Restaurant News: Market 17 Coming to Lauderdale, Wild Wednesday Happy Hour at Wild Olives, Publix Delivers Fresh Alerts

By Bill Citara Mon., Aug. 2 2010 at 6:00 AM

Categories: Happy Hour, Openings/Closings, Restaurant News

• The "farm to table" movement that's hotter than organic habaneros in many food-conscious cities is coming to Fort Lauderdale with the expected September debut of Market 17 in the SE 17th Street space formerly occupied by Fish. Owners are brother and sister Aaron and Krista Gauberger (he, ex-Seasons 52; she, ex-Johnny V). Chef is Daniel Ramos, late of Sundy House in Delray Beach.

• Even giantsupermegamarket Publix is getting on the "fresh, seasonal" bandwagon with something called "At Season's Peak." Go here and you can sign up for email and text-message alerts to tell you when your favorite fruits and veggies might actually have real flavor instead of tasting like those wax imitations in crappy pseudo-fruit bowls. Best now, according to the website, are cherries. Next month, the freshest bets should be melons and figs. You've been warned.

• They're even happier on Wednesday and Thursday nights at Todd English's Wild Olives with the soft pop piano stylings of Chenzo Balsamo, who tickles the ivories from 8 to 11 p.m. Wednesday happy hour has been extended to 8 p.m., meaning half-price drinks from noon and half-price apps at the bar from 3 p.m. And all night Thursday, women can drink up and chow down for half-price, so guys, suck it up and reach for your wallet.