Zenni Family Looks To the Future After Surprise U.S. Open Victory

Jared Zenni and his family’s polo organization have come a long way in a short time. In his first attempt, Zenni helped his Daily Racing Form foursome capture the coveted U.S. Open Polo Championship last April, upsetting tournament favorite Valiente in last season’s finale at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

To put that feat into perspective, White Birch, the pre-eminent team of its era during the 1980s and 1990s, won its only U.S. Open title after four previous visits to the final. And Valiente, currently the top polo team in North America, lost in the U.S. Open final twice before raising the trophy in 2015 and 2017.

“There’s not really a better way to following up a U.S. Open win,” said the 23-year-old Zenni, who had his handicap raised from 5 to 6 goals for the 2019 season. “We are going to try our best in all three of the tournaments in the 22-goal series [at IPC], but we will see what happens.”

Zenni will be joined by 6-goalers Agustin Obregon and Santi Cernada, and 4-goaler Geronimo Obregon, in defense of the U.S. Open crown. A record 16 teams have entered the U.S. Open, being held at IPC for the 16th consecutive year. No team has won back-to-back U.S. Open titles since Zacara accomplished the feat in 2012 and 2013.

Zenni is confident about his team’s chances, especially because of his horse power, which is one of the major keys to any team’s success.

“We should be in a very good position,” said Zenni, who will be playing the No. 4 position, just like last season. “I have the same string I had last year, and I’m going to bring a few up from Argentina.”

Veteran player Luis Escobar, who is based in Wellington year-round, has played in the U.S. Open numerous times and was Zenni’s teammate when he was first starting out. Daily Racing Form was a team put together at the last-minute, Escobar noted.

“It was a great outcome for polo. Nobody expected them to win. They beat two of the biggest organizations in polo in Wellington — in Grand Champions and Valiente,” he said. “To go out there and beat those two organizations, it’s more than winning the U.S. Open. It’s a huge accomplishment.”

Last year, Daily Racing Form began to organize its U.S. Open team just a few months before the winter season began. Most teams begin about a year prior to the tournament. Of course, Daily Racing Form also had 10-goaler Hilario Ulloa as its linchpin. This year, they are going with a more balanced foursome.

Zenni and his father Jim are not strangers to polo in Wellington. They have played together and separately over the years. Last year, they were teammates and reached the Joe Barry Memorial Cup final while playing for Villa del Lago, the family equestrian facility in Wellington. However, they have played under different team names, usually companies owned by the elder Zenni, such as Daily Racing Form, Modere or Equine Liquid BioCell.

They have been competitive, winning the Herbie Pennell Cup and Iglehart Cup in 2017 and reaching the Joe Barry Memorial Cup final in 2018 at IPC. And the younger Zenni also won the $100,000 World Cup at the Grand Champions Polo Club.

Polo roots run deep in the Zenni family. Jim learned the sport from his father, and Jared learned from his father, often going with him to the fields. His two older sisters participated in the hunter-jumper arena when they were younger but have since stopped.

Zenni played other sports growing up, but he became more and more interested in polo until it was his primary interest.

It is certainly an interest that he has made the most of. Zenni, who was a 1-goaler at 14 years old, has put together plans to continue to improve. He is a member of Team USPA, a United States Polo Association program designed to improve and grow the sport of polo in the U.S. by identifying young, talented American players and providing training and playing opportunities.

Another improvement strategy that Zenni has employed is playing in Argentina, the worldwide mecca of the sport. He recently traveled there for his third consecutive season, but it was the first time that he qualified to compete in the Argentine Open and the Hurlingham Open, two of the three most important tournaments in South America.

Zenni played the No. 4 position for the 28-goal La Canada-Daily Racing Form in the tournaments that featured two 40-goal teams. Although they lost all eight games in the two tournaments, it did not dim Zenni’s enthusiasm for the experience. “This year has been special because we classified for Hurlingham and Palermo, which put us up against the best teams in the world,” Zenni explained. “Playing in Argentina makes you a better player in all aspects. Playing against better competition and playing at their pace and skill really makes you a better player.”

