Grub Crawl - Winter Park: Cava, Bitebound and Cafe Don Juan *CA Travel Notes

I tried these places last Wednesday at lunch. All are off 17-92 or Orlando Ave or whatever one of many names they use for this stretch of road. The first is in the strip mall on Lee Rd. The next to are closer to DT. Across from the Krispy Kreme.

Cava - Same owners as Zoe's. They said out of Bethesda MD. I almost left when I saw signs stating the "curated" bowls. May be the most unnecessary and over(mis)used piece of pretentiousness that the smarmy hipsters that swarm around us have concocted in their short but annoying time on our planet. I settled on the $10 Greek Chicken Pita because it was the cheapest item and they wouldn't let me get a bowl with only grains (and not salad too). Too jet lagged to argue. It was ok. The guy filling it gave me too much (I think). He seemed new (or liked the cut of my jib). The girl next to him gave him a look like - you gave that guy way too much. Thigh meat. It had an large gumball of hummus and tzatziki. They smeared those. Big, fresh pita. Made out of something not ordinary. Feta. Pickles. Tomato. Open for five weeks. It was jammed. Fast food look. Order at counter.

Bitebound - A one off. Open for seven weeks. Almost the same as Cava. More things. Less pricey. I grabbed a mini bowl for $6. A large bowl is probably the same things with a little more salad or grains. This was plenty. I topped grains (quinoa, rice and some other grain) with fajita beef and brocolini and avocado smash. The beef was a bit tough. To be expected at this price point. The broccolini was dried out. The smash was made with non-Haas avocados. Could have been worse though. You choose (no curating here) from a big menu of add ons. More than bowls. A big bowl is $10. Good value. Clean, new store. Order at a counter. Empty.

Cafe Don Juan - Not to be confused with Juan Valdez. A Puerto Rican place. More than coffee. Next to Bitebound. Biggish space with white and black tiles. Order at the counter. Breakfast all day. Looked interesting. Lunch too. Mainly sandwiches and soups. A bit pricey. mid teens. Thusly, I just tried a spinach empanada for $4. Tiny. Barely filled inside. Worth a try. They have those drinks too. More of restaurant than a coffee shop.

Travel Notes - California: I flew into Ontario for $191 on Frontier. Car rental by Budget was $398. Slept the first night near airport at Ontario Airport Inn for $105. Drove 10 to 15 to 8 the next day to SD (Point Loma). Had lunch at Hodad's. A cb with ff. On 3D. Walked Ocean Beach. Drove to Cabrillo NM. Slept at Sunrise Inn for $97. Ate yellowtail sashimi and chowder in a sourdough bowl at Point Loma Seafood. On $40 a Day with Rachael Ray. Walked the docks. Had beer at Eppig Brewery. Ate lunch the next day at Phil's BBQ. On 3D. Saw Pechanga Arena (old Clippers arena). Drove 8 to 15 to Temecula. Stayed two nights at Rancho California Inn for $115 a night. Went to these wineries: Hart, Callaway, Peltzer, Doffo, Lorimar - Day 2 - Altisima, Leoness, Masia de la Vinya, Cougar and Somerset. Popped in (but left for various reasons) to: Vindemia, Akash, Miramonte, Maurice Carrie, Chapin and Bottaia. Had beer at Refuge Brewery. Had dinner of hd and chili cheese ff at Dogs n Suds. Had lunch of tri tip and potato salad (in the sandwich) at Hobos's BBQ. On 3D. Drove 15 to 74 to Manhattan Beach. Stayed at Wave Hotel for $170. Ate lunch of chicken salad at Manhattan Beach Bread and Bagel. Had a donut at Randy's Donuts (in LA). Went to Sofi Stadium to see Chargers and Cowboys. Had drinks at Hermosa Saloon in Hermosa Beach. Drove 405 to 10 to 1 to Malibu. Ate a hd at Malibu Mutt's Grill. Had a tuna and avocado sandwich with salad at John's Garden. Drove up PCH. Stayed at Good Nite Inn in Camarillo for $101. Stumbled upon an air show. Went back down PCH the next day to Malibu. Had a turkey and avocado panini with Caesar salad at Tra Di Noi. Had a fried scallop sandwich at Malibu Seafood. Drove back up PCH to Ojai (101 to 33). Stopped at these beaches: El Matador, El Pescador, La Piedra and Sycamore Cove at Point Mugu. Stayed in Ojai at the Chantico Inn for $83. Had wine at Topa Mountain Winery. Had lavender valley ice cream at Ojai Ice Cream. Saw Lake Casitas. Drove out the opposite side of town (150?) to 101 (it met up with another highway in between). Drove down PCH to Malibu. Had a mortadella sandwich at Malibu Kitchen. Drove PCH to 10 past Ontario to 330 to 18 to Big Bear Lake. Ate dinner of meatball sub at Village Pizza. Drove to airport. Red eye home. I bought chicken tamales and Bucheron goat cheese one night. When I ran out of crackers I put the cheese atop the tamales. It worked.

Grub Crawl - UCF Area: Dave's Hot Chicken and J-Petal *England Travel Notes

I tried this two spot in or near the Waterford Lakes shopping center a week ago at night. 

Dave's Hot Chicken - Started in LA in 2017. Now a chain of overpriced chicken sliders and tenders and fries. I ponied up $7 for a single slider. It was like every other chicken sandwich. I didn't do a crazy sauce. It was bigger (being called a slider) than I thought it would be. Still smallish. Place was packed with hipsters and college kids. It's deep inside the market place. On the right. Opened a few months ago. *Saw some place called White Rabbit or something was being built in there. Desserts.

J-Petal - Across the road in a strip mall near some big box store. They said they opened three years ago. Don't know why I bypassed them. Weird combo of Japanese stuff (poke, misubi, ice cream in crepes, drinks, tacos etc). I had dinner and most things were pricey, so, I grabbed a spam and egg misubi for $7. It was good. Big. Good rice. Fresh. Even the fried egg was gooey. They have a barrier of plastic between you and them. However, it only goes up half way. Love these Covid alarmists. They won't let it die. I think they need it to make their lives seem important (or oppressive - so they can seem victimized and get pity).

*Travel Notes - England: I flew into London (the county) Stansted for the first time. Still a busy airport. Seemed like mostly Easy Jet and Ryan Air to European cites. Took a train (underneath airport) to Liverpool St (East End) for $32L round trip. Had to take tube to Paddington Station for $6L. Slept at Prince William Hotel for $82. Ate curry chicken at Prince of Wales. Walked to Somerset House and Court Auld Gallery. Didn't go in. Too much. Walked back to hotel. Took train to Oxford for $30L. Stayed at West Gate Hotel (near station) for two nights at $113 per. Took bus ($6L rt) to Blenheim Castle. Duke of Marlborough. Gift for beating Louis 14th plus Churchill's home ($20L). Came back. Walked to Christ Church College. Had salmon and cc bagel and Eton Mess ice cream at G & D's. Saw the clock tower and castle. Took train ($7L rt) next day to Warwick. Saw castle and cathedral. Didn't go in. It was cheezy and around $50L. Like a theme park. Back to Oxford. Went to covered food hall and had a lamb and mint slice at David John. Had pineapple gelato at iScream. Tried Christ Church again. Sold out again. Harry Potter dining hall is there. Walked to the other colleges. and Ashmolean Museum. Good and free. Train to Reading. Cornish Beef and Potato Pasty at Pumpkin. On to Exeter. Train cost $72L. Stayed at Holiday Inn for two nights at $92 per. Ate at a great gyro fast food chain called Original German Doner Kebab. Out of Berlin. Had a mixed Kiki. Got a croissant at Truffle Hounds. Got cheese and cider at Pullo. Saw the High St and cathedral. Next day ate cod pieces and salt and pepper squid at Hook Fish and Chips. Took train ($8L rt) to Okehampton and Dartmoor National Park. I could have picked a better entry point. Had strawberry milkshake and brownie at Love Brownies. Went to Paignton to wait out a train strike ($7L). Stayed at Berry Hotel for $51. Ate fried chicken and chips at Mariner's Fish and Chips. Ate a Bakewell Slice at Hallet's. Took a steam train to Dartmouth and back for $20L. Paignton is on the sea and has a pier. Took train to New Quay for $18L. It is their surf area. Lots of beautiful beaches and coast line. Was going to go to a King Arthur site. but, too much of haul. Stayed two nights at Beresford Hotel for $125 per. Ate lotus biscoff ice cream at Freddo's. Ate steak and Stilton pasty at Morris Pasties. Ate Pondicherry (a French part of India) cod curry at Rick Stein's at Fistral. He's a television star there. And I just bumped into one of his places. Took unlimited travel $5L bus to Penzance. Stayed at Union Hotel for $108. Took bus to Porthcurno. Pretty beach, outdoor theater on the cliffs and site of first underwater cable (to India). Bus to Mousehole. Cute harbor. Train back to London for $78L. Stayed two nights at Nayland Hotel (Paddington) for $115 per. Walked to Chelsea stadium and a cemetery. Walked to British Library (Magna Carta), British Museum (Rosetta Stone), Churchill War Room ($24L), Dickens Museum, Hyde Park, et al. Ate fried dumplings and pork rice dumpling (like misubi) at Lin Lin Crepes in Chinatown. Tube back to Liverpool St. Train to Stansted. Stayed at Radisson Blu at airport for $158.

