Page 14 - Boca Club News - August '24

Page 14, Boca Club News
Get Fresh! Tips from The Produce

Dining Out from page 13

braised on the wok with a Thai chili and served with a Maven: Tomatoes...Fruit or Vegetable?
cooling down ginger aioli.
Not enough veggies? Try the Spinach & Artichoke
Dip ($15). Nice and cheesy with ample amounts of Irving Swedko and his wife, France they were dubbed “pommes d’amour” (love
spinach and artichokes will have you dipping non- Beverly, are members of Broken apples) and believed to be aphrodisiacs. Some Europeans
stop and requesting more tortilla chips. Also, for you Sound Club. He hails from mistakenly thought tomatoes were poisonous: The acidity
Chicken Wing ($17) lovers, these are a very popular Ottawa, the capital of Canada, in tomatoes caused lead to leach from pewter dinnerware,
item. You’re going to love the Memphis rub they coat where he spent more than 50 leading to lead poisoning.
these flappers with! years in the produce business Today, tomatoes are a global staple, with world
For those who can’t start any meal without a green that included taking a small fruit production exceeding 200 million metric tons. China
salad, you’ll be happy to keep it simple. The Burton’s and vegetable retail store and leads in tomato cultivation, followed by India and
House Salad ($13.50) is much more than its title. expanding it across the city and Turkey. In the United States, Florida is a major player,
Actually, it’s one of the best I’ve had that fall into into other areas to include wholesale, food service and with the Florida Tomato Committee reporting 30,000
this category. As Hungry D says, “There are plenty importing, bringing trucks of fresh produce from across acres dedicated to tomato farming, yielding over a
of goodies mixed in!” But what makes it stand apart the U.S. directly into Ottawa. His experience made him billion pounds of fresh tomatoes annually. However, U.S.
from the norm is the quality of blue cheese and the an expert on all things produce-related, from how to tomato production has declined by nearly 50% since the
home-cut cured apple-smoked bacon. My favorite select the perfect melon to the best way to store fruits implementation of NAFTA, as Mexican exports have
salad is the Southwest Chicken Salad ($21). and veggies. After retiring, Irving and his wife Beverly surged due to government subsidies and lower labor costs.
There’s also a Greek Salad ($16) for those who became snowbirds and have been enjoying life at Broken Tomatoes are not just versatile in the kitchen; they
want to reminisce their travels to Greece and a Sound for 20 seasons. He is the proud father of three are also packed with nutrients. They owe their bright
Superfood ($17.50) for those wanting to feel like a daughters and looks forward to family time with his red color to lycopene, an antioxidant that helps protect
real vegan. seven grandchildren. cells from damage and guards against ultraviolet rays.
Outside The Lunchbox: Sandwiches hold Tomatoes have long been at the center of a debate: Tomatoes are rich in potassium, vitamins B, C and E,
supreme on Burton’s menu. Regardless if it’s lunch or Are they fruits or vegetables? Botanically, tomatoes are and other nutrients that support heart, brain and prostate
dinner these will be a hit with you Sandwich Kings! classified as fruits because they develop from the ovary health.
I highly recommend the Short Rib Grilled Cheese of a flower and contain seeds. However, in everyday There are more than 10,000 tomato varieties, each
($22). I know it’s a bit pricey but it’s really that good. cooking and eating tomatoes are most often treated as with its own unique characteristics. Some of the most
Imagine slow-braised Angus beef short ribs drizzled vegetables. This dual identity even led to a landmark popular types include: Beefsteak, Cherry, Heirloom,
with maple sriracha for heat, topped with pickled decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1893, which ruled Campari, Plum/Roma, Grape and Kumato, a special
onions and pressed between two slices of Challah with that tomatoes should be classified as vegetables based variety originating from Spain known for its unique green
Vermont cheddar oozing from its inners. on their culinary uses. to reddish-brown color and intense, tangy-sweet flavor.
Not hungry yet? Then go for the piled-high Maxx Tomatoes have a rich history that traces back to the Proper storage is key to maintaining the flavor and
Burger ($19.50). Your mouth will need a stepladder wilds of the Andes in western South America, where they freshness of tomatoes. It’s best to store tomatoes on the
to bite off this high topper. Fresh hand-packed Angus were cultivated by indigenous peoples. The plants were kitchen counter, stem side down, to prevent moisture
beef with all the trimmings joined by amazing crispy eventually carried northward through Central America loss and block air, mold, and bacteria from entering
greaseless onion rings with a griddle bun. and into Mexico. When Spanish explorers arrived in the the fruit. Vine tomatoes should remain on the vine for
Straight From The Kitchen: For Hungry D’s main early 16th Century they discovered the Aztecs growing optimal freshness. Tomatoes release ethylene gas, which
entree she cast her vote for the Salmon Romesco ($30). a crop they called “tomatl.” The Spanish brought tomato can speed up the ripening of other fruits, so it’s best to
Perfectly cooked bronzed salmon with, of course, the seeds back to Europe, marking the beginning of the store them separately. Thin-skinned tomatoes have a
Romesco sauce and sided with fennel slaw and very tomato’s global journey. shorter shelf life than their thick-skinned counterparts.
tasty herbed roasted fingerling potatoes. By the mid-1500s tomatoes had made their way to Once tomatoes start to emit a distinct smell, it’s time to
Another ballot entry would be the Mediterranean Italy, where they began to be incorporated into local refrigerate them, though it’s best to let them return to
Chicken Risotto ($21.50/27.50). This Greek style rice cuisine. Their spread across Europe was swift, and in room temperature before consuming.
is surprisingly cooked al dente (hard recipe to nail
perfectly) with good balance of protein and vegetables.
Hungry Al elected to have the Crab Cakes ($39.50),
again only because they were the closest I’ve eaten to
the real deal—light on the filler, great on the seasoning
and broiled to temperature perfect.
Another popular dish exiting the kitchen is
Burton’s Pappardelle Bolognese ($26). I counted at
least five plates passing by me in a matter of minutes.
Here at Burton’s they are utilizing only fresh pasta
with the traditional meat sauce. You can slurp up any
additional sauce (if there’s any left) with the garlic
ciabatta toast that accompanies it.
Finally, there’s Burton’s Butcher Block for all you
meat lovers. Even though these steaks don’t come from
the neighboring steakhouses they are still premium
Angus Beef and grilled over an open flame! Give
the 12 oz. N.Y. Strip ($39) a try and remind yourself
you’re not at Capital Grill.
From The Dessert Tray: Every dessert off their dessert
tray is made in house. There are only three choices here:
Cheese Cake ($10.50), Seven-layer Chocolate Cake ($11)
or the winner of our visit, Key Lime Pie ($9)—the sourly
sweet custard of fresh key lime set perfectly in a shelled
graham cracker-like crust. Plenty for two to enjoy. It would
be great if Burton’s added some more options, such as a
pastry item or ice cream.
Check Please: From the very first seat I pulled up to
the bar I knew that Burton’s was a place I could call home.
Like Dorothy from Oz, the sharing of time and space
comfortably with faces of familiarity is a total security
high for Hungry D and me. Judging by the quality of food
and the competent friendly staff, you know this chain is
more than just a corporate entity. It proves that there is
management that really wants to please.
Taking a cue from the lyrics of the theme song:
“Making your way in the world today takes everything
you got.
Taking a break from all your worries sure would help
a lot.
Wouldn’t you like to get away...?
Sometimes you want to GO—
Where everybody knows your name....”
It’s only fitting that I give Burton’s its well-
deserved four golden bar
stools. Hopefully, we get seats
next to you and have a few
laughs together.