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New owner welcomes public to dine at the
former members-only exclusive country club.
WELLINGTON, Fla., Dec. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Closed for the past nine months,
the former Palm Beach Equestrian Country Club, located at 3401 Equestrian
Drive, Wellington, Florida, re-opens this week under the new name, Galipette,
French for "somersault." The new restaurant, featuring a menu influenced by
traditional Spanish, French and Mediterranean cooking styles, is open to the
public and destined to become one of Palm Beachs most popular fine dining
establishments, according to new owner Kimberly Van Kampen-Boyer, who
purchased the property last winter for $3.2 million.
Executive Chef Frederic Boyer and Chef David Murphy will use their
extensive experience to create a classic cuisine with a modern interpretation,
offering diners a changing menu of fresh fish, seafood, grilled meats, organic
and seasonal produce, plus an extravagant raw oyster bar. Chefs Boyer and
Murphy have nearly 40 years of combined experience, ranging from small bistros
to five-diamond hotels.
To complement the menu items, Galipette will offer an extensive array of
vintage wines and spirits from the industrys most acclaimed vintners, as well
as rare cognacs and specialty liquors from around the world. The bar will also
feature a cocktail and martini list.
Van Kampen-Boyer, wife of Chef Boyer, worked with a team of designers to
completely update and remodel the clubs interior. Guests to the restaurant
will appreciate the light, airy decor, featuring a palate of vibrant yellows
and acrid blues with varying shades of white, and accents of darker earth
tones. Tumbled stone, original art work, and a $15,000 hand-blown Venetian
glass chandelier complete the design. The restaurant will also feature a
rotating gallery exhibition from the works of Jordi Pedrola, a prominent young
artist from Barcelona, whose work is influenced by Basque and Spanish themes.
The unique space combines open public spaces with intimate tucked-away seating
areas to allow guests the ability to create their own desired level of
privacy.
In addition to a fine dining experience, Galipette will host food
lectures, wine tasting and cooking classes throughout the year. The restaurant
is also introducing, "Club Galipette," a member-based dining option.
Boyer, a native of Paris, France, is classically trained in the French
apprenticeship program, and has successfully completed all boards and exams
necessary to qualify for membership in the European Community of Cooks. He
began his culinary career with a term on the Orient Express. Prior to the
opening of Galipette, Boyer worked at Biggs Mansion in Chicago, where he was
instrumental in the 2003 re-opening of this Chicago landmark restaurant. Boyer
is the recipient of Chicago Magazines Best New Restaurants recognition in May
1997 and May 2003. He has regularly appeared on a variety of television shows,
and was featured in Bon Appetit magazine.
Murphy, a native of Lansing, Michigan, has held several positions in
places including Beirut, and has served as chef in several Chicago
restaurants. Murphy has been featured in the "Food" section of the Chicago
Tribune, and has made numerous television appearances in Chicago and New York.
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