Pancho's Food Truck, Orlando

I stopped by this Puerto Rican food truck which is a couple of doors south of Cafe Italiano on 436 after dinner. I had a Chicken Pincho. It was pieces of chicken grilled on a wood skewer. He covered it with mayo and some other condiment. It was $3. It had some thin slices of onion in between the chicken pieces. The chicken wasn't fatty or sinewy. It was a fine kabob. Not really revolutionary. It came with a slice from a baguette. He also serves empanadas (I think at $4) and sandwiches (I think at $6). I believe he said he is only open at night. In any case, there is your obscure food truck citing of the month.

Cafe Italiano, Orlando

I had dinner at this Italian restaurant south of 50 on 436 last Thursday night. I'm in a quandary as to why I don't have the usual antipathy that I retain to most of these "traditional" Italian options. It may be pity. We will see later on. I had Chicken Parmigiana with a side of spaghetti (which was narrow fettuccine), a salad and bread for $13. The look of the place and the lack of customers (just me to begin with) made me feel I couldn't trust anything that depended on freshness or nuance. I was wrong. The salad was a little iffy. It appeared as if it had been pre-cut and placed in a bowl in the refrigerator. It passed. It was a simple salad with iceberg, onion and tomato slices. Maybe I was in a good mood that night. The bread was dry. It looked like it was sprayed with water to try to give it life and reheated a few times before it got to me. Very dry. The butter was fresh. I didn't really want the bread anyway. You could have had garlic or a plain loaf. The Parm looked scary when it first arrived. The plating was bare and the plate was cold. On one side sat a plump chicken breast by itself with a cap of cheese. One the other side sat a fist sized serving of pasta with a meat sauce (asked for marinara). They looked like they were taken from a TV dinner. Two mounds of color on a white plate. I'm used to a big messy, muddled pile of melting cheese, sauce and chicken (coloring outside the lines). This was orderly. Maybe the chef has hints of obssesive compulive disorder? However, it didn't effect the taste. The chicken was moist. The sauce was fresh. The pasta was well cooked and warm. The cheese was flavorful. The meat sauce was tasty. I'm still curious about the chicken cutlet. I would wager that the chef fried it in a deep fryer and not a frying pan. I know some places do this to save on clean up. It doesn't bother me either way as long as they know the cooking time. I based my suspicion on the crust it exhibited. It was rather flaky for a pan. Maybe they use an unusual crust ingredient? OK. So back to the place itself and why it had an appeal when it shouldn't have. To start with it is in a sketchy area. The places that do exist there now are predominantly Hispanic. They aren't in the greatest condition. It must have been a far different world when they first put down roots here (they said 46 years ago - 1965!). You've got to give some love to a family that hasn't cut and run like everyone else. Maybe they can't. But, in my mind they stay because they are sentimental. Next, it is so insistently "Italian" that it feels like the real thing. I was waiting for a mobster to walk in at any minute. They have the "Best Of" collection of Italian standards serenading you. They are near a strip club. They have the black and white head shots of their favorite Italians on the wall. Maybe they've been here. Maybe they haven't. They have the terrible, 50 year old furniture that looks like it came from a banquet hall. They have the mismatched wall art. They have the yellowed, stuccoed walls. They have the linen napkins. It's so bad, yet, so endearing. The chef was the owner/manager. They had one waiter and two other customer's. The owner was a very sympathetic character. He came out to chat. The waiter was doing his best to remain positive even though you could see he wouldn't be going home with a wad of cash in his pocket. I can't recommend that you go out of your way for the food (definetly not the building). It shouldn't be impossible for you to find a similar "old school" Italian restaurant nearer to you. But, if you are in the area, don't be scared of trying this place. It is actually open though it might not seem so. They have parking in the back and I don't think you'll get mugged if you go. It's been there for 46 years. I don't think it's just due to stubbornness. It must have some adherents (they cite Scott Joseph as one). It doesn't seem to have the food quality issues you see on all those Kitchen Nightmare shows that star places like this. Just realize that it seems like it is in a spiral. Maybe you can give it new life. I'll bet you the quality of the product would increase in conjunction with a steady stream of business. They don't seem like the kind of people who change what they are doing because it makes better business sense. You've got to respect that.

