Page 14 - Boca Exposure - October '20

Page 14, Boca Exposure
Dining And Travel: A Night Out…At Home!

By Alan Serinsky of Bocaire. sauce of fresh Marzano tomatoes, sliced Kalamata olives, sing along, I understand why I never cared much for Mitch
Hungry Al has been the Dining capers, and a deglaze of white wine. Miller.
Out columnist for Boca Club Dessert is crafted by Baker Al, who has recently had All good things must come to an end. And as this
News since our earliest issues, the time to hone his baking skills with a Peach Cream evening closes we retire with one resounding conclusion,
offering his expert perspective Cheese Tart. that even during a pandemic we are happy to have each
on current food trends, and From there we move to Dale’s Lounge for after-dinner other, and happy to have something to look forward to –
guiding readers through local drinks. A good port for me, and a White Russian for her. Saturday COVID Date Night!
restaurant choices. Now, as This is my special moment of the evening. It’s a time (Editor’s Note: Since Hungry Al, for obvious reasons,
owner of Concierge Travel Consultants for the past five for reflection. A time to appreciate the wonder of our did not include the kind of rating award he usually assigns
years, Alan and his staff bring 25 years of personal travel home and what makes it special. On occasion we dip our to the restaurant he reviews in his monthly column, I am
experience to an exclusive clientele looking for luxury travel hands into the huge jug of hundreds of corks collected – instead taking it upon myself to do so – and because of the
planning. With the current mandated slowdown in local each one with a message of the good times, present and beautiful, romantic and
restaurant activity, Alan is devoting some of his columns to passed. Every cork stimulates a story or special moment sentimental dining and
the subject of Travel. we shared with friends or family. ambience experience
Food For Thought: The other day I was asked by The night unfolds as our drinking takes hold, and related here bestow
an acquaintance if I had visited any new restaurants. our inhibition gives way to visit our own karaoke club. upon “Alan & Dale’s”
My answer to him was, “I’m still hoping that one of my With the bright, colorful, vivid lights pulsating against the maximum award
old restaurants is still open!” I realize that a review of our ceiling and walls, we attempt to sing our way to the of five Champagne
a new restaurant is going to be a challenging task, since Grammys. After an embarrassing and totally out-of-tune bottles!—NAS)
many have closed and many have limited menus due to
the virus. The other obstacle for me is my reluctance to
experience dining with only a sliver of enjoyment and a
hint of anxiety.
In complete disclosure, I did try to research new
restaurant openings on the horizon only to find many
delayed or abandoned. Then again, I have to agree that
opening a new venture during a pandemic could be
considered “restaurant suicide.” For any new successful
restaurant opening there has to be hype and plenty of good
public relations to create some momentum. It’s hard to
Instagram a restaurant opening with only takeout menus,
or a few patrons in the dining room.
For me, dining out is about atmosphere, adventure,
energy and, of course, food. But when these elements
become diminished is when Hungry Al asks, “Can’t I
recreate these same essentials in the confines of my own
home?”
So, with efforts to seek out this new dining reality,
I decided to look inward to what has been a void in our
home – the kitchen!
It was like an old room that needed cobwebs removed
and the oven heat turned up. It was discovering items
buried like family treasures that needed purpose and
usage. For Hungry D. and me, it seemed like a renaissance
for the forgotten fundamentals of home cooking. In this
rebirth, we found a renewed passion for what brought us
together: The mutual bond of just the two of us enjoying
great wines sitting dormant in our coolers, and the
connection associated with the art of cooking.
Our Dining Alternative: It’s a Saturday night at our
home, and if you could be a “fly on the wall” you would
observe a traditional event we call “COVID Date Night.”
In my life I’ve always looked for the silver lining in any
crisis. In this situation, it could have been more gold than
silver. What we had forgotten during our many months
traveling abroad, or simply running on our hamster
wheel of life, is how much we missed our homestead.
Unfortunately, it took a pandemic to bring us home.
This evening date theme wasn’t planned, but
organically found its way after several weeks. It all
started with dressing up like going to a fine restaurant.
That includes dress shoes, jewelry, and even a scent of
our favorite cologne or perfume. As smooth jazz plays in
the background, we take to Al’s Bar. It’s here we nestle
close to each other and enjoy our favorite cocktail, or a
well-selected Cabernet, along with a cheeseboard and
mixed nuts.
Then our imaginary limo takes us to the Grill Room.
Here the dining table is exquisitely set to define the
meaning of gourmet. The music radiates jazz classics
and standards, with a romantic dance between courses. I
know this sounds sappy, but believe me it works.
Dinner preparation starts in the early afternoon as we
find sanctuary and togetherness in our new-found kitchen.
Our digital cookbooks are alive with ideas as we curate a
menu fit for royalty. Tonight, it’s Arugula Salad, toasted
pine nuts, cranberry raisins, crumbled Maytag blue
cheese, and Hungry D’s Champagne vinaigrette. Entrée
of the evening is fresh Yellowtail Snapper Livornese, a

Remote

Accounting

Your weekly, monthly reconciliation of
transactions and other customized reports
Bhupinder S Sood
www.crunchcloudaccounting.com
615-400-3361