Grub Crawl - East Colonial and Goldenrod: Ming Garden and Tambayan at Kusina

I tried these spots on or around East Colonial on Friday at lunch. The first is in the old Peter's Kitchen location near the Executive Airport. That's about halfway between I4 and 43. The second is in the second strip mall on the left after you go north on Goldenrod.

Ming Garden - Open for two months. I'm a little confused as to the history. Even after asking. I thought this was a re-emergence from hibernation/retirement. Maybe just a move down the street? The guy said the old location (unsure if he said was still operating) was down the street. In my mind, I had eaten at a Ming's on I Drive. And if it is where the guy led me to believe it is/was on 50, I believe I had eaten there too. But, I can find no evidence even when I use the "master" search I have over this site. Anyway. I had the $13 lunch special because they really pushed it. Excellent value. The service was suspect. In seconds they delivered the egg drop soup. You have a choice of two options on most courses and around eight on the main. Then the main came out around fifteen minutes later. It was NOT a challenging lunch service. Then the dessert (sesame ball) came out around five minutes after that. Then the appetizer har kow (2) came out ten minutes after that. The egg drop soup had a touch of sesame oil. Good. My main (shrimp with broccoli and carrots) came in a pleasant clear sauce. Probably chicken stock and garlic. Six, huge, plump, not too iodine flavored shrimp. Ten stalks of broccoli. A little mushy at the florets. slices of fresh carrot. It came with rice. I chose well with the pork fried rice. Tons of wonderful roast pork. They must do that well too. Big portion. The sesame ball (I usually don't have these) was delightful. Huge. Filled with black bean paste. The har kow were the best in recent memory. Filled with real shrimp. I dipped them in the leftover sauce because I couldn't find soy sauce and figured shrimps is shrimps. Smart figuring. Worked like a charm. They still do the AYCE dim sum For $20 on Sunday. Although with the pace of service, you might have to spend hour there to break even. The dim sum menu prices from Small to XXL ($5.45-$9.25). Thirty four items. Only pork buns at the small price. Typical, large Cantonese menu. Soup, Rice Dishes, Roast & BBQ, Seafood, Chicken, Beef, Pork, Noodles, etc. Fair to generous pricing. That part is locked down. The ambience is weak. The did nothing to the interior. And it was a bad retro-fit of a fast food place before that. Off white (from age) and black. Bar on left as you enter. Five family tables. Around ten twos and fours. Five other tables seated at lunch. Plenty of parking. Closed on Tuesday. I got the feeling that business isn't meeting expectations. You may have to give them a boost sooner rather than later. I feel I'm giving out Favorites like candy, but, it probably will be one. 100% because of the food and the value.

Tambayan at Kusina - They said it means "gather around the kitchen". Receipt says Tambayan Kitchen by Maya. I just read about them. They said they have been open for a year. Filipino. I tried Pinin Yahang Manok Sa Gata (chicken with pineapple stew in coconut milk) for $16 to go because I hadn't had it before. It was good. Not Thai good. But, good. Lots of skin on (that makes it yucky for me - slimy skin) de-boned chicken. Alot of dark meat that I don't think pairs well with coconut milk. Tasteless pineapple. Ginger. Carrots. Potatoes. Big portion. Came with white rice. Over-fluffed. Big menu. They even claim to do sisig with pig face. Many others don't. I didn't memorize the menu, so, you will have to put in the work. I remember lumpia! Narrow floor plan. Counter in front. Around ten tables in an L shape around it. TV playing Rihanna. One waitress. One cook. She said the kitchen staff is from Mindanao and Cebu. That may influence the menu/experience. I've never been to either. Just Manila. Haven't had enough Filipino food to be able to differentiate regionality. Beige. Wood. Tiny stage with bongos. Not bad. 

*Next door to Tambayan was a new deli (Deli Counter?) serving $14 sandwiches and $11 baked potatoes. And that pincho place that was on 3D is still there. 

Travel Notes - Vermont Massachusetts New York

Travel Notes - Vermont Massachusetts New York: I flew a mixed ticket (JB/SW) to Albany for $227. JB's crew was late arriving and I almost missed the 12am closing time for Hertz. I rented a Kia K4 for $302 for the week. Received a brand new Toyota RAV 4. 9 miles! The return flight on SW was flawless. One page online check in. Kiosk print it out. Nice plane. No baggage hassling. Better class of customer. I had avoided them for years. No longer. The even fly out of a better terminal here. Only issues were no seat back entertainment and no boarding pass download. I stayed the first night near the airport at the Baymont (Expedia 5.8) for $76 because they had a free shuttle. I originally booked here because I thought we might be late because of weather and was getting ahead of cosmic mischief (not getting the rental car).

The next day I drove 66 mi on 7E to 9E to 100N at Wilmington. I stayed at the Hideaway Inn (Expedia 8.6) at Mt Snow in Dover for two nights at $202. Didn't love the self check in, robo-staff, room location and oppressive heat. I drove to the ticket office to buy a ticket for Mt Snow. They closed that office, so, I drove to the one area still open (Carinthia) and let them rip me off for a ticket two days later at $149. I drove fifteen miles to Stratton Mountain and bought a lift ticket for the next day at $80. Came back and rented skis ($70 at the resorts) from the one guy still renting (World Class) for $50 a day. I bought some wine at Black Diamond Spirits for $34. Most things were closed until summer. I drove back to Wilmington for cheese and crackers and a whole smoked chicken at River Valley Market for $27. Not many hotels around Stratton.

The next day I drove to Stratton and skied. Back to Dover and bought some salami, english muffins and mini pies at 7-11 for $9 to add to the leftovers. Lunched outside. Watched the Masters.

The next day I skied Mt Snow. A pathetic six trails open. One lift. And this is the bitch part of the resort. Returned the skis. Drove 9W to Bennington and 7S to Lenox MA. I stayed at a Howard Johnson's (Expedia 7.6) for $88. Drove the Main St through Pittsfield. Bought wine and brie and hommos at Guido's Fresh Marketplace for $25. Bought hamburger meat (nuked it in the microwave in a coffee cup) and crackers at Price Chopper for $7. Watched the Masters.

The next day I drove to 9D in NY through Red Hook, Rhinebeck and Hyde Park. Went to the Vanderbilt Mansion NHS. I had already been to most of sites including FDR sites. Ate an ok turkey club with fries for $21 at Eveready Diner (3D). I stayed at the Red Roof Inn Plus (Expedia 6.6) halfway house in Poughkeepsie for $95. I'm still high. Drove to Wappinger Falls (10 miles) and saw the Hudson Valley Renegades play for $21 and $10 parking. First row/home plate. Stayed the whole game! Received a free hat! Drove back. Bought surimi and shrimp salad and empanadas at Shop Rite. Watched the movies. FYI - This was the last of the agenda. I was just filling time after this.

The next day I drove north through Marist University and Culinary Institute of America. Their restaurants (American Bounty, The Bocuse, Caterina di Medici, Apple Pie Bakery, The Tavern and Al Forno) weren't open Sunday morning. I stopped at a sake brewery (Dassai Blue) having a festival. It wasn't open for another hour. I tried to find a winery from a sign called Clinton. Didn't. I learned it was out of business. Found one (street sign) called Milea Estate Vineyard in Staatsburg. Wasn't open for an hour. I stopped in Rhinebeck for some dumb house called Wilderstein. It wasn't open until May. Hopped the gate. Back in town, I had a shrimp salad sandwich at Matchbox Cafe for $25. Tried to eat at a diner in Red Hook. No parking. Saw the first public school in NY in Clermont. Followed 9N (there are many alternates). Saw Union College in Schenectady. Through Albany to Sarasota Springs. Took 9D to Lake George. Stayed at the Fort Willian Henry Hotel for $112 plus $20 RF (negotiated rack rate). Greatest view. Bought goat cheese, bologna and cashews at Price Chopper for $13. Two bottles of wine at Duffy's Liquors for $31. Watched the Masters and the view.

The next day I drove 9S through Glen Falls (Harding Mazzotti Arena) to Sarasota Springs. Saw Skidmore College. Stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn (Expedia 8.0) for $105. Grabbed so-so corned beef sandwich (tough) and very good matzoh ball soup at the Broadway Deli for $24. Most places were closed on Monday. Watched tv. Grabbed a meatball sub combo from Subway for $10 because it was the closest walk from the hotel. Yes, I had been to the track. No, I didn't try the springs.

The next day I grabbed cauliflower soup with bread for $6 at Mrs London. Egg and cheese panini at Putnam Market for $7. Most places hadn't opened yet. Drove 9S to Albany/Latham. Was there way too early, so, grabbed a chicken salad sandwich at Metro 7 Diner for $11. Returned car.

Gas was around $4. Most places were empty. It was a joy driving around on non-interstates. 30 degrees when I landed. 80 when I left. Did this instead of Colorado because of cost and I am always saying I am going to ski these places. These were closest and still open. I bypassed all the breweries. Spent $698 in hotels. $61 in gas. $333 on skiing. $21 on games/parking. $121 on airport parking. $263 on food and bev. $21 on misc. Total of $2047. Skiing is a budget buster.

Grub/Pub Crawl - Mills and East Colonial: Lorelei and Grumpy's

I tried these spots around Mills and East Colonial last night at dinner. The first is a year old wine bar with some food behind Tori Tori on N Thornton. It has been open for a year. The second is near Tako Cheena. Plan A was Raine's Pizza (sold out) and a new ramen+ place by the Executive Airport on 50 that turned out to be just a new branch of a previously sampled concern on Red Bug Lake (Tsaocca). 

Lorelei - I grabbed one of the four flatbreads (fig, duck prosciutto, goat cheese, arugula and balsamic) for $20 though I disdain the concept. The rest of the offerings were salads or finger foods. It was the best flatbread I have ever had. I'm not sure if it was kitchen kizmet or talent, but, the bread was 95% perfectly crusty (one soggy circle). Not stale. Thin. Cut into sixths. The toppings were nice. Not much goat cheese or prosciutto. Came on a cutting board. Came out fast. The wine list wasn't me too. Glasses started at $14. Bottles at $60. It has ambitions. The place looks really pleasing. Kind of a Italian lakes or Riviera vibe. White! Marble counter tops. Gold accents. Grecian/Roman statuary. Copper terrines. Wine as decoration. Most tables (12) on the patio in front. The indoor bar area with side room. There was some street parking available. I believe they are closed on Monday. Mostly pm. I think day time on the weekends. Not a value play, but, elegant without being pretentious. For the vibe, I think it'll be a Favorite come year's end. Owned by the Death in the Afternoon people.

Grumpy's Underground - Dive-y. Been around for since 2018 according to the internet. Two rooms. LMGA sign above the left door. Some food like wings. Live music. Karaoke. Parking is impossible. You can pass.

Lima 1535, Orlando

Oh Jesus, I think I put the receipt with the notes in my car while I took the other one with me. This is a typical Peruvian concern in the strip mall at Goldenrod and Lake Underhill (aside 408 near 436). It used to have Meatball Stoppe. I had the calamari on Tuesday at late lunch for $16 because the menu looked unispiring, only had a qr menu and was overly expensive. Plus I began with prejudice because they open at 3pm. Why? They read their clientele well because one person was there at 3pm. I believe the skinny cut squid was nuked. No glossy oil. Too hot. Came out too quickly. Tough. They tossed in three very hot and greasy yucca croquettas. Added a to go surcharge. Two sauces. Hot and tartar. Typical menu. Most over $20. Thirty, low end tables. White, gray, black with individual walls in orange and blue. One area with sign over turf wall. Bar in back. Ten seats. Light gray tile floors. Steel fish objects. Turf wall. Two idiots. Weak on English. I knew this was going to be the outcome. Not awful, but, why? And I used to prefer/champion Peruvian cuisine.. They way over estimate their value. You understand that you are just slightly above Tex-Mex? Tiradito? Guess not. Open for a few months. Closed on Monday. I think they close at 8pm.

Grub Crawl - Longwood and Winter Springs: Siziling Grill, Indian Express, Rangoli Sweets, The Human Bean, Taiwan Cafe, La Pino'z Pizza

I tried these spots on 434 Saturday at lunch. All to go. The first two are in the strip mall between I4 and Ronald Reagan that I just brought to you. It has Three Odd Guys Brewing. Look for a Huey Magoos out front. The next two are in a strip mall past 17-92 across from a Taco Bell. Look for Victorio's. The fourth is in a strip mall back closer to 17-92. It had Chilanago's (closed). The last is back past the first two places on the way to I4. It was Max & Meme's. I had only planned on doing three of these. The others just revealed themselves.

Siziling Grill Bistro - I saw a placard they put on the road. It opened this week. Their calling card is an AYCE breakfast buffet. I ordered something that might last a few days in the fridge and was hard to screw up. I had the chicken quesadilla for $12. Stuffed with chicken. Didn't love that they use cheddar. Some peppers and onions. Sour cream and a chipotle salsa. Basic. Came with fries. The menu is all over the place. Mostly American. Burgers, sandwiches, apps, salads, burritos, etc. And three steaks, grouper, lobster tail, catfish and pork chops. This didn't seem like a places for those. But, I could be wrong. High water mark is $35. One page breakfast menu. It is a large space on the corner. Maybe thirty tables and booths. Drab. Brown/beige. No one there. Two guys working. Open all day. I think this space was a restaurant before. They told me the Pho place next door has a new owner and menu. Same name. This whole strip mall has turned over. FYI - that is their spelling.

Indian Express - The first surprise. I threw this one in my route because I read the night before that it had just opened. I thought it would be low end buffet dining. The exterior remains unimpressive. However, the interior is appealing. They tore out the booths and opened up the floor plan from Uno Mas. A tasteful redesign. White, soft gray and maybe green. Some decorative, scenic painting on the walls Around twenty tables. Modern. I think the seats were an earth tone. I was speaking too much to the hostess/owner. They may have done away with the patio. About half full. Closed between lunch and dinner service. The parents had run Kohinoor in Altamonte. Had had a place in the strip mall with the Walmart near Lark Mary Blvd and 17-92. Never saw that. I tried the lunch portion of Chicken Vindaloo for $13. It came with naan and rice. Nice packaging. Six cubes of chicken and 1 1/2 of potato. The size of that die for betting in backgammon. White meat. No bones. The sauce was red chili based. Also had a hint of black pepper. Oily. The rice was good. The naan was ok. The menu is pretty traditional. Veg, tanoori, biryani, shrimp, lamb, apps. The most expensive thing is $20. Naan starts at $4. For value and flavor and environment, it will be a Favorite. I have been saddened to see the post Bayridge Sushi occupants go (F&D and Uno Mas). They were also the best things in the area. Hopefully, this iteration will last.

Rangoli Sweets - Also Indian. I thought it was Italian the one time I swung by. I believe it was (or I assumed) closed. They have a large selection of baked sweets. Mostly packaged in a refrigerator. Also a huge menu on the wall that the guy there had problems explaining in English. I believe alot of it is non-sweets. He pointed me to a five item daily special menu. I selected the samosa aloo for $7 because I thought it was potato samosas. It was a whole dish of chick peas, onion and potato and masala (sweet and spicy tamarind I believe) with empty split samosa shells. Delicious! The best thing I had in this whole food extravaganza. A deconstructed samosa. Probably what they do with leftovers. Crack 'em in half. Still good. The place is in the right corner of the strip mall. It has a dark window. The open sign wasn't on. Small, narrow space. No tables. Two guys came in when I was there. They said it has been there for years. Great find. And I guess if I wrote that it was the best thing I ate all day, it has to be a Favorite as well. Now I have to go back and get educated on Indian sweets.

The Human Bean - Opened in January. A chain from Oregon. A stand alone hut in the middle of the parking lot. Drive thru or walk up. I had a terrible bagel with cc for $4. They just throw a plastic cup of cc into the bag with a Lender's quality bagel. They do icees, smoothies, energy drinks, espresso, coffee and tea. A breakfast sandwich line up like Dunkin. Warmed in an oven/toaster. Two other customers while I was there.

Taiwan Cafe - The impetus for the journey and the greatest disappointment. Basically a to go joint with a fancy backsplash. The menu is straight up Chinese take out. No Taiwanese elements that I could observe. I want to make a forward looking geo-political joke here, but, it may come back and bite me in the ass if I ever travel to China again. You know what I'm saying though. I, idiotically, ordered something I thought would go with white wine better tha Indian food at dinner. The $10 lunch special of scallops in garlic sauce. Then I realized that seafood isn't the greatest thing to let sit until dinner time. Six frozen bay scallops. With preservative taste. Mushy broccoli, carrot, celery, baby corn, water chestnut and that floppy mushroom I can't remember the name of. That was actually a nice surprise. Better than the usual mushroom. I never order garlic sauce. Is it always a sweet, dark brown sauce? I thought tan and salty. It came with alot of low soy, egg fried rice. I couldn't tell how oily. I think the wok wasn't hot enough and it soaked in. Also the basic, almost empty, cheap cabbage egg roll. As I said, the menu is typical. I swear there is a place that changes the heading and prints the same menu out for all these places. Four large booths against the left wall. One large one in an alcove on the right. Dark. Red brick. Wood. TV playing music with sub-titles. I think the one cashier/waitress was using to learn English. Two people ordered take out while I was there. Open for under a month. Closed on Monday. You don't need to concern yourself.

La Pino'z Pizza - A worldwide chain with over 700 locations they said. The guy said he had owned Max & Meme for it's last two years. From Pennsylvania. He moved here and changed brands. This is fast food with an Indian vibe. Pizza, tacos (folded pizza without cheese), bread sticks, stuffed garlic bread, pasta, mac & cheese, brownies and wings. I chose the eight wings for $12 because I'm not into this level of pizza and certainly not an Indian version of it. I can't wrap my head/taste buds around Indo-Italian. Yet. The wings were ok. Small. Too many drums for me. The taste was crazy though. Just like McNuggets. Very fried. They said they coat them or not. I did without. I also didn't have them toss them in sauce. I think it defeats the purpose of crispy skin. The peri peri sauce I got on the side was creamy. It looked weird. I tossed it. The place looks like an already old fast food loacation. Around twenty tables. Spartan. Open for three days. I was the only one there. They didn't itemize the receipt and either the price is listed wrong or they add surcharges.

Travel Notes - Fiji and Samoa

Travel Notes - Fiji and Samoa: I broke up my flight segments after last year's fiasco. I flew Frontier to Dallas for $109. I believe Fiji's combo with AA adds $300+. I flew Fiji Air to Nadi for $648. These were about as cheap as I have seen. No issues (this time) there or back except a thirty minute wait at MCO for the moron to attach the jet way door. In Dallas I purchased a RT to Samoa for $385. It actually dropped from weeks and days before. I almost did Tonga. The times and costs didn't line up as well. I now have a whole list of places (that I will write about later) that you can visit from Fiji. Subway Club at DFW for $17. I took a room near the airport at the Airport Ace Hotel (Expedia 7.0) for two nights at $93 because it was cheap and near the airport for my trip to Samoa. That was when I thought I was leaving in two days. They let me in at 5am. I'm not sure if it was because I told them I was leaving after one day. I just ate snacks I had brought from here. FYI - I had to declare them. They didn't seem be bothered by tuna or pepperoni or chips. I also bring packages of mayo and mustard. There was little need. There were enough markets, etc in both countries. I also got fed on the planes. Went for a swim. Walked a couple of miles towards Nadi. Saw the National University and Namaka Market. Went back to the airport for water. Watched the one (Aussie) tv channel. It was pretty hot. Around 90+. It is the end of the rainy season. It rained at dusk. No TSA worries at any of the airports. 14 hour flight. You land two days later. Customs in Fiji and Samoa took minutes. On the return to the US it took three minutes. Had to go through TSA again. I gave myself three hours cushion there and four on the return. 

