Page 16 - Boca Club News - April '25

Page 16, Boca Club News

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

Dining Out: I’m No Don Quixote

But This One Deserves Attention!

By Alan Serinsky of Bocaire Tapas Tonight: Tapas is about sharing. Regardless of Tablas Y Ensalada: We didn’t indulge on these tapas
Country Club. Hungry Al’s love what region of Spain you visit, there’s always a tapas bar because there is a limit to what we can eat! But for a group
for food started very young. close by. Tapas, sometimes referred to as snacks or appetizers, of three or more these charcuteries cheese and meat boards
Never satisfied with his Mom’s were designed to encourage conversation. In bar situations are fantastic. As an example of items, you can have Jamon
dishes, he started to cook his most folks usually find themselves standing or moving while Iberico ham cured for 48-months, Manchego cheese, Spanish
way through her “Betty Crocker devouring these Spanish delicacies. Interestingly, tapas are Chorizo or a Spanish salad.
Cookbook.” During the years sometimes called pincho (toothpick). Not only do they serve Let’s Talk Paellas: The big show of the night is
to follow he spend many hours the purpose of selection from a bar plate but also to keep your Spaniard’s Paellas! Having eaten this in Spain and making
working in restaurants, both as server and cook, attending snack securely perched upon a piece of bread. it several times at home in a proper paella pan, I have to give
cooking classes and traveling the world in an effort to expand While in Barcelona I discovered too late that these them accolades on delivering a near perfect dish. The only
his palette. As a professional writer, Hungry Al offers his toothpicks served a second function. When I asked for the improvement would have been the texture. Traditionally, you
perspective on current food trends and guides you through check, after consuming over a dozen tapas, the bartender cook the rice with a limited amount of stirring to allow the
your local restaurant options. asked for my toothpicks. I pointed to the floor as a result bottom rice to develop a crust finish. To avoid complaints of
of picking my teeth clean and assumed that he was upset overcooked rice it was cooked “Boca style,” a bit softer. But
La Terraza Tapas & Bar for my littering. Instead, it came to my awareness that the the flavors of saffron, the fresh seafood and spicy Chorizo of
21770 St. Andrews Blvd. number of different shapes and colors indicated the price of their Paella Valenciana ($38.95) was spot on. Note: Similar
Boca Raton, FL 33433 my dinner! He estimated my cost and I embarrassingly picked to a soufflé, this dish needs time. The chefs are requesting
(561) 576-3040 up my trash. Hungry D without hesitation stopped my Cava you give them 30 minutes heads-up so they can execute the
laterrazatapas.com drinking! dish properly.
Again, that was in Barcelona. Happily, this doesn’t happen From the Dessert Tray: The dessert menu is simple and
Food For Thought: Having been to Spain recently I can’t here at La Terraza! not overly creative. There is what’s expected – Flan ($12);
tell you how excited I was to finally have an authentic Spanish Let’s talk Tapas! To simplify this review, I’m going to Crema Catalana ($12) a Spanish version of Crème Brule; a
restaurant so close to home. I’m not referring to those crossovers offer my brief comments on some of the numerous selections Homemade Almond Cake and, of course, Spanish Churros
of Mexican/Spanish local spots, but one that can deliver exactly of Tapas you’ll find at La Terraza. (no difference from Mexican ones). And if all else fails, go
what one would experience if they visited Spain. Empanadas de Carne ($15.95) I haven’t found too many with a scoop or two of ice cream.
I often reminisce the nights of tapas (not pronounced empanadas that I don’t like and these certainly aren’t among Check please: If you want to save yourself a trip to
“topless”) bar hopping in Barcelona, quenching our parched them. Nice portions with meat fillings that won’t disappoint. Spain just to eat Spanish food I suggest you give them a try.
sightseeing-days with quality Cava wine and finger-tasting Camarones Ajillo ($19.95) This is a great small plate As in the Don Quixote novel, the conclusion brings us to
our way through various tooth-picked Spanish appetizers. I with perfectly cooked shrimp all blended in a preparation of its meaning. With a strong identity and some perseverance,
also remember how we two very drunken Americans, lost hot peppers, garlic, olive oil and white wine. you can differentiate yourself from the rest of the crowd.
at midnight, eventually made it back to our hotel only to Berenjena con Queso de Cabra e Iberico ($16.95) La Terraza has certainly done this. So, as with the
discover I was pickpocketed (from my front pocket!). Hungry D and I loved this one. How can you not enjoy a running of the bulls, both Hungry D and I will be
When we arrived at La Terraza and started to immerse into stuffed eggplant with goat cheese and quality Iberico ham? returning soon. With our feet stomping and our
the environment we began to realize how much it resembled Chueltas de Cordero ($24.95) These four non-fatty well- hands clapping like Flamenco dancers we give La
our night out in that amazing Spanish city. Tapas dining is seasoned Grilled Lamb chops are similar to Greek style ones Terraza three golden toothpicks!
about allowing yourself to transport to another culture. It’s and will have you coming back soon for more.
about letting go of how much one appetizer costs or how
tight the tables are located to each other. It’s time to accept
the noise of the stomping feet of the Flamenco guitarist and
the excitement of something different than the ordinary, that
made us and everyone else feel the spirit of Spanish dining.
First Impressions: La Terraza is located where you’ll find
the United Nations of dining. Here at Boca Village Square
you’ll find a Publix store, a sports bar, a Greek restaurant,
a breakfast joint, an Indian restaurant and a pizza parlor.
The narrow layout of the restaurant lends itself to the Tapas Scan for a FREE
theme with an expansive bar facing an open kitchen window In Home Consultat on
and various high tops and table seating. Yes, you can dine
outside if you want to join the countless people standing VISIT OUR SHOWROOM
about waiting for pizzas at the Sicilian Oven.
Thankfully, La Terraza is a family-owned business: two IN BOCA
brothers in the kitchen overseeing every dish that goes out
and another family member running the front of the house.
No chain restaurant mentality operating this one, and everyone
works hard to stay afloat and keep happy patrons coming back.
The night we visited, a Spanish classical guitarist was
playing. Unfortunately, he’s squeezed into a small spot near
the bar and high-top tables, playing much too loud for us
trying to carry on a conversation.

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