2015 FHSAA Football Finals, Citrus Bowl

I went to the first weekend of the high school football finals on Saturday because I'm going out of town this week. I saw the 3A finals at 1pm. It was the "hired help" from Trinity Christian (Jacksonville) versus slightly less of the "hired help" of American Heritage (Delray). I know what you are going to say. These boys aren't brought in to provide entertainment for their white overlords. They just happen to be good at sports also and it's all about opportunities for the "under-privileged". And I would say you are absolutely right. This gives the regular students parents the opportunity to pay for two students so their kid won't get hurt actually getting in the game.

I think Delray has had some ballers in the past, but, they got smoked 30-3. TC had five guys over 300 lbs and one guy at 389! Plus Delmar's OC had the mind of a checker player. It took him forever to call a play and they were usually bad. They said the attendance was 1800. Half of that. I really hate when they lie. And such a pathetic lie. Ooh. 1800! What a showing! I thought 900 was good, but, 1800 gets me moist.  Most of the attendees were the parents of the hired help. So that shows how buying a championship energizes the community. Onward Christian soldiers!

They are also still dicks about roping off areas. You used to be able to sit anywhere. Not anymore. They even made the first row a reserved area that no one used. Probably because no one was told you could purchase this option. Tickets are $12 and they take cards now. Parking is still a rip at $10. They have four more games next weekend. You won't hear about them. I think I'm the whole marketing plan.

Yamasan, Mills Ave

I had lunch at this new (twelve days) Japanese restaurant on Mills near Virginia on Saturday. I was going to try someplace downtown, but, those jagoffs had it closed off for another of their pointless events. I had a two roll lunch special because I wasn't mentally prepared for Japanese food and the prices were a bit high. This is pretty much the only raw fish special that is competitively priced and it's above average at $10. I had a salmon and avocado and spicy yellowtail roll. The salmon was better because it had fewer scraps that require a spicy sauce to conceal. They were fine. Long, cigar shaped rolls of eight pieces. It came with a tasty miso soup with fried tofu "cracklings" and a salad. Nice bowl. The plate the salad was served on was ice cold. I'd guess it was a remnant from last night's service or they prep these by the boat load in advance. Not good either way. It was mixed greens instead of just iceberg. That was a plus. Some of the leaves had moldy, brown, wet patches though. That was a minus.

 I could write more about the sushi - acceptable rice, but, the real story here is the menu. If they can do what they set out to do then this place will be special. Their menu is a compendium of Japanese cooking techniques with some curious risks. They do all of the following: tempura (agemono), udon and soba (menrui), hibachi, rice (gohan-mono), tiradito, poke, stone grilling (ishiyaki), shabu shabu and sukiyaki (nabemono), kaiseki and individual dishes with special techniques. They have "odd" ingredients like sea snails, foie gras, monkfish liver, truffles, etc. They do tartare ala Nobu or Morimoto. I was told they were cutting back the menu already, so, don't blame me if this list is misleading. The place is in front of the now defunct Segafreddo. I swear Orlando's restaurant scene is one giant game of Jenga. One place has to close to allow another to open. The interior is as disjointed as the menu. They have:  rough stone tile walls near black tile accents, white and black chairs with white ceiling and black floor, white booths, yellow faux marble sushi bar, bamboo light shades, blue lighting through yellow faux marble, wood, plaster mountain on the wall etc. It's like they ran out of material a number of times or the interior decorator wanted a show room to display every design concept available. They also are a little different with their choice of potables. They go heavy on wine. It's not a bad selection of low to medium priced bottles (or should be - I didn't check the prices). Not the usual suspects. Service was nice and they seemed to be busting my waitress' balls, so, that may indicate an ethos of expectation that serves the customer well. I'd suggest you try this place when you are more in the mood for the non-sushi items. You can get a sushi lunch special anywhere. Come here when you are ready for some serious action. And I hope they will deliver. Ohh, I have to mention some cute misspellings on the menu - flute (fluke), poiver (au poivre) and slamon. Maybe the salmon is slammin', but, I get credit for the name if it becomes a thing. And Yama means mountain. Ain't no yama high enough...

