Grub Crawl - Winter Garden: Jodo Sushi, Local Butcher, Michael's and Ceviche Mix *FL/AL/MS Travel Notes

I tried these place at the marketplace on Thursday. The first two at lunch and then I swung back after Clermont at dinner time. I'll update that the Torres Chocolate stall claims to in reno and there is also a raclette style cheese stall and a juice stall and a popcorn stall and Antique-tea's stall and an outpost of Axum coffee that I have yet to sample. Also, new on Plant St were a French place and The Whole Enchilada. I also mis-remembered about the brewery that may have opened south of Michigan. Still one to go. And I forgot to tell you about Rap Snacks I saw in a gas station in Arlington. Take a look see if you want to how inconsistent racial polemics are. 

Jodo Sushi - I have a sneaking suspicion I had tried them before. But, I could find no evidence in cyberspace. I think I remember something about a South American aspect. Anyway, the prices were so beyond ridiculous ($26 poke bowl or $15 hand roll) that I gritted my teeth for the $6 salmon nigiri. The menu says two piece. They served three. It was ok. The part of the salmon that has equidistant horizontal lines of white. I believe that is fat not sinew. From the cheap tail section too. The lower quadrant too. Been there from the beginning.

Local Butcher & Market - I was a bit disheartened when I saw the Boar's Head guys delivering. Is that all that passes for specialty goods these days? So, it seems that the sandwich portion of the enterprise is hum drum. Maybe they do do something worth mentioning with the butchering? Maybe? I had a Meaty Butcher for $14. A Kaiser roll topped with roast beef, carmelized onions, provolone and a whisper of horseradish cream (really stingy with this). Lots of decent roast beef. Pretty good all around. They sell seven sandwiches in all. Came with a bag of chips. Been there from the beginning.

Michael's All Coal Fired Pizza - Claim a 1000 degree oven. I just sampled the basic 12". It was ok. The crust was yellow and oily. I don't love dough with oil in it. Makes it lean towards pastry. Otherwise, it was a typical NY style. Sauce had garlic and onion powder. Not great with a sweet sauce. Would try their wings (Rochester/Buffalo recipe) or meatball sandwich next time. They also sell stromboli, salad, etc. They have also been there since the beginning or near. Also own Mac's Up and one other stall.

Ceviche Mix - The originator of the one in Mount Dora. I had the same bowl here (mahi and shrimp). Worse in every way. Smaller. Tougher. Less fresh .Less stuff. Now it didn't help that I drove it home and the lime juice may have cooked the fish to death. However, I just get the feeling it wasn't top notch from the get go. He used unripe avocado too. It was part of a pattern. It cost $15. This is a new stall.

*Travel Notes - FL/AL/MS: I climbed Mt Britton (off 331 at DeFuniak Springs exit of 10) at Lakewood Park in Lakewood FL. It is the highest elevation in Florida at 345 feet! Before that I was talked into a thimble of sherry (because by coincidence I bought a bottle of dry sherry in honor of Frasier Crane and had some the night before and it was sour/awful) at the Chautauqua Vineyards (right off same exit). Sweet sherry is better. They claim they and another vineyard (I biden the name) actually have vines up there. As it was getting late, I tried to find a hotel off the highway near Pensacola. These bastards were looking for over $250 for a run down Comfort Inn.  I moved towards downtown (take the third of three exits they cite) and stumbled upon a boutique hotel called Sole Inn on Palafox Ave (the main street). They charged $145 all in (rack rate). But, it was right by all the things I wanted to walk to. Plus it turned out there are only around three hotels downtown anyway. I had a nice walk down to Palafox Pier. Along the way I found a sheltered food truck court called The Garden at Palafox Food Court. I came back towards the center and saw a few museums and Artel Gallery and ventured a few blocks east to what turned out to be a preserved old town. Very cool. Pensacola Bay Brewery was there. I popped in to waste time before I had dinner at Iron and ended up staying so long that they (Iron) stopped seatings at 9pm. How provincial. It seemed overpriced anyway. I grabbed slices at Graffiti Pizza because it was the only place open. I stopped the party short because I had to try and reconfigure my plans due to this Ida thing that was developing. In the morning I went to Joe Patti's Seafood. It was a few blocks west of downtown. It was more of a market than a restaurant. Nice selection. But, too crowded and it was 9am. Plus I had eaten the free piece of pizza they gave me at Graffiti for breakfast. Didn't buy anything. They also had a beignet stall in front. Driving through Mobile, I espied the billboard for Dick Russell's Bar-B-Q. I see it every time I drive through. This time I had time to see if it was bs. If it was really at this exit or miles away like some places trick you with. It was only a half mile north of 10. It was a full menu, sit down Southern cooking type of place. I had trouble choosing. Chose half chicken with turnip greens and potato salad and corn bread because I anticipated eating beef and pork and maybe crawfish soon and I had just clogged the system with cheesy pizza.. Very good. Then I did the middle portion of the trip (see below) and came back this way through middle Mississippi. Passed by Mississippi Valley State. That's a land lost in time. Slept at a La Quinta in Starkville MS for $102. It has grown since I last visited (the year that tornado crushed Tuscaloosa). Saw the Ulysses S Grant Presidential library on MSU campus. Why is it there? Drove through timber country to Jackson AL (north of Mobile). Had to shack up in these places because refugees from Louisiana and/or Labor Day vacationers were crushing hotel prices. Slept at a BW for $120. Finally stopped at USS Battlefield Alabama Memorial driving through Mobile. Had lunch at Mancis Antique Club in Daphne. Exit is right after you cross the bay. 98? On 3D. Had a bad Irish Cuban that took way to long. Drove a little south to Fairhope and tried Sunset Pointe at Fly Creek Marina. Also on 3D. This was good. Had a great tuna BLT. Side of grilled slaw. Wasn't even hungry. Whole menu looked good. Back too 10 and on to Tallahassee. Same hotel issues. Fortunately, this place (Comfort Inn on 319 NE) opened a few days before and they hadn't jacked the rates to the $300s (Labor Day plus FSU-ND Opening Game). Only $137 for a brand new hotel. Ate at Lofty Pursuits on the other side of 10. It's more of a sweet shop and ice cream place. Was in that AAA magazine. Had a good scoop of Mexican chocolate ice cream and a forgettable turkey and brie sandwich. Next day I drove on 319NE through the city to 61 and the Edward Ball SP in Wakulla Springs (like ten minutes south east of Tallahassee). It cost $6 and I didn't really have the time. I'll go back. They also have a Lodge and a riverboat cruise. This and the next stops were part of an article I clipped for manatee inhabited springs. Passed one near Ponce de Leon called Morrison Springs. Hooked up with 27E and popped into Wes Skiles Peacock Springs SP north of Mayo and south of Live Oak near Luraville. Couldn't find Ginnie Springs east of High Spring on the Santa Fe River. Back on 75 and home. Saw a new Steve Spurrier steakhouse opened in Gainesville. FYI. 3D means Diners Drive Ins and Dives.