Del Dio Bistro, Casselberry - Closed

Yesterday I had a simple lunch at this more than simple Italian/Thai restaurant on 17-92 off of 436. They used to be in the Aldi's strip mall up the street. I came here because I saw they won a Foodie award but didn't recognize the address as a place I had visited. When I Googled them, I found they were the original Del Dio's and they had added Thai food and closed their old store front. Time to re-investigate. I had their 2 slice and a soda (refills) special for $5. They are known for their pizza. And I added a Thai style shrimp soup to go. Had to try the new. The pizza was excellent (I've had some really bad pizza at this price point). No surprises there. Possibly a tad too much crust on that particular pie. Superior mozzarella and sauce. The soup, which I ate for dinner, was flavorful. It came with two medium size shrimp, mushrooms and scallions. It cost $4. However, the story isn't my meal. It is the owners. I had a nice discussion with one of the owners and learned that though he was born in Bangladesh and started as an engineer, he worked/ran/owned a panoply of kitchens in the Five Burroughs (and not just the outer burroughs) before he relocated here. The popularity of the old location should speak to the lessons he learned in Italian cooking while doing so. All the Italian dishes have been well regarded for a while. The Thai part of the equation is provided by his wife. She is Thai. Time will tell if she develops her own following. They are now in a stand alone building that used to be a Maryland Fried Chicken as well as many other things. It's not the most impressive edifice. The inside is passable. It's hard to cover up old. It has an Italian theme. It seats about 40. There were 4 people there at 12pm. The service (1) was polite and attentive. I would suggest a more eye catching sign (it is on a road where people drive 55 mph) and a name change. Del Dio doesn't sound Italian enough. It even suggests Spanish/Latin cuisine (I know Dio is Italian. I took Italian in college). And a Bistro is usually/historically associated with French food. Plus it totally leaves the Thai part out in the cold. I know it's hard to part with good will, but, it may be time to re-brand. You can always put "formerly known as" in parenthesis underneath your marketing materials. In any case, I (and The Foodie Awards) suggest you find time for this one of a kind Italo-Thai restaurant when you are in the neighborhood. Share a slice and then move on from there.

Grub Crawl - Downtown : Eden's Fresh Co, Schakolad, Starbuck's, Nature's Way

Eden's Fresh Co. - I purchased a small Daisy (bad romaine lettuce which was supposed to be field greens, strawberries, almonds and sun flower seeds with a strawberry vinaigrette) from this salad bar near Church on Orange (in the corner of the plaza) for $5 for dinner. It was ok. I did feel as though it was going to give me a cold soon after eating it. Does anyone not sneeze into a salad bar anymore? I feel like I take my health in my hands every time I try one of these. The place is very white. It is clean. It is uncluttered. It has nice light (big windows). It has a patio. it seats about 60. I would guess that it does mostly a take out business. I believe it is fairly new. But, I could never recommend a place that calls their add ons - "proteins".

Schakolad - I sampled 1 piece of a ganache and Irish Creme morsel for $.75. A great choice. I almost ran back for more. The Irish Creme was a little redolent of marzipan. It's on Orange near the Church and Orange intersection.

Starbuck's - I deplore this chain, but, it was on my route (a few doors down) so I popped in for a drink. I don't know how long the have been serving these little cake pops on a stick, but, it was good. I'm so ashamed. It cost $1.50. They only had Birthday Cake's left. The cake was very moist almost a praline. I approve.

Nature's Way - It's across from Starbuck's. I had that soda I now definitely required for $2. It's a Nature's Way. A clean and modern one.

And that may be all (have about 5 to go) for a while until they give Casey the chair and we can get our parking back. But, then there is the summer heat. It takes the fun out of meandering.

Leo's Diner, Downtown

I had lunch at this Home Style Comfort Food restaurant across from the B of A building on Orange yesterday. I had a turkey sandwich with fries for $7. It was a turkey sandwich. It was ordinary. Everything was passable. They did butter and grill the bun. I'm not sure if I liked that or not. It gave it some pizazz, but, it isn't exactly calorie conscious. Maybe they should let you know ahead of time. In any case, you are notified. The shoestring fries were ok. Some were a little under done. A mixed bag (pile). The service was (3) was attentive and polite. The place seats about 60 in an L shape with a counter. They added a few knick knacks to the old Detroit Joe's back drop. Maybe some new paint. The menu is straight diner. Only the greatest hits (limited menu). I don't know why, but, the name made me think I was going for Soul Food. The Home Style Comfort Food part. I guess that's Southern for diner. This is just a conventional diner (non-Greek) with a slight nod to some one's Granny. Not a destination. Burgers and sammies.

Grub Crawl - Winter Park (Aloma) : El Pueblo, Z. Enzo's Pizza,

On my way back from a failed attempt Friday at a Thai restaurant in the area (closed for vacation), I hit up two small fries for samples to go. I ate them for lunch the next day. They are in the same strip mall on the East side of 436.

El Pueblo - A great, little (30) native Mexican restaurant. It was clean. It had pastel murals and paintings of Mexican extraction on the walls. It was loaded with Mexicans (100%). I had a lengua (tongue) and barbacoa (shredded beef) soft taco. They were both very good. Very simple. Only a very minced tomato and onion salsa on both. And some cilantro. I would guess the style is southern/central Mexican from the decoration. The menu was not extensive. Each taco was only $1.50. They double tortilla'd the tacos. They seemed to be made of neither corn or white flour. Maybe a wheat flour? That would be a first.

Z. Enzo's Pizza - Kind of dirty, kind of boring pizza parlor. This isn't the best neighborhood. The slice was small. The crust was stale. They couldn't price it ($2) so you didn't get change. I can only see people who have no other option patronizing it. I do have a tip though (I've been forgetting to add those). Try a barbacoa (hell every Mexican taco meat) pizza. I put some of it on the slice and it was good. People love Mexican. Especially Mexicans. Jam their favorites on top of a pizza. If people can stomach the Hawaiian diet, they should have no problem with a Mexican invasion.

Tibby's, Winter Park

Last Friday I had dinner at this New Orleans Kitchen from the people that brought you Tijuana Flats. It is in the strip mall near Mellow Mushroom on Fairbanks. I sat at the bar because it still had a waiting list at 9pm. I had the Chicken Pontechatrain (sp?) for $10. It was a large portion of slightly pounded chicken breasts (2) egg battered and sauteed. It was covered with a delicious "relish" of pickled carrots, olives, celery and tomato. It lay on a large serving of fluffy (buttered?) white rice. It was enough for two. And at $10 it was one of the more reasonable items on the menu. You would think the "relish" would overpower the light chicken and bland rice, but, it is the kick that pairing needed. A funky picatta. The menu has jambalayas, etouffes, remoulades, etc. Most of the greatest (only?) hits of this style of cooking. The left half of the menu is apps and entrees (about 15 together) and the right side is mostly po' boys. The place looks like a Mardi Gras museum. Lots of garish colors. It's fun if not authentic (franchise aspirations?). It seats about 80. The service (2 bartenders) was good. They have a patio/sidewalk and a bar area. It is always packed. It's one of life's mysteries. Who knew people went ape for bayou bites (obviously few because there are maybe 5 restaurants like this in the city)? It even gets children. I would have held my breath if my parents tried to feed me an oyster in remoulade sauce. Maybe they just love the ambience (they actually have "classic" choices for kids). In any case, you don't need me to tell you by this time that this place is a giant hit. I don't get it. But, it's semi-original. It is clean. It's alive. And it's new. So what if you can see the cookie cutter getting sharpened. Flats is a chain and I don't hate it. Give it a try and bring your camera to document the "original" when this goes global.

Mediterrean Deli, Winter Park

I had a gyro to go from this Lebanese Deli on the Edgewater Side of Fairbanks for $5. It was huge. Barely any veggies. This was a mound of lamb meat. Two gyros worth. The flavor was what you would expect. Nothing earth shattering. The pita was better than usual. The place is small. It seats about a dozen. It doesn't have much panache. The menu is limited : gyros, some kind of roll up with your choice of the trinity of deli meats, middle eastern dips. The guys behind the counter were nice (free samples). It was full at 3pm. The neighborhood isn't the greatest.

De La Vega, Deland

I had dinner at this modern Mexican restaurant on the main street in DeLand on Tuesday. I chose it over a hip, but, over priced restaurant around the corner and I'm glad I did. I had two tapas plates because they were so interesting. I had a plate of zucchini (they call it squash) that was hollowed out and stuffed with smashed plantains. It was then fried in a batter that reminded me of french toast batter. The eggs exhibited a consistency like string cheese. Perhaps it's a new alternative for lactose intolerant chefs? It was very tasty. Don't think french fry fried. It was lighter than that. They served four large pieces. I believe it was $7. I also had a serving (6) of cherry (red) snapper on mini tostadas with a topping of pureed walnuts and a piece of cherry. It was good. I believe it was $9. I would probably substitute out the snapper for a less gamy flavor. Really any light protein would work. I love the regional cooking of Mexico that incorporates nuts. The slight sliver of cherry added a great nuance of sweetness. There was also a drizzle of a sweet and sour sauce that worked well. I wish I had been more hungry because there were alot of interesting items that I passed on. They also have breakfast tapas and a full menu of ordinary fare like burritos and enchiladas. The place also doubles as an art gallery. It's in a cute little, windowed spot. It could use a little more AC. It seats about ten outside and 50 inside (two rooms). Only one other couple was there at 8pm. To be fair, most of the restaurants were empty or emptying at that hour. The service (1) was good and knowledgeable. I thoroughly advise you to make the journey here just for the food. The chef evinces some uncommon imagination and skill. You will be impressed. The style is based on the Mexico City area if I had to guess. The prices are reasonable. Most entrees are under $15.

Grub Crawl - Mt. Dora : Truly Scumptious, Cupcake Delights, Mount Dora Confectionary, One Flight Up

Last week I drove through Mt Dora on my way out of town and sampled some of their culinary delights.

Truly Scrumptious - I had a chocolate centered cookie for $2 that was excellent. An obscene amount of chocolate that reminded me of chocolate to cookie ratio of the old David's Cookie bakery.

Cupcake Delights - I had a Key Lime Frosted Cupcake for $3 that is better that most Key Lime Pies.

Mount Dora Confectionary - I just got a soda here, but, they had lots of interesting sweets. My spell check says they spell confectionery wrong. But, that's how they spell it.

One Flight Up - I had a chicken salad sandwich here for $8. It was ok. It was described as freshly chopped chicken. It was canned chicken. The place is cute. It has a terrace and three inside rooms/coves around artist's work spaces. It seemed to be the popular local spot.