Max's Harvest | Delray Beach, Florida

You know a meal is thatgood when you're a little sad you're taking your last bite. Even when you're stuffed to the gills, as I was when I dined at Max's Harvest in Delray Beach.

Photo credit: The Buzz Agency

I was delighted to receive an invitation to come check out the restaurant, especially because I'd already heard such good things. So, I came hungry and let their dishes lead the way to an evening of "Farm to Fork" satisfaction.

Max's Harvest has been around for 3 years and has become a popular spot for locals, which was evident from the bustling bar scene when we were seated at 7pm on a Friday evening. I loved the feel of the restaurant - modern yet rustic, with black and white images on the walls depicting its emphasis on local farm fare.

Photo credit: The Buzz Agency

Our server was beyond knowledgeable about each menu item, down to knowing where each of the farm-fresh ingredients came from -- each locally sourced from nearby farms and throughout the state. With a focus on sustainable, seasonal and simply prepared meals, it's no wonder the ingredients seem to shine in a special way.

The first bite on this flavor journey started with the complimentary zucchini bread they placed on the table. I probably could have eaten an entire basket. I wanted to wander into the kitchen and see if I could catch a peek at how they made it, but I figured I'd sit tight as more food was sure to be on its way.

And sure enough, our server appeared with a dish sent out by the chef: A crispy, Breaded Pork Torchon over compressed watermelon and topped with fresh greens. As you know, I'm not usually a big meat eater, but I did like the combo of the light ingredients and the hearty pork. Steve polished off his half and most of mine, so I'm pretty sure he liked it, too!

The bread had gotten us a little excited and we ordered two appetizers right out of the gate: the Peach & Blueberry Salad with Baby Kale & Arugula, Caramelized Peaches, Blueberries, Pickled Shallots, Ricotta Cheese, Walnut Vinaigrette {holy mouthful!} and Vito's Burrata with Croutons, Red Wine Vinaigrette, Florida Watermelon, Pickled Shallot, Heirloom Tomato and Cucumber. After my first few forkfuls, I knew these were things I could easily order as an entree {mostly because I was tempted to steal Steve's dish and not share} -- they were both so, so good.

The salad was such a perfect combination of flavors: sweet, caramelized peaches and blueberries, savory and creamy ricotta, tart vinaigrette and pickled shallots, fresh and crisp kale and arugula. When the chef popped out of the kitchen to see how we were liking things I'm pretty sure I sputtered nonsensically with stars in my eyes over the salad alone.

The burrata was also a perfect pairing of flavorful elements. Burrata, as it is, is probably among the things I would choose to be part of my last meal on earth. It is so decadent and delicious, and combined with sweet watermelon, fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, it seemed creamier and more delightful. My favorite part of this dish were the croutons that soaked up all the vinaigrette and juices from everything else on the plate. Oh, my.

Next up: Entrees. Our server saw me pat my {round, already stuffed} belly and reprimanded me for not pacing myself, but I ensured him that I'd find the room for at least a few bites. I ordered the Crispy Parmesan Risotto Cake with Mushroom, Favas, Baby Carrot, Zucchini, Pearl Onion, and Tomato-Pepper Coulis and Steve chose Grilled Local Swordfish with Greek Farmer’s Salad, Feta, Chick Pea Fries, and Lemon-Yogurt Sauce. 

They were both so pretty it seemed a shame to deconstruct them, but we dug in anyway to get a taste. I really enjoyed the Risotto Cake with its crisp {but not overfried} exterior and contrasting creamy interior. The veggies gave a nice sweetness to the dish, specifically the little caramelized pearl onions, and though I definitely wasn't able to finish the whole thing right then and there, I still managed to have a few more bites.

I didn't even get to taste the swordfish, but Steve assured me that it was good, as was evident by the fact that he was very excited to box up what was left to polish off as leftovers.

Ok, so I know I said we were both beyond full... but our server tempted us with their desserts du jour and we {well, I} couldn't refuse. They had so many amazing-sounding offerings -- from Blueberry Bread Pudding to Made-to-order Cinnamon Sugar Donuts {for real} -- but we went with a twist on a Florida classic: Key Lime Brulee.

It was a good choice. Tangy, rich key lime filling atop a buttery crust with a crackly layer of bruleed sugar and a beautiful little cloud of whipped cream perched on top. Mmm.

Overall, I couldn't have asked for tastier dishes or better service. If forced to find a downside, the only fault I could find would be noise level of the packed house keeping potential patrons from having a romantic or intimate dining experience. But, to be honest, you'll probably be doing more savoring than chatting, so this may not be a problem after all -- come with a lively crowd and a hungry belly!

A big thank you to Max's Harvest for a fantastic evening of fabulous dining!

Disclosure:  I was invited for a complimentary dinner for two at Max's Harvest to check out their menu. As always, all opinions seen here are my own!

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Of course, I had to recreate that crazy-good baby kale salad to share with you here since you couldn't join me at Max's Harvest. {And, let's be honest, I might not have hogged all of it at dinner.}

This salad has a few elements that take some prep, so it isn't exactly a "throw together at the last minute" kind of dish. However, after a bite I think you'll agree that it's worth the trouble to get the flavor combos found here.

Pickled Shallots. Tangy vinaigrette. Caramelized peaches that you could easily eat as dessert. It's sort of magical.

Make it.

Baby Kale Salad with Caramelized Peaches & Blueberries
Inspired by Max's Harvest in Delray Beach, Florida
*Measurements will vary according to taste. Make it your own! :)

A bunch baby kale mixed greens, I like the Organic Girl blend
Whole milk ricotta cheese {I just used a few tablespoons, but again, suit your own tastes}
About 1/4 cup fresh blueberries
About 1/4 cup walnuts or pecans, roughly chopped
Lemon-Honey Vinaigrette {see below}
Pickled Shallots {see below}
Caramelized Peaches {see below}

1. Divide ingredients between two plates. Drizzle with vinaigrette to taste.

Lemon-Honey Vinaigrette 

Juice of half a lemon
1 teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Sprinkle of salt
Sprinkle of pepper
About 1/4 cup olive oil

1. In a small bowl, whisk together first six ingredients. Continue whisking while you stream in olive oil to emulsify. Drizzle over salad.

Quick Pickled Shallots
Barely adapted from Bon Appetit

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
Water
3 large shallots, finely sliced

1. In a small saucepan, bring cider vinegar, sugar and salt to a boil. Simmer until the sugar and salt have dissolved.

2. Pour hot liquid over sliced shallots in a small canning jar. Top with lid but leave loose. Let cool on counter top. {They will soften and absorb the pickling flavor in about an hour, but the longer they sit the better, so if you think to do this a few days ahead, you'll get the best results!}

3. Refrigerate for future use.

Caramelized Peaches

1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 large ripe peach, sliced into 8 pieces

1. In a small skillet, melt butter over medium high heat. Add brown sugar and stir, allowing the sugar to dissolve and the mixture to become bubbly.

2. Add the peaches to the sugar mixture and cook until some of the juices begin to leak out and the caramel mixture begins to thicken, about 3-4 minutes.

3. Flip the peaches to cook and caramelize other sides, turning carefully as not to break them up. Swirl them around a bit in the pan to coat them in the sugar mixture and cook for another 2-3 minutes or until the liquid has become syrupy and the peaches are softened and caramelized.

Note: These would be SO GOOD over vanilla ice cream. Or with a crumble topping. Or alone. They're good. Did I say that already?

Barolo Ristorante | North Palm Beach, Florida

I've become pretty picky when it comes to Italian food. Between being schooled by my in-laws and eating my father-in-law's amazing home-cooked versions of all the classics, it's safe to say that my standards have been raised by leaps and bounds.

So, when I received an invite from Barolo Ristorante in North Palm Beach to come dine at their restaurant, I was cautiously optimistic. It looked nice. Sounded good. Seemed worth a try. But I wasn't going in with lofty expectations, just in case.

Barolo has been around for about 6 months, and in that time, they've found great success in doing what they do best -- pouring perfectionism into their dishes and providing a wonderful dining experience for patrons.

I chatted with Barolo's General Manager, Anthony Cammarano, who told us a bit about the labor of love that goes into creating the ideal restaurant, menu, and service. For him, it all starts with seeing the experience through the eyes of a customer, starting right at the front door. He asks himself, "What am I seeing, hearing, and smelling from the moment I walk in?" He knows that, as is the case in meeting individuals, the first impressions often sets the tone.

From our first few minutes at Barolo, I knew we'd "hit it off" just fine. The dining room was low lit and attractive {even romantic, one might say}, with a modern feel and clean lines -- no rustic barrels draped with fake grapes at this Italian restaurant. A view of  their climate-controlled wine room subtly nudges diners to peruse the extensive wine collection and indulge in a glass or two. {Though sadly, I had to stick with water this time. Is it November yet?!}

Where the impression of the surroundings leave off, the service picks up with their friendly staff. We immediately loved our server, who not only was sweet and bubbly, but also knew the menu and was able to quickly get the answer to anything she didn't know offhand. {Like, "Is there raw egg in the Caesar dressing?" Gah, I hate being that pregnant person.} She promptly offered suggestions and her opinion on anything we couldn't decide on right away -- very accommodating and patient... we got carried away with the chatting a took a while to order.

Steve and I both decided to go with the Prix-Fixe that Barolo is promoting for the summer. Four courses plus wine sounded like a good deal. But first, we started off with an appetizer: a classic Italian antipasto, which my dear husband cannot pass up if it is offered. I obliged to his suggestion, but soon remembered that technically I shouldn't eat half the stuff on the platter! Oops. You could tell that the items were high quality; the cheeses, cured meats and veggies made a beautiful presentation.

Next course was salad and soup; I had the Minestrone and Steve the Caesar salad. The soup reminded me of "grandma soup". That's a good thing as far as I'm concerned.

The entrees came and I was actually surprised at the portion sizes, especially for a fine dining spot. I had the Sole Francese, which was served over sauteed spinach and fingerling potatoes, and Steve had the Veal Pizzaiola. Both looked beautiful, and I though the fish was delicious, though I had a little remorse over not going rogue and getting one of their homemade pasta dishes. The entree did come with pasta -- spaghetti with marinara -- which was good, but I felt like it probably didn't speak for their other, more exciting options.

Though everything was delightful, I must confess there was one downfall to the meal: Dessert. The Prix Fixe menu comes with a standard scoop of gelato with a drizzle of chocolate sauce, which is sort of boring, but never underappreciated in my world. But :::gasp::: I actually wasn't a fan of the gelato! You know how sometimes ice cream that's left in the freezer too long gets a sort of chewy edge around the top? I kept finding those in my scoop, which made for a very sad pregnant girl. The gelato itself wasn't smooth and silky, but sort of icy. Did it stop me from eating the whole thing? Nope. But after such a great experience, I wished it had ended on a better note! Next time, we spring for a dessert OFF the Prix Fixe!

My final conclusion: Barolo is going to do just fine. From the happy chatter around us from other folks enjoying their meals to the rave reviews they've already managed to acquire on Yelp and Facebook, it seems the community has spoken.

When we visit again {I think this place would be Mama & Papa Muscari approved, which says a lot}, I'm going to choose more creatively, because I really think they have something special to offer.

Thanks so much for the great visit!