To help pitch its new menu items, McDonald’s has invented a “uselessly useful” utensil designed to let customers sop up fallen condiments with french fries — and you’ll be able to get one for free on Friday (May 5) at two local restaurants.
The Frork — “a quasi-utensil, fry-fork hybrid” — is made of silicone and has an opening where customers can insert three to four french fries. The fries double as the prongs of a fork, allowing customers to scoop up Pico Guacamole, Sweet BBQ Bacon and Maple Bacon Dijon — the toppings on the company’s new line of sandwiches.
Customers who buy one of the new Signature Crafted Sandwich at selected stores on May 5 will receive a free Frork (while supplies last). In Palm Beach County, the promotion is available at these two McDonald’s restaurants– 3805 Northlake Blvd. in Palm Beach Gardens and 2421 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach.
Guests also get a free medium fry and free medium soft drink with purchase of any Signature Crafted Recipe sandwich through May 8, no coupon needed.
The Frork — “a quasi-utensil, fry-fork hybrid” — is made of silicone and has an opening where customers can insert three to four french fries. The fries double as the prongs of a fork, allowing customers to scoop up Pico Guacamole, Sweet BBQ Bacon and Maple Bacon Dijon — the toppings on the company’s new line of sandwiches.
Customers who buy one of the new Signature Crafted Sandwich at selected stores on May 5 will receive a free Frork (while supplies last).
To find a participating McDonald’s near you, click here.
McDonald’s has turned to pitchman Anthony Sullivan to help promote the Frork and the new line of sandwiches. Check out the company’s first-ever infomercial below:
In celebration of National Teacher Appreciation Day, some local businesses are offering deals and promotions designed to honor Palm Beach County’s educators.
On May 2, Chipotle is giving teachers, faculty and staff a free burrito, bowl, salad or order of tacos with the purchase of another. The promotion runs from 3 p.m. to close.
Customers are required to present a valid preschool, elementary school, middle school, high school, community college, or university identifying as faculty or staff, or home school ID card. Read moreHERE.
For parents looking for a special gift, Hoffman’s Chocolates is giving away a free a box of chocolates to those who buy a box of Hoffman’s ¼ lb. Pre-packaged Classic Assortment Box of Milk or Dark Chocolates. The buy-one-get-one-free promotion runs through May 9.
The popular coffee shop has leased space at 20 W. Atlantic Avenue, the southwest corner of Swinton and Atlantic avenues. The location formerly was home to Nature’s Way Café.
New home of Subculture Coffee in Delray Beach
The move comes after the West Palm Beach-based coffee company closed its downtown Delray Beach space at 123 E. Atlantic Ave., following the loss of a trial for eviction in March.
Subculture’s move to the south side of Atlantic Avenue is part of a long-term deal between the coffee company and Hudson Holdings, owner of property on the south side of Atlantic Avenue along Swinton Avenue.
The coffee shop will be in a temporary funky, green building along Atlantic Avenue until Hudson Holdings wins the city’s OK to do a restoration of six historic houses on Swinton Avenue.
If all goes to plan, Subculture then will move into one of those houses and take the entire space, as Subculture co-owner Rodney Mayo now has with his iconic Dada restaurant on North Swinton Avenue.
Mayo said Hudson Holdings’ Steven Michael called Mayo and pitched him the idea when he heard Subculture needed new space.
“It’s been my dream to have a coffee shop in an old historic house. This clinched the deal,” Mayo said.
The coffee company posted news of its temporary new Delray Beach location on its Facebook page Tuesday: “Say hello to our new home at the corner of Swinton & Atlantic. Construction is underway!”
Indeed, workers on Wednesday were sanding concrete floors and quickly readying the space for Subculture, which expects to be open by the end of May.
Mayo said the new location will be more akin to the main, West Palm Beach store, at 509 Clematis St. Subculture’s new spot will serve a range of food, including breakfast and lunch until 3 p.m. There also will be a separate annex for juices.
But coffee will not be roasted at 20 W. Atlantic Ave., as it was in the old Delray spot and as it is now in West Palm Beach.
