Grub Crawl - New Smyrna Beach: The Spott, Dough Girl (Closed), Lilly Rose Cafe and Cafe del Soul *FL/AL Travel Notes

I tried these spots on Friday at lunch. They are all on the intercoastal side of town. The first and last two are right in the center of town. Like five more spots to go. All open for dinner only though. A new one (La Fiesta) is opening near the drawbridge.

The Spott - Like Zee Boyzzz, the extra letter must be for more flava. They opened in the Thai restaurant spot on Canal St four months ago. From the looks of it, it seems like an Irish pub. It is more of an up scale (in concept) place than that. I had a sous vide chicken sandwich with fries. It cost $14. The sous vide part is really for affect. A dish like this (that is pan sauteed anyway) doesn't need it. And the results didn't warrant it (if done correctly). It just made it bland. It came with veg on top of a supposedly hand made bread. It needed a sauce/spread. The bread wasn't that great either. I think it was supposed to come with avocado. That was mia. The best component was the fries. They were that scoop shape I think I told you about in a Moab travel note. The ones that look like Frito scoops. I should have gone with a burger that had bone marrow butter, Nueske bacon and an egg on it. They said the beef is Schneid and Sons. I guess that should mean something to me. They also touted (who knows if they actually buy it) duroc pork. It came with edamame. Interesting? Or revolting? The menu had some appealing items on it. Prices were high. IE $30 for a grouper sandwich. $3 for a soda. It was more than I thought I was going to experience. That might be part of the problem. I wasn't expecting a fancy feast. So, it kind of struck me as needlessly pretentious. Go in with expectations. Service was ok. I went late-ish, so, it wasn't too full. They did a good job on the reno. Bar in back on the right. Open spacing with tables in two rows. TVs. Sports on. I wonder if it will be a tweener. Too high brow for the sports crowd. And too butch for the foodies. 

Dough Girl - On the road to the draw bridge. They open at 2:30 pm. I don't get it. They sell cookie dough. It tastes like crystalized sugar. Get's real dry real fast too. A big scoop of it. You can get it with ice cream (shake, float or side by side). Doubles the cost. That may help. I tried a scoop of Cookie Monster (blue with oreos and chips) for $5. As I said, I don't get it. They also had "nachos". On waffle cone circles. Open for a year. 

Lilly Rose Cafe - I saw them while driving to the beach. Off Canal on Downing. Open for eighteen months. They sell girlie food. Vegan-y things. Soups, wraps, smoothies, salads, juice, etc. Maybe some of the meats were real. It was late, so, many things in the showcase were gone. I found out after that they could have made me something then and there. I settled on a soup. It was damn good. $5 for a small. It was enough though. And they didn't fill it with liquid. Beans (at least two types), barley, sausage (seemed real), kale, other veg, chicken or veg stock. Came with chips (blue corn). Very tasty. Cute, little spot. Not much (if any) seating. 

Cafe del Soul - I that it was Sol driving by last time. Guess it ain't a Latin place. Open now. For two months. Off Canal on Magnolia. L and D. Seating. Nice atmosphere'interior design. Owner has two places in NorCal. Moved here for health reasons. Glad to have you. Another girlie, vegan-y place. Though you can get chicken instead of tofu. It's gmo of course. Like my natural Covid antibodies. They sell soups, nachos, quesadillas, rice dishes, quinoa dishes, wraps, salads, smoothies, juices, drinks, beer, wine, kombuchas, canned cocktails, champers, desserts, tea and coffee. I had a Hummus Yummus (can you tell I order by monikers) for $10. I know. A little high. Plus you must add $3 for chicken. It was good though. And I don't go cuckoo for veggie puffs. It had hummus (no duh), red leaf lettuce, feta, edamame, almonds, regular lettuce, cukes, onion and a ginger vinaigrette in a spinach tortilla. Pretty filling. Who knew I could be satiated by two vegan-ish enterprises. I'd go back for more. This place is more "substantial" than Lilly Rose. You could have a sit down meal here. Even a date. Large, open space. High ceilings. Counter. Semi-exposed kitchen. Modern, yet earthy decor. I'm worried I might be seduced by these healthy options. Where's my yoga mat?

