Grub Crawl - Downtown: Kaizen, Jam-Eng, Loading Zone and Olives

I tried these places downtown today at lunch time. I've been waiting for the wather to improve and to save enough change for the meter.

Kaizen - I tried this izakaya that replaced (but I think is still associated with) Amura on Church St at the parking lot exit near the tracks at lunch. It is basically Amura with some trendy non-Japanese apps. I had the gyoza for $6 and the lunch sushi assortment for $12. The "new" items were mostly ho-hum and overpriced. I decided to cut my loses. The gyoza seemed to be the ones you can be pre-made at an Asian supermarket. Nothing like Tori Tori's. They actually are doing what this place proposes to do. I ordered these with the intent of comparing them with Tori Tori. The sushi was Amura-like. The rice wasn't properly crafted (sticky and mealy). The fish was ok. They served a sea bream called madai (possibly on the menu as nadai) and what they said was in the yellowtail family and called sumaji. It wasn't listed on the menu, so, I duckduckgo-ed it (because google shadow bans this site and spies on you) and couldn't find a result based on my pigeon English spelling of the fish. I did see that Florida State is considering it for a basketball scholarship however. The dish was a piece of the two discussed fish plus a salmon and a yellowtail and a tuna. The yt and tuna were actually very fresh. As were the first two. The California roll was supermarket bland. Like I said, the menu is now "expanded" to have Korean (why not call it Japanese?) Fried Chicken, an elote corn rip off, pork bao, fried rice an some other" traditional" Japanese izakaya fare. They have a 11 or 12 piece sushi offering at $35. Just go for the $60 sham (or the +$150) like they do at Kabooki at Turkey Lake or Kadence if you are going to try at "up scale" it. They also do ramen, katsu, donburi, teriyaki and some other traditional hot dishes. Some are on the lunch menu. At $12+ for a meal. I'm not sure if they redid the interior. It has been a while since I have been there. If they did, they should be embarrassed. It's dark, dingy and uninspired. Abused. There are wires protruding from the wall. A computer terminal looked like a baby was allowed to suck on the screen. And I saw that from across the room. No natural light. Little artificial light. The floors are tacky (not in a lack of sophistication kind of way but in a sticky and coated kind of way). Service was a bit out of sync. Up your ass when you wanted time and nowhere to be found when you wanted to be. No soda refill. So $3 for a half a glass of ice and four fingers of sugar water. I felt it was going to be ham fisted attempt at being au courant and it was.

Jam-Eng - Here is another place I haven't really been excited to try. I just did because I had to do as much as possible to justify a trip downtown. It's a six month old Jamaican and English mash up on the corner of Orange and Washington (I think). Diagonal from Elixir in an old bar spot. The front is take out. The interior is sit down. They have the usually Jamaican stuff (jerks, patties, ackee, etc) and some English stuff like Ploughman's sandwich and  maybe Shepard's Pie. The wife is British. I went with a jerk chicken sandwich for $8. It was pieces of drumstick on a sweet roll with lettuce, tomato, shredded cheese, French dressing and a bit of hot sauce. It was remedial. Tough chicken with icky bits still attached. Bland veg. Needless to say, I haven't been impressed by Caribbean fare - ever. At best some meats can be interestingly spiced. But something else usually ruins the experience. Or maybe it's because I forgo the "doochee" before I eat (or ever)? That is a what I think it is, right? They sell some packaged goods that looked interesting (ie Soursop beverage or Kipling's pastries). Mostly a pass though.

Loading Zone Philly Steaks - They replaced Beth's Burger Bar a few weeks ago. It's around the corner from Jam-Eng if you forgot. Cheese steaks and cold sandwiches. I did a regular whiz at $7. It was more of a "cheap-steak". Not much beef. Onion. Whiz. Way too much whiz. Geni's near Lyman high school is better. They are open until 2am. I can't recall how Beth's was set up. The brick walls seemed familiar.

Olives - They are a Greek/Med place below the movie theater. Open for three months. I was intrigued by a baklava cheese cake for $5 passing by. They were out. Took a $3 baklava to go so I could write about them. I will go back in a few months to try a gyro or bowl. The baklava was stale. Stale walnuts. Probably not made in house.

*I saw that a Thai place replaced Artisan's Table (that moved to Church St) on Pine. Name of Muy Thai. A new market is opening near Morgan and Morgan. The California burrito place near Kaizen has failed and is being replaced by Cucina. There is an infamous bar in Palm Beach named that. Some very unscrupulous people have been known to take their shirts off there. It was once Au Bar and was where that Kennedy cousin and Uncle Ted were before the cousin allegedly raped that girl in the Ninties. I wonder if they have started a chain of fast casual places. It had West Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens outposts listed below it. The real place is also pretty good Italian restaurant. I wonder if it will be that kind of food. I'll venture down again once all these delights are open If I have enough change. Those meters must really piss off the homeless. I guess the city leaders that installed them (the meters not the homeless) hate the unfortunate.

**I was perusing the Orlando Weekly (two editions actually) while I was at Kaizen. The first was a typically mendacious (this time politically charged) bleat by the Arab guy. How the place he ate at's owner supported Trump and how he overcame the (his own) bigotry (err I mean oppression/shame) and ate there anyway yet still wants protection from any intolerant liberal backlash/criticism so he has to give us his excuse. Stand by your convictions or take the heat for abandoning them. Are we really making food a political issue now, man? Isn't baseball a bridge too far? The second review (actually the issue from the week before) was a very funny take on a vegetarian place. I was like - wow this guy is finally getting it. Nope. It was another reviewer. A female girl. Kudos to you whomever you are. I vote for more of you. I hope you are one of six followers.

