Food Editor: We say goodbye to a beloved pizza restaurant. Local chefs feed Hurricane Ian survivors.
Arrivederci to one of Palm Beach County’s most iconic pizzerias, one powered by a love story and terrific, creative pizza. (The secret was in the dough, a recipe that remains a secret.)
Pizza Girls, the pizzeria, is no more. The Palm Beach Gardens spot closed without much warning last Friday night. It was the second and only remaining location of the funky pizza brand born more than two decades ago in downtown West Palm Beach.
I don’t think I’ll soon forget the delicious corned beef and cabbage pizza the “Girls,” owners Phoebe Reckseit and Jennifer Morales, made for St. Patrick’s Day this year. It was a thick, square pie topped with the Irish classics and dotted with spicy mustard. So generously loaded atop that killer crust.
Why did they close? It’s complicated – you can read all about that here.
And here’s my story on how they became “the Pizza Girls,” their early days and their love story.
Craving Italian food?: New Italian restaurants, pizza spots in Palm Beach County
'Best Places to Eat in Florida': 8 restaurants in Palm Beach County made Yelp list
New Chinese food takeout options: Nostalgia drives wave of new restaurants, delivery shops to Palm Beach County
Want to find a new spot to dine?: Restaurant openings in Palm Beach County during 2022
At the Table Newsletter: Sign up to receive restaurant news and reviews
Hurricane Ian relief: ‘It could have been us’
A week after Hurricane Ian barreled through the Fort Myers area, a mini-wave of relief efforts swept in from Palm Beach County restaurants and chefs. Some set up meal distribution sites. Others offered to donate a portion of sales. All gestures from the land of “it could have been us.”
That thought motivated Jupiter chef and restaurateur David Schroeder and his team to drive to a Cape Coral church Tuesday, bringing enough trays of pasta to feed 400 storm survivors.
“We’re unaffected but people over there still don’t have power. Something as simple as a hot meal is unavailable,” Schroeder, who owns Brick and Barrel and Tavern Pi restaurants in Abacoa, told me by phone Wednesday.
A day earlier, West Palm Beach chef/restaurateur Julien Gremaud (Avocado Grill, Avocado Cantina) and Field of Greens partner Hess Musallet cooked a paella-size pan of jambalaya for storm survivors in Estero.
“Being able to provide a warm meal to someone who hasn’t eaten in days is something I can’t even put into words,” says Gremaud.
And many other Palm Beach County locals have stepped up to help those impacted by the storm. I’ll have more about this Sunday, when my story about their efforts goes live on The Post’s online “restaurants” page.
Pink is the new orange
October may belong to the pumpkin colors of fall but the month kicks off in shades of pink, thanks to National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
What it means for you is plenty of pink food and drink options at local restaurants. You’ve got pink ramen noodles, rose-colored latte, fuchsia hummus, strawberries-and-cream doughnuts, pink-glazed croissants and more.
Restaurant news: Enjoy these pink-for-a-cause bites, dining deals for Breast Cancer Awareness
When does that new place open?
Those fans of Eastern/Southeastern Asian flavors who may be waiting for Blackbird Modern Asian’s debut in Jupiter, your wait may soon be over.
A restaurant rep tells me the upscale eatery and lounge is expected to open within two weeks. Blackbird is owned by the team behind Papichulo Tacos, which sits right around the corner. Partners are Scott Frielich (Sub-Culture Restaurant Group), Angelo Abbenante (Lynora’s) and Cleve Mash (Clematis Social).
When taste buds rumba
There’s one more week left before Hispanic Heritage Month calls it a wrap for the year. That’s a good enough reason to indulge in tacos de birria, a proper ceviche, a deliciously stuffed empanada, a mean mofongo or/and a cafecito cubano.
Of course, we can devour these and other Latino dishes any time of the year. But this is as good a time as any. If you need a mini-guide, here’s my trusty roundup of some favorite bites:
Local Latino dishes we love: Best restaurants for tacos, Cuban coffee, empanadas and more
More from Liz Balmaseda:
In Boca Raton, these Bad Bunny cookies have heart eyes for you
Tennis star Naomi Osaka's favorite healthy restaurant opens another location in Palm Beach County
'Best Donut Shop in America' features Latin food specials in West Palm for Hispanic Heritage Month
Liz Balmaseda is a Pulitzer Prize-winning Cuban-American journalist for the Palm Beach Post, part of the USA Today Network and oversees our daily food coverage. Follow her on Twitter, Instagram and Post on Food Facebook. She can be reached by email at lbalmaseda@pbpost.com. Support local journalism by subscribing to the Palm Beach Post.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Restaurants: Pizza Girls closes. Chefs feed Hurricane Ian survivors.
