiA: 522 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 561/865-5923, scuolavecchiapizzeria.com spAnisH river HigH scHool: 5100 Jog Road, Boca Raton, 561/241-2200 tHe seAgAte Hotel & spA: 1000 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 561/665-4950, theseagatehotel.com soutH floridA fAir: 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach, 561/793-0333, southfloridafair.com spin ultrA lounge: 346 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, 561/361-3999, spinboca.com town center At BocA rAton: 6000 Glades Road, Boca Raton, simon.com/mall/?id=144 • ann taYlor: 561/391-0785, anntaylor.com • Bare esCentuals: 561/393-8547, bareescentuals.com • forever 21: 561/394-0281, forever21.com • lululemon: 561/392-6022, lululemon.com virginiA pHilip wine sHop & AcAdemy: 101 N. Clematis Ave., West Palm Beach, 561/721-6000, virginiaphilipwineshopacademy.com west pAlm BeAcH greenmArket: 561/822-1520, wpb.org/greenmarket

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july/august

BlackMagic

WoMan Former police detective Amy Godoy, South Florida’s foremost authority on occult crimes, shares tales from the voodoo beat.

By Gaspar González

From a distance, it looks like an apparition, or some imagining from master surrealist Salvador Dalí. It’s a chicken claw, leg intact, tacked upside down to a tree. Amy Godoy spots it right away.

“They’ve been here,” she says.

The tree is a ceiba, a tropical species distinct for its buttress roots; in this instance, they resemble a maze of walls growing out from the trunk. In Cuban Santería, the ceiba is worshipped for its curative and magical powers. Godoy searches for other telltale signs of spiritual visitors, before settling on a large bushel of tiny, green bananas nestled at the base of the tree. “Those are an offering for Changó,” she concludes, naming the most powerful of the Santería gods.

when U want to know

Godoy would know. There’s not a lot about the petite 51-year-old dressed in a white shirt and blue jeans that screams “cop,” but that’s exactly what Godoy was for more than 25 years: an officer and, later, a detective on the Miami-Dade Police force. Her beat for a good chunk of that time was occult crimes. In Miami, that meant Cuban Santería (“the cult of the saints”) and Haitian voodoo (or vodou), modern incarnations of ancient African religions brought to the New World by the slave trade and to South Florida by the winds of political upheaval and immigration from the Caribbean.

On this spring afternoon, Godoy is walking through Little Havana, Miami’s historic Cuban district, where

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“Santería doesn’t have a moral code,” notes Godoy. “So there’s nothing to prevent someone from using it to promote illegal activity.” she’s agreed to meet for lunch. Up and down Southwest Eighth Street, the area’s famed Calle Ocho, are reminders of her old job. Not just the ceiba tree, which is a neighborhood landmark, but the numerous religious shops (called botánicas) specializing in everything from Catholic statuary—Saint Lazarus on crutches is especially popular—to oils, incense and herbs, some of which have practical uses in Santería rituals.

So how did a nice Catholic girl from a Cuban family get mixed up with all this voodoo? Godoy laughs.

“I got into law enforcement because it sounded exciting, and because the department would pay for half of my graduateschool tuition,” says Godoy, now seated at El Exquisito, a much-frequented restaurant on the strip, where she tears into a thin sirloin steak topped, Cuban style, with glistening, fried onions. “My plan was to be in the department for 10 years, then pursue a career in psychology and education.”

Godoy emigrated from Cuba with her parents in 1969, when she was 9, and joined Miami-Dade Police Department as a uniformed officer in 1984. Back then, there weren’t many Cubans on the force, and even fewer women. Nevertheless, Godoy worked her way up and, after only five years, had her eye on the detective division. “I would apply for every position they had,” she says. “The problem was, even if I did really well in the interview, they would say, ‘Well, you have no experience.’ How am I supposed to get any experience if they never hire me?”

Luckily for Godoy, there was one area in which no one in South Florida law enforcement had any experience. “They started finding all kinds of things on the courthouse steps,” she says. “Chicken parts, the names of judges and lawyers written on pieces of paper. Nobody knew what to make of that stuff.” The items were remnants of Santería rituals designed to protect criminals and drug dealers—this was during Miami’s “cocaine cowboys” era—from prosecution.

Cuban Connection

A

Opening photo: Godoy poses against the ceiba tree in Miami worshipped

by Santería for its magical powers.

Top: Godoy stands outside a shed used to practice Palo Mayombe, a dark strain of Santería; inside, baby owls were being held in captivity.

Bottom: Detectives and an anthropologist review evidence from a Santería crime scene.

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An offshoot of the Yoruba religion, Santería took root in Cuba when West African slaves were prohibited from worshipping their deities and forced, instead, to adopt Christianity. Or at least pretend to.

“In reality,” says Godoy, “they appropriated the symbols of Christianity to stand in for the African saints,” and simply continued to pray and offer sacrifices to deities (or orishas) like Changó, god of virility and strength; Babalú-Ayé, god of the earth and seer of all; and Elegguá, god of the crossroads.

In 19th- and 20th-century Cuba, the syncretized religion was considered the province of former slaves and, by extension, the lower classes. Older middle and upper class Cubans generally avoided it, either because they considered it so much mumbo jumbo or because they feared it. For that reason, until 1980, Santería was an underground religion practiced by relatively few Cubans in Miami. After the Mariel boatlift, however, the city was flooded with younger people drawn disproportionately from the lower rungs of Cuban society who practiced the religion much more openly.

In the United States, Santería wasn’t illegal—it had the same standing as any other religion—but some of the practices associated with it were. There was, for instance, the matter of animal sacrifice, which typically involves rooster or goat blood being offered to the gods in exchange for help with a particular plight, from health and financial concerns to romantic trouble and beyond.

[On this score, practitioners of Santería subsequently found some legal protection; in 1993, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled laws specifically designed to prevent animal sacrifice in Santería rituals to be unconstitutional.]

The religion also attracted a criminal element—and in the Miami of the 1980s, that was a lot of people. “Santería doesn’t have a july/august

Guide to the Gods Can’t tell your gods without a program? Here is a glossary of orishas, or Santería deities.

(Source: Synopsis of the Santería Religion, by Amy Godoy and Rafael Martínez)

ElEgguá: The guardian of the crossroads. All rituals begin by invoking Elegguá. He is a restless god and, for his own amusement, will often bring annoyance to mortals. The colors associated with Elegguá are red and black; the numbers associated with him are 3 and 21.

Obatalá: Considered the creator of the world, father of all orishas and god of peace. His color is white; his numbers are 8 and 16.

YEmaYá: Queen of the seas and goddess of motherhood. She is depicted as virtuous, intelligent, warm, human and happy. Her colors are blue and white; her number is 7.

Oshún: Goddess of love and lust; also the goddess of rivers, lagoons and gold. She is depicted as sensuous, witty and wicked. Her colors are yellow and gold; her number is 5.

Changó: God of virility and strength, also of thunder and lightning. Representative of unbridled sexuality, there is no deity more vehement or energetic. His colors are red and white; his numbers are 4 and 6.

Oggún: The god of all things made from iron and minerals. A warlike god, he is symbolized by machetes, picks, shovels and hammers. His colors are green and black; his number is 7. babalú-aYé: God of illness and seer of the future. His colors are purple and brown (or purple and yellow); his number is 17.

OChOsi: God of hunters and spell casters. He also is known as a god of justice and frequently associated with the police, jails and the legal system. His colors are brown and beige; his number is 3.

—Gaspar González

moral code,” notes Godoy. “So there’s nothing to prevent someone from using it to promote illegal activity. It’s really up to the individual practitioner.”

Drug dealers—some who believed in Santería, others who just believed in taking out every insurance policy they could—sought out willing Santería priests (santeros) for spiritual protection. “You can’t go to a priest or rabbi and say, ‘Please bless me because I’m bringing in a couple of kilos tonight, and I want everything to go smoothly,’” says Godoy. “But you can go to a santero.” According to Godoy, a santero when U want to know

could make thousands of dollars from blessing a successful shipment. And many did.

That was just one of the many discoveries Miami-Dade Police would eventually make.

In 1989, though, they mostly just wanted to know why animal parts and other weird artifacts were turning up around town, so they created a special “occult crimes” detective position.

Godoy was the only applicant. “I knew nothing about Santería,” she confesses, “but after 14 or 15 interviews with the detective bureau that went nowhere, I would have applied for underwater basket-weaving.”

Practitioners of Santería in Miami leave offerings, like this chicken claw (leg intact), to their gods.

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A

Expert in the Making

Godoy holds the grapefruit-sized stone with cowrie shells meant to evoke the god Elegguá.

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As a newly minted detective, and perhaps the only one in the country specializing in occult crimes, Godoy read up on Santería, took classes on the subject offered by anthropologist Rafael Martínez through the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner’s Office, and, because Santería wasn’t yet considered a full-time beat, worked with other divisions. “I moonlighted with the crime

suppression unit, posing as a prostitute on Eighth Street,” she remembers, pointing at her old trolling ground outside the restaurant window.

She began assembling a manual for other officers to use when they encountered evidence of Santería at a crime scene, but it “was all very theoretical,” she says, “because we couldn’t find practitioners who would shed light on the things we were seeing.” That all changed during one memorable drug bust.

july/august

Paleros want an owl because it’s wise, so they dissect it, freeze-dry it, grind it up and sell it an ounce at a time for rituals.

“I walk in, and I see all this stuff associated with Santería, and I say, ‘This guy is the bomb,’” recalls Godoy. “You could see he was a santero.” His name was Rubén Delgado, a “very flamboyant, gay” Cuban who had made a killing blessing drug shipments and, not surprisingly, had wound up holding some supply. “I arrested him for drugs, and I made a deal with the state attorney—immunity in exchange for his becoming a confidential informant,” says Godoy.

Delgado, grateful not to be thrown in jail, became more than an informant to Godoy.

He became her mentor. “He allowed me to come in and film his ceremonies, the ones we were allowed to see, because you can’t witness initiations,” she explains. “But we filmed despojos [spiritual cleansings], consultas [counselings], things like that.”

Because Santería is a tradition passed down from person to person—there is no standard sacred text, as found in many of the major world religions—this kind of exposure proved critical. “I learned the symbols,” says Godoy. “Like when they did a reading with the cowrie shells.” Cowrie shells taken from the sea resemble a pair of pursed lips. Santeros will typically throw 16 of them during a spiritual reading. Their meaning, what the gods are attempting to communicate, will depend on how the shells land.

“I got so good that I could do a reading,” Godoy says with a laugh. “Only someone who has been initiated into the religion is supposed to know that. Rubén would have been in a lot of trouble if other people had discovered he was teaching me that.” (Godoy only revealed Delgado’s identity after his death.) Fellow cops, impressed by Godoy’s insider knowledge, took to calling her “Mamá Changó.”

Stories abound of how far Godoy would go to further her understanding of the occult. There was the time, for example, she was canvassing a park near downtown Miami when she noticed a group of santeros performing an itutu, a ceremonial disposing of the personal effects of a recently deceased fellow practitioner.

In this instance, Godoy witnessed the group tossing a sack into the water. “They were doing it as an offering to Oshún,” the goddess of lagoons and rivers and, most likely, the dearly departed santero’s guardian saint. “When they left, I jumped in up to my neck,” says Godoy, emphasizing her point by bringing her hand up just below her chin.

“There was no way I was going to leave that there.”

Inside the sack, she found numerous sacred objects, including a smooth stone about the size of a grapefruit meant to evoke the god Elegguá. Adorned with cowrie shells representing the eyes, nose and mouth of the god, the Elegguá had faces on two sides.

For years it sat on Godoy’s desk at the detective bureau, adding to the reputation of Mamá Changó.

Godoy remained on the voodoo beat for 20 years, going undercover as a santera and solving cases ranging from the killing of endangered species for profit to murder. Three of the cases, still as fresh in her mind today as they were when the events unfolded, stand out.

The Case of the Santeria Confession

I

when U want to know

In May 1996, homicide detectives called Godoy with a riddle: What does a corpse with 46 stab wounds have to do with a Santería church on the other side of town? Police had found 40-year-old James Thompson dead in his North Miami-Dade apartment. They estimated his body had been there for four days. Their only lead in the case was a call made on Thompson’s cell phone the night he was killed. It was to a house in Hialeah, a predominantly Cuban, working-class community west of Miami.

“The homicide detectives knocked on the door of this ordinary white house and found themselves in a Santería church,” Godoy told The Miami Herald a few years later. “They knew they were in the middle of something they didn’t understand. So, eventually, they called me.”

From top: A cow’s tongue nailed to a tree, a symbol of control to keep authorities “silent”; a “nganga,” a religious cauldron filled with human bones and sticks and items specific to a high priest; a desecrated tomb robbing linked to practitioners of one of the Santería belief systems.

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10

Voodoo at the Movies

Hollywood is no stranger to the sort of occult rituals practiced by devotees of Santería. Here are 10 of the best in this genre, more than enough to program your own Voodoo Film Festival.

9

[ 10 ] The SkeleTon key (2005): Kate Hudson plays a hospice nurse who plunges into an environment of witchcraft and human sacrifice when she accepts a position at a New Orleans plantation home.

[9]

Sugar hill (1974): Blaxploitation, zombies and the occult combine in this bloody cauldron of a film about an Afro-sporting heroine raising the dead to defeat the mafia.

8 6

[8]

incubuS (1966): This cult classic starring William Shatner was the only film ever shot in the constructed language of Esperanto. Lost in a French vault for 35 years, this outlandish story about the conjuring of spirits and a battle for souls was restored on home video in the early 2000s.

[ 7 ] DuST Devil (1992): Grisly and entrancing, “Dust Devil” centers on a shape-shifting drifter and black-magic practitioner who prays on a battered hitchhiker while being hunted by a police detective versed in witchcraft.

[6]

angel hearT (1987): This critically acclaimed thriller marries the supernatural elements of “The Exorcist” with the neo-noir gumshoeing of “Chinatown,” as private eye Mickey Rourke delves into a mysterious investigation involving voodoo and a devilish Robert DeNiro as “Louis Cyphre.”

[5]

i WalkeD WiTh a Zombie (1943): Ignore the crude, studiodictated title: This low-budget classic from horror maestro Jacques Torneur contains a haunting evocation of voodoo ceremonies and rituals. It was remade as “Ritual” in 2002.

[4]

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The believerS (1987): John Schlesinger (“Marathon Man”) directed this exploration of the Santería religion, complete with references to cowrie shells, fetuses in jars and human sacrifices. With Martin Sheen and Robert Loggia.

[3]

The SerpenT anD The rainboW (1988): Poor Bill Pullman plays a scientist subjected to all manner of black magic in Wes Craven’s enduring thriller, set in a post-Duvalier Haiti rampant with witch doctors.

[2]

The Wicker man (1973): Pagan rituals on a creepy island color this unforgettable exploration of small-town deviancy from Britain’s Robert Hardy. Avoid the recent American remake like the plague.

[1]

eyeS WiDe ShuT (1999): Hollywood titillation at its densest, this movie has been debated for its sexual provocations and occult symbology ever since its controversial release. Some even suggest that Stanley Kubrick, who died mysteriously four days after turning in the final print, was killed for exposing the Satanic rituals of a global elite known as “the Illuminati” in the masked ball sequence. These theories make the experience of watching the film, starring Tom Cruise and then-wife Nicole Kidman, all the more chilling.

—John Thomason [ bocamag.com ]

7 5 3

1

july/august

Godoy learned that there had been a Santería ceremony at the house the night of the murder; artifacts found at the house included figures of angels, stone heads with shells for eyes, bells and a steer’s skull with a mirror balanced between its antlers. After some questioning, the owner of the house told Godoy the phone calls that night had been for Leonardo Aranda, a young santero who, it was said, could communicate with the dead.

On the night in question, though, the phone calls had come from the living: Rudolfo Ramírez, Aranda’s lover. The two had recently quarreled, but Ramírez had called Aranda at the house looking for help, the home’s owner told Godoy. Ramírez wanted a special reading with an oba, a Santería high priest. Specifically, he wanted to know

The Case of the Mutilated Manatee The dead manatee that washed ashore in Key Biscayne might have been the victim of exposure to the cold—that happens sometimes—or it might have run into a boat propeller. Except for what was missing.

“Someone had taken a chunk out of it, and authorities were wondering why,” Godoy says. “I knew why. They were going to freeze that and sell it for powder.” The mutilated manatee, Godoy understood immediately, was evidence of Santería.

The reason, she says, is that “manatees are syncretized with the Virgin of Regla,” worshipped in Cuba as both a Catholic saint and as the Santería saint Yemayá, queen of

T

On occasion, Paleros target the corpse of a high Santería priest and take the skull (believed to hold a person’s spirit). what the future held for him, and he wanted to summon a “guardian angel.”

“When I heard that, right away I knew this had to be something serious,” says Godoy. She ascertained the identity of the oba and asked him about the reading. The high priest told Godoy that Ramírez had shown up with bloody wounds on his hands, and that when the oba had thrown the cowrie shells, they had landed in a way that suggested Ramírez was guilty of something.

Godoy knew she was getting close, but she needed more than cowrie shells. She was aware that a record of such readings, called the libreta de ita (“the book of life”), is always kept. Godoy asked the owner of the Santería house if she had the book for Ramírez’s reading.

Flipping through it, she saw that, in addition to the utterance of the shells, “the oba had written down iku, which is violent death, and elese araye, which is tragedy.”

Godoy was floored: “Holy smokes, I told myself, this is a confession I’m holding in my hands—a Santería confession.”

Following Godoy’s lead, police eventually gathered evidence connecting Ramírez to Thompson—the victim, police learned, liked to cruise gay bars—and arrested him for Thompson’s murder. when U want to know

the seas. The manatee, as a symbol of the sea, can thus become an offering to Yemayá, in return perhaps for a safe voyage.

The particular practice Godoy suspected in the case of the manatee is associated with a much darker strain of Santería known as Palo Mayombe, which originated in the African Congo before spreading throughout the Caribbean. Paleros, the high priests of the religion, have a thing for animals, always with a purpose in mind.

“Why would a palero want an owl, for example?” Godoy asks. “Because it’s wise. So they dissect an owl, freeze-dry it, grind it up, and sell it an ounce at a time for rituals where someone might want to acquire insight or knowledge about something.” The take can be quite lucrative. Godoy estimates that an ounce of owl powder might bring a few thousand dollars. And a manatee? “You could probably sell an ounce for $5,000,” she says.

