High-profile chefs and events are on tap for the new season’s dining-out scene.
So are notable restaurant birthdays, including Café Boulud’s 20th.
And, of course, al fresco seating — a front-burner amenity since the pandemic began —will continue to generate buzz.
On that score, four Palm Beach restaurants are starting the season with newly granted permanent outdoor seating.
Café L’Europe, PB Catch and La Goulue, plus Club Colette, a private dining club, have received town approval since July for permanent al fresco seats under the town’s Outdoor Café Program.
Related coverage:Two longtime Palm Beach establishments granted permanent outdoor seating
Cafe L’Europe was granted 34 outdoor seats; Club Colette, 40; PB Catch, 40; and La Goulue, 28.
Those restaurants are among 20 eateries that enjoyed temporary outdoor seating as part of a pandemic-era program that expired Sept. 5. The others who participated in the temporary program: now-closed Coyo Taco, Cucina, Sant Ambroeus, LoLa 41, Green’s Pharmacy Luncheonette, Ta-boo, Surfside Diner, Henry’s, Buccan, Bice, Palm Beach Grill/Honor Bar, Meat Market, TooJay’s, Bricktop’s, Le Bar a Vin and Main Street by The Breakers.
Earlier this month, Le Bar a Vin’s request for permanent outdoor seating was deferred by the Town Council to the council’s Nov. 9 meeting.
Cucina and Henry’s have indicated they won’t seek permanent al fresco seating at this time, while Meat Market withdrew its application.
Some eateries granted temporary outdoor seats also had permanent ones granted before the pandemic.
Café Boulud at The Brazilian Court is set to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
Though it originally debuted to the public in Palm Beach in July of 2003, it will celebrate its 20th with a party in January to capitalize on high season.
A Jan. 18 Champagne-gushing dinner event is planned and will be hosted by famed chef-restaurateur Daniel Boulud.
Café Boulud’s team, including executive chefs Dieter Samijn and Julie Franceschini, will co-host. Additional details are being finalized.
When Café Boulud debuted in 2003 after Boulud “fell in love” with Palm Beach, it was his first restaurant outside of New York (he now has restaurants in other parts of the country and overseas).
Restaurant 44, the open-to-the-public restaurant at the Palm Beach Towers condominium, reopens for the season Nov 2. Executive chef Sam Norwood is returning to the kitchen along with head pastry chef Priscilla Munoz.
With its club-like dining room and outdoor terrace, Restaurant 44, which serves contemporary dishes and comfort-food classics, will be open for dinner Wednesday through Saturday through Thanksgiving. Then, Tuesday will be added; Sunday brunch will start Nov. 27.
Numerous noteworthy chefs from around the country will be in town and over the bridge during the Dec. 8-11 Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival.
Of the festival’s 24 events around the county, 10 take place in Palm Beach — and most are sold out and wait-list only.
Related coverage:December’s Food & Wine Festival is selling out fast
Among the sold-out events: multicourse opening-night dinners at Buccan and PB Catch, plus a lavish brunch at Café Boulud.
Tickets remain available to a four-course lunch ($200) on Dec. 9 at Meat Market with executive chef Sean Brasel joined by visiting chefs including Timon Balloo, Antonio Lofaso and Marc Murphy.
Among other events with available tickets: a tasting event ($200) at Eau Palm Beach Resort in Manalapan with chefs Neall Bailey, Maneet Chauhan, Ken Oringer and more.
The festival (www.pbfoodwinefest.com) concludes Dec. 11 with the Grand Tasting ($95) at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach.
In November, internationally acclaimed chef Mauro Colagreco, a partner in numerous restaurants and pop-ups around the globe, is set to return to the Four Seasons Palm Beach for a culinary event or two, the hotel’s officials said.
The November dates are being finalized with the three Michelin-starred chef, who’s a founding partner in the Four Seasons’ Florie’s restaurant.