It used to be that finding a good dining place depended largely on word of mouth, professional restaurant critics and reviews, guidebooks like The Michelin Guide, observing foot traffic, and looking in phone books, where you could find businesses with the largest advertisements. The ‘90s changed all of that. As the Internet became an integral part of our daily lives, it didn’t take long for media enterprises such as Condé Nast to launch Epicurious, a database of recipes compiled from two of the company’s most popular magazines — Bon Appétit and Gourmet. By the end of that era, blogging platforms like Blogger and Xanga emerged, paving the way for generations of bloggers like Claudia Caminero.
Since she entered the local scene in Palm Beach County in 2016 as a social media blogger and influencer, she and others like herself have dramatically reshaped and opened up new avenues for sharing the Palm Beaches’ evolving culinary and drink scene. As Discover the Palm Beaches’ ambassador, Caminero’s daily Instagram images and engaging videos of the must-visit restaurants, craft cocktail lounges, and waterfront dining delights — which define the local areas’ tropical charm— have been helping change the way people perceive and experience food.
I met up with Caminero at Aioli Bakery and Café, located on Dixie Highway in West Palm Beach, which holds a Bib Gourmand designation from The Michelin Guide. Its reputation as a go-to breakfast and lunch spot is due to its friendly ambiance and exceptional, scratch-made food at moderate prices.
As a regular customer, Caminero knows the owner and Head Chef Michael Hackman’s diverse menu front and back, she said. She could list the all-time favorites with her eyes closed: the bacon, egg, and cheese on a house-made buttermilk biscuit; the sausage, egg, and cheese with house-made breakfast sausage, frittata egg, fontina cheese, arugula, and citrus aioli on a toasted house-made croissant; the tuna salad on butter bread; the roast beef and cheddar with roasted tomato aioli on house-made ciabatta; the key lime pie, coconut pie, apple pie, and many more. Items that Aioli Bakery and Café nailed from day one in 2014!
She walked in dressed in a popular Lilly Pulitzer summer floral printed dress, looking the part of a South Florida blogger and influencer. But, as she quickly revealed, she didn’t always look this way or feel better in her skin than she does now.
“I was working as a banker for Wells Fargo up north, but I started having health issues, so I quit my job. My husband and I explored options for something I could do from home. I liked photography, so I decided to start my blog, UpToClaudia.com, sharing about just beautiful things,” she said, as she recalled their move to West Palm Beach not long after that.
To her surprise, Caminero fell in love with our tropical city at first sight. Blogging about local restaurants, healthy eating, fashion, and city events became her thing. She had no agenda, she said, just a desire to share her joyful experiences with others. “I just kept posting and posting, like, you know, do this, do that, go here, go there. It’s just so beautiful here that it’s like, how could you not, right? All my posts with pictures did so well. I posted my stories in both English and Spanish on other websites, and that helped me grow. And that’s how I connected with great people like you,” she added, flashing that radiant smile, which is her most charming feature in all her posts.
The Palm Beach Experience: A Taste of Local Luxury, The Palm Beaches have a distinct characteristic that sets them apart from other South Florida cities, such as Miami and Fort Lauderdale, despite all three being vibrant coastal regions Caminero soon discovered this.
“It is so exciting here! The history, culture, architecture, and gastronomy all play an important role in shaping our experience of The Palm eaches. It feels like you’re in Europe, but then you have that South Florida flair and that’s one of the things I enjoy the most,” she said. “I haven’t gone to Europe yet because I’m like, it feels like I’m there already.” And while the Palm Beaches are not 2,700 years old, like some European cities, I noted, we both agreed that the area has evolved exponentially, attracting restaurants, fashion stores, and hotels, and creating a more profound sense of community.
“We now have Michelin star restaurants getting awarded, and an influx of high-end fashion stores coming to town from New York and L.A., as well as local designers accelerating, which is exciting for our communities.” And what’s her aim? To get a taste of local luxury and then share it with others, she said. When she visited Estiatorio Milos, an upscale Greek seafood restaurant located at One Flagler, 170 Lakeview Avenue in West Palm Beach, she felt she was on familiar ground.
“When Milos first opened its doors, it reminded me a lot of my hometown in the Dominican Republic. They have a seafood market, so when you visit the restaurant, you can select your fish and then have it cooked right there and then. Milos is a fine local luxury, but you also get that laid-back, Mediterranean feel and comfort. It’s one of the most exciting restaurants that I have tried lately.”
Along the same vibe is Moody Tongue Sushi at the Hilton West Palm Beach. They offer a special à la carte sushi menu, as well as an elevated 8-course and 13-course omakase experience.
“It’s like beer and sushi! You might not think of it, but it’s like a tasting of different beers that they make, each with its own unique experience. Super fun and different! That’s what I love about living here. There’s always something new and exciting, like Eataly Marketplace and Restaurant coming to CityPlace in the fall!”
Headquartered in New York, the Italian Marketplace and Restaurant will be located in the historic Harriet Himmel building. Eataly will offer a variety of restaurants, quick-service counters, and a specialty market showcasing authentic Italian cuisine and culture.
While new is good, old is sometimes better. Since 2008, West Palm Beach Downtowners have had a French love affair with Pistache French Bistro. Founded byThierry Beaud, who aimed to bring the spirit of a French bistro to our town, this year, Pistache celebrated its 17th anniversary.
“That’s why West Palm Beach stands out from other cities in South Florida,” explained Caminero in true Latina fashion — using her hands to accent her fervor for her adopted hometown.
“This is the city that’s growing the most, right? Look at the Northwood District, with all the new things coming soon, like Curry Park.”
Sunset & Style: The Intersection of Fashion and Coastal Living
Caminero loves fashion, and it shows. Just take a look at her posts. She enjoys showcasing Palm Beach’s coastal elegance by immersing herself in the area’s cocktail culture and upscale leisure scene. In her daily posts, she reflects that sophisticated and relaxed style, often featuring bright colors, breezy fabrics, and elegant accessories.
According to her, to dress the part, you need to create a look that is both stylish and comfortable for the tropical Florida climate. The Palm Beach fashion color palette consists of pastels, she affirmed, especially pink and green, as well as whites and other light colors in breathable fabrics like linen or silk.
Designer jewelry and sunglasses, straw hats, and elegant beach bags, along with sandals, espadrilles, and other comfortable and stylish footwear, complete the look. No other designer shows off the Palm Beach style more than Lilly Pulitzer on Palm Beach’s most famous Worth Avenue.
“I am a Lilly Pulitzer fan,” Caminero admitted. “It blends bold colors, tropical motifs, and classic elegance.” Last month, she and 400 other women from various parts of the world, including the U.S., Brazil, and the Caribbean, came together in Lilly’s name at The Pink Retreat’s pink party at the Hilton West Palm Beach. The most colorful girls’ annual getaway is an exclusive community of women with a simple, single purpose: to expand their BFF club. The fact that they all shared a colorful closet was impressive. “Found my twin!” A few hours later, Caminero posted a picture on Instagram of her and another woman wearing the same “Lilly,” tagging @therealpinkretreat.
Influencing the Palm Beaches: A Digital Ambassador’s Role
From covering women and other cultural events to hidden culinary gems, Caminero’s social media platform is shaping the way people experience our region. Whether she’s posting on Instagram or on Claudia.com, she shares more than just “great" style tips, restaurant reviews, cooking healthy recipes, places to visit, and fashion inspiration for every budget.”
With her Caribbean Chic style and animated personality, she has made a business of sharing what she loves to do, including her travel experiences. As a digital ambassador, Caminero has a specific role: to help deliver the right message about this remarkable region to both locals and visitors alike. Her posts are short and to the point… the hashtags seem endless, and over 120K people continue to connect.
From PGA to Jupiter and CityPlace in West Palm Beach, to Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach, and Mizner Park in Boca Raton, Caminero travels from city to city, experiencing it all and sharing her adventures on her blog. “Mizner is so much fun, especially when they have concerts in the amphitheater or great exhibits in the museum. They always have good things for everyone, including classical music.” For beach fun and games, there’s nothing like Delray Beach, she continued breathlessly. “The Silverball Retro Arcade is fantastic. It’s got over 150 vintage and modern pinball, video, and arcade games, like Pacman, Donkey Kong, and Skee Ball.”
Caminero, still on a roll, jumped from games to resorts. “One of my favorite oceanfront resorts is Jupiter Beach Resort. It’s so pretty, and not too many people are at the beach, which is nice.”
Now, for those in search of a nice, cool cocktail, Caminero listed the best spots. The drink scene in the Palm Beaches flows like milk and honey, she added, naming Capri Bar, the rooftop space above Elizabetta’s Italian Restaurant on Flagler Ave, as her first choice and The Canopy Hotel’s Tree House as her second.
“They both have a nice vibe and great drinks, but the Tree House also has great music and a party atmosphere in the beautiful outdoors. I also enjoy visiting El Camino at CityPlace in WestPalm. It’s especially nice, with both indoor and outdoor bar areas. Their margaritas are unique. My daytime go-to is the Composition Coffee Shop, off of Belvedere Road, near Dixie Highway,” she said. “I love that place. It has become a community. A lot of times, you go there just for the coffee and end up staying for two hours talking.”
That talk sometimes inspires another post, and when she reads the people’s reactions, it makes her day. “If I hear someone talking about something that’s not good, I’m going to be like, oh my God, no, no, you have to go to this place instead. I’m that kind of person.
I get excited. I want to ensure that, at the end of the day, people are enjoying life. And I love knowing that I was there to help.”