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. 

Grub Crawl - Mills Rd and Orlando: Z Cafe and Lele's Snack

I tried these spots on Tuesday at lunch. The first is inbetween 50 and Virginia. The second is inbetween 50 and 408 on 436.

Z Cafe - A Vietnamese place. A few months old. I'm not sure what was in this large space before. I just grabbed a banh mi special to go for $9. All good except for the roll. I think they tried to resucitate it by nuking it. That made it a giant crouton. Pate. Three types of above the usual meats. Mayo. Good veg. Seven apps including Chinese har gow. Five banh mi. Five fried rices. Six pho. Three beef dishes. Fifteen noodle dishes. Coffees. Juices. Teas. Drinks including pennywort. Gray. Black. Faux marble. Around sixteen tables. I kind of remember hearing about them. Thought it was Z Asian moving location. Nice surprise.

Lele's Snack - Venezuelan. I just grabbed what was ready. A ground beef empanada for $5. Ok. Small Spartan space. Fourteen listed emanadas. One called baby shark. Arepas. Pasteles. Bebidas. Offered me free coffee. Four tables.

La Campana, Lee Rd

I tried this Mexican restaurant on the west side of I4 on Monday at lunch. They said the have been there for six years. I thought I had been to every place around there. No evidence on this site though. I grabbed a huarache (sandal) with carnitas to go for $15. It was good. I do wish that Mexican (and bbq) places would do away with pulling their meats into little, long piles of string. This pork had the usual dried out portions. Those really needed to not be stringy. Wears out your molars. If they don't cause a choking hazard. The lettuce, avocado, pickled onions etc were fresh and clean enough. I saw a plate of sopes (spheres) that also looked above board. They don't seem to just slop things together. Wonderful, simple plating. Didn't include chips and salsa. Saw tables there getting them. Not sure if they were charged. I learned of this through a circular. Two for one offers there if you get two drinks. And daily bargains like three tacos for $5 on Tuesday. The menu is large. Ambitious. They have the ususals (fajitas, burritos, etc) with things like octopus or parrillada plates. Prices rise to $45. Eight soups. Ceviche. Oysters. Mojarra. Pargo. Michoacan pork. Birria. Tortas. Different options and price points for most budgets. I was reasonably impressed. The place must have been an old Pizza Hut or something. Gray and black with and octopus mural. Low ceiling. Small bar. Patio. Two sets of booths for four on either wall. Two tables for eight and two for four in between. You could way worse. They were even sophisticated enough to have/hand out a $10 gift card with a QR Code that you could use to order directly with them. Means "the bell".

Grub Crawl - Longwood and Lake Mary: Guntur Kitchen and Made in Puerto Rico

I tried these spots Saturday at dinner. The first is in a strip mall across from Hourglass Brewery on Ronald Reagan Blvd. The second is in a strip mall on Lake Mary Blvd on the road that goes to the high school. There is a Chamberlain's there. I was going to go to a place called Longwood Social Club initially. The entire row of shops it was on seemed condemned. I guess it is too. It was there a few weeks ago.

Guntur Kitchen - I have been told it is a location in India (Andhra Pradesh in the SE of India) known for spice (chili capitol of India). It has a small menu that I believe changes frequently. Today they had three mains. Mutton with rice or dosa, Chicken something and Vegetable Kheema Dum Biryani. I had the biryani for $16 to go. It was probably the best I've had. The two toned (white and yellow) basmati was prepared perfectly. Soft. Moist. Whatever the make up of the wads of vegetable were, they were terrific. Some much of them. Tempeh? *I just looked it up and this dish is made with minced meat. Receipt says Veg though. The portion size was fit for four. The spicing was remarkable. And I'm no vegan. But, like In and Out burgers, I'm coming to the conclusion that as the former are tastier without cheese, Indian food may not improve with meat. You really can never taste it anyway. They included the best raita I've ever had. A bit spicy with cucumber and onion and tomato. They also had around a dozen apps like dosas and snacks like fried chicken. A few desserts and drinks like lassi. The place is small. Four mis-mosh tables. Red and yellow and white and gray. A few framed pieces of art on one wall. Closed Monday and Tuesday. I think they do lunch. It's a mom and pop shop. Opened a few months ago. Will be a Favorite. No added charges.

