JB Boondocks, Howey in the Hills

I had lunch here on Saturday. I went through Mt Dora onto 19 south and over a bridge and down about a mile where I made a left at an intersection (Mission something golf club) and made a left at the center of town and another right onto Lakeshore Blvd. It is on a lake called Little something or other (Chain?). There is a billboard for the place about six miles away. They really should have another further on because you can drive right by it. The meal was pretty surprising. The place (and name) doesn't inspire you to aspire. But, the muffaleta sandwich (suggested in an article I read) I had was darn good. It differed from a classic muffaleta in that the roll was more of a soft square ciabatta roll than tougher, round bread they usually use. This was an improvement. The meats were above average. The amount of olive tapanade wasn't as overwhelming as it can be. The mozzarella didn't offend. It was served warm (non-nuked). They also offered up a side. I chose fries to see how they would do them. They were fried well. Even some crunchy ones. However, they added that infernal starch coating and the fries were made of what I assume is mashed potato mix formed into fries. It cost $10. The menu has a New Orleans flair. Po' Boys, Stuffed Red Fish, etc. Yet when I asked the waiter if the restaurant had some connection with The Bayou, I got a blank stare. Either he wasn't instructed on that front or it is just a coincidence. The rest of the menu is Italian and American. Most sandwiches were $10 and entrees started at $16. A little pricey if the food was no good. Acceptable if the rest of meals comport with mine. The apps were in the high single digits. The place has a bar and an enclosed patio on the lake. There is also an outside patio on the lake. It was almost full. I would estimate seating at 90 in all. Service was quick. The vibe is casual. Lots of middle aged bikers. The blue collar kind. Not the drunken brawler type. It's a nice drive and the town of Yalaha (sp?) is a mile away. The town is tiny, and from I learned from my menu, it was incorporated in 1925. The lake is clean and almost unbuilt upon. A very restive experience. It didn't hurt that it was about 80 degrees and sunny and dry. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon (drive included).

Pub Crawl - Sanford: Sanford Ave Bar, Wops Hops and Buster's

I went here last night to try the new Sanford Brewing Company (opened last week). However, they didn't have their beer ready. The said come back in five weeks. We'll see. I decided to check out these places because one was new and one moved and one was good and I hadn't gone there nearly enough.

Wops Hops: A tried a flight of six and had a glass of a maple bacon ale. All were great. The gamut from kolch to porter. They are killing it.

Sanford Ave Bar (maybe Tavern): They took over the Buster's space a week ago. They said that the selections will increase as they settle in. I still like that spot and its garage doors.

Buster's: They moved down the street into a bigger place. It was jammed with a crowd that reminded me of the Hollerboch (bach?) crowd. They only had two bartenders and it was impossible to get their attention, so, I left. This iteration is kind of cheezy. There were kids running around and they had arcade games. A band of middle age men were pouring out oldies. A real let down. Now it is Dave and Buster's.

Bulla, Winter Park

It's not often that something comes out of the blue that excites me. Even less so if the term "tapas" is associated with it. And along comes a place from a Stuart Scott catch phrase. Boo-ya (as it is pronounced) opened on Orlando Ave (across from Hillstone in the spot where they tore down that old hotel that had the something Fox bar) last week. I tried it for lunch yesterday. It is an outreach of restauranteurs from Coral Gables. To refer to it as a tapas joint does a disservice to what it really is. It is a continental Spanish restaurant. The tapas are just the appetizers here. The twelve they serve at lunch are predictable. However, if they are as good as the gazpacho ($6) I started with then who can complain. The gazpacho was velvety pleasure. Very pureed. The waitress claimed that they don't adulterate it with oil or dairy and if that is case then it is a real accomplishment. Maybe even healthy. They serve it in a glass and sprinkle a few crouton crumbs on top. Simple and elegant. Controlled flavor. I went all in for the main course. I had the Black Grouper on Soy Quinoa with a caper butter sauce (Mero con Quinoa) at $18. It was perfect. The grouper was probably pan fried and finished in the oven. Two nice hunks (so you don't wonder if it is from another thinner fish). They were cooked perfectly. The quinoa was tiny. I suspect that they buy a superior type of quinoa. That, like most things tiny, it costs them more. These little guys displayed (what I suspect is the heart of the "grain") little bits that could trick you into thinking they were poppy seeds. And the portion was enormous. Two or more cups worth. It may be the first time I left a "tapas" place feeling satiated. I know because it isn't a tapas place. The sauce accented the fish. Not too much. No clumsiness. The capers and what I think were shallots (though they tasted like something else that is white) added some nice color and flavor. Although, not described on the menu and a surprise to my waitress, the quinoa had some finely cut baby (going the extra mile again) asparagus in it. I'm not sure how the soy affected the taste of the quinoa (maybe just enhanced its color), but, it was also used conservatively. Not salty. I don't recall a lot of quinoa being served in my travels to Spain. My waitress said the owners also have a Peruvian restaurant, so, maybe this is more of a Peruvian dish (where they use quinoa a lot). In any case, who cares? It was great. Now I did see that they jump the price to around $27 (and with other dishes on the lunch menu)at dinner, but, maybe the portion is bigger. The rest of menu runs the gamut of salads (really seafood salads), sandwiches, one burger, charcuterie (nice choices), cheese (nice choices), and platters such as salmon, beef, chicken, shrimp, etc. Six of those ham/sausage choices. Six cheese choices. 3 salads (ie octopus). Ten platters. A thoroughly workable mix. A one sided menu that offers enough diversity, yet, ensures consistency. The beer and wine menu was also well thought out and the wine list is curated well. I had only tried about 5% of the mostly Spanish (some US) options. They also canvas the region. A great learning opportunity. Beers were almost all at $6. Wines had a mark up of around three times retail. They start at around $35 and top out at around one hundred and change. They have one bottle at $320. The space is divided into four areas and a patio (street side) that seat about forty people in each. I sat in the back next to the open kitchen. The hostess didn't give me any guff about it either (and it was pretty full). There was a "private" dining area to the side of me. The front area is divided into a bar area with high tops between it and the area I was in and a high top area to the side of it. The decor is Moorish. There is a geometric, black "wall/screen" (is that a lattice?) that "cuts" the space in half. The private room had decorative plates on the wall. The ornamentation is subtle. some framed photographs. The ceiling tiles have some spaghetti type yarn motif. I think my half booth "couch" was white. The bar area does seem like they used the same interior designer that has fitted out some other restaurants in the area. It's not bad though. The cutlery and plates were chic. Service was great. My waitress had an answer for nearly all my questions and her colleagues were always asking me if I needed anything (ie refills). And if that wasn't enough, I spied Carrot Top eating on the patio when I left. Haven't see his collagen injected face in a while. A friend of mine has a great story about him walking around WP in short shorts. The one issue may be parking. Once this place gets the following it deserves (and other spaces in the strip mall get tenants), I doubt the lot behind the restaurant we suffice. I think I heard that the developer is going to build a multi-level garage though. I think he was fighting the town on its size. That will help. So, I don't think I need to tell you that this is a great (and unanticipated) addition to the CF food scene. It will be on my Best Of list and I will go back. I may even make it a point to try their SF locations. Boo-ya! RIP Stuart Scott. Too bad you didn't get a chance to call this one.

Jimotti's, Sanford

I had lunch at this Japanese restaurant on 17-92 in the oft abandoned spot (that most recently served as Vayda's Gypsy Rib Ranch) on Wednesday. It simultaneously pleased and disappointed me. The pricing was a bit excessive. $3 sodas. $35 eel. $14 sushi lunch specials. It's an odd spot for an upscale venture. I'm not sure if this is the locale for this type of play. Even if the chef has Morimoto on his resume. I settled on the Bento Box for $15. It offered a sample of the most offerings. I wasn't in the mood for the more reasonable items (burger or soba at $9). The box consisted of a miso soup (thick and salty), tempura (half a shrimp and veg), fried chicken, salad, spicy tuna (or Cali) roll, and two pieces of albacore and salmon sashimi. The salad was good. It was a mixed green melange in a vinaigrette with corn on top. The chicken was cooked through. Tasty. The rice was strange. Small kernels. Over cooked. The salmon was a bit spongy. The albacore was true albacore (not escolar). The cuts were big. I also tried a piece of yellowtail and ahi tuna sushi at $3.50 a piece. The cuts were long. The fish was fresh. The rice was sub-standard. So, like I said, I'm torn. Is this place worth the upcharge? The decor is modest. They have done little to this shack other than hang a few free beer signs and maybe hang a string of lights. The menu is interesting. Not just plain sushi restaurant fare. However, the rice and quality of some of the fish was questionable. I'm not sure that they can attract enough of a following among the locals to support their venture. It, possibly, could survive in a more upscale neighborhood, but, why here? The quality isn't superior enough to tempt many gastro-snobs. I do applaud the chances they take with the menu and the beer and sake options. I just think it will be too expensive or esoteric for the neighborhood. I spent over $30 here for lunch and I wager that when I go to Morimoto in a few weeks that I will get a superior meal for less. There were only four other people eating with me at lunch. Plus the name evokes Italian, not Japanese. I think they needed to do a bit more research before they chose a location. I would not be surprised if the opened in a better location in the future (Chef Sennet's downtown is now available). They have been open since June.

