Local father-daughter duo opens Clean Eatz in Port St. Lucie

Port St. Lucie residents have a new dining option with the opening of Clean Eatz at 10836 SW Village Parkway, Suite 10836. The award-winning health food restaurant franchise is known for its chef-inspired, nutritionist-approved menu selection, giving locals the option to order meal plans, catering packages, Grab ‘N’ Go meals, or enjoy a dine-in restaurant experience.

The franchise location will be owned and operated by Dave and Kylie Schaefers, a local father-daughter duo. Dave has been in the franchise space for over three decades, during which time he’s owned and/or operated a multitude of popular brands in various industries across the country. Kylie is a recent graduate from the University of Florida with a degree in health and wellness. This will mark the first involvement she’s had in the franchise space

“It’s been incredible to witness the growing namesake and public demand for Clean Eatz throughout Florida, and to be able to partner with incredible franchisees like Dave and Kylie to help drive our expansion in the state,” says Evonne Varady, Co-Founder of Clean Eatz.

For more information on Clean Eatz, please visit www.cleaneatz.com or call (772) 200-2268.

About Clean Eatz:

Clean Eatz, which launched in 2011 and started franchising in 2015, was co-founded by husband-and-wife duo Don and Evonne Varady, as a means of helping individuals and families change their lives by providing them with better nutrition options, a steady dose of health and wellness education, and a diverse support community that’s committed to helping each other in becoming their best selves. By supplying such healthy alternatives, the Clean Eatz brand has continued to win over communities with their dine-in, grab-n-go, catering, marketplace, and weekly online meal plan selections.

Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email news@indianrivermedia.com

Jun. 8, 2023|

The Treasure Coast MasterChef Competition announces 2023 preliminary and finale events

The Treasure Coast MasterChef competition is excited to announce its 2023 preliminary and finale events, presented by Kyle G’s Restaurants, and taking place at the Indian River State College campus in Vero Beach, FL. The preliminary competition will take place on Wednesday, March 8th and will feature eight talented chefs from across the region.

The preliminary competition will be judged by a panel of locally renowned chefs, who will evaluate the dishes on taste, presentation, and originality. At the end of the event, the top four chefs will advance to the semi-formal finale, held on Wednesday, March 22^nd at the Indian River State College.

At the finale, the top four chefs will present their signature dishes to a panel of expert judges and attending guests. The winning chef will receive a MasterChef Trophy and the coveted title of the 2023 Treasure Coast MasterChef.

"We are thrilled to bring together some of the most talented chefs in the region for this exciting competition," said competition organizer, Thomas Miller. "The Treasure Coast has a thriving culinary scene, and we can't wait to see what these chefs have in store for us."

Both the preliminary and finale competitions are open to the public, and tickets can be purchased on the treasurecoastfoodie.com website. Don't miss this opportunity to see some of the best chefs in action and support the local culinary community.

For more information, visit https://treasurecoastfoodie.com/the-treasure-coast-masterchef-competition/

Feb. 16, 2023|

Sunshine Kitchen hosts student culinary cook-off Oct. 25

The public is invited to a Culinary Cook-Off as the Sunshine Kitchen hosts a student cooking challenge on Tuesday, Oct. 25, starting at 10 a.m. for a chance to win a $1,500 scholarship.

Presented by the Treasure Coast Education and Research Development Authority, this student cooking contest will pair Indian River State College students with St. Lucie Public School students as they compete for $1,500 in scholarship funds. Prep work will begin at 9:50 a.m.; cooking starts at 10:05 a.m.; judging will take place at 11:05 a.m., with awards being presented at noon.

The categories/winning divisions included:

• Plate Appearance

• Taste/Flavor

• Teamwork/Cooperation

• Proper Cooking Procedures

• Knife Skills

• Degree of Difficulty

• Sanitation/Food Safety

Two $1,500 scholarships will be awarded with funding provided by the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners. Scholarships will be paid to the St. Lucie County Public Schools Education Foundation and Indian River State College Education Foundation.

