The Florida Foodie
Foodie Paradise: Flavors of Wellington
By Saucy Sarah
Celebrating its 10th year, the Flavors of Wellington Food and Wine Festival, held this year on April 5th, called to all the foodies of Palm BeachCounty. I was excited to have the opportunity to attend the fest this year, held at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. A beautiful venue overflowing with food, wine, and music; what more could this grub-loving gal ask for? The Flavors of Wellington offers a chance to sample tasty morsels from a dizzying array of Wellington restaurants . Though the festival has concluded, the night was a grand opportunity to investigate many restaurants at one time and I’d like to share the highlights of my night.
What took me by surprise – Carrabba’s Italian Grill’s lobster ravioli was sweet and succulent. I usually avoid ordering lobster ravioli because I am always disappointed in it, but Carrabba’s was enlightening, served with a light creamy sauce. Though a chain restaurant, Carrabba’s consistently impresses me with the quality of their food.
The Breaker’s Resort booth offered up a delicious composed salad consisting of a steamed, butterflied shrimp atop a sushi-style rice ball, dressed with a Wasabi cream sauce and toasted black sesame seeds. It was reminiscent of a deconstructed sushi roll and tingled the taste buds. The Breaker’s resort offers a wealth of dining options that are open to the public. I suggest going for lunch or dinner sometime. A few hours on property feels like a mini-vacation.
Joseph’s Market passed out selections of impressive Italian favorites. Most Italian food is heavy and the tomato sauce, bitter. I thoroughly enjoyed their meatball and rolled manicotti; both were light and flavorful with a fresh-tasting tomato sauce. Joseph’s is a great place to stop in and pick up a hot dinner or some cold salads to-go from their beautiful display cases. It is a great alternative to the drive-thru.
The Welli Deli handed out some yummy Thanksgiving sandwiches, complete with turkey and cranberry sauce on a nice ciabatta bun. The turkey was fresh roasted and the bright notes from the cranberry jelly compliment the sandwich perfectly. The Welli Deli is a great lunch spot or for catering large functions.
For desserts, the Fresh Market offered up some beautiful two-bite fruit tarts. Made with a cookie crust and lined with a painting of chocolate, the custard was cool and creamy and the fruits were juicy and ripe. The Buca Di Beppo booth passed out samples of their creamy and rich tiramisu. I normally am not a big fan of tiramisu, but Buca Di Beppo’s was rich and yet light. I enjoyed eating it.
Next year, I recommend getting your tickets early for The Flavors of Wellington and spend the evening sampling delicious food to your heart’s content. Until then, try out one of these restaurant highlights of the evening. You won’t be disappointed.
*****
Here are the “Winners” of the evening, as selected by the Flavors panel of judges. Congratulations to our “winners” of the Evening- Carrabbas Italian Grill -“Best Taste”, The Cookin’ Yogi – “Best Plate Presentation”, Breakers West Country Club – “Best Display” and Johnson’s Custom Cakes –“Best Dessert.” The Wellington Chamber is thankful to all of the fantastic showcase vendors; Anthony Paul, BIBA NY, Breakers West Country Club, Buca Di Beppo, Carrabbas Italian Grill, Chick-Fil- A, Dunkin Donuts, Field of Greens, Fresh Wear, The Fresh Market, Hurricane Grill and Wings, India Grill and Bar, Johnson’s Custom Cakes, Joseph’s Classic Market, McDonalds, Napolitano Cucina, PRP Wine International, Short Stacks, Starbucks, TCBY, The Cookin Yogi, The Diner of Palm Beach, Universal Living Sprouts, WelliDeli, White Horse Catering, Whole Foods Market and WineHooch and all of her delicious winery partners! If you have not visited any of these establishments in the past- PLEASE make it a point to stop in and try them out! Each can be found in the Wellington Chamber’s NEW DINING GUIDE www.flavorswellington.com. Each one offers a unique flair and why go anywhere else when we have so many exceptional choices right here in Wellington! Plus you will be supporting our local economy!
In her previous life, Sarah, a Palm Beach County Native, spent ten years working in various high-end eating establishments around South Florida. She is currently a fiction thesis candidate in the MFA program at Florida International University where she also teaches creative writing and rhetoric. If that is not enough, Sarah is also the owner of Cakes by Sarah, a local custom cake shop. Sarah lives in Lake Worth with her husband and two beautiful boys. “Food, fiction, and family are my life.”