I hope everyone enjoyed their 4th of July - while you were all celebrating America, I was thinking of what to write about this week. I also celebrated a bit.

This week we’ll touch on a few great local restaurants & the weather, which is a subject I quite enjoy.

Before we get into it, if you haven’t already, subscribe below !

Here we go.

Leftovers Cafe

I have to say, I was thoroughly impressed with this place. If you’re not familiar, Leftovers Cafe is a small restaurant up in the Jupiter/Abacoa area off Military Trail.

It’s in a small shopping mall off the road - the kind of place you may drive by a million times but never drive into unless you have business.

Having said that, I had business up there last Wednesday in the morning around 11 and decided to stop in - and the place was absolutely packed up by the time we were done eating our meal. 

Quality service, a nice homely atmosphere, and great food were the reasons I could figure for why it’s so popular … I forget what I ordered specifically, but it was some kind of blackened chicken sandwich with Brie cheese and plantains. Both “departures” off a normal menu, but it was fantastic.

I always appreciate a place that has their own unique feel, and from the menu up Leftovers has that down pat. It’s owned by Little Moir’s restaurant group. I can’t say I’m familiar with them - so I may have some other places to write about in their network before long.

You can check out Leftovers’ website here.

El Segundo

Speaking of interesting places, El Segundo was a fantastic surprise this week. Believe it or not, this great Mexican restaurant is under a bridge. Or at least bridge-adjacent.

Located on Georgia Avenue almost underneath the bridge on Southern Boulevard, this little parking lot used to be a barbecue joint until it apparently changed over during the past few years.

Going on Saturday, we enjoyed excellent but affordable Mexican food, and also had the chance to walk around the premises - 

There was a live jazz band, several art studios, and two people DJing under the bridge. According to the locals, they do an art exhibition the first Saturday of each month - visible were paintings, sculptures, drawings, and other mediums all for sale with the artists on site.

The people were great, the artists were talented, the food was delicious, and the drinks were the cherry on top.

I’m always impressed by creative ways to use an otherwise derelict lot like this, and El Segundo is now at the top of my list in the area as a spot to check out. Places like this transform a community from an industrial wasteland into a vibrant center of action & intrigue. Next month I’ll be back for the art show.

You can check El Segundo out online here.

Dada

Keeping up with the interesting spots theme, if you’re never been to Dada restaurant in Delray, it’s worth a visit.

Located a block or so north of Atlantic Ave, Dada couldn’t be more different from the rest of the downtown area. It’s literally a repurposed house, with indoor & outdoor seating.

Sitting outside, you get to eat a nice dinner enclosed by a picket fence, sitting under the shade of a large tree, enjoying an atmosphere that I don’t believe can be found anywhere else in the area.

Indoors you can tell that the place used to be a house. The layout is nothing like how a restaurant “should” be - which in this case is a bit cramped but completely unique. The food is good, the menu is large, and if you’re after a new experience this is a place that should be on your list.

One of the more common “complaints” about South Florida is that everything feels somewhat “samey” around here. Either a place is in a strip mall or in a beautiful modern building. Rarely is there a switch from that kind of vibe, so eating at a restaurant like this is a breath of fresh air.

You can check them out online here.

Interestingly enough, both here and El Segundo are owned by the Subculture group, which I did not realize until I wrote this article.

It’s Rainy Season

In Southern Florida, there’s “season” and “out of season” - and these seasons are dictated by the weather and weather alone.

Many prefer to visit in the winter and head back up north in the summer, which I can appreciate being from the northeast. Summers are beautiful up there, and can be a bit hot and sticky down here.

But one thing people don’t realize about Florida from the outside looking in is the amount of RAIN we get during the summer time. During “rainy season,” which lasts from mid-May to mid-October, Florida receives over 70% of its annual rainfall.

This peaks in July & August, with hurricane season following up on the heels in September (although it technically began June 1st). The general heat of summer raises sea temperatures offshore, causing more moisture to rise into the air and significantly increasing the amount of storms we get.

As a result of the increased rainfall, many habitats which may be dry fields or small streams in the winter transform into full blown rivers & marshes in the summer, changing the wildlife profile as well. Particularly so close to the Everglades, rainy season can inject new life into these important habitats which truly exist nowhere else on Earth.

This is a rather subjective piece, so I’ll say it: I actually like rainy season. As long as the hurricanes miss us (fingers crossed) sitting on the balcony during a downpour and enjoying a coffee is one of life’s true pleasures. If you’ve stuck around here during the summer months, props to you.

Tidbits From Around Town

What’s going on in Palm Beach County this week? We’ve got you covered:

• South Florida Wing Bash, July 12th - check it out here

• Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival, July 10th-13th - check it out here

• Save Our Planet 5k in Lake Worth, July 11th - register here

• Orchid Basics at Mount Botanical Garden, July 12th - check it out here

That’s a few selections if you’re looking to mix it up this weekend - as always, if there’s an event you want me to advertise, simply reply to this email and I’ll drop something in the next edition!

As always, thank you for reading, and looking forward to seeing you all next Wednesday night.