When you hang your salt-rimmed glass on the kind of craft margaritas that El Camino creates, only the freshest ingredients make the cut. So, it should have come as no surprise to customers at the restaurant’s Delray Beach outpost a few years ago when the watermelon-jalapeño margarita quietly rotated off the menu for a brief
Read MoreLuisa Castillo jokes that she sometimes wears heels to seem older than she is. It’s hard for some people to believe the 24-year-old owns Belove Creamery in Coconut Creek. But it’s actually not the first time she’s taken a walk on the sweet side and launched a business. In her native Colombia, she worked at
Read MoreThere’s a lot more to a Miami burger these days than a meat patty with a slice of cheese on a sesame bun. It might be layered with sizzling strips of candied bacon, topped with heaps of macaroni and cheese, or hugged between two crisp, golden plantains. Today, South Florida restaurants and fast-casual spots are
Read MoreWhere: 1401 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale Phone: 954.990.6658 Website: barritaftl.com A year after launching Fort Lauderdale-based Tap 42 in 2013, the ownership group—including executive chef Andrew Balick—acquired the land next door and filed permits for a proposed Mexican restaurant. But the plans for what ultimately would become Bar Rita went to the back burner
Read MoreFrom early each morning until just before midnight, Homa and Ali Khakpour serve the cuisine and culture of their homeland inside a Pinecrest storefront. Together with their son, Reza, the family owns Rumi Persian Grill in Pinecrest, a popular neighborhood spot for traditional Persian food. Named in honor of the 13th century Persian poet and
Read MoreWhen Dustin Durrenberger entered the restaurant industry as a busboy, he had no idea that he would one day be a regional manager for a successful restaurant chain, helping to open six of its eight locations. While working as a bartender in Westmont, Illinois, he met Craig Bernstein, who became the owner and founder of
Read MoreNitin “Nico” Solanki was researching businesses one day and came across Nekter Juice Bar. It was listed as one of Inc. magazine’s 10 fastest-growing franchise businesses of 2016. The West Palm Beach resident says it was then that he got serious about owning a franchise, and Nekter was it. He opened his first in May
Read MoreAs part of this season’s holiday festivities at the Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale, pastry chef Carlos Salazar and his team are preparing a gingerbread house for the hotel lobby that’s destined to become a social media sensation. Given the philosophy that’s guided his culinary career, it’s no surprise that Salazar is looking forward to erecting the
Read MoreInside The Ritz-Carlton Coconut Grove, a vintage-inspired cocktail bar slings Manhattans, Negronis and elevated snacks. The dimly lit space, featuring floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, plush leather couches and a fireplace, feels more like a quintessential study room than one of Miami’s newest watering holes. But that’s the point. Located in one of Miami’s oldest neighborhoods, The Commodore
Read MoreIt started in 2014 as a kitschy pop-up in New York City, a way to keep holiday spirits bright and potential customers intrigued while owner Greg Boehm put the finishing construction touches on Mace, his hip cocktail establishment that wasn’t quite ready to open in the East Village. Only the monthlong novelty didn’t wear off.
Read MoreWhen it comes to pairing wine with food, the old rules can apply, yet it’s much more fun and flavorful to toss them out, says Emily Wines, master sommelier of Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurants. The tried-and-true selections to which we’ve grown accustomed—hearty red with meat, light white with fish or fowl—is a simple equation,
Read MoreWalking into Big City Tavern in downtown Fort Lauderdale (609 E. Las Olas Blvd.) feels like stepping into a Prohibition-era speakeasy. The sturdy oak bar, vintage photos cluttering the walls, wood floors and fireplace with a moose head all combine to transport customers to another time and place. Adding to that vibe is Big City’s
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