Of course, that’s illegal. So Godoy, working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, went undercover as a santera and traced the manatee meat to a Miami palero. When they initially made contact, he offered to sell her what he claimed were three human fetuses, preserved in jars. The price was $2,500 each.

From top: A frozen blue jay and cardinal found in the house of a dangerous palero; rabbit specimens that paleros attempted to sell as human fetuses; a baby Florida panther found in the freezer of a palero, who was arrested for violating the endangered species act.

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75 Main Delray

Atlantique Café

75 Main Delray, owned by dynamic restaurateur Zach Erdem (he also owns 75 Main in Southampton, N.Y.), serves up daily (and delicious) contemporary American cuisine with Mediterranean accents for brunch, happy hour and dinner.

Atlantique Café serves breakfast seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.; dinner Tuesday through Saturday, 5 p.m. until closing. Dine al fresco under the stars in our peaceful courtyard setting with fountains in a very quiet atmosphere.

tasting

tasting Mini Cajun Tuna Slider

served with lemon-ginger aioli and vegetable slaw on a potato brioche

toasted baguette with montrachet goat cheese and pear, warmed and topped with fresh tomatoes, garlic, cilantro and red onion

pairing

pairing

Hawaiian Punch

Warsteiner wheat beer from germany with a light and refreshing hint of honey

Blue curaçao, vanilla vodka, pineapple juice and peach schnapps

passport card dining special

purchase one entrée, receive one free entrée

sunday-thursday, 4:30-10:30 p.m.

Use your Tastemakers Passport as often as you would like for the offer above July 1 – September 30, 2012.

270 E. Atlantic Ave. 561/243-7975 • 75main.com

Pear and Goat Cheese Bruschetta

passport card dining special

15% off entire dinner check Use your Tastemakers Passport as often as you would like for the offer above July 1 – September 30, 2012.

777 E. Atlantic Ave. 561/272-1170 • atlantiquecafe.com

a special advertising section | tastemakers of delray beach

Boheme Bistro

Cabana El Rey

Caffé Luna Rosa

For nearly two decades, Boheme Bistro has been a favorite among locals. With its wordly menu, including authentic Mediterranean cuisine, Boheme Bistro blends the tradition of family, friends and good times.

Cabana opened its doors in 1994, serving Nuevo Latino fare in our hometown of Forest Hills, Queens. A meal at Cabana transports diners to an island vacation.

Caffé Luna Rosa is the oldest Italian restaurant in Delray Beach. Luna Rosa offers an ocean-view dining experience where great food and a great environment come together.

tasting

Chicken Boheme grilled chicken with exotic garlic mideast sauce

pairing The Dreaming Tree, Chardonnay, Central Coast the dreaming tree chardonnay captures the distinct citrus notes of the central coast of california. it has big fruit and loads of spice.

tasting

Anticuchos marinated skirt steak skewers topped with a rocoto and red onion salsa

Cedilla Açai Caipirinha

pairing

PassPort card dining sPecial

free Bottle of house wIne

10% off any fooD purchase alcohol not included

Use your Tastemakers Passport as often as you would like for the offer above July 1 – September 30, 2012.

1118 E. Atlantic Ave.

561/278-4899 • bohemebistro.com

Use your Tastemakers Passport as often as you would like for the offer above July 1 – September 30, 2012.

105 E. Atlantic Ave. 561/274-9090 • cabanarestaurant.com

Florida Lobster and Crab Bisque

homemade bisque with fresh lump crab and florida lobster tail meat finished with cream and sherry

the caipirinha, the national drink of Brazil, is made here with leblon run and the first true acai liqueur, cedilla—an all-natural product made with 100-percent organic berries from the amazon rainforest.

PassPort card dining sPecial

with dinner Purchase, sunday-thursday, Per taBle

tasting

pairing Urban Riesling this medium-bodied riesling has a nice lingering fruit flavor that makes it a spot-on choice for lobster and crab dishes—food-friendly wine.

PassPort card dining sPecial

free Bottle of wIne

with Purchase of 2 entreés; 2 free Bottles with Purchase of 4 entreés; house choice; sun.-thu.; not valid on holidays Use your Tastemakers Passport as often as you would like for the offer above July 1 – September 30, 2012.

34 South Ocean Blvd.

561/274-9404 • caffelunarosa.com

a special advertising section | tastemakers of delray beach

Cut 432

Deck 84

Lemongrass

Cut 432 is Delray’s steak house, offering a modern, high-energy restaurant and bar with an intense focus on prime beef, inventive side dishes, abundant raw bar and uniquely prepared seafood, not to mention it’s chic decor and awardwinning wine list.

Deck 84 was voted Boca Raton magazine’s Best Intracoastal and Best Outdoor Dining destination two years in a row. Deck 84 is Delray Beach’s favorite waterfront dining destination.

Lemongrass Delray Beach has been the place to go for Thai, Japanese sushi and Vietnamese since opening. The eclectic expansive menu will have you coming back multiple times to see how one little kitchen can put out so much.

With all rolls and dishes made to order, the chefs can create just about anything to your liking. The notable wine and sake list provides the perfect pairing to any entrée. Zagat 2004–2008: Excellent; Sun-Sentinel: Top 10 Asian Restaurants in Florida; Florida Trend: Best New 20 Restaurants in South Florida.

tasting

Steakhouse Taco with avocado, shaved cabbage and queso-fresco

pairing

Watermelon Sangria seedless watermelon, dry white wine, vodka, cointreau and citrus syrup

tasting

Crab Cake with chipotle remoulade and roasted corn salsa

pairing Burto’s Lemonade

tasting

Spicy Tuna Tartare

svedka raspberry vodka, fresh berry puree and fresh-squeezed lemonade

with crispy rice

pairing

Saketini

PassPort card dining sPecial

PassPort card dining sPecial

PassPort card dining sPecial

15% off check

half off Bottles of wIne

10% off entIre check

Per PassPort holder

monday-thursday.

Use your Tastemakers Passport as often as you would like for the offer above July 1 – September 30, 2012.

432 E. Atlantic Ave. 561/272-9898 • cut432.com

Use your Tastemakers Passport as often as you would like for the offer above July 1 – September 30, 2012.

840 E. Atlantic Ave. 561/665-8484 • deck84.com

Use your Tastemakers Passport as often as you would like for the offer above July 1 – September 30, 2012.

420 E. Atlantic Ave. 561/278-5050 • lemongrassasianbistro.com

a special advertising section | tastemakers of delray beach

Max’s Harvest

Off the Ave

Farm to fork; simple, sustainable, local fare.

Off the Ave Food & Spirits is Delray Beach’s newest local hangout, located just “Off the Ave” and South Federal Highway. Our pizza and sandwiches are the best in town. We provide a great local atmosphere suitable for people of all ages, whether on the way to the beach or a night out on the town.

tasting

Roasted Green Cay Beet Salad

cress, arugula, orange supreme, pickled red onion, honey-balsamic vinaigrette, oregon blue cheese, candied pecans

pairing

Backyard Watermelon Martini fresh watermelon juice, charbay, micro-distilled, fresh-fruit vodka, fresh lemon juice, micro-spearmint, shaken and strained over watermelon ice

PassPort card dining sPecial

tasting

Authentic New York-Style Pizza

made with the freshest all-natural ingredients and imported cheeses

The Office

The Office on Atlantic Avenue in Delray pairs your favorite comfort foods with unique modifications, keeping your taste buds wanting more. Offering a huge selection of delicious food and tasty beverages, The Office, a hot-spot gastro-pub, sets the perfect vintage-meets-chic atmosphere for any kind of gathering.

tasting Prime CEO Burger sweet onion & tomato confit, gorgonzola, gruyère, arugula, bacon

pairing Shock Top a wheat beer, with a crisp hop bitterness, smooth and unique to most iPa’s ... very smooth!

PassPort card dining sPecial

PassPort card dining sPecial

$5 off purchase of $20 or more

50% off 2nD entrée

$49.95 DInner for two

of equal or lesser value

may not Be comBined with any other offers.

with a Bottle of house wine

Use your Tastemakers Passport as often as you would like for the offer above July 1 – September 30, 2012.

Use your Tastemakers Passport as often as you would like for the offer above July 1 – September 30, 2012.

Use your Tastemakers Passport as often as you would like for the offer above July 1 – September 30, 2012.

169 N.E. Second Ave. 561/381-9970 • maxsharvest.com

19 S.E. Fifth Ave. 561/450-6768 offtheavedelray.com

201 E. Atlantic Ave. 561/276-3600 • theofficedelray.com

a special advertising section | tastemakers of delray beach

Olio

Park Tavern

Orange Leaf is a self-serve, choose-your-own-toppings frozen yogurt shop where customers are the master of their own dessert.

We’ve got more than 16 flavors to choose from and plenty of outdoor seating for those warm summer nights. Come by today and see why we’re America’s Frozen Yogurt.

Park Tavern is a neighborhood restaurant offering seasonally inspired, farm-fresh comfort food with an intense focus on craft beers, seasonal cocktails, and small-production wines.

America’s Frozen Yogurt

A rare gem set apart from mainstream Atlantic Avenue, Olio provides romantic ambience, a wine selection parallel to none and a worldclass menu for any food connoisseur.

tasting

Orange Leaf

Penne Pomodoro

peas, tomatoes, garlic and basil olive oil tossed with penne

tasting

tasting pairing

pairing Samuel Adams Boston Lager®

Frozen Yogurt

Ruffino, Chianti Superiore, Tuscany

Manwich

smoked Kurobuta pork, new york state cheddar, sesame seed brioche

the best example of the fundamental characteristics of a great beer, offering a full, rich flavor that is both balanced and complex. it is brewed using a decoction mash, a time-consuming, traditional fourvessel brewing process discarded by many contemporary brewers. this process brings forth a rich sweetness from the malt that makes it well worth the effort.

this wine shows traditional sangiovese characteristics with notes of cherries and violets, followed by hints of clove and pepper. the palate is dominated by ripe fruit flavors and well-balanced structure, with an elegant finish.

PassPort card dining sPecial

PassPort card dining sPecial

PassPort card dining sPecial

free Bottle of house wIne

10% off your purchase

20% off check

with dinner Purchase, sunday-thursday, Per taBle

Use your Tastemakers Passport as often as you would like for the offer above July 1 – September 30, 2012.

42 S.E. Second Ave. 561/278-6633 • oliobistro.com

of a cuP of yogurt. may not Be comBined with other offers.

Use your Tastemakers Passport as often as you would like for the offer above July 1 – September 30, 2012.

418 E. Atlantic Ave. 561/894-8230 • orangeleafyogurt.com

Per PassPort holder

Use your Tastemakers Passport as often as you would like for the offer above July 1 – September 30, 2012.

32 S.E. Second Ave. 561/265-5093 • parktaverndelray.com

a special advertising section | tastemakers of delray beach

SALT7

Sandbar

SALT7 is an upscale, high-energy restaurant and late-night experience.

The menu features U.S.D.A. Prime steaks, signature sushi rolls and sashimi, and raw bar selections.

Overlooking the beach, the recently opened Sandbar features unique specialty cocktails, crafted beers, and menu selections with a flair for local flavor. Sun, sand, bar, and music ... it’s all here at the Sandbar.

Paradise just got better!

tasting

U.S.D.A. Prime 17 oz. Bone-in Filet

grilled to perfection with our salt7 rub and served with our salt7 signature sauce

SoLita

Italian Restaurant and The Parlor Lounge

SoLita Italian restaurant offers delectable Italian specialties, exotic culinary cocktails, and a sizzling latenight atmosphere. From happy hour to after dark, it’s the perfect place for an intimate date, dining with friends or hosting a fabulous dinner party.

tasting

tasting Smoked Fish Dip

pairing William Hill Cabernet, Central Coast, 2009 flavors and aromas of dark cherry, ripe plum, and blueberry are complemented by sweet vanilla and brown spice notes. with rich, dark berry jam flavors, the wine has a complex and layered finish - which pairs perfectly with our Prime steak selection.

caramelized onions, capers, JJ flatbread

SoLita Signature House Made Meatball

served with san marzano tomato sauce, fresh basil and ricotta cheese

pairing

pairing

Housemade Italian Sangria

Rum Runner Bacardi 151, blackberry brandy, banana liqueur, lime juice and grenadine, topped with Bacardi select

made with a delicious variety of selected red wines, fresh seasonal fruit including strawberries, oranges, pineapple and blueberries mixed with a variety of flavorful fruit liqueurs.

PassPort card dining sPecial

PassPort card dining sPecial

PassPort card dining sPecial

complImentary house appetIzer

complImentary taster Item

15% off entIre check

with any $10 Purchase, uP to a $12 value

with Purchase of 2 lunches and 2 Beverages. limit 1 Per taBle.

sunday-thursday. may not Be comBined with any other offers or Promotions.

Use your Tastemakers Passport as often as you would like for the offer above July 1 – September 30, 2012.

Use your Tastemakers Passport as often as you would like for the offer above July 1 – September 30, 2012.

Use your Tastemakers Passport as often as you would like for the offer above July 1 – September 30, 2012.

32 S.E. Second Ave. 561/274-7258 • salt7.co

40 S. Ocean Blvd. • 561/278-3364 bostonssandbar.com

25 N.E. Second Ave. 561/899-0888 • solitaitalian.com

a special advertising section | tastemakers of delray beach

Sundy House

Vic & Angelo’s

The renowned Sundy House restaurant features globally inspired fare and an extensive wine list, to be savored indoors or al fresco.

Want to know what classic Italian tastes like? Vic & Angelo’s is the answer. Using our coal oven that heats to 1,200 degrees, Vic & Angelo’s offers delicious menu items such as the infamous giant Kobe beef meatballs, handmade fresh mozzarella, cold antipasto plate and a variety of handmade pastas.

Scallop and Shrimp Ceviche

tasting

Ziree

Ziree Thai & Sushi is the place to experience the art of eating well.

Quality food and service in an elegant Zen atmosphere creates the finest dining experience.

tasting Chicken Salad

served with mango salad and banana chips

tasting

pairing 2008 Buena Vista Carneros Chardonnay

roasted chicken mixed with lime juice, chili paste, cucumber, scallions, red onions and tomatoes

Four Cheese Pear Tortelloni with truffle cream sauce

pairing

with aromas of sweet vanilla, mango and pineapple fruit against a creamy, toasty background. in the mouth it shows intense apple, vibrant citrus, honeydew and pear notes through the creamy, subtly toasty finish.

Saketini strawberry flavored sake.

PassPort card dining sPecial

free glass of wIne or champagne with the Purchase of an aPPetizer. valid for lunch and dinner. not availaBle with tasting or Prix fixe menu. limit one Per PassPort.

Use your Tastemakers Passport as often as you would like for the offer above July 1 – September 30, 2012.

106 S. Swinton Ave. 561/272-5678 • sundyhouse.com

PassPort card dining sPecial

$69.95 DInner for two

with a Bottle of house wine Use your Tastemakers Passport as often as you would like for the offer above July 1 – September 30, 2012.

290 E. Atlantic Ave. 561/278-9570 • vicandangelos.com

PassPort card dining sPecial

15% off entIre check

not valid for taKeout or gift certificate Purchase. can’t Be comBined with any other offers.

Use your Tastemakers Passport as often as you would like for the offer above July 1 – September 30, 2012.

401 W. Atlantic Ave., 561/276-6549 • zireethai.com

a special advertising section | tastemakers of delray beach

S.W. 2nd Ave.

N.W. 1st Ave.

Swinton Avenue

N.W. 2nd St.

2

N.W. 2nd Ave.

Swinton Avenue

S.E. 1st Ave.

N.E. 1st Ave.

3 5

4

6

S.E. 2nd Ave.

Old School Square Parking Garage

Pineapple Grove Way

7

8

11

9

R ai lr oa

14

15

N.E.1st Ct.

16

Way

17

I nt r a c

21

Ocean

At l a n t i

Boule

c Ocean $5.00 parking garage

vard S

t at e R

oad A1

A

shuttle bus stop (last pick up at the

marriott to parking garage will be 10:00pm)

a special advertising section | tastemakers of delray beach

BEACH DRIVE

Marriott 10 N. Ocean Blvd.

Sea Spray Avenue

Andrews Avenue

Salina Ave.

20

ay

Waterway Lane

Bronson Ave.

19

2

SunDy HOuSE 106 S. Swinton Ave.

3

PARk TAVERn 32 S.E. 2nd Ave.

4

CABAnA EL REy 105 E. Atlantic Ave.

5

OLiO BiSTRO 42 S.E. 2nd Ave.

6

SALT7 32 S.E. 2nd Ave.

7

75 MAin 270 E. Atlantic Ave.

8

THE OffiCE 201 E. Atlantic Ave.

9

SOLiTA DELRAy 25 N.E. Second Ave.

10

MAx’S HARVEST 169 N.E. Second Ave.

11

ViC & AngELO’S 290 E. Atlantic Ave.

12

LEMOngRASS 420 E. Atlantic Ave.

13

ORAngE LEAf 418 E. Atlantic Ave.

14

CuT 432 432 E. Atlantic Ave.

15

Off THE AVE 19 S.E. Fifth Ave.

16

ATLAnTiquE CAfÉ 777 E. Atlantic Ave.

17

DECk 84 840 E. Atlantic Ave.

18

BOHEME BiSTRO 1118 E. Atlantic Ave.

19

SAnDBAR 32 S. Ocean Blvd.

20

50 OCEAn 32 S. Ocean Blvd.

21

CAffÉ LunA ROSA 32 S. Ocean Blvd.

Seabreeze Avenue

Thomas St.

Palm Ave.

Wat e r w

Vista Del Mar Drive

18

oastal Lowry Street

Miramar Street

INGRAHAM AVENUE

Gleason Street

ATLANTIC AVENUE

ne D rive

N.E. 4th St.

N.E. 7th Ave.

N.E. 3rd St.

Palm Square

N.E. 6th Ave.

N.E. 1st St.

S.E. 7th Ave.

N.E. 5th Ave.

N.E. 2nd St.

S.E. 6th Ave.

M cFar le

d Ave .

12

ATLANTIC AVENUE

S.E. 1st St.

S.E. 2nd St.

13

ZiREE THAi & SuSHi 401 W. Atlantic Ave.

N.E. 3rd Ave.

N.E. 4th Ave.

S.E. 4th Ave.

