Grub Crawl - SoDo: Fritterbox and Naz's

I went to these spots on South Orange Ave today at lunch. The first replaces Costa Rican coffee house Tico Forest in a strip mall near Gaitlin. The second replaces what I recall as a Miami based mac chain in a strip mall near that condo complex that has the Target. Closer to DT.

Fitterbox - Looks franchise ready. But a one off. They sell fritters and drinks. Both made to order at the location. I had a lamb and chicken combo box to go for $12. Really good. Ate them all before I got home. Sweet avocado dipping sauce. Probably home made. The fritters can be a bit bland if you don't get a piece of meat. The sauce helps with that. Twelve pieces. Thin. Oval shaped. Not too oily. Container was ecofriendly. Bag was some accordion like thing that expanded into a coiled basket. The do mixes of lamb, chicken, plantain, chickpea, turkey, turkey neck, etc. You can get a (here's a reversal) side of meat for $6+. I should have done that. Didn't figure it out until after I ordered. They also gave me a glass of a jackfruit/peanut smoothie they were concocting. Nice. One of the "drinks". Three employees. Friendly. From Jamaica. A few wood booths and tables. Lots of open space. Fairly large footprint. Light blue coloring. A few posters. Pretty good value at $1 a fritter. Could sneak in as a dark horse Fav due to originality. Open for L&D. Looks like they could use the publicity. Open for a month or so.

Naz's Halal Food - Not worth the wait. I guess they are a chain founded on a push cart in Queen's. Gryos and platters in the usual chicken or lamb (says with beef) options. Falafel and fried fish. Burgers, CSs, wings, nuggets round out the Arabic menu. That's a joke btw. We already have Halal Guys and Shah's and other chains in this segment. We didn't need another. A worse one. I had a mixed gyro for $10. Lamb was like Shah's. Chunks. Chicken was cubier and plain. I picked white sauce (green, hot, bbq). Ok? Pita was ok. Veg was ok. But, it came out in seconds and just looks sloppy. Sloppy like the place. It is one week old and it already looks years old. Like they didn't clean up after the last place closed down. And it also started off sloppy. Maybe this location is cursed? No need to rush over here. No tables. No decorations. Order at a counter. Opened a week ago. L&D. Until 2am! 4am on WE! But it is a Nahs for Naz's. It's like a pizza place that offers you ranch dressing.

Grub Crawl - UCF Area: Haraz, Luminescent and Hong Kong Alley's Kitchen *CA/NV Travel Notes

I tried these spots today at lunch. The first is on Alafaya near 50. The second is east of that on 50 before the 408 (?). The last is in a strip mall back towards Orlando on 50. There is a bowling alley and Bravo supermarket there. I also got more items at Shah's and Juici Patties because these sucked so badly. I really only made the journey for Haraz.

Haraz Coffee House - They said they were Yemeni. Have 28 locations. I guess the media makes things seem worse than they are because I was under the assumption that the whole country was lawless rubble. This place looks sharp. Just opened a month ago. Light tones. Gold accents. Dubai chocolate. Beverages, pastries and savories. I chose a butter leek pastry that the receipt lists as parmesan leek. It was ok. Probably not made there. It cost $5.50. Empanadas were $6. The sweet items were around $8. It was a bit overpriced for me. Twenty tables. Mix of Arabs and UCFers. Order at a counter. A bit of a wait. 

Luminescent - They serve booze too. Only after 5pm though. No logical reason supplied. I had a $4 small Americano because I hate these places and this is all they have anyway. At least they attempt to provide a reason (booze) for existing. Typical store bought pastries. Large footprint. Spartan. Oval bar in the center. Open since June.

Hong Kong Alley's Kitchen - They said open for seven years. I'll bet that is this iteration of it. Place looks forty years old. Spartan. Twenty tables. I just had an egg drop soup to go for $3 because this was a pity fuck to begin with and they weren't serving a lunch special ($13) on the weekends. It was the usual. Wonton crackers stale as always. Typical menu for the region. Catering to hispanics. Clientele (3 and 2 take out) was mostly that and that kind of music being played.

*Travel Notes - California and Nevada: I flew to SFO on United for $237 (really $37 because I used a $200 credit they gave me for screwing up the Bozeman flight). 7pm (two hours late because rain and failure to fuel up) and red eye (30 minutes late because late from getting to us). Let me say here that SFO was a joy compare to the ass crack incompetency of MCO. Car from Hertz for a week at $339. I stayed the first night at Motel 6 near the San Jose airport for $104 rack rate. It was $80 thru travel booking sites. I drove around there for an hour rejecting hotels before I gave up. This was the cheapest by half (several had closed their offices). Book ahead. 

The next day I drove towards 680 to Huong Lan for a Thit Nguoi banh mi for $8. I believe I learned of this place from that PBS show from twenty years ago. It was the last on the list. Good banh mi. I then drove 680 to 84 through Livermore to the 580 to 205 to 120 towards Yosemite. It went through Manteca. Livermore and Manteca are on many wine labels. I'll have to go back and check out the wineries. I couldn't go through Yosemite before 2pm, so, I took 108 over it. I decided to go for it and took 395 all the way down to Big Pine and east to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest twenty miles in. Make a left at the U of California something sign about halfway up. That is all they supply to guide you. It was late, so, I just did the short path. There is a four miler to the unmarked "star" Methusulah. I learned of this (I think) from this show by a guy named Aiello. Oldest trees in the world. Nearly 5k years old. $3 for parking if you don't have a parks pass. Worth it. I then drove back north. I didn't book a room ahead of time. expensive here as well. I settled on the $113 rack rate Townhouse Motel in Bishop. I had beer and a burger at the Mountain Rambler Brewery. 

The next day I had breakfast at Whiskey Creek because McDs wanted $3+ for a fucking hash brown. I had a three egg cheddar omlet with potatoes and toast for $13. McDs wanted $9+ for their shit pancake option. Whiskey Creek started at Mammoth. They said that closed. It was the OG. Brought back memories eating here. I didn't initially put two and two together. Drove north to June and Silver and Mono lakes. First time for the first two. The third has these dried up springs they call tufas. Grabbed a tri tip sandwich with tots at Bodie Mike's in Lee Vining (Mono Lake and west Yosemite entrance town). Drove up 395 (BTW construction at the 108 intersection) to Reno. I passed the road to a ghost town called Bodie. Will do next time. I stayed at the J Resort for $256 for three nights plus $102 RF. They upgraded me to the Aspen Tower. I walked about eight blocks down the river walk to Greater Nevada Field to see the Aces play for $30 (third base/left field). Ate chicken fingers there.

The next day I tried to eat at a diner (3D) down the street. It was being renovated. Got the car and drove up Virginia a few blocks to University of Nevada. Back to 80 and east a few miles to Sparks and the Carolina Kitchen and Barbecue Co. Excellent brisket and better ribs. PS and Mac were meh. Saw them on 3D. Back to Reno. Had beer at Pigeon Head Brewery and Slieve Brewing Co. I should mention here that if you weren't in the mountains it was in the upper nineties. I had dinner of a venison patty melt, ff and beer at Washoe Public House (3D).

The next day I drove to South Lake Tahoe (395 to Carson City to 50) to see the American Century Championship at Edgewood for $56. Parked at Bally's (passersby said it was the cheapest by far) for $35. It was great. So many stars. Curry, Barkley,  J Allen, Romo, Rice, Anika, Kelces, Rodgers, etc. Course was beautiful. Music and shooting hoops at 17. Great weather. Had an ok turkey club there for $16 ($6 for the soda). I grabbed two terrible slices at Noble Pie (3D) when I got back. 

