Florida Living LIfe

Scenes From the Table, Bourbon Steak and the Executive Chef Who Lands Every ServiceEpisode SummaryThis week is something different. Florida Living Life does a podcast swap with Stay On Course Ingredients for Success as Julie sits down with Pablo Valencia, Executive Chef at the brand new Bourbon Steak on Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach. Part tasting, part life lesson, part skydiving story. This is one of the most inspiring conversations in the life of this podcast.Pablo Valencia is sharp, warm, and full of wisdom. If you love food and love hearing what it really takes to run a world class kitchen, this episode is for you.🍽 Featured RestaurantBourbon Steak – Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach Part of the Michael Mina restaurant group and open just three months at the time of this recording. Already earning its place as one of the most exciting new restaurants in South Florida.Must order items straight from the chef himself:Japanese Wagyu — exceptional marbling, extraordinary flavor, melts in your mouthLobster Pot Pie — the signature dish, served tableside. Created by Chef Michael Mina after opening a friend's fridge and finding lobster instead of chicken. Finished with a lobster brandied cream. The aromas alone are worth the visit.Find them at BourbonSteakDelray.com or on Instagram.👨‍🍳 Meet Chef Pablo ValenciaBorn in Colombia, raised on arepas, and trained in some of the most demanding kitchens in the world. His favorite food is the arepa he grew up eating for breakfast every morning. His second favorite is a great burger shared with his son.As Executive Chef, Pablo manages everything from food cost to team culture to emergency service when the gas line goes down in the middle of a dinner rush. He handled it. He always does.🧠 Ingredients for SuccessThree takeaways from Pablo that apply far beyond the kitchen:Emotional intelligence — You are managing customers, staff, and ownership all at once. Every day. You cannot lead with fear. You lead with understanding.Skydiving — Pablo has jumped out of a plane over two hundred times. Every jump teaches the same lesson: prepare everything you can, make your decision fast, and then let go. The kitchen works the same way.Empty plates — The real award is not a Michelin star. It is the empty plate that comes back to the dishwashing area. That means you made someone happy. That is the goal every single day.📣 We Want to Hear From YouVisit floridalivinglife.com to send a message. Tell them what restaurants to visit next. Restaurant owners in the Palm Beach and Boca Raton area are invited to reach out for a visit and a review.WAYS TO WORK WITH USBrand sponsorships and content placementFeatured guest podcast interviewsScenes From the Table live recordingsFood and lifestyle brand featuresVirtual and on location options available📞 Call or Text: 973-281-6896 📧 julie@julieriga.com🍔 Restaurant Hashtags#BourbonSteak #MinaGroup #ChefPabloValencia📌 Episode Hashtags#FloridaLivingLife #SouthFloridaEats #FloridaFood #FoodPodcast #PalmBeachCounty

Tattoos, Palm Beach and the Best Chicken Sandwich in South FloridaEpisode SummaryThis week Julie and Jamie hit the Tattoo and Oddity Convention in West Palm Beach, stroll through the most expensive street in Florida on Palm Beach island, and discover that the Honor Bar might just be home to the best chicken sandwich Julie has had since moving to Florida. Oh, and Jamie got a tattoo. Julie found out live on air. That happened.The food keeps coming, the reviews keep rolling, and Florida Living Life is still very much in the building.🍽 Restaurant HighlightsHonor Bar – Palm Beach Island The standout of the week and possibly the most pleasant surprise yet. Part of the Hillstone restaurant group, the same family as Houston's. The atmosphere hits immediately. The chicken sandwich earns an eight and a half, the best Julie has had in two and a half years of Florida living. Jamie had the burger with shoestring fries. The coleslaw on the burger was a highlight. A beautiful little spot on the island worth every visit.Arby's – Florida Jamie tried the new Arby's cheesesteak and gave it an eight. He puts it right alongside Pat's in Philadelphia. A bold call. A real one.Bolet – Florida A healthier option that delivered. The chicken thighs are the move. Julie held up the line ordering six of them and has zero regrets. A solid bowl friendly option for anyone watching their diet.Il Fiore – Boca Raton A slice of pizza on a casual outing. Verdict: good but not great. Rated a seven point four. A possible return visit is undecided.Mario the Baker – Lake Worth, FloridaOn the dinner plan for the week ahead. The Lake Worth location earns special praise as a great restaurant worth revisiting. Always a reliable choice.Houston's – Boca Raton Referenced as part of the Honor Bar connection through the Hillstone restaurant group. A previous favorite that keeps coming up in conversation as a benchmark for quality dining.