I6-Mirasol Living-Vol.562

When it comes to nding medical

(MMJ) doctors, you can trust the helpful and professional sta at MMJ Health. Serving patients in Palm Beach, Martin, & St. Lucie Counties.

Wetypically associate tacos with Mexican cuisine, but we don’t have to… at least, not with Taco Shack now in town!

Taco Shack has been a popular spot in Downtown Stuart for 10+ years, with many locals citing it as their all-time favorite place to go for one-of-a-kind, handcrafted tacos and cuisine. Abby and I, in fact, have been to the Stuart thow the new Jupiter location stands up to its predecessor!

For a comprehensive sampling of Taco Shack’s dips, you have to order the three amigos appetizer (sm. $12; lg. $17). A pile of homemade, endless “famous shack chips” comes with generous bowls of salsa, guacamole, and queso. The chips themselves are quite tasty, with a delightfully audible crunch, and once you start experimenting with the dips, not to mention the many hot and pepper sauces available on your table, the chips become absolutely addicting!

The queso was my absolute favorite of the three dips, as it was thick, rich, creamy, and, of course, cheesy. It had a very subtle heat, so it’s a crowdpleasing option, especially amongst kids. For spice lovers, the salsa offered much more of a kick, and one that lingered, at that. This satisfying spark

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rst “wows” your palate, then slowly fades into an ever-so-slight sweetness that leaves you wanting to go back for more. Those looking for lighter, brighter avors will appreciate the freshness of the guacamole. The plentiful chunks of avocado were perfectly ripe, and tasted even better once we squeezed more of the limes on the side over them. This dip is great for a hot day, especially if you’re eating on Taco Shack’s large outdoor patio, as one bite will cool you down instantly.

For the main event, Abby took advantage of the restaurant’s awesome taco deal, which allowed her to choose 2 gourmet tacos and a side ($14). Her gringo beef taco came loaded with tender ground beef, shredded cheddar cheese, fresh pico de gallo, cabbage, and cilantro. It was nished with a “delightful” lime crema, which Abby said “elevates it from being just a standard, boring beef taco. It adds a nice little zing!” In fact, she even squeezed more lime over the taco because she liked the taste so much.

“The Sticky” taco offered a totally different avor pro le, one “reminiscent of American comfort food culture,” commented Abby. Crafted using homemade, lightly-fried chicken tenders, the taco is also stuffed with rich gouda cheese, mild green onions, and candied jalapenos, then nished with a honey jalapeno drizzle and a wedge of lime. “It’s almost like a

chicken and waf es dish,” Abby said, “but in taco form!”

For vegetarians, I recommend the chipotle cauli owerstuffed avocado ($8.95), which is fresh and lling. Two halves of a vibrantly green avocado are served over shredded lettuce, then topped with buttermilk-fried cauli ower orets, sweet raisins, tangy queso fresco, a sultry chipotle crema, fresh cilantro, and “smoked special seasonings.” I was especially impressed by the non-greasy, crunchy cauli ower, which brought every ingredient together on the plate. Once you get a full bite with a little bit of everything, you experience a bright, sunny burst of sweet, slightly spicy, and herbaceous avors.

I also ordered some items à la carte for Abby and me to share: two gourmet tacos —the Thai basil shrimp ($7) and Da Philly ($5.75) — and a Mexican street taco with birria ($3.50).

I cannot recommend the Thai basil shrimp taco enough… it’s a tasty fusion of Asian and Mexican avors that is, ultimately, super fun to eat! The perfectly rm shrimp is smothered in Thai peanut and sweet chili sauces, then topped with fresh basil, chopped peanuts, cabbage, cilantro, and lime. This taco offers a really lovely, crunchy texture, as well as a delectable combination of sweet, salty, and nutty avors. If you enjoy shrimp, then this one is de nitely for you!

More of a meat eater? Try Da Philly, which is the favorite taco of Lou Lentine, the owner of Taco Shack. This juicy

with Gabby & Abby

marinated steak taco is lled with bell peppers, onions, American cheese, lettuce, and hot chili peppers for a twist on the Philadelphia classic. Or, if you want something with more straightforward avors, then select the birria Mexican street taco. The double tortillas are satisfyingly crispy, and the über tender shredded beef within brilliantly shines on its own, with a luscious umami avor. This taco looks simple, but it’s anything but… it’s a must order item.

