Housed in a humble red roadside shack along Federal Highway in Boynton Beach, it’s easy to miss Troy’s Bar-Be-Que, especially since it’s only open Thursdays through Saturdays. Moreover, the seating accommodations are a simple red picnic table and a handful of folding chairs lined up under the front patio.

It probably won’t impress you on first sight, but regulars attest that if you take one whiff of the ribs, sliced brisket, or chicken coming off the wood-fired smokers that Troy himself is watching, and you’ll know you’ve come to the right place! Yelp reviewers praise the pulled pork sandwich, tender slow-cooked ribs, sweet baked beans, and simmered collard greens.

Since seating is limited, most customers order takeout, but if you can, try to sit down under a nice shade tree and strike up a conversation with friendly strangers.

Troy’s Bar-Be-Que
1017 N. Federal Highway
Boynton Beach, FL 33435
(561) 740-1125
www.yelp.com/biz/troys-bar-be-que-boynton-beach

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Shreveport-Bossier: Louisiana's Other Side

With its light, fluffy exterior and its thick chicken stew inside, chicken pot pie is a classic recipe that will make you feel warmer and cozier with every bite. If you want to adapt this time-honored dish for your own friends or family, here are three great recipes to show you how.

Ina Garten’s Chicken Pot Pie [foodnetwork.com]
You can be sure that the Barefoot Contessa herself will have a few things to add to such a classic dish. Ina Garten’s pot pie gets an elegant makeover with the addition of fresh parsley leaves and chicken bouillon cubes, and serving it in miniature bowls makes it even more chic.

Impossibly Easy Chicken Pot Pie [bettycrocker.com]
If you’ve been dreaming of chicken pot pie but you’re short on time, this six-ingredient recipe is the perfect solution. It uses frozen vegetables, cream of chicken soup, and biscuit mix to make pot pie easier than ever.

The Epicurious Chicken Pot Pie [epicurious.com]
When you have the time to make the crust, chicken, and filling all from scratch, this is the recipe to use. This pot pie is perfect for a dinner party with your foodie friends, as it incorporates complex ingredients like black peppercorns, dry white wine, and dried chanterelle mushrooms along with the usual meat and veggies.

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/Mathew Packer

There's no shortage of beaches in the Boynton Beach area, but the largest and most popular public beach can be found at Oceanfront Park. This historic park has been open to the public since Boynton Beach was founded in the 1920s. Just a quarter mile north of Ocean Avenue on A1A, the beach is open and staffed by lifeguards during business hours every day of the year.

Though the sand and surf are the primary attractions, Oceanfront Park also has several amenities across its 12 acres, including a staffed parking lot, a renovated ocean boardwalk, separate picnic and barbecue areas, rental pavilions, a playground for the little ones, and a small concession building where you can get snacks like sandwiches, ice cream, and soda.

There are even clean and well-maintained bathrooms (including private indoor showers), so beach-goers can rinse off after swimming!

Oceanfront Park Beach
6415 North Ocean Boulevard
Boynton Beach, FL 33435
(561) 742-6565
www.boynton-beach.org/departments/parks/water_beach_access.php/#oceanfront

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Jevgenijs Slihto