Selam, Orlando

I tried this Ethiopian/Eritrean spot on the corner of s strip mall with a Publix on Central Florida Parkway (between John Young and I Drive) at lunch on Wednesday. I guess they eat a little later than us, as I was the only one there at noon. However three other tables were seated as I ate. Let's start with an admission. I know next to nothing about this cuisine and the "next to" is comprised of one meal at Nile around ten years ago. Oddly, I was watching a show that explained the tension between the two bordering countries (once one) just as I read about this place a few months ago in the Weekly. My interest was piqued back then, but, the location pushed it down the list. I can never remember where CFP is. Anyway, onto the food. I ordered Gored Gored beef because it looked the fanciest and not because I'm a Nebraska fan. It was comprised of medium rare cubes of beef (shoulder?) in a brown sauce on a "injera". An injera is a large, purple pancake made out of some glutton free substance that I forget the name of. An article on the window (Sentinel I think) said it should be served warm. This was cold. Now how a little American white girl knows the proper temperature for an injera is a question we all should ponder (I'm guessing a search engine was involved), it does seem probable. I say this because the meat and sauce was served to me cold. And it wasn't appetizing and I hope it isn't customary. I asked if it was supposed to be this way and I didn't really understand the explanation. I posited that maybe Ethiopia is hot and they serve this cool as a result. That hypothesis was shot down, so I dropped the subject. As a result, they did bring out (unsolicited) a small bowl of a chicken dish I considered (they wrote it down as doro tibs but I think it is the next thing I am going to mention) and a bowl of sticky beef bits they wrote down as beef key wet). As I said, I think that's inverted and I don't use search engines (if you couldn't tell), so, it may be a misstatement. The chicken was little cubes in a light, sour sauce with onions and some other veg. It was nice. The beef was little, well done bits of beef in a thick, black, sweetish sauce. It was good too. The problem was that I didn't want to seem rude and leave the "gifts", but, they filled me up. So, I had to ask to get the remainder of my "real" meal to go. It was actually serendipitous. Nuking it for a minute at dinner warmed the sauce and took the sliminess from the beef. It was much better hot and closer to medium rare than rare. The portion was large. It cost $15. The place looks like a bad Mexican place looks. Dingy. Dark. Cheap furniture. Plastic table cloths. They have some decent murals, but, it needs a lot more. It seats about eighty. The layout is also not great. The spacing is out of whack. They have been open for a year. They said six months, but, I saw a Scott Joseph article on them on the window from last October. The Orlando Weekly has also reviewed them. Like they wrote, how often are you going to run across cuisine like this? That's their calling card. I'd try it just as a bucket list item. I'm not sure if I'd go through the bother a second time though. The cuisine was not that "different". Probably if I lived down there though.You eat with your hands. They have vegetarian options. The menu has beef, chicken and lamb. Around twenty dishes. I'm reminded of a bit I heard on sports radio last week. The question was whether you would rather eat soup for every meal or have to eat every meal with your hands. I guess that isn't a conundrum for some. Just remember what they do with their right hand if you are sharing. I meant to ask if the name is a spelling of "salaam". I heard one of the customers greet the owner that way. I guess a search engine could provide closure. I'll leave some mystery to life.

Tori Tori, Mills Ave

I tried this new (one month) Japanese bar/eatery (izakaya-esque) near the corner of 50 and Mills on Tuesday night? I decree that it is the new hot spot in town. It was even full at 9pm on a Tuesday. You order through the bartenders and they give you a number on a stick and the food is delivered to you. You can sit at the central (almost all encompassing) bar or one of the tables or booths on the periphery. I sat at the bar. Service was quick and attentive  The bar side seemed to tilt towards cocktail inanity, but, they had a good selection of whiskey (Japanese et al). The menu is in between snack food and a real menu. I had a salmon "handie" roll for $6, garlic fried rice with blue crab for $8 and pork belly fried gyoza for $6. The roll was ok/ The salmon wasn't clean. It still had sinews attached to the flesh. The owner has tinkered with the roll methodology and places a piece of baking paper in the roll to keep the rice from softening the nori wrapper. I wasn't clear on if this is something he invented on his own or if it is the proper way to do it per the Japanese. I've seem a lot of shows and been to Japan. It's the first I've heard of it. But, who doesn't love a gimmick or this kind of obsessiveness? And the price is on par with most places. They didn't give you soy sauce with it. Whatever sauce they did put on it was imperceptible. As such, it was bland tasting. And his little experiment left you tasting mostly nori. And dry nori ain't so good. Taste wise or texturally. The garlic rice was ok. The rice itself was overcooked, overworked and very garlic-y. It was oily as well. I saw some pieces of real looking crab. It's very dark in there, so, I can't say for certain if they chintz or not. Who knew chintz would pass spellcheck? It was a big portion that they give you a wooden spoon to eat with. The gyoza were the best. And I can't remember having better. Anywhere. The substitution of belly for that ground pork meat you usually get makes all the difference. Plus they were well fried. A bit oily. The bottoms were soft. I think they give you six. They place them on a mayo-y sauce that once again it was too dark to identify. And the price here is also in line with even medium grade Japanese places. The soda I had was a bit weak. They may need to test the tap if it's not a weirdo bitch cola knock off. The rest of the menu (as I recall poorly) was uni and crab and scallop handies (although they were already out of scallop and that can't happen if you only offer four item), some other fried rices, a lot of cool yakitori (like chicken hearts and cartilage) and I just can't recall the rest. Sorry. I just got of a plane after being on the road for two weeks and it was dark and the print on the menu is tiny. The interior reminded me of the bar next to Black Rooster. It's modern. Very square. One level. The outside is painted white. It's very LA. I can't remember the color scheme inside. I remember wood. The ceiling looks like they ran out of money and is exposed framing. The kitchen is open and in the rear. They have a fairly big parking area. The crowd wasn't all Rollins-y. Most of the people looked like they just got off work from other kitchens. It's from the guy who runs Domu, etc. I've been waiting for it for over a year and it met expectations. It will be on the Favorite's List just because it's open until 2am (when most places close at 9pm) and it's cool and they don't gouge you to make you think you are styling. If they tighten up the food execution, it will be a real triumph. Now, if the just did lunch too. Double check the 2am thing. Maybe that was just weekends? However, I think it is till open until midnight at least on weekdays. Not sure what days they close.

Dali's, Sanford *WI/OH/IN/MN Travel Notes

I tried this Laotian/Thai "café" on Rinehart Rd (in the former Chinese takeout spot in the strip mall with 5th Element and across from the Mercedes dealership) over two weeks ago at dinner. I had a pork stew special (that I have in my notes as Kam Loh or Leh, but, I remember that I was unsure when I wrote that down). Anyway, it cost $14. It was a little pricey for a similar Filipino stew I've had for $9 with sides. This one had five or six chunks of tender pork (probably shoulder) and three hard boiled eggs. The sauce is brown. Soy-centric. I don't think it came with anything. Maybe rice. The place looks like they just opened, but, they claim they have been open for 5 months and that many bloggers and the Orlando Sentinel reviewed them already. The menu seemed more tilted to Thai. My dish was Lao. Or so they told me. They have a medium sized menu. The lunch specials seemed to be around $10. The décor is even more minimalistic than it was before. If that is possible. They add a credit card fee. I'll probably try some other dishes in the future.

*Travel Notes - Wisconsin/Ohio/Indiana/Minnesota: Brat Coins (fried slices of brat) at Great Lakes Distillery in Milwaukee. Kassler Rippchen at Mader's in Milwaukee, Nopales (fried cinnamon dough in cactus shape) and Budin (dense bread pudding) at Mama Ines in Lafayette. Cheeseburger with tartar sauce and bbq sauce at Swensons in Akron. Pig tails, pig ears, pork skins with onion dip and smoked wings at Michael Symon's Mabel's BBQ in Cleveland. I also saw a milk shake machine in a gas station in Kenosha. You take a shake in a cup and put it under an automated mixing device and then you have a shake. I forget the name of the company that provided it. I have had other local specialties (ie beef on weck in Buffalo) and went to other places that have been on tv, but, these are the things that were new to me.

Grub Crawl - West and East Colonial: Mama Lau & Oc and Paris Banh Mi Cafe Bakery

I tried these two Vietnamese newcomers today at lunch. The first is in "Chinatown" on West Colonial. The second is near Mills on East Colonial. They both opened around five months ago.

Mama Lau & Oc - I already forgot what Lau means, but oc means snails (or that's what they said even though both of my different dishes were called oc). Shelled creatures are their specialty. I had the Oc Huang Canada Nuong Tien (Grilled Canada Escargots with Garlic and Peppercorns) for $12 and Oc Mong Tay Canada Xao Me (Stir Fried Razor Clams with Tamarind) for $12. They have Canadian and "other" (American I guess) options. The Canadians are bigger. I'm not sure that made them better. The snails came in the shell. I'd wager they are sea snails kept in a tank (so probably fresh and not really escargot - land snails). The shells were more "grilled" than the meat. It kind of boiled in its own liquid. They were ok. 5 or 6 large suckers. There was not a a lot of surface area for the tamarind to make a difference/attach itself to. The razor clam (singular) was a joke. One clam for $12! It was also tough and had a gritty taste in the middle (maybe its stomach). It also had a fishy taste. Probably frozen at some point. The sauce was ok. They also had clams and fish and I saw another patron with a bowl of red crustacean legs. He said they were a big shrimp. I think he meant spiny lobster or langoustine. I didn't see it on the menu. The menu also had phos and clear broth soups (and other items). I ordered a pho with all their beef options (eye of round steak, well done flank, well done brisket, soft tendon/sinew and meatballs) because the waiter said the broth was made with no additives and flavored by the marrow of the beef bones. I believe his mother is "Mama". It was ok. To be honest, I couldn't really sense much of a difference from all the others I've had. Not salty. The meats were of a good quality and not as well done as advertised. Big bowl. Lots of noodles. It was more reasonable at $11. I usually don't get seafood at Asian places because it just never seems to be fresh enough or cooked properly enough. And all the other options are usually a third of the price. I can't say that this visit did anything to rebalance the weight of evidence. Which is a shame because that is why you will probably be seeking them out. But, give them a try and maybe you will have a different experience or perhaps you won't know how seafood should be prepared so you won't notice anything is amiss. They took over a place that was a pho place and a Chinese place before that. Right against the main road to the left of the big red gate. I don't think they did much to the interior. Maybe they did the murals, but if the last place was a pho place, they could have inherited them. I can't recall. Service was great. The waiter turned me on to the next place. I'll always be grateful for that alone. I was hoping to work in a Mamalooshin (something that Howard Stern used to say and I don't remember what it means but I think it was something people in the sticks used to say) reference. That's not possible mow.

Paris Banh Mu Café Bakery - I thought another older place down the road was the banh mi place we were talking about at Mama Lau, but, this is a brand new store front one block west of Mills. It has a whole, serve yourself bakery area, packaged goods, a fancier pastry area, drinks, banh mi and daily specials (like curry and stew).. I had the special banh mi (the traditional pate, pork roll and pork) for $5 and a taro slushie for $3.50. Both were good. They bake their own baguettes here. It was a thinner sandwich. Not overstuffed. I didn't really see any evidence of a dressing (ie vinegar). So, it didn't get all over my shorts (as usual) as I drove down the road with my big Vietnamese cigar hanging out of my mouth. Boy that's a vivid image. I'd get into the food more if I wasn't so fascinated by these jello cakes and pastries they have. They look like those resin replicas of food at Japanese restaurants. Clear gelatin with fake flowers (eatable and hand created) inside and on top of cakes, etc. So cool. The small ones only cost around $7 too. The big birthday type cakes were $40. I'm getting one on my next visit and may just stare at it until it goes rotten. I've never seen their like. The place is big. Lots of room to sit and eat. Modern. Brand spanking new. The packaged goods also looked really interesting. Things that looked like nuts and corn nuts, but, were obviously something else. And not mass produced. The packaging looked semi-professional/small batch. I say I'm going back because they told me Tori Tori finally opened a week ago. I'm definitely doing that asap and stopping here for sweets after. Just need to find the time and get additional info on Tori. So funny how things work out. This was not on the agenda and cost $36 less and was the better experience.

Byblos, Lake Mary

I tried this Paramount replacement in the shopping center with the Amstar theater yesterday at lunch. I was assured by the owner (as I left) that the food would be excellent. I guess that warranty didn't include food poisoning. Which is a shame because it tasted pretty good. However, I'm not about to give them credit for furthering what is becoming a birthday tradition. At least this time I was at home when the excitement ensued and not walking back from Octoberfest. I had three apps to try and sample as much as possible. The hummus with beef shwarma ($8), the hummus with lamb (bel lahme) ($10) and the chicken livers at ($7). I'm not sure what is to blame. I ate the shwarma for lunch and didn't feel any discomfort. Which is odd because it was the first carving of the day and who knows how they store the meat. Maybe it was a delayed fuse. The other two I nuked for dinner after being in the fridge. The nuking should have killed any microbes and the fridge kept it fresh. Anyhow, I'm not sure how much additional information I should proffer for a place that ruined my birthday and caused me much pain. They have been open for six months. It looks exactly the same (down to the broken video menu). The prices seemed the same. The menu is almost the same. Now Lebanese. The main difference seems to be a carefree attitude towards germs. I won't be going back.

*The Cozee place next door is closed too.

Mia's Italian Kitchen, IInternational Drive *GRE/ROM/CYP Travel Notes

I tried this Italian Kitchen on I Drive aside Boston Lobster Feast on Tuesday at lunch. I would like to give it the time it deserves, but, frankly I'm getting a little pissed off at the low levels of interest out there. I was skeptical when I pulled into the parking lot and it seemed like a chain experience. And although the owner owns Café Tu Tu Tango, it felt like a one off (which it is). They have struck a balance between intimacy and spectacle. It's a large space with two story ceilings. There is a bar in front of you as you enter (pizza oven too). To the first left is a seating area. To the right the bathrooms. The second left (after the hostess desk and before the bar) leads to a lounge area and then another seating area that flows around to the rear. The second right follows the bar. The interior design is unique. Too varied to explain. It works though. Not tacky. Not dull. The walls are festooned (I think that's the word I'm looking for) with art. The ceilings are Michaelangelo'd. Once again. it is busy, but, I found it exciting. Which is good because it was almost empty. Kind of like my viewership. I needed something to entertain me. They assured me that it is doing well and I'm sure it's a scene when packed. It must seat over ninety. I'd go into the colors and fabrics, but, that too is all over the map. They used their people from their restaurant empire in Arlington on the design. It has a fresh look.

