Palm Beach Equestrian Country Club Re-Opens As Galipette

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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 Beach's 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 industry's 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 club's 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 Magazine's 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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