Dressed as a Christmas tree, Boca Raton resident Kathy Krepp searches for treasures at The Christmas Emporium at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church in Boca Raton. The church’s annual holiday sale took place Nov. 9-10. Photo by Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star
By Jan Norris
Longtime restaurateur Dennis Max (Max’s Grill, Max’s Harvest) and his partners go south of the border with his new restaurant, The Mexican, in Boca Raton’s Royal Palm Place.
Growing up on the Pacific coast where Mexican street food was common gave Max the basis for the menu at the “cocina and tequila bar” he has long been planning. Through his spokeswoman, he said, “Mexican food is dear to me, having grown up in Southern California during the 1950s and ’60s. Border town cuisine is part of California’s fabric, much in the way that Italian food is part of New York’s culture.”
Max’s new approach to restaurant fare using sustainable, locally sourced food, is touted on the menu.
Dishes include a ceviche del dia, sopa de tortilla, a variety of tacos including crispy pork belly, shrimp al pastor, carne asada, and beef and pork meatballs. Fajitas and enchiladas also are on the menu, along with rotisserie chicken and Rancheras — short ribs. Other small plates, salads and desserts round out the list. A wide tequila selection is on the bar menu.
Indoor and outdoor seating is available at the 4,000-square-foot restaurant, open for lunch and dinner.
The Sunshine Blues Festival is taking over Boca’s Mizner Park Amphitheatre on Jan. 19, with the Tedeschi Trucks Band (Derek Trucks and his Grammy-nominated wife, Susan Tedeschi) as one of the headliners.
Dr. John, one of New Orleans’ star piano players, and slide-guitar legend Sonny Landreth also are scheduled.
Others on the bill are Walter Trout, formerly with the Bluesbreakers, Allman Brothers drummer Jaimoe and his Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band, Brit blues strummer Matt Schofield, The Wood Brothers, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Joe Louis Walker, Bobby Lee Rodgers and Sean Chambers.
Tickets are $49.50; order at livenation.com or call (800) 745-3000.
Everybody’s clucking over the haute henhouse in the Neiman Marcus Holiday Book. One of the top luxe items listed this year in the retailer’s annual holiday catalog is a custom-designed chicken coop.
For a mere $100,000, you can become a dandy chicken farmer — providing you can buy off the zoning folks in your neck of the woods.
The coop will be designed and installed by Svetlana Simon, a Boynton Beach farmer who sells fresh eggs, honey, goats’ milk and yogurt at the Delray Beach Green Market each Saturday. The eggs are plucked from the nests of Cooco Marans and Chilean Araucaua hens she keeps at her Heritage Hen Farm.
The catalog’s fantasy fowl palace is multilevel and includes a “living room” chandelier, a broody room for the pampered hens, and protected bedchambers — er, nests. It may be the most over-the-top roost anywhere.
Simon also will plant raised beds for herbs or vegetables around the hen manse. And the chickens — three to 10 — will be chosen to thrive in the specific environment.
If you’re not into getting up with the chickens, the Holiday Book also lists a special edition red McLaren 12C Spider. It’ll set you back a cool $354,000. Not exactly chicken feed.
Get a jump on those sugarplums dancing around in your head at the annual Bake for the Rescues at the Sundy House, 6-8:30 p.m. on Dec. 3.
Twenty celebrity bakers will bring their best baked goods to compete for the grand prize and help Dezzy’s Second Chance Rescues in the process.
Along with samples of desserts and pastries, chefs from the Sundy House will provide food stations and hors d’oeuvres. Dog bones will be handed out as well for four-legged friends. A silent auction and raffle, along with give-aways, are part of the activities.
For tickets or info, call (954) 588-7045 or go to www.dezzyssecondchance.com.
A box of macaroni and cheese or a can of soup can get you off the hook for library fines in Delray Beach this month. The unique Food for Fines program returns to the Delray Beach Public Library (100 W. Atlantic Ave.) offering those who’ve kept The Da Vinci Code a few years past the due date to come clean by bringing a nonperishable food donation along with any overdue item.
One-for-one is the deal — one box or can of food for every returned late item, and your slate is wiped clean. Without food, you must then pay fines on any late returns.
The program is good for Dec. 3 to 23 only.
Food donations are welcome without late books, too — just drop off nonperishables at the circulation desk.
Coming soon to a theater near you: Frank McKinney as … Jesus. The self-described “real estate artist,” author and “philanthro-capitalist” was tapped to play “The Man” in the upcoming indie release, Infidel.
The faith-based movie is listed as a “psycho-spiritual thriller,” with McKinney portraying a modern-day Jesus.
Written and directed by George Monteiro, the film was pitched to McKinney as an audition by way of a Facebook message. He writes that he was seconds away from sending his “no” answer when the theme of one of his own motivational books “tapped” him to at least read the script.
The story of a gunman who bursts into a church and challenges a congregation to renounce their faith or die moved him, he says in a blog.
It’s been years since he’s acted — he had bit parts in Miami Vice and a Chuck Norris film in his 20s.
On his blog, he tells of being nervous about auditioning against pro actors, yet he “nailed” the role, according to the director.
The short film debuts in 2013 — McKinney’s website, frank-mckinney.com will have details.
Afraid to party in public on New Year’s Eve because of the drive home? The Boca Raton Resort & Club is planning a Countdown New Year’s Eve Poolside Bash — and for the price of the party — a DJ at the Tower Pool, open bar and hors d’oeuvres, dinner buffet, party favors and the champagne toast — guests get a deluxe room and a late New Year’s Day checkout.
Separate parties for kids under 12, and teens (they get dinner and a two-hour catamaran cruise) are planned.
