An amuse bouche [əˌmo͞ozˈbo͞oSH] is, typically, a small savory item of food served as an appetizer before a meal. They are served both to prepare the guest for the meal and to offer a glimpse of the chef's style. The term is French and literally means "mouth amuser." That seemed like a perfect title for this column of tidbits about dining events in and around Fort Lauderdale. 

At the end of a recent school day that I spent lecturing all day during my high school classes, I was done pretending I didn’t need a reset.

John Weiser, a doctor and researcher, has treated people with HIV since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s. He joined the CDC’s HIV prevention team in 2011 to help lead its Medical Monitoring Project, the only in-depth survey of HIV across the United States. The project has shaped the country’s response to the epidemic over two decades, but the Trump administration censored last year’s findings and stopped funding it.

I’m a big fan of early dinners and happy hours. The pace at a restaurant is slower, the room hasn’t filled up yet, and you get to enjoy the food without feeling rushed.

There’s something special about stepping into a restaurant during its opening week, because the buzz is real, the energy is high, and everything feels possible.

One of the most popular days for dining out is Valentine’s Day, so it’s a good idea to make your reservations early. Here are a few places that already have plans in place.