Zenni is continuing his polo career while also pursuing his degree in marketing and finance at the University of Miami. His goals include trying to win another U.S. Open and becoming more of a staple in the Argentine Triple Crown. The elder Zenni is not expected to play at IPC during the upcoming season.

“Jared is a good guy, and he works hard at it,” said Escobar, who will be competing for Santa Clara in the 22-goal season at IPC. “I think he will keep going up in handicap. He’ll get far.”

Smooth Leadership Change Passes The Torch At Wellington’s Award-Winning Rec Program

The Village of Wellington said goodbye to Parks & Recreation Director Bruce DeLaney recently and welcomed longtime village employee Eric Juckett into the top role at Wellington’s award-winning Parks & Recreation Department.

DeLaney spent 24 years with Wellington and is one of the pillars of its longtime success in the recreation sector. He has held the department’s top post for the past 10 years.

Arriving in 1994, DeLaney witnessed first-hand the growth and development of Wellington from the days before the community’s incorporation.

“When I started with the village, it was still the Acme Improvement District, and we had virtually no facilities. It was first getting started,” DeLaney recalled. “As the years went by, it developed, we built more facilities and became a village — and everything seemed to explode from there.”

Working in parks and recreation wasn’t always a part of DeLaney’s career path. He traces the beginning of that relationship back to family.

“It just kind of happened. I moved here from Cleveland with my wife and family, working with John Hancock Financial Services for 18 years,” he said. “The children were young, and I volunteered in a couple of programs to help coach and things like that. The recreation program was in the initial stages.”

As it became obvious to him how recreational programs would continue to grow, DeLaney decided to take a chance by changing careers. He began as an athletics coordinator, moved up to athletics manager, and in 2009 became the director of the department.

“I’m most proud of the staff that we built together. What we’ve ended with over there and this adventure that we are on is awesome. There are dedicated people. They come and are totally invested in what we are doing,” DeLaney said. “Once we got to that point, then everyday was a good time. We are all on the same page, and when everybody is on the same page, you get to be able to accomplish things.”

The programs offered during his years as director yielded many accolades for the Village of Wellington. In addition, the department achieved accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA), a national standard of best practices given for excellence in both operations and services.

After dedicating years of service in working hard so that others can play, DeLaney is ready to spend some of his own time recreating with family.

“We’re looking forward to the various holidays like the Fourth of July. When working those events, you’re not with family,” said DeLaney, who recently moved to live closer to his son, daughter and granddaughter. “I have a boat and plan on doing some fishing. I’ve let my golf game go down the tubes, and now maybe I’ll pick that up again.”

The most effective leaders are those who have a long-term plan for growth, even after leaving a post. Juckett, DeLaney’s successor, is ready to tackle the challenge of filling the longtime director’s shoes.

“Eric is going to do a great job,” DeLaney said. “He’s a smart guy and going to do great things, especially with the people there.”

Juckett is a Florida native who was born in West Palm Beach and grew up in Royal Palm Beach. He has since made Wellington his permanent home. With an entire professional career being tied to parks and recreation, he is proud to be a part of the Village of Wellington team.

“I started out as a part-time life guard while in college, then I became a full-time lead life guard. Then I was an aquatics supervisor, became aquatics manager and now the director,” Juckett explained. “I love sports, being outside and engaging with the youth. If you had asked me, though, I did not envision being in parks and recreation.”

Yet since his second year working for Wellington, Juckett knew he wanted to stay and raise his family here.

“This is a rare field where you can see people happy,” Juckett said. “You can’t put a price on it. You can’t measure the smiles or a parent’s happiness when seeing their child succeed.”

That feeling is something Juckett understands on a personal level, too. On the occasions when he has free time, it revolves around his family.

“Now that my son is four, my hobbies are what he’s into. He played t-ball, and I was an assistant coach. It was very rewarding,” Juckett said.

The ties back to family and people is a recurring theme with both the former and new director.