The next day I took a two hour 10am flight to Apia on Upolu (there is also Savaii). My ATM card didn't work at the ATMs. I converted $70 at the currency desk. They gave me a rate of 2.66 with no fee. The rate was 2.7 when I left. Best deal I've ever seen at one of these (usual) rip off joints. The taxi rate is now 80. Not 60. Iran? It takes 45 minutes. I stayed at the Tauese Sea View Hotel (Expedia 8.4) because it was dead center on the main street and they offered a free Cantonese breakfast. I walked around the cove and through the Samoa China Friendship Park. The Chinese are doing all the investment here. The imposing Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was next door. I walked passed the McDonald's to the Lucky Foodtown Market. They had choices. I just grabbed the two local beer choices and a soda for 10. It started to rain. It had been cloudier here. I watched their seven tv stations. Mostly religious ones and a Disney one. 

The next day I was awakened by hymns at 5am. Palm Sunday practice. I guess. I had the buffet. Mostly western stuff and fried rice, congee and broccoli in bean sauce. I went to the tourist office and bought a magnet at Janet's. Back to the market for one more beer, tuna and Doritos for 20. The taxis took most of my funds. I walked past the port to a beach I saw on a map (Vaiala) at the hotel. The guy at the tourist office said you couldn't swim there. It seemed like you could. But, I wasn't in my swim trunks because of his advice. I waded. I contemplated taking some shells. I chickened out. That was actually the highlight. Back to the room. Watched tv. The wifi didn't work. Had to use their office computer to check in for my return flight. It was cloudy again.

The next day I was awakened by music again. Ate the buffet again. Noodles, steamed bubs and broccoli again. Watched tv until check out at 11:30am. Most things are closed on Sunday. Took their shuttle (better than the open cab) to the airport for 60. They (and a cabbie I met the day before) told me a taxi is 80 back as well. They won't check in (except for long haul) until three hours before. And then I think I waited until 2pm before they let us through customs into the air conditioned area. Their airport is less advanced. The flight was an hour late leaving. This screwed up my night. In Nadi, I successfully withdrew 60. A cab was supposed to be 20. The Indian shylock I chose wanted 25 and then claimed no change when I paid. It cost 30. The exchange rate here was 2.2. It was a five mile plus ride that I thought I could walk if I had ATM issues again. Would have been rough. It is a beach area (Wiloaloa Beach). I stayed at the Aquarius on the Beach Hotel (Expedia 7.8) between a Ramada and a Wyndham. It was really more of a house. Lots of noise. But, a great ocean view balcony. Two nights cost $190. It was dark by the time I got settled. Mostly issues with the room like the tv. They also claim satellite tv. Nope. Just nine crummy channels from an antenna. I walked to the True Market I had read about down the block. It had a good selection. I bought Australian wine and water for 17 with my credit card. Upstairs was a great. Multi-cuisine restaurant called Olive Tree. Drank the wine with the Doritos from Samoa. Watched the fire dance at the Ramada from the balcony. Walked the beach. It was black sand and all these white shells upon it sparkled at night.

The next day I was awakened at 6am by their staff noise. I took a walk to the far end of the beach around 10am. Went for a short swim. It was eerie. No one else was going in. They said it was fine. It was too hot and shallow anyway. Swam in the pool. Took a Matthew McConaughey book from the book swap area (few in English). Read a bit. Went to the market and Olive Tree. Bought Australian wine, one local beer and pineapple soda for 20. At OT, I bought a shitty pizza and good fried chicken strips with great fries and a curry sauce for 33. Started drinking before sunset because I was bored because I had stayed in my room to long because I was too burnt from my morning walk. Videoed the sunset. It got packed on the beach. I'm not sure if they were away on day tours or show up for the sunset. One hotel brought out horses to ride. Back to the balcony and drank the rest of the wine with the chicken and half the pizza. The weather was clear both days.

The next day they woke me up again. I did a mini walk. They tossed my out at 10am. Had them call me a cab. Only 20 this time. Arrived at the airport and twiddled my thumbs and read until 9pm take off. Had a Whopper Jr before customs for 10. A double cb combo on the other side for 21. The return flight (12 hours) was a bit more crowded. I smartly asked if I could change seats and got farther up. Fiji makes you pay for seat selection online. Lands on the same day. Brisket and soda at Sonny Bryan's at DFW for $18

The trip ended up better than I expected. I also justified the miss last year by doing two countries. I will go back next year and do Tonga or Vanuatu. And back each year until I do all the Fiji connection possibilities (if they turn out to be reasonable). They fly to Tuvalu, Kitibati, Kiritati Atoll, Solomon Islands as well. Never heard of some of those. I believe the shit times are because they wait for planes from NZ and AUS transfers. They had many flights to there (as well as Quantas and Air NZ). Fiji has many islands as well. The next biggest is Vita Latu. I was on Vanua Leva. They film Survivor on the Mamanuka Islands (Mana and Malolo). Castaway was shot on Manu Riki. There are boats that go there. Not too far. I believe they leave from Port Denarau just south of my hotel. The airport and the islands are on the northwest side. I'm not sure what there is to do in Fiji. I saw flyers for mud baths, Orchid temple, gun site, sands, sky diving, scuba, etc. It looks like Hawaii. The people in both places were nice. Most spoke English. Fiji had an Indian presence. They ran most things. There were buses. You could rent a car. It was less of a hassle not booking a combo air ticket. I had issues checking in online with Fiji last year. The American segment screwed that up for some reason. And they were the only ones who didn't refund me. And they caused the missed flight!

I spent $459 on hotels. $128 on parking. Around $95 on food and bev ($37 was in our stupid airports). $72 on taxis. $11 on magnets. $1140 on air. Total of $1905. No visas, pre-flight forms, psuedo visas or shots. They had out entry forms on the planes. No forms returning. Now I am getting a bit jaded and most places on this Earth look the same as other places that are closer to you. This could have been the Caribbean or Hawaii or Mexico and it would look and feel almost the same. Yet, it isn't as daunting as you would think. I bought really well airline wise. Those rates will probably be higher for you. Did this trip change me life? No. Did I do all I could to make it so. No. Next year I'll add some fun excursions and see if makes a difference.

Hoshi Hibachi & Sushi, Orlando

I walked out if this tiny rip off joint in that strip mall off South Orlando at Gaitlin on Tuesday when the $7 yellowtail nigiri on the menu rang up at plus $8. The inane menu read that ALL were the same price. Even vegetable ones. So stupid. And evidently incorrect. Even an avocado roll is $11. All are at that price like the nigiri. Not sure how they will ring up. And the fish in the case looked as mediocre in quality as every other entry level sushi bar. I'll toss in the helpful AYYCE price points of $13 at Koy Won and $18 at Ocean Buffet to shame these short busers. The menu was mostly hibachi as well. They had months of delays opening. Maybe there should have been more? They are on some serious drugs price wise. Open for under a month. Will be out of business before the end of the year. Avoid. I could smell this was going to be a waste of time. Just like the coffee place next to it.

Grub Crawl - Longwood: Summer Breeze, Three Odd Guys, Moe's Pizza and Pixie's

I tried these spots on 434 SE of I4 on Friday at lunch and dinner. The first is in the strip mall by the train tracks that has Dough Boyz. Across from Cupid's. The others are in the strip mall behind the Huey Magoo's back towards I4.

Summer Breeze - Roti+. Trinidadian. Opened a few weeks ago. I had the chicken roti with three sides for $16.55. The chicken came in a broth. White chunks. No veg, etc. The roti was the disintegrating kind made with ground peas. Large. They talked me into chick peas, potatoes and mango something for the sides. The mango wasn't really a side. More of a jelly. Two side sauces. A nice hot one and a vinegar one. The chicken was bland. Maybe this is appealing to some who find Indian too assertive. I found that you needed to incorporate the other things included in the meal. It was fine. I'm not a huge fan of this style of cooking. It wasn't poorly made. The menu is small. A few other wraps and some stews. Small space. Not a ton of decor. Maybe four tables. Full. And with honkeys. Three or four Indian women cooking/serving. 

Three Odd Guys Brewing - Moved from Apopka. Four tvs. Bar. Stainless steel brewing equipment. Clean. I watched the tourney. Had a few drafts. Good addition.

Moe's Pizza - Just opened. I believe it replaced another pizza place. I think Moe is short for Mohammed. Had a 12" classic cheese for $12. Not great. Ok sauce. More spicy than sweet. Rubbery cheese. No crust. Bad dough. Bitter herbs. Sour taste. Probably conveyor belt (had machine markings underneath). I went elsewhere while it was cooking, so, I didn't check out the oven (or lack of one). Calzones, stromboli, burgers, fries, apps, salads, wings, subs, wraps and desserts. I don't trust Italian places that serve non-Italian fare. A few tables. Pass.

Pixie's Magical Corner Patisserie - Next to Moe's. I went here to grab some ice cream from a place that no longer exists (these guys absorbed them) which only opened after 2pm (so I was never there when they were). I (lost the receipt) believe I paid $5 for a 4 Leches and $8 for a Chicken BLAT. Both were good. I believe I've had one other 4 Leches and gave you the obvious smarmy remark that it beats the 3 Leches. The BLAT was a real bargain. On toast. Bacon was real crisp and fresh. Good avocado. Snappy Romaine lettuce. Fresh tomato. Ripped up pieces of real roast chicken. A nice amount. The 4 Leches is a cake. Sweet leches topping could work on rice pudding. Comes in a tin. They have alot of pastries and sandwiches and meals like stew. As stated, they took over the ice cream shop and broke down the wall between them. I rejected the ice cream because it is just Hershey's. I'm not sure if the old place made their own. Two Latin women were serving. They said they were from Miami. A nice find. High marks for value. A few seats. One person there at early dinner.

*I noticed that Uno Mas out front of the strip mall has closed. A sign for Indian Express in its' place. Not open yet.

Grub Crawl - Clermont and Maitland: Orochi Ramen and Fragaria

I tried these spots on Tuesday after lunch returning from the Gulf Coast. The first is in a strip mall aside a McDonald's near the 75 on ramp on East Colonial (50). The other is in the strip mall on 17-92 (N Orlando) and Howell Branch. It was Melt. I was only around there because of a crash on I4.

