NEW BOCA / Five new restaurants coming to 'Restaurant Row' adjacent to Town Center Mall / Palm Beach Post

 Developers broke ground Wednesday on the 22,500-square-foot space located next to the Town Center Mall. Construction is expected to take a year, and the project will be completed in the third quarter of 2022. 

“What we’re trying to do is bring a more urban restaurant environment into the suburbs,” said Ian Wiener, CEO of PEBB Enterprises, the Boca-based firm heading the development. “We’re seeking to attract new concepts from South Florida and beyond to tap into the changing demographics of Boca Raton.” 

WATCH REVIEW / Patio Tapas and Beer in Boca Raton a neighborhood gem | Let’s Go, South Florida

Watch Let’s Go, South Florida: In this week’s video meet Maria Fregosi, who nominated Patio Tapas and Beer in Boca Raton in our first special edition of Dish Your Neighborhood Gem. To nominate your own favorite spot, submit a short video and fill out the nomination form at SunSentinel.com/letsgo. You may be invited to be featured in Let’s Go, South Florida in the coming months.Maria Fregosi and her husband, Brian, tasted the small plates at Patio Tapas and Beer in Boca Raton a few years ago and thought the food had a similar feel and flavor as one of their favorites.

 

Next food frontier: fish made from plants, or in a lab

Chef Tsang Chiu King is preparing a subtle but significant change to his menu: He’s replacing the fish in some dishes with a plant-based alternative. “Its flavor is light and bland and the texture, like grouper, is a bit tougher,” Tsang said, referring to the alternative fish varieties he has been testing at Ming Court, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Hong Kong. To boost the flavor, he adds ingredients like dates and goji berries. “This may give our customers a new experience or surprise, and that will help our business,” he said. Read More >>>>

 

YESTERDAYS / Gay Johnny

Gay Johnny Texas Vegetables fruit crate label. This crate label is for Gay Johnny brand Texas Vegetables, c. 1950s: 'Packed and Shipped by J.S. McManus Produce Co. Weslaco, Texas.' Fruit crate labels were a frequent means of marketing fruit packer brands at the turn of the century.

FYI / Is organic food worth the hype? 8 shocking truths about your fresh produce

MYTH #1. Organic food is better for you Standards for growing organic produce, a $62 billion industry in the US as of 2020, include a set of cultural, biological and mechanical practices that support the cycling of on-farm resources, promoting ecological balance and conserving biodiversity. And yes, studies have found that there are higher antioxidant levels in organically grown foods. 

There's also evidence that organic food has lower toxic, heavy metal levels and less pesticide residue, with organic eggs, meat and dairy products containing more good-for-you omega-3 fatty acids. But that's not always the case. Even processed foods, snacks and junk food labeled as USDA organic should still be consumed in moderation. The green label doesn't automatically make a food healthy. For example, organic peanut butter cups still have high sugar and fat content. READ MORE>>>