Reviews | Page 4 | Vero Beach Foodie

Baci Trattoria – Restaurant Review

by Eden Colonna – Vero Vine Intern / Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts Student

More and more locals are finding their way to downtown Vero Beach due to the abundance of new, up and coming neighborhood eateries. One such eatery is Baci Trattoria. Specializing in authentic Italian cuisine, they serve a large variety of tasteful breakfast and lunch options in generous portions.

Upon my arrival at Baci, proprietor Karen Fulchini kindly greeted us outside and accompanied us to our table. I instantly felt a warm welcome, and I could smell the aromas of the delicious foods waiting for us inside! They offer both beautifully decorated indoor and outdoor seating. In the summer, when it is almost too hot to eat outside, fans are located all around the outdoor patio for your added comfort.

Now let’s jump in and see what we had to eat!

Joan Rivers Omelette – ($10.95) – There is definitely a back story of how this omelet got it’s name, so make sure you ask Karen about it next time you are there. The omelette was fluffy and cooked to perfection. Being a fan of the traditional lox, the smoked salmon, green onions and cream cheese had a lovely flavor and texture combo. Salmon can sometimes have an overpowering fishy taste, yet this salmon did not. Crispy home fries were served along side.

Primavera Benedict – ($12.95) – This dish was one of my favorites! The aroma coming from this dish as it was set down on the table was wonderful! It consists of two poached eggs served on top of thick parmigiano polenta wedges, fresh mozzarella, roasted red peppers and fresh spinach. The yolk from the poached egg made the entire dish very rich. The polenta was flavorful and had a satisfying texture with each bite.

Cornetta Nutella di Firenza – ($8.95) – By the sweet smells coming from this pastry dish, you know that you are in for a treat! The outer layer was crispy, while the inside was soft and sweet. The pastry was filled with strawberries, bananas, and the most delicious sweet cream filling. This one is a must order the next time you go to Baci!

If you ever find yourself in Florence, Italy, pastry chefs make these treats late at night and if you find the right back alleys and the correct doors, you can get these heavenly pastries fresh at these secret bakeries.

Eggplant Vesuvius – ($11.99) – When this dish was brought to our table, it was so tall they had to use a bbq skewer to keep it from falling over! The dish is made of eggplant rounds that have been breaded and fried. They are then stacked with fresh mozzarella and chopped basil, and topped with a light tomato wine reduction. The dish was still steaming when they brought it to the table, so we had to let it cool down a bit before tasing. The eggplant was perfectly fried with a slight crunch to it, the tomato wine reduction was still slightly chunky, and had good flavor. A very well put together dish.

NJ Diner Tuna Club – ($10.95) – The triple layered, tuna sandwich is definitely enough for a couple to split. It has a perfect amount of tuna and the flavors and textures from the egg and the tomato made sure that each bite was equally satisfying. The thick-cut steak fries were seasoned with seasoned salt and paired well with the sandwich.

Frutte Di Mare – ($14.95) – This gorgeous dish is served to you in a pot with a lid, so it is a fun surprise once it is placed on the table. I have to say, this is impeccable! The pasta, shrimp, mussels and oysters all soak up the tasty, white garlic sauce, which compliments the entire dish. The seafood was perfectly cooked and was seasoned nicely.

In Conclusion:

I loved dining at Baci Trattoria. Their staff is incredible, they make you feel as if you are apart of the family. Most of the menu items have a backstory as to how they got their name, so be sure to ask your servers about it. Baci is open from 7:00 am to 3:00pm for breakfast and lunch but if you’re hosting a get together, they offer afterhour private events for a small fee. If you’re looking for outstanding food, value, and service, this is definitely the place to go!

About Eden Colonna: Eden is a Sophomore at Florida Atlantic University studying Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts. She desires to pursue a career in the food and beverage industry. Eden’s energetic love for culinary arts has introduced her to Thomas Miller, food blogger and restaurant critic. Eden resides in Vero Beach during the summer and is currently interning for Mr. Miller, writing and reviewing restaurants for verovine.com

Baci Trattoria Website

Hours: Open everyday from 7:00am til 3:00pm

1918 14th Ave, Vero Beach, FL 32960

(772) 794-4747

Bistro Fourchette – Restaurant Review

by Thomas Miller – Food Blogger / Restaurant Critic for Vero Vine

My next tasting experience takes me to Bistro Fourchette in old downtown Vero Beach. They occupy the space where Melody Inn was once located. Owners Chef Stephane Becht and his wife Loretta opened this place in November 2015, serving up some classic French bistro style cuisine. Chef Stephane was the Executive Chef at Windsor, until he realized he would rather run his own restaurant. He turned to internet crowd funding to help pay for the restaurants renovations and raised more than $5,000 in doing so. Does this new restaurant have what it takes to survive in the crowded restaurant scene in Vero Beach? Let’s take a closer look and find out.

If you have driven down 19th Place through downtown Vero, I’m sure you have passed this place by a few times and did not even realize it. They are located at the corner of 14th Ave and 19th place. Parking is in the back as is the entrance for the restaurant. As you enter the building, there is a long hallway that leads to a courtyard where the entrance is located.

Upon entering the restaurant, you come right into the main dining room, with the hostess stand on your right. It’s cozy, yet it does not feel cramped, decoration was subtle with all kinds of different mirrors and some French artwork on the walls. Lighting was dim, but not so much so you could not read the menu. I arrived at 6pm and there was plenty of daylight coming in through the windows.

There is a second dining room separated from the main one by a short hallway, that allows them to seat a total of 80 guests. I was promptly greeted upon entry by Loretta and shown to my table.