Orochi Ramen - I had the Tantanman Ramen. I dont know if it is a real thing or their concoction, but, it was great. Cost $16. Kind of Thai-esque. Creamy (like coconut milk) and spicy pork broth. The listing cited sesame paste. I did taste that flavor. I thought it was sesame oil. Tasty ground pork. Fresh, tiny bok choy. Shaved, in tact tranches of corn off the cob. Narutomaki (surimi discs). The noodles had a yellow hue. Wavy. Great toothiness. Fine half of a seven minute egg (ajitama). I saved about a quarter of it to pour over rice for dinner the next day. The Thai-esque part. They said they have been open for three years. I remember reading about their opening. I thought there was some reason to seek them out (I always just drove by in the past). I cant remember now. Fourteen small plates ($5-$12) like gyoza and spam musubi. Three rice bowls ($13). Six other ramens ($16-$20) including oxtail. Three desserts. Small place. Around eight tables. Some Japanese decor. White. I think it was open everyday for L and D. Two servers. Will be a Favorite. And you know I'm not big on ramen.

Fragaria - Ice cream. I believe it is a vegan blah blah. Touts New Zealand style. This equates to fresh fruit being incorporated into the mix. I don't think they invented THAT. No joke. The worst ice cream I have ever had (and I have made my own). A chocolate scoop was $6. And that was the LOW water mark. The consistency was feathery (in a bad way). Chocolate the way those Tiger Milk protein bars used to be. An ODD (bad) sweetener. I suspect that whatever dietary rules they follow don't allow for dairy and that this is water based. If it didn't cost an arm and a leg, I would have thrown it away. I really would select a Frostee over this. At least that is so bland that there isn't an aftertaste. Five or six tables. Order at a counter. Only open after 3pm. I'm sure it will be a big hit with vagina hat wearers.

*I would like to take this moment to address an issue that has been weighing on me for many months/years. The amount of failures/closures in the food prep space. It is my suspicion that many of you did not have enough of a foundation in economics (or practical sense) to have a real shot (or to understand that you never had a chance to get the return that you expected). Many of you seem to calculate your expenses first and multiple that by an expected profit margin that will give you the return you need or think you are worth. Some of you (I expect) do not know the diffeence between fixed costs and variable costs or how to properly calculate cost of goods sold. The two largest mistakes made I believe are over valuing what you think your time is worth (and even including it in CGS) and over pricing your product. Which I guess is a corollary. The price of the product is what the market is bearing at the this point in time. If you can not make it substantially better or for the same price, do not enter the market! If you want to get rich in this industry, do not enter the market! This is not law or medicine or civil service. This is manual labor. Don't do this because nothing else seems fun or you can't get your foot in the door anywhere else. Become a Democrat and sign up for one of their numerours grifting programs or give aways. Most of the people who do not shutter their doors are taking no salary or profits and are drowning in debt. Your answer can not be "raise prices". Higher prices equal lower unit volume which at best gets you back where you started. You are not a neccesity item. The only thing you really have some control over is costs. That begins (not ends) with you. You will/should suffer first. No matter how you allocate cost. So, calculate your unit costs or ROI conservatively before you disappoint yourself with $6 scoops of uneaten ice cream.

Travel Notes - Valspar Championship in Palm Harbor Florida

Travel Notes - Valspar Championship in Palm Harbor Florida: I drove 50W to 19S (to avoid I4) to Port Richey. After learning that plan a and b in Clermont for lunch were not open on Monday, I stopped in Brooksville at the Coney Island Drive Inn (you must not turn left for the truck route - it is on 50A which they also label as 98N). I had a bad, bologna long hot dog for $4. Too big. Do a short. I also had a loose meat burger with cheese for $4. Not a real loose meat. Like the bad mini-balls of sausage you sometimes get on pizza. But, salisbury steak tasting. They added all these fees on top of these prices. On to Port Richey. I stayed at the Rodeway Inn (Expedia 7.6) in Port Richey for $98. I'll state here that I was here for the first practice day at the Valspar. I have been doing this lately at all golf tournaments. Less hassle. This was the first two day practice schedule I had been aware of. Plus they make it FREE on Tuesday. I was going to stay over on Tuesday night for St Patrick's Day, but, it would have required leaving to early with too much traffic. Port Richey had the best value rates.

I ate an early dinner at Catches Waterfront Grille. Two grouper tacos that I think they subbed out for yellow snapper or some other fish. That cost $17. Nice place. Nice view. I then drove to Trinity again (see Gasparilla Bowl Notes) and had a beer each at the two places I missed last time. Liquid Garage Brewing and Escape Brewing. Watched WBC.

The next morning I filled up for $4 a gallon and drove 19S around twenty minutes to the Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor. Copperhead Course. I had called (727-942-5288 and 727-942-8566 and 888-794-8627) to get info on parking/tickets because the internet (stupid Google Gemini) had conflicting info. The humans were of little help too. It turned out that the lots were right against the course. You didn't need a shuttle anyway. You come up to the guard gate. They told me to park in green lot. There was a yellow lot beforehand. I acted stupid and said the gate said I should park there. They said "whatever". This let me in by hole 10. I later saw the green lot entrance was at hole 4. They said over the phone that it cost $20. Not sure if it does, as I didn't get that far. I walked the course. It was cold. In at 9am and out by 11:30am. Saw some no names. Still fun. Pretty empty. Drove 19N to 50E. Stopped in Brookesville again for a brewery that turned out to be closed on M and T. Grabbed a 1/2 lb of fried chicken livers at Florida Cracker Cook Shack (also added bs charges) for $8 because I wasn't hungry. They also had bbq and a sister restaurant near Coney. Cute town. Stopped in Clermont (see next post). Passed a bbq food truck called Mahon's in a town before it. Also a couple of food truck courts (not open) and one with two trucks (one a bbq) as you enter Clermont from the West. It wasn't open when I checked on Monday. 

Ok one day journey. Worst part is getting from I4 to Clermont. Now I have done all the PGA events in Florida.

Grub Crawl - International Drive and Sea World Area; Moon Wok, El Genio del Shwarma and Fin Siam Thai

I tried these spots on Friday at lunch. The first two are in a strip mall south of Central Florida Parkway on International Dr near Sea World. The last is in a strip mall near Pointe Orlando. I believe a Walgreens is on the corner.

Moon Wok - Opened two weeks ago. I sense it is Cantonese. I had the sauteed chicken with mixed vegetables for $12. Good. The veg (carrot/snow peas/broccoli/peppers) were the star. Very fresh. The chicken was a bit tough. The common light colored sauce that I believe is made from chicken or vegetable stock and starch. The rice underneath (in a bowl) was a tad mushy. Closing in on congee. Although, it made it easier to pick up with the metal chopsticks. Decent sized for a "half" lunch portion. Seemed full to me. They said the dishes are family size. The menu was small. I almost went with a two meat (duck and char siu pork ribs) option for $19. I remember Dan Dan Noodles and General Tso's Chicken. They had around seven apps and dim sum. $8 or $9 for siu mai, shrimp balls, char siu bao, mochi meat dumplings or shrimp dumplings. I believe this is twice what I am willing to pay. I'm a hard liner. I'll just pass if this is where the market is going. Especially if I don't know if they are hand made or frozen food section. The place looks nice. The floor plans in this strip mall make for long, bowling alley floor plans. A thirteen seat bar is on the right (plus two tables). The steel, open kitchen is over there too. The middle has several larger group tables. The left wall has five or six gray uphoslstered booths with black table tops for four. There are trees and leafy branches all about. Paper lamps. Inner tube shaped white lights. Lit up back splash between the bar and the kitchen with cubes holding curios. Ivory looking disc with heron looking bird behind the bar. Black, red and gray color schemes. Lounge-y look. Three tables occupied. Decent cutlery and ceramics and stemware. Service in black unis was good. They have booze. Solid addition.

El Genio del Shwarma - I went in once and the guys seemed sketchy, so, I left. Now it appears to have been handed over to Venezulans. The menu is that plus the shwarmas. They talked me into the mixed (chicken/steak) shwarma. I figured it may be the last one I could safely order for some time. It was shockingly good. SOOO much meat. Little bits and regular sized pieces. Not shavings. I didn't find one bite of gristle. The steak was very tender yet with a crusty shell. The veg and sauce weren't great. They didn't have a traditional tahini or tzatiki or hummus. Just their Venezuelan green garlic sauce. The wrap was ok. It did take a while for the one cook to get this done. It cost $18. Big menu. Categories: arepas (12), empanadas (12), cachapas (7), snacks (9), pastelitos (5), sides (4), grills (3), pepitos (4), patacones (6), mixed (4), shwarmas (10), hot dogs (6), hamburgers (7) and some funky drinks like pina colada. Rectangular floor plan. Less narrow than Moon Wok. Three row of tables and both. Rustic. Large, four combined tvs on one wall. Order at a counter. Open kitchen. Five tables occupied. All ex-pats. Probably worth a second look. The music was too lud and annoying.

Fin Siam Thai - Opened a month or two ago. I just grabbed a tom kha shrimp to go because all the rice or noodles dishes STARTED at $22. The soup looked a little modest when I pulled out the container. But, probably more than a serving in house. It was also very good. Three fresh, plump shrimp. Nice coconut milk flavor. Fine heat. Quartered, real mushroom. Probably worked out better for me than a main dish. It cost $10. The place is a bit worn for a new opening. Wood on wood. Some Thai decoration. Maybe eight tables. One seated. Open for lunch or dinner.

*There was a Brazilian Steakhouse called Da Silva in the first strip mall. Open for lunch. They had non-beef, well priced (mid teens) lunch specials (fried mojarra, lasagna, tilapia, etc). I thought it was a pm place. Also there, a Chocolate Museum cum shoppe and a sketchy Indian place and a ice cream/drink place and a beer spa. I checked in to the strip mall on Central Florida Parkway that has Oza Izakaya (pm only). A sushi place and something I think was called Arepecita (after 3pm) there too. I also popped back into Slap! for a good $8 crispy pancake with braised pork that I had denied myself the first time. Like an arepa. When exactly was the last American/European restaurant opened in this town? Seems like every place I try is some kind of Colonial Spanish or Asian. The new Divers-city.

Travel Notes - Arizona and Nevada

Travel Notes - Arizona and Nevada: I flew to Frontier to Las Vegas for $189. They bumped me (didn't ask for volunteers) and I had to fly the next day. I did get $480 for my troubles. They sent a link to an online payee and I had to give them a debit card number. The overbooking was caused by their own people being given priority on the flight. The next day they overbooked again. I could have made another $480 or $1000 travel voucher, but, I had made hotel and car reservations in advance. Speaking of which, the cunts at Star Hotel in Williams AZ would not refund the rental. Expedia did step in with an equivalent credit. Hertz tried to triple the rate when I rebooked. I, therefor, went with Budget who dropped the price from earlier. That ran $253 for six days. I flew through LV because a flight to Phoenix and the rental were both three times higher and the times blew. I tried to try a Chowdown Countdown #86 spot called Sammy's LA Pastrami on the way out on Tropicana. It was either entirely closed or not open yet. It was so ramshakle (homeless person with a cart clogging the drive in) that I would never eat there. I drove 93S to 40W past Flagstaff to Holbrook. I would have done the Sky Walk on the west rim of the Grand Canyon ($114) off 93 if I had not lost the day (and one hour time change) and had a hotel reservation. In Holbrook, I drove a mile or so of Route 66 that had the Wigwam Motel. South to Show Low then to Pinetop. This is near Mt Baldy. Near the NM border. I stayed at the Green Tree Inn (Expedia 8.4) for $178 for two nights. I had some beer and a bad Turkey Pesto (no pesto) sandwich with limp fries and a flight for $36 at Pine Top Brewing Company. This area had many hotels, restos, markets, gas, etc.

The next day I tried to ski Sunrise Park (thirty miles east). The first two rental shops were closed. The one in the Apache Reservation told me it was closed due to lack of snow. No updates on their website! I decided to drive to it anyway because I had NOTHING to do otherwise. It seemed ok. I MAY have tried again the next day had they had anyone there to speak with. Not sure what would have happened had I purchased a pass in advance. I drove on to another area I had been considering for accommodations when I found out where this resort was. Eagar and/or Springfield. I would avoid them. I then stopped at a town (Greer) on the way back that had some hotels. I would avoid it too. No services. This area is called the White Mountains. Nice. More of a summer retreat they said. Lakes, golf, etc. I don't believe I had been there before. Ski rates are cheap, so, I may try it again another time. I only did so this time because I had time to kill and didn't feel like dealing with a drive to sw Colorado. Back in Pine Top, I had a slightly better turkey, avocado and bacon sandwich with fries for $20 at Johnny and Dee's Picnic Basket. Pinetop's sales tax was more than 10%. Gas was about the same as the rest of the state. I gassed up in Holbrook. Didn't need to. Spent the rest of the day scheduling the holes in the itinerary. BK dinner. Ski rentals were around $30. Krissie's, Pine Top Ski, Skiers Edge and Hon-dah (Apache). At the resort, the web site said $75. Lift tickets are as low as $25. Hon-dah also had a casino. Didn't go in.

The next day I took 360SW to White River to 60S to 73S to 77S to Tucson. Nice drive through Apache and Navajo reservations. Prime real estate. I stopped for lunch at Chef Alisah's (3D) on N. Oracle for special beef (four hour braised brisket cubes) in a mushroom sauce with buttered rice with side of cabbage salad in vinegar for $27. Ok. Bosnian. They are closing forever on May 15. I stayed at the formerly BW near DT to be near restaurants on my list. It is now Royal Sun Hotel (Booking 7.2). $189 for two nights. Expedia had this at $237. They wouldn't check in until 3pm. I walked into town. Had an undercooked tamale with three puny shrimp in a nice cream sauce with squash and zucchini for $26 at El Charro Cafe (Food Paradise). Good rice and beans and salsas. Perused the Tucson Museum of Art. Didn't pay the $15. Presidio Park, Pima County Courthouse, City Hall, etc. Walked to 4th Ave. Back to the hotel. Drove passed U of A to Tumerico (3D) for two great tostadas with mushrooms and huitlacoche and avocado with rice and beans for $21. It's a vegan place. Saw a plaque for Top 100 restaurants in America (2023). Grabbed a beer next door at Borderlands Brewing. Watched Indian Wells tennis.

The next day I walked back to 4th Ave. Had an average (bad meat) Da Kine burger (peach jam, goat cheese, bacon, pickles) at Lindy's on 4th (Man v Food) for $20. Walked around. They was a cool restaurant with pickle ball courts. I had a beer at Crooked Tooth Brewing. Went back to 4th and had an ice cold beef chorizo with waygu beef tallow and potatoes taco at Boca for $8 at Boca (Man v Food). It was so bad that I felt insulted and left. I walked to U of A. Saw all their facilities, stadiums, etc. It was their spring break. It was empty. Back to the hotel. Drove pretty far east on Speedway Blvd to Tanque Verde and Trail Dust Town (a fake western town). Had an ok filet mignon with beans and green beans and a salad at Pinnacle Peak Steakhouse (Man v Food) for $40. They have a free Wild West Show, etc. Seemed popular. Watched more tennis and WBC.

The next day I drove to Phoenix and on to Avondale for the Smart Talk Wireless 500 race. $57. I purchased directly (866-408-7223), but, they still directed it through Ticketmaster via an email. They would only digital wallet it. I called back and they sent me a text with a link to the ticket. You could buy at a booth on race day. They had other races (ie Indy Car) that weekend. The free parking is an obstacle course. You must go west three exits worth and then south and back to the raceway. There are shuttles there. It added nearly an hour to the trip (with barely any traffic). I watched about half the race. I wanted to escape the mess that must occur getting out of there. Back east on 10 to 17N to Bell Rd and the Red Roof Inn (Expedia 7.6) for $107. Rates in PHX this time of year are always ridiculous. Why I stayed in Tucson. Bought dinner at Fry's. More WBC.

The next I drove 17S to Thomas to DT at 7th St (not Ave) and the Phoenix Country Club (602-23-5208) for the Arizona Tennis Classic. Free parking at a local hs. Bought a ticket that they printed out for $20. It's a small venue. Three courts. Started at 11am. I stayed an hour. Drove Thomas back to 60NW to 10W to 93N to Las Vegas. Probably smarter to take 10W to 10N. Stayed at the Fremont DT (Expedia 8.8) for $25 with $35 resort fee. Free valet parking. Had an ok Italiano for $18 at Fat Sal's. Watched WBC and NFL FA news.

The next day I had an ok scrambled eggs, hash brown, sausage, french toast sticks at Jack in the Box for $5. Double McD's eggs. HB was bigger. My first breakfast there. Flight made it home. Seemed like a weird route. 

I spent $320 on food and drink. $104 on gas. $77 on sports tickets. $21 on parking. $534 on hotels. Total = $1598.  Would have been nice to have knocked out the west rim and skiing. Also learned that I could have seen the semis of the WCC bball tournament in Vegas. Weather was perfect. Gas was only $3 in Tucson (in after the war profiteering). $3.50 in most of AZ. Vegas was a dollar more. There is some huge construction convention in Vegas this week. I think only every three years. It may rotate. The daylight savings change cost me an hour I thought I was gaining returning to Vegas. There is a back up going west on 10 through Kingman (not temporary) that will cost you 45 minutes. Get off at the airport and snake through town to the last exit. I also learned that the Snow Bowl people in Flagstaff have purchased some old ski resort in Williams and are retooling it.

Grub Crawl - 436 and Mills Ave: Aroma and Rogen's

I tried these spots on Tuesday at night. The first replaces Buzzers in a strip mall north of East Colonial (50) on 436. The second replaced a video game bar across from Alfie's on Mills. I went to these places because I was returning from the airport and wanted to knock out places that don't really do daylight. And are open on Tuesday.

Aroma Gastro Bar - I had begun to formulate a description that began with "they did absolutely nothing to it" and ended with "you can pass". I even punted on the small Island-centric menu and ordered what would be the cheapest and quickest escape (empanadas). Partly because they were having a noisy comedy night. But, mostly because I was getting the Spidey tingle. If the jerk chicken empanadas (2) for $10 are any indication of what they are putting out (even at 9pm), then I may have to reconsider my Spidey Sense. One of the empanadas had better chicken than the other. Moist (probably dark meat) versus tougher, drier white meat. I didn't experience alot of jerk flavor. Filled with sweet plantains. The form looked home made. I even tasted a dusting of cheese or something. I didn't give alot of attention to the menu. Not oily. Some of the best empanadas I have had. Came with a green garlic dipping sauce. They had a half dozen other apps. I remember a ceviche and some plantain cups filled with meats. I remember a Dominican guisada, salmon and mofongo as mains. Maybe three more. $22 and up. I called it Island food because I'm not sure if it is just Dominican. As a reminder, the place has a jungle-y vibe/decor. Only open after 4pm. I just read/learned about/of it. However, they said they have been open for ten weeks. I think they do a Sunday brunch. There is a small bar. The crowd was black, latin and white. Probably skews on non-comedy nights. I've put places that just do a snack on the Fav list before. They are a bubble team now.

Rogens - This spot has been a bunch of bars. I believe they opened a year ago. Open after noon, I think. Full. Watching hockey not WBC. Weird. Bar in the middle. Two pool tables on the left. A little grungy. 

*I tried to go to Alfie's across the street. I thought they were only closed on Monday. I also noticed a bar called Grumpy's back towards 50. Hadn't heard of them. The Ming's Bistro on 50 wasn't open. I also noticed today that a H&H Bagels is just starting construction in the strip mall with the Carraba's on 434 near Lake Brantley HS.

Auto Accident Tutorial

Event - I was rear ended on US1 near Homestead in October. At a red light, I coasted into the middle lane from the left lane and was still clipped on my left rear by somebody in the left lane. I called Geico. Their numbskull operator was of no use and actually suggested that I could leave the scene if no one was hurt. I telephoned 911. I later learned you should use 311. US1 is considered a state highway. I had to wait over an hour in the heat for an officer to appear. I took pics. He seemed to be managing the incident report to benefit his non-English speaking homey. Even though I explained that we are a non-fault state (not sure that is exactly accurate) and had no reason to misrepresent and didn't really care what he wrote down. I was just trying to get out of there. He told me that the lane changer is at fault in Florida even if in front. I haven't fact checked this. I guess it could make sense if you believe our legislators are morons or possibly it was an attempt to curtail incidents where people jam on their brakes to cause a collision. He wrote me a citation for $175. Emailed it to me. Told me I could BUY the incident report. I continued on. I emailed the cop subsequently to try and amend the report as exculpatory facts came back to me. He did not respond. I then called his precinct. He finally called back (I suspect to leave no paper trail) and basically said he wouldn't change the report. Gave me some bs about losing my license if I averred that I wasn't totally coherent after the accident. Said if I had said I wasn't clear at the original time he could have prevented me from leaving. Said the cameras on the traffic poles (at the accident site) don't record.  

Lesson - I guess (if you want to drive away) don't admit to PTSD, etc. Let the other guy give his account first. Then correct their mis-recollections. Call 311. Don't drive away. And I guess (per the State of Florida Highway Patrol), don't ever change lanes. And always say you put on the blinker and checked the mirrors. BTW - I had. The guy behind must have been going fifty while the rest of us were down to ten. And no one who witnessed the wreck would admit to it and give a statement. I was Alone. His family took off.

Ticket - This was a pain to figure out where to send the fine (ticket clinic never responded and was a pain and more expensive) and the instructions on the citation were confusing. I had 30 days. The Miami Dade Court House (305-275-1111) does it for the highway patrol down there (yet can't do the actual policing/responding). Plus they have to approve traffic school (a formality). I had to leave a call back request. No one ever picked up. 9-4. At end of the automated part, you get a clerk option. Press 0. They (I think they only have one person) directed me to the website (www.payflclerk.com) to pay. You will need Citation #. That had a box to check for traffic school. I did that. You had to go to another site (www.flhsmv.gov) that had a list of options. I did that. They gave me 60-90 days to complete. Chose one for $20. Did a 4 hr course. Passed the test. They said I had to email the certificate. But, the site had an option and it sent it to them. I emailed it anyway and called them to make sure they had it. 

Insurance Company - They kept texting to get info from me. I learned you have four years to file a claim. I called the 800 number and got some advice. I got onto the Geico site. Filled out a form. Made a reservation to have the damage inspected (one option - twenty miles away) by an adjuster. *You can upload your own photos too via app or link (but there are annoying rules) Showed up. Was informed that I wasn't on the list. Called Geico. They said I was. Impasse. Gave me another location (not on the web site list) one mile away from my house and hour later. Not a full fledged adjuster. They took pics. I also sent Geico an email with all the relevant information about the other driver, etc. The gave me a claims adjuster that they quickly switched. Notified by mail. I went away for two weeks. Got home and nothing was done. I called Geico. They said the pics hadn't been submitted. I made an appointment at the same place for more pics. Got there and the guy said he bitched Geico out because he HAD sent in the pics and they dropped the ball. They eventually texted me to go to the website for the claims adjusters report/estimate. That had a list of items to be replaced and a sum payable to me for it. I had to send this to the repair shop. Plus I had to choose to have a wire transfer or check sent for the sum. I did nothing. The default was a check if you didn't respond in a few days.

Repairs - An associate gave me the name of a repair shop (Seminole Paint & Body on 2601 Country Club Rd) close by that he had had success with at the time of the accident. I wasn't in the mood to do much research at the time. In a real funk over this. Their Google rating was good - 4.8 with 344 reviews. Yelp = 18 5 stars. The dealer was quick option two. But, they just struck me as unreliable/corrupt and wouldn't guarantee premium parts. I had also been getting good advice from their office people about what to do with Geico. They said the report had to have the Geico letterhead. I would sign over the check to them at the end. They would work with and bill Geico for any discrepencies. I docusigned an agreement. I arranged to have the work done after New Year's. They seemed to imply that they would be ready for action then. NOPE. Now, I'm not going to speculate on what was going on behind the scenes. However, they took twenty working days (they and the adjuster's report said ten) or 180 operating hours for a car that takes 26 hours to assemble from scratch. The cost from the estimate tripled. FYI - car was drivable and I had things planned = why it took so long to bring it in

.

Repair Timeline - I called a week before to remind them that I was coming in. They said "oh, we didn't know if you were 100%". I had been calling them for months! I had had a reservation for before Thanksgiving that I pushed back because I assumed days would be wasted. I had brought it to them already. They took pics. They (Heather) said she would "now order the parts! But, it was no problem. They would get there in time". I dropped the car off (Monday 1/5) and went on a two week trip to give them time. They texted me two days later that they would be sending me status reports. The next day another text that "completion date was Wednesday 1/21". Already behind. I later learned that they needed to have ANOTHER Geico adjuster come in and that didn't happen until Thursday. They wasted the whole first week. Another text the next day that "repairs underway...seeing you in 12 days". Text on Monday 1/12 "on track to be completed 1/21". The next day "updated completion date to 1/23"! Text on Thursday 1/15 "on target for 1/23". Text Monday 1/16 "on track for 1/23". Text on Tuesday 1/20 "nearing completion". Text later the same day "updated completion date to 1/30". !!! Just as I was flying back.

In between the texts I had also been conversing with my repair manager Heather (when available). She preferred to leave voicemails. I assume because it was shortly only bad news. Always seemed to be at lunch. A million and one excuses. Never apologized. Never took accountability. I also spoke with others in the office (when she was gone) and received drips and drabs of the truth. I even eventually had to demand to talk to the manager (Destry) who ended up expediting nothing. He seemed to always be torn between here and another location. Call on 1/5 - learned they had only just met with Geico Adjuster Taylor Buckley. Said it was necessary because they believed whole quarter panel needed to be replaced. They had alluded to this earlier and probably should have had this call ready to go. They never blamed him for a delay in scheduling. There were few calls after the first "update" in completion. On 1/16 I was told that they were "just waiting on a light to be finished". On 1/20 they said the panel had arrived and had to be welded. Then had to be sent to the paint shop. On 1/21 the manager said "it would be done the next week". Probably Wednesday. He sent pics of the disassembled car on 1/23. Texted "As you can see there is alot of work, he is finishing up with the welding and seam sealer, should be going to paint this afternoon. I would say we should have you ready by Thursday if not sooner. I will be pushing for sooner, but, I will be keeping you updated though". In these calls, they also warned me that Geico was taking a long time to inspect and certify the repairs after they had finished (I was not told this was a step) and that may slow down delivery. I called my Geico contact and they gave me that other guy's number (of course my contact wasn't involved) and I called to make sure there would be no delay on his part and to get his opinion on what had been happening. They seem to cover each other's asses. They finally got it done by the end of the day on Friday 1/30. I had to keep pestering them to make it happen. I was traveling. I didn't let them know that. I picked it up on Monday 2/2. There were a few code malfunctions that somehow slipped through their inspection. Luckily, the outsourced servicer was there and "fixed" them. Or maybe just cleared out codes that will come back to bite me. The driver's seat belt was also pulled out off its spool. They fixed that. Not before blaming it on me. Wasn't. Maybe the code guy or detailer? The passenger window was scratched. Wasn't before. The tires were all flat. They filled them. After I pointed them out. Tremendous epoxy stench. I paid the $500 deductible to them via credit card. Signed over the check from Geico. They gave me a receipt and a line item report.

Conclusion - Accidents are a pain in the ass. I can't speak to the quality of their work. It looks ok. Some differences in caps, etc. I had no rental car coverage, so, the delays were a problem. They assume you have it. I guess. Maybe part of the lack of timeliness. I had to pay for all this rental time. I wasn't told of any extraneous issues (ie part shortages, etc). All the delays seem to be their fault. They are either too overloaded with work (I saw around thirty vehicles in the back lot) or understaffed or undisciplined. They told me the texts are automated bs. I assume every enterprise in this field does not have our best and brightest, so, as a result you can expect the same kind of experience. I just hope I never have to deal with this sort of thing again. All the photos and appointments with Geico seemed to be pointless. They said they would try and get my deductible back. Probably won't because of the police report. With this piece of shit cars, every fender bender seems to be a big deal/costly. I'll let you know if Geico tries to claw it's money back, raises rates or drops me. Can you believe that my first bill AFTER the crash went down! Maybe because the final tally hadn't hit them in the nuts yet? Or... I heard the state government made some adjustments that are lowering our car insurance rates around this time that offset any retribution.

Travel Notes - Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg

Travel Notes - Firestone Grand Prix of St Petersburg: I left at 8am on Sunday. Took I4 to 275 to the Tropicana Dome. It took two hours. No traffic snarls. I parked at the Trop for $30. Took a shuttle bus to DT. Paid $70 for an actual printed out out general admission ticket. A random guy wanted $60 for a ticket with an actual seat somewhere on the course. I just wanted to walk around, so, I declined. Didn't need issues for $10 savings. It was great. They arrange it around the Rowdies' stadium and Dali museum. They had a lower level race before. You could walk to most of the track. Towards the finish line, they block it off with grandstands. Their is a garage in the middle where you can get a bird's eye view. I bought a $7 brat with a $6 Coke (by far the cheapest option) from a food truck called The Schnitzel's. Left after around 60 of the 100 laps to beat traffic. Each lap took around a minute. I think I heard that they had two other races (Mazdas?) after the Grand Prix. They have other races on the days before this. Walked the ten blocks back to the parking lot. A bit of traffic through Tampa. FYI - it is twenty two miles from Tampa to St Pete. Of course some drug addict in an tinted brown Corolla almost clipped me as I exited to see the Fairgrounds. It roared past every car in the three lanes to the left to pass us all on the right (exit) lane. Around thirty miles of slow going to Plant City. A few more log jams. A snarl at Disney. Nevertheless, it's a nice and easy event to attend in the free state of Florida. Weather was perfect. I heard some people comparing it to the Miami race in May. This is much more low key. I called 727-898-4639 for info. If I had more initiative, I could have done the Strawberry Festival too on the way back.