**Some oddities I experienced: pop dots, pulled beef with bulgher wheat. Learned that John Dory may be Jaune D'Oree (the colors in French) and most English Indian food is really from Bangladesh because that's who cook it for them.

Grub Crawl - Lake Mary and Altamonte Springs: Bubbakoos Burritos and I Heart Mac and Cheese *Northern Ireland Travel Notes

I tried the first place on Saturday. It's in the strip mall on Lake Mary Blvd that has a Beth's Burgers and Winn Dixie. I tried the second yesterday. It is in the strip mall on 434 called Jamestown Place.

Bubbakoos Burritos - I heard about one on John Young and Sand Lake and then I saw this location. They opened a week ago. A franchise from NJ. Needless to say that NJ and redneck does not equal quality Mexican food. They didn't even really have a redneck-y menu. So, I don't get the marketing angle. I grabbed three tacos for $10+. Ground beef. Flavorless. Typical toppings. Also bland. I had a coupon from a mailer for a free taco. Tried a carnitas. Also blase. They sell bowls and burritos and tacos and some oddities (ie something like a rice ball). Assembly line ordering. Nothing much too recommend.

I Heart Mac and Cheese - Almost the same story. More food court America. Mac and grilled cheese and tacorinos here. I believe they are from Michigan. This branch opened in May. I had the Classic Mac and Cheese bowl for $7. The spiral pasta. Some wet cheese sauce. They let you top it with superfluous slices of cheese. I picked mozz because I just didn't care. The bowl was ok. They let you top the mac or grilled cheese with meats, etc. The lobster was $20+. Not sure I'm trying lobster at a place like this. Assembly line ordering. Red, black, wood interior. Nothing much to recommend.

*Travel Notes - Northern Ireland: Bus from Dublin to Belfast Victoria Street on Air Coach was $17E. I stayed the first night in Belfast at a Travelodge for the rack rate of $99L. I came back a few nights later and stayed two nights at $98US. I took a train to Derry for $13L. Stayed at Art House for $88US. Ate cotton candy ice cream at Maiden Heaven. Chicken sandwich at Hillbilly's. Beer at Rough Brothers at a food fair. Walked the old city walls. Saw St Eugene's cathedral. Peace bridge. Cute town. Train to Coleraine for $8L. Bus to Bushmills for $3L. Saw Portrush and Dunluce Castle and Royal Portrush Golf Course on the bus. Stayed at Finn McCool's for $53 US. Saw distillery. Took tram to Giant's Causeway for $7E. Excellent. Free. Ate cod burger and cb at Hip Chip. Took bus back to Coleraine for $3L. Train to Belfast $13L. Ate blt and ff at Deane's Love Fish. Sent back their puny mussels. Ireland mussels are terrible. The main place has a Michelin star. Saw Queens College, Botanic Gardens, Ulster Museum, City Hall, Ormean Baths, Titanic Museum, Crumlin Road Gaol, Shankill Road, etc. Had honeycomb ice cream at Izabella's Delights on Shankill Rd. Cool city. Better looking people. Took bus to airport for $8L. Flew to London Stansted for $144US. Had a flight from Dublin to Heathrow cancelled. It was $114US. I learned that gnocchi means knuckles. Paul Hollywood had a show on Japan. They eat KFC for Christmas and grow things in molds (ie square melons).

Ga 2 To (renamed Ga Ta), East Colonial *Dublin Travel Notes

I tried this Northern Vietnamese spot in the rear of the strip mall near Mills on Friday at lunch. I had their namesake. It is a two piece dish. One soup. One rice dish. The only problem is that they didn't give me the rice dish. The soup was ok. A kind of pho. Spicy sweet. I didn't like the boiled chicken. Very bland and tough. It reminded me of cheap Chinese boiled chicken dishes. Scrawny chicken. Bad cuts. Limp skin. It even looked unappealing. It even had a boiled egg that could have been a bouncy ball. Gizzards and hearts were also hard plastic. And they had already taken back the meatballs described on the menu. It also cost $15. Plus they charge for to go orders. They serve around eight things. Hanoi pho, mung beans, egg coffee were interesting. The two apps are $12 and $15. The mains were $14-17. They sell wine and beer. Name means "dried" or something. Nine tables of four. White. Modern. Closed on W or Th. L and D. Open for a few months. I would have liked to have liked it more because it's not me too.

*Travel Notes - Dublin: I'll break this trip into three parts. This will be the shortest. Flew through ATL for $687. Just did last three days there. Stayed first night at Beresford Hotel near bus station for $106. Next two nights at Hotel St George for $107 a night. Had a beer at Kehoe's. Ate Smoked Salmon on Irish Soda Bread with creme fraiche at Neary's. Had cured salmon with sea beans in ajo sauce, bouillibaisse and strawberry souffle at Peploe's. Other odd things I tried: jaffa cakes, apple and blueberry trellis and vanilla rice pudding. Saw Dublin Castle, Kilmainham Gaol, Guinness, Jameson's, Hugh Lane City Gallery, Writer's Museum, Museum of Modern art, Christ Church, Chester Beatty Library, National Museum, National Library, Parliament, Abbey Theatre, Canal Area, Aviva Stadium, Francis Bacon's Birthplace, National Gallery, Oscar Wilde statue and others. Air Coach to and from airport was 8E. Food in markets so much cheaper and better than ours. Mostly ate from there. City smelled of cigarettes and pollution.

Grub Crawl - Winter Park: Ava and Jacked Up (Closed)

I tried these spots last night at dinner. The first is on Park Ave in the old Luma location. The second is on Fairbanks near Spatz pool hall. 

Ava- Opened (limited) in February they said. I had the Chicken Tagine for $28. It was ok. Two drums and a thigh. Soapy tasting couscous and squash and zucchini. It's an expensive place. $90 steaks and $70 fish. My dish was second cheapest. A seafood orzo was $21. Apps were $14ish. They say they are Mediterragean. It's still mostly rustic level. I never got the upscale Greek trend. You are paying more for the 'tude than the food. The service is top notch though. The place looks like it should cost you. Greek Islands feel. Casual area, bar and dining areas. Open kitchen. They tossed in some olives, pits chips and a form of tarramoussalata. I'm sure I misspelled that. But in a rush and battery fading. High end experience if you can afford it. Dress code was lax. I came in ratty tshirt and shorts. Just no flip flops. Only open for dinner.

Jacked Up - They originally had Vegan in the name. Took over the old Wine Barn. Kept most of that. Part of Winter Park Collective. That includes Prickle Babies (plants), desserts, empanadas and a new pizza guy (Pizza Nova). I just grabbed mixed tacos with side (ff) for $10. They (fake ground beef and jackfruit) were ok. Small. OK tortilla. Cooked in a food truck. Place looks good. Very green. They put fake grass throughout. Expanding hours. Now mostly evening on week days.

Coyoacan Cocina, Lake Mary - Closed *LA/MS/AL/FL Travel Notes

 I tried this Mexican place on 44A in the strip mall with Halal Guys on Wednesday at dinner. They have been open for two months. It was one of the more satisfying Mexican meals I've had in town in a while. I had the Carnitas Quiroga for $15. They came with beans and rice and guac and tortillas. They wrote that the pork was cooked in a copper pot or something. It was mostly tender (some tough white meat) pork. Probably from the shoulder. They gave a pretty healthy cup full serving of guac. It was fresh. Even the beans (I did refried) and rice were pleasant. In addition, the free salsa had great flavor and the chips were fresh. They serve a pretty traditional, fairly priced ($16-25) menu with some specialties. This is the fourth or fifth incarnation I have tried in this pace (lastly two Turkish places). The layout is the same. They repainted (orange, pink) and added some flare and wood accents. Service (one bartender and one bus boy) was ok for the crowd (six tables seated). May be inadequate for a full house. Good play if you live around here. Bar stuff too.

