FINE DINING IN PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA PALM BEACH COUNTY CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU 1555 Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard, Suite 204 West Palm Beach, Florida (800) 833-5733 or (407) 471-3995 KIWI INTERNATIONAL AIR LINES 1-800-JET-KIWI (538-5494) FOUR SEASONS OCEAN GRAND 2800 South Ocean Boulevard Palm Beach, FL 33480 (800) 432-2335 or (407) 582-2800 BOCA RATON RESORT & CLUB (800) 327-0101 or (407) 395-3000 THE BREAKERS (800) 833-3141 or (407) 659-8465 THE RITZ CARLTON, PALM BEACH (800) 241-3333 or (407) 533-6000 PGA NATIONAL RESORT & SPA (800) 843-7725 or (407) 627-2000 There must be a reason why visitors flock to PALM BEACH, FLORIDA--it is probably the same reason that celebrities, wealthy businessmen, politicians, and other famous folks have homes there. It could be the crystal blue water, miles of sandy beaches, Caribbean vegetation, and marvelous climate, along with all the art and cultural activities and its fascinating history. Whatever the motivation, PALM BEACH is the ideal destination for those seeking a luxurious respite from everyday life. For further incentive (as if you needed it), the Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau offers a coupon book, "$500 Worth of Palm Beaches Free." Valid from April through December, this annual publication has discounts, two-for-one offers, and other savings on shopping, dining, sports, and attractions valued at well over $1,000. To get your free copy, write or call the number above. The best way to get to PALM BEACH is KIWI INTERNATIONAL AIR LINES. This employee-owned and -operated airlines has been in business for only a year and a half and already they have served over a million passengers. And although KIWI has dedicated themselves to high quality service (your luggage actually arrives at Baggage Claim before you do!), they have some of the cheapest air fares around. After only seven months they were recognized for "the best coach food service" by the In-Flight Food Service Association. Improving on success, they have recently contracted with ALPHA Flight Services to provide gourmet meals on their flights. Passengers will enjoy healthy meals made only from fresh products presented and prepared with a distinctive flair. Menus are rotated frequently and include custom-ground coffee, high-quality teas, and spring water. Based at Newark International Airport, KIWI has two daily flights to West Palm Beach. And now that KIWI has whet your appetite for exceptional food, you can continue the experience while you are in PALM BEACH. At the elegant FOUR SEASONS OCEAN GRAND, Executive Chef Hubert Des Marais is a master at titillating your tastebuds. His dishes are a wondrous blend of exquisite tastes and light ingredients, presented so beautifully that you are hesitant to eat them (but not for long!). In the graceful OCEAN GRAND Dining Room, you can begin your meal with Asparagus Encased in Belgian Endive topped with a delicious Truffle Vinaigrette. For an entree you can choose local specialties, such as Seared Atlantic Salmon, Cashew & Coconut Crumbled Banana River Soft Shell Crabs, or Yellowtail Snapper with Watermelon, or go for the exotic with Barbecued Barbarie Duck. All are guaranteed to be culinary masterpieces under Chef Des Marais' guidance. For dessert you'll be thrilled with the Pastry Chef's Selections, a sampling of superior sweet confections; and if there is any opportunity to taste Des Marais' renowned cookies, take advantage of it. The OCEAN GRAND has a wine list of nearly 250 selections. Put your total trust in Ken, the Sommelier; he is a wizard at pairing the Chef's food with the perfect wine. The FOUR SEASONS OCEAN GRAND should be at the top of the list for anyone seeking a sensational gastronomic experience. THE BREAKERS is a splendid oceanfront resort created in the Italian Renaissance style. Here you can enjoy "Palm Beach Cuisine," colorful and healthy dishes inspired by fresh vegetables, fruits, and seafood indigenous to South Florida and created by THE BREAKERS' culinary staff. Executive Chef Matthias Radits has a wicked handlebar moustache with a creative imagination to match. His Organically Grown Greens Salad with Fresh Herbs and Edible Blossoms is such a glorious sight that you want to wrap it up and send it to someone you love. Add a little of his melt-in-your-mouth Cold Smoked Foie Gras and Mango-Basil Vinaigrette, and you have the perfect beginning of an inspired dining event. For a true taste of PALM BEACH, try the Napoleon of Black Grouper and Fresh Sea Scallops; they are sumptuously seasoned and served with Fried Leeks, Essence of Ginger, and Florida Citrus. Using the same artistic genius, Radits will whip up a dessert that will consummate his culinary mastery. The good news is that Chef Radits is willing to share his secrets. This summer THE BREAKERS will offer a Culinary Camp for ages 12 to 17; contact the hotel for details. The BOCA RATON RESORT & CLUB is only one of six resorts in the United States to have the honor of receiving both a five-star and five- diamond rating, so if you are a guest or a member of the resort, you can expect exceptional dining. Executive Chef Brian O'Neil has an "anything goes" attitude, and his imaginative couplings are superb. He tops his Macadamia Crusted Ahi with Fig Wine Sauce; his Sauteed Lobster Cake and Ginger Noodles are flavored with Scotch-Bonnet and Mango Vinaigrette; he dusts his delectable Crispy-Seared Striped Bass with cornmeal; and his Hunan-Style Sesame Lamb is a masterpiece. For dessert try the Praline Citron Sorbet; the two distinct flavors ricochet around your mouth and explode in a heavenly harmony. It's enough to make you want to become a member of the BOCA RATON RESORT & CLUB! The RITZ CARLTON, PALM BEACH have extended their tradition of meeting their guests' every need to their cuisine. They have developed "Cuisine Vitale," menu items that fit into the dietary guidelines of the American Heart Association for total fat, saturated fatty acids, cholesterol, and sodium. And to assure that these items are tasty as well as attractive, they have brought in Executive Chef Brian Stapleton. Some of his creations include Corn and Sweet Potato Soup with Bay Scallops and Tofu, Chilled Shrimp with a Gazpacho Timbale, Grilled Local Grouper with Papaya Vinaigrette, Grilled Peppered Swordfish with Keylime Glaze, and Fitness Beef Tenderloin. The RITZ CARLTON, PALM BEACH and Chef Stapleton have put a new savory twist on the AHA's recommendations. For the ultimate in "Indulging Without Bulging" cuisine, a trip to the PGA NATIONAL RESORT & SPA in West Palm Beach is a must. These folks have perfected their spa cuisine so well that you have to keep reminding yourself that it's healthy. Spa Cuisine (less than 20% fat) and Sports Nutrition Plan (less than 30% fat) selections are available on every menu and include mouth-watering choices, such as American Buffalo Burgers, Fajitas, Pizzas, Sushi, Pastas, Soups, and Salads. They have even developed a low-fat Chocolate Spa Tart. Combine their cuisine with their world-renowned spa, and you could end up losing weight on your next vacation. There are plenty of reasons to visit wonderful PALM BEACH. Grand hotels and resorts with talented chefs responding to today's health consciousness should be among them. Enjoy! -Laurie Lawson-