“The value of parks and recreation truly is that it is for anyone and everyone, and it gives them the opportunity to enjoy life,” DeLaney said. “Put some of the struggles and stress behind you. Watch your kids participate, and you get to participate, too.”

Juckett is ready to continue DeLaney’s work and keep the department constantly evolving based on what the people want.

“I’m a big proponent of keeping residents in Wellington. Programs will always be a staple, but people also want family events,” Juckett said. “I enjoy seeing people thrive in Wellington.”

While the department goes through this well-planned transition, the focus will remain the same: providing residents with the best park facilities and finest recreation programs available.

Learn more about Wellington’s Parks & Recreation Department at www.wellingtonfl.gov.

Wellington Holiday Parade To Honor Longtime Organizer Dennis Witkowski As Grand Marshal On Sunday, Dec. 9

Wellington’s Holiday Parade is 35 years old — older than the Village of Wellington itself. Presented by the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce, this year’s parade on Sunday, Dec. 9 will give attendees a chance to thank its visionary organizer, Dennis Witkowski, who will be honored as this year’s grand marshal.

As self-effacing as he is popular, Witkowski never would have agreed to such a thing, so the vote was taken when he was absent.

“Dennis missed a committee meeting, and we took that opportunity to make him grand marshal,” laughed Mary Lou Bedford, CEO of the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce. “Typically, the grand marshal rides in front, but because Dennis organizes the entire parade, he’ll come up right before Santa Claus at the end.”

Witkowski envisioned the parade when Wellington, then an unincorporated community, was in its infancy. As people began to move to the area, and the first chamber of commerce was formed, he wanted a signature event to bring the western communities together. He brought his idea to the chamber board, and the rest is history.

“It’s half of my life. I’m 71 now,” Witkowski said. “In the beginning, my line was that I did it because I wanted to give something back to the community that had been so good to me.”

Over time, however, Witkowski came to a realization. “It’s not only doing something for the community — the parade gives me so much. The parade feeds me, I don’t feed it. It’s so rewarding; it gives me a warmth all over. I love it! I look forward to it all year,” he said. “It’s a love of my life; the next thing to family to me. It’s like an extra child — something I birthed and helped grow up. It’s part of my fabric.”

Witkowski estimates that when the parade was born in 1983, there were about 6,000 people living in Wellington. The first few parades attracted about 3,000 spectators.

“Now we have 3,000 participants in the parade, and about 20,000 spectators,” he said. “We have 10 marching bands, up from two. When we started, there was no commercial business on State Road 7 at all. There was one orange orchard near Forest Hill where you could get a glass of orange juice and look at an alligator. Now there are 60,000 residents in Wellington alone, and the parade is the same great blending of the community that it has always been — the deputies and firemen working in concert with the Village of Wellington and the chamber to make it the seamless event that it is.”

Witkowski is particularly proud of the fact that many of the early decisions made regarding the parade were good decisions — the staging, the dispersal, the order of march and, of course, the route. Not much of that has changed in 35 years.

The Holiday Parade will step off at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 9, and run along Forest Hill Blvd. from the original Wellington Mall at Wellington Trace to the Wellington Community Center.

“A few times over the years, people wanted to consider a different route,” Witkowski recalled. “They talked about moving it to different communities, or down South Shore Blvd. due to traffic concerns. But the fact that we’ve had consistency is another wonderful part of it. Come that Sunday in December, everybody knows where it starts and where it ends. It inconveniences travel on Forest Hill for a few hours a year, but that’s a small price to pay. The crowds get bigger each year, and people sign up earlier, and everyone’s excited to know what the theme is so they can start planning for it earlier.”

This year’s parade theme, by the way, is “Holiday in Paradise.”

The floats, the marching bands, the dancers — everyone has their favorite part of the parade, including Witkowski himself.

“My favorite entries are the littlest ones,” he said. “The mothers are always concerned if they’re going to be able to walk that far, but they always make it. A couple of people now serving on the Wellington Village Council remember being in the parade as children, and now their kids are in it.”

Witkowski can relate to that. “One of the dearest memories that my wife Maureen and I share is of the first year, when my kids were riding in the back of a horse-drawn wagon,” he recalled. “The wagon hit a bump, and one of my sons fell out. No one let him move until we came to take him to the emergency room. He was complaining of a buzzing in his head, and we were worried he had a concussion. It turned out that a beetle had crawled into his ear while he was lying on the ground.”

Bedford said that Witkowski is a great family man, businessman and leader. “Our crew is so great, and Dennis gets them to pull together,” she said. “On parade day, he stands up there, very imposing, like a conductor. It doesn’t hurt that he’s tall, of course, but he’s just such a good person. The other volunteers work to line everyone up, and Dennis paces everybody and greets them all. It’s a labor of love that he does with enthusiasm.”

For more information about the Wellington Holiday Parade, call (561) 790-6200 or visit www.cpbchamber.com/holiday-parade.

Wellington Dinner Dance Marks 31 Years Serving
Boys & Girls Club

The Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club of Wellington will be holding its largest fundraiser of the year on Friday, Jan. 4, 2019 at the Wycliffe Golf & Country Club. Proceeds will directly benefit the educational programs of the organization, one of 13 Boys & Girls Club locations serving nearly 8,600 Palm Beach County children between the ages of 6 and 18.

Founded in 1971, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County is a not-for-profit youth development organization dedicated to promoting the educational, vocational, health, leadership and character of boys and girls in a safe, nurturing environment. Clubs like Wellington’s provide more than a fun and constructive alternative to being home alone — they offer a variety of award-winning developmental programs to help youth build skills, self-esteem and values during critical periods of growth. Club sites are intentionally located in resource-constrained neighborhoods throughout Palm Beach County, bridging the financial opportunity gap between various communities.

“It is an honor and a pleasure to have the opportunity to give back to the Wellington community,” said Nicolette Goldfarb, chair of the Wellington Dinner Dance and recently elected chair of the club’s advisory board.

Goldfarb’s 2019 co-chairs include Georgina Bloomberg, Dr. Ramprasad Gopalan, Julie Khanna and Marley Goodman-Overman. Honorary chairs are Dr. Edward and Maria Becker, Eric and Jennifer Goldman, and John and Julie Kime.

The event is one of the most anticipated highlights of Wellington’s social season, attracting high-profile equestrians, philanthropists and community leaders. The Wycliffe clubhouse will be magically transformed into an exquisite secret garden. Cocktails begin at 6:30 p.m. with plenty of time for browsing the large silent auction.

Attire is optional black tie. Dinner and dancing will begin at 7:30 p.m. Returning by request for this year’s live entertainment will be the Miami-based band HyRyZe. Crafting a cross-cultural musical platform, HyRyZe evokes and samples favorite artists with an eclectic approach bursting with energy, soul and fun. The multi-talented instrumentalists and vocalists will again have guests excited to dance the night away.

A committee made up of dedicated members of the Wellington community has come together to plan the gala and continue the club’s legacy. “Each dedicated chair and committee member brings something extraordinary to the table. They are instrumental in achieving our goal of enhancing the lives of youth,” said Jaene Miranda, CEO and president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, who is deeply grateful for the group’s time and dedication to the mission of the Wellington club.

The Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club Dinner Dance Committee members for 2019 include Mariam Abram, Susan Ferraro, Shelly B. Goodman, Dr. Colette Brown Graham, Heidi Harland, Crystal Hochman, Kimberly Leland, Jennifer Martinez, Kila Mistry, Dr. Druhti Pandit, Dr. Daxa Patel, Charlene Ramos, Lindsay Strafuss, Kathryn Walton and Becky Wisnicki.

Through quality programs, the club experience gives children the guidance they need to make a healthy transition from childhood to young adulthood. The Boys & Girls Club model has received the highest effectiveness rating from the National Dropout Prevention Center. Club members graduate at a higher rate than the general population. Regular attendees perform better in school, make healthier choices and volunteer thousands of hours. Although nationally recognized, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County is locally run, responsible for raising its own funds, allowing every site to be responsive to the specific needs of the neighborhood and youth served.

The Wellington Dinner Dance has been instrumental in the club’s expansion plans, which included a $3.6 million, 22,500-square-foot state-of-the-art facility that transformed the Boys & Girls Club presence in Wellington five years ago and now provides after-school care for hundreds more local children in need. Today, more than 450 youth benefit from such programs at the Wellington club, which features a full gym, computer room, dance and music studios, and game rooms.

While Wellington has an average household income of nearly $90,000, more than 63 percent of club children live in households with annual incomes less than $40,000.

Goldfarb said that her fellow committee members are an incredibly dedicated group of volunteers, drawn from a wide cross section of our community. “Together, we use our various areas of expertise to bring quality programming to a growing number of area youth. By setting young people on a path to a bright future, we ensure a more positive future for us all,” she said.

Sponsorships and underwriting opportunities for the Jan. 4 event are available at all levels. For more info., contact Christine Martin at (561) 683-3287 or cmartin@bgcpbc.org. Individual tickets are $250 per person and available at www.bgcpbc.org.

Historical Society Works On Building A Future By
Preserving The Past

Knowing an area’s history provides a foundation for the culture and allows for a deeper understanding of the modern-day community, and the Village of Wellington is no different.

But, as a young community when compared to more established areas, the question arises: When does it become important to think of the past as history? The newly founded Wellington Historical Society seeks to address that very issue.

“The mission of the Wellington Historical Society is to celebrate Wellington’s unique history through gathering, preserving and sharing its past for the benefit of generations to come,” Wellington Historical Society President Laurie Cohen explained.

Cohen is not only the president, but also a founder of the Wellington Historical Society. She also serves as Wellington’s village attorney and is a former member of the Wellington Village Council. Years ago, she traveled to New York with her husband for a high school reunion and visited a historical society while there.

“They had a building with videos, historical photographs, oral histories — and I thought, ‘We should start doing this in Wellington now,’” Cohen said.

Thus, the project of forming a group dedicated to preserving Wellington’s past began. The Wellington Historical Society is now a tax-exempt, not-for-profit organization, and in January 2018 held its first official board meeting.

The organization is building a solid foundation early, taking inspiration and advice from other similar organizations. When approaching the Palm Beach County Historical Society, the founders were encouraged to also begin documenting the history of the Wellington Historical Society itself.

New members can join at any time, and the society’s numbers grow with each new meeting, event and mixer. Secretary MaryJo Shockley described what drew her to become a part of the organization.

“The love that I have for Wellington made me want to join. At 16 years, this is the longest I’ve lived anywhere,” she said. “I’ve raised three boys here. I knew when I searched it out, this was a great community. It was the place I wanted to retire.”

Board Member Chuck Edgar sees limitless potential for growth as Wellington’s history expands each year.

“I’d like to see us personally do a connection to famous athletes or other notable people. We already have a Major League Baseball player and an American Idol contestant, but also council members who grew up here,” Edgar said.

How exactly is history preserved? The Wellington Historical Society has already begun the task of gathering artifacts, documenting stories and developing programs, such as lectures.

“We are in the phase of collecting things like documents and artifacts, aerials and photographs,” Cohen said. “The items are stored in an air-conditioned space.”

Eventually, these items will have a permanent home on display for the public to enjoy, but for now, the organization is focused on growing smart. It is important to both the board and members to take care of Wellington’s history in a professional and sustainable manner.

“We want to be accountable to the community,” Edgar said. “We are asking them to entrust their history to us.”

It is not difficult to see the future significance of unique artifacts, such as the original desk of first Wellington Mayor Kathy Foster.

“There were no council offices at the time,” Cohen explained. “It was used for her design studio and mayoral duties alike.”

Other interesting items include aerials and photographs of pre-developed Wellington, a Wellington board game and an old phone book from the earliest days of this growing community.