*Travel Notes - Louisiana/Mississippi/Alabama/Florida: Remember this is part of the last post. On the way out of Florida I stopped at the Appleton Museum (art) in Ocala. It was free that day. $10 usually. I always love a museum. Some mid-west business man's collections. I ate a turkey sandwich at Jim's Pit Bar BQ in Reddick (Exit 368). Always meant to because of billboard. Stayed at Bay Inn in Loxley AL for $109 (rack rate). Ate at fingers chain called Foosackley's in Spanish Fort AL. Ate turtle soup, oysters and shrimp at Felix's Fish Camp in Mobile AL. Visited Longfellow Evangeline Plantation SHS in St Martinville LA. Tried to eat at Big John's Seafood Patio in Erath LA. I closed for the season in April (oops). Stayed at a bad Days Inn in Abbeville LA for $89. Ate fried catfish at Riverfront. This area is supposed to be the crawfish capitol. Drove through Lafayette to Shreveport. Ate pork tamales at Quebedeaux's in Alexandria LA. Passed a place called Mensura LA. It has some festival for cochon de lait every spring. Stayed at Sam's Town Casino for $125. Saw a building used in Factory Girl. Also saw a hockey rink, baseball field and Independence Bowl. Ate a comped Caesar salad at the cafe in the casino. Went to Texas. Drove back to south of Lafayette (90) to visit the Tabasco factory on some island near Iberville. Stayed at a Quality Inn in Morgan City LA for $90. Drove on to New Orleans. Stayed in Garden District at Hotel Indigo for $199 one night and $129 the next. It was the 4th plus some Essence festival. They also lied about parking. $30 valet. Ate a good chicken salad sandwich at new place called Rabbit's Foot. Had a champagne cocktail and shrimp in papilliotte with hollandaise sauce at Brennan's (French Quarter) cocktail hour. Thus avoiding dress code. Ate fried turkey necks and a great cheeseburger at Meril's (Art District). Named for Emeril's daughter. Saw Place Lafayette. Ate oyster po boy with bad fries at Gris Gris (Garden District). Grabbed a chicken thigh banh mi at Elizabeth Street Cafe at the St Vincent hotel (Original in Austin) for dinner also in the GD. Did the cocktail hour/late lunch thing at Peche (2014 James Beard) in Arts District. Had a mind blowing fried catfish with pickled greens in chili broth and smoked drum with kolrabi kim chi and grilled cabbage and peanuts. Cheap too. Drove to Stennis Space Center at exit 2 in Mississippi. Of course VC was closed (just Th-?). Stopped on causeway at Mobile/Spanish Fort AL for grilled red fish, oysters and shrimp at Bluegill (billboard). Also an Original Oyster House there. Did the one in Gulf Shores already. Stayed at a Clarion on 27 in Tallahassee for $72. Ate spinach ricotta tortelloni at a new  mostly vegan place called Black Radish. Had beer at Ology Brewing. Ate a terrible Skeeter skillet at the original Canopy Road Cafe.

The Garlic, New Smyrna Beach *TX Travel Notes

This place is near Norwood's after you go over the Causeway/Intercoastal. I went there for dinner on Thursday (over a week ago). It's a quirky place. All these different areas. Like the Swiss Family Robinson house (if my dim memory of it serves me well). I ate in the main room. I should say that they open at 4pm and even that early it gets full. Plus parking (non-valet) is a crap shoot. I wasn't even hungry after the Ten Ten lunch. Yet, I still managed to finish the huge chicken marsala meal with garlic mashed potatoes and a salad because it was so sloppy good. It cost $26. Also came with a conference/symposium dinner level salad and a smashed whole head of garlic in vinegar with bread. The chicken was 3 or 4 tender thigh pieces (can't remember because of head down determination and food induced coma). Probably egg washed. They were drowned in sauce and oil. That should have ruined the dish, but, somehow the food floated around it (mostly). Some mushrooms in the sauce. The garlic mashed potatoes were good. Thick. The menu is mostly Italian (even pizza). A burger ($19) and such as well. Things could get pricey. Some $40+ items (ie steaks). People also seemed to be making good use of the several bar areas. Service (so many) was attentive, polite and knowledgeable. Most have refilled my ice tea four times. Which was good because of the salt from lunch mixed with the dehydration from the drive over. The place is decorated with crap. In the best way. Nick nacks, plastic grapes, wine stuff, candle wax sculptures, X-mas lights. I couldn't tell if the diners were locals or tourists. Probably both. Only open for dinner. I've passed on it for years because I've always come during the day and am usually tapped out before 4pm. I think it is probably something that needs to be experienced at least once in your life. Real old school experience. Now I only have two places remaining to be tried in NSB.

*Travel Notes - Texas: I am breaking the latest trip up. A road trip. Rental car cost nothing because I used points. Would have been $500+ for two weeks from Hertz. Budget was more. Slept at Quality Inn at City Place near Highland Park (SMU Area) for $90. Ate lunch at El Fenix downtown by the Ross Perot Museum. All these Dallas meals were probably from some article I read on the oldest Mexican restaurants in town or something. This place is 1917 or something. Just had an average chicken burrito to go because I wouldn't download the gd app for parking in Dallas. Place was disappointing looking anyway. And menu was basic. Had dinner at the supposedly highest end Mexican place in town. Called Javier's. Same deal with the parking. Grabbed chicken mole with rice and beans to go. Place was kind of weird. Taxidermied animals, etc. Was packed though. This was in Highland Park. No shorts. 1950's I think. Had lunch the next day at El Bolero off Riverfront. More dt. This was only ten years old. The best meal. Modern place. I had crema de flor de calabaza (squash blossom) soup and Taco Arabes. They were shaved pork (al pastor) on a pita. I saw White Rock Lake and Park ne of Highland Park and had beer at Civil Pour while waiting for my Sonesta Select (a few exits north on 75 from the QI) to let me in. It cost $86. Much nicer. As was this area. Had lunch down the street (why I stayed here) at Tupinamba Cafe. 1950 something. Now owned by an ex A&M basketball player. I had a beef and a chicken Tupay taco (fried like Jack in the Crack) and a guacamole tostada . Drove out of town (75 to 35E). Stopped for a cinnamon roll and strawberry kolache at Slovack's in West. It is in a gas station. Billboard's all over. I've meant to try it forever. Stayed at the Shady Villa Hotel in Salado for $94. Had beer at Barrow Brewing. Saw some things in town like gas blowing (the town was on Day Tripper on PBS). Had more beer at Chupacabra. Too full from lunch and tired to get dinner. Cute, ghost town-y type of town on a creek. Further on to Comfort Suites in Round Rock for $103. Drove from there to Taylor on 79 for Louis Mueller's Barbecue. Had the 10 Gallon sandwich of brisket, pulled pork and sausage. Drove back and saw a Round Rock Express (Texas Ranger's AA team) game for $32 (home plate) plus $15 parking. Freddy's dcb for dinner. Drove back up to Jarrell to the Granary (was a John Mueller place - he just died). Had pork ribs and brisket and they gave me some brisket tamales (because I'm so damned charming) for free. They also sold pureed squash with cheese and an ice pop made with pickle juice. Didn't try. Drove east from there to 95 past Taylor to Elgin. Then east on 290 to Houston. Stayed at BW in Spring for $97. Ate a brisket and pulled pork sandwich at Cork Screw BBQ (also on Day Tripper). All bbq places were excellent and very highly ranked. Cork Screw had the best flavors and pulled pork. The ribs at Granary were so so. Their brisket was the most traditional. Had intended on trying Snow's. They only open on Saturday and were closed this week. Also by passed on Austin because hotels were through the roof and the traffic, etc.

Ten Ten Seafood and Grill, West Colonial (50)

I tried them at lunch on Thursday. In the Golden Sparkling something or other strip mall at Kirkman. I think I alerted you to them (their build) almost two years ago. They said they finally opened a few months ago. One other location in Sunrise (wherever that is). It's a mostly Cantonese menu. Dim sum even. That is what I ended up having. Language issues. I had: beehive fried taro (3 for $4), har kow/steamed shrimp dumplings (4 for $5) and lobster fried shrimp balls (3 for $5). All were large sized. The taro was new to me and good. Had the look of crazy frizzed out hair. Mushroom and maybe pork inside. Also had a slight seafood taste. Let's hope it wasn't cream of sum yung gi. Dumplings were not great. Pasty. Mostly shrimp goo inside. Not real shrimp. Thick skin. The balls were good. Covered in ribbons of dough. Like the stuff you put in wonton soup. Probably the same goo as the dumplings inside. It just cooked better this way. They have a big dim sum and regular menu Here are a few of the crazy things: durian crisp, fish egg curry, sweetbreads, spiced salt water, pig ear, fuqi feipian, spring fish, zilling, whiteboard fish, frogs, pigeon, sea cucumber, jellyfish. Let's hope some of those are misprints. Most platters in the $16-$22 range. Beef, chicken, pork, seafood, tofu. Free tea. One open room. Three columns of mostly family tables. Huge wall tv playing music videos. Traditional decor. They had a decent crowd. Crowd started off Asian and then filled in. Pretty good attempt. Way better and cheaper than Dim Dim Sum or whatever that was. May have best dim sum in the area. Not a high bar though.

