Doris Market Expanding and Remodeling on Yamato

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A couple years ago we heard a rumor that Doris Market might move from its location on Yamato at Lakeridge Blvd. The plaza, Yamato Village Center, was sold to a new owner in 2014, and Doris Market stayed. A manager told us that the new owner has made significant improvements to the plaza, especially regarding lighting, and that has helped business.
We’ve been there a few times recently and we noticed big changes in the market. First, they are expanding. The space just east of the current entrance was occupied by Yamato Pharmacy, which have moved. Doris Market will take over that space. With other changes they will add about 2500 square feet in total.
In the photo below you can see the beginning of remodeling work near the entrance, and you can also see the former Yamato Pharmacy front on the left.
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Here is a closer shot of the front of the former Yamato Pharmacy …
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They’re doing significant remodeling in various areas of the store. Below is a shot in the entry area which we believe will be expanded …
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… and another shot from inside the store near the grocery area:
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Last this is a shot of a sign they have showing the new look they’re going for:
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From our conversations it sounds like it’s taking longer than they expected but should be fully remodeled by this summer.

Happy Hour and More at La Ferme

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We have an update on La Ferme, the new high end restaurant on Yamato in the plaza with Doris Market. Along with their regular menu, they’ve announced some Happy Hour specials that are available for a limited time.
Six nights per week from 5-7 at the bar they will have two-for-one house wine and house cocktails. Friday is the exception. There are two other specials: Half-price mussels all night on Sunday and half-price on wine bottles under $75 on Mondays.
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Mussels are a specialty of the new owners. The Shapiros run the Flex Mussels restaurants in New York City, which is prominent enough to have been featured in the New York Times back in 2009. That means they know how to source top quality shellfish, and how to pair wines with them.
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We covered La Ferme’s media dinner a month ago, and we included our own photos in that article.
La Ferme is open for dinner seven days a week starting at 5 pm. Sunday through Thursday they’re open until 10 pm, with an extra hour (until 11) on Friday and Saturday. The restaurant is on the north side of Yamato at Lakeridge (between 441 and Lyons):

The restaurant sent us some of their own photos, which we cropped so they’d fit better on our website:
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scallops
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Also, above we mentioned Happy Hour for house cocktails. Here’s that menu:
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This is a sponsored article. The writing is all ours and the restaurant had minimal input (other than providing photos). We really do think La Ferme is the best restaurant in West Boca.

La Ferme Media Dinner: Photos

Laura, Bobby & Alex Shapiro
Laura, Bobby & Alex Shapiro

We were fortunate to be invited to a media dinner for the new La Ferme restaurant in Yamato Village Center. It’s a reopening of the former Bistro Gastronomie in the same plaza as Doris Market. Bistro Gastronomie struggled but the new owners (pictured above) are optimistic they can make the concept work. The Shapiros have extensive experience running restaurants. They’ve learned from their successes and more from the few that didn’t go well.
The new chef, John Belleme (pronounced like Bellamy), put together an excellent meal for all of us. He came out and explained the finer points of the meal in far more depth than this author is capable of understanding, to the delight of the more experienced food writers. Their press release described the cuisine as Meditteranean but we’d call it French.
Bobby Shapiro and Chef John Belleme
Bobby Shapiro and Chef John Belleme

We started with a series of appetizers. First up was the “gougeres”, bread puffs filled with gruyere cheese. The bread was light and airy and the cheese was soft inside – nearly liquid – even after they had cooled off a bit.
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Served at the same time was steak tartare, which was my favorite item of the night. The meat blended with dijon, capers and other ingredients for a hint of spice and smooth feel in the mouth.
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Oysters are not something I would typically order, but I did like these.
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They came out along with “Clams 2 Ways.” One of the ways included bacon, which was excellent.
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During the meal Mr. Shapiro introduced Kahl Wilfert, who coordinated the artwork inside the restaurant.
Kahl Wilfert & Bobby Shapiro
Kahl Wilfert & Bobby Shapiro

There is a variety of art, though Kahl mentioned something being a precursor to the pop art movement.
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Next came two different salads. One was a beet salad. That’s something I usually like and this was no exception:
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There was also a “farm salad.” This was the one item that really didn’t click for me. There was something bitter in it that overpowered the rest of the ingredients, though others at the table did like it.
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We were then served two kinds of mussels. The Thai version was my favorite of the two.
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I had the chance to try three of the four entrees that were served. A guest of mine showed up late and had the salmon. We both thought it was very good.
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I had the scallops with risotto. Of the entrees this was my favorite. My guest particularly liked the risotto.
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I also had a chance to try the porchetta, made from pork belly.
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The meal closed with two desserts, an apple turnover that was spectacular, and a chocolate torte that would definitely appeal to chocoholics.
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We have not seen a menu yet but expect La Ferme to be pricey. The Shapiros tell us it will not be as expensive as Bistro Gastronomie was. We hope to get there again in the next month or so for a regular meal.
Yamato Village Center is on the north side of Yamato halfway between 441 and Lyons at Lakeridge.

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The website, LaFerme.kitchen, is still under construction.

La Ferme Opens October 4th with Chef Belleme

Chef John Belleme
Chef John Belleme

We previously reported that Bistro Gastronomie will reopen as La Ferme. They now have a firm opening date of Saturday, October 4th.
Chef William Walden has left and we wish him all the best. In his place the new owners have brought in Chef John Belleme, who was most recently at the former Stephane’s on the north side of Glades near Military Trail (the space is currently Madison’s restaurant).
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The restaurant features modern Mediterranean cuisine in a fun, upbeat and exciting setting. The menu at La Ferme is beautifully executed by celebrated Executive Chef John Belleme, voted the Best Chef in Palm Beach County three years in a row by the readers of City Link and the New Times magazines. He was also featured in Esquire magazine by John Mariani as a chef to keep your eye on.

Here’s Chef Belleme a few years ago on Honey Garlic Prawns from when he was at Umi:

There will be significant changes to the menu:

The menu will adjust with seasons but items will include: Grilled Point Judith Calamari with Heirloom Tomato, Lemon Caper Crudo; Kale Caesar with Country Croutons, Parmesan and Boquerón; Steak Tartare with Quail Egg and Green Peppercorn Vinaigrette; Forever Braised Short Rib Bourguignon with Lardoons, Mushrooms and a Red Wine Reduction; Poulet de St Tropez Roasted Organic Chicken with Roasted Vegetables, Grapes, Olives, Crushed Potatoes in Lemon Thyme Pan Sauce; and Cedar Plank Organic Black Pearl Salmon with Horseradish Crust, Mustard Oil and Greens.

It’s also our impression that it will be much less expensive. Bistro Gastronomie was hard to get out of for less than $100 per person, though we thought it was well worth it.

Mussels
Mussels

Tangine Lamb
Tangine Lamb

We’re looking forward to trying the new approach. La Ferme is located in Yamato Village Center, on the north side of Yamato between 441 and Lyons. It’s the plaza with Doris Market.

La Ferme is open daily for dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and will feature happy hour specials, Monday – Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. (bar only). [Make] reservations by phone or through OpenTable. For more info call 561.430.3731.

The restaurant’s website – laferme.kitchen – does not appear to be ready yet but we expect it will be up and running soon.

Bistro Gastronomie to Reopen as La Ferme

Bistro Gastronomie will reopen under a new name and new ownership.
Now La Ferme, it “will open mid-September and will feature Modern French Bistro Cuisine served in a fun, upbeat and exciting setting. The menu will have a strong emphasis on fresh ingredients and the restaurant will source its own oysters and mussels. The restaurant will be approachable and reasonably priced.”
The new ownership team includes “Well-known Manhattan restaurateurs Bobby, Laura and Alexandra Shapiro.” We checked them out before and the Shapiros do have a strong record in the restaurant business. Chef William Walden will continue with them. We were impressed with Chef Walden’s dishes when it was Bistro Gastronomie, and we look forward to what he will do in the new setup.

Alexandra, Bobby and Laura Shapiro, with Chef Walden
Alexandra, Bobby and Laura Shapiro, with Chef Walden

“Chef Walden is one of the nation’s leading chefs and we are thrilled that he will lead our culinary team at La Ferme,” said Bobby Shapiro. “La Ferme will feature his delicious French dishes and our menu will also have small plates and bar bites to make this an everyday restaurant. It will be more creative, fun and interactive, with a particular focus on health conscious execution.”

There will be substantial menu changes:

The menu will adjust with seasons but items will include: Burgundy Escargots sizzling in their shells a la Persillade; Classic French Onion Soup with King Cut Gruyere; Grilled Octopus, Salad Nicoise with seared tuna; Seafood Plateaus featuring Maine Lobster, East Coast Oysters, Gulf Shrimp, Crab Louis, and Florida Stone Crab Claws (in season); King Crab Legs; Prince Edward Island Mussels done three ways: Dijonaise, Billi Bi, or Thai Curry; Natural Foie Gras Torchon; authentic Moroccan Tagines (Chicken, Lamb, and Vegetable); all natural beef; Hanger Steak Frites; Chateaubriand Bouquetier; Slow Braised Short Ribs; Beef Bourgignon a la Julia Child; Steak Tartare; Roast Chicken for two with Potato Pie and Accoutrements; and Fresh Skatefish Au Beurre Noir.

Perhaps most notable is the commitment to reasonable pricing. As Bistro Gastronomie it was very expensive. We thought it was worth it, but the pricing limited how often we could go. If the prices are lower, we’ll definitely go more often.

La Ferme is open daily for dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and will feature happy hour specials, Monday – Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. (bar only). The restaurant accepts all major credit cards and reservations by phone or through OpenTable. For more info call 561.430.3731, visit the website laferme.kitchen or email [email protected].

La Ferme is located in Yamato Village Center, on the north side of Yamato halfway between 441 and Lyons. It’s the same plaza as Doris Market.