Photo of a past vintner dinner. Courtesy of Gary Schweikhart.

By Rachel Galvin

Foodies, be aware, some changes are afoot when it comes to the premier event of the year — Boca Bacchanal. The celebration of wine and food, which takes place this year April 28-30, always begins with vintner dinners that include a five course meal prepared with renowned chefs paired with wine from acclaimed international wineries. This year is no different; but, for one dinner, the pairing is not with wine, but with whiskey.

The Whiskey Dinner: Specifically, the whiskeys are from the Macallan Distillery in Craigellachie, Scotland. They include a 12-year-old and a 15-year-old Macallan Double Cask, The Macallan Harmony Collection Intense Arabica, an 18-year-old Macallan Sherry Oak and a 2022 Macallan Rare Cask 2022. They will be represented by Brand Ambassador Katie Nahat.

The dinner hosted by The Boca Raton, will be held on April 28 at 7 p.m within their MB Supper Club. The five-course meal will be prepared and served by Andrew Roenbeck, Director of Culinary Operations & Resort Executive Chef, and Peter Annewanter, Executive Chef of MB Supper Club and Flybridge.

The other dinners now include the following:

Dinner #1: Hosted by  Thom & Joyce DeVita and Al & Joni Goldberg within a private home, the dinner will be prepared and served by Eric Baker, chef/owner of AlleyCat and Big in Japan. The wine will be from Silver Oak and Twomey Cellars from Napa Valley, California and will be represented by Anna Pepgjonaj.

Dinner #2 will be held at The Depot for cocktails followed by dinner at The Addison. It will be hosted by David & Holly Meehan and Zoe Lanham & The Addison. The food will be prepared and served by Patrick Duffy, executive chef at The Addison, as well as Jeff Tunks, executive chef, Corvina Seafood Grill in Boca Raton; Chris Clime, executive chef, PassionFish in Reston, VA; and Jose Hernandez, executive sous chef, The Addison. The wine will be Domaine Carneros from Napa Valley, California and will be provided by winemaker TJ Evans.

Dinner #3: Hosted by The Seagate Hotel & Spa with Elizabeth Kelley Grace and Olivia Hollaus, the dinner will be served and prepared by Seagate’s chef Gordon Maybory, director of culinary; Ivan Acevedo, executive chef and Mitzu Nozaki, pastry chef. The Wine will be ZD Wines from Napa Valley, California, represented by Teresa D’Aurizio, national sales manager.

An image of a past Grand Tasting. Courtesy of Gary Schweikhart.

The big event, remember, is on April 30 — The Grand Tasting. It will be held this year at The Addison (located at 2 Camino Real in Boca Raton) during the day, from 1 to 4 p.m. It will feature a plethora of wine, whiskey and champagne options prized vintners and distillers and generous samples of signature dishes by local chefs. Guests can also bid on the silent auction. 

This year, there will also be seminars by ZD Wines and Macallan.

Sponsors for Boca Bacchanal include Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC), The Addison, The Boca Raton, The Seagate Hotel & Spa, Boca Magazine, Publix, Crown Wine and Spirits, The Berman Group, BRiC and CP Partners, JM Family, Privaira Private Aviation, The Buzz Agency, Boca Chamber, BLIS, Atlas Event Rental and more.

For more information and to purchase tickets for the vintner dinners and The Grand Tasting, visit www.BocaBacchanal.com.

By Rachel Galvin

The Festival of the Arts BOCA brought in some amazing talent this year, from dancers to musicians, films to authors. At the end of the week, the amazing and beautiful singer Nicole Henry took the stage at the Mizner Park Amphitheater performing songs from her latest CD “Time to Love,” which went beyond her usual Jazz repertoire. On her CD, she includes her interpretations of songs by iconic composers like James Taylor, Stevie Wonder, Sade and many others. 

Her soulful melodies kept the crowd entranced and she spiced up the tempo near the end and got everyone singing. With a big smile, she charmed the audience with her music and also her musings about dreams, love and more.

Henry, who recently was the cover model for “Boca Raton Magazine,” has been a staple over the last 20 years singing her heart out in local venues, as well as touring elsewhere. Her melodies have reached the ears of happy fans around the country and in more than 20 countries.

