Page 12 - Boca Exposure - March '21

Page 12, Boca Exposure
Dining Out: Is There Such A Thing

As A Chinese Restaurant Anymore?

By Alan Serinsky of Bocaire here at Hawkers will ever reach that level indictive of its have fared better if he had used a darker soy sauce and
Country Club. Hungry Al’s love origin. a bit more spice. Traditionally, the hawkers on the street
for food started very young. There are several categories here at Hawkers: small of Southeast Asia would have used pork fat in their woks
Never satisfied with his Mom’s plates, light, noodles, rice, meat and seafood and, of to add flavor and richness. I surmised that vegetable oil
dishes, he started to cook his course, sweets. I will admit we tried our best to sample all might be utilized in this kitchen.
way through her Betty Crocker of them, but failed on the light side of the menu (salads). We did enjoy the Basil Fried Rice and the Five-Spiced
Cookbook. During the years Our sharing efforts started with the Golden Wontons Green Beans. I would note that the beans are slightly
to follow he spend many hours ($8/$5 happy hour), which we discovered were more dusted with a batter just prior to hitting the fryer.
working in restaurants, both as server and cook, attending golden than our cast iron stomachs could handle. The From the dessert tray: As for your sweet tooth,
cooking classes and traveling the world in an effort to expand pork filling was bland and the tooth-cracking pastry was don’t expect a dynasty of selections. There are only
his palette. As a professional writer, Hungry Al offers his a strong indicator of an overcook. Sorry to say, it had to two choices: Jo-He Bag O’ Donuts and Cinnamon Roti
perspective on current food trends and guides you through be 86ed. a la Mode (sugary flatbread). Both of these are easy,
your local restaurant options. We then adventured to Chicken Egg Rolls and Seoul understated dessert options and neither will have anyone
Hot Chicken Baos. For Hungry Al, the egg rolls were winning a baking show contest.
Hawkers Asian Street Food nothing more than advertised. How much damage can Check please! With the presence of a pandemic and
640 E. Atlantic Ave. one do to an egg noodle-wrapped coleslaw? the absence of travel, the thought of eating these ready-
Delray Beach, FL If you’re a Bao lover these will certainly suffice. These to-eat foods sold by street “hawkers” (vendors) seems
(561) 485-4111 yeast-leavened light and fluffy buns are perfect with the unlikely in the near future. So maybe with a strong sense
crispy fried chicken thighs. I do warn there is a lot of of imagination and the urge for a spicy alternative to our
Food for thought: Like many of you, I’m from New heat radiating from the sauce that glazes the chicken. daily bread … Hawkers Asian Street Food will have to
York – upstate, technically. During my early years as a Street Skewers are popular here at Hawkers. In suffice.
child, I can still remember my dad taking the family to many countries you’ll find vendors grilling them over a So, our review of this Delray newcomer was like a
our small Hudson River town’s only Chinese restaurant. makeshift grill and glazing them with a sauce relative to ying and yang moment for us. Like a happy Buddha, we
Located on Broadway, it was up a flight of stairs and their cultural cuisine. Here you have a choice of Bulgogi enjoyed the deviation from the normal American menu,
seated only about 40 diners. The imagery is still fresh in Beef, Bulgogi Chicken or Satay Chicken. but like a defeated Mongol warrior we longed for the
my mind. Budget aluminum tables and chairs, linoleum On the noodle and rice side of the menu, Hungry Al memories of our Asian food street tours. If you ever find
floor, typical Chinese dimmed lantern strung from the and Hungry D. split a Chee Cheng’s Char Kway Teow yourself on Atlantic Avenue
ceiling, generational family staff bustling around and noodle bowl, along with Hawker’s Basil Fried Rice. I you might want to “wok”
the scent of five spices resonating from the high-heated found the noodle dish to be adequate in delivering moist up to this street vendor and
woks. Pure ecstasy. chicken slivers combined with wok-fired shrimp, Asian give it a go. For us, we could
Oh ... do I long for those days, when Chinese (now vegetables, hint of egg and, of course, rice noodles. only muster up three golden
labeled Asian) food was part of our dining out destination As for a Malaysian street classic, Chee Cheng could chopsticks.
and a great break from those predictable home-cooked
meals during the weekdays. The Second Annual Pedal For People
I’ve been in Florida for over three decades and have
yet to relive those memories. Yes, I’ve traveled to Silver
Pond in Lauderdale Lakes, and I’ve reminisced about the In Boca Raton Charity Ride/Walk/
almost forgotten Uncle Tai’s, but neither of them has met
my youthful recollections.
So, once again I ventured out to a new Asian-themed Run Is A Go!
bistro in Delray called Hawkers Asian Street Food to see
if I might find the buried treasures from the street in my
child “hood.” The second annual “Pedal For People” charity bicycle a 100 percent socially distanced safe outdoor event
First impressions: Street food? For most of us, our ride/walk/run is on Sunday, March 28. The event will for everyone. The event will strictly adhere to all CDC
experience or imagery of street food is basically cultural begin at 7:30 a.m. from South County Regional Park’s guidelines and is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a
and homegrown. It’s pure and the menu is simple. Here Sunset Pavilion. The goal of the ride is to raise money to safe and wonderful day in the Florida sunshine while
you find the aroma of unusual spice, the heat from a help conduct independent and unbiased research in the supporting its vital mission of giving.
makeshift wood burning pot, and the chef that could be treatment of cancer and diabetes. Renowned singer/songwriter Mason Pace will be
anyone’s mom. This is what attracts us to these primitive 2019 saw the birth of this amazing event, and raised performing live. There will be music, food, entertainment
street stalls. significant funds for Kess Creates, with 100 percent of for the kids. For more information and to register visit
In an abstract way, this is what Hawkers has to offer. the proceeds from the event donated. Although delayed www.pedalforpeople.org.
This new chain of Asian cuisine with several locations due to COVID-19, the event is now scheduled, and is
across our country defines the word “basic.” The words
airy, industrial, local, outdoorsy, and casual all come to
mind.
This hodgepodge of décor leaves everything to your
imagination. Completely open to the environment (perfect Save Up To WE ARE
for a pandemic), you have several seating options. Take OPEN
your pick of socially distanced indoor tables, a huge
squared-shaped bar, a large picnic-tabled outdoor area, 24/7
and a couched seating area. There is nothing besides a
few decorative Asian signs that make you think you’re 80% OFF
nowhere besides Delray.
As for the seating itself … that’s a challenge for anyone
who’s looking for comfort. The very hard miniscule steel
chairs will mold your bottom into a position that will have
you wondering if the chair is coming home with you. Your Rx Costs!
Straight from the wok: In my travels across our
globe I have experienced my share of street food. There Even with Medicare-D
is something about street food that offers an authenticity
to its cultural roots you can’t find in restaurants. Whether
it’s Greek gyros, German bratwurst or a South African CALL US NOW FOR PRICE QUOTES AND INFO
bunny chow, it seems to have a flavor you can’t find
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anywhere else. That’s why I’m dubious that the dishes

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