Food

Florida Barbecue Finds Its Home In West Palm Beach by Nicole Danna For anyone who says Florida doesn’t have its own barbecue, there’s a West Palm Beach chef who’s challenging that sentiment. Former Café Boulud executive chef Rick Mace is channeling his own inner buccaneer at Tropical Smokehouse. The latest addition to the Dixie Highway …

Swank Specialty Produce Sowing The Seeds For Success by Nicole Danna Photos: Gyorgy Papp This year, Swank Specialty Produce celebrates 20 years of business – but it hasn’t come easy, and the road to this success is paved with more than just basil, arugula, and lettuce. When you roam the 20-acre farm at the edge …

Flybird Chicken in Delray Beach Chicken Soup for the Pandemic Soul by Darien Davies Photos: Current Media If 2020 was the worst cold you’ve ever had in your life, then FlyBird’s roast chicken was the comfort we all needed. Not only is it seriously good chicken, it’s also served up by a seriously friendly team …

FROPRO: Fueling Second Chances by Darien Davies If you ask most small business owners what their goal was in creating their business, it might be money, lifestyle, notoriety or power. If you’re Matthew Williams, it was E: None of the above. “FROPRO is my second chance. I didn’t create FROPRO to fill a market gap …

by David Rolland Every year around this time when a restaurant hostess asks if you’d like to eat outside, the answer is always, “Yes, please!” Now, thanks to everything going on since early 2020, we have a new reason to want to dine outside beyond the pleasant weather. To help you manage the restaurant scene …

By Darien Davies Several months after Rodney Mayo took it upon himself to help the restaurant community who was hit hard during the pandemic, he’s at it again. Hospitality Helping Hands (H3), the non-profit he started to provide hot meals to those facing food insecurity due to losing their jobs, and Howley’s Restaurant will be …

There’s nothing like the pumpkin spice of pumpkin spice to herald the end of summer. There’s no shame if your current to-do list includes putting back as many basic-flavored brews as possible, even if they’re the hop-and-barley equivalent of a pumpkin spice latte. But if you’re looking for some great autumn releases that aren’t simply …

Hard seltzer is here to stay. By Nicole Danna   It’s not just for summer. It’s not just for millennials. It’s not just for the calorie counters. And it’s certainly not just for girls. Categorized within the flavored malt beverage category, hard seltzers are becoming a hot sector of the craft beverage market, and everyone …

Four local chefs get real on lessons they’ve learned throughout the pandemic. By Darien Davies   While the coronavirus swept through and K’d some serious A for all businesses across the board, it did — and continues to do — unfathomable damage to the restaurant industry above all. Social distancing is the antithesis of bars, …

Vibrant vegan eats await at The Old Riverhouse Vegan Village. By Kayla Ziadie   In the heart of Fort Lauderdale’s Historic Riverwalk is your next stop for all things plant-based, eco-friendly and sustainable: The Old Riverhouse Vegan Village. Riverhouse opened Aug. 1 in the second oldest building in Fort Lauderdale, which was built in 1903 …

From-scratch meats and gourmet sandwiches await at the newly opened Grace’s Fine Foods in Juno Beach. By Kayla Ziadie   If anyone in South Florida is a master of meat, it’s Bradley Grace. Grace is the owner and chef of Grace’s Fine Foods, a gourmet sandwich shop that got its start at Grandview Public Market …

Can’t fake that Just Baked. By Darien Davies   Whether you’re freshly baked or in the mood for freshly baked desserts, Just Baked Boca in Boca Raton is the sweetest spot in town. Established in late 2017 as a small, specialized bakery, Just Baked quickly developed into a popular late-night spot for everyone who needs …

Must-visit spots for some of the best barbecue in the 561. By Kayla Ziadie   Nothing screams “summer” like good ol’ Southern barbecue. Ribs that fall off the bone, juicy chicken wings, scoops of baked beans, creamy potato salad and fresh coleslaw—need we say more? But the one thing that separates basic barbecue from mindblowing …

