F2-St.Lucie West Living-Vol.562

Show Me The Beef!

It has become and still remains an American culinary icon to this day. Everyone loves a good savory, juicy burger with all the xings piled high and stuffed under that bun. So, when Luis and I were asked if we wanted to do a review of the burgers over at the Burger Fi, located in Port Saint Lucie West, we did not hesitate to say, yes!

Burger Fi is a Florida native business that has grown into over one hundred locations nationwide and is even in the process of bringing their irresistible burgers overseas as I type this review. As we entered Burger Fi, we were greeted by the organic colors of their logo and the stylistic wood paneling that hugs the walls around the room. Surrounding us were vibrant posters of the burgers they offered and then came the sound of the grill sizzling as the aroma of fresh angus beef made its way into our olfactory senses, triggering our tastebuds to water.

Our host was Dimitrios Diamantopoulos, who is the owner and operator of the Port Saint Lucie West location and his long-time friend of over 34 years, Jacque, who is the General Manager. Dimitrios was down to earth and no doubt a hard worker as he not only runs Burger Fi, but also owns three other businesses, including the City Diner of Stuart. Dimitrios has been in the food business since the late 1980’s and has a passion and zeal for food and hard work. As every good captain needs a commanding rst mate, Jacque, who keeps the place running like a well-oiled machine and to prove that he gave us a tour of his immaculate, well kept kitchen and walk in freezer. We were awe-struck at how the place was managed and maintained. Jacque is always willing to give any customer a tour of the place. All you have to do is ask and he will happily show you around.

UNDER THE BUN!

Now, it was time. The time we had been waiting for, the beef of the matter! The menu presented us with many delicious options to choose from, even offering a Vegan Beyond Burger, Vegetarian, and if you are carb conscious, you can get your burger wrapped snuggly into a lettuce wrap. To boot, their menu even offers a diverse list of chicken sandwiches and hot dogs. So, if you are not in the mood for burger, you can try something else.

I decided to try the double-patty “CEO” ($11.99), which is made with double premium Wagyu Blend, homemade candied bacon-tomato jam, truf e aioli, and aged Swiss. No doubt as you read this, you are asking yourself, “What in tarnation is Wagyu Beef?!”

Well, I am glad you asked! The word ‘Wagyu” translates to Japanese Cow and is a highly marbled beef which makes it a avor- lled burger. Along with the ‘The CEO”, I ordered the parmesan and herb hand cut fries ($5.48). Yes, that’s right, not only are their burgers made fresh, but so are their fries, which are hand-cut daily and fried to crispy perfection.

My mouth watered as the ‘The CEO” was delivered to me. It was truly love at rst bite. As I bit into the mouthwatering burger, my palette was hit with depth of avors buried within this masterpiece of culinary delight. The Candied Bacon-Tomato Jam added a delicate sweetness to the burger as the creamy truf e aioli sauce and Aged-Swiss added the perfect balance of richness to the delectable Wagyu Blend Beef. It was truly a moment of burgerlicous Zen. The Parmesan and Herb Hand cut fries were fresh, hot and crispy. The fries were evenly topped with just the right

by Stephen Melniszyn

DiningOut Review

amount of Parmesan and Herbs that complemented the hand cut fries just right.

Luis, got the “Swag (Spicy Wagyu) Burger ($11.99) that is comprised of two juicy patties, charred Jalapeños, Candied Ghost pepper bacon, Sweet Tomato Relish, Pepper Jack cheese, and Hot Steak Sauce. His response after eating the Swag, “Sweet spice of so nice. Perfectly balanced with two hearty savory patties and the heat of the jalapenos topped with the amazing ghost peppered Bacon. The burger paired perfectly well with the Parmesan and Herb Fries.”

Lastly, what is a good burger and fries without satisfying your sweet

Luis & Stephen

tooth! BurgerFi offers up a varied mix of shakes and custard concretes and cups of many avors. In my sights, was the Banana-Churro Shake which has vanilla custard that is delicate in taste and small pieces of fresh banana and to top it off, a nice warmed sweet cinnamon churro in the middle of the shake. So good!

Overall, we had a great experience thanks to Dimitrios, Jacque and their team. The food was fresh and very satisfying. No doubt, we will return! So, if you are longing for a burger high, then hit up the BurgerFi! (Man, I should be a culinary food poet!).