Green Kitchen, I Drive Area

I grabbed some dinner to go at this new "healthy" Brazilian place on Kirkman (just south of I Drive) after Saiyan yesterday. I know! A Brazilian themed something or other in this area. What a novelty! I settled on a rosemary grilled chicken wrap for $10 because all but the most expensive dishes (4 at $20) were just your run of the mill (mostly American style) sandwiches. It was fine. I thought they said they had wheat bread, but, it was just a wheat wrap. There was some kind of cheese in there. A weird mozzarella or feta. It came with a side salad that was probably pulled from a big bag of factory sorted mixed greens. Fresh in any event. And that's it. The menu is salads, sandwiches, smoothies and some meals (steaks, shrimp and bacaloa). I think The Weekly called it Brazilian "Nature's Table". Is salted fish healthy? I'm not sure if it was sad or encouraging to see all those soft, jiggling Brazilian asses "trying" to be healthy. I though big butts were something to be proud of? Funny how that always seems to be a fable/defense mechanism. I suspect they probably will be as successful as their American counterparts. Who wants to guess that if you did a side by side calorie comparison that Wendy's would have less calories than these "healthy" meals. I know it is about health and not being thin. First of all - right! And second, same suspicion as to the calorie count. The place seat about sixty. It is open for L and D (except Sunday- that's their fun day. Their I don't have to run day). The interior is spartan boho chic. It feels a little under-decorated. The tables and chairs (some are mismatched) are Victorian. The black ceiling and floor with white walls makes it seem like you are eating in an ice cream sandwich. There is a tree mural on one wall (the other half is stark white void). You order at a counter. I wasn't expecting much and it delivered on that. At least it wasn't all vegetarian like I feared. Not bad, but, not special. It was pretty crowded though. I'm not sure if that was just lazy people from the office building that it is connected to. I believe they have only been open for a short time.

Soupa Saiyan, Universal Area

Yesterday I tried this noodle bar in that aged strip mall on Vineland (just a block off Kirkman) that has that little popular Mexican restaurant (Border something). Edible says they have had 90 minute lines. There were only three other people there while I was there, so, that was a relief. It would not have been worth that kind of wait. Perhaps because I wasn't feeling soup or because it was my third option (one and two were frustrated), I wasn't floored by what they offer. I had a "create your own" bowl with shrimp, brisket, udon and chicken broth. Mostly because the "uncustom" choices cost $3 or $4 dollars more than the already steep $10. All the elements were fine. Big bowl. The shrimp (7) were a little gamey/frozen/old tasting. It was basically just pho without the veg. The way it works here is that you choose a veg, chicken or beef broth and then a choice of noodle (3) and then two (out of a dozen) "fillings". They also have some fried apps from around $4. Nothing fancy. And that's it. The place seats about twenty. The decor (what there is of of it) is trashy. The Dragonball Z (the saiyan part) connection is silly. They blast the insipid cartoon on the lone television. They have some Z memorabilia in the prep area. Most neighborhoods have a Vietnamese or hot pot place that serves equal if not better soup. No need to trek here. They take Amex, but, don't print out receipts. The have been open for six months.

Restaurant Ash, Mills Ave - Closed

I went to this American restaurant at the old Funky Monkey space (daughter of the owner who was just on Hell's Kitchen) on Wednesday. It's in the middle of Mills. I was coming back from the airport in between lunch and dinner and my initial choice seems to believe that they are good enough to only serve dinner though they are a pizza place. We'll see (someday if they are lucky). Maybe they should post their hours on the door. Since it was almost dinner and I hadn't eaten all day, I had two courses. I tried the stuffed avocado for $12 and the mahi sandwich for $9. The avocado was stuffed with quality ahi tuna atop an avocado half seated in a nest of wakame (tons). I found the teryaki sauce and the mayonnaise sauce and the sriracha to be a distraction. Too much going on here, but, they aren't the only ones to serve it up this way. Still it kind of hints at the level of sophistication you can expect. The avocado was also a little "entrenched" in the shell. They give you a fork and chop sticks to attack the dish. It would be better if they "loosen up" the avocado so you can just use the chop sticks. The mahi was fresh and cooked perfectly. A wide hunk. And the bun was nice. However, they overdo it again here by covering it with cheese and tons of cabbage (slaw) AND sauteed onions. It also came with a fresh field green salad that was properly dressed (quantity) with a crushed apple vinaigrette. A great value. Now the "and" is what will make you love or slightly dislike this place. If you love "kitchen sink" cooking then you will love how they have crafted this menu. They "jenga" a dish until it is about to fall over. If you prefer to let the ingredients (and they aren't distracting you from inferior ones) speak for themselves, then you may wish they practise a little more self restraint. In any case, the results aren't bad. The menu is a little blase. Pot pie, pot roast, burgers, sandwiches, etc. I expected a bit more panache. It doesn't stray far from its "funky" roots and we already have that. I'd like to see them take a few more chances. Service was good. I don't think the "Ash" was in the kitchen. They place seats around forty. It has a girlie decor. Prices are reasonable. They serve beer and wine. A nice gastro pubby type place. I believe it opened in March.

George's Gourmet Cookies, Winter Park

I went here yesterday because of an article in Orlando Weekly that said this mall was an underrated food haven. I won't get into that, but, they were right about this little cookie place across from Bubbalou's. I had an oatmeal raisin cookie for $3.50. And before you start in, I thought that a bit much for one cookie as well. However, it's really two or three cookies. Of excellent pedigree. They pile the dough up so that it is almost a cupcake or a cruller. Then they drizzled icing over it like a danish or cinnamon roll. The outside was crusty. The inside was moist. Tons of walnuts (possibly pecans though I think the former). Plump raisins. Like the old man in the Bush's Baked Bean Cocina Latina commercial purrs "Smells deleeshowsh". Tastes delicious in this case. And I could care a less about sweets. The disappointing thing was that they only had three choices (out of six) available. Maybe the cookie monster beat me there. Ten points for cookie monster reference! C'mon. You just got a little happier thinking about that crack addict. They also serve a full lunch menu (so much for honesty/accuracy in advertising). I'm not sure why they don't acknowledge that. The pricing was pretty high. Maybe they are embarrassed? All sandwiches were north of $10. $10.50 for egg salad. The "specialty" sandwiches start $12 for a veggie. You do get two sides with all sandwiches. I'm not sure what they consist of since they were not on the menu. The place seats about twenty in and twenty out. The decor is pure old lady chic. You may call it Rodham-esque. I might be called on to suck it up for a lunch there, but, I really recommend the cookies. They have been serving there for two years. The menu says "est. 1989", so, I'll guess that Georgie Boy has been an owner/operator somewhere since that date. He was "in house" making food if that has any implications. Look for the strip mall on Lee Rd and 17-92/N.Orange.

King Bao, Mills Ave

I had lunch at this bao specialty spot on Mills (near the intersection with 50) yesterday. I have been meaning to go for a while (open five months), but, parking and traffic always suck around there. Luckily my car needed an oil change and my "guy" is located near enough to down there to make a slog internally debatable. Now, I guess it is a good thing when your major criticisms of a joint are the font (and logo) they selected and the art on the walls. Congestion was another issue, but, that was caused by a roly poly's lack of consideration (ordering for HER whole office or cat support group and paying for each order with a different credit card). The place serves bao (steamed rice flour buns/rolls) and tots. I had the pork belly and short rib because they were going for $7 as a package with a soda. Normally $3.50 each. They also don't allow you to choose any "seafood" options and the only other "land" option was a fried chicken one. Plus, I just had PDQ's 4 Rivers charity chicken sandwich the day before. It isn't that great btw. Why is their sauce so bad? Back to bao. The pork belly was very smoky and meaty. Just a little fat. Mostly meat. Nice hunk. That should please people who will never be hoodwinked into believing that all fat all the time is always preferable. Fittingly, it didn't have alot of flavor. The peanuts, cilantro and pickled daikon and carrots added other elements that I usually could live without in a meatwich. Especially the peanuts. But, they are traditional. The short rib portion was also generous. Same flavor issue. It was shredded short rib meat.  It came with Asian pear salad and cilantro. I never would have registered the pear if I wasn't told. I had wanted to skewer the place because most hipster bao places make dense, overly sweet buns. I just had some "real ones" in Singapore and in Chinatown in Kuala Lampur (that were ethereal) and I was ready to play that card. Sadly, I can not. They do a pretty good job. All the regular baos (tofu, shrimp, crab cake, grouper, sweet potato) are under $4. They had some special baos (ie lobster roll) that peaked at $6. They have dessert baos. One is ice cream and they could expand this category. In Singapore, alot of ice cream carts made their own ice cream sandwiches with ice cream and bread or crackers. They could easily do the same if they have the freezer space. It is known to be hot around here every once in a while. The place seats twenty. Two tables and a wall counter. It was full. Mostly young people. I'll be back.

The Taste of the Yucatan, Orlando - Closed

I popped into this Mexican restaurant two Tuesdays ago before noon on my way to the airport. It is on 436 just north (towards 50) of Curry Ford Rd. They were "beta" testing. Or was it "beta tasting"? I had a barbacoa salbut (in between a sopes and a tortilla) for $4 and a cochinita pibil soft taco for $3. I would have tried more, but, it was "unverified" and I had a fifteen hour flight sandwiched between a three and six hour flight. Not the time to be "dissatisfied" with a meal. The barbacoa meat was the better meat. The pork was too salty and dry. I'm so jet lagged that I can't even remember what they were topped with. I think they barbacoa had pickled onions and cheese. I think the pork was marinated in orange juice. The salbut (if that is what the fried cake was) was uneventful. Try one and then go back to the cheaper and healthier tortilla. In any event, they weren't loaded up with extras nor were they loaded up the same. I guess that says a little about the ethos. They take enough care to prepare different flavor profiles. The menu is different. You choose a base/container (they actually put the price for each on the menu and they differ) then you choose a meat (same pricing policy) then you choose any extras. The options are limited. I think they had four meats and one veggie option and four "bases". They had a two for one taco deal that day. Look for others. They serve beer and make their own sauces in small batches. It seats about forty. Not sure if the drive thru window is operational. Ownership was polite. He comes from the area. He spoke English (well). Seemed educated. The place looks clean and new. We aren't drowning in opportunities to sample Mexican food from the Yucatan. Especially ones with a Mayan pedigree. Give it a try. It's not a life changer, but, it doesn't have to be at these price points. Hopefully, they will fine tune the issues with the food and I can really get excited about this place. I think the hours I was told were 9am-6pm. 7pm on weekends. Google says 12-8pm. Here's their phone number if you want to check which is accurate - 407-704-2248. Now out of beta testing. I think last Friday was the launch.

