Page 18 - Boca Club News - January '22

Page 18, Boca Club News
Dining Out: If You Can’t Get to Italy…

Then Let Italy Come to You!

By Alan Serinsky of Bocaire First Impressions: First, you’ll need to know that sauté pan in a bath of citrus wine, herb, and heirloom cherry
Country Club. Hungry Al’s love Louie is located directly on Palmetto and Federal Highway, tomatoes. Nice job!
for food started very young. sharing the space with the Hyatt Place Hotel. The parking Hungry Al went on a more traditional path with one of
Never satisfied with his Mom’s is tight, so I highly recommend splurging the five dollars Louie’s freshly made in-house pasta dishes. I love a good
dishes, he started to cook his for the valet service and save your energy and time for the Carbonara Spaghetti ($24) made the classic way, without
way through her “Betty Crocker good eats inside. the addition of heavy cream. Here Louie includes diced
Cookbook.” During the years Louie does a great job making you feel like you’re house-cured pancetta, eggs and the key ingredient–good
to follow he spend many hours actually dining in a ristorante in Italy. Wooden floors, brick Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. All that’s needed is a ladle
working in restaurants, both as server and cook, attending walls, open kitchen, Parma bar, tufted upholstery booths, of the starchy pasta liquid and you have a thick but light
cooking classes and traveling the world in an effort to expand open beef-hanging fridge, and tasteful hanging photos creamy sauce. Well done!
his palette. As a professional writer, Hungry Al offers his address the Italian ambiance. Side Note: It would be a disservice if I didn’t mention
perspective on current food trends and guides you through You’ll also find a huge bar area for socializing, and an that, with the Bistecca, this beef is hand selected and dry-
your local restaurant options. abundance of outside seating for perfect al Fresco dining aged on premises, served bone-in with roasted garlic and
in the beautiful cool ocean breezes. rosemary. As an indirect testimonial of popularity, the table
Louie Bossi Prime Your Taste Buds: Louie Bossi is great at starting alongside us were all served the same Ribeye steaks ($38).
Hyatt Place Boca off your lunch or evening with a huge array of pizzas, Gotta be good!
100 E Palmetto Rd. appetizers and antipasti. I would certainly consider on my From the Dessert Cart: I was wondering at this point
Boca Raton, FL 33432 return visit (yes, there will be one!) to simply work my way if there was room for dessert, but with everything going so
(561) 336-6699 through these smaller plate options as an alternative to the well we couldn’t refuse, and happy that we didn’t. Not a
louiebossi.com full Monty. big fan of Tiramisu, I was hesitant of this choice until our
Hungry Al decided to open up with a small dish of excellent waiter convinced me it was going to live up to
Food for Thought: Having been to Louie Bossi only their Sicilian Olives and Provolone ($8.50) to enhance Hungry Al’s expectations.
twice before tonight, I was certain that I had written a previous the enjoyment of my glass of Orin Swift Abstract blend. Louie’s version was spot on with the right infusion
review. To my surprise I discovered that had never happened. Nothing beats authentic Italian olives. of coffee flavors, good imported savoiardi (lady fingers)
In retrospect, it seemed that my initial visit was about two Hungry D gave immediate thumbs up after hearing the and the perfect texture of the whipped eggs, sugar and
weeks after their grand opening. Usually, I caution myself description of the special appetizer of wine poached pears, mascarpone cheese.
not to visit a new restaurant until they have gotten off the freshly sliced Di Parma Prosciutto, and probably the best We also selected Louie’s Nonna’s Cheesecake ($9.50)
starting blocks with enough time to iron out the wrinkles in Mozzarella Di Bufala that both of us quickly devoured. This to share. By now I’ve tasted hundreds of variations of
a new operation. This was obviously a miscalculation of my dish hit on all cylinders: sweetness of the pears, saltiness cheesecakes and baked a few myself. This one was a real
first handshake with Louie. of the ham, and the richness of the creamy cheese. winner. I believe it had to do with the blend of both cream
So here I am back again after a six-year hiatus, wondering I also decided to sample the very popular Arancini Con cheese and ricotta in the filling that gave it a light but rich
why the return visit was so delayed. Maybe it was the huge Tartufo ($13.50), which is comprised of crispy rice balls taste. Not too sweet…not too cheesy.
singles crowd that pushed me toward calmer pastures. Maybe filled with fior di latte cheese and a hint of truffle aioli. Check Please: By now you can easily assume that our
it was the early misfires of the few items I initially sampled, These little bocce ball delights will scatter from the table dining experience here at Louie Bossi delivered excellence.
or maybe I simply got distracted to other dining destinations. so fast you might want to consider a take-home box. These are tough times for restaurateurs to handle the
Regardless, it left me scratching my head as to why I left all Side Note: Don’t miss their excellent Neapolitan wood- onslaught of patrons returning to dining out post-COVID,
the good meals on the table. oven pizzas. the difficulties of securing good personnel, and the sourcing
There are all kinds of restaurateurs, ranging from small Straight From The Kitchen: Some will state that the of ingredients to satisfy the demand of our well-educated
Mom & Pops to corporate restaurant franchises, to an array menu at Louie Bossi is limited in the offerings of entrees. I eaters. But Louie answered his loyal fans with keeping his
of local food trucks–all the way up to the latest concept of would say it’s better to have fewer good plates than a Greek kitchen in order, his wait staff vigilant, and his Nonna’s
restaurant groups. dinner list of run-of-the-mill options. As for our selections smiling in pride knowing he is
Louie Bossi falls in the latter category within the this evening, Hungry D chose the market fish of the day, utilizing her recipe in the effort to
framework of the Big Time Restaurant Group. You might Grilled Branzino ($32). satisfy others.
recognize these names: City Oyster, City Cellar, Rocco’s I was impressed that the grill master got this one perfect The Hungry Squad is delighted to
Tacos, Elisabetta and Big City Tavern. The good news is, in both seasoning and temperature. Light-charred on the round out his pizza dough with four
Big Time…delivers BIG flavors. outside and moist on the inside, it was then finished in a huge golden slices of perfection.
Grape Expectations: Fun Wine Quiz!

By Ed Wolfarth, who moved to private clubs and a few restaurants. Ed can be reached at 10. What in wine gives it a “vanilla” flavor? A. Tannin, B.
South Florida after retiring with his wolfarthe@msn.com. Adding vanilla ice cream, C. being fermented in oak barrels,
wife, Vicki, as Professor of Sports Every month I host a wine and food event at a local D. grape skins.
Sciences & Physical Education at restaurant in the Boca/Delray area. One of the more popular 11. Which of the following is not a wine producing region?
both Queens College and Hofstra things we do is have a trivia quiz that focuses on the food- A. Rioja, B. Chianti, C. Chablis, D. Burgundy, E. All are
University. He is a nationally wine history and geography and other related facts of the wine regions.
ranked senior tennis player and country or region we are at. This month we have 56 peeps 12. Which statement is false about sparkling wines? A.
long-time USPTA Elite Teaching at an Italian restaurant in Boynton Beach. Italian food and Champagne comes from France or the USA, B. Cava comes
Professional. Ed has written many Italian wine, of course. Below I have posed some of the from Spain, C. Prosecco comes from Italy, and D. sparkling
educational and tennis articles in the past. Over the past questions we included in a few of our Trivia quizzes over the wine can be made from red grapes. E. All statements are
few years, Ed has turned his hobby of wine collecting years. Some are generic in nature and others more specific true.
into a way of continuing his passion for writing, and has to the country or culture. See how well you do! 13. What is the most popular wine on any restaurant’s
written on the subject for publications. As a self-proclaimed 1. In the movie, Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal Lecter was wine list? A. Pinot Grigio, B. the 2nd cheapest, C. Robert
“wine snob,” he has collaborated on many wine lists for drinking a nice bottle of what with his liver and fava beans? Mondavi or Kendall Jackson, D. Chianti.
A. Merlot, B. Cabernet, C. Chianti, D. Pinot Noir. 14. Wine coolers are preset to 55 degrees. Which statement
Southern Exposure Technologies 2. How many ounces are there in a standard bottle of wine? is true about the proper temperature to serve wines? A.
Computer Install/Setup/Repair A. 25 ½, B. 28 ozs., C. 32 ozs., D. 750 ML. Reds at room temperature (72) and whites at 32 degrees,
3. In 1997 the sale of Dom Perignon Champagne was down
B. Reds at 65 degrees and whites at 45 degrees, C. Reds
(561) 315-0144 from the previous year. What did LVMH, the owners, do? at room temperature and whites at 35 degrees. D. Reds at
getsetgo.annie@gmail.com A. spend more on marketing, B. add sugar to the mix, C. room temperature and whites at 45 degrees.
* DSL, Broadband,Wireless Install increase the price, D. change the label. 15. Wine is produced in all 50 states. Which three states lead
* Networking, Troubleshooting 4. Bordeaux red wines are a blend of up to five grapes. the way in proper order from most to least? A. New York,
* Instruction Which grape varietal is not a Bordeaux grape? A. Pinot California and Oregon, B. Washington, California and New
* Hardware/Software Installation Noir, B. Malbec, C. Cabernet Franc, D. Merlot. York, C. Oregon, Washington and California, D. California,
* Virus/Spyware/Adware Fix 5. In the movie Sideways, what wine was revered? A. Washington and New York.
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Call S.E.T. to install your “new computer, printer own booze, B. Bring a young bottle, C. Best you buy, D. 10 to 12 right ………total drunk and smarter than the
and wireless network”! Bring your own bottle. average bear.
GET S.E.T. GO! 7. Which of the following is not a grape varietal? A. 13 to 15 right ………Mensa member, wine snob, great
REASONABLE HOURLY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY RATES Chianti, B. Sangiovese, C. Syrah, D. Riesling. guesser, probably cheated, all the above.
FOR SMALL BUSINESSES FOR AS LOW AS $50.00 AN HOUR, 8. What is the compound added to wine to make it travel Next month, I’ll give you the answers. Enjoy!
WITH A MINIMUM OF 6 HOURS A MONTH, better and keep its freshness? A. Tannin, B. Histamine, C.
OR 2 HOURS A WEEK, OR ON AN AS-NEEDED
BASIS RATE OF $75.00 P/HOUR. Oak, D. Sulfites.
START YOUR NEW YEAR WITH SECURE BACKUPS, 9. In proper order, from most to 4th most, what countries
QUALITY MAINTENANCE, ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND produce the most amount of wine? A. Italy, France, Spain,
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