Ten Ten Seafood and Grill, West Colonial (50)

I tried them at lunch on Thursday. In the Golden Sparkling something or other strip mall at Kirkman. I think I alerted you to them (their build) almost two years ago. They said they finally opened a few months ago. One other location in Sunrise (wherever that is). It's a mostly Cantonese menu. Dim sum even. That is what I ended up having. Language issues. I had: beehive fried taro (3 for $4), har kow/steamed shrimp dumplings (4 for $5) and lobster fried shrimp balls (3 for $5). All were large sized. The taro was new to me and good. Had the look of crazy frizzed out hair. Mushroom and maybe pork inside. Also had a slight seafood taste. Let's hope it wasn't cream of sum yung gi. Dumplings were not great. Pasty. Mostly shrimp goo inside. Not real shrimp. Thick skin. The balls were good. Covered in ribbons of dough. Like the stuff you put in wonton soup. Probably the same goo as the dumplings inside. It just cooked better this way. They have a big dim sum and regular menu Here are a few of the crazy things: durian crisp, fish egg curry, sweetbreads, spiced salt water, pig ear, fuqi feipian, spring fish, zilling, whiteboard fish, frogs, pigeon, sea cucumber, jellyfish. Let's hope some of those are misprints. Most platters in the $16-$22 range. Beef, chicken, pork, seafood, tofu. Free tea. One open room. Three columns of mostly family tables. Huge wall tv playing music videos. Traditional decor. They had a decent crowd. Crowd started off Asian and then filled in. Pretty good attempt. Way better and cheaper than Dim Dim Sum or whatever that was. May have best dim sum in the area. Not a high bar though.

*I also was going to try a chicken place (Pollo Chicken) a little farther west on 50. I turned out to be a Haitian place. They didn't change the name. It looked creepy (dark) and the prices were ridiculous. But, if you feel the need. Now you know. There are a few places around there that offer up that type of food now. And I saw a new Korean BBQ place in the strip mall across from Chinatown.

Grub Crawl - Oviedo and Winter Springs: Japanatolia, Oyishi, Heart of Jerusalem and Kabuto *VT/NH/ME/NY Travel Notes

I tried these places at lunch on Saturday. The first two are in or near the food court at the Oviedo Mall. The last two are in the strip mall on the near right side of Red Bug Lake Rd (Tuskawilla?) coming from 436. It was a surprise that the first two made the better dishes.

Japanatolia - A fusion of Turkish and sushi. Kind of. They only sell five rolls. And they are barely Japanese. More Eastern European menu if anything. No fish. Mostly veg. Only rolled in roast beef. One was rolled with collard greens. At $8+ I deviated from the plan. Oh. It's also not a restaurant. It is a stall. I did settle on the chicken in bechemal sauce with rice and mashed potatoes and salad. It was very good. Very rich. Cost $10. Lots of tender chicken. Some pieces seemed like they were ground chicken. Some whole pieces. Bechemal was fine. Mashed potatoes were very rich. Rice was ok. A little mushy. Salad was just carrots, etc in vinegar and oil. They had a few other hot dishes. One with meatballs. They gave me a sample of a lemon semolina dessert. It was good. I think the owner said he was from Istanbul. And the logo has the bridge that spans the Bosphorous on it. Maybe they call it Anatolia because that is the Asian part and Japan is in Asia? Not what I expected, but, acceptable. Very good for a mall stall. And if you need a Dr Oz impersonator, see the cook. Open a month.

Oyishi - They have a decently appointed restaurant with hibachi tables and a bar and a sushi bar. A little aged. Way better than the to go area. I popped into there because this was not planned. That area looks like a worn out Chinese take out place in a dirty city. I ordered the salmon (smoked) and avocado and cream cheese roll for $7 because they didn't look trustworthy to deliver the hibachi side and my stomach had been waiting for sushi. It was a shock. I'm not sure if they made a mistake, but, they gave me two 8 piece rolls. The rice was done correctly. The ingredients were fresh. Came out fast. They also do teriyaki, hibachi, bentos, etc. Probably has been open for years.