*Travel Notes - Florida and Alabama: I stayed the first night in Chipley because I chose the Miami/FSU game day to travel. Remember that I chose the FSU/ND game day to stay in Tallahassee to start the season? I stayed at a Comfort Inn for $104. It seemed like it had been damaged. Hurricane? Shit town. I drove to Ponce de Leon the next morning. Went four miles south of 10 and made a left to Morrison Springs. No fee. Then circled back and went about a mile north of 10 and a mile east to Ponce de Leon State Park. Another spring. Fee required. Didn't swim in either. Drove through dt Pensacola to Cub's Crawfish on 98. It became some other road. 200 something. This place (I was told on last trip) had great and cheap crawfish. They were cheap. But, it (as I found out) isn't crawfish season. That is mid January (pushing it) to July 4th (pushing it). So, I ate frozen crap that gave me the squirts by dinner time. Live and learn. They get 4 and a half stars on Yelp though.  I continued on that road past Perdido Key to Orange City AL. I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn for $97. On the beach! I drove west through Gulf Shores AL to the end of 182. I came back and had a half pound of red shrimp at Lartigue's Seafood Market (across from hotel). I ate dinner at The Gulf. It was on Food Paradise. They take shipping containers and make a place out of them. Great location. Had a good tuna poke bowl. Has a bar area and shops. Right on ocean by a canal and aside a bridge. Found out this might be a chain. Saw one in Fort Walton Beach later on. The next morning I drove to 59 in Gulf Shores and went north a mile or two and hung a left onto 180W. Took it to the end. Intercoastal part of area that goes further west than the coastal. Great drive. Mobile Bay on the north side. Ends at Fort Morgan. Funny observation. Signs for graveyards seemed to go out of their way to let you know they were established AFTER the Civil War. Came back to 59 and went a mile back to the coast and ate at Original Oyster House. On Man v Food. Ten years ago! Time flies. Had a half dozen Area 3 Louisiana oysters. Good. Tried trigger fish again to see if Farlow's screwed me. Maybe. This filet had the firmness and thickness near the dorsal area that I remember. It came with two sides. I did a baked potato and cheese grits. Invented the baked potato with cheese grits topping (instead of melted cheese) inside. Passed Lake Shelby and a fancy Lodge by Hilton on the way back. OC and GS are nice. Not as congested as Destin. Really getting more "updated" though. I went back to Florida and made a right on 172 to the Naval Air Station. Sign says Pensacola Lighthouse. It must be inside the base. I didn't see if they would let me in. Blue Angels there too. Back through Pensacola over bridge to to Pensacola Beach. Sign said toll road. Didn't want to trip the rental car EZ Pass. Stayed on 98. Drove it to Navarre Beach and found I could take that road back to PB. Did that. I goes through a portion of Gulf Islands NS through PB to Santa Rosa Island and Fort Pickens. The end of Florida. Back the same way to Navarre. Back to 98 and into Fort Walton Beach. Stayed at La Qunita Inn for $90. Ate at Nacho n Taco Taqueria. Had a lengua chimichanga and a bad chicken empanada. Drove east through Destin and south on 30a. They are doing work on a bridge, so, I had to detour half way through. Great drive though. So clean. Great communities. Stopped in Seaside. The destination. Where they filmed the Truman Show. Found his house at 36 Natchez (also 31). Had lunch at one of the many food trucks. The Meltdown on 30A. Had a All American grilled cheese on Texas toast and a Strawberry Goat Forever (Alabama Goat Cheese, strawberry preserves and prosciutto). Drove east through Rosemary Beach. They have a fancy hotel called The Pearl. Past Panama City and Port Joe and Mexico. Beach. You know. The one the hurricane crushed. Still building back. Maybe even better? Past Apalachicola. Stopped at St George Island. Stayed at St George Inn for $106. A crumbling dump. Ate at Paddy's Raw Bar. Eaten up by sand fleas. Said they had Apalachicola Oysters. Found out there is a two year moratorium on harvesting them. They sucked. Whatever they were. Even worse mahi tacos. Whole island isn't really anything. Drove east to 319N. Went to Leon Sinks Geological Area. Found out it is closed for two years. Made a right onto 61S to Edward Ball Wakulla Springs SP. Stayed at Lodge at Wakulla Springs for $125. Great lodge built in the Thirties. No park fee if you stay here. Took a boat ride for $8. Saw manatees, etc. Swam. They filmed Creature from the Black Lagoon and Tarzan movies here. Ate at the Edward Ball Dining Room for lunch and dinner. Good cb for lunch. Not so great Panhandle Chicken with mashed red potatoes and mostly cheeseless mac and cheese for dinner. Still nice ambiance. Had a dog at The Parlor too. Warning! No tvs. Drove down to 27 and south on 47 at High Springs. East at 340. North on some road shortly after. To Ginnie Springs. Didn't stop. Cloudy. Will go back. Costs $15. I think you can tube. Can get to it from 75 at Alachua exit (399). And that is it. another one in the books. Weather supported a trip to these locations. Prices were low in most places. DT Pensacola was still high.

