Grub Crawl - Mt Dora: Cody's on Fourth and Street Corner Eat + Drink

While picking up some hard to find used books at Barrel of Books and Games in town on Saturday, I knocked these two of the list. The first is in town on 4th Avenue and the other is on the edge of town where the road out leads to 46. 

Cody's on 4th - I just grabbed a cinnamon pecan cake to go because I had already eaten and they looked like they were closing and the meals all looked over priced and just looked "assembled" in nature. It was a good cake. Moist. I would be impressed if they made it. I doubt it however. It cost $5. They ask $2 for as can of soda. The place seats about twenty. It looks like a woman's deli/cafe. 

Street Corner Eat + Drink - I've been itching to eat here for over a year. however, I have always hit it when it was closed. It's a place I love before I take a bite. It's in an old gas station. I believe it has been a hot dog place and a pizza place in earlier iterations. Now it's bbq+. Burgers, street tacos, hot dogs, wings, hot sandwiches, etc. But not ordinary. Kicked up a notch. The chef must be from NJ because they have a "ripper" hot dog (search Rutt's Hut), macaroni salad, a burger with Trenton pork roll, as examples. I was just going to grab a taco because I was stuffed, but, I went with a cheese burger (the small one) and two wings (can order by the wing) because I thought it might tell me the most about their cooking abilities. I wasn't disappointed. I ended up scrapping my dinner plans for it. It was a hand formed, 1/4 lb burger made from brisket, chuck and short ribs. They cooked it perfectly. The bun was nice and glossy. The veg were a little blase. Didn't really matter. It cost $7. The big guy (1/2 lb) is $9. It came with fries. And though the were my second least favorite type (skin ons), they almost got them to fry enough. Huge portion. Had them for dinner on Sunday. The wings (one drumette and one wing) were also very good. They smoke them. They don't over smoke them. A nice, subtle flavor and moist. A buck a piece. On the taco side, they offer up smoked chicken, wild caught mahi, chipotle carnitas, Korean beef and Philly rib eye. Plus they had a brisket special one. The dogs could come with slaw or street chili or your way. The sandwiches (5) range from Prime Rib to tomato bacon melt. The "apps" also include chicharrones (huge plate) and (best ever) chili. You can get fries with five toppings. They have salads. Most things cost between $8 and $16. They have a cheaper kids menu. The have waitress service. Seating is limited to around six picnic tables. Service was quick, but not alarmingly quick. A great stop in a fun location. They have been open for two years. All the people I talked to while waiting couldn't say enough about the place. Can't wait to go back. They have beer too.

JB Boondocks, Howey in the Hills

I had lunch here on Saturday. I went through Mt Dora onto 19 south and over a bridge and down about a mile where I made a left at an intersection (Mission something golf club) and made a left at the center of town and another right onto Lakeshore Blvd. It is on a lake called Little something or other (Chain?). There is a billboard for the place about six miles away. They really should have another further on because you can drive right by it. The meal was pretty surprising. The place (and name) doesn't inspire you to aspire. But, the muffaleta sandwich (suggested in an article I read) I had was darn good. It differed from a classic muffaleta in that the roll was more of a soft square ciabatta roll than tougher, round bread they usually use. This was an improvement. The meats were above average. The amount of olive tapanade wasn't as overwhelming as it can be. The mozzarella didn't offend. It was served warm (non-nuked). They also offered up a side. I chose fries to see how they would do them. They were fried well. Even some crunchy ones. However, they added that infernal starch coating and the fries were made of what I assume is mashed potato mix formed into fries. It cost $10. The menu has a New Orleans flair. Po' Boys, Stuffed Red Fish, etc. Yet when I asked the waiter if the restaurant had some connection with The Bayou, I got a blank stare. Either he wasn't instructed on that front or it is just a coincidence. The rest of the menu is Italian and American. Most sandwiches were $10 and entrees started at $16. A little pricey if the food was no good. Acceptable if the rest of meals comport with mine. The apps were in the high single digits. The place has a bar and an enclosed patio on the lake. There is also an outside patio on the lake. It was almost full. I would estimate seating at 90 in all. Service was quick. The vibe is casual. Lots of middle aged bikers. The blue collar kind. Not the drunken brawler type. It's a nice drive and the town of Yalaha (sp?) is a mile away. The town is tiny, and from I learned from my menu, it was incorporated in 1925. The lake is clean and almost unbuilt upon. A very restive experience. It didn't hurt that it was about 80 degrees and sunny and dry. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon (drive included).

Pub Crawl - Sanford: Sanford Ave Bar, Wops Hops and Buster's

I went here last night to try the new Sanford Brewing Company (opened last week). However, they didn't have their beer ready. The said come back in five weeks. We'll see. I decided to check out these places because one was new and one moved and one was good and I hadn't gone there nearly enough.

Wops Hops: A tried a flight of six and had a glass of a maple bacon ale. All were great. The gamut from kolch to porter. They are killing it.

Sanford Ave Bar (maybe Tavern): They took over the Buster's space a week ago. They said that the selections will increase as they settle in. I still like that spot and its garage doors.

Buster's: They moved down the street into a bigger place. It was jammed with a crowd that reminded me of the Hollerboch (bach?) crowd. They only had two bartenders and it was impossible to get their attention, so, I left. This iteration is kind of cheezy. There were kids running around and they had arcade games. A band of middle age men were pouring out oldies. A real let down. Now it is Dave and Buster's.

Bulla, Winter Park

It's not often that something comes out of the blue that excites me. Even less so if the term "tapas" is associated with it. And along comes a place from a Stuart Scott catch phrase. Boo-ya (as it is pronounced) opened on Orlando Ave (across from Hillstone in the spot where they tore down that old hotel that had the something Fox bar) last week. I tried it for lunch yesterday. It is an outreach of restauranteurs from Coral Gables. To refer to it as a tapas joint does a disservice to what it really is. It is a continental Spanish restaurant. The tapas are just the appetizers here. The twelve they serve at lunch are predictable. However, if they are as good as the gazpacho ($6) I started with then who can complain. The gazpacho was velvety pleasure. Very pureed. The waitress claimed that they don't adulterate it with oil or dairy and if that is case then it is a real accomplishment. Maybe even healthy. They serve it in a glass and sprinkle a few crouton crumbs on top. Simple and elegant. Controlled flavor. I went all in for the main course. I had the Black Grouper on Soy Quinoa with a caper butter sauce (Mero con Quinoa) at $18. It was perfect. The grouper was probably pan fried and finished in the oven. Two nice hunks (so you don't wonder if it is from another thinner fish). They were cooked perfectly. The quinoa was tiny. I suspect that they buy a superior type of quinoa. That, like most things tiny, it costs them more. These little guys displayed (what I suspect is the heart of the "grain") little bits that could trick you into thinking they were poppy seeds. And the portion was enormous. Two or more cups worth. It may be the first time I left a "tapas" place feeling satiated. I know because it isn't a tapas place. The sauce accented the fish. Not too much. No clumsiness. The capers and what I think were shallots (though they tasted like something else that is white) added some nice color and flavor. Although, not described on the menu and a surprise to my waitress, the quinoa had some finely cut baby (going the extra mile again) asparagus in it. I'm not sure how the soy affected the taste of the quinoa (maybe just enhanced its color), but, it was also used conservatively. Not salty. I don't recall a lot of quinoa being served in my travels to Spain. My waitress said the owners also have a Peruvian restaurant, so, maybe this is more of a Peruvian dish (where they use quinoa a lot). In any case, who cares? It was great. Now I did see that they jump the price to around $27 (and with other dishes on the lunch menu)at dinner, but, maybe the portion is bigger. The rest of menu runs the gamut of salads (really seafood salads), sandwiches, one burger, charcuterie (nice choices), cheese (nice choices), and platters such as salmon, beef, chicken, shrimp, etc. Six of those ham/sausage choices. Six cheese choices. 3 salads (ie octopus). Ten platters. A thoroughly workable mix. A one sided menu that offers enough diversity, yet, ensures consistency. The beer and wine menu was also well thought out and the wine list is curated well. I had only tried about 5% of the mostly Spanish (some US) options. They also canvas the region. A great learning opportunity. Beers were almost all at $6. Wines had a mark up of around three times retail. They start at around $35 and top out at around one hundred and change. They have one bottle at $320. The space is divided into four areas and a patio (street side) that seat about forty people in each. I sat in the back next to the open kitchen. The hostess didn't give me any guff about it either (and it was pretty full). There was a "private" dining area to the side of me. The front area is divided into a bar area with high tops between it and the area I was in and a high top area to the side of it. The decor is Moorish. There is a geometric, black "wall/screen" (is that a lattice?) that "cuts" the space in half. The private room had decorative plates on the wall. The ornamentation is subtle. some framed photographs. The ceiling tiles have some spaghetti type yarn motif. I think my half booth "couch" was white. The bar area does seem like they used the same interior designer that has fitted out some other restaurants in the area. It's not bad though. The cutlery and plates were chic. Service was great. My waitress had an answer for nearly all my questions and her colleagues were always asking me if I needed anything (ie refills). And if that wasn't enough, I spied Carrot Top eating on the patio when I left. Haven't see his collagen injected face in a while. A friend of mine has a great story about him walking around WP in short shorts. The one issue may be parking. Once this place gets the following it deserves (and other spaces in the strip mall get tenants), I doubt the lot behind the restaurant we suffice. I think I heard that the developer is going to build a multi-level garage though. I think he was fighting the town on its size. That will help. So, I don't think I need to tell you that this is a great (and unanticipated) addition to the CF food scene. It will be on my Best Of list and I will go back. I may even make it a point to try their SF locations. Boo-ya! RIP Stuart Scott. Too bad you didn't get a chance to call this one.

Jimotti's, Sanford

I had lunch at this Japanese restaurant on 17-92 in the oft abandoned spot (that most recently served as Vayda's Gypsy Rib Ranch) on Wednesday. It simultaneously pleased and disappointed me. The pricing was a bit excessive. $3 sodas. $35 eel. $14 sushi lunch specials. It's an odd spot for an upscale venture. I'm not sure if this is the locale for this type of play. Even if the chef has Morimoto on his resume. I settled on the Bento Box for $15. It offered a sample of the most offerings. I wasn't in the mood for the more reasonable items (burger or soba at $9). The box consisted of a miso soup (thick and salty), tempura (half a shrimp and veg), fried chicken, salad, spicy tuna (or Cali) roll, and two pieces of albacore and salmon sashimi. The salad was good. It was a mixed green melange in a vinaigrette with corn on top. The chicken was cooked through. Tasty. The rice was strange. Small kernels. Over cooked. The salmon was a bit spongy. The albacore was true albacore (not escolar). The cuts were big. I also tried a piece of yellowtail and ahi tuna sushi at $3.50 a piece. The cuts were long. The fish was fresh. The rice was sub-standard. So, like I said, I'm torn. Is this place worth the upcharge? The decor is modest. They have done little to this shack other than hang a few free beer signs and maybe hang a string of lights. The menu is interesting. Not just plain sushi restaurant fare. However, the rice and quality of some of the fish was questionable. I'm not sure that they can attract enough of a following among the locals to support their venture. It, possibly, could survive in a more upscale neighborhood, but, why here? The quality isn't superior enough to tempt many gastro-snobs. I do applaud the chances they take with the menu and the beer and sake options. I just think it will be too expensive or esoteric for the neighborhood. I spent over $30 here for lunch and I wager that when I go to Morimoto in a few weeks that I will get a superior meal for less. There were only four other people eating with me at lunch. Plus the name evokes Italian, not Japanese. I think they needed to do a bit more research before they chose a location. I would not be surprised if the opened in a better location in the future (Chef Sennet's downtown is now available). They have been open since June.

Green Kitchen, I Drive Area

I grabbed some dinner to go at this new "healthy" Brazilian place on Kirkman (just south of I Drive) after Saiyan yesterday. I know! A Brazilian themed something or other in this area. What a novelty! I settled on a rosemary grilled chicken wrap for $10 because all but the most expensive dishes (4 at $20) were just your run of the mill (mostly American style) sandwiches. It was fine. I thought they said they had wheat bread, but, it was just a wheat wrap. There was some kind of cheese in there. A weird mozzarella or feta. It came with a side salad that was probably pulled from a big bag of factory sorted mixed greens. Fresh in any event. And that's it. The menu is salads, sandwiches, smoothies and some meals (steaks, shrimp and bacaloa). I think The Weekly called it Brazilian "Nature's Table". Is salted fish healthy? I'm not sure if it was sad or encouraging to see all those soft, jiggling Brazilian asses "trying" to be healthy. I though big butts were something to be proud of? Funny how that always seems to be a fable/defense mechanism. I suspect they probably will be as successful as their American counterparts. Who wants to guess that if you did a side by side calorie comparison that Wendy's would have less calories than these "healthy" meals. I know it is about health and not being thin. First of all - right! And second, same suspicion as to the calorie count. The place seat about sixty. It is open for L and D (except Sunday- that's their fun day. Their I don't have to run day). The interior is spartan boho chic. It feels a little under-decorated. The tables and chairs (some are mismatched) are Victorian. The black ceiling and floor with white walls makes it seem like you are eating in an ice cream sandwich. There is a tree mural on one wall (the other half is stark white void). You order at a counter. I wasn't expecting much and it delivered on that. At least it wasn't all vegetarian like I feared. Not bad, but, not special. It was pretty crowded though. I'm not sure if that was just lazy people from the office building that it is connected to. I believe they have only been open for a short time.

Soupa Saiyan, Universal Area

Yesterday I tried this noodle bar in that aged strip mall on Vineland (just a block off Kirkman) that has that little popular Mexican restaurant (Border something). Edible says they have had 90 minute lines. There were only three other people there while I was there, so, that was a relief. It would not have been worth that kind of wait. Perhaps because I wasn't feeling soup or because it was my third option (one and two were frustrated), I wasn't floored by what they offer. I had a "create your own" bowl with shrimp, brisket, udon and chicken broth. Mostly because the "uncustom" choices cost $3 or $4 dollars more than the already steep $10. All the elements were fine. Big bowl. The shrimp (7) were a little gamey/frozen/old tasting. It was basically just pho without the veg. The way it works here is that you choose a veg, chicken or beef broth and then a choice of noodle (3) and then two (out of a dozen) "fillings". They also have some fried apps from around $4. Nothing fancy. And that's it. The place seats about twenty. The decor (what there is of of it) is trashy. The Dragonball Z (the saiyan part) connection is silly. They blast the insipid cartoon on the lone television. They have some Z memorabilia in the prep area. Most neighborhoods have a Vietnamese or hot pot place that serves equal if not better soup. No need to trek here. They take Amex, but, don't print out receipts. The have been open for six months.

Restaurant Ash, Mills Ave - Closed

I went to this American restaurant at the old Funky Monkey space (daughter of the owner who was just on Hell's Kitchen) on Wednesday. It's in the middle of Mills. I was coming back from the airport in between lunch and dinner and my initial choice seems to believe that they are good enough to only serve dinner though they are a pizza place. We'll see (someday if they are lucky). Maybe they should post their hours on the door. Since it was almost dinner and I hadn't eaten all day, I had two courses. I tried the stuffed avocado for $12 and the mahi sandwich for $9. The avocado was stuffed with quality ahi tuna atop an avocado half seated in a nest of wakame (tons). I found the teryaki sauce and the mayonnaise sauce and the sriracha to be a distraction. Too much going on here, but, they aren't the only ones to serve it up this way. Still it kind of hints at the level of sophistication you can expect. The avocado was also a little "entrenched" in the shell. They give you a fork and chop sticks to attack the dish. It would be better if they "loosen up" the avocado so you can just use the chop sticks. The mahi was fresh and cooked perfectly. A wide hunk. And the bun was nice. However, they overdo it again here by covering it with cheese and tons of cabbage (slaw) AND sauteed onions. It also came with a fresh field green salad that was properly dressed (quantity) with a crushed apple vinaigrette. A great value. Now the "and" is what will make you love or slightly dislike this place. If you love "kitchen sink" cooking then you will love how they have crafted this menu. They "jenga" a dish until it is about to fall over. If you prefer to let the ingredients (and they aren't distracting you from inferior ones) speak for themselves, then you may wish they practise a little more self restraint. In any case, the results aren't bad. The menu is a little blase. Pot pie, pot roast, burgers, sandwiches, etc. I expected a bit more panache. It doesn't stray far from its "funky" roots and we already have that. I'd like to see them take a few more chances. Service was good. I don't think the "Ash" was in the kitchen. They place seats around forty. It has a girlie decor. Prices are reasonable. They serve beer and wine. A nice gastro pubby type place. I believe it opened in March.