Let’s jump right in and see what I had to eat and drink!

French Bread – The bread comes with all meals and was presented shortly after I sat down. It was warm, had a nice crust and was soft on the inside. Real butter was served alongside.

Chablis Bichot, Burgundy, France – ($10.00) – Per Loretta’s recommendation, I tried a glass of this wine with my meal. It had a nice fruity aroma and was light on the palette. It paired nicely with the dishes that I tasted.

Tarte A L’ Onion Avec Chevre Chaud – ($10.00) – The first appetizer of the evening was this wonderful onion tart. The crust for the tarte was made from puff pastry and was feather light and disintegrated in your mouth with each bite. The onions were caramelized nicely and had a subtle sweet flavor. This dish is normally served with goat cheese, but was substituted this evening with Roquefort instead. It has the same tanginess that goat cheese has, but leans more towards the flavor of bleu cheese. It was a worthy substitution as the dish was fantastic!

Steak Tartare “A LA Francaise – ($13.00) – Next dish I selected to taste was the Steak Tartare. This was my first time for steak tartare, so I was anxious to try it. It was served with a raw quails egg still in the shell on top. I poured the quails egg over the top before eating. The chilled tartare contained onions, garlic, parsley and other spices. It was a tad bit under seasoned for my taste, but was very fresh.

Quiche Lorraine – ($19.00) – As this dish was set down in front of me, the aroma of the bacon and Gruyere cheese was intoxicating! This creamy egg pie had a smooth, creamy texture with lots of bacon and cheese which added an over the top flavor experience. The lettuce on the side salad was very fresh and the dressing was light, yet tangy.

Beef Bourguignon – ($22.00) – My last main entree for the evening was the Beef Bourguignon. The beef was braised in red wine, with lardons (bacon), mushrooms, carrots, fingerling potatoes and topped with freshly chopped parsley. The beef was fork tender and the vegetables were all cooked perfectly. The gravy had a slight red wine flavor to it but not overpowering at all. It was delicious!

Coffee Ice Cream Profiteroles – ($6.00) – Shortly after finishing up my entrees, I see Loretta heading my way with this dessert. The dessert contains 3 profiteroles cut in half, a scoop of coffee ice cream in between, and a warm, rich dark chocolate sauce over the top. The coffee flavor in the ice cream was subtle, the profiteroles were light and airy, and the dark chocolate sauce was definitely the star of this dish. It was the consistency of hot fudge and was one of the best I have ever tasted.

In Conclusion:

I moved to Vero a little over 2 years ago from the Midwest, and French food was not something available to me where I used to live, so I was excited to give them a try. Chef Stephane and his wife Loretta take great pride in the food they serve, and I could taste that with each bite. I suggest that you stop by and pay them a visit for a little taste of authentic French cuisine, right here in Vero.

Have you tried Bistro Fourchette? What has your experience been with them? Sound off in the comments below and let me know your thoughts, or feel free to email me at thefoodguy@verovine.com with your questions or comments.

Atmosphere – 5 Forks

Service – 5 Forks

Food – 5 Forks

Ratings Scale Legend:

1 to 5 Forks – 1 Bad to 5 Excellent

Bistro Fourchette on Facebook

They are open Tuesday through Saturday, 5:00pm til 10:00pm, closed Sundays and Mondays

1309 19th Pl, Vero Beach, FL 32960

(772) 770-2071

Planet Yum – Restaurant Review

by Eden Colonna – Vero Vine Intern / Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts Student

View All Vegan Restaurants in Vero Beach | How hard is it to eat Gluten Free in Vero?

Planet Yum, located in Downtown Vero Beach, is one of the few cafes in Vero that offers all vegan options. Originally, their main focus was their vegan popsicles that are exclusively plant based. These corner sold, gluten and dairy free vegan pops were so popular, they led owner, Michael Haggerty to open a cafe around the corner selling not only vegan pops, but other enticing vegan items as well. I’ve heard great things about this place, so let’s jump right in and see what this place has to offer.

Nitro Coffee – ($2.50) – The first menu item we were able to taste was the cold brewed iced coffee with added cane sugar and almond milk. Coffee is always a must for me, but let me tell you, this is my new go to place to sip on an iced coffee this summer. It has that perfect kick of coffee flavor that you’re looking for, without being too strong. Together the almond milk and cane sugar made it perfectly sweet and creamy.

Belgian Waffle – ($5.50) – We were then presented with this beautiful Belgian Waffle sample. It was topped with strawberries, chocolate sauce and homemade coconut whipped cream. These waffles were light and fluffy, and tasted just like a freshly made waffle cone. The coconut whipped cream and chocolate sauce was subtle, however, the strawberries added a delicious, empowering flavor with each bite.

Grilled Bagel Deluxe (GF) – ($4.50) – Moving on we tasted a grilled bagel with vegan chive cream cheese, tomatoes, red onion and sunflower sprouts. There was a perfect mix of textures. The red onion was a bit overpowering, but other than that it was phenomenal. I am a huge fan of chive cream cheese and not only were the ingredients on this bagel appetizing, the bagel by itself was delicious. I loved the flavor it achieves from the grill.

Field Roast Seitan Vegan Burger – ($8.50) – Before I say anything, you must know that this is by far, one of the best burgers I have ever had. You wouldn’t expect it to be vegan. The “burger” patty is simultaneously juicy, crispy and flavorful! The ingredients all compliment each other very well and the texture is perfect!

Vegan Soft Serve in Waffle Bowl – ($5.00) – Just like the burger, you would not expect this chocolate vanilla swirled ice cream to be vegan. The melt-in-your-mouth chocolate shell goes perfectly on top of the sweet and creamy, custard like ice cream. At this point of the review, I was happily stuffed but I could not let this heavenly treat go to waste.

Planet Yum’s Chocolate Almond Sea Salt Pop – ($3.00) – I was too stuffed to try one of Planet Yum’s vegan popsicles so I took one for the road. There is such a wide variety of flavors, yet I was informed that the Chocolate Almond Sea Salt was a big hit so of course I had to try it. To me, it tasted like a chocolate covered fudgesicle with almonds, but without the guilt! It was so creamy, crunchy and a perfect guilt free summer snack!

In Conclusion:

I wholeheartedly enjoyed every second of my experience at Planet Yum. The employees were more than friendly and made you feel right at home! I wish that I had the opportunity to taste every menu item because what I did taste, was outstanding. If you’ve never considered eating an all vegan meal before due to it being stereotypically “bland”, Planet Yum is anything but, so you definitely need to check them out! I recommend It to anyone and everyone!

Planet Yum on Facebook

Planet Yum is open from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and from

11:00 am to 9:00 pm Thursday through Saturday

2121 14th Ave Rear, Vero Beach, FL 32960

(772) 925-1535

Maison Martinique – Restaurant Review

by Thomas Miller – Food Blogger / Restaurant Critic for Vero Vine

My next tasting experience takes me to South Vero Beach for a visit to Maison Martinique, which is part of the Caribbean Court Boutique Hotel. I was invited to come and try some of their new menu items by their two new chefs. Chef Chet Perrotti has been there for a little over 3 months now, and Chef Patrick Hughes joined the team a little over a month ago. I’ve tasted Chef Hughes cooking before at the Top Chef finale where he prepared a fantastic dish, that I thought was the clear winner of the evening, so I was excited to taste more from his kitchen. With a new menu leaning more towards American Contemporary cuisine with a little bit Italian influence. Maison Martinique is the most recent winner of Opentable’s Diners’ Choice award for 2016 so I’m excited to see what they have to offer!

The South Vero Beach area is very beautiful, yet I don’t explore this area of the island very often. Driving across the 17^th Street bridge, and taking it until the road dead ends into Ocean Drive, seems to take you into another world. It’s a much quieter, lush and tropical part of the island. Nestled away behind a row of tropical greenery on Ocean Drive is the Caribbean Court Boutique Hotel.

I was promptly greeted by Gwen Perrotti, the restaurant manager, and seated in the Bamboo Room. The room was tastefully decorated. The lights were dim, which created a very romantic atmosphere. The tables were beautifully set with white table clothes, wine glasses, cloth napkins, and a unique candle holder in the center.

Now on to the food! Let’s jump right in and see what I had to eat and drink!

Italian Rustic Bread – A basket of warm bread was presented to me to start the evening with. It had a nice crusty exterior, but was soft and chewy on the inside. Softened butter was already on the table and made for a nice way to start the meal.

Home Made Meat Balls – ($13.00) – The recipe for these meatballs comes from Chef Chet’s grandmother and is a blend of beef, pork, veal and fresh herbs. They were topped off with marinara sauce and house made ricotta cheese. They were about the size of a baseball and were perfectly seasoned. The sauce had the perfect blend of spices, and the ricotta was a nice finishing touch.

Ahi Tuna Tini – ($13.00) – This was one of my favorites of the night! Presented in a martini glass was freshly diced Ahi tuna with cucumber, avocado, ginger, cilantro and tossed with a sesame seed citrus Ponzu sauce. The tuna portion was very generous, the cucumber was crunchy, and the avocado added a nice texture. The citrus Ponzu sauce added a nice Asian twist to the dish.

Roasted Beets – ($12.00) – This salad consists of roasted golden and red beets, sliced pears, chopped almonds, goat cheese crumbles, cabbage slaw and a red wine herbed dressing on a bed of arugula. The beets were perfectly cooked and very tender. The dressing was minimal, but just the right amount. A perfect summer salad.

Royal Red Shrimp Grattan – ($27.00) – This dish is part of the Rip Tide Nightly specials menu and comes with a first course, this main course or several others to select from, and a dessert, all for the same price. The shrimp were the best part of the dish. They are wild caught from Cape Canaveral and were cooked and seasoned to perfection! The u10 scallop was properly cleaned, had a slight sear on top and was cooked to a perfect medium. The basmati rice had a subtle coconut flavor and paired well with the shrimp. This was an outstanding seafood dish!

Bistro Tender – ($27.00) – This dish is also one of the other choices on the Rip Tide Nightly specials menu. The steak was horseradish encrusted tenderloin that was fire grilled, sliced and served with Yukon gold mashed potatoes, and topped with a port wine demi. The horseradish crust was almost indistinguishable, as I did not taste any of it. The steak was not as tender as I had hoped it would be for a tenderloin, and could have used a touch more seasoning for my taste. The port wine demi was light and flavorful. The mashed potatoes were pressed through a ricer which gave them a nice texture, the green beans had a slight crunch and were seasoned well.

Chef Chet’s Tiramisu – ($10.00) – As you can see from the picture, this is not your typical tiramisu. It does not have the typical dark layer like a traditional tiramisu. It was creamy, the lady fingers were very tender and soaked in a little brandy. The coffee flavor was minimal, so if you are not a big coffee fan, I think you will enjoy this dessert. It was definitely a nice way to round out a fantastic meal.

