3 to 4 hours of FUN!
If you’re lucky enough to know West Palm – and lots of my subscribers do – then you, my friends, are privy to some remarkable dining experiences. Believe me, I know. I lived in Ft. Lauderdale for most of my life, and now in Jupiter, Florida. My food blog editor, Jen, set off with her family on a five stop restaurant tour that looped around the historic and art-filled districts of Boynton and Delray Beaches.
Lead by Lori Durante, founder of Taste History Culinary Tours, the group was picked up by 11 a.m., and whisked away to venue #1: Hurricane Alley.
Here, they tucked into “Floribbean” flavor, a combo of Florida and the Caribbean in every bite. Tour goers remarked that the chowder had a freshness to it – must’ve been the day’s fresh catch. At this particular establishment, Jen recommends the smoked tuna dip, topped with a fresh jalapeno in the photo below.
Next came a short walk to view the massive sculptures by Albert Paley that decorate the Avenue of the Arts. Since my upcoming cookbook, Canvas & Cuisine is bursting with art, I was happy my food blog editor took the time to appreciate it with her family on this special Saturday.
Soon after, they ducked into the Amanda James Gallery to meet her, view the whimsical things she makes, and see her husband’s paintings that are also on display. It was a nice way to work up an appetite for ice cream.
At the Boardwalk, Jen tells me she tried many combinations of custard, gelato and Italian ice, but her absolute favorite was the “Strawberry Banana”. It was the most perfectly balanced ice cream she had ever had. You really do feel like you’re on the Atlantic City Boardwalk in Jersey in this fun ice cream shop.
After that, Driftwood: a fairly new establishment that is owned by a young family who have been chefs as far away as Hong Kong, and know their world cuisine. The presentation of their appetizers was art in and of itself. They made Jen a mixed drink to end all mixed drinks. Here’s a photo.
The tour bus re-boarded soon after, and headed to Delray. The next tasting: Foxworth Fountain, a historic pharmacy that still has art deco era lettering on its outdoor sign. The owners here, direct descendants of the original pharmacy owners, have stayed true to what the venue looked like in the good ol’ days.
Their soda fountain counter and kitchen dispense treats like egg creams, ginger seltzers and chicken salad, using the same recipe handed through the generations: a generous sprinkling of curry and sweet grapes.
After that, the group took a sweep through the historic Colony Hotel that hasn’t changed a bit since the 1920s. This architectural jewel is so close to the ocean, you can smell it – feel its tropical breezes on your skin: a perfect lead up to the last stop.
Bamboo Fire Café represents a lot of different cultures and cuisines, from Jamaican jerk chicken to the roti dishes of Asia. Jen wants the recipe for their homemade Calypso Lemonade, but they thought better of sharing their secrets. Jen thinks she could taste confectioner’s sugar, vanilla bean, and maybe the savory element of tumeric in the super refreshing drink. Curry and jerk meatballs, a spicy chicken in what tasted like a plantain and mac n’ cheese bake, and guava cheesecake rounded out the experience. Everyone vowed to return.
Before they said goodbye to their guide, Lori – who, btw, has won all sorts of commendations and awards for this tour, they visited the industrial arts section of Boynton Beach. They had come full circle, and it was the perfect opportunity to admire warehouse murals with eye popping designs. Lori says she loves the art as much as she loves the food.
Tell Lori, hi from Jorj.com!
I will send Jen back to report on other tours offered by Taste of History. Heck, I may come along next time. Perhaps I can sweet talk my way into learning some of these family recipes. Highly recommend this tour!