*I also was going to try a chicken place (Pollo Chicken) a little farther west on 50. I turned out to be a Haitian place. They didn't change the name. It looked creepy (dark) and the prices were ridiculous. But, if you feel the need. Now you know. There are a few places around there that offer up that type of food now. And I saw a new Korean BBQ place in the strip mall across from Chinatown.

Grub Crawl - Oviedo and Winter Springs: Japanatolia, Oyishi, Heart of Jerusalem and Kabuto *VT/NH/ME/NY Travel Notes

I tried these places at lunch on Saturday. The first two are in or near the food court at the Oviedo Mall. The last two are in the strip mall on the near right side of Red Bug Lake Rd (Tuskawilla?) coming from 436. It was a surprise that the first two made the better dishes.

Japanatolia - A fusion of Turkish and sushi. Kind of. They only sell five rolls. And they are barely Japanese. More Eastern European menu if anything. No fish. Mostly veg. Only rolled in roast beef. One was rolled with collard greens. At $8+ I deviated from the plan. Oh. It's also not a restaurant. It is a stall. I did settle on the chicken in bechemal sauce with rice and mashed potatoes and salad. It was very good. Very rich. Cost $10. Lots of tender chicken. Some pieces seemed like they were ground chicken. Some whole pieces. Bechemal was fine. Mashed potatoes were very rich. Rice was ok. A little mushy. Salad was just carrots, etc in vinegar and oil. They had a few other hot dishes. One with meatballs. They gave me a sample of a lemon semolina dessert. It was good. I think the owner said he was from Istanbul. And the logo has the bridge that spans the Bosphorous on it. Maybe they call it Anatolia because that is the Asian part and Japan is in Asia? Not what I expected, but, acceptable. Very good for a mall stall. And if you need a Dr Oz impersonator, see the cook. Open a month.

Oyishi - They have a decently appointed restaurant with hibachi tables and a bar and a sushi bar. A little aged. Way better than the to go area. I popped into there because this was not planned. That area looks like a worn out Chinese take out place in a dirty city. I ordered the salmon (smoked) and avocado and cream cheese roll for $7 because they didn't look trustworthy to deliver the hibachi side and my stomach had been waiting for sushi. It was a shock. I'm not sure if they made a mistake, but, they gave me two 8 piece rolls. The rice was done correctly. The ingredients were fresh. Came out fast. They also do teriyaki, hibachi, bentos, etc. Probably has been open for years.

Hearts of Jerusalem - The worst of the four. And I expected it to be the best. Arab Jerusalem cuisine. The menu said they have three in Colorado Springs. Open for one year. I tried the $14 Ultimate Plate after they tried to up sell me to a $23 kebab plate. It had thin, non-descript lamb/beef gyro meat and terrible chicken shwarma. Also a Greek salad (best thing) and bland hummus and raw pita triangles. I suspect the gyro meat was not even shaved. And definitely not from their own slab. The chicken looked like the stuff you get from a fast food restaurant/supermarket salad bar in their salads. Bag chicken. Plus some of that was even plastic-y. Frozen. No rice. Biggish menu. The usual suspects. Local color decoration. TV showing Medina. Three columns of tables. Japanatolia was way better.

Kabuto Sushi - I think it was Nagoya before. Only tried because I was there already. Plus I could see, if I did, that this could be a two cuisine food war post. Compare and contrast. I tried the Alaska Roll for 47. Only 1 roll this time. 8 pieces. Fresh salmon. No cc. Avocado and cuke. It was ok. Salmon was a bit soft. Looks good inside. Black and modern. Small. They said kabuto is the hat samurais wear. Open for two years. Menu looked good. Ramen+. 

Travel Notes - Vermont/New Hampshire/Maine/New York: Flight to Albany cost $182. Rental car (Budget) cost $436 for week. Spent the first night in Latham NY at a Microtel for $107 because late night flight got in two hours late. Ate a breakfast Beach (cinnamon and vanilla icing) donut at Duck Donuts because I saw a billboard. Drove north on 4 to Saratoga NHP. Continued up to 30 and 7 to Middlebury VT. Saw the college. Continued north to Burlington. had a cream cheese and tuna fish bagel at Feldman's Bagels. It was as bad as it sounds. Or more correctly, couldn't taste the cc. The road it was on had a lot of interesting looking food options. Went east on 89 to Richmond. Went to Cochran's Ski Area. Like 4 Olympian skiers learned there. It was just some guys backyard hill. Saw it on ESPN or 60 Minutes. Further east to North Woodstock NH. Stayed at the Inn 32 for $137. Ate falafel plate with naan and beer at Pemi Public House. Had a beer at Woodstock Inn Brewery. Went to Franconia Notch SP. Just north. Flume Gorge for $21. Aerial tram at Cannon Mountain was $29. Didn't do. Went back to town and saw a place called Clarke's Bears and Hobo RR. The RR was $20, but, just left. Ate an egg and cheese muffin and a great Rueben at White Mtn Bagel in Lincoln NH. Took 112 east to 11 to Maine and up 202 to avoid tolls to Augusta. Then 3 to Belfast and 1A up to Bangor for the same reason. Stayed at a shit box called Queen City Inn for $114. Up 95 to Medway and then Millinocket to Baxter SP and Mt Kahadin (Appalachian Trail northern terminus). $16. Back south on 95 to Orono. Saw University of Maine. Down 15 to Deer Island and Stonington. Had a $26 lobster roll at Stonington Ice Cream Company. Not bad. Back up and over to Belfast. Stayed at Yankee Clipper Motel for $130. Ate at Young's Lobster Pound. Bad (boiled) 1 1/8 lobster for $26. Nice view though. Got 4.5 stars on Yelp. Went to Rockland to buy ferry tickets. Had half dozen Damariscotta River oysters for $16. Very good. Bought round trip to North Haven Island for $17. Spent rest of day driving the coast off 1. 32 to Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. 27 to Booth Bay. Etc. Back to Rockport for a cheese and herb flatbread at American Flatbread. Slept in Rockland at the Ledges on the Bay for $140. Great view. Bought some cheese and wine and Joseph's by Riverside from Lawrence MA hummus and ate it looking over the ocean. Took ferry to North Haven. Not much there and most things weren't even open. Saw it on tv. The draw was the Nebo Lodge restaurant. Closed. Went up some path to Ames Knob. Good view. Nice ferry ride. Drove south on 1 again to Waldoboro. Grabbed some clam strips and a hd at Delano Seafood Shack. Farther down to Brunswick. Slept at Relax Inn for $102. Down 1 to Wells. Had haddock bites and clam chowder at Wells Beach Lobster Pound. Had bad mussels at Baston River Fish Camp Brewing. Beer was good. All other food dishes looked great. They just opened. Stayed at Anchor Inn for $116 (they tacked on a RF that I will dispute). Took 9 west through Concord to 393 to 202 to 9. Stopped at Franklin Pierce Homestead in Hillsborough NH. To Brattleboro VT. Had a great Roundabout Russian on Marble Rye (T and CH and Sprouts) at Vermont Country Deli. On to Bennington. Saw the college. You should read Rules of Attraction to see why. Onto Albany/Latham and I had cannoli ice cream at Control Tower. Plane left on time. Gas was around $5 everywhere.

** Some interesting ice creams; coffee brandy, vanilla and eclair crunch swirl with red caps (Maine Lobster), vanilla and raspberry jam with caps (Maine Black Bear), espresso and heath bar (Maine Deer Tracks).

Grub Crawl - Florida Mall Area and SoDo: Maguro, Daana Pani, Frenchy's and So Dough

I tried these places on Thursday night. The first is around the mall on the Sand Lake Rd side. The second is on Doss Ave and OBT in the Lakshmi Market. The third is at Gatlin Hall on South Orange. The fourth is on Michigan aside Tin & Taco.

Maguro Latin Fusion - Closed on Tuesday. Open after 3pm. Owner/chef is Puerto Rican. Fusion sushi menu. I tried some tapas as I was on a run. I tried two pieces of tuna for $4 ($5 on menu). OK. Rice was good. Tuna tasted a little bitter. As if it had a a bath to preserve it. I had a ropa vieja egg roll for $5.50. It was ok. Also had sweet plantain in it. Pretty stuffed. A mayo dipping sauce. Maybe it could have used an acid or heat element to cut through the savory. And three chicken gyozo (out of the duck) for $6. Probably not purchased in a store. Steamed and one side fried. OK. Soy sauce dipping sauce. Smallish menu. Bowls, tapas, 4 types of sushi/sahimi (out of the salmon). Black, gray and wood interior. Open kitchen and sushi area behind four seats at a bar. Sixteen four person tables. There was another room of about six tables on the side. It was gated off. Loungy vibe. It was ok. Open for a year or so. I thought it would be a bit ritzier.