Taco Shack’s new Jupiter location, Abby and I concluded, does the original Stuart restaurant justice. Their lighthearted, fun atmosphere remains intact (and is further enhanced with a full bar!), and their one-of-a-kind tacos and meals offer exciting combinations of cultures and avors. So, the next time you’re craving tacos, think outside the box and go beyond the status quo… visit Taco Shack in Jupiter!

Taco Shack is located in the downtown Abacoa area at 1155 Main Street in Jupiter.

The restaurant is open Sun. - Thurs. 11AM-9PM; Fri. - Sat. 11AM-10PM For more information or to place an order, call 561-508-3789 or visit taco-shack.com

For What It’s Worth by Dr. Melfi, Ph.D.

It appears that my last two columns regarding the di culty which many patients are facing when attempting to make an appointment with their physician, or attempting to get someone to call them back regarding their medical issues, from doctors who are employed by the large hospital(s) in our communities have struck a nerve. I am used to receiving responses (thank you very much) from some of my articles, but never have I received so many at one time, and they keep coming. I thought this was a big problem for me personally, but apparently, it is an even larger problem than I thought. e emails that I have received are upsetting and at times heartbreaking. Elderly people without a doctor, when their physician of many years suddenly takes a leave of absence or retires, with no one to replace them. People who have to wait months, some nearly a year, to get on their physician’s schedule for treatment, some without the resources to know where to turn, and without guidance from the very institution with which they placed their trust.

In my opinion, and the opinion of others, the system is broken. We all deserve better than this. When people are sick, when people are hurting, when people expect to be treated, and are turned down, they feel abandoned, lost, bewildered, and angry. What’s worse, many of you have asked me to help. I wish I could, but like you, I don’t know where to turn. Still, since I have some public

voice, and a conscience that realizes we all have to do our part to help, I reached out to the hospital to see if they employed a patient advocate who could eld all the calls/complaints and frustrations, and guess what? I found a department that allegedly can help. It is known as the Patient Experience O ce, and the phone number is 772-223-4995. A er two phone calls and several hours later, my call was returned by a very nice woman who was willing to give me the opportunity to voice my concerns. She said she understood the frustration of having to wait for appointments for months, or having a doctor who no longer works there, nor replaced, leaving patients without a physician. She told me her o ce is open to any and all concerns, and she does what she can to allay those concerns, and will contact individual physician o ces to attempt to get earlier appointments.

When I asked her why there is such a long wait to get appointments, even for long-standing patients with doctors of record, she said that with the growth of the community and the large in ux in the population coming to Florida, there are simply not enough doctors to see patients. I nd that answer truthful, but frankly, unacceptable. She also stated that many doctors have le this facility, and have not been replaced, but that they are “working on it.” I don’t doubt what she says is true, but why are doctors’ leaving, and by leaving, I mean leaving our community unattended? Something has to change. is should not be accepted

as the new normal. Sick people need to get well, it’s as simple as that. e question is, how can we do that without appointments or physicians? I am all for nurse practitioners. I am a nurse, rst and foremost, but nurses are not doctors, regardless of how intelligent they are (and they are!).

As well, I reminded the woman I spoke with that at the least, the front line of sta workers elding calls should be held to a higher standard of professionalism, by being kind, considerate and courteous, not rude and dismissive, like some of you have encountered. She agreed. So how much can she help? I don’t know, but personally, I still have to wait until the end of August to see my physician, even though I have been a patient of his for the past ten years.

For What It’s Worth, l appreciated her empathy on behalf of all of us, but it didn’t get me into my doctor any sooner. Maybe a few letters to the administration would be the incentive for change. en again, maybe not.

51 Boston team, for short DOWN

1 Day light?

2 “-- Had a Hammer”

3 Relating to Plato’s teacher

4 Dugout seating

5 Plumbing woe

6 Einstein’s birthplace

7 CBS logo

8 Semitic language

9 Region

10 Sediment

11 Seeger or Sampras

16 Winslet of “Titanic”

19 Pen uids

20 “Huh?’

21 Sitarist Shankar

22 Odometer reading

23 On the rocks

25 Cracker spread

26 Natives of Rome

27 Poet Sandburg

28 Young foxes

30 Borscht veggie

33 Gushes with pride

34 Street edge

36 Bakery array

37 Canyon sound 38 Incite

39 Actor’s quest 40 Gulf War missile

42 Old CIA foe 43 -- -de-France 44 Zodiac cat 45 Superman foe Luthor

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