Grub Crawl - Disney and International Drive Areas: Amor y Chile and Sal's Pizza

I tried these spots Sunday after 4pm. The first is in the K Pot strip mall on Palm Parkway near Disney Springs. The second is at Pointe Orlando. Both were bete noires.

Amor y Chile - This was the fifth time I tried to dine at this Mexican restaurant. I wont rehash the particulars. Now open at 1pm. I had a very good cabeza (cheek) burrito to go for $15 plus a $1.20 take out fee and $.49 credit card surcharge. Both things disqualify their cheap asses from Favorite consideration. The cheek was plentiful. Mostly good (tender). It did have a fair amount of collagen cubes. Too many for me. Beans and rice. Ok tortilla. Typical menu. Maybe a little higher end. I remember $6 tacos. The place once looked good. Khaki colors. Wood. Rope. Mexican pottery, etc. Mural. They replaced water stained panels in the ceiling without repainting them. Tiles are cracked. Tables weren't bussed. Others had their junk on them. Sign on door says open at 7am. I suspect it has reached the "don't care" stage. One table eating. Around twenty tables.

Sal's Pizza - Another five time try. This time the clean up crew hadn't shown up the night before and the one poor kid working there was doing it. This meant no pies ready. They only open at 4pm and only Th-Sn. I think I had to guilt him into making a pie. A slice is a quarter of this car wash piza. It costs $7. A full pie is $22. Not good. Way too much crust. Bad cheese. I knew it would be bad when I saw it at Logan airport. It seems to be a franchise from there. Order from a window. Around seven patio tables. You'd have to be drunk to need this.

*I saw that the Snoop Dog/Dr Dre bar replaced the pub at Pointe Orlando. It looked nice. You probably smell like a car with a rear view mirror fir tree air freshener after though. How do cops just not pull over any dirt bag who has one of these? A few spaces claimed that new things were going to open there. I think it is false advertising meant to trick prospective tenants. 

Nawabi, Lake Mary

I tried this Hyderbadhouse Biryani Place Friday at lunch. I had the Weekend Only (they include Friday) Potlam Chicken Pulav for $20. It was very good. A first. A thin egg crepe (with herbs) cover by a mound of soft basmati rice and chicken thigh cubes in a spicy red paste and topped another thin egg crepe. I find it rare to get an egg crepe (anywhere) that isn't tough and flavorless. They managed to avoid that. The rice was perfect. The chicken was also top notch. A large portion. Tender. No weird connective tissue. I do wish that all the pieces were cut a bit smaller. The paste was full of flavor. A bit hot. Not enough to mask the flavors. I sensed some fruity elements. Maybe just sauteed onion. I saw a bit of a bay leaf. Two side sauces (raita and a thin sour one). Served (to go) in an cost/eco-friendly paper wrapper. Came out fast. Could serve four people. I loved it. I was going to save it for dinner. I had to taste it while hot/fresh to be fair. I just kept eating away. Stuffed halfway through. I was going to eat it with a dry white wine. That would not have worked. I think it could handle a Cab. The menu is huge. Alot that were new to me. Here are the categories (without sub-sections): Soups, Breads/Sides, Tandoori Specialities (their spelling), Rice Specialities, Dosa, Idli & Wada, Parotta, Desi Delights, Apps (Veg and Non-Veg and Seafood), Entrees Veg and Non-Veg, Biryani, Pulavs, Wok Tossed, Noodles, Desi Chinese and Fried Rice. Prices mainly spike at low twenties. They have larger sizes and even a biryani bucket. It is a chain. Started in Woodland TX. In Belgium, UK, Ireland and twenty States. Known for biryani. They must have fifty of those. They took over Keke's in the strip mall with the Target/Publix on Lake Mary Blvd. Some changes. I think they kept the booths. Thirty of those. They looked worn. Gray, black and white (of course). Slice of life gray murals. L shaped. Most seats hidden behind the hostess stand. A fridge with uninspiring looking sweets on the right. Tvs. Possibly a small bar in the way back. Almost empty. I think most of their (at least during work time) business is to go orders. Around ten staff. I was impressed. Especially knowing my thoughts on franchises. Would definitely be a Favorite if it looked a little sharper. Probably still will be anyway. Open for three months. The worst thing was the cat strangling music they were pumping out. And into the street outside. That must be a violation of some sort. They didn't seem to have lunch specials or a buffet.

Ocean Buffet, East Colonial (50)

I tried this AYCE Sino-Japanese Buffet today at lunch. It was plan D. Plan A was N'Grano Cafe in WP. Not open. Brown paper on windows. Pop Up Bagels. Not Open. Still not close. Hikiniku at Juju. $42 burgers turned out to be a bad idea. Who would have guessed. They only do pop us once a month now (if at all). That left this. It turned out to be good. Only $18. You go up and collect your meal. Sushi, hibachi, hot Chinese and American dishes. Dim Sum. Salad bar. Cold shellfish (including snails). Desserts. Soup. Etc. It would have been a Fav (and it will still now replace Koy Wan as my sushi filler upper) had the replenishing been better. As a for instance, once the salmon nigiri plate was cleaned out, they only put two more pieces on. Didn't even exchange plates. Most of the plates were near empty as I left. None had been replenished. I sat at around 11:30am. I had a mere 34 pieces (because some one really tagged me with the flu on Route 66 and I still am not myself), two head on salt and pepper shrimp (bad), two har gow (terrible mush), two soup dumplings (better), a fried shrimp (worse than Winn Dixie salad bar), a spring roll (good) and a bad square of mapo tofu. The sushi rice wasn't great. Ok. The tuna quality was good. In rolls. Most of the assortment is rolls. Many kinds. They only did mackerel, shrimp, kani and salmon nigiri. The place was huge. High ceilings. Around fifty booths. Almost all filled. Alot of Asian groups and Medicare recipients. Here's a 2025/26 shocker - gray, black and white color scheme! Wood accents. Wavy wood beam ceiling. Large geisha mural. Clean, New. Gray upholstry. Food on the left. Sushi prep area in the middle. Lots of signs and descriptions of dishes. Lots of staff. In black. They filled my water when I went away. Gray plates. They said they had locations in Ocala and Gainesville. Open a month or two. Plenty of parking. At Fashion Square Mall on Maguire. 11am on every day. I liked the value. 

*I tried to try Fragaria Ice Cream in Maitland. I saw they had opend on Fox 35. These cunts only want want to work AFTER 3pm! I saw on the way that Joe and Juice had brown paper on their windows and we may be entering a Turci epoch. They are opening a Osteria at the Midici Pizza space in Maitland. They had a sign up. It wasn't there when I tried Selva Rosa. Brown paper on the windows. And Naya at Trelago in Maitland is still a ways away. And on Mills, Little Sister Dumpling and something Rice (I think it was to be called Hot as Rice) still have the brown paper on their windows. They were also tearing down some buildings that I hope will be promised restaurants soon. I am also taking the following locations off my list because I don't believe they will ever be - Mason's Lobster Roll, Tropix, Snooze AM. Any word on Oak & Stone on Park Ave? I forget to tell you that that dive bar near the tracks at Lake Ivanhoe on Virginia is gone. A new condo is there now. Happened so fast.

Travel Notes - Texas Oklahoma Missouri (Route 66)

Travel Notes - Texas Oklahoma Missouri: I flew to Dallas on Frontier for $90 because it was the only cheap fare I could find on short notice (because the uncertainty of the stupid car repair threw off my whole schedule). They have been running ad nauseum Samantha Brown's Route 66 episodes, so, I decided to drive the patches I hadn't driven before. I rented a car from Hertz for $386. It was supposed to be a Kia K4. They had next to nothing (even for Presidential level) and I took a Hyundai Tucson. I drove farther than expected the first night because most of the towns on the route I took (114W) had sketchy accommodation options. The airport's exit to 114 was closed down. Luckily I took 30N to it. All the "lakes" town are on it. Southlake. Westlake. The route was a bit confusing in parts. You had to get off and change direction a few times. I ended up in downtown Lubbock. I gave in to a Super 8 for $69 (rack rate) because it was 11pm.

The next day I started at Jimenez y Friends Barbecue y Taqueria (Texas Monthly #24). They only do brisket on the weekends, so, I tried three tacos for $12. An ok chorizo and egg. A good asado de puerco. A good carne asada. All generously filled. They told me that some famous spot had a food truck nearby today. I went there. They weren't ready. I learned the town was on  my way and decided to go to the real location rather than wait. I then drove 62/82 a few miles sw to Wolfforth and Evie Mae's Pit Barbecue (Texas Monthly #8). I had a plate with brisket, potato salad and baked potato casserole and a large soda for $20. All were very good. This was the best bbq I had. I then drove 622 back to 27N. Went west around twenty miles on 70 to Olton and Rejino Barbecue (Texas Monthly Top 50). I had 1/2 lb of brisket for $18. I think they gave me more than that. Plus they tossed in four half fist size burnt ends. Their brisket was less oily than Evie's. I prefer the moisture. I drove on through Amarillo and east on 40. I exited and followed all the Route 66 signs. I saw the Devil's Rope Museum (closed). I'll state here that much of 66 parallels 40. Only when you get to a town does it really pay to drive it. I entered Oklahoma in Elk City. Their Route 66 Museum employees left even before 5pm. I pulled into a Holiday Inn in Clinton for $98 (rack rate). Ate the rest of the bbq. Bought Blue Bell Gooey Butter Cake IC at a market because Rhett and Link did an ice cream tournament I saw before I left in which they gushed over Blue Bell IC. Banana Pudding in particular. Turns out you can't trust relocated white trash. Terrible, puffy, air-infused ice cream. Picked up a 66 guide in the hotel lobby.

