Tastemakers of Delray Beach

TASTEMAKERS 2014
The first year my husband and I went to Tastemakers was five years ago. There were over twenty restaurants participating and the price was twenty dollars. Last year the number of restaurants went down to eighteen and the price was thirty dollars. This year the number of restaurants was down to thirteen and the price was still thirty dollars.
For anyone who is not familiar with Tastemakers– You are given a passport with each participating restaurant listed. When you get to a restaurant they sign your passport and give you a small serving of food and a drink, either wine or a cocktail. You can go to all the restaurants in one night or spread it out over two nights. I wanted to finish all thirteen restaurants on the first day, but the rains came. We waited and waited before making a run for our car. We had three more restaurants and decided to return on day two.
Our first stop was DECK 84. We were lead to an outside area near the rear of the restaurant. The drink was a Dark n’ Stormy and the food was a spoonful of ahi tuna ceviche. We found a seat at a picnic table. The drink was really delicious and was a good size for a sample. The ceviche was delicious also, but I wanted more then a spoonful.
CAFFE’ LUNA ROSA. They had lobster and crab bisque and Riesling. Both the bisque and wine were good but they should have been ashamed to give such a small serving. There was little more then a spoonful of soup and wine. (see my picture). They also didn’t have anywhere to sit. It wasn’t exactly welcoming.
50 OCEAN was next door. What a contrast. We took an elevator to the second floor, where we were directed to a room where they were making grouper tacos and cilantro ginger coolers. The drink was gin, ginger cognac, lime, orange juice, cilantro, and soda. The fish taco was delicious and the drink was great. There were plenty of places to sit either inside in the air conditioning or outside on their patio.
Our next stop was DIG. They served a small plate with a mini hummus trio and their drink was Sauvignon Blanc. Both the food and wine was good, although the servings were small. There were plenty of tables and chairs on their beautiful patio.
LEMONGRASS served Hawaiian fried rice and a lychee martini. My fried rice had shrimp and cashew nuts and the serving size was good. The person who came after me were disappointed because she just got fried rice with nothing added. The drink was good but small. They only had one table with chairs which was full. It would have been nice to be able to sit while I was eating.
MUSCLE BEACH gave three muscles and rose’ wine. Very tasty. They allowed you to sit inside the restaurant or outside.
THE OFFICE gave out a fried green tomato and sangria. The tomato was so delicious and the full glass of sangria was refreshing. They had plenty of outside tables and chairs.
SOLITA did better than last year. They gave one meatball. Although it wasn’t large, it was bigger then the tiny one they gave out last year. The drink was a full glass of sangria. They had plenty of places to sit on the outside patio.
EL CAMINO gave a taco and a margarita. The taco was really tasty and I enjoyed the margarita. They allowed you to sit in the restaurant, although it was pretty crowded.
FYI Frozen Yogurt and Ice Cream was wonderful. I had their pistachio almond ice cream and it was delicious. The serving size was about a cup which was great. I also got to taste a few of their others flavors. The two brothers that wore working there were so enthusiastic and friendly. They have a covered patio with tables and chairs.
DAY 2
We started out at VIC & ANGELOS. They served a small plate of rigatoni Bolognese. It was really delicious. I plan to go back to the restaurant to get more. The drink was your choice of a tiny serving of red or white wine. Most of their outside tables had reserved signs even though there weren’t any outside customers. It was obvious they didn’t want you to sit there. They had one outside couch but it was full.
CABANA served an anticucho, which is marinated steak on a stick with onion salsa. Mine was very tasty but my husband said his was stringy. Their drink was a small glass of plain or strawberry caipirinha. I loved the drink. They let you sit at their outside bar.
Our last stop was at our favorite Thai restaurant ZIREE. They gave two fried wontons and a salad with their special dressing. It was delicious. I enjoyed their drink which was a saketini. They had tables and chairs set up on their patio in front of the restaurant.
I loved that each restaurant had a place for trash and recycling.
Most of the restaurants were great. MY PICK FOR THE WORST WAS LUNA ROSA. Their bisque was delicious, but the serving was very tiny and they didn’t have any place to sit.