showcase magazine | winter 2011
cuisine
dining guide | showcase picks
boccata deli & market
405 N Tower Ave, Centralia 360.736.2402
“Mediterranean” at Boccata Deli and Market means not merely Italian, but also Greek, French and Lebanese. Owner Darin Harris grew up in Centralia and spent time in kitchens in Seattle and surrounding areas. After gleaning firsthand knowledge of Italian cuisine in Italy, Harris returned to Lewis County to open Boccata. He and a small, close knit staff offer lunch and dinner at the informal eatery, now in its seventh year. Traditional Italian-style meats produced on the West Coast, fresh produce, imported cheeses and hand-formed loaves of preservative-free artisan breads elevate Boccata’s made-toorder sub sandwiches, hand-tossed thin-crust pizza, salads and pitas above standard deli fare. Table service, cloth napkins and a worthy wine list—featuring Widgeon Hill Winery and Portuguese, Italian and French wines—make for more refined evening dining. Boccata also offers live jazz piano and acoustic guitar on the weekends.
The Spanish dish paella di faro is a unanimous favorite of patrons and staff. Its saffron basmati rice is a scrumptious base for a complex flavor array of seafood, spiced sausage, tomatoes, green peas and onions. Paella remains constant on a menu of simple yet elegant pasta, seafood, steak and lamb dishes. Harris aims to keep the biannual rotation of dishes exciting for guests. “I’ve set the menu up for eating in courses or sharing tapas with a group,” he says. Special sheets offer variety which encourages taste exploration. Cooking classes are also presented on a regular basis. An easy stop off Interstate 5, Boccata offers a casual atmosphere—without the white tablecloths. “We want people to feel like they can come here if they’re in jeans or just worked all day. They don’t have to change into fancy attire to come for dinner,” Harris says. “It’s fine dining in a relaxed environment where you can eat excellent food and drink good wine at reasonable prices.” JENNIFER JOHNSON
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