The next day I drove 80 to the 5S. Went all the way down to Lost Hills. I tried to stop for a 3D lunch in Truckee, but, those pricks parking metered the whole town. I'm not paying to pay to eat in your little hick town. I took 46W to Blackwell's Corner General Store. It was the last place James Dean stopped at before he crashed. I went on to the intersection at 41 where he bought it. They are redoing the highway, so, you can't see (or stop) where the crash happened. I had just seen a documentary on it. It must have been old. There is an unmarked memorial a half a mile up on the left. There is a sign/symbol for a restaurant that isn't open any longer. That is the only marker. I went west to Paso Robles. I stayed at the Adelaide Inn for $138 rack rate. I t was the only one I inquired at. Online said the whole area was booked up or over $375. I got groceries/wine at a Smart & Final and a Grocery Outlet. There must be over a hundred wineries there. Will do them next time. And some kind of fair set up where they seem to have concerts, etc. Watched HR Derby.

The next day I drove back east a mile or so to take photos of the wineries I passed. Then down 101 to the 1 at Pismo Beach. I was there for the clam chowder in a bread bowl at Splash Cafe. I saw that on Rick Stein's Monterey to Mexico. It had a big line. Must be famous for other reasons. I walked the pier. Went up 101 to SLO and onto 1. It is still closed 40 miles past San Simeon (people said it hasn't stopped land sliding). No warning until then. I had to backtrack ten miles to 46. Took that to Paso Robles. Up the 101 to Salinas. Then the 68 to Monterey. I stayed at the Arbor Inn (Booking 8.3) for $108. Found wine and groceries at Trader Joe's a few blocks away. Watched ASG.

The next day I had breakfast at Wild Plum Cafe (3D) down the block. They even had parking. Salsa steamer with potatoes and toast. Steamed eggs. I drove down Del Monte to Monterey's Fish House (3D). Had an ENORMOUS serving of fried red snapper with fries for $23. Doggy bagged most of it. Drove 1 up to Half Moon Bay. 92 to 101 to the airport. Got gas near the exit that has driving range nets. Returned the car.

Lucked out on the accidents/traffic. Could have done better on hotel costs (but wanted the flexibility). Didn't really have a plan when I booked the ticket. Had a lot of fun. Seemed like every inch of this region is growing grapes. Spent $155 on gas. Had to be smart to keep it under $5 a gallon. Nevada wasn't much cheaper. Suburbs around Reno were gouging. $820 on hotels. $135 for MCO parking, $509 on everything else. $1995 in total. 

Grub Crawl - NoDo and SoDo: Beignets & Brew and Lucky Goat

I went to these wastes of time and money (and real estate) on Wednesday. I was just eliminating crap from the list on the way to the airport. Dinner was to be at Fritterbox. They were too expensive to do a drive by. I will do them properly in the future.

Beignets & Brew - They replaced an equally superfluous coffee place a few weeks ago. I grabbed an Arnold Palmer for $3 because it was the cheapest thing. These idiots sweeten both elements. Thankfully I chose unsweetened tea. They sell beignets at around $10. I'm not a fan. Too much powdered sugar. They also had chicken tender sandwiches at mid-teens. Croissant sandwiches at high single digits. Coffee, etc. Place is hopital white. I think it is a chain. On North Orange. Pass.

Lucky Goat - Even worse. Just coffee etc with a few unmarked muffins etc. I had a cookie for $4. Shit. Small. Black paint. Open three weeks. Pointless. In the strip mall at Gaitlin on South Orange.