Bob's Family Restaurant, OIA Area

I grabbed an egg sandwich to go before catching a plane out of town at this greasy spoon in a strip mall off Hoffner and S. Conway on Tuesday. I would have written that it (and the place is general) is just another (good or bad) run of the mill, carbon coffee diner/coffee shop. However, there was a complication that erupted later that night which centered around irritable bowels for the next two days. Now, I am willing to consider that Jersey Mikes or Papa John's or Publix frozen chicken was the real culprit, but, I can't be sure and two of the others were a little too pre or post temporal. The sandwich itself is a mess. Literally. I tried to save them from themselves by swapping out the Texas Toast for a Kaiser roll. They just lacquered that (in butter/grease) instead. The eggs were scrambled (not fried). Scrambled in that horrible "here's a folded yellow wash cloth" way. Can you at least break them in half? One swipe of a ladle? It tried ham instead of bacon or sausage because they said it wasn't just the sliced ham they make sandwiches out of. Wrong. The cheese was scant (1 slice) and indiscernible. It came with choice of potatoes. I ordered the home fries on another recommendation. They were greasy and under cooked. The meal cost $7. I believe that is 4 Egg McMuffins (on sale). I'd take the McCompetition on volume/value alone. How about you keep the potatoes and cut the cost in half? Only every other restaurant does it that way. I don't want to think what the cost to my health was. They close at three. They are closed on Monday. They menu is reductive like I said. Went here to give a pity fuck and got what I deserved. Karma is a bitch. Not because it punishes you retro-actively if you do wrong, but, because it punishes you up front when you do right.

Saint Anejo, Winter Springs

Like the inbred illiterate judge in the Dan Newlin commercial, this place helped me "obtain" some tacos to go at this Mexican restaurant on Red Bug Lake Rd in the strip mall that has one of those mini Wal-Marts. It is from the same people who brought you Agave Azul and La Fiesta. Somehow a place with that sort of experienced ownership just appeared on my radar. Even though it has been open for a year. It's better than it's two sister restaurants. Cleaner. Newer. More refined. Are they imitating a tequila flanking strategy? I didn't eat in because I was trying to shoe horn in another "sit down" play in Oviedo that ended up not being open for lunch. I had the carnitas taco plate for $9.50 ($12 at dinner). It was good. Not $12 good. Or $9.50 good. But, good. Street tacos that you can get at a taqueria for half the price. $9.50 gets you three tacos. The pork was a shade off perfection. Not an overwhelming amount of flavor. The meat didn't fall apart on its own. It seemed more braised in its own juices than in boiling oil. They write "Dos Equis" braised. Maybe that is the answer. Can carnitas not be braised in oil? For at least part of the process? I know. It's a devil may care time in history where everything self identifies with definition-less language. The tortillas are listed as "hand made corn". I believe they were. Raw white onion and cilantro serve as the toppings. A side of rice and beans are added. Both were fine. The rice was bathed in a vegetable or chicken stock. They fluffed the rice. I don't like when they do that. They all do that. Fluffing is for adult film ACTORS (they can't all be stars). The rest of the lunch menu STARTS at $9.5. It is basic and since it is not any cheaper and the rest of the menu is available all day, it is superfluous. The main menu is schizo. They want $7 for an ear of corn (oh wait it comes with cotija) or a soup versus $21 for a T-Bone. Well, that's really the only egregious disparity. Most of the menu is simply over priced. Guac is $10 to $13. Fajitas are $17. They are pricing themselves ala Rocco's Tacos. However they are in the middle of nowhere and they don't have an equivalent ambiance or bar scene. Those are the reasons they can charge that much. It isn't their food. If you go, at least try one of the less ubiquitous Mexican selections. A cazuelita ($14-16). Mahi Mahi in puffy tortillas ($15). Tamales ($9). The menu isn't bad. I just think you will not find it to be a value. The place looks good inside. They have a bar with some booth seating on the right, an enclosed mini kitchen in the center and regular seating in the back and on the left. It is tastefully decorated. They have some interesting grafitti near the bathroom. I seem to remember the color white and wood for the furniture. And a wall of hats. I think the place must have been a Season's 52 type place before. I cite the stacked flat rock accents as evidence. It's a nice option if you don't mind paying a premium.

