By Thom Smith
Signs of the times. Signs because of the times. Signs in spite of the times.
Despite all the economic doom speak, Delray maintains its All-American City attitude.
Oh sure, shops, restaurants and businesses are closing, but it seems that no sooner does one owner lock up for the final time than another is waiting with a new key.
“We can’t just sit back and wait,” said Francis Taboul, as he surveyed the renovations at La Cigale on South Federal. “We have to take this as an opportunity to make our place more appealing.”
Taboul has relocated the entrance and added a dining room to his “very healthy” Mediterranean eatery, and this only months after opening Atlantique Cafe, his breakfast- and lunch-only bistro/bakery in Atlantic Plaza next to the Intracoastal.
To witness entrepreneurial enthusiasm at its best, talk to Pauline Smith. She and husband Tom are about to open Marley’s Island Time Grill at 800 Palm Trail, No. 5, just off George Bush Boulevard. For those of you who may have missed the change, the Smiths took over what used to be the Pineapple Grille. If the new name doesn’t tell you what’s coming, you must be from another planet.
“We’ll have Caribbean and tropical food,” Pauline said, through her big smile. Originally from Jamaica by way of New York, they decided after a couple of years in Delray to attempt their first restaurant.
A block west, however, the Snappy Turtle Outlet and Thrift is gone, but a few more doors inland, the Sail Inn, one of the all-time great dives, recently celebrated its 56th year. Good beer, good darts, good vibe, even if you’re not a Yankees fan.
The yin to Sail Inn’s yang, Boston’s on the Beach will celebrate 30 years in a few weeks. World Series or not, the party level will be high, and only slightly dampened if the Sox shouldn't make it past the Bronx Bombers. It’s hard to fault a joint that offers all Boston games on the tube, flown-in-fresh steamed clams, whole (with the bellies) fried clams and a cheese steak sandwich called the “Big Papi.”
Beachside Boston’s could provide some home away from home comfort for one newly arrived Bostonian, but for the moment William Sander is busy readying his Seagate Hotel and Spa for an early November opening. A major task for Sander, former general manager at 15 Beacon in Boston, has been hiring a staff, but for him the slouching economy has been a blessing. He arrived at work on the first day of an announced job fair in early September to find a line stretching out the main entrance and around the corner. For 200 available positions an estimated 1,200 to 1,500 hopefuls turned out.
“It’s really bittersweet,” Sander said, “because we’re seeing people come through who are our peers or we’ve known in the industry and have lost jobs. But it’s a plus, too, because we can really get the best.”
Billed as a boutique hotel despite 162-rooms, the Seagate is tied to the rebuilt Seagate Beach Club at the south end of Delray’s public beach. One hire Sander didn’t have to make was a kitchen boss. Adam Gottlieb, executive chef at the Beach Club, will oversee the food operation at both spots.
In these tough times, many beachfront hotels are doing what they can to keep from washing away in the tide. Some are cutting back, some are innovating and some are doing a little of both.
Still building steam after a major renovation, The Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach has closed Angle, its fine dining restaurant, electing to place the emphasis on its popular Temple Orange ocean-view eatery and Breeze, the Caribbean-influenced outdoor cafe.
As part of its renovation, the Ritz put a little sole into its Presidential Suite: a shoe wall, featuring displays of footwear created by Miami designer Robert Tabor to capture the essence of such famous women as Hillary Clinton, Betty Ford, Evita Perón, Imelda Marcos, Margaret Thatcher, Marie Antoinette, Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth.
And coming in January, the Michelle Obama shoe. Described as a sleeveless style silhouette of lemongrass-colored lace with a velvet and jeweled bow, a heel resembling a White House column, with a first family photo, finished with a red, white and blue ribbon and an Obama ’08 campaign button on the toe.
The Ritz hopes to arrange a promotional tour with the Obama shoe and others, proceeds going to the Literacy Coalition, and, with a little luck, to lure the first lady to Manalapan in the new year to check out the shoe wall first hand.
Not all the hotel restaurant news is bad, however. The Seacrest Grill at the Delray Marriott has become a dining destination and peers in the industry are taking notice of Executive Chef Adam Savage. In September he appeared at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival, and on Dec. 3 he’s been invited to display his talents at Nirvana for chefs— the prestigious James Beard House in New York.
Pig out for a cause. More than 30 restaurants and food vendors will show their stuff Oct. 9 for the American Lung Association at the Lake Worth Food & Wine Experience 2009. Grand Wine Meister Greg Rice will offer the opening toast at 7 p.m., in the Lake Worth Cultural Plaza. Total Wine will provide the wine, Ketel One the vodka ice bar. The food will come from the likes of III Forks, Brogues, Island Jack’s, John G’s, John Bull, Saito’s, City Oyster, 251 Palm Beach, GOL!, Havana and even Costco. Only 500 tickets ($50) will be sold, so it’s advisable to buy them online at www.lakeworthfoodandwine.com, or over the phone at (561) 659-7644. If any are left, they’ll be sold at the event.
Thom Smith is a freelance writer. He can be reached at thomsmith@ymail.com.
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