🛍 Worth Avenue, Palm BeachA walk through one of the most expensive shopping streets in the United States. Highlights included a stop at the Tom Ford store, the Cartier store, and a browse through stores where a single shirt can run $2,400 and a bracelet can reach $80,000. A one of a kind experience that feels more like a museum than a shopping trip.🛒 Local Vendor SpotlightJoyce Gourmet Met at the Tattoo and Oddity Convention. A standout garlic spread made with canola oil, garlic, lemon juice, and salt. Also a tomato basil marinara sauce that impressed on first taste. Find them online at Joyce Gourmet.🎉 Father's DayBoth Julie and Jamie have lost their fathers. This week they honored them with a home brunch. The potatoes were good. The gluten free pancakes were unmemorable by Julie's own admission. The eggs were fine. It was the thought that counted.📣 We Want to Hear From YouVisit floridalivinglife.com to send a message. Tell them what restaurants to visit next. If you own a restaurant in the Palm Beach or Boca Raton area and want a visit and a review, reach out now.🎧 Also Check OutStay On Course Podcast — Every guest shares their favorite food and three ingredients for success. Visit stayoncourse.studio or stayoncourse.ioWAYS TO WORK WITH USBrand sponsorships and content placementFeatured guest podcast interviewsScenes From the Table live recordingsFood and lifestyle brand featuresVirtual and on location options available📞 Call or Text: 973-281-6896 📧 julie@julieriga.com🍔 Restaurant Hashtags#HonorBar #Houstons #Arbys #Bolet #IlFiore #MarioTheBaker📌 Episode Hashtags#FloridaLivingLife #SouthFloridaEats #FloridaFood #FoodPodcast #PalmBeachCounty

Concerts, Cheesesteaks and the Best Restaurants on Dixie HighwayEpisode SummaryJulie and Jamie are back with two weeks of stories packed into one episode. Two concerts at the Hard Rock. Two visits to the same Asian restaurant. A breakfast cafe discovery in Parkland. A cheesesteak run to the Wellington Mall. And a definitive ranking of the best restaurants in West Palm Beach.Plus, Rosie ordered the prime rib at the Outback and sent it back twice. It was a scene.🍽 Restaurant HighlightsBowl Asian Cuisine – Hard Rock Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek The surprise winner of the last two weeks. Julie and Jamie ended up here twice after back to back concerts. The orange chicken is outstanding. The beef chow fun is rich and satisfying. The egg rolls and duck sauce are not to be missed. Jamie does not even like Asian food and came back for seconds. That says it all.Hard Rock Cafe – Seminole Casino, Coconut Creek Not what it used to be. The nachos and burgers were legendary years ago. The quality is not there anymore. A second chance may come, but the food needs work.Kiki's Breakfast Cafe – Parkland, Florida A hidden gem found on the way home. A luncheonette style cafe that closes around two or three in the afternoon. The cheesesteak omelet was outstanding. The coffee was delicious. There was a wait but it was absolutely worth it. A must visit for breakfast lovers in Broward County.Charlie's Cheesesteak – Wellington Mall, Wellington, Florida A regular stop and always fresh. The chicken cheesesteak is the standout. Great staff, great product, great experience every single time. Julie orders hers over lettuce and tomato without the bread.Grotto – Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach Jamie's pick for the best restaurant in West Palm Beach and possibly all of Broward County. The shrimp with gluten free pasta is one of the best meals Julie has had since moving to Florida. If you order the right thing, Grotto delivers every time. Ranked number one.Blue Door – West Palm Beach Still earning its place near the top. The butter chicken remains a favorite. Ranked number two.The Hive – West Palm Beach Ranked number three on the West Palm Beach list. On the must visit radar.Cafe Med – West Palm Beach A solid addition to the Dixie Highway rotation. Ranked number four.Joy Sushi / Joy Asian – Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach A potential number five on the West Palm Beach list. A return visit is being planned. Watch this space.Outback Steakhouse – Royal Palm Beach Rosie ordered the prime rib. It went back to the kitchen twice. The consistency is not what it used to be, at least for that cut. A familiar favorite that had a tough night.China Buffet – 441, Royal Palm Beach A casual outing with Rosie. Part of the weekly dinner rotation with mom.🎵 Concert CornerWeird Al Yankovic – Hard Rock Live, Seminole Casino Legendary. The costume changes, the energy, the full production. A great night.Charlie Puth – Hard Rock Live, Seminole Casino Julie is calling it. Charlie Puth live is one of the best concert experiences she has ever had. A modern day Daryl Hall. Old soul, incredible riffs, stunning band, playing piano the whole time. If you get the chance to see him, go.📣 We Want to Hear From YouKnow someone who would make a great guest? Reach out at floridalivinglife.com. Julie wants to get the Palm Beach crowd on the mic and find out where they are really eating.WAYS TO WORK WITH USBrand sponsorships and content placementFeatured guest podcast interviewsScenes From the Table live recordingsFood and lifestyle brand featuresVirtual and on location options available📞 Call or Text: 973-281-6896 📧 julie@julieriga.com🍔 Restaurant Hashtags#BowlAsianCuisine #HardRockCafe #KikisBreakfastCafe #CharliesCheesesteak #Grotto #BlueDoor #TheHive #CafeMed #JoySushi #OutbackSteakhouse📌 Episode Hashtags#FloridaLivingLife #SouthFloridaEats #FloridaFood #FoodPodcast #PalmBeachCounty

Mother's Day, Mall Wars and Where Are We Eating This Weekend?Episode SummaryJulie and Jamie are back and this episode has it all. Mother's Day plans, a new restaurant on the radar, a debate about how well you really know your spouse, and a deep dive into the best malls in South Florida. Oh, and Jamie ate Burger King tots live before the episode even started. Florida Living Life is in full swing.The podcast is now charting number 24 in Food in the United States and number six in South Africa. They are on their way.🍽 Restaurant HighlightsBurger King Jamie kicked things off with the Imperial Cheddar Ranch tots from the Mandalorian and Grogu promotion. Verdict: really good.The Way Back – Florida A beloved mainstay bar that has been around for years. Julie had the fish sandwich and loved it. The mozzarella triangle sticks and smash burgers are standouts. Great people, great food.Joy Sushi – Dixie Highway, Florida One of Julie's favorites. Rice noodles with shrimp and beef, killer vegetable rolls, and a mix of Japanese and Vietnamese options. The owner also has a location in Fort Lauderdale. A solid go to for a relaxed dinner out.Vinny's Cafe – Florida Another visit, no line this time. The wraps are always a hit. Off season perks at one of South Florida's most beloved spots.Papa Chulos – Royal Palm Beach The Mother's Day destination is set. Rosie was not thrilled, but the decision has been made. Papa Chulos wins again.Mario the Baker – Royal Palm Beach On the shortlist for a Friday night dinner. Great pizza, great atmosphere, always a strong option.Outback Steakhouse – Royal Palm Beach Always in the rotation. The coconut shrimp, the steaks, the ribs, and the bread with butter. Everyone at the Outback knows Rosie and her ordering shenanigans. That says everything.Mr. B's Tavern – West Palm Beach A new spot on the radar owned by the same people behind The Kitchen in West Palm Beach. A bar and sports bar vibe with great starters and Buffalo wings. A Friday night visit may be coming soon.Seminole Casino Deli – Coconut Creek Julie won $313 on the slot machines last visit. The casino itself gets high marks. The deli, still a work in progress.Shake Shack and Pomodoro – Boca Town Center Mall Highlights from the Boca Mall food court. Pomodoro gets strong praise. The food court overall is a win.🛍 Mall ReportMillennium Mall in Orlando takes the top spot. Boca Town Center comes in at number two. Palm Beach Gardens Mall needs a serious refresh. Worth Avenue in Palm Beach is an experience all on its own, especially the Lilly Pulitzer store.📣 We Want to Hear From YouRate, review, and subscribe. If you are a restaurant in Florida and want Julie and Jamie to come review you live on the podcast, visit floridalivinglife.comWAYS TO WORK WITH USBrand sponsorships and content placementFeatured guest podcast interviewsScenes From the Table live recordingsFood and lifestyle brand featuresVirtual and on location options available📞 Call or Text: 973-281-6896 📧 julie@julieriga.com🍔 Restaurant Hashtags#BurgerKing #TheWayBack #JoySushi #VinnysCafe #PapaChulos #MarioTheBaker #OutbackSteakhouse #MrBsTavern #ShakeShack #Pomodoro #SeminoléCasino📌 Episode Hashtags#FloridaLivingLife #SouthFloridaEats #FloridaFood #FoodPodcast #PalmBeachCounty