Baku, Florida Mall Area *England Travel Notes

I tried this Asian/Latin Fusion Bar on Tuesday at night. I thought it would be a little less demanding/expensive, so, I just had that fried rice to go for $16. I think. They gave me someone else's receipt. It was a good choice. Old school fried rice (black/oily/salty) with bits of egg and onion and a ton of pork, chicken and three shrimp. So much that I had half a container of that left over after eating the rice up. Can you believe that all the old take out places used to make it like this (minus the chicken and shrimp) and include it for free? I was going to just have a bite and put it away and hit my pillow. I downed it all. Six hour time change and all. The menu is odd. Around eight cuts of sushi/sashimi at around $8 for an order. A few expensive rolls. Maybe a tiradito or ceviche? Crab Rangoons. Bao. A steak fajita plate with bao instead of tortillas. A risotto with an Asian mushroom. That's all I can remember. They made me flick through an online menu on a cell phone. They just took over for the original owners a few days before. I think it opened seven months ago. I think these guys are out Miami. I think they said from Maracaibo Venezuela. It is on the corner of Sand Lake and OBT on the mall side. It was about half full at nine pm. Almost all hispanic. Lounge-y. Bar in the rear. Around twenty tables. My jet lagged brain recalls alot of black and fake sakura trees. Around four wait staff. two sushi guys. One hostess. I believe they open at 4pm. I'd like to add that I think I saw around four, newish (mostly Latin) restaurants at the different corners of this intersection while trying to find Baku.

*Travel Notes - England: I flew BA to Gatwick for $656. Ok there. One hour plus delay coming back because some douche left a lithium battery in his checked bag. I told you that I could have flown Norse again for $100 plus cheaper. The neverending check in lines once again made me glad I didn't. I got my boarding pass in seconds both times. You have to get an ETA visa. Mine worked. Passport in a machine at Gatwick. That's all. Exchange rate was $1.35. Last year was ten cents better. I'm listing (non-hotel) prices in Pounds. You do the conversion. 

21L train to Victoria Station. Bought a ticket to Eastbourne at a specific time for 16L. 30L otherwise! I'll add here that the machines always screw you with even an off peak anytime ticket. You have to ask a person at the ticket window and hope they aren't dicks who lie and say that is the only option. I found that women were much less lazy about working with you. Walked below Hyde Park (Brompton to Cromwell) west to Kensington. Past Harrod's, the museums and Hitchcock's house. Stayed there for the Queens Club tennis tournament. First night at St James Backpackers in a single room with private bath (Expedia 7.1) for $91. Walked the area (scouted Queen's Club) and over to Holland Park and Kensington Gardens and Notting Hill. Past Ford Madox Ford's house. Tesco (ate almost every meal here or at another market or McD's) for dinner and crashed. Note - don't use "free fee" ATMs like theirs. Horrible conversion rate and fee if you don't have their card. Watched tennis. I'll add here that I mostly chose Expedia for rooms because Booking has a glitch where they list one price and then it changes when you get the confirmation, but, the receipt has the first price. I even brought this to their attention (not easy) and they don't seem to give a fuck. I can't be bothered. Plus their prices were usually worse.

The next day I went back to Queen's Club to get my "app" ticket printed out. Then continued on to Fulham FC's stadium and the Pier on the Thames. Back along the Thames to Hammersmith Bridge. Back east to my new shit room at the Holland Inn (Expedia 5.4) for $193 for two nights. I'll interject here that it was over 90 degrees every day in London. Not much cooler elsewhere. No rain. No ac. They switched me to the second floor on night two. It was more or a sweat box and in worse condition. I walked further north in Notting Hill and back through Holland Park. Watched tennis.

The next day I went to the tennis. I paid $51 for this and the next tournament online with fees before I left. Just grounds access. It was fun. Stayed longer than I thought I would. Cute little set up. I'll add here that I did so much walking in shitty sneakers with a backpack that I was pretty worn out and achy most of the time.

The next day I walked along the south end of Hyde Park past Royal Albert Hall to Victoria Station to Eastbourne. Past the Man with Poles chalk outline in Polegate. Stayed at the Haddon Hall Hotel (Expedia 9.4) for $111 for two nights! I thought I was going to get hosed here because of all the extra tourists. Nope. Went to the tennis center. Had them print out my "app" ticket. I had been here before so I didn't do the Hop on Bus. Walked the esplanade. 

The next day I went to the tournament. Tons of "real" action and players though it was a qualifying round. Stayed all day. 

