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"Perfection is the killer of business," says the physical therapist coach.

March4, 20207 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

In this series called Member Showcase, we publish interviews with members of The Oracles. This interview is with Aaron LeBauer, PT, DPT, and owner and CEO of LeBauer Consulting, LLC, business education for physical therapists. It was condensed by The Oracles.

What was a defining moment early in your life?

Aaron LeBauer: I attended Duke University to go to medical school like my father, grandfather, and uncles. But when I sat down with my first night of chemistry homework, I was paralyzed. I stared at the first question, fighting the urge to quit for hours.

Finally, I broke down into tears, realizing that I didnt have the desire or commitment to become a physician. I didnt want to spend four hours on homework each night for the foreseeable future I wanted a life too. From that day forward, I knew that I was on a different path to help people. Theres more to life than studying in the library all day.

Share an interesting fact about yourself that not many people would know.

Aaron LeBauer:I lived in Israel for a year after college before moving across the country to San Francisco with my best friend. For six weeks, I slept on the porch couch that belonged to a friend of a friend until we found an apartment. It was during an El Nio, so it rained on me almost every night.

For about a year, I barely got by working as a temp and in restaurants, until I started dreaming about racing bicycles as I had in college. So, I became a bike messenger and loved every minute, even though I was making half of what my classmates earned in their management and banking jobs. I eventually focused on amateur racing full time and spent a summer racing in Europe alongside future Tour de France riders.

What was your biggest challenge starting in business? How did you overcome it?

Aaron LeBauer:I worked as a massage therapist for six years before earning my doctor of physical therapy degree. After seeing 43 patients in one day, I knew that I couldnt treat patients effectively with the insurance model. So, I opened my physical therapy clinic to treat patients as unique individuals, without influence from insurance companies, even though that meant we didnt accept insurance.

Other therapists said that this wouldnt work, and on top of that, we opened during the 2009 recession. But I believed that if people spent $85 on a massage, they would pay at least that much for physical therapy. I knew that patients needed my help, but they didnt realize that physical therapy was the solution. I learned to market directly to patients instead of physicians by adapting strategies from other industries.

How did your business get started?

Aaron LeBauer:I started my coaching and consulting business to help other physical therapists build clinics like mine. One day, I told my wife, Andra, I just gave so-and-so all the details about how I started my practice and they didnt even say thank you. She gave me the best advice: Dont give anything for free when you expect something in return.

The next day, another business owner insisted on paying me for my advice. That same day, I wrote down my consulting rates, created my blog, and started sharing answers to common questions I received. Within a month, I was invited to speak at a major physical therapy conference. Thats when I knew I had hit on something special.

Whats your favorite quote?

Aaron LeBauer:My favorite quote is by the great hockey player, Wayne Gretzky: You miss 100% of the shots you dont take. After I briefly consider my options, I just shoot. If you dont take a chance, youre never going to score.

I work with highly educated entrepreneurs who have been taught that if youre going to do something, it has to be perfect but perfection is the killer of business. If you listen to your fear of imperfection and failure, youll never even put the ball in play. You can only make an impact by taking the shot.

Whats the biggest common leadership mistake?

Aaron LeBauer:There is no better way to make someone feel small and unimportant than micromanaging their every move and decision. I hated being told what to do and when, which kept me from excelling as an employee.

Ive found that the best way to lead is by empowering employees to make decisions and show up with solutions. If you micromanage, theyre only going to come to you with problems, which takes away your time and energy from growing your business.

How do you evaluate a good business deal?

Aaron LeBauer:By watching the market and researching. I need to truly understand the product, as well as the value and day-to-day results it delivers. I also must be willing to walk away, because as soon as I turn to walk away, the deal gets better. But if I approach it thinking, I must have this, Im a passenger on the emotional roller coaster and not in the drivers seat.

How do you prevent burnout?

Aaron LeBauer:By focusing on what I do best and enjoy most. I try to spend my days focused on what I would do for free. If something irritates me, gets tedious or boring, or creates anxiety, I delegate it to someone who enjoys it. If I can focus 70% to 80% of my time on what fills me up and lights my fire, burnout doesnt have a chance.

What are you working on right now?

Aaron LeBauer:Im growing my clinic and coaching business to help 25,000 people locally and 100 million worldwide to avoid unnecessary surgery. I can only treat so many patients myself, so Im helping other physical therapists build successful businesses.

Im also redefining retirement by doing what I love from anywhere I want and creating more time for my family and kids, who are 8 and 10 years old. Last year, I spent 81 days out of the office with them. This year, I hope to at least match that.

What do you want to be known for, or what do you want your legacy to be?

Aaron LeBauer:I want to be known as an amazing, present husband and father who worked relentlessly to save people from unnecessary surgery. I want to change the culture of the health and wellness industry in the U.S. and help people understand that they need to see their physical therapist first when they are injured or in pain to help them see their bodies as strong, competent, and capable, not harmful, threatening, or broken down.

Follow Aaron LeBauer on Instagram or visit his website.

The words and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee alone. What worked for them may not work for everyone. Any claims in this article have not been independently verified.

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How Aaron LeBauer Went From Sleeping on a Porch in the Rain to Changing the Healthcare Industry - Entrepreneur

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NEPTUNE CITY - Animal control officers rescued eight dogs, some of them puppies, who were left outside infilthy conditions in the freezing coldearly Saturday morning, officials said.

After midnight on Saturday the law enforcement division of the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals responded to a call originally made to the Neptune City Police Department about excessive barking in an apartment complex, the Monmouth County SPCA said in a statement.

One of the dogs rescued from freezing and deplorable conditions outside a Neptune City apartment Feb. 29.(Photo: From Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)

Officers found eight dogs"stuffed together in small crates, and living outside on a freezing cold porch with only a plastic tarp to protect them fromthe elements," according to the statement.

The dogs were living in their own urine and feces and didn't have access to food, water or any source of heat, the SPCA said. Temperatures fell below freezing early Saturday and the dogs were trembling from the cold at the time they were rescued, officials said.

Animal control officers gave the dogs water and food at the scene, which they "drank and ate ravenously," according to the statement. The pooches were brought to the SPCA shelter in Eatontown and were given blankets and a warm place to sleep.

A medical assessment found that the dogs all had intestinal parasites, overgrown nails, skin sores and some had ear and skin infections.One adult dog was covered in scars and wounds, the SPCA said.

SPCA: Adoptions, vet clinic open again after flu quarantine

MORE: Dogs from quake-riddled Puerto Rico seek New Jersey homes

The statement did not say whether anyone had been charged in connection with the rescue, although officials did say the matter will be resolved "in court." The SPCA did not immediately return a request for more information.

The rescued dogs will remain in the Eatontown shelter until the case is resolved, but may eventually be eligible for adoption, officials said. The Monmouth SPCA launched a fundraising campaignMonday to care for the dogs.

New Jersey 101.5 shared news about a recent bill introduced into the NJ State Assembly that would allow abused dogs and cats the right to an attorney. Asbury Park Press

Looking for the trusted place to find the best home service providers? Find local pros.

Andrew Goudsward covers crime and breaking news. Contact him at agoudsward@gannettnj.com; 732-897-4555 or@AGoudsward on Twitter.

Read or Share this story: https://www.app.com/story/news/crime/2020/03/02/neptune-city-dog-rescue-eight-dogs-rescued-freezing-porch/4934869002/

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Eight dogs some of them puppies rescued from freezing porch in Neptune City - Asbury Park Press

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. (WCJB) -- A porch pirate was arrested in Gainesville Sunday after deputies said someone recognized him from footage released on social media.

According to the arrest report, Ryan Lindemann, 24, was seen at the Oakmont neighborhood on Saturday stealing packages.

A Ring doorbell video showed a man wearing a Pentatonix shirt and pulling up in front of a house and taking packages.

ASO was called to a Publix on Sunday after someone recognized Lindemann wearing the same clothes. A deputy approached Lindemann and showed him the ring doorbell footage. Lindemann said, well, there's no denying that's me."

Deputies searched his car and found the stolen packages. He also admitted to stealing multiple packages before and selling them to make money after he dropped out of college.

Lindemann was charged with burglary and larceny. He was booked at the Alachua County Jail with bond set at $12,000.

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"Well, there's no denying that's me." Porch pirate confesses to crime caught on camera - WCJB

Update: This story has been updated to include a statement from the Chi Psi president.

Three people have been charged in connection with an incident in which skinned bodies and heads of multiple animals were found on the front porch of the Chi Psi fraternity house in February, the Athens-Clarke County Police Department said in an email.

Two men, one 19 and one 20, were charged with criminal trespass and improperly disposing of an animal carcass, said ACCPD Sgt. Joe Geiger in an email. A third 19-year-old was charged with improperly disposing of an animal carcass.

The two men with both charges were booked into Athens-Clarke County Jail the night of Feb. 26, according to jail records. Both were released after 1 a.m. the following day.

The three were not charged with animal cruelty because the animals left on the doorstep of the Milledge Avenue fraternity house were legally hunted and harvested, said ACCPD Lt. John Radford in an email.

On Feb. 7, a fraternity member walked out of the house to find the body of a skinned coyote, three skinned heads believed to be of raccoons, two dead rats, several raccoon feet and other entrails.

The responding police officer also found several pairs of bloody latex gloves, according to the original police report. Animal control officers took photographs of the scene and collected the carcasses and latex gloves for further investigation.

Im glad the matter is being resolved, and I hope that UGA Greek Life and our chapter are able to move on and learn from this incident, Drew Marshall, president of the UGA chapter of Chi Psi, said.

In response to the crime, Chi Psi will donate a portion of its April philanthropy event to the Athens Area Humane Society.

Hopefully the matter is resolved and we wont have to deal with anything like this again, Marshall said.

This was not the first time animal remains were left at the Chi Psi house a deer carcass was placed on the porch in September 2019, according to the February police report.

Members of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity were suspected in that incident, the report said.

A police report was never created for that incident, said Marshall. The fraternity was told there wasnt much police could do about the incident, and that the fraternity had to deal with the situations themselves.

This is an ongoing story. Check back at redandblack.com and follow @redandblack on Twitter for updates.

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3 charged in connection with animal carcasses left on UGA frat house porch - Red and Black

Tucked inside the 100-year-old Beacon Building, the Angi D Wildt Gallery, is a very special space.

Im a gallery geek who doesnt mind saying the Wildt Gallery reminds me of those great venues that popped up in century old buildings in lower Manhattan in the 1980s, SoHos golden years. Freed from the restraints of the stuffy Upper East Side, the new downtown galleries possessed a spirit of raw energy and sometimes a walk on the wild side.

Wildts gallery represents local artists inspired by regions natural beauty and majesty. She is pleased to announce Dave Bartholet, a self-taught watercolorist who left the Gilbert District Gallery after 15 years, has decided to sell his work in her year-old gallery at 737 Broadway. Hell be showing 10 pieces, nine of them originals, and one print. Wildt will also carry his cards.

Im really excited to have him here, Wildt said.

Wildt and Bartholet are not strangers. She became aware of his work 15 years ago while working in Cannon Beach at her first gallery position.

Dave gave me advice when I was about to open my own gallery, Wildt said. Hes always been supportive.

She described Bartholet as a Western painter. Hes prolific; he has thousands of pieces out there all over the world, Wildt said. Hes best known for his local beach scenes, Haystack Rock, wildlife. Hes versatile.

She said people like to take a piece of the coast home with them, and Bartholets work speaks to that.

Being in a gallery of this quality is truly an honor and to have it right in my home town is icing on the cake, Bartholet said. Im most grateful Angi took a chance on me and has afforded me this opportunity. I cant wait for this summer so the people from out-of-town can enjoy my artistic efforts at the Angi Wildt gallery.

Bartholet has a prominent social media presence and an enviable following. Wildt noted when Bartholet posted on his own page he was coming to her gallery, there were over 300 comments.

Hes going to put me on the map, Wildt said.

Shes featuring his work in the First Saturday Seaside Art Walk on March 7, taking place in downtown Seaside from 5 to 7 p.m.

Her show is called Reflections, and is a mixed medium show featuring artists inspired by the reflections on the Oregon Coast shores and other bodies of water.

Its a group show exhibiting the work of Dave Bartholet, Richard Burke, DC Yorksie, Ty McNeeley, Quata Cody, Christine Kende and Wildts own photography work. Michelle Lindloms mixed-media monotypes depict another kind of reflection, that of looking into the soul.