Danna Pani - It means rice and water. In the rear of the building. I just grabbed some potato and pea Punjabi samosas for $6. I was just looking to finally knock them off the list and it's all vegetarian and they were out of the falafel. Ok. More baked than fried. Big menu with these categories: apps, sandwiches, pav bhaji, chaat, paav, thali, indo-Chinese, curries, and pulati. I can't read my notes on the last one. Blue and yellow interior. Three rooms. A banquet room, the regular one and a market? Closed Tuesday. Lunch and dinner. Prices in the teens mostly. One dish at $20. North Indian style. They said Punjab and one other area that I didn't get.

Frenchy's Wood Fired Pizza - I had tried to bring this to you many times over the past few months. Always too early or late or they had something going on. Had a private party this day. However, they snuck in a Margherita for me. And didn't charge the $14. It was good. Good chew and char. Oily and moist and spongy dough. A bit too salty. They also offer 4 other pies and wings and meatballs and garlic sticks. Just a stall. Open from 5pm to 10pm. This will be on the Favorite's list. The free part didn't hurt their cause.

So Dough - They said their hard opening will be on July 26th. I tried the one with their cheese blend, etc for $12. It was very good. Crisp, oily crust. Light yet substantial. Soft. Four slices. Square. Detroit style. Garlic-y tomato sauce. Basil was more like a pesto. Order at a kiosk. They make a limited amount each day. They open at 4pm or 5pm. Busy. One guy told me they always sell out. "Open" for a month or so. This will be on the Favorite's list. Best thing on this grub crawl. And I don't prefer book looking pizza. 12 or so styles of pies. Or make your own.

Grub Crawl - Winter Park: Anejo Cocina and Chick'n Cone (Closed) *SC Travel Notes

I tried these places on Memorial Day at lunch. The first replaced Dexter's at the 17-92 and Lee Rd intersection. The second is in that strip mall on Lee Rd. I forget what things have been in that corner slot in the past.

Anejo Cocina - They said they have another in Oviedo. It looks alright. Murals. Blue on white tiles. Patio. Bar. Similar set up as always. I didn't really want to eat here, so, I just ordered chicken fajitas. They were ok. $14. Tortillas (3) were raw. Salsa and pico had no heat or flavor. Came on a super hot plate that turned the tasteless bean puree into paste. Rice and guac were ok. Service was ok. Big menu. They try and add to the usual suspects. Prices were a bit high. Exactly what I expected. The new "higher end" attempt at Mexican cuisine. Nothing special. Open for a couple of months.

Chick'n Cone - This place is a joke. They basically take chicken fingers and serve them three ways. The gimmick is the waffle come. They chop them up for this. Then they put them on a bun for a sandwich. And then sell them whole. Each way is too expensive. And say, worse than Zaxby's or PDQ or Huey whatever's.  I tried the least expensive. The sandwich for $8. Two pathetic fingers. Small. Rubbery pickles. Bun was ok. It is a chain. 30 outlets. 4 in Florida. Open for a month. Also sell mac and ff. You have to get out and walk in. That should eliminate most of you.

*Travel Notes - South Carolina: The trip started here because of a car accident or something that caused me to get off 95 at the first chance (only took an hour to get to it from the last). Slept in Mount Pleasant (this is outside Charleston) at a bad Sleep Inn for $123. Prices were high all over. Slept the next night at a terrible La Quinta at Ashley Point for $147. Ate ok shrimp and grits in West Ashley at Triangle Char and Bar. Ate lunch 1 the next day at Home Team BBQ. Good pulled pork taco and brisket taco. Ate lunch 2 at Lewis Barbecue (down the block). He taught or learned from Aaron Franklin of Austin. showed. I had an El Sancho Loco sandwich of pulled pork and brisket and hot guts sausage. Good. This is in an area under 26 and on the east side of town. A hip, new area they called downtown. I also went (while up there) to Edmund Oast's and Revelry Brewing. The first had a restaurant/market near Home Team. They said try the brewery a few blocks up and over. It was in a warehouse district with new shops. Good beer. Revelry too. It was near the bbq places. Don't know where or how I learned of all these places. I'll bet their Yelp ratings are good.  I also visited the American College of Building Arts while there. It was on a show (Samantha Brown). I also found a nice pier and park under the bridge in Mount Pleasant near the hotel. Excuse the run ons. I've been reading Gertrude Stein. I also tracked down the Old City Jail and Circular Congregational Church in Charleston (south). On the same show. I saw the River Dogs play the Green Hornets (Tampa Bay Rays A ball) at Riley Stadium. $20 for second row right behind home plate. $5 for parking across the street. I also saw in the market - apple fritter iced donut cookies. On the way home I stayed at an ok Motel 6 in Walterboro for $62. On the way up their were big delays south at the border between SC and NC. They were also slowing things down going both ways in Wilson NC. Slowed me down in Emporia VA too. and of course the daily crash near DC. That is one reason I took the path home that I did. some of these delays were for tree cutting. They closed a whole lane (of 2) to give them unneeded safety. A-holes!

Grub/Pub Crawl - Downtown and West Colonial: Deadwords Brewing, Brew Theory, Kang's Kitchen (Closed) and East Garden *NY/PA Travel Notes

I tried these spots on Sunday at lunch. The first one is near the Citrus Bowl. The second is near the Marriott in the Tech Village. The third is near the Lotte Market on West Colonial. The fourth is in Chinatown. I also saw that Taste of Chengdu opened again. All breweries now done again.

Deadwords Brewing - They opened in January. The place blew away my expectations. It looks great. It seems safe (in Parramore). They spent alot on it. It has ample parking. It is on the city side of OBT between Washington and Central. It has a (I'm probably getting this wrong) purple gray black tone. The inside is loft like. A bar in front of curios. It looks like a steam punk scientists library. The equipment is in a recess on the left. An open kitchen with a pizza oven in between. Everything is brand spanking new. I even think they had a patio. The beer was great too. And not me too (another blow to that movement). I tried a Westphalian lager and a Cascade Ale and some Scandanavian type I've never seen before. The brewer is latterly from Bend OR. He worked at Crux and Deschutes (see my travel notes on them). The owner is a lawyer. The food menu seemed ok too. Open from 4pm on weekdays. 11am on weekends. No Monday. A real surprise. May be my new fav.

Brew Theory - They brew for others. None of their own. Parking was a bitch. No free parking on Sundays like the rest of DT. You make a right on Pittman from the road under I-4. If you miss it, you have to make a big loop. The place is basically a factory outlet store/bar. They also have a Grilled Cheezus branch there. They said the factory has been there for seven years. The bar for one. Parking issue alone makes it a pass for me.

Kang's Kitchen - Turned out to be a chain. 5 locations. I thought they had some interesting back story. Oh well. It was good anyway. More things on the menu than usual (ie Korean Army Stew and beef tartare). I went with the pork bulgogi combo for $17 because I wanted to try the bean paste soup it came with. The pork was tender. Alot. Good rice. The soup was ok. Not sure they gave me the right one. Slightly spicy broth, veg, tofu. This one had lots of tough (over boiled) beef. Good bon chon. Gas grills. $36 all you can eat. Mostly Asian patrons. Open for three months. I tried to try them a while ago, but, not open for lunch during the week. Opens at 4 or 5pm. Open plan interior. Basic. Good service. Worth a spin.

East Garden - I've been waiting on them for over a year. I tried the salt and pepper baked shrimp. Did them half correctly. Still need someone to butterfly and depoop these suckers. 13 biggish shrimp. Ok condition. Menu is ambitious. Dim sum, sea cucumber, etc. They have 10 person dinners for $700. Most things are $20+. Even Kung Pao Chicken is $18. One big ceilinged, open room. A huge, beautiful mural in back. Black, wood, geometric designs on walls. Three columns of tables. Mostly Asian patrons. 2 servers. Worth a second look. Three interesting options side by side there now.