BurgerFi is located at 1456 NW Saint Lucie West Blvd. in Port Saint Lucie. They are open every day from 11:00am to 9:00pm. For more information, you can nd BurgerFi online, the app, or by phone at 772-500-0102.

BURGERFI BURGER FRESH CUT FRENCH FRIES AND A DRINK

$1199

SUBSTITUTE DRINK FOR A BEER

$1399

When it comes to nding medical

(MMJ) doctors, you can trust the helpful and professional sta at MMJ

personality

does very good work and is very reassuring and explain what he is doing. I’ve never felt more comfortable. He xed my broken front tooth and made me smile again. He’s amazing! And the staff and dental assistant are all awesome.”

IMPROVE

By Gabby Gregory

Every 5,000 miles, like clockwork, you take your car to get its oil changed and tires rotated. It’s basic, routine maintenance, but that consistent attention and upkeep is vital for your vehicle to run e ciently, especially over a number of years. Your body, much like your vehicle, requires regular care and treatment to keep it healthy. And, again like your automobile, your body needs support from someone other than yourself, a professional who can guide it to achieving its utmost abilities and to retaining its peak performance.

Getting older, playing sports, or having a condition like sciatica or arthritis shouldn’t hold you back from living your life! You can feel like your younger self again, the one who didn’t feel any aches or pains when walking, running, jumping, or even sitting… all you have to do is visit Stretch Zone.

Drew Brees, former quarterback of the New Orleans Saints, is the newest partner at Stretch Zone who advocates for people to regularly get stretched. A er personally going to Stretch Zone for an assisted stretching session, Drew was impressed with the uniquely e ective and nationally accredited Stretch Zone Method®, which is administered by a highly-trained and Stretch Zone-certi ed stretch practitioner.

Here’s How It Works:

1.) Your rst session begins with lling out an intake form and having a consultation with your experienced and knowledgeable stretch practitioner. Based on your medical background and your personal goals, the stretch practitioner will personalize the ensuing 30-minute assisted stretching session to meet your individual needs. On subsequent visits, you’ll simply do a check-in with the practitioner to update your medical pro le with any recent changes and/or any new pain or discomfort that you might be experiencing.

2.) e stretch practitioner initiates the rst steps of the approved Stretch Zone Method®, utilizing Stretch Zone’s special patented straps to encourage your body to relax and ease into the stretches. You won’t nd these straps anywhere else!

Comparable to a thunder jacket for your pets, they are meant to calm your mind so that your entire body is perfectly loose, thus allowing the stretch practitioner to stretch your body to its full potential and, as a result, provide you with both preventative maintenance and pain relief.

3.) Assisted stretching (a/k/a passive stretching) is di erent from physical therapy in that your body is being stretched by someone else, you’re not actually doing any work. roughout your 30-minute session, the stretch practitioner will be steadily interacting one-on-one with you, ensuring that you are completely comfortable and not experiencing any pain. Ultimately, you are in control of the stretch, even as your practitioner guides your body through each and every step, because you tell the practitioner when you feel your best stretching position. e more you communicate, the better results you’re going to get!

Take advantage of Stretch Zone’s incredible New Year Special: get one FREE

30-minute stretching session! Anybody and everybody can and should be stretched. In fact, one Stretch Practitioner I spoke with at Stretch Zone says, “98% of the people I see in front of me really need to be stretched. is is something you should not live without.” Remember, it’s just like getting your oil changed! Plus, celebrities and professional athletes have been getting stretched for years, so it’s time for the general population to be clued into the secret!

Get Stretch Zone’s New Year Special for yourself or get them for a friend or loved one… what better way to say you care than to give the gi of making life easier, of feeling healthier, lighter, and younger, and of feeling like yourself again?

What’s on your resolutions list? Do you want to:

✓ 3 HAVE MORE ENERGY TO DO ALL OF THE THINGS YOU LOVE?

✓ IMPROVE YOUR GOLF GAME, TENNIS SKILLS OR OTHER SPORTS PERFORMANCE?

✓ MANAGE TENSION AND STRESS MORE EFFECTIVELY?

✓ EASE FRUSTRATING MUSCLE ACHES AND PAINS?

✓ INCREASE YOUR OVERALL HEALTH AND WELLNESS?

DISCOVER WHAT STRETCH ZONE CAN DO FOR YOU!

For What It’s Worth

Ok, so here’s the latest scoop on the medical situations regarding my last several columns, having to do with inability to get to a doctor from Cleveland Clinic in a timely manner. Yes, for those of you who insisted I name the dreaded hospital that I was writing about, it is, in fact, Cleveland Clinic. e reason I am now going to put a name to the place is because I was invited by Dr. Singh, the President of Cleveland Clinic to have a meet and greet this a ernoon. Just when you think you know how your week is going to go, wham, a personal invitation to speak with the president himself, who read my articles and wanted to talk. Okay, so I’ll admit I was nervous, anxious, worried, but also armed for bear in the event that he wanted to minimize the situation, but in fact, surprisingly, he was caring, open to suggestions, and transparent with regard to how Cleveland Clinic took over Martin Memorial North and South, and what he strived for going forward. I was impressed, and I’m not easily sold on lip service, but between him and the head of Patient Experiences, Karen Ludwig, who was also present, it was apparent that he knew and understood the frustrations the general public has been experiencing getting seen by a physician in a timely manner.

I have to give him credit. His information was forthcoming, addressing my concerns, sometimes even before I had

by Dr. Melfi, Ph.D.

the chance to list them. Also to his credit, he was young-ish, a physician himself, and has only been the president of the hospital for one year. In that year, he and Karen had an earful of complaints and they had plans to address all of them by way of hiring almost 60 new physicians, twice as many nurses, and ongoing training for those people on the front lines, who take the calls and make appointments. I was shocked, in a good way. He never tried to make excuses, nor did he make false promises. He said getting things turned around was not going to happen overnight, but he does strive to make this hospital the best it can possibly be, within a reasonable amount of time. He is there to speak with, to read emails, and to even give out his cell phone number (No, sorry, I can’t pass it along, lol) but from what I understand, he has done that frequently to others as well.

He loves this community, he loves this hospital, and he loves medicine. He is not one of those people who sits in their ivory tower, having no pulse on medical practices. He wants to do better, and promises he will do better, but this is what he has been handed, well, that, and the pandemic, which has seen the resignation of good nurses and doctors who no longer wish to expose themselves and their families to infection. I get

it. Much as I loved hospital nursing, I have asked myself many times if I had stayed in nursing, would I quit? I feel like the answer is a hard “no” but it’s easy to say from the sidelines, and not in the midst of potentially deadly chaos.

My point is this. He wants things to change, and he has ideas to change them, many of which it is not my place to share. I came in with a list of suggestions, but before I could get my ideas out of my mouth, he already verbalized them. We were on the same page! So, the bottom line is this.

For What it’s Worth, he’s young, he’s enthusiastic, he wants to make things better, and he wants Cleveland Clinic, Stuart, to be exactly what we all want it to be, a place we can trust with our very lives. Let’s be fair and give him time to get it together. If I was a gambler, I think I’d put my money on him.

We

Small businesses make up 99% of all businesses in FL. What would happen to your business if you got sick?

By Gabby Gregory

medical MARIJUANA Is

just more…FAKENEWS?

Bynow, you’ve likely heard the almost miracle-like anecdotes from “patients” on the news about medical marijuana as it becomes more mainstream. When I hear these stories, I have to wonder: are they legitimate? I had to know the TRUTH, so I arranged to sit down with Dr. Anne Lynn Morgan, the Chief Medical Of cer at MMJ Health, Florida’s top-rated medical marijuana doctor’s of ce.

Many people don’t know that medical marijuana is legal in Florida, let alone readily available at over 250 in-state dispensaries (imagine a pharmacy speci cally for medical marijuana). For years, pop culture has depicted marijuana primarily as a recreational drug, but there’s more to the plant than what’s shown on the silver screen. Since its legalization, medical marijuana’s profound effects have changed the lives of countless Floridians. Dr. Morgan, as Florida’s top rated Medical Marijuana Specialist, is responsible for much of this positive impact. Indeed, she and the staff at MMJ Health were honored to be named by The Palm Beach Post as the “Best Medical Marijuana Card Provider” for their level of service and ef cacy in 2020!

