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March 2008
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Real Service... Real Results
In This Issue
Real Estate Trends
Restaurant Review
Laura & Tana
Laura Cole & Tana Gaskill
(561)             (561)
776-4429     776-4444
Illustrated Properties
2725 PGA Blvd.
Palm Beach Gardens
33410

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Greetings!
 
Welcome to the March edition of Neighborhood News.   We are happy to announce that the Restaurants 2008 has now been posted to our website.  Let us know if you would like us to email a copy to you as well. Many thanks to all of you who contributed restaurant reviews and entered our drawing.  The winner of a $100 gift certificate to Cafe L'Europe is Mark Kaufman with special thanks going to him for his creative review ot The Counter in Royal Palm Beach.                            .
 
Also, in this issue is another superb restaurant review from the very talented Vicki Slotnick featuring a recent experience at Solu on Singer Island.
 
Finally, BallenIsles was the featured community in the Home Life Section of the Palm Beach Post on January 26th.  We again include a link to this marvelous article below.
 
Real Estate Trends
BallenIsles
102A Palm Point
 
February had only one recorded sale and January had an additional sale not previously reported.  Inventory levels have remained fairly steady and there are currently 92 homes for sale in BallenIsles ranging in price from the mid $300's to well over $3.7 million.*
 
Address                  Bedrooms    Baths       Sale Price
 
139 Vintage Isle Lane     3              5.0           $1,050,000
24 St. Thomas Drive       4              5.5           $2,200,000
    
*This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Realtors Association of the PalmBeaches or its Multiple Listing Services thru 3/9/08.  
 
To learn more about current Real Estate trends in BallenIsles, click on the link below.
 
Real Estate Trends      
Restaurant Review
Solu by Vicki Slotnick 
 
Our first visit to SOLU was back in October, 2007 and I recall that we were "over the moon" with the food, presentation and service and that we had the whole place to ourselves! 
This time was a bit different. 
 
Looking around, we observed that this restaurant is stunning.  It is a gorgeous collection of art glass with a deco-modern design to the space that is very South Beachy.  If it were earlier in the day and lighter, we would have had a straight-on view of the ocean through a few swaying palm trees.  The place was full, noisy, with a bustling crowd at a bar off to the side.
  Most of our drinks order arrived promptly except for one which took 15 minutes to rectify.  I shared an appetizer with my husband called Tempura Style Crab Bites, served on silky sweet corn puree and wasabi foam.  They were tasty but not very pretty, had no jumbo lump crab meat in them and were luke warm. A friend had a Solu House Salad with Szechwan peppercorn and lychee vinaigrette which was pronounced "delicious".  A couple of the men had Mini Beef Empanadas with a chipotle aioli which were great and nicely spicy. 
 
O
ur entrees arrived 1 � hours after we got to the restaurant, not a good thing unless you want to stay the night.  Two of us had Seared Branzino Filet served with kabocha squash, wilted baby bok choy, in a gingered white miso broth.  The fish was very tasty, delicate with the thin, crispy, and totally edible skin intact. My husband had Korean style Braised Short Ribs that had some esoteric sides that I cannot describe.  Also very good.  Another friend had pan seared sea scallops which she pronounced a little overcooked. 
 
Desserts were served as tastings and were divine.  Their Chocolate Cr�me Brulee looked like a tiny version of espresso with whipped milk on top.  It was voted 2007s Best Dessert by the Palm Beach Post.  It was wonderful.  The banana egg roll and a berry sorbet were outrageously good.  All in all, we had very good food, poor service, and wonderful ambience. The experience set us back beaucoup bucks, definitely a special occasion place for us.   

 

3800 North Ocean Drive, Singer Island 561 340-1795 

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Featured Property
12 SOMERSET DRIVE
12 Somerset
 
Exceptional courtyard home with privacy and a view!  Custom built by Gordon Family Homes, this property has 4 bedrooms, 4 full baths and a separate powder room.  Massive wrought iron gates open in to the courtyard with a free form pool and heated waterfall spa.  Features include saturnia marble floors, a superb master suite with private dressing alcove and a dramatic master bathroom.  The second floor has 2 guest suites, each with private bath, and a open loft area.  A separate guest house, complete with a breakfast bar, is ideal for those special guests. 
 
0 DAYS ON THE MARKET!
Under Contract - Laura Cole & Tana Gaskill
                            Illustrated Properties