1

N.E. 2nd Ave.

10

S.E. 3rd Ave.

M ar in e

N.E. 4th St.

Federspiel Parking Garage

S.E. 5th Ave.

N.E. 3rd Street

S.W. 1st Ave.

N.E. 4th St.

N.W. 3rd Ave.

ATLANTIC AVENUE

S.W. 2nd St.

S.W. 3rd Ave.

N.W. 4th Ave.

N.E. 3rd St.

1

Martin Luther King Blvd.

N.W. 1st St.

S.W. 4th Ave.

S.W. 1st St.

S.W. 5th Ave.

Use your passport at any of these Tastemakers locations:

N.W. 6th Ave.

S.W. 6th Ave.

name

Philip Neal age

44

T h e occupation

Palm Beach liaison for Miami City Ballet (fundraising, representation, special events and teaching); works for the George Balanchine Trust

claim to fame

Principal, New York City Ballet for 23 years outside interests

Contemporary art, beach time why he reads Boca Raton magazine

“Boca Raton is in between the fast pace of Miami and the slower regal pace of Palm Beach—it has a healthy outdoor environment but people who are worldly and sophisticated. You have to earn Boca Raton. And I think Boca Raton magazine reflects that lifestyle brilliantly.”

Photo by Aaron Bristol, Bristolfoto

[O n ly]

B O c a

Look Who’s Reading

R a T O n

M a g a z i n e

S E I R E V I L DE :00PM E T A R O P R 2 C O F R O M 1 1 : 0 0 A Mle a-t 3rear of restaurant } take { pick up and

out availab

561-368-2900

WWW.NICKSPIZZERIABAR.COM 2240 NW 19th St.

•

Glades Plaza Suite 904 • Boca Raton, FL 33431

dining south fla.

guide

[ 132 ] [ 136 ] [ 138 ] [ 140 ] [ 142 ] [ 145 ] [ 147 ]

philippe chow review mario’s osteria review the boca find neighborhood pick waterfront drinks discovery casual corner

mario’s osteria

cristina morgado

There is strength in numbers—especially when it comes to the Sardinia-style mussels at Mario’s Osteria. Read food editor Bill Citara’s review (page 136) of this reincarnated Boca favorite.

stars next to restaurants in the guide: Boca raton Hall of famer

when U want to know

[ bocamag.com ]

131

dining guide

Green prawns Inset: Philippe Chow

review

PHiLiPPE

200 E. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton, 561/393-4666

Cristina Morgado

T

eething pains are common in any newborn restaurant, no matter how well run. At Philippe, however, they were more like a root canal, at least according to the buzz in local foodie circles.

It was a rough debut late last year for Philippe Chow’s posh, sophisticated Chinese restaurant in downtown Boca, especially in a place not exactly a hotbed (or even a warm bed) of serious Asian eateries. But give the restaurant’s staff and backers credit; they took their medicine and got to work. And now a meal at Philippe is more likely to leave you licking your lips than gritting your teeth, a good thing if you’re already tired of dental metaphors.

Speaking of teeth, you hardly need them to enjoy one of Philippe’s signature satays. These little strips of skewered meat (plus shrimp and lobster), grilled and served with peanut sauce, are a staple of Southeast Asian street food. Here in affluent Boca, the chicken and beef satays receive a multicultural makeover that cloaks their humble begin-

IF YOU GO nings in the culinary equivalent of black tie and tails (see sidebar).

Crispy duck is a poor man’s Peking quacker, half an expertly deep-fried bird that’s boned tableside and presented with hoisin sauce, scallion and cucumber spears for rolling up in delicate, almost translucent house-made pancakes.

They’re terrific Chinese tacos.

Green prawns are another Philippe standby, plump crustaceans as verdant as St. Paddy after a bath in pureed spinach, stir-fried with cashews, straw mushrooms, water chestnuts, red pepper and

carrots for a colorful, Jackson Pollock-esque mélange of subtle goodness. In truth, it may seem more bland than subtle (excepting a pair of iodine-acrid prawns). But the clean, understated flavors grow on you, as they do in the best examples of Beijing-style cookery.

Crème brûlée, on the other hand, is pure French. No green tea-litchiginger “fusion” stuff, just silken custard, lightly scented with vanilla, under a thin, brittle caramelized sugar crust that will leave your sweet teeth feeling no pain at all.

—Bill Citara

PRICE RANGE: Entrées $12–$55 (for one person); familystyle menu options also available CREDIT CARDS: All major cards HOURS: Sun.–Thurs.

4–11 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 4 p.m.–12 a.m.

The SaTay SecreT Philippe’s satays are one of the restaurant’s most acclaimed dishes, due in large part to classic Chinese culinary technique. “Velveting” is the Chinese method of coating meats and chicken with a cornstarch-egg white mixture, then pre-cooking them in low-temperature oil before finishing them in the wok. The result is a remarkably plush, luxurious texture that can’t be achieved any other way. The accompanying peanut sauce—smoother than a baby’s backside, richer than the House of Saud—starts with house-made peanut butter and is really more like an elegant beurre blanc than the usual thick, hearty street-food dip.

132

[ bocamag.com ]

july/august

dining guide

Dining Key $ Inexpensive: Under $17 $$ Moderate: $18–$35 $$$ Expensive: $36–$50 $$$$ Very Expensive: $50 +

palm beach county boca raton abe & louie’s—2200 W. Glades Road.

Steaks. This outpost of the Boston steak house cooks up slabs of well-aged, USDA Prime beef like nobody’s business. Two of the best are the bone-in ribeye and New York sirloin. Start with a crab cocktail, but don’t neglect side dishes like steamed spinach and hash browns. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. Brunch Sun. 561/4470024. $$$ arturo’s ristorante—6750 N. Federal Highway. Italian. Arturo’s quiet, comfortable dining room; slightly formal, rigorously professional service; and carefully crafted Italian dishes never go out of style. You’ll be tempted to make a meal of the array of delectable antipasti from the antipasti cart, but try to leave room for main courses like giant shrimp with tomatoes, cannellini beans, rosemary and an exceptionally well-done risotto.

• Lunch Mon.–Fri. 561/997-7373. $$$ biergarten—309 Via De Palmas. 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 an upscale burger featuring Florida Wagyu beef, knockwurst, cheddar cheese and several other accouterments. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/395-7462. $

bistro provence—2399 N. Federal Highway.

French. With the convivial ambience and hearty good food of an authentic Parisian bistro, this inviting, unpretentious restaurant deserves its local popularity. Mussels are a specialty, and roasted duck is excellent too. • Dinner nightly.

561/368-2340. $$ 134

[ bocamag.com ]

bonefish grill—21069 Powerline Road. Sea-

food. Market-fresh seafood is the cornerstone—like Chilean sea bass prepared over a wood-burning grill and served with sweet Rhea’s topping (crabmeat, sautéed spinach and a signature lime, tomato and garlic sauce.) • Dinner nightly. (Other Palm Beach County locations: 1880 N. Congress Ave., Boynton Beach, 561/732-9142; 9897 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth, 561/965-2663; 11658 U.S. Highway 1, North Palm Beach, 561/799-2965) $$

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 Wagyu beef carpaccio to a lighter version of the hardy chopped salad are nicely done too. Parmesan truffle fries are crispy sticks of potato heaven; chocolate-espresso cake a study in shameless, and luscious, decadence. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner daily. 561/368-1077. $$$ carmen’s—999 E. El Camino Real. Continental.

The Rat Pack lives and the view of the Intracoastal is sublime at this throwback restaurant on the top floor of the Bridge Hotel, where pianist-singer Michael Masci channels the likes of Sinatra with aplomb. The menu mixes the familiar with a few more modern updates, veering from a mild-tasting Caesar salad and tender charbroiled filet mignon to a tempura snapper with sweet chili sauce.

Cocktails are a strong suit. • Dinner Thurs.–Sat. 561/368-9500. $$$ caruso ristorante—187 S.E. Mizner Blvd.

Italian. Former Chicago chef-restaurateurs Lillo and Gina Teodosi bring big-city dining to town. The ambience is welcoming, the service rigorously professional and the food is so lovingly prepared it makes even the most familiar dishes special. Among them: a farm-fresh caprese salad, giant truffle-perfumed veal chop and zabaglione that’s made to order. The light, feathery, delicate gnocchi are merely the best in South Florida. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner daily.

561/367-7488. $$$

casa d’angelo—171 E. Palmetto Park Road.

Italian. Angelo Elia’s impeccable Italian restaurant is a delight, from the stylish room to the suave service to the expansive wine list, not to mention food that’s by turn elegant, hearty, bold, subtle and always delicious. Dishes off the regular menu make excellent choices, like fat prawns wrapped in pancetta and grilled. But pay attention to specials like pan-seared snapper and scallops in a spicy, garlicky cherry tomato sauce. • Dinner nightly. 561/338-1703. $$$

the cheesecake factory—5530 Glades Road. American. Oh, the choices! The chain even has a Sunday brunch menu in addition to its main menu, which includes Chinese chicken salad and Cajun jambalaya. Don’t forget about the cheesecakes—from white chocolate and raspberry truffle offerings. • Lunch and dinner daily.

561/393-0344. (Other Palm Beach County locations: CityPlace, West Palm Beach, 561/802-3838; Downtown at the Gardens, Palm Beach Gardens, 561/776-3711) $$ chops lobster bar—101 Plaza Real S., Royal Palm Place. Steak, seafood. 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 Australian tails flash-fried and served with drawn butter or sizable Maine specimens stuffed with crab. • Dinner nightly.

561/395-2675. $$$$

cuban café—3350 N.W. Boca Raton Blvd.

Cuban. Diners pack into this traditional Cuban restaurant at lunchtime for specials that start at $6.95, including lechón asado, slow-roasted pork served with white rice and black beans. Other highlights include the Cuban sandwich. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/750-8860. $ curries & more—217 E. Palmetto Park Road.

Indian. There’s a lot more than just curries at this cozy Indian restaurant—crisp, beignet-like pakoras, perfect for dipping in one of three mild but flavorful chutneys; tender and juicy grilled meats and poultry; an array of palate-piquing vegetarian dishes. The curries are good, too. • Lunch and dinner Tues.–Sat. Dinner Sun. 561/392-2999. $

gary woo asian bistro—3400 N. Federal

Highway. Chinese. Everything about this popular restaurant is restrained—the ambience, the decor, the presentations. And the food can be that way, as well. Even supposedly spicy dishes are bereft of heat. Still, the ingredients and preparation are first-rate. Try the duck spring rolls to start, and then enjoy steak kew or Grand Marnier prawns.

• Lunch Mon., Wed.–Fri. Dinner Wed.–Mon. 561/368-8803. $$

grand lux cafe—Town Center at Boca Raton.

American. The Cheesecake Factory’s sister brand is an upscale take on the original formula, with an atmosphere inspired by the great cafes of Europe.

The menu offers a range of international flavors, and the specialty baked-to-order desserts are always a big hit. • Lunch and dinner daily; breakfast on Saturday and Sunday. 561/392-2141. $$ july/august

dining cRISTInA MORgAdO

guide

Back to the Future

review

MARIO’S OSTERIA 1400 Glades Road, Boca Raton, 561/239-7000

N

Above: Margherita pizza Top right: Outdoor dining at Mario’s

ot to get all Buddhist-y on you or technique or lesser-quality product no place anything, but there’s a lot to be said to hide. It’s a cast-iron skillet full of shiny for the notion of being reborn. Out black bivalves, roasted plump and succulent with the old, in with the new. Forget the past, in a wood-fired oven, their rich, buttery broth embrace the present. Pick your cliché. infused with garlic and fresh thyme.

What brings all this up is not some kind of Mario’s does pizza too, and while a meatpersonal epiphany but a meal at Mario’s Osball, pepper and ricotta pie was a creditable teria. If any restaurateur needed rebirthing, it effort, it’s not quite as refined as the pies was Tony Bova. Proprietor of a trio of popular from local artisanal pizzerias. Pasta, though, Italian restaurants, he watched them wash is another story, at least if it’s sumptuous veal away in the fraud tsunami unleashed by thenosso buco ravioli, posh packets of veal farce partner and convicted Ponzi awash in an elegant truffle schemer Scott Rothstein. cream sauce studded with Though Bova’s judgment of wild mushrooms.

IF YOU GO partners may have been quesRather more blue PRICE RANGE: tionable, his sense of what collar—“Guido style,” the Entrées $12–$32 local diners wanted to eat, menu says—is bisteccha CREDIT CARDS: the kind of space they wanted arrabiata, a sizable Angus to eat it in, and the level of rib-eye grilled a precise MasterCard, Visa, service they expected was as medium-rare, sliced and American Express solid as a block of Carrera slathered with red and green HOURS: Sun.–Thurs. marble. Two years ago, he peppers that were mild11:30 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri.– brought back the old Bova mannered rather than angry Sat. 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m.

Cucina as Vivo Partenza, (“arrabiata” means “angry”) and his legion of upscale and bulked up with roasted fans followed. potatoes and onions. Your appetite will not Now he’s resuscitated Mario’s, since the survive an encounter with this monster.

1980s one of Boca’s best-loved restaurants. An It may, however, live to eat another helping osteria to Vivo’s ristorante, the reborn Mario’s of a remarkably light and delicate tiramisu, boasts lower prices, simpler fare and a more raised from ubiquity by ferociously whipped casual ambience. It nails them too, perhaps mascarpone and a bracing jolt of espresso, a better than Vivo. dish reborn, like Mario’s itself, to quite tasty Take a dish like Sardinia-style mussels. and salutary effect.

This ultrasimple preparation offers inexact —Bill Citara

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Not everything about the reborn Mario’s is new. Several dishes that were signatures of the 1980s-era restaurant made it onto the extensive menu: Gorgonzola house salad, lasagna and chicken scarpiello.

Also eggplant “pancakes,” a sort of deconstructed eggplant Parmigiana that pairs a stack of crispy-onthe-outside, creamy-on-the-inside slices of fried eggplant with mozzarella and feta in a vibrant San Marzano tomato sauce. And, of course, Mario’s beloved garlic rolls, puffychewy balls of dough slick with olive oil and basted with enough garlic to frighten every teenage vampire right off your TV screen.

Let it Breathe

The Mario’s brand isn’t the only thing reborn. The space it occupies has a new life too. The former McCormick & Schmick’s always seemed dark and fusty, more suited to the chain’s Portland parent than tropical South Florida.

Now it feels open and airy, with huge plate-glass windows letting in the sun, an exhibition kitchen and plenty of comfortable booths.

Done in soothing earth tones accented with charcoal and white, the dining room’s main features are a wall of blond-wood wine crates decorated with backlit bottles and a quintet of enormous cylindrical chandeliers, their insides printed with what looks like sepia-toned photos of Italian village scenes.

july/august

Regular

Regular with White Outline

SIMPLY ITALIAN From traditional to contemporary..

Reverse

Black

Try a bit of everything with our Three-Course Tasting Menu.

Please join us for our daily Happy Hours 5 - 6:30 pm & 8:30 -10 pm Regency Court, Boca Raton assaggiodelforno.com 561.613.6460

1/2 Price Wine Mondays Three-Course Tasting Menu Purchase 2 entrees & receive a complimentary bottle of house wine 5 - 6 pm Daily

Recovery Weekends Saturday & Sunday $7 Mimosas, Bloody Marys & Bellinis

Happy Hour Everyday

Cool, Hot Summer at the Grille..

4 - 7 pm $5 Mixed drinks & Wine $2.25 Domestics $3.25 Imports

Mizner Park, Boca Raton maxsgrille.com 561.368.0080

dining guide

the grille on congress—5101 Congress

Ave. American. Dishes range from the aptly named “big ass” T-bone steak (a generous 32-ouncer) to more healthful options like pistachio-crusted snapper or simply grilled yellowfin tuna. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/912-9800. $$

the boca find

CARUSO RISTORANTE 187 S.E. Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton, 561/367-7488

T

his cozy, bistro-esque eatery has been in the top tier of local Italian restaurants since it opened more than two years ago. Recently, however, there’s been a shake-up in ownership, with chef-partner Lillo Teodosi heading off to Italy and wife-partner Gina Caruso Teodosi assuming full control of the operation.

There was some shaking up in the kitchen too, but when it was over Caruso’s two sous chefs were made co-executive chefs, retaining the menu that worked so well under the previous regime and augmenting it with more adventurous daily specials. With all that shakin’ going on, it seemed time to make a return visit.

The good news is that Caruso is still in the top tier of local Italian restaurants.

Among the menu highlights are carpaccio surf-n-turf, thin-pounded medallions of beef wrapped around spears of pickled veggies with chunks of tender Maine lobster and red pepper aioli, and fat house-made tortellini stuffed with lightly smoked salmon and scallops and napped with a plush asparagus lobster sauce.

You’ll need a big appetite to devour a brontosaurus-sized beef short rib that sits astride a mound of creamy-cheesy polenta surrounded

by Barolo-infused demi.

Which, frankly, is nothing to shake a stick at.

—Bill Citara

C’mon Get Happy Caruso, part of the restaurant scene at Royal Palm Place, keeps its customers happy—seven days a week from 5 to 7 p.m.—with half-priced cocktails on the outdoor patio. The happy bar menu features an assortment of standout offerings under $10.

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houston’s—1900 N.W. Executive Center Circle.

American. With rustic features like butcher-block tables and comfy padded leather booths, Houston’s has successfully created a “nonchain” feel, although there are more than 40 nationwide. The menu is straightforward—big burgers on sweet egg buns, Caesar salad, roasted chicken, filet mignon—but it’s not lacking in ingenuity. • Lunch and dinner daily.

561/998-0550. $$ jake’s stone crab—514 Via de Palmas, Royal Palm Place. Seafood. Jake’s has made a name for itself with delicious claws and excellent service. Crusty hash browns and nutmeg-y creamed spinach are fine accompaniments. Lobster and filet mignon surf ’n’ turf comes generously adorned. • Open at end of September. Dinner nightly. 561/347-1055. $$$ josephine’s—5751 N. Federal Highway. Italian.

Familiarity breeds content with the soulful Italian cookery at this Boca favorite, where tradition trumps trendy and comfort outweighs chic. The ambience is quiet and stately but not stuffy, and the menu is full of hearty dishes to soothe the savage appetite, like three-cheese eggplant rollatini and chicken scarpariello. • Dinner nightly. 561/988-0668. $$

kapow noodle bar—431 Plaza Real.

