Grub Crawl - South OBT: Bombay Grill and Junior Columbian

I went to these places on South OBT today. Why am I doing this "week of crawls"?

Bombay Grill - This was in the Bombay Market and was supposed to be good. Ehh. Now it's a few hundred meters south in its own spot near the a billboard for salt water fish. It's halal. That can mean fresh or it can mean that the food is to food what their fashion is to fashion. In this case, I'm nor sold on the fresh argument. I had a chicken boti kabob for $8. Boti is cubes. There were four, big cubes on two wooden skewers and a whisper of onion or pepper in between. The chicken didn't seem marinated. The peppers (I hope) gave it a mouldy flavor. The hot pepper spice it was dusted with had no flavor just heat. It came with Naan or rice or french fries. I had Naan. I ate it like a sandwich. It also came with a salad with no dressing that I didn't eat. If you look at it like it was two chicken pitas for $8 then it makes sense. If you say "for a dollar or so more I could go to an all you can eat Indian buffet almost anywhere" then it doesn't. The food took every second of the 15 minute wait time espoused. That means it was probably fresh (only person there) or it was a hell of a long wait to be let down. Maybe their other stuff is better. They had burgers, gyros, seafood, lamb, beef, etc in sauces. The place seats about twenty. It's more of a take out place. The decor is horrendous. It wasn't that clean. You can skip it.

Junior Columbian - These guys had one of the first food trucks in town. It was near Universal. I never found it or the brick and mortar store they replaced it with. I finally went into this branch near Central Florida Parkway today. I didn't know they were the same people. I ordered a single cheese burger. It comes with everything including potato chips. Very rich and fattening. You have to say plain if you want that. But, what's the point of having a Colombian burger if you do that. It was fine. I'm used to them now. The burger is always a little Euro. That means you can just tell it's not American. The kind you get when traveling. It cost $6. I also sampled a dish called "salchipapa" for $5. It was just cut up hot dogs and baby potatoes. You can skip that. They have odd things like "maicitos" and not so odd like empanadas and churros. They now have four locations - Universal, UCF, this palce and Lee Vist Blvd. It seats about fifty in what looks like a New York themed diner. Good value.

Smiling Bison, 50 (Moved to Sanford)

I grabbed a snack here (just under the wire -2 pm) during their new lunch hours. I had a chicken fried chicken sausage for $11 because I was already full and the kitchen was closing. I had a nice chat with the staff and management while I waited. I tried a bite in the car so I could judge it at its best. I would have downed the whole thing, but, I restrained myself (or my waist band/abs did). It was great. I have to confess that any fried chicken sandwich gets me because that was the best thing they served at boarding school. They opened up a grill my senior year (to squeeze more money out of us) and the fried chicken sandwich was unforgettable. Mostly because it wasn't Shepard's Pie or some other slop that the townie cooks or our own under-formers didn't jizz into or put wasps or condoms in. You knew it was frozen safe and then fried to a point that would eviscerate any evil intention. So, I have a love for fried chicken because of that. Their chicken sausage seemed freshly ground and cased. The bun was large and buttered. They added mayo and pickles and lettuce or cabbage. The only problem was the sticker shock. I know it was a sausage and not a dog, but, that extra TLC may not deserve the mark up. $9 maybe. And I think therein lies the problem. They serve mainly food truck type items (more extensive stuff for dinner). I think they are going to find that the average customer isn't going to get their raison d'etre and will be doubly scared by the ambitious menu and the prices. They will get foodies and hipsters. For some reason alot of these non-corporate types seem to have unlimited access to cash for these extravagances and weed. The closer to the poverty line people are, the less they seem to bitch about prices. I'm not sure if it is a lack of financial acumen or trying to peacock or an accessible indulgence or a nihilistic acceptance that they world is going to shit on them, but, they pay to play. I just hope for these guys that there are enough of them to keep the poutine train moving. Most things were funkified snacks - poutine, terrine, sausages, burgers (I'm drawing a blank). It's a place that smacks of a chef with carte blanche. I'm sure it's only the freshest ingredients from the best places. I'm sure it's all made from scratch. I'm sure it's made daily. That's great. Just remember that that may be overkill for the level of food that is on the menu. It's like obsessing over a water color. It may be energy/talent directed at the wrong medium. Re-inventing pub food was clever about five years ago. Now it has lost the whimsy that made you pay an extra 50% for a plate. Now it has a past. A past that at best allows the customer to compare it to a library of memories or at worst bores them. In any case, I think the chef has talent and their heart is in the right place. I just think that the category may have jumped the shark for me and especially at $11. The place is across from The Roxy on Bennett (across from the small airport on 50). It seats about sixty. It's the old Redlight Redlight building. It was clean. They serve beer and wine (specialized). The last call wings are supposed to be Buffalo, NY good.

Grub Crawl - College Park: Ragazzi's and Hubbly Bubbly (Closed)

I ate lunch at these spots on Edgewater Dr yesterday.

Ragazzi's Pizza - I just grabbed a slice here because I wanted to multi-grasp. I ate here when it was Alfonso's years ago. The slice was large and everything a pizza at this price point should be. It's a traditional American pizza parlor slice. Thin. Buttery sweet crust (might have been better than the center). No boils. Cooked through. No gimmicks. It  also cost just a tad over $2. Good job. The place serves panini, subs, pasta, calzones, stromboli, salads and some American bar apps. Prices are reasonable. It seats about sixty. It's clean. They have a bar adjacent. The service was quick and polite.

Hubbly Bubbly Falafel Shop - This was the main act. I just read about them in the Orlando Weekly the day before. It employs a Chipotle operational model. They have about three items three ways if you had to generalize. You choose a falafel or lamb/beef or chicken base and then make it a salad, a hummus bowl or pocket sandwich. I chose falafel because they looked so tiny and cute. They fried them fresh in front of me. It took a few seconds. Then I had it their way (Georgie's I think). They added a salad blend, pickles, radish, tzatziki, hummus and maybe tahini or garlic sauce or both (I wasn't watching). It cost $6. It tasted great. They also have "mazel tots", and baklava fingers or you can get falafel balls or pita and hummus as sides. They serve beer. They try to make everything on the premises. They seem to give a damn in a way that many higher priced and self important places could take a lesson from. This place is eminently franchise-able and I was pleased to hear that they planned on branching out. It has a modern, minimalist industrial look. It seats about twenty inside. They have a large patio area. It was full. The crowd was very representative. It's in the spot where a barbeque place used to be at the end of town. Parking is a little bit tight. Solid entry. I think they opened a few months ago. I think everything cost in the single digits. The name has something to do with hookahs.

Grub Crawl - Chinatown: Sapporo Ramen (Closed) and Chinese Cuisine

For those who don't know, Chinatown is a small strip mall on west Colonial (50) that houses the Oriental Market. I ate here today.

Sapporo Ramen - I think the fat lady at the Sentinel turned me on to them.They just opened recently. It's a little noodle restaurant. I have to admit that I've never become a devotee to this branch of Japanese cuisine. Maybe it is the association with Top Ramen or Oodles of Noodles, but, I just don't get shelling out $10 for soup. No matter what they top it with or how great the noodle is supposed to be. I remember a girlfriend dragging me to the first trendy import in Soho and my anger that there was no sushi and the noodles cost $50. I'm not sure, but, I think this is the first or one of the few to try its luck in Central Florida. I had (I forget the name, but, it meant fox) a Udon (large noodle) bowl with a fried tofu "blanket" and onions, carrots, mushrooms, scallions and baby bok choy for $9. It was predictable. A slightly too sweet broth and fresh vegetables. They have about three Udon bowls and three Soba bowls and some rice platters. Some rolls too. All are about the same price. Rolls are $5. The place seats about thirty. It was pretty full of a mixed crowd. You order at the register and they bring a bowl. The place is new. They have a black ink mural along the top of the walls (too high) and some interesting wall sconces of people done in similar ink. The beer signs and busy glass window kind of clash with the rest. It's perfectly respectable. Just not my addiction.

Chinese Cuisine - I saw they had dim sum when I went into Sapporo (next to it) so I ditched my scheduled stop for take out dinner and tried a few dishes to go. All, but, the last didn't survive the trip. I started with your regular shrimp dumplings for $2.75. Not bad. Full of shrimp fused together with some binder. The dumpling fell apart. Then I had what was supposed to be a crab meat and shark fin dumpling, but, was a pork and mushroom and shark fin dumpling. I would have chosen that if I had a choice anyway. It was the best. It only cost $2. Very big portion. All the dumplings came in groups of four. I held off on the steamed ribs with black beans sauce for $2. A fair amount of pork even after you accounted for the bones. The sauce was the first clear black bean sauce I've had to my imperfect memory. Not bad. They took every minute of the fifteen they quoted to deliver the meal, so, I guess it was fresh. The place is old school Chinese. Spartan decoration and little care to aesthetics. It seats around eighty. It was pretty empty at 1:30. Chinese crowd. The menu is funky. Fish heads, offal, jellyfish, frog, glue pudding, fish stomach. You get the picture. However, they do have a lot of non-American Chinese food that you should be ok with and you should be eating instead of the aforementioned. Most dishes barely touch the teens in price. Include this place in your culinary evolution/education. And you don't have that many choices for authentic dim sum (and then some) anyway.

