Jan Norris: Food and Florida

Chicken and matzoh ball soup created by Chef Jim Leiken will on Cafe Boulud's Passover menu. /photo courtesy Maureen o'Sullivan.

If you just can’t take another year of bubbe’s same old gefilte fish loaf, there are a few restaurants offering Passover dinners in the area.

At Le Bistro in Lighthouse Point, chef/spouse team Andy and Ellen Trousdale again offer a four-course gourmet Passover dinner Friday and Saturday nights (April 6-7). Cost is $39 per person ($15 for kids 12 and under). For reservations, call 954-946-9240. The menu includes:

• Seder Plate, served with matzo, complimentary glass of sweet wine
• Appetizer choices: Whitefish and salmon terrine – baby beets, grain mustard & horseradish vinaigrette; Apple, walnut & blue cheese salad – baby greens, balsamic and olive oil; Rillette of Duck – shredded duck pate, pickles
• Soup: Fragrant chicken soup and garden herb matzoh balls
• Entree choices: Slow braised beef brisket – caramelized onions, garlic, sherry; Herbs des Provence and honey-roasted spring baby chicken; Baked cod, cream of wild mushroom sauce
• Choice of Dessert: French vanilla gelato “sundae;”  Carmelized apples and raisins, caramel glaze; Chocolate mousse.

At Cafe Boulud, Chef Jim Leiken will draw from his family’s recipes to create a Passover menu available April 6-14 at the Palm Beach restaurant. Three courses are $59; reservations are at 561-655-6060. Leiken’s menu includes:

• Matzoh ball soup made with chicken confit and hen of the woods mushrooms.
• Appetizers: Housemade pike gefilte fish, and baby beet salad with horseradish crème fraîche (among others)
• Entrees: Matzo-crusted Arctic char with parsley root puree; Spring lamb shank with charoset stuffing; Braised beef shortrib and tzimmes, with dried fruit compote, baby root vegetables and sweet spices.
• Desserts from pastry chef Arnaud include: Flourless chocolate cake with chocolate sorbet; Raspberry Pavlova with raspberry sauce, lemon sorbet.

Josef’s Table in Boca Raton offers a four-course menu for couples or singles as well as families, Friday and Saturday (April 6-7). Dinner is $39.95 per person. For reservations online, click here. Call 561-637-4441 for more info. Josef’s menu includes:

• Matzo with apple and walnut charoset
• Salmon and whitefish gefilte fish with horseradish sauce and green salad
• Homemade matzo ball soup
• Entrees: Braised beef brisket; Roasted lemon thyme chicken with grilled asparagus, candied carrots and potato kugel
• Desserts: Flourless chocolate cake; fresh berries with chocolate macaroons

For all restaurants, make your reservations now; they’re sure to fill up for the holiday.