Page 8 - Boca Exposure - February '24

Page 8, Boca Exposure
Dining Out: Beachside Secret For A Special Occasion!

By Alan Serinsky of Bocaire view patio dining on nights outside of the summer scorching Hungry J was also in the Italian mode and chose the
Country Club. Hungry Al’s heat. I’m sure this would score high on the romantic dining Paradelle al Ragu Bolognese ($45). The caputo pasta, which
love for food started very scale. But don’t discredit the elegant intimate space you’ll is 00 flour from Naples, Italy was prepared perfectly al dente
young. Never satisfied with find within a few feet of the outside patio. With roughly a along with the traditional sauce of ground beef and veal in
his Mom’s dishes, he started dozen and a half tables you can expect attentive service a light touch of tomato sauce.
to cook his way through her and a kitchen that prepares dishes on order. Check out the Hungry Al decided on the fish special of the evening
“Betty Crocker Cookbook.” beautiful and calming aquarium above the tables. labeled Mahi Crepe ($35). I was happily surprised to see
During the years to follow he Note: There is parking in the back of the hotel. (Let the how this chef elevated a common fish sandwich staple to a
spent many hours working in host know you are there so as not to be towed.) fine dining menu choice. The Mahi Mahi was temperature
restaurants, both as server and cook, attending cooking Prime Your Taste Buds: To start the evening, our perfect and was bedded on a savory crepe of artichoke,
classes and traveling the world in an effort to expand excellent waiter surprised us with the daily Amuse Bouche. spinach, and a touch of ricotta and smoked gruyere. To my
his palette. As a professional writer, Hungry Al offers his Tonight’s offering was an Arancini di Riso (rice ball). Having delight the dish succeeded on all levels and has me rethinking
perspective on current food trends and guides you through sampled my fair share of these Italian delights, this one was my early judgement of Mahi as an inferior swimmer.
your local restaurant options. definitely on top of the Spanish steps. The warm gooey Hungry D, our pescatarian, chose to pass on the
interior of rice and pecorino cheese along with the crispy seafood and go all out on a vegetarian dish called
Chanson Restaurant exterior turned them into a perfect bite. Vegetable Mille-Feuille ($30). This terrine, or mousse-
Royal Blues Hotel As for appetizers, Hungry D selected the Burrata & like, vegetable combination was artistically plated but
45 N.E. 21st Ave., Charred Pears ($22). You can easily tell the burrata here at you need to appreciate the ingredients and preparation
Deerfield Beach, FL 33441 Chanson was not store bought. This creamy rich cheese was of this dish to enjoy it.
(954) 857-2929 accented with a fig Mostarda (a traditional Italian preserve) From The Dessert Tray: As for dessert in a birthday
www.royalblueshotel.com and accompanied with tender pears and bitter greens. celebration style, we had their version of s’mores. Served
As for Hungry C, her choice was predictable as a lover on a slice of real timber, this dessert was presented under a
Food For Thought: I can’t tell you how many times I’d of Hudson Valley Foie Gras ($19). Seared in a hot skillet, dome of glass with a bit of smoke. And what is “s’mores”
love to drive to the beach and dine with the crashing waves, it delivered a deep amber color of caramelization that gave without tiny rich chocolate brownies lined up perfectly
the cool ocean breezes and that smell of aqua blue water way to an exquisite balance of velvety sweet nuttiness. This with dollops of marshmallow meringue, decadent vanilla
resonating with all of my beachy memories. Sure, there are alone should have you coming back for more. gelato and a layer of graham cracker dust under it all.
a number of establishments fishing for your drinking dollars Hungry Al (that’s me) went with the recommendation of Don’t pass this up!
and offering Mahi Mahi sandwiches to remind us why we live Bluefin Atlantic Tuna ($20). Based on my having indulged in Check Please: This restaurant might require a brief
in Florida. And there’s a lot to be said about those moments Tuna Tartare many times, this was exceptionally plated and drive to Deerfield Beach but it’s certainly worth the
of a Sea Breeze cocktail and Jimmy Buffet music strumming of high quality. In comparison, Hungry J chose the special change of scenery. Besides the stellar location the service
away our daily sorrows. starter Jamon Iberico Plate ($35). As the only uneventful is attentive, the food is imaginative, the plating is done
Yet how seldom we find a restaurant that meets some plate of the evening, this thin-sliced high-quality Spanish by a master artist, the wine is sommelier selected and the
of those objectives but also offers a tablecloth, a nonplastic ham didn’t win any bullfights in my culinary arena. dessert is simply campfire fun.
menu, service by a waiter and sommelier, artistic plating, Straight From The Kitchen: With its limited menu Yes, it seems a bit overpriced for a dinner in Deerfield but
and almost Michelin quality food? Yes, it’s hard to find such Chanson does offer a few specials of the evening. In this I’ve driven further for an excellent meal. Plus, if you keep it
dining options…until I discovered Chanson Restaurant. case Hungry C was sold on the Tagliatelle Pasta ($40) a secret you might even be able to go without a reservation.
I’m not saying this is a star-rated Michelin dining spot that included black and white truffle sauce as well as duck I realize not everything we ate was over-the-top perfect, but
but for these coastal beaches it’s trying really hard to come prosciutto. I was happy to sample this dish and though a the ambiance and quality was worth it for us to drop another
close. Hopefully, this skilled chef will outlast the slow start lover of truffles (who isn’t?), ironically I’m not a fan of truffe beach blanket and ride the surf again at Chansons. We
to achieve a winning finish. oil. In this situation it predictably overcame the integrity of happily decided to
First Impressions: Located in Deerfield Beach within an the dish and personally wasn’t my favorite. Also, the duck plant four golden
eyeshot distance of the long-standing pier, Chanson resides prosciutto seemed to be a misfit. Thankfully, Hungry C beach umbrellas
at the lower level of the Royal Blues Hotel. There’s beach enjoyed it immensely. for this one.

Serving over 118,000 satisfied customers for nearly 50 years

Boca Raton • 10% Off All Your
And
South Florida’s Plumbing Repairs
Largest Plumbing
Service Company! • Boca’s #1 Service
Plumber For Nearly 50
- Leak Detection Years
Residential & Commercial in walls or under slab
(up to 12 feet underground) • Saturday & Sunday
- tunneL experts – No Extra Charge
We Dig Tunnels Under Buildings & Houses to (9 A.M. To 4 P.M.)
Replace Your Water or Sewer Lines - No need to
leave your home! We DO NOT cut your floors
20% OFF - toiLet repairs • Rated A+ With BBB

GaRBaGe DiSpOSaLS - Water Heater • Tunnel Experts
SB repLacements • Leak Experts

20% OFF and Much More!

TOiLeT RepaiRS OR ReSiDeNTiaL 10% OFF • Repair Or Replace Toilets
TOiLeT STOppaGeS
SB • Repair Or Replace
All Plumbing Repairs

$ 100 OFF Water Heaters Or
Garbage Disposals
A+ Rated (BBB)
aNY NeW TOiLeT Florida Licensed and Insured
With installation SB CFC1427238 -CG1508546 • Backflow Repairs Or

Weekend service Certifications
$ 100 OFF at no extra cHarge
9am - 4pm

aLL WaTeR HeaTeRS Help is • Faucet Repairs Or
100% satisfaction Replacements
SB guaranteeD! Only a

561-279-2460 Boca Raton Call away! • We Will Install Your
Plumbing Fixtures