I had the Sunday Gravy and took a Margherita Pizza to go. The Sunday Gravy was a stew of "leftovers". Chicken thigh (they said thighs), sweet Italian sausage, meatball (they said balls), bracciole and rigatoni in a tomato "gravy". The owner said his grandmother served this every Saturday (no Sunday - just seeing if you are paying attention). The sauce was a little bland. It just tasted of tomato to me (though they said the added other vegetables and stewed the meats in there). Not bad. Just unadulterated. Healthy. Some might be expecting a little more zing. (I checked and it was supposed to have grana padano in it. It either had very little or they forgot. I would have improved the flavor). The rigatoni was described as "al dente". It was a little over and under that. I'm not sure how that is accomplished, but, I've been thinking it over and I think they pre-boil to under al dente and then "refresh" it. With a thick pasta like this, it just reboiled the outside and left the center dry and the outside pasty. The rigatoni was also collapsed in on itself. Another sign of age. What ever was wrong with the sauce and pasta was more than made up for by the meats. The beef was falling apart and moist. Same with the chicken. The meatball was tender. The sausage too. The portion was huge too. It cost $21. The rest of the "specialties" run from $18 to $39 for a Bisteca alla Fiorentina. They have "common" fare like chicken parm for $19 and Branzino for $27. One everyday item for every ambitious item. That's hard to find. Usually it is one or the other. They also have sandwiches ($14-$16). I was intrigued by a wild mushroom hoagie. They have seven types of pasta and salad. A meat board in which they have two items they even make in house. A cheese board. Well chosen. 10 starters. I was curious about the egg yolk ravioli. Desserts. 10 pizzas. And it is pan pizza from a brick oven. Speaking of which, mine cost $6.50 and was four index card squares large with tons of little mozzarella "gumballs" on top. Nice bottom crust. Not  burnt. Not oily. There were so many enticements on the menu I can't get into them all. Let's just say that they don't lack creativity. When others would use canned button mushrooms, the use black trumpet.

Service was also good. The "wares" were hip. Everything is new and clean. Open nine months. Cloth napkins. Parking was a non-issue. They have tvs tuned to sports. The wine list was chosen well and not "me-too". ALOT of Italian choices. And one of there greatest accomplishments is the menu itself. It describes everything well and unpretentiously. It has a map explaining where everything is coming from. It's rare to find an accessible place (they have lunch cards) that has class and panache. They really should be giving classes in how to run a restaurant. I can't think of anyone who would feel uncomfortable here. I take that back. They world has never had as many a-holes. But, you get the point. I was really surprised and I may just do the unthinkable and haul my ass all the way down here again for an encore. It'll be on the Favorites list for sure. Mamma Mia that's a spicy meatball!

*Travel Notes - Greece/Romania/Cyprus: Corn pitas (Cyprus). They also had a waffle fry design. Speaking of waffles - bubble waffle cones (Crete). They also covered the cone with sprinkles. They also would dunk your gelato in chocolate sauce whenever you wanted. Macaron in gelato (Bucharest). Also hazelnut flavor. They put French fries in most of the gyros/shwarmas. In Cyprus they cut the potatoes into sections and then cut a notch on the skin side so they looked like lips. Cream Bougatta in Cyprus. Vanilla cream dessert. Fried haloumi (Cyprus). Haloumi is their specialty. Crispy Bagel (Brasov Romania). The crispy part was just chicken fingers , but, the bagel was like the lightest Kaiser roll you can ever imagine. Covri Dog (Brasov). A hot dog baked into a roll. Walnuts in honey (Corfu). They put this and kumquats on yogurt. There were tons of other dishes, but, these are things I had first hand. Sicily had a lot of fried fish.

Coco Cucina, Thornton Park

I tried this Mexican restaurant next to Oudom (same owner) at lunch over two weeks ago. It was ok. It offers more than just burritos and tacos. Things like: ceviche, elote, fried tequila pickles, fundido, paella, fire stones, meatballs and pozole. I had the ceviche rojo (Hamachi) for $14 and one of the $9 lunch specials (Mexican burger) for $9. The ceviche was fairly good. A lot of fish. It didn't seem too prepared in advance. They used citrus in the marinade. Not too astringent. Lots of avocado. A meal unto itself. The waiter/bartender sold me on the burger. It was ok. A mix of beef and chorizo. A bit tough because of the extra time needed to cook the pork. A lot of stuff with/on it. I think even fried onions. Fries too, I think. I was the only one seated at 1pm and the food took a little long to arrive. Maybe that meant the ceviche was fresh? Maybe they were cooking their lunch first? They have $5 happy hour items and a taco Tuesday. The menu has seafood and meat dishes. The room has been redecorated to appear Mexican. It has a modern feel. I can't remember what the last place was. French? I was expecting to hate it (because they just closed a failed Mexican place across the street and you would think they could take a hint), but, it was more ambitious than I expected. Given that I was the only patron, I hope this wasn't another case of my reviewing a restaurant in a death roll. Small tip - you may be able to park in one of their reserved spots in the condo behind them. Actually the Oudom spots. Otherwise parking is a problem. I had to park by Lake Eola. Oh yeah, this place is on South Eola. Open for nine months. You could do worse.

Todo Sushi, Maitland - Closed *MAC/SERB/NYC Travel Notes

I tried this Japanese restaurant in the old Zona Fresh location on 17-92 near Lee Rd yesterday at lunch. They have been open for five months. I did the "all you can eat" sushi option at $17. I was a little perturbed that I could have done the same at Koy Won for half the price if I didn't feel the need to waste my time and money as a food adventurer. However, I will say the quality is better here. Let's start with the rice. It is pretty good. Short grain. The second round of sushi rice was even warm. Not dry. Not over vinegar-ed. A tad over cooked. Not to bad. They even said they wash/polish the rice five times. I think three times is the most the best places do it. Not sure if you can over wash. They have a host of things from the appetizer section on the list of possibilities. I did steamed gyoza, edamame and shrimp tempura. The gyoza wasn't to mushy. Pork filled. The tempura was not greasy and well fried and fresh. The edamame was a little under steamed. They also had things like fried chicken, grilled chicken, miso soup, udon, soba, crab Rangoon, fried rice, etc available. On the sushi side they had a variety of rolls (hand and rolled). Even six of seven of their "special" rolls. Plus tuna, salmon, shrimp, egg, baby scallop and a few more. I had the aforementioned minus the tamago (egg). Twenty pieces in all. The salmon was good. The second batch of tuna was better. The baby scallops can be really sweet if fresh. These weren't. They tried to help them along with some sweet mayonnaise. Nice to see them try to provide a delicacy though. I also had a spicy albacore roll and a Philly Roll. The albacore was probably just spicy tuna. The best part was that the rice to fish ratio was "normal". Not the "over-ricing" you usually see at an all you can eat place. The stuff was made to order and although there was only one guy and four competing tables, it came out fast. Service was also good. That helped the efficiency. The place is big. It seats about eighty. Some booths. Some tables. Lots of space between tables. High ceilings. They could "pretty it up" a bit. I can't put my finger on it, but, it seemed a little too "lived in" to be five months old. You can order by the piece or separate meals, but, they add up to around the all you can eat price. They had a more extensive all you can eat option. I think  it was $23. They also have an all you can drink (sake or beer) option for $13. A beer on its own was $7. I'll probably rotate this with my Koy Wan visits.

*Travel Notes - Macedonia/Serbia/NYC:

Balkans - Ajvar or Alvar (I can't read my own handwriting) from Macedonia. A pepper and eggplant spread. Paprika Babura and Paprika Silja in Serbia. White looking peppers. Also Volcanos. A chocolate shell the looked like a crown filled with more chocolate or ganache. Many colors and all the chocolate varieties. KFC there also did a McDonald's like (mustard and ketchup and pickle) burger, but, with chicken. There was a Mexican chain in Belgrade called Burrito Madre. They had a machine that took in masa and kicked out a tortilla right on the grill in front of you. Our chains need to get on that. I'd bypass the goat cheese and field greens they use though.

NYC - I went to Flushing (last stop on 7 train past Citi Field) and ate at these Chinese spots. Stall 13 (Jia Xiang Wei) in the New York Food Court. I had pork cheeks and cucumber in a salad for $9. Served cold. Some hot sauce. A ton of food. I also had duck buns at Corner 28 for $1.25 a piece. Then across the street for a $4 soup bun (Xiao long bao) at Shanghai You Garden. Then on to the New World Mall and Old Luoyang (Stall 4) for a $7 plate of Henanese (a guy told me they make all the I Phones here) cold skin sweet potato noodles with bean sprouts. Actually good once you add the hot, vinegar, garlic and peanut sauces. But why do all noodles have zero flavor? I thought these suckers would be sweet. They were blue. I got these names from a Air BnB Mag article about eating around Queens. That idiot did four or five areas in a day. Where did he or she put it?

I also did up some things in Brooklyn. Red Hook - Hometown BBQ. Worlds slowest line. Average brisket. Dry. Over peppered. Good pulled pork. But, they dunked it in juice. Cheating. Both were $12 a half pound. Korean Sticky ribs were good. Bensonhurst (I think) - L&B Spumoni Gardens. OK pizza in round or square shapes. More of a scene. I also had a rainbow spumoni. Like ice cream. $3 or $4 for the slices. I also went to the Brooklyn Beer Brewery in Williamsburg. Free tours.

Manhattan - Ivan Ramen on Clinton and Houston. I mentioned I had seen him on TV a few posts back. Good shio ramen bowl for $16. Fresh noodles and pork belly. Fuku on Front St and Pine.- fast fried chicken by David Chang. Actually really good. $8 for a half. I also did a another chicken place (Sticky's Finger Joint on Maiden near Broadway) with good sauce combos (like mac and cheese). $5 for 10 large firecracker pieces or two fingers (half a breast size each). 8 locations in NYC. Across the street was an Indian fast food place (Koti Roll Co) that did tikka (etc) in naan. I mention it because I said I wanted to see this happen.and I guess it has. Now it just needs to happen here.

I also went to the Bronx to some place called City Island. Ate at a place called City Island Lobster House. OK. Hard to believe this is that close to the urban jungle.

Latest "in" things are the Hudson Yards and The Vessel. Moulin Rouge is going to be on Broadway.

Le House, Downtown

I was reticent to post the last two reviews because my European discoveries in the post before them would be pushed below these reviews and be ignored. So read them.

I tried this Vietnamese restaurant on Church St (in between the Amway and the soccer stadium) today. I popped in at lunch time and grabbed a few apps to go for dinner. I always figured there would be no chance at finding a parking spot during the day, but, there were a few (and unmetered) and they said a lot on the opposite corner is always open. I had tried to come here on a Saturday night a few weeks ago. It was closed. I thought there was some emergency or something, but, they said they aren't open on Saturday. No business 'business". I selected three apps because one can only have so much pho or rice dishes. I like to try and expand my vocabulary, but, it hard to find a Vietnamese place that plays more than the greatest hits. I had spring roll (2) in case I hated the two "experiments". It cost $3 and was poor. A bit over fried and the contents didn't have much taste. It was like it was filled with vermicelli rice noodles. I also had Nem Chua. That was three fermented pork paste flat patties steamed in banana leaves. They were sooo hot. Like ghost chili hot. And they paired them with a hot sauce or a vinegar sauce. They jam a big hunk of raw garlic in it too and give you more raw garlic hunks on the side. Odd. I almost tossed them out. They cost $5. I tried another pork app and it was better. It was like a summer roll (2). A strip of sweet salty sausage with "banh mi toppings" inside rice paper. And a fried cracker crisp. It came with a goopy orange sauce that was very salty and another cup of the hot sauce. It was cold when I took it out of the container and I didn't see if it was warm to begin with. Therefore I didn't know how it should be served. I split the difference and warmed it in the nuker for 15 seconds. That didn't kill the veggies. It was ok. I thought the vinegar sauce was better here. I also popped in the remaining spicy patties and they worked better here. It's like the two pork items should be switched. The veggies tempered the heat. It was called Nem Nurong Cuon. It also cost $5. The place looks new and clean and cute. Some might consider it hip. They opened in November. The name is from their last name. The "Le" is pronounced "lay" and it's their "house". I suspect that the rest of the menu is treated with care. I saw a to go vegetarian chicken dish being inspected by the purchaser and it looked finely prepared.

Due Amici, College Park (Closed)

I tried this new (two weeks) Italian restaurant in the old Kingfish location on Edgewater and the street that leads to I-4 (not sure if that is Princeton going that way) today at lunch. It's somewhere between an average Italian place and a good Americanized one. They said they have a location in Tampa. This is number two. I had a lasagna for $10 and a personal pizza to go for $8. The lasagna was a bit bland and I didn't like the sauce. They added carrots and celery to the tomato sauce. I don't want a V8 in my sauce. Especially not chunks. Celery has a disagreeable flavor if it has any at all. And carrot can as well. At best it gives a sweetness that this sauce already had too much of. It made me think of all those kids whose mothers sneak veggies into their brownies, etc. The horror. The pasta was also dried out on the edges (reheating) and seemed under boiled in general. The cheeses seemed low quality. It was a big square though. It came with a garlic knot that was tough and dry in the center and top. The bottom was a bit more moist. The pizzas I saw on the other tables looked a bit prettier than my plain cheese one. I'm not sure how they cooked it. It had no char, so, I'm thinking conveyer belt. It was a bit nicer than those though. On the positive side, it had good cheese coverage, was thin and the crust was tiny. On the negative side, the cheese was cheap (salty and rubbery and congealed quickly) and they doused it with garlic olive oil that had raw chucks of garlic in it. I thought it was more "chunky soup" sauce, but, I think it was the oil. Not much sauce now that we are speaking about it. They are serving a soft opening menu of the pizzas, three burgers, the pizzas and two more pasta dishes. I just saw a show that says the bigger the menu the greater the chance of frozen items being used. Hopefully this menu precludes that. I would ask them to ask themselves whether they want to be a two star or three star place. They need better execution in the kitchen and better ingredients in the larder for that to happen. As of now it is probably no better (or worse) than the other American Italian places already in business on Edgewater. The place is basic inside. It seats about thirty. Tables of two or four. Bar in the rear. Brick backdrop. 40 and 50's music (think Sinatra) over the speakers. Faux marble counter tops on plywood tables. You can see the underside. I hope they aspire to more than mediocrity. If they tweak things a bit, that should be possible.

Grub Crawl - Maitland: Houndstooth Kitchen & Eatery and 407 Gelato (Closed) *England/France/SpainTravel Notes

I tried this Kitchen & Eatery and this Gelato spot in the back of the newish apartments (not  the ones adjacent to the Publix) on 17-92 at lunch on Thursday.

Houndstooth - They used to have a sauce outlet in the East End Market. I had a roast beef and cheddar melt for $10 (all sandwiches cost this much) and a bbq brisket taco for $3.50. They "house roast" their beef. It was ok. A little gray and not too much flavor. They add a dijonaise (their wording) dressing and serve it on sourdough. They give you an unnecessary additional cup of the dressing. If you add a side the cost of the meal now climbs to $13. Two sides and it is $14. They have 10 sandwiches and six sides. Rueben, Cuban, Turkey, etc. A pimento is as crazy as it gets. Sides are slaw, potato salad, orzo, chips, pickle and quinoa. The taco was the better value. A big helping of brisket. Served on a metal "accordion". Pretty good. Heavily sauced. Flour tortilla. I just saw an episode of that Pati lady who looks like a parrot and she said that no real Mexican would use a flour tortilla for a taco. I think they might if they thought up this combination. They also offer a sloppy mo and mojo pork. They have three soups. $6 a bowl. 4 salads and 3 "lettuce boats". 3 kid-centric sandwiches (ie fluffernutter). They also make food for dogs. It's a small place. It seats six or eight inside and the same on the patio. It has been open for two months. Just below "put in the effort to try it" status. Good if you live close by though.

407 Gelato - They opened a few months ago and I swear I've been to one of their locations (past or present). They have one in Oviedo and one elsewhere. This one is solely for gelato. I had a piccolo chocolate for $5. It was ok. They have around fourteen flavors. It's a white walled ice cream shop. Nothing to write home about.

*Travel Notes - England/France/Spain: And now to strange things I came across in England, France and Spain.

Chocolate DIPPED croissants (the whole thing). I think this was done in Spain.
Fried lasagna (London)
Fried egg flavored potato chips (this was made by Vincent Vidal Co in Navarra and someone should import it. It tasted exactly like what it is trying to taste like and it wasn't disgusting. Plus chips is Spain are just fried better. Actually in each of those countries. They must use some unhealthy oil.

Blackberry juice. They offered up a lot of fruit flavors in the Bocqueria in Barcelona. This one stood out.
Taquitos of Jamon de Cebo - In Barcelona they give you a paper cone and fill it with bits of Iberico pork for 5E. I think it's the leftovers, but, it's a good, cheap way to get your ham on.
Pas de Pessic Coco - a Spanish chocolate pastry
Flautas - In Spain, this is what they called sandwiches on thin baguettes. Same in France. Except it was in French. I just saw bread called this in France. No sandwiches.
Bottled Asparagus - France. And disgusting and mushy. They also canned cassoulet and foies and other terrines and things. Cheap.
Bonne Maman Tartlettes - That French company that makes jam makes tartes with the jam and sells them nine in box. I had lemon and strawberry. Lemon was better. These need to be imported if they aren't already.
Very Pamp Rose - I think I'm late to the game on this one, but, rose mixed with fruit juice (in this case grapefruit) is all the rage in France.
Ciambotta - A hollowed out bun filled with stuff (ie meat ragu). I had this at a stall in Camden Market in London. They said it is a thing in Puglia. A great concept for a franchise. At least it is different. I also ate a cereal place there. Cereal Killers. And though that is being done in the US, they had a few options I haven't seen used often. They did a fried chicken with frosted flakes. I had a Lucky Charms ice cream/milk. They didn't do cereal flavored milk though.
Duck Banh Mi - Paris.
Battenberg Cake - Canterbury
Cheese -Brie de Meaux, Saint Marcelin, Saint Nectair. They are all French. The last was the best. Similar to a cheese I had as a kid and could never find again. Some cheese guy brought it in to our French class in middle school. He called it Salzburg. I have never been able to track it down.

I also ate a place (Monsoon) on Brick Lane in London (Indian food). It turned out to be Bandgladeshi. D'oh. However, that explained some of the peculiarities on the menu. Like: Chot poti, kebab roll, tikka in a skillet, balti, and the following curries - bhuna, patha, dupiyaza, saag, Ceylon, dansak. There were a lot more, but that is what I can remember. I had the first three. The chot poti was just tamarind stewed chick peas with boiled egg slices. I thought the egg was going to be more scrambled like. The kebab roll was ground meat in naan. I've never seen a kebab like item in an Indian place. Probably because it wasn't Indian. I'd like to see more naan sandwiches. The tikka was like a fajita plate. I really liked this presentation. I had it with lamb and chicken. Really expressed the lamb well. The balti (many types) was some type of sourish "national" dish. It sounded interesting, but, not enough to win out.

That's what I can recall. If I remember anything else I will put it in a future post. They had a very large vending machine in Barcelona called Yoo Shop. Like a school bus. I also found Belon oysters in a market in Lorient, but, the guy couldn't open them for me. Crepes and waffles are big in Brittany.

Baan Chan, UCF Area

I tried this Thai place on 50 near 419 on Wednesday for dinner. It's in a decrepit strop mall near Gyroville (recently reviewed) They have been open for a few months. I had two apps and a soup. Thai Heaven Beef for $4.50. Soft Shell Crab for $$6.50. Tom Zab Pork Soup for $4. The beef was ok/ A little more thick and fried than I recall Thai Beef being. Jerky like. The crab was misrepresented as a serving of 2. Since when is one thing cut in two equal to two? The crab also didn't taste very fresh. I blame the 3D episode I just watched (a spot in Cape something - I'm still brain dead from my last trip - near Kitty Hawk NC) for making me hunger for soft shell crab. The soup was ok. The pork (rib meat) was tender. You had to spit out bones, etc or swallow them though. I'm a spitter. The broth was a little bland. It contains garlic, galangala (I just learned this is weaker tasting but similar to ginger), kaffir lime leaves, coriander, lemon grass, tamarind and rice powder. I ordered this because I just saw a show on Cambodian cooking and these ingredients were basically in all dishes (in Thailand too) and I wanted a reason to talk about them. I also learned that fish sauce is often the only protein they get. Shrimp paste is similarly necessary. I also learned that they use turmeric and it is an orange root similar to ginger. We just see the powder. The rest of the menu consists of five more soups, nine more apps and ten mains. The place looks old. Like they did zero with what they inherited. It seats about forty. They said that Bann Chan in Thai means "little house" or something like that. Weird that Korean and Thai have the same word with totally different meanings. It's ok, but, I wouldn't go out of my way for it. Closed on Monday.

*In the next post I will recant all the oddities I experienced in Europe over the last three weeks. I'm too pressed to do it now..

The Old Jailhouse, Sanford

I tried this American restaurant on South Palmetto Ave tonight. I thought they were kind of new, but, they opened in February. I had Low Country Shrimp and Sausage for $23. It came with collard greens and cheese grits in a sausage gravy. Aside from the price (a shrimp and grits - which this basically is - usually goes for $15), it was very good. The shrimp (5) were medium sized and seemed to be a cut above frozen bag shrimp. The sausage (4 thin slices) was fine. Didn't seem to have too much provenance. The greens were plentiful. A little salty. Stewed in a vegetable or chicken stock. The gravy was thin. Pleasant. The grits were the best component. I was going to order a $24 bouillabaise, but, it only came with a crostini. Those two sides would have added around $10 dollars to the bill if taken as sides. The plating was fine. White dish. Grits in the middle. Boy - Girl Boy - Girl on the sausage and shrimp. Greens at the top of the plate. Gravy moat. The apps were all around $10 and basic. Wings, cheese fries, soup, pork belly, Caesar salad, etc. The mains were all over $20. Sans a burger ($15). Two chicken dishes, steak, fish special, etc. They serve beer, wine, hooch. It seats fifty in the middle room. Twenty on the patio. Maybe more in another enclosed side patio. Eight or so in three different private areas. It is purported to be the site of the old jailhouse, They built on that reputation. It looks Western. Which is cool because I always feel Sanford had a ghost town type charm and should play that up. The interior is white washed, red brick. Black ceilings. Metal fixtures. Gray tile floor. Natural wood tables. Black plethora chairs. Old time photos. A few tvs. Service was ok. They had six or so waitresses/floaters, so, each table had their own server. Mine seemed to get lost more than she should have. The food also wasn't exactly streaming out of the kitchen. They don't do lunch and are closed on Sundays. Seems like an odd schedule for the area. I found it charming and the food was good enough. It will be on the Favorite's List. A slight trim on the pricing or more creativity on the menu would be welcome but not required. It was about a quarter full at 6pm. There didn't seem to be a dress code. Nice addition that I wish I had learned of earlier.

*Sanford has had some turn over. Shannon's is back in a new location up the street. Another place opened in her old location. Seemed different from the last replacement. Zocalo (a new one or a resurrection) is next door. It remember another place with that name on the main street. A bar (Throwbacks) is a few doors down. I forget what it replaces. The "fish" bar is a cigar bar. A Buddha something place is next door. I think it was food. These are all on that street one down from Palmetto (I forget the name). A F&D Italian is opening on the main street into town (also forgot that name).

**Saw a recipe on Cook's County for North Carolina Lemon Pie. It looked cool. Like Key Lime Pie, but, a saltine crust!

***The news said that the I-4 project is almost 260 days behind schedule and has two years left. They tried to say that it will be done by 2012. Late 2021! As in 2022!

Cherish this post because you (all five of you - thanks Google shadow banners) aren't getting a new one for a while.

Proper & Wild, Winter Park - Closed

I grabbed a salad to go at this vegan spot in one of the "locations of death" on Morse (diagonal from Bosphorous) on Wednesday. I believe it was a vegan place two iterations ago. So they either don't think much of history (or past management) or didn't do enough research or really think tastes have changed in a short period of time. The lunch menu is boring. Apps, flatbreads, sandwiches, "burgers" and salad bowls. The dinner "mains" (same menu as lunch with mains in for sandwiches) are more creative. That means they have a pasta and a curry dish and one more burger. I had a Medina bowl for $14. I'm not sure if it was a good thing (because it was so bad) or a bad thing that it was a very small portion. Hardly a half a cup of the star element (pearl couscous). Maybe a fourth. Some rubbery carrots. Charred cauliflower. Acrid taste. The arugula was the best element. It came with a weird tahini like dressing. Every element was bitter. They even added teeth busting coriander seed to the mix. A side shot cup of a harissa hummus (if I'm correct). The designer of this dish is the taste bud equivalent to tone deaf. And I'm judging it as a vegan place. That means it is below soul food in the pantheon of flavor/complexity. They are a branch of another vegan place downtown - Sanctum Café. I can't remember what grade I gave them. In any event, I didn't expect to like this much and ended up liking less than that. It's a shame because it looks cute. Very white, clean and modern. They had some customers. All women and one dude just there to flirt with the girl at the front bar. I'd like to say I won't be back, but, knowing the location's track record, I will. Just under different management. Maybe those who haven't had real food in an eon will find the food more pleasing. Although, I think my dish would disappoint even them and was one of their weaker efforts. Opened recently.

Eola General, Downtown

I tried this market/deli on Amelia near some cross street like Cathcartt (or something like that) for lunch on Wednesday. Near the middle of Lake Eola in between it and 50. They have only been open for four months and already have swapped out the food supplier. So much for the Weekly's review. Why a guy with a week to compose a column is visiting these little establishments lately is confusing. Now (for two weeks) you can get some sandwiches (six or so) on a bagels via Swan City Bagels. I had the Waldorf chicken salad at $9.50. I don't like bagels as a sandwich bread. It really makes no sense when you cut chicken breast into large pieces. You'd have to be a boa constrictor or a Tri Delt to get that thing in your mouth. Even if you split in in halves, the salad spills out all over the place. The salad was also bland. Too healthy. I think they use Greek yogurt in lieu of mayo. And not a lot of it. The bagel was good. Sadly, I could taste it through the salad. Another indication of the total lack of flavor. It came with a side. I tried the potato salad. It was basically three (too large) pieces of red potato with onion and a bushel full of parsley. It was frigid. The potatoes were rubbery. Bland again. I also tried a gimmick they have called a garlic-y pickled egg. It's two pickled hard boiled eggs on a skewer with pickle slices and pearl onions dusted with Everything bagel seasoning. It was nothing to write home about. Sour and salty isn't my thing. Plus old, cold hard boiled eggs aren't either. Maybe a softer yolk would help. It cost $3. They really don't sell much else at the store. Beverages.and some produce. Very underwhelming. I would only go for a bagel with cream cheese. And only if I lived nearby. I am also assuming the cream cheese isn't girly-fied via Greek yogurt or the like. They also have a coffee provider (outsourced). Coffee means nothing to me, so, I didn't commit it to memory.