“We are working on creating traveling exhibits for use in schools,” Cohen said. “We want to incorporate an educational component and work to show the schools how we came to be what we are today.”

The opportunities for community involvement reach beyond the classroom.

“Not only the schools, but I envision our active seniors and other organizations being interested in seeing the artifacts they were a part of. It’s going to span all age groups,” Edgar said.

This means that members can do much more than attend meetings. There are also a variety of volunteer opportunities.

“We are a solid place for volunteers to put their time and investment into,” Shockley said.

Depending on a volunteer’s interests and talents, there are tasks for all cross-sections of the community. Research, archiving, computer program development and curriculum design are just a few of the available options.

But, as Edgar pointed out, all this work takes time and money.

“We do look for financial support from the community because this is not free,” Edgar said. “We are doing our best to make it easy to support us. Fundraising is a means, but not our No. 1 goal.”

One way to be a part of Wellington’s history forever is to participate in momentous events, like the organization’s upcoming New Year’s Eve Gala.

“This is a significant date for Wellington. The first certificates of occupancy were issued on Dec. 31, 1973. We were incorporated on Dec. 31, 1995, and the Village Hall opened on Dec. 31, 2010,” Cohen said.

The New Year’s Eve Gala will be held on Monday, Dec. 31 at the Wellington National Golf Club. It will be a party filled with dancing and cocktails before watching the ball drop at midnight. Guests can purchase tickets online or by mail, and sponsorships for tables at the party are available. Call Event Chair Karen Cavanagh at (561) 798-9254 for more information.

“We want this event to be so successful it will become a part of our history,” Shockley said.

To learn more about donating items, funds, volunteering and events, call (561) 227-1582 or visit the Wellington Historical Society web site at ww.wellingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

Bring A Little Sparkle To Your Holiday Fashion

Bring a little sparkle to your holiday wardrobe. Sparkle is what this season has seen on runways from New York to Milan. With silky, sexy satins to glittery-glam styles you can change up for every occasion. And who doesn’t love playing dress up? There is no better time than the holidays!

We’re sure you fashionable ladies are going to be looking for the perfect party dress — or dresses — to dazzle during this month’s festivities. Whether you lean toward short or long, elegant or modern, vibrant in color or subtle, it comes down to how the dress makes you feel when you slip it on.

It does not matter how beautiful a gown or dress may be, if it does not make you feel like you light up the room when you walk in, it’s not the one for you.

Since the holidays are all about dresses, it is important to choose which style is best for you to feel sensational on the party circuit.

Wellington The Magazine teamed up this holiday season with Borola Services, the talent agency that discovered local talent Kimberly Carvajal and Tatiana Jancowski, along with La Casa Hermosa of Wellington. La Casa Hermosa dressed and styled our models featured throughout this fashion pictorial and front cover. It was photographed on location at one of our featured amazing dining experiences, Kaluz Restaurant.

We hope you enjoy your holiday affairs and your sparkle is as bright as a shooting star.

Holiday Dining Guide

After the all the hard work that went into preparing the perfect Thanksgiving meal, and the extended family set to return at the end of this month, the holiday season is the perfect time to take a break from the kitchen and explore some of the amazing dining options available right here in Wellington. From new restaurants guaranteed to tempt your palate, to popular longtime establishments you’ll want to return to again and again, we’ve gathered a list of places to visit for a great meal this festive season. Raise a glass and toast to a tasty end to 2018!

The Trophy Room 12300 South Shore Blvd., Mizner Place, Wellington www.trophyroomrestaurant.com
One of the most anticipated new restaurants opening this season in Wellington will be the Trophy Room. Currently nearing completion in the Mizner Place plaza on South Shore Blvd., the Trophy Room is the brainchild of Rob Gray and Teddy Vlock of T&R Restaurant Group. The Trophy Room is taking over the location of longtime Wellington hotspot the Grille Fashion Cuisine. Major renovations include a new dining room, bar and lounge. In addition, the Trophy Room will offer private dining for up to 35 and outdoor seating on the garden terrace. The design is modern and cozy with an eye toward the late-night crowd. Guests will be treated to sleek and plush furniture designed to evoke a nighttime vibe. The menu, designed by Executive Chef Joseph Bonavita Jr., will draw from New American cuisine and small plates designed to be shared. For more info., call (561) 793-2110 or visit ww.trophyroomrestaurant.com.