If you havent attended a First Saturday Art Walk youre missing big. Seaside Yarn and Fiber is unveiling a new collection of handmade weavings.

The Whet Spot is showcasing the art of Billy Lutz, another Seaside treasure. Lutz is a self-employed artist and sign painter who has provided for his family of five as a painter. Shine Fair Trade, SunRose Gallery, Blue Bond, Pacific Heirloom Art and Collectables, Fairweather House and Gallery, Art-in-the-Loft at Beach Books and Westport Winery are participants of the art event, as well as the Starry Night Art Hotel and Inn, Seaside Coffee House, the Seaside Antique Mall and Dough Dough Bakery.

Wildt said shes proud to be part of Seasides burgeoning gallery scene.

Theres a lot happening in Seaside, she said.

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View from the Porch: Lots happening art-wise in Seaside - Seaside Signal

ATHENS Georgia special teams coach Scott Cochran will make $550,000 annually, per a DawgNation FOIA request filed with the University of Georgia. Cochran's base salary is $325,000 and his annual supplemental income is $225,000 for a total of $550,000. Cochran's salary at Alabama last year as head strength and conditioning coach was reportedly $590,000, per AL.com. While Cochran's salary is less than what he was making at Alabama, it's a heavy increase over the $325,000 Scott Fountain made last season as UGA's special teams coach. RELATED: Alabama prep coaches discuss what Georgia can expect from Cochran Fountain left the Bulldogs' staff after the season to join departed UGA offensive line coach Sam Pittman, who is now head coach at Arkansas. GEORGIA FOOTBALL SALARIES 2020 (returning coaches salaries have not been released) Todd Monken, Offensive Coordinator $1,100,000 Matt Luke, Offensive Line Coach $900,000 Scott Cochran: Special Teams $550,000 GEORGIA FOOTBALL SALARIES 2019 James Coley: Offensive Coordinator / QB Coach $950,000 Sam Pittman: Associate Head Coach / OL Coach $900,000 Dell McGee: Run Game Coordinator / RB Coach $650,000 Cortez Hankton: Pass Game Coordinator / WR Coach $550,000 Todd Hartley: TE Coach $300,000 Dan Lanning: Defensive Coordinator / OLB Coach $750,000 Glenn Schumann: Co-Defensive Coordinator / ILB Coach $550,000 Charlton Warren: DB Coach $600,000 Tray Scott: DL Coach $470,000 Scott Fountain: Special Teams Coordinator $325,000 Georgia football salaries 2018 Mel Tucker, $1,500,000, Defensive coordinator / secondary Jim Chaney, $950,000, Offensive coordinator / tight ends James Coley, $850,000, Co-offensive coordinator / quarterbacks Sam Pittman, $825,000, Offensive line coach Dell McGee, $550,000, Running backs coach Tray Scott, $420,000, Defensive line coach Cortez Hankton, $375,000, Receivers coach Glenn Schumann, $325,000, Inside linebackers coach Dan Lanning, $325,000, Outside linebackers coach Scott Fountain, $300,000, Special teams coach The post Georgia football special teams coordinator Scott Cochran salary released appeared first on DawgNation.

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Frat brothers charged after gruesome prank in Athens - WGAU

Barbara Smith, better known and beloved to fans as B. Smith, departed this world at the age of 70 after succumbing to a long battle with early onset Alzheimers disease. As a model, ESSENCE cover star, restaurateur, entrepreneur, lifestyle expert, author and more, Smith left behind a glowing legacy, in which she imparted many historic contributions as both an African American and a female pioneer in the culinary and lifestyle industry.

For me, B. Smith was our Martha Stewart. No matter what she did, she did it with style, elegance and grace, says celebrity chef, television personality and Cutthroat Kitchen winner Huda Mumin, who considered B. Smith a friend and advisor. Meeting her and being mentored by her was a dream come trueI will never forget the times that we spent together and what an inspiration her life was to me and so many.

Before Black female chefs like Mumin became ambassadors for major brands and recognized for their gastronomic talents on TV networks and before there was a lane for lifestyle influencers, home cook bloggers and food content creators; and before there were Gina Neelys, Ayesha Currys and other culinary empires for women of color, there was B. Smith, who carved out a path where her passion for food and home could occupy successful (and esteemed) entrepreneurial spaces.

She turned herself into a lifestyle brand, which is still groundbreaking for women of color, says Pinky Cole, who notably built her own successful plant-based province as the founder of the famed Slutty Vegan restaurants and forthcoming product line. Seeing a woman of color accomplish so much in the food/restaurant industry was inspiring. Its important for young people to see a mirror image of themselves and who they can become and thats who she was to me. She left her mark on the world and the hearts of so many, and for that, Im thankful and grateful.

B. Smith really opened the eyes to a lot of talented foodpeople of color, says Norma Jean Darden, a fellow food icon, whose careernearly parallels that of Smiths. Darden and Smith first met each other asmodels signed to Wilhelmina Modeling Agency, where they both launched their professionalcareers before becoming restaurateurs.

Toward the end of our careers [in modeling,] I remembergoing to a nightclub and seeing her sing. And neither of us was thinking aboutfood, recalls Darden, who shortly after that encounter published a cookbookthat would later launch her New York-based Spoonbread restaurants. Then [B.Smith] became a hostess at a trendy restaurant called America with MichaelWeinstein down toward the Village. And next thing I knew; he had put her in herown place, B. Smiths, which was a huge hit.

Opened in 1986, Smiths first restaurant on 8th Avenue in Manhattan marked the beginning of her food empire. Later, she would open restaurants in Sag Harbor, NY, and Washington D.C.

Walking into B. Smiths Restaurant in D.C. was a wow factor, Mumin reminisces on times spent with Smith at her D.C. restaurant. It was a historic and beautiful 300-seat elegant restaurant in Union Station, the biggest restaurant there, which made you proud to know it was owned by a Black woman.

Smiths restaurant success led to cookbooks: B. Smiths Entertaining and Cooking for Friends (Artisan Press); B. Smith: Rituals and Celebration (Random House) and B. Smith Cooks Southern-Style (Simon and Schuster). And in the midst of it all, Smith solidified herself as a much-respected media personality and lifestyle expert with her TV show B. Smith with Style and several guests appearances on news, talk, and entertainment shows. In 2001, Smith even introduced her B. Smith with Style Home Collection with Bed, Bath and Beyond, which is still touted today as the first line from an African-American woman to be sold at a nationwide retailer.

She gaveme hope that maybe one day I could do the things she did. For the first time Ifelt like maybe there really was a space for us, says Chef Resha, founder ofthe Carnal Dish recipe website and YouTube vlog, which has roughly 42,000subscribers. I remember B. Smiths gorgeous and infectious smile lighting upour television for many years. She even had a restaurant here in D.C. that ourfamily used to frequent. Growing up, I hardly ever saw Black women cooking onTV. But when I first saw B. Smith cooking and entertaining, she really had myattention.

As a vlogger and personal chef, Chef Resha acknowledges the lane that B. Smith paved for a generation of African-American chefs, home cooks, homemakers and social media influencers. And she did so in a way that elevated the Black chef into the echelons of global culinary adulation.

So many inspired Black women sawwhat B. Smith did and decided to become really dope event planners, chefs,interior designers, bosses and more, Chef Resha says. For those of us whonever knew of that kind of representation, we became more vocal and proud ofthe things we loved to do that nobody really paid attention to.

Female cooks, particularly Black female cooks, have long been the drivers of American cuisine. As enslaved cooks, then domestics and home cooks, African-American women created the meals that fed a nation. Their recipes and techniques were intertwined into the fabric of our food history, but they were footnotes, if not nameless or completely forgotten, in the story of American cuisine. B. Smith didnt just help Black women reclaim that culinary throne, she showed us the throne was never abdicated.

I think food was mostly an ignored occupation for young Blackwomen and men, says Darden. [B. Smith] started a trend toward talented Blackpeople suddenly realizing that these were talents we had for centuries andbrought it to the limelight in the field.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times from 2000, Smith herself recalls a time when her own mother gave up a dream to be an interior decorator because there were no precedents for it at the time. Smith is quoted saying of her mother, being African American, she wouldnt have had a career. But I turned that around and thought, I never wanted to say I wished I had done something.

