Page 13 - Boca Club News - July '19

Boca Club News, Page 13
Dining Out:

This Is A Hole-In-One for A Special Night By the Sea!

By Alan Serinsky of Bocaire. never heard about Al Fresco, now you do! Hungry G’s Caprese Salad delivered the standards, but
Hungry Al’s love of food started What to expect? If you’re here for a fine dining experience the tomatoes fell short on ripeness and had that hydroponic
young. Never satisfied at the you’re going to be slightly disappointed. But if you want to after taste. As for the Buffalo mozzarella, it lacked the rich,
family dinner table with his eat at one of the most beautiful dining spots in PBC, you’ll soft creamy texture, and the balsamic drizzle tasted store
Mom’s dishes, he started to cook be happily rewarded. bought.
his own way through her Betty What holds more importance to you? Ambiance or Straight From The Kitchen: Let’s start with the only
Crocker cookbook. His food Michelin rated dishes? beef eater, Hungry J. Her Filetto Di Manzo ($33) a grilled
journey consisted of working I’ll admit food reigns in most cases. But there are Filet Mignon, was nothing exceptional. Even though it was
many restaurants both as server and cook, attending exceptions and, surprisingly, Al Fresco of Palm Beach breaks dressed with a nice peppercorn-cognac sauce, it didn’t help
numerous cooking classes, and traveling the world in an effort the norm. Here’s why…. compensate for the mediocre beef quality. Let’s face it, you
to expand his palette of different flavors and cuisines. As a Hungry Al’s First Impressions: Imagine this…you’re don’t go to a par three golf course for a PGA tournament.
professional writer, Hungry Al will give you his perspective sitting on a one-story, high balcony overlooking the ocean. So, this one didn’t qualify for an Abe & Louie’s.
on current food trends and guide you through your local There’s a view of an elevated putting green between you Hungry D and Hungry G both selected the very popular
restaurant choices. and the breaking waves pounding the sandy beaches. A Branzino al Limone ($35). This Mediterranean Sea Bass was
brisk coolness is helping turn off the day’s summer heat as perched on a delicate spoon-coated lemon caper sauce, dotted
Al Fresco you order a refreshing cocktail, with or without a tiny aqua with sweet-roasted cherry tomatoes and shiitake mushrooms.
2345 S. Ocean Blvd. blue umbrella. Ahhh…. I can sit here for hours thinking how Even though this fish was not a catch and release for our two
Palm Beach, Fl 33480 beautiful my life is. fish mongers, my telescopic fork produced a bite that made
561-273-4130 So, where can you find this oasis on the beach? A simple me confident that I was content with my entrée selection.
drive on AIA, North of Lake Worth Road, and you too might Hungry Al selected an off the menu Chicken Breast and
Food for Thought: This summer I will be spending some discover a little Key West-like house nestled on a par 3 golf Mushroom Cream Sauce. Here the chicken was cooked
time at my second home in Park City, Utah. Blue skies, no course. Yes, you can improve your short game on this public perfectly, and the cream mushroom sauce was above average.
humidity, and plenty of new and old restaurants to keep course. Upstairs (elevator provided) you’ll find a small Not one of my favorite menu selections, but who cares when
Hungry Al’s jaws in action. I know it’s hot and sticky in dining room and a bar to accommodate a few people. I’m too wrapped up with great conversation and the full moon
Boca Raton, and most of you simply prefer to dine in a well But don’t stop here. Demand an outside table. I promise radiating like a flashlight over the darkened ocean waters.
air-conditioned restaurant. But there are other options. you the surroundings don’t get any better, regardless of From The Dessert Tray: Since this was actually a belated
The outdoors doesn’t close down in the summer, you whether you golf or not! Birthday celebration, we all embarked on a communal dessert
just need to know how to use Mother Nature as your Prime Your Taste Buds: If you don’t want to have a of Key Lime Pie. Nothing special, but with a candle-in-the-
cooling device. That means utilizing the sunset, brisk, full entree here at Al Fresco you can easily opt for their pie everything becomes special.
ocean breezes as a coolant and the wind velocity to keep Pizza selections--ranging from $15 for a Margarita to $25 Check Please: Now that I look back on my dining
the mosquitos at bay. for a Palm Beach (smoked salmon, caviar, red onions and experience at Al Fresco’s, it seems I have unlocked the
I have traveled extensively around the world and I can capers). Honestly, at that price I’ll wait for Sunday morning answer to my question above. Dining out is basically a “social
easily confirm that South Florida has some of the best for my traditional bagels and lox. Also, don’t expect an event.” Of course, us foodies like to feel satisfied with the
restaurants located in very picturesque locations. Think artisan brick oven-crusted pizza with Marzano tomatoes, consumption of the finest ingredients prepared
about the billions of tourist dollars spent in our state for the fresh mozzarella, and out-of-the-garden picked basil. Here by an Iron Chef, but I truly believe that food
amenities we have in our backyard. Yet, many of us are stuck it’s simplified to a pizza somewhere between Rotelli’s and always tastes better depending on the company
in what I call the “restaurant rut.” Going to the same places, Anthony’s. and the setting. So, with that in mind I award this
eating the same food, and doing everything that a paying Hungry J and Hungry Al (that’s me) shared the Crispy open-air eatery, Al Fresco, a double Hungry Al
tourist doesn’t do. Calamari Shrimp & Zucchini ($14) appetizer. The seafood score. Three golden golf tees
So, let me introduce you to Al Fresco Restaurant. Here’s a was tender, with a light batter joined by fried zucchini that for food and five golf balls for
place I guarantee you’ll feel like a tourist for a day. If you’ve were properly seasoned. ambiance.
Grape Expectations: Buying Wine Online!