In Conclusion:

This was my first time dining at this restaurant and I thoroughly enjoyed my time and the dishes that I got to experience during my visit. The two new chefs running the kitchen seem to work very well together, and care about your dining experience. I noticed Chef Perrotti and Chef Hughes in the dining room several times during the evening speaking to the other diners and making sure their meals were to their liking. If you are looking for a secluded, tropical, romantic place to have dinner in Vero Beach, then look no further than Maison Martinique for that dining experience!

Have you tried Maison Martinique? What has your experience been with them? Sound off in the comments below and let me know your thoughts, or feel free to email me at thefoodguy@verovine.com with your questions or comments.

Atmosphere – 5 Forks

Service – 5 Forks

Food – 4 Forks

Ratings Scale Legend:

1 to 5 Forks – 1 Bad to 5 Excellent

Website Link

The RIp Tide Menu is served all night long.

Hours: Monday – Saturday 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM

1603 Ocean Dr, Vero Beach, FL 32963

(772) 231-7299

Reservations: opentable.com

Cajun Cove – Restaurant Review

by Thomas Miller – Food Blogger / Restaurant Critic for Vero Vine

A trip to New Orleans to eat real Cajun food has been on my bucket list for a long time now. Next summer I believe it’s actually going to happen, so I’m excited about checking that trip off my list. In the meantime, I learned that right here in Vero Beach we have a new restaurant serving up some truly authentic Cajun dishes. I was invited by the owner Willie to come by for a tasting of their offerings, so I was definitely excited to get a preview of what I would experience next summer!

Located in Royal Palm Point, they are in the very first buildings to the right hand side as you drive in. We actually missed it and drove all the way into and around Royal Palm Point since the landscaping was blocking our view of the restaurant. We arrived on a Thursday night around 6:00pm for dinner. Upon entering the restaurant, you are greeted with a caricature of a New Orleans band, called the Mud Bug’s, and the hostess stand is on the right. The dining room is quite large, with seating at both tables and booths available. Southwestern colors adorn the walls along with some colorful paintings of New Orleans. We were promptly greeted by the general manager, Anthony Montaivo and seated near the front windows in a booth.

They have a full bar with 12 beers on tap, and some really tasty sounding drinks on the menu.

They do have an outdoor patio with a water view for those of you that would like to have a drink or dine outside. In the picture above was our waitress Annie, and the General Manager Tony enjoying a few of their special cocktails!

Now on to the food! Let’s jump right in and see what we had to eat and drink!

Fresh in-house made French bread with seasoned butter is included with every meal, while the broccoli and cheese corn bread is available as a dinner side. ($3.00) We were provided this as a sample tasting, so this is not a full portion. The French bread was nice and crusty on the outside, but soft on the inside. As most of my regular readers know, I’m not one for broccoli, but I did try the corn bread and it was quite tasty. It was fairly dense and not dry at all. The butter was Cajun seasoned and was not spicy.

Montalvo’s Colada – We asked what was one of the more popular drinks that people order and this one was suggested to us. As for the ingredients in it, the description says “TOP SECRET – Special Blend – Only Tony Knows” We tasted coconut and pineapple in it, it was light, creamy and refreshing!

Bean, Kale, and Andouille Sausage – ($7.00 Cup) – This is a very hearty bean, kale and sausage soup. It brought back memories of the ham and bean soup that my grandfather used to make. It was chock full of sausage and was wonderful!

French Onion Soup – ($7.00 Cup) – This was as tasty as it looks. There was a thick slice of their house made French bread on top covered with a thick layer of cheese. The onions were diced which made the soup a little easier to eat, and the broth had that slow simmered for hours taste. It was absolutely delicious!

Fried Green Tomatoes and Grits – ($9.00) – This was our favorite appetizer of the night. The grits were slightly smoky from the cumin, the green tomatoes were perfectly fried and crunchy. The black eyed peas were tender and delicious, and the balsamic drizzle over the top made it sweet and tangy. This is a well put together dish with so many different flavors and textures.

Cove Sausages Maxi Balls – ($10.00) – Think of these like a Cajun hushpuppy, only with Boudin sausage inside. They were perfectly fried and had a slight crunch to the outside. The inside was dense but not dry at all. The Cove dippin’ sauce had great flavor and a slight amount of heat, just enough to feel it on your tongue a tiny bit.

Cajun Caesar – ($10.00) – This is your typical Caesar salad but with a Cajun seasoned dressing. The lettuce was fresh and crisp, the croutons were homemade, and it was finished with shaved parmesan cheese over the top.

Bleu Cheese Slaw – ($5.00) – I’m a big BBQ fan, and I eat a fair amount of coleslaw. This was creamy and sweet, just the way I like it, but the addition of the Bleu cheese was new for me. It added a new texture and flavor profile to the slaw that was really unique.

Seafood Louisiana – ($38.00) – Just looking at and the wonderful aroma coming from this dish, you know it’s going to be good! The portion is huge, and full of shrimp, scallops, and andouille sausage. The flavors were bold, yet not overwhelming. My dining companion does not like things too spicy, so they were able to tone down the spiciness of the dish quite a bit. If you prefer your food spicier, they can also accommodate your request. This dish also comes with a frosty mug of beer included in the price.

Crawfish Creole – ($20.00) – My first reaction to seeing this was “Look at all of the crawfish in this dish!” Sautéed with green peppers, onions, and tomatoes, the crawfish were cooked perfectly with the onions and peppers having a slight crunch to them. The heat was dialed back again in this dish but it still had a fantastic flavor. If crawfish is not to your liking, this dish is also available with chicken, shrimp, catfish, andouille sausage, and there’s even a vegetarian option!