Maru Sushi and Grill, Sanford

I had lunch at this mostly Japanese restaurant at the back corner of the Seminole mall (behind the Ale House near Books A Million) today. They fancy themselves a medium high level experience judging by the prices. I settled on the $12 sushi lunch special and prayed the 6 pieces of nigiri (and California roll) wouldn't be slop. I asked the waitress what it would likely be and she couldn't be bothered to ask the guy making it (in an empty restaurant) who was two feet away what it would be. Instead she acted (or just was) dumb. My apprehension was misplaced. I got the obligatory tuna, salmon and shrimp. They were the low lights. Flossy, tail meat tuna. Fatless, rubbery salmon that looked like the decorative samples they put out at certain places. I've never seen such a piece of salmon. I can't imagine what part they took it from. The shrimp was the same stuff everyone sources. The other three pieces were - yellowtail, albacore and fluke. I think it was fluke because it was so white, but, it seemed too soft. Maybe a tank fish like tilapia (except it would have bands of color). Anyway, they were all fresh and good. The rice was a bit fluffy. The packing of it was a wee loose and had "tails" that fell off when you dipped. The miso looked cool with bits of seaweed that looked like diced scallion. The taste was bland. The salad was swimming in dressing and water. They also have a few, Korean, udon and teryaki and fried Japanese "all star" dishes. A few "extras" on the generic sushi selection. Your usual overpriced rolls. The takeout menu says the nigiri ranges from $6 to $8. I thought I saw alot of that stuff at a dollar more on my menu. And therein lies the dilemma. Is it worth an extra fifty percent over the value competition? I'm not sure. The "experience" isn't as compelling as an Amura (which is also a medium high) and quality isn't up to a Rangetsu, Dragonfly or Sushi Lola let alone a Hanamizuki. If they dropped their prices a bit, I might be more energetic in recommending them. However, they have survived in no man's land with no marketing of publicity for three years (I never heard of them - just stumbled on them). People did eventually come in while I was there. They were cocky/rude enough not to seem desperate. I guess you will have to judge for yourselves. The place seats about sixty. It's clean. They have a more than basic selection of soft booze. They have other lunch specials ($10-$15). Closed on Sunday. $2.50 for a can of Coke.

Grub Crawl - Altamonte Springs: Yummy House and Lin Garden

I stopped at these two Chinese restaurants on 436 just south of the mall yesterday afternoon. The first is in a strip mall behind a BK. The other is in a diagonally adjacent strip mall next to the hospital with a Duffy's and a Too Jays. It was a yin and yang experience.

Yummy House - They took over the Pearl or Eastern Pearl of whatever it was called six months ago. They seem to be the shit on the Gulf Coast if you believe the pub they cite. I found it to be very good. In line with that pub. And if it means anything, I used to really like the old place and I think they may be a smidgen better. I had salt and pepper shrimp for $10 and a lunch special of basil scallops and shrimp in black bean sauce for $9. The first dish was on the appetizer list. I can only guess because it didn't come with a side. You can see it cost more than an entree, but, it deserved to. Fifteen shrimp of good quality. I didn't love that they came deep fried in batter, but, it was tasty. I've usually had them stir fried in the shell (often butterflied) so you can see the coarse sea salt and black pepper. Their way is ok. They piled fried garlic and scallions and a few slivers of jalapeno on top. The batter on some of the shrimp was not cooked through. The entree was less generous. Three shrimp (same quality) and three scallops (fresh). They made up for the lack of stars with a large supporting cast of mushrooms, asparagus and sauce plus two piles of rice. They also refilled the soda that came with the entree. The menu is huge. No dim sum or dumplings though. They have clay pot dishes. I almost tried a fried chicken with walnuts and a cream sauce. My gag reflex won out over my curiosity. Plus I just watched an Owen Wilson movie set in Thailand and it put me in the mood for something that sounded Thai-ish. Prices are all over the place and some don't make sense ($7 for a grouper lunch special and more for most soups?), but, it's isn't unfair. You can really make out if you order correctly. I don't think they did a thing to the inside. It's clean inside and had a respectable crowd. Service was pleasant and efficient. I was apprehensive when I saw that the signage (really hard to see) had changed. I also realized how long I had neglected that place. I didn't need to worry. It is in even better hands. Even if they won't do shrimp dumplings. I hope to make my return before another ownership change.