Sunny Breeze Cafe, Sanford - Closed

I bought some snacks for dinner at this cafe on 17-92 and Lake Mary Blvd yesterday. It was a sandwich place that was called something like Fire Station until recently. They pretty much scrapped the theme and added a Latin section to the menu. I can't remember if I liked the old menu. I'd guess it has stayed the same. Don't be scared that the "American" side will now suffer. Most of the staff is still American. That said, I only ordered from the new items. I had a tamale with chicken and potatoes, a soft chicken taco they call a taquito and a pupusa with shredded pork and cheese. All were $2. Talk about value! The tamale was in a banana leaf and was big. The tamale was light and moist. The chicken was a little dry and salty. The taquito was filled high with diced chicken and just some diced onion on top. Traditional. The pupusa was the best. I'd exchange the store bought, shredded cheddar for something less American, but, the chicken was less salty here and the "sopa" (I know that's Mexican but I don't know its real name) was moist. The dishes have an El Salvadoran character. The cook who does these meals is from there. The area totally needed a non-Americanized Mexican/Central American, cheap joint. Now it has one. Two dollar snacks? How can you go wrong? If they were anywhere near eatable, they would have filled a void. They do better than that.

Hamilton's, Winter Park

I think they call this place a "country kitchen". It's in the new Alfond Inn across from Rollins. I had lunch there yesterday.I think they opened in the Fall. I had a Yellowtail Snapper over Chorizo Hash for $16. It was almost sublime. The snapper was a little mushy. I would guess that it was the last of the previous week's delivery. It was pan fried to a point that almost crisped up all the skin. It was probably "spoon" poached (oil ladled over the fish). The "hash" was an extrapolation on the common diced version. It was potato wedges with cubes of chorizo. Very good. They also dressed it with some baby arugula and blue watercress. I ate it every which way. It was the best when you had a piece of all the components. Someone took the care to think this dish out. I don't love mushy fish with mushy potatoes usually, however, it didn't fail. This hash could go with alot of creatures. The chorizo worked especially well to spice up the blandness of the fish and potatoes and add a tough element to the tender fish. You'll see in this review that I pay alot more attention to the meal. That's always a sign that the food was above average. They have a small menu for breakfast and lunch. About three apps and entrees. $16 was the high water mark. The dinner menu is more extensive, but, it is pretty much twice the price. I think $30 was the low water mark. And I think that was for chicken breast. I hope they can deliver at that expectation level. They had a diversified menu for dinner - one dish of about eight types of critter. The place is big, has a patio and is decorated like a mix of Restoration Hardware and a farmhouse. They mix and match the chairs. How rebellious.The tables are wood. It seats around eighty inside. Maybe forty outside. And there is a private dining area. The biggest work station is hidden from the diners behind a half wall. There is one area near the kitchen that isn't hidden. They have a viewable kitchen. I was a little nervous that it would be a let down, but, I think they surpassed expectations. I'll probably stick to lunches because I'm cheap, but, if you are a Winter Park swell or a Rollins student's parent (or simple scion with their charge card) who has the veneer of respectability then this may be right up your alley.

Brown's New York Deli, Maitland - Closed

I ate breakfast at this "New York Deli" in that little strip mall that houses Copper Rocket at N. Orange yesterday. I had their Challah French Toast for $7. It was fine. I like it a little more "soaked", but, at least it wasn't a crust with dry bread inside. The slices (3) were thick. The place is true Kosher. No dairy or pork. They have been serving breakfast recently after a summer opening. They serve the usual suspects during the day - tongue, brisket, chopped liver, liverwurst, pastrami, corned beef, et al along with non-Yiddish staples like turkey, meat loaf, roast beef, salami, etc. They also have knishes, stuffed cabbage, latkes, bobkas, matzoh ball soup. You get the picture. They even have hot dogs, burgers, salads, and other "regular" food. They follow the usual NY model of higher prices for larger volumes. Personally, I would prefer a model that doesn't simultaneously stretch my budget and waistline, but, at least it isn't high prices and small portions. Sandwiches hover around $10, but, come with fries or potato salad. Hot dogs are $6 (same sides). Burgers are $10+ and I'm nor sure if they come with anything. Get the idea? The place needs a little age to evoke the tradition of the NYC deli's they have on the wall. It feels more like a cafe than a deli. The place seats about 80. There were eight people there for breakfast. The service was great and friendly. I had three unsolicited refills in ten minutes. They even gave me a newspaper to occupy my time. If I were to prognosticate, I'd trust them to deliver on the other selections. It has to be one of the safer options for this kind of food in Central Florida.

iPho Noodle House, Lake Mary

Ok. Here's the real reason I'm catching up on my posts. I think the "i" is for Immodium. I had a Curry Chicken Hot Pot to go for $10 from this new Vietnamese restaurant next to Bagel King on Lake Mary Blvd. If Cress might have served the best curry I've ever had then this is what balances out the Universe ala Mr. Glass. I'm not exaggerating when I say that 90% of the chicken was bone. CARCASSES! The worst pieces on the (bird?). A character on Criminal Minds last night was served some gruel by his captive. I think I would have traded. It gave me stomach and bowel discomfort. The curry broth was sweet (no heat). Horrible. The potatoes (only accompaniment) weren't cooked through. The rice must have used it's cooking time. Mush. Thank God there is a real Vietnamese restaurant on 46 so I don't have to give then a second chance. I think they are cheaper anyway. I had never seen a curry on a Vietnamese restaurant before and I hope I never do again. It's sad because the place looks cute and seemed to be getting some attention. It just opened a few weeks ago. They have a beautiful hand painted mural on one wall. The place is tiny. It seats about twenty. The menu is mostly hot pots and noodle soups. Hopefully, disappointing restaurants also come in threes. I give this place - the finger. Pho-get about this place.

Bagel King, Lake Mary

I had a Juicy Corned Beef sandwich at this new deli in the strip mall that has Tijuana Flats. It was $9. It came with a side. I tried a potato knish. The corned beef wasn't juicy. I was actually quite dry. They wanted to cover it with thousand island dressing. Not traditional. They did cut the beef thin, so, it seemed tender. It might not be if cut thicker. It had alot of fat to it. That helps or hurts depending on your preference. The rye was cut thick and was good. I didn't refuse the provolone they paired with it. Once again, not traditional. The knish (a mini) wasn't good. The potatoes were grey and tasteless. The crust was too thick. They have two other branches around town. I don't remember anything special out of them. I have been wishing for a traditional deli to compete with Too Jay's. I guess this will do if that Water Bagel place is a dud. Now the question is whether their wider selection (breakfast, bagels, desserts, egg salad, matzoh ball soup, etc) will have me eschewing the hippy funkiness at That Deli and the long lines and high prices at Too Jay's. This place has two rooms and seats about eighty. They have booths. There were about ten people there at lunch. It's decorated like the home decorating section of Wal-Mart. I'm not sure what to make of it. I want something more traditional. I'll wait on the Water Bagel place.

Red Robin, Sanford

I had lunch at this mid-market chain next to Cheddar's on Rinehart yesterday. I have to begin with a reminder that I don't like these kinds of places. They don't have the efficiency of a fast food chain and they don't have the quality of a mom and pop. I understand that they began in the Northwest and I saw a sign on the highway in Virginia recently for it. They are new to Florida. This may be the first branch. I had a Tavern Double Burger for $7 ($10 with tip) because all the premium burgers were $10+ and I didn't trust them to deliver at that price point. They give you a choice of buns. I chose corn meal from a selection that included ciabatta, sesame, etc. I couldn't eat the top bun because it was smeared with their house sauce. I asked for ketchup. The bottom bun was also smeared, but, I scraped that off. I also discarded the lettuce and tomato because the lettuce was smeared and the tomatoes looked wilted. The burger meat was meatloaf-y. I think they cut it with alot of binder. There were two patties to the serving. They covered them with a lot of cheese. I think burgers are there bread and butter, so, I'd recommend a place like Burger Fi (although I find them over rated) over them. They are cheaper too. They evened up the value proposition by including steak fries. They were ok. A little thin and spongy. They did mention a fry refill. I abstained. I'm not sure if they always inform the diner of this service. I would high light it more on the menu if it was my restaurant. The whole meal came in a spiral basket that made anything but hand to mouth an impossibility. I've already spent more time than I wished to writing about the place. It's like Applebee's or TGIF. I think these place rip off yokels. It makes me sad to eat at place like this because it reminds me that I live in a backwater. However, most of my fellow diners seemed pleased as punch. The place opened a few weeks ago and it's always full. The place looks nice. They are trying to trick you into thinking it's a hip place to be. The biggest obstacle is their boring, unevocative name and the font they use. The menu is blase. I think I spied chicken and fish sandwiches as other options. They have the usual apps and salads. They have some ludicrous thing called a beer milkshake. Drinks are more expensive than say at Stonewood. A glass of Washington State White was close to $8. They seem to try and finagle an extra 50 cents out of every item. They don't list beer or soda prices. You can just smell the corporate nickel and diming in every aspect of the place. The management is very nice and involved. They are trying. The wait staff is mostly teenage girls. It makes me sad that they aren't in school (see backwater quote). It's not a place for me, but, I suspect they will be very successful despite everything I just stated.

Grub Crawl - Audubon Park: East End Market - La Brexta (Closed), Olde Hearth Bread Co, Fatto In Casa, La Femme du Fromage, Local Roots And Houndstooth Sauce Co

 I ate at these stalls in the new food market on Corrine Dr last Thursday afternoon. I tried all but one of those dumb tea bars and a dumber juice bar. People who go to these are more profligate than Starbuck's douches. I bet they complain their wages are too low and taxes too high.

La Brexta - A Basque (northeastern Spain) seafood market that sells a few dishes. They are run by Txokos - a restaurant in the complex that was doing a training session that day. I had a good Mahi Mahi Ceviche cup for $7. They gave you a lot of fish in a non-corrosive marinade. It was made the night before. *now an omakase Japanese stall called Kappo.

Olde Hearth Bread Co. - I had a fairly good (a little sweet) pretzel for $2 and a good raspberry jam Danish for $1.50. They bake fresh bread.

Fatto In Casa - This stall had the most options for lunch. I bought the mini sausage quiches (3) for $3. They came in little cups that I think were pre-bought or made. They tasted old. The prices here were lowest. Mostly Italian stuff.

La Femme du Fromage - I had an order of ham and swiss sliders for $6. They (2) were pretty good. They pressed them. The cheese was pretty mild. They sell cheese.

Local Roots - This is a Florida only market and bar. I had a beer for $4.

Houndstooth Sauce Company - I bought a chicken salad in white bbq sauce for $5. It was great. Good combo. I'm not sure if they make it. The label said HT Chicken Salad. That makes me believe it's out sourced and they put HT to denote the customer. They serve sandwiches, etc.

That's basically what they have in this market.

Cress, Deland

I stopped by here last Wednesday night on a lark because I found a parking space right in front of it. Before I left on a trip, I called in and the recording said no reservations until March 6th. I thought I'd try anyway. I begged for some take out (I can never make thing work to get in here) and they did me one better. They found me a table. Even in my scruffy, end of a road trip, condition. They started me with an amuse bouche of some kind of vegetable pate. It was fine. I was going to go escargot and gnocchi with pork cheeks because that damn Bellini's pizza already filled me up. Then I remembered the head chef is Indian, so, I had to try his Panang (they spell it Phanaeng) Curry. I associate it with Thai food, but, he called it a curry so I figured it may be Indian too. It was unbelievable. Maybe the best I've ever had. It (the sauce) was coconut milk with tomatoes and hot peppers. I had the fish (Cobia) as the protein. It was thick and buttery. Two big pieces. It also had zucchini, squash, peppers, potatoes, fried basil, garlic, and other goodies in it. It came with a piece of Papadam on top. Wonderful plating (bowling). It came with a type of basmati rice that was of a shorter grain than I had seen before (another piece of Papadam on top) and some Naan triangles. I didn't love them. They westernized them herbs and oil. I would also question if they were baked in a Tandoor. It cost $17. That totally filled me up. I couldn't even finish the rice. However, I had ordered the gnocchi too. I got that to go. I had a taste before bed and the rest for breakfast. I was going to save it for dinner, but, my stomach said "no can do's-ville baby doll" and it was polished off expeditiously. The gnocchi were exquisite. It's not often you can have the starch outshine the pork. The pork was no slouch itself. Big pieces of delicate cheek meat. The gnocchi were made of potato and herbs and melted in the mouth. It even survived the microwave. The sugo/sauce was more tomato-y than I'm used to. A nice kick. I associate sugos more with a meat base. Who cares. It was awesome. The ricotta was also superior. The place isn't uptight. It's kind of shabby chic. It seats about forty. It was full-ish. They did find room for a few stragglers. No one was too dressed up. It seemed like a lot of locals. Older locals. This place is definitely one of the top ten restaurants in Central Florida. I believe the head chef won a James Beard award in '11 and last year. I think he is actually in the kitchen. He's also not the only competent chef at work. I think he has an respected sous chef and I think the wife is involved some how. They have a nice wine and beer menu too. Everything is well thought out and distinctive. They don't beat you over the head with their bona fides. They don't brag about saving the world through their "process". They just deliver. Most worthy of a visit. A destination spot.

Bellini's, DeLand

I ate at this Italian Deli and Restaurant on Rich Ave on Wednesday night. I had a slice of pizza for $1.50 and a capicola sandwich with cheese for $5. Despite the low prices (and consequently low expectations), both were pretty bad. The pizza was a "short" slice. It was over-cheesed and the dough was more like a pastry dough than a pizza dough. Too sweet and flaky. I think they add butter. The capicola tasted like the stuff in those 79 cent packs. They didn't give you much of it either (thankfully). The cheese was again over abundant and bland. The bun was atrocious. It was like a sweet roll. I think the locals like this place. It's the sort of place that they would. It's what white people think Italian food should taste like. They had articles about the original owners on the wall. I think they were Italian. Either they changed for the public or whatever knowledge they had wasn't passed down. It's a shame because the people were nice and the prices were cheap. They have a full menu and you can eat there. It has two tables up front and some more in the back. It's not very pleasing to the eyes. A real joint. I'd avoid it.

Grub Crawl - UCF: Sus Hi Eat Station, Tenders and Taipei 101 (Closed)

I ate dinner at these places around UCF at the end of last month. They are all off Alafaya Trail.

Sus Hi Eat Station - I believe it opened (recently) as Sushi Ninja. It's a Subway sandwich shop for sushi, bowls or wraps. I had a Salmon Roll for $6. The rice was good. Better than most non-assembly line options. The salmon wasn't bad either. They wrap it in Nori and let you stuff it with a variety of items. I just went with avocado. You can also top it with a host of other things like fresh fruit. I abstained. They cut it into thin slices. The place is modern. The walls are murals or cartoon characters. They serve liquor. It seats about thirty. There were around twelve people there while I ate. It's very conducive to take out. It's in a strip mall that has two UCF bars - The Station and I forget the other. Acceptable.

Tenders - A chicken-centric endeavor that I think they said was born in Gainesville. I had a chicken sandwich for $5. It was their popcorn chicken on a roll. You trade a strip for the bun at this price point if you go for the sandwich versus the popcorn chicken. It was better than the chain competition. The place seats about twenty. It was full. The clientele provided a sad testament to certain group dynamics. It seemed that every male of a certain demographic was being treated by his girlfriend. Didn't even offer to chip in. They have alot of special days. A fine fast food alternative. Nothing fancy. It's in the same strip mall as Sus Hi.

Taipei 101 - I saw this place on the way back. It's a few blocks closer to Oviedo on Alafaya. It's in a strip mall with a pizza place and (I think) a hookah place. I had to stop because you don't see many Taiwanese places around. It was worth the pit stop. I had Bawan for $3. It was an uber-dumpling they call a jelly ball. It was a special. The clear noodle like dough was thick and very gelatinous. It was tough and chewy. Inside was hearts of palm, beef and mushrooms. It was topped with a ginger, soy, hot pepper paste, and garlic dressing. Plus something sweet. It was utterly fascinating. I also had Lu Eggs for $2. It was two hard boiled eggs that they then roasted and topped with meat bits and sesame oil. It was average. I ended with a pig blood cake for $4. It was black skewers (2) eight inches long of rice (maybe sesame seeds) combined with pig's blood and formed into a rectangle. The sauce was spicy with sesame oil, scallions, and peanuts added. It was interesting. They have all these kinds of traditional meals. You can see how affordable they are. If you have an adventurous streak then I suggest you find it. If not, I think you'll find Taiwanese food less greasy than Chinese. It's more like Vietnamese food. I'm sure you can find something something that comports with what you expect from Chinese food. The people are lovely and Taiwanese. The place is small. It seats about twenty. It's clean. Very white (in color not ethnicity). The crowd seemed Taiwanese.

Chavo, Lake Mary - Closed

I tried to have dinner at this new Mexican restaurant in the strip mall that has Moe's tonight. They were too full of themselves to allot a table (in an empty restaurant at 6 pm) to me. They said they were all reserved. Even if they were, I would have been out the door before they were needed. I was there only out curiosity/pity. I christen them the new Finesse. Another short lived failure. They have already changed chefs. The menu is sparse. The need (Mexican) is over serviced. I predict that they will be out of business by summer. Their only safety net is the depth of the pockets that their "Whitewood" overseers may have at their disposal. Lake Mary may have the most delusional ownership groups in any town in Central Florida. Nowhere are there so many mediocre options that think they are top notch. It's a cauldron of delusion. I predict that this ownership group will find their foray into the area unsuccessful. I like Whitewood, but, it is also empty every time I go there.

While we are on the subject, I resisted lambasting a place called 46 on 46 near I4 in the past. I was just going to let that disappointment slide by forgoing a review. It is also a joke. The place attracts a "hood" element and they misrepresent the prices of things. I would also like to take this opportunity to reaffirm my displeasure with another Lake Mary entity that has somehow managed to persist - The Vineyard.

* I just read a review in the Orlando Weekly. They panned it, so, I guess my apprehension was merited.

Gem Of The Ocean, SSC

I saw this August Wilson play at SSC Friday night. It cost $10. It's the next to last in their ten play tribute to his work. It doesn't cover any new ground. We get it. Slavery was bad. It can explain and excuse every short coming and failed dream since. Whitey's blood wasn't sufficient recompense for the inequity. He continues to put his boot on your throat. If only he wasn't around, you'd live in Eden like they do in Africa. Throw in some obvious metaphors, insipid spiritualism and one line, fifty refrain "songs" and cash that check. It's the musings of an older mind. Most closely personified in the "voice" of an old "sage" - Aunt Ester. That type of ethos. The cast has been seen before. If you like their mannerisms then you like the result. No one seems to be able to "inhabit" their character. It's just "that guy" or "that girl" repeating the lines like they did in the play last year. I realize it's just regional theater. I thank them for their effort. I can just anticipate what's coming at this point. Plus they are usually cast as the same type of person, so the blustery guy is again blustery and the sweet guy is again sweet... The set decoration was at an all time high. The place was about half full. And some idiots near you still can't be off their smart phones for an hour even though they are reminded to be. It's amazing that this town produces so many important people. Why else can't they be disconnected from the multitude for a minute? Oh yeah. The last show was today. So you'll have to take my word on it.

Woody's BBQ, Lake Mary - Closed

I ate dinner at this new (one week)  BBQ restaurant in the strip mall that has Burger Fi on Friday. I had the brisket platter (2 sides) for $9. I chose mac and cheese and corn bread as the sides. It pains me to write this because the area needed a better option than Keller's and the owners are really nice and conscientious, but, they have no clue about what they are doing. I have never eaten at the other outposts under this moniker. I hope they aren't all this bad. I think it was BK that offered up some ribs at one point. This is that bad. The brisket tasted like baked ham. It was bone dry and briny. A disagreeable brine. The fat hadn't melted away. I'm not sure if the cut the use even started with any. You've heard of low and slow. This is high and dry. I was a little worried when the owner told me (in a pre-opening walk through) that he was anticipating a four hour cook time to be adequate. And I think it had a separate smoking procedure that was only an hour or so. In any event, this strategy is just insufficient in its efficacy or it hasn't been perfected it yet. I'm not sure if I'll pay another visit at a later date to find out which is true. The mac and cheese looked and tasted like the one at Publix. I'm not sure if they get it from there or they both get it from the same supplier. The cornbread also seemed like it was purchased from a supplier. They have have four sauces. The hot was awful and needed to be refilled (pump station). The sweet was bad. Both seemed store bought. The place looks like a hip BBQ joint. It's clean and professional looking. The menu is easy to read at the counter. No wait staff helps keep the outlay low. I plowed through my meal because I was afraid of being asked how I liked the food. If I had loitered, I could have watched one of the two TV's tuned to sports. The menu is fairly predictable. Pork, Turkey, Chicken and burgers. The zaniest thing is Brunswick Stew. It doesn't comport to any specific regional loyalty. It seats about fifty. There were three other tables eating around me. If you live in the area, suck up the one exit exertion and go to 4 Rivers.

Grub Crawl - I Drive: Giraffa (Closed), Emporio Brazil (Closed), Kosher Grill, Amor En Pedacos Bakery and Thai Silk

I ate at these places on the south end of I Drive on Tuesday afternoon.

Giraffas - This new Brazilian place in the strip mall with Peter Glenn Ski Shop was the supposed to be the kill shot on my crawl, but, ended up being the biggest miss. It's more "fast foodish" than the other Brazilian places. You order at the counter and the bring it out to you. The selection is also small and centers around burgers. They have steaks (low quality), chicken, salmon and salads too. I had a Picanha Grill for $11. It was a 5 oz steak with three sides. I chose a salad, mashed potatoes and farofa. The steak had a huge spine of fat and tasted minerally. I had a dull grey color and was cooked well (I asked for medium rare). It was definitely not aged. The salad was surprisingly good. It was plated well and was a nice mix of field greens. The mashed potatoes were grainy, salty and too buttered. The farofa was inedible. It's supposed to be some kind of quinoa, etc powder. I don't know how (or why) the Brazilians incorporate this into their meals, but, I just found a new twist on the cinnamon challenge. A soda was also $2.40. A little high. The place seats about fifty. It has a hip decor. Very modern. Even the menus are digital. The place had about eight people there. Half were Brazilian. I find Brazilian food to have a unwarranted premium on their pricing. The quality here was medium low and the pricing is medium high. Plus they don't offer anything unique. I'd skip it.

Emporio Brazil - This "deli" is behind Giraffas. It's an off shoot of some other Brazilian concern on I Drive. I forget which one. They didn't have their permit to cook hot dishes from the man yet, so, I had a few of the "pastries" they had available. I had an "empada" that was a ham and cheese (you could have other fillings) in a glossy triangle pastry. It was fine for $2. I also had a "esfirras" that was a little "biscuit" in a steel mold. It was $2.50. It was filled with hearts of palm. They also gave me some little cheese balls that were ruined by the nuker. It's a small shop that isn't stocked with much so far. The menu will mostly be sandwiches. Good for some grab and go options that are wallet friendly. It had a area for seating.

Kosher Grill - The food truck has a home and it didn't take forty years. They are now across from Boi Brazil and Big Italy in a spot that used to try and sell you $10 baked potatoes. Wonder why that didn't work out? The rent at that spot must be high because it'll still cost you over $7 to get in the game here. I'm talking apps! I think they even raised the truck prices which were too high to begin with. It's a good thing the food is worth it. I had a Sabich because I had never seen it before and wanted someone to ask me if they could have "some of it". It's probably an age old recipe, but, I couldn't help wondering if it was an egg salad play on words. It's eggplant with hard boiled egg in a pita. It tastes like the best egg salad you've ever had. They also toss in hummus, tomatoes, cucumbers and some other sauces I couldn't recognize from the squirt bottles. It's awesome. Huge serving. Great pita. I tried one bite to sample and kept going until I reached fingers. It cost $7.50. The blend even makes the bitter skin of the egg plant a nice layer. Now back to the menu. They still expect you to pay $10 for most sandwiches and $11 for a baguette and $18 for a plate. I love these guys, but, Whitewood (for example) charges $12 for a similar plate. I thought Jews were known to be cheap. These guys don't think so. The inside is a little messy. It looks like guys are in charge. The work station is a mess and right there for everyone to see. They have a whole in the ceiling. There's not much flair inside. It seats about fifty. There were around five people there. They looked like insiders. No confirmation that The Zohan eats here.

Amor En Pedacos - We winnowed it down to "a little bit of love". It's a cute little bakery/cafe across from the Del Taco. I had a "empadao frango" for $3.50. It was a quiche like "pie" that looked like a piece of triple layer cake (it was that high). It was great. I had it room temp, cold and warmed. Worked every way. I hadn't seen this offered in any Brazilian shop before. I had a hearts of palm one because it was the cheapest. they also had a chicken one for about twice as much. Brazilian pricing makes no sense to me. They also had a nice range of other pastries and served little meals. It only seat around 20. It was full. It had a cute, feminine feel. I'd go back for more.

Thai Silk - I went here (and maybe reviewed - I can't remember) when it was Red Bamboo. It turns out it hasn't been a new place all these years. They just wanted to sound more Thai. I had Tulip Dumplings for $8. That's about 2X too much. It's basically a shui mai of pork and shrimp (more pork). They swear it's Thai, but, I've never seen dumplings on a Thai menu in the US and certainly not in Thailand. They were fine. who doesn't like dumplings? It came with a sour/sweet soy dressing. The place seats about 70. It had a few customers. The staff/owners looked Thai. You need to bring at least $10 bucks to be dealt in. See if I wrote a Red Bamboo review if you want to know more. I'm exhausted with this gibberish. It's in the strip mall that has that run down Japanese restaurant building. Right on the corner of I Drive and Kirkman.

McCoy's, OIA

I had lunch at this restaurant in the Hyatt Regency in the airport last Tuesday. Take the escalator up near the TSA ID check. I had a pulled pork sandwich for $11. it sucked. More sauce than pig. The pork was fatty. The cole slaw was mayonnaise with cabbage instead of the other way around. The sweet potato chips were ok. However, they were made EARLY that morning at the latest. They are also too sweet to match with a sweet meat drenched in a sweet sauce. It seats about 100. It has a hip feel. They serve sushi. It's open to around eleven pm. If you get in late and everything else is probably going to be closed, then think of them. That said, I'm sure you'd pay around this much at the over priced food court. Although, I did get one of the cheaper things on the menu.

Grub Crawl - Winter Park & Altamonte Springs: O'Stromboli, The Meat House and Namaste

I ate at these places last Monday afternoon.

O'Stromboli - It has new ownership, but, the results were the same. Bad. I had two slices of pizza for $5. The dough was overworked and resulted in a dense, gluttenous base that could bend knives. It also had air bubbles, so, I think they didn't let it rest long enough. The apportionment of cheese was may too liberal. It was 3 or more centimeters thick. If you are the type of person that thinks pizza is an open faced grilled cheese sandwich and/or you order extra cheese on your Papa John's then this is the place for you. They said they use two types of premium mozzarella. That just makes the ham handedness of the execution even more disappointing. Sometimes less is more. The sauce was sweet. It's a shame because the staff was pleasant and they seem to want to do the right thing. I wish I knew before I ordered that the owner knew nothing about pizza and had to get the recipe from a buddy in New York. Maybe he meant Binghampton. The place seats about thirty. They dressed it up a bit. The menu is a little abbreviated. I wouldn't seek it out. That said, it's across from Stardust in the Leu Gardens area.

The Meat House - I went to this market (mostly meat) near the baseball stadium on the advice of a buddy. He proffered that it had the best cheese steak in town. He was dead on. It's not your typical "sliced" cheese steak. It's cubes of the most delicious steak on a cibatta roll. It's a smidgen smaller than your usual portion size, but, it's worth the trade off. I tried to just have a taste bite while driving home. It didn't make it there. It cost $8. Worth making a trip for.

Namaste - I popped in here just to knock it off my list. I had no idea it would be good. It's in a dump of an old fast food place that has been a ton of disappointing Asian hovels. They said they had to fumigate. They also said they fixed the place up. Not so much. They basically just hung a tapestry in between the kitchen and the dining area. It sounded like they were courting an Indian (it's an Indian restaurant) clientele. Maybe they aren't as fussy. I wouldn't want to spend an evening there. Maybe a quick lunch ($8-ish special meals) or take out (like I did). I had Chicken Saag for $11. That's chicken cubes in a spinach sauce. It could have used more chicken (around 6 pieces) at that price. However, with the whole starvation and cheapness thing, it's hard to "Americanize" them about portion size. The dish was excellent. I don't love cooked spinach and I saved the sauce (after running out of the chicken quickly). I ate that sauce a week later with the basmati rice and amortized my outlay over two more meals. I don't want to guess the calorie count, but, it was too good to toss. A nice surprise. It's near the corner of 434 and 436.

* I should also advise you that a restaurant on 434 called Fogata is closed. You never would have found it anyway.