On the plus side, the new location will have substantially more seating. That’s because at 2,200 square feet, it will be three times as large.
“Everyone is ecstatic because it will have more parking and more seats,” said Mayo, who noted that some patrons found it frustrating to have to “pay $10 to park for a $5 cup of coffee.”
Mayo also plans to host events there, including poetry readings and live music.
The location is temporary because Hudson Holdings plans to tear down 20 W. Atlantic Ave. and rebuilt into a 22,000-square foot, four-story building. The building will featuring retail on the ground floor, office space on the second floor, and then residential space on the third and fourth floors.
A breezeway to an interior courtyard and walkway leading to the six restored historic homes, including Subculture’s house, is part of the design.
Mayo said the house will have five parking spots just for to-go orders, plenty of nearby parking and also, outdoor seating.
All of this hinges on Hudson Holdings’ plan to restore and reuse the historic homes, plus plans to build a new hotel and condo-hotel units across from the Sundy House on South Swinton Avenue.
For more on this story, check back with mypalmbeachpost.com.
Lime Fresh Mexican Grill, a Broward County-based chain known for its burritos, outdoor patios and fresh salsa bar, plans to open seven new locations in the next 2 years, including at least two in Palm Beach County.
Lime Fresh plans to open a new location at 3331 Northlake Boulevard in Palm Beach Gardens next month, the chain said in a press release. Another Palm Beach County location is planned in West Palm Beach, it said.
Lime Fresh touts its fresh ingredients. The chain says it offers a healthier, fresh alternative to Mexican food, including its homemade salsa, sauces and sides, which are prepared on-site.
Food is also prepared without the use of use of microwaves or freezers, the company has said. The menu includes homemade guacamole, queso dip, nachos, tacos, burritos, salads and soups.
“Lime fanatics crave our unique offerings because we serve real, freshly-made-to-order food accompanied by an enthusiastic staff that really enhances the guest experience,” Joey Belmont, CEO of Lime Fresh Mexican Grill, said in a statement.
Today’s the deadline to file your federal income taxes, and some local businesses are marking the occasion with freebies and deals.
Here’s where you can find a bargain this year:
McDonald’s: Buy one Big Mac or Quarter Pounder with cheese, get on for a penny.
Sonny’s: The BBQ chain will be offering half price Sweet & Smokey or House Dry-Rubbed Rib Dinners (includes two sidekicks and homemade bread.)
Leila Restaurant: Leila Restaurant, a Middle Eastern eatery in downtown West Palm Beach, is offering a free cocktail with any entrée purchase all day on Tax Day.
3800 Ocean: 3800 Ocean, the restaurant at the Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa, will be offering a number of happy hour specials to mark the unofficial holiday. The Happy Hour menu is available from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Jardin Restaurant: Jardin in downtown West Palm Beach will offer a free drink with the purchase of an entrée.
Firehouse Subs: Firehouse Subs is offering a free medium sub with the purchase of a medium or large sub, chips and a drink (valid April 18 – April 20). To redeem, guests may print or show the offer on their smartphone.
Word of Beer: World of Beer taverns nationwide are offering patrons a free select draught this Tax Day. Guests in Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, Ohio, Texas and Virginia can anticipate five dollars off their check in lieu of a free brew.
Kona Ice: The Kona Ice truck will be parked at the Sugar Sand Park complex in Boca Raton, on Military Trail just south of Palmetto Park Road, between 3-5 p.m. Anyone who stops by gets free Kona shaved ice, according to Boca Raton franchisee Stacie Capozziello.
For $65, guest visits three local breweries on the three-to-four hour tour. They will get a flight of beer at each stop, along with a behind the scenes tour when possible or a visit with a brewery representative.
There will also be water and snacks on the bus, Breines said.
“Everything is all-inclusive,” he said.
The company will offer three different public tours, each visiting a different geographic region of the county. All of the tours start at Accomplice Brewery & Ciderworks in West Palm Beach.