Lin Garden - I may even have reviewed this place before. I thought it was ok as far as take out Chinese place go. The Szechuan Chicken I had made me rethink that good opinion. It took way too long. The chicken was that pounded out crap that looks like thick chicken skin. It might as well have been chicken with broccoli for all the taste the sauce had. And no heat. The fried rice was ok. Plentiful. It came with soup or soda at $6. I had the wonton soup. It was ok. It looks like every other take out place and has the same exact menu.

Grub Crawl - Disney Springs: The Boathouse, Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC and Vivoli Gelateria

I went to these spots at Disney Springs (formerly Downtown Disney) in between sessions of the basketball tournament on Thursday. They are in between the Rain Forest Cafe area and the House of Blues area. Central. They repositioned the barriers so now this area (nearer the lake) is open to pedestrians. I still can't believe this area is still under construction though. Hopefully President Trump won't use these urban planners to build his wall.

The Boathouse - I never really imagined I would go to a duplicate seafood place (Fulton's) down here, but, I read about it in the Sentinel and I was already down here. I just had a tuna poke for $18, It was more of a tartare. They minced the ahi too finely and it wasn't the greatest quality. Something gave me explosive diarrhea a few hours later and I'm betting it was this. It also didn't seem to have the sauce described on the menu. They wrote - soy vinaigrette. It tasted like that viscous, sugary Asian pepper dressing you get with a fast food salad or in certain ramen packets. It also had a base of pureed avocado. It was a biggish serving formed in a circle. They also jammed me for nearly $4 for a soda. The menu is pricey. They have a decent raw bar. Although it's around $4 per shrimp or oyster as examples. The place looks great. They have a motor boat you can sit in inside the dining room. They have boat motors on the wall. Lots of shiny wood. I sat on an outdoor patio island on the lake. The car boat terminal is right beside it and you get a sunset view. Service was nice. It has been open since June. I do have one question for all restaurant owners with a bar. Why don't you wash your dishes at my table? I mean I have to watch you do it at the bar, so, what is the difference? Why don't we free up some bar space and have those glasses cleaned where I can't see how little care is taken with them and how close I am to getting collateral herpes. And it might even serve the dual function of freeing the bartender up to tend to customers. I liked the place. It's overpriced, but, you've probably been ass raped by Disney for days, so, another inch won't cause much more bleeding. And if you are smart just go for a drink.

Erin McKenna's Bakery NYC - I grabbed a brownie cupcake because I knew Tony Romo was going to get hurt and he would need "crownies" to become a real thing if he was going to stay in the public eye. It was ok. The mocha topping was sour and too thick. Balance anyone? It was moist, so, lots of sugar. It cost $5. It was smallish. I may have been to the original store on Broome St on the LES, but, I don't remember it being that renowned in NY circles. It's a chain now I guess. They also serve cookies, bites and they had pumpkin pie on Thursday. That may be a one time deal. I think they also had some non-sweets. It's across from the Boathouse. They just opened too. I think a month ago. No seating.

Vivoli Gelateria - Another thing I usually avoid as much as cupcakes. However, the two flavors I had were good. It was $5 for a "piccola". I don't know why they say "piccola" because the next word is "gelato" which is a masculine noun that it describes and therefore the ending should be an o not an a. Maybe the word it describes is an understood, yet absent "cup" and that is feminine. I can't remember which word they use for ice cream cups (you did know gelato is ice cream, right?). Of course this faux Italian spot can't say "small" or else the price falls to $2. The cup was multo piccolo. Even with the tiny (piccolo) spoons, it was about six tastes of each. I had chestnut and a rice pudding something. They had many (20+) flavors.  I think they had some coffee, etc. They are new. To the right of Boathouse if you are exiting from there.

