Capone, Dillinger, Babe Ruth, George Gershwin. Why did the famous and infamous names of the early 20th century hang out here?

Few eras in few places are as exciting, outrageous and tragic as the period between the end of World War I and the hammer fall of the Great Depression, when Florida partied and passed out and woke up with one heck of a hangover.

Palm Beach Post staff writer Eliot Kleinberg has covered that era in historical features and in segments of his weekly “Post Time” column in Neighborhood Post.

Now, he’s gathered them into a book, Wicked Palm Beach: Lifestyles of the Rich and Heinous (History Press).

Test your knowledge of the era! Read the full story

Erik Pettersen, head chef and owner at Evo in Tequesta, takes pride in an expansion that relocates his dining area and converts the older space into this bar for drinks and a light bite. Chris Salata, The Post

Evo is evolving.

Erik Pettersen’s Tequesta restaurant (626 U.S. 1, 561-745-2444, evoitalian.com), known for its home-cooking-gone-gourmet approach to Italian cuisine, has undergone a major expansion. The chef was able to take advantage of the fact that a neighboring store closed, giving him opportunity to essentially double in size. But instead of just adding more tables and chairs, Pettersen went another route.

“I wanted an Italian wine bar,” he explains.

And that’s what he’s built: The old intimate Evo space is now a bar area where patrons can grab a glass of vino – Italian or otherwise – and enjoy a light bite, all while watching videos of crooners young and old (Tony Bennett, Michael Bublé). And the new adjoining Evo space has become the dining room.

It works well on several levels. For starters, northern Palm Beach County has largely been without this sort of wine-centric lounge space. Plus, Evo can get crowded, especially during the season: The bar can help handle the overflow for diners who don’t want the traditional sit-down experience (the restaurant’s full menu is offered) or it can serve as a pre-dinner waiting area.

Either way, Pettersen is making the most of the opportunity, adding several new items to his dining menu that speak to his eclectic, sophisticated approach. On the appetizer side, look for zucchini “carpaccio” – a play on the beef or tuna version of the dish, with thin ribbons of market-fresh zucchini topped with watermelon and shavings of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. On the entrée side, look for Francese di Filetto – a filet mignon (as opposed to the more traditional veal or chicken cutlet) done Francese-style, replete with the lemon sauce.

Evo’s wine list is also seeing some changes. Pettersen is trying to put as much emphasis as possible on boutique-style reds and whites that are often impossible to find in local wine shops. (Included are some Italian reds from local Riviera Beach-based distributor Old Bridge, which has special relationships with smaller wine producers.) Pettersen also plans to offer “wine flights” – meaning an array of samples – in the coming weeks.

“To build this new room up, I’m going to educate diners about wine,” Pettersen adds.

Oh, and if you do visit Evo, don’t be surprised if you run into a sports celebrity or two. Since it opened a few years ago, the restaurant has built up a loyal following among big-name athletes and coaches, especially those who have retired to our area. Legendary basketball coach Rollie Massimino is such a regular he’s even produced a cooking video with Pettersen.

A first look at Michelle Bernstein’s latest

Celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein, pictured in the dining room of Michelle Bernstein's at the Omphoy, plans to work on site. Ray Graham, The Post

The arrival of The Omphoy (2842 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach, 561-540-6440, omphoy.com) is big news in Palm Beach: The resort marks the first major oceanfront property to open on the island in two decades.

But there’s big news on the culinary front, too. The resort plays host to Miami celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein’s newest restaurant – simply called Michelle Bernstein’s at The Omphoy. It’s also Bernstein’s first venture in Palm Beach County.

Bernstein says she’s had many offers over the years to come to our area, but the difference with The Omphoy was that the resort was run by the same hotel group (Obadon) behind Palm Beach’s Brazilian Court, where famed New York chef Daniel Boulud opened his Palm Beach outpost, Café Boulud. “We knew (Obadon) was serious about food,” says Bernstein, who’s been honored with a James Beard award as best chef in the South.

So what is Bernstein cooking at The Omphoy? The chef is known for her Latin and New World flair. But the focus at the Palm Beach restaurant is broader. Seafood is prominent on the menu, from a wild king salmon done simply with lemon and extra virgin olive oil to a bouillabaisse “My Way.” But so are classic dishes, both high-end (a filet mignon with an au poivre sauce) and down-home (“Michy’s fried chicken”). It’s also noteworthy that the restaurant isn’t super-expensive – most entrees are in the $20-30 range, a relative bargain given the eatery’s chef and location.

And, yes, Bernstein will be in the kitchen – at least a couple of nights a week. “It’s not that much of a schlep,” she says of the commute from Miami. (But she also has a team of top chefs running things when she’s not around.)

We hope to fill in more details about the restaurant – and sit down for a full-length interview with Bernstein – in the weeks ahead. In the meanwhile, Michelle Bernstein’s at The Omphoy is definitely worth checking out – not just for the food, but also for the breathtaking oceanfront view.

THE WEEKLY DISH: DUNKIN’ DONUTS’ FLATBREAD SANDWICHES

I’ve sung the praises of Dunkin’ Donuts‘ coffee before in these pages. But now it’s time to turn to another part of their menu – namely, their egg-white flatbread sandwiches (veggies and turkey sausage are the two varieties).

Ever since the chain unveiled these about a year ago, I’ve been hooked on them. They’re a tasty alternative to the usual fast-food breakfast fare – and the fact they’re not actually bad for you (both sandwiches check in at under 300 calories) is a significant plus.

And, yes, they go great with DD’s java, too.

Flavor Palm Beach returns

Flavor Palm Beach Kick-Off Party

The Flavor Palm Beach promotion is back. Throughout September, you can dine at participating restaurants for lunch ($19.09 for three courses) or dinner ($30 for three courses) — a great value. You can go to flavorpalmbeach.com for the full list of participating restaurants, but here are some picks to get you started:

Top of the Point in West Palm offers a bargain dinner price for Flavor Palm Beach. This dish is macaroni and cheese gratin. Photo by Tim Stepien.

Top of the Point: We just sang the praises of this rooftop West Palm Beach restaurant, run by the culinary team at The Breakers, in these pages a few weeks ago. Now you can experience it for yourself at the bargain dinnertime price (offer not available for lunch). 777 S. Flagler Drive (club level); (561) 832-2424; phillipspointclub.com.

Read the full story

Flavor Palm Beach is back.

Briana Bournique, surrounded by an array of dishes inside Seasons 52 restaurant in Palm Beach Gardens. Bournique is the driving force behind a month-long program in which prominent local restaurants are offering substantial discounts. Damon Higgins, The Post

The September discount dining promotion, started last year by foodie-turned-entrepreneur Briana Bournique, is set to begin once again on Tuesday for a month-long run. There’s also a kickoff party ($15 advance admission, $20 at the gate), set for Friday (8/28) from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at West Palm Beach’s Centennial Square, that features samples aplenty from participating restaurants.

The month long deals are similar to last year’s — a three-course lunch is $19.09 (the price ties in with Palm Beach County’s centennial celebration) and a three-course dinner is $30. Currently, 25 restaurants throughout Palm Beach County are participating, but Bournique hopes to add a few more in the coming days.

Read the full story

Iris Levin, of Royal Palm Beach, walks through Flagler's private railcar No. 91 inside the Kenan Pavilion of the Flagler Museum on Founder's Day. Richard Graulich, The Post

Founder’s Day begins a yearlong celebration to commemorate the Flagler Museum’s 50th anniversary and pays homage to Jean Flagler Matthews, Henry Flagler’s granddaughter, who founded the museum on June 5, 1959.

Whitehall was built by Standard Oil partner Henry Flagler in 1902, as a wedding present for his wife, but it was his granddaughter who rescued the estate from demolition. Read the full story

Ta-boó, 221 Worth Ave., and its landlord, Bert Handelsman’s Love LLC, were given permission Wednesday to expand into a 2,519-square-foot space at 219 Worth Ave. formerly occupied by Martha Gottfried Inc. and also owned by Handelsman.

The plan includes modification of the roof in the new space to use a 508-square-foot second-floor deck for dining.

“The rooftop is going to be unbelievably attractive from the street,” Handelsman promised.

The expansion will raise the number of customer seats to 267, including 36 outdoor spaces. A second kitchen will be added in the new area.

Zoning Administrator Paul Castro said town staff favors the project.

“We think it will be good for the Avenue and can bring life there in the evening,” he said.

But he noted that the restaurant requires a lot of parking and said it wasn’t providing any additional parking for the expansion. He said staff also is concerned about noise coming from the patio.

The council waived a requirement that Ta-boó provide 14 additional off-street spaces after Handelsman pledged to dedicate to the restaurant eight spaces that were used by Martha Gottfried Inc.

The council also forbade live entertainment on the patio, and said only low-decibel background music would be allowed there. The patio can stay open until 1 a.m.

The council also specified that Ta-boó employees continue to park at the Esplanade.

The construction is planned to occur this summer. The restaurant will then close a week or two, and the expanded Ta-boó is expected to open in September, Handelsman said.

Ta-boó dates to 1941. It formerly encompassed about 10,000 square feet but was reduced to its current size in the 1980s, co-owner Franklyn P. deMarco Jr. said.

By WILLIAM KELLY

Palm Beach Daily News Staff Writer

It seems starting at the beginning is the way to go, especially when a dinner had five parts to it, the surroundings were luxurious, the service exemplary, and… but I digress.

My husband and I were lucky enough to attend (yes, at our own expense!) the recent Cafe Boulud wine dinner featuring Steve Miles, noted expert on Spanish wines, and CB’s sommeliere Jenny Benzie’s terrific pairing of food and wine. The restaurant is in the Brazilian Court hotel on Palm Beach, so you know the setting is beautiful.

Steve, of Steve Miles Selections, was the perfect host, personable, knowledgeable and funny. He related each wine to the group by pointing out facts that meant something to everyone, whether you knew a lot about wine or not. Exactly the right attitude to take.
Read the full story

Sweet and Dry sat down with the Jenny Benzie, Sommeliére at Café Boulud at the Brazilian Court in Palm Beach recently. She graced us with her presence on a great video and talked to us about her background in wine.

In our first video tutorial ever, we’ll share with you Wine Tasting 101 – the very basics you need to know now. But first, a bit on Jenny Benzie, a Swirl Girls special. Read the full story

Beth Pine and Mia Matthews at the Constellation Ball

It’s got to be a first in the local charity business, and it’s a clear sign of the economic times.

Two charities shared the same floral arrangements at their respective fund-raising galas over the weekend.

The organizers of the Diamond Constellation Ball, for West Palm Beach’s South Florida Science Museum, actually sent the hundreds of flowers set up at The Breakers in Palm Beach for Saturday night’s black tie to Wellington.

The flowers, worth several thousand dollars, then livened up Sunday’s Red Cross luncheon at the International Polo Club Palm Beach.

“I met with Denise Alexander, who chaired the luncheon, and we said: ‘Why don’t we do the smart, green thing,’” explained Constellation ball co-chair Julie Rudolph. “So, Denise came to our ball and at the end, her husband pulled up their SUV and filled it with the flowers. They put it in a fridge overnight and they looked great Sunday.

“It’s sad to see all those beautiful arrangements just die after every gala. With this economy, we need to be more judicious in what we spend on events.”

(For more pictures of the Constellation Ball by Lucien Capehart Photography and the rest of the story, click here)

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Candace Bushnell at Bling Thing

Nearly 270 women attended Tuesday’s It’s A Bling Thing luncheon at Mar-a-Lago, where titillating keynote speaker Candace Bushnell talked about orgasms.

I guess she can. After all, she wrote Sex and the City.

The $300-per Palm Beach shindig was to benefit KidSanctuary.

The ladies did learn something about Bushnell: She apparently isn’t sure whether she’s ever had an orgasm!

As for how organizers paid Bushnell’s $15,000-plus speaker’s fee, I’m told they booked her when the economy was still somewhat decent.

For more Lucien Capehart pictures, click on the jump.

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