Kaluz Restaurant 2025 Wellington Green Drive, Wellington www.kaluzrestaurant.com

After establishing itself on the Intracoastal in Fort Lauderdale, Kaluz Restaurant recently opened a second location right here in Wellington — and quickly became a go-to location for a sophisticated lunch or an upscale night out. With its inspired menu of New American cuisine and see-and-be-seen atmosphere, Kaluz is certainly an amazing place to try if you haven’t yet been there. The Wellington restaurant features a sleek, modern and clean-looking aesthetic with an open 45-table dining room, a 35-seat island bar and 15 tables on a covered outside seating area. Those dining at the restaurant have views of calming waterfall features, the open-exhibition kitchen and the many architectural focal points throughout the facility. Kaluz Restaurant serves up lunch, happy hour, dinner and Sunday brunch. For more information, call (561) 784-5500 or visit www.kaluzrestaurant.com.

Lemongrass Bistro 10312 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 204, Wellington www.lemongrassasianbistro.com

Lemongrass Asian Bistro arrived in Wellington earlier this year to rave reviews. The first Lemongrass Asian Bistro opened in 2006, and in just a decade, has grown to include locations in Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach and now Wellington. The Wellington location is in the Mall at Wellington Green. Lemongrass prides itself on not simply serving a meal, but also offering a unique dining experience that includes new and innovative Asian-inspired dishes. The specialty of the house is the handcrafted dumplings, which are made daily and served with homemade sauce. Enjoy them steamed or pan-fried in a variety of styles. The restaurant uses only the freshest ingredients providing dishes with unique flavors. The same stylistic approach is also used with their sushi and unique cocktails. For more information, visit www.lemongrassasianbistrowellington.com or call (561) 459-1598.

Olis Fashion Cuisine 10610 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 20, Wellington www.olisfashioncuisine.com

Oli’s Fashion Cuisine shares its namesake with the Village of Wellington — pre-development landowner Charles Oliver Wellington. Located in Wellington Green Square in front of the Mall at Wellington Green, the restaurant pays homage to Wellington’s agricultural heritage by using the finest local ingredients and flavors. The restaurant is both modern and sophisticated as co-owners Dustin Parfitt and Juan Gando have been bringing Palm Beach-style dining to Wellington since 2010. One of Wellington’s most popular hotspots, it is a favorite with snowbirds, tourists and locals alike. The cuisine served at Oli’s is both fashionable and delicious, while the restaurant itself affords local residents the perfect meeting spot and nightlife without having to venture far from home. Enjoy your meal in the upscale dining room or at the comfortable outside bistro. For more info., call (561) 792-2220 or visit www.olisfashioncuisine.com.

The Beauty And The Beeeef 10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 239, Wellington www.thebeautyandthebeeeef.com

The Beauty and the Beeef, located in the Mall at Wellington Green, is a top contender for the best burgers in Wellington. The restaurant is a great spot to party with friends and watch any number of sporting events while sampling the amazing food, such as the oversized burgers it is known for, tasty Kool-Aid pickles, crunchy and gooey grilled cheese sandwiches, and Canadian favorites, such as poutine. The location is unlike any other in the western communities, and its design was inspired by its founder, a designer and skateboarder with a passion for punk and alternative music. With expert bar mixology on full display served in eclectic mason jars, the Beauty and the Beeeef is not just a place to eat and drink, but to live. For more information, call (561) 612-4511 or visit www.thebeautyandthebeeef.com.