Advo Care Invitational, Disney

I went to the first round of this annual college basketball tournament at the HP Field House at The Wide World of Sports on Thursday. It's not as cheap as it was and you don't get a Florida discount, but, it's still fun. It was this or go to the Knick game the night before to yell Porzinga! That's my Sheldon Cooper inspired nick name for Porzingis. Even at $35 a session (one day and one night) I got four times the amusement and I didn't have to sit hundreds of yards away from the court. I didn't even show up early and I sat six rows up between the bench and mid court for the day session and ten rows up dead center court for the night. I bet $35 gets you nose bleeds at the Magic and Ticketmaster takes a cut. Plus, as always, parking was free. What do the Magic charge now? $25? A minimum $10 if you park near Orange. The Magic and that other club with the loafing Brek Shea and women's team whose logo looks like a lactating breast could learn a little from this event. If you have a suspect product do something to give a fence sitter a reason to sample. Free parking is good because then you can go and see if tickets are available or cheap and if they aren't you aren't any worse for the wear. Now you are left weighing the odds and you almost always say screw it. Especially when those games are at peak traffic hours. ACC tournament officials this means you too.

Back to bball. They played again on Friday and end tomorrow. Saturday is verbotten. I guess because of the college football monopoly. ESPN televises it. It's great fun because the kids play hard and the fans do too. It's small enough that you can even heckle. I got in some good ones.

I have only one problem with tournament. Aside from the fact you can't buy single game tickets and a session is now $35. Who does your marketing? I only got info because I looked for it. I know this event takes place during Thanksgiving. Who else remembers? Most of the crowd were boosters that followed their team here. Few locals showed and you aren't selling out - ever. Even the ESPN web site and ticket link sucked. The website had next to no info on prices and times, etc. The ticket link only allowed you to buy the three day pass. Weak.

Vittorio's, I Drive

I went to this Brazilian buffet across from the Artegon mall on the north side of I Drive on Thursday for lunch. It cost $11. I'm not sure if this is the usual lunch price. Ichiban and Boi were both charging dinner prices all day. BTW if you go to either of those two, pick up a free magazine or coupon book available all over I Drive before you go. Boi especially is more digestible at $20 than $25 (lunch). This place was a smart choice. I ended up having turkey, steak, oxtail, lasagna, cheese puff, some pumpkin dish, garlic grits and a breakfast sausage that I thought was a croquette. I could have gorged more, but, my stomach has shrivelled from that cold the bastards in Winter Park gave me. They had salads, pizza, soups, etc. And lots of carbs. It's bigger than I remember. The opened up an adjacent room since it was a special occasion. It has a bar area now. It's not fancy, but, not a wreck (and better than before) either. It must be the choice of non-tourists (real Brazilians). It was packed with them. Families. The have been open for ten years. Since Santos is now closed and becoming an Aashiward (SIC), this has to be the Brazilian play. It's half the price. You can turn take those savings to the two malls close by or one of the many shops next door.

*It looked as though that Toby Keith bar has closed already. I guess Cowgirls lucked out.

Grub Crawl - Ponce Inlet: Hidden Treasures and Down the Hatch

I went to these two seafood restaurants at the end of line in Ponce Inlet on Sunday afternoon. BTW those idiots are now charging $10 to get to the beach. As if it wasn't already a giant pain in the ass to get there. I got there by taking I4 to the end and making a right and then crossing the bridge in Port Orange.

Hidden Treasure Bar & Grill - This place is in the shadow of the lighthouse. It has a bar area on the dock and an inside. I sat inside because it was a little windy (great job mediocre-ologists) and they had a tarp down that blocked the view from the bar. I tried a half dozen Louisiana oysters (raw) and an oyster po' boy. The raw oysters ($9) didn't have much flavor and ham hands in the kitchen made sure I got pieces of shell in every one. The po' boy ($13) was good. 10 well fried, panko crusted oysters. A little smallish. A very good roll and remoulade sauce (on the side). Tomato and pickle. Fresh home made chips. It came out fast. They have a big menu. You are supposed to try the steamed buckets, but, I think you can get more by ordering things individually. This place had more shellfish than the next place I'll talk about. Service was good, She knew enough to be helpful. They have a half ship inside and one dry docked on the deck that you can sit in. The place has all those tacky signs and fake ivy and Xmas lights that seem to be a requirement to operate. I liked one sign that said "if you can't believe our voters wait until you see our drivers". They have two big fake alligators up front. Parking was limited. Not bad. They have a crab cake with burger challenge (I think four of each) that you have to do in twenty minutes. It seats about sixty outside and forty inside.