The next day I bought a 21L ticket to Portsmouth (through Brighton) for cash because they couldn't use the internet to process tickets. Then delays because they killed someone on a track further along. Got into Porstsmouth at around 3pm and walked the rest of the esplanade that I was too tired to do the last time. All the way past the Pier and Marine Museum. Stayed near the Cathedral at the Duke of Buckingham (Expedia 8.0) for $69. I liked this area better than near the train station like last time. 

The next day I bought a ticket to Glouster (Saw a chalk horse on the train near Westbury) for 66L. I was going for Bristol, but, the hotel prices were ridiculous. Turned out well. Cute town. Decided to do another night as well. Stayed at the New Country Inn (Expedia 7.6) on the main street the first night. At the bus station, I got info on getting to some towns in the Cotswald's. Walked to the Cathedral and quays from the canals and River Severn.

The next day I took a 94 bus (3L per direction) to Cheltenham. Cute town. Hotel prices were ridiculous. Another 801 bus to Stow on Wold (I think I saw this on Rick Steves. The better town was probably Burton on the Water. Didn't get off there because I was having trouble contacting the next nightmare of a hotel that was supposed to send a code to get in and never did. I reconned it before the bus and found this out. They claimed someone would be there at 4pm (lie) and the buses only came around every 90 minutes or so. So, I couldn't fit even a short stop in. Finally got the code. Hotel was further south near a park. Distances were close. Turned out to be near a new mall and the quays. Never met an actual human. City Center Guest House (Booking 6.6). It cost $73.

The next day I bought a 18L train ticket to Wolverhampton (from a girl vs a machine that quoted double). I stayed at the Redwings Lodge (Expedia 7.2) near their football stadium on Waterloo for $65. I was here to get to Telford and on to the Ironbridge on River Severn. The Industrial Revolution started there. And they built the first bridge out of iron. When I got to Wolverhampton, it was only noon. So, I bought a RT ticket to Telford for 11L. I screwed up at Telford and didn't get on the 4 bus at the station to Madeley. They talked me into going to City Center (turned out to be a mall) bus station and getting the 8. It gets you closer (right at the Iron Bridge Gorge), but, takes longer and the bus back comes less frequently. I'd do the walk down and up the hill to the 4. Also 3L each direction. I saw the bridge, etc. Got a large pork pie at Eley's. Walked to the blast furnace (up hill) and back and walked up the hill to the 4. Let it take me to the train station. Back to Wolverhampton. Through town. Took pics of the stadium. 

The next day I went to the art museum and walked through the rest of the town. Bought a ticket to Birmingham for 6L. It was close. Saw the sites near the train station. Town Hall, Art Museum, Library, Music Hall, Bull Ring (mall), New St, Cathedral, Council House, etc. Even the bar where Black Sabbath started. I was shocked by how much I liked the city. I had only driven through twice and it seemed like a shit hole. Seems like alot of recent refurbing. I'll be back. Stayed at the Easy Hotel (Expedia 8.0) for $66. They were the only cunts that wouldn't check me in until 3pm. Watched Glastonbury.

The next day I bought another hose job, machine ticket to Reading for 47L. I stayed here because it was a Saturday and London prices were crazy. Plus I had wanted to see the racetrack at Ascot or see Henley on the Thames again and that seemed doable from there. I settled on Ascot. The famous races (Royal Ascot) had just finished the weekend before. None on that day. RT ticket cost 7L. Half hour ride. Two minute walk. Took me about 90 minutes. FYI - there is a local bus to Henley. I stayed at a worse Easy Hotel (Expedia 7.6) on the south side of the station near the Thames. There was a cute park path along it. Kind of hidden. Too tired to walk it. Watched Glastonbury.

The next day I walked though town. Reading Minster, Broad St, Town Hall, Park, Abbey Ruins. Henry I is buried there. Hose job 28L train to London. Only Paddington or Waterloo. I did Paddington and walked through Hyde Park to near Victoria Station and the Z Hotel Victoria (Expedia 6.4) for $100. It was $260 the next night! Had tv and then midnight sewer pipe issues. Had to demand room move. You hear the subway cars too! Bought a fixed time ticket to Eastbourne again for 16L. Bought a ticket to Sunday matinee of Wicked for 46L. Saw that for the first time. Can't stop singing the phrase - "unadulterated loathing". Watched Glastonbury finale. 

