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January 2009
NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS
Real Service... Real Results
In This Issue
Real Estate Trends
Restaurant Review
102A Palm Point 
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 January edition of Neighborhood News, your community forum for sharing valuable local information, Real Estate trends and other fun and useful tidbits.   
 
This month we feature another fabulous restaurant review by Vicki Slotnick.  The accolades in the Press for Dolce de Palma Restaurant in West Palm Beach have been huge and Vicki tells you why you won't want to miss this one!
 
All our best wishes for the new year,
Laura & Tana
 
 
OPEN HOMES   
SUNDAY January 18th
2-4 PM  
106 Windsor Pointe Drive  
 37 St. George Place
Real Estate Trends
BallenIsles Sales
102A Palm Point
 
BallenIsles had a reasonably good year for sales considering the current market conditions.  During 2008, 51 properties sold ranging in price from $220,000 to $2.2M.  Current inventory has now risen to 131 properties for sale*.
 
BallenIsles - December Sales
ADDRESS                     BR            BA       SALE PRICE
108 San Marita Way        4             3.1       $1,025,000
 
*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 01/15/09.  
 
To learn more about current Real Estate trends in BallenIsles, click on the links below.
 
Restaurant Review
Dolce De Palma by Vicki Slotnick

1000 Okeechobee Road, West Palm Beach, 833-6460
  
You don't need to get dressed to the nines, you don't have to travel too far, and you don't have to worry about your diet du jour.  But you will be amazed at the quality and beauty of the food coming out of this un-pretentious building in a very unpretentious part of West Palm Beach.  Dolce de Palma is owned by a very talented young man who really knows his food.  His menu depends totally on what looks good at the market on any given day that the restaurant is open.  One of our friends started with a chicken escarole soup.  Doesn't sound like anything too exciting, right?  Wrong!  It was amazing, chock full of the requisite chicken and escarole, but then it took off with herbs that I could not identify, but they were the element that made the soup so outstanding.  My husband and I shared two appetizers: a tuna tartare with an avocado puree, mountain vegetables with a ginger/saffron syrup.  It was heavenly...not the usual wasabi spicy treatment, but a more delicate way of treating the very fresh tasting raw tuna.  We also shared a porcini Bolognese using conchiglie pasta,(medium to large sized shells).  It, too, was just wonderful.  Oh, did I mention the just-out-of-the-oven foccaccia, two different varieties?  Okay, on to the entrees.  One of the couples shared an amazing red pepper fettucini (yes, they make their own pasta!).  It was chock full of langostinos, arugula, oven dried tomatoes, and fresh oregano.  My husband had a porchette a la romana...sliced wheels of roasted suckling pig stuffed with so many wonderful ingredients and herbs, no one can remember.  Trust me, it was a success.  A friend had grilled skirt steak with olive orzo and prosciutto butter...excellent.  Her husband had braised beef short ribs that were over the moon fantastic!  I was feeling in a veggie kind of mood and ordered their vegetable plate of that day.  I was in heaven.  There was a beautiful and delicious assortment of very fresh and tasty vegetables. Suffice it to say, desserts were equally as good as starters and entrees.  You have GOT to try this place! 
 
See more restaurant reviews
Featured Property
37 St. George Place
102A Palm Point 
This custom estate home has been lovingly updated and features 4 bedrooms plus a library and 4 full baths.  Sunny Southeast exposure overlooking golf and water makes this home shine!  The totally remodeled kitchen with cherry wood cabinetry, granite counter tops, cook island, new stainless steel appliances will please the gourmet cook.  Gracious living throughout with extensive crown molding, fireplace, wet bar, renovated bathrooms and new carpet.  The Owners wish to downsize and would consider a swap plus cash for a smaller property in BallenIsles.  OPEN  SUNDAY, JANUARY 18th, 2-4.