Pan-Asian. This wickedly stylish Asian-inspired gastropub delivers a delicious and inventive punch to the taste buds. Among the hardest hitters are plush-textured green tea-cured salmon with micro and fried basil and longan berries stuffed with yuzu kosho gelee, and cheesecake springrolls with a nothing-exceeds-like-excess banana caramel dipping sauce. • Dinner daily. 561/347-7322. $ kathy’s gazebo café—4199 N. Federal Highway. Continental. This local stalwart smoothly rolls along with its signature blend of French and Continental dishes. The ornate, formal dining room and equally formal service are anomalies these days but are comforting nonetheless. Classic dishes like creamy lobster bisque, house-made duck paté, broiled salmon with sauce béarnaise and dreamy chocolate mousse are as satisfying as ever. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/395-6033. $$$ kee grill—17940 N. Military Trail. American.

The attraction here is carefully prepared food that is satisfying, flavorful and reasonably priced. The fist-sized crab cake is a good place to start, followed by sea bass with a soy-ginger-sesame glaze. • Dinner nightly. 561/995-5044. $$$

la rosa nautica—515 N.E. 20th St. Peruvian.

Expect no ambience, no pretensions, low prices and food that satisfies on a very high level. Good starters

include antichuchos, chunks of grilled beef heart, and causa, a terrine-like layering of mashed potatoes and chicken salad. Ceviche and the lomo saltado are among the best in South Florida. • Lunch daily. Dinner Tues.– Sun. 561/296-1413. $$

la tre—249 E. Palmetto Park Road. Vietnamese.

For almost two decades, this elegant little spot has been celebrating the delicate, sophisticated flavors and textures of traditional and contemporary Vietnamese cuisine. A house signature, shrimp tossed with coriander curry pesto, is an inspired riff on Vietnamese classics. Even better, service and wines match the refinement of the cuisine. • Dinner nightly. 561/392-4568. $$ la villetta—4351 N. Federal Highway. Italian.

This is a well-edited version of a traditional Italian menu, complete with homemade pastas. Try the signature whole yellowtail snapper encrusted in sea salt, deboned tableside. Shrimp diavolo is perfectly scrumptious. • Dinner nightly. (closed Mon. during summer). 561/362-8403. $$ legal sea foods—6000 Glades Road. Seafood.

This faux-New England-ish seafooder in Town Center mall may be a little short on fish shack romance, but it makes up for it with a full roster of fresh fish and shellfish, well prepared and competently served by an earnest young staff. The signature clam chowder is made in corporate kitchens but is still better than most, while crab cakes chock-full of sweettasting crab and hardly any binders have even fewer equals. There’s a selection of DIY fish and sauces too.

And for dessert, what else but Boston cream pie? • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/447-2112. $$

le rivage—450 N.E. 20th St. French. It’s easy to overlook this small, unassuming bastion of traditional French cookery tucked away in a strip mall off Federal Highway. That would be a mistake, because the dishes that virtually scream “creativity” can’t compare to the quiet pleasures served here— like cool, soothing vichyssoise, delicate fillet of sole with nutty brown butter sauce or perfectly executed crème brûlee. Good food presented without artifice at a fair price never goes out of fashion. • Lunch Tues.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/620-0033. $$ maggiano’s—21090 St. Andrews Blvd. Italian.

The concept is that of a neighborhood spot where families might congregate for great food, fun music and a good time. 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, two salads, two pastas, two entrées, two vegetables and two desserts. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/361-8244. $$ july/august

IT’S THE BEGINNING O F A B E A U T I F U L R E L AT I O N S H I P C R A B L O V E R S, J O I N U S A S SUMMER CRAB SEASON IS HERE!

Join us for our all-you-can-eat Pacific Stone Crab special, every Monday night for one low price.

“Best Service” – Boca Raton Magazine Readers’ Choice Award, 2010-2011 “Best Dessert” – Boca Raton Magazine “Award of Excellence” – Wine Spectator Magazine

In Mizner Park at

351 Plaza Real

561 391 0755

www.trulucks.com

dining guide

matteo’s—233 S. Federal Highway. Italian. Like

the wheel, Matteo’s brand of 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 daily.

561/392-0773. $$

max’s grille—404 Plaza Real, Mizner Park. Contemporary American. Though its signature California-influenced cookery and “American bistro” ambience are no longer furiously trendy, this stylish restaurant is as popular as ever due to consistently tasty and well-prepared food. Dishes run haute to homey, from seared-raw tuna to meatloaf wrapped with bacon. And don’t miss the luscious crème brûlée pie for dessert. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/368-0080. $$

neighborhood pick

morton’s the steakhouse—5050 Town

Cuthill’s BaCkyard

Center Circle. Steak house. There’s seemingly no end to South Florida diners’ love of huge slabs of highquality aged beef, nor to the carnivores who pack the clubby-swanky dining room of this Boca Raton meatery. The star of the beef show here is the giant bone-in filet mignon, which trumps the filet’s usual tenderness with unusually deep, meaty flavor. The side of Grand Marnier soufflé is a cloud of luscious, citrus-y beauty that says while beef may be what’s for dinner, I am what’s for dessert. • Dinner daily.

561/392-7724. $$$

new york prime—2350 N.W. Executive Center Drive. Steak house. There are several reasons why the steak house has flourished since the caveman roasted a hunk of woolly mammoth over a fire.

All of them are obvious at this popular Boca meatery, from the swift, professional service to the classy supper club ambience to the extensive wine list.

And, of course, the beef—all USDA Prime, cooked to tender and juicy lusciousness over ferocious heat.

The bone-in rib-eye is especially succulent, but don’t neglect the New York strip or steak-house classics like oysters Rockefeller, garlicky spinach and crusty hash browns. • Dinner daily. 561/998-3881. $$$$ nick’s new haven-style pizzeria—2240 N.W. 19th St. Italian. Cross Naples (thin, blistered crust, judicious toppings) with Connecticut (fresh clams and no tomato sauce), and you’ve got a pretty good idea of the pies coming out Nick Laudano’s custom-made ovens. The “white clam” pizza with garlic and bacon is killer-good; Caesar salad and tiramisu are much better than the usual pizzeria fare.

• Lunch and dinner daily. 561/368-2900. $ 140

[ bocamag.com ]

511 N.E. Fourth St., Boynton Beach, 561/740-0399

i

t’s been years in the making, but it appears that something is finally happening in east Boynton Beach. For the longest time, the optimistically dubbed “Marina District” really has been Two Georges and the Banana Boat, with Hurricane Alley up the street a couple of blocks. All three are popular restaurants/bars with local followings—but, for the longest time, they were the only haunts in the neighborhood.

Now, we have The Little House poised to open with Chrissy Benoit manning the kitchen, and recently, the opening of smashhit Cuthill’s Backyard.

This open-air bar and restaurant is tucked into a couple of vacant lots in what might be regarded as a warehouse district just west of Federal and north of Boynton Beach Boulevard. From the road in daylight hours, you might not even see it, but at night it is blazing neon with palm trees wrapped in Christmas

lights, reflected in an Airstream trailer that doubles as the kitchen.

There is a stage with local bands, two bars and outdoor seating—and it is fun, fun, fun.

It’s usually packed, and the food is surprisingly good. We say surprisingly because most popular outdoor places we know skim by on location and price alone, with small menus and bad fried food. But at Cuthill’s, someone in the kitchen cares enough to craft a menu with a few surprises—and tasty standards. For example, in addition to the fish tacos and seared tuna (both excellent), we enjoyed the churrasco and the ceviche—not standard in a casual place like this. There are sides like black beans and jasmine rice, pico de gallo and Kobe sliders.

Just when we thought nothing would ever happen in this neck of the woods, the momentum is gathering—and Cuthill’s may be the catalyst for a whole new east Boynton.

—Marie Speed

DiD You Know?

The legendary (and we suspect highly legendary) Col. R.H. Cuthill was reportedly a veteran of the Boer War and a general ne’er do well and roustabout last seen wandering South Africa and Europe. His life story is printed on the menu here. What is also legendary—but very real—is that Cuthill’s has live local music every night! Check cuthillsbackyard.com for the schedule.

july/august

Zach Erdem presents...

suMMer dishes seared Maine sea scallops tasso ham grits cakes organic spinach "fondue" / pickled carrots

pan-roasted halibut lemon braised young fennel fava beans / tat soi / herbal shrimp nage

sauteed lamb loin sunchoke puree / lentils du puy glazed artichokes / black truffle jus

75 Main restaurant & lounge delray beach / florida *** neW location *** 270 East Atlantic Ave. / Delray Beach 561-243-7975 lunch & dinner served Monday-friday brunch & dinner served saturday-sunday

southaMpton / neW york 75 Main St. / Southampton 631-283-7575

www.75main.com • zach@75main.com facebook.com/75main

Contemporary American Cuisine with Mediterranean Accents

dining guide

ovenella—499 S. Federal Highway. Italian. Fer-

nando Davila’s modestly stylish ristorante promises “a new take on Italian classics.” Pizzas from the oak-fired oven are a joy, especially the Etruscan, laden with chicken, bacon, escarole and creamydreamy Stracchino cheese. Vegetarian lasagna is good enough to make the meat version obsolete.

Don’t miss one of the inventive cocktails, like a sweet-smoky-salty bacon-maple old fashioned. • Lunch Mon.– Fri. Dinner daily. 561/395-1455. $$

p.f. chang’s—1400 Glades Road. Chinese. There

may have been no revolution if Mao had simply eaten at P.F. Chang’s—the portions are large enough to feed the masses—and the exquisite tastes in each dish could soothe any tyrant. We particularly like the steamed fish of the day, as well as the Szechuan-style asparagus. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/393-3722.

(Other Palm Beach County location: 3101 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens, 561/691-1610) $$

piñon grill—6000 Glades Road. Contempo-

rary American. With a menu that seemingly lists

every recent trendy dish to come out of modern American restaurant kitchens, you might think Piñon is a “been there, done that” kind of place. If the execution weren’t so spot-on, the portions so large and the prices so reasonable, it might be. But you can’t argue with grilled artichokes with a zippy Southwestern-style rémoulade, a pair of giant crab cakes with more of that good rémoulade or a chocolate-peanut butter pie that is the irresistible definition of lusciousness. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/391-7770. $$

racks downtown eatery + tavern—402

Plaza Real. Contemporary American. Though the menu generally falls under the heading of modern American comfort food, that can mean anything from elegant dishes like wicked-good crab and shrimp-stuffed snapper with lobster mashed potatoes to homier offerings like burgers and pizza, fiery Buffalo-style calamari, succulent chicken roasted in the wood-fired oven and an uptown version of everyone’s campfire favorite, s’mores. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/395-1662. $$

on the waterfront Cool off this summer at a favorite local outdoor watering hole by ordering one of their popular thirstquenching cocktails.

Boston’s on the Beach 40 S. Ocean Blvd., Delray Beach, 561/278-3364 wacky Daiquiri: Take a sip of this frozen mix of Bacardi light rum and your pick of strawberry, banana, mango or lemon-lime. Have it your way.

GoomBay smash: Chill out with this concoction of Bacardi and coconut rums, orange juice, pineapple juice, a splash of grenadine and dark rum.

Benny’s on the Beach 10 Ocean Blvd., Lake Worth, 561/582-9001 mimosa: It may be the pier—or could it be the salty ocean breeze? Whatever “it” is, it makes this classic orange juice and Champagne cocktail taste that much better.

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raffaele—508 Via De Palmas. Italian. The highly evolved simplicity that is the glory of true Italian cuisine is on display—from sea-sweet lump crab and earthy-tasting green beans lightly dressed with lemon juice and olive oil to squid ink tagliolini with just a bit of delicate tomato sauce and shellfish. Oven-roasted quail wrapped in pancetta and stuffed with sausage, pine nuts and raisins is nothing short of exquisite. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner daily. 561/392-1110. $$ renzo’s of boca—5999 N. Federal Highway.

Italian. The buzzword is fresh. Fish is prepared daily oreganata or Livornese style, sautéed in white wine with lemon and capers or grilled. Each homemade pasta dish is artfully seasoned, and Renzo’s tomato sauce is ethereal. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly.

561/994-3495. $$ ristorante sapori—301 Via de Palmas, Royal Palm Place. Italian. Sapori features fresh fish, veal and chicken dishes imbued with subtle flavors. The grilled Italian branzino, the veal chop Milan and the zuppa di pesce served over linguine are especially tasty, and the pasta (all 17 kinds!) is available in full and half orders, with your choice of 15 zesty sauces. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/367-9779. $$ ristorante saporissimo—366 E. Palmetto

JB’s on the Beach 300 N.E. 21st Ave., Deerfield Beach, 954/571-5220 the cosmo: Presentation is everything, and this electric drink comes with a dolphin on the side. Sip on this mix of vodka, Triple Sec, cranberry juice and freshly squeezed (or sweetened) lime juice. Cheers! remy’s manGo morninG sky: The morning sky couldn’t be more alluring thanks to this blend of coconut and peach Smirnoff and Tropics mango puree, swirled with Chambord.

Deck 84 840 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, 561/665-8484 the Deck fizz: Treat yourself to this medley of sparkling white wine with guava—and your choice of strawberry, pineapple, peach or mango puree.

Burto’s Berry lemonaDe: On the one hand, it’s a thirst-quenching lemonade concoction with berry puree— but don’t underestimate the subtle kick courtesy of Svedka raspberry vodka.

Park Road. Tuscan. This little restaurant is making culinary magic. Here, a taste of Italy is brought to life with rabbit cacciatorá (Tuscany style), veal ossobuco, homemade pasta with wild boar sauce, and a tasty elk chop. Homemade desserts, including tiramisu, panna cotta and zuppa ingles, will take your breath away. Service is out of this world. • Dinner nightly.

Outdoor dining. 561/750-2333. $$$

rosario’s—145 S.E. Mizner Blvd. Italian. A

simple menu reading doesn’t reveal the quality of ingredients and the care and skill that go into the preparation here. The often fusty, rubbery clams casino is remarkably light and fresh-tasting. Perciatelli Amatriciana is hearty and meaty but no less finely crafted, while the signature chicken Rosario’s (with sausage, potatoes and peppers) is full of oldfashioned goodness. With effortlessly competent service and comfortable, unpretentious ambience, this is one book you’ll want to read all the way through. • Dinner daily. 561/393-0758. $$

ruth’s chris steak house—225 N.E.

Mizner Blvd., Mizner Park. Steaks. This Ruth’s Chris is a refreshing departure from the darkwood-and-cigar-crowded ambience common to many steak houses; the room is large and comfortable, and conversation is possible. Naturally, we come here for the steak (they are sublime), but the july/august

Congratulations to Our 1st Place Table Decor Contest Winner, 32 East Special thanks to table designer, Jackie Bressler Events and Creations Production.

W I N E R Y

2012

dining guide

lobster and fish are great. All your favorite sides are here, too. • Dinner nightly. 561/392-6746.

(Other Palm Beach County locations: 661 U.S. Highway 1, North Palm Beach, 561/863-0660; CityPlace, West Palm Beach, 561/514-3544) $$$

is at a level not always seen in local eateries. Pay attention to the daily specials, especially if it includes impeccably done softshell crab oreganata and the restaurant’s signature jumbo shrimp saltimbocca. • Dinner daily. 561/393-6715. $$$

from tasty breaded and fried artichoke hearts to a trio of Italian sliders (topped with three different cheeses) to ravishing ricotta and fig-stuffed ravioli with prosciutto, balsamic syrup and brown butter.

• Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/869-0030. $

seasons 52—2300 Executive Center Drive.

Contemporary American. The food—seasonal ingredients, simply and healthfully prepared, accompanied by interesting wines—is first-rate, from barbecued pork and cheddar cheese flatbread to 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) $$

truluck’s—351 Plaza Real. Seafood. This stylish and sophisticated Mizner Park restaurant applies the steak house formula of classy, clubby ambience, formal service and an extensive wine list to seafood from across the nation, generally with success. Crab is the specialty here and there are myriad versions— stone, Dungeness, Alaskan, soft-shell and more.

Crispy soft-shells stuffed with crab and andouille are very good, if served without a drizzle of ketchup-y sauce on top. • Dinner nightly. 561/391-0755. $$$

vivo partenza—1450 N. Federal Highway. Ital-

sushi ray—5250 Town Center Circle.

uncle julio’s—449 Plaza Real, Mizner Park.

west boca

Japanese/Sushi. Sushi Ray offers all the comforts and ambience of an upscale “white tablecloth” restaurant while serving up impeccably fresh and exactingly prepared sushi and other Japanese specialties. The Nobu-esque miso sea bass gives a taste of this modern classic at a fraction of the price of the original, while the chef’s sushi assortment offers a generous arrangement of nigiri and maki for an exceedingly reasonable $20. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner daily. 561/394-9506. $$

table 42—399 S.E. Mizner Blvd. Italian. A con-

temporary Amer-Italian osteria with pizza is as good a way as any to describe Gary Rack’s reborn Coal Mine Pizza. The menu is compact but offers many mix-and-match opportunities done with great attention to detail. The results are on your plate in the form of irresistible chicken wings spiked with lemon, scallions and Parmesan; linguine in deliriously rich and creamy pesto and tiramisu so good it transcends cliché. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/826-2625. $$

taverna kyma—6298 N. Federal Highway.

Mexican. Taking Tex-Mex cuisine gently upscale with better-quality ingredients and more skillful preparation, this raucous, colorful eatery offers a bit more than just the usual Mexican culinary suspects.

You can get frog’s legs and quail (the latter quite tasty under a mop of chipotle barbecue sauce), as well as favorites like beef and chicken fajitas, and one of the only palatable tamales around. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/300-3530. $

uncle tai’s—5250 Town Center Circle.

Chinese. In an area with more cookie-cutter Chinese restaurants than cookies, Uncle Tai’s stands out for the elegance of its decor, the professionalism of its service and its careful preparation of familiar and less-familiar dishes. The “specialties’ section of the menu is where the most exciting dishes are, like the Hunan vegetable pie, finely minced veggies sandwiched between sheets of crispy bean curd skin, and Hunan-style lamb, whose seared and succulent meat shows off the kitchen’s skill in the use of wok qi.

• Lunch and dinner daily. 561/368-8806. $$$

Greek/Mediterranean. Few present Greek cuisine better than Kyma. The menu is brimming with expertly prepared dishes that cover the spectrum of Mediterranean cuisine, from cold appetizers (dolmades; grape leaves stuffed with rice and herbs) to hot starters (spanakopita, baked phyllo with spinach and feta cheese) to mouthwatering entrées like lamb shank (slow-cooked in a tomato sauce and served on a bed of orzo), massive stuffed peppers or a variety of kebobs. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner daily.

561/994-2828. $$

villagio italian eatery—344 Plaza Real.

Italian. The classic Italian comfort food at this Mizner Park establishment, which opened in 2009, 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 opportunities given the prime outdoor seating. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561-447-2257. $$

trattoria romana—499 E. Palmetto Park

vino—114 N.E. Second St. Wine Bar/Italian. A globe-trotting wine list of some 250 bottles (all available by the glass) offers a multitude of excellent choices, especially among Italian and California reds.

The menu of “Italian tapas” serves up everything

Road. Italian. This local mainstay does Italian classics and its own lengthy list of ambitious specials with unusual skill and aplomb. The cozy dining room is a welcome respite from the outside world, and service

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ian. On the heartier side of the menu at Tony Bova’s eatery is an appetizer of three giant meatballs in a well-made San Marzano tomato sauce that could easily serve as an entrée. More delicate fare includes Alaskan halibut in an aromatic broth with plump clams, cherry tomatoes and the large couscouslike grain called frugula. Do the zabaglione with fresh berries for dessert. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561-750-2120. $$

city fish market—7940 Glades Road. Seafood.

A multimillion-dollar remodel of the old Pete’s has turned it into an elegant seafood house. The whole package is here: friendly and efficient service, lengthy seafood-friendly wine list, impeccably fresh fish and shellfish cooked with much care and little artifice. Do sample the fresh oysters and the plump crab cake. Simply griddled fish is an honest, uncomplicated pleasure. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner daily.

561/487-1600. $$ phuket thai restaurant—Palms Plaza,

22191 Powerline Road. Thai. It’s nothing to look at—just another little restaurant in another west Boca strip shopping center. But appearances can be deceiving; this restaurant serves excellent and authentic Thai cuisine in a cozy and unpretentious atmosphere. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly.

561/447-8863. $$

tempted thai & sushi—21065 Powerline Road. Thai/Japanese. There’s more than sushi to lure you here, though the sushi is up to the caliber of local competitors. There’s an extensive menu of Thai dishes and Thai- and Japanese-style creations, among them spaghetti in a fiery green curry sauce with grilled shrimp; a sushi roll with sheets of seared-raw New York steak; and a zippy take on tuna tartare that gilds the fish with kimchee sauce. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/353-2899. $ tempura house—9858 Clint Moore Road,

#C-112. Japanese, Asian. Dark wood, rice paper and tiles fill the space. An appetizer portion of Age Natsu, fried eggplant, is a consummate Japanese delicacy. Don’t miss the ITET roll with shrimp tempura and avocado, topped with spicy mayo, tempura flakes and eel sauce. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/883-6088. $$ july/august

villa rosano—9858 Clint Moore Road. Italian.

Step into the dining room, and you could 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 excellent house olive oil with slices of crusty bread, then move on to a stellar version of clams Guazzetto, delicate fillets of sole done a la Francese and one of the few versions of tiramisu to actually hold your interest. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner daily. 561/470-0112. $$

boynton beach bar louie—1500 Gateway Blvd. Eclectic. At-

tempting to split the difference between happening bar and American café, Bar Louie mostly succeeds, offering burgers, pizzas, fish tacos and a variety of salads, all at moderate prices and in truly daunting portions. Don’t miss the carrot cake bites dessertini.

• Lunch and dinner daily. 561/853-0090. $

china dumpling—1899-5 N. Congress Ave.

Chinese. The dim sum basket is an absolute musttry. A choice of signature steamed dumplings are likewise spot on. The steak kew is delicious, and the clay pot casseroles are mighty enticing. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/737-2782. $

prime catch—700 E. Woolbright Road. Sea-

food. Simple pleasures soar—full-belly clams, fried sweet and crispy, or 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—1614 S. Federal Highway. Japa-

nese/sushi. Local sushi-philes jam the long, narrow dining room for a taste of such impeccable nigirizushi as hamachi, tilefish and uni (when in season), as well as more elaborate dishes like the sublime snowy grouper Morimoto and opulent tuna tartare.

Creative and more elaborate rolls are a specialty. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/731-1819. $$

delray beach 32 east—32 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. At a time when chefs and restaurants seem to be constantly shouting their own praises, Nick Morfogen and 32 East go quietly about their way of serving thoughtfully conceived, finely crafted dishes with a minimum of fuss and artifice. The menu changes daily, but recent examples of Morfogen’s culinary expertise include plump scallops given an elegant bouillabaisse treatment and fork-tender venison with a terrific Asiago-fig risotto. When the food is this good, you don’t need to shout. • Dinner daily. 561/276-7868. $$$ when U want to know

atlantic grille—1000 E. Atlantic Ave. SeafoodContemporary American. This posh restaurant in the luxurious Seagate Hotel & Spa mines quality ingredients for maximum flavor. A light, chunky gazpacho with soothing cucumber cream is perfect warm-weather dining, and though braised short ribs with mashed potatoes is heartier fare, it’s hard to resist the gum-tender meat ringed by a silken potato purée. The butterscotch-white chocolate bread pudding with rum crème anglaise is pure wickedness. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/665-4900. $$ buddha sky bar—217 E. Atlantic Ave. Pan Asian. Don’t miss a meal at this stylish Asiameets-industrial chic spot with a view of the Delray skyline. Chinese-influenced dim sum is inspired, like the puffy-fluffy char sui pork buns,

DISCOVERY

Il Mercato café and WIne Shop

1454 E. Hallandale Beach Blvd., Hallandale Beach, 954/457-3700

I

l Mercato Café and Wine Shop is the epitome of a dining discovery, because even Magellan would have trouble finding the place, tucked as it is in the back of a strip mall with little signage. But those who know this narrow dinnertime café swear by its imported, Euro-fusion menu; by 6:30, it’s tough to find a table.

The unique menu—options have included an herb spaetzle with Gruyère, caramelized onions and paprika; and chicken schnitzel with cucumber salad, mashed potatoes and lingonberries—is the result of decades of culinary immersion from its founders.

A two-year stint in Europe led Michael Lynch, a top sommelier whose résumé includes upscale establishments in New York, to open Il Mercato in August 2010 with his now ex-wife, Emily Fille, as chef. She, too, is a master in German, French and Norwegian cuisines. Michele D’Antoni, Il Mercato’s affable gelatier, has been making the Italian ice cream for 55 years.

The restaurant’s slogan is “Eat global, dine local,” and its M.O. is fine dining at reasonable prices. Staff arrives at 10 each morning to prepare the food before the 5 p.m. opening, a far cry from the standard two-hour prep time of many establishments. The menu

while rock shrimp tempura and Wagyu tenderloin skewers with twin chimichurri sauces touch the heart and the taste buds. Veggie fried rice is exemplary thanks to the kitchen’s application of wok chi. • Dinner daily. 561/266-9898. $$

cabana el rey—105 E. Atlantic Ave. Cuban

tropical. Little Havana is alive and well in Delray Beach. The menu is a palette-pleasing travelogue.

Mariquitas (fried banana chips) are a tasty way to start your meal. For dinner, seafood paella is a winner, with mussels, shrimp, conch, octopus, scallops and clams. And the churrasco is terrific.

• Lunch and dinner daily. 561/274-9090. $$

caffé luna rosa—34 S. Ocean Blvd. Italian.

This favorite is always lively, and alfresco dining is

changes every couple of weeks, “whenever the chef is tired of cooking something,” says server Tom Moynihan, which keeps regular patrons surprised and on their toes.

My wife and I ordered four items, including a quality, tone-setting bruschetta sampler with tomatoes, hummus and olive tapenade; and a savory, if not altogether balanced, salad with milky Burrata cheese, tomato, arugula, olive and crouton. The meal came alive when the pasta arrived: an exceptional, steaming four-cheese gnocchi in an addictive sherry cream sauce. A final course of banana walnut bread pudding with buttery rum sauce and hazelnut gelato sent us home happy that we left room for dessert.

—John Thomason

Another Cork in the WAll To celebrate the impending opening of their new restaurant, Lynch and a couple of sommelier colleagues broke open a bottle of 1990 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape. They wanted to save the historic cork, but they didn’t have a place to store it yet, so they jammed it between bricks in a wall opposite the kitchen.

As renovations continued, the staff drank more vino and preserved more corks the same way.

Patrons later caught on to this unintentional tradition; now, the entire wall is filled with cork.

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the preferred mode. Entrée choices are enticing, but we went with the penne alla vodka with pancetta, tomato and basil. Also delicious was the costoletta di vitello, a center-cut 16-ounce veal chop lightly breaded and served either Milanese or parmigiana.

For dessert, you can’t go wrong with the cheesecake imported from the Carnegie Deli. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/274-9404. $$

casa di pepe—189 N.E. Second Ave. Italian. A

welcoming staff, familiar Italian dishes done right and moderate prices define this cozy spot with a spacious outdoor patio. Two could share the fist-sized meatball with fresh-tasting tomato sauce and dollop of milky basil, before moving on to house-made linguine with clams, tender veal Francese and one of the best versions of tiramisu this side of Veneto.

• Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/279-7371. $$

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 Chilean sea bass in a saffron bouillabaisse sauce and crab-stuffed shrimp in white-wine butter sauce. • Lunch Mon.–Sun. Dinner nightly. Outdoor dining. 561/272-0220. $$

cucina mio—16950 Jog Road. Italian. There are

many Italian restaurants in our culinary universe, most mining familiar culinary territory. This popular eatery does so, too, offering sturdy renditions of Italian favorites in enormous portions at correspondingly modest prices. The menu highlight is perhaps tiramisu, rarely made as well as it is here. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner daily. 561/499-9419. $$

cugini steakhouse & martini bar—270 E. Atlantic Ave. Steak house. The food

is just as stylish as the room, from spicy chicken frascatana, served with black olives, onion, pepperoncini, Chianti wine reduction and julienne vegetables, to roasted sole roulade stuffed with crab. Save room for the hazelnut ice cream, which has a hazelnut fudge center and is coated with fresh hazelnut and dark chocolate. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/274-6244. $$

cut 432—432 E. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach.

Steak house. 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 ceviche (prepared Peruvian style) and ultrarich oysters Rockefeller are first-rate, while the wet-aged beef is appropriately tender and tasty. • Dinner daily. 561/272-9898. $$$

d’angelo trattoria—9 S.E. Seventh Ave.

Italian. Don’t go expecting all the tired old “Italian”

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culinary clichés at Angelo Elia’s wickedly stylish trattoria. Instead, open your palate to more authentic and exciting Roman-style cuisine, like roasted veal bone marrow with brisk caper-parsley pesto, creamy-dreamy burrata with roasted fava beans and watercress salad, the classic tonnarelli cacio e pepe (“cheese and pepper”), impeccably fresh bronzino and the best gelato this side of a real Roman trattoria. • Dinner daily. 561/330-1237. $$

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 remarkably light yet beefy meatball topped with ricotta and tomato sauce, thick and juicy 10-ounce special blend burger or homey apple cobbler. And the waterfront location just seems to make everything taste better. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Brunch Sat.–Sun. Dinner daily. 561/665-8484. $

dig—5199 W. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. Proprietor Robert Greenfield has turned the former Greenfield’s restaurant into organichealthy-sustainable DIG (“Doing It Green”). Luckily, diners don’t have to suffer in pursuit of gastronomic rectitude with dishes like plump pan-seared diver scallops with anchovy-olive dressing and luscious chocolate mousse cake. The four different greens mixes at the salad bar are crisp and pristinely fresh. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner daily. 561/638-0500. $$ fifth avenue grill—821 S. Federal Highway.

American. Since 1989, this upscale tavern has been a Delray favorite. The straightforward menu focuses on entrées, especially the famed Allen Brothers beef; choose from numerous cuts and preparations—and add a lobster tail for good measure. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/265-0122. $$ gol! the taste of brazil—411 E. Atlantic Ave. Steak house. The classic churrascaria formula— grilled meats, served until you can’t eat another bite—is done efficiently and quite satisfyingly. Start off at the well-provisioned salad bar, which offers more than three dozen preludes to meat eating, among them well-made calamari and ham salads, rounds of smoky eggplant, and rich and delightfully old-fashioned four-cheese chicken. Meats with a bit of fat are the best choices, especially the garlicky sirloin, slices of medium-rare flank steak and hugely flavorful beef ribs. • Dinner daily. 561/272-6565. $$ greek bistro—1832 S. Federal Highway. Greek.

If you care more about well-prepared, generously portioned and fairly priced food than Opa!-shouting waiters, you’ll love this modest little restaurant.

Flaky, overstuffed spanikopita and miraculously light and delicate beef meatballs should be at the top of your appetizer list, and though entrées don’t always reach those heights, both a long-braised lamb shank and grilled whole snapper are certainly satisfying. And the baklava is great. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/266-8976. $

henry’s—16850 Jog Road. American. This casual,

unpretentious restaurant from Burt Rapoport 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. $$

house of siam—25 N.E. Second Ave. Thai. The

normally riotous flavors of Thai cuisine are muted at this charming, family-friendly downtown spot, but that seems to suit diners just fine. Dishes, generally well-prepared and generously portioned, include steamed chicken and shrimp dumplings with sweet soy dipping sauce and crisp-fried duck breast in a very mild red curry sauce. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner daily. 561/330-9191. $$

il girasole—1911 S. Federal Highway. Northern Italian. This South Florida classic is not trendy, but it offers a level of comfort and consistency that has been bringing people back for 30 years. The food is fine hearty Italian, with excellent service. Try the veal Kristy or the frogs legs. • Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/272-3566. $$

j&j seafood bar & grill—634 E. Atlantic Ave. Seafood. This local favorite on the Avenue— owned by John Hutchinson (also the chef) and wife Tina—serves up everything from burgers and wraps to entrées like fruits of the sea, pistachio-crusted snapper and jerked pork. Don’t forget to inquire about the stunning array of 10 specials—every night.

• Lunch and dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/272-3390. $$ jimmy’s bistro—9 S. Swinton Ave. Eclectic.

Look up “cozy” and “charming” in the dictionary, and you’ll see a picture of Jimmy Mills’ tiny restaurant. Jimmy’s cheerily unpretentious atmosphere applies to the eclectic menu, which flits from China to Italy to New Orleans at will. Best bets are a lovely salad of ripe tomatoes and fresh, milky house-made mozzarella; a rich, elegant version of lusty Cajun etouffee; and caramelized bananas in puff pastry with silken vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. • Dinner daily. 561/865-5774. $$

la cigale—253 S.E. Fifth Ave. Mediterranean.

It’s a pleasure watching the professionals here at work. That extends to the kitchen, which turns

july/august

out gently updated and classically oriented dishes notable for the quality of their ingredients and careful preparation. Sweetbreads in chanterelle cream sauce are simply glorious; a barely grilled artichoke with mustardy remoulade is gloriously simple. And watching your server skillfully debone a whole (and impeccably fresh) Dover sole is almost as satisfying as eating it. • Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/265-0600. $$

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 original Lemongrass and its three younger siblings some of the most popular eateries around. The quality of its seafood and care in its preparation are what gives Lemongrass its edge, as evidenced by impeccably fresh salmon, tuna and yellowtail sushi. • Lunch and dinner daily.

561/278-5050. $

fare better than entrées, especially plump, crabby Maryland-style crab cakes and indecently luscious chocolate bread pudding. Service is a strong suit too, so with a bit of work this good-looking restaurant will fully live up to its name. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/865-5845. $$$

spoonfed—217 E. Atlantic Ave. Mediterranean.

You need a shovel, not a spoon, to tackle the monstrous portions here. But flavors are equally big, as the kitchen executes a nouveau-retro Itali-terranean menu with the same aplomb as the staff working the dining room. Start with an entrée-sized disc

Casual Corner

max’s harvest—169 N.E. Second Ave.

Contemporary American. Restaurateur Dennis Max, instrumental in bringing the chef and ingredientdriven ethos of California cuisine to South Florida in the 1980s, is again at the forefront of the fresh, local, seasonal culinary movement. Max’s Harvest soars with dishes like plump Cedar Key clams with housemade tasso, savory bourbon-maple glazed pork belly, and crispy-skinned wild salmon with yuzu-truffle vinaigrette. The made-to-order donuts are pure decadence. • Dinner daily. 561/381-9970. $$

the office—201 E. Atlantic Ave. Contemporary American. It’s a safe bet that your office is nothing like David Manero’s eclectic gastropub, unless your office sports red leather and cowhide chairs, more than two dozen craft beers on tap and a menu that flits from burgers and fries to Maine sea scallops wrapped in Serrano ham. Don’t miss the restaurant’s winning take on the thick, juicy Prime beef burger and simply wicked maple-frosted donuts with bacon bits and two dipping sauces. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/276-3600. $$ old calypso—900 E. Atlantic Ave. Island. The restaurant is airy and wide-open, but the draw is the Intracoastal view. A popular happy hour takes place at the center bar, and during Sunday brunch, music is added. The food is reliable and consistent, from a rich roasted-corn and crabmeat chowder to real fried green tomatoes to crispy fried lobster tails.

• Brunch Sun. Lunch and dinner daily. Outdoor dining. 561/279-2300. $$ prime—110 E. Atlantic Ave. Steak/Seafood. Prime is aptly named for its heart of the action location, classy neo-supper club decor, extensive wine list and roster of designer steaks. Starters and desserts when U want to know

South Florida has its share of restaurants with a friendly, neighborhood vibe and highquality cuisine at reasonable prices. Here are some of our favorites.

Brewzzi Generous portions of Italian and American fare—from thin-crust pizzas and homemade pasta fagioli to the milehigh Brewzzi meatloaf sandwich—put this bistro a step above the rest. Then there is the famed microbrewery, which keeps this locally owned chain crowded throughout the year. The popular Boca Blonde Lager blends Saaz and Hallertau hops into a smooth, crisp brew. 2222 Glades Road, Boca Raton, 561/392-2739; CityPlace, West Palm Beach, 561/366-9753

CariBBean Grill The Grill feels like a Little Havana lunchroom with daily specials that could feed a family of eight—including lots of yellow rice, pork, and plantains and beans. This is a family-style plastic-tablecloth kind of place with no pretensions. 1332 N.W. Boca Raton Blvd., Boca Raton, 561/362-0161

reef road rum Bar This downtown spot is modest in both appearance and culinary ambition, dishing up a roster of competently done seafood shack favorites. The plump, sweetly crabby crab cake is first-rate, as is the sizeable lobster roll. Finish with the parfait-like strawberry shortcake tower. 223 Clematis St., West Palm Beach, 561/838-9099.

