Monday, May 24, 2021

Grub Crawl - Downtown and Mills: La Boulangerie, Pattie Lou's Donuts and Dochi Mills *OH/MI/IN/KY/TN Travel Notes

I tried these spots after lunch on Wednesday. The first two are around the corner from each other on, what I believe, is the corner of Pine and Magnolia. Although the receipt to the first says Rosalind. It is the one that comes north from South Orange (parallels I-4 in front of Lake Eola and the band shell). It is in front of the new apartment complex.. I believe it is called Modera. The final one is near Japango in Vietnam town. I also noticed a new poke place has opened in front of Morgan and Morgan. And Motorwerks brewery is open too. And I think a new place called Maki is diagnol from the 7-11 on Colonial (up from that road that passes Lake Eola). Couldn't see if it was open yet. And the remodel of the Korean spot farther east on Colonial seems nearly complete. I think it has the same name.

La Boulangerie - A bakery+. They had a much more intricate menu than I was expecting. Pasta, duck breast carpaccio, tuna sashimi and tartare, raclette (skimmed hot cheese), fondue, hot stone cooked chicken/beef/duck/shrimp/scallops, charcuterie and cheese plates, pizza, sandwiches, panini, oysters, crepes, omelets, soup and avocado toast. Good pricing. They are from Lyon. Paris and they fight over who is the king of gastronomy. Place looks modern and clean. I just grabbed a baguette after I saw that the place needed a real looking into. It cost $3. Pretty good. Parking can be a pain (meters or garages) downtown. They claimed that you can now use the lot on Central for two hours free. I used a carry out reserved space in front. I wouldn't count on that being available too often. They close at 5pm. This could be a really good addition. Opened fairly recently.

Pattie Lou's Donuts - They are in a soft opening that started a week ago. The mini donut maker was the only one working. I grabbed a small (dozen or so donuts) in a white, Chinese food type container to go for $5. They were fine. You can top them with a "sauce" and add toppings. I just did the chocolate sauce. It was ok. Modern looking, white walled space. Only location.

Dochi Mills - I first told you about their location in the East End Market. Never was there when they were. This is a new location right near the intersection of Mills and Colonial. Across from Mamak. Opened six weeks ago. Cute little store with donuts under glass at the register. I tried a churro for $2.50. Good. I don't know if you remember my Vegas notes from last July 4th. I told you about a Hawaiin poke place that sold these donuts? They look like big beaded bracelets. Soft center. Fresh. They had just a few flavors. I think they have more consistent hours than the original spot. Perhaps you can go and make the guy at the Orlando Weekly happy with your anti-anti-Asian support. I'm sure he's fighting Arab anti-Semetism now. Right? That would be consistent.

*Travel Notes - OH/MI/IN/KY/TN: I went mostly because they had the cheapest rental car prices and I wanted to see Mackinac Island before the season started. Plus the rest of the National Parks and Memorials. Let me start by saying what a joy it is to fly into Cleveland versus flying through our POS airport. There were three TSA lines and still only three people in each line. Rental car counter had no line. And if there is a gap in the action, it usually means fast food or chain hotel or leftovers. I started off with a stroke of luck. Found Gideon Owen Wine Co (btw - there were multiple dozens of wineries in all of those states with possibly the exception of KY) on Catawba Island (more of a peninsula) and had one of the better bouillabaise in recent memory and a very nice cheese board and some ok wine. Pink Catawba and Chamborcin. I took a ferry ($16) from there to South Bass Island and Put in Bay to see the Perry memorial. Cool island. Would have stayed longer, but, forecast was for rain. drove up the thumb of Michigan (coastal drive) and stayed at a dive motel (Lakeside Motor Lodge) in Port Austin for $86. Continued up the coast to Mackinaw City. had a hot dog at Wienerlicious. They use Koegels frankfurters and Vollwerths brats. Had Coulotte (sirloin) steak with MP and veg at Rusted Spoke Brewing Co and tried samples of six local beers. Star Ferry ($28) to Mackinac. Stayed at the Murray Hotel on Mackinac Island for $104. Nearest to middle of downtown and the Grand Hotel (the landmark) was sold out. Had a Black Russian (turkey, Russian dressing, slaw, bacon on black rye) at Chuckwagon. Had pecan fudge at Ryba's. Sampled ten more local beers and had good wings at Mary's Bistro Draught House. Had overpriced breakfast of eggs, etc at Pancake House. Back to main land and down other coast past Sleeping Bear Dunes NP. Had French Silk (chocolate mousse with chocolate slabs) at Sherman's Creamery in South Haven. In Indiana I saw the Indiana Dunes NP to Hinkle Fieldhouse at Butler in North Indianapolis and onto Indiana University in Bloomington. Ate a good meatball sub at Eric Gordon's Greek's Pizzeria across from the football stadium. Greeks seems to be a chain. I know you geeks don't know who Gordon is. South through Vincennes (GR Clark NM) to Lincoln's home. His mother died of milk poisoned by plants their cow ate when he was nine. Through Land Between the Lakes NRA on the Tennessee border. Fort Donelson. Stayed at Dover Inn for $77 because it was the only hotel. Ate at Mama Meas (no typo). Had an ok pizza served by a fairy princess. Canceled a sub at Penn Station in Mumfreesboro TN (Stones River NB) because they kept redoing it. A chain that is basically Quizno's. Drove back north through Nashville (getting so trafficy) to Mammoth Cave KY. Did that and stayed in nearby Park City at the very cute Grand Victorian Inn for $89. Ate at their Mammoth Railway Cafe and had barbeque glazed, sliced, pork shoulder, fried corn and pasta salad. First time for fried corn (niblets). Drove from there to Bardstown KY. This started a bourbon distillery adventure. Had a good CB at Bardstown Burger. Went south about fifteen miles to Maker's Mark. Then back and north about ten miles to Jim Beam. Back to a few in BTown. East to just south of Frankfort and did those (ie Wild Turkey and Woodford Reserve). Nice horse farms. Had an ok Hibachi shrimp and rice and two rolls at Koi Express in Frankfort. Drove through downtown to do Buffalo Trace and then back on the highway to Louisville where I did a few more (ie Bulleit) on the way. In Louisville stayed in a new area near the river and baseball field called NuLu. Had good bbq at Feast. Good beer at Akasha Brewery. Nice walk around town. More distilleries. Lots of homeless under the bridges. Very dead. The mayor locked them down all year. A few drinks at Garage. Drove to Old Louisville district in the morning. Saw the campus and sports facilities. Got a Hot Brown (turkey, Mornaise, bacon on toast) at the Brown Hotel (another reason I went there). The bartender told me about a cemetery in town. Cave Hill. Went and saw Muhammed Ali and Colonel Sanders graves. Drove north through Muncie IN and Ball State. Back to airport area and had an ok roast beef and sliced chicken sandwich at Dave's Cosmic Subs in West Lake OH.



No comments: