Todo Sushi, Maitland - Closed *MAC/SERB/NYC Travel Notes

I tried this Japanese restaurant in the old Zona Fresh location on 17-92 near Lee Rd yesterday at lunch. They have been open for five months. I did the "all you can eat" sushi option at $17. I was a little perturbed that I could have done the same at Koy Won for half the price if I didn't feel the need to waste my time and money as a food adventurer. However, I will say the quality is better here. Let's start with the rice. It is pretty good. Short grain. The second round of sushi rice was even warm. Not dry. Not over vinegar-ed. A tad over cooked. Not to bad. They even said they wash/polish the rice five times. I think three times is the most the best places do it. Not sure if you can over wash. They have a host of things from the appetizer section on the list of possibilities. I did steamed gyoza, edamame and shrimp tempura. The gyoza wasn't to mushy. Pork filled. The tempura was not greasy and well fried and fresh. The edamame was a little under steamed. They also had things like fried chicken, grilled chicken, miso soup, udon, soba, crab Rangoon, fried rice, etc available. On the sushi side they had a variety of rolls (hand and rolled). Even six of seven of their "special" rolls. Plus tuna, salmon, shrimp, egg, baby scallop and a few more. I had the aforementioned minus the tamago (egg). Twenty pieces in all. The salmon was good. The second batch of tuna was better. The baby scallops can be really sweet if fresh. These weren't. They tried to help them along with some sweet mayonnaise. Nice to see them try to provide a delicacy though. I also had a spicy albacore roll and a Philly Roll. The albacore was probably just spicy tuna. The best part was that the rice to fish ratio was "normal". Not the "over-ricing" you usually see at an all you can eat place. The stuff was made to order and although there was only one guy and four competing tables, it came out fast. Service was also good. That helped the efficiency. The place is big. It seats about eighty. Some booths. Some tables. Lots of space between tables. High ceilings. They could "pretty it up" a bit. I can't put my finger on it, but, it seemed a little too "lived in" to be five months old. You can order by the piece or separate meals, but, they add up to around the all you can eat price. They had a more extensive all you can eat option. I think  it was $23. They also have an all you can drink (sake or beer) option for $13. A beer on its own was $7. I'll probably rotate this with my Koy Wan visits.

*Travel Notes - Macedonia/Serbia/NYC:

Balkans - Ajvar or Alvar (I can't read my own handwriting) from Macedonia. A pepper and eggplant spread. Paprika Babura and Paprika Silja in Serbia. White looking peppers. Also Volcanos. A chocolate shell the looked like a crown filled with more chocolate or ganache. Many colors and all the chocolate varieties. KFC there also did a McDonald's like (mustard and ketchup and pickle) burger, but, with chicken. There was a Mexican chain in Belgrade called Burrito Madre. They had a machine that took in masa and kicked out a tortilla right on the grill in front of you. Our chains need to get on that. I'd bypass the goat cheese and field greens they use though.

NYC - I went to Flushing (last stop on 7 train past Citi Field) and ate at these Chinese spots. Stall 13 (Jia Xiang Wei) in the New York Food Court. I had pork cheeks and cucumber in a salad for $9. Served cold. Some hot sauce. A ton of food. I also had duck buns at Corner 28 for $1.25 a piece. Then across the street for a $4 soup bun (Xiao long bao) at Shanghai You Garden. Then on to the New World Mall and Old Luoyang (Stall 4) for a $7 plate of Henanese (a guy told me they make all the I Phones here) cold skin sweet potato noodles with bean sprouts. Actually good once you add the hot, vinegar, garlic and peanut sauces. But why do all noodles have zero flavor? I thought these suckers would be sweet. They were blue. I got these names from a Air BnB Mag article about eating around Queens. That idiot did four or five areas in a day. Where did he or she put it?

I also did up some things in Brooklyn. Red Hook - Hometown BBQ. Worlds slowest line. Average brisket. Dry. Over peppered. Good pulled pork. But, they dunked it in juice. Cheating. Both were $12 a half pound. Korean Sticky ribs were good. Bensonhurst (I think) - L&B Spumoni Gardens. OK pizza in round or square shapes. More of a scene. I also had a rainbow spumoni. Like ice cream. $3 or $4 for the slices. I also went to the Brooklyn Beer Brewery in Williamsburg. Free tours.

