Sushi Rock & Grill, Altamonte Springs

I tried this Japanese restaurant just south of the exit/mall on 436 yesterday at lunch. They just opened the day before. In a soft opening. Soft... They weren't doing to go orders. As a result, I decided to do the AYCE for $22. Let me start by saying that if you are ordering these things a la carte then maybe the quality isn't high enough in most categories. But in terms of AYCE's at this price point, it is acceptable. I spread my net wide for you people. These are things that I usually don't order a la carte because they are too dear and don't eat at AYCE because they take up nigiri room. It was fun to reminisce. I tried gyoza, takoyaki, shumai, fried calamari and harumaki from the apps. Like most of the fried items, the inside of the takoyaki was under done. It always is. One tiny piece of octopus. Calamari (6) was a bit ugly and tough. Shumai were bigger than the frozen crap you usually get served. 2. Shrimp. The harumaki is a spring roll. Inside under done. Just veg. I had the gyoza fried. 3. Ok. I didn't try anything from salads or skewers. I had spicy salmon Gunkan. Like a piece of cut roll topped with spicy salmon. From Sushi Bar Apps I had three thin slices of black pepper tuna tataki. Not great. Like they seared frozen tuna. The spicy tuna dumplings (3) were fried satchels. As good as cooked tuna can be. The yuzu salmon was good. Little puffed balls of rice on top. I didn't have anything from hibachi or teriyaki. From tempura/katsu I had stringy pork katsu (4) and very good shrimp tempura (2). I had a pork bun that had a thin slice of pork and a weird bun and iceberg lettuce. Not great. From nigiri I had two pieces of tuna, salmon, smoked salmon, escolar and octopus. The octopus was cut too thin and too tough. I chewed one piece fifty times and spit it out like the gum it was. The other fish were of a good enough quality. The rice was a bit mushy. Small rice to fish ratio. Skin still on the salmon. The wasabi was not stale. I must say that the plating was exemplary for a AYCE place. Things came out (and were taken away) fast. They didn't discourage you from ordering. If I hadn't done an AYCE on Monday, I may have tried to break the bank. But, I was satisfied with what $28 in the end afforded me. I believe they had desserts too. I assume these portions were smaller. They have booze. The place is large. L shaped. Four areas and a patio. About 50 booths. Four occupied on this occasion.  Black, brown, gray with some gold, khaki, white accents. Japanese decoration like a samurai warrior, bonsai tree, fan, containers, etc. Plastic plants between booths. Hanging lamps. Sushi prep area on the back wall. The wait staff sounded Chinese. I heard Japanese from the sushi prep area. Lots of staff in black. They said they have three other places. South Florida. It is about what I expected. They have maki, sushi, hibachi, donburi and bento lunch specials starting at $12. Parking is not an issue. They'll never surpass the Bombay Bicycle Club for space supremacy, but, they should make the locals happy.  

Grub Crawl - Downtown: Debonair, Red Panda, Eighty Twenty, Phat Ash Bakes and Buffalo Boss

I tried these spots Downtown on Friday at lunch. The first in on Orange and Church. The next three are in the Art2 open air space on Orange. A few blocks north. The last is a block north of that on the other side of Orange. 

Debonair Supper Club - Let's get this out of the way up front. I would never go here for dinner. The prices are ridiculous. They have a $999 porterhouse. Not $99. $999! And I get that it is a joke. In gold leaf. To promote dialogue. But, the whole menu is out of line for the region and the space. I think the cheapest thing was $28 for pasta. Most things above $40. $60 snapper. However, they have an "executive" lunch menu that is maybe even a bit underpriced. I had the tuna poke wrap with side (fries) for $14. The tuna was pale. What you would get from a franchised poke place. Not a ton. Two types of "lettuce". Tomato. And way too much soy dressing. It leeched out. I advise that they bathe the tuna in it rather than soak the wrap. The wrap was whole wheat. Raw. The fries were very good. Very long and thin. Alot. They also offer four sandwiches and a "waygu" (look up that con job some time) burger in addition to three other wraps. $14 and $16. The whole place is a bit bit unprofessional. One bartender/waiter. The kitchen staff was noisy and played their own music over the house music. The suspected owner was affable, but, a bit disheveled. Like he had had a late night. My velveteen booth cushion had been burned and not repaired/replaced. The place is large. Three areas. The bar as you enter. The main room with white piano and white giraffe holding a chandelier in the middle. A small, glassed in private room at the back. And the patio. Tvs on the ceiling. Broken egg shells on the walls. Tons of curios. Very fever dream-ish. Dark wood slats. Monochrome canvas. Pink flower tree around the kitchen. Maybe sixteen tables of two or four in the main room. More deboner (as we used to joke) than debonair.

Red Panda Noodle Food Truck - I had the fried beef dumplings with zesty sauce to go for $8. Five. Ok. Beef was sour. They also sell six bowls $16-$17 and chunks for $8. And they were selling vegan dumplings and a stew this day. I believe they have been around for a while. This area just opened though. I think they will be here for a while. I think they have a following.

Eighty Twenty Food Truck - They had a computerized menu that I zoomed through to get to my empanada. That was $5. They gave my two. Big. Ground beef. Not bad. I wonder if they make them. No dip. Used Red Panda's. I believe they also sell burgers and more.

Phat Ash Bakes - I had a snickerdoodle cookie for $3.50. A bit pricy. I paid that for a slice lemon ricotta cake in Naples. Not huge. Like the top of a muffin. I believe they use Bischoff cookie as the base. Drizzle of icing. Bischoff cookie in the middle. They sell five other cookies. This is a retail location. Their primary is on Bumby. Those hours suck. Th-Sn after 2pm, I think. Glad I could try them here. They are in the shack at the back of the space that also sells beer. The space outside had picnic tables.

Buffalo Boss - The say "Brooklyn's Finest Wings". I wasn't willing to pay $1.50 a wing to find out. I paid $7 to find out that their chicken sandwich sucks. One dry, stringy tender cut in half. Panko breaded. Glossy brioche bun. The "famous" blue cheese dressing had no flavor. The bbq sauce had no zing. I thought they just opened. Claim Tik Tok voted them best wings in Orlando. Also sell fries and yams and fried pop tarts and oreos. Order from a kiosk that doesn't give a receipt. Mural. Not much of a reno. Looks as old as the old place that I think was a Chinese dive. But...of course it was packed. Six tables. 

*I also walked and drove around. Still no sign of Tropix or Mason's Lobster Roll on Orange. Nic & Luc's is in the PNC building next to the Marriott Suites on Pine. Not close. Milkshake Factory is across from Kia Center. Not close. Did you know that that church by the soccer stadium finally sold is is gone? A noisy mosque opened nearby. Osteria Ester in TP looks open and nice. The spot on the corner aside the ramen place. Eola was closed off, so, couldn't find the Alien place. The Phat Ash girl told me to try them. The new stall (Okomi?) at Mills Market wasn't open. I think the tea place across they street has a new name. Little Saigon was still serving. Still no sign of Hot as Rice, Eastwood, Somos or Little Sister on Mills. A McLaren showroom opened on South Orange in WP. Marlowe's and Chicken Guy haven't found replacements. Pop Up Bagels is not close. A wine store opened next to the meat store (Wild Fork or something). The new Pig Floyd reminded me that $11 for a pulled pork sandwich is too much. The brownie place in Maitland is becoming a New Zealand ice cream place called Frago-something. 

Travel Notes - Italy

Travel Notes - Italy: I flew the horrible (Spirit Airlines of Europe) Iceland Air through Reykjavik to Rome for $452. No headphones or food, etc. Bad media. No soda on the European legs. No jetways. Buses to open cabin doors in the winter! In the rain! Dicks about bag size. I took them from Sanford a while ago. Don't remember this tomfoolery. Went through customs here. They don't use Euros. I'll also add here that I flew the equally bad Easy Jet one way from Naples to Palermo for $87 (cheaper at 7am) at 2pm. This was the only flight on the board delayed. A forty minute flight was four hours late. Italy is having some Jubilee and the Winter Olympics, as such, many things had their scaffolding off and were looking refreshed. They have reworked the front (buses/taxis) of the Roma Termini Station for instance. Though the area in front of the VE Monument was closed off.

I took the 14E train into Rome. Stayed at the Hotel Stromboli (Booking 7.2) near the station for $70. Bought capicola, half roasted chicken, mozz, capricciosa artichoke pizza and wine for late lunch and dinner from Conad at the station. Bought a train ticket on Italo to Naples for $46 on Italo. Made plans. Slept. 

The next day I went to Naples. I stayed at the Hotel Eden (Expedia 7.0) again for two nights at $85. Big mistake. Put me on a low floor in the back this time. Hella noisy all night. Window didn't shut = draft. Stunk of sewer water. TV and fridge and safe didn't work. Ignored complaints. I left after the first night. I walked down Umberto I to the port. Stopped halfway at some tiny pizza stand that claimed to have the most online followers (for whatever that is worth). Ok square of pizza margherita for 2E. Called Porzio...Ni Di Pizza. Walked through the Galleria Umberto I to the Palazzo Reale and Real Teatro di Sant Carlo and Sant Francesco di Paoloa across from them. Didn't find the funicular, so, I started climbing the hill. Found what I think is the first stop on the funicular (there isn't only one). Took it up to near the castle for 1E. Walked to Castel Sant Elmo. Paid 5E to get in. The best value in Europe. Experienced unbelievable views of Naples and the Bay and Islands from there. Best thing in Naples. Walked the ramparts. Walked down a path to town with some kiddos from Chicago who had downloaded the directions. Went past the Castel Nuovo to this great esplanade (road now being repaired) on Via Sauro Nazario to Via Caracciolo with all the ritzy hotels and Castel dell Ovo. You can take a route beneath the walls of the palace or past it. I took the beneath. People gather here for the sunset. I should state here that sundown was around 4:40pm. It limited what could be accomplished quite a bit. Grabbed a fried Completo (pork cracklings, ricotto and cherry tomatoes) pizza at 1947 Pizza Frita for 6E. It is near Da Michele Pizza. Across from one I heard of last year (Trianon) that wasn't open yet. Grabbed some bufala mozz (bad) and prosciutto from Conad at the station. Argued with the dim wit at the hotel who had done nothing to fix the items I alerted them to. Made hotel res for Palermo. Went to sleep early because no tv.

The next day I gave the hotel dim wit one last chance then went online for a hotel change. I stayed at the harbor at the Hotel Bella Capri (Expedia 7.4) for $68. It was a nice room with an interior balcony. But, it was in an old, weird/unmarked apartment building on the eighth floor that you needed to pay to use the elevator. And they had no one there until 3pm. A Cuban who didn't speak English. A maid let me dump off my bag. I had the 5E combo at McDs because I was hangry and wanted soda. Walked the same area-ish as the day before. I had a late start and lost time finding the hotel and bus stop. Found some street with shrines to Diego Maradona. Back to the esplanade via the upper route and right onto Via Santa Lucia. Past the Basilica Santuario Santa Lucia a Mare to the Castel dell Ovo. Went into the Porto di Santa Lucia. Then back the lower route. Looked in on the ferry terminal. They go to Ischia, etc from here. Came back and checked in and went to Sole 365 for salami and octopus and fennel salata and Falanghina Brut. I went here for lunch, but, the lines were too long. Back behind the Galleria and bought a pizza magherita portafoglia (folded) from Passione di Sofi for 3E. Funicolare Centrale was across from it. A Rossini residence was there (Palazzo di Domenico Barbaja). I took the food back to the hotel. Ate on the balcony.

The next day I took the Alibus from in front of the harbor to the airport (it stops at the other harbor and train station on the way) for 5E (paid the driver). Flew to Palermo. Had a cb and hb at McDs. Ran to the train station (there is also a bus) below arrivals and fought through idiots clogging up the ticket machines to get the hourly train to the Palermo train station just as it was leaving. 7E on Tren Italia. Because of the delay, it didn't seem wise to walk to the hotel by the sea at night. I had to hire a cab for 15E for a mile journey. I did this walk later on and it took 21 minutes and was safe. At night? I bought some prosecco at a mini market outside the station and had to buy two chicken sandwiches and a hb at McDs because of knowledge of the area. I stayed at the probably once proud San Paolo Palace Hotel (Expedia 7.4) for three nights at $248. I should state here that all these cunts demanded hotel tax in cash once you arrived. Cash drain. This room was ok except that the window didn't seal properly and therefore there was always noise and a draft. I didn't notice the gap until the last night. They also had a free buffet that I had every morning. 

The next day I walked down to the esplanade and stopped at the marina. Crossed into the city at Vittorio Emmanuele. Up to Mercato Storica Vucciria. Onto Chiesa di Sant Cataldo and Fontana Pretoria and Quatro Canti (4 Corners) and Chiesa di Sant Giuseppe dei Teatini. Back towards the station and Palazzo Comitini. Bought wine and bufala mozz (bad) and prosciutto and peach cakes and mortadella at Lidl for the remainder of my meals. Bought a ticket to Messina on Tren Italia at the station. Walked towards the hotel and passed the Instito Orto Botanico and a park.

The next day I walked back to the station and past Porta Sagata. In a block to a flea market and Chiesa Sant Francesco Saverio. I was looking for a short cut to the Cathedrale. Got a bit lost. Back to Maria SS del Carmelo and Chiesa del Gesu and Mercato Ballaro. Found a Palazzo Conte Frederico that led to a park where the Cathedrale is. Walked further west through some more streets with food vendors (they call these markets) to the Presidio. Two items sold that stood out were some kind of kebab wrapped in bacon and an eggplant stuffed with spaghetti. Everything seemed days old, so, I didn't risk it. They had a marathon this day. The way to the Teatro Politeama Garibaldi was blocked. Went back east towards the station and the Teatro Massimo. Left towards the sea on Vittorio Emmanuele. Tried to find a Rick Steves' restaurant. Think I found his hotel. Passed by Chiesa Santa Maria della Pieta and Chiesa Santa Teresa alla Kalsa and a Gate. Back to the hotel. Oh, I found all the lesbians not in Lesvos and tons of Bangladeshis.

The next day I took the three hour train to Messina on the northeast coast. Past Cefalu. I should add that there was a train to the northwest coast to Trapani. I stayed at the ok (except for the absentee landlord and entry code bullshit) Emme B&B (Booking 8.6) for $57. I was going to try and take the forty minute train to Taoromina, but, I wasted time getting my room and it looked like rain and the train station had no ticket office (total reconstruction under way). It was already late for lunch so I grabbed a 5E combo at McD. Dropped my bags off. I walked to the port and bought a 2E ferry ticket (anytime) to Villa San Giovanni. You can also go to the bigger Reggio Calabria. But, it was south and the trains pick up a VSG as well. Didn't see the point. Walked back to the piazza with the McD and right to a couple of churches (Chiesa di Santa Catherine Vergine Martire and Santuario Parrochia di Santa Maria del Carmine) and the Palazzo del Giustizia and back to the piazza. Not the big sites to see. Bought prosciutto, crudo, nut mix, plum cakes and wine at Conad. It started to rain. Ate at hotel.

The next day I took the ferry to VSG. The distance to Italy is only a few hundred yards. So crazy. They ok'd a bridge, but like here, an activist judge shut it down. Now in limbo. Oh, and would you believe you can take the train from Palermo to Rome. They put the train on the ferry. No bs. I bought a ticket to Salerno from a human for 67E on Tren Italia. Three hours through Calabria (never been). Mostly coastal views until the end. Stayed at the Hotel Montestella (Expedia 8.6) for $109. It was on and off drizzle here. I bought bagel chips, salmon cc, prosciutto cotto (ham), taleggio, chicken roll, nuts mix and wine for lunch and dinner at Ete. Walked the beautiful esplanade. A very cute little town at the end of the Amalfi Coast road. I went here because my middle school French teacher was named Mrs Salerno. Seriously. That's the reason. I don't think I even liked her. Ate the food on my balcony. Made a reservation for Mt Vesuvius for 35E.

The next day I ate the free buffet that their employee was coughing all over. Bought a 5.50E ticket on Tren Italia to Naples. Talked with a couple from Ontario for a while. Checked into the hard to find in an apartment complex H22 Hotel (Expedia 9.2). Found the Circumvesuviana ticket office one level down at the right side of the station facing it. It is a local train to Vesuvius, Pompei and Herculaneum (and Sorrento). I bought a RT from a person for 5.50E. Took track 3 to Ercolano Scavi station. Walked to the sea. I stupidly paid 16E to see this Pompei lite. You can see it for free from the rim. It goes all the way around. Back to Naples. Bought ventricina piccante, asiago, prosciutto crudo, crostini and wine at Conad. Ate it on my tiny balcony. This was the last warm day.

The next day I found the Antico Forno delle Sfogliatelle Calde RM Attanasio across the piazza and bought what I think was a slice of good ricotta lemon cake for 3E. It and the next place came up as highly rated when looking at the hotel maps. I also grabbed scrambled eggs and bacon and muffin from McD for 3.50E. I ate that at the hotel and then ventured out again to find Il Piastrato a block in and to the right of the hotel. I grabbed an ok chicken breast and zucchini sandwich for 12E. There wasn't time to eat it. Had to be at Vesuvius at 1pm. I bought a RT ticket (also Circumvesuviana ticket office) to Pompei Scavi for 5.60E. It was the stop for the Vesuvius tour. Track 1. Don't get on the wrong one. Different stops. I got a bit lost finding the tour office because of Google Maps. Went in town. Wrong. Office was right in the tiny train station (corner). They printed out the park entry ticket (necessary because they have a bar code reader) and gave me two bus tickets and a book on Vesuvius. The ticket said 11E. The bus tickets said 3.30E each. I guess the difference in price is profit. You can't buy them on your own. You have to do it online. They say. Others were buying the package for 24E right there and then. But, the internet was pretty adamant. Who knows? Forty minutes up a windy road to get to the crater. And wouldn't you know it, the rain that was meant for the day before came in just we approached. And it was cold. I probably got within a couple of hundred yards. People coming down said ten minutes and that you couldn't see anything anyway. Old people always overestimate. But, lucky because the moment I got back on the bus (it waits a half hour and then if you weren't on it, you had to wait another hour with no protection for the next one) it started to pour. I'll have to go back I guess. I also was cheated of the great views of Naples on the ride up and down. I took the train back to Naples. Bought wine and (bad) cacetti bianchi and ate it with the sandwich for dinner. Pulled the table to the balcony window because of the cold and rain. Saw on Foodish that pata with potatoes and provolone is a Naples tradition.

The next day I bought a ticket to Rome on Italo for 56E. Should have done it the day before. But...rain. Checked into the Hotel Robinson (Booking 7.5) for three nights at $249. Mostly good except for really late arriving guests. In an apartment complex next to the station. Most similarly rated hotels were $50-100 (in total) more. Walked via Nazionale past finally unfettered Terme (Baths) di Dioclezziano to Quirinale and down the steps and right to Trevi Fountain. Down Via dei Tritine and left past the Modern Art Museum to Trinita dei Monti. Down the Spanish Steps to Via Condotti to the river. Past Museo Napoleonico and Palazzo di Giustizia. Finally showed up to Castel Sant Angelo on the right day and waited only a few minutes to buy a 16E ticket. Totally worth it. Great views. Haddrian's mausoleum. The statue of Michael atop was used in Angels and Demons to denote the Illuminati HQ. Walked back to the hotel on Corso Vittorio Emmanuelle. Bought wine and hummus and Tigre. Half roasted chicken and capicola at Conad.

The next day I walked a few streets to the left of Nazionale to the Colosseo and luckily stopped at the bus stop just after Constantine's Arch. Tapped on the 118 bus. I thought you had to get on at Circus Maximus. That is a stop, but, it is at the END of the circular route and goes into the city before it comes around again. This bus goes to the Catacombs, Appian Way and Aqueduct and ends at the Hippodrome. I did the Aqueduct first. Got off at some Appia stop that started with an S. I could have taken it around and departed on the other side of the road at the end of the circuit. You walk back toward the city two lights and make a right on Viale Aprio Claudio to Parco Appia Antica. Under two train bridges to a golf club. There is a 4km circuit. I didn't do it because possibility of rain. Back on the bus. Went to the Catacombs of San Sebastian and San Calisto. Calisto was closed until 2pm, so, I walked Appian Way to Sebastian. Paid 10E for 1pm tour. Pretty cool. They said Peter and Paul were buried here at some point. He was a Roman Royal Guard. Depicted shot with arrows. Was an old quarry. Said there are six in Rome. All bones removed. Just crypts. Some Roman. Mostly Christian. Last work of Bernini here too. Got the bus going in the wrong direction. Took it around and past Porta Sebastian and Baths (Therme) of Caracalla. Got off at Forum. Back to hotel. Wine and salmon cc from Carrefour. Whole chicken from Conad.

The next day I took Via Merulana past San Giovanni in Laterno and Via Magna Grecia and then beared left to some area I think was called Zara in the mistaken belief that this would be a short cut to the Baths of Caracalla. Went a km or two too far. Took Via Latina back and found it. Didn't go in. Wasn't free. Back past Circus Maximus to the river. Left and past Parco San Alessio and Piazza Cavalleri di Malta on the cliffs to Ponte Sublicio to Trastevere. Saw Porta Portese and a weekend market. Up to Viale Trastevere and left. Right on Viale Glorioso and left onto Viale Casini to Villa Sciarra (this entrance is closed so I didn't really see it). Up Dandolo to Fabrizi past the stairs on Glorioso and up a bend to Garibaldi. There there is Chiesa di San Pietro in Montorio, Il Mausoleo Ossario Gianicolense and Fonte Acqua Paola and VIEWS. I should state here that I had not seen or heard of any of these things or the great park(s) here. Just saw things on a map that they put little icons on that I hadn't been to yet. Shame on me. It is an amazing (upper class) part of the city. I continued up to Museo della Repubblica Romana and Porta San Pancrazio. Through this entrance to the Parco Gianicolense. It leads to the Monumento a Garibaldi and another overlook. BTW I wasn't the only one up here! Tours and locals were up here. Just a secret from me. Through the Passeggiata del Giancolo to a lighthouse/faro and more overlooks. Down stairs. Past a hospital. More overlooks to Via di S Onofrio and down steps to the river. Across the Ponte Principe to San Giovani dei Fiorentini to Corso Vittorio Emmanuele again. I popped into the Basilica S Andrea dela Valle because I was almost sure I had never gone in. Went into the courtyard at Palazzo Venezia. Back up Nazionale. Bought wine at Carrefour. Bought my 14E ticket to the airport because I had been having issues with Tren Italia's machine reading the strips on credit cards. I found a newer machine. It worked like the old ones used to. 

The next day I uneventfully flew home. Took too long at MCO (as usual) for the idiots to attach the gateway so we could deplane. Plus we had a (no shit) fifteen minute plus taxi from whatever runway we landed on to Terminal C. They finished the area near the rental cars there. You don't have to walk through the parking lot any longer to get to the trams/train.

Spent $1022 on hotels. $539 on air. $205 on rental cars. 193E on food and wine. 275E on transportation. 82E on museums and parks. $550E using $1.15 exchange rate = $632. Total = $2398. Good trip. I saw More of Sicily than just Catania. Calabria. I was told to stop in Tropea or Amantea. Didn't seem worth it by train. Finally saw Castel Sant Elmo, Vesuvius, Appian Way and Castel Sant Angelo. Found some surprises. Saved Orvieto and Ostia Antica for next time. Learned that Gavi is from the Cortese grape and Orvieto from Grechetto and Trebbiano. Sicilian girls look like Tootsie.

*Expedia believed Hotel Eden's lie that they offered to move me. Wouldn't refund. Gave me a $20 credit on them though.

Tamara, Lake Mary

I went to this Indian+ restaurant that just replaced a Thai place in the strip mall at International Parkway and 46A Saturday at dinner. I had the Manchurian Chicken to go for $18 because a curry dish started at that BEFORE you even added vegetables. Those cost $2. $6 for chicken. It was pretty bad. Cloyingly sweet sauce with fried pieces of chicken whose coating turned to mush in the container on the way home. A fair bit of thigh meat cubes. Why do you always get more when you want less? I wonder if Indian places that have a Sino section do so because they want to reserve the white meat for the Indian dishes Just green peppers and onion along for the ride. Medium hot was not hot at all. A side of equally mushy white rice. Took too long to prepare. While the mushiness may not be a feature of the dish should it be consumed in house, it is still not a dish (often called orange chicken or the like) I enjoy. I should have read the description more closely. I was too busy decoding the add on costs and unexpected dishes on the menu. I recall lamb tacos and laksa as a couple. The main menu has kebab meals and curries as well as the Indo-Chinese section (General Tso, Garlic, Hot, etc). Around seven dishes in each. All over $20 when you added to the sauce. They had staples like butter chicken and tikka masala. Samosas, soups, naan, etc. I think there was a really expensive section. Apps all ran over $13. They seemed to make craft cocktails. I saw one with a smoke bubble. The sign says Thai. I don't recall a dish. Around twenty two different sized tables. Four outside. One in a recess. Black, metal, gray colors. A few garish touches. Mural on the back wall. Bar on the right with tv. Some odd walled off square near the entrance. It looks nice. They want to be high end. I think the Thai place did as well. I think they lasted six months. I think this business model will last as long unless they lower the prices. I think that tanked the Thai place. Three tables seated on a holiday weekend. Their only specials were happy hour bar snacks and drinks. Seemed like two or three employees on call. Open for a few weeks. Open seven days a week from 12pm. Save your powder. No word on if they have a sister restaurant called Tia.

*I noticed that the fast food chicken place on the corner failed. It looks like a coffee place will replace it. Something Generic and Something Generic. Like Crate and Barrel. A sushi place is also going to replace what I believe was Curio burritos down the road. I checked out the menu at F&D Steakhouse. The cheapest thing was a $35 chicken. Typical yawn menu. How many SNAP benefit swindlers can there be to pay $100+ for a cut of cow. Is there anything simpler to cook? Who are the dickheads that keep these steakhouses in business? I know. People spending other people's money like government officials and salesmen courting clients. I also noticed that Subway lowered their prices. Credit where credit is due. Travel Notes Italy in two days.

Grub Crawl - Winter Garden: Winter Garden Restaurant, Jam Hot Chicken, Cilantro and The Country House

I tried these spots Tuesday at lunch. The first is at the intersection of Dillard and Plant on the right. The second is in the food hall on Plant. The third is aside that food hall. The last is on West Colonial just east of Dillard. South side.

Winter Garden Restaurant - A greasy spoon. I tried the two eggs with link sausage, hash browns and toast for $12. Not the biggest bargain. Eggs were more jammy than over easy. Links (3) were good. Jones'? Toast was toasted correctly. Hash browns were the worst item. I think they may have deep fried them. Spongy. Not fresh. Greasy. Not a ton. Typical menu. Twenty tables. Seven counter seats. Framed pics of old WG. Some sort of beige color scheme. Full. Food came out fast. 

Jam Hot Chicken - I didn't put two and two together. Why that number? I will have to look up the origin of that. This is an offshoot. I thought the one in Hannibal Square was ok. I had tried them before. This one was better. Deceivingly large. Mostly batter and air. That's ok. I like the batter husks. I tried the Just the Breast at $13 because it was the cheapest. Good. Ate the whole thing while waiting for my order at the next thing. I had it at 3 out of 5 on the hot-o-meter. Doable. Even without a drink. Crispy. Meat was thin. Around the thigh meat or a skinny bird. Came with two slices of white toast, homemade pickles with some bite and a vinegar slaw. They have a few versions of the chicken and fries. This location just opened. Took a bit of time. Seemed popular.

Cilantro - Open for three years. They took over from Orange Crate Cafe. I wrote earlier this Fall about their street food and market sister locations. I had the curry chicken to go for $12. Abround seven pieces in a good brown curry sauce. Basmati was good. Ok potato and pea samosa. Great black pepper crackers. Ok daal. Ok naan. Watery mini cup of rice pudding. Came with a nice tamarind sauce. Should have done the AYCE buffet for $15. Would have had it all to myself. Butter and tandoori chicken. Chicken biryani. Lamb. And the veg and sides. Light brick. Indian decor. Clean. TV with cricket on. Around six tables. The main issue was the wait. I think just one cook and a frontman. Had to wait for many call in orders to be picked up. Indian food has so much flavor that it is hard to really tell the good from the bad. Plus the heat component. For me, it usually boils down to the quality/freshness of the meat and rice. Had I gorged on the AYCE, probably a Fav.

The Country House - Another greasy spoon. Maybe a bit more disheveled than WGR. I had the the chicken fingers to go for $7.50 (think the menu said $7) because I already had too much food and was just doing them and WGR a solid by including them. BTW I think I have delivered all of WG to you at this point. Two small balls, one big un, one normal one. A bit dry. Side of ranch. Ate them with the left over curry and daal. This amount of chicken at the market hot bar is probably $4. $6 at most fried chicken places. $10 in McNuggets. Usual menu. Specials. Fish fry Friday. The veg I saw seemed stewed. Twelve booths. Twelve tables. Five counter. Half full. A bit less clean than WGR. A bit older. Light gray color. 

Cairo Express, Winter Park

I tried this Egyptian food truck on Lee Rd and Wymore Tuesday at lunch. I tried the koshary for $11 because they say it is the national dish. It's a bowl of noodles, elbow macaroni, chick peas, lentils, rice and a few other things like fried onion in a light tomato sauce. It came with a hot sauce and a black pepper and vinegar sauce. A family sized portion. I found it more of a side dish. Good. A bit plain. A carb bomb. And I love carbs. Maybe not this many together. A vegan may like the legumes in lieu of meat. I just saw Hawaiin macaroni salad made on tv. They purposefully overcooked the pasta. I'm not sure if that is how this pasta is meant to be. They offer a few shawarmas and a beef liver sandwich and something like beef that I think was in dough or cheese and one other item that I think had cheese. The non-shawarmas were also $12. Two women. The younger one was doing the cooking. Parking was was a bit limited. They are aside the Chevron station just off I4. Southeast side. I'll probably keep going back until I have tried all the dishes. This is not a cuisine I am familiar with at all. The older woman said she had been the cook at the Makani on I Drive. It has closed. I went there a while ago. I kind of liked a chicken dish. If you are a Curious George then I would make the trip. I'm not sure that there is an alternative. Maybe the pizza place at UCF. They have been there for four months. They told the guy who ordered before me that they have a five star rating. I'm not sure with whom. If I go back and like another dish, I'll probably Fav them.

*I had to slide this one in. I'll do the Grub Crawl and Notes in the coming days.

Perla's Pizza, Winter Park

I tried this pizza and cocktail spot yesterday at dinner. I grabbed a Stay Classy (mozz, parmesan, basil) for $10 to go. It is usually $16. It and the Benny Blanco are Monday specials. It was very good. Med-thin and crispy crust throughout. 100% coverage with the cheese. That could be of a better quality. Helped along with EVOO I believe. Basil was fresh. Parm amped it up a bit. Red sauce was complimentary. 15"? Came out quick. Ate it all before I got home. They have eleven types. Some with bananas or pineapple jam or pistachio pesto. White, red and pink sauces. The most expensive was $19. Two salads at $12. The apps are garlic knots, meatballs, sausage and wings ($12-$15). Cinnamon rolls or brownie for dessert ($10 and $7). I was really tired from returning from Italy, so, I think the color scheme was in the golden range? L shaped room. Rustic. A few people still there at 9pm+. They just added lunch and are open until 1am. Seven days. Lots of parking. On Fairbanks. I think it was last a vegan co-op. A wine store that had a pizza place inside at some point. Pizza Barn? East of 17-92 (which they call Orlando Ave, I believe). A possible Fav. That $10 price point wins sympathy. Opened around a month ago. With these new, expansive hours, I think you can/should make time for them. 

*I tried to try Hanso Sushi at Gaitlin Ave and S Orlando. I thought it had opened. It wasn't. Had a new coming soon banner. Expect a grub crawl and travel note over the next few days.

El Crazy Pollo, Orlando

Although the term Latin has lost all meaning, I suspect from the Roberto Clemente picture and PR flag that they are a PR restaurant. I grabbed their cheapest item for $5 to go eight days ago. It was a pressed ham and cheese. Not bad. They have the usual stuff. Most of the sandwiches and quarter chicken were around $10. Mofongo. Breakfast. Specials were in teens or more. 14 tables. Light blue, gray and black color scheme. Only one cook and one cashier. They close around 5pm or 6. Parking. One block in from 436 near 408 (north side). This was not plan a.

Travel Notes - Greece and Egypt

Travel Notes - Greece and Egypt: I flew Delta to Athens in the afternoon through JFK for $587. Two hour delay after boarding at JFK because commercial freight hadn't loaded. And I guess their dim witted pilots don't check on things like that during their pre-flight check. Plane also stunk of urine. I flew on to Santorini on Ryan Air for $89. Cool about printing boarding pass for free and bag size in Athens. Cunts coming back. I took the 2E bus into Fira. Had to wait 45 minutes. Stayed at the Tataki Family Hotel (Expedia 8.4) for two nights at $144. I just got groceries and crashed the first night. Been to Santorini once before. Just went because cheapest air fare with most flights in or out.

The next day I slept late and made travel plans until 2pm. I walked up the trail to Oia a short way. To the Church of Pangia Katholiki and some fort. Went behind them. Back to town. I tried to walk the donkey path down. But, it was closed. It looked like rain, so, I ran to the store for groceries. World's worst mozz - DiBello. Got stuck being outside in what ended up being the only hour of rain. I should state here that my mood throughout was melancholy to depressed because of the rear end collision I experienced before I left. I had to arrange a $30 taxi ride (hotel manager's suggestion) to the airport because the buses didn't start early enough to be safe. I swear they monkey with the schedule to ensure this. I watched the sunset. 

The next day I arose (actually couldn't sleep) early and flew to Athens and onto Kos on Sky Express for $180. They call this the Las Vegas island. Nothing can be farther from the truth. I really am perplexed how this became a descriptor. I stayed in the main port town called Kos and saw most of the rest of the island and no casinos and one club and a few pubs. I shared a $40 cab with a couple from Michigan because the bus wait would have been over an hour (if it came) and it was dusk. I stayed three nights at the Kosta Palace (Expedia 8.4) on the harbor for $111 with $30 due in cash. Tax or RF. I grabbed wine at Hartofilis Wine. Found a Spar and bought sesame breadsticks, canned octopus, chorizo and tza. 

The next day I walked to the Neratzia castle, Hippocrates (his island) tree and stream, ancient agora, altar of Dionysus, Casa Romana, western archeological site and the beach north of the hotel. I also checked out the ferry to Bodrum Turkey has one of the 7 Wonders - Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. They only ran one ferry this time of year that required a six hour stay and the internet (wrongly) said you had to fill out an entry form three days in advance. So, I chose not to go. A ticket was $33. I walked south to the marina. There was a Spar there too, so, I bought two days worth of wine and food. Smoked herring, salami, tara, and sunflower coated breadsticks. I should state here that all the wine but one was Greek. Mostly bad. I went for a swim at the rooftop pool and filmed the sunset.

The next day I went back to the Odeum that I missed the day before. Confirmed where the bus station was (next to Spar). I went swimming at the beach and walked it again. Pool again. Walked past the marina. Went in. Took some videos near sunset (hills block the view) from around there. Tried to make sure I didn't f up the bi-yearly time change.

The next day I took the bus to the airport for 3.50E. Flew to Athens. Broke down and finally ate at BK (11E for a triple whopper with cheese). Transferred to a night flight to Cairo on Aegean for $255. This was the real reason for the trip. It is like $1200 from MCO. Had to see the pyramids. Always some terrorist issue in the past. Had to just bite the bullet and do it. No real issues. Since I was coming in at night, I decided to stay at Le Passage Hotel (Expedia 8.4) near Terminal 1 because it had a free shuttle. Hotel at T3 was over $300. I figured a taxi there might be safer or I could walk (hell no). It was $114. They upgraded me. Probably just because I got in late and that was the only room left. We arrived at Terminal 3 btw. Now you can buy a visa at the airport. They only take US dollars. $25. They can make change of a twenty. You buy it at these little bank kiosks before immigration. Barely a wait. Supposedly open all the time or when flights due. Spoke English. I should state here that most in Greece and Egypt spoke English. They gave you a paper form to fill out on the plane that they ignored when you handed it in. The line was only about ten people long. Showed passport to another idiot. I found the shuttle though an hour later tha I told them. Aegean didn't factor in the time change. I think I missed my shuttle and hopped on other hotel guests'. They probably paid the $35 I almost chickened out and paid the hotel for a meet and greet. I booked some things and went to sleep.

The next day I took $40 worth of Egyptians Pounds out of the hotel ATM and broke down and paid the hotel taxi (by card) $35 for a $4-$8 taxi ride into Cairo. The driver showed me the citadel, mosques, university, bazaar by going through the old town. Cairo is very brown. The ride is around 12km, I think. Traffic is crazy here. They honk all the time and there are few working traffic lights. But, the ride here and back and to Giza didn't really take too long. I stayed at the Steigenberger el Tahrir (Expedia 8.8) for two nights at $418. It seemed like you had to pony up or the alternatives would be sketchy. It was also one block from the Nile (reason two for the trip) and the Egyptian Museum. The hotel was good except for toxic odors that their ac sucked in at certain times. I walked to the museum, Tahrir Square (looked more substantial during the uprising), Nile, bridge, tower, park and back to an obelisk and Hardees. Had chicken fingers. Cheap. I went back to the museum and gave some English guy 600EP to buy me a 550EP ticket because all but pocket money was in the safe. It kind of sucked. They have moved most of the stuff to the new museum (opened the day I left) in Giza. Still cool to see the building I've seen in movies, etc. Dinner from KFC.

The next day started with a thud. The trip I booked on Viator (high rating/top billing) to Giza for only $19 didn't show. I had to have a reception guy get in touch with them and I'm still not sure what happened, but, they arranged a driver and private guide for $30US (I tossed in my last $5 as a tip). So, 10am turned into 1pm. But, it worked out. Drive there was about 12km. Female guide was ok. I still had to pay 700EP to get in. I didn't do 1000EP camel ride or inside pyramids for 280EP. They make you take a bus from pyramid to pyramid. There are three and some queen ones. I chose to walk to the sphinx. That put you to the left of it. Our taxi met us there. Lots of vids and pics. Only Victoria Falls, Himalayas, Taj Mahal, Great Wall and Easter Island to go. Safe ride back. Dinner at KFC. Prices were cheaper there than Hardees. $2 for a three piece meal with drink. I wussed out on the local food (I think there KFC was called Bazooka) because I didn't want to expose myself too much to malfeasers or toxins. Mostly the usual annoyances. One guy tried to convince me that I needed to take an under pass to cross the street. I ignored him and he was wrong. Unsure if it was an honest mistake or what. 

The next day Viator fucked me again. The taxi I booked (high rating/top billing) for $25 kept sending me messages that it would arrive 4 hours early, etc. I had the hotel try to contact them. They all use Whats App. They never responded. I got sick of it and took the extortionary taxi from the hotel back to Le Passage (Booking 8.6) for $53. I later saw messages from them that my taxi was waiting ten minutes after I left. I will dispute these charges. BTW  the hotel tour prices were bullshit as well. I stayed at Le Passage because I was leaving at 10am. This time they corn holed me for a Butler Lounge Suite (only rooms available) for $191. Still less than in town. It was worse than the first room. Stunk of cigarettes. The smell seemed to be pumping in from everywhere. Got no sleep. It did come with a lounge that had snacks and a breakfast I didn't use. I tanned and swam at the pool. I think the hotel rose so much in price because of the new museum opening. All these people were supposed to be flying in for it. Also, this night Egypt decided to do their time change. I tried an Egyptian wine and beer (Omar Khayyam and Sakara) at the lounge.

The next day I took the shuttle to the airport. They wouldn't give me a boarding pass on line. I had to go through bag screening before I could check in. The moron there kept asking for a ticket. Some other guy told him something and they finally let me through. It was pretty slow. All these idiots were taking all of their possessions with them and boxes had to be ripped open, etc. Getting a boarding pass was easy. Then you had to fill out the form again. Through immigration. Got a woman this time and it took twice as long. She looked at everything. I think they look for Israeli stamps. Then you had to show your passport to another idiot at a log jam. Finally to the gate area. Then they changed the gate. Then another bag screen. Met a couple from Colorado whose trip to Luxor was a day late because of plane issues. Flew to Athens. Immigration was three planes long. Took an hour. Transferred to a flight on Sky Express to Mytilene Lesvos for $128. Couldn't find the bus stand and it was getting dark, so, paid $15 for a taxi. I stayed at the Blue Sea Hotel (Booking 8.1) on the harbor front for three nights at $191. Next time I would pay for a harbor view. I rushed to the market across the harbor to Masoulis Market (I missed the larger My Market near it) for wine and groceries. Bought a Macedonian wine. Bad. Tza, salami, breadsticks covered with sweet dried corn (bad) and cookies. 

The next day I walked up the coast to the castle. Coves, lighthouse. Then back and up the hill to the castle entrance. Looked inside. Decided it was not worth 5E. Walked through town. To the marina and stadium and back. Did a two day load at Masoulis again. Tara and a Feta dip that were bad. Chorizo, tuna, turkey. Lesvos is where Sappho wrote her style of poetry. From it came Lesbos and the word lesbian. Didn't see many. Another island mis-labeled. Internet says they stay in a town called Skala Eressos. Island is large. It was 90km to their famous petrified forest.

The next day I walked back up the coast to a little cove and swam with the locals. A bit chilly. I almost left before the clouds disappeared. The opposite of what they did the day before. Back through the town. 

The next day my flight wasn't until 5pm (only two a day) and the hotel kicked me out at 11am. I did the walk to the castle and the town beyond it this time. Tried to dillydally, but, still got the bus stop at noon where it was waiting. Just got on. It cost 2.10E. I had had breakfast at the hotel (included) and couldn't have even wasted time eating in town. Waited at the airport. Flew to Athens. Took the 95 bus to Syntagama Square for 5.50E. Stayed at the Royalty Athens Acropolis (Expedia 9.2) for $77. Grabbed wine and mozz and salami and serrano at Bazaar. 

The next day I took some pics from the roof deck and the bus back to the airport. Check in line was one person long. Immigration was a third as large to Egypt. Broke down and bought a cb at Flo Cafe for 6E. The flight back was a nightmare. Sandwiched between two Typhoid Mary's hocking up lungs. Passed whatever it is onto me. Then we waited an hour because our gate was initially occupied and then because they wouldn't let us cross over. JFK to MCO was fine. Our customs was quick. But, I ran ahead of everyone to be first. 

Only rained as we were leaving Athens. In Greece they said they were closing down earlier this year than last. Egypt exchange rate was 48EP to 1 USD. So 100EP = $2. Taxis were the main unnecessary drains on cash. Spent $174 on food and wine. $1239 on air. $1290 on hotels. $186 on transportation. $61 on museums/tours. $166 on rental cars to and from MCO. $6 on magnets. $25 on visa. $3147 in Total. Ouch. Egypt may be best done by tour group. I was going to take the Metro to Giza, etc. Probably a bad idea. No shots needed.

* I cc'd three addresses at Delta a day ago and they already gave me a $150 credit AND another respondent gave me $200 more. Compare that with BA, Lufthansa, Discover or German Rail lately.

** Viator fought me every step on their miscues. and Amex took there side over mine. I wont ever be using them again. They are owned by Trip Advisor. I never liked them to begin with. Painfully slow loading, ad bloated site. Plus I think they disallowed some content I gave them way back in the day.

Green Papaya, Altamonte Springs

I tried this brand new (one week) Thai Sushi Bar today at lunch. It is just past Publix (on the opposite side) moving west of I4. I tried the lunch special (one of seven) of chicken in red curry with jasmine rice for $12. Small. Not alot of chicken. Broccoli, snow peas, button mushrooms, onions and green peppers. Four out of five heat. The rice was dry. Curry was ok. Typical menu. Prices can reach the thirties for lamb and duck. I never get the combination of these two cuisines. They don't seem symbiotic. Sushi starts at $5. Tuna and salmon looked ok. Ambitious desserts. They have three locations in Jacksonville and one in St Augustine. The best thing about it is it. The room looks posh. Black and gray with gold flourishes. Faux marble. Different table sizes. Booths mostly. In groups of four in the middle. In threes by the windows. A long line on the far wall. Sushi bar with about ten seats on the far left wall. Bar with ten seats on the left of the entry way. Hostess table at the entry. Staff in unis. About a tenth full. Closed Tuesday. Lunch an dinner. Not covering much new ground. A bit above a franchise level experience. 

Grub Crawl - SoDo: Mii Cafe and Chicho

I tried these spots on Michigan just off South Orange on Monday at lunch. The first is in the first strip mall on the southeast side. It was a donut place. The second is in the strip mall next to it. I'll also inform you here that the spot across the street that was to be a Shaq chicken place turned out to be a Panda Express.

Mii Cafe - Vietnamese play. I tried a Viet sub for $8.50. Ok. Publix roll. Head cheese and pork roll only. Ok veg. No jalapenos. White base with black accents. Drinks, bowls, apps, rolls, soups, etc. I thought it was just banh mi. Four tables. One long one. Open for a month. No one else there.

Chicho - Said it means skinny. South American. I tried a smash burger special (with fries) for $10. As good as Shake Shack. Lettuce, tomato, onion. Glossy bun. Cheese. Fries had a bbq dry rub on them. Crispy for being rushed. Small menu. Just bowls and tacos and churrasco. $15, $10, $20. Black, gray look. A bit worn. Bob Marley and food posters. Three tables. Open for a year. They say they open at 9am for breakfast. They hadn't opened up until I peered in. No one else there.

Travel Notes - Florida Keys

Travel Notes - Florida Keys: I drove 95 down. I need to relate right away that the top threat to our existence may be our highways. And this is unrelated to the invader whom rear ended me on US1 (I'll write up a tutorial on that headache later). They are becoming a death trap. Especially through South Florida. We need way more FHP. And they need to actually cite some of these miscreants. And not for speeding alone. I saw one FOLLOWING a speeder. I saw none between Miami and Boca in the "danger zone". I saw countless numbsculleric moves. Comically tragic. Mostly by one kind of person. And I ain't taking about boomers. But, they need to go too. Whole different numbskullery with them. These seem to be some of the rules of the road that people believe exist (or do where they came from): Passing/Speeding from the slow lane, speeding into an exit turnoff, speeding into a merge where one lane is at a complete stop, driving stoned (rear view air freshener give away), zig zag passing at double the speed limit, not passing the car to the right (going the same speed) from the passing lane. There were SIX accidents coming back in the north bound lanes alone. The other side had two areas of ten mile back ups. I assume because of accidents. It's anarchy! And I have lived/driven in NYC, LA, Chicago and DC. And you know my road trip history. FYI - US1 is served by FHP. Took them over an hour to show up.

I stopped in Delray Beach at Rose's Daughter (3D) for a good Margarita pizza at $15. I stayed in Key Largo at the ok Azul del Mar (Expedia 9.0) for $93. No staff on site. I had twelve undercooked, plump chicken wings at Buffalo Steakhouse & Seafood for $20. Watched baseball and football. No sleep because of the accident.

The next day I drove to Islamorada and checked into the ok Matecumbe Resort (Expedia 8.8) for $121. I had a mushy and small fried lobster tail blt with brussel sprouts with almond slivers at Papa Joe's Waterfront for $22. I fished, swam and layed out. Stinky decaying seaweed smell. I grabbed a bad mahi (dry) Southwest salad at The Hungry Tarpon at Robbie's Pier for $26. Watched baseball and football. Some sleep.

The next day I drove to Key West. Stopped for an ok egg, cheese and sausage on toast for $10 at Galley Grill on Summerland Key. Checked in to Alexander Palms Court again (Expedia 8.2) for $237 for two nights. Had the worst turkey and Swiss sandwich (the Turk) ever created at The Stoned Crab at Ibis Resort for $16. Swam in stinky, decaying seaweed at the public beach. Left because of it. Walked to El Siboney (Man vs Food and Samantha Brown) for a very good half roast chicken with sweet plantains, rice, roll and beans. It was only four blocks away. Swam in the pool. Drank some wine and walked up to Mallory Square for the sunset. A good one. Had two margaritas at Lolita's Coastal Cocina at the Opal Key Resort for a special price of $10 a pop. It was on the pier. Walked back. Watched baseball. 

The next day I went back to the beach and had an ok sauteed Yellowtail Snapper salad with fruit and avocado for $20 at Salute. Smartly walked to Fort Zachary Taylor SP Beach. $2.50. I'll reiterate - this is the best thing to do in Key West. The only good beach. Plus a fort. So cheap. You can drive there too. I grabbed an ok shaved beef Turkish doner wrap from Olive's Mediterranean Grill for $15. Swam in the pool. Walked again to Mallory Square. Another good sunset. Walked to the marina. Had fig vodka in a Med cocktail at Onlywood Grill for $15. Walked back towards Duval and had a glass of wine at Funky Rooster for $12. Around Duval on Caroline, I had a Southernmost Microbrewery Capt. Maverick IPA at First Flight (old Pan Am terminal) for $8. It was owned by Kelly McGillis of Top Gun fame. Some reps for a tequila company called Dolce Vida gave me a peanut butter whiskey shot that I don't think they make. I walked down Duval to Tropicado Mojito Bar at La Concha Hotel. Had a Pappa's Pilar Dark Rum for $13. Walked down Duval. Had a wine at Grand Vin for $12. Most of these stops were to knock these places of the list. Not to get wet. Stone Crab season started this day.

The next day I drove to Key Largo. I stopped for a terrible bottom HALF of a Cuban bagel at Baby's Coffee for $7. Bought a pound of floaters/lites at Low Key Fisheries again. Cudjoe Key. Only $12 this year. Stopped at Square Grouper on Islamorada. Had a mushy sauteed tilefish sandwich with shoe string fries and weird slaw for $22. This is not the original (been there). They also opened a branch in KW. Hot waitress in pussy pants. You could keep your pencil available there. Checked into the ok Dove Creek Resort & Marina by Wyndham (Expedia 7.8) for $97 plus $31 RF. Doing renovations. Drove back to Tavernier and grabbed a bad prosciutto, mozz and tomato sandwich from Cafe Moka for $15. Bad bread and the worst prosciutto since the Stoned Crab's turkey. Straight up smoked ham. I grabbed some water at Winn Dixie. They had these puffed Pringles called Mingles half off before a $1 a coupon. Good. Back to the hotel for fishing and kayaking. Back to Tavernier and a terrible $10 tuna hosomaki roll from J-Dao Sushi Thai. Watched football and HBO.

The next day I drove to the Key Largo Fisheries Marina and grabbed a pound of medium stone crabs at Eat Florida Seafood again for $24 this year. Drove to Boynton Beach. Had a great roasted pork loin, cheese and arugula sandwich with potato wedges at Butcher & the Bar (3D) for only $9. Drove to Geneva and had a good bacon, onion ring, bbq cb with tots at Alibi Bar and Grill on 46 for $15.

The weather was mostly sunny. A little cloudier mid to upper keys. Better than last year. Hotel prices were good. I could have stayed at the Checca for only $182. I did these reservations about a week ahead. That seemed to help. I monitored them after I booked and most went up. Chose non KW hotels if I hadn't stayed there before. Same with restaurants/bars. The accident messed things up for a while. Hard not to obsess over it. Would have been an a-one vacation if not for that. Spent $479 on food/drinks. $561 on hotels. $50 on gas. $1092 Total.

The Alibi Bar and Grill, Geneva

I had a pretty respectable Cowboy cheeseburger tonight at this biker bar on 46A. Topped with cheddar, bacon, onion rings and bbq sauce. Side of tots. Cost $14. Burger to temp (medium). Came out quick. Crispy bacon. Nice shell on the rings and tots. Fair portion of tots. Good bun. Outside stage for a band. Bar and some high tops inside. Dart boards. Wood decor. Dirt parking lot. I think they wrote that they did breakfast now. Pub/sports bar like menu. I had always seen it heading to 95. Now I know.

Grub Crawl - Altamonte Springs: Brazilian Bistro and Rinconcito Colombiano

I tried these spots on either side of 436 on 434 Friday at lunch. The first is where La Patrona just was in the strip mall on the southwest side with the Lowe's. The second is in a strip mall just past the northeast corner around 436. Up a small hill. Both were pity fucks that disappointed.

Brazilian Bistro - Opened three months ago. Obviously to no acclaim/fan fare. They maybe painted some new murals. Still around twenty booths and a few tables and four tables on a patio in the front. Brown and white. Spartan. I'll state here that Brazilian food is pretty far down the tennis ladder for me. This didn't do anything to alter my feelings on that. I had the Dose Dupla for $23 ($22 on the menu). Two slices of dead flank steak. Well done. Not medium rare. Though it was so tough that maybe that was a good thing. Pale. Tasteless. I didn't finish it or take it to go. One store bought sausage. Dish water bean stew. It was the tastiest thing. Over-boiled yucca. Dry, plain white rice. Even if all these things were prepared as well as could be prepared, it's still mostly composed of B film produce. With no herbs or spices. And at $22, you have to deliver a better cut of beef. Especially with the sub-dollar assortment of sides delivered with it. I almost did a few cheaper dishes because I knew this wasn't going to be worth $23. I just didn't trust them to deliver on shrimp/seafood and I didn't really want dried beef stew or stroke me off. A medium sized, pan-Brazilian menu. I think ALL the Apps were in the high teens. Some dishes for two were near $50. I think they bought the tequila from the former place. Odd category for a Brazilian restaurant. They also blasted banal, nasal-y, Brazilian music the whole time. Just as disappointing/annoying (not really because both are Brazilian) as the food. Three female servers. One other table dining there. I'm getting kind of tired coming to this location. The sad thing is I have an uninspiring AYCE meat+ one (OBT and Sand Lake) in the hopper which I think costs less than this meal. Couldn't be worse. Skip.

Rinconcito Colombiano - I think they have been there for a long time. Six tables. Wall sized photo murals of Colombia. Bright colors. Open until 6:30pm. Part bakery. I just grabbed a cheese, chicken and beef empanada at $2.80 (menu says $2.75) to go because the menu was more expensive than I believe it deserves to be. Beef and chicken seemed machine formed. Beef most mostly bean (some strings of dried beef). The chicken was mostly potato (with strings of chicken). Cheese seemed like Mexican string cheese. Different shell. Sandwiches were $11. Everything else was in the high teens. Breakfast was a bit more in line. Around ten dishes. Kind of who I thought they'd be. Why it took this long. Skip.

Grub Crawl - Ocoee: Rock 'n Rev, Jaws Topoki and Da Bang

I tried these spots on Wednesday at lunch. The first is in a strip mall as Ocoee begins (before a pond that you can see the Turnpike from). It was a Gator's Dockside. There is a San Jose restaurant on the corner. The next two are at H-Mart back towards DT. North side of 50. On the east side of a strip mall after Something (Grand?) Lakes strip mall. BTW. H-Mart = BFD. Hordes of imbeciles staggering around like zombies. Orange County is sacrificing cops to guard it. Not enough crimes in OC? H-Mart paying for it? Most stalls seem generic. Uninspiring. I checked out the sushi aisle/area. No bargains. H = Huh?

Rock 'n Rev - Said they are the first. Figured they were a chain like Rock & Brews. Part sports bar part music venue. Two rooms. Left side like the right except that it has a stage. Bars and tables at both. Gray and black and wood. The wall tvs were too small. License plates on the wall of the stage room. Not a ton of investment in the decor. I had the chesseburger with fries on the $10 lunch menu. They said it was a 1/4 pounder. Maybe? Bad flavor. Not hand formed. The veg and brioche bun were good. Not a ton of fries. I'm guessing the food cost on this special is under two dollars. The menu has the usual junk food/stuff. They do have a Juicy Lucy CB for $15. Booze. Almost empty. Getting interviewed by Spectrum Channel 13. Open since April.

Jaws Topoki - I grabbed a Deep Fried Set L to go for $12. The fried part was done properly. The ingredients were straight from the H-Mart frozen food aisle. One pathetic half of a shrimp. Three pathetic halves of a squid. Some mushy sweet potato and potato. A tasteless cheese stick. Some other things decribed as dumplings or veg. The two saving graces were a clear noodle one a a noodle surrounded by a black filament. Never had those. Who would guess that little packets of rice noodles would work. They just calm with soy sauce packets. I used the Hari chutney from the Indian restaurant. That worked. I'm guessing the food cost on this item is a dollar or less. They have four topokki soups ($15+). Eight gimbap (sushi rolls) from $9. Two fried sets. Three set menus ($24-$42). Two sides and two slushies.

Da Bang - I grabbed a mozzarella coin crepe to go for $7 because I had never had one. Do you think it was worth it? I'm guessing the food cost on this item is twenty five cents. Kind of like taiyaki. More of a waffle/pancake/McGriddle. Terrible cheese. I wanted a nutella or bischoff cookie one. They were out. Took too long. They had five employees. The two male ones did nothing then walked away. I hope they were ownership. They also sell drinks. The sparkling ones were just crap mixed with Perrier. I saw an interesting chocolate pistachio one. They harden chocolate on the outside of the plastic glass and put some pistachio concoction inside it. You then squeeze the glass to break up the chocolate.

*I noticed that Subway caved at started putting back their coupons in those flyers you can't get the post office to stop stuffing in your mailbox. They still have a $6.99 one that you can use any almost all nine dollar...nine dollar footlong (the cheapest one now). What I recommend is getting the Subway Club ($12+) and jamming all the veg that you can on top. And then you peel away two of the meats and the veg that won't work with it and you have three meals. Obviously you must buy some bread. I also separate the jalapenos and onions and use those in two or three tuna sandwiches. I bring this up because it also let me play with that green puree from the Indian restaurant. It makes a great dip for cucumbers. Semi-good with spinach. Didn't have tomatoes left over. On a sandwich, it overwhelmed ham and roast beef and spinach on top of either. Roast beef on its' own held up. If you put black olives on either, you could still taste the olives. Same with jalapenos. Now I wish I had saved some to test with tuna. And yes, I realize that both of the meats mentioned can not be eaten (alternately) by the two most common religions in India. But, here's a news flash. Other kinds of people eat Indian food too. The more you know...

Grub Crawl - Universal Area: Chima, Madras Cafe, Papparella and Wonderful Hand Pulled Noodle

I tried these spots Sunday at lunch. The first two are in a strip mall on the southeast side of Sand Lake Rd from I4. It has a Sixty Vines in it. The next two are south on Turkey Lake Rd. The third in past the Walmart and before a 7-11. The last is back towards Sand Lake in the strip mall with Spoiled Fish. I had no idea it existed.

Chima - Another reviewed without eating there because they aren't worth it. I was going to make this the main attraction despite the $28 for just the salad buffet. Then I saw tat they had raised that to $36 over the summer. That's not even a justifiable increase percentage wise. Do they think they are Chick-fil-a or Subway? Plus it looked basic. I think some pale smoked salmon was the dearest component. At least Divina Carne had sushi and other expensive things. Twice as much of it. They also have a dress code fyi. Open for two years I believe.

