Grub Crawl - Lake Mary: Daddy's Chicken Shack and Pal Campo

I tried these spots on Monday at dinner. They are across from each other at the 46A exit. The first is in the strip mall on the left. The second is in the strip mall (Publix) on the right.

Daddy's Chicken Shack - It was a Moe's Caribbean and then a Halal Guys. It is a chain from Pasadena that really hails from Houston. This is the only one in Florida. This was the first day it was open. I had a Simple Daddy for $6. It was disappointing. Very wide. Not so tall. Big spaces between crust and chicken. Ends were mostly batter. Chewy crust. Like it had sat out. Stale, bland too. Ok marinated chicken. Made it a bit slippery. Three pickles. Glossy bun. They also sell breakfast, waffle buns, tenders, fries, etc. Same floor plan. A few tables. Nothing new.

Pal Campo - Means - Into the woods. Open for three months. On the corner, near the Chase bank. Was a sandwich place before. I had the pechuga de pollo al ajillo with a side (rice and pink pigeon peas) for $17. Too $. Flat, rubbery chicken. Mushy, flavored rice. Raw garlic. Veg bits. They also sell mofongo, pork, beef, seafood, soups. Large, square, dark, open space. Bar. TVs. Lunch and dinner. Open for three months. Puerto Rican. Not a destination spot.

Grub Crawl - Winter Park and Downtown: Crisp & Green, Jeni's and Bynx

I tried these spots on Monday at lunch. The first two are in the Winter Park Village near Lee Rd. The last is on Church St near Eola. I was trying for other spots that turned out to be closed. These were just poor substitutions.

Crisp & Green - A chain from Minneapolis. I had a make your own bowl for $9. I chose field greens, romaine, grated radish, cukes, cherry tomatoes and radicchio. Ranch dressing. Bland. Small portion size. You can also choose quinoa, wild rice, etc. Acai, smoothies and tea. Bright white look. Modern. Nothing notable or necessary about them.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream - You know I also have little need for a place like this. Especially at $6.25 for their small. They give you two 1/2 scoops. I like that. I also liked the ice cram. Alot. I tried Brambleberry Crisp and Gooey Butter Cake. Came with a waffle cone triangle. They also sell pints. Colorful look. Out of Columbus OH.

Bynx - I just grabbed a coffee for $4 because they only had pricy paninis at that point. I wanted more. It's really just a drinks option. Not a destination spot.

*I also tried (and will never again) Sushi Saint near the Marriott. No parking. Won't do take out. I think a hand roll starts at $9. 

Grub Crawl - Ocoee and West Colonial (50): Mr J Hand Pulled Noodle and Pho Ga Hien Vuong

I tried these spots on Monday in the afternoon. I grabbed the meals to go. The first is two blocks north of West Colonial (50) on East Silver Star Rd in a Publix strip mall (Sliver Crossing) at the intersection with Clarke Rd. The signage is inadequate and probably from the last owners. Something crab. The second is in Chinatown in the righthand corner.

Mr J Hand Pulled Noodle - I tried their basic bowl for $16. A salty beef broth with some sliced beef, spicy sesame oil, ground nuts, green onion and some almost potato like, clear, bland vegetable sliced thin (turnip, parsnip, radish, beet?). The beef was tender. They had eight types of noodles. I chose triangle. They didn't look any different. Certainly not like prisms. They were mushy. Disappointing. I'm not sure if being enclosed in a plastic bag did this or if they are always in this condition. I haven't had too many hand pulled noodles. I think I recall much better ones in Las Vegas. You can also get them hand cut. They have a few bowls and finger foods. Things like: gyoza and a spring roll looking thing. They had a lamb and cumin dish like that of Chengdu. They said the food is from the North of China. I forget the province. Something with an L? A small space. Maybe seven tables. Tightly packed. Gray, fake flatstone walls. Cartoons on the tables. Tiny fish tank. Large tv showing a journey through a Chinese airport. It was full. Three workers. Tables were left unbused. Open for a year. It took me a while to get here. I'm not sure if it wa worth the effort. Closed on Sunday. Lunch and dinner.

Pho Ga Hien Vuong - This is another spot that I have been thwarted by for a while. If you are a avid reader, you may recall me mentioning it before. They call themselves a Vietnamese Noodle House. I grabbed a chicken (ga) pho for $17. They play up the quality of their chicken and broth. The broth was exceptional. Clear. Clean. Delicious. A hint of star anise. The chicken seemed like the casualty of the broth construction. Like all the flavor had been boiled out of it for it's brother. Plus they chop up the carcass and count that as part of the meat booty (there are some shreds of white meat too). Too much work and mess getting the scraps of meat from it. The chicken had a tiny, scrawny frame. Probably some word soup variety marketed to sustainiacs. Came with greens/herbs (unwilted), scallions, some kind of flavored oil, bean sprouts and deseeded jalapeno slices. I actually used the remaining noodles from Mr J in place of their noodles. I think I like the thicker noodles better. They do a few riffs on this pho. Plus beef ones. They also sell rice and noodle dishes. I forget if they have snacks. They are the people behind Z Asian on East Colonial. They said Hien Vuong is a street in Vietnam that is known for chicken pho. Small footprint. Maybe six tables. Order at a counter. Modern. Lunch and dinner. Was closed on Mondays. No longer. Now closed on Fridays. Open for two months. This is a hard one. I did love that broth. But, is that enough? Maybe for a fly by if you are in the area already. I wonder if you should avoid the non-broth dishes then? Will the meat be as bland?

The Castle irish Pub, College Park *TX/LA/MS/AL/FL Travel Notes

I tried this Irish pub on Monday at lunch. It replaces Thai Farm Kitchen which replaced another Irish pub, so, it's a bit deja vu-y. It is half way between the high school at Princeton St on Edgewater Drive. It has been open for three months. I tried the special of ahi tuna salad for $14. They quoted $12. But, that was without fries. It was still the cheapest options. A burger was $15+ and most of the other items were reaching for the twenties. The waitress and a manager said it was their favorite item. It wasn't great. The tuna was dry as jerky. Like this is what they do with the misfired ahi pieces. It was described as the opposite - seared. It didn't make that much difference. I was just curious as to what kind of tuna salad (with mayo) that would make. Guess I'll never know. The owner said it was to be made as decribed. She would look into it. It was unreasonably salty as well. The bread was good. Semi sweet. Thick cut. Seemed a tad above store bought. The l and t were covered up by mayo, so, it was hard to tell the quality. The l seemed ok. The t seemed a bit unripened. The fries were good. Rectangular. Thinish. Pulpy in the middle. A goodly portion. They offer a typical selection: bangers and mash, shepard's pie, fish and chips, fish tacos, steak, fried chicken sandwich, etc. They spent alot on the decor. Black, gray, silver, yellow, burgandy, stained wood and steel. The ceiling has two patterns of steel structures. Plush seats. Some booths. The room is divided into a front area with the bar on the left. There is a connected rear room behind it. A half wall divides it into sections. Each seats about 40. They kept the large patio in the front. TVs at the bar. The staff (only 2) seemed a bit harried. Florida Women. Pubs aren't my bag baby. But, if you are inclined to like them, I think you'll find this one agreeable. The prices reflect the new build/investment. Though they aren't that out of line. Just hope that what you order is under more scrutiny from the kitchen. I think they are trying/sincere. It was a bit underlit. Parking is limited. It was pretty full.

*Travel Notes - Texas/Louisiana/Mississippi/Alabama/Florida: I rented a car from Hertz for two weeks fo $492. I spent the first and last days here. I drove to Pensacola and stayed at the Sole Inn again for $100. I had a Rubble Rage Hot Dog (K/M/Mayo/Chili/Sri/SC and Fruity Peebles) at The Dog House. I had a too sweet wild boar sloppy joe with shoe string ff at Union Public House. I had good beer at Perfect Plain Brewing Co and Odd Colony Brewing Company. I drove the next day through Mobile. Had a good chicken shwarma with corn chowder at Mediterranean Sandwich Co and good crawfish etouffe with corn bread at The Noble South. I forget how I found out about them. I think Yelp's top ten. I also found this bbq place called Cotton State BBQ near my parking spot and picked up a bad chicken salad sandwich. I drove on to New Orleans. To the Faubourg Brewing Co. They have signs showing you the way off 10 now. Stayed at the St Charles Coach House again for $108. No charge for parking any longer. I ate dinner at Jacques Imo's (magazine article). Met a pretty tipsy Jacques Leonardi - Owner. I didn't need a reservation. Had a $70 meal of fried rabbit tenderloin, chicken fried venison with a peppercorn sauce and a side smothered  cabbage and mashed potatoes. They tossed in a creme brulee. Glad I finally knocked this off the list. They are usually not open on the days I choose to be in NO. I could have lived without the rabbit. The venison was huge and delicious. I drove to Elgin TX the next day. 10 to 610 to 290. Stayed at the Quality Inn for $67. Reviews for hotels in other towns were worrisome. I drove back east about thirty miles east the next day to Lexington for Snow's BBQ. It is only open on Saturdays. It is usually ranked as number one in Texas. Some old lady does the cooking. The line starts before 8am. I got there at 9am. It took three hours to order. It was ok. I had 1/2 lb of brisket and a guy I was in line with gave me a piece of sausage. The brisket was plain and dryish. The sausage was crisp and good. I think she is also known for chicken. That was gone by 10am. Still a fun experience. I actually could have come at 11am and the line would have been gone. I will add in here that many of the bbq places I will be mentioning were charging almost $40 a lb for brisket. I drove on to Austin. Had 1/2 lb of brisket (point) at La Barbecue on Cesar Chavez St. It was oily (good), but, had too much of that dark brown layer between the fat and the meat and too much fat. Saved that later for dinner. I had beer across the street at Blue Owl Brewery. I stayed two nights again at the Holiday Inn Town Lake for $125 a night (free parking). I walked up the river on the now completed river path and up to the Capitol. Across to Red River St (quite a few places here) and had beer at Central District Brewing. I then grabbed a fabulous 1/2 bbq chicken at Iron Works Barbecue on the same street. I just ran into all those places by chance. Except La. I saw them while driving around on my last trip. I walked back to the hotel through a fun nightspot area on Rainey St. Bought wine at Rainey St Market. Drove up 35 a few miles to Pflugerville the next day. Had an ok thick cut pastrami rueben at Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue. Adding some variety. Probably should have tried anything else. It was on this show Daytripper with Chet Garner on Create TV. I will refer to it as DT from now on. I drove east through Round Rock on 70 to Taylor again. This time for Davis Grocery & BBQ (DT). It is hidden aside the railroad tracks on MLK Blvd. I had (affordable) tasty mutton sandwich and a sausage wrap (just one piece of white bread). He gave me some tasty brisket to sample. Back to Austin. I checked out the beautiful O2 Stadium (MLS) just north of town. I drove to South Congress (across the river) and got a delicious redfish boy boy with ff to go at Perla's (Yelp I think) and an ok black bean and cheese and a pork and beef tamale at Guero's Taco Bar (Yelp I think). I ate those for breakfast. No night time activity (Sunday). I drove 35S to 71E to 360N to 1N to Bee Cave Rd to The County Line BBQ (DT). I had a combo plate of a beef rib and second cut (their term for point) brisket and a salad and potato salad. The rib may be the best one I have ever had. The brisket was great too. Even the sides were good. Good value too. I drove 1S to 290W to Fredericksburg. I stayed at the Fredericksburg Inn & Suites for $113. I went just east to a new winery area. Rejected the $35 tasting at Invention Vineyards. But, got roped into a $25 