What is on the Table, Florida? 10 Years, Time Capsules and The Best Eats in South FloridaEpisode SummaryJulie and Jamie celebrate 10 years of marriage by cracking open old wedding cards, revisiting honeymoon memories, and debating whether all 10 years were actually great. Spoiler: they are still married, so that counts.From Weight Watchers wins to restaurant wars, they break down the real tension behind Florida dining — where to go, what to order, and why sharing a meal almost never works out. Spoiler alert: Mark at the Outback might just be the best waiter in all of Florida.🍽 Restaurant HighlightsLonghorn Steakhouse – West Palm Beach The seventh busiest Longhorn in the US, but it left them underwhelmed. The Outback comparison did not help.Outback Steakhouse – Royal Palm Beach The gold standard. Great food, great service, and home to Mark, possibly the most patient server on the planet. Big shoutout to Mark for handling Julie's mom Rosie with total grace. Employee of the Year, no question.Sushi Yama – Wellington, Florida All you can eat sushi near the Wellington Mall for around $35. The lo mein stole the show.Olive Garden – West Palm Beach Area Julie's solo mission. Grilled chicken parmesan with broccoli and a salad. Solid, diet friendly, and better than expected.Mario the Baker – Royal Palm Beach Great pizza, great sauce, great owners. A must visit for any pizza lover in Palm Beach County.Papa Chulos – Royal Palm Beach The surprise star of the episode. The coconut shrimp soft shell taco is a must order. Chips, queso, and guac that are out of this world. Happy hour almost every day. Julie has been four times in the last month alone. Do not sleep on this place.Rocco's Tacos – Florida A longtime favorite now facing serious competition from Papa Chulos.Flakowitz – South Florida Solid deli, great for a casual meal with mom. Julie ordered a Ruben by mistake. She does not like corned beef. She is still not over it.Lucille's BBQ – Florida Great barbecue spot. The brisket nachos are tender, slightly sweet, and absolutely worth ordering.Dada – Delray Beach Already a favorite for the cheeseburger alone. A deeper review is coming soon.True Food Kitchen – Florida A solid healthy option. Verdict: okay.🇬🇷 On the HuntJulie is looking for the best Greek restaurant in the West Palm Beach or Palm Beach County area. If you have a recommendation, reach out. They want to visit.🎉 MilestonesTen years of marriage. Charting on Apple Podcasts in the Food category. Florida Living Life is growing and TikTok is next.📣 We Want to Hear From YouWhat restaurants should they visit? What topics should they debate next? Are you a restaurant that wants a visit and a review? Join the Florida Living Life experience and help shape the show.🎧 Also Check OutStay On Course Podcast — Charting in Entrepreneurship on Apple Podcasts. Visit stayoncourse.studio or stayoncourse.ioJulie's Stack List — Search Stacklist Julie Riga for all her top recommendations.WAYS TO WORK WITH USBrand sponsorships and content placementFeatured guest podcast interviewsScenes From the Table live recordingsFood and lifestyle brand featuresVirtual and on location options available📞 Call or Text: 973-281-6896 📧 julie@julieriga.com#FloridaLivingLife #SouthFloridaEats #FloridaFood #FoodPodcast #PalmBeachCounty #LonghornSteakhouse #OutbackSteakhouse #SushiYama #OliveGarden #MarioTheBaker #PapaChulos #RoccosTacos #Flakowitz #LucillesBBQ #Dada #TrueFoodKitchen

New Jersey vs Florida Weather Fair Food Marriage Compromises and Steakhouse DebatesIn this Florida Living Life podcast episode we compare New Jersey weather vs Florida weather and talk about everyday life in West Palm Beach Florida and South Florida living. We cover weekend events in West Palm Beach including the Florida Fair Florida fair food Florida fair rides and things to do in Florida. The conversation turns to marriage and relationships including marriage compromise marriage humor real marriage conversations and food debates in marriage especially fair food versus going out to dinner. We wrap up with Florida dining culture favorite chain steakhouses in Florida and an honest take on Outback