Hearts of Jerusalem - The worst of the four. And I expected it to be the best. Arab Jerusalem cuisine. The menu said they have three in Colorado Springs. Open for one year. I tried the $14 Ultimate Plate after they tried to up sell me to a $23 kebab plate. It had thin, non-descript lamb/beef gyro meat and terrible chicken shwarma. Also a Greek salad (best thing) and bland hummus and raw pita triangles. I suspect the gyro meat was not even shaved. And definitely not from their own slab. The chicken looked like the stuff you get from a fast food restaurant/supermarket salad bar in their salads. Bag chicken. Plus some of that was even plastic-y. Frozen. No rice. Biggish menu. The usual suspects. Local color decoration. TV showing Medina. Three columns of tables. Japanatolia was way better.

Kabuto Sushi - I think it was Nagoya before. Only tried because I was there already. Plus I could see, if I did, that this could be a two cuisine food war post. Compare and contrast. I tried the Alaska Roll for 47. Only 1 roll this time. 8 pieces. Fresh salmon. No cc. Avocado and cuke. It was ok. Salmon was a bit soft. Looks good inside. Black and modern. Small. They said kabuto is the hat samurais wear. Open for two years. Menu looked good. Ramen+. 

Travel Notes - Vermont/New Hampshire/Maine/New York: Flight to Albany cost $182. Rental car (Budget) cost $436 for week. Spent the first night in Latham NY at a Microtel for $107 because late night flight got in two hours late. Ate a breakfast Beach (cinnamon and vanilla icing) donut at Duck Donuts because I saw a billboard. Drove north on 4 to Saratoga NHP. Continued up to 30 and 7 to Middlebury VT. Saw the college. Continued north to Burlington. had a cream cheese and tuna fish bagel at Feldman's Bagels. It was as bad as it sounds. Or more correctly, couldn't taste the cc. The road it was on had a lot of interesting looking food options. Went east on 89 to Richmond. Went to Cochran's Ski Area. Like 4 Olympian skiers learned there. It was just some guys backyard hill. Saw it on ESPN or 60 Minutes. Further east to North Woodstock NH. Stayed at the Inn 32 for $137. Ate falafel plate with naan and beer at Pemi Public House. Had a beer at Woodstock Inn Brewery. Went to Franconia Notch SP. Just north. Flume Gorge for $21. Aerial tram at Cannon Mountain was $29. Didn't do. Went back to town and saw a place called Clarke's Bears and Hobo RR. The RR was $20, but, just left. Ate an egg and cheese muffin and a great Rueben at White Mtn Bagel in Lincoln NH. Took 112 east to 11 to Maine and up 202 to avoid tolls to Augusta. Then 3 to Belfast and 1A up to Bangor for the same reason. Stayed at a shit box called Queen City Inn for $114. Up 95 to Medway and then Millinocket to Baxter SP and Mt Kahadin (Appalachian Trail northern terminus). $16. Back south on 95 to Orono. Saw University of Maine. Down 15 to Deer Island and Stonington. Had a $26 lobster roll at Stonington Ice Cream Company. Not bad. Back up and over to Belfast. Stayed at Yankee Clipper Motel for $130. Ate at Young's Lobster Pound. Bad (boiled) 1 1/8 lobster for $26. Nice view though. Got 4.5 stars on Yelp. Went to Rockland to buy ferry tickets. Had half dozen Damariscotta River oysters for $16. Very good. Bought round trip to North Haven Island for $17. Spent rest of day driving the coast off 1. 32 to Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. 27 to Booth Bay. Etc. Back to Rockport for a cheese and herb flatbread at American Flatbread. Slept in Rockland at the Ledges on the Bay for $140. Great view. Bought some cheese and wine and Joseph's by Riverside from Lawrence MA hummus and ate it looking over the ocean. Took ferry to North Haven. Not much there and most things weren't even open. Saw it on tv. The draw was the Nebo Lodge restaurant. Closed. Went up some path to Ames Knob. Good view. Nice ferry ride. Drove south on 1 again to Waldoboro. Grabbed some clam strips and a hd at Delano Seafood Shack. Farther down to Brunswick. Slept at Relax Inn for $102. Down 1 to Wells. Had haddock bites and clam chowder at Wells Beach Lobster Pound. Had bad mussels at Baston River Fish Camp Brewing. Beer was good. All other food dishes looked great. They just opened. Stayed at Anchor Inn for $116 (they tacked on a RF that I will dispute). Took 9 west through Concord to 393 to 202 to 9. Stopped at Franklin Pierce Homestead in Hillsborough NH. To Brattleboro VT. Had a great Roundabout Russian on Marble Rye (T and CH and Sprouts) at Vermont Country Deli. On to Bennington. Saw the college. You should read Rules of Attraction to see why. Onto Albany/Latham and I had cannoli ice cream at Control Tower. Plane left on time. Gas was around $5 everywhere.