Grub Crawl - Deland: Pho Company Noodle House, The Abbey, Sidecar Home Market and Loaded Lunch Box *FL Gulf Coast Travel Notes

I tried the first three at night about two weeks ago on a Saturday. They are all around Woodland Blvd (17) and New York Ave. The last is on New York Ave (44) back towards I-4 near the Deland HS turn. I tried that on this Saturday at lunch. Now I have given you every spot in Deland.

Pho Company Noodle House - Open for five years. Some how they had a wait list. I sneaked in. I tried the curry chicken with white rice. Let me say that no cuisine has lost as much respect with me than Vietnamese. I pretty much only like banh mi now. This was a piss poor attempt at a Thai dish. I'm not sure if they really make this in Vietnam. Many countries do a version of a neighboring cuisine. I've never seen nor heard of the Vietnamese doing so. It is plausible. Maybe just what places in the States do? They also had some other "pan Asian" items as well. Like bao. The curry had no heat. Bland. Bisque like. I swear they used the chicken roll from the banh mi. The chicken was in little slices (stuck together). Sad if they did that. The rice was mushy. Not good. Even the soda tasted off. The place is a long hall with a mural on one side. Not a destination spot. Open for lunch or dinner.

The Abbey - The reason for the trip. Only open at night. A bar. I had a mead they make for $5. Called Abbey Normal. It was good. Sweet. They have a few. Plus wine, beer, cigars. Good selection. Brick walls. They let dogs in. Patio. TVs. I was leaving early the next day or I would have stayed longer. Open for many years. I'm just not here often at night. So it slipped by.

Sidecar Home Market - A furniture store with a bar and things in a fridge. I grabbed a coffee in a can for the next morning. Cute spot.

*I also passed by the alley with Persimmon Hollow and the courtyard area with a bar/counter that I think is called DaVinci Gardens. It's still there. I believe I reviewed it ages ago.

Loaded Lunch Box - A real dive of a snack bar. Had a terrible (unoiled) grilled cheese for $2 and an equally bad hot dog (the cheapest type of bologna dog) for $2.50. They do other sandwiches and burgers and fish and ribs. Open for eight months. 

*Travel Notes - Florida Gulf Coast: I drove from the Keys on 1N to 997N in Florida City to 41W (Tamiami Trail) to Naples. Stayed at the Lemon Tree Inn for $102.50 (Booking gave me a $20 coupon). I was way cute. Little bungalows. Two blocks from 5th Ave. I had dinner at bha! bha! on 5th. It is upscale Persian. I forget what designation they claimed. NYT Best or something. I had a great Lamb Bedemjune Koresh (stew) with eggplant and tomato and sour grapes (the draw). Very large portion. Came with basmati rice. I had a good Sandra's Hottie burger of cream cheese, cheese, bacon and jalapenos at Brooks Burgers near the hotel the next afternoon. It also claimed to be the second best burger (I believe in the country) per Trip Advisor (they said). No idea if that was true and when it was. Sign out front said it was called Lindburghers. Like the pilot. I guess that was a popular place or they wouldn't have a sign saying so. I drove up 41 through Fort Myers. Went to the Edison and Ford Winter Homes. Didn't go in because I have seen it on tv and I think it was $25. I was going to do Sanibel but the bridge had tolls and I didn't want to set off the rental car EZ Pass. Drove north past other pay bridges to Cape Coral. I think I took 78W in North Fort Myers to Cape Coral and then Matlacha Island and then Pine Island (has a ferry to a place called Caya Costa. Cabbage Key is another spot you need a boat to get to too). Drove it south to St James City. Then to the north end at Bokeelia. They were ok islands. Not very developed. I then took some road just past Matlacha to Punta Gorda. Stayed at the Punta Gorda Waterfront for $95. Ate at The Perfect Caper (beat Bobby Flay with mussels). Saw this in Food Traveler magazine a while back. Had the mussels, a terrible salmon tartare (pasty) and chicken liver pate. Drove up 41N and west on 776 (about eight miles past the Gasparilla Island turn off at 771) to Englewood and Farlow's on the Water. Rays spring training stadium is on this road too. Same article. It looked better than I expected. It was packed. Mostly hunch backed old Irish ladies. I had to send back the mussels. Like raisins. I had a triggerfish (that I think they gave me barramundi instead) with a weird cold quinoa salad and papaya salad. All disappointing. The chef is from St Croix. I think. Menu reflects it. On a lagoon/river. Drove back to Punta Gorda and drove up to I-4 from there. I believe it was 17N to 64E to 98N to 27N. Next post will have my west of Tallahasee and Alabama notes.

Grub Crawl - Lake Ivanhoe and Audubon Park: Ziggie's Pizza and Sugar Dough *FL Keys Travel Notes

I tried these new participants last Saturday afternoon. They are semi-near each other. The first is on Virginia in between Lake Ivanhoe and Mills next to Thirsty Topher. The next is across from the East End Market in the old Bluebird spot.

Ziggie's Pizza - The partners from Perla split. This is one of them. Ziggie is a nick name. He and his bro do a New Haven "inspired" pie. No coal oven. It's steel. But they said it gets to 600 degrees. Open for two months. Only pizza. Some funky toppings. I had the basic OG. It cost $10. Not bad. Gray-ish under crust. Alright char. Thin! Almost no crust. Was better than Pop's in that you could taste the sauce. Cheese was ok.

Sugar Dough - I had a spam quiche danish because it was the weirdest thing. It cost $4.50. No complaints. They sell cookies, cruffins, crowaffles, etc. Not much of a departure from Bluebird. I will opine that if a business had this lack of alternate sex employees, there would be a scene. But. since it doesn't involve white males, no one will kvetch. You are more evolved though. Don't let your behavior tell you otherwise. Some sort of past discrimination sterilizes your innate bigotry. Gurrl power.

*Travel Notes - Florida Keys: I will break the trip into three parts. This is the first. I left a few days early because the prices were rising due to a boat race. Plus the weather was deteriorating. I slept at the Rock Reef Resort in Key Largo on Sunday for $117. I like to drive down on Sunday. Less traffic. I ate dinner at Ballyhoos. I had an Iron Skillet of Mahi with Shrimp and roasted mushrooms that were sauteed/boiled. I had a poor slice at Upper Crust in Key Largo. I had a mahi sandwich in Key Lime Butter with ff at Hobo's Cafe at lunch. Good quality mahi. In Marathon, I slept at the horrible Kingsail Resort (noise) for $244 for two nights. I whiffed on scuba. Went to the wrong place (based on last year's rates) and passed. Found out a place called Hook's had reasonable rates the next day. Ate dinner at Barracuda Grill. It was surprisingly ambitious and expensive. Had Roast Duckling with veg and mp. Also a salad with sweet cherry peppers. Had lunch at Porky's. A bad yt snapper sandwich with potato salad. Supplemented the lunch with a snack of stone crabs at Key Fisheries. Found out that deformed claws are called floaters. They sold them for 1/3 the price per pound. They were going for $30 this year. These cost $10. The meat was about a half as large. Some claws seemed to be "full". It was worth the discount. Never seen them offered up before. Had another snack at a food truck called Las Isla Taco Grill. Had a bad al pastor taco and a good mahi. Ate a bad hogfish sandwich at Sunset Grille under the 7 Mile Bridge. Good spot to see the sunset though. Ate an ok egg and sausage breakfast at Stout's (cash only). Ate lunch on the way out at Lazy Lobster in Key Largo. A lazy. tail piece yt tuna sandwich with store bought, watery potato salad. Sad. I think I'll go back in December since this trip got truncated. Got a few more scuba options. I went to Naples next. That will be part 2.

Blended Bistro & Boba, Lake Mary *NV/UT/CO Travel Notes

I tried this peculiar restaurant in the shopping area on 46A and International Parkway (has the Amstar theater) on Wednesday at lunch. It was a Subway sandwich shop before this. I say peculiar because who doesn't think pho, bao, banh mi, macarons, poke, boba and wok dishes when they hear "bistro"? Needless to say. I was non-plussed when I viewed the menu. I was expecting bistro fare. Maybe a burger. I settled on the Malay Fried Chicken Rice because I saw one of the only other customers being served it and it had pink rice. Never had that. I should have settled for a $5 banh mi to go. The dish cost $12. It was a tiny drum and thigh deep fried. No flavor. The rice also had zero seasoning. It also came with a basic shredded cabbage and carrot salad with an over soy-ed dressing. I've had some Malayasian food. Even been there. Can't recall it being this bland. I had to order a fruit tea because they don't sell soda. Of course it tasted like peach juice rather than tea and cost $5. Another fail. The place is now white and green. The lights were off. Gloomy atmosphere. Didn't feel like the air was on either. You order at the counter. They only give you plastic cutlery. I don't know what to make of it. It has potential. Or maybe it doesn't? Probably will drop the food going forward and just sell the junk food. That is all most of the orders (all to go) seemed to be. Has been open for six months. *It appears they have a location in College Park that I tried in February 2019. I liked the banh mi.

*Travel Notes - NV/UT/CO: In Las Vegas I stayed downtown. The Electric Daisy Carnival was in town and the rates were high. I stayed at the Plaza for $63 (+$32 resort fee) on the first night. Across the street at the Golden Gate for $80 (+34 resort fee) the next night. Parking free at both. Turns out the Gate is the oldest hotel in Vegas. Rooms looked it. No views. I ate at the Yi Mei Champion Taiwan Deli on Spring Mountain Rd. It was the last remaining one from that Marcus Samuelson show. I had a pork and nap cabbage steamed bao and traditional beef noodle soup. I had drinks downtown at the Underground at the Mob Museum. It is a secret speakeasy that you need a password for. I had dinner at Carson Kitchen. Not as great as advertised. I had barramundi in a walnut romesco and black rice and ox tail risotto. I had average quality "all you can eat" sushi at Kaya on Spring Mountain Rd. I found the pawn shop on Pawn Stars. It's near the Strat. Passed it a million times. I also checked out the new Resorts World Casino. I tried to find the shop on American Restoration. Got bad intel. I believe it is under the highway intersection downtown. Didn't feel up for it. Next time. I had chicken noodle soup (started getting a tooth ache) at Saginaw's Delicatessen at the Circa. I had a drink at the Prohibition Bar at the Golden Gate. I had drinks at Park on Fremont. I left early on Friday to beat the festival traffic (was at the race track). There was none yet. Drove north through Utah to Salina. Stayed at the Super 8 for $85. Drove east to Glenwood Springs CO. Stayed at the Cedar Lodge for $105. Drove east to Silverthorne. Stayed at Luxury Inn for $92. Ate a egg and avocado burrito and mushroom soup at Blue Moon Bakery. Drove east to DIA. Stayed at Baymont for $111. Fall in Colorado wasn't as pretty as I thought it would be. West part of state already has decent snow accumulation.