The FLAVOR of Palm Beach

I love food. {Duh.}

I also love where I live -- South Florida.

Oddly, I rarely combine my love for the two and dine out in our area. Mostly because I'm usually in my own kitchen making a mess coming up with my own recipes to share with you. Also because my budget normally doesn't allow for too much more than Happy Hour priced sushi.

Sounds thrilling, I know.

When I travel, I marvel at all the fabulousness of restaurant dining, totally forgetting that we have perfectly good restaurants that don't require a plane ride to get to right in our city. I'm usually sitting there with a mouthful of burrata in a state of sheer culinary ecstasy thinking, "Why don't they have stuff like this back home?"

Well, I'm here to tell you "they" do.

As it turns out, all you have to do is leave your house {preferably in something other than yoga pants} and possibly make a reservation in order to experience some of the finest cuisine around.

Last week, I had one of the coolest experiences a food lover could have: I got to sample {and judge} perfect little bites of handcrafted edible art {read: pretty food} created by brilliant chefs from over 13 area restaurants.

THIRTEEN. That's the most restaurant action I've seen in a very long time. And I didn't even have to get out of my seat.

Not to mention, my friends from Rapunzel's Closet bedazzled me with some Bourbon & Boweties wrist candy to wear for the evening. A girl could get seriously spoiled this way.

The FLAVOR Palm Beach Grand Tasting benefit took place in a pretty swank venue... that is, unless you happen to be accustomed to dining in the presence of Aston Martins, which -- you know -- is no big deal.

Photo courtesy of Lila Photo 

My fellow foodie judges and I sipped, spooned, and sunk our teeth into some tasty little morsels from restaurants like Cafe Boulud and Graze at the Four Seasons, and then got to confer over who would win "Finest Flavor" bragging rights.

Hard at work.

Incidentally, asking culinary enthusiasts to choose their favorite dish is much like asking a mother to choose her favorite child. There's something to love about each one.

{Clockwise from top left}

Cafe Boulud: Chicken Liver Mousse served with pickles, preserves & toast
Del Frisco's Grille: Tuna Tartare with avocado, and spicy citrus mayo served on a fried tortilla
Graze at the Four Seasons: Lemon Garlic Chicken with cippolini onion, bacon, sherry & cherry puree
Ironwood at PGA National: Cilantro Pesto Grilled Prawns on creamy Anson Mills grits with smokey chorizo sofrito

Maison Carlos: Penne Rustica with hot Italian sausage, fire roasted bell peppers & spicy tomato sauce
Pampas Grille:  Marinated Grilled Pork on Brazillian cheese bread and coleslaw
Pistache: Confit Pork Shoulder Tenderloin with aged cheddar polenta, red onion bacon marmalade, shaved fennel & au jus
PB Catch: Mini Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with sherry corn custard & red mole gastrique

Sandpiper's Cove: Pan Seared Scallops over polenta
Texas de Brazil: Chimichuri Flank Steak over horseradish mashed potatoes & microgreens
3800 Ocean: Korean Beef BBQ on a scallion pancake with green chile sauce
Tin Fish Grill: Grilled Salmon over coleslaw

Yes, I sampled each and every one of those dishes. {I'd even say I devoured some.}

When we nearly rolled out of our seats were finished, it was clear we had a few favorites. But the one dish that stood out for both flavor and creativity was the Truffled Corn Bisque with Black Truffle and Brillat Savarin Cheese Sandwich from Temple Orange at the Ritz Carlton.

Oh my yum.

The entire evening was fabulous {I wouldn't expect anything less from It! Events + Media}; from the silent auction, to the cocktails, to the fashion show, all set to the music of a live band playing from up above {meaning the loft area, not heaven, even though everything was just heavenly!}. Best of all, the event proceeds went to Share Our Strength to help put an end to childhood hunger in America.

Steve and I had enjoyed ourselves immensely! And now we have a list as long as our arms of restaurants we'd like to visit during FLAVOR Palm Beach month. {You can click here for their special menus and to make reservations!}

The next time I have the urge to dine, I'll save my money on travel fare and keep it local now that I've been reminded what I've got in my own backyard.

It should come as no surprise...Palm Beach has always had great taste. It just so happens this time, you can eat it with a spoon. ;)

FLAVOR Palm Beach + Share Our Strength

You may have seen my recent post{s} about baking 300 cookies for swag bags...

Picture courtesy of @itgirlspb

Now that the cookies are done & delivered and I'm no longer covered head to toe in flour, I can tell you a little more about where they're going!

Tonight I'll be participating in the most delicious social event of the season: The Grand Tasting benefit kicking off Flavor Palm Beach!

Flavor Palm Beach is a month-long dining event that helps support Palm Beach County restaurants. Participating restaurants {including super-fancy ones} have created amazing three course menus at for a special {very reasonable!} rate so that diners can experience the tantalizing flavors of South Florida.

{You can take a peek at the restaurants and menus by clicking here!}

I'm beside myself with excitement because I'll be getting to experience delightful bites as part of a blogger tasting panel that will judge dishes from some of the area's most talented chefs! After seeing, smelling, and tasting nothing but Orange Butter Cookies for the last few weeks, I can't tell you how ready I am to let someone else do all the cooking! ;)

As thrilled as I am about the food, I'm even more happy to be part of this event because 100% of the proceeds from tonight's benefit go to Share Our Strength, an organization on a mission to end childhood hunger in America.

This organization is special to me because, as a person who loves food as much as I do and a former elementary school teacher, I know the importance that food plays in the lives of kids. In fact, I even organized a school-wide bake sale to raise money for Share Our Strength several years ago!

Even if you're not able to make it to the Grand Tasting, you can still help the cause by "going orange" this September! Spread the word on your social media, or even dine out on September 16th at restaurants nationwide that are committed to the cause, too.

There's nothing more satisfying than lending a helping hand to those in need!

For those of you that are curious about what'll be on my plate tonight, make sure to follow along on my Twitter and Instagram, where I'll be sharing pics throughout the night. You may even see a few familiar faces! ;)