“The flavors play on your tastebuds in a really good way.”
While that’s how Palm Beach executive chef of revered Italian restaurant Renato’s, Javier Sanchez, a native of Mexico, describes his affinity for fresh mango sprinkled with chili powder, he’s tapping into a larger trend: dishes that are both sweet and spicy.
No, such dishes aren’t prevalent at the island’s restaurants (and certainly not at Renato’s), but the sweet-and-spicy combo has more and more fans here.
Though its most ardent proponents — Gen Zers — generally are in short supply in Palm Beach, island restaurant chefs are injecting some dishes with sweet and spicy ingredients because diners of all ages increasingly applaud it.
On the mild side, think honey-Dijon salad dressing. More pronounced might be chicken glazed with honey, hot pepper sauce and various herbs and spices.
Hitch the words sweet and spicy in portmanteau style and you have a word used to describe their culinary interplay: swicy.
Here are eight places to try swicy:
LoLa 41
290 Sunset Ave.
Sweet and spicy come together in a Korean dish at LoLa 41, known for its menu inspired by countries on the 41st parallel.
LoLa 41’s Korean Beef Bulgogi ($35) features egg noodles, Chinese broccoli, gochujang, sweet soy, crispy garlic, chili threads and micro cilantro.
The dish “is a knockout,” LoLa 41’s executive chef Brian Bottge told the Daily News. “Thin slices of marinated beef are stir-fried until just caramelized, delivering a smoky, sweet and savory bite that’s pure comfort.”
Served atop stir-fried vegetables and noodles, “the dish is a full-on flavor experience — rich with sweet soy, garlic, sesame oil and a nice bit of chili heat. It’s a Korean classic, reimagined with LoLa 41’s flair.”
PB Catch
251 Sunrise Ave.
While you can enjoy a swicy dish or two this week on PB Catch’s special Hawaiian menu offered through July 27, its regular daily menu features a sweet-and-spicy winner: a spicy tuna stack ($23).
The appetizer includes Ahi tuna, avocado, mango, toasted sesame seeds, crispy wontons and sweet soy — a thick, dark and sweet soy sauce traditionally made with palm sugar, soy and spices.
The dish “gets its spicy profile from a house-made kimchee as its base and its sweetness from the ABC (brand) sweet soy sauce used in the preparation,” executive chef Kevin Sawyer said.
Henry’s
229 Royal Poinciana Way
Alongside lunch, a brunch menu is served daily at Henry’s — and that affords plenty of opportunity to dig into a brunch favorite: fried chicken and red-velvet waffles ($36) with a quintessential swicy accent: spicy maple syrup.
The waffles are made from batter seasoned with cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice, while the sweet syrup gets a kick from a hint of cayenne pepper and Tabasco.
The dish is “a playful and indulgent take on comfort food,” The Breakers’ executive chef of restaurants, Anthony Sicignano, told the Daily News. “The crispy chicken pairs beautifully with the rich, fluffy waffles, while the kick of our seasoned maple syrup ties it all together with just the right touch of sweet and spicy.”
Echo
230A Sunrise Ave.
Talk about a classic swicy dish: Chinese-style pork spare ribs.
At pan-Asian hot spot Echo, which is owned and operated by The Breakers, the spare ribs ($24) are charbroiled and accented by sweet lime chili.
The zesty lime and chili in the dish bring a lively kick, while a touch of honey-hoisin sauce rounds everything out with just the right hint of sweetness, Echo officials said.
Meat Market
190 Bradley Place
A couple of notable options here allow for both a swicy sip and a swicy munch at Meat Market, which serves not only steaks, but also seafood and sushi.
On the drink side, a cocktail called Some Like It Hot features tequila, habanero, raspberry puree, agave nectar and lime juice.
“It blends the bold kick of habanero with the lush (sweet) raspberry balanced by the smooth agave and fresh lime,” marketing director Isabella Denaro explained. “Finished with a dramatic flame, it’s a show-stopping sip.”
For a sweet-and-spicy dish, try the A5 Wagyu roll on Meat Market’s sushi menu. It features A5 Wagyu beef tenderloin, Alaskan king crab, truffle caviar, cream cheese, asparagus and more.
“Finished with a warm drizzle of our signature truffle-accented yaki sauce (a sweet and tangy Japanese sauce), it’s the perfect balance of savory, sweet and a touch of spice in every luxurious bite,” Denaro said.
Florie’s and Seaway restaurants
The Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach
2800 S. Ocean Blvd.
Florie’s executive chef Mauro Colagreco, a partner in various restaurant concepts around the world, has employed octopus on his menus for years.
At Florie’s, he features a Spanish-octopus dish ($36) with subtly sweet-and-spicy flavors: basil hummus, smoked piquillo pepper, crispy chickpeas and preserved lemon.
Look elsewhere at the Four Seasons, too, for swicy dishes: At the resort’s alfresco Seaway, chicken wings ($24) are glazed with sweet orange, habanero and chili-pepper.
The wings are served with cilantro-lime aioli and cucumber-and-carrot crudité.
Piccolo Mondo
87 Via Mizner
A new daily special at Piccolo Mondo — the Renato’s-connected takeout window in Via Mizner offering quality fare for budget-priced lunch and snacks — is a roasted pulled-pork sandwich with a key layer of swicy in its construction.
The sandwich was introduced a few weeks ago and now is featured at least twice a week “because we have gotten such positive feedback,” Piccolo Mondo manager Ale Mencias told the Daily News.
Served with fries, the swicy secret to the pulled pork sandwich ($14) is in its different layers: For one, there’s a sweet-and-spicy habanero-apple slaw; then a layer of melted pepper jack cheese.
The pulled-pork sandwich is served on a potato bun.
Café ĽEurope
331 S. County Road
Swicy isn’t a typical flavor profile at Café L’Europe, but anyone who has tried a certain starter salad there knows the sweet-and-spicy pecans it features are delicious.
“I often eat them just on their own,” enthused co-owner Emanuela Marcello.
The salad ($26) features endive arugula, radicchio, gorgonzola and the spiced pecans.
Cucina
257 Royal Poinciana Way
Italian dishes predominate at Cucina, but the menu has a touch of an international flair, too, which is where swicy Moroccan chicken comes into view with its semi-spicy harissa and honey marinade and glaze.
The dish ($42) “has a smokey and lightly spicy flavor and the honey adds a sweet note.”
“It’s such a fun dish to share,” Cucina chef/co-owner Kent Thurston told the Daily News. “It comes with a couple of nice sauces, as well as cucumber salad and our homemade pita. So many people love it!”
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Curious about swicy foods? Try offerings at these 8 Palm Beach restaurants
Reporting by M.M. Cloutier / Palm Beach Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
