Dinner at Boka

I keep forgetting to rave about Rick and my fantastic meal at Boka two weeks ago for Rick’s birthday.

After a great afternoon of enjoying Jersey Boys downtown, Rick and I enjoyed the warmth and style of Boka on North Halsted. I knew it was going to be a great meal from the start when our server, RJ, remembered me from my last dining venture there in December with my former coworkers.

I chose a Delta Savignoun Blanc for our meal, which was incredible pairing. Then our meal, which is generally fancier than our usual fair, went as follows:

Rick-Prosciutto wrapped white Asparagus terrine with baby quail eggs;

Me-Maine diver sea scallopes with a pea/wasabi puree, grapefrit and lotus root.

Both- A salad consisting of grilled Bartlett pears and endive, field greens, cashews, a small block of warm (read: breaded and fried) manchengo cheese, and balsamic.

Rick’s entree: Trout with grilled salsify ( is a vegetable whose root and leaves can be used for cooking purposes), braised leeks and watercress, and a truffle foam;

My entree- Braised veal cheeks with broccoli hash and a cauliflower- yukon potato mash, topped with smoked black pepper pine nuts.

The starters and salad were very good. I particularly loved the scallops, and was pleased to learn with my venture with the pea wasabi sauce that I was not indeed allergic to wasabi (I had a strange reaction to something last time we ate at People, and I thought it was the wasabi). Rick’s terrine was very tender and delicious… I think there was truffle infused in there somewhere. The manchengo was particularly complimentary with the salad, although Rick’s preference would have been a bleu cheese (‘It would have been perfect with the pears!’).

The entrees led us to a bit of a surprise. Rick thought the trout was good, but was not blown away over all. I think the truffle foam was a bit much for him. my veal cheeks were melt in your mouth, and Rick agreed. Very rich fare for me.

The topper, however, was the interesting little fried nugget that sat on my plate. We were curious, but I was going to let it go. Rick, however, had to inquire… ‘It’s veal brain that has been breaded and fried’ was the answer I was not expecting. Something told me just to eat it, don’t let the psychological aspect of knowing what it may or may not be get in the way. And not one to back away, I tried it and ate the whole thing. It was tasty with the cheek (which is how it was recommended to be eaten). I still wish I had not known what it was before I ate it so as not to spoil my experience of it, but oh well.

Yes, Alan, I did indeed eat veal brain. Sorry, I still will not eat tripe.

Desserts were next, and I don’t think I need to specify who ordered what:

Coconut tapioca with banana fritters, passion fruit sorbet and aged rum.

A trio of sorbets: grapefruit-campari, blood orange-aperol, lemoncello. They were absolutely divine!

It was a complete and fantastic dining experience that left both of us satisfied. The portions were smaller than what Rick remembered from his previous visit, but he reaffirmed that was not a bad thing whatsoever; our server even acknowledged that since the new chef had taken over, the portion sizes were completely more reasonable than they had been when Boka first opened. I definitely was impressed that RJ remembered me and made our service just as top notch as it was with my first visit. I will need to make a return visit later in the year when the new season’s menu arrives.

For anyone else who has not been to Boka, go and enjoy.

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A not of clarification as I continue my blogs, and thanks to my friend for pointing this out to me a few weeks back.

Whats’ the quote from Steel Magnolias? ‘All gay men have track lightin’. And all gay men are named Mark, Rick, or Steve.” Well I don’t know about track lighting, cause we sure don’t have it, but I have two Ricks in my life. There’s Rick, my partner, with whom the above story involves; and then there is my friend Rick, who I play Euchre and shoot pool with. They are not the same person, and I think they would both admit to not envy the other for his role in my life. That being said, I will try to distinguish the two by noting friend Rick as Rick M.

And incidentally, Rick M does have track lighting, so maybe it’s true what Clairee says.