Grub Crawl - Winter Garden: Jodo Sushi, Local Butcher, Michael's and Ceviche Mix *FL/AL/MS Travel Notes

I tried these place at the marketplace on Thursday. The first two at lunch and then I swung back after Clermont at dinner time. I'll update that the Torres Chocolate stall claims to in reno and there is also a raclette style cheese stall and a juice stall and a popcorn stall and Antique-tea's stall and an outpost of Axum coffee that I have yet to sample. Also, new on Plant St were a French place and The Whole Enchilada. I also mis-remembered about the brewery that may have opened south of Michigan. Still one to go. And I forgot to tell you about Rap Snacks I saw in a gas station in Arlington. Take a look see if you want to how inconsistent racial polemics are. 

Jodo Sushi - I have a sneaking suspicion I had tried them before. But, I could find no evidence in cyberspace. I think I remember something about a South American aspect. Anyway, the prices were so beyond ridiculous ($26 poke bowl or $15 hand roll) that I gritted my teeth for the $6 salmon nigiri. The menu says two piece. They served three. It was ok. The part of the salmon that has equidistant horizontal lines of white. I believe that is fat not sinew. From the cheap tail section too. The lower quadrant too. Been there from the beginning.

Local Butcher & Market - I was a bit disheartened when I saw the Boar's Head guys delivering. Is that all that passes for specialty goods these days? So, it seems that the sandwich portion of the enterprise is hum drum. Maybe they do do something worth mentioning with the butchering? Maybe? I had a Meaty Butcher for $14. A Kaiser roll topped with roast beef, carmelized onions, provolone and a whisper of horseradish cream (really stingy with this). Lots of decent roast beef. Pretty good all around. They sell seven sandwiches in all. Came with a bag of chips. Been there from the beginning.

Michael's All Coal Fired Pizza - Claim a 1000 degree oven. I just sampled the basic 12". It was ok. The crust was yellow and oily. I don't love dough with oil in it. Makes it lean towards pastry. Otherwise, it was a typical NY style. Sauce had garlic and onion powder. Not great with a sweet sauce. Would try their wings (Rochester/Buffalo recipe) or meatball sandwich next time. They also sell stromboli, salad, etc. They have also been there since the beginning or near. Also own Mac's Up and one other stall.

Ceviche Mix - The originator of the one in Mount Dora. I had the same bowl here (mahi and shrimp). Worse in every way. Smaller. Tougher. Less fresh .Less stuff. Now it didn't help that I drove it home and the lime juice may have cooked the fish to death. However, I just get the feeling it wasn't top notch from the get go. He used unripe avocado too. It was part of a pattern. It cost $15. This is a new stall.

