Page 18 - Boca Club News - February '25

Page 18, Boca Club News

The Good Life: Dining, Drinks, Destinations
The Good Life: Dining, Drinks, Destinations

Dining Out: Here’s the Only Review You Need to Read!

By Alan Serinsky of Bocaire share of crab cakes in and out of Baltimore I would wage Rosebud’s Spicy Rigatoni Alla Vodka. These large noodles
Country Club. Hungry Al’s love a bet these might top any other options you throw my way. cooked perfectly were dressed with a smooth and creamy
for food started very young. Save the gas money! Mia Rosebud’s cakes are totally void sauce that was well-balanced with a hint of Calabrian Chile.
Never satisfied with his Mom’s of any filler and are huge enough to make a meal out of Somehow there was no noodle left standing, and obviously
dishes, he started to cook his them. Worth every dollar! never made it into our take home bag.
way through her “Betty Crocker Straight From The “Open Kitchen.” After all we had From The Dessert Cart. I’m stuffed! Oh...Mia has a
Cookbook.” During the years eaten to this point we figured it was going to be a long day dessert menu? I’m a cake lover. Mia Rosebuds bakes them
to follow he spent many hours in the gym tomorrow, so why not go for broke! Hungry A in-house and most likely ships them from their Chicago
working in restaurants, both as server and cook, attending and Hungry D ordered three entrees to boot hoping to leave bakery. I decided on the mile-high Coconut Cake ($16) and
cooking classes and traveling the world in an effort to expand a slither of room for dessert. And it’s not going to be Jell-o! it also took me three days to finish it at home. It was worth
his palette. As a professional writer, Hungry Al offers his Hungry D gravitated to the fish-of-the-day, which was every calorie. Hungry D thought she could handle a dish
perspective on current food trends and guides you through Swordfish ($48). You’ve got to love a fish entrée when of vanilla Gelato ($12) but needed reinforcements before
your local restaurant options. you can say it’s as good as a filet mignon. With just a bit it melted. I happily obliged since most of my “half-mile
of seasoning and a mild lemon-wine Beurre Blanc sauce high” cake was homeward bound.
Mia Rosebud it was my trophy catch for the evening. I do note that the Check Please. Remember, wherever you decide to eat
150 E. Palmetto Park Road roasted potatoes were a little overcooked and seemed like nowadays you should expect the prices of your dinner to
Boca Raton, Florida 33432 an afterthought. be a bit higher than those pre-pandemic ones. Look at all
(561) 462-3000 As for Hungry Al, I decided to try their signature Veal the money you saved for two years not dining out. So treat
rosebudrestaurants.com Chop Milanese ($79). This pan-fried parmesan breaded yourself and whomever you dine with to a nice dinner
bone-in chop was pounded to the size of a frisbee. It once in a while at a restaurant that can deliver quality and
Food For Thought. Before I visit any new restaurant, was then topped with a fresh arugula, tomato salad. The quantity. With the onslaught of Italian restaurants in Boca
Hungry Al does a bit of research online. My method is to breadcrumb coating on the chop had to be freshly made, Raton I can assure you this should be on your top five list.
read the negative reviews before the good ones. And yes, I packing plenty of flavor and far from any food store variety. After the review I’ve just given
can decipher between the ones generated from foolishness to I will admit most of it came home with me and lasted for I hope my photo goes on the wall
those more sensible. Most comments lean toward the obvious: another two meals. as a dining celebrity. I trust Dana
the food, the portions, the service. This is acceptable. We all How can you leave an Italian restaurant without appreciates the Hungry Squad ladling
have different expectations due to our taste palette, personal sampling at least one of their pasta dishes? Not me! On out four huge golden meatballs for
demands on how much we eat and how it’s delivered. request, the waiter was able to serve us an appetizer size of Mia Rosebud.
What I scratch my head about is why folks leave
trying to make a go of it. It’s not a week after opening and Grape Expectations: Dessert Wines
comments that are mean and destructive to any new business
reviewers are throwing hurdles before the restaurant gets off
the starting block. By Ed Wolfarth, who recently moved wine. For our purposes we’ll talk about the more common
So, if you are about to complain about the noise levels, to South Florida after retiring three. Remember, for the most part we want a wine that
the service delays, the poor drink pours, the prices being so with his wife, Vicki, as Professor goes with desserts that are often sweet and rich. These