Subs and hoagies and sandwiches, oh my! By Kayla Ziadie   Soggy reputations and sexist connotations aside, sandwiches deserve far more credit for the underrated food they are. You can layer it to the heavens with your favorite vegetables, cheeses, meats and condiments—and the options to hold all its deliciousness in? You name it, you …

Rebel House in Boca pushes past business struggles amid COVID-19. By Darien Davies   Transforming the ordinary is what the Rebel House team does best, so when faced with the unavoidable and unwelcome uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic, they sharpened their knives and rewrote the menu. “Because of the sudden closure of in-house dining, almost …

There’s no better place to cure your taco cravings than South Florida. By Kayla Ziadie   Two words, 11 letters, say it and you will make someone’s week: Taco Tuesday. Yes, we’re in complete agreement that tacos are worthy any day of the week, not just Tuesday. But there’s just something about meat in a …

Lionfish in Delray Beach had to put its grand opening on hold. By Darien Davies   While most restaurant owners are managing how to keep their established restaurants and staff afloat during the coronavirus pandemic, the soon-to-be favorite dining spots and watering holes were also greatly affected. Opening during Delray Beach’s peak season is generally …

“Mexi-Crasian” fare comes to Pompano with the Papamigos Mobile Kitchen. By David Rolland   Everyone loves tacos, and everyone loves sushi. Soon, you’ll be able to munch on both cuisines at one convenient location. Starting Monday, July 13, Papamigos will park its food truck seven days a week in Pompano Beach. The new mobile kitchen …

Did your favorite South Florida pizza shop make the cut? By Darien Davies   If there’s one certainty in the world, it’s that when you’re in the mood for a slice of pizza, only a great, gooey, and glorified piece will work. No one ever has a mediocre and mundane piece of pie and says, …

Our go-to stops for the best burgers in Delray Beach. By Kayla Ziadie   Whether you like your burgers double-stacked, vegan, lettuce-wrapped or with extra cheese, there’s no wrong way to order one. Aside from what toppings to dress it with, the biggest struggle when a burger craving hits is finding the best place to …

By Darien Davies   What makes Flybird different? Quality, attention to detail, and certainly owner Michael Salmon. If not for his passion and desire to simply provide good, seasonal and creative food, the one-year-old fast-casual restaurant might have fallen prey to the COVID coop. Luckily for us, it’s soaring to new heights. The 18-seat Delray …

West Palm Beach’s favorite Thai rolled ice cream shop opens in Delray Beach.  By Kayla Ziadie   During a time of collective uncertainty and pain in the world, a glimmer of light is shining through a Thai rolled ice cream-shaped crack. Making its Delray Beach debut in time for Florida’s hottest months is West Palm …

By Darien Davies   It’s no secret that restaurants and the entire foodservice industry took a massive hit thanks to the coronavirus.  Many restaurants were forced to close and lay off most, if not all, of their teams. Alongside discovering new ways to generate revenue and stay afloat, it was a double whammy amid the …

Sassafras: Southern-inspired soul food By Alexis Paige Both the Sub-Culture Group and chef John Thomas have individually made a reputation of dishing out some seriously good eats. With their powers combined, one could endlessly fantasize about what could be made. Luckily, we don’t have to use our imaginations because they have granted us Sassafras. After …

Enjoying Restaurants in a Post-COVID World By Darien Davies   Sure, quarantine was difficult for a myriad of reasons. On top of your changing (or lost) job situation and newfound solitude, you had to become your own personal chef. Heading to the grocery store once a week then ordering everything your heart desired for delivery …

Fort Lauderdale Coffee Shops Every Caffeine Fiend Should Visit By Kayla Ziadie Java, brew, cup o’ joe, cafécito — no matter what you call it, there’s no denying coffee is the lifeline for many surviving a South Florida workday. Professionals and college students alike rely on local cafés in Broward for their caffeine fix, whether …