SeaSpray Restaurant Opens at the Waterstone Resort & Marina
Hello Foodie Friends,
Savor Our City’s Marketing Director Jennifer Ouvrard and Founder/Chief Foodie Officer Denise Righetti
Well it’s been a while since I have attended an organized media dine, understandably so since we have been in a pandemic. We are very fortunate here though in South Florida as our restaurants and businesses have been open and operating at full capacity much sooner than most other cities of comparable size. I for one am very excited to get back out and attend new restaurant openings and food & wine festivals and share my discoveries with you. This post is about my preview of the Waterstone Resort’s brand new SeaSpray restaurant (Boca’s ONLY waterfront dining) which is serving up local cuisine with casual coastal elegance. We were treated to a lovely selection of cocktails, appetizers, an entree of our choice and every dessert on their menu. Spoiler alert: this place impressed every one who attended this media dine. And it’s about time we finally had a waterfront dining option that actually served decent food and didn’t just rely on their location to draw people in. Read: great views + great food + service = new fave go-to spot!!!
SeaSpray is bringing Boca Raton everything it never had but always secretly needed, an intracoastal escape made of equal parts glamour and laid-back charm. Developed by Evolution Hospitality as part of an extensive half a million dollar renovation to Waterstone Resort & Marina, SeaSpray is led by VP of F&B/acclaimed Executive Chef Kelley Randall, who developed an innovative, sustainably-minded menu rooted in traditional staples highlighted by local seafood. “You can come by boat or by car, have a bunch of burgers, order fresh salads and quality seafood options or reserve an 8pm seating and dine more formally, for steak, grilled Mahi or other quality entrees. There’s both glitz and familiarity — but it’s a breezy vibe,” says Randall.
PEAR MARTINI Absolut Pear, St. Germaine, Sour
PLANTER’S PUNCH Captain Morgan’s Spiced Rum, Orange and Pineapple Juices, Grenadine
PINEAPPLE JALAPEÑO El Jimador Tequila, Giffard Liqueur, Lime
GRILLED OCTOPUS chorizo, fingerling potato, olives, cilantro-scallion vinaigrette
PEAR TORTELLINI truffle cream sauce, rosemary, parmesan. Photo Credit: Gyorgy Papp
STICKY CAULIFLOWER sesame soy glaze, toasted sesame seeds, scallions
HUMMUS warm pita bread, smoked paprika, chili oil
SKIRT STEAK FRITES chipotle marinade, chimichurri, rosemary parmesan fries
SIMPLY GRILLED SALMON. sweet potato mash, broccoli, Vermont maple glaze
FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE dark chocolate sauce, whipped cream
KEY LIME PIE crumble, sorbet, raspberries, mango puree
APPLE COBBLER salted caramel gelato, dulce de leche
CAMPFIRE S’MORES marshmallows, chocolate bar, graham crackers Photo Credit: Gyorgy Papp
Executive Chef Kelley Randall Photo Credit: Gyorgy Papp
Menu highlights include shareable plates such as Sticky Cauliflower with sesame soy glaze, toasted sesame seeds and scallions; Grilled Octopus with chorizo, fingerling potato, olives, cilantro-scallion vinaigrette; and Pear Tortellini with truffle cream sauce (to die for; probably my fave dish of the night), rosemary, parmesan; “Handhelds” like the Mahi Reuben with tangy cabbage slaw, 1000 island dressing, served on marbled rye bread and the Seaspray Burger with prime beef, aged cheddar, iceberg, red onion, tomato, signature sauce, served on a brioche bun; and Mains including Chicken Paillard with romaine, orange segments, fennel, red grapes, toasted almonds, mustard vinaigrette; Skirt Steak Frites with chipotle marinade, chimichurri, rosemary parmesan fries; and Frutti di Mare with lobster, gulf shrimp, clams, mussels, linguine, spicy San Marzano sauce, parmesan crostini. Executive Chef Kelley thoughtfully created a menu that took into consideration people with special diets such as Gluten-Free, Vegetarian and Vegan, which are all easily identifiable on the menu.
Guests can indulge in a mixologist-curated list of craft cocktails every bit as exciting as the menu. Think Signature Cocktails like Dark & Stormy with Goslings dark rum, ginger beer, lime and Pomegranate Martini with Tito’s, Palma liqueur, Grand Marnier; Frozen libations like Bailey’s Colada with Oak & Cane rum, pineapple, coconut, Baileys float (reminds me of my days of working on board cruise ships; the crew were privy to a secret concoction called the “BBC” which stood for Bailey’s Banana Colada) and Mudslide with New Amsterdam Vodka, Kahlúa, Baileys, ice cream, chocolate; Margaritas such as Pineapple Jalapeño with Dulce Vida Tequila, muddled jalapeno, pineapple juice, lime and Blue Lagoon with Casamigos tequila, Blue Curacao, pineapple juice.
As for design, the 2,000-square-foot-eatery’s unmistakable nod to both modern tropical and vintage chic makes for a uniquely casual-meets-luxurious experience with fully outdoor covered and patio dining an expansive outdoor bar and gorgeous private dining room accommodating up to 20. Think Beverly Hills intermingled with Tulum style. With both traditional elegance and fun, edgy and cool vibes present, the ambience embraces older and newer generations alike. Each piece of furniture at SeaSpray is unique, custom-designed by the team to dress the experience, while spot lights, neon signs and soft champagne lighting create a myriad of differing atmospheres all within one space, fashioning a sweetly intimate mood in a social setting.
The space embraces South Florida’s tropical nature. There are different spaces for different people and moods. Seating is arranged in such a way that everyone will have a gorgeous view, and each nook and cranny feels different. The idea is to feel like you’re in your own backyard, overlooking the intracoastal.
Onsite, an oversized mural by local artist Gabriela Benatar spanning seven walls total, celebrates South Florida in its entire splendor, highlighting the local flora and fauna and speaking to the constant evolution of both our surroundings and ourselves, celebrating nature while bringing a little bit of the outside in. The mural took two months to complete.
Happy Hour is M-F from 4-6pm (except holidays) with select wines, well cocktails and draft beers available for $7 as well as a number of yummy appetizers, including my favorite the pear tortellini, for just $7 as well. You will definitely want to visit (or revisit) this wonderful location next time you are in the area. Be sure to look out for me there and if you spot me, come say hi!
Until we eat (and drink) again…
I send you delicious wishes, xo
Denise
Press Gourmet Sandwiches
Hello Foodie Friends,
Like Superman, everyone of us has our own kryptonite, and in my world, mine is bread! I grew up eating sandwiches for lunch and as my palate matured over the years, I began experimenting in the kitchen coming up with clever new concoctions. I would start of with something basic like a grilled cheese sandwich and then making a few simple tweaks (from upgrading the bread, spreading butter or mayo on the outside of the bread before cooking in the pan, to utilizing a caramelized onion jam) I was able to elevate that classic sammy into a gourmet masterpiece. Yes, sandwiches are my jam! So when I received an invite to come check out Press Gourmet Sandwiches in Boca, it was a no brainer. The motto at Press Gourmet is every sandwich, every salad, every side is handmade to order with only the freshest, natural, best ingredients. Each sandwich is handcrafted to order. All of their meats are slow roasted to perfection. Chicken is marinated and cooked to order and all sauces and toppings are prepared daily. They consider themselves to be a five-star gourmet experience in a fast casual setting – eat in or take out.
The back story: It all started at Johnson & Wales University when Rand and Chris met. They noticed from their name tags and they were both commuting from Delray Beach to Miami. So they started to carpool; those rides together to Miami were where their friendship really started. After only a few weeks of carpooling Chris and Rand decided to move into Chris’s apartment near Johnson & Wales University.
In only a few short months they had become best friends living together in Miami. During culinary school Rand and Chris excelled to the top of their class, becoming the go-to guys to get things done.
Every Tuesday, the food trucks would set up on the campus at JWU and serve to all of the students. Chris and Rand became immediately attached to the food trucks, asking all of the owners questions every time they came out. In their heart they knew someday they would open up a food truck of their own.
Soon after, Rand was asked to work as a sous chef for a husband of one of his professors. He was a private chef to the rich and famous in Miami. It only took one year before the clients asked Rand to be the head chef, at the age of 22. One of the first things that he did was to make Chris his sous chef. This was a time in their lives that they would never forget. Chris and Rand were living half the year in Miami and the other half in New York City while cooking for the rich and famous.
While in New York, Rand and Chris were living on their client’s yacht. Rand really enjoyed living on the yachs, he said, “because it was like a huge house right on the water, that swayed back and forth with the current, just rocking you to sleep”. One year Chris actually rode the boat up for 4 days to New York City, through the rough seas, while still cooking all of the food for the crew. Let’s just say he probably won’t be taking a boat across the country anytime soon!
After three years of being private chefs Rand and Chris caught the entrepreneurial bug. They received so much praise for the food, from some of the most important people in the country. They knew they wanted to bring their food to the masses, but they didn’t quite know how to start a business. So Chris and Rand left their jobs as private chefs to head to Chris’ family’s company, Uncle Giuseppe’s, a chain of Italian supermarkets. While at Uncle Giuseppe’s, Rand and Chris were taught the importance of food costs, business smarts, and the ability to scale larger while remaining consistent with the food throughout different locations.
So they headed back to Florida to start their own business. The location of the first restaurant caused arguments, as they just weren’t sure where to put it. That was when they thought back to when they were in culinary school and the food trucks would come every Tuesday. Rand and Chris thought very hard about what their next move would be. They decided to start a food truck as a proof of concept and to find the best locations for the eventual restaurants to come. They called it Miami Press Gourmet Sandwiches Food Truck. The concept quickly took off, as the Miami Press Food Truck became one of the top trucks in South Florida. It was a dream for Chris and Rand to be able to serve their great food to the masses. They knew that if they used good fresh and local ingredients and prepared the food to order that they would always have people wanting to eat their food.
While the truck was taking off, Rand got the opportunity to go on Food Network and compete in a reality competition cooking show. The show is called Food Truck Face Off, the show is a mix between The Great American Food Truck Race and Chopped. Rand brought one of he and Chris’s signature dishes, the Mac’n Cheese Ball. He won the competition, bringing the spotlight to the Mac n’ Cheese Balls and the already well-known Miami Press Food Truck. The lines became even longer as their food truck became more and more popular by the day.
As the success out grew the food truck, Chris and Rand finally knew it was time to open up a Press Gourmet Sandwiches Restaurant. Press Gourmet Sandwiches, or PGS for short, is a fast casual sandwich restaurant serving pressed sandwiches. All of the sandwiches are made to order from scratch and pressed on ciabatta bread until crispy on top and soft in the middle. It’s made with all fresh and local ingredients.
Press Gourmet Sandwiches has two locations, one in Ft. Lauderdale and one in Boca Raton. They are open Mon – Sat 7am – 8pm, closed Sundays. For more info, check out their website.
Until we eat again…
I send you delicious wishes, xo
Denise
MAKE WAY FOR NIKKEI! SURFSIDE’S 26 SUSHI & TAPAS INTRODUCES NEW MENU
Hello Foodie Friends,
Savor Our City was recently invited to attend a media dinner at 26 Sushi & Tapas in Surfside for the launch their new menu.
Since 2014, 26 Sushi & Tapas has been and remains one of the Miami dining scene’s best kept secrets. This unique Latin-Asian fusion eatery is 100% certified Kosher, serving the vibrant, flavorful Japanese-Peruvian cuisine known as Nikkei. But those in the know – kosher or otherwise – have embraced the restaurant for its casually chic ambiance, wallet-friendly pricing and delicious cuisine. Now, with newly-appointed Chef Miguel Gomez at the helm, the restaurant is unveiling a refreshed menu featuring creative additions to abundant offerings.
“The goal with 26 was to go beyond what many think of as ‘kosher food,’” says owner Morris Kaplan. “We wanted to provide something exciting and different to that community but also deliver a compelling and delicious menu for everyone. We’re excited about the new menu and hope it keeps our loyal fans engaged and gives folks who never gave us a try a great reason to come in.”
