Experience Lake Worth and Lantana like a local with Taste History Culinary Tours, a company that offers not only great food but art and history of the area as well. Taste History is a multi-dimensional experience that focuses on neighborhoods with an emerging art scene, lots of local history, and great food from family-owned eateries. This Florida culinary tour will be a trip highlight.
Meeting at the Boynton Beach Mall outside of Macy’s East Entrance, Lori Durante greeted everyone with her infectious signature smile and introduced everyone. Our small group settled into our private, air-conditioned coach and began our tour. Lori gave us a brief history of the area including the local Native tribes who settled the area, and the founders of Lake Worth. Lori is an excellent story teller and gently pulls you into her tales. Too soon we were at our first stop.
Walking past some of the outdoor murals is one way to work off the the food you’ll enjoy on the tour.
Café Tecún
Delmy and Sean Rodriguez, the owners of Café Tecún, a Latin restaurant, embody their motto, “Latin food with Love.” Using fresh ingredients each dish is individually prepared. Delmy and Sean served us a Mexican salad, a Guatemalan tamale with rice, and Horchata, a drink made with rice and milk. Each dish was tasty and had just enough spice to wake up your taste buds.
Taste History Culinary Tours’ Lori Durante (L) poses with Café Tecún’s Delmy Rodriguez.
Java Juice Bar
Our next stop on our walking tour of Lake Worth was Java Juice Bar, owned by Commissioner Andy Amorosso. This walk-up juice bar served a delicious and fresh chicken curry wrap and strawberry banana smoothies. The smoothies were amazing and refreshing!
Java Juice bar.
Artisans on the Ave Gallery
Next up was an art experience at Artisans on the Ave. Betty Wilson and her daughter-in-law, artist Linda Manganaro, own the gallery which is a co-op of 40 artists. Betty enthusiastically told us about the studio’s history and the artisans. Working with an array of mediums, including wood, pottery, jewelry and paintings among them, the showcased artisans’ work is exquisite.
Mary Ellen Dohrs, one of the gallery’s artists at Artisans on the Ave, with some of the gallery’s works.
C.W.S. Bar & Kitchen
Our next stop, CWS Bar & Kitchen, is an eclectic, funky bar that is on the site of the former Rest-a-Wile Diner. CWS has a very relaxed, laid-back vibe, perfect for hanging out with friends on a Friday or Saturday night. Located on Lucerne Avenue in the heart of Lake Worth, the outside area has several long tables with lights and plants for decoration. The inside boasts leather seating, and an inviting fireplace and an extensive bar.
Known for their unique craft cocktails, we had an opportunity to try one of their in-house creations, the Delicious Sour. Made with Templeton Rye Whiskey, Disaronno Amaretto pressed citrus, egg white and apricot it was unlike anything we have ever tasted, and it was delicious.
C.W.S. Bar & Kitchen.
Brogues Down Under
From CWS, we walked down to Brogues Down Under. Owned by the Regan family, we had a chance to chat with Rod Regan. This local eatery specializes in dishes from Ireland, New Zealand and Australia. The chicken curry was scrumptious with hints of coconut!
Judy’s Cheese and Wine Café
Our final stop of the day was Judy’s Wine & Cheese Café in Lantana. Judy Hidalgo, the personable owner, will gladly share her love of food with you. Olive Tapenade served with fresh, homemade bread, and Judy’s most popular dish, The Greek Rice Bowl were fantastic!
Judy Hidalgo with her Greek Rice Bowl.
A delicious iced coffee was the perfect finish to our meal.
The Emerging Lake Worth Art Scene
Lake Worth is filled with street art. As we walked, Lori pointed out some of the more impressive murals and shared some of the art projects that the city has planned for the future. Inside the Post Office is one of Joseph D. Myers paintings, “Settler Fighting Alligator from Rowboat.”
With our stomachs happily sated, we headed back to the Boynton Beach Mall. During the ride back, Lori gave us a quick recap of the places we had visited.
We cannot recommend this tour enough! Each stop brought awareness to the culture and flavor of Lake Worth and Lantana. The tours are perfect for both new visitors to the area and locals. No tour is alike, so there is always an element of surprise.
Artisans on the Ave is just one of the growing umber of art galleries in the area.
Tips for Your Florida Culinary Tour
- These tours are very popular and sell out quickly. Lori recommends that you book ahead.
- Tours take place rain or shine, so check the weather and bring sunblock, hat, umbrella, etc.
- Wear comfortable shoes. You will be doing some walking, and some places you visit will be standing room only.
- The tour is child-friendly.
- The tour cannot accommodate dietary restrictions or dietary substitutions.
- Tours rotate between West Palm Beach, Lake Worth & Lantana, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach.
- Taste History can arrange private tours during the week.
- To learn more about Palm Beach County, all while eating delicious food, check out Taste History’s website.
For More:
- Taste History Culinary Tours, tastehistoryculinarytours.org/
- Café Tecun, www.facebook.com/cafetecunlakeworth/
- Java Juice Bar, www.javajuicebar.net/
- Artisans on the Ave, www.artisansontheave.com/
- CWS Bar & Kitchen, www.cwslw.com/
- Brogues Down Under, www.broguesdownunder.com/
- Judy’s Wine & Cheese Café, www.cheeseandwinecafe.com/
- Boyton Beach Mall, www.boyntonbeachmall.com/
-Note: A big thank you to Lori and Taste History Culinary Tours for hosting us. As always, all opinions are our own.
-All photos by Jim Hill.