** Some interesting ice creams; coffee brandy, vanilla and eclair crunch swirl with red caps (Maine Lobster), vanilla and raspberry jam with caps (Maine Black Bear), espresso and heath bar (Maine Deer Tracks).

Grub Crawl - Florida Mall Area and SoDo: Maguro, Daana Pani, Frenchy's and So Dough

I tried these places on Thursday night. The first is around the mall on the Sand Lake Rd side. The second is on Doss Ave and OBT in the Lakshmi Market. The third is at Gatlin Hall on South Orange. The fourth is on Michigan aside Tin & Taco.

Maguro Latin Fusion - Closed on Tuesday. Open after 3pm. Owner/chef is Puerto Rican. Fusion sushi menu. I tried some tapas as I was on a run. I tried two pieces of tuna for $4 ($5 on menu). OK. Rice was good. Tuna tasted a little bitter. As if it had a a bath to preserve it. I had a ropa vieja egg roll for $5.50. It was ok. Also had sweet plantain in it. Pretty stuffed. A mayo dipping sauce. Maybe it could have used an acid or heat element to cut through the savory. And three chicken gyozo (out of the duck) for $6. Probably not purchased in a store. Steamed and one side fried. OK. Soy sauce dipping sauce. Smallish menu. Bowls, tapas, 4 types of sushi/sahimi (out of the salmon). Black, gray and wood interior. Open kitchen and sushi area behind four seats at a bar. Sixteen four person tables. There was another room of about six tables on the side. It was gated off. Loungy vibe. It was ok. Open for a year or so. I thought it would be a bit ritzier.

Danna Pani - It means rice and water. In the rear of the building. I just grabbed some potato and pea Punjabi samosas for $6. I was just looking to finally knock them off the list and it's all vegetarian and they were out of the falafel. Ok. More baked than fried. Big menu with these categories: apps, sandwiches, pav bhaji, chaat, paav, thali, indo-Chinese, curries, and pulati. I can't read my notes on the last one. Blue and yellow interior. Three rooms. A banquet room, the regular one and a market? Closed Tuesday. Lunch and dinner. Prices in the teens mostly. One dish at $20. North Indian style. They said Punjab and one other area that I didn't get.

Frenchy's Wood Fired Pizza - I had tried to bring this to you many times over the past few months. Always too early or late or they had something going on. Had a private party this day. However, they snuck in a Margherita for me. And didn't charge the $14. It was good. Good chew and char. Oily and moist and spongy dough. A bit too salty. They also offer 4 other pies and wings and meatballs and garlic sticks. Just a stall. Open from 5pm to 10pm. This will be on the Favorite's list. The free part didn't hurt their cause.

So Dough - They said their hard opening will be on July 26th. I tried the one with their cheese blend, etc for $12. It was very good. Crisp, oily crust. Light yet substantial. Soft. Four slices. Square. Detroit style. Garlic-y tomato sauce. Basil was more like a pesto. Order at a kiosk. They make a limited amount each day. They open at 4pm or 5pm. Busy. One guy told me they always sell out. "Open" for a month or so. This will be on the Favorite's list. Best thing on this grub crawl. And I don't prefer book looking pizza. 12 or so styles of pies. Or make your own.

Grub Crawl - Winter Park: Anejo Cocina and Chick'n Cone (Closed) *SC Travel Notes

I tried these places on Memorial Day at lunch. The first replaced Dexter's at the 17-92 and Lee Rd intersection. The second is in that strip mall on Lee Rd. I forget what things have been in that corner slot in the past.