Beignet – ($5.00) – This was my first ever beignet, and it tasted like heaven! It was warm, soft, and very tender. The beignet was hollow in the center, but had a slight thickness to it. The dough was slightly sweetened and one of the most amazing offerings here at Cajun Cove. They have a separate deep fryer just for these, so there are no worries that your beignet may taste like fish or whatever else they may be frying up. I enjoyed this so much I’m already planning my next visit so I can have another one.

New Orleans Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce – ($7.00) – Bread pudding is one my dining companions favorite desserts, and she said this one does not disappoint. It was warm, had a slight bourbon flavor in the sauce, and was absolutely delicious! We were trying to decide which dessert we liked better, and they are both great in their own respects. We will definitely order both of these next time we go for dinner.

In Conclusion:

Before I try any restaurant in town, I always read reviews from a few different sources to see what others have to say about the restaurant. This place does get mostly good reviews, but some fear that it won’t last due to some of the higher priced entree’s they offer. My opinion is that they do offer enough variety of different dishes at all different price points, that anybody can still come here to enjoy a little bit of New Orleans right here in Vero, so be sure to check them out sometime. Heck, the Beignet’s alone are worth the trip!

Have you tried Cajun Cove? What has your experience been with them? Sound off in the comments below and let me know your thoughts, or feel free to email me at thefoodguy@verovine.com with your questions or comments.

Atmosphere – 5 Forks

Service – 5 Forks

Food – 5 Forks

Ratings Scale Legend:

1 to 5 Forks – 1 Bad to 5 Excellent

Cajun Cove

Happy Hour everyday from 4:00pm till 7:00pm. Ladies Night is on Thursday’s and is from 4:00pm till 7:00pm

89 Royal Palm Pointe, Vero Beach, FL 32960

(772) 617-6359

Heaton’s Reef Bar & Grill – Restaurant Review

by Eden Colonna – Vero Vine Intern / Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts Student

Vero Beach Hotel and Spa’s poolside lounge, Heaton’s Reef offers a full bar and menu that offers appetizers and entrees. While enjoying your meal you have an oceanfront view, live music on Saturdays, and toasty fire pits for cool and windy nights.

If you are a guest of the hotel, you are able to utilize the pool and hot tub. Otherwise, there is an open bar for seating, as well as tables and chairs available, where Heaton’s Reef servers are happy to take care of you.

I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to join Thomas Miller on his review for Cobalt. Stacy Cook, editor of Vero Vine, has given me the chance to do my own review and write about a few of the food items on Heaton’s Reef menu.

Read our review of Cobalt

Let’s get to the food!

Fried Lobster Tacos- ($19.00)- To start off, we were able to taste two crispy fried lobster tacos. The batter on the perfectly cooked, white lobster was rich and buttery. The Arugula and chopped tomatoes added a lovely flavor and texture combination to the taco. To top it off, there was a light cilantro aioli that added excellent flavor.

Chicken Salad Sandwich- ($14.00)- I am not usually one to order a chicken salad sandwich, but I have to say, this sandwich was delightful. The chicken salad was properly dressed; light on the mayo, but not dry. It was placed under red onion, lettuce, two tomato slices and between white bread, which could have been toasted a bit more. However, the flavor combination of tarragon, scallions, and celery in the chicken salad was exceptional.

In Conclusion:

I thoroughly enjoyed these two menu items and my experience at Heaton’s Reef. While the prices are a bit above average for bar food, this is not “typical” bar food, so consider the overall value of the flavors, service, and atmosphere you get while dining here. It is unique and I would recommend it to anyone. Unfortunately, I am under the age of 21 and can’t inform you about the drinks that Heaton’s Reef has to offer. Looks like you’ll have to go try it out for yourself!

Heaton’s Reef also has Daily $5 Drink Deals

Heaton’s Reef is open daily from 10:00am to 10:00pm. They offer a happy hour from 4:30pm to 6:00pm

Heaton’s Reef

3500 Ocean Dr, Vero Beach, FL 32963

(772) 469-1060

Pineapples are in season on the Treasure Coast!

by Thomas Miller – Food Blogger / Restaurant Critic for Vero Vine

I’m sure most of us have driven by Nature Farms, Inc. a 100 times, and never knew what lurked just a few hundred feet off of the road. I know, because I’m one of them! I’m so glad someone told me about this place, it’s truly a hidden gem on the treasure coast. My wife and I had the pleasure of getting a behind the scenes tour last weekend. Keep reading to learn a little bit more about this hidden gem and to find out when you can get your hands on some of the best pineapple I’ve ever tasted!

View Farm Photo Gallery on Facebook

Nature Farms, Inc is located just off of US Hwy 1 in Sebastian, Florida, and is only a stone’s throw away from Hale Groves. By the time you see Hale Groves you may have passed it, so look for the sign on Saturday’s during season, which usually runs from July til about September. Mark Dellerman is the man in charge and the one who gave us the tour of his farm. Mark has been in the citrus industry for most of his life. His grandfather, Frank Bates was a citrus grower. They had over 900 acres of citrus groves in DeSoto & Indian River Counties. The property where they grow the pineapples has been in the family since the 1960’s and is approximately 25 acres in size, although he is only utilizing 10 of that for the pineapples. Each year he harvests on average 15,000 – 20,000 pineapples.

To prepare the land to grow the pineapples when he first got started around 2003, Mark had organic wood grindings from other farms in the area brought in to build up the soil, and prepare if for growing the pineapples. He added layer after layer of it until it was almost 4 feet thick, mowing over it to help compact and grind it to a finer consistency. The pineapples are planted on raised beds and fertilized with chicken manure and dolomite lime. The raised beds are then covered with plastic to help them hold their shape and keep the weeds under control. Below is a new bed Mark was preparing for more pineapples.

