Looking for a location to host your next birthday party, bridal lunch or baby shower? With an incredible beach view, authentic Italian food prepared by a celebrity Chef and a private room for parties Cafe Med is the ideal setting.
I have hosted events at Cafe Med in the past and highly recommended it even before this experience. Chef Lillo Teodosi recently took the helm of the culinary team. He is an award winning chef including: Top Italian Restaurant in Chicago, International Foodservice Manufacturers Association Golden Plate Awards winner 18 years running as well as being inducted into The Accademia della Cucina Italiana, which recognizes true Italian restaurant in foreign countries. It is a prestigious achievements from an organization formed By the Italian Government. He was born in Rome, Italy and trained in contemporary Italian Cuisine. Before moving to South Florida he worked in Italy, London, England, Paris, France, Cruise Ships in the Mediterranean Seas and Chicago, Illinois.
Cafe Med believes that food is love and their passion is expressed in an exciting blend of Old World traditions and New World flair. Their love and passion was evident in everything they did. We were greeted with a glass of Italian prosecco. We had the opportunity to meet the Cafe Med Management team, including Diego Oppo, General Manager, Marco Pistella, Assistant General Manager and Sommelier and Antonio Anobile, Mixologist and Chef Lillo. The team was so welcoming I felt as though we had been invited into their home. I was impressed with their hospitality even before we tried any of their amazing fresh Italian cuisine.
We were treated to a 7 course meal and wine pairing that was kicked off with a Flower Garden Martini a combination of Hendricks Gin, Lime, Cucumber, ST. Germain, Simple Syrup and Bitters made by Mixologist Antonio. It was refreshing and a fun was to kick off the experience.
Our first course was the Insalatina di Mare Bella Napoli with seppie, shrimp, octopus, calamari, scungilli, giardiniera and lemon citronette. As a seafood lover I could have made this my entire meal. Everything was so fresh and delicious.
Our second course was Mezze Maniche al Sapore del Mediterraneo with short tube pasta with shrimp, bay scallops, pea pods, fresh pomodoro and basil. I rarely think to mix shrimp and scallops with tomato sauce, but after trying this I will be ordering the combo more often. This homemade pasta made me never want to buy box pasta again.
Our third course was Gamberi e Cappesante con Funghi Trifolati with jumbo shrimp, sea scallops, lemon, wild mushrooms, garlic and risotto. Risotto is one of my favorite dishes, but I rarely order it before I am so often disappointed. I am still dreaming about this dish. If I could eat it everyday, it would not be often enough.
Our fourth course was Chilean Sea Bass with seared Chilean sea bass, mussels, clams, lemon sauce, mashed potatoes & spinach. It was cooked perfectly and was delicious. I would order this again especially when I am not trying to eat low carb so I could enjoy all the mashed potatoes.
Our fifth course was Farrotto al Tartufo with farro “risotto-style” with black truffles, porcini mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes and parmigiano. I wish I was a mushroom lover. I know I am missing out.
Our sixth and final dish was the appropriately named Cowboy Ribeye Steak, which comes as 24oz grass-fed USDA Sterling bone-in ribeye steak, baked potato and Brussels sprouts. It is the meal I know my husband would order and love and while seafood is my first love this steak did not disappoint.
For dessert the chef and team prepared a Key Lime Pie and a classic Italian dessert, Tiramisu. I had been in The Keys the week before so I was worried to try the Key Lime Pie because I thought it could not live up to my hopes. I was wrong. It was as good maybe even better than the pieces I had in The Keys. Tiramisu is my husbands favorite so I have enjoyed my fair share of them over the last 10 years. Cafe Med's Tiramisu rivaled any I have tried.
Cafe Med is located at 2096 NE 2nd St. in Deerfield Beach, inside the Wyndham Deerfield Beach Resort.
Have you been to Cafe Med yet?
Disclosure: I was invited to experience the restaurant as part of a media dinner. No monetary compensation has been received for this post. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.
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