Page 18 - Boca Exposure - September '22

Page 18, Boca Exposure
Dining Out: Outside My Comfort Zone!

By Alan Serinsky of Bocaire Hungry P. also selected the Lamb Rogan Josh – or, in Check, Please: I wouldn’t be surprised that on your
Country Club. Hungry Al’s love simpler language, “Lamb Curry” ($15.49). This dish is as approach to Arun’s Kitchen you start to question Hungry
for food started very young. basic as most Indian dishes, with tender pieces of lamb Al’s picks of restaurants to review. But the best barometer
Never satisfied with his Mom’s bathing in a cardamom and onion-based curry sauce. This in trying an ethnic eating establishment is not to score
dishes, he started to cook his was well received with the exclusion of Hungry D., who by appearance nor the silverware, but by the number of
way through her “Betty Crocker eats no lamb. ethnic patrons in attendance. Arun’s Indian Kitchen had
Cookbook.” During the years As a complementary side, we all enjoyed the Vegetable more than enough Indian customers to let us know we
to follow he spend many hours Biryani ($13.49), which consisted of Basmati rice, mixed were in good hands.
working in restaurants, both as server and cook, attending vegetables flavored with saffron, raisins and Indian Maybe it’s time you branch out and accept that not
cooking classes and traveling the world in an effort to spices. This was a highlight of our meal. everything has to cost you a C-note to rationalize its
expand his palette. As a professional writer, Hungry Al From The Dessert Tray: If there’s a huge variety quality. Arun’s Indian Kitchen might
offers his perspective on current food trends and guides of Indian desserts you can’t tell from Arun’s menu. The be the first Indian food I had in quite
you through your local restaurant options. only two choices are the popular Indian dessert called a while, but it wouldn’t be the last.
Gulab Jamun – golden fried balls of milk solids and Having an expert at our table was a
Arun’s Indian Kitchen/Taco Masala flour find their sweetness from cardamom syrup – or, great incentive for us to explore more of
Federal Hwy. you can challenge your sweet tooth with Ramalai ($4). this cuisine and a huge help in grading
Boca Raton, FL This classic Indian dessert consists of sweet, juicy, soft Arun’s quality. Hungry C. counted a
cheesy morsels that are addictive and super delicious. solid three golden Taj Mahals for our
Food For Thought: I have always wondered why Indian They are typically served with thickened milk. eating adventure to India.
food was not more popular in the United States. We certainly
have a huge Indian population, yet the number of restaurants
falls short compared to other ethnic restaurants.
My research indicated that roughly 45,000 restaurants in
the country were for Chinese or Mexican, but only 5,000 for
Indian food. If I had to take a guess as to its unpopularity,
I would believe most folks consider Indian food to be an
inexpensive cuisine. In reality, the preparation of Indian food
is very labor-intensive. Even the upscale Indian restaurants
have struggled to keep their tandoors fired. Perfect example
is the well-known upscale Indian restaurant Tabla in New
York City that couldn’t make the grade despite its amazing
Indian food.
Hopefully, the tide will start to shift as more upscale fast-
food Indian restaurants become introduced to the general
public, including Hungry Al.
I have to confess, I know very little about Indian food. So,
how does a food columnist review an Indian restaurant? Easy
... invite someone from India to help navigate the menu and
educate you at the same time. Arun’s Indian Kitchen served
as the perfect place for my reintroduction to Indian cuisine.
First Impressions: First, don’t set your expectations too
high. Arun’s is not your fine dining establishment. I would
consider it leaning more to the millennial generation style
of dining with that basic urban take-out feel.
Located in the 5th Ave. Shoppes, it looks like an Indian
version of Pei Wei Asian restaurant. There are a few sparse
tables inside and a few token ones outside. Tip: Don’t sit Charles Hall, Jan Grobstein, Joseph Carpenito, Lynn McGarity, Arthur Rottenstein,
down expecting a waiter to serve you. There are none. This Stephen Giauque, Mark Willens, Ali Ansari and Bruce Weisbard
is a self-serve dining experience. Go to the counter and order
your dish. Go to the cold fridge and select a drink. Go back
to the counter and pay. Go to your table and wait for the food FINANCIAL PLANNERS