The Madras Cafe - Open for five years they said. I kind of remember when they replaced whatever was there before. Looks worn. Duct tape on cushions. Black and yellow. Around twelve tables. Long narrow footprint. Bar on the right. Private room in back. Some Indian statues/decoration. Vegetarian fare. Southern Indian. I had the Mysore (a southern town) Masala Dosa to go for $12. Large dosa. Potatoes and a tomato and eggplant "sauce". That green puree they always add. I thought the menu said chutney. Maybe that is what the "sauce" was. I was expecting a sweet chutney. I expect that was the masala. Since it was to go, all these components were in separate containers. Not sure how it would have come out if I had eaten in. It was ok. Sizzle (spices) trying to be steak. But if you can't kill and eat God's creatures, you are swimming up stream. The menu was large. Categories such as: Curries, Specials, Chinese Apps and Dishes, Dosas. They are so many Indian choices (why this lasted on the list so long), an aged vegetarian one never had a chance. *The green puree is a corriander and mint chutney called Hari. Not sure if I would have ordered it had I known that.

Papparella Trattoria - Open for two months. From restauranteurs from Sao Paolo. Trying for a fancy vibe in a strip mall location. Mostly dark browns and beige. Wood floor. Some greenery. Around ten small booths at the edges and two rows of assorted sized tables in between. Bar on the left. Wine "closet" and kitchen (with pizza oven) sandwiching that. Cloth table cloth. But, not ironed. Paper napkins. These are things a really upscale restaturant wouldn't allow. Good, tranquil mood music. Uniformed staff (6?). Mostly dinner. Lunch on Sunday. It was starting to fill up. No dress code. Seemed like mostly Brazilians. I had the Fried Chicken Panuozzo for $15. It was phenomenal. Huge. A fried chicken breast cutlet, prosciutto, arugula and sun dried tomato sandwich in pizza dough. Some mayo-y sauce on top. Maybe some cheese. The dough was a whole pizza's worth. Great char. Oily. Thick. Soft. Spongy. I think the menu said the proof/rest the dough for 72 hours. The pizzas (starting at $18) must be great too. This thing was so big that I could barely force half of it down. A knife and forker. I'll add here that even the tap water was good. No odd tastes. Must be filtered. Ice too. The menu is Italian. Duh. Big. Many pizzas, primos (pastas) and secondi (mains). And apps. Maybe soups? Booze and wine. Probably beer. Primos started (and mostly stayed) around $20. I almost did the $20 lasagna. Secondi were $30+. Mostly meat. For plan b, it knocked it out of the park. They were hospitable as well. On the Favorite's list for sure. Suck on that Chima. That $15 filled me up in a way your lame buffet never would. And I got a to go bag out of it!

Wonderful Hand Pulled Noodle - I wonder what they serve? Open for two months. Replaced some Asian place. Looks the same inside. Light gray. Eight tables. Spartan. I had (you guessed it) hand pulled noodle soup with vegetables for $12.95 to go. It was very good. The noodles were fresh. Duh. Such a difference. I saw the guy doing it. The broth was savory and not too salty. If we compare this with pho, it had no sweet component and the noodles are a thousand times better. Give me this over that any day. And we're talking vegetable broth. I think. The veg were broccoli (a bit soft), carrot (a bit hard) and baby bok choy (just right). Would you believe I drained the broth first with some bok choy and a few noodles. Then I warmed the rest of the noodles the next day and had some with the remaining Indian masala and the rest warm with the broccoli and a spicy pepper oil they tossed in. Both worked. Can't recall having Indian noodle dishes. Did I just invent that? Damn, seems like it is becoming a fusion thing.  They also have eleven apps. Scallion Pancakes ($6) to Wings ($9) to Black Fungus Salad ($9). Eight soups ($13-$17). Stir fried and mixed noodles ($13-$18). And six fried rices ($12-$16). Closed Tuesday. Lunch and dinner. On the cusp of Favorites.

*I espied that next to Sixty Vines is a bar that opens at 1pm on Sunday. Rest pm. It looks decrepit from outside. Inside looked very nice. And next to Spoiled Fish in the Noodle strip mall, there seem to be a new Middle Eaastern place being built out.

Travel Notes - New York/New Jersey

I flew Frontier and Jet Blue (return) to LGA for $115. I learned that a runway at MCO is closed for repairs and is causing the long taxiing. I took the M60 to Astoria Station and the W to Herald Square (34 St). I stayed at the shabby New Yorker Hotel (Expedia 8.2) on 34th and 8th Ave for three nights at $625 ($142+24Tax+40RFX3). I did this to be near Penn Station for the train to the UBS Arena at Belmont Park. I learned later that now the LIRR also leaves from Grand Central now. And the Moynihan Station also had trains to towns on LI. I didn't ask if it went to Elmont (Belmont Park Station). I got an interesting Pastrami Panini with Waffle Fries for $14 at Bagel Pub (5) on 7th. The bread was like pita. So grilled that I couldn't be certain. I took the 4pm train to Elmont ($23RT). There was a shuttle bus to the arena to see the Islanders vs the Rangers. I bought a seat on the first level near the corner for $103. The box office said that was their cheapest. I think that was NY bullshit. The guy next to me said he paid $35 on a resale site. I watched a period and left. I was just there (pre-season) to knock this newly built arena off the list and didn't trust the train system. Only scrubs were playing anyway. They really knocked down all of the old Belmont Park Grandstand. The new one was still under construction. I walked back to the train station because the shuttle wasn't there and there was no on around to ask about it. Grabbed an adobada (their al pastor) taco on 7th at Los Tacos No 1 (6) for $6. It was ok. I saw their original location in Tribeca on some show called Everything Off The Menu. I'll state here that I will rate all the restaurants (out of 11) in order in parentheses.

The next day I refilled my MTA Card for $14. They are discontinuing them in 2026. I took the N down to Canal St and took Mott to Pell to Doyers to the original Nom Wah Tea Parlor (3). They claim to be the first dim sum restaurant in NYC. I had been to two other locations. The internet said they were only open TU and TH. I asked and they said they are open every day. Oh well. I had 4 dumpling orders. All just over $6. Shrimp and Snow Pea Leaf (ok). Shrimp Sui Mai in Wonton Wrapper (best). Har Gow (tough wrapper). Shanghai Soup Pork (terrible). I tried to walk under the Brooklyn Bridge/FDR. This is all under construction AGAIN. I walked to South St Seaport. I had mango basil sorbet at Jean George Vongericten's Tin Building Food Hall at Spoiled Parrot (9) for $6. I walked to Battery Park. Also under construction AGAIN. I asked a worker and he said they finally got money to fix Sandy damage. I walked up the river to the 9/11 Memorial. Saw the finally repaired/new St Nicholas Church. Walked through the two newest buildings and down an escalator to the Oculus. Out the north side and up to Chambers. Took the subway to 42nd and walked west to the river. Felt out the ferry terminal. Through Hudson Yards to the entrance to the Edge. It's a balcony on the top of the building. I almost paid the $34 and then remembered that I've seen the same view from MANY tall vantage points before. Back to the hotel. At Moynihan Station, I grabbed an excellent buttermilk fried chicken over a Caesar Salad from the Jacob's Pickles stall (1). The original on Amsterdam and 84th has been on my list for ages. I looked it up on line and the menu was similar, but, twice the price. There is no way the sit down place could do this dish any better. It was great. Huge portion of perfectly crunchy chicken and fresh salad. Cost $15. I also grabbed a 1/4 lb of pastrami for $10 from the Pastrami Queen stall (8). It was ok. I think I have been to their location on Lexington and UES. Watched Yankees.

The next day I walked to Grand Central Station for Doughnut Plant (10) at their Food Concourse. I saw this on Chow Down Countdown. The original is in the LES on Grand. I had a vegan tasting $5 Coffee Cake Doughnut. I walked to Bierhouse (7) on Lexington and 45th. I had always seen this driving up Lex. I finally got there. I had their Classic Pork Schnitzel with Warm Potato Salad, cabbage and Cucumber Salad. It was ok. I walked 45th to the West Side. Took a ferry (every 20 minutes) to Weehawken and took the overpass in front past the train tracks to stairs to Hamilton Park. You make a right at the top and a left soon after. I walked about a third of a mile to the spot where Hamilton and Burr dueled. There is a statue and a plaque and a rock he laid his head on. Great views. I took another set of closer stairs down. I had to then walk through new condos to the terminal. I took the ferry back. I walked the High Line to the end. Crossed over to see Little Island (a park on the Hudson built atop plastic long stemmed cups). Back to Gansevoort to 14th and took the subway back to the hotel. I would have walked, but, my Metrocard money will be worthless if I hold on to it. I went back to Moynihan Station and tried a salmon chirashi rice bowl at the Yono by Bond St (2) stall for $18. No other location. It was excellent. I have been to Bond St. Lots of fresh salmon. Good rice. Came with salmon roe, edamame, tamago, avocado, wakame, ginger, wasabi, soy and some spicy creamy sauce that had sesame oil in it and needs to be bottled. Not chintzy with the portions either. I'd like to take this moment to encourage you to recall the quality of these stalls and prices versus Sanford's own Henry's Depot (or most of our food halls and trucks). They should hang their heads in shame. Watched Yankees.

The next day I went back to Moynihan Station and grabbed a pepperoni slice at Sauce stall (4) for $6. Excellent. I saw them in Vegas. I think at the Cosmopolitan. I thought it was made up. Nope. Original (now closed) on E 12th. I walked to 7th and grabbed piss poor eggs and potatoes and toast at Andrew's NYC Diner (11) for $10. Back to Herald Square (Macy's) and took the N to Astoria and the M60 to LGA.

Ok trip. Good weather. No complications. NY just feels icky and soulless. Everyone was sniffling. Even with all the new buildings and areas, most of it feels sad and drab. No pretty girls. And no excitement. Even with all the crazies back. Maybe it's me. Seen too much of it (and better cities). Maybe it is the omnipresent sweet vape weed smoke giving you a sinus headache and nausea. I was going to try the Italian Market at Arthur Ave in the Bronx, but, it required a subway and a bus transfer, etc. Randazzo's at Sheepshead Bay required a subway and a fifteen minute walk. I have a few more restos on the list. All only open for dinner though. Not earth movers anyway. Learned that the pineapple from al pastor goes well with pastrami. Parking was $64. Game was $103. Food/Wine was $211. Total Cost = $1175.

Grub Crawl - International Drive: Palm Tree Club and Corazon

I tried these spots on International Drive yesterday at dinner. The first is at Pointe Orlando. The second is near the cylindrical hotel near Kirkman. I also tried to try Sal's Pizza at Pointe Orlando. Their systems were down.

Palm Tree Club - I grabbed fried rice with shrimp ($16) to go because their menu was mostly sushi/rolls and that doesn't travel. I really can't remember the rest of the menu. Pizza starting at $18. But, I thought I was getting some at Sal's. A chicken yakatori was only two skewers worth. The rice was ok. Not a ton. Tiny pieces of shrimp. Not oily or soy saucy. Some kind of nut pieces. Thirty-ish tables. A few more in a covered front patio. Rounded corners. Palm-y coastal jungle feel. Green and khaki. Some framed posters. Very nice decor. Clean. A bit dark. A bar in front. Owned by Live. Open for a year. Empty. Not one soul eating. They said they might bring brunch back. Now open only for dinner. Added a facility fee. Had I eaten in. And if it was good. And had they not been closed so often when I tried them in the past, I may have had a better opinion of them. But, that wasn't what happened. This was just an exercise in getting them off the list at this point. I didn't really give the a chance to wow me. They validate. Maybe you will validate them.

Corazon Cocina Mexicana - I didn't know about the last two words of their name until now. I thought it was island Latin or South or Central American. It turned out to be cute. Like a shabby chic place you would find in Austin. A rainbow of colors. Aquamarine base. Lots of colorful pom poms on strings and paper flag colorful skeleton heads. Booze as decoration. They still have the ceiling dragons and window treatments from when it was an Asian place. Around thirty wooden booths and more on a side patio. Bar. Hostess stand front and center. HUGE menu. Apps/Dips, Salads, Tacos, Seafood Tacos, Seafood, Vegetarian, Specialties, Favorites, Molcajete, Fajitas, Rice Bowls, Little Amigos, Sides, Desserts, Margaritas, Wine, Beer, Sangria, Cocktails. And most of these categories run TWENTY deep. Many regions represented. Prices are in line. I had three lengua tacos with rice and beans for $18. The yellow rice had flavor. The beans were pureed. The lengua was a little tough. Small cubes. The tortillas were home made and flour. But, raw. Onions and cilantro. Served on an wavy yellow holder on a white rectangular dish. The free chips and salsa were excellent. The salsa in particular was fresh and had a nice kick. If I hadn't run out by the time the tacos arrived, it may have saved that dish. Six or so staff. Food came out quick. It was at about half capacity. By the lack of cars in the lot, I assume they were from the hotel that surround it. It looks a little dark in the recessed area they occupy. I hadn't tried them earlier because it was my understanding that they weren't open early in the week and only then at night. The guy I talked to as I left said they were open all 7 days for lunch and dinner. Check online to see what's what. Very nearly a Favorite. Too simple a dish to fail at though. Otherwise, I encourage anybody wanting a good (uncomplicated) Mexican experience to give them a whirl. Open for just under a year.

*At Pointe Orlando there is a club/bar I don't think I have mentioned. Houndsmen or something. It doesn't matter. They said they are changing it to Gin and Juice. So get your AK ready. Can I get a prop bet on first gun shot? Caliber? Sounds like a great idea. I also saw that that place (Taffer's) I mentioned in the last ID post was open. Not sure if they just opened or have been open just at night. I think an Indian place replaced the place near the Hulk Hogan location. And a new Japanese (Naomi Express) replaced a place in the strip mall in front of the AYCE Brazilian place towards Kirkman.

Grub Crawl - International Drive: Arcade Time and Eskina

I tried these spots on International Drive Sunday at lunch. The first is in between Sand Lake and Kirkman (more towards there) in a strip mall with parking in front. It replaced some thing that just came and went called Roboland or something. Says open 24 Hours! The second is at Kirkman. Northwest side. Neither of these were plan a. But, someone should tell Palm Tree Club to tell the internet that they don't do brunch any more (ever?). And this other place at Pointe Orlando (Taffer's) is either not open yet or defunct.

Arcade Time - I just learned about them. Open for a week. I didn't really believe they had food. But, almost half the space is food/sports bar. I tried the Cuban for $14. Bad. Four slices of ham. No pork. Beyond stale roll. Came with fries. They were ok. a bit under fried. Everything was cool. Like it had been sitting. May explain the thirty minutes I had to wait. Kitchen must have one person. Fifo ordering system. If I hadn't paid in advance (at the bar because there was no waitress when I came in), I would have left. Fairly big menu. Soups, salads, 9 apps, pizza, burgers, hd, wings, pasta, 9 other mains from poke to filet mignon. Desserts and booze. Low of $13 for guac and chips to $28 for Hawaiin BBQ Chicken. Wine was $9-$10. Beer was $5 (to start). Frozen drinks were $7. Two extra large tvs. Around a dozen tables. Bar. Black and blue. 80s arcade decor. 80s and 90s music. Arcade side has more carnival games than video. It was ok. Less people at the arcade and more in the kitchen would help. *I also saw another arcade place (Arcade Monster?) almost next door. Not sure if it is open.

Eskina -  Brazilian. Open for a month. I grabbed their cheapest thing (Peito de Frango Grelhado) to go for $19. You'll see why. It is two pounded grilled chicken breast over sauteed onions. It comes with two sides. I chose excellent mashed potatoes. It came with some kind of cheese shavings on top. And I chose potato salad. It was uniformly cut cubes. Slightly undercooked. Ok. Chicken was good. The other choices and the rest of the menu is the usual Brazilian assortment. Prices are ridiculous. French fries are $14. Three empanadas (an app) is $15. I think the next cheapest main was $30. Some things were over $60. And yet they had a crowd. I guess they live in a spend it while you got it environment. Or are just saps. Modern feel. The place is rectangular. Side room like a day care center. Bar. Stage in back with warbler. Around twenty tables. Black and white and green and yellow. Some tile accents. Exposed black duct work. Bottles of booze displayed at the bar. Enough uniformed staff. The order came out in minutes. If you go, go during the week at lunch. I saw that ten item menu. More acceptable. My dish was down to $14. Around that price was stroganoff and some other dishes. If you act wisely, this may be a find. It means corner.

Burger Vault, Altamonte Springs

I tried this halal burger spot near Tibby's/Kobe on 436 Saturday night at dinner. The original is in Tampa. Not much to report on. Burgers and chicken sandwiches and sides. One hot dog. Yawn. I tried a classic burger for $13 (plus 42 cent hidden cc surcharge). That's their cheapest. Worth half as much. Came with cheese. Sloppy. Ketchup, mayo, sauteed onions, pickle, lettuce, tomato. Stringy grind. About 1/4 lb. Tasteless. They have a silly 24k waygu one for $30. They replaced a good shwarma spot. Shame. They improved the interior. Nine booths. Black with red brick. Brown pleather. Open for two months. Somehow aligned with Jordan. The halal angle is really all they have. And that they are in a food desert. No pun intended.

Grub Crawl - Sanford: The Bait and Hook, Pollo al Fuego and Chin

I went to these stalls at Henry's Depot on 1st St Tuesday at lunch. The first two opened in the last week or so. The last has been there for a year. The first is owned by the Ramen stall people/person. The last two are owned by the same people/person. But not the same as the first pair. I couldn't bite on the $17 Pom Pom sandwich stall. Don't know if the coffee (with a few Latin pastries) stall was there last time.

The Bait and Hook - I tried the last of the Red Grouper Collars Special with white rice and some kind of Thai chimichurri for $20. The two collars one big and one small) could have been boned better. Ok. I never really have been impressed by this cut of of the fish. Or other cuts like ribs. This was beefy. The chimichurri had a pronounced fish sauce flavor (not note - notes are for music). The rice was fine. They cooked it to order. Said the fish came in on Friday or Saturday. A relative bargain compared to the nigiri that is $4 a piece or the $18 sandwiches. A $8 order of hush puppies is the only thing under high teens. They have a large and varied (for seafood) menu. Rolls are around $15. Hand rolls $7. Sashimi is $4 for two pieces. Crab cakes. Fish and chips. Fish Spread. Po boys. Etc. They replaced the Current Seafood stall. They moved down the street.

Pollo al Fuego - They have those chickens. But, I just bought one from Publix for $8 and these were $20. Even a quarter was around $10. I won't do flatbreads, so, I settled on of there four or five pasta dishes. The cavatappi (corkscrew) with sausage in a pesto sauce for $15 to go. The manager gave me a flyer with a $3 off coupon and had me add tomato sauce to it and make it a build your own which was a buck cheaper than the listed one for some reason. It was ok. The pasta was cooked properly. The sauces were good. Huge portion. The thing that made it a food court dish was the sausage. Like little meatloafs. Like they use at shitty pizzerias. Improve that and we can talk. They have an odd menu. Like they said "I know rotisserie chicken. But, is that enough? We've got this pizza oven from the old tenant so let's do that (kinda) and pasta is Italian. We just need a hotplate. No one else here is doing these things".

Chin - I am reminded of the fat guy joke. I am also wary of "Asian" menus. Pick a lane. And this is hardly even that. I tried the beef bulgogi for $15 ($12). Used their flyer here too. Here they added a 51 cent surcharge because it was to go. One stall got a tip. One did not. It was easily the worse bulgogi I have ever been served. Sloppy Joe on rice. I have never seen it made with ground beef. Flavorless. Textureless. Soulless. They tossed in wilted kim chi, nude lettuce strips and pickled radish slices. The rice was mushy. Just a scoop and serve operation. The menu has bao, Korean Hot Dogs, TACOS (!?) and other rice bowls. Most things around $12 and up. This owner thinks he's a food court onto him or herself. Bad culinary instincts. Maybe choose another line of work?

*On the way home I stopped at Winn Dixie and bought 1/3 lb of chicken nuggets/pieces from the salad bar ($10/lb) for $3. That was around ten pieces. Everyone two to four times as big as a McNugget. I believe four of those now run $3.49. And the quality is worse in my opinion. If you are still buying fast food in America, you are an idiot. Have you seen they new "Value Menu" commercial? They think $8 is value! We need to bankrupt these gougers. Who's with me? They even took away the soda machines, so, you can't refill. Not to mention the shrinkflation. 

Travel Notes - France/Belgium/Netherlands

I am going to start listing these notes on their own because the way it is being done now is stupid. Makes it hard to find on my site and probably annoys readers who just want Central Florida info. Plus it seems to confuse the fuck out of AI.

I flew to Paris CDG through Newark on UA for $581 (really $431 b/c I used a credit). As usual they had issues. Here we were a half hour late taking off to NJ. Just because. We took off from the Int'l runway? No wifi. No entertainment. Boarding in NWK, they were making people check bags. Haven't seen that on an Int'l flight ever. Let each attendant have their own locked compartment! Then we had to wait one hour for a cargo weight issue. The food on the flight poisoned me. On the way back, they pawned us off (though I booked through their site) to Lufthansa and their bitch offspring Discover. I had to go through Frankfurt. The first flight was fifteen minutes late taking off. The second was an hour late because of a door issue and then missing PAPERWORK! We seemed to have landed at the runway as far away from Terminal C as possible. Then we waited a half hour to deplane. They didn't explain why. I should say here that I took this trip to make up for one that Milton screwed up last year (and Paris was the cheapest way in).

At CDG, I took a train from T2 to Lille Europe for $41E. First class was 2E more so I did that. Just went to a machine and bought the next departure. This is a big benefit of CDG. I would transit from here if you can. They go to many cities from there. Skip Paris until the end of your trip. If I went to the other areas in France (ie Normandy) that I was considering first, I would have had to pay to go to Paris and switch stations. I stayed at the Hotel Lille Europe (Expedia 8.8) for $95. Lille has two stations. They are barely 100 yards apart. This was in between. I checked fares to different cities. I toured Lille. I went to Eglise St Maurice, Hotel de Ville, Porto de Paris, Palace de Beaux Arts, Prefecture, Citadelle Vauban, Cathedrale, Vielle Bourse, Opera, Place Charles de Gaulle, etc. I decided to buy a ticket to Brussels because it was the cheapest at 25E by far and try for Ghent of Antwerp from there. That was the right call. Inter-country tickets were way more expensive and limited. I was so tired and it started to rain, so, I bought food and wine and beer at Carrefour and booked a hotel in Antwerp and went to bed. I had driven through Lille before and thought it looked industrial. It was very good. Very cute. Birthplace of Charles de Gaulle.

The next day I took the train to Brussels Midi Zuid (only 30 minutes). There I bought a first class (2E more) ticket that allowed me to go anywhere in Belgium. I just took it to Antwerp. I had driven through there once before. I missed most everything. The station is a sight unto itself. I went to the booking office because the machine was confusing me. It was good that I did because they said they would be working on the tracks during the weekend (next day) and the ticket I would have bought would have been invalid. So, I had to pay almost 50% more for an inter-city ticket (37E). I stayed at the Trip Inn Eden (Expedia 7.6) near the station for $78. I walked to the Peter Paul Ruebens Home, Kathedraal, Grote Markt (square), Stad Huis, Schelde (waterway), Het Steen (castle), Mas Museum and Opera. There is some famous statue a bit farther up the waterway. I was too tired. I bought some food and wine and beer at Okay City. Antwerp was cute as well. I should state here that all the hotels I stayed at were doing the extra tax due thing and didn't have USB plugs.

The next day I grabbed some McD (McChicken with bacon!) and walked around the station. I took the train to Rotterdam. The station is a modern wonder. I stayed at the Hotel Van Walsum (Expedia 8.8) for $113. Rotterdam was bigger. This hotel was about half way between the station and the water. I walked past the Depot Boijmans Museum through Witte de Withstraat to the Maritime Museum and over Laurens Kerk and the Urban Surf to the Markethal. I had an oyster for 3E and herring for 3E at Andalus Fish. The herring was great. Not fishy. Sweet. I had it once in Amsterdam (and pickled). I don't remember loving it this much. I also had some free cheese at Cromwijk Kassedok and from Henry Willig's (I guess he's Dutch - these shops were everywhere) Cheese & More. I walked back towards the Maritime Museum and over to the Erasmusbrug (bridge). Across and to the right to the dock area. Back across the bridge and left to another port area and a tower called Euromast. Then back to the hotel. Some food and wine and beer from Albert Heijn (their main supermarket). It was some holiday, so, it was very busy. I should state at this point that it had drizzled just a bit up to this point. From this point on it got colder and drearier and drizzlier for most of the trip. Rotterdam (most of these cities) was very diverse. Big food culture. Great architecture. I missed some attractions. I'll get back to them...

