Grub Crawl - Longwood and Lake Mary: Moliendo Cafe, Uno Mas and Love Le Boba & Bakery

I tried these spots on Monday and Tuesday at lunch. The first is just east of 434 off 17-92. The second is on 434 closer to I-4 near Max & Meme. The last is in between the new chicken sandwich place and the Thai place on International Parkway at 46a. 

Moliendo Cafe - I saw this while car shopping and then they put a two for one coupon in my mail. They said a new owner took over three months ago. He is Ecuadorian. The menu is a mix of non-island Latin. I tried another Ecuadorian soup (caldo bolas verde) for $15 and I guess the $14.95 cazuuela frijoles was free. The soup is a green plantain dumpling soup. The dumpling is like a giant matzo ball with some shredded beef, etc in it. The menu said Colombian sausage. I only tasted beef shoulder and chichirron. Maybe two pieces. Also some green peas, a quarter cob of corn and cassava in a beef broth. Good. The beans had white rice (soft) and about ten thick pieces of fried pork belly (chicharron) and some of that sausage. Two maduros and a corn cake. Very filling. The rest of the menu had things from burritos to seafood. Nothing far from $24. Lunch specials near $10. The owner seemed to be the cook. One waitress. Red brick walls. Ten large flatscreens. Black ceiling. Rectangular layout. Bar on left. Seemed like live music area in rear. Two people eating. Open every day. The name is a riff on to grind coffee. It also seems to be a song.. It is funny that I went from zero food from Ecuador to two in a week. It is a value with these coupons. Could be worth your while.

Uno Mas - F&D reimagined their Italian kitchen into this hodge podge under a Mexican sombrero. They kept the pizza and oven and added things fron their other restaurants like American fare like burgers and Mexican fare like chimichangas. I had a Mexican grilled shrimp wrap for $16. It was good. F&D always delivers. Around ten, fresh, medium-sized shrimp. Nicely timed and seasoned. Caesar salad inside a well toasted tortilla. Simple. Good. Some bacon bits. A side of tender (to just done) tots in a mini fry basket. I never went to the Italian conversion. Now it is ranchero looking. Tile floors. Red brick. Stained wood. Black lamps. Wood bureaus housing tequila. Skeleton (Not chicas) mural. Four booths. Tables. Bar. Patio. Lots of parking. Three servers. Good service. Around ten in for lunch at 11:30 am. Open for a month. I think it is the rare multi-ethnic menu that works. Like I said. It's F&D....

Love Le Boba & Bakery- They replaced a Thai boba place (T Baar) a year ago. It still has that sign above the door. They also sent me a coupon, so, here is their pub. I picked up a free ice cream that is still in my freezer. They said it was Edy's They sell sugary drinks, etc.

Grub Crawl - Curry Ford Rd and Winter Park: Crispy Cones, Smokemade Meats + Eats and Forward/Slash Distillery * FL Gulf Coast Travel Notes

I tried these spots on Saturday during lunch. The first is on Curry Ford Rd next to that co-op that has Foxtail Coffee in it. The second is up Curry Ford to South Crystal Lake Dr. A block down (north) that road. The last is aside Fairbanks. Across from the Tars baseball stadium. Aside some abandoned (yet loaded with cars) car dealership eyesore. 

Crispy Cones - A chain from Idaho that makes a Czech pastry that looks like a cone. They wrap the dough around a dowel. I tried the cheapest. $5 for a small one filled with cookie butter (liquified Bischoff cookies). It was fine. Sugar sprinkled on top. It was a bit undercooked. You can get these with Nutella and one other spread. Extra for ice cream. They may have had a few other items. You could get pints of ice cream to go. I think they were $9 a pint. They trumpet the fact that they were on Shark Tank. Odd hours. Only normal hours on the weekends. After 4pm otherwise. Order at a computer terminal. A few seats. Looks like an ice cream franchise. Parking is not abundant. Open for a month or so. I've had these in Europe. They were longer and unfilled.

Smokemade Meats + Eats - They do all wood Texas barbeque. I tried a 1/2 lb of brisket ($17) and a hot gut sausage ($5). It came with two slices of decent white bread, pickled onions, sliced pickles and two sauces. The brisket was pretty good. I had a slice of lean and a slice of moist. A bit bland. Not much bark. Not very smoky. A fat pocket that should have been trimmed. Good pull. Not oily. Moist. It needed the mustard and the pepper vinegar sauces. They must do their own sauce making (and pickling). The sausage was a bit grainy. Flavored with whole mustard seed, etc. A bit of heat. Large. It was ok. Probably home made. It would explain the odd grind. They also sell pulled pork ($13), pork ribs ($11.50), turkey ($13), chicken ($13), jalapeno cheddar sausage ($5) and smoked mushrooms ($12). Today they sold a $36 a lb beef rib. The brisket sandwich is $18. Pulled pork, turkey and mushroom are $14. The sides are: cheddar grits, pinto beans, coleslaw, potato salad, collard greens, mac and cheese, tomato zucchini salad and hash and rice. All $4 for a small, $8 for a medium and $12 for a large. I only saw the mac and collards. The mac was very gooey. Very milky. The collards were collards. Green. Their baked goods are: banana pudding, bread pudding and gooey butter cake for $6. White bread and beef fat tortillas for $10. Cheesecake (Sunday only) for $8. I think they said they make those too. They sell soda, beer, lemonade and sweet tea. The beer was between $4 and $7. I think the sodas were $3. Water was free. Only around six tables of four inside. A few more outside. No decor. Order at a counter. Limited parking. It was busy. Not as busy as other times I was told. Open for two weeks or so. Only open on weekends. I think they did pop ups before this. Not the head of the class, but, up there. I'll have to try a few more items before I make my final determination. 

Forward/Slash Distillery - They take other peoples' barrels and monkey around with them. I had one shot of bourbon from Virginia and a four distillery mix of bourbon that they call Rhapsody. Both were $5. I liked the quality. Mostly obscure distilleries. I'm still not sure why those distilleries allow them play with their product. Isn't it kind of insinuating that it hasn't been created properly? And how different is their version versus the original? It kind of ruins it if you want to sample that spirit to learn its characteristics. Anyway. It was a hip, cool, little venue. Not many seats inside. Two patio areas. Open for a year and a month. They make cocktails. You can buy bottles. They sell whiskey, tequila, gin, rum, etc. They make their own bitters. The cheapest bottle was $39 for the rum. I think the whiskey was around $80. Lots of parking. Odd hours and days. Wed-Sn. 4pm. 2pm Sa and maybe Sn. Open for thirteen months. Big, white building.

*Travel Notes - Florida Gulf Coast: I drove to Lakeland on Saturday. Heavy traffic from Disney past Celebration. Stayed at the too noisy Travelodge (Booking 8.0) for $109. Saw the Flying Tigers (on 33) at Joker Marchant Stadium for $15 (free parking). Drove the next day to Dunedin (92/Hillsborough Ave at 301 intersection past the airport and past 19). No tolls. I saw the Blue Jays at TD Ballpark for $11 (free parking). On Douglas Ave. I tried to try some breweries or restaurants in town. But, it was Cinco de Mayo and they had streets closed off, etc. Most of the breweries (around seven) only sold growlers or four packs. I didn't want that much. The town seemed cuter this time around. I'll go back. I drove back to 19 and went south. Hooked up with 275 after following Alt 19 a few miles. You can take that all the way from Dunedin. But, I remember it as being longer. I went over the sky bridge and exited on 19S at Tera Ceia. It became 41S. Took that to Sarasota. I stayed at the great value Kompose Boutique Hotel (Expedia 9.0) on University next to the airport for $87 plus $12 resort fee. I originally only booked one night. I added two when they upgraded me and I found out it was way better than the other (more $) hotels and I didn't hear any plane noise. Same price. This is by far the best value in the area! I ate dinner at the Anna Maria Oyster Bar a mile north on 41. I had a shockingly good grilled Open Blue Cobia with home made chips and cole slaw. The ahi sashimi app was less good. The next day I had lunch farther south on Siesta Key at Anna's Deli (Best Thing I Ever Ate - Katie Lee). The Hunter (T/H/SwCh). They thinly sliced the t and h. They piled up like air. It was delicious. I drove a mile south to Turtle Beach. Free parking. I had an early dinner at Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar a few miles north on 41. Grilled grouper sandwich with potato salad. The next day I had lunch on Main St and Washington at MADE (Food Paradise). I had the BLFTA with salt and pepper fries. Fried green tomato and candied bacon. Everything was very good. All fries should be peppered from now on. I drove over the bridge to Lido Beach. Free parking. I drove that night to Bradenton. I saw the Marauders (Pirates) for $15 at LecomPark (free parking). Had beer at Magnanimous Brewing across the street. I also looked in on Motorworks Brewing a few blocks down the street. I had a hamburger and a fried chicken sandwich at Salem's on 41. The next day I had a M&M chocolate donut at Roncs on 41. I drove by the Ringling Museum (been) and some new museums on 41. I took 301 to 70E to Braden Rd to 95thSE to 93rdSE to 85th to the Linger Lodge (Food Paradise). I had this fried platter with gator, frogs legs, catfish and au gratin potatoes and baked apples. It was fine. I drove back to 301 because I had time to kill and went north to 41 and back across the bridge ($1.75 toll) to 275 and off at Dale Mabry Hwy in Tampa. Thankfully I saw a sign a few blocks down for Cigar City Brewing. I chilled there for a few hours and then went to George Steinbrenner Stadium to see the Tarpons for $11. Free parking. They were the only dicks that didn't print out tickets. I went north to Hillsborough. I followed that until I saw a sign for I-4. No traffic at all coming home at night. The weather was warm but sunny. It wasn't very busy at Sarasota. Ate at McD's for the missing meals. I either had front row center seats at every game (except Tarpons - they like empty boxes for elites like their big league team) or it was first come seating. There were barely one hundred people at any game. A pleasant long weekend in God's country. 

Grub Crawl - Winter Park and Casselberry: Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar, The Fry Shoppe and Ave Maria

 I tried these spots today at lunch. The first is behind PF Chang's in the Winter Park Village on Orlando Ave. The second is on 436 in the southeast shopping plaza at Fairbanks/Aloma. The last is north of that on 436 across from the shopping plaza near Howell Branch Rd. Across from a Metro Diner.

Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar - Open for two months. I'm told they are turning their properties into these bar/retail stores. The menu is small. Maybe seven apps and seven mains. Some salads and desserts. I had the mahi tacos (2) for $15. They greatly exceeded expectations. A ton (candy bar dimensions) of fresh (though probably frozen) fish. In a seemingly (though not probably) hand made corn tortilla. Fresh enough diced tomato, cabbage with slices of raw red onion and tortilla sticks. Some kind of tasty lime white sauce. They also had sliders, quesadilla, crab dip, corn dip, flatbread, etc. You order at a counter. They do bring you the meal and bus. A few cold water containers. The place is mostly patio. Around twenty tables of four and six or so high tops and some rail seating. The inside bar area seats about twenty. White. Some moderately dark wood accents with light stone. Wicker baskets around the lights. Lots of white speakers and misters. Black seats. There were around eight people there at lunch. The happy hour drink prices didn't seem so generous. $9 wine and $6 beer and $11 mixed. Not sure what the regular prices are. My meal was near the low end. I was really just marking this off the list. I'm surprised how much I enjoyed it. Hopefully, they deliver this level of quality to everyone everytime. It's not substantial enough to deserve a lot of effort to seek it out. However, if you are in the neighborhood and just need something simple that also allows you a relaxing boozy environment...

The Fry Shoppe - It is in an old drive thru ice cream hut or something. They sell skin on and battered fries in a paper cone. I had skin on with my free sauce (Kansas City BBQ Mayo) and free topping (shredded cheddar) for $6. It was fine. I guess McDonald's and Wendy's charge almost as much for their cheesy fries. They also sell $12 versions. They have a lunch special that awards you a free can of soda with those. It looks a bit dirty. No seating. A walk up window. Took too long. But, I suppose that means no microwave. Open for a few weeks.

Ave Maria - It was a Colombian (Capachos) place before. Now Ecuadorian. Coastal cuisine. They have a small menu. Maybe seven apps. Mostly empanadas. A filled plantain. Some soups. Chicken and fries. A few stews. A few seafood dishes. Similar things to their neighbors. A few riffs. I had one of those. A marinated tuna fish and cassava soup (encebollado de pescado) for $18. It was good. A bit bland. A bit bright. The tuna was excellent. Enough. Some raw, white, sliced root. A side of fried plantain chips. They had another with tuna and shrimp for a few dollars extra. The place was cleaned up a bit. It looks less cluttered. More professional. Bar area. It still is dark with low ceilings though. The people were very nice. Spoke English. Seats around ninety. Maybe twenty people there at 2pm. I didn't register their make up. I have to recommend it if only for the lack of Ecuadorian competitors. If we are to learn of this cuisine, we probably need to learn it here. Happily, they seem up to the job. Open for two months?

*I started the day on Lee Rd. This new spot (Oh Hey Cafe at Open House) was basically a day care with a coffee and tea area that sells bought muffins, etc. It is such a shame because it looks substantial. I had been waiting to see what it was going to be. It is next to nothing. You can/should avoid it. Also, Bricks and Bowls is nowhere near ready. They seem to have another location at Conroy.

American Kitchen Bar and Grill, Disney Area

I tried this hotel restaurant at the B Resort oday at lunch after Tom's Watch Bar turned out to not be open yet and Pinstripes was only doing a $35 buffet. It is on the left on the way to Disney Springs. A long time ago, I read that it had been redone and never tried it. I couldn't think of any other option down here to try and I was not about to turn around and head back. The items were expensive and limited. The cheapest thing was a $18 grilled chicken sandwich. The waiter said they had a $18 buffet with unlimited sodas. I laughed and accepted that. I had two preformed hamburgers, a hot dog, two chicken strips and some fries. The burgers were a bit meatloafy. The toppings were pretty fresh. It was an ok buffet. Dinner adds a $40 steak and a few other items. Lunch had a $21 burger, mid teens apps, Caesar and Greek salads, etc. The decor has a full truck centerpiece. Brick. Exposed duct work. Black paint. Service was sociable. He said he had worked there for decades. Parking was free. They do breakfast too. I think eggs Benedict were $16. Not a destination spot.

*FYI - I will not be trying any of these ridiculous omakase newcomers like Omo by Jont and Natsu. Or any of the old ones like Soseki. I'm boycotting this genre. It was ridiculous when legends like Nobu or Morimoto or Masayoshi were doing them in Manhattan at $100. It is armed robbery down here. I've eaten at Alain Ducasse for less. Don't look for a review. Unless you want to book it and pay for it.