tasting at Augusta Vin. Both the reds and whites were good though. I drove on to Santa Maria Cellars. It was closed. I had dinner at Otto's German Bistro (Samantha Brown's Places to Love). Had a good (pricy) duck schnitzel with kase spatzle, rotkohl, duck cracklings in a Kirsch demi-glace. Watched the BCS game. Good breakfast at the hotel (free). Drove the next morning on 87S to 10E to San Antonio. Stayed at a nice La Quinta in Downtown on Cesar Chavez Blvd for two nights at $111 a night (free parking). I was worried that this area was going be dangerous. Nope. Perfect. They are redoing the whole city. Hardly any area is sketchy anymore. This was near a portion of the riverwalk too. DT was a few blocks away. Most other hotels in town charged alot for parking. There was a HEB market across the street. I had lunch of a tasty Botanas Platter at Mi Tierra Cafe & Bakery (on DT) at Market Square. Chicken flautitos, chalupitas bocadillos and  quesadillas. Good value. This place is a legend. I walked through downtown to the Alamo and down the south part of the Riverwalk. Dinner from HEB. The next day I walked down the Riverwalk to the Pioneer Flour Mill and the Guenther House (magazine article). I had ok sweet cream waffles with pork sausage. I walked across to the King William District. Grabbed a delicious "Brazilian" butternut squash soup with ground almonds at Pharm Table (Samantha Brown's Places to Love). Many restaurants and shops here. Walked past Anton Wulff House to the Riverwalk all the way north to the Performing Arts Center, old Pabst HQ, Make Ready Market, San Antonio Museum of Art to this area called the Pearl (the old Pearl Brewery that is now an urban living center). Great walk. Back to DT. Had a beer at the oldest saloon in Texas - The Buckhorn Saloon (DT). Walked the inside loop of the Riverwalk. Saw Stargazer statue, St Anthony statue and Briscoe Western Art Museum (closed). Walked back to King William and grabbed some tacos al pastor and gringa (quesadilla al pastor) at Taqueria Los Cuates (the twins). Saw it earlier that day. Drove the Mission Trail the next morning. Four other National Parks missions just south of SA. Cute. The church at the Alamo (San Antonio de Valero) is the fifth. Also the Espada aqueduct. Through SA on McCullough to Hildebrand to the past their prime Taco Taco Cafe (3D+). I believe they popularized the puffy taco. Mine was a greasy mess. A Migas and Mexicana weren't much better. Empty. Up McCullough to 410 to 35N to 21E to Lockhart. I missed the exit for the Bracken Bat Cave (15 million bats). But, bats aren't there until March (same in Austin). Had dry and fatty 1/2 lb of brisket at Smitty's Market. Sausage too. Ate that at dinner. Back to 35N to South Austin (south of 71). Stayed at noisy (on 35) Comfort Suites for $103. Drove across 35 to William Cannon Rd to Bill Hughes Rd to see the school they filmed Dazed and Confused at (Bedichek Middle School). Up Cannon to 1N to Enfield Rd to see where they filmed the baseball game (West Enfield Park). Up 1N to Wes Anderson Lane to Burnett Rd to Top Notch. The drive in from the movie. Had a cb combo. Down Burnett to The Aristocrat Lounge (was Doodle Dog Lounge in the movie). Alright, alright, alright. Back up Burnett to Anderson (east) to 290E. Drove though Houston to 10E to a noisy Best Western in Rayne LA for $79. One exit from Lafayette. Don't stay there. Drove the next morning to New Orleans. Exited at North Claiborne (39) Ave and down Elysian Fields towards the river to Bywater Bakery (some show with this actor Mischa). Grabbed a breakfast gumbo. Scrambled eggs and grits in a gumbo. In an area called Faubourg Marigny and Bywater. Felt fairly safe. Back to 10E to Bay St Louis exit. Ok Cobb salad at 200 North Beach. Coastal road 90 to Biloxi. Went to the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art. Frank Gehry designed buildings. Ohr was a potter. O'Keefe an industrialist. Some other art. $8 with AAA. Back to 10E to Pensacola. Stayed at Sole Inn again for $116. Bad pizza at Papa's Pizza. Went to Ice Flyers game at the Pensacola Bay Center for $21. It was pretty full. Drove home. Lucked out on the weather. Knocked many restaurants off the list. No major travel delays. Austin had six new skyscrapers going up. San Antonio is a very livable city now. One of my new favs. Good trip. Under a bridge on the Riverwalk, they hung these giant fish sculptures. We should try that. It's funny how many public works projects they have sponsored for their residents and Bloody Dyer-ia has almost nothing that will live on after him.