*Travel Notes - FL/AL/MS: I climbed Mt Britton (off 331 at DeFuniak Springs exit of 10) at Lakewood Park in Lakewood FL. It is the highest elevation in Florida at 345 feet! Before that I was talked into a thimble of sherry (because by coincidence I bought a bottle of dry sherry in honor of Frasier Crane and had some the night before and it was sour/awful) at the Chautauqua Vineyards (right off same exit). Sweet sherry is better. They claim they and another vineyard (I biden the name) actually have vines up there. As it was getting late, I tried to find a hotel off the highway near Pensacola. These bastards were looking for over $250 for a run down Comfort Inn.  I moved towards downtown (take the third of three exits they cite) and stumbled upon a boutique hotel called Sole Inn on Palafox Ave (the main street). They charged $145 all in (rack rate). But, it was right by all the things I wanted to walk to. Plus it turned out there are only around three hotels downtown anyway. I had a nice walk down to Palafox Pier. Along the way I found a sheltered food truck court called The Garden at Palafox Food Court. I came back towards the center and saw a few museums and Artel Gallery and ventured a few blocks east to what turned out to be a preserved old town. Very cool. Pensacola Bay Brewery was there. I popped in to waste time before I had dinner at Iron and ended up staying so long that they (Iron) stopped seatings at 9pm. How provincial. It seemed overpriced anyway. I grabbed slices at Graffiti Pizza because it was the only place open. I stopped the party short because I had to try and reconfigure my plans due to this Ida thing that was developing. In the morning I went to Joe Patti's Seafood. It was a few blocks west of downtown. It was more of a market than a restaurant. Nice selection. But, too crowded and it was 9am. Plus I had eaten the free piece of pizza they gave me at Graffiti for breakfast. Didn't buy anything. They also had a beignet stall in front. Driving through Mobile, I espied the billboard for Dick Russell's Bar-B-Q. I see it every time I drive through. This time I had time to see if it was bs. If it was really at this exit or miles away like some places trick you with. It was only a half mile north of 10. It was a full menu, sit down Southern cooking type of place. I had trouble choosing. Chose half chicken with turnip greens and potato salad and corn bread because I anticipated eating beef and pork and maybe crawfish soon and I had just clogged the system with cheesy pizza.. Very good. Then I did the middle portion of the trip (see below) and came back this way through middle Mississippi. Passed by Mississippi Valley State. That's a land lost in time. Slept at a La Quinta in Starkville MS for $102. It has grown since I last visited (the year that tornado crushed Tuscaloosa). Saw the Ulysses S Grant Presidential library on MSU campus. Why is it there? Drove through timber country to Jackson AL (north of Mobile). Had to shack up in these places because refugees from Louisiana and/or Labor Day vacationers were crushing hotel prices. Slept at a BW for $120. Finally stopped at USS Battlefield Alabama Memorial driving through Mobile. Had lunch at Mancis Antique Club in Daphne. Exit is right after you cross the bay. 98? On 3D. Had a bad Irish Cuban that took way to long. Drove a little south to Fairhope and tried Sunset Pointe at Fly Creek Marina. Also on 3D. This was good. Had a great tuna BLT. Side of grilled slaw. Wasn't even hungry. Whole menu looked good. Back too 10 and on to Tallahassee. Same hotel issues. Fortunately, this place (Comfort Inn on 319 NE) opened a few days before and they hadn't jacked the rates to the $300s (Labor Day plus FSU-ND Opening Game). Only $137 for a brand new hotel. Ate at Lofty Pursuits on the other side of 10. It's more of a sweet shop and ice cream place. Was in that AAA magazine. Had a good scoop of Mexican chocolate ice cream and a forgettable turkey and brie sandwich. Next day I drove on 319NE through the city to 61 and the Edward Ball SP in Wakulla Springs (like ten minutes south east of Tallahassee). It cost $6 and I didn't really have the time. I'll go back. They also have a Lodge and a riverboat cruise. This and the next stops were part of an article I clipped for manatee inhabited springs. Passed one near Ponce de Leon called Morrison Springs. Hooked up with 27E and popped into Wes Skiles Peacock Springs SP north of Mayo and south of Live Oak near Luraville. Couldn't find Ginnie Springs east of High Spring on the Santa Fe River. Back on 75 and home. Saw a new Steve Spurrier steakhouse opened in Gainesville. FYI. 3D means Diners Drive Ins and Dives.

Pub Crawl - Clermont: Suncreek Brewery and Clermont Brewing Company *LA/TX/OK/AR Travel Notes

I tried these two breweries in downtown Clermont on Wednesday afternoon. You get off 50 at 8th street. There is a sign. The first is closer to the lake (farther from 50) on West Minneola Ave. A few blocks in. On 8th street. The other is a block or two closer to 50 on Desoto St and one east (probably seventh). After these, I have pretty much tried all the local breweries for you.

Suncreek Brewery - A big warehouse type structure. New. I had a four item flight for $10 and a small Sol Splitter IPA. All were good. They also have two food options. One said Mac'd Out (like at Winter Garden Marketplace). The menu looked different though. I think the other was the pizza place from the WG Market called Michael's. I think I remember being told that they are owned by the same people. so, it is possible. I believe they have been open for five or six years.

Clermont Brewing Company - More of a restaurant seeking some hipster cred. Weird food options. sushi, hamburger stand, pizza oven. I tried a single beer. Had to respect Johnny Law. It was watery and sour. Place was new. Pretty big. Large patio. I think they have been grinding it out for a year or two.