Steakhouse while sharing real life Florida lifestyle stories.Welcome to the Florida Living Life Podcast where we talk about real life real marriage and real Florida living.In this episode we start with a light conversation about the weather and quickly realize how different life feels when you compare New Jersey weather to Florida weather especially West Palm Beach Florida.We talk about the contrast between cold weather living in New Jersey and warm sunny Florida living including humidity winter temperatures and why Florida weather changes your lifestyle mindset and daily routines.We then shift into what is happening this weekend in West Palm Beach Florida including the Florida Fair. We cover Florida fair events Florida fair food Florida fair rides weekend activities in West Palm Beach and things to do in South Florida.This episode also dives into marriage and relationships with a very real and relatable conversation about compromise in marriage. Specifically the ongoing debate between eating fair food at the Florida fair versus going out to dinner afterward.We talk about relationship communication marriage challenges marriage humor and why making compromises in marriage can be one of the hardest but most important parts of a healthy relationship.You will hear an honest and funny discussion about food preferences marriage expectations and why fair food in Florida feels like a full experience not just a snack.We wrap up the episode by talking about favorite chain steakhouses in Florida including Outback Steakhouse. We share opinions on casual dining in Florida steakhouse chains in Florida and why Outback Steakhouse continues to be part of the Florida dining conversation.This episode is perfect for anyone interested in Florida lifestyle podcasts Florida living couples podcasts marriage conversations real life marriage stories West Palm Beach lifestyle content and people considering moving from New Jersey to Florida.If you love conversations about Florida weather Florida food Florida fairs marriage compromise and everyday life in the Sunshine State this episode is for you.WAYS TO WORK WITH USAll opportunities are custom designed around your goals and marketing budget. We collaborate with you to create the right mix of storytelling, visibility, and content that fits your brand.• Brand sponsorships and content placement• Featured guest podcast interviews• Scenes From the Table live recordings• Food and lifestyle brand features• Virtual and on location options availableContact us for collabortations or guest appearences. https://www.floridalivinglife.com/

🎙️ Florida Living Life PodcastEpisode Show Notes: Palm Beach Food Spots Reality TV Vibes and Living the Florida LifestyleIn this episode of Florida Living Life we dive into what it is really like living in Florida through the lens of Palm Beach food culture Florida lifestyle experiences and a little reality TV curiosity. From Italian food standards shaped by a chef father to Meatball Monday specials hidden gems on Dixie Highway and Clematis Street favorites we explore Florida living one bite at a time. We talk Palm Beach lifestyle social scenes Florida restaurants local favorites foodie opinions Florida mindset and why watching life in Florida on TV hits different when you actually live here. If you are thinking about moving to Florida relocating to Florida or just curious about life in Florida this episode gives you a real unscripted look at Florida lifestyle food Florida community and everyday experiences in West Palm Beach Palm Beach Boca Raton and Delray Beach.🍽️ Restaurants and Locations MentionedItalian and PizzaLenore’s on Clematis Street West Palm BeachGrotto Pizza West Palm BeachCafe Med West Palm Beach Dixie HighwayFoodie Favorites and Local StaplesThe Hive West Palm Beach Dixie HighwayRocco’s Tacos Clematis Street West Palm BeachRocco’s Tacos Boca RatonBatch Gastropub Clematis Street West Palm BeachBatch Gastropub Delray BeachOther Spots and ExperiencesTea House in Palm BeachClematis Street West Palm BeachDixie Highway West Palm BeachPickleball venue in Palm BeachLocal bar and DJ party location in Palm BeachYes The Hive still has the best burger in Palm Beach and yes we said it again because consistency matters.🌴 Topics CoveredFlorida lifestyle podcast conversationsLiving in Florida full timeWhat it is like living in Palm BeachFlorida food scene and restaurant cultureItalian food standards and chef family influenceReality TV filmed in Palm Beach FloridaFlorida mindset and lifestyle differencesBuilding a life in FloridaFlorida community and social scenesClematis Street vs Dixie Highway food debateFlorida hidden gems and local favoritesWAYS TO WORK WITH USAll opportunities are custom designed around your goals and marketing budget. We collaborate with you to create the right mix of storytelling, visibility, and content that fits your brand.• Brand sponsorships and content placement• Featured guest podcast interviews• Scenes From the Table live recordings• Food and lifestyle brand features• Virtual and on location options available📞 Call or Text: 862 812 0711📧 julie@julieriga.com