Catania Italian Restaurant 4115 State Road 7 in the Marketplace at Wycliffe www.cataniarestaurant.com

Catania Italian Restaurant serves up traditional Italian family-style dining. This type of dining experience has become difficult to find as the way families eat out has changed. Large portions of Italian fare are eagerly served up by the friendly staff within Catania’s Marketplace at Wycliffe location on State Road 7 at Lake Worth Road. The individual and family-style menus feature traditional Italian dishes passed down from family recipes, as well as pizza and calzones. Guests can be seated inside in the main dining room, outside on the quiet patio or in the lively bar area. Live entertainment is routinely offered at the restaurant to give couples young and old a complete night out of dining and celebrating all in a single venue. For more information, call (561) 355-5900 or visit www.cataniarestaurant.com.

Champions Bistro 400 Binks Forest Drive, Wellington www.wellingtonnationalgolfclub.com

Champions Bistro opened earlier this year as the new full-service restaurant at the Wellington National Golf Club on Binks Forest Drive. The restaurant allows diners the option of either a classy night out or a casual place to gather with friends. Champions Bistro offers both indoor and outdoor dining, with the outdoor seating located on a travertine terrace known as the 18th Overlook. Interior features of the venue include an open-air kitchen, as well as bold colors, and ample table and booth seating. The menu offers traditional American cuisine with signature and vegetarian dishes to enjoy. Champions Bistro also boasts a full-size bar where guests can relax with friends and family within the sophisticated setting of the Wellington National Golf Club. For more information, or to learn about membership opportunities, visit www.wellingtonnationalgolfclub.com or call (561) 333-5731.

La Fogata 11924 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 28, Wellington www.lafogatawellington.com

La Fogata Mexican Cuisine opened its doors in Wellington’s Town Square plaza in 2004. Since then, it has established itself as one of the best spots in the area for authentic Mexican food. The dishes are derived from family recipes that originate from Mexico and, when combined with only the freshest ingredients, emphasize an authentic Mexican flavor. A meal at La Fogata begins with complimentary chips and mild salsa, to which you can also add freshly made guacamole, queso dip or bean dip. When it comes time to order, if you’re new to the menu, try the Carne Asada or the Sopa de Mariscos. Dinner pairs well with La Fogata’s homemade slushy margaritas. While the restaurant has a vibrant and energetic atmosphere, La Fogata is the ideal place for an entire family to enjoy lunch or dinner in a friendly setting. For more information, call (561) 422-1641 or visit www.lafogatawellington.com.

Casa Tequila 12795 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington www.greatmexicancuisine.com

Located in the Wellington Plaza at the corner of Forest Hill Blvd. and Wellington Trace, Casa Tequila prides itself on serving authentic Mexican cuisine and cocktails. The restaurant has an atmosphere that is both friendly and lively — and that is best exemplified during dinner and weekends, when a full mariachi band performs. Casa Tequila serves up appetizers that are great for sharing before partaking in one of the traditional Mexican dishes on the menu, such as the sizzling fajitas. Can’t make up your mind? Try one of the combination plates. Be sure to also try one of the margaritas, and no meal is complete without enjoying the restaurant’s homemade sweet and rich flan for dessert. Casa Tequila is a family-owned restaurant affiliated with a number of other Mexican eateries in South Florida. For more information, call (561) 557-1378 or visit www.greatmexicancuisine.com.

Wellington Trace Tavern 12794 W. Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington www.wttavern.com

The Wellington Trace Tavern has a new chef and owners who have created an eclectic new design for both the restaurant and the menu. Located in the original Wellington Mall, the restaurant is now half tavern and half warm wood restaurant. The menu features creative offerings that really garner the accolades and return customer visits. Among the more uncommon dishes at the restaurant is duck, which has become difficult to find on menus in recent years, but nevertheless has taken center stage on dinner plates at Wellington Trace Tavern. Also popular is the New York strip steak flashed with a signature bourbon glaze. The restaurant is perfect for dining with friends and family to sample either more creative choices or standard fare like burgers with onion rings. Check out the restaurant for its cozy atmosphere, great food and stellar service. For more information, call (561) 469-1109 or visit www.wttavern.com.