Once the soil was ready, in the beginning Mark would collect and recycle discarded pineapple crowns from Publix and simply plant them in rows. Once the plants flower (December – February), they take about 6 months to ripen. The pineapples are also grown without the use of insecticides or pesticides, which is very important to people these days. While he follows organic practices, he is not a certified organic grower, due to the extra cost and paperwork involved with getting the certification. This season, Mark told me that he is growing a new variety of pineapple he is calling the “Indian River Gold”. This new variety is larger and has incredible tropical flavor, and is a little bit sweeter than his normal variety.

One of the biggest problems Mark has on the farm are raccoons. Just like us, they love that sweet taste of the pineapple too! The easy thing to do would be to trap and kill them, but Mark does not believe in killing them. Once they have been caught in a live trap, he takes and releases them back into the wild away from the farm. Mark says they are getting smarter too, as he is trapping less of them lately. He uses sardines, peanut butter, and even has tried fresh diced up pineapple in the traps to get them, yet they seem to know and avoid the traps most of the time. Check out this pineapple below we found while on our tour that got eaten by a raccoon.

Mark is expanding his offerings as well. He has some avocado and mango trees and expects a small amount of avocado to be ready by the end of October. No word yet on when the Mango’s would be ready, so make sure you follow him on Facebook to know when they are available. The picture below is of his avocado trees.

Let’s dive right in and see how much better these are than your grocery store variety actually is.

We bought one from a local grocery store almost 2 weeks ago, and it is now just starting to ripen. We also got one from Mark this past weekend, 4 days ago. The picture above is of the two of them together. Can you tell which one is which?

The picture above is with the tops cut off.

The picture above is of the bottom with a 1/4 inch cut off. Wow, you can really see the difference in this picture!

Now both of them next to each other with the skin off.

The way I cut them from here is to quarter them from the top, using the core as the center point. I cut straight down, and turn 90 degrees, then cut again while still all together, once again using the core as the center line. Once cut into quarters, you can simply cut the core off of each spear, then slice and eat. The next picture below is 4 sections that I cut from both pineapples, for a side by side comparison, and as you can see, the one on the left is from Nature Farms, Inc and the one on the right is the one from the local grocery store.

In Conclusion:

WOW, what a difference it makes when you get them fresh from the farm! Mark’s pineapple is definitely sweeter, and I did notice a “hint” of coconut in them too. If you are new to his pineapples, or a regular customer, be sure to visit him on Saturday’s from 10:30am till 3:30pm or until he runs out for the day. This Saturday, June 25th is the Grand Opening for this season, so be sure to get there early, as I’m sure they will sell out quickly!

Thank you for reading our review of Nature Farms pineapple.

MORE INFORMATION:

Nature Farms, Inc., Mark Dellerman, 9150 N US Highway One, Sebastian, FL 32958,

(772) 538-6066

“Like” Nature Farms Inc. on Facebook for all the latest information and product availability

Cobalt – Restaurant Review

by Thomas Miller – Food Blogger / Restaurant Critic for Vero Vine

Next restaurant on my follow up from the Taste of Vero is Cobalt. Located in the Vero Beach Hotel and Spa on Ocean Drive, and the #12 out of 227 restaurants in Vero Beach on Trip Advisor, this is one dining experience I’ve been looking forward to for a while now.

Parking is limited at the hotel, so they offer free valet parking, or you can park on the street. Walking up to the hotel, it is very beautiful and has a nicely manicured exterior. There is a separate entrance for Cobalt and their in-house spa. Upon entry, you are greeted with an elevator, and a winding staircase to head up to the second floor of the hotel, which is where the restaurant and spa are located.

As you enter the restaurant, the large wall of windows at the back of the dining room grabs your attention immediately, as does the ocean view. The dining room has a comfortable elegance to it with dark stained wood paneled walls, beautiful lighting fixtures, and very comfortable table and booth combinations with tons of pillows. There is also outdoor seating for those of you that want that direct ocean view.

We arrived around 5pm on a Thursday for an early dinner and the dining room was quite empty. As the evening progressed, it filled up as did the outdoor seating area. We were greeted shortly after taking our seat by the Executive Chef Daniel Traimas. An Illinois native, he joined the team here at Cobalt in January 2016 and brings lots of experience and his mid-western cooking influences. I spent most of my life in the mid-west, so I should be familiar with the flavors and his style of cooking.

Now on to the food! Let’s jump right in and see what we had to eat and drink!

Christopher Huarte, general manager at Cobalt came to our table to introduce himself to us and take our drink orders. I asked what some of the more popular drinks were that we could try, and he recommended that we try the following two drinks.

Grapefruit Fizz – ($12.00) – This is one of their most popular drinks, and I can see why. It’s a mixture of grapefruit infused grey goose vodka, St. Germain, rose water, grapefruit juice and soda. It was very refreshing!

Pineapple Crawl – ($12.00) – This was my favorite of the two drinks I had. It has milagro silver tequila, ancho reyes chili pepper liqueur, agave nectar, lime, and a pineapple juice ice globe in it. As the ice globe melts, the drink starts to get sweeter from the additional pineapple juice. The only thing that was confusing was the orange slice for a pineapple drink. Perhaps they were out of pineapple slices? Maybe we should introduce them to Nature Farms.

