Ara owner Steven Fondu joins Kerri to talk about what it takes to build a restaurant people come back to again and again.

Steven grew up around his father's restaurants in New York before opening one of Jupiter's most talked-about dining spots. He talks about the lessons he carried from that upbringing, the risks of opening his own place, and how he built a team culture that shapes the way guests are treated the moment they walk in.

The conversation moves through Ara’s globally inspired menu and why Steven puts so much weight on familiar faces at the door. Steven explains why summer dining matters for a restaurant like his, and the discussion turns to Flavor South Florida before landing on specifics like caviar and Dover sole.

Underneath all of it is Steven's view of hospitality: the small details that make a restaurant feel like home.

Listen if you’re:

• Curious how Ara became a Jupiter favorite so quickly
• Interested in the behind-the-scenes reality of opening a restaurant
• A restaurant lover who appreciates service, consistency, and atmosphere
• Obsessed with local dining, chef-driven menus, and standout dishes
• Someone who believes great hospitality starts with relationships

Connect with Ara | Steven Fondu:

Website: https://www.arajupiter.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/arajupiter_/

Steven IG: https://www.instagram.com/sfondu/

Forking Around with Flavor South Florida Podcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/forkingaroundpodcast

Flavor South Florida Website: https://www.flavorsouthflorida.com/

Flavor South Florida Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FlavorSouthFlorida

Kerri Paizzi Website: https://www.kerripaizzi.com/

Kerri Paizzi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/KerriP316

This episode is sponsored by Altima Caviar. Visit https://altimacaviar.com

Forking Around with Flavor South Florida is recorded at PodPlus Studios in Jupiter, Florida and produced by Hype Boss. To learn more visit https://podplusstudios.com.