The next day back on 66. Stopped in Weatherford (Space City). They had a big muffler man space man. Drove past the Stafford Air & Space Museum. Still not sure why it is a space town. Onto the Pony Truss Bridge in Bridgeport. They used it in the film Grapes of Wrath. There was an older route from here that I got lost on. Grave of Chisolm from the Trail. Eventually made it back at El Reno. This was used in the new Twisters movie (end sequence). I was here for Sid's Diner and their world famous onion burger (3D, Bizarre Foods, Food Paradise, MvF). Had one and a soda for $11. Drove on past Oklahoma City. Found a Visitor's Center just before they try and make you get an 44 (toll). They told me to get off just before (I forget the exit - 2nd St?) to Edmond. At Arcadia there is a diner and soda shop called Pops 66 with a giant neon soda bottle. They sell weird sodas and vintage candy too. Then a round barn and a chicken joint. Stopped at an old gas station a bit further on. Through Sapulpa and the Tee Pee Drive In and other things. Onto Tulsa. On the Arkansas River. Been before. Never stayed/investigated much. I stayed at the La Quinta Downtown (Expedia 8.0) for $114 and $10 Parking. Walked the town. Saw all the districts. Churches, theater, Bok Tower, Bok Center, Convention Center. Saw a few restaurants from MvF, etc that didn't entice. The city was devoid of people and services. I had to get back in the car and drive west on 66 to some area that had a shitty supermarket. While there, I tried a burger place called Arnold's. DCB for $8. They are burger mad in Oklahoma. Mostly smashed ones.

The next day I drove to take a pics of the river and Boston Avenue United Methodist Church. 66 east to the good part of Tulsa. First stopped at Buck Atoms Cosmic Curios. Muffler man and lady (now). Meadow Gold sign. Up to Ike's Chili House (Martha Stewart) for two bad chili dogs for $7. Oldest restaurant in town. There was a Rosie the Riveter muffler man there too. Left on Utica. Around there is a recording studio used by Clapton, Dylan, etc called Church. More north is the house from the Outsider's movie. Also a famous burger joint (Bill's MvF) that had no customers, yet told me I would have to wait for 45 minutes. I told them to pleasure themselves with a rusty knife. Down to Tulsa University. Saw the arena and football stadium. A bit south to their (modern) fair ground and a big golden statue called the Golden Driller. Back to Ike's and across the street to Howdy Burger. It was closed before. Grabbed an ok Howdy Burger for $6. The guide called them out. Back east on 66 and a stop at the Mother Road Market (mostly food stalls). Grabbed a scoop of Pony Boy at Big Dipper Creamery for $6. Finally out of Tulsa. Past a cool Hard Rock. They drop you past the greatest curiosity on 66. The Blue Whale of Catoosa. I drove back west to see it. Wouldntchaknow that it was fenced off for repairs. I climbed over the fence and did a Jonah. The workers didn't seem to care. I love any building/structure in animal form! Back on 66 east. Stopped for fried calf fries (baby balls) at Clanton's Cafe (3D and Bizarre Foods) in Vinita for $9. Only had old balls. These were like chicken livers. Took some pics in Miami (murals). Tried to get something at Waylan's Ku Ku Burger. They only had the drive thru open and were taking too long. Did grab a burger and swirl ic in Commerce at the Dairy King for $6. Great people. Couldn't find the Mickey Mantle house. That ended Oklahoma. There is a small sliver through Kansas. The signage wasn't great. I think I missed the town they used in Cars. I believe they have a station with fake Maters, etc. Saw a sign that said birthplace of Hale Irwin. It was getting late and I was behind schedule. Drove into Missouri. Through Joplin and Carthage. Not much called out and I had no guide. In Carthage the route disappeared. I gave up and got on 44N to Springfield. I think if I had turned off the first exit the route could have been picked up. I think this whole route is easier east to west. Drove around the downtown. Stopped at a Best Western that I think was once the Rail Haven Motel. This was back on 66. $109 rack rate. Grabbed some crap at Walmart.

The next day the weather changed. It was warm and sunny up to now. Now the rain came for two days. That (and the lack of things) made the route less engaging. Oklahoma is definitely better at this. I had an ok cb ($7) from Casper's down the street before I left. Towns like  Lebanon, Waynesville, Rolla, Sullivan, Pacific. Places like Hubble Telescope Replica, Munger Moss Motel, Route 66 Museum/Library and Uranus Fudge Factory. In some places the roads were unkempt. Towards St Louis it disappears. I got back on 44 and off at 366. Took that about ten miles to Ted Drewe's Frozen Custard (Chowdown Countdown #37). Had a great TeDad oatmeal and vanilla concrete for $6. Then a scary drive past 30 to 55S. Drove to Sikeston. Stayed a the Best Western for $114 (rack rate). BK because it was Valentine's Day and Lambert's Cafe was beyond jammed.

The next day I went to Lambert's (Chowdown Countdown #19) as soon as it opened. It was at capacity a half hour later. I had a terrible chicken pot pie (because out of pork jowls) with box mashed and baked potatoes. And off course a "throwed" roll. I had been to the one in Daphne AL. Same exact thing. I hauled ass to Memphis and 40W through Little Rock because it was Sunday and any restaurant I wanted to try was closed. Past Texarkana to 82W to Paris. Stayed at the Hampton Inn for $127 (rack rate). TB/Walmart dinner because I knew I was coming down with something.

The next day I had a bad turkey rueben with chips at Corner Cafe. Took some pics of the square/theaters. There is a movie named Paris Texas. Wasn't shot there. West to Bonham. Birthplace of Speaker Sam Rayburn. South on 121 to 75 to Dallas. Took a stupid way around SMU to the original Sonny Bryan's Smokehouse (Chowdown Coutdown More #80). Bought a good brisket sandwich for $13. Took 35W to 183W to Euless. Stayed at the Best Western Plus West Euless (Expedia 8.4) for $89. This is near DFW. McD dinner.

The next day I dropped of the car and flew home. No issues. Ok trip. Watched Olympics. Found out there is an ATP tournament in Dallas going on this week. Would have done that. Would have tried two other restaurants in St Louis if the rain hadn't slowed me down. Spent $721 on hotels. $176 on gas. $249 on food, etc. $117 on parking. Total = $1739.

Grub Crawl - UCF Area: Desi Bistro, Hasuu/Bambuu, Knights Curry Express and Senor Taco

I tried these spots up and down University Blvd near UCF Tuesday at a late lunch. The first is in the strip mall on Collegiate Way just off Alafaya Trail (SW corner). The second is in the strip mall across from it (NW) near the McDonald's on Strategy Blvd. The last two are next to each other in a strip mall not too far west on University that has the Lazy Moon. They are easy to miss because they are on the side.

Desi Bistro - Bangladeshi. On the corner of this row of shops. The dickheads in this never not under construction strip mall are now digging it up again and the lot is surrounded by fencing. I found this a bit disappointing. More fast casual than I was expecting. Order at a counter. Four or five tables. A nice slice of life mural on the left wall. I grabbed a bowl with a name I hadn't recalled tasting before. Chicken Malai Boti. It was a bit dull. Some semi-spicy thick red sauce over not a ton of not great quality chicken chunks. Not a ton of flavor. The rice was very short grained. They tossed in a limp salad. It cost $12. Flimsy, eco-friendly container. You can order what they have in a wrap and platter as well. They had around twenty options. I recall goat, beef, paneer, mutton, fried fish. Ten small things like wings and samosas. I remember that most of the Indian restaurants in London (Brick Lane) are actually serving Bangladeshi dishes. Not sure if that goes for Indian dishes in America. However, I don't recall many (or any) places around town calling out their Bangladeshiness. So, this may be your only option. Open for a month or so. No one else there.

Hasuu/Bambuu - Two in one. Actually three. One is a bar. One is Japanese. One is Chinese. As a joke/bit of rebellion, I ordered a Korean Omelette from Hasuu. After ten minutes, I had to ask what was going on. The one guy (who turned out to be a dishwasher) in the kitchen who had been looking at me with a puzzled look wasn't doing anything. I was informed that there was another simpleton back there (who I assume was the cook) and he said it would take ten more minute to make a one minute meal. I grabbed a cheaper egg salad sandwich from the prepared food (most of what they do) section and left. It was an ok sandwich. Sweet bread. Fake egg. The omlette was $8. This was $7. I don't really wasn't to waste much time on these people. Some rolls, poke, bento, buffet style teriyaki junk. Typical food court buffet stuff as well at Bambuu. Nothing looked too fresh. A big, square, spartan, modern room. The order kiosks weren't working. Open for two months. No one else there.

Knights Curry Express - Indian. I tried some fried chicken momos (6) for $10 and a chicken tikka sandwich for fries for $8. Loved the momos. Little round dumplings. I believe I discussed them in the Maldives Travel Notes. Not sure that I have seen them around town anywhere else. On their Street Food section. I wonder if these are just Chinese frozen food items the co-opt? The sandwich was good. Had shredded carrots, that cilantro puree and possibly cheese inside. Pressed. More Indian dishes should be served this way. Fries weren't great. Batter coated. Spongy. Good seasoning though. This took way too long. Only one other guy there before me. They had around twenty items. Biryani. A few more apps. Three types of momos (ie steamed). Small, rectangular space. Maybe four tables. Basic interior. Order at a counter.

Senor Taco - The only one NOT on the list to try (new openings) and (of course) the best. Mexican. Original in Port St Lucie. A grabbed three Taco Tuesday hard shell tacos for $2 a piece. Ground beef (a bit Slopy Joe-ish), Al Pastor (can we decide on if this is shaved meat or this) and Chicken (not too stringy). They had fun things like vampiras, birria and flautas served in a cup. Many meats like lengua. Most of the usual stuff as well. Gray, black, rectangular space. Five tables. Order at a counter. Open for a year. Two others there. Could be a Fav.