Jan Norris: Food and Florida

A little “all natural” Caribbean-themed eatery has opened in North Palm’s Crystal Tree Plaza, but it has big aspirations. It’s the caterer to the G-Star movie studio that just opened the state’s largest sound stage in Palm Springs.

The menu that has no salts or sugars offers up good looking sandwiches (“spiced Lucayan pulled chicken,” Browdog’s Pulled Pork Kaiser” and “Cannonsport Meatball Roll”), and a couple of salads. Entrees include pork and rice and baked chicken, or meatballs and pasta, with some Caribe sides such as sauteed yucca, zucchini with brassicaceae (bitter greens) and a mashed potato “paddy.”

Also in the store are racks of foods for sale – hot sauces, rubs, spice mixes, bloody Mary mixes, and more.

It’s for take-out or delivery to the North Palm area, or they’ll cater your star dinner, too. Open Monday-Saturday for early lunch and early dinner; closed Sunday.

Pepe O’Reilly’s

• 1201 N. U.S. 1 (Crystal Tree Plaza), North Palm Beach
• 561-398-3003
• Open: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Expect Kubo opening this week

Kubo is nearly ready to open its doors. “We’re only waiting on the final CO (Certificate of Occupancy), and we expect that Monday,” said Roy Villacrusis, chef/owner of the Asian eatery that takes the former Lanni’s spot in Crystal Tree Plaza.

It’s an eye-appealing eatery, with indoor-outdoor seating — room for the live entertainment that’s planned. The menu will be Asian themed, with Villacrusis’ creative sushi and other dishes on the menu.

Villacrusis is the former sushi chef for Mark’s at CityPlace, and his followers have been anxiously awaiting while he created this restaurant on his own. He was hands-on in construction and decor; he’s known for artful plates and creative twists on traditional foods.

Kubo

• 1201 N. U.S. 1 (Crystal Tree Plaza), North Palm Beach
• 561-776-2748
• (Opening soon for dinner)

Closed for Summer in Palm Beach, elsewhere

Testa’s, the oldest restaurant on the island of Palm Beach, is closing for the summer.

It’s been a hard hot season over there for eateries, with many restaurateurs telling me off record that they’re barely squeaking by this summer. Economic conditions, the detritus of the Madoff brouhaha still seeping, and the road work on Worth Avenue all are blamed for a downturn in hotel stays and dining on the resort island….

Also closed for summer there is Eggsotic Bistro, formerly on Okeechobee and now in the 140 Sunrise building. The creative tapas menu from the brothers from Venezuela will return in the fall, we hear….

Cafe des Artistes in Jupiter’s Riverwalk also has closed for vacation. Looking forward to seeing them return with their French menu that’s oh, so civilized for lunch…

Marcello’s La Sirena in West Palm Beach will return in the fall, too – Marcello takes off to be with his charming daughters and wife and spruces up the cozy family-run Italian restaurant a little each year.