Page 12 - Boca Exposure - December '24

Page 12, Boca Exposure
Dining Out: An Invitation That Makes This Review Easy!

By Alan Serinsky of Bocaire As an add-on I had requested the Spaghetti Carbonara Check Please: As food writers we are appreciative of
Country Club. Hungry Al’s ($24), one of my all-time favorites. Here the chef excelled these establishments allowing us a free pass to taste and enjoy
love for food started very with perfect al dente cooked pasta, the proper rendered use their offerings. And in return we hope that our evaluations
young. Never satisfied with of guanciale, and the blend of egg yolk with Pecorino grated reflect exactly the foods we have experienced to be consistent
his Mom’s dishes, he started cheese to make a silky creamy sauce. Loved it! with their regular menu for valuable patrons to appreciate.
to cook his way through her From The Dessert Tray: Our choices for a bit of sugar As you know, Hungry Al likes to call it the way it is
“Betty Crocker Cookbook.” tonight were the Tiramisu and the Panna Cotta ($12). For a and, thankfully, I was able to wipe away the sweat from my
During the years to follow he guy who’s not overly excited about Tiramisu I relied on our forehead because Casalina was excellent.
spent many hours working in excellent waiter to twist my arm in trying their version of Hopefully, nothing changes just because they were going
restaurants, both as server and cook, attending cooking classes the very popular Italian dessert. I have to confess I might be out of their way to impress us. I even quizzed the management
and traveling the world in an effort to expand his palette. a convert. They masterfully combined the whipped mixture on the size of the portion and quality to reassure myself that
As a professional writer, Hungry Al offers his perspective of egg yolks, sugar and mascarpone layered between coffee- it will remain the same for you. They
on current food trends and guides you through your local dipped lady finger pastries with a touch of cocoa powder. If I assured me what I saw is what you get...
restaurant options. could send you a picture you’ll be ordering your next dessert so I have my fingers crossed you will be
to go home. in for a real treat. Therefore, the Hungry
Casalina Ristorante Italiano The Panna Cotta was also excellent but an understatement Squad of two gives Casalina four
16950 Jog Road compared to the Tiramisu. If you like this kind of dessert I will golden small houses and a welcome
Delray Beach, FL 33446 state the texture was correctly well set and lightly sweet in taste. mat to our neighborhood!
(561) 381-0037
casalinarestaurant.com
Food For Thought: For some reason most folks think that
food writers go around to various eating establishments on
an open carte blanche ticket to eat their way to food nirvana.
Sorry to burst your imaginary bubble, but it’s not that good!
For Hungry Al, (that’s me) I’m not reimbursed in the true
sense of a food writer. That’s basically because this is not
my full-time job. Wish it was, but then again my bathroom HAPPY HOUR: MON - THURS, ALL DAY AT BAR ONLY
scale is happy it’s not. Happy Hour
For me, I do this out of my personal passion for the art MON - FRI 3 - 6 PM
of food and wordsmithing. And let us not forget that eating Mon. - Thurs.
comes easy for me. Which brings me back to the few perks FULL INDOOR At Bar Only All Day
I encounter as a published food writer. AND OUTDOOR Mon. - Fri. 3 - 6 pm
Once in a blue moon I get an inquiry about a special food
event or tasting. They don’t come often, but occasionally (COVERED PATIO) LUNCH SPECIALS
they give me an opportunity to visit with the rest of the food
community and stay current on the local dining scene. BAR AND DINING EVERY DAY
Recently, a public relations firm invited me to a media
$
food tasting at a new restaurant opening called Casalina. starting at 11
Normally, I would avoid these promotional events. However,
I was reminded by the editor of this publication that I should
remain objective to my readers and not feel compelled to
over-season my review. Thankfully, there’s no check at the
end of the meal!
With fingers crossed, Casalina delivered an excellent
meal that made this Hungry Al’s job easy and my stomach
satisfied. Hopefully, they will stay consistent for you and this
wasn’t a “one-hit wonder.”
First Impressions: If you used to live in my neighborhood
you probably remember Angelo Elia Pizza, an Italian
restaurant on Jog Road sharing the strip center where you
would find Henry’s Restaurant. For some unknown reason
it closed its doors and sold off to another restaurateur group
from Miami.
The new version is called Casalina, and it’s definitely
an improvement over its previous owners. There are some
notable changes in décor but they are minimal. The interior
façade utilizes darker woods and offers a more elegant look
with cloth tablecloths, proper flatware and ample number of
servers. The long bar still remains, and so does the happy
hour we often enjoyed in the past.
Prime Your Taste Buds: It was smart of these restaurateurs ARCHIVE GALLERIES
to keep some of the favorites from Angelo Elia Pizza.
Remember those delicious chicken meatballs bathing in a well-
seasoned broth? Well, it doesn’t have to be a distant memory
because they resurrected it to an even better version of itself. PAYS HIGHER PRICES FOR FINE ART AND ANTIQUES
Hungry M and I also shared the Vongole Oreganata ($22)
and we couldn’t decide if we liked the baby clams with the
bread crumbed oregano crust or the garlic buttery sauce we • Oil Paintings • Sterling Silver • Collectibles
kept sopping up as though we were in fencing competition • Oriental Rugs • Objects of Art • Fine Crystal
with bread sticks. • Tapestries • Sculptures • Orientalia
Straight From the Kitchen: Hungry M, is one who
gravitates to the basics and a Chicken Parmigiana ($38) was • Fine Furniture • Bronzes • Tiffany Items
his selection. To Hungry Al this dish has a few requirements • Service Plates • Porcelain • Clocks
that are not excusable. One is the chicken has to be tender
and not burnt on its bottom side. Secondly, the cheese needs
to be of high quality and not burnt on its upside. Fortunately, We Also Purchase Men’s And Ladies’ Items Including:
they didn’t miss the mark on any of these demands. Certainly
worth having again! • Old Watches • Cufflinks • Smoking Items • Coins • Antique Jewelry
Hungry Al decided on the Scaloppine Marsala ($37) for • Designer Handbags • Fine Modern Jewelry • Vintage Costume Jewelry
his entrée of the night. Thankfully, the veal was tender and
could be easily sliced with a butter knife! I have cooked
this at home many times and the secret is in the sauce. You One Piece Or Entire Contents Purchased
have to have fresh Marsala wine and, hopefully, a source for
much needed demi-glace. This stock reduction is not an easy
process and I was fortunate to have chef friends who would CALL NOW FOR A FREE CONSULTATION, NO OBLIGATION
give me some to freeze.
Now, rather than cooking at home I have Casalina to offer
up this correctly prepared dish. Wild mushrooms and the CASH 561-498-7536 COURTEOUS
thick wine-sweetened sauce made for a perfect bite without PAYMENTS IN HOME
the work. The sautéed spinach side was amazingly flavorful UPON REQUEST SERVICE
with only a hint of garlic and perfectly cooked for a guy who
does not like spinach.