Made in Puerto Rico - They said they have one by the Cracker Barrel at the airport on 4366 and in Throgs Neck NY. I can't believe I wasn't aware or haven't seen the first. Huge menu of the usuals. Plus they do brunch on the weekends and catering. Open for lunch and dinner. Fancy. I had the pollo guisado (chicken stew) with side for $16 to go because I don't love Puerto Rican food and I thought the biryani may need help in the form of chicken. The shoestring fries (side) were perfect. Alot. I ate them with the raita. The four small pieces of bone in thigh meat were fine. No real flavor. The sauce is tomato based. It also was pretty bland. Came with a with slices of carrot and potato. Also bland. Not a huge portion of stew. I ate it with the biryani the next day. Rhett and Link have this segment where they ask "Will it?" Like soda ramen. Guisado. Will it biryani? Yes! They pork and steak, seafood and chicken dishes. A few sandwiches at $17. A trifongo (new to me). Prices rise to $65. They spent alot on the refurb. It was the Lake Mary Social Club or something and a dive bar before that. Never went. Scarface vibe. Mostly shiny black. Two fake white leaved trees. Split into a seated bar section with a few high tops and three tables near the bath. Four booths aside four tables of four and then two tables of six. There were some kind of techno light projectors above them. The bar stocked top shelf booze. Around ten beers on tap. Digital displays were pimping Happy Hour, Super Bowl Watch Party, Champagne Brunch and Ladies' Night. Marc Anthony was on the wall and the speakers. Other paintings of Puerto Rican celebrities. Lots of staff in black. The crowd and staff were all Hispanic. They chose a weird neighborhood to put down roots in. I am not aware of a large wealthy Hispanic population in that area. But, I don't know everything. That strip mall doesn't have a reputation for success. I think the Tijuana Flats is pretty much the only survivor/attempter over the years. They are surely taking the biggest swing at changing that. I hope they beat the odds. I may have seen enough to make them a Fav. The attractive hostess and great fries didn't hurt their chances. Opened two weeks ago. I believe they have a sign that read that they had lunches starting at $9.99. It will be interesting to see how they juggle the vibe/clientele. Dressy/clubby evenings with a likely sloppy lunch crowd. They added a charge for credit card.

*Apropos of nothing, Aldi has further diminished Winn Dixie (as if that was possible) by changing out their tuna fish supplier. No pull top. Less full though the label says the same ounces. Water weight? Way inferior quality of tuna. Worse label. Raised the price. This is hardly the only negative change. With no positive ones. Keep on truckin' Aldiculous Aldicks. I mean fuckin'.

Grub Crawl - Sanford: Arepas Cafe & More and Akira Sushi

I tried these spots at competing strip malls at Lake Mary Blvd and 17-92 on Thursday at lunch. There was also a new Filipino market called Del Guzman that doesn't open until noon and didn't have any of the described prepared food ready for yet another hour.

Arepas Cafe & More - Just opened here. Original on 436 in Altamonte Springs. Said that has been around for nine years. Don't know how I missed it. I just grabbed two of the only three "ready" empanadas for $4 (they said $3.50). All ham and cheese. Thinnest sliver of ham ever. Mexican string cheese. Smooth crescent shell. Sweet cornmeal. A bit greasy. The namesake arepas are $10 to start. Or are they? Check your receipt. They have breakfast items. A plate was around $13. An egg and cheese sandwich around $8. Other traditional types of snacks. Some full plates. Not cheap. Around four tables. Not much decor. One or two employees. One other customer. Venezuelan. 

Akira Sushi & Steak House - Been there forever. Empty. Looked scary, so, I tried the $12 lunch hibachi chicken box as a result. Looked like Lean Cuisine, but, actually ok. No weird bits of grilled chicken. Orange goop sauce. Fried rice had no meat and was a bit soggy. Two crescent shaped fried crab rangoons were pretty good. Greasy. Four piece Cali roll was ok. Typical big menu. Nigiri starts at $4.25. AYCE is $30. I wouldn't trust that. Looked like they only stocked four or five items. Six hibachi tables. Off white/yellow walls. Dark wood. Two Chinese employees and a Mexican sushi chef. 