Bocadillos Cafe, Winter Springs

After the disastrous trip to UCF (read below), I at least had a little luck on my way home. I stopped at this Puerto Rican restaurant on 434 in between Winter Springs and 17-92 and grabbed a steak sandwich to go. It cost $8. It was a pressed sandwich with potato strings, Swiss cheese and mayo. The steak on it's own tasted a bit gamey and grainy. However, the texture and flavor worked when joined by its buddies. I can't guess the cut of meat or the method of preparation. I'm guessing - boiled? It was like tough meatloaf. The serve pork, beef, chicken, shrimp on sandwiches and with mofungo and with platters. They have a special plantain "bun" sandwich. They have a singular fish special. They have wine and beer. Open for lunch and dinner. Seats about thirty. Family run. It's in a mostly (since time immemorial) vacant strip mall behind Vittorio's. Very hard to see from the road. It was a café the last time I checked. They painted it a burnt orange and black. Some painted flourishes on the wall (like the PR flag and their name). They have survived for two years. I believe the name (as I've previously stated) translates to "little bites".

Grub Crawl - UCF Area: Gyroville (Closed) and Omelet Bar

I went to these places at lunch today. The first is on 50 in between 417 and Alafaya Trail in a strip mall. The second is in the shopping area across from UCF (University) near the McDonald's.

Gyroville - I had a traditional gyro for $7. It was junk. This is a fast food chain from South Florida. It's as if someone took the gyro off the Miami Sub's menu and opened a chain that only sells that. The meat is bought formed into a slab. They don't even freshly shave the meat. It's some kind of blend. Spam. Gyram. The other option is chicken. Wings, Greek salad, veggie soup and falafel burger. And that is it. I'm not joking. They also monkey with the sauces. IE Honey Mustard Tzatziki. Ugh. Open since March.

Omelet Bar - I'll review the meal first and then tell you about some concerns. I had a lobster eggs benedict for $12. It came with house potatoes. It was bad. One yolk was already spilled out on the plate. The English muffin wasn't toasted enough. The lobster was not lobster (sharimi blend). It didn't taste good. The potatoes seemed like they had been left out since the morning rush. The rest of the menu is uneventful. Waffles, pancakes, eggs, burgers and sandwiches. Now let's get to my concerns. The first is the "lobster". I had a chat with the manager and he proffered that it is a 60-40 blend that they buy frozen in bulk. This is more than puffery. It is mis-labeling and fraud. They at least need to put quotation marks around the word lobster on the menu or have an asterisk with explanation. He said he suggested this to the owner and was told to zip it. That brings me to me next concern. An owner with that kind of mentality is not one to reward with your patronage. The place's look (water stained ceiling tiles, clutter, etc) also denote a lack of pride. One last concern. The hostess may have meddled with my soda ($2.50 un-refilled). I may have been a bit snippy (to a snowflake) about being asked to sit at the counter and she looked too happy when she came back with my drink. Let's hope it was just spit and she doesn't have mono. As I said, the look is bit messy. Booths. Two sided room. I would submit that almost every other chain (Keke's, First Watch, Broken Egg, etc) is better. They have been open for two years. They close at 2pm. Too bad it's not for good. Surprisingly not a chain.

Juicy Pot, West Colonial *England Travel Notes

I tried this hot pot restaurant in Chinatown at lunch on Wednesday. It opened under a month ago. It looks nice, but, the food is nothing to write home about. I tried a simple hot pot even though I really didn't want it. I chose a veggie broth ($4) and udon noodles ($1) and bok choy ($1). The noodles were gross. Already mushy. Defrosted. The bok choy was fresh enough. They have inset hot plates that they place the broth pot on and you add the rest. I also had a pound of blue crab for $11. Three crabs cut in half. They were boiled. I prefer steamed. They seemed frozen. They didn't give you a tiny fork to pick out claw meat. I also tried a half pound of crawfish. They also tasted frozen. That cost $6. A soda can was $2.50. They also sell all the hot pot add ins and lobster and abalone and some other seafood. I just wish the food was as good as the décor. It's white and modern. Fifteen, four pot booths and a "bar" of single seats that runs down one side of the booths. Four tvs. Some wall murals. Another annoyance was the local r & b and rap station they had on. I'm not a big fan of one imbecilic lyrical line repeated for three minutes. "Let me rub you down". Hard to say which is more annoying - mumble rap or 80's r & b. I also would like them to have held back one of the items instead of bringing everything out at once. Soup was over cooked. Seafood got cold. There were four others eating while I was there. You don't have to rush to sample this place.

*Travel Notes - England: I saw a weird drink at a boba place in Manchester England. Cheese in the boba. I guess it must be powdered cheese? Not much else to mention. Yorkshire pudding wraps in Leeds and York. Black olives on a cc and lox bagel. Some kind of empanada/pasty called a Bridey in Carlisle. I also had a mackerel sandwich in Leeds at Mr Mackerel. They said they are big in Istanbul. So, if you go there try and find them.

F&D Italian Kitchen, Hourglass District

I tried this Italian restaurant on Curry Ford Road (opposite Claddagh's) on Tuesday for dinner. It has been open for seven months. It replaced another Italian spot (Peppino's?) that I evidently wasted my time on just before it closed. I guess this from the F&D people in Lake Mary. Therefore, I'm not surprised that I liked it. I changed a chicken parm or rigatoni Bolognese order to a due carni pizza (sausage and pepperoni) at the last second. I'm not sure what fate would have held if I hadn't, but, the pizza was great. The sole criticism could have been some bubbles (unpounded dough) in the crust. However, it was one of the better pies I can remember having in town. Nice char. Toothy dough with some richness (olive oil). Not tough. No residual flour. Nice and plentiful pepperoni and sausage (hot fennel seed). Thin. Nice cheese. Nice sauce. Not too much. Nice coverage. Some rosemary (maybe in the oil). Bigger than the usual personal size. 10"?. And freshly made. It cost $15. They have a Wednesday special where they sell a margherita for $7 or $8. They sell around ten styles of pizza. An arugula prosciutto pie next to me looked good. Stacked with fresh arugula. They had lasagna and spaghetti and meatballs and mussels served on a flat iron skillet (special price on Monday). Maybe ten more dishes. They serve beer and wine. I think they list the sodas at $2.50, but, my bill shows $3. Maybe they refill. They didn't. *I don't know if I have enough personal evidence/experience to expose a trend, but, this wouldn't be the first time a F&D restaurant billed me for an item higher than the menu price.  They didn't do much to the place. Maybe some paneling and some murals/stencils. I think the old place had their wood burning oven in the same place. It seats thirty (tightly) in the front room and the same on the enclosed patio. Both rooms were full at 6:30pm. They have five or so wait staff, but, they seemed overwhelmed for some reason. All in all, I was very pleased. I will make it a point to come back. F'in delicious.

*I gave one last drive by Never Never Naan. It was closed as usual. That will be my last attempt until some other new place requires my presence in the neighborhood.