By Rachel Galvin

Within the Seminole Coconut Creek Casino Pavilion, a winter wonderland emerged Dec. 13 and 14. Besides a wintery landscape, 24 vendors provided samples of some of their sweet treats.

Carolers strolled and a band played. Celebrity Chef Keegan Gerhard used humor and skill to demonstrate how to make a Swiss Meringue on Friday. On Saturday, Chef Gale Gand, a James Beard Foundation award-winner, made holiday treats.

The event, with its wealth of desserts and frosty façade, benefits a different charity annually.

This year, it is the Make- A-Wish Foundation. The casino made wishes come true for two families.

Celebrity Chef Keegan Gerhard demonstrated how to make a Swiss Meringue at Seminole Casino Coconut Creek on Dec. 13. The event lasted 2 days.

By Rachel Galvin

Thinking about traveling with your family to the Big Apple? Wondering what to do? While this seems to be more of a great place for adults, there are places great for families, although waiting until children are a little older is probably preferred. Here are a few options.

• Metropolitan Museum of Art (www.metmuseum.org). From Egyptian temples to modern art, this is a great place to teach children about the art world. Ask about their family programs and free days. Exploreother museums nearby.
• American Natural History Museum (www.amnh.org). Look at fossils of dinosaurs; learn about whales or other creatures, see a film in IMAX or visit the planetarium. (While in the area, check out the Dakota Building (1 W. 72 St.). This 19th century landmark has been home to countless celebrities, including John Lennon, who died here. Nearby in Central Park, you will find “Strawberry Fields.”)
• Central Park Zoo (www.centralparknyc.org/visit/things-to-see/south-end/central-park-zoo.html). In the southeast corner of the park, birds fly free in the aviary while reptiles slither nearby safely behind glass. Monkeys preen on rocks in a serene man-made lake. Also look for a polar bear, snow leopard and other animals.
• Empire State Building (www.esbnyc.com). The 86^th floor offers a great view. Bring quarters for a closer look.
• NBC Studio Tour (www.nbcstudiotour.com). See a behind the scenes look of some of the shows filmed here and be part of the action. Wear a jacket. It is very cold in here! Right next door is Radio City Music Hall (www.radiocity.com).
• Times Square. Experience the excitement of the Great White Way. Visit M&M World (1600 Broadway) and the Hershey’s store across the street.
• New York City Library (www.nypl.org). Visit the free exhibit “Why Children’s Book’s Matter,” about the history of children’s literature. On Fridays, from 1 to 2 p.m., in nearby Bryant Park, there are free fencing lessons. Call 212-382-2255 for info. Nearby are Grand Central Station and the Chrysler building.

• United Nations (http://visit.un.org) is currently closed from Sept. 21 to Oct. 7. They have a special tour for kids. Email unitg@un.orgwith questions. Mail your postcards here; they have a post office near the gift shop.
• FAO Schwarz (www.fao.com). This is a must-see for kids of all ages! You can build your own doll, or a whole doll house. You can even play beautiful music with your feet on the full size piano, just like the movie “Big.” Look for the Zoltar.
• For a better view of the islands, check out the Circle Line Cruises (www.circleline42.com/new-york-cruises/home.aspx). Another great view is from the Brooklyn Bridge. See the nearby “Freedom Tower.”

Lodging is the most expensive part of a NYC trip. You can find food, gifts and even clothes that are very inexpensive. Do your homework, buy a book about the city that includes a good subway map. Look for discounts online. Bring your walking shoes and a camera. Take

the Big Apple by storm! See more at www.observernewspaperonline.com.

NYC Photos:

FAO Schwarz

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Empire State Building

Freedom Tower (Ground Zero)

By Allison Newcombe

Last Saturday, I went to a new restaurant that arrived in Lighthouse Point a little over a month-and-a-half ago. I was pleasantly surprised at how delicious their pizza was.

This is the first of its franchise to make it down this far south, most are located near where the first Your Pie restaurant originated in Athens, GA. It’s not like any pizza place you have been to before, as you walk down a line and select all your options. They have a wide range starting from what dough you would prefer (whole wheat, original, gluten free), to the cheese, sauce and veggies you want. On Mondays kids eat free with the purchase of an adult pizza. Tuesdays is BOGO (Buy one get one) pizza night and Happy Hour is every day from 5 to 7 p.m. They only use the best quality cheeses and make their own sauce and dressing daily from scratch. Employees who work at this restaurant are very polite, always putting the customer first. The place is spotlessly clean and the gelato is amazing! The best part about Your Pie is that they have options for every type of customer, such as gluten free. Besides pizza, they also have bread-bowl salads, paninis and desserts.

Your Pie is located at 3650 N. Federal Hwy., Lighthouse Point, FL 33064. They also deliver; call 954-532-1531.

The ROX Florida Beach HP volleyball championships were held July 18-20 on Deerfield beach. Categorized by age groups, boys and girls comepeted in individual and team competitions. The host hotel was Wyndham Restort. Pictured here are the 16 U girls and the winners (photos provided by John Esposito). For more information, visit www.floridavolleyball.org/teamflorida- beach-hp-all-stars.html.