Bacon Wrapped Dates – ($12.00) – Chef Daniel presented us with this amuse-bouche to start the evening with. It’s a bacon wrapped date, stuffed with Boursin cheese. The bacon was slightly crunchy and smoky, it was sweet from the date, and creamy from the cheese stuffing. All three of these ingredients are favorites of mine, so even before I took a bite, I knew it was going to be great.

Escolar Ceviche – ($15.00) – Our second course was this wonderful white tuna ceviche, with cucumber, red onion, orange slices, cherry tomatoes, served with wonton crisps. It was slightly chilled, very fresh, and the tuna was very tender. It was seasoned with a lime ponzu salt. My dining companion and I thought it was a little bit under seasoned, but as we got closer to the bottom of the dish, the liquid at the bottom is where the salt settled and was better when we tossed it in the juice.

Grilled Jumbo Prawns – ($18.00) – Next up was this show stopper! The chef told us that he had a few larger than normal prawns that came in so he presented us with one of them. This prawn is a U-4, meaning there are only 4 of them per pound. As you can see from the picture above, it was plate engulfing in size. It was dressed with a sriracha aioli, then torched to add a slightly smoky flavor. It was very flavorful, with just a touch of heat from the sriracha. It was perfectly cooked, and seasoned to perfection. The prawn was laid on a bed of farrow, and lemon arugula to garnish.

Braised Short Ribs – ($30.00) – I can definitely see the chef’s mid-western influence in this dish. A classic meat and potatoes dish that has been elevated to a whole new level. It’s braised short ribs with a poached farm egg on top, white truffle hollandaise sauce, roasted baby potatoes, over grilled asparagus and garnished with chopped chives. The meat was fall apart fork tender, the white truffle cream sauce added a touch of elegance. I cut the poached egg and the yolk was still runny and added an additional richness to the dish. The roasted baby potatoes tasted like french fries, and were nice and salty! I think this was my favorite dish of the night.

Turtle Brownie – ($ n/a) – Last but not least, was the Turtle Brownie dessert presented to us by Chef James. This is not a usual menu item, so price was not available at the time this article was written. The brownie was made with dark chocolate and walnuts and was very moist. It was topped with vanilla ice cream. The plate was garnished with caramel drizzles, chopped walnuts, whipped cream, and a solid dark chocolate turtle and was fantastic! For each dessert they sell, they will donate $1.00 to the Save the Turtles foundation.

In Conclusion:

What a fabulous dining experience we had while visiting Cobalt! The chefs took very good care of us and gave us a nice variety of dishes to try and we were more than impressed with their offerings. While the prices might seem high for some, consider the value you get here. You are dining at one of Vero’s upscale hotels, at a fine dining restaurant at the beach, so I think the value is incredible, considering all that you get. If your budget does not allow you to dine at Cobalt, then I suggest you check out Heaton’s Reef. The outdoor bar next to the pool has a full menu of lower priced appetizers and entrees that will fit any budget, and it still has the same ocean view.

Stay tuned next week for our full review of Heaton’s Reef. My dining companion this evening was my new friend, neighbor and culinary student Eden Colonna. She is a first year culinary student and is interested in food writing. She will be writing the review of that restaurant, so be sure to check back for her full review.

Read our review of Heaton’s Reef

Have you tried Cobalt? What has your experience been with them? Sound off in the comments below and let me know your thoughts, or feel free to email me at thefoodguy@verovine.com with your questions or comments.

Atmosphere – 5 Forks

Service – 5 Forks

Food – 5 Forks

Ratings Scale Legend:

1 to 5 Forks – 1 Bad to 5 Excellent

Cobalt

3500 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach, Florida 32963

(772) 469-1060

Citron Bistro – Restaurant Review

by Thomas Miller – Food Blogger for Vero Vine

Tucked away in the Village Shops just a little bit north of Vero on the A1A is this fantastic little eatery that I discovered at the Taste of Vero in early April. If you read my review on the Taste of Vero, you know that they came out as my number 1 pick for my Top ATE dishes from that event. They served Ahi Tuna over Asian noodles and it was exceptionally good. I’ve been looking forward to visiting them and trying more of what they have to offer. Earlier this week I got that chance to visit for lunch and taste a few of their most popular dishes, and dessert too. Let’s take a closer look at Citron Bistro and see what they have to offer!

After you park your car near the J. McLaughlin shops out front, you need to walk between the buildings to the courtyard area behind to find the restaurant. It’s a beautiful courtyard with mature palm and oak trees, brick paver walkway, and some comfortable looking outdoor furniture to relax in.

It was a beautiful day so I chose to sit outside in the courtyard. Their tables are white with blue placemats and napkins, and directors chairs for seating. They were quite comfortable.

Now on to the food! Let’s jump right in and see what I had to eat!

Honduras Blue Mountain Light Coffee 12 oz – ($2.45) – I read another article about the coffee they served being made with a French press, so I thought I would give it a try. They feature the Rio Coco Coffee which is roasted locally in Vero and ground fresh daily in house. I added some cream and sugar and it was the perfect cup of coffee.

Shrimp Bruschetta – ($15.00) – The first starter they brought out for me to try was this stunning interpretation of the classic bruschetta. It had jumbo shrimp served scampi style and was perfectly cooked. It was served with tomatoes and scallions on grilled sourdough bread, and was finished with micro greens as a garnish. The sauce on the plate was a lemon ver blanc sauce with balsamic vinegar for decoration. It was outstanding!