*Travel Notes - LA/TX/OK/AR: Irma caused a mad scramble through LA to start the trip. I stayed at the Doubletree in Lafayette for $110. Not much there. Ate fried oysters, catfish and shrimp at Sam's Southern Eatery. Saw Cajun Dome and Swamp at University of Louisiana Lafayette. And Borden Milk plant. Stuck in heavy traffic the day before going through New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Possibly worse going to Houston the next day. If disaster strikes, just stay home. Stayed at BW in Waller TX (nw Houston) for $86. Ate tacos (fajita, lengua, asada and carnitas) at Ranchito Taqueria. Ate a tasty half chicken at Waller County Line BBQ the next day. A billboard coerced me . Had a 1/2 lb of lamb ribs after that in Elgin TX (near Austin). Very good. They claim to be oldest bbq joint in TX. It was a tip from a guy I met at Waller CL BBQ. Saw another place (Meyer's Elgin Smokehouse) on the way in. Grabbed a brisket wrap there. Saw the road to Shaw's BBQ. As it wasn't a Saturday, I didn't go. So close though. It is in Lexington. Stayed at the Holiday Inn Town Lake in Austin for $125. Ate at Kemuri Tatsu-ya. I saw them on A Chef's Life (I think I've been referring to it as Chef and the Farmer). I had: hot pockets of cheese and brisket inside a tofu wrap, raw octopus with wasabi root and quail egg, grilled beef cheeks skewer with peaches and ora king salmon rolls in cold beef broth. Got stomach cramps after and had to cancel seeing the bats at dusk. For breakfast I went back to this area (east side of 35 on Cesar Chavez) the next day and had an egg and cheese and arugula on a roll at Lou's. They charged a 5% packaging fee. Good food though. There are alot of places here now. I tried to try the new Mueller BBQ spot (forget the name) in Jarrell TX (north of Austin). The whole family seems to be trading off the name now. The info online was wrong. Only open for dinner. I stopped in Waco to see the Waco Mammoth NP. It was covid closed the last time I tried. Slept at the Four Points Arlington the next two night for $90. Great value. The city has a shuttle that stops there at takes you to the stadiums. I saw the new Ranger's stadium the next night. Discovered a brand called Rap Snacks (chips) at the gas station. I ate lunch at Prince Lebanese Grill. On 3D. It was past ATT Stadium on the same street. I had a lamb and beef shwarma platter. It was good. Also grabbed a less good gyro for dinner. On the way out I stopped at Sprout's Spring Roll & Pho (Closer to 40 around ATT). It was on MvF. Had the house vermicelli. It was to have C/B and S. Only had beef and shrimp. The Bowling HOF was also in Arlington. Six Flags was closed. West on 40 at north on 35 I saw Texas Motor Speedway and North Texas University. Both north of Fort Worth. Stopped at Chickasaw NRA in Sulphur OK. Mostly a lake. In Roland OK (AR border) I stayed at the Cherokee Casino Hotel for $104. They gave me the top level. Drove to Little Rock and saw Little Rock Central High School NHS. Drove south to around Gillett AR and the Arkansas Post NP. It's a fort on the Arkansas River from the time of the Spanish. The rest will be in the next post. 

**I saw on You Gotta Eat Here a corn flavored ice cream with corn nut pralines. Also saw a rolled up pork roll at another place.that was fried that they called a hot dog.

Grub/Pub Crawl - Cocoa Village and Titusville: Cryderman's Barbecue, Bugnutty Brewing Company and Playalinda Brewing Co

I tried these places on Tuesday. The first two are before the bridge (King St) to the beach. Not the bridge that goes to Port Canaveral. The one south. It may be the Beach Line (528 I think). I came in the other way because I took the first bridge. In Cocoa Village. The last is on US 1 at the southern end of Titusville. I have to add that I took 46 to US 1 and down to Titusville to try the beach at Playalinda. It is inside the Canaveral/Merritt Island National Seashore and Wildlife Refuge. It costs $20 for a car. I bought the annual parks pass for $80 (my last one ran out last month anyway) and now I can go whenever I want. Which I will. I think I like it better than NSB. Plus I think it is closer. They even have a nude beach. Who knew? Can't believe I've been missing out for so long. I also re-visited the Haulover Canal. It's a little north. It's a manatee sighting place (read about them in the AAA magazine). As are the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon inside the park. Summer isn't prime viewing season. 

Cryderman's Barbecue - A total surprise. I was early for Bugnutty and hadn't eaten yet. They are one block south (behind) of Bugnutty on Florida Ave. Alot of Texas style barbeque from a guy from Michigan. Cooks like a Texan though. Had a sample of brisket and three brisket confit tacos for $10. Brisket was perfect. The brisket for the tacos is scraps. However, they are clever (at least marketing wise) in calling them confit. They said they take the scraps and heat them in the oven to baste them in their own fat. I'm buying. Never seen that before. The tortillas and topping were good and fresh too. They also sell pork, ribs, turkey, sausage, etc. I just visited Texas and they compete. The place is mostly an outdoor seating area. Covered. Wood. It's cute. I wish we had one here. There is another branch in Melbourne. Cryder Man, Cryder Man. Does whatever a Cryder can. And that is cooking bbq!

Bugnutty Brewing Company - They moved from Meritt Island to here. I had a six flight trial for $15. All were good. I tried all types. Space is warehouse like. Open at 3pm. Lots of parking. I think they opened less than five years ago. There is another brewery nearby called Dirty Oar. It was closed on M and Tu. They also gave me a flyer for Oceanside Distillery in Cape Canaveral.

