Sourbon brings European flavors
Sourbon Kitchen + Bar
215 Clematis St., West Palm Beach, 561-247-7101, Sourbon.com
Natalia Vorobyeva has a sweet tradition of making Napoleon cake — a Russian recipe layered with crispy pastry and custard cream — for guests in her home.
“It has been passed on in our family for multiple generations,” says the Moscow native, a former health-food caterer and restaurateur with a pastry certification in her homeland.
Now she plans to eventually offer slices inside her new contemporary bistro, which opened this month in the former Dorrian’s Red Hand restaurant.
“The constant thirst for the desire to learn something new brought me to America,” she says. “It’s been fun to work with the broad flavors of American and European cuisine — and of course, sample all the dishes. Eventually, we will focus entirely on European
cuisine. We want to take our favorite dishes from all parts of European cuisine and make them our own.”
Some of her favorites include harvest salad with raisins, apples, feta and walnuts ($12); chopped crab salad ($16); lump crab-stuffed salmon with minted mango beurre blanc sauce ($27); sea bass with cream sauce, saffron rice and green beans ($30); and strawberry gazpacho for dessert ($8).
“Eating healthy is also eating clean. We eliminate artificial and processed ingredients and use organic, local and seasonal ingredients whenever possible,” Vorobyeva says. “A healthy diet should not always be ‘on a diet.’ I feel that you should enjoy what you eat, so I focus on taste, not calorie count.”
Vorobyeva’s opening falls near the end of a yearlong beautification project along Clematis Street.
“The reimagination is opening up the street to make it more pedestrianfriendly,” she says. “Once complete this fall, we’ll add sidewalk dining — perfect timing to allow diners to enjoy Florida’s gorgeous winter weather.”
Inside, botanical décor with hanging ivy, tropical plants and matching wallpaper creates a soft, organic ambiance with midcentury-inspired chairs, starburst pendant lighting and local artwork mixed with vintage pieces.
“I love Europe for its feeling of warmth, coziness and friendliness, and I feel the name Sourbon emulates that,” Vorobyeva says.
A 20-seat oak bar offers cocktails such as the Whiskey Sourbon with lemon juice and simple syrup; and Dancing with the Noninos with botanical aperitif, saffron bitters, prosecco and orange peel (both $14).
Upstairs, a small hideaway bar named 215 Speakeasy offers an intimate feel.
Lunch and dinner are served daily. Look for musicians on select nights and weekends.