The menu remains vast, offering plenty to explore and countless ways to mix & match to create a unique, immersive experience for each diner. Signature favorites – like the Nitro “Scallops” made from tempura battered scallops, rocoto aioli, sweet sauce,mixed greens and sesame seeds. Corvina Lettuce Wraps, made with Flounder tempura, Asian slaw, cashew pistachio crumble and aji amarillo aioli. Both of these items were extremely tasty, crowd pleasers for sure!
Tuna Tower and Truffle Tiradito – remain. They’ve been huge sellers for years and are going nowhere. Joining them on the playing field are their new hot and cold tapas including: Causa Krab Tower – cold, savory potato layer cake typical in traditional Peruvian cuisine, served with Krab salad and fresh avocado;
Nikkei Tuna Salad with fresh greens, enoki mushroom, carrot, and tri-colored peppers tossed in ponzu sauce and topped with sesame seeds; and Nao Ceviche Ball – traditional Corvina ceviche cured in a house-made leche de tigre, red onion, lime juice and aji limon then tempura battered with panko and deep fried. This was a really unique dish and fun to eat too!
Also debuting, several new sushi additions including the Nigiri 5-star – Chef’s choice of five nigiri selections served atop sushi rice;
Tropical Roll – tuna, salmon, kiwi, guava and dynamite sauce topped with tuna and rocoto aioli;
Crispy Kani Roll – soy paper, plantains, avocado, scallions and cream cheese topped with Krab tempura, masago and curry aioli; Sandra Roll – a rice-less roll with Krab salad, avocado, cream cheese, and tempura topped with fresh tuna; and the Acevichado Roll – Whitefish tempura, sweet potato and avocado topped with Corvina ceviche. A word to the wise – the new rolls may be amazing but you would be missing out BIG TIME if you didn’t have their popular Maduros con Coco Roll – flounder tempura, avocado and cream cheese topped with sweet fried plantains and coconut flakes – Just order it, you’ll thank me later!
Two unusual offerings worth a try: Sushi Burritos, which come in two styles –
the Saltarito with sautéed salmon, fried egg, plantains, French fries and guacamole and the Three Amigos – fresh raw tuna, salmon and Hamachi with guacamole, scallions and a chimichurri ponzu – and the new Sushi Sandwich. Meant to be eaten with the hands, it consists of salmon, mango, avocado, scallion and dynamite sauce, layered between “slices” of pressed rice, served with guava dipping sauce.
New larger plates include Branzino Livornese – fresh Branzino filet served on a pool of fragrant Livornese sauce of capers, Kalamata olives, garlic and cherry tomatoes, dressed with house-made shakshuka and served with potato wedges; Tuna Kovi, sesame-crusted, seared tuna served on a bed of quinoa risotto huancaina, topped with pico de gallo and a balsamic reduction; and a sweet & sour Red Snapper, grilled and served with grilled vegetables and rustic mashed potatoes.
The restaurant’s vibrant desserts have also received a seasonal upgrade; not to be missed offerings include a fresh Strawberry Pavlova served with whipped cream and the sinfully creamy Goat Cheese Ice Cream.
Apart from updated summer offerings, 26 Sushi & Tapas also boasts an impressive, four-hour long Happy Hour available Sunday through Thursday from 5PM-9PM. The Surfside mainstay has updated their Happy Hour food selection to include several Tapas-style items priced between $6 and $8 dollars. Guests 21 and over can enjoy 2-for-1 drink specials depending on the day:
- Sunday: “Sunday Funday” – 2-for-1 Mimosas (available all day)
- Monday: “Mojito Monday” – 2-for-1 Mojitos
- Tuesday: “Tequila Tuesday” – 2-for-1 Tequila cocktails
- Wednesday: “Watermelon Wednesday” – 2-for-1 Watermelon Elyx cocktails
- Thursday: “Whiskey Thursday” – 2-for-1 Whiskey cocktails
Looking to spice up your next soiree or corporate event? As a premiere service caterer, diners can bring the 26 Sushi & Tapas experience to any home, office, or event space. The restaurant’s versatile catering menu offers a wide variety of crowd-pleasing options and can accommodate special ordering requests allowing guests to customize menus that make the most of an event and reach budgeting goals. For more information, contact Natalia Suarez at (305) 570-2626 or email her at nsuarez@26sushitapas.com.
26 Sushi & Tapas is located at 9487 Harding Avenue in Surfside, FL. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner Sunday through Thursday: 9AM-10:15PM; Friday: 9AM-2:30PM (closed for Shabbat) and Saturday: 9:15PM-11:45PM. Happy Hour is available Sunday through Thursday from 5PM to 9PM. Follow 26 Sushi & Tapas on Instagram: @26Sushi_Tapas and Facebook: @26SushiTapas; Telephone: (305) 570-2626; http://www.26sushitapas.com/
Until we eat (and drink) again…
I send you delicious wishes, xo
Denise
Savor Our City Takes A Bite Out Of The Big Apple
Hello Foodie Friends,
Wanted to share my recent visit to NYC…
I stayed at the Club Quarters Hotel in Midtown Manhattan . View from the 27th floor, Happy Hour every day at 5pm, Dinner at the hotel’s steak house, Davino’s
The Vessel at The Hudson Yard; A visit to Koreatown at Barn Joo 35 Eataly – This was the venue selected & 911 Memorial sampling their Bulgogi Hotstone Bowl by our client ADP for a personal tour & tasting of the market followed by a private hands-on pasta making class
Grand Central Station and Market
On my walk to Central Park. (clocked in 19,500 steps on this day). Walked along famed 5th Avenue passing the high end stores of Sak’s, Tiffany’s & then St. Patrick’s Cathedral
8th ANNUAL BOCA BURGER BATTLE, A GRILLING AFFAIR!
On Saturday, July 13th in Sanborn Square Park, downtown Boca Raton, our very own Marti Soroka with her two beautiful daughters in tow, was one of a handpicked panel of judges to decide who will be the “Best Grill Master”.
Twelve local chefs sweated it out both outside and, on the grill, to create and present a grilling masterpiece to the prestige table of Grill Master Judges in this Burger Battle Competition. But these chefs were not only competing to be the “Best Grill Master”, they were also competing for the “People’s Choice Award.” Guests were indulged with unique burger creations and flavors, while jamming to live entertainment, enjoying craft beers, summer wines, and seasonal spirits.
Battle Contenders represented South Florida Cities from Jupiter to Fort Lauderdale, featuring grilling sensations from;
- Boca Raton – M.E.A.T. Eatery & Taproom, Cheffrey Eats Food Truck, Burton’s Grill & Bar, TooJay’s Gourmet Deli, Crazy Uncle Mike’s
- Deerfield Beach – Tucker Duke’s Lunchbox and their Boca location, Legends Tavern and Grille and their Lighthouse Point and Sunrise locations
- Delray Beach – Bru’s Room Sports Grill and their 8 other locations
- Fort Lauderdale – Funky Buddha Brewery
- Jupiter – Double Roads Tavern
- Lake Worth – CWS Bar + Kitchen
- West Palm Beach – La Perrada del Gordo and their location in Boca Raton
BOCA BURGER BATTLE WINNERS
JUDGE’S PICK for “Best Grill Master” went to:
· 1st Place: M.E.A.T. Eatery and Taproom in Boca Raton and Islamorada
· 2nd Place: La Perrada Del Gordo in Boca and West Palm Beach
· 3rd Place: C.W.S. Bar and Kitchen in Lake Worth
PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD for “Best Battle Burger” went to:
· Cheffrey Eats
Congratulations to all of the Boca Burger Battle Winners!
The Boca Burger Battle, A Grilling Affair!™ is not affiliated with any other Burger Battle in Florida. Other Affair productions include the Boca Raton Wine & Food Festival, A Culinary Affair! (taking place November 9th, 2019), Florida Wing & Dessert Battle, A Blazing Affair! and coming next year in February 2020 is the Taco Battle!
A Portion of the proceeds from the Boca Burger Battle benefit PROPEL, People Reaching Out to Provide Education and Leadership, a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization located in Boca Raton. PROPEL’s mission is to promote education, character and leadership through mentorship, apprenticeship and life skills training for “at risk” youth.
*Battle Contenders also have other locations in Bird Road, Boynton Beach, Coconut Creek, Coral Springs, Pembroke Pines, Royal Palm Beach, Sunrise, Islamorada, Vero Beach, Stuart, Naples, Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington, Dania Beach, and Hallandale Beach
Summer Staycation Ideas: Hotel Edition, Part 2
Hello my Dear Foodie Friends,
Today’s post is about an amazing tropical oasis located in the Grandview Heights Historic Neighborhood of West Palm Beach. It’s called the Grandview Gardens Bed & Breakfast and is owned and operated by Peter Emmerich and Rick Rose. (They also own and operate Palm Beach Vacation Rentals). Rick is a third generation Floridian born and raised in the Palm Beach area and is the official historian and tour guide for the Worth Avenue Association. I had the pleasure of meeting Rick a few years back while taking his tour.
Nestled in a tropical garden on Howard Park across from the West Palm Beach Armory Art Center, this historic 1925 property has been carefully restored to reflect the original Spanish Mediterranean architecture inspired by many famous architects in South Florida over the last century.
It’s conveniently located within walking distance of Grandview Public Market as well as other great dining and entertainment destinations such as Rosemary Square (formerly known as City Place).
There are 5 luxurious and spacious suites (each approximately 400 sq. ft.) at the B & B and all are accessible with a private entrance and French doors opening to private terraces overlooking the swimming pool. Each guest suite is individually decorated to reflect the style of the Spanish Mediterranean house and features a king size bed or two queen beds, a desk, a walk-in closet and a sitting area with sofa and arm chair. All rooms feature: En suite bathroom with bath/shower combination, Air conditioning and ceiling fans, Cable TV and Radio, Direct dial telephone, High speed internet access, including wireless, Tea and fresh coffee making facilities, complimentary bottle of water, Refrigerator and Hairdryer. In addition to the B & B Suites, guests can also choose from 5 superbly renovated historic vacation rentals which are located adjacent to the Bed and Breakfast. These 2 and 3 bedroom vacation homes are ideal for families looking for spacious, fully furnished rentals with self catering kitchens.
I got to stay in the Royal Poinciana Suite. From the moment I arrived, I knew I was in for the royal treatment as I stepped through the doors and was warmly greeted by name and told they were expecting me. I was shown around the lovely home and told about breakfast in the morning before being escorted to my suite. The room was very well appointed with the finest of amenities listed above as well as nice bathrobes which came in handy. The service was definitely top notch. On my second day, I decided to take a dip in the very inviting pool and before I knew it, a float “mysteriously” appeared beckoning me to hop on followed by a glass of ice water that one of the staff brought for me to enjoy when I got out of the pool. Talking about attentiveness- I left the room to attend a brief meeting at The Breakers in the morning and returned back to the room within one hour to find that the room had already been tended to. Wow, now that’s service!
Breakfast is of course included at the Grandview Gardens B & B and I took advantage of it on both days. A nice assortment of fruits, yogurts and granola as well as eggs, bacon and toast along with choice of coffee, tea and juice were offered. Everything was delicious.
Bikes are available for guests to use during their stay, although I didn’t take advantage of it this time. I just might have to do that on my next visit back. I did venture off to Darbster’s for dinner on one of the nights I stayed. I’ve been to this place once before and remembered how unique it was and was looking forward to going back. It also has a tropical oasis vibe found in a most unusual location directly under a billboard under I-95. It’s a Vegan restaurant, and although I do not lead a Vegan lifestyle, I am always down for good food and good creative food is what they specialize in at Darbster’s. I absolutely adore their Palm Cakes. Other dishes I got to try were the “Tuna” Club served on flax bread, butter lettuce, tuna (pulled almond), dill mayo, eggplant bacon, avocado, tomato—served with a side house salad. I swear I couldn’t tell I wasn’t eating real tuna. It tasted so yummy! The flax bread was definitely a new taste/texture for me. Bread is a weakness of mine and since I began doing the Keto Diet a couple weeks ago, I am mindful of staying away from bread, so this flax bread was a cool alternative. I also got to sample the Barley Risotto which was made with barley, oyster mushrooms, shitake mushrooms, butter, garlic, cashew goat cheese, Arugula, cherry tomatoes, cashew Parmesan cheese. This dish was very tasty as well.