*Travel Notes - New York/Pennsylvania: I drove on 287 to 9N (past West Point) to Newburgh Hudson Valley). Had wine at Benmarl Winery and Stoutridge Vineyard and Distillery in Marlboro. The guy (Stephen Osborn) at Stoutridge was a savant. Learned so much. He's trying to make old school wines with flavors like soy and leather. It was a trip trying "old" vintages and deciding if they were disturbing or not. Or skunked. Still uncertain. He said banks made wineries (in the 80's-90's) sell their old inventories. Young wine trend wasn't caused by fruit bomb lovers. It was Wells Fargo! The liquor portion was even more instructive/impressive. He distills some stuff 30 times! Things like gin and vodka and whiskey. But also, mastic/mastiha, eau de vie, absinthe, pastis, oriole, fernet, bitters, grappa, silvovitz and kirsch. Just crazy. He served me "Swiss" absinthe dripped through a clay sieve. So sweet. He said alcohol is bitter because of acetones or something. It is sweet if they are removed. Most won't. Too costly. Everything I tried was great. He finds recipes from hundreds of years ago. I also bought a mastic with frankincense and myrhh called Three Kings. A real experience. I stayed the night at Crossroads Hotel for $130. I drove through some vineyards in Pine Bush: Brimstone Hill Winery, Baldwin Winery and Magnanini Vineyards. Didn't try them. Too early. Also went through Angry Orchard Cidery. I drove 87 to Scranton. Went to Steamtown NHS. Trains. Forgot to look for Dunder Mifflin stuff. Stayed at Comfort Suites in Moosic for $115. Was there (Moosic) to see Yankees Wilkes Barre minor league team. Didn't end up doing that. Had an ok meatball sub and slice at Gourmet Slice. Not a great town. Drove to Elverson PA to see Hopewell Furnace NHS at French Creek SP. An ironworks. Closed. Went past Yuengling's Brewery. Would have gone if they had signs directing you. Drove to Philadelphia. Saw Thaddeus Kosciusko's (A Pole who fought with us) NM and Edgar Allan Poe NHS. Also went for cheese steak at Woodrow's Sandwich Shop. It was on 3D the night before. It was good. Traveled out of Philly west on 3 (I think) to 30. To Lancaster. Stayed at Soudersburg Motel for $81. This was Amish country. Then drove to VA.

Grub Crawl - Winter Park and College Park: Riccup, Kos (Closed) and Thai Farm (Closed) *VA/MD/DE/NJ Travel Notes

I tried these guys on Saturday at lunch. The first two are in Winter Park. Near the 7-11 at Rollins College. The last is in the old Rusteak location on Edgewater. I also saw that a vegan place is opening (no one home) next to Soseki in the old Wine Barn location on Fairbanks. And Lale and Grato are on Park Ave now. In CP, Honolulu Harry's seemed about open. I'm always going to call in Hannukah Harry's (SNL skit?).

Riccup Korean Kitchen - Behind the 7-11. Open one month. They sell bowls and salads and noodles. Some sit down tables. I grabbed the cheapest - KFC with rice for $10. It was plentiful. Like Gojujang Orange Chicken. 18 Pieces. Thigh meat. Good rice (bap). Came with potato salad and pickled radish salad. They have other bon chon too. Sell bulgogi, Beyond meat, tofu, pork, etc. You could do worse. Parking is limited.

Kos - A coffee place around the corner. Norwegian owned. Grabbed an ice coffee for $5. What can I tell you. It was coffee. Small location. Small menu. Closed early in the week.

Thai Farm Kitchen - Open three months. Inside looks familiar. Maybe they added some gold paint. Better menu than most. Things like duck confit, crab stir fried rice, Thai sausage, laab, salmon,  etc. Menu says their place in NYC got NYT Best Bites in 2019. I had the Som Tum (green papaya salad) for $15. I hope it was papaya. some places use burdock root, etc. Dressing was good. Some field greens underneath. Two lame shrimp on a skewer. I believe it is usually served with beef. Been a while since I've had it. Most Thai places don't offer it any more. Came in a cute white bowl. Soda was only $2. Pretty empty. Big foot print. Private room. Bar area. Good parking in back. Service (3) was good. May be worth a return visit.

*Travel Notes - Virginia/Maryland/Delaware/New Jersey: I'm going to break up this road trip into three posts. I rented a car from Budget for $485 for two weeks. Stayed at bad Red Roof Inn in Fredericksburg VA for $77. Drove to outside DC and went to these national parks : Oxon Cove Farm/Park, Fort Washington Park (down the 202), Piscataway Park, Greenbelt Park (off 495). On to Baltimore and Fort McHenry. Then to Towson and Hampton NHS. Up the 1 to U of Delaware. East to New Castle DE. Stayed at Quality Inn for $120. Went to First State NHP. It's a preserved old town in New Castle. Over the bridge to NJ. On to Great Egg Harbor SRR (a river) at Mays Landing. Up north to Trenton to see the capitol. Through Princeton to Whippany NJ. Stayed at Extended Stay for $120. Rat hole. Down 40 to West Orange. Thomas Edison NHP. Up north to Patterson Falls NHP. I did stuff before and in between the rest. Back to Virginia. Wineries around Charlottesville. Pollack Vineyards. Veritas Vineyards. Good. Also drove by Septenary Winery (closed). Ate salmon and cous cous at Ralph Sampson's American Tap Room. Met him. Didn't seem 7'4". Slept at English Inn for $116. My buddy owns a diner called Villa Diner. Didn't try it. Drove down 15 to NC.

Grub Crawl - Maitland and Downtown: Fredster's, Cucina, Bread & Wine *NY/CT/RI Travel Notes

I went to the first place two weeks ago at lunch. It is off Maitland Blvd near Sam Snead's. You go under the overpass and down two blocks (near a baseball field) on Fennell St. The next two are downtown. The first is on Church St (middle). The second in on N Orange next to Neon Beach. I went to those on Thursday at lunch.

Fredster's - Reminded me of Copper Rocket. Better though. A bar with a big live music stage. The food was better than I expected. They called it a trigger fish banh mi. No baguette though. Kind of important element. Generous portioning of fish (3 pc). It was fresh. L, T, O also. Spicy remoulade sauce. Came with alot of sweet potato fries. I'm not a fan, but, good if you go for that sort of thing. It cost $13. Smallish menu. One pasta, ribs and eggplant roulade were the most distinctive offerings. Beers were $7. Soda more reasonable at $2.50. service was good. I think the owner is English. Three bars and a patio too. Big open room. TVs. Open three months.

Cucina Pizza and Bar - Their fifth outpost. I've dropped alot of coin at the original in Palm Beach. More at the bar than the restaurant. Food here is even worse than there. I tried the gyro for $11. I saw the plastic flowers on the table and my Spidey sense went into action. So, I ordered the cheapest thing to be safe. It was a small portion of frozen, pre-sliced, dry, jerky meat on an ok pita with unripe-ish veg. It said fries cost $2 on the menu. They said they are now including them. That kind of helped the transaction. The menu is huge. Too huge. All the Italian staples plus burgers and salads and other things. All above mid-teens. A slice is $4. You pay for atmosphere and zip code at the original. They don't have that. Nor were there any model like Amazons tending bar. At least not at lunch. And I doubt they get all the scions of old and new monied PB either. Just another spot. The place is earth toned. Metal seats. Wood tables. Bar in rear. Windows. Faces Artisan's Table. Probably a better choice food wise (haven't been there since they moved though). Open for five months. Half full. *Side note - the original location was once Au Bar. Look up William Kennedy Smith to learn one reason why it is infamous.

Bread & Wine - Much fancier than I was expecting. I thought it was a late nite (2am) crap shack. It's a nice restaurant with a decent (small) menu. I settled on the breakfast side. Red Waffles & Chicken for $13. It was good. The waffles especially. Soft. Freshly made. Chocolate taste. The chicken was just Arby's chicken fingers cut up. They also sell coconut pancakes, croissant sandwiches, french toast, av toast, dumplings, wings, fried rice, pasta, salmon and even a $45 steak. It's a long, deep room. Modern chic. Open for a few months. Opens at 8am.