Down the Hatch - This place is few hundred yards down on the "river" side. It also is on a dock/marina. The place is a little less "Swiss Family Robinson". It is one big brown wood building with low ceilings and an outside bar area. The inside is full of bay windows so you don't feel entirely cooped up. The walls are wood. They have stuffed fish and Nascar driver photos on the back wall. An inside bar is behind that. It seats about seventy inside and seventy outside. They sell souvenirs. I had a trigger fish sandwich to go. It was cooked perfectly. I like the firm flesh of the trigger. And the fact that it is a bad ass doesn't hurt either. It came with lettuce and tomato that could be improved upon. The bun was good. Giving people a bag of chips is kind of lazy. Most things here were more expensive than at Hidden Treasure. The menu was smaller. They did have a better selection of fish (by a hair - scale?). They didn't take AMEX.

Cowgirls, I Drive - Closed

I tried this Coyote Ugly/Urban Cowboy theme bar next to the ferris wheel on Saturday night. It was the first day it was open. Hurray. I only popped by around four times since their purported opening date in May. Of course it was not worth the wait. $9 Jack and Cokes aside. It's just a theme bar for tourists looking for a cliche "American" experience and people who have jean shorts in their closet. Wasn't Toby Keith's empty bar enough for this neighborhood? They have a mechanical bull. They dance on the bar. They play shitty country music. The place is big. They serve food. Is this a family atmosphere? I think trying to "middle" the market would alienate both groups. Then again we are a Honey Boo Boo America in a "feed my baby Fanta" world. The left wall is a fake seven dollar bill mural. I forget the rest. They have a patio. It's basically a strip club without the strip. Cowgirls are barrel scrapings to begin with. Cowgirls with tattoos and piercings are even worse.

Stefano's Grill, Sand Lake Rd Area - Closed

I had dinner at this Italian restaurant at the far end of the strip mall at Sand Lake Rd and Dr Phillips Blvd on Saturday. I would have loved to deliver a complimentary report because they were so nice, but, I found my dish a little disappointing. I ordered the simple to prepare rigatoni bolognese for $17 (cheapest main dish on the menu). To put that in perspective I just made the same for myself today and I bought a box of pasta for 85 cents (bogo) and only needed around $2 of beef. It was almost as good and I used no cream and salsa from my weekend burrito as the sauce (which is ridiculous I know). I forget what meat they listed on the menu, but, it turned out to be de-cased sausage. Even a large serving of that couldn't make up for the fact that it was in the recipe. The sauce was also bland. Barely any evidence of that listed cream. The rigatoni was cooked properly. I also had a glass of limp Cab for $12. Like I said, the staff was pleasant. The place looks like a dark room. It's all black. It seats about fifty. I was there kind of late and it was raining, so, it was almost empty. I hope those were the reasons. They said the grilled meats were good. I don't go to an Italian restaurant for that. I know Italians think they can compete in this arena. They can't. I think it's something about the olive oil and rosemary that Americans don't associate with quadropeds. The prices are also predictably high. You know I demand a more contemporary or authentic "Italian" Italian experience. This isn't that. It's another on a long list of fugazi American imitations. I probably should have just initially said they put their name on the wine glasses and that would have illustrated all I have been trying to say. They have been in this location for two years.

Grub Crawl - UCF Area: Blaze Pizza and Chicken Salad Chick

I ate at these two fairly new spots in that new complex at the corner of University and Alafaya on Saturday.

Blaze Pizza - This is a pit row pizza joint in the best way. They press the dough into a pie with a machine. They then sprinkle on your toppings (they have a zillion). Then they bake the sucker in the oven for like two minutes and that's it. I had a regular pie for $5! Can I remind you of the $13 Brazilian pie crisp I had a few weeks ago? Or the $6 two slice disaster last weekend? This pie tasted fine. No complaints. A GREAT value. I think they serve other things too. It was a blur of excitement. The place has high ceilings. It looks brand new because it is. One wall is all glass. The have a huge mural/photo on another wall. You order at a counter. It was pretty full. They even have an unhinged box that saves your fingers from getting clamped down on.