Additionally, Dr. Morgan is an expert in the eld of medical marijuana, and is among one of the most respected clinicians in the industry. She sits on the board of directors for the American Academy of Cannabis Medicine, is a member of the International Cannabinoid Research Society, and is considered to be one of the industry’s highest-rated cannabis clinicians (no pun intended). Dr. Morgan has been in practice for 33 years and was the former Medical Director for United Health, Metropolitan Health, and Humana.

Dr. Morgan has been practicing marijuana medicine speci cally for the last 9 years, with licenses in Florida, Washington, and Pennsylvania. After years of education, research, and hands-on experience, Dr. Morgan attests to the relief medical marijuana brings to people, saying, “We have found that we have over a 90% success rate with medical cannabis.”

Dr. Morgan explains that medical marijuana patients at MMJ Health, rather than experiencing psychoactive effects or feeling high, nd relief from various medical conditions, including anxiety, depression, insomnia, arthritis, cancer, IBS, epilepsy, PTSD, autoimmune disorders, migraines, Parkinson’s, ADHD, Fibromyalgia, dementia, Alzheimer’s, and more. Medical marijuana is not for getting high, it’s for feeling better! How does it work? It’s simple –THC and CBD.

THC and CBD are two chemical compounds that come from the marijuana plant and affect the endocannabinoid system, the human body’s natural system for processing cannabis. “The endocannabinoid system’s reason for existing is to keep our bodies in homeostasis, i.e. healthy and balanced. Cannabis can positively affect so many systems in the body that are not being managed properly by pharmaceuticals,” says Dr. Morgan. Many of MMJ’s patients, since using medical cannabis, have been able to drastically reduce their prescription medication regimen, or have stopped taking prescriptions altogether!

Marijuana is still classi ed as a Schedule 1 substance federally, but Dr. Morgan explains, “It’s not what you think… Medical marijuana is not a narcotic. In fact, after using medical marijuana, many of our patients have reduced taking narcotics and/or opiates without even being asked!”

Medical marijuana is not like anything sold on the street... it’s completely safe! When you get your marijuana from a dispensary, you don’t have to worry about whether it was adulterated. Dr. Morgan clari es, “Florida has very stringent rules about how medical marijuana is grown and prepared, so you know it’s clean, pesticide-free, and has no bacteria or viruses.”

Medical marijuana has become a go-to for doctors across the nation to give their patients relief from a myriad of conditions without having to worry about the severe side effects associated with many pharmaceuticals. For the patients at MMJ Health, medical marijuana is 100% making a difference in their everyday lives. The stories are real. Dr. Morgan says that it is not uncommon for patients to cry, hug, and thank her because they are feeling better than ever since using medical cannabis. Dr. Morgan has seen the results, and she urges anyone and everyone to consider trying medical marijuana.

MMJ Health is at the forefront of technology, so nding out if you qualify for a medical marijuana card is super simple! The MMJ Patient Quali cation System, accessible at www.mmjhealth.com, allows you to nd out in minutes whether you qualify. If you do, then the MMJ Health of ce will contact you. MMJ Health has all of the resources necessary to get your health back on track!

So the real question now is: why wait? MMJ Health is the only all-inclusive medical marijuana of ce in Florida, so you can get quali ed for your medical marijuana card in one visit. The friendly and knowledgeable staff will ll out the tricky government application for you, take your ID photo in their of ce, and submit all of your paperwork to the Florida Health Department. The only thing you have to do once you leave their of ce is wait for your card!

“You shouldn’t have to suffer… medical cannabis can help you! We are real doctors who provide real results,” says Dr. Morgan. The expert staff at MMJ Health encourages you to “Please come and see the MMJ Health difference. We care, we make a difference as a team, and we know our cannabis medicine. Isn’t it time to live your life the way you want, symptom and side-effect free?”

MMJ Health is located at 600 Sandtree Drive in Suite 108 in Palm Beach Gardens. MMJ Health also has locations in West Palm Beach, Port St. Lucie, Stuart, Melbourne, Wellington, Boynton Beach, and Boca Raton. Their of ces are open Mondays-Fridays from 9AM-7PM and Saturdays-Sundays from 10AM-7PM. For more information, please call 561-631-7994 or 772-212-4032, or visit www.mmjhealth.com.