I tried these spots today at lunch. The first is in the East End Market. The second on S Park Ave near Rollins. Winter Park opened some more free spots two streets up on the right. And every other dip shit municipality is taking them away or making you pay for them! Whoda thunk.
OBon Chocolatier Opened two weeks ago. I had the original chocolate latte for $6 because each of these stupid half a thumb sized bon bons is also $6! You read that right. The drink was (meant to be) cold. They can't do hot yet. It was ok. I noticed after I audibled from the bon bon$ that they had little chocolate bars in animal shapes for $6. And some other kind of tiered bar for $10. There are around twelve flavors of bon bons and lattes. The place is modern and white with cool fonts. Glass display case. I guess the name is a play on words. O for Au. Like Au Bon Pain. I have explained that au means with and idiots ask for their french dips with au jus. I had seen it listed without the O. From some bakery people that I think have sugar in the name (light as sugar?).
Grappolo Cucina Italiano - Open for three weeks. Will be a Favorite. The part owner on site said he was from Catania and had been running a top rated place in London/Surrey (La Meridiana). Has a four star on Yelp and was Southeast Restaurant of the Year in '22. He came here for his daughter. We have her to thank for this pleasant surprise. The place is unassuming. Thirteen tables of differing sizes. Odd shades of dark green and white are the primary colors. Some tan areas. The seats are brown. The furniture is mid-century industrial. Interesting light fixtures on the walls. Adult tableware. Nicely doubled folded, cloth napkins. Bar at the rear left. Enough spacing between tables. High ceilings. Painted duct work and sound proofing. On the ceiling is the "roof" of an arbor with fake grapes. Fakes grapes are strewn about the room. They haven't gathered enough dust yet to be an embarrassment. I had the Pavarotti for $15. It was in the panini section. However, it came out as a stromboli. But not a pizzeria stromboli. A glistening, long, thin crusted beaut. I don't order them because I can roll over a slice of pizza onto itself. It's like tacos, tostadas and burritos. It the same thing. This version is technically the same difference, but, it had class. I don't know what to tell you. It demanded respect. The main reason I ordered it was that it had prosciutto (and capicola, pepperoni and sausage) in it. And a garlic-y aoili that may or may not have had a soft cheese in it (I wasn't excited enough at the time of ordering to recall). And garlic and tomato sauce. Served on a rectangular, stained wood cutting board. Vents cut into the dough. Perfect brown color. The meats weren't top notch, but, pizza topping acceptable. Something in there made it a bit to salty. A side sald of arugula, onion and tomato with two olives and aged balsamic. Even some sea salt. That was really good too. The stromboli could have fed two. They offered bread. Not sure if it was on the house. It probably was worth a try. The lunch menu was very reasonable. Five paninis (ie mortadella with pistachios). I think they had a dozen pizzas under $20. Around six pastas for $22 (ie shrimp or carbonara). I saw both. They looked excellent. Head on shrimp! Nice plating too. People were gushing about them. Semi-exotic types of pasta too. I believe they had apps to. Must have. I saw some cannolis come out. One lady said her beef carpaccio was the best she ever had. And she asserted that she had had her share. The couple next to me were Italian Italian. It was nice to hear them speaking it. Added to the ambiance. Soft, pleasant music was barely audible. Three wait staff in uniforms of white shirts with black pants and a long green apron. The place was about half full. Things came out at a pace that indicated things were being made fresh (but not too slow). It boggles the mind that people were out there on that day paying nearly the same price for a sickly Subway sub. My only disappointment is that God did not bless my with two stomachs so that I could report back on a pasta dish. Unlike the quarterback with a similar sounding name, this place is a real winner. I'd make it a priority. Dinner must be an even grander experience. Or they may fuck it up. Who knows? I just had a good experience on this particular date and time. What can I tell you?
*I drove around a bit before and after to see the state of affairs. The food hall at Lake Ivanhoe is more of the same. One stall was charging $20 for tacos! The Jamaican place didn't even show items or prices. The only new place of interest may be Chez les Copains (but for brunch). There is still no parking. I don't see ehy they bothered. How can you you repeat a blueprint for failure? Tiger Sugar can't be bothered to open until noon and it is a bakery. Cowboy Curry is still MIA. The Mongolorian Hawiian replacement isn't there yet. Imperial wasn't open. I thought they were doing lunch. Glass Knife not open. This stupid brownie place (Melt?) in Maitland looks not closed, but, no one is ever in it as far as I can tell. The one positive development was that that stupid Ceviche (next to Grappolo) rebrand may have received the memo. They had some some not uninteresting lunch special with drink for $20. I guess I'll do the Travel Notes on Saturday or something. It will be on PA and NY.
**I also applied for that new visa like requirement for UK. It was easy. Online via app or website. Upload pic of passport and face. Answer a few questions. CC info. Immediate approval. $22. Lasts two years. My friend says that you don't show anything. It is just in their system when you scan your passport. I booked BA for $650 to Gatwick. Norse had some for $520. But, they were such dicks last year that I stayed away. Hours long check in. Won't let you do it online. Nazis about bag size. Zero frills.
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