Playalinda Brewing Co - This spot is the"Brix" location. It's a term in alcohol production. They have the original in downtown. This spot is bigger and newer. More complete menu. I tried one beer (had tried others at bars) and had their poke. I met the chef and he recommended that over his tuna sashimi ramen special that Tuesday, a ribeye, tuna tataki and red fish. It cost $11 and the beer cost $4. Great prices. The other things mentioned were also reasonable (ribeye was $21). The poke was very fresh. All the components. And you know I don't crave poke. Jasmine flavored rice. This is a real gem. Some interesting things on the menu like malted cole slaw. The place is large and impressive. You can see the brewing equipment too. I was told that they started with a crazy chef who set the standards very high. So high that they couldn't turn a profit. The new team has toned it down a bit without losing touch. Not sure if it is now profitable. Quality is still beyond acceptable. Sounds like an episode of a Gordon Ramsey Kitchen Nightmares. Great for drinks and dinner. Opens at 4pm. Really surprised by this one. I think they opened this two years ago. The one downtown also opens at 4pm. Smaller menu. Oh. The beer was good too.

*I decided to break up the Travel Notes in the next two posts. Probably Sunday and Tuesday. Also, if you take 46 to the beach, know that the airboat ride place (on the billboard) isn't open for business anymore. Not sure if they will be again.

Grub/Pub Crawl - Eustis and Mount Dora: Wolf Branch Brewing Co, Cheese To Share and Ceviche Express

I stopped at these places on my way back into town on Sunday night. The first is on North Bay Street (SR 19) in Eustis. There are two areas in Eustis. This is in what I think they consider the old town. North of 441. The next two are in downtown Mount Dora. In a new (I think right as Covid hit) marketplace they made in the space that I thought I was going to be trying a new restaurant in. The space has had a few iterations. One was an Icelandic place. They have opened up the floor plan and married it to the space next door to make a marketplace. In addition to the two I tried, they list these as tenants: Feast Paninis, Shadrach's Pizza, Empanada, Lampe Berger, Mediterranean & Coffee Kitchens, Fun Ko Poke, Handlebar Lounge, Beruit Bites, Claire's Creperie, French Flair, Sweeties Bakery, Cava Wine Bar, European Breads, Caffe Kitchen. Some of these may not be food places or no longer in business. Most spots had closed for the night and I took some blurry pictures of some signs that listed these tenants.

Wolf Branch Brewing Co - They also had a space in the market at Mt Dora. This is the original. Smallish space. They only had four of their own beers. They were average. Peach Blonde Ale, Rauchbier and NE IPA. They also had a sour I avoided. $8 for three beer flight.

Cheese To Share - Cheese platters, fondue and few other things. I had tequenos to go for $10. Only 5. Baked. Pretty bad and too expensive. Just a half of a string cheese in a blanket. Fondue was $25. That seems high. Platter was $20. Didn't see quality of the product. Place has a Latin feel. They said they have been there for two years. But, I was last there during the lock down and this marketplace didn't exist then. 

Ceviche Express - I had the small Express. It was mahi and shrimp. It cost $17. It was one of the better ceviches I've had in a while. Tender, fresh mahi. Fresh shrimp. Fresh avocado, tomato and onion. Large portion. Oddly, I just went to the market in Winter Garden today and I ate at another ceviche place. The guy there said that this guy was his ex-employee and this space used to be his. He is getting his ass kicked by his ex-employee. The ceviche here was MUCH better and they gave me more. Also comes with corn chips or plantain chips.

*I have two or three (depending if I split one up) posts coming in the next week. Will split my new travel notes into two sections after them.

**In Mount Dora the English spot near the train has moved into a bigger building down the street and a coffee place replaced it.

Connie's Cafe, Deland

I had hoped to finish off the last three Deland locations on my way out of and back into town, but, I decided to take another way back (next post) because one of the remaining spots is only open at night and I came back earlier than that. Didn't trust they would be open tonight. This place is a lunch only (closes at 2:30 I think) that opens around 10:30am. It is inside a building on the corner of the two main streets though town. New York and 17? I should know by now. I grabbed a turkey club melt for $6. It came on a pita. It was ok. I had prepared myself for breakfast. This was a compromise. The menu is mostly salads and sandwiches and burgers. The owner said she has been in charge for seven or so years? The place has been there much longer than that. It looks it. A bit dingy. Why I got my order to go. It seemed popular with with what seemed like locals. 

*I noticed into town that that breakfast place into town (other locations too) had shuttered.

**I finally stopped at a store on 40 in Silver Springs that touts Whoopie pies. I grabbed a Key Lime one for $3 and a Moxie (had just seen a tv show on how it was made) soda. Pie was better than the Moxie. They also sold other sweets and whoopie pies with ice cream. They are like big macaroons. The place is called Sweet Janes. It seemed like almost every restaurant on 40 had changed names (and probably ownership).

***Expect a deluge of posts. My vacay was truncated/sped up by Ida. The next few days will be spent exploring locally.