The next day I passed by Paulus Kerk on the way to the station. I walked around looking for an ATM. Never found one. In the whole city! I bought a 5.60E ticket to Delft. In Delft I found an ATM. I saw the Stad Huis, Nieuwe Kerk, Vermeer Home Location, Maria Van Jesse Kerk, Vermeer Center, Molen de Roos (windmill), Oude Kerk and back to the Markt where they were had set up stalls. I had a Dutch Ham Sandwich with arugula and onion and curry mustard for 7E at a stall called Het Lekkerste Broodje. Only there for about 90 minutes. Back to the station where I bought a ticket to Haarlem for 14E. Delft was small. Cute. In Haarlem, I stayed at the Nui Dairy Holiday Inn (Expedia 9.2) for $117. I walked to the city center and the Grote Markt and the Stadhuis and the St Bavo Kerk. Then over to the Binnen Spaarne (canal) and over to the Frans Hals Museum and Verwey Museum. I should say here that I will tell you if I actually paid and went into any of these. They were all over 10E. Then back to the canal and the Teylers Museum that I walked by. A different way to the Grote Markt (past a music hall) and to the hotel. I stopped for a grilled sausage sandwich at Het Broodjus Huis for 3E because all these youngins were lined up when I first walked by it. Got some food and wine at Albert Heijn. Watched US Open. Haarlem was also cute.

The next day I bought a 7E ticket to Amsterdam. I've been here multiple times. I only chose here because I was ahead of schedule and had done the major destinations and was trying to get to elsewhere via train or plane. Flights from Schipol were no bargain and going through Utrecht became an issue ($300 hotel rooms). I was also going to try for a town nearby called Marken. It took a change over bus instead of a train and was relatively expensive (an all day bus card just under 20E), so, I declined the opportunity. I stayed at the Hotel Old Quarter (Expedia 7.8) for $105. I didn't realize how close it was to the station (and Red Light). I walked through that. Saw one hot girl. Got some friets at Fable Friet for 4E. Oude and Zuider Kerks. Chinese area. Walked an area to the left (coming out) of the station that I'll call a harbor. Through Dijks Park (I think this is newish) to the Maritime Museum and back. Then bought some food and wine at Albert Heijn at the harbor. The main tenant there is a cool looking Doubletree Hotel (and Booking.com HQ). Got a little tipsy and walked the Red Light and over to the City Center.

The next day I walked back along that route. Was offered a free one at 10am. Surprised they were still working. I was looking for a different hierarchy of need (food) and it started raining. Never found (interesting/appropriate) food. Too early. Rushed to the station because of the rain. Bought a 12E train ticket to Hoorn. Stayed at the Hotel de Keiserskroon (Booking 8.0) for $113. I chose here because I wanted to do something north of Amsterdam on the water. I had only been to Edam. This was the second northiest and had a museum (Westfries). The other option didn't. That was the reasoning. It turned out to be closed for repairs. It rained all day. I suffered through a walk to the Grote Kerk and an Albert Heijin for lunch. Then another walk at dinner to the Westfries and over to the Haven (harbor) and AH for dinner and wine. It was a very small town. Cute. You can pass through. Or just pass.

The next day I bought a ticket (just one machine and no people) to Den Haag for 22E. I had been there before. Had to go there to get to a beach location called Scheveningen. Plus working my way back to France. I bought two bus/tram passes for 9E at the station. and plotted routes to other cities at the ticket office (computer). Walked into the city. Had a 5E veggie burger combo (just to be different) from BK because theirs was the best/cheapest in NL. As opposed to their prices in every other country. Over to the Plaats. Pond in front of the Binnenhof (Parliament). Over to the St Jacobs Kerk and to a main street with a statute called Haggse Harry. Back towards the station past a building with cranes around it. Took the 9 tram (3km - not walkable) to De Pier in Scheveningen. Checked into the Fox Hotel (Expedia 8.6) for $99. Walked the pier and beach. It had all these rides, etc. Like a cheese-y English or Jersey-ish/Daytona-ish sea side town. Lots of shells. Walked the north side of the beach. Weather threatened. Grabbed a Lana Sandwich (curried chicken with potatoes and long beans) for 6E at Lana's Surinam Kitchen at a food hall on the boardwalk by the pier. My first Surinamese food. Basically West Indian fare. Bought some food and wine at the AH. Got tipsy and walked the south side of the esplanade to a lighthouse at sunset. That was nice. Learned of Charlie Kirk murder.

The next day I took the tram back to the station. Thankfully, I asked information about train stuff and they said I should still buy my ticket from the domestic office. There really was no international office or machine. I bought a ticket to Brussels for 39E. You had to transfer in Rotterdam to get out of the country. This ticket allowed me to exit in Rotterdam and come back in. This was good because I wanted to stay there that night, but, the weather and hotel availability was bad. Why I settled on Brussels. It started to drizzle. I hightailed it to the Markthal. In the hub bub of the crowds, I had missed the Cube Houses. A collection of yellow slanted cubes on top of each other. Cool. Then over for lunch. The first stop was Bapao & Bobo. I espied them on the first visit. Too long a wait then. They had a hot pot where they dip skewered items into the broth called Chuan Chuan. I looked it up and this and the next thing seem to be their thing. The lady said Shanghai, but, I think there was a double language issue. I did order the steamed then pan fried 20 piece thumb fried Baopo with pork. Little dumplings. Excellent. There shouldn't be a place where this isn't. Get on it! They cost 9E. Internet says it is an Indonesian thing. Or unique to this stall. I then just grabbed a local thing called a Kalfs Vlees (veal) Kroket at Bram Landage for 2E. Then back to Andalus Fish for another round of herring for 3E. Back to the station past the Stadhuis. Rain. It was too rainy to walk to the place where the Pilgrims left for England before America. I exited at Brussels Midi Zuid. Bought a ticket (possibly improperly) from a machine at the international ticket office to Lille Flandres for 20E. Stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn City Center (Expedia 8.4) for $101. Walked past the Porte de Hal. Over to the Palais de Justice and an area with a view by a ferris wheel (The View). Down the street past Square de Petit Sablon and Eglise Notre Dame des Victoires au Sablon and Magritte Museum. Right onto Rue de Namur. It started to rain, so, I missed out on the Royal Palace just ahead because I didn't bring the umbrella. Not sure if I had seen that before. Right onto Avenue de la Toison d'Or to the hotel. Very nice shops there. Food and wine from Delhaize. 9/11 moment of reflection.

The next day I went to the station only to find out that there was no direct train back to Lille like the one I took there. I had to catch some dingy local train that took three times as long and had to change in some town called Tournai. I stayed again at the Hotel Lille Europe (Expedia 8.8) because it was only $66 this time. I came back to Lille to have options in France. I went with my first choice and bought a ticket to Caen (change in Rouen) for 58E. I moved on to things I missed last time. The Marche de Wazemmes first. I had a quiche choufleur fourme at Le Fournil Bio stall and gyoza at Gambatte stall. I got a little lost going there and back. Saw Eglise Sacre Coeur on the way. Made my way past the Opera to La Rue de Monnaie past the Hospice Comtesse to St Andre to Jemmaps to the Charles de Gaulle Birthplace. Back to his plaza and nearby I had a framboise sorbet at Jeff de Bruges for 2E. Dinner and wine from Carrefour.

The next day I awoke early to catch a 7am train to Caen. I stayed at the Hotel de la Paix (Booking 7.0) for two nights at $70 per. Caen was compact. This was near the Castle/Chateau. I went first to the tourist office next to Eglise St Pierre. Then around and into the "Chateau". It was free. This was William the Conquerer's base when he was Duke of Normandy (1660). I then walked through town to his Abbaye aux Hommes. Attached to it is St Etienne. He is buried there. Back past the Palais de Justice and a street one above the way I came. Got dinner and wine at Carrefour.

The next day I went to the Sunday market next to the hotel. Had 6 unplump Blainville Sur Mer oysters from Huitres Yann Couillard stall for 8E. Was given a free foul tasting (tampered?) falafel from Nour Echam stall. A Normande galette with andouille and Camembert for 6.50E at Les Delices de Malau stall. I thought it would be a link wrapped in galette like the basic one. It was slices. I walked past the Chateau/Castle (no tourist signs) to the Memorial de Caen WWII Museum. It didn't seem worth the 21E. Back to town to the Abbaye aux Dammes/St Trinite. Mathilde the wife of William founded this and is buried in the attached church. Down past canals to the station to buy a ticket to Paris (45E). I found that most shops (including Carrefour though the hours open sign said otherwise) were closed. Grabbed the 5E meal deal again at BK. DCB with CB this time. They use reusable glasses and french fry holders! 

The next day I took a delayed train to Paris St Lazzare. I stayed in Pigalle at the Villa Royale (Expedia 7.8) for $163 because they said it was $80 off. Nothing was cheap. It was pretty good. Just car street noise galore all night. Tried to eat at some places near by that came up when I searched best of the area. They were closed. Walked up to Sacre Coeur. Grabbed some salami at Mono Prix for a hangry lunch. Walked Clichy past Moulin Rouge south to Amsterdam to Hausmann to Galeries Lafayette. Saw there was a Pierre Herme there and I wouldn't have to find his shop that I saw on I'll Have What Phil's Having. Got a Tart Paradis for 8E. Sick packaging. Took it past Place Vendome to the Tuileries. Ate it in front of that balloon I think they had at the Olympics. Past the Louvre and down the Seine to Notre Dame. It is open but not finished. Scaffolding and cranes all along the outside. Back to hotel past Tour St Jacques and up Sebastopol to Poissoniere. Some food at Carrefour. Wine and more food at Mono Prix. Been to Paris many times. Did it all before.

The next day I went back to Condorcet for those recommendations. First to Babka Zana (also at Galeries Lafayette) for my first rugelach (chocolate and cinnamon) for under 2E. Great. Like a croissant and cinnamon roll mixed up. Then down the block to Mamiche for a Prince de Paris (ham, cornichon, butter, mustard) for 6E. Good ingredients. Line here was thirty deep. Across Condorcet to Gare du Nord. Bought a 13E plus 2E (card) ticket to CDG. Stayed at the Ibis (Expedia 8.0) for $232! I paid half that last time. Cheapest at airport. Should have checked/booked when I landed. Was $200 the day before. Flight was at 9am, so, I didn't want to be around Gare du Nord that early. Got my boarding passes printed at kiosk. Back to hotel.

The next day I flew out. It was an ok trip that gets better in remembrance. I was a bit antagonized most of the time. Probably because no BIG things to see or do. Weather probably didn't help. Incompetence in general also is creating travel anxiety about simple things like transportation. The French had a strike on the 10th and then were going to again the day after I left. Such brats. Exchange rate was up to $1.17 then $1.18. I spent 344E ($402) on Transport. $1419 on Hotels. Spent $65 on Rental Car to MCO and $120 on Taxi home (I probably could have negotiated this better). I let my return car rental expire because it was $110 and Hertz has been pissing me off. 260E ($304) on Food/Booze. 0E ($0) on Museums. 17E ($20) on Misc. $2761 Total. 

Some new things I ate: Cheese - Gris du Perigord, La Buche de Poitou, Clemont Bleu and tomme de Pyrenees Noir. Pate - Porc aux Airelles, Crem Pate Groene Peper and Pate au Campagne. Charcuterie - Jambon de Savoie (their bad attempt at prosciutto) and Mosterd Gehakt (bad). Beer - Jupiter, Texels, Vieux Lille and Cristal Pils. Saw fish lasagna and mackerel with cream cheese.

*Neither Lufthansa or their bitch low fare offspring Discover offered any compensation for their flight issues.