Grub Crawl - Astor: Drifters and Essex Seafood House

I tried these spots yesterday at dinner. The first is on the river in the old Blackwater Inn location. The second is slightly east on 40.

Drifters Riverfront Bar & Grill - They spell it without punctuation. I just grabbed some potato skins for $8 because it didn't seem so different than the last spot. They (5) were good. Some pulp, cheese and bacon. Side of sour cream. Fresh. Warm. The waitress/bartender looked at the first batch and went back to the kitchen to chew them out. Not sure how I would have felt about those. Not sure how I feel about the kitchen's quality control after hearing that. They have the usual menu and prices. Fried seafood, burgers, sammies, snacks, etc. They redid the bay windows overlooking the river. Big improvement. The place looks nicer. There is a bar (McHenry's Pub) upstairs. Lots of servers. Parking. I think they switched ownership two years ago. I've driven by a few times since the switch.

Essex Seafood House - I've been meaning to try this forever. It's been there for a while. The issue was that I usually drove by on the wrong time or day. They aren't always open. Check the schedule before you go. They also only take cash, so, that usually doesn't help tempt me. I was surprised by their breadth of items. Not just fried clams. They had bellies and strips. But also: oysters, scallops, shrimp, haddock, catfish, grouper, salmon, flounder, gator, pork chops, chicken and lobster. You can get those grilled or baked as well. I tried a "boat" (with one side) of fried frog legs (5) for $12. Very good. Clean. Fresh. Tender. Great fry. I chose a baked potato. Fine. Came out quick. You can also get fries, onion rings, cole slaw, mac and cheese, applesauce or hush puppies. Boats are $12-$16. They do those main options along with ribs, strip steak, snow crab legs, mussels or mixed seafood (one more side) for $19-$25. I saw good looking snow crab plates and fried chicken fingers or fish. They also steam: Ipswich steamers, mussels and shrimp. $14.50 to $23. Their apps are: clam chowder, gator snack, buffalo catfish and chicken, onion hearts, cheese sticks, blooming onion, poppers, and fried mushrooms and pickles. $8-$10. They put some of those main items on sandwiches. And burgers, rolls and hot dogs. $7-$16. The lobster roll was $23. It's a little, untidy joint. Potholes galore in the parking lot. Good service. Full. I will have to make it a point to try them more often. I think I remember reading about them in the Sentinel ages ago. 

Grub Crawl - Altamonte Springs: Fonda La Petrona and Torchy's Tacos

I tried these spots off 434 last Tuesday at dinner. The first is in a Walmart strip mall on the south side of 436 and 434. It was called San Jose's before. It's way in the back. Look for Backyard Burgers. The second is in the refurbed strip mall on the way to I-4.

Fonda La Petrona - Not food truck La Patrona. Named after a singer. Not sure if it is this Colombian one named La Patrona. Open for two months. Lunch and dinner. I had the Pollo La Petrona for $18. I was tasty. Sliced chicken and mushrooms over yellow rice and smothered in a queso sauce. They also offer up street tacos ($5), birria and other items I don't recall. Limited, basic decor. A big tv. Some murals of those sexy skeleton painted women. You could do worse.

Torchy's Tacos - I just had one egg, cheese and potato taco for $4 because my last meal at another location was disappointing. They helped redeem their honor. They opened two weeks ago. Nice and new. $4-$7 tacos. Burritos, bowls, etc around $10. Beef, chicken, pork, sausage, vegetables. Bar. Tvs. Pretty full. Publix is behind them. This is their first location in CF. 

Pollo Campero, SoDo

I tried this Guatemalan fast food chicken restaurant (Est. 1971) at the corner of Michigan and South Orange last Tuesday at dinner. Open for just a few months. I only had a $3 chicken empanada to go because the rest of the items were too expensive and they took FOREVER. It was pretty poor. They sell fried chicken platters, chicken sandwiches, nuggets, Latin sides. A two piece is the cheapest at $10. It looks like a fast food place. They have a drive thru. Looks ok from outside. Inside is already dirty. Cheap contracting work. The lights came on while I was there. They were off. They had a power problem. They had around twenty workers. Half were just f'ing around. Only ONE girl was at the register. The entire clientele was composed of Latin Americans. You can skip it.

Grub Crawl - Disney Area: Kung Fu Kitchen, Portillo's, White Castle and K-Bob

I tried these spots on Tuesday at lunch. The first is in that strip mall off Palm Parkway that has Kitty O'Shea's and Susuru. The rest are in a new strip mall area a little way closer to Sand Lake Rd on Palm Parkway. They have many newly built places (like World of Beer and Raising Cane's) over here. I got off I-4 at Sand Lake and drove down. I think you can also get off at the Disney Springs exit and go the opposite way.

Kung Fu Kitchen - Not KF Dumplings or KF the drink chain. I believe they are an outpost of a NYC resto. Open for two months. Mostly dumplings, noodles, rice and ramen. I tried the Pork Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings) at $14 and the sticky rice shui mai dumplings at $9. The soup dumplings (6) were flat circles. Ok. A little pasty. Bland soup. The sticky rice ones (4) were new to me. Ok. The rice tasted a bit like wild rice. The pork was not prevalent. So, all in all, I'd choose Kung Fu Dumplings or Bakery 1908 over them (for example). It was packed though. The noodles and rice and ramen were around $20. The wonton soup was around $15. Dumplings and vegetable dishes were $9 to $14. A square room. Black and red with gray floor tile. Maple tables. Wood Chinese "screens" around the exterior. Steam basket tops on the wall. Quick service. A bit disappointing.

Portillo's - A hot dog chain from Chicago (1963). Large floor plan. Looks like a 50's Diner. Cool. I grabbed a Chicago Dog for $4. It was ok. The casing was a bit rubbery/tough. The dog was a bit bologna-like. Good veg. I think someone took me to the original when I worked in Chicago. They offer up burgers, Italian beef, sausages, salads, chicken, fish, bowls, fries, sides, shakes and desserts (I saw a guy icing a chocolate cake). Pricing was fair. Order at a counter. Big guitar and upside down tables, etc hanging from the ceiling. Clean. New. 

White Castle - I have been to many around the country. This is one of nicer/newer ones. I just grabbed a hamburger for $1.19. One of the fresher ones. Came out in seconds. You know what they are all about.

K-Bob Korean Street Food - I saw them there and had to try. Prices seemed to high. +$14 for tiny bowls and $8 corn dogs. I tried a $6 Hotteok (pancake). It was ok. Like a non-spiral Cinnamon Roll. Square. They also sell boba, fried chicken and are promising bingsu (milk based shaved ice) in the future. The place is red, white and modern. New. Order at a counter. Seats. Fast food looking. I don't think it is a chain though. May be ok if the food is.