Chicken Salad Chick - Now let's compare the $5 I spent at Blaze with the $9 I spent here. All I got here was three scoops of pulled chicken. Two of which were virtually uneatable. They have fifteen chicken salads. For around $9, you are pretty much manoeuvred into ordering the trio or a single salad sandwich. I tried the trio because it let me report back on the larger amount of product. The Jalapeno Holly was terrible. Pickled jalapeno flavor. Very salty. Even worse was the Jazzy Julie. It was cayenne, bacon and cheddar. Way too spicy (and I've entered those contests where the thing is free if you can keep it down). Dry, Is it so unpopular that it sits until the chicken dries up? Salty, Olivia's Old South was the only palatable entrant. It had pickles and egg. Whoopee. At least it wasn't loaded with salt and was moist. The menu also some non-chicken salads, soups, some boring sides and a few non-chicken sandwiches (actually at a reasonable price). It has been open for four months. It was unsurprisingly empty. It looks like it will be a cute little "Grand Ma" cafe and then you see the "fast food", "order here" counter. They have all these articles on how the purveyor (started in Alabama) has brought something wonderful to the Universe. I found the pickle on the side to be the best thing about the place.

TJ's Seafood Shack, Oviedo

I ate lunch at this accessible seafood restaurant in the LA Fitness strip mall (near Alafaya) off East Mitchell Hammock Rd on Saturday. What should have been a fairly salutary review of a Tijuana Flats looking seafood joint devolved into whatever this is because of misrepresentation. I went for the lobster roll because it was $8. I suspected it would be bad because of the price and all lobster rolls are, but, I just can't ignore this all too common fraud. All you shameless hucksters need to stop. You know this slop isn't lobster. You know it is sarimi (molded slop fish). I don't know if the people who sell you this junk label it is as lobster. If they have found or lobbied for a loophole in basic terminology, but, you shouldn't perpetuate the fraud. Or hide behind this plausible denial. Even calling it seafood salad would be disrespectful to your customers. I suggest you drop it from the menu. If you insist on keeping it, then sack up and call it fake crab salad. It's a shame because it came with good french fries and cole slaw. I also suggest you refrain from selling talapia anything. It's crap. You should be embarrassed to have it on your menu. I also had some NE clam chowder that wasn't bad. It cost $4. As I said, the place looks like a mid level chain (ie Tijuana Flats). It's clean and kitsch. But not authentically. It's a little tacky. They have those signs with pithy sayings and fake placards. It's smallish inside, but, they have a patio. You have to order at a counter. They have a video of the place's construction playing on a loop. It has been open for seven years. Not worth a search.

Zanzibar Coffee House, Longwood

I grabbed a morning coffee and brownie at this new (three weeks) spot by the Sun Rail station on Saturday. The coffee cost $1.79 and was fresh. The brownie (sourced) was delicious and cost $3. The place looks great. The theme is the Tanzanian city and they have the appropriate accoutrement. They have more than pastries. Their grand opening is this weekend. Enjoy.

Red Cypress Brewery, Winter Springs

I went to this new brewery on 434 in between 17-92 and Tuskawilla on Friday night. I wanted to be one of the first, but, they have been open for a month. I must have just missed it the last time I checked. I had a flight (5) for $10 and two 10 ouncers. I liked the darker beers more. The light ones had no finish (poor execution in the first hop drop). They are probably just above the middle in the ranking of the local breweries. Good though. We have some surprisingly good brewers here. The place is large. I don't think they serve food. They serve a few beers from other brewers. It looks new. Slightly bare. It's in the strip mall with Salamander's and Senor Tequila. It was family friendly. Dads were playing bean bag toss outside with their kids. A few girls could be spotted inside. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable.

Grub Crawl - New Smyrna Beach: Mi Mexico and Chase's On The Beach

I grabbed dinner to go at the first place and a beer at the second on Friday.

Mi Mexico - The main reason I'm telling you about this place (and why I went) is the beach across from it. It's nice. They have a tiny parking area on the sea side and a large one across the road. Both are free. The beach there doesn't allow cars and the width of the beach is large. I think this is the best free location in NSB. Keep right on S. Atlantic Ave. Just past the last strip mall. Back to the restaurant. They have been there for twenty years. It has an apricot color scheme with appropriate decorations. I would replace some of the stained ceiling tiles. I had a chicken burrito for $5. It was good. The cheese they covered it with was rank though. Tasted like store brand, white American. They put onions and green peppers in the burrito. The chips they added were really fresh and good and plentiful. Almost worth $5 on their own. They have a big, traditional menu. Some unusual things too. It seats about fifty.