WELCOME! Florida Living Life is a Florida podcast and Florida lifestyle podcast that delivers an honest look at Florida living and life in Florida through real conversations about food relationships business and community. It is for anyone curious about moving to Florida, relocating to Florida, or navigating Florida relocation, Florida cost of living, and the pros and cons of living in Florida. Each episode explores what it is like living in Florida, sharing Florida lifestyle tips, Florida life experiences, and insights on building a life in Florida or starting over in Florida. The show blends fun and exploration with things to do in Florida, Florida travel, Florida hidden gems, and everyday moments that define the Florida mindset. Florida Living Life also highlights Florida business, Florida small business, Florida entrepreneurs, Florida business owners, and real Florida success stories, making it ideal for those seeking work life balance in Florida and a true sense of Florida community.Welcome to Florida Living Life, a Florida lifestyle podcast where nothing is off the table. Not the food. Not the stories. Not the marriage conversations that probably should stay private but never do.In this very first episode of our Florida podcast, hosts Julie Riga and Jamie Waugh aka Mr Perfect introduce the heart of the show. This is a live unscripted conversation about living in Florida, life in Florida, food culture, relationships, and what it really looks like to build a life in the Sunshine State.Julie shares her personal story including the legacy of her late father celebrity chef Ennio Riga, whose life story and love of food inspired her bestselling book and continues to influence how she approaches Florida living, leadership, and community. Jamie brings his bold no filter energy as a Florida foodie influencer known for pizza reviews and real talk across TikTok and YouTube.Together they are married ten years, proudly mismatched, and fully committed to telling the truth about Florida lifestyle, marriage, food, and everyday life in Florida.This episode covers·      What Florida Living Life is really about·      Why this Florida lifestyle podcast is about more than food·      Pizza burgers desserts diners and Florida restaurants·      Palm Beach Florida food spots including Boca Raton and West Palm Beach·      Living in Florida full time and embracing the Florida mindset·      Marriage communication and relationships from two very different perspectives·      Florida community connections and getting recognized around town·      Why nothing is off the table in 2026 and beyondYou will hear conversations about pizza debates gluten guilt dessert temptation menopause jokes and why menus might be more interesting than books. You will also hear real reflections on relationships communication and how couples navigate life together while building something new.Florida Living Life is a podcast about·      Florida living and life in Florida·      What it is like living in Florida full time·      Starting over in Florida·      Building a life in Florida through food fun and connection·      Florida life experiences and Florida community·      Florida lifestyle tips and real conversationsThis show is for anyone curious about·      Moving to Florida·      Relocating to Florida·      Florida relocation and Florida cost of living·      Best places to live in Florida and best cities in Florida·      Florida neighborhoods and the Florida housing market·      Retiring in Florida or creating a second chapter·      Florida lifestyle for business owners and entrepreneurs·      Work life balance in Florida and Florida success storiesFuture episodes will explore restaurants diners and hidden gems while expanding conversations around Florida business, Florida small business, Florida entrepreneurs, Florida business owners, and Florida women in business.