The public is invited to attend and enjoy this free event. Refreshments will be provided by middle school students enrolled in culinary programs through the St. Lucie Public School District. Those interested in attending should register before Wednesday, Oct. 19 by emailing: mccantsre@stlucieco.org or calling 772-467-3107.

Located inside the Treasure Coast Research Park, the Sunshine Kitchen is a 10,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art food incubator where chefs, caters, food truck operators, and more can hone their culinary skills. The Sunshine Kitchen Food Business Incubator is located at 7550 Pruitt Research Center Road, Fort Pierce, Fla. 34545. For more details, visit www.sunshinekitchenslc.com.

The Sunshine Kitchen is owned and operated by the Treasure Coast Education and Research Development Authority and the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners.

Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email staff@tcbusiness.com

Oct. 17, 2022|

St. Lucie County Public Safety partners with Recovery Sports Grill for “Dine to Donate” event benefitting 2022 chili cook-off

St. Lucie County Public Safety partners with Recovery Sports Grill for "Dine to Donate" event benefitting 2022 chili cook-off

St. Lucie County’s Public Safety Department is partnering with Recovery Sports Grill on a Dine to Donate event on Tuesday, Sept. 20 to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County. These donations will go toward St. Lucie County’s efforts to raise money for the 2022 Chili Cook-Off, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Clover Park.

Residents must present a voucher, which can be downloaded from St. Lucie County’s website and/or Facebook page and present that to their server on Sept. 20 when ordering inside the Recovery Sports Grill –Tradition, 10350 SW Don Led Duke Dr., Port St. Lucie, between 4 and 8 p.m. Recovery Sports Grill will also allow donations to be made through online ordering all day at www.recoverysportsgrill.com/port-st-lucie, just enter code “BG922” in the coupon code box at check out.

Residents can also help St. Lucie County’s Public Safety Department raise funds for the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County by donating through a safe and secure website: https://e.givesmart.com/events/rr5/c/:tHY5edh7Uhc.

Those who wish to donate in-person should plan on attending the 40^th Annual Chili Cook-Off on Saturday, Oct. 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Clover Park, located at 31 Piazza Drive in Port St. Lucie. For more details, visit: https://bgcofslc.org/event/chili-cook-off.

Sep. 19, 2022|

Sunshine Kitchen partners with Florida Small Business Development Center at IRSC

The National Restaurant Association estimates that one in three restaurants won’t survive their first year in business. To combat that static, St. Lucie County’s Sunshine Kitchen is partnering with Indian River State College’s Small Business Development Center to provide free consultation to clients at the kitchen.

Starting in October, the Small Business Development Center will have a full-time consultant located at the Sunshine Kitchen to provide advice and direction to small business owners and would-be entrepreneurs on topics such as creating marketing plans, developing new clients and navigating local, state and federal regulations. The consultant will also present group training programs on a variety of business-related topics that meet the needs of local businesses as well as conducting outreach activities to local trade groups and associations.

Located at 7550 Pruitt Research Center Road in Fort Pierce, the Sunshine Kitchen is a 10,000-square-foot commercial kitchen facility designed to offer culinary entrepreneurs the space to grow their business. For more information, visit: www.sunshinekitchenslc.com.

About the FSBDC at IRSC

The Florida Small Business Development Center (FSBDC) at Indian River State College (IRSC) is a part of the Florida SBDC Network.

The Florida SBDC Network provides tools, training, and resources to help small businesses grow and succeed. Designated as “Florida’s provider of small business assistance,” the Florida SBDC Network has more than 40 offices from Pensacola to Key West to serve the needs of Florida’s business community. Since 1976, our network of partners has helped construct a statewide ecosystem to foster the spirit, support, and success of hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs and innovators.

The Florida SBDC Network is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Defense Logistics Agency, State of Florida, and other private and public partners, with the University of West Florida serving as the Network’s designated lead host institution. The Florida SBDC Network is nationally accredited by the Association of SBDCs.