Chase's - This is a bar a little bit closer to town on the beach side. It has a pool. It looks like what you think a Spring Break spot looks like. The food was ridiculously expensive and cliche. Just rudimentary beer and booze. Parking is next to impossible. They have a tiny valet area and the free parking is limited to about ten spaces. Could be fun. I just don't get how they manage the parking. People must have to risk a tow every time.

Goodrich Seafood and Oyster House, Oak Hill

I tried this seafood restaurant on the Mosquito Lagoon (in between Mims and New Smyrna) for lunch on Friday. I had the grilled combo plate for $21. It consisted of bay scallops, oysters, mahi, shrimp and a crab cake with two sides. The scallops were the best. A cup full. Sweet. The oysters (4) were small. The fish looked fresh, but, had a consistency like wet sand. The shrimp (5) had no taste. The crab cake was very crab filled and moist. It was more towards under cooked. I tried tasteless, congealed cheese grits (needed more salt and cheese) and starch dipped french fries as sides. Obviously I didn't like or need (full) either. They also threw in a cup of fish soup. The real draw here is the view. The building and furnishings are unspectacular. They have an outdoor deck that seats about fifty. Inside seats about the same. It was half full. They have been around since 1971. You have to turn off US 1 at the flea market. I'm not sure it's worth the trip, but, if you are already out there? Perhaps. The problem is Florida seafood restaurants usually are the problem. They always seem to do something (or everything) that detracts from the natural goodness of the sea and the beautiful environment that surrounds them. These guys had fargin Swai on the menu! This is a market segment that needs to improve - alot.

Grub Crawl - Kirkman: Arepas el Cacao, Antonio's and Indian Hut

I cleaned up the remaining non-visits on Kirkman on Sunday. The first is in a strip mall with Junior Burger and the other are in that Publix strip mall off Conroy.

Arepas El Cacao - This is a brick and mortar (one of three) outpost of the food truck on I Drive. I had a #2 for $8. It contained pork, chicken, shrimp, chicken salad, white cheese, potatoes and carrots, corn and lima beans. It was good. Real shrimp. Moist pork and chicken. It's kind of a counter service place with seating outside. It's been there for two years. They also have empanadas, tequenos, sopas, ceviche, cachapas, etc.

Antonio's House of Pizza - If the house is one of pizza then the house must be an outhouse. Terrible pizza. I had a two slice combo for $6. The crust was disintigrating. Stale and drier than a cork. It was spewing dust in the box. Either they don't know how to bake a pizza or they don't care if they serve week old pizza. Either reason is reason enough to avoid this place. How they survived 5 years in this location is a mystery. The people in this area must have few options or taste buds. The cheese was cheap. The pie so over sauced that it made a mush of the bottom. Or maybe it just sat in its own filth for too long. The sauce was also garlicky. There was a huge air bubble in the middle of one slice. The place isn't much inside either. Just cheesy autograph photos of celebrities never met. I have some bad news for you. I worked for a talent agent and we (and any fan club) just had interns forge the clients names when fans wrote in for autographs. Avoid. The rest of the menu is just goomba Italian staples.

Indian Hut - These guys just opened up next door to Antonio's. I think it was an Asian place. Now it's Indian. They boast (on the menu) that they were/are the shit in southeastern PA. Maybe they are. Every motel in PA is owned by an Indian stinking up the place from behind the check in counter, so, there most be some good Indian choices up there. I just had samosas because I already had four meals and this place wasn't on the itinerary. They were very good. Non-greasy. Potato and peas. They have a full menu that is dosa heavy and has alot of Chino-Indian dishes. The dosas were huge and looked great. The place - not so much. It's a little spartan and mish mosh. They didn't obliterate the design of the last place and those guys left what the place before that had. I think it was Italian. They put some large Indian themed art on the wall. The space is very roomy. They only put seats for about thirty in a large room. It was about half full. The owners wife was using a corner as her office. I hate that. So tacky. Is a daycare corner next? You are trying to transport people. Don't ruin what little ambiance you can affect. I'm not sure I would highlight the pastry either. They don't look home made or fresh or appetizing. They look like bad supermarket pastry. They don't speak well of Indian skill at pastry making. However, prices are good and the things I encountered looked freshly made and came in large portions. Not white table cloth Indian, but, maybe good dive Indian.