*Travel Notes - New York/Connecticut/Rhode Island: I flew JB to LGA for $185. New terminal is open. Nice. Rental through Hertz for $411. Shuttle to Rental Location at Terminal A. No prob. Slept at a dump in Jericho because the flight had mechanical issue and got in near 11pm. Inn at Jericho for $105. Drove to two VCs (and William Floyd house) at Fire Island NS. Also saw a Flight 800 Memorial near one. Drove on to Montauk. Stayed at the Montauk Manor for $176. Worth it. Ate softshell crab sandwich and oysters at Hooked. Had beer at Montauk Brewing. Had very good wonton soup at Street Eats. Had good sausage and broccoli rabe sandwich at Blade + Salt. Had bad (chicken less) chicken curry wrap at Joni's the next day. Drove to North Shore. Stayed at Shorewood Inn for $130. Dumpy motel. But, it was weekend pricing out there. Had good wine at Coffee Pot Wines and Suhru Wines. Both buy their grapes. Work for other wineries during the day. Had a beer at Greenport Harbor Brewing. Had bad brisket and ok ribs at Meats Meat in Mattituck. It rained. Drove to Weir Farm NHS in Ridgeway CT. Drove to Southbury CT. Stayed at Heritage Hotel for $114. Ate at Bakers Dozen (bagel, donut, ham and cheese on Portuguese roll) in Pomfret. Drove to Pawtucket RI to see part of Blackstone River Valley NHP (Old Slater Mill). Drove back through Hartford. Saw Mark Twain''s House and Harriett Beecher Stowe's House. Drove to Bethel CT. Stayed at Microtel for $104. Ate chicken sandwich and fries at Royal Fish & Chips. Drove through Bedford Hills and Chappaqua. I lived there once. Ate a bolgna hero at Lange's Little Store. Drove to Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown. Saw Jay Gould's Lyndhurst Mansion and tried to see Washington Irving's Sunnyside (closed). Stayed at Tarrytown House Estate for $156. Drove to Yonkers to see Untermeyer Park and Gardens. Drove to Bronx. Saw NY Botanical Gardens. Didn't really. Drove past. Already been as a kid and parking was $20 and entry was $35. Drove back to Long Island. Stayed at East Norwich Inn for $73. Went to Teddy Roosevelt's Sagamore Hill and Cemetery in Oyster Bay. Ate oysters and bad burger at Wild Honey. Had beer at Oyster Bay Brewing. Had baleadas (crepe like tortilla filled with egg and av and beans), cheese q and chicken tamale at Lourdes. Drove to Vanderbilt mansion in (closed) and Hecksher Museum in Huntington. Had lunch at Teddy's Bully Bar in Oyster Bay. Good chicken and apple panini. Drove to LGA. Gas was in mid to high $4's. Found routes to escape all tolls. Better trip than I expected. Too spent to proof read. Deal with any errors.

Grub/Pub Crawl - Sanford and Longwood: Yardery, Alebrije, Taksim, Nan and Pop's and Alestone

I tried these spots about ten days ago at dinner. The first one is downtown on 4th St (one block in from the action). The second is on 17-92 in a forever desolate strip mall between downtown and Seminole HS. The third is farther down 17-92 (past LM Blvd) in a strip mall that has that PR place I wrote about a while ago (Coqui)The next two are near that Colombian chicken spot I went to a few months ago near the lightrail station.

The Yardery - Food and drink were too expensive, so, I settled on a Twisted Tea for $5. First time. The regular beers were $7.50+. Didn't bother asking about the hard stuff. Small menu. I remember ribs at $26 and $16 burger. I think they were supposed to have some Montreal style bagels. Don't remember seeing that. The place is basically a tiny bar and outdoor area. Open one month. Closed on Monday. Was empty. Not sure what they bring to the table that wasn't already there.

Alebrije Mexican Grill - Better than I expected. They have a bunch of mezcal. Open for two months. A big square place. Nice colorful mural on the wall. They said the name has something to do with animals acting human like. Double check that if you will.  I had the chicken enmolodas (4) for the mole. The word seemed new. Like I've never ordered that before. Then I realized it's just like enchilidas (chilied). They mole it. The mole was mole poblano. Tasted of coffee, chocolate and raisins. Sweet. The chicken was blanched white. Like it came from a processor. In a bag. I'm seeing more of this.It was bland and bad. Tortilla was raw. Menu said $16. Receipt said $18. I also had a beer from Tulum I've never seen before. Menu was slightly adventurous. Many of the tried and true's too. Service was good. Place was empty. Closed on Monday. Bar in the middle of the room. Worth a gamble if you are in the area. They could use a little more in house prep. Chips and salsa were good (fresh).

Taksim Turkish Grill - Have driven by them for a while and yet they opened only five months ago. Building delays. An old 7-11. They did little to it. Typical Turkish menu. I tried the lamb adana wrap (they were out and put it in a pita) for $10. It was good. The place was empty. The two Turkish guys working there were nice. Taksim is an area in Istanbul.

Nan & Pop's Ice Cream Shop - The usual. Their hours are not. 3pm-. Had a cup of Eyes Wide Open for $4. Coffee like. Good.

Alestone Brewing - Just opened that week. The guy from Hourglass. 10 ozers were only $4 (take that Yardery). Tried a stout (six in all). It was good. They have twenty options already. Nice small, square room with patio. Wood. View of equipment. TVs. Sports. Pretty full.  Will go back soon.Open 7 days a week. 11am-close.

*Will have two more post by Tuesday. Last one will have travel notes.

Grub Crawl - UCF Area: Yummy Taste and Fat Shack *CO Travel Notes

I tried these two dogs on Wednesday at lunch. The first is in a strip mall across from the Waterford Lakes Mall. The second is in that strip mall I last reported from near UCF at University and Alafaya. I'd like to add (before we start) that the fat girl with the big tits on Channel 6 reminds me of the after photo of the younger sister from Sanditon. Do you see it?

Yummy Taste - Failed in all areas. AC wasn't adequate, so, I changed my sit down to a to go. I tried the cumin beef noodles for $12 because the regular was even costlier than that. It was bad. The beef wasn't overcooked, but, the noodles were. Probably reheated. Broke apart when twirled. Clumsily spiced. The rest of the menu was dull. Rabbit and some tiger skin thing were the only intriguing items. Most things were $16 - $22. Decor was bad. Service was slow. One waitress (not great with English) and (I'll wager) one cook. Menu had little description of the dish. I really can't find a reason for you try this place. Opened recently.

Fat Shack - The funny thing is I just was in Fort Collins where they started. A chain that ripped off the R U Hungry food truck from New Brunswick NJ gimmick off putting side dishes into a sandwich. Mark Cuban bought in. They are the first location in Florida. I grabbed a small Fat Bronco for $9. It had one chicken finger and one mozzarella stick and fries in tomato sauce. The fries were beyond soggy. The mozz was tasteless and rubbery. The chicken was inconsequential. As was the bun. A real expensive mess. They sell around a dozen of these and burgers and snacks. I'm not sure what the burgers cost. Their menu (with the prices) wasn't working. The place already looks twenty years aged and they opened a month ago. I don't hate the concept. It just needs to be done at least one quarter assed. And the prices are out of line. You can go to Arbys and get two sandwiches for $6 and mozz sticks for $3 and make yourself TWO better sandwiches. The original was on the Food Network.

*Travel Notes - Colorado: Flight there on Frontier was $206. Hertz was $445. Stayed night one at Baymont near airport for $100. Did recon on day one. Had sausage rarebit with broccoli and beer at Baker's Brewery in Silverthorne. Slept at Quality Inn for $93. Skied Arapahoe Basin for $99 with $52 ski rental. Had tots with pork belly and beer at Cabin Creek Brewery in Georgetown. Slept at Microtel for $115. Nice lake there. Skied at Loveland for $85 and $45 ski rental. Ate Italian sub at Enza's Deli in Silverthorne. Had a good steak and queso empanada at Lazo Empanadas at Bluebird Market. Had terrible tinga and carnitas tacos at Baja Chimayo at same market. Slept at Silver Inn for $105. Ate breakfast at Sunshine Cafe. Good trout and eggs. It started to blizzard, so, I had to change ski plans and head back down stream. Went to Idaho Springs and bathed at Indian Hot Springs for $20 (plus $7 for locker and towel). It was gross. Mainly because of the people. Had a disgusting pizza at Picci's. Had beer at Westbound & Down. Had beer and pastrami sandwich with fries at Tommyknockers. Slept at Columbine Inn (bad) for $106. Idaho Springs main street was cool. Though the charge for parking before 6pm. Drove through Denver north to Fort Collins. Had bad al pastor and carne asada tacos at Vatos. Had good carrot cake ice cream at Old Town Churn. Had interesting cheddar covered Liege style waffle at Waffle Lab. Slept at Armstrong Hotel for $126. Visited New Belgium Brewing. Ate trout and eggs (even better) at Silver Grill Cafe (in Esquire). Drove to Estes Park. Saw elk, etc. Drove through Rocky Mountain NP. Slept at Nicky's Resort for $78. Drove to airport and had bad lasagna at DiCicco's.

 I was going to try other ski areas, but, they were more expensive. Arapahoe had flex pricing. Loveland was constant rate. Both were way better than I expected. The more I go, the more I think you need to tell Vail and Aspen (et al) to go fuck themselves. It was in the 60's to start and then it dropped to the 20s. Crazy. Snowed over a foot after I left. The highway closed down. Fort Collins is cool. So many breweries and cideries and distilleries and restaurants. May be dearer than SLC in my heart now. Estes Park also had a nice lake. Nice drive there. Silverthorne is blowing up. Drove through Keystone (closed for season) too. Nice drive from Loveland to there over Loveland Pass. Found a cheap ski area called Echo near Idaho Springs. It had just closed though. No travel issues. Gas was cheaper there.

Grub Crawl - Mills Ave: Grilled Cheezus and Plantees

I tried the first place not this Monday but last. I tried the other yesterday. The first is in the old Bites and Bubbles location. The other is a little closer to Virginia.