drop-off. Now you know it’s not easy being a waiter!
Prime Your Taste Buds: As in all Indian families, the Finding the right financial planner is crucial to you and your family’s financial well-being—
dining table is meant as a place to share your day’s stories now and in the future.
and, of course, share everything out of the kitchen. With the Arthur Rottenstein, a Raymond James Registered Securities Principal and Branch Manager
guidance of our culinary expert, Hungry C., we were able to at Boca Raton Financial Planners (a branch office of Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.) works
fork and finger our way through several Indian appetizers.
Note: It’s not uncommon to eat Indian food with your with a team of independent, experienced financial planners—Joseph Carpenito, Stephen Giauque,
fingers, or even utilize a piece of naan. Jan Grobstein, Bruce Weisbard, Mark Willens, Charles A. Hall III, and Mohamed Ansari—who pride
Up first from the kitchen is a traditional Indian Samosa themselves on the attention and personal care they give to each client to help ensure their financial
($4.49 for two pieces) that carries a bit of heat from the success. Providing sales support and office management, Lynn McGarity, with more than 20 years
indigenous Indian spices. These fried wonton-like pyramids in the industry, is the first point of contact.
are stuffed with spiced potatoes, onions and peas, and are
served with an expected tamarind and mint chutney. “Each financial planner manages his or her own clients and possesses, on average, 20 years
To follow was the full-flavored Onion and Vegetable of experience,” says Rottenstein, who has been in the industry for about 40 years. “They range in
Pakoras ($13.49). These tightly wrapped fritters of spiced age from 32 to 72 and are all extremely competent due to their many years of experience and the
veggies and onions don’t paint a pretty picture, but deliver resources available to them at Raymond James.”
a powerful taste to the palate. Certainly a crowd pleaser! “Most importantly, our financial planners truly care about their clients.” Rottenstein explains.
Also, it might almost be considered a sin not to order
Garlic Naan ($2.75). We will be repenting for days after our “The great advantage of being in business this long is that we’ve navigated through all economic
continuous conveyor belt ordering of these carbohydrate conditions,” he says. “So, while others are fleeing the market, we are embracing it because we know
delights. that our clients will be better off.”
Straight From The Kitchen: As our frenzy of appetizer Rottenstein himself is well-versed in complex estate planning, as well as family and
eating approaches to the level of full, we decided to limit the intergenerational planning, and develops a customized program for clients using his solid relationships
number of our entrees. In continuing our table sharing efforts,
we allowed Hungry C., with the assistance of Hungry P. (who with attorneys, accountants, and other professionals.
is Indian by association), to choose the main courses. He knows that business and retirement planning also play important roles in achieving
As a nod to Indian cuisine, our dinner plates consisted clients’ goals, and that educating them in the use of trusts, asset allocation, tax strategies, and money
of the predictable Chicken Tikka Masala (butter chicken) management establishes the foundation for a strong and trusted relationship.
($15.49). Again, the kitchen honored its heritage with Clients appreciate the fact that the professionals at Boca Raton Financial Planners are
amazing clay oven-baked pieces of chicken, swimming in a
creamy sweet tomato sauce with a hint of delicately spiced experienced in all areas of financial planning and that saving them money and offering comfort in
curry. All was good, with the exception that the portion of turbulent times are paramount.
chicken was insufficient for even one person, no less four,
trying to strike claim on the limited protein. Boca Raton Financial Planners, a branch office of Raymond James Financial Services,
Inc., 301 Yamato Road, Ste. 3160, Boca Raton, 561-241-6616, bocaratonfinancialplanners.com

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory
services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Boca Raton Financial Planners is not a
registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Raymond James and its advisors
do not offer tax or legal advice. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional.