Pairings

The food and drinks were delicious. Almost everyone went out of their way to be friendly and welcoming. My favorite was Café Sweets Bakery which was our last stop. The owner invited us in, gave us coffee, and told us to take as many of their delicious cupcakes as we wanted. My least favorites were Dunkin Donuts and O’Shea’s Irish Pub. We got to Dunkin Donuts a few minutes after 9 PM. They were already closed and appeared to be counting donuts. I waved to them and they just shook their heads and ignored us. People sitting outside said they weren’t letting anybody in. O’Shea’s served a tiny little piece of shepherds pie. It was dry and not very good. It’s a pity because Dunkin Donuts and O’Shea’s Irish Pub missed a great opportunity to get new customers.
You could buy advance tickets for Pairings on the internet for $ 25 plus a processing fee, or pay $ 30 at the event. (I hate when they charge extra to buy tickets on the internet.) Pairings was scheduled to run from 5:30 PM to 9 PM. There were no lines and checking in was quick and easy. My husband and I were each given credentials to wear around our necks and a booklet with a map and the names of each participating business and what they would be offering. Most of the business were an easy walk, but we could catch a free trolley ride if we needed it.
I’m listing the businesses in the order we visited them.
1. The Wine Dive– falafel with tahini. Drink– sangria.
2. Duffy’s Sport Bar & Grill– Chicken stir fry. Drink– pomegranate martini.
3. CJ’s Fashion Cuisine– avocado wedge with buttermilk chicken. Drink– martini.
4. Pistache French Bistro– pork belly with lentil salad. Drink– wine.
5. Hamburger Haven– meatloaf slider. Drink– raspberry sweet tea.
6.The Tin Fish– conch chowder. Drink-​Tin Fish tea, sort of like a Long Island tea.
7. E.R. Bradley’s Saloon– cerviche and chips. Drink– white sangria.
8. Bee Organics-​raw vegan pad Thai. Drink– maple cleanse.
9. Bar Louie– flatbread, Later they were serving sliders. Drink– cocktail
10. Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar– guacamole, chips, salsa. Drink– Margarita
11. Off The Hookah– ceviche. Drink– white wine.
12. Leila Restaurant– chicken with hummus Drink– mojito
13. Subculture Coffee– cocoanut oatmeal cookie Drink– coffee
14. Hullabaloo– roast pork sandwich Drink– craft beer
15. Longboards– crab cake Drink– sangria
16. Te Mana Kava Bar Drink– kava
17. Clematis Pizza– cheese pizza and chicken Marsala. Drink– wine
18. Best Darn Kettlecorn– bag of kettlecorn
19. O’Sheas Irish Pub– shepherd’s pie, chicken pie, or guinnesse pie Drink-​wine
20. Cabana Neuvo Latino– antcucho Drink– caipirinha
21. Café Sweets Bakery– mini cupcakes. Drink coffee.
We didn’t get to Sanctuary Salon and Spa. I heard they gave wonderful massages. We also missed The Backyard Bar, Sky 309, and Dunkin Donuts.
Palm Beach Dramaworks offered two for one theater tickets, and Design Within Reach let us pose for pictures.