Anejo Cocina - They said they have another in Oviedo. It looks alright. Murals. Blue on white tiles. Patio. Bar. Similar set up as always. I didn't really want to eat here, so, I just ordered chicken fajitas. They were ok. $14. Tortillas (3) were raw. Salsa and pico had no heat or flavor. Came on a super hot plate that turned the tasteless bean puree into paste. Rice and guac were ok. Service was ok. Big menu. They try and add to the usual suspects. Prices were a bit high. Exactly what I expected. The new "higher end" attempt at Mexican cuisine. Nothing special. Open for a couple of months.

Chick'n Cone - This place is a joke. They basically take chicken fingers and serve them three ways. The gimmick is the waffle come. They chop them up for this. Then they put them on a bun for a sandwich. And then sell them whole. Each way is too expensive. And say, worse than Zaxby's or PDQ or Huey whatever's.  I tried the least expensive. The sandwich for $8. Two pathetic fingers. Small. Rubbery pickles. Bun was ok. It is a chain. 30 outlets. 4 in Florida. Open for a month. Also sell mac and ff. You have to get out and walk in. That should eliminate most of you.

*Travel Notes - South Carolina: The trip started here because of a car accident or something that caused me to get off 95 at the first chance (only took an hour to get to it from the last). Slept in Mount Pleasant (this is outside Charleston) at a bad Sleep Inn for $123. Prices were high all over. Slept the next night at a terrible La Quinta at Ashley Point for $147. Ate ok shrimp and grits in West Ashley at Triangle Char and Bar. Ate lunch 1 the next day at Home Team BBQ. Good pulled pork taco and brisket taco. Ate lunch 2 at Lewis Barbecue (down the block). He taught or learned from Aaron Franklin of Austin. showed. I had an El Sancho Loco sandwich of pulled pork and brisket and hot guts sausage. Good. This is in an area under 26 and on the east side of town. A hip, new area they called downtown. I also went (while up there) to Edmund Oast's and Revelry Brewing. The first had a restaurant/market near Home Team. They said try the brewery a few blocks up and over. It was in a warehouse district with new shops. Good beer. Revelry too. It was near the bbq places. Don't know where or how I learned of all these places. I'll bet their Yelp ratings are good.  I also visited the American College of Building Arts while there. It was on a show (Samantha Brown). I also found a nice pier and park under the bridge in Mount Pleasant near the hotel. Excuse the run ons. I've been reading Gertrude Stein. I also tracked down the Old City Jail and Circular Congregational Church in Charleston (south). On the same show. I saw the River Dogs play the Green Hornets (Tampa Bay Rays A ball) at Riley Stadium. $20 for second row right behind home plate. $5 for parking across the street. I also saw in the market - apple fritter iced donut cookies. On the way home I stayed at an ok Motel 6 in Walterboro for $62. On the way up their were big delays south at the border between SC and NC. They were also slowing things down going both ways in Wilson NC. Slowed me down in Emporia VA too. and of course the daily crash near DC. That is one reason I took the path home that I did. some of these delays were for tree cutting. They closed a whole lane (of 2) to give them unneeded safety. A-holes!

Grub/Pub Crawl - Downtown and West Colonial: Deadwords Brewing, Brew Theory, Kang's Kitchen (Closed) and East Garden *NY/PA Travel Notes

I tried these spots on Sunday at lunch. The first one is near the Citrus Bowl. The second is near the Marriott in the Tech Village. The third is near the Lotte Market on West Colonial. The fourth is in Chinatown. I also saw that Taste of Chengdu opened again. All breweries now done again.

Deadwords Brewing - They opened in January. The place blew away my expectations. It looks great. It seems safe (in Parramore). They spent alot on it. It has ample parking. It is on the city side of OBT between Washington and Central. It has a (I'm probably getting this wrong) purple gray black tone. The inside is loft like. A bar in front of curios. It looks like a steam punk scientists library. The equipment is in a recess on the left. An open kitchen with a pizza oven in between. Everything is brand spanking new. I even think they had a patio. The beer was great too. And not me too (another blow to that movement). I tried a Westphalian lager and a Cascade Ale and some Scandanavian type I've never seen before. The brewer is latterly from Bend OR. He worked at Crux and Deschutes (see my travel notes on them). The owner is a lawyer. The food menu seemed ok too. Open from 4pm on weekdays. 11am on weekends. No Monday. A real surprise. May be my new fav.

