The Ultimate Foodcation
What is a foodcation you ask? Isn't every vacation a foodcation? As any true foodie will tell you, a vacation is not a vacation without incredible food. In Palm Beach, Florida, you can take your vacation to another level with an ultimate Taste History Culinary Tour that introduces you to incredible local flavors, emerging art and the history of the area. Top it off with a stay at the historic and gastronomically significant, Chesterfield Palm Beach, and the perfect foodcation awaits.
Check into The Chesterfield
Every good foodcation should start with a hotel that offers great cuisine. Cross over the bridge from downtown West Palm Beach onto the historic Palm Beach Island and you are welcomed by rows of stately palm trees and beautiful early 20th century Mediterranean architecture. Built in 1926 as the Lido-Venice, the quaint Chesterfield Palm Beach is a registered historic landmark with a fantastic restaurant. Part of the family-owned Red Carnation Hotel collection, this cozy and elegant 52 room property is the only one that is in the U.S. Every room is different at the Chesterfield and each are equally luxurious and lovely. Hand painted animals are found on walls throughout the hotel, which are both elegant and fun.
The Chesterfield Palm Beach is home to the swanky Leopard Lounge, a local favorite where the food and decor match the name - sleek, elegant and adventurous. Afternoon tea at the Leopard Lounge is not to be missed (more on this later) and be sure to ask for the prince or princess tea for the little ones. Dinner is one of the best on the island, but plan to stay for a while - the dance floor is hard to resist.
A couple of blocks from the hotel is the famous and fabulous Worth Avenue, home to some of the world's most prestigious shops. We had a wonderful time strolling, window shopping and admiring the architecture. And, this is Florida, so a gorgeous beach is just a few blocks away.
Taste History Culinary Tour
Plan your trip to Palm Beach on a weekend because each Saturday, Lori J. Durante, executive director of Taste History Culinary Tours, curates the perfect day with stops at locally owned eateries, local art and historic districts and galleries. The tour leaves from Boynton Beach and Lori fills you in on local history while pointing out interesting sites along the way. The tour covers different areas each week and with dozens of local partners, no two tours are alike. I was hesitant to bring my daughter; 4-5 hours seemed like a long day for an eight year old, but I am so glad I did.
It's Fun for Kids, Too
The pace is perfect and my daughter, as well as the other children on the tour, couldn't wait to see what was next. The businesses were prepared to receive the little ones and made sure they were taken care of. From 'kid food' made for them, to artwork presented by artist and owner of an art gallery, to a prince/princess tea, they were thoroughly entertained and made to feel so special.
We had the opportunity to tour historic West Palm's Arts and Entertainment District, Palm Beach and the historic Northwood area. Here are some of the places we visited on the tour:
- Dontee's Diner, established in 1990, in West Palm Beach's 'cultural corridor' is an exquisite traditional Greek diner with the most incredible spinach pie, moussaka and Greek salad. The kids were treated to their favorite dishes in special seats at what the kids referred to as the "kid's counter."
- The Box Gallery, also in West Palm Beach's 'cultural corridor,' has a stunning array of paintings by local artists. We were greeted by the owner, a local artist, who is warm and charming - he even presented the kids with their own work of art to take home.
- The Chesterfield Palm Beach is one of only three hotels on Palm Beach Island offering traditional English Tea service, complete with delicious mini sandwiches, incredible pastries and scones with clotted cream that are to die for. PB and J, hot chocolate and mini cupcakes fit for a prince or princess. Perfection.
- Café Sweets Bakery, located in Downtown West Palm Beach/Arts & Entertainment District, was the perfect stop for traditional bakery fare - yummy mini-cupcakes, gourmet brownies, mini pies and more.
- Banko Cantina, also in the Downtown West Palm Beach/Arts & Entertainment District, is housed in a cool and gorgeously decorated 1921 historic building listed on the National Registry. Drool over stunning Mexican themed art while munching on gorgeous mesquite-grilled skewers, fresh guacamole and incredible salsa. This whole place is a work of art.
- Habatat Galleries, also in the Arts & Entertainment District is in a circa 1921 building in the Clematis Street Historic Business District (which is a district officially designated by the National Trust for Historic Places). Mostly glass art, this gallery is the place you are sure to find a piece of vibrant art that you cannot live without. And, right outside the door of the Habatat, there are mesmerizing murals painted by local artists.
- Olivia's Special Teas is located in the historic Pershing Hotel building, which was constructed in 1926 in Northwood Village District in West Palm Beach (which has recently been designated a Florida Main Street by the State of Florida Historic Preservation Division). Olivia's Special Teas offers yummy loose leaf teas in over 50 different flavors, organic herbal craft-brewed kombucha, fine raw honeys and more. Owned and operated by a sweet family, they make their own products and distribute them nationally. We loved their kombucha - so refreshing and healthy.
- Bohemïa ArtHaus & Gelateria is also in Northwood Village District in West Palm Beach. This funky part art gallery, part gelateria was a favorite. Their gelato flavors are wonderfully unique and change often. We tried the unfiltered apple cider gelato with Saigon cinnamon and pink peppercorn and it was seriously one of the best things I have ever tasted in my life.
Dontee's Diner and The Box Gallery in West Palm Beach's Cultural Corridor (bottom right photo by Janis Bucher) 
Café Sweets Bakery and Banko Cantina (bottom right photo by Janis Bucher)
Habatat Gallery and Murals in the Arts and Entertainment District
Olivia's Special Teas and Bohemïa ArtHaus and Gelateria
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QAwepj3APs
The Taste History Culinary Tours are 3-5 hours long, held on Saturdays and explore different areas of Palm Beach County (historic West Palm Beach tours are held the first Saturday; Lake Worth and Lantana are held on the second Saturday and the tours of Delray Beach and Boynton Beach are held on the third and fourth Saturdays, plus private group tours are available during the week). The Taste History Culinary Tours are conducted by the Museum of Lifestyle & Fashion History, which is a non-profit organization.
The Chesterfield Palm Beach is a four-star Red Carnation hotel located at 363 Cocoanut Row, Palm Beach, FL 33480.
The author and her daughter were guests of The Chesterfield Palm Beach and Taste History Culinary Tours for the purpose of this review. All opinions are her own.