By Ed Wolfarth, who recently moved discounts on purchasing a minimum number of bottles. But Compare prices, commitment options, and inquire about their
to South Florida after retiring with what do you get and what is your dollar commitment? Your sources.
his wife, Vicki, as Professor of Sports first decision is to either prepay for a set amount of time or Wine Websites – Last Bottle, Wine.com, WTSO, Wine
Sciences & Physical Education at get billed each month. Obviously, prepaying is cheaper but Library and Plonk are but a few online sites where you can
both Queens College and Hofstra you need to decide if you really need wine delivered each buy wine. While retail store sales still account for the majority
University. He is a nationally ranked and every month or two. of wine being sold, these sites have been growing steadily,
senior tennis player and long-time Another consideration is the quality of these wines. For if not spectacularly, for the past decade. These sites are able
USPTA Elite Teaching Professional. the most part, most wine clubs are offering wines in the $10 to capitalize on the overabundance of high-end wines that
Ed has written many educational and to $20 range. The white wines are almost universally better simply need to be sold rather than sit on shelves. The savvy
tennis articles in the past. Over the past few years, Ed has than the reds in this price range. As my fellow wine-o, Bob, buyer can often purchase wines at deep discounts, but again,
turned his hobby of wine collecting into a way of continuing said when trying a $15 Oregon Pinot, “it was quite naïve!” buyer beware! Poor vintages and storage-problem wines
his passion for writing, and has written on the subject for My experience is similar. Many of these wines come from may be offered. Many of these sites have limited quantities
publications. As a self-proclaimed “wine snob,” he has independent producers whose sole source of moving their of these wines, and ordering online becomes a matter of
collaborated on many wine lists for private clubs and a few wines are these clubs. While some are definitely quaffable, “time is of the essence.” With so many grape-nuts vying for
restaurants. Ed can be reached at wolfarthe@msn.com. they are still a cheaper version. You often get what you pay a limited amount of bottles, I often have been shut out on a
The new paradigm seems to be getting away from actually for. There is a glut of wine that goes unsold or is still sitting wine I coveted.
leaving the house and visiting your local wine emporium in in storage in some far-off warehouse. Wine clubs are a perfect Unless you know exactly what you are buying it’s still
order to purchase wine. Online wine sales have increased venue for producers to move their products, albeit at a deeply a crap shoot. A few years ago I was looking for an Oregon
manyfold these past few years. Seems millennials find it discounted price. Pinot and was offered one on WTSO (Wine Til Sold Out).
easier to go to such wine websites as WTSO, Wines Til Sold For the novice wine drinker, or for the more adventurous At $15.99 a bottle for ordering four bottles with no tax and
Out, or purchase their quaffs from such wine clubs as the Wall soul, these wine clubs are a terrific source of trying new and free shipping, it was a bargain. I forgot to check out the
Street Journal Wine Club. Let’s look at the pros and cons of undiscovered wines. Many will be fine, some not so. Caveat vintage. It was a 2013. Who knew it rained heavily in the
both these relatively new sources for purchasing wine. Emptor! Willamette Valley, and many producers harvested too late
Wine Clubs – Firstleaf, WSJwine, Winc, Tasting Room If you are going to try a wine club, I suggest you do and consequently their wines were “washed out!” I learned
and Virgin Wines are but a few of these clubs that offer deep your due diligence, but certainly look at Winc and Firstleaf. my lesson.
If you are going to purchase wine online, I suggest you
research the wine and vintage prior to buying. Do it quickly
though, since it may be sold out.
Certainly, in these times the internet offers many options.
With a touch of your finger you can order wine and save a
bundle of money and time. While these options are enticing
the best way, IMHO, is still to find a knowledgeable wine
merchant who knows your preferences, has tasted the wines
and can make suggestions that fit your pocket book and tastes.
In Florida, I often go to Total Wines in Boynton Beach and
speak to Shaun. On Long Island there is no finer merchant
than Mike Douglas at Post Wines in Syosset. Trust your local
wine emporium, and get to know the sales staff. Discuss your
preferences and price range. You will not be disappointed.