FOODIES REJOICE!
FLAVOR Palm Beach is back for entire month of September.
If there’s any year to look forward to FLAVOR Palm Beach — the annual September celebration of Palm Beach County’s restaurant scene in which dozens of participating eateries offer three-course prefixe menus for both lunch ($20) and dinner ($30-$45) from Sept. 1 to Sept. 30 — it’s this one.
That’s because, last year’s 10th annual FLAVOR Palm Beach was in full gear and shaping up to be the best and biggest one ever — until Hurricane Irma’s Sept. 11 landfall and aftermath.
And while thankfully Palm Beach County was spared the worst of Irma’s wrath, the unprecedented power outages and debris cleanup understandably meant that the event f ounded by avowed foodie Briana Beaty was less of a focus for many folks than it otherwise would have been. But that all changes in 2018! “We’re more focused than ever on making this year’s FLAVOR Palm Beach the best one we’ve ever done,” said Beaty.
She added that all participating restaurants (the full list of which you can find at FLAVORpalmbeach.com) feel as she does — and are anxious to showcase their most scrumptious creations at discount prices.
So, when FLAVOR Palm Beach commences on Saturday, what are some of the hottest dining trends you’re likely to see? Let’s take a look at five:
1. INSTAGRAMMABLE GOURMET These days, part of the fun of dining out is sharing pictures on social media of what you’re eating. Chefs and restaurants know this and are making an extra effort to present dishes that LOOK as good as they TASTE. For instance, carnivores will have to summon all their willpower to snap photos before digging into the beef dishes available at 50 Ocean and Meat Market, while dessert lovers will rave about the chocolate chip cookie dough egg rolls at Barcello.
2. MORE MILLENNIALS DINING OUT As millennials progress in their lives and careers, they become ever-more interested in expanding their horizons — and that includes dining. No longer satisfied to do takeout or h o me delivery, these 20- and 30-somethings want to experience great food at a great price — and they’ll get to do just that at eateries such as 3800 Ocean, Brick & Barrel Gastropub, Café L’Europa and Maison Carlos.
3. CLEAN FOOD, HEALTHY SELECTIONS Sure, going out for nice meal is a treat — but that doesn’t mean you want to blow your whole nutritional plan. Thanks to restaurants
now catering to health-conscious diners, you can enjoy delicious, guilt-free fare at a variety of establishments, including Seasons 52, Salute Market & Restaurant, The Capital Grille and Evo.
4. LOCAL SUSTAINABILITY Farm-to-table food sourcing benefits everyone. It not only cuts costs for restaurateurs and patrons, but the food tastes better and is more healthful because it’s so much fresher. PB Catch, Sandpipers Cove, Tanzy and Sinclairs Ocean Grill at Jupiter Beach are great examples of restaurants adopting this approach.
5. INTERNATIONALLY INSPIRED CUISINE Just as the digi tal age has made the world smaller, so too has our embracing of international food made it possible to taste great foreign fare without having to travel the world. Be it the Italian dishes available at Cucina Cabana, Maggiano’s Little Italy and Limoncello, or the beef offerings at Texas de Brazil and III Forks or the French creations served at Pistache Bistro and The Parisian Restaurant & Wine Bar, you’ll have no trouble finding the most authentic international cuisine — right in your own back yard.