Hana Sushi, Altamonte Springs

I grabbed a sushi A lunch special to go on my way home Wednesday. It cost $10. It consisted of six pieces of nigiri and a California roll and soup or salad. The nigiri was ahi tuna, fake crab, white tuna (escolar), shrimp. salmon and a white fish with brown tips that they used to call snapper, but has always been tilapia. All the fish was fresh. Long thin cuts. Even the tuna was ok. The roll was fine too. The salad was fresh. Small portion. The rice was properly prepared. I was mildly surprised. I used to go here alot. It was always above average back in those days. I was just surprised that the quality didn't drop off after all this time and that it still is ok compared to the increased level of competition in CF. It's not world class, but, it is respectable. Prices are in line. The place hasn't changed at all inside. It's pretty bare bones. However, it hasn't seemed to have aged either. Service was quick and polite. They serve the usual stuff. Hot and cold. Some ambitious items are: yellowtail jaw (grilled), kimchi, udon, and salmon carpaccio. They are in the strip mall on the north side of 1-4 that has the DSW shoe warehouse. It seats about forty.

Camila's, I Drive

I had lunch at this Brazilian buffet in the hidden corner of this strip mall across from Peter Glenn sports outlet on Wednesday. It cost $15. I thought it would be the best in this price range (by the looks of it and the crowds). It was maybe the worst (food wise). The offerings were minimal and the quality was average. I tried the mashed potatoes, soup, fried fish, rice, shrimp, steak, chicken and some sort of meat with a livery taste (it had to be pork or beef). The MP had some sort of sour cream or sour butter mixed in. Too foreign a flavor profile for this American. I would also bet that it was made from a mix. The soup was some kind of vegetable puree. I'd guess squash. Too sweet. The fried part of the fried fish was tasty. You couldn't really taste the fish which was probably for the best since a buffet probably buys frozen tilapia or swai. The rice was old. Crunchy basmati. The shrimp were a mushy mess. Obviously over boiled AND frozen. It came in some kind of cloying butter sauce that somehow took on an orange color. Talk about being thrown a curve by my lyin' eyes. I thought it would be a sweet orange sauce. Not that that would have been preferable. The chicken was baked and surprisingly white meaty. It looked like top thigh cut. I'm still not sure how I get tricked by chicken butchering. I've had about a million chickens in my life. That's on me. The "liver" meat is self explanatory. The steak was grainy. I think sliced rump or skirt. I'll never master beef butchering. This is what I mostly ate. It was fine if you cut it up against the bias. The things I wouldn't touch were: stale bread, wilted salad, ugly side dishes, some kind of hot dog stew, and A few other things so nondescript that I've forgotten already. As you can see, the competition has more. The place looks good. It is all white. Modern furniture. It looks like some kind of weird euro-cafe or Japanese hospital. I didn't love the horrible sound system. The only thing worse than listening to Portuguese gibberish on TV is listening to it coming out of a tweeter. Service was good. The check says the add a 10% tip and then the check has a tip line too. They say the buffet is $15. I'm not sure why they just don't say - tip included. They also have a "club" next door that didn't seem to be open on this day. Parking is an issue. All in all, I would recommend all the others. However, the distance between any of them is not that great. They have a place in Miami. I think they have been in this location for over a year. There are probably enough "other reviews" on line to help you make the call.

1921, Mount Dora

I should probably take a breath and write about this place when I have more energy, but, I'm too excited and I want to be the first to weigh in on this excellent new endeavour. It just opened last week. It is on 4th and Baker. It is run by Norman Van Aken of Norman's at The Ritz. They describe it as modern Florida cuisine. The menu consists of about six bar snacks, six appetizers and eight main courses. They had things like flounder carpaccio, crab cocktail, Florida chowder, chaufa (Peruvian fried rice) with octopus, red snapper, grouper, duck, steak, etc. I chose a Caesar salad (mainly because it was the cheapest thing) and Fried Cornish Hen with mac and cheese and cola flavored collards. The salad was phenomenal. It cost $8. It was huge. Crisp romaine. Tiny croutons (I usually toss those). A refreshing dressing that was more citrus flavored than anchovy flavored. Beautiful. The hen was so big that I questioned whether they subbed in a chicken. They said it was sourced near by and was a CGH. I actually would have preferred a whole (this was a sectioned breast and drum quarter), tiny fowl. This one didn't have much flavor. They said they brined it. Not sure if that unlocked or blocked the natural flavor. The batter was sweet. I never found out what they put in it. The crust came off too easily, so, it either was too wet when they dipped it or the oil wasn't hot enough. The collards were very sweet. It also seemed like there was some other element (other than cola) in the mix. Some kind of stewed fruit or veg. They were very good and I'm not a "sides" guy. The piece de resistance though was the mac and cheese. Outrageous. Maybe the best in the world. That is right. THE WORLD. It is some concoction of elbow macaroni (cooked perfectly) and manchego and another cheese that one guy said started with a F and another said was cave something or other. It came in a ramekin. Big portion of a potent side. The meal cost $24. Prices are understandably high. I think they topped out at $40. But, you really only need a main or two apps/snacks. They don't pull the usual BS of high prices AND tiny portions. The place looks nice. They did the best they could. White walls. Tables made out of tree stump cross sections. Gold framed art. It reminded me of a Klimt painting. Not sure if Norman is Austrian, but, I have seen this type of near Eastern oriental influenced Continental decorating in many Austrian homes. It was a style craze in the early twentieth century (I think. Maybe earlier). The one element I didn't like was the drapery in the middle and end of the main room. They just seemed old and dirty and a tad too Arab-esque. The space is divided into three sections. The main room is "down stairs". It is the biggest. It seats about sixty. Lighting is a little low there. There is also a bar (with an outside patio with additional seats at the bar) with seating around it. And a room between the bar and the entrance. It seats about thirty. Oh and a private room. The kitchen is open. You see it from the entrance. Tons of staff. The walls on the outside are also white. You enter on 4th into a little alcove. The service was good. Plenty of knowledgeable staff who are engaged. My waiter commutes from Winter Park for the chance to work with these people. They have a uniform (chambray shirts and jeans). The food came out at a decent pace. You will probably need reservations in the future (except bar area), but, they fit me in at a table even though I had flip flops on and road beard. The crowd was a mish mosh. White haired, hippie artists, Brazilians, frumpy locals (dressed up and not dressed up), etc. I wonder how long they will allow this to go on. I guess I hope they don't become detached from the community that surrounds them. Time will tell. In any case, run don't walk to be part of this experience. Definitely a destination spot. It will be on the Best of 2016 list.

Buzzard Beach, Tavares

I tried a hot dog at this little shack on the lake on 441 on Thursday. I was coming back on 75 and wanted to knock it out. You will remember I mentioned it a few months ago when I last went through Tavares. I thought it just had hot dogs. They also have alot of other things. Sandwiches and platters that include lobster salad, fried oysters, grouper, bbq pork for example. The hot dog was a quarter pound, grilled Hebrew National. It cost $3.50. It was ok. A little over grilled. The shack was screened in. People have written stuff all over the walls and beams. People were having a beer or two. It seats about seventy. Chill, low key vibe. Country music. It's basically a food truck with attached dining room.

Hog Heaven, Daytona Beach

I thought this place was a little closer to Aunt Catfish's, so, I decided to knock it off the list and literally wash the bad taste out of my mouth. It's on N. Atlantic Ave (A1A) near the convention center. It has been there since 1978. I had some mix of scraps (pork, beef, chicken) that I forget the name of. It was a sandwich. It cost $7. It was chopped and drowned in a sweet sauce. It was pretty gross. The bun stunk. I knew it was a risky bet. Oh well. Maybe their other stuff (ribs, brisket, pork, chicken and chops) are better. The place looks pretty new for never being renovated. It looks like a log cabin. It was clean. It's still an open question on whether you should try it or not. Up to you.

Aunt Catfish's, Port Orange

I started my road trip eight days ago at this seafood restaurant on Halifax Dr (really at the bridge off US1 and exit 256 I think). It was unsurprisingly underwhelming. I had a lunch combo for $9 and a salt and pepper shark basket for $9. I chose a soup (mix of clam and fish chowder they call flowder or something like that) and a half shrimp blt wrap for the combo. The soup was good. Only a small cup though. The blt was ok. 4 shrimp. Little to no bacon. The shark (though plentiful) was dry on dry. Dry shark made drier through the seasoning and breading. It was fried nuggets. It came with limp, greasy fries. Both meals came with a hush puppy and that gives me an excuse to tell you that P. Alllen Smith says hush puppies are so named because people used to take their leftover batter and toss it in the grease and give it to their hungry dogs. Both dishes also came with a terrible cinnamon roll. They tasted like a paper wrapper was baked in. There was also some cole slaw in the mix of one of the meals. The lunch combo I had was only one of the variations you could order. Most of the pricing on the exhaustive menu was out of whack, but, not unusual for these tourist traps. My meals were some of the cheapest. The place is on the intercoastal. It seats 100+. It is mostly all enclosed. They have a little "playground" area. The interior is dated. Service was slow. They charged $3 for a soda in a mason jar filled with ice that tasted of dish soap. No refill was offered until the check came (first time I had a chance to complain). When I stated my displeasure with the soapy taste, they could have deducted the cost of the barely touched soda. they didn't. And that, in a nutshell, is what this place is all about. It's a meat grinder. They obviously do enough business and the clientele is so undemanding that they have a take it or leave it ethos. I experienced nothing to recommend it to you.

El Paso, Sanford

I tried this ten month old Tex-Mex place on 46 (was a terrible Asian buffet place) on Thursday. Mall side of I-4. I had the lunch El Paso's Favorito for $9. It was poop-orito. The main issue was the ingredients. They were the cheapest around. The "ground" beef was salty mush. Same going in as going out. Jack in the Box bad. The cheese was the worst kind of jack/cheddar/etc blend. I wouldn't be surprised if they bought the supermarket blend. A chemical concoction. All oil. No dairy. It was also so salty that I removed all of it. And there was alot. Those two things were the main components in the burrito, hard shell taco and enchilada. So, they all sucked. The "chalupa" was really a tostada. It was just beans and guac. The guac was too salty as well. The one ok component was the tamale that served as the coating for the enchilada. Once again I'm not sure what planet they are from, but, I've never seen an enchilada in a tamale. I've had a tamale stuffed with ground beef, but, it was called a tamale. The only good part of the meal was the free part. The chips and two dips were good. The salsa had just enough heat and the black bean dip was tasty (not salty). They have a humongous menu. That would usually be the smoking gun, but since Mexican food is six ingredients re-purposed a million ways, the blame must lie elsewhere. That menu has vegetarian, seafood (mostly shrimp) and the usual Mexican assortment. They cleaned up the place. It's now black and brown and red. There are rustic murals on the wall. They retained the bar. It looks much like the Bennigan's (or whatever) it started as. And that is the level. Mexican Bennigan's. Mexigan's. It's amazing that Sanford is still the only shitty neighborhood in CF that can't at least brag about one decent Mexican restaurant. This place received third place in some magazine they invade my mail box with. Even if there were two Mexican places in the region they queried, they wouldn't come in third. And I don't mean two others. Just two. Paso on El Paso. No refills offered. The music they played (loudly) was inappropriate for a non-teen Mexican clientele. Maybe at a quincenera/baby shower..

Grub Crawl - Sanford: Chef Sennet's Candlelight Cafe (Closed), Fuel and Palate

I tried these spots around downtown on Saturday at lunch.

Chef Sennet's Candlelight Cafe - Not sure why a place that closes at 2pm is called "Candlelight", but that is neither here nor there. This place replaces Shantell's. They have been open for six months. It is mostly breakfast, hot and cold sandwiches and salads. I had their Bird's Nest for $8. It is basically a toad in a hole (eggs inside bread). This one had two fried eggs inside a challah bread (listed as sour dough) ham sandwich that is grilled and topped with cheddar. It was fine. Way too costly on the calorie front. The challah really soaked up the butter. I probably would have gone in a different direction if I knew it wasn't sour dough. It is rich enough. It needs the contrast of the sour flavor. The ham was piled up generously. They say it is smoked. It tasted like a good quality Virginia ham. The cheddar was superfluous. The eggs were a little under cooked. It also came with a side choice. I chose home fries. They were excellent. Baked and then fried. Crispy deliciousness. And they gave me twice what a normal man requires. I brought in a coupon for a free drink (they only charge $1.50 anyway). They gave me a refill AND a to go cup. And that is the vibe here. Very generous. Very accommodating. I heard them work on several "custom" jobs for whine-y customers. And they didn't exhibit any push back. I love the place. The building. They left it as it was. For the same price you pay at any dingy cafe or diner, you can get extra effort and a better environment here. It's on Sanford Ave (the last road you can turn right on) off 1st St. The most expensive thing is just over ten dollars and it comes with steak. I did notice that they are a little disorganized. You'd think they were open for just six days not six months. Part of that is because the owner and one support cook do all the cooking. It was kind of funny watching the "chaos" though. Don't let that turn you off. everything I saw going out looked good. It was about half full at noon.

Fuel BBQ - This was the real reason I ventured down here. It is aside (actually part of) The Alley bar on S. Park Ave. I had 4oz of brisket (with cornbread) for $7 and three ribs (1/4 slab) for $8. They were ok. A tad too smokey and bark-y. If I had to guess, the brisket was dry rubbed with salt and black pepper AND finished with a wet rub. The ribs were probably done similarly with the only difference being a teryaki inclusion in the wet rub. I can't tell you what wood they used. They probably didn't wrap the meat (in paper or foil). My guess as to where they went wrong would be with the smoker. Not enough ventilation or the rack is too close to the heat source and they cooked it a tad too long or at too high a temperature. No one probably administered to it during a long section of the night and the heat fluctuated (probably down) and they added too much wood too fast when they looked after it in the morning. Close to being good though. It seems like they are willing to do the "slow" part. Just a little overpowering. The ribs tasted a little like teryaki jerky. The corn bread was good. A little dense, but, it seemed home made. They also plied me with three types of hot sauces they were tinkering with. One was a very syrupy, black hot sauce. One (house) was a fruity, semi-sweet (maybe orange rind), pulp-y sauce. One was a fruity, peppery, non-pulp-y hot sauce. Good for them for trying. And that is important. They seem to be trying. A little more trial and error and they will be next in line after 4 Rivers in this area. They have been open for three months. They also serve chicken and pork and sides. The place looks nice. It looks like an old time-y gas station used to be here. They tore down the wall to The Alley and you can move back and forth.

Palate Coffee Brewery - I just bought a coffee here for $2 to report on the change. It was a craft beer place the last time I was here. I guess that was over a year ago because that is how long they have been open. It's mostly just coffee. It is across from Fuel.

Smiling Bison is in the spot that was home to that overrated cook whose last stab was an Italian place named after his mother. I forget what it was called. It's in the center of town. Buster's moved from near Shantell's to where West End something or other bar was. Down the street. Closer to 1st. They were building out a new brewery space on that street (Sanford Ave). I think that is all the news from Sanford.