The next day I walked to Buckingham Palace. Train to Eastbourne. Stayed at the less nice and more expensive Eastbourne Riviera Hotel (Expedia 8.2) on the other side of the pier. Walked down the shore to the east for a few miles for the first time. Watched Wimbledon.

The next day took a 10am train to Gatwick for 21L. Took an hour. Flew home. Their xray machines were all screwed up. Every bag was getting flagged. Sailed through our end.

Another good trip. Two tennis tournaments, a few remote obscurish sites, a new city, a musical, a few new towns and stadiums, a famous race track, two shots at London. Spent 260L ($350) in cash - including one train ($27) and all the buses ($27). Mostly food and wine. $1016 in hotels. 277L ($373) in trains. $156 in rental cars instead of parking at airport. $51 in sports tickets. $62 in theater tickets. $26 for ETA. $2690 in Total. Drank wine every night. Typical dinner of antipasti and dips. Tried a feta dip. Much tzatziki. Had some vegetables. Minimal digestive emergencies. Lots of gas. Saw hot dog flavored chips. One interesting shop of Asian food at Victoria Station - Oseyo. Tip - take the escalator up a level. Better food court with ac. Tried to budget the hotels and meals. Going before July 4th may be better. Didn't see many foreigners outside of London. ETA visa may be to blame. Watched many popular "tv" episodes of shows like Andor on the plane. And Wicked. 

Grub Crawl -- Winter Park: Imperial and Jala

I tried these spots today at lunch. The first is about halfway up Park Ave. The second is a touch further on Morse in a space that was last Bridge something. Next to Luca Turci. I was here to compare a chaufa or other $20 lunch special at the rebranded Ceviche with some fried rice I had at another spot the night before. They wouldn't seat me earlier than noon, so, I told them to sit and spin and tried these.

Imperial on Park - This was their second day of serving lunch. I had the pressed duck and brie sandwich that was inspired by the one at Dexter's. It wasn't as good. The duck had little taste. Not that much of a serving. Shredded vs pieces. Ok brie. Grilled onions. Some kind of aoili. Average roll (dry). Insipid, undressed, limp, old, ignored side salad. It cost $19. Way too dear. Leaves you hungry. The menu is equally dull. I recall salmon (ehh) tacos and on a salad. A burger. Around a dozen forgetable items. The place looks like an Imperial. They all are as similar as an Applebee's at this point. Not bad. Just the same. Shabby chic. Bar on the right. Two televisions. Twelve tables. Maybe a back room. Some patio seats. One (good) waitress and a barkeep. Two other tables seated.

Jala Indian Fine Dining - I was their first. They just opened that minute. From Tampa. Means "water" in Sanskrit. Indian. Duh. I grabbed an order of chicken tikka masala to go for $20. Mostly because I have been waiting to slip in that tikka means "pieces" according to someone I listened to on tv. I thought it described the sauce. It was ok. A bit sweet. And it had peppers. Also onions. Medium heat was not hot at all. A good amount of dark meat chicken. The basmati rice was prepared properly. Came out quick. The menu is large. The categories are: Veg starters, non-veg starters, soups, kids, sides, chicken, seafood, tandoor, lamb, goat, biryani, naan, 24k collection, desserts, drinks, cocktails and beer. They give you a free beer, champagne, etc with a meal. Expect $20 to be the low water mark. Up to $55. They re-purposed (why they are up and running in a month) some of the old layout. Made it better though. Lounge-y vibe. Twelve tables. Big, cushion wall on the left. Earth tones. Bar on the right. Narrow floor plan. Four waitresses. Open at 11am. Seven days. I wasn't planning on going here. Just saw it looking for parking. Glad I did. I wish I had eaten here and had Imperial as the take away.