Travel Notes - Alabama Louisiana Florida

Travel Notes - Alabama Louisiana Florida: I rented a car for a week from Hertz for $15. I used points because it would have cost $473. I had to do this because the nimrods at Sanford Paint and Body didn't finish my repairs in time. That will be a Tutorial. I stayed here the first day. I drove to Gainesville and had a lunch TMNT sandwich at The Paper Bag Deli DT (3D) for $14. The whole town is metered parking. I continued on to West Pensacola and stayed at the poor Country Inn West (Booking 8.2) for $71. Walmart Cobb Salads dinner.

The next day I stopped in Mobile. Grabbed an ok Spanish SOS Squid to go at Squid Ink (Travels with Darley) for $18. Saw a newish food court called Parc le Tralour. They are dicks about meters too. Drove around and found a closed Hummingbird Oyster Bar (3D). They were setting up for Mardi Gras parades. I found free parking at the Blind Mule (Chow Down Countdown #75) back DT. Got the $21 chili cb with fries to go. Drove to 12W and the North Shore at Covington. Stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn (Expedia 8.6) for $101. Drove at Abita Brewing in Abita Springs. BK dinner. I saw Covington and Abita Springs on Samantha Brown's Places to Love. They are on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain.

The next day I drove through DT Covington. Saw the Southern Hotel, etc. Cute town. Drove 190S to the lake in Mandeville. 22W to 55S/51S to Akers/Manchac. Had a thin fried catfish plate with hp and ff at Middendorf's (Food Paradise and Good Eats) for $23. Down to 10E to 610E. Exited on the Canal St exit. Went to City Park for the first time. Went to NOMA and Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Maybe the best things in NO. Garden is free. Drove around the park. Tad Gormley Stadium (mostly UNO track), Botanical Garden, City Putt, Carousel Gardens Amusement Park. They even have a Cafe du Monde here. Down Orleans. Grabbed a cochon de lait (pulled pork with cole slaw) at Katies's (3D) for $18. It turned out to be on the same block as that Liuzza's place I went to a few trips back. Down Bienville a few blocks to a real surprise - Neyow's Creole Cafe (I forget the show). I was getting "you mind if we dance wif your dates" vibes, but, they delivered excellent fried chicken, carrot souffle and mac and cheese for $18. The souffle was a first. Like pumpkin pie filling. They made the mac with thin/short vermicelli or something. A first too. I went east a block or two to the Parkway Bakery (Samantha Brown's Places to Love). Grabbed an alligator sausage po boy to go for $11. This was a cool spot. Had parking. I should state here that I ate the cochon and po boy the next day. Both were good. To the Garden District and the Marsh Hotel (Expedia 9.2) for $95. They lied about the parking. I got a spot because I showed up exactly at 4pm, but, there were only two spots. They also didn't give me a great room. I should state here that almost every location except those in FL wanted exorbitant rates for the weekend. Think $400+.

The next day I drove through Pensacola to 90E to Santa Rosa Beach FL. Stayed at the brand new Tru by Hilton (Expedia 9.6) for $88. Had a free wine tasting at Emerald Coast Wine Cellars at Miramar Beach. They are part of that Chautauqua Winery in Defuniak Springs. Let's put it this way - all wines were non vintage. Grabbed an overpriced, un-pressed or impressive Cuban with potato wedges at Stinky's Fish Camp on 30A for $22. 

The next day I stopped for a $15 bagel with smoked salmon, cc, capers, pickled onions and tomato at Coastal Coffee & Cafe. Drove 30A (a jjoy) to 90E. Stopped at St Joe's Shrimp at Hunt's on St Joe Bay in Cape San Blas for llb of steamed white shrimp for $22. They said it was caught there. Said the moratorium on oyster harvesting is lifting in March and some is allowed now. Stopped at Leon Sinks Geological Area in Crawfordville (open this time). North to Tallahassee to Railroad Square. I can't believe I had never been to this cool little area before. Had an ok curry chicken and an ok chickpea empanada at Pineappetit (3D) for $12. They are known for filled, carved out pineapples. That wouldn't travel well. Saw the basketball arena (Donald L Tucker Civic Center). Almost went to a game. Drove on to Orlando. 

Spent $355 on hotels. $244 on food/etc. $116 on gas. Total = $730. I think the last time I did this route was right as DeSantis ordered us home for Covid.

Grub Crawl - Epic Universe and Florida Mall Areas: Half Barrel, Pho Sky Blossom, Gozumba, Turull's and Mazala Pijja

I tried these spots Sunday at lunch. The first is on Universal Blvd in a strip mall. The second is in a strip mall at the northwest corner at Sand Lake and OBT. The third is in the strip mall on the northeast corner of that intersection. The fourth is in a strip mall one block east of that on Sand Lake. The last is in a strip mall south of that on Doss Ave that I believe is called Lakshmi.

Half Barrel Beer Project - They said they have been there for nine years. I believe this is the last brewery that has escaped me in CF. I had two 5ozers that seemed like less than that at $3.50 a piece. A nice hibiscus one and an ok Mexican lager. Small place. Only four of their own brews. Some food. New looking. Tvs. This whole area is pristine. Brand spanking new.

Pho Sky Blossom - I had the chicken pho at $17 after they said they couldn't do a crab and tomato one. It was fine. Lots of breast meat that I wish they wouldn't tear length wise. Nor add older batches to the fresh ones. Noodles seemed store bought. They couldn't bother to separate them. Like a brick. All stuck together. Typical menu and prices. The place is black and pink and gray. Cherry blossom tree in front of four tvs patched together to make one huge one showing a tourism video for Vietnam. Stage. Wicker lamp shades. Two metal ones. Some stone accents. Gray stuffed cushion back chairs. A half wall topped with feathers. Kitchen behind that. A mini L shape layout. Four blue cushioned seat tables and a bar in the front. Eight tables for six or more on the spine of the L. Two servers. Dressed in black. About half full. Took a bit long to ladle soup. An ok experience on a cold afternoon. I will take issue with the sriracha et al they presented me. All half full and dirty. A bad look.

Gozumba - Walked in and out. Some kind of trash nightclub. Was frisked going in. Can't imagine eating there. 

Turull's Kitchen & Bar - I like tapas. I don't like paying people astronomical mark ups to put them on a plate for me. As such, I grabbed the cheapest thing to go. $7 tortilla de patata (1 piece). Now I'm unsure if they sliced one piece into three tiny ones or they made a mistake or this is how they count in Spain, but, I received three tinies. Side of garlic mayo. Ok. Not sure if they made it. The menu has bites like croquetas and empanadas at $13. Calamares, gambas, pulpo in the twenties. Sausage, soup, tostones, etc. Mains like Carnes in the forties. Seafood in the thirties. Paellas in the forties. I didn't see portion sizes. Only two tables eating. Five desserts. Gray, white, red and black. Counter on the left. Tiny glass wine closet at the entrance. Mostly filled with Lan. Light bulb tipped tree. Bottle of wine mural. Blue and white checker board backed chairs. Wood tables. Open kitchen in the rear. Around a dozen tables and seats at the counter. Seemed estrogen fueled. I'm sure it's good. I just don't have that USAID, Somali day care or South American despot money. Nor a stolen credit card. Their in house video had images of Mallorca on it. Not sure if the food takes on this character. I thought they were newish, but, their sign read 2023. I believe they are closed on Monday.

Mazala Pijja - I assumed this would be as pointless as the five other previous places here that I have been forced to endure. I am a big whatever is the opposite of a fan of Indian pizza (or most fusion). It just has too much of its own character to blend. Plus all these suckers were around $20 for a 12" pijja shit. The meatballs on some people. Needless to say there wasn't one person in there eating. Needless to say I chose a $5 mango lassi to go. They rang up a $6 chai. Jokes on me. I dropped it on the ground. Maybe Ganesh was protecting me from pee-ja? I had a sip. It was fine. To my dismay, I later saw a separate more reasonable Holiday Menu that had actual Indian dishes at acceptable price points. IE - Chicken 65 or chili for $14. Probably hose you on the rice. I guess the pizza menu didn't get it done on its own. It's run by the Saffron Hospitality Group. Small. About eight tables. I think it was white and blue. Only a cook was there.

*Whomever is in charge of the traffic lights around Epic Universe and Sand Lake from I4 to John Young is a complete moron.