What’s next for this songstress? You can find out more by visiting her website at www.nicolehenry.com.

The Festival of the Arts BOCA took place March 3-12. For more information, visit https://festivalboca.org. The final performance was supposed to be Sergio Mendes. He had to postpone and his new concert date is April 2 at  the Florida Atlantic University’s Carole and Barry Kaye Performing Arts Auditorium (777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton, FL 33431). Get more information on the website: https://festivalboca.org.

Photos & Story by Rachel Galvin

Food and wine lovers mark their calendar yearly for one of their favorite events — Boca Bacchanal. This year, it will be held April 29-30. Before Boca Bacchanal even begins, they had a special event to announce the occasion and provide more detail as to what to expect. It was called Bacchus Beckons.

Bacchus Beckons

This year, Bacchus Beckons was held on March 8 in a private aviation hangar in Boca Raton called Privaira. Among the planes, people mingled, enjoyed charcuterie and music from a DJ, and tried samples of some of the wines they will probably be enjoying during the main events. There also was a raffle with several prizes given out. But the real reason everyone gathered was to find out which chef was being paired with which vintner and at which home for the upcoming Vintner Dinners.

Everyone listened when the members of the Boca Raton Historical Society picked up the microphone, including chairman Olivia Hollaus, who talked a little about the upcoming events and the fact that Boca Bacchanal is celebrating its 20th year. She said the committee is planning a “Boca Bacchanal for the books” and thanked other committee members, as well as the founding sponsor Republic National Distributing company, who provides an “amazing array of vintners and spirits [year after year].” She also thanked the many other sponsors, which include The Boca Raton, Boca Magazine, The Addison, Publix, Crown Wine and Spirits, The Berman Group, BRiC and CP Partners, JM Family and others.

“We have so many wonderful sponsors who support this event. Thank you to each one of you for being a part of Boca Bacchanal and in support of our mission, which is to preserve our history, educate our children and residents, and to build a sense of place in our beloved Boca Raton,” said Hollaus. Boca Bacchanal supports the historical society as well as the Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum.

Hollaus then welcomed historical society board members Joyce DeVita and Lauri Saunders.

DeVita, who is also a chairperson, spoke first and said the Grand Tasting will feature wine seminars this year and “three very exclusive VIP sections.” She introduced Saunders, who co-chairs the event as well, and Roxanna Garcia, from Republic National Distribution company, who proceeded to introduce who would be included in the vintner dinners.

Vintner Dinners

The festivities always begin with the vintner dinners held at people’s homes or other locations with a chef cooking up a fantastic menu of five courses with his masterpieces paired with different wines usually chosen by vintners. Tickets are $350 each. This year, the dinners will be held on April 29.

Dinner #1 will be hosted by Thom & Joyce DeVita and Joni & Al Goldberg with Chef Eric Baker, who owns Rebel House, AlleyCat and Big in Japan, and vintner Anna Pepgjonaj, from Silver Oak and Twoney Cellars in Napa Valley, CA.

Dinner #2 will be hosted by David & Holly Meehan and Zoe Lanham & The Addison. Patrick Duffy, executive chef from The Addison, welcomes to his kitchen Jeff Tunks, the executive chef of Corvina Seafood Grill in Boca Raton, and Chris Clime, executive chef of PassionFish in Reston, VA, as well as Jose Hernandez, the executive sous chef from The Addison. TJ Evans, the winemaker from Domaine Carneros in Napa Valley, CA will be there as well.

Dinner #3 will be hosted by The Seagate Resort & Spa with Elizabeth Kelly Grace & Olivia Hollaus. Chef Gordon Maybury, director of culinary of Seagate Resort & Spa will be working with Chef Ivan Acevedo, executive chef of Seagate Beach Club, and Chef Mitzu Nozaki, pastry chef, also from Seagate. Teresa D’ Aurizio, national sales manager for ZD Wines in Napa Valley, CA will be choosing the pairings.

Dinner #4 will be hosted by The Boca Raton and will include Andrew Roenceck, the director of culinary operations and Resort Executive Chef of The Boca Raton, as well as Peter Annewanter, executive chef of MB Supper Club and Flybridge, The Boca Raton. Katie Nahat, brand ambassador for The Macallan Craigellachie, from Scotland, will be there as well.