Toojay’s GourmeT deli Like a nice warm bowl of chicken soup, TooJay’s is there for you when you need a little comfort food, such as matzo ball soup, chopped liver, a to-die-for Reuben and stuffed cabbage. Don’t forget the legendary black and white cookies. 5030 Champion Blvd., Boca Raton, 561/2415903; 2200 Glades Road, Boca Raton, 561/392-4181; 3013 Yamato Road, Boca Raton, 561/997-9911; 419 Lake Ave., Lake Worth, 561/582-8684; 2880 N. University Drive, Plantation, 954/423-1993; Boynton Beach Mall, 561/740-7420; The Mall at Wellington Green, 561/784-9055; 313 Royal Poinciana Plaza, Palm Beach, 561/659-7232; Downtown at the Gardens, Palm Beach Gardens, 561/622-8131

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of impeccably fresh tuna tartare or maybe a wood oven-baked pizza of equal flavor and dimension. All pastas are made in house, so an order of pasta is a must—as is a giant wedge of any of several housemade cakes. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

561/450-7557. $$$

sundy house—106 S. Swinton Ave. Contemporary American. Everyone knows about the spectacular garden, home to hundreds of species of exotic plants. But the comforting-contemporary food deserves notice too, realized in such dishes as expertly fried calamari with zesty Moroccan-style aioli, savory rack of lamb crusted with herbs, mustard and horseradish, and seared salmon with rich coarse-grain mustard sauce. Portions are enormous, so bring your appetite. • Lunch Tues.–Sat. Brunch Sun. Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/272-5678. $$ tramonti—119 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian. With its

roots in New York’s Angelo’s of Mulberry Street, this venue is always packed. Homemade stuffed manicotti is aromatic and glorious. Tramonti’s platter for two, containing fillet marsala, veal cutlet with prosciutto, fried zucchini and potato croquettes, is terrific. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. Outdoor dining. 561/272-1944. $$

tryst—4 E. Atlantic Ave. Eclectic. It’s tough to beat this hotspot with the lovely outdoor patio, well-chosen selection of artisan beers and not-theusual-suspect wines, and an eclectic “gastropub” menu of small and large plates. Try the crisp-fried rock shrimp with Thai-style dipping sauce. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. 561/921-0201. $$ vic & angelo’s—290 E. Atlantic Ave. Italian.

God is in the details at this upscale trattoria, and He doesn’t miss much, including stellar service and an outstanding wine menu. Ingredients like Buffalo mozzarella, house-made pastas and San Marzano tomatoes are first-rate, and execution is spot on. Try the “Old School” meatball to start, the whole-wheat tagliatelle with garlic and chili-infused olive oil and the perfectly cooked veal chop. Portions are substantial. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/278-9570. $$$

Lake worth couco pazzo—915-917 Lake Ave. Italian. De-

spite the name, there’s nothing crazy about the cooking at this homey eatery. It’s the hearty, soul-satisfying Italian cuisine we’ve all come to know and love.

Spaghetti Bolognese is a fine version of a Northern Italian classic; house-smoked mozzarella—breaded, fried and presented with a tangy tomato-basil fondue—is equally tasty. • Dinner nightly. (Mon.–Sat. May to Oct.). 561/585-0320. $$

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fiorentina—707 Lake Ave. Italian. This cozy

spot fills a niche marked by modest prices, a menu with more than just the most familiar Italian culinary suspects, and an easygoing ambience that’s more like that of a familiar neighborhood bar.

Burrata imported from Puglia is a luscious part of caprese salad. Giant shrimp with white beans is a fine rendition of a Tuscan classic. Chicken cooked under a brick and the signature rigatoni alla Bucaiola are worthy contenders too, as is the light, airy ricotta cheesecake. • Lunch and dinner daily.

561/588-9707. $$

PaLM BeaCh bice—313 Worth Ave. Italian. Bice continues to hold the title of favorite spot on the island for the see-and-be-seen crowd. The venerable restaurant offers a marvelous array of risottos and fresh pastas and classic dishes like veal chop Milanese, sautéed chicken breast and stuffed rack of lamb. The wine list features great vintages. • Lunch and dinner daily.

Outdoor dining. 561/835-1600. $$$

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 sea bass branzino is definitely a must-try. Plus, the wine list is a veritable tome. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/547-2500. $$$

buccan—350 S. County Road. Contemporary American. The casual elegance of Palm Beach meets the modern culinary sensibilities of Miami at the first independent restaurant by chef Clay Conley.

The design that offers both intimate and energetic dining areas, while the menu is by turn familiar (Caesar salad, fried calamari, burger) and more adventurous (truffled steak tartare with crispy egg yolk, squid ink orrechiette). But they’re all good. Dinner daily, Sunday brunch. 561/833-3450. $$

safire asian fusion—817 Lake Ave. Pan-

café boulud—The Brazilian Court, 301 Austra-

LaNtaNa

café l’europe—331 S. County Road. Current in-

Asian. This stylish little restaurant offers food that gently marries East and West, plus a roster of more traditional Thai dishes and inventive sushi rolls.

Menu standouts include tempura-fried rock shrimp or calamari cloaked with a lush-fiery “spicy cream sauce.” Expect neighborly service and reasonable prices. • Lunch Tues.–Fri. Dinner Tues.–Sun. 561/588-7768. $

bar italia—210 E. Ocean Ave. Italian. Apicius

was the perhaps the pre-eminent gourmand of ancient Rome, and while this Apicius is a good deal more contemporary, its gourmet take on the cuisine of Italy would make old Apicius proud. The two open-air dining rooms are delightful, as is the extraordinary wine list and menu of Italian classics and modern interpretations. Vitello tonnato is superb beyond its generic description as “cold poached veal with tuna sauce.” Roasted duck cooked en confit with Grand Marnier sauce is fine too; as is the stellar cacuicco alla Livornese. • Daily 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., 5–11 p.m. 561/533-5998. $$$$

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 8 pounds) and are so reasonably priced that getting a taste of one without reservations is highly unlikely. • Dinner nightly. 561/547-9487. (Other location: 1544 S.E. Third Court, Deerfield Beach, 954/420-9314) $$$

lian 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. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. 561/655-6060. $$$

ternational. 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 with a scallion potato cake, and flavorful pastas. • Lunch Tues.–Fri. Dinner nightly (closed Mon. during summer). 561/655-4020. $$$

cha cha’s—150 Worth Ave. Latin/Tapas. A variety of small plates, from Mexican tacos and Argentine empanadas to Spanish potatoes and Cuban dulce de leche, make up the menu of this elegant yet casual and moderately priced pan-Latin eatery. Though not every dish is successful, the best ones—crusty-creamy papas bravas, savory shrimp and scallion crêpe, buttery cauliflower and fennel gratin, and indecently luscious dulce de leche pot du crème—will make your taste buds do a happy dance.

• Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/833-8800. $$ chez jean-pierre—132 N. County Road.

French. Sumptuous cuisine, attentive servers and a see-and-be-seen crowd are hallmarks of one of the island’s premier restaurants. Indulgences july/august

include scrambled eggs with caviar and the Dover sole meunière filleted tableside. When your waiter suggests profiterolles au chocolat or hazelnut soufflé, say, mais oui! • Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/833-1171. $$$

cucina dell’ arte—257 Royal Poinciana Way. Italian. The wide range of items on the menu includes a sausage and fennel pizzette for one and Barolo-braised short ribs with white polenta. The great quality of Cucina’s cuisine, combined with its fine service, ensures a fun place for a casual yet delectable meal—not to mention being a vantage point for spotting local celebs. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Outdoor dining. 561/655-0770. $$ echo—230A Sunrise Ave. Asian. The cuisine re-

verberates with the tastes of China, Thailand, Japan and Vietnam and is spec-ta-cu-lar. Crispy jumbo shrimp with soybean plum sauce is delectable, the Chinese hot and sour soup is unlike any other, and the Mongolian beef tenderloin is perfection. Sake list is also tops. This offsite property of The Breakers is managed with the same flawlessness as the resort. • Dinner nightly (during season). 561/802-4222. $$$

leopard lounge and restaurant—The Chesterfield Palm Beach, 363 Cocoanut Row. American. This is British Colonial decadence at its finest.

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

s ’ o n i le legr

P

e ant or st.1999 t s ri E

Starting June 3rd

Sunday Patio Jazz Buffet 3 - 6 PM

Featuring Richie Malafatano & Company

$25 A Person ( Not Including Tax & 18% Gratuity. ) Unlimited Coffee & Soft Drinks - 1/2 Price Bar Drinks HAPPY HOUR Wednesday - Friday 5 - 6:30

House Wine/Domestic Beer/Well Drinks - 1/2 Price Appetizers - 1/2 Price (Bar Only) Open 5 Days Wednesday-Saturday 5pm / Sunday 4pm

Boca Plaza 561.368.5520 3360 N. Federal Highway (South of Spanish River Blvd. East Side Of Fed Hwy.) Boca Raton, FL 33431 www.pellegrinosofboca.com

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nick & johnnie’s—207 Royal Poinciana Way.

Contemporary American. Expect flavorful, moderately priced California-esque cuisine in a casual setting with affordable wines and young, energetic servers. Try the ahi tuna tacos or short-rib sliders as appetizers, and don’t miss the four-cheese tortellini as a main course. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/6553319. $$

renato’s—87 Via Mizner. Italian with continental flair. This most romantic hideaway is comfortably 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. $$$

the restaurant— Four Seasons Resort, 2800 South Ocean Blvd. Contemporary American. With a casual, yet refined ambience, The Restaurant is

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dining guide

the premier dining venue at the Four Seasons Palm Beach. Savor fresh Atlantic seafood in a contemporary setting complemented by innovative cocktails.

Don’t miss the mouthwatering dessert selections.

Live entertainment is featured on Saturday nights. • Dinner Mon.–Sun. 561/533-3750. $$$$

ta-boó—2221 Worth Ave. American. This

self-described “American bistro” is less typical “American” restaurant or classical French “bistro” than it is posh-casual refuge for the see-andbe-seen crowd in and around Palm Beach. The eclectic menu offers everything from spicy shrimp-crab cakes and roasted duck with orange blossom honey-ginger sauce to dry-aged steaks and an assortment of pizzas. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/835-3500. $$

trevini ristorante—150 Worth Ave. Italian.

Maitre d‘ Carla Minervini is your entrée to a warm experience, complemented by a stately but comfortable room and excellent food. We love the crispy fillet of herb-crusted sole in a rich, buttery sauce and the veal scallopini in a lemon caper Chardonnay sauce. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner nightly. 561/833-3883. $$$

palm beach gardens cabo flats—11701 Lake Victoria Gardens

Ave. Mexican. Mexican cuisine often has more personas than Madonna. This highly stylized cantina adds another—that of California’s Chicano culture. All your favorite Mexican dishes are there, as well as enormous margaritas, but also niftier items like the terrific tuna ceviche in “tomatillo broth.” • Lunch and dinner daily.

561/624-0024. $

café chardonnay—4533 PGA Blvd. Contem-

porary American. This longtime stalwart never rests on its laurels. Instead, it continues to dish finely crafted American/Continental fare with enough inventiveness to keep things interesting. The popular herb-and-Dijon-mustard rack of lamb, regular menu items like duck with Grand Marnier sauce, and specials like swordfish with rock shrimp in shellfishfennel broth, reveal a kitchen with solid grounding in culinary fundamentals. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner daily. 561/627-2662. $$

WellIngTOn pangea bistro—10140 W. Forest Hill Blvd.

Contemporary American. Add culinary influences from the tropics, Europe, Asia and Latin America to a trio of chefs from the Four Seasons Palm Beach, plus one Venezuelan designer-turned-restaurateur, 150

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and the result is this smartly modern bistro that’s bringing a real sense of gastronomic adventure to Wellington. Every dish sports an element that will tickle your taste buds, whether crunchy Asian slaw on ahi poke flatbread, inspired sweet potato-plantain gratin with savory grilled lamb chops or beguiling lemongrass-kaffir lime vinaigrette with a slab of blackened mahi. • Lunch and dinner Mon. –Sat. 561/793-9394. $$

gratify—125 Datura St. American. This youthful

WesT palm beach

leila—120 S. Dixie Highway. Mediterranean.

b.b. king’s blues club—550 S. Rosemary

Ave. American. The restaurant at this club-dining spot won’t leave you singing the blues, but it will leave you wishing for more than a spoonful of the lusty flavors of its Southern/New Orleans cuisine.

Punch up the flavors of pan-fried catfish and shrimp with jambalaya sauce and chicken-fried chicken on a bed of mac ’n’ cheese, and you could let the good times roll. Buffalo wings, fried pickle chips and luscious banana bread pudding are good bets. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/420-8600. $

cabana las palmas—533 Clematis St. Nuevo Latino. With its bold, vibrant decor and flavors, this colorful restaurant is a treat for the palette and palate. Must-orders include mariquitas, thin, crispy plantain slices that are the irresistible Cuban answer to potato chips; cookbook-perfect ceviche of shrimp, octopus and calamari that shows how chili heat can be both fiery and subtle; and the signature “Coco Cabana,” a habanero and coconut milk-infused curry with a wealth of veggies, tubers and fat, succulent shrimp. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/833-4773. $$ café centro—2409 N. Dixie Highway. Italian.

There are many things to like about this modest little osteria—the unpretentious ambience, piano nightly after 7 p.m., the fine service, the robust portions and relatively modest prices. And, of course, the simple, satisfying Italian cuisine. The kitchen breathes new life into hoary old fried calamari, gives fettucine con pollo a surprisingly delicate herbed cream sauce, gilds snowy fillets of bass with a soulful Livornese. • Lunch Mon.–Sat. Dinner daily. 561/514-4070. $$

china beach bistro—407 Northwood Road.

Chinese. South Florida may not be a hotbed of fine Chinese cuisine, but anyone who loves the incredibly diverse, sophisticated food of the Middle Kingdom should be fired up about this chic restaurant. From exquisite dim sum (like steamed chicken and mushroom dumplings perfumed with kaffir lime leaf) to a superb version of Peking duck with impossibly crisp skin, tender meat and house-made pancakes, the food here is a revelation. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Mon.–Sat. 561/833-4242. $

American gastropub gratifies more often than not with friendly and efficient servers, a surprisingly sophisticated wine list and food that—when it clicks—is quite good. Try not to gorge on the addictive house-made potato chips so you have appetite to gorge on the pulled pork sliders and the blue cheese-dressed iceberg lettuce salad. • Lunch and dinner daily. 561/833-5300. $

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. Take your Turkish coffee to the patio for an arguileh (water pipe) experience. • 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. Another top choice is the chicken breast, pounded thin and filled with fontina and prosciutto.

• Dinner Mon.–Sat. (closed Memorial Day–Labor Day). 561/585-3128. $$ pistache—101 N. Clematis St. French. Pistache doesn’t just look like a French bistro, it cooks like one. The menu includes such bistro specialties as mussels mariniere, coq au vin and steak tartare.

• Brunch Sat.–Sun. Lunch and dinner daily.

561/833-5090. $$

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. 561/833-3406. $$

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 some 150 tequilas.

Tacos feature house-made tortillas and a variety of proteins. Made-to-order guacamole is a good place to start, perhaps followed by a grilled yellowtail with mango-pineapple salsa. • Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner nightly. 561/650-1001. (Other Palm Beach County location: 5250 Town Center Circle, Boca Raton, 561/416-2133) $

umi fishbar + grill—2401 PGA Blvd.

Asian fusion/sushi. The tired Asian fusion genre is worked so carefully and sensitively here that it all seems new again. Choices abound on the fusion and sushi menus, but highlights include fluffy july/august

Chinese-style pork buns with heritage pig filling, terrific Mexican-style corn cooked on the robata grill and Nobu-esque sake-miso-marinated sea bass that’s a symphony of delicate and lusty flavors.

• Dinner daily. 561/472-7900. $$

on seafood and changes several times a week. We recommend the sautéed Florida red snapper or the indulgent butter-roasted Maine lobster. For dessert, try the popular roasted banana crème brûlée. • Dinner nightly. 954/765-3030. $$$

top of the point—777 S. Flagler Drive. Contemporary American. The food is not only good but surprisingly adventurous, and the service is exceptional at this Intracoastal spot. Though there are plenty of steaks for the more conservative of palate, the edgier offerings, like smoky grilled octopus with “Catalan salad” and remaking of the classic tart tatin as a savory dish with tomatoes and blue cheese gelato, are definitely worth going out on a limb for. • Dinner Tues.–Sat. 561/832-2424. $$$

bistro 17—Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Hotel,

broward county deerfield beach brooks—500 S. Federal Highway. Continental.

Brooks remains a reliable source for fine cuisine.

Guests may choose from an à la carte menu or the more economical “complete menu,” which includes first course, entrée and dessert and a bottle of wine.

There also are plenty of alternatives to seafood, including duck, rib-eye or rack of lamb. • Dinner Wed.–Sun. 954/427-9302. $$$

tamarind asian grill & sushi bar—949

S. Federal Highway. Asian. Quiet and soothing, this multicultural venue serves sushi, sashimi, yakitori and wide-ranging Japanese appetizers, but Tamarind also presents a full menu of Thai classics and a sake lounge. Try the complex masaman curry. Finish with the red bean or green tea ice cream. • Lunch and dinner daily. 954/428-8009. $$

fort lauderdale 15th street fisheries—1900 S.E. 15th St.

Seafood. Surrounded by views of the Intracoastal, this Old Florida-style restaurant features seafood and selections for land lovers. Start with a stone crab appetizer or oysters from the raw bar. Entrées come with a choice of soup, salad, a sorbet course and fresh breads. We love the tuna filet mignon and the prime rib. Finish it off with raspberry cappuccino tiramisu. • Lunch and dinner daily.

