Page 11 - Boca Club News - April '20

Boca Club News, Page 11
Dining Out: This Food Fight is No Fun!

By Alan Serinsky of Bocaire. Almost overnight, Americans everywhere are rethinking A simple keyword in Google will deliver enough easy-
Hungry Al’s love of food started how to survive the taken-for-granted basic routine of their to-do-recipes, and YouTube or Food Network websites have
young. Never satisfied at the daily lives: Food. It hurts me to visualize our new world with enough cooking video to give you the stove skills to someday
family dinner table with his mask-worn faces and gloved hands, struggling to fill grocery win a James Beard Award.
Mom’s dishes, he started to cook carts like an Armageddon survivor. I try not to envision a world where every hungry soul
his own way through her Betty It’s also hard to realize that tables in restaurants are bare of is subjugated to order one’s daily bread from only various
Crocker cookbook. His food white tablecloths and patrons. It’s painful to think that normal online delivery services. But reality has set in. Thankfully,
journey consisted of working everyday activities such as sport games, movies, shopping, in foresight we were somewhat prepared with the innovation
many restaurants both as server and cook, attending and clubhouse gatherings are now in lockdown. of such businesses as GrubHub and UberEats as our food
numerous cooking classes, and traveling the world in an effort But there is one thing we cannot live without, and that is salvation providers.
to expand his palette of different flavors and cuisines. As a food. Or maybe we can resort back to the days during World
professional writer, Hungry Al will give you his perspective Easy for me today not to stress over three meals a day. I War II when Americans were tending to their Victory Gardens
on current food trends and guide you through your local just take the elevator down four decks and find an ocean-view as their only supply of fresh vegetables and fruits. There’s
restaurant choices. table to enjoy Chef Karl’s menu and sip a glass of wine with nothing like fresh-picked tomatoes or hand-dug potatoes.
I am writing this on March 11th, my birthday, and doing no cares in the world. But for the rest of the world questions But I place my bet on the American will and creativity when
the best to enjoy it. Except that today is like no other day…for arise, such as how to feed yourself and your family when it comes to our stomachs. Maybe there’s a silver lining with this
two reasons. The first reason is, I’m presently in the distant restaurants are shuttered closed and Publix store shelves are tragic moment of our lives. Could it be possible for us to once
continent of Antarctica. To celebrate this special milestone, empty. again return to our kitchens and relight our dormant stoves?
my wife and I decided to do something out of our comfort Eating in the age of Coronavirus creates a whole new Can we learn to economize our finances while stretching our
zone and experience an expedition. culinary revolution. Those who have been relying on pantry closets? Will we finally know what it was like to live
After six days of touring this pristine environment, restaurants and their clubhouses to feed themselves are now through the period of our parents’ Depression days?
enjoying breathtaking landscapes, heretofore unseen wildlife, faced with that frightening word: Cooking! Personally, it’s been 21 days of nonstop food-cruise
traversing blue-tinted icebergs in both zodiac boats and I can actually imagine several of my closest friends eating and my waistline is starting to show the repercussions.
kayaks, and taking a cold plunge into the frigid waters of sitting at their kitchen counters, looking at their age-tinted So, for Hungry Al getting home (if that’s possible) will be
the Antarctica sea, I can only wish everyone could get here cookbooks and wondering how they are going to follow a a homecooked meal savior. As I prepare to blow out my
in their lifetime. recipe and deliver a cooked meal all by themselves. To make birthday candles, I make a wish that Costco doesn’t run out of
The second reason why birthday 2020 is so different is the matters worse, their pantry is limited and the stores are out my favorite foods, that I have a full tank of gas, have ordered
heavy thought of my friends and family who are dealing with of the essential ingredients to prepare such recipes. Oy Vey! enough bottled water, and that my supply of toilet paper will
the everyday circumstances of navigating a viral pandemic. But hope is on the way…you just need to be resourceful. carry us for at least a few months.
There is a slight distaste in my dinner as I contemplate the Hopefully, by the time I get home most of you will have But most of all I wish that all my family, friends, and
fears of folks back home wondering where their next meal have figured out that cooking can be easy if you utilize the you my readers stay safe and healthy. That would be the best
is coming from. technology we have at our disposal. birthday wish to come true!
Grape Expectations:

Red Wines Under $20 You Need to Try

By Ed Wolfarth, who recently moved important in some age-worthy wines, these selections should Montepulciano D’Abruzzo is the most widely exported
to South Florida after retiring with be drunk within five years of their release. Try them. I have. wine of Italy. You can find it on almost all wine lists and it is
his wife, Vicki, as Professor of Sports Reds: a great pizza wine. Its acidity cuts right thru the cheese and
Sciences & Physical Education at Columbia Crest – This venerable producer from tomato sauce. I love it with any Italian dish with a red tomato
both Queens College and Hofstra Washington State makes a ton of wine. Their introductory sauce. Look for La Valentina, Marchesi De Cordano,
University. He is a nationally ranked line called Grand Estates sells for less than $10! The Merlot, Barba or Spinozzi. These wines can be easily found for
senior tennis player and long-time Cabernet and Mélange are fabulous at parties and come in around $14 a bottle.
USPTA Elite Teaching Professional. larger formats as well as the typical 750ML bottle. Their Concha y Toro – This Argentinean Cabernet consistently
Ed has written many educational and mid-level line called H-3, for Horse Heaven Hills, sells for delivers with a taste of red currant and tobacco with smooth
tennis articles in the past. Over the past few years, Ed has around $15 a bottle and is even better. I prefer their Merlot tannins. Easily found in most wine shops, it should sell for
turned his hobby of wine collecting into a way of continuing and red blend, but both the whites and reds are excellent and around $18 a bottle. Wine Spectator rates it 90 pts.
his passion for writing, and has written on the subject for complex wines. Bodegas LAN – This Spanish Crianza Rioja is one of my
publications. As a self-proclaimed “wine snob,” he has Another of my Washington State favorites is Milbrandt. favorites. Crianza wines see oak barrels for a minimum of
collaborated on many wine lists for private clubs and a few This boutique producer has for many years produced value two years. This version is light, juicy with nice acidity and
restaurants. Ed can be reached at wolfarthe@msn.com. wines that score in the 90s and sell for $15. While a bit harder brimming with cherry flavor. Sells for less than $15 and,
Many years ago, I can quite recall the chronology, we were to find, except in larger shops like Total Wines, I would again, easily found.
eating at our soon-to-be-favorite restaurant, Maroni’s Cuisine definitely seek them out. In California, try Bogle Phantom. Bogle consistently
in Northport L.I. Fabulous small plates, but the wines were While it’s often difficult to find a good Pinot Noir for produces affordable reds--both Cabs, blends, Syrah and
somewhat “pedestrian,” according to owner/chef Michael under $20, I recommend looking to Oregon and New Zealand. Zinfandels. Also seek out Joel Gott 2016 Cabernet. Gott is
Maroni. While Mike knows food, his knowledge of wine was Try Erath or A to Z Wineworks from the Willamette Valley another consistent producer of value wines. I particularly like
limited. During our conversation he asked about affordable in Oregon. Both can be found for around $20. All current their Sauvignon Blanc.
wines to serve at his establishment. Our daughter, Tammi, vintages of Oregon Pinots are excellent, but avoid the 2013 Also try anything from Chateau Ste. Michelle. This is
said, “Some of my favorite wines are under $20 and there vintage since many on the market are somewhat “washed out” another mass-producing house that always brings to the table
are even books about it.” due to a poor harvest season. They have the distinctive taste value wines that could easily pass for their more expensive
Tammi was a teenager at the time and an aspiring “grape of cherries with refined tannins. In New Zealand, particularly counterparts. Their Bordeaux blend sells for around $15 and
nut.” As Mike left the table Tammi turned and asked, in the Otago Valley and Martinborough, look for Nobilo Icon, is beautifully balanced with a long finish.
“There really are books like that, right?” Tammi did, later, Matua, and Nautilus. All are wonderfully balanced and taste And finally, look for any recent vintage Right Bank
bring Michael a book on affordable wines, and to this day of mint and red cherries. Bordeaux. By Right Bank I mean, St. Emilion and Pomerol.
Maroni’s is still one of the finest restaurants on L.I. and serves Norton Reserve Malbec is characterized by a rich These French wines are blends of Merlot and Cabernet Franc,
exceptional affordable wines, and even an additional choice plummy taste with silky tannins and is excellent with any are drinking beautifully and sell for around $15 a bottle.
of fine wines. The fact is, there are terrific wines at affordable meat dish. The favorite of all Argentine steak houses. I could go on, but you get the point. The above
prices. You just have to seek them out. Currently selling for around $17, this Malbec is good in recommendations are all wines I have enjoyed. I would
Below I have made recommendations of reliable any year. Alamos and Trapiche also make a fine version of also recommend seeking out the advice of your local wine
producers that won’t break the bank. While vintages may be Malbec. merchant. There are so many values out there in the wine
world and the QPR---quality price ratio---is highest in the
under $20 category.

April 22