Brew Theory - They brew for others. None of their own. Parking was a bitch. No free parking on Sundays like the rest of DT. You make a right on Pittman from the road under I-4. If you miss it, you have to make a big loop. The place is basically a factory outlet store/bar. They also have a Grilled Cheezus branch there. They said the factory has been there for seven years. The bar for one. Parking issue alone makes it a pass for me.

Kang's Kitchen - Turned out to be a chain. 5 locations. I thought they had some interesting back story. Oh well. It was good anyway. More things on the menu than usual (ie Korean Army Stew and beef tartare). I went with the pork bulgogi combo for $17 because I wanted to try the bean paste soup it came with. The pork was tender. Alot. Good rice. The soup was ok. Not sure they gave me the right one. Slightly spicy broth, veg, tofu. This one had lots of tough (over boiled) beef. Good bon chon. Gas grills. $36 all you can eat. Mostly Asian patrons. Open for three months. I tried to try them a while ago, but, not open for lunch during the week. Opens at 4 or 5pm. Open plan interior. Basic. Good service. Worth a spin.

East Garden - I've been waiting on them for over a year. I tried the salt and pepper baked shrimp. Did them half correctly. Still need someone to butterfly and depoop these suckers. 13 biggish shrimp. Ok condition. Menu is ambitious. Dim sum, sea cucumber, etc. They have 10 person dinners for $700. Most things are $20+. Even Kung Pao Chicken is $18. One big ceilinged, open room. A huge, beautiful mural in back. Black, wood, geometric designs on walls. Three columns of tables. Mostly Asian patrons. 2 servers. Worth a second look. Three interesting options side by side there now.

*Travel Notes - New York/Pennsylvania: I drove on 287 to 9N (past West Point) to Newburgh Hudson Valley). Had wine at Benmarl Winery and Stoutridge Vineyard and Distillery in Marlboro. The guy (Stephen Osborn) at Stoutridge was a savant. Learned so much. He's trying to make old school wines with flavors like soy and leather. It was a trip trying "old" vintages and deciding if they were disturbing or not. Or skunked. Still uncertain. He said banks made wineries (in the 80's-90's) sell their old inventories. Young wine trend wasn't caused by fruit bomb lovers. It was Wells Fargo! The liquor portion was even more instructive/impressive. He distills some stuff 30 times! Things like gin and vodka and whiskey. But also, mastic/mastiha, eau de vie, absinthe, pastis, oriole, fernet, bitters, grappa, silvovitz and kirsch. Just crazy. He served me "Swiss" absinthe dripped through a clay sieve. So sweet. He said alcohol is bitter because of acetones or something. It is sweet if they are removed. Most won't. Too costly. Everything I tried was great. He finds recipes from hundreds of years ago. I also bought a mastic with frankincense and myrhh called Three Kings. A real experience. I stayed the night at Crossroads Hotel for $130. I drove through some vineyards in Pine Bush: Brimstone Hill Winery, Baldwin Winery and Magnanini Vineyards. Didn't try them. Too early. Also went through Angry Orchard Cidery. I drove 87 to Scranton. Went to Steamtown NHS. Trains. Forgot to look for Dunder Mifflin stuff. Stayed at Comfort Suites in Moosic for $115. Was there (Moosic) to see Yankees Wilkes Barre minor league team. Didn't end up doing that. Had an ok meatball sub and slice at Gourmet Slice. Not a great town. Drove to Elverson PA to see Hopewell Furnace NHS at French Creek SP. An ironworks. Closed. Went past Yuengling's Brewery. Would have gone if they had signs directing you. Drove to Philadelphia. Saw Thaddeus Kosciusko's (A Pole who fought with us) NM and Edgar Allan Poe NHS. Also went for cheese steak at Woodrow's Sandwich Shop. It was on 3D the night before. It was good. Traveled out of Philly west on 3 (I think) to 30. To Lancaster. Stayed at Soudersburg Motel for $81. This was Amish country. Then drove to VA.