Veteran restaurateur Dennis Max has a lot to celebrate. The Boca Raton businessman recently married Nita Summers—whom he met 18 years ago at a friend’s birthday party—during an elegant ceremony in Middleburg, Virginia, an equestrian town. And his modern American bistro-style Max’s Grille, the only original restaurant in Mizner Park, is commemorating its 25th anniversary
Read MoreAs if authoring the Declaration of Independence and serving two terms as president of the United States weren’t enough to secure his place in history, Thomas Jefferson and his notorious sweet tooth also may have paved the way for a culinary classic. It’s said that, during the founding father’s first term in office, one of
Read MoreIn his 12 years as a mixologist, Joel Mesa has learned that people cower in fear at the prospect of a gin cocktail. These days, it’s slowly making its way back to the forefront of the bar scene, a trend that Mesa, who runs the beverage program at Bulla Gastrobar (2500 Ponce de Leon Blvd.,
Read MoreThough bartender John Lermayer admits he isn’t good with computers, walking into an Apple store makes him feel like a better version of himself: smarter, younger, richer, cooler. That feeling is what he’s trying to perfect at Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Company, 237-B 20th St., Miami Beach, the cocktail bar he co-owns and helped
Read MoreOver the years, Scotch and whiskey snobs have given bourbon its share of grief, leading to a handful of misguided notions about the barrel-aged beverage, which is distilled from a dry-grain mix that includes at least 51 percent corn. For starters, as noted by the American Bourbon Association, Kentucky does not have a monopoly on
Read MoreIt has been three years since a small, freestanding, paper-white building with the thick, black initials H.P.B. fixed above its entryway revolutionized Fort Lauderdale’s dining scene. With scores of dive bars, burger joints and seafood shacks nearby, a place such as Hardy Park Bistro, beyond its quaint-yet-obscure design, easily sticks out. Hardy Park Bistro is
Read MorePoke House brings its popular fast-casual concept to Broward County with the opening its first location in Fort Lauderdale (666 Federal Highway; thepokehouse.com). Expect Hawaiian poke bowls—traditional raw fish salads served with ingredients such as tuna, soy sauce and cabbage—along with other Pacific island favorites. Memphis Garrett, former director of operations at SBE, a hospitality
Read MoreBack in the day, Coconut Grove was home to several tired chain restaurants and a few locally owned and operated bistros. In the last year, there has been a gourmet renaissance and the Grove has become a food mecca. One of the latest offerings is Glass & Vine, which opened in March. The chef,
Read MoreIndulge in sweet and savory treats at Frilled, the new Coral Springs bakery Ruthy Miranda believes lunch isn’t complete without a cupcake—a little sweetness to balance the spices in the meal. That’s why she offers both baked goods and savory foods at her new bakery, Frilled Cakery and Treats. “When you eat something sweet, you
Read MoreThere are 12 rooms inside Royal Blues Hotel in Deerfield Beach, but there’s another penthouse with ocean views that is never rented to guests. Penthouse I is reserved for the property’s owner, Hollywood producer Edward Walson, who had intentions of building a private property on the land but opted to share his love of the
Read MoreWhen One Door Opens … It’s perhaps the most highly anticipated Broward restaurant opening this year. One Door East, a new concept from popular chef Giovanni Rocchio, is already drawing raves for its globally inspired tapas.Rocchio’s second restaurant, located next to his award-winning Valentino Cucina Italiana (literally, one door east), features sharing-sized plates such as
Read MoreIt’s been 37 years since Ricky Marcellini’s father opened a piano bar in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, next door to the eclectic store owned by Ricky’s mother that sold furniture, pots, pans, frames and other home goods. Initially, the piano bar didn’t serve food. As the story goes, customers pointed to the fondue pots that were
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