In terms of tasty news to know, the local food and dining scene is the gift that keeps on giving these days. There are new restaurant openings to report, new menu items and locally made treats to explore. For Passover, which arrives Monday evening, there are family meals, dine-in or takeout, to plan.
First, let’s talk about what’s new.
Jupiter gets a Pura Vida café
One of the healthy-minded cafés at The Square plaza in West Palm Beach has welcomed a sister restaurant in Jupiter. More than four years after opening at The Square, Pura Vida debuted its Jupiter location at Harbourside Place on April 10.
The natural foods spot brought a fresh, chic look to the 3,000-square-foot former BurgerFi space, which sits across from Jupiter’s Intracoastal Waterway.
On the menu: all-day breakfast items, organic acai bowls, smoothies, salads, bowls, wraps, empanadas, large main plates (featuring free-range chicken, wild tuna, oven-roasted salmon and fixings), specialty coffees, teas, lattes and frappes.
The café brand with 2012 Miami Beach roots has grown to include nearly two dozen South Florida locations. In Palm Beach County, Pura Vida has cafés in downtown West Palm Beach (at The Square), West Boca and Royal Palm Beach (identified as Wellington on the restaurant’s website).
Which brings us to another bit of Pura Vida news. The chain plans to open a Delray Beach oceanfront location in early June, says a restaurant rep. The Delray Pura Vida café will slip into the prime space most recently occupied by BurgerFi, at 6 S. Ocean Blvd., across the street from the beach.
“These openings are a testament to our commitment to making wholesome, nutritious food accessible to more communities,” said Omer Horev, Pura Vida co-founder and CEO, via news release. “Our aim has always been to foster spaces where individuals can come together to enjoy not just great food, but a lifestyle centered around health and wellness.”
Hours: Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Pura Vida Jupiter: 147 Soundings Ave., at Harbourside Place, Jupiter,PuraVidaMiami.com
Delray Beach gets a Paris Baguette
An expansive, international French bakery chain just opened a Delray Beach café on Federal Highway (near Trader Joe’s). The Delray location of Paris Baguette will celebrate its official grand opening on Thursday, April 25.
The Paris Baguette concept seeks to bring a “neighborhood bakery café” feel to its many franchise locations (more than 4,000 across the planet), according to the company’s media releases.
The concept’s local-gem dreams were born a world away from any Parisian corner. Paris Baguette was founded nearly four decades ago in Seoul, South Korea. In 2015, it made its first foray into the United States, where it continues to expand.
On the menu: French breads and pastries, sandwiches and wraps, salads and specialty coffees and teas.
Hours: Open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Paris Baguette: 1911 S. Federal Hwy, Delray Beach, 561-303-1748,ParisBaguette.com
Serena Pastificio has a new menu
This stylishly set Mizner Park restaurant has rolled out spring dishes worth noting.
Highlights on Serena Pastificio’s new menu: Crispy, truffle-scented Brussels with Parmesan and prosciutto ($17). Bucatini carbonara with shaved asparagus, kale gremolata, pea tendril and egg yolk bottarga ($23).
New drinks include Serena’s Stop & Smell The Roses cocktail, which combines Meyer lemon vodka, hibiscus, rose liqueur, elderflower and orange blossom foam.
Serena Pastificio is located on the first floor of the iPic theaters.
Hours: Monday through Thursday from 3 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 3 to 10 p.m., Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Serena Pastificio: 301 Plaza Real, Boca Raton, 561-922-6699,Serena-Pastificio.com
La Gringuita gets into Whole Foods Market
La Gringuita, the West Palm Beach-based cookie brand inspired by an English teacher’s travels and childhood memories, recently expanded its local market footprint by leaps.
You can now find the fat, overstuffed, bake-at-home cookies at 17 Whole Foods Market stores in South Florida, Naples and Fort Myers.
Whole Foods locations in Palm Beach County include Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Wellington, Delray Beach and Boca Raton.
The stores carry La Gringuita’s core flavors: Brown Buttah, El Churro, The Jammy and Chocolate Soufflé.
The inspired mind behind the cookie brand is Caroline McGinley, who would make the cookies for her dorm friends some years ago in Montevideo, where she taught English. You may have seen her and La Gringuita cookies at the West Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens green markets.
I love her story and entrepreneurial spirit, and I’m not surprised at all that she hit the Whole Foods big time.
Here’s the first story I wrote about Caroline and her cookie-making dreams.
La Gringuita Cookies: Gringuita-Cookies.com
Quick Bites
Looking for Passover dining inspiration?
Here are some good restaurant options for dining out or taking out.
Have you heard about the new rooftop bar located on the West Palm Beach waterfront?
I found it to be a lovely spot with nice water views. Here’s my story on the new Bar Capri!
Speaking of bars: Did you know The Blind Monk moved?
My colleague Eddie Ritz recently wrote about the wine bar’s new downtown digs. Here’s his story!
Do you love empanadas as much as I do?
Here’s my most recent list of places for authentic empanadas!
Read recent columns by Liz Balmaseda
◾ What's cooking for Passover? Here are some options!
◾ New West Palm steakhouse restaurant kicks off Sunday brunch
◾ A favorite seafood restaurant gets a glow-up in the Gardens
◾ New oceanfront bar opens, 2 others named ‘best’ in The South
◾ 3 new pizzerias to put on your radar
◾ Where to find the best meatballs in town? Some favorites!
◾ 5 new restaurants to get excited about in Palm Beach County
◾ Mexican restaurant gets new look, Food Network contestant chef
Liz Balmaseda is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network. She covers the local food and dining beat. Follow her on Instagram and Post on Food Facebook. She can be reached by email at lbalmaseda@pbpost.com.
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