Crab Stuffed Avocado – ($16.00) – The second starter they brought out for me to try was this beautiful dish. The avocado half still had the shell on it to help hold it together and was generously filled with lump crab meat and fresh herbs. It was finished off with a zesty buerre blanc sauce, a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and topped with micro greens as garnish. The crab meat filling was very generous and seasoned perfectly. The avocado was slightly warm and very fresh tasting. The side salad was a nice spring mix with red onion, diced tomatoes, and olives to finish it off. The salad dressing was light, tangy and sweet.

Now on to the main courses!

Maple Balsamic Glazed Salmon – ($29.00) – Would you take a look at the color on that salmon fillet? Wow, it’s absolutely gorgeous! As I flaked the salmon open to see the cook on it, and as thick as this fillet was, I was expecting it to be undercooked slightly, but that was not the case. It was perfectly cooked through, and succulent. This salmon is Scottish and one of the most flavorful I think I have ever tasted. The rice was of the wild variety and was cooked well and seasoned perfectly. Fresh green beans were the vegetable of the day, which I thought were a bit crunchy and under seasoned for my taste. French fried onions and micro greens completed the presentation.

Half Roasted Chicken – ($22.00) – The color on the skin was beautiful, and the chicken was perfectly roasted. As I was removing the leg, the bone pulled out cleanly. As I cut further into it, the thigh meat was tender and juicy. The roasted potatoes were buttered and salted and had a slight crunch to the edges. If you’ve read any of my other reviews, you will know that I am not a fan of broccoli, but in the interest of the article, I did try a small piece. It was cooked and seasoned nicely as were the rest of the vegetables, but I’m still not a fan.

Now on to dessert!

Banoffee Pie – ($8.00) – To round out my tastings, I was presented with this house made dessert. It has a graham cracker crust, lined with bananas, toffee filling, topped off with whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa on top. It was smooth and creamy, and the predominant flavor was the banana, with the toffee being more subtle. An excellent way to round out a fantastic meal!

In Conclusion:

What a fantastic dining experience I had while visiting the Citron Bistro! The food, the atmosphere, the staff, all contribute to a superior dining experience. I had an opportunity to speak to the manager, Jessica Lawson, and she is a true delight and seems to know her stuff when it comes to running a restaurant. With Chef Tibor Andrejszky running the kitchen, and Jessica managing this place, it’s definitely a winning combination that is sure to please anyone that stops by.

Have you tried Citron Bistro? What has your experience been with them? Sound off in the comments below and let me know your thoughts.

Atmosphere – 5 Forks

Service – 5 Forks

Food – 5 Forks

Ratings Scale Legend:

1 to 5 Forks – 1 Bad to 5 Excellent

Citron Bistro

6260 Florida A1A, Vero Beach, FL 32963

(772) 231-6556

Orchid Gourmet Catering – Review

by Stacy Cook – Food Blogger / Restaurant Critic for Vero Vine

Orchid Gourmet is on 14th Avenue in Downtown Vero Beach in a converted residence owned by Executive Chef Jesse Alexander. They have done a fabulous job keeping the external structure still looking like a home and a neighborhood feel. The entire venue is brand new including the kitchen with attention to modern style and industrial details. This venue can be reserved for private parties, but their specialty is on location catering and dinner parties. The dining area seats 12 comfortably at the table and 6 at the bar. They can create menus for any dietary constraints, tastes and budgets.

The presentation of individual hors d’oeuvers did not disappoint. Crisp, white serving plates were topped with detailed and colorful presentations making it contrast and hard to resist picking up and to eat.

Crab Cake Bites

The crab cake bites were made with jumbo lump crab meat and tarragon aioli inside, a dab of tarragon aioli on top, and an edible nasturtium flower leaf as garnish. I tasted it with and without the leaf and it was desirable both ways.

They brought out the actual flowers and we sampled them as well. The flower barely had any flavor and the stalks tasted like a light scallion. These flowers are grown on the property.

Beef Tenderloin Carpaccio

A beef tenderloin carpaccio, with arugula filling and parmesan + reggiano cheese and a champagne Dijon on top. You are supposed to swipe it into the sauce as you pick it up. It was outstanding!

Wild Mushroom Tartlets

A wild mushroom tartlet with cream cheese, shiitake, baby bella and enoki mushrooms inside. These are light and flavorful. As a mushroom fan I did not want to stop eating them. I wanted this whole plate to myself!

Artichoke Franchaise

Artichoke Franchaise is the sauteed heart and coated in a homegrown Meyer lemon beurre blanc sauce and finished off with a baby leaf of the nasturtium. So tasty!

Lobster Corn Dog

This was definitely something new I had not seen before. The lobster corn dog bites were served with champagne the Dijon mustard sauce which was a perfect pairing. The lobster pieces were large and the batter was very thin so you really could taste lobster with each bite. A lime was placed uniquely on the plate to hold the leftover sticks.

Meyer Lemon Sorbet

The sorbet was very refreshing! It was lightly sweetened, had a nice tartness to it, and it did have flecks of lemon rind in it. This would be the perfect summer dessert on a hot day!

While guests are arriving, drinks are served with views of Nate Harrington’s (NateHPhoto) Personal Art Gallery that is on display in the dining room. It is absolutely stunning to see in person. These photos do not do any justice!

Nathaniel Harrington

www.natehphoto.com

Orchid Gourmet is available for your private party. Chef Alexander will meet with you to help plan and organize the perfect meals for your fundraiser, special day, holiday party or just an evening out with close friends.

For catering booking information:

Orchid Gourmet Catering

1766 14th Avenue SW, Vero Beach, FL 32962

Owner & Executive Chef Jesse Alexander

(772) 532-4160

www.orchidgourmet.com

Jeremy Collins, Chef de Cuisine

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