But tourism officials say Breines is the first tour operator to offer trips to the county’s local breweries.
“With a total of 17 craft breweries set to be open by the end of 2017 in The Palm Beaches, we think residents and visitors alike will surely enjoy the area’s first beer bus that provides reliable transportation to a few of these local establishments per tour,” said Ashley Svarney, director of public relations and communications at Discover The Palm Beaches.
The company will also host private tours and offer bus rentals for corporate groups, birthdays, bachelor and bachelorette parties, Breines said. The bus has already been booked for two private wedding events, he said.
“I think the private tours are going to be very large for us,” Breines said.
Breines said he decided to launch the company after quitting his job in marketing and sales for Southern Wine and Spirits.
“I have always enjoyed entrepreneurship,” he said. “I kept coming back to craft beer.”
Breines said he knew about brewery tours in other parts of the country and saw there was no competition in the area.
“I thought there was a need for it,” Breines said.
Breines said he reached out to the owner of Tequesta Tequesta Brewing Co., who helped connect him with other local brewers across the county.
Craft breweries is a growing industry in Palm Beach County. At least two new breweries have opened in the county in recent months including NOBO Brewing Company in Boynton Beach and Civil Society Brewing Co. in Jupiter.
In February, Royal Palm Beach council members approved changes that would allow breweries, brewpubs, microbreweries and tap rooms to open in certain commercially-zoned areas — a move that could allow the village to become the county’s next craft beer hot spot.
In 2016, there were 5,301 operating breweries in the U.S., up 16.6 percent from the previous year, according to the Brewers Association, an non-profit trade association based in Colorado.
Craft beer is a $23.5 billion industry, with small independent breweries producing 24.6 million barrels in 2016, according to the trade group.
Peter Piper Pizza, a family-style pizza restaurant owned by Chuck E. Cheese’s parent CEC Entertainment, plans to open its first Palm Beach County location in Greenacres — part of a push to expand the west coast chain east of the Mississippi River.
The Phoenix-based company is eyeing locations across Florida, with an emphasis on the southern reaches of the state, said Jason Greenwood, the chain’s Chief Marketing Officer. The company currently has 146 restaurants in a handful of southwestern states and Mexico, but announced last year that it planned to expand into new markets.
No opening date has been set for the Greenacres location, which is planned in the Green Acres Plaza at the corner of Lake Worth and Jog roads. Greenwood said its unclear whether the Palm Beach County restaurant will be the company’s first in Florida.
“I can’t tell you it is the first, but it will be one of the first,” Greenwood said. “We love the market. We love South Florida.”
A Boynton Beach company that specializes in bacon-centered gifts has won been named the 2017 American Small Business Champion as part of a competition run by Score, a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground.
(l-r) Logan Israel, 21, and Kimberly Hruda, 28, recently opened their new business called Bacon Roses in a Box. The sweet, bacony treats come in a variety of flavors, including s’mores, original, white chocolate, bourbon, and pumpkin spice. “We put a lot of love into each box,” Hruda said. Damon Higgins / The Palm Beach Post
The championship awarded the title to 102 entrepreneurs for their dedication to the success of their small businesses. The American Small Business Champions will each receive a $1,000 Sam’s Club gift card, an all-expense-paid trip to a training and networking event, SCORE mentoring and publicity throughout the year.
Wawa, a family-owned chain of convenience stores known for its fanatical following, will hold a grand opening celebration on Thursday for its newest store in Port St. Lucie.
Palm Beach County Commissioner Steve Abrams and Mayor Shelley Vana with a Wawa mascot.
The store is located at 10308 SW Tradition Parkway in Port St. Lucie.
As part of the festivities, members from the Port St. Lucie Police Department will battle the St. Lucie County Fire Fighters Benevolent Association in a Hoagies for Heroes hoagie building.
Wawa will donate $1,000 to both team’s charity of choice, but only the winners will take the trophy home.
The chain, which is headquartered in Wawa, Pa, has earned a reputation for serving up hot coffee and tasty sandwiches along with its gas sales.