Grand Tasting

The Vintner dinners will be followed by the Grand Tasting, which this year is a more intimate occasion, with it taking place during the day on April 30, from 1 to 4 p.m. at a beautiful venue known as The Addison. This annual event presents a wide array of samples from local restaurants and plenty of pours from well-known companies. There also is a silent auction, music and more. In addition, this year, there will be wine and whiskey seminars. Tickets are $125 each, $160 with seminars. VIP is $250.

“Boca Bacchanal is a festive weekend that celebrates and enhances the appreciation of wine and food, while bringing together world class chefs and vintners, offering their finest specialties, while providing the entire community with a delightful and tasty opportunity to support the heritage education programs of The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum and the Boca Raton Historical Society,” says Mary Csar, Executive Director.

This event really is the place to be! Don’t miss out as tickets are going fast. For more information, visit www.BocaHistory.org.

Let’s keep this simple and to the point… The election results are in in Deerfield Beach:

Michael Hudak won over Maria LoRicco for District 1.

Ben Preston won over Terry Scott and Darlene Cerezo Swaffar in District 2.

The referendum, which was written about here in The Observer, also got a Yes vote, which means the land at 3.75-acre property located at 1045 SW 11th Way will be developed.

Did you know there is an election on Tuesday, March 14 in Deerfield Beach? Not only are candidates up for election in District 1 and 2, including the incumbents, but there is an important referendum as well.

Right now, there is an empty 3.75-acre of land on 1045 SW 11th Way that has been sitting vacant and just maintained for many years. Now, there is a company that wants to purchase the land and develop on it. Many people have urged voters to vote YES for this as they contest that this development will be great for the local economy and lessen crime as well, rather than having a blighted area continue to be there. Others, have been concerned about issues like traffic… which is something the company is aware of and will be rectifying, according to a city representative on the matter.

Here is the question:

Shall the City of Deerfield Beach sell the approximately 3.75-acre property located at 1045 SW 11th Way to MBA Development Partners of Florida, LLC for $6.5 million for the purpose of creating a multi-use development with workforce housing, retail and restaurant space, a hotel, green-space, and other public amenities?

Yes — for the sale of the property
No — against the sale of the property 

You can do your own research. Here is more info. on the history of the parcel: Election Referendum Info – March 14, 2023 | Deerfield Beach, FL – Official Website (deerfield-beach.com)

Get out and vote!

By Rachel Galvin

The 17th annual Festival of the Arts BOCA kicked off on Friday, March 3 with a performance of the Festival Orchestra Boca playing the soundtrack of the Disney movie “Fantastia,” which played on the large screen behind them.

Festival Executive Director Joanna Marie Kaye introduced the orchestra, conducted by Constantine Kitsopoulos, festival music director. Before the orchestra began, there was also a showing of a short film called “Bella,” directed by FAU student Alfonso Gibson, who was able to get up with the film’s composer and say a few words. This was his first film.

Earlier, there were fun activities for the whole family, including a WLRN Instrument Petting Zoo, interactive art wall and face painting. There was also popcorn and cotton candy available.

This is just the beginning of the fest, which runs through March 12. From lectures to musical performances, to ballet, there is something for everyone. Some of the big names who will be in the mix include Grammy Award-winning Sergio Mendes, author, actor and social commentator Fran Lebowitz, prolific Jazz singer Nicole Henry and many more.

To see the whole schedule, visit www.festivalboca.org.

By Rachel Galvin

On Saturday, Feb. 18, Pioneer Days began with the annual parade. This year, instead of starting at Pioneer Park, it started from St. Ambrose and then headed to the beach. This year’s Grand Marshal was the Junkanoo band. The mayor and commissioners waved at people from cars, several people rode on floats and local and other bands performed. 

At the beach, the award winners were announced. The Best Overall award was named after The Observer’s own Jim Lusk, who passed away. Jim used to pay for characters to show up at the parade and help build floats every year, including The Observer’s float on which he hosted the Deerfield Beach Little League.