The one-night-only party package is $499 for two. More info and reservations at www.bocaresort.com.
Courtney del Filen (No. 120) loses the first of both shoes during the Delray Beach Stiletto Race, held Nov. 16 on Southeast Fourth Avenue. More than 40 contestants participated in the race, presented by Vince Canning Shoes and Achievement Centers for Children & Families. It raised more than $5,000 to benefit programs of the Achievement Centers. Photo by Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star
No Santas are allowed to march in the Delray Holiday Parade set for Dec. 8 along east Atlantic Avenue. That’s because the Fire Department has the jolly old elf covered — he’ll arrive at the end in ’80s pop style. Put on your Prince costume and wave them on.
The Arts Garage in Delray Beach is planning festive groups this month, focusing on jazz and blues. The Chassidic Jazz Project performs Dec. 8 in a Hanukkah celebration. Susan Behar, Ian Maskin and Jose Luis present a night of world music, with a touch of classical, flamenco and Latin rhythms. Mac Arnold, crony of B.B. King, James Brown and Otis Redding, among others, plays the blues guitar Dec. 15. Antonio Madruga, an award-winning 18-year-old jazz pianist, performs Dec. 22. Dec. 29 wraps up the Garage jazz performances with the Dr. Lonnie Smith CD Release Party. The keyboardist has been named organ keyboardist of the year five times by the Jazz Journalist Association. His new album, The Healer, debuts here. Tickets and information are at www.artsgarage.org.
Political debates are over, but diplomacy isn’t at Florida Atlantic University. The U.S. Women’s Soccer Team will end its Tribute Tour at FAU Stadium Dec. 15, facing off against China’s team.
The U.S. women won with a 6-0-0 record at this year’s London Olympics, bringing home their third straight gold medal and fourth in the sport.
Expect to watch stars Abby Wambach and Hope Solo take on China as the teams meet for their 49th playoff. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com or ussoccer.com.
In other sports news, the 23rd annual Chris Evert Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic raised $600,000 for Evert’s charities — all youth- and child-focused. The tournament draws thousands to the Delray Tennis Center each October.
Mozart Café, a kosher-dairy Israeli restaurant with three other locations in South Florida, recently opened in the Fountains Center in Boca Raton. The 5,000-square-foot restaurant serves no meats, but focuses on healthful Mediterranean dishes such as fish, sushi, salads and pizza. Seating is at the bar and tables indoors, and in the courtyard, decorated with water elements.
In a unique program, once a month children with special needs will serve as greeters, kitchen workers and servers. Proceeds from the monthly event benefit Friendship Circle, an organization that helps families with children who have special needs.
Culinary stars are aligning in Palm Beach for the newly expanded Palm Beach Food and Wine Festival, Dec. 7-11.
New this year are daytime events and expanded collaboration with Food Network personalities. Also new is the charity component — Chefs Dish Back, which will support the participating chefs’ charities of choice. One hundred percent of the net profits will go to the charities.
Events include a golf tournament with a food truck contest at The Breakers golf course, a burger bash beachside at the Four Seasons, a pig roast at Pistache in West Palm Beach, a sustainable seafood dinner at PB Catch Seafood & Raw Bar, a wine and champagne food pairing at Virginia Philips Wine Academy in West Palm Beach, a collaborative chef’s dinner at Buccan, and the Grand Tasting with the Chef’s Throwdown at 150 Worth.
The tribute dinner Saturday night at The Breakers honors Sirio Maccione, of New York’s famed Le Cirque. Chefs cooking include Daniel Boulud, Jacques Torres, David Burke and Marc Murphy, working with The Breakers chef Jeff Simms and sommelier Virginia Philip to prepare the multicourse meal.
Tickets and information are at www.pbfoodwinefest.com.
You can step up to the plates at Caffe Luna Rosa with a little lighter step, thanks to new menu items they’re cooking up.
A first for one of the oldest Delray restaurants, the healthy additions include vegan, vegetarian and Weight Watchers-inspired dishes, along with low-cal cocktails.
“The older generation is now eating healthier. I had to lose weight, and after going on Weight Watchers, I realized I couldn’t eat in my own restaurant,” managing owner Fran Marincola said.
His wife is a vegetarian, and her choices also were limited.
The foods used in the restaurant are in many cases organic, but all are free of hormones. Vegan choices include the Luna Rosa Seven Vegetable Burger served in a cucumber wrap, or vegetarian pizza and omelets for breakfast.
The restaurant has also refurbished and freshened up cosmetically. A newly painted façade, new bistro chairs, a mahogany ceiling and a new awning dresses up the building’s entrance.
Also new is Caffe Luna Rosa’s Rewards Program – diners earn a point for every dollar spent before tax and tip, and can redeem them for dining certificates.
The Delray Beach Garlic Festival organizers have announced the headliners for the 14th annual “stinkiest” fest, slated for Feb. 8-10, 2013 in downtown Delray Beach.
National acts include Lifehouse, performing Feb. 8, and Pepper, playing Feb. 9. They’ll join local and area bands including the Killbillies, the Fabulous Fleetwoods, Andy Childs, the Jay Blues Band, Captain Reese with Son of Man, Turnstiles and The Long Run.
The festival includes a Garlic Chef Stadium, where a garlic cook-off among area chefs is held, craft and food vendors and beer and wine.
For tickets and information, go to the website, dbgarlicfest.com.
Jan Norris writes about food and South Florida news on her blog, jannorris.com. Email her at jan@jannorris.com.
Thom Smith is on assignment working for FEMA in the Northeast in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. He will return to his Around Town column in the coming months.
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