Ready to get your business started on the path to success? Contact your local Florida Small Business Development Center at IRSC!
fsbdc@irsc.edu | (772) 336-6285 | www.irscbiz.com

Sep. 9, 2022|

The Grove, Cucina & Wine earns Wine Spectator restaurant award in 2022, third year in a row

The Grove, Cucina & Wine Bar among 3,776 winners; awards program for World’s Best Wine Lists pays tribute to resilience of restaurant industry amid global pandemic

The Grove Pizza Cucina & Wine Bar was honored for the third year in a row for its outstanding wine program in Wine Spectator’s 2022 Restaurant Awards, which celebrate the world’s best restaurants for wine.

“I want to congratulate all 3,169 restaurants that earned one of Wine Spectator’s three awards for their devotion to all things wine,” said Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher, Wine Spectator. “These awards not only guide our readers to dining establishments with impressive wine lists and outstanding service but also serve to honor restaurants for their achievements and commitment to maintaining pristine cellars. We are thrilled to reveal our 2022 Dining Guide, which points to places where wine drinkers are warmly welcomed.”

“Luis and I are thrilled to be recognized by the Wine Spectator for our dedication to excellence with our Award of Excellence again in 2022. As long-time Martin County residents, it’s an honor to bring light to our work and dedication to elevating the dining scene and level of hospitality here in Martin County.” -Jen Reyneri, Sommelier and Co-Owner “We recently returned from our Southern Italian culinary research trip to this awesome news, and are excited to share our love for food and wine with our community, guests, and wine club members.” States Co-Owner Luis Reyneri, Advanced Sommelier and Certified Wine Educator.

About The Grove, Pizza Cucina & Wine Bar

Excerpt, Wine Spectator, 8 Piping-Hot Pizza Places with Terrific Wine Lists “Jen and Luis Reyneri, the wife-and-husband owners of the Grove Pizza Cucina & Wine Bar, met 20 years ago in Orlando, Fla. Driven by a passion for wine, the couple spent time living abroad in Europe, visiting a variety of winegrowing regions including Italy, France, Spain and Germany. With some global perspective under their belt, the Reyneris returned to Florida to open their restaurant in 2019, and the Grove earned its first Award of Excellence one year later. Luis oversees the frequently evolving wine list. Chef Ian McCue crafts seasonal Italian dishes plus specialty pizzas with options like chicken pesto and burrata flatbread, using fresh produce brought in daily and sauces made in-house.”

The Grove was established in 2019, but the journey to its inception spans over 20 years and two continents. Husband & wife sommelier team/owner-operators are on mission to carefully curate cuisine & culture by providing world-class hospitality experiences in their small, sleepy beach town. Frequently, guests comment since The Grove came to town, they have escalated the culture through culinary and hospitality as forerunners in this up and coming community. The dynamic duo of Jen and Luis Reyneri met over 20 years ago in Orlando, Florida. Since then, the hospitality industry has taken the Reyneri family, including their two sons, all over the world including a year abroad in Europe studying food and wine. With international experience under their belts, they returned to Las Vegas and later back to their roots and family in South Florida to open The Grove in 2019, going on to win Wine Spectator Award of Excellences in 2020 , 2021 & 2022 and won Diner’s Choice for Best Food through Open Table two years in a row. The Reyneri’s not only pride themselves with excellence in service to their guests with a talented certified culinary team, but in building a strong, family-like team culture where Cuban coffee is served at pre-shift every day. Many employees have celebrated 3 year work anniversaries at The Grove and have been promoted from within. Most recently, the Reyneri’s are expanding their philanthropic outreach with the creation of the Treasure Coast Charity Wine Auction, a newly incorporated 501-C3 with its first events to follow this fall. Follow the Grove online at TheGroveHobeSound.com and on Facebook or Instagram @TheGroveHobeSound

The Grove, Pizza Cucina & Wine has won the AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: The Award of Excellence recognizes restaurants whose wine lists feature a well-chosen assortment of quality producers along with a thematic match to the menu in both price and style.

