f e a t u r e s t o r y
riveted leather sofas and precious seed packet illustrations shouldn ’ t really work , but they do .
Honestly I was so taken by the décor I had to force myself to focus on the menu . Sitting at the lush bar on a Friday , the bartender / waiter was so friendly he actually reached across the bar to shake my hand after introducing himself .
I ordered up a sweet tea as I perused the lunch menu . The food is as locally sourced as possible . As tempted as I was to try the Chicken Noodle Soup with dumplings , celery and lemon , I also had to resist the Tomato Pie I had been told was a must try item .
What really grabbed me was the “ meat and 3 ” option like a southern diner would have . You pick your protein – friend chicken , crispy Florida fish catch , grilled skirt steak , herb roasted salmon or roasted cauliflower for the vegans . Then you pick some sides . I opted for the salmon with tomato salad , braised black-eyed peas and greens , and crispy Brussel sprouts .
This proved to be a winning combo . The sides came in their own private little cups with the tomato salad marinated with a tangy vinaigrette and topped with shaved radishes ; the collards and peas cooked to just right tenderness ; and the Brussel sprouts were so darn delicious , must be the braising that brings out a nutty rich flavor from them . The salmon was ordered medium though next time I think I would get it well done as the slight rawness in the middle wasn ’ t as appealing as it sounded . Still I ate every bite !
Chef Autry is a graduate of Johnson & Wales University . She helmed the kitchen at prominent restaurants on the East Coast and in Mexico and cemented her rep as a finalist on Bravo TV ’ s ninth season of America ’ s “ Top Chef .” Hailing from North Carolina , Chef Autry says her cuisine mashes up Mediterranean flavors with the southern roots she sprouted from . The eatery is backed by restaurateur Thierry Beaud ’ s TITOU group , which also owns Pistache on Clematis Street and PB Catch in Palm Beach .
I grew up with a Southern mother , so I easily spotted the influences - country-style sausage with field pea cassoulet , Southern Cobb Salad with fried chicken and cornbread croutons , Deviled Eggs , Pickled Shrimp and , hush your mouth , Pimento Cheese Dip ! You would be seriously hard pressed to find that on any menu in West Palm Beach anywhere .
I was sorely tempted to try desert – the Strawberry Rhubarb Hand Pie with vanilla ice cream was really calling my name . A Hand Pie is just what it sounds like – a pie crust folded over and baked around fruity filling that you can literally pick up and hold in your hand . It kind of looks like an empanada .
After finishing this tasty veggie packed lunch , I made my way to the ladies room and found the most clever décor back there . The walls are covered in photos of chickens in all different funky frames , then the large wall mirror is hand painted with chicken feet and feathers . After this unexpected hen house sighting , I actually laughed out loud at what was in the hallway – benches made of hay bales covered in clear plastic . Really Regional House ? Who thinks of this ? It ’ s so weird and so funny and so right !
I later found out that some of the chicken photos are actually by Chef Autry from her family ’ s North Carolina farm . She had a replica of her family ’ s farm sign made to hang above The Regional ’ s open kitchen that has copper accents and marble counter tops . Pretty frosted cakes sit under glass globes , while the hand pies stack up in heated open shelved metal containers like in Latin street bodegas . Halved wooden barrels are jammed into the ceiling above the main dining room . Pussy willows sprout from glass vases , lots of windows let in some sunny light . I really loved the hand painted brown , gray and blue concrete tiles in the bar , an unexpected exotic touch that vibed with the dark leather riveted sofas . Details extend to the staff uniforms , designed by ChefWorks .
The main dining room is separated by a row of booths , while sets of doors open to the patio which has become a brunch hot spot despite being right on busy Okeechobee Blvd .
There ’ s a lot going on here , but it all somehow works . The high low Southern meets Latin food and the décor adds up to a really unique restaurant that certainly put their south mouth money where it counts .
If you visit : 651 Okeechobee Blvd .,
West Palm Beach , FL 33401 Phone : ( 561 ) 557-6460 www . eatregional . com
She also picked up some Latin flavors while working with celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein in Yucatan and Miami , such as the grilled snapper in banana leaf with salsa verde .
w p b m a g a z i n e . c o m 60 w p b m a g a z i n e • j u ly t h r u s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 7