Travel Notes - Alabama Louisiana Florida

Travel Notes - Alabama Louisiana Florida: I rented a car for a week from Hertz for $15. I used points because it would have cost $473. I had to do this because the nimrods at Sanford Paint and Body didn't finish my repairs in time. That will be a Tutorial. I stayed here the first day. I drove to Gainesville and had a lunch TMNT sandwich at The Paper Bag Deli DT (3D) for $14. The whole town is metered parking. I continued on to West Pensacola and stayed at the poor Country Inn West (Booking 8.2) for $71. Walmart Cobb Salads dinner.

The next day I stopped in Mobile. Grabbed an ok Spanish SOS Squid to go at Squid Ink (Travels with Darley) for $18. Saw a newish food court called Parc le Tralour. They are dicks about meters too. Drove around and found a closed Hummingbird Oyster Bar (3D). They were setting up for Mardi Gras parades. I found free parking at the Blind Mule (Chow Down Countdown #75) back DT. Got the $21 chili cb with fries to go. Drove to 12W and the North Shore at Covington. Stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn (Expedia 8.6) for $101. Drove at Abita Brewing in Abita Springs. BK dinner. I saw Covington and Abita Springs on Samantha Brown's Places to Love. They are on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain.

The next day I drove through DT Covington. Saw the Southern Hotel, etc. Cute town. Drove 190S to the lake in Mandeville. 22W to 55S/51S to Akers/Manchac. Had a thin fried catfish plate with hp and ff at Middendorf's (Food Paradise and Good Eats) for $23. Down to 10E to 610E. Exited on the Canal St exit. Went to City Park for the first time. Went to NOMA and Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Maybe the best things in NO. Garden is free. Drove around the park. Tad Gormley Stadium (mostly UNO track), Botanical Garden, City Putt, Carousel Gardens Amusement Park. They even have a Cafe du Monde here. Down Orleans. Grabbed a cochon de lait (pulled pork with cole slaw) at Katies's (3D) for $18. It turned out to be on the same block as that Liuzza's place I went to a few trips back. Down Bienville a few blocks to a real surprise - Neyow's Creole Cafe (I forget the show). I was getting "you mind if we dance wif your dates" vibes, but, they delivered excellent fried chicken, carrot souffle and mac and cheese for $18. The souffle was a first. Like pumpkin pie filling. They made the mac with thin/short vermicelli or something. A first too. I went east a block or two to the Parkway Bakery (Samantha Brown's Places to Love). Grabbed an alligator sausage po boy to go for $11. This was a cool spot. Had parking. I should state here that I ate the cochon and po boy the next day. Both were good. To the Garden District and the Marsh Hotel (Expedia 9.2) for $95. They lied about the parking. I got a spot because I showed up exactly at 4pm, but, there were only two spots. They also didn't give me a great room. I should state here that almost every location except those in FL wanted exorbitant rates for the weekend. Think $400+.

The next day I drove through Pensacola to 90E to Santa Rosa Beach FL. Stayed at the brand new Tru by Hilton (Expedia 9.6) for $88. Had a free wine tasting at Emerald Coast Wine Cellars at Miramar Beach. They are part of that Chautauqua Winery in Defuniak Springs. Let's put it this way - all wines were non vintage. Grabbed an overpriced, un-pressed or impressive Cuban with potato wedges at Stinky's Fish Camp on 30A for $22. 

The next day I stopped for a $15 bagel with smoked salmon, cc, capers, pickled onions and tomato at Coastal Coffee & Cafe. Drove 30A (a jjoy) to 90E. Stopped at St Joe's Shrimp at Hunt's on St Joe Bay in Cape San Blas for llb of steamed white shrimp for $22. They said it was caught there. Said the moratorium on oyster harvesting is lifting in March and some is allowed now. Stopped at Leon Sinks Geological Area in Crawfordville (open this time). North to Tallahassee to Railroad Square. I can't believe I had never been to this cool little area before. Had an ok curry chicken and an ok chickpea empanada at Pineappetit (3D) for $12. They are known for filled, carved out pineapples. That wouldn't travel well. Saw the basketball arena (Donald L Tucker Civic Center). Almost went to a game. Drove on to Orlando. 

Spent $355 on hotels. $244 on food/etc. $116 on gas. Total = $730. I think the last time I did this route was right as DeSantis ordered us home for Covid.

Grub Crawl - Epic Universe and Florida Mall Areas: Half Barrel, Pho Sky Blossom, Gozumba, Turull's and Mazala Pijja

I tried these spots Sunday at lunch. The first is on Universal Blvd in a strip mall. The second is in a strip mall at the northwest corner at Sand Lake and OBT. The third is in the strip mall on the northeast corner of that intersection. The fourth is in a strip mall one block east of that on Sand Lake. The last is in a strip mall south of that on Doss Ave that I believe is called Lakshmi.

Half Barrel Beer Project - They said they have been there for nine years. I believe this is the last brewery that has escaped me in CF. I had two 5ozers that seemed like less than that at $3.50 a piece. A nice hibiscus one and an ok Mexican lager. Small place. Only four of their own brews. Some food. New looking. Tvs. This whole area is pristine. Brand spanking new.

Pho Sky Blossom - I had the chicken pho at $17 after they said they couldn't do a crab and tomato one. It was fine. Lots of breast meat that I wish they wouldn't tear length wise. Nor add older batches to the fresh ones. Noodles seemed store bought. They couldn't bother to separate them. Like a brick. All stuck together. Typical menu and prices. The place is black and pink and gray. Cherry blossom tree in front of four tvs patched together to make one huge one showing a tourism video for Vietnam. Stage. Wicker lamp shades. Two metal ones. Some stone accents. Gray stuffed cushion back chairs. A half wall topped with feathers. Kitchen behind that. A mini L shape layout. Four blue cushioned seat tables and a bar in the front. Eight tables for six or more on the spine of the L. Two servers. Dressed in black. About half full. Took a bit long to ladle soup. An ok experience on a cold afternoon. I will take issue with the sriracha et al they presented me. All half full and dirty. A bad look.

Gozumba - Walked in and out. Some kind of trash nightclub. Was frisked going in. Can't imagine eating there. 

Turull's Kitchen & Bar - I like tapas. I don't like paying people astronomical mark ups to put them on a plate for me. As such, I grabbed the cheapest thing to go. $7 tortilla de patata (1 piece). Now I'm unsure if they sliced one piece into three tiny ones or they made a mistake or this is how they count in Spain, but, I received three tinies. Side of garlic mayo. Ok. Not sure if they made it. The menu has bites like croquetas and empanadas at $13. Calamares, gambas, pulpo in the twenties. Sausage, soup, tostones, etc. Mains like Carnes in the forties. Seafood in the thirties. Paellas in the forties. I didn't see portion sizes. Only two tables eating. Five desserts. Gray, white, red and black. Counter on the left. Tiny glass wine closet at the entrance. Mostly filled with Lan. Light bulb tipped tree. Bottle of wine mural. Blue and white checker board backed chairs. Wood tables. Open kitchen in the rear. Around a dozen tables and seats at the counter. Seemed estrogen fueled. I'm sure it's good. I just don't have that USAID, Somali day care or South American despot money. Nor a stolen credit card. Their in house video had images of Mallorca on it. Not sure if the food takes on this character. I thought they were newish, but, their sign read 2023. I believe they are closed on Monday.

Mazala Pijja - I assumed this would be as pointless as the five other previous places here that I have been forced to endure. I am a big whatever is the opposite of a fan of Indian pizza (or most fusion). It just has too much of its own character to blend. Plus all these suckers were around $20 for a 12" pijja shit. The meatballs on some people. Needless to say there wasn't one person in there eating. Needless to say I chose a $5 mango lassi to go. They rang up a $6 chai. Jokes on me. I dropped it on the ground. Maybe Ganesh was protecting me from pee-ja? I had a sip. It was fine. To my dismay, I later saw a separate more reasonable Holiday Menu that had actual Indian dishes at acceptable price points. IE - Chicken 65 or chili for $14. Probably hose you on the rice. I guess the pizza menu didn't get it done on its own. It's run by the Saffron Hospitality Group. Small. About eight tables. I think it was white and blue. Only a cook was there.

*Whomever is in charge of the traffic lights around Epic Universe and Sand Lake from I4 to John Young is a complete moron.