Manhattan - Ivan Ramen on Clinton and Houston. I mentioned I had seen him on TV a few posts back. Good shio ramen bowl for $16. Fresh noodles and pork belly. Fuku on Front St and Pine.- fast fried chicken by David Chang. Actually really good. $8 for a half. I also did a another chicken place (Sticky's Finger Joint on Maiden near Broadway) with good sauce combos (like mac and cheese). $5 for 10 large firecracker pieces or two fingers (half a breast size each). 8 locations in NYC. Across the street was an Indian fast food place (Koti Roll Co) that did tikka (etc) in naan. I mention it because I said I wanted to see this happen.and I guess it has. Now it just needs to happen here.

I also went to the Bronx to some place called City Island. Ate at a place called City Island Lobster House. OK. Hard to believe this is that close to the urban jungle.

Latest "in" things are the Hudson Yards and The Vessel. Moulin Rouge is going to be on Broadway.

Le House, Downtown

I was reticent to post the last two reviews because my European discoveries in the post before them would be pushed below these reviews and be ignored. So read them.

I tried this Vietnamese restaurant on Church St (in between the Amway and the soccer stadium) today. I popped in at lunch time and grabbed a few apps to go for dinner. I always figured there would be no chance at finding a parking spot during the day, but, there were a few (and unmetered) and they said a lot on the opposite corner is always open. I had tried to come here on a Saturday night a few weeks ago. It was closed. I thought there was some emergency or something, but, they said they aren't open on Saturday. No business 'business". I selected three apps because one can only have so much pho or rice dishes. I like to try and expand my vocabulary, but, it hard to find a Vietnamese place that plays more than the greatest hits. I had spring roll (2) in case I hated the two "experiments". It cost $3 and was poor. A bit over fried and the contents didn't have much taste. It was like it was filled with vermicelli rice noodles. I also had Nem Chua. That was three fermented pork paste flat patties steamed in banana leaves. They were sooo hot. Like ghost chili hot. And they paired them with a hot sauce or a vinegar sauce. They jam a big hunk of raw garlic in it too and give you more raw garlic hunks on the side. Odd. I almost tossed them out. They cost $5. I tried another pork app and it was better. It was like a summer roll (2). A strip of sweet salty sausage with "banh mi toppings" inside rice paper. And a fried cracker crisp. It came with a goopy orange sauce that was very salty and another cup of the hot sauce. It was cold when I took it out of the container and I didn't see if it was warm to begin with. Therefore I didn't know how it should be served. I split the difference and warmed it in the nuker for 15 seconds. That didn't kill the veggies. It was ok. I thought the vinegar sauce was better here. I also popped in the remaining spicy patties and they worked better here. It's like the two pork items should be switched. The veggies tempered the heat. It was called Nem Nurong Cuon. It also cost $5. The place looks new and clean and cute. Some might consider it hip. They opened in November. The name is from their last name. The "Le" is pronounced "lay" and it's their "house". I suspect that the rest of the menu is treated with care. I saw a to go vegetarian chicken dish being inspected by the purchaser and it looked finely prepared.

Due Amici, College Park (Closed)

I tried this new (two weeks) Italian restaurant in the old Kingfish location on Edgewater and the street that leads to I-4 (not sure if that is Princeton going that way) today at lunch. It's somewhere between an average Italian place and a good Americanized one. They said they have a location in Tampa. This is number two. I had a lasagna for $10 and a personal pizza to go for $8. The lasagna was a bit bland and I didn't like the sauce. They added carrots and celery to the tomato sauce. I don't want a V8 in my sauce. Especially not chunks. Celery has a disagreeable flavor if it has any at all. And carrot can as well. At best it gives a sweetness that this sauce already had too much of. It made me think of all those kids whose mothers sneak veggies into their brownies, etc. The horror. The pasta was also dried out on the edges (reheating) and seemed under boiled in general. The cheeses seemed low quality. It was a big square though. It came with a garlic knot that was tough and dry in the center and top. The bottom was a bit more moist. The pizzas I saw on the other tables looked a bit prettier than my plain cheese one. I'm not sure how they cooked it. It had no char, so, I'm thinking conveyer belt. It was a bit nicer than those though. On the positive side, it had good cheese coverage, was thin and the crust was tiny. On the negative side, the cheese was cheap (salty and rubbery and congealed quickly) and they doused it with garlic olive oil that had raw chucks of garlic in it. I thought it was more "chunky soup" sauce, but, I think it was the oil. Not much sauce now that we are speaking about it. They are serving a soft opening menu of the pizzas, three burgers, the pizzas and two more pasta dishes. I just saw a show that says the bigger the menu the greater the chance of frozen items being used. Hopefully this menu precludes that. I would ask them to ask themselves whether they want to be a two star or three star place. They need better execution in the kitchen and better ingredients in the larder for that to happen. As of now it is probably no better (or worse) than the other American Italian places already in business on Edgewater. The place is basic inside. It seats about thirty. Tables of two or four. Bar in the rear. Brick backdrop. 40 and 50's music (think Sinatra) over the speakers. Faux marble counter tops on plywood tables. You can see the underside. I hope they aspire to more than mediocrity. If they tweak things a bit, that should be possible.

Grub Crawl - Maitland: Houndstooth Kitchen & Eatery and 407 Gelato (Closed) *England/France/SpainTravel Notes

I tried this Kitchen & Eatery and this Gelato spot in the back of the newish apartments (not  the ones adjacent to the Publix) on 17-92 at lunch on Thursday.

Houndstooth - They used to have a sauce outlet in the East End Market. I had a roast beef and cheddar melt for $10 (all sandwiches cost this much) and a bbq brisket taco for $3.50. They "house roast" their beef. It was ok. A little gray and not too much flavor. They add a dijonaise (their wording) dressing and serve it on sourdough. They give you an unnecessary additional cup of the dressing. If you add a side the cost of the meal now climbs to $13. Two sides and it is $14. They have 10 sandwiches and six sides. Rueben, Cuban, Turkey, etc. A pimento is as crazy as it gets. Sides are slaw, potato salad, orzo, chips, pickle and quinoa. The taco was the better value. A big helping of brisket. Served on a metal "accordion". Pretty good. Heavily sauced. Flour tortilla. I just saw an episode of that Pati lady who looks like a parrot and she said that no real Mexican would use a flour tortilla for a taco. I think they might if they thought up this combination. They also offer a sloppy mo and mojo pork. They have three soups. $6 a bowl. 4 salads and 3 "lettuce boats". 3 kid-centric sandwiches (ie fluffernutter). They also make food for dogs. It's a small place. It seats six or eight inside and the same on the patio. It has been open for two months. Just below "put in the effort to try it" status. Good if you live close by though.

407 Gelato - They opened a few months ago and I swear I've been to one of their locations (past or present). They have one in Oviedo and one elsewhere. This one is solely for gelato. I had a piccolo chocolate for $5. It was ok. They have around fourteen flavors. It's a white walled ice cream shop. Nothing to write home about.

*Travel Notes - England/France/Spain: And now to strange things I came across in England, France and Spain.

Chocolate DIPPED croissants (the whole thing). I think this was done in Spain.
Fried lasagna (London)
Fried egg flavored potato chips (this was made by Vincent Vidal Co in Navarra and someone should import it. It tasted exactly like what it is trying to taste like and it wasn't disgusting. Plus chips is Spain are just fried better. Actually in each of those countries. They must use some unhealthy oil.

Blackberry juice. They offered up a lot of fruit flavors in the Bocqueria in Barcelona. This one stood out.
Taquitos of Jamon de Cebo - In Barcelona they give you a paper cone and fill it with bits of Iberico pork for 5E. I think it's the leftovers, but, it's a good, cheap way to get your ham on.
Pas de Pessic Coco - a Spanish chocolate pastry
Flautas - In Spain, this is what they called sandwiches on thin baguettes. Same in France. Except it was in French. I just saw bread called this in France. No sandwiches.
Bottled Asparagus - France. And disgusting and mushy. They also canned cassoulet and foies and other terrines and things. Cheap.
Bonne Maman Tartlettes - That French company that makes jam makes tartes with the jam and sells them nine in box. I had lemon and strawberry. Lemon was better. These need to be imported if they aren't already.
Very Pamp Rose - I think I'm late to the game on this one, but, rose mixed with fruit juice (in this case grapefruit) is all the rage in France.
Ciambotta - A hollowed out bun filled with stuff (ie meat ragu). I had this at a stall in Camden Market in London. They said it is a thing in Puglia. A great concept for a franchise. At least it is different. I also ate a cereal place there. Cereal Killers. And though that is being done in the US, they had a few options I haven't seen used often. They did a fried chicken with frosted flakes. I had a Lucky Charms ice cream/milk. They didn't do cereal flavored milk though.
Duck Banh Mi - Paris.
Battenberg Cake - Canterbury
Cheese -Brie de Meaux, Saint Marcelin, Saint Nectair. They are all French. The last was the best. Similar to a cheese I had as a kid and could never find again. Some cheese guy brought it in to our French class in middle school. He called it Salzburg. I have never been able to track it down.

I also ate a place (Monsoon) on Brick Lane in London (Indian food). It turned out to be Bandgladeshi. D'oh. However, that explained some of the peculiarities on the menu. Like: Chot poti, kebab roll, tikka in a skillet, balti, and the following curries - bhuna, patha, dupiyaza, saag, Ceylon, dansak. There were a lot more, but that is what I can remember. I had the first three. The chot poti was just tamarind stewed chick peas with boiled egg slices. I thought the egg was going to be more scrambled like. The kebab roll was ground meat in naan. I've never seen a kebab like item in an Indian place. Probably because it wasn't Indian. I'd like to see more naan sandwiches. The tikka was like a fajita plate. I really liked this presentation. I had it with lamb and chicken. Really expressed the lamb well. The balti (many types) was some type of sourish "national" dish. It sounded interesting, but, not enough to win out.

That's what I can recall. If I remember anything else I will put it in a future post. They had a very large vending machine in Barcelona called Yoo Shop. Like a school bus. I also found Belon oysters in a market in Lorient, but, the guy couldn't open them for me. Crepes and waffles are big in Brittany.

Baan Chan, UCF Area

I tried this Thai place on 50 near 419 on Wednesday for dinner. It's in a decrepit strop mall near Gyroville (recently reviewed) They have been open for a few months. I had two apps and a soup. Thai Heaven Beef for $4.50. Soft Shell Crab for $$6.50. Tom Zab Pork Soup for $4. The beef was ok/ A little more thick and fried than I recall Thai Beef being. Jerky like. The crab was misrepresented as a serving of 2. Since when is one thing cut in two equal to two? The crab also didn't taste very fresh. I blame the 3D episode I just watched (a spot in Cape something - I'm still brain dead from my last trip - near Kitty Hawk NC) for making me hunger for soft shell crab. The soup was ok. The pork (rib meat) was tender. You had to spit out bones, etc or swallow them though. I'm a spitter. The broth was a little bland. It contains garlic, galangala (I just learned this is weaker tasting but similar to ginger), kaffir lime leaves, coriander, lemon grass, tamarind and rice powder. I ordered this because I just saw a show on Cambodian cooking and these ingredients were basically in all dishes (in Thailand too) and I wanted a reason to talk about them. I also learned that fish sauce is often the only protein they get. Shrimp paste is similarly necessary. I also learned that they use turmeric and it is an orange root similar to ginger. We just see the powder. The rest of the menu consists of five more soups, nine more apps and ten mains. The place looks old. Like they did zero with what they inherited. It seats about forty. They said that Bann Chan in Thai means "little house" or something like that. Weird that Korean and Thai have the same word with totally different meanings. It's ok, but, I wouldn't go out of my way for it. Closed on Monday.

*In the next post I will recant all the oddities I experienced in Europe over the last three weeks. I'm too pressed to do it now..