954/763-2777. $$

3030 ocean—Harbor Beach Marriott Resort,

3030 Holiday Drive. American. The menu is heavy

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1617 S.E. 17th St. Contemporary American. This small, sophisticated restaurant continues to impress with competently presented food. The menu is surprisingly diverse, with everything from seafood chowder, burgers and pizza to cherry-glazed breast of duck. • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

954/626-1701. $$

bistro mezzaluna—741 S.E. 17th St. 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. • Dinner nightly. 954/522-6620. $$ bongusto ristorante—5640 N. Federal Highway. Italian. This is a well-kept secret, featuring dishes that will meet the standards of those who savor authentic Italian. Mussels with scallions, garlic and heavy cream sauce is an appetizer highlight. Involtini capricciosi—tender-rolled veal stuffed with spinach, prosciutto and fontina cheese—is equally satiating, while the yellowtail snapper oreganatta melts in your mouth. • Dinner Tues.–Sat. 954/771-9635. $$ by word of mouth—3200 N.E. 12th Ave. Eclectic. It’s not just the words from the mouths of satisfied customers that make this obscurely located restaurant so consistently popular; it’s the homey, satisfying food that goes into those mouths. The menu changes, but you can always count on home cooking with a gourmet spin, like pork tenderloin with raspberry jalapeno sauce, or coconut-crusted snapper. Go all out with any of a dozen or so unique desserts, cakes and pies.

• Lunch Mon.–Fri. Dinner Wed.–Sat. 954/5643663. $$ café martorano—3343 E. Oakland Park Blvd.

Italian. What’s the magic that has people lining up for tables? We pondered the question over crispy calamari in marinara sauce, tender meatballs and sweet-buttery scampi with huge shrimp, followed by intensely 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 daily.

954/561-2554. $$ café sharaku—2736 N. Federal Highway.

Fusion. Chef-owner Iwao Kaita’s Japanese-French restaurant may be modest in scale but is hardly modest in culinary ambitions. Its sophisticated offerings include an ethereal bay scallop soufflé with an unctuous sauce Americaine and roasted duck breast with a divine port-foie gras sauce that would be the envy of any classically trained French chef. • Lunch and dinner Tues.–Fri. 954/563-2888. $$

canyon—1818 E. Sunrise Blvd. Southwestern.

Billed as a Southwestern café, this twist on regional American cuisine offers great meat, poultry and fish dishes with distinctive mixes of lime, cactus and chili peppers in a subtle blend of spices. The adobe ambience is warm and welcoming, with a candlelit glow. • Dinner nightly. 954/765-1950. $$

casablanca café—3049 Alhambra St. Ameri-

can, 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.

Outdoor dining. 954/764-3500. $$

casa d’angelo—1201 N. Federal Highway.

Italian. Complimentary bruschetta begins an adventure that runs from course to course. Many dishes are specials—gnocchi, risotto and scaloppine. The veal chop is grilled and blanketed in a thick layer of Gorgonzola. 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., Fort Lauderdale.

Steaks. The Latin American rodizio-churrascaria concept—all the meat you can eat, brought to your table by a succession of waiters—is done with high style, fine wines and excellent service. The prime rib, sausages, filet mignon, pork ribs and lamb chops are very good. So are the swordfish and salmon. • Dinner daily. 954/712-0581. $$$ china grill—1881 S.E. 17th St. Pan-Asian. “Less is more” is not the mantra of this huge edition of Jeff Chodorow’s iconic nouveau pan-Asian eatery.

The food, too, is all about more—more of it, more flavor and more satisfaction with dishes like plum and sesame-glazed lamb spareribs and deeply savory Korean-style kalbi beef. • Breakfast and dinner daily.

954/759-9950. $$$ See our complete tricounty dining guide at bocamag.com.

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151

OurTown celebrating people from all walks of life who make our community proud

How Does It Feel?

Madison Baczewski on the path to Mount Kilimanjaro

The youngest winner in the history of the racecar series in which he currently participates describes what it’s like to reach speeds of 175 mph.

TrisTan nunez age: 16 HomeTown: Boca Raton THe back sTory: The son of former professional tennis player Juan Nunez took an athletic detour five years ago. His brother, fraternal twin Dylan, continued to follow in his father’s footsteps, but Tristan left the tennis court for the go-cart track, where he began racing competitively at age 12.

He quickly graduated to Skip Barber formula cars, which reach speeds of 125 mph; last year, he captured the overall Summer Series championship with six wins in 16 races. In his first International Motor Sports Association event of 2012, Nunez—now racing a closed wheel, open cockpit Prototype Lites racecar that can reach 175 mph—became the youngest winner in that series’ history with not one but two victories during a March event at Sebring International Raceway.

When he isn’t taking classes in Wellington at a school for students pursuing a career in pro sports, he educates peers about the dangers of texting and driving (the slogan “Dnt txt n drV” is on the side of his car). Nunez hopes to eventually race in the American Le Mans Series. in His own words: “Racing is something you have to feel to really understand. If you put a 15-pound weight in each hand and steer side to side, that’s what it feels like to drive in a race. When you get out of the car, your arms are numb. We pull about 3Gs, so it’s like being on a rollercoaster through every corner and every brake zone. Sometimes, it feels like your face is going to rip off.

“There is immense heat inside the car, especially in a closed cockpit, and it doesn’t hit you until after you come to the pits. Some drivers pass out after the race— the adrenalin rushes out of them, and they’re done.

“Believe me, driving on the highway is more dangerous than being on the track. At least racecar drivers know what they’re doing. I see it all the time—people texting and swerving into other cars. It has to stop.” when U want to know

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153

OurTown

Slice of

Emily lilly

life

FormEr Community ProjECts Coordinator For BoCa

PeoPle still call Emily lilly on the phone simply to hear her say two words: “Happy Day.” those two words, her trademark expression, help to define the upbeat and warmhearted woman who has run virtually all the special events in Boca Raton for the past 18 years—until her retirement this spring. lilly knows everyone, and she has been one of the enduring faces of the city, responsible for christmas parades, Martin luther King celebrations, the green market, labor Day tributes and just about anything that ever happened in Boca Raton. lilly grew up one of 12 children on a farm in lake George, N.Y. she moved to south Florida in the 1980s from New York when husband Bob lilly, the county sheriff, discovered he had lou Gehrig’s disease; the “love of my life” died three years after the diagnosis. lilly taught at a private lutheran school, ran a children’s choir and started the Kids in New Directions (KiND) program for the city of Pompano Beach before she took the job as community projects coordinator for the city of Boca Raton in 1994. she reflects with Boca Raton on some of what she’s learned over the years.

■ I will miss some of my coworkers and the people I interacted with when I did events, the young people especially. But I won’t miss the political stuff. It’s a detriment to getting things done in a better way.

■ I think [one of my biggest achievements] has been bringing a lot of the community together to, first, know each other and to relate to each other—and to communicate and interact— because what I did gave me that opportunity.

■ “Happy day” comes from back home. We were always told, no matter what the situation, that you can make it a happy day if you can do it by yourself.

You can’t rely on others.

A happy day comes with the spirit of getting up in the morning and saying “You know what? I’m going to make this the best day I can!”

■ How have things changed?

I think, because times are so trying, that everyone is in it for themselves now—and they really have to fight for what they want and for their mission or their goals.

■ I came up through the ranks of hard times, and I think you learn lessons you might not otherwise learn.

For example, we were not rich money-wise, but we had oodles of food to eat, and we had love in our family. We knew our roles, and we knew we needed to support each other.

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■ There are a lot of good people who never get a chance to show themselves as good people.

There are too many times when stronger individuals overpower the good people. A lot of hard workers never get their just due.

What’s nExt? Her recent retirement left many in the community reeling, but Lilly is not looking back; she will continue doing the Green Market and has started an event business, Premier Productions LLC, as well as Happy Day Creations, which she describes as more of a service: “anything that makes for a happy day—baskets, parties, that kind of thing.”

july/august

5

Things You Didn’t Know About:

randy “The KiTeman” Lowe

His nickname suggests an obscure superhero, but Randy “The Kiteman” Lowe is an average guy, a retired teacher who just happens to have a high-flying hobby.

Lowe, a professional kite flier and exhibitor of some of the coolest “show kites” the world over, is sharing his knowledge with guests at the Boca Raton Resort & Club’s Beach Club, where he is “kite concierge.” Each weekend, the Delray resident will host a beachfront kite-flying program for those staying at the oceanfront property. Not staying at the Beach Club? See Lowe fly kites over Delray most weekday afternoons.

Here’s what else we discovered about “The Kiteman.” [ 1 ] Before he became a kite connoisseur, Lowe taught math for 35 years in Boston, where he would integrate kites into the curriculum. “One day, on a field trip, I decided to use a kite to explain the Pythagorean Theorem,” he says. “It worked out well, and we started making kites. Then we went out and took measurements to give the kids some hands-on training about how they can apply the theorem in real life.”

Boca Bargains CheCk out these three great finds—only in our baCkyard.

when U want to know

[ 2 ] Lowe first started exhibiting kites on holiday in New Hampshire and Maine. “As soon as I put up one, people just applauded,” he says. “Every year they would wait for me to come back to see what [new kites] I was going to put up; I didn’t disappoint them. They started calling me ‘The Kiteman,’ because they saw the kites as they drove up to the beach. It sort of stuck.”

[ 3 ] Lowe’s kites are far from the primary-colored, diamond-shaped ones that turn up at children’s birthday parties. Most of his 50-plus kites come courtesy of master designer Peter Lynn, a kite-flying legend from New Zealand, and they average between $2,000 and $5,000 a piece. He has eight oversized “maxis” and kites in the shapes of Garfield, lobsters, an alligator and a scuba diver.

Wednesday bier dinner PriCe: $35 Where: Biergarten Boca Raton (309 Via De Palmas, 561/395-7462) What’s the deal? On the third Wednesday of the month, the Royal Palm Place restaurant hosts an Austrian-style dinner in its main dining room. Guests can enjoy a three-course meal and bottomless draft beer. Reservations are strongly recommended; this monthly event fills up fast. Cheers!

[ 4 ] A common mistake made by children and beginners: running with the kite. “It’s just a matter of putting the kite together and turning it back into the wind and letting the wind do the rest.

And keeping it spaced properly. I stop [children] when they start running, because they could have an accident. My [top] concern in Boca is safety.”

friday night live PriCe: Free Where: Downtown Boca’s Sanborn Square (72 N. Federal Highway, 561/392-5166) What’s the deal? The city is stepping up its live entertainment commitment with events on the first Friday of every month. Expect extended open hours (and special discounts) at local stores. Check out Americana/Picnic in the Park on July 6; and CountryTown on Aug. 3.

[ 5 ] When Lowe and his wife first visited Palm Beach County, his kites helped welcome them to the community. “When we first came down here, nobody talked to us,” he says. “We went to the beach, we sat there, and people went on their way.

When I started flying the kites, we met so many people, which is the reason we’d go back time and time again.”

Personal Painting PriCe: $175 for four weeks Where: Boca Raton Museum of Art (501 Plaza Real, 561/392-2500) What’s the deal? Offered Thursday nights, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., this personal painting course (for beginning to advanced artists) focuses on technique, composition and creative expression. Students will learn brushwork and mixing techniques with acrylic and gouache paints. Visit bocamuseum.org.

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155

OurTown

Hometown Hero Bronsen Bloom

A local teen’s nonprofit provides musical instruments for schools in need.

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AAron Bristol

T

he slogan for the nonprofit Musical Cares is a bold one: “Changing the world, one note at a time.” Boca resident Bronsen Bloom, a 16-year-old student at Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, started the organization last year in an effort to provide musical instruments to underprivileged schools. His goals are as lofty as his charity’s motto.

“When we first started, we planned on building a national network,” says Bloom, who plays stand-up bass in his school’s orchestra. “We just want to help as many people as we can. But we had to start locally; of course we would want to help our community.”

So far, Bloom has hosted a cocktail-party fundraiser at his parents’ house—where he lives with his two brothers and an enormous greyhound—as well as several smaller events. Starting a nonprofit at 15 has affected Bloom’s social life; most of his free time is spent raising awareness about the organization, planning events, designing merchandise and communicating with schools in need. “It was more work than I thought,” says Bloom, who runs Musical Cares with eight friends.

“We do it without our parents’ help. But I’m passionate about it, so it’s work I like doing.”

Musical Cares accepts new and used instruments as well as monetary donations, and it has raised around $40,000 overall.

For its first recipient, Somerset Academy in Homestead, Musical Cares raised and purchased $20,000 in instruments for the underfunded charter school.

Most recently, Musical Cares has been working with Florence Fuller Child Development Centers to provide instruments for an afterschool music program. “It’s had a great impact on us,” says Pam Calzadilla, development director for Florence Fuller. “Our kids would not be able to have any kind of musical experience if they didn’t have the instruments donated.”

Bloom recalls a 9-year-old boy at Somerset Academy whose father was stationed in Iraq.

The boy wanted to learn to play music both to console his mother and to perform for his father overseas. In changing a few lives, Bloom’s organization was one step closer to changing the world.

Musicians Who Care

Bloom is following in the footsteps of some of his favorite musicians, who have used their platforms for activism. [ ] “BoB Marley gave a voice to the suffering people of Jamaica.” [ ] “John lennon’s music united the world and gave us peace in a time of war.” [ ] “Pearl JaM has been involved in numerous organizations around the world.” [ ] “Bono has done more for this world than anyone i can think of. Most recently, he created Project (rED) to raise money to fight AiDs in Africa.”

july/august

The 30-MinuTe inTerview

Here are seven things we learned about Carl Pelini, the new head football coach at Florida Atlantic University, during a half-hour conversation with Boca Raton.

JC Ridley

[ 1 ] Pelini paid some 25 years worth of coaching dues at high schools, and small and major colleges—including two stints at Nebraska, where his younger brother Bo is currently head coach—before earning his first college head-coaching job at FAU. [ 2 ] Despite Nebraska’s 10-3 mark in 2003, Pelini (then a graduate assistant making $15,000 a year) was fired when the Cornhuskers hired a new head coach. Pelini, a father of three, decided to take a job in medical sales. “I was going to move to Charleston, W.Va., and start selling pacemakers,” he says. “Thirty minutes after making this decision, the phone rang. I was offered the defensive coordinator job at Minnesota-Mankato, a Division II school—for about a third of the sales salary. ... I took the coaching job.” [ 3 ] “I think about some of those years when we were buying groceries with credit cards,” says Pelini, who turns 47 in July. “I talk to my players about this. Today’s society is based on immediate gratification, but it doesn’t always come easy. If you have a goal, and you want it bad enough, you can get it over time.”

when U want to know

[ 4 ] Pelini played two years of college football

at Columbia University, where he was a selfdescribed overachieving middle linebacker. “I’d love to have more of me on the field—guys who are just football players,” he says. “Don’t just bring me guys with great 40 times. Bring me the guy who isn’t big enough or fast enough, but who knows how to win.” [ 5 ] Between 2008–2011, Pelini served as defensive coordinator under brother Bo at Nebraska; his 2009 unit led all of Division I-A football in scoring defense. Answering to his kid brother never phased Pelini. “If anything, I was more vocal than a lot of assistants. I think it was good for Bo to have a devil’s advocate.” [ 6 ] Pelini has installed a wide-open spread scheme at FAU in the hopes of bolstering an Owls unit that finished dead last nationally in total offense last season. But that isn’t the only change he plans for an FAU squad coming off a one-win season. “Anyone who’s gone through a 1-11 experience loses that edge. The one thing I need to inject into this team is a positive, fiercely competitive mentality.” [ 7 ] Pelini not only inherits a team coming off a dismal season, he replaces the coaching legend, Howard Schnellenberger, who started FAU football from scratch. “I’m not going to win trying to be like him,” says Pelini, whose five-year contract is worth nearly $2.5 million.

“I have to be careful to put my own stamp on this program—and do it the way I think is right. We’ll look back in five years and see if my approach was the right way.”

Community Spotlight

Rick and Pat HowaRd

Profession: Owners of Sklar Furnishings, celebrating 10 years in Boca Raton (6300 N. Federal Highway) BaCkground: The natives of Toronto briefly considered retirement before deciding to go into business together for the first time (in Canada, Rick had a furniture manufacturing business; Pat was a nurse treating special-needs children). The lovers of contemporary furniture created a company name that they felt would draw attention to their niche. The store’s dazzling array of original, modern pieces quickly found a loyal audience in Boca. Today, Sklar buys from some 25 contemporary furniture manufacturers, many of them based in Italy. did you know: The Howards, who launched Sklar in November 2002, have donated time and funds to countless local organizations, including Boca Helping Hands, Florence Fuller and Habitat for Humanity (Rick has served on the board for the past five years).

Quote: “My parents taught me to donate either time or money—and, if you’re fortunate in life, to do both,” Pat says. “We’ve been fortunate. ...

We feel a responsibility to support this community.”

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F lo r ida’s Fir st Fam ily oF mag a zines

11/22/11 10:56 AM

Boca Raton

spotlights

the most exciting

events in the

tri-county aRea

people [1]

Delray Beach Savor The avenue

[ 1 ] Savor the avenue guests, sitting at a table that stretches down atlantic avenue as far as the eye can see, raise their glasses prior to the first course.

More than 1,000 guests gathered at Florida’s longest table for the fourth annual Savor the avenue, presented by Boca Raton and Delray Beach magazines, and the Downtown Development authority of Delray Beach.

Guests, sitting at a 1,300-foot-long table that ran down the middle of atlantic avenue, enjoyed delicious courses from 18 top Delray Beach restaurants. when U want to know

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people [1]

[2]

[ [33] ]

Savor the avenue (cont.)

[ 1 ] neil austrian, ceo of office Depot [ 2 ] vanessa Sidi Wells, randall Stofft, lori rosacker and tiffany Woolley [ 3 ] Karen Bush and charles andrews [ 4 ] Marjorie Ferrer and laura Simon [ 5 ] (seated) Jon and Michelle rios, Kevin and Mary Mccarty; (standing) peter Morales, lisa Bright and Jerry taylor [ 6 ] ashley Foley and Mark Stowe [ 7 ] chris Miracolo, James Kampper and hector cintron [ 8 ] todd Skelton and Gina Genovese [ 9 ] Steve chernoff [ 10 ] (seated) John and Margaret Mary Shuff, Marie Speed; (standing) Kathleen ross, candace rojas, David Brooks, carey McKearnan and David Shuff [ 11 ] Suzanne Boyd [5]

[4]

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[6]

[8]

[7]

[9]

Special ThankS We salute the following restaurants, sponsors and participants for helping to make Savor the avenue possible: 32 east, cabana el Rey, café de France, caffé luna Rosa, city Oyster, cut 432, Gol! The Taste of Brazil, la cigale, lemongrass asian Bistro, Max’s harvest, prime, SpoonFed, Sundy house, The Office, Tramonti italian Ristorante, Tryst, Union and Vic & angelo’s; Rutherford Wine co. and Xanté; JM lexus; Delray Garden center; the Downtown Development authority; charles andrews of Blue coast Real estate and Development Group; and Suzanne Boyd, our mistress of ceremonies. a portion of the event proceeds benefited the Office Depot Foundation.

[ 10 ]

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[ 11 ]

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people boca Raton [2]

[1]

BoCA BACChAnAl

More than 1,800 revelers enjoyed the 10th anniversary of Boca Bacchanal, presented by the Boca Raton Historical Society. The weekend event raised more than $300,000 to help support the organization’s historic preservation and heritage education programs. The weekend included special vintner dinners at private homes; the Bacchus Bash gala and auction; and the always-popular Grand Tasting—a by-the-bite feast and wine tasting with nearly 30 local restaurants at Mizner Park Amphitheater.

[ 1 ] oliver and morgan Green, michelle and Jay Whechel, Kelli-Ann Bloechinger and Brandon mcleod [ 2 ] laurent Drouhin, and sylvie and Bernard Godin

[2]

AlliAnz Golf ChAmpionship

Eighty-one PGA Champions Tour players took to the Old Course at Broken Sound for the 2012 Allianz Championship. Proceeds from events and fundraisers during tournament week benefited Boca Raton Regional Hospital. The tournament, won by Corey Pavin, continues to be an economic and PR boon to Boca Raton.

[ 3 ] peter feaman, susan haynie, J.C. perrin and J. scott mcCleneghen [ 4 ] laresa mcintyre, Ken Rosen, susan Whelchel, Jerry fedele and Constance scott [3]

[4]

[5]

WAlK foR life

The Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation hosted its second annual Walk for Life in Boca Raton to help raise awareness and fill the worldwide bone marrow registry with ethnically diverse donors. After the 5K event, guests enjoyed entertainment, refreshments and raffle prizes.

[ 5 ] Jill Rubin and scott savader

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[1]

[2]

Chris EvErt/raymond JamEs ClassiC

The Chris Evert/Raymond James Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic raised $800,000, bringing its total fundraising efforts since 1989 to more than $20 million in support of children and families in South Florida.

John McEnroe and “Burn Notice” star Jeffrey Donovan teamed up to defeat Evert and actor Christian Slater in the main event.

[ 1 ] Christian slater

[3]

[ 2 ] Jeffrey donovan, scott Foley, Chris Evert and Jon lovitz

[4]

[5]

vEnus Williams in BoCa

One Thousand Ocean in Boca hosted an elegant soiree to celebrate the grand opening of a new model residence designed by V*Starr Interiors, the Jupiter-based design firm founded by tennis icon Venus Williams. Guests enjoyed live music, hors d’oeuvres, bubbly and other spirits inside a penthouse at the luxurious oceanfront property.

[ 3 ] margie hess, mia Brattan, Jerry reich and Keri mcGraw [ 4 ] helene Weicholz and serena Williams [ 5 ] Jamie telchin, maria scarola and venus Williams

when U want to know

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people [1]

[2]

WEST PALM BEACH Sexy Shoe, the Sequel

Saks Fifth Avenue Palm Beach Gardens recently hosted “Sexy Shoe, the Sequel� to benefit the Be A Star Foundation. More than 130 women gathered for the annual event, where the hottest, most stylish shoes of the season took center stage. The Be A Star Foundation supports children and their families as they cope with cancer and other critical illnesses in our local area.

[3]

[ 1 ] Julie healey and models from Saks Fifth Avenue [ 2 ] Kristen Gaeta, Sophie healey, model, Angela Maher, Jay-Me Bailey and Jasmine Rose

[4]

[5]

FORT LAUDERDALE BoyS & GiRlS CluBS GolF ClASSiC

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County hosted the 26th annual Levine/ Slaughter Golf Classic at Woodlands Country Club. The event raised more than $100,000 for the William E. Slaughter/S. Robert Levine Campus Boys & Girls Club and its efforts to enable young people to reach their full potential.

[ 3 ] Katrina Daniels and Nicole Reed-hudson [ 4 ] Rick hazey, Denver Glazier, harry tangalakis, Brian quail and eddie Carbone [ 5 ] Matt Becker, Gary Grass, harry Stampler and Carlos Guzman

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july/august

[1]

SongwriterS Benefit

Mark and Robin Levinson, co-owners of Levinson Jewelers on Las Olas, hosted a private event starring legendary singer, songwriter, musician and producer John Oates of the rock/pop duo Hall and Oates.

The evening, which showcased a concert performance by Oates, raised more than $100,000 for the Aspen Songwriters Festival.

[ 1 ] John and Aimee oates, gram Slaton, and robin and Mark Levinson

[2]

fAncy PAntS

More than 600 South Florida philanthropists and professionals displayed their dazzling denim while dancing the night away at the Fancy Jeans Party, sponsored by The Wasie Foundation and presented

by Premier Beverage. The event raised some $160,000 for Jessica June Children’s Cancer Foundation (JJCCF).

[ 2 ] Mark cappaso, Keith Hathaway and robert Saporiti

[3]

MS gALA & fASHion SHow

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (South Florida chapter) recently held its 29th annual MS Gala and Fashion Show at the Broward County Convention Center. More than 1,000 people attended. Celebrated fashion designer Pamela Dennis dazzled guests with the debut of her new spring collection for women. To date, $5 million has been raised to help the National MS Society fund research to find the cause of MS, ways to treat MS and, ultimately, a cure for the disease.

[ 3 ] charlene Parsons and fred rothman [ 4 ] Deborah DelPrete, Andrea Hampton, carol L. Lasek, carrie Schulman and Monica goldstein [ 5 ] Marla Dennstedt, during the Pamela Dennis fashion show

[4]

when U want to know

[5]

Black Magic Woman CONTINuED FROM PAgE 117

“I thought, ‘We’ve got this guy for murder,’” she remembers. “Either that, or there’s an abortion clinic illegally selling these.”

Godoy made the buy and had the contents of the jars analyzed at the police lab. They turned out to be fetuses, but not human.

Rabbit. “This was guy was sick,” Godoy says.

When they finally busted him, cops found a number of rare animals in his home; some dead, others awaiting sacrifice. The nightmare menagerie included four live baby owls in a cage and a selection of birds, including blue jays and cardinals, frozen like so many popsicles. The freezer contained another, even more surprising inhabitant: a baby panther.

Those weren’t the only finds, however. “We confiscated human skulls,” Godoy told the Associated Press at the time. “And he had a femur he could not account for.” The palero was taken into custody for violating the Migratory Bird and Endangered Species acts.

The Case of the � Missing Skull Sometimes the challenge for Godoy wasn’t determining if there was evidence of occult worship at a crime scene, but figuring out what branch of Santería or voodoo was represented there, and why.

On one such occasion, police were called to a Miami cemetery where a grave had been disturbed. When they arrived, they saw a corpse sitting in an open tomb. It was missing its head. Nearby were dead birds— black and red—a cigar, and a cow tongue nailed to a tree. The officers instantly suspected Santería.

But Godoy knew better. “Real santeros don’t use skulls for anything,” she says. “And when they use birds, almost always they are white or yellow, which stand for good. Santería is white magic.” This, Godoy knew, was the opposite: black magic. Palo Mayombe.

In Palo, practitioners ask help not from the saints—as in Santería—but from the spirit world. This may lead them to rob a grave and take the skull, which is believed to hold the spirit of a person. In some cases, they may target specific corpses, like those of Santería high priests. “Obas and babalawos are assumed to have had special knowledge,” observes Godoy. “Paleros want a head that belonged to someone up in the hierarchy.”

She adds that many santeros ask to be buried in unmarked graves for just that reason—fear that paleros will come calling for their skulls.

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Santería sacred artifacts belonging to the goddess Ochún and the powerful god Changó.

Ricky RicaRdo and the SanteRÍa SecRet Santería, though little understood as a religion in the united Sates, does have one resounding reference in American pop culture, even if few people can name it.

On the classic 1950s sitcom “I Love Lucy,” Ricky Ricardo’s theme song, “Babalú,” was written as an entreaty to the orisha of the same name. unbeknownst to Englishspeaking viewers, the lyrics described a Santería ritual in which the singer arranges 17 candles in the shape of a cross—17 is the number associated with Babalú-Ayé—and offers a bit of tobacco, “fire water” and money to the deity in exchange for his sweetheart’s everlasting love.

A hit for Cuban singer Miguelito Valdés in the 1940s, the song was adopted by his countryman, bandleader Desi Arnaz (who played Lucille Ball’s husband on TV, as in real life), for his nightclub act. From there, it migrated to television, where, usually, only the chorus was heard. Who knew there was Santería in the Age of Ike? —Gaspar González

Once secured, the skull will be placed in a prenda, an iron cauldron filled with dirt from symbolic sites (including cemeteries and churches, foreign countries), human bones, animal blood, coins, knives, machetes and other artifacts. The paleros will then gather around and, in Godoy’s words, “command the skull inside the prenda to work on their behalf.” If that sounds disturbing, it’s because it is.

“It’s eerie and freaky,” says Godoy, who has extensive experience with both genres.

In this particular case, the skull that had been taken belonged to a 59-year-old black male with no demonstrable ties to Santería or Palo, so it proved difficult to connect the dots.

Looking back, Godoy has a theory. “It could be that the grave robber was a new palero,” she speculates. “So he doesn’t know of anyone ‘powerful’ who was alive and is now dead. Instead he seeks out a skull from someone who was black, because that person is symbolic of where his religion comes from.”

She adds that cemetery administrations often keep these incidents hushed up because they’re bad for business, but, luckily, “paleros can’t take a head without a ceremony, or leaving an offering behind. That leaves plenty of evidence of the crime.”

After retiring from the force in 2010, Godoy, who managed to squeeze in a Ph.D. in social work between crime-scene investigations, found a new career as a college instructor (she’s currently an adjunct professor at Barry University in Miami Shores).

She also recently inked a development deal for a TV series, based on the cases she worked on the voodoo beat, with Picture Shack Entertainment out of New York. It would be nice if it turned into something, but, even if it doesn’t, Godoy says, “I’m very happy in my life. I’m very fulfilled.”

The spirits, she knows, have been good to her.

July/August 2012 issue. Vol. 32, No. 4. The following are trademarks in the state of Florida of JES Publishing Corp., and any use of these trademarks without the express written consent of JES Publishing Corp. is strictly prohibited: Florida Funshine and Florida Style. Boca (ISSN0740-2856) is published seven times a year (September/October, November, December/ January, February, March/April, May/June and July/August/)

by JES Publishing Corp. Editorial, advertising and administrative offices: 5455 N. Federal Highway, Suite M, 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: $14.95/7 issues, $19.95/14 issues. Single copy $5.95. No whole or part of the content may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of Boca magazine, excepting individually copyrighted articles and photographs. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Boca magazine, P.O. Box 820, Boca Raton, FL 33429-9943.

july/august

speedbumps [ by marie speed ]

Road Trips and Other Wonders

The Speed family in Irel and—on one of its more ambitious sum mer outings

The family vacaTion seT The bar for summer advenTure.

T

his is the kind of town and the time of year when people pack up and head to their summer homes in Idaho or North Carolina or Michigan. They have their cars sent by an auto service, and they fly out of the stifling South Florida heat-and-hurricane season to places with pinecones and summer gardens and people in Lilly Pulitzer golf pants. They go to outdoor concerts and brunches and wear cashmere sweater sets at night. These people leave their South Florida condos and houses tightly locked and shuttered, and forge onward to a dazzling summer of wine tastings and antique shopping and day hikes and grilled artichokes, never looking back at the steaming subtropical swamp they call home the rest of the year.

So call me a little envious. I might be now and then when the thermometer starts inching toward 95 or my sunglasses steam up on the way to the car.

But having been a Florida person most of my life, summer is not something we ever tried to escape; it was our favorite time of the year.

When I was growing up, no one had summer homes, and everyone took a two-week family car vacation to some place that was way too far, in weather that was way too hot. The kids got the backseat, which your bare legs stuck to by midmorning. There was primitive air conditioning if at all, and your parents had the front windows rolled down so they could smoke a Raleigh cigarette now and then. There were no drop-down video screens in those days, or big comfy Odyssey vans or Game Boys or DVDs. All we had was Auto Bingo, the license plate game, and counting the miles until the next Stuckey’s sign. And we had the nightly motel ritual, which began with careful drive-bys of successive motor courts scanning the vacancy when U want to know

signs, followed by my mother and father parking and doing the interminable room inspection while we waited in the car, lobbying hard for the one with the swimming pool. When they finally gave the coveted motel thumbs-up, we practically fell out of the car, racing to find our bathing suits. And there was the omnipresent plaid bourbon caddy, which was always unpacked first.

No one back then was a sissy when it came to distance, either. Looking back now, I believe my parents weren’t so much on vacations as on grand expeditions—suited up in new shorts sets in their blue Rambler station wagon to places like Garden of the Gods, the Grand Canyon, New York, California, Virginia, Key West. And then back again.

The summer family vacation disappeared after high school. We kids wandered off into our own lives, our parents started buying airline tickets; the AAA TripTik was forgotten somewhere in a kitchen drawer.

But we were always left with that legacy, somehow, the one that says summers are a time for exploring, for adventures, for getting out there into other worlds.

This summer, I am still thinking that way. The two-week option no longer exists, and car trips take too long. But I still want to change it up, to slip around here and there on some long weekends, maybe to Maine and Colorado and to St. Petersburg or Islamorada. Maybe the islands, or L.A. Maybe Italy. Belize. And home, too, the place most people want to escape this time of year. Sometimes the best summer adventure is the one right here, in this place of sea turtle walks, warm ocean shallows, tiki bars and bike rides. When I see all the shuttered houses, I think about those of us who are still here, and about my summer, still up in the air, still full of possibility— and I think that may be the best adventure of all. [ bocamag.com ]

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What the Doctor Ordered A stAy At bocA regionAl speAks to the selfless spirit of the cAregiver.

I

recently spent five days at Boca Raton Regional Hospital in an attempt to quell an episode with multiple sclerosis (MS), my first in 19 years. No one knows how to cure this chronic and progressive disease, so my stays are dedicated to stopping its inexorable advance. After a few days in the hospital, I have to say the support of the hospital’s personnel was just what the doctor ordered.

My nurses—Monique, Jean and Kettia—and their assistants were over the top, always present to help and make the days there more comfortable. “Rest” is not the operative word for this particular kind of stay; I was constantly awakened for various tests, to take medicine or to have someone check my vital signs. To further dislodge my biological clock, breakfast came at shortly after dawn, and dinner was before 5 in the afternoon; my daily schedule seemed geared toward a farmer in Des Moines.

Still, I am not complaining. The cultural change at Boca Regional is remarkable.

The person responsible for this cultural change is Jerry Fedele, an understated, nononsense and dynamic CEO who has restored the hospital’s reputation and moved it forward in [ by john shuff ] a difficult economic and regulatory environment.

What he has inculcated in our hospital is a permanent commitment to patient care, a genuine concern. There wasn’t a day that went by that Fedele, Jan Savarick (the passionate and energetic president of the hospital’s foundation) or a member of her staff didn’t touch base to see how I was progressing.

Recounting personal health crises can be tedious for the average reader; after all, not many people have MS, and not many have had to negotiate the slow decline I have experienced. But that’s not the case with caregivers.

Everyone can be a caregiver, and most of us will be cast in that role before it’s all over. Chronic illness is tough on everyone, but the real comfort and strength we need to survive each day must come from our spouse, partner, friend—the person who is ministering to our daily needs. They are the

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ones who help us do the things we would normally do for ourselves. Illness is not normal. Illness can rob you of your independence and your strength and your ability to take care of yourself. Illness demands that we swallow our pride and accept the care and help we need from others, whether it be bathing, getting dressed or any number of personal needs.

Jan Savarick and Jerry Fedele Over the years, I’ve listened to countless talks, tapes and sermons on suffering. I’ve read the books and talked to priests. Most messages are generic, with empty panaceas, devolving into well-meaning suggestions on how to cope. But no one addresses the angst and strain on the caregiver who deals with the sick or disabled.

There are moments I feel trapped by my disease. I feel lonely, marginalized, like I’m no longer in the hunt. That is how it is now, that is my reality. But I have to focus on that other world beyond mine, the one where my caregiver lives, the one inhabited my family and my friends. I have to understand the emotions and concerns of my caregiver, my wife, Margaret Mary, the one whose world was turned upside down 38 years ago when I called from the Mayo Clinic to tell her I had just been diagnosed with MS. Since that day in June 1975, my disease has had a profound impact on her life.

I know how much my illness has limited my wife’s life.

I don’t feel guilt, and I don’t look back on what could have been. I mostly agonize for a woman who never signed on for this, who has been rocked by a rabbit punch that transformed our lives forever.

For those who suffer from an illness, ask God for the comfort and strength to cope each day. Every day I ask him to constantly remind me to be sensitive to Margaret Mary’s emotions, to be optimistic, to be cheerful. To make her life easier.

It’s the least I can do.

july/august

The Recipe for a Perfect Evening ONE PART STYLE • ONE PART TASTE • ONE PART RHYTHM

Delray’s hottest bar scene • sensational seasonal menu • live entertainment featuring Orson Whitfield

Enjoy a seasonally inspired, three-course prix fixe menu for $35* Open Daily • Happy Hour 4 – 7 pm | Delray’s Best Brunch • Sat & Sun 9 am – 2:30 pm

For information or reservations:

theatlanticgrille.com | 561-665-4900 At The Seagate Hotel, 1000 E. Atlantic Ave.  Scan for special offer, entertainment schedule and menus

*Tax and gratuity not included. Regular menu also available.

Desirable Perl茅e Collection Rings, pink gold, white gold and diamonds.

Haute Joaillerie, place Vend么me since 1906

BAL HARBOUR - 9700 Collins Avenue - 305-866-0899 BOCA RATON - 308 North Plaza Real - 561-955-8802 PALM BEACH - 202 Worth Avenue - 561-655-6767 www.vancleef-arpels.com