Follow the Restaurant Awards on Twitter and Instagram, with hashtag #WSRestaurantAward, and The Grove on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Winners are also profiled in the free Restaurant Awards app, available for iPhone and iPad users. Wine Spectator’s special Restaurant Awards issue became available to readers July 12.

About Wine Spectator

Wine Spectator is the world’s leading authority on wine. Anchored by Wine Spectator magazine, a print publication that reaches around 3 million readers worldwide, the brand also encompasses the Web’s most comprehensive wine site (WineSpectator.com), mobile platforms and a series of signature events. Wine Spectator examines the world of wine from the vineyard to the table, exploring wine’s role in contemporary culture and delivering expert reviews of more than 15,000 wines each year. Parent company M. Shanken Communications, Inc., also publishes Cigar Aficionado, Whisky Advocate, Market Watch, Shanken News Daily and Shanken’s Impact Newsletter.

Wine Spectator began its program to recognize the world’s best wine lists in 1981. There are three levels: the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award of Excellence and the Grand Award—with 1,782; 1,290; and 97 winners this year in each respective category.

Aug. 2, 2022|

Local Business Highlight: The Saussie Pig

Owner Tashiema Brown and his son Tre'Bon provided by Leah Voss/TC Palm

Tashiema “Beemer” Brown is doing the food truck thing in reverse. Instead of growing his business, he decided to downsize from brick-and-mortar restaurants to a food truck: The Saussie Pig.

“Bigger isn’t always better,” Brown said.

Brown, who moved to Vero Beach about 15 years ago, owned a dump truck business until the economy crashed, and he had to figure out something else to do for work. He thought of his first job at age 14 at a rib joint in his native Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

“I moved my family here and I didn’t want to move them back there because where I grew up and here is night and day,” Brown said. “This is like vacation. I knew I wanted to keep my family here.

“So I went back to what I knew — cooking and barbecue.”

Starting outside Vero Beach bars

Brown bought a smoker and he hauled it around town with his truck.

“I would set up outside of different bars throughout the community as they closed, and it just kind of took off,” Brown said.

He then bought a small trailer and started working some events. He also had opened a restaurant in Fellsmere and a sports bar in Vero Beach, but he was done dealing with employees. He wanted a family-run business with his wife, brother, daughter and sons.

He had bought the yellow truck about five years ago, but he didn’t renovate it until two months before the coronavirus pandemic.

Because of the nature of the business, the pandemic didn’t hurt his food truck.

“We stayed busy the entire time,” Brown said. “This truck never shut down.”

Naming menu items after customers

The Saussie Pig is named for its pulled pork sandwiches.

“You don’t have to ask for extra sauce,” Brown said. “We put enough on there.”

The sandwiches are named after people. The “Bender” — topped with coleslaw and a slice of pineapple — is named after a “surfer dude” customer, he said. The “Harvey” — topped with bacon, cheese and jalapeno — is named after Brown’s partner when he first started the food truck.

“These creations came from outside of the bars at night,” Brown said. “Every sandwich that I have on there, it was created by someone outside of a bar at 2 a.m. And the names just stuck.”

Dec. 13, 2021|

Inlet Grill appears on “Hotel Hell”

FORT PIERCE – The Inlet Grill hosted a viewing party Tuesday, July 19, when an episode of “Hotel Hell” featuring the restaurant aired on FOX at 8 p.m. E.T. The show, which filmed at the Beachfront Inn and Inlet Grill in October 2015, aims to transform hotels, motels and inns in need of help, […]

Jul. 19, 2016|

Local restaurant appears on HGTV

STUART – HGTV contacted Sailor’s Return a few months back in hopes of shooting the opening scene of their new show “We Bought the Farm.” The show follows homebuyers viewing and deciding between multiple properties. It was being shot local in the Martin County area.

Thursday, April 14, realtor Stefani Hughes held a viewing party […]

Apr. 18, 2016|

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