By Rachel Galvin

The rain poured, but that didn’t stop thousands of people from crowding into Sanborn Square to enjoy the Boca Burger Battle July 13. Over 20 restaurants served up their signature burgers and 11 judges, including restauranteur Dean Max, radio personalities , the Burger Beast Sef and others, waited to try them. There was also live entertainment and other vendor booths, including the Big Green Egg company, who showed off their unique cooking concept, a unit that bakes, grills and even smokes. Students from Le Cordon Bleu helped chefs. There also were beers, wine and spirits on-hand. A portion of the proceeds benefit PROPEL. There was an after party at Jazziz Nightlife in Mizner Park. SCROLL DOWN for more pictures and WINNERS. For more information, visit http://bocaburgerbattle.com/

The rainy weather did not prevent hungry guests from arriving to Sanborn Square to take in the ambiance, mouth-watering burgers and more!

WINNERS

Judge’s Pick for Best Grill Master went to:
1st place – Bite Gastrotruck
2nd place – Potions In Motion
3rd place – Shake Shack

Judge’s Pick for Best Alternative Grill Master went to:
1st place – 4th Generation

People’s Choice for Best Boca Burger went to:
1st place – Morton’s Steakhouse
2nd place – Rebel House
3rd place – Potions In Motion

Many vendors showed off their wares, including In the Biz Solutions, which showcased their unique bathing suits.

Ashley Esnes and Isabel Stolk were having a blast playing in the rain. Ashley’s one regret was that there was not a best raincoat contest.

Robert Stanfield manages to not only brilliantly pull off a stylish yellow poncho of sorts, but also serve the judges some delectable onion rings from Tucci’s Fire N’ Coal Pizza while coordinating the entire festivities. Stanfield and Russell Spadaccini are the pair behind making events like this and others possible in the tri-state area. To see more about their culinary events, visit www.bocaraton.com.

Red Brick Grille was one of the 20 restaurants who braved the rain to serve their hamburgers.

Anisha Staton gave out samples of her gourmet fortune cookies, pictured here. This is her own business and she makes the cookies herself! www.atasteoffate.com.

Sylvia Alfonzo, a student at Le Cordon Bleu, helped serve up burgers at Kapow! These unique burgers were created with three types of meat: chuck roast, sirloin and beef shank, along with a kimchee sauce aioli wrapped in a banana leaf and served in a peking duck bun.

The burger from NYY Steak House at Seminole Coconut Creek Casino was a combination of dry aged pine brisket and ribs topped with aged white cheddar, among other tasty ingredients. They even make their own bacon in-house!

Eleven judges decided the fate of the Burger Battle competitors.

Big Green Egg grills it up! This unit not only grills, but can bake cookies, smoke fish or pretty much cook anything. The headquarters is based in Atlanta, but these units can be found here in Florida, including at Culinary Concepts in Pompano Beach, which was also on-site.

The crew from BirthdayComp.com told business owners and guests about their wonderful service that allows everyone to get special offers fro free on their Birthday day, week or month just by signing up! Businesses benefit from free exposure and guests get free stuff, from a discount on clothing or a free piece of pizza to a mini-golf game, karate class, limo ride, champagne and more. Visit www.birthdaycomp.com for details.

Boca Girl Pizza is the winner!

By Rachel Galvin

On May 21, Steve’s Wood Fired Pizza in Boca Raton had a unique event. They invited in the media to taste and judge three different pizzas created by a representative of a different charity. Votes were tallied among the media present and combined with social networking scores for a final vote.

The winning pizza was a specialty veggie pizza, called the Boca Girl Pizza, created by Catherine’s Hope for a Cure, a charity that helps to raise funds for Batten disease. Catherine Abbott-Horowitz, who was present at the event and runs the charity, has the fatal Neuronal Ceroid Lipofucsinosis (NCL) disorder. Added to the menu for June, this pizza’s proceeds will be donated to the charity. The pizza includes roasted vegetables including eggplant, zucchini, broccoli and roasted tomatoes over a zesty sauce and gourmet cheese blend.

The other two pizzas included a fun buffalo chicken pizza called Party Pizza for The Pap Corps, a charity dedicated to raising money for Cancer, and a delectable Thai chicken pizza for the Tri County Humane Society, a no-kill organization whose mission is to save four-legged friends.

In addition, owner Steve Greenberg introduced some new menu items, including Chicken Parmesan, Meatball, and Sausage and Pepper sandwiches, as well as an apple tart and raspberry zeppolies for dessert. All that food made the media thirsty, so he also brought out his new craft beers, including White UFO, Purple Haze, Brooklyn Lage, Ass Kisser and Torpedo. They also have expanded their wine list to include small bottles of Malbec, Rodney Strong and Sonoma County.

Steve’s Wood Fired Pizza is located at 9180 Glades Rd., Boca Raton, 33434. 561-483-5665. www.steveswoodfiredpizza.com

Did you go to Quiet Waters Park last weekend? Then you experienced a culinary extravaganza called the Deerfield Wine & Food Festival. Bringing in thousands of people, this event featured food from chefs all over the tri-county area and wines from around the world at its Grand Tasting Saturday night. Friday night featured a VIP dinner with selections from Chef Angelo Morinelli of Station House Grille perfectly paired with wines from Deerfield Ranch Winery. The weekend ended with the MARTINI Jazz Bubbles & Brunch and Cruisin Classic Car Show.

Check back for even more details. In the meantime, check out www.deerfieldbeachwineandfoodfestival.com.