Grub Crawl - Belle Isle: East Coast Wings and Sharon's

I went to these spots on South Orange on Sunday.

East Coast Wings and Grill - I ordered ten wings to go for $10. I did them a disservice as I left them in their packaging until dinner and they steamed. Even with that and the nuking, they were good. Meaty. They came with celery and carrots. They were fresh. I tried a custom sauce (peppadew ranch), blue cheese and a hot sauce. They were ok. The order came out quick. So quick that I worried that they weren't fresh or cooked long enough. I don't know if they cook to order because of this. The place seats about 60 inside. Mostly booths. And forty on an outside patio. It looks like a converted fast food restaurant. They are a chain from North Carolina. They have booze, beer and wine. They were showing sports on TV. It was pretty empty at noon. They have a full menu.

Sharon's Place - I mostly drove down here to try this home cooking type place that I saw when I was last down here trying the defunct Uncle Henry's. I had eggs benedict with hash browns for $9. They were ok. The hollandaise was a little sweet and vinegary. The browns were a little chewy. They close at 2 or 3pm. They serve a full breakfast and burgers and sammies and specials. Alot of things I saw being served at other tables looked good. The place seats about sixty. It was full. The furniture is a little mix and match. They have some cute multi-panel window or door frames hung on the wall. In each panel is a mason jar filled with dried flowers. They had more than enough wait staff (6) for the room. I didn't have to wait long for my meal. The crowd was a mix of all kinds. They opened six months ago. A fine diner.

Eclair Me, Lake Mary - Closed

I ate lunch at this replacement for another French bakery yesterday. It is next to F&D (now doing lunch BTW) in a strip mall on 46A and Int'l Parkway. It was ok. The owner used to run Sweet Traditions in Winter Garden and then Winter Park. I had a good croissant for $2. The sandwich sucked. The baguette was chewy. Inexcusable for a French bakery. The roast beef was terrible. An insult. I'm used to the French having no idea on cold cuts, but, I'm pretty sure this was Oscar Myer's cured roast beef. In any case, this "beef" was salty as pastrami. The sandwich (Eiffel Tower) also came with blue cheese. I shouldn't complain about getting too much, but, it just showed how little thought was put into making my sandwich. And I was the only customer! It also came with some bland tomato and overly large slices of raw (rinse it) onion. There was some kind of mayo dressing that was unnecessary. It came with a side salad or chips. It cost $7.50. I'd take my $7.50 and go to their neighbor - Cavallari or Jersey Mike's even. You'll get way more. Which is sad because I'd like to have some variety. The only other sandwich which may show potential is a tarragon chicken salad. Let's hope he doesn't use canned chicken. As for anything with cold cuts, don't trust the French. It must be something that they find declasse because I won't believe they couldn't master this category if they chose to. They also serve breakfast and soup. And a surprisingly limited selection of sweets. It has been open for a month. They did very little to the space - painted the walls. It seats about eight inside. The old place had patio seating.

Chilangos, Winter Springs

I grabbed dinner at this Mexico City style restaurant on 434 on Thursday. I went here when it first opened and had some of my first Mexico City centric fare. Then it closed. I thought they just never took the sign down, so, I never went back. I ate at a Greek place near by a few months ago and I saw it "re-opened". It turned out that they "re-opened" seven years ago and I could have been eating there all along. This time I grabbed a Chimichanga because it was at half price on Thursday (and like Seinfeld I like saying Chimichanga). It cost $3,50 and was filled with your choice of meat. I chose chicken tinga. It was ok. A little kick back the next day. I also had a pibil taco that was a little dry. It cost $1.50. In any case, there are few place around who serve huaraches, pozole, pambasos, sopa azteca along with sopes, sinchronizadas, etc. They also have the common Mexican fare. I'd love to explain what those first items are, but, I think you should see for yourselves. Mexico City has most of the most sophisticated Mexican cuisine. I'm not saying this place reaches that level, but, it brings more to the table than most places. Prices are excellent. The place is small. It seats about thirty. It's a Mom and Pop. The walls are painted bright colors. They have lots of mementos from MC. The name is slang for people from Mexico City. It's in a strip mall on the way to Winter Springs from 17-92.