Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Chef Juan Montalvo, 'The Hungry Cuban', stirs a dish of paella at Ellenville's Moonlit Farmer's Market in Boca Raton. (Photo by Lona O'Connor)
THE MARKET: Ellenville’s Moonlit Farmer’s Market
THE INFO: Located at the Ellenville Garden Center, 220 N.E. 11th St. in Boca Raton, just east of Federal Highway and south of Glades Road. The market is open Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. Call (561) 245-7347 for more details. | Directions, invite a friend
THE FIND: This is a real novelty, an evening market where you can pick up your variegated Swiss chard, listen to folk singers, have your choice of delicious dinners cooked on the spot, buy a glass of wine and hang out with friends. All the food is tasty, but the most spectacular and unusual in such a setting is chef Juan Montalvo’s big paella pot, a treat for the eyes as well as the tummy.
A small container of paella is $7. Like others whose food is for sale at the market, Chef Juan, aka “The Hungry Cuban,” is a personal chef. He makes paella for private parties and for as few as two (romantic!).
At the market, we also found Chef Patricia, who produces lower-fat, yet mouth-watering, pot pies in chicken or mushroom flavors. Other vendors make empanadas, barbecue ribs and chicken with Caribbean curried rice and individual sweet potato pies, candy, breads, pickles and desserts.
Sprinkled in among the food are a few craft tables and, oh yes, some very fresh fruit and vegetables, including that chard, which was pretty enough to paint before cooking.
THE VENDOR: The Hungry Cuban. For more info on chef Juan Montalvo’s paella parties, visit thehungrycuban.com or call (561) 789-2024.
I have been coming to this incredible event every Thursday since it began.
Juan Montlavo’s paella is unequaled!!
Everyone in Boca should come on by and enjoy the food and event!!!
Thank you for the nice comment Enrique :)
it is a good time. not doubt about it, we go most every thursday.
Glad to hear you like Ellenville Moonlit Famers market
I just read this story about the Ellenville’s Moonlit Farmer’s Market and also Chef Juan. WOW!! I am sooo excited and we will visit next week. I’m a former New Yorker who is now living in Southern FL. I’m a foodie and love to cook. Paella is one of my specialties and I’m looking forward to meeting you Chef Juan and trying yours. I read your website and you sound like a real nice guy with a passion for good food.
I write a column, “One Foodie’s Opinion” for our community magazine in Boynton Beach. My wife and i are looking forward to meeting you and hopefully you will allow me to do an article on what sounds like a great find.
Keep up the good work and hopefully we will see you on 3/1.
Thanks-Joel
Need to go try the Paella!! Haven’t had it years and actually have been thinking about making it lately. This will be much easier.
Come out to Ellenville on Thursday nights and get some Paella.
Chef Juan
All I want to know is does he have the proper permits and health department clearance. I’m used to seeing these side of the road type places in places like North Carolina and never trusted them. I was glad to see at least Florida didn’t put up with these kinds of shenanigans, until now obviously. In Boca too no less. I’m sure is food is good but they need to also be governed within the law.
Concerned Senior…where have you been living? Besides North Carolina that is. There are a lot of wonderful vendors, who follow with “proper permits” and “health department clearance.” There are some restaurants that I would refuse to go into even with their “proper permits”. Tell ya what…do everyone a favor and don’t go, you would probably find something to complain about and put this wonderful event out of business.
@Concerned Senior: Did you check out his website? http://www.hungrycuban.com Didn’t think so. Did you call him and ask him? Nope. Did you go by and take a look for yourself? Nah. He’s a top-notch personal chef who found a creative, healthy and tasty way to put his name out there. Your assumptions are rediculous. Take your negativity somewhere else.
Thanks Alex, for your support my friend.
Chef Juan
Concerned Senior,
With the rapid increase in portable food trucks, stands, and purveyors over the last couple of years the Florida Health Department has actually cracked down and become much stricter on these small businesses. Chef Juan would not be able to sell his goods or do his job without the proper certifications, permits, and the jumping through of expensive hoops it takes to please codgers like you.
Perhaps you should stay home and go back to worrying about defaming organized religion like all of the other Obama voters do!
Hello Mr. Concerned Senior.
Boca Raton & Palm Beach county holds to the highest standards in the food service industry and so do I. I am completely licensed, insured in the City, County, and State. I am also a ServeSafe certified Chef. Please get you facts straight before making negative statements about someone else’s carrer. Come out to Ellenville Farmers market some Thursday night and have a Paella on me.
Chef Juan
This is my favorite night of the week.y family and I go almost every Thursday and meet our friends. My 2 year old daughter loves coming here and eating dinner and the delicious cake pops that they also have. Love this place!!!!
Concerned Senior,
I’m a Boca native & now live in NC. I have no idea of the “road type places in Nortb Carolina” that you refer. And I’ve been to every major city in the state.
Chef Juan is not only a great cook …but he is a fun guy to be around also. And in another life was a fireman. Keep cookin Juan!
Thanks Kraig I appreciate that my brother :)
Yes Chef Juan is a great chef and has so much passion for what he does. What I got from chatting with him is he is doing his passion. Keep it up.
Ellenville Moonlit Thursday night has not only great fun, food, but also local area artisans…
Thanks Juan your passion for you food has added so much to the market… it’s palpable… I was there after this article came out and It was noticeable.
Thanks Mark,
I appreciate your comments.
Chef Juan
I just read this story about the Ellenville’s Moonlit Farmer’s Market and also Chef Juan. WOW!! I am sooo excited and we will visit next week. I’m a former New Yorker who is now living in Southern FL. I’m a foodie and love to cook. Paella is one of my specialties and I’m looking forward to meeting you Chef Juan and trying yours. I read your website and you sound like a real nice guy with a passion for good food.
I write a column, “One Foodie’s Opinion” for our community magazine in Boynton Beach. My wife and i are looking forward to meeting you and hopefully you will allow me to do an article on what sounds like a great find.
Keep up the good work and hopefully we will see you on 3/1.
Thanks-Joel
Hello Joel,
Thank you for the call and nice response to this article. I look forward to meeting you, and Yes I would be honored to have an article written for your community newspaper.
Chef Juan
this place sounds great! can’t wait to stop by…