And it wasnt just something Mrs. Barbara B. Smith, we thank you for everything.

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Forever Our Icon: Black Female Chefs and Culinary Influencers Remember B. Smith and Her Legendary Career - Essence

Holi is just around the corner. It is high you start thinking about some cool Holi decoration ideas. Holi decoration ideas are not only meant to brighten up your homes but your workspace as well. So take a look at some of these Holi decoration ideas for your office that will brighten up your workspace in no time.

This is one of the easiest Holi decoration ideas. Choose a wall in your office and paint it completely white. Then tell all the office employees to choose a colour of their choice and leave their handprint on the wall with the colour. Make sure this activity does not create a mess around the office.

Also read |Kylie Jenner's Home Decor Is Packed With The Best Of Interior Designs; See Pics

Every office has a common sitting area and this is one of the most-long lasting Holi decoration ideas. Add a bunch of funky and colourful pillows to a common sitting area in the office. Holi decoration ideas for office can have a lasting effect to add some pop to your workspace.

Some Holi decoration ideas can have a lasting effect on your workspace. When you are looking for office Holi decoration ideas, make sure you look for some long-lasting ideas. Adding colourful lights to certain office spaces can add that subtle hint of festive mood within no time.

Also read |Small House Interior Design Ideas To Make Your House Look Larger

Adding flowers to your office space is one of the easiest office Holi decoration ideas. Adding flowers will also add a sweet fragrance to some corners of the office. Make sure you use flowers in different colours. You can also assign a specific colour to each corner of the office and match the flower decoration accordingly.

Also read |Bauhaus Interior Design: 5 Things To Know About The Bauhaus Furniture

Also read |5 Home Design Ideas To Give Your Home An Interior Decorator's Touch

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Holi decoration ideas for your office that will add a pop of colour to your workspace - Republic World - Republic World

Sussanne Khan shared this photo. (Image courtesy: suzkr)

While we were busy with work mid-week, Sussanne Khan and Gauri Khan managed to scoop some time out of their busy schedules to have fun with their "wolf pack". Yeah! That's what they call their group, which comprises Seema Khan (Sohail Khan's wife), Maheep Kapoor (Sanjay Kapoor's wife), Bhavana Panday (Chunky Panday's wife), Neelam Kothari and choreographer Shabina Khan. Sussanne shared two group photos on her Instagram profile on Friday, which happen to be from interior decorator Maison and Objet's 25th anniversary party that was held at a design store owned by Gauri Khan in Mumbai on Thursday. In one of the pictures, Sussanne, who was married to actor Hrithik Roshan, can be seen posing with Gauri, Seema, Bhavana, Maheep, Neelam and Shabina while in the other picture, Chunky Panday can be seen posing with the group.

Sharing the photo, Sussanne Khan wrote: "Catching feels and tunes... Super fun time, my girls... Love you! #wolfpack."

Take a look:

The event was also attended by Gauri Khan's actor husband Shah Rukh Khan, who arrived at the celebrations dressed in an olive-coloured t-shirt, denims and a brown jacket. The actor was photographed with his interior decorator wife and her "wolf pack" at the event. Take a look:

She was photographed arriving with Shah Rukh Khan.

The actor posed for the shutterbugs.

Shah Rukh Khan with wife Gauri and her "wolf pack."

Gauri Khan frequently shares pictures of her girl gang, who make appearances at several events together. Last year, Shah Rukh and Gauri Khan invited Sussanne Khan and Karan Johar to their Alibaug bungalow to enjoy their weekend together. Take a look at their pictures:

A post shared by Gauri Khan (@gaurikhan) on Oct 18, 2019 at 7:28am PDT

Gauri Khan has designed houses for Bollywood celebrities like Ranbir Kapoor, Karan Johar, Jacqueline Fernandez and Varun Dhawan among others.

Original post:
Nothing To See Here, Just Pics Of Sussanne, Gauri Khan And Their "Wolf Pack" - NDTV News

By Bob Sacks

The food at The Asbury Ocean Club is very good, and fully merits 3 stars. The setting less so. We arrived at this new since July hotel/condo complex, entered a small lobby, and asked for the restaurant. A young man appeared, and took us by elevator to the third floor. The doors opened onto a large room with a bar on one wall, where we were introduced to a pleasant young woman who showed us to what can be best described as an adjacent, dimly lit, wide corridor, with seven or eight round marble cocktail tables, and a banquette on one wall.

Two of the 30-inch round tables were pushed together to create our table for four, utilizing the banquette and two chairs for seating. There was a large room just beyond, with some random couches and seating with a few small cocktail tables, reserved solely for hotel guests and condo owners, but there was no traditional dining room. The high ceilings, lush design, and clearly expensive, eye-catching decorator touches of this dining area made for a contradiction I am still trying to understand. However, the food is why we came, and, happily, it was very good!

We started with Beet Cured Tuna ($18). Four thick slices of dark red Saku Tuna (high grade tuna cut into a block), cured with red beets, tarragon and Burgundy, beautifully plated with a streak of reddish pomegranate crme frache and bagel chips, was delicious; almost too pretty to eat.

Suckling Pig Belly ($16), garnished with pickled radish, soy sauce caviar, and edamame puree, was crunchy-crackly on the out- side, and meatier and less fatty than other versions of this dish we have had elsewhere. The open flame cooking lent a subtle smoky flavor to the meat. Excellent!

A thick and creamy Honey Nut Squash Soup ($13) was a cut above the ordinary. This diminutive relative of the butternut squash is far more flavorful; a bit sweeter and nuttier in taste, and said to be even more nutritious. Prepared with nutmeg crme frache, sage, pieces of honeynut brittle, lemon, and some olive oil for smoothness, it was a nice opportunity to try this less often seen squash.

So as not to slight the aforementioned larger cousin of the honeynut, we ordered the Harvest Risotto ($15). Properly creamy, but not mushy, risotto, was topped with cubes of butternut squash, toasted pumpkin seeds, nasturtium, and pickled currants, making for a hearty seasonal dish.

It was impossible to resist the Skate Milanese ($32); it is not frequently seen on menus. A skate wing, dipped in egg and coated with parmesan and bread crumbs, is then skillet-fried, creating a nice brown crust. Florets of butter poached cauliflower, cauliflower fonduta (fondue), sage potatoes, and a caper berry concasse (read: chopped) buerre blanc, shared the plate with the moist, sweet-tasting fish. Yum!

Dutch Country Brick Chicken ($26), arrived with Brussel Bubble and Squeak (a traditional English dish made from roasted Brussels sprouts and potatoes), cranberry gastrique (sweet and sour sauce), and chicken demi-glace. This unique preparation was very good, and very interesting as well!

A novel presentation of Duck Two Ways ($38) offered a succulent, blood orange-glazed confit of leg and thigh, and thick slices of rare breast meat, paired with cooked red cabbage, sitting atop a butternut squash puree. The richness of the duck was balanced perfectly by the acidity of the cabbage and citrus flavors.

A selection of side dishes indicated that the kitchen did not consider them to be incidentals. A toothsome order of glazed carrots ($5), prepared with honey butter, were slightly sweet and deeply flavorful. We also enjoyed a Kennett Square Mushroom Ragu ($6); the earthiness of the mushrooms was enhanced with a mushroom stock, lemon and chervil.

The wine list is not long, but well chosen. We selected a 2018 Clement & Florian Berthier Sancerre ($64). This crispy white, sauvignon blanc-based wine, from the Loire Valley in France, with its appealing minerality, was an ideal contrast for most of the dishes.

The desserts were as beautifully plated as the rest of the food that preceded them. Sweet Potato Kuchen ($10) was memorable. A cube of that cake was topped with a small mound of black sesame glaze, and shared the plate with a pool of beet mousse and nuggets of white chocolate and coffee peb- bles. The humble sweet potato has never been so hon- ored before!

I was informed after the meal that there are indeed plans to create a more traditional dining room in the near future, which would then allow diners to enjoy the excellent, high quality food, in a setting more worthy of it. Once that has happened, the restaurant at the Asbury Ocean Club will definitely warrant four stars; the foods already there!

Asbury Ocean Club1101 Ocean Ave. AsburyOceanClub.com

Bob Sacks, longtime food and wine buff, reviews restaurants in this column. Follow him on Instagram @dinnerwithbob.

Link:
Restaurant Review: Asbury Ocean Club - The Two River Times