high, and even the parking and traffic, keep in mind that not of Sports Sciences & Physical wines should be served in small glasses and enjoyed close
every restaurant can please every patron. Besides, it beats Education at both Queens College to the vintage date.
cooking at home! and Hofstra University. He is a 1. Lightly sweet dessert wines. These are also great
With that said I can assure you that the positives nationally ranked senior tennis with spicy foods such as Indian or Asian cuisines. Expect
outweigh the negatives when it comes to reviews about player and long-time USPTA Elite these wines to be exploding with fruit flavors and well-
Mia Rosebud. It’s going to be worth the drive downtown Teaching Professional. Ed has suited to accompany vanilla-driven desserts. Consider
to experience what most Chicagoans would say is the best written many educational and tennis articles in the past. Gewurztraminer, known for its lychee and rose petals aroma.
Italian restaurant in town! Over the past few years, Ed has turned his hobby of wine Gewurztraminer has light alcohol and is commonly found
First Impressions. For a bit of history, this restaurant collecting into a way of continuing his passion for writing in Alsace, Alto Adige in Italy and New Zealand.
chain started in Chicago in 1976 by a restaurateur and resident and has written on the subject for publications. As a self- Riesling – Consider the sweeter styles more commonly
of Boca named Alex Dana. With eight restaurants now in proclaimed “wine snob,” he has collaborated on many found in Germany. A wine with natural acidity which helps
the windy city, this restaurant group has cast its first bait to wine lists for private clubs and a few restaurants. Ed can cut the sweet taste of desserts. Or, Chenin Blanc – most
downtown Boca. If they can consistently please their patrons be reached at wolfarthe@msn.com. often made in a sweet style and found in the U.S., South
with family recipes and hearty portions (an understatement) Basically speaking, there are five main types of dessert Africa and the Loire Valley of France.
they will win the best catch of the year! wines. There’s sparkling wine, lightly sweet dessert wine,
As for the ambiance, it doesn’t get any better. Contrary to richly sweet dessert wine, sweet red wine and fortified Grape Expectations on page 19
some reviews, the noise level is not blaring. Yes, it probably
will get louder on weekends but they are playing to a different
demographic on those days. If you are looking for a great
dining experience you will have no issues on weekdays.
As for the décor, you can definitely imagine the famous
rat-pack of celebrities eating here. The interior design mirrors ARCHIVE GALLERIES
their Chicago Rosebud on Taylor Street. They cleverly
created a modern setting with a transitional blend of light
and dark chocolate-wood furnishings with fresco-inspired
wall coverings. PAYS HIGHER PRICES FOR FINE ART AND ANTIQUES
For you outside diners there is a nice open patio with fans
and cooling misters. For those of you who like grabbing a
stool at the bar this one is a well-appointed mahogany-bar • Oil Paintings • Sterling Silver • Collectibles
where cocktails are masterfully mixed. If you’re having a • Oriental Rugs • Objects of Art • Fine Crystal
special occasion definitely consider the elegant semi-private • Tapestries • Sculptures • Orientalia
room that handles at least 30 and is a throwback to years
gone by with velvety-red walls, crystal chandelier and • Fine Furniture • Bronzes • Tiffany Items
photographs of the owner alongside such greats as Frank • Service Plates • Porcelain • Clocks
Sinatra and Tony Bennett.
Prime Your Taste Buds. By now you know, if there is a
meatball on the menu Hungry Al is going to try it. It’s one We Also Purchase Men’s And Ladies’ Items Including:
of my favorite measures of the authenticity of an Italian
restaurant. This one didn’t fail my high standards. A mixture • Old Watches • Cufflinks • Smoking Items • Coins • Antique Jewelry
of beef and veal, this baseball-size portion was actually • Designer Handbags • Fine Modern Jewelry • Vintage Costume Jewelry
cooked with a medium-center temperature, not like most that
are pulverized well done.
We also sampled the Baked Clams ($21), a favorite of One Piece Or Entire Contents Purchased
Hungry D since she hails from the shores of Rhode Island.
I’m not a fan of this preparation, only because I think the CALL NOW FOR A FREE CONSULTATION, NO OBLIGATION
flavor of the clams is buried in breadcrumbs. The clams
were slightly over-done in the broiler, but the sauce made
up for it.
Since we are labeled the “Hungry Squad” we had no CASH 561-498-7536 COURTEOUS
problem taking on another appetizer with Rosebud’s Crab PAYMENTS IN HOME
Cake ($33) special. Close friends from Baltimore claim the UPON REQUEST SERVICE
best version of crab cakes is from a small dive restaurant in
Greenacres called Eagle Grill and Oysters. Since I’ve had my