Awards:

Jim Lusk Best Overall Award: City of Deerfield Beach Management

Best Youth Group: Deerfield Park Elementary School

Best Business: Island Water Sports

Judge’s Choice: South Florida Iguana Removal

Best School Group: Stranahan High

Best Marching Band: Deerfield Beach High School

Best Church Group: Cathedral Church of God

Best Historical Group: Deerfield Beach Historical Society

The Boca West Children’s Foundation (BWCF) is out to break its record of collecting 180,000 diapers for The Diaper Bank, Covering South Florida, during its 8^th Annual Diaper Drive. Diapers can be donated by visiting bocawestfoundation.org or dropped off at Boca West Country Club on February 21 from 8-noon in the tennis loop. Diapers in size 4, 5 and 6 are particularly needed. 

Studies show that more than one in three American families experience diaper need. The Foundation has served as a major supporter of the Diaper Bank since 2016 as it falls within the organization’s mission to help programs that aid local children.  

“Clean diapers are as essential as food to eat and a place to live for a baby. Whether or not a child has enough clean diapers impacts not only the health of a child, but their parents’ ability to work,” said Pamela Weinroth, executive director/COO of Boca West Children’s Foundation.  “Last year the Foundation collected 180,000 diapers and we hope to shatter that record this year.”

Infants and toddlers who remain in soiled diapers for too long are at risk of urinary tract infections and skin infections.  Most child-care centers, even free and subsidized facilities, require parents to provide a daily supply of disposable diapers to care for a baby. Without child-care, parents cannot go to work or school.

Throughout the year, BWCF also accepts monetary donations for the Diaper Bank. A donation of $100 will purchase 400 diapers. 

A few facts about the need for diapers, according to the National Diaper Bank Network.
• Infants require up to 12 diapers per day, toddlers about 8.
• No state or federal child safety-net program allocates dollars specifically for the purchase of diapers.
• Without transportation, buying diapers at a convenience store rather than a large “big box” store can significantly increase the monthly cost of diapers.
• Most childcare centers, even free and subsidized facilities require parents to provide a day’s supply of disposable diapers.
• The Supplemental Nutrition Supplement Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, does not cover diapers.  
 

About Boca West Children’s Foundation

The Boca West Foundation was launched in 2010 and came about as a desire by the thousands of volunteers from the Boca West Country Club to give back to children in Palm Beach County. The Foundation’s mission is to identify and fund projects to assist children and their families in need in the area.  Since its inception, the Foundation has granted more than $18 million for specific programs for more than 30 charities.

For more information, visit www.bocawestfoundation.org, call 561-488-6980 or email foundation@bocawestcc.org.

By Rachel Galvin

Fashion lovers mark their calendars yearly for the Delray Beach Fashion Week. This year, fashion is back in the form of the #LoveDelray Fashion Experience. Held March 2-3, the event is presented by Old School Square and powered by the Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority. As usual, it benefits the Achievement Centers for Children and Families.

The fun begins on March 2 at the Cornell Art Museum and Pavilion at Old School Square with a “Bikinis to Ball Gowns” Runway Show. At 6:30, there will be light bites and cocktails followed by the fashion show at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $75 for general admission.

It is followed on March 3 with the “Love Your Way Thru Delray” Sip and Shop beginning at the museum again. This will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guests will enjoy a light breakfast with champagne and mimosas at the museum, then shop at the downtown Delray Beach boutiques. Each will receive raffle tickets for each purchase to win prizes during the conclusion of the event. Tickets are $25.

There also will be the First Friday Art Walk #LoveDelray Artist Fashion Pop-Ups there from 6 to 9 p.m. This free event will feature the art of William DeBilzan, Amanda Johnson  and James Knill. Meet the artists, view their artwork featured,  including fashion on mannequins and live models, and enjoy the sounds of classical guitarist Dorian Avila from 6 to 8 p.m.

“Old School Square, the Delray Beach DDA and downtown merchants are proud to present #LoveDelray Fashion Experience benefiting the Achievement Centers for Children and Families,” said Laura Simon, executive director, Delray Beach DDA. “This year the event is a spinoff of Delray Beach Fashion Week, and incorporates art, culture and fashion. Join us for this unique, fun, and all-encompassing opportunity to share with our local residents and visitors the fashion, beauty and culture that is found right here in downtown Delray Beach.”

For more information and tickets, visit https://achievementcentersfl.ticketsocket.com/event/lovedelray-fashion-experience.