Contest: How would you like to win an autographed copy of Rick Rose’s Palm Beach The Essential Guide To America’s Legendary Resort Town? One lucky winner will be selected on Friday, August 30th. All you have to do for your chance to win is TAG @RickRoseWPB #GrandviewGardensBandB and @SavorOurCity #Staycation (Instagram) and tell us who you would bring with you on your Staycation at the Grandview Gardens B & B in West Palm Beach, FL and WHERE you are coming from. Good Luck!!!
To wrap this all up, I loved my little Staycation in West Palm Beach and would highly recommend you visit each of the places I mentioned here in my post. Just click on the links below for more info.
Grandview Gardens Bed & Breakfast
Until we eat again…
I send you delicious wishes, xo
Taking A Big Bite From The Big Apple ?
Lisa Lotts of Garlic & Zest
You know what’s cool? Discovering new foods. New flavors. Interesting textures — things that make you sit up and take notice. You know what’s cooler? Having over 200,000 of those new bites under one roof. That’s the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York — and its where I’ll be for the next 4 days. I’ll be sharing on Social Media while I’m gone, so please stop in to Facebook or Instagram for the latest.
Get the scoop on the latest Food Trends in this Preview of the 2019 Summer Fancy Foods Show . From healthy snacks to convenience items that get wholesome dinners on the table in minutes, and whimsical cooking tools, you want to check out what’s coming.
In case you’re hungry, I’ve also got an amazing, hearty salad for your weekday lunches. This one has staying power. First, to keep you comfortably satisfied without weighing you down. Second — this barley salad holds up in the fridge all week, for easy brown bag meal prep!
This healthy Pearl Barley and Kale Chopped Salad will stand up to dressing for several days in the refrigerator, making it a great brown bag lunch option. Add mix-ins like feta cheese, chicken, chopped nuts and sprouts at the last minute to keep it interesting and fresh.
New Italian Chophouse in town – Tuscan Prime on Las Olas!
Tuscan Prime, Las Olas
There is a new Italian Chophouse in town and that is Tuscan Prime on Las Olas. Located at the corner of Las Olas Blvd and SE 5th Avenue this new restaurant offers a unique twist of meats, fish, award winning Italian cuisine, great wine selection, exquisite ambiance and an amazing list of “Prime Happenings”.
On Wednesday, June 19, 2019 Savor Our City was invited to get a taste of this newest addition to the Las Olas food scene and let us just say we left with our bellies full and smiles on our faces. So where to begin? Let’s start with one of our favorites, the Truffle Arancini. Wow the flavors of the crispy rice, porcini mushrooms, parmesan and truffle aioli were out of sight. Another delicious appetizer which soon followed was the Baked Eggplant, which we agreed was another favorite of ours. It had a wonderfully smoky flavor and was made with baked mozzarella, ricotta, and smothered in a tasty tomato sauce and served with garlic crostini. Those two dishes alone had us happy, but we were just getting ‘started’. Next, we decided to try something a little lighter and went for the Roasted Beet salad. The salad was comprised of the name sake, along with frisee lettuce, goat cheese and candied walnuts and was served with a balsamic dressing. We liked the dish, although none of us were big fans of the frisee. Pro tip: you can substitute the frisee lettuce with Romaine. Truthfully, I would have enjoyed it without any lettuce at all, but it did act as the perfect vessel for guiding that liquid yumminess into our mouths, lol!
Following the salad came the Bucatini made with San Marzano tomato, pancetta, pecorino, onions and a drizzle of parmesan cheese on top. Who said no pasta today? You can tell the noodles were fresh and they were cooked to a perfect al dente. The flavors blended together harmoniously, and the chef was generous with the pancetta. We could not resist ordering the octopus – seared to perfection with fresh herbs, tricolor potatoes and peppers. So, with full bellies and smiling faces, we reluctantly got ourselves up from the comfy booth to say our goodbyes and gave a BIG thank you to our hosts Anna Sagliano, Falyn Goldstein, and Gennaro DiMeo for having us in to enjoy such a scrumptious lunch. We vowed to return to try some more tasty items another day. Maybe brunch is next, or it could quite possibly be happy hour…
Fortunately, at Tuscan Prime there is a whole line up of Prime Happenings during the week with Happy Hour every day from 3-7pm with special offerings each day and some late-night specials for those who like to play after 10pm. A definite must see, must taste restaurant!
Tuscan Prime is owned by The Monte Restaurant Development Group, based in Annapolis, MD managing other restaurants such as Carpaccio Tuscan Kitchen, Squisito Pizza & Pasta, and Meatballs, Etc. with more than 13 locations across Maryland and Virginia, and now they have made their mark in the Sunshine State. To make a reservation or check out their Prime Happenings visit https://www.tuscanprime.com/ and tell them Savor Our City sent you.
Wine Tasting – It’s Fun, Educational and Good for the Brain!
Wine holds a significant role in many cultures around the world for its ability to bring people together and share in the experience. Over the years Savor Our City has partnered with Wine For Humanity (WFH), that provides private in-home Wine Sampling Events providing hosts and their guests, an afternoon or evening of fun and education on how to better appreciate fine wine. More importantly wines that are purchased from WFH raise funds for local charities that assist families who are struggling to make rent and utility payments. In addition to learning, enjoying, sharing the experience and doing something good for your community, in a recently published book by Gordon Shepherd, a Yale neuroscientist, Neuroenology: How the Brain Creates the Taste of Wine, he argues argues that wine tasting actually stimulates your brain more than allegedly highfalutin activities like listening to music or even tackling a complicated math problem. Additionally he points out that tasting wine “engages more of our brain than any other human behavior.”
So if you are ready to engage your brain, taste some fabulous wines, and of course raise funds for your favorite charity, Contact Savor Our City to learn more about our Wine Tastings.
Chianti Classico Miami
On Monday June 3rd, 2019, Savor Our City attended the Chianti Classico Experience in Miami at the Miami Culinary Institute sponsored by IEEM – International Event and Exhibition Management, LLC. IEEM specializes in delivering high quality wine events and has become one of the most well-regarded Italian wine event organizers in the world.
With over 50 people in attendance, Jeff Porter lead a tasting on the diversity of the unique terroir of Chianti Classico. To explore the terroir of the Chianti Classico, you need to understand the complete natural environment in which a particular wine is produced, including factors such as the soil, topography, and climate, and today we learned just that. As we were guided through 8 different wineries of the Chianti Classico, we learned that the terroir is a shield of clayey schists (marl), with layers of scaly clay, alberese and fine limestone sandstone. The dark brown soil in this case tends to not be deep, with structures ranging from clayey-sand to stony with average clay content. These different types of clay, sandstone, and soil all make up the type of grape that the region and wineries produce, each with its own unique and distinct taste. The wineries presented included La Sala, Principe Corsini-Villa Le Corti, Lamole De Lamole, Carobbio, Conti Capponi – Villa Calcinaia, Bibbiano, Castello de Albola and Tolaini. As we tasted each wine of Chianti Classico, winery principals explained the background of each vineyard, the complexity of the grapes, soil type, vine density and altitude in which the grapes were grown, providing more depth to the tasting experience. Following the tasting attendees enjoyed a light lunch at Tuyo, located on the eighth floor of the Miami Culinary Institute providing a panoramic view of the city. The lunch included ceviche crostini, pulled beef and grits, orzo salad and of course additional tastings of the wines presented and an opportunity to speak with their respective principal. While a few wines caught the attention of Savor Our City to include the Carobbio and Conti Capponi – Villa Calcinaia, each wine had a taste for everyone to enjoy. There is nothing better than tasting wine, having a delightful lunch with panoramic views and meeting new people. Chianti Classico well done!