Food for Thought

Grateful Palate

The Grateful Palate has garnered rave reviews and accolades, including the 2012 Diner’s Choice Award from Open Table. Executive Chef Hector Lopez is running the culinary show, and his cuisine is approachable, sophisticated and even fun. My guest and I arrived to a warm welcome at the front door, and sat immediately near the kitchen in a banquet style booth. Read more...

Burt & Max’s Bar and Grill Teases AND Pleases

Food for Thought

We’re excited that hospitality veterans Burt Rapoport and long-time friend and business partner, Dennis Max are in business together again in West Delray Beach, Florida. They have opened numerous successful restaurants together over the years, and it seems the dining public just can’t get enough of what they bring to the proverbial dining table Read more...

Chef Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak Miami

Channel 7 News Feature Stories

Located inside the regal Turnberry Isle Resort, we are surrounded by sheer opulence from the moment we enter the long driveway, right on through the heavy glass doors of the Bourbon Steak itself. We stop at the hostess stand and are quickly ushered to the half square bar facing the sprawling dining room. Read more...

Table Verte – Vegetarian for Everyone

Food for Thought

Restauranteur Chef Didier Pawlicki, owner of Taureau and La Sirène (also in New York City), brought in Executive Chef Ken Larsen to create a French vegetarian / vegan menu that is approachable for everyone. Chef Larsen studied at the French Culinary Institute and worked at the Michelin-starred Château d’Adoménil in France. Read more...

Jeanne & Gaston – Kitchen – Wine – Garden, NYC

Food for Thought

Walking in to Jeanne & Gaston restaurant in New York City, I realize this is not your traditional French bistro. Past rows of neatly spaced tables and modern block lights I am greeted by a wall-sized replica of the Wine Merchant Guild painting by Ferdinand Bol. The décor at Jeanne & Gaston foreshadows the great meal to come: Read more...

Brasserie l’Ecole / Pièce de Résistance in Victoria BC

Food for Thought

We decided to review a restaurant named Brasserie l’Ecole in Victoria, BC, after reading some tips about it on Twitter. Although their menu changes daily, some dishes tend to stick around a bit longer. For example, an amazing French Onion Soup (Soupe à l’Oignon Gratinée) is almost always on the menu. Read more...

De Santos Dinner Inside / NYC

Features

The entrance to De Santos is inconspicuous, a typical NYC brownstone home with a warm glow flickering through the large window. The beckoning warm candlelight had set my expectations, and I wasn’t to be disappointed. The rustic décor with French vintage chairs, antique oak tables, distressed wood paneling and exposed brick walls was cozy and welcoming. Read more...

I Fix Broken Restaurants

Back of House

After reading this, the next time you hear the term restaurant consulting you’ll have a better idea of just how intricate it really is. Television shows like Restaurant Impossible only give the public a glimpse into what it takes to fix broken restaurants. Read more...

Dereks Culinary Casual, Sarasota, Florida

Food for Thought

Some of the best food experiences happen when you least expect them. Call it accidental culinary tourism! A recent trip to Sarasota, FL, turned up an absolute gem–and it seemed as if it came out of nowhere. What a pleasant surprise it was and I’ll share it with you here… Read more...

The Traveling General Manager

Editor's Bite

As a “restaurant and nightclub consultant” successfully working in all aspects of the hospitality industry over the past four decades, I have found the terminology “consultant” to be somewhat offensive to restaurant owners. Owners do not enjoy paying someone to tell them what’s wrong only… Read more...

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