For this month’s Blogger Bite we’re exploring South Florida’s dining scene with Juan Duran of Juan Bite at a Time, a hobby turned online platform that showcases our local restaurants peppered with national and international eats.
Originally from Colombia, Juan has been a Sunrise resident for nearly 30 years. Juan developed his craft and passion for content creation in his professional life, while working in marketing for a hospitality company. In his personal life, he has always taken photos of his food before diving in. That’s how he got the idea to start his personal blog Juan Bite at a Time in 2018.
But it wasn’t until Juan tragically lost this father that he had an epiphany. There were many things Juan’s father wanted to do but unfortunately never had the chance to, so Juan saw this as his time to “start living life like tomorrow isn’t promised.”
“I’d rather know that I tried something and failed than to wonder forever ‘what if,'” he shared. And with that he took the leap, quit his corporate job and committed himself to developing his online presence.
Today, he has a community of nearly 23k Instagram followers and a TikTok community of 185k, all eagerly awaiting his next drool-worthy photo or video. Plus he’s a social media manager for several local brands. “I’m a people person,” he says. “I love being able to interact with different people and learn their story.”
Up next, he’s working on incorporating more travel and developing his own recipes that his fans can cook at home. A dish that he can’t wait to share is his mom’s recipe for pineapple chicken. Until then, he’s sharing with us a few beloved local restaurants and their signature dishes that he can’t get enough of.
The Modern Rose
While Delray locals can visit its vendor stall at The Delray Market, the flagship Deerfield Beach location of this café is Juan’s favorite. The vintage décor and personalized service makes him feel at home and complements the fresh fare. His go-to is the Modern Egg Sandwich in the “some like it spicy” style. “I have to get it every time I go,” he says. He pairs it with the Dragonwell green tea, which is a vibrant and perfect sip for any time of day.
331 SE 15 Terrace, Deerfield Beach; 954/405-8448; auniquecafe.com
Louie Bossi’s Ristorante Bar Pizzeria
While this Italian restaurant has two trendy South Florida locations, Juan enjoys the Boca Raton outpost the most. Here he orders a Quattro Formaggio pizza to share with a friend or indulges in the robust flavors of the Rigatoni alla Bolognese pasta with braised beef and veal in a Barolo wine sauce. If he’s dining during brunch, he opts for the bottomless and always fun Aperol Spritzers.
100 E Palmetto Park Rd., Boca Raton; 561/336-6699; louiebossi.com/boca-raton
Prezzo
For happy hour and a light bite that’s centrally located in Boca, Juan heads here. He especially can’t get enough of the pear pasta that’s on the bar bites menu available at the bar and high tops. “It’s the perfect balance of savory and sweet,” he says. “I get it every time I go.” Plus happy hour specials include half off beer, specialty cocktails and select spirits along with discounted wines by the glass.
5560 N Military Trl., Boca Raton; 561/314-6840; eatprezzo.com
Amar Mediterranean Bistro
For dinner, Juan heads to this cozy Atlantic Avenue bistro. His favorite cold mezze is the Moudardara. The mixture of lentils, rice and caramelized onions reminds him of his Hispanic upbringing eating lentils and rice. “I instantly felt connected with this, but it was nice to see it in a different way.” He pairs that with the tabouleh and savory beef kebab, making sure to save room for dessert. The Kanafeh, a semolina and melted cheese tart is ideal for any foodie looking for that cheese pull shot, he says.
522 E Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach; 561/865-5653; amardelray.com
To see more of Juan’s favorite eats, follow him @juanbiteatatime on Instagram.
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