Grilled Cheezus - They said they has a food truck and another location or two. The remodel really makes an already gloomy situation worse. They took out the bar and divided the room with a wall. They say a cookie company is hidden behind that. Now it's a tiny room with the kitchen in between. I ordered the basic grilled cheese because this trend is just stupid and of course it is overpriced stupidity to boot. It cost $9. It was good. Came with a thimble of uninspired too sweet tomato soup that did little to the experience. They press it in a waffle iron. Had to do a three cheese mix for some reason. Dusted it with some superfluous parmesan to make it seem fancy. They sell around ten others. Mostly simple add ins like bacon. Do yourself a favor and buy a waffle iron or a George Foreman grill (do they still exist) and use your allowance for something more deserving. Open for a month.

Plantees - The cultural antithesis of GC. A plant based, vegany, healthy, one item, fast casual option. They sell: a Beyond burger as a single or double, fries with cheese or without and shakes. I grabbed a single with vegan cheese for $10. Already you can tell I'm going to preface any analysis with - it's 2X too expensive. And it is. It was ok. The meat tastes like tv dinner meatloaf. Although, I didn't hate the mouthfeel or flavor. It didn't marry well with the very vinegary relish. The lettuce and tomato were very fresh. And the bun was perfect. Hopefully, they will maintain these freshness standards because that is all that justifies the premium price. If there is a justification. It is the first and only location. Seems ready to multiply. Very clean and modern look. Order at the counter inside with open kitchen. Patio dining area. Nice owners. Opened on Monday. Some off street parking. If you are going to waste your allowance on seemingly healthy (I wonder what the calorie count is) junk food while foolishly thinking you are saving the planet, this could do the trick for you.

*I also tried (for the last time) to try Brad's Pizza on Curry Ford. After many wild goose chases caused by the idiot Google, I tracked him down to a place called Collaborative Kitchen. He wasn't in. Of course. But, it wouldn't have mattered anyway. They force you to order on line through their app. I refuse to use apps unless they can be proven to be innocuous. As in, they don't install tracking software. And they all do. And it just seems like a bad business model. If you get walk-ins, why chase them away? It can't cost any more to type in the order to your POS. And it also seems like these snotty, bigoted little shits rely on deliver companies for most of their sales. That's another example of profit erosion. I'm starting to understand that whole "stupid is as stupid does" expression. I also saw a cool named place almost open on 50 called Mongolorian and Cucina has opened DT. So Dough on Michigan is also supposed to be open. I'll have one more post with some travel notes in a few days.

Grub Crawl - Windermere and Millenia: Dim Dim Sum and Pho 813 (Closed)

I tried these places last night. The first is at the intersection of Conroy and Apopka Vineland. You get off 1-4 by the Mall at Millenia and cross Kirkman and go all the way to Olympia High School. The corner with Hawkers. Far left if coming that way. The second is near the Target on Conroy just off I-4.

Dim Dim Sum - Kind of well named. Not the brightest of dim sum stars. I had shrimp dumplings, chao zhou fun guo dumplings and xiao long bao (that they don't call dumplings but are). They only served three per order. Shrinkflation seems to be how they are reacting to the current economic environment. Shanghai Lane did it to me too last month. The shrimp were good. Whole pieces. No stink or off flavors. They didn't steam them long enough. The exterior was pasty and fell off. A little better with the chao. They were ground and whole pork with chives and peanuts. Some gristly bits. Soft nuts. Maybe there were four to this order? Bigger, longer sized. The soup in the soup dumplings wasn't great. Still not sure why they call them bao. Internet says bao is a steamed bread roll. As I believed. All these plates cost $6.50. Tea was $3.50. All are too costly if you ask me. The menu is small. 39 things. The place has a patio and windows up front. Open kitchen in rear. A few tables. Waterfall on far left. Modern. Red brick walls. Wood trim. Slate floors. Two servers. It was empty. Maybe because a Hawkers outpost is very close. Not worth the effort (even with the dearth of dim sum options). Open for 6 months. Don't see them surviving. 

Pho 813 - Open 2 months. Grabbed a tofu banh mi to go for $9. Never had one before. Never will again. Would have been better without the tofu. Just veg. Roll was unforgivable. Supermarket shit that was old and probably wetted down and nuked. This is the basic component of the dish. If this is how the treat this, I don't trust them to do anything well or trust their standards. It was to come with pate too. Didn't discern any. 813 is Tampa area code. Place is modern. Bar on left rear. dining area on right. Big mural there. White walls. Blues. Blacks. Same old menu. Had shrimp on sugar cane though. 

*I also "tried" a new chain place on 434 in Longwood called So Fresh. Such A Ripoff would be more accurate. Refused to pony up the $8 (to start - basically cheese) plus an extra $4+ for ANY protein. Many other things were extra too. My soda (sucked) cost $3. Nothing looked fresh. The cookies and brownies were even packaged from another company. Their "quesadilla" had mozzarella and two other even less Mexican cheeses in it.  Man I hate these fast casual, veganish ripoff joints. Can anybody stop the madness? THEY WILL NOT MAKE YOU SKINNY....ERR HEALTHY. THEY WILL TAKE YOUR MONEY. Open for a month.

Grub Crawl - Florida Mall: Cantina Catrina, Steak Up and Gotcha Smokehouse BBQ *FL Travel Notes

I tried these places on Tuesday at lunch.

Cantina Catrina - Open for less than a month. Original in Miami. One of these in-authentic Mexican Applebee's that have been proliferating. I had barbacoa tacos because they were "street" and the line at Chipotle was crazy the day before and most things cost more than these. They cost $16 for 5. But, it turned out it was Taco Tuesday and I got them for half off. They were ok. The beef was bland. I wouldn't be shocked if it comes in a bag. The tortillas were a bit raw. The radish and avocado were fresh. Small menu. The decor is very dark (in color and I guess content). They decorate the place in "Day of the Dead" stuff. And pictures and posters of old Mexican movies and movie stars. Three areas. A bar area with patio (view of parking lot). Two areas with views of mall. Service was good. Maybe....maybe go for Taco Tuesday or drinks. At entrance to food court.

Steak Up - Next door to Catrina. Brazilian Fast Casual. Not sure how long they have been there. I tried to order a baked potato with chicken. They rang it up for a buck more than listed and then added a three dollar convenience fee. I asked for a refund. It rubbed me the wrong way. The convenience fee should be discounted if anything if you order to go. Not the other way around.

Gotcha Smokehouse BBQ - They were a little more inside the food court. I think the sign said there have been there since 2007. The items and severs (and eventually the taste) made it seem more Asian/Latin bbq than cracker. I got the chicken bowl (cheapest) for $9. It was some grilled chicken in a sauce that was a bit teryaki tasting. Good. I tried roasted potatoes as the side. Ok. A few undercooked. Small selection. Not more allure.

*Travel Notes - Florida Gulf Coast and Keys: I was going to stop in Lakeland but it was so early in the day to stop then. Did scope out Swan Brewing in DT. It wasn't open yet. Looked up hotels on St Pete Beach. Too expensive ($200+ for garbage). So, I found one in Kenwood (in between St Pete and St Pete Beach). Days Inn at $136. Got an awful gyro to go at Skidder's (AAA magazine) before I left. Ate good Panang mole curry with chicken at Nitally's Thai Mex (Food Paradise) in St Pete the next day. Drove south a bit to Munch's (3D) and grabbed the Cuban special with fries to go. Never been to that part of the city. Slept in Osprey at Casey Key Resort for $150. Lots of fees. Drove along Casey Key. Nice. Stephen King has places there. Looked in on Nokomis Beach. This area is just as good as Sarasota. Less expensive and built up. Ate breakfast (eggs benedict) at the hotel restaurant - Chef Rolf's. Drove south to Matlacha and had a cheeseburger at Bert's. Slept in North Fort Myers and the scary Riverview Inn for $116. Took a tour (Tropic Star) from Bookeelia on Pine Island to Cabbage Key and Cayo Costa SP for $57. All day tour. $42 for just Cayo Costa. Ate shrimp salad at Cabbage Key Inn. They do a dollar bill thing on the ceiling. May have been one of the inspirations for Cheeseburger in Paradise. Ate dinner and had beer in Naples at Bone Hook Brewery. Bad quesadilla and chicken chili. Slept down the street at Fairways Inn for $140. Drove by Baker museum, philharmonic and zoo. Baker wanted vax proof. I told them follow the science. I even pointed the way. Didn't go in to other places either. Ate pimento cheese and chicken sandwich with fries at Lake Park Diner. It's a modern diner. Cute. Ate very good al pastor and chicken tinga tacos at Turco Tacos. Drove on to Clyde Butcher's Photography Studio (at 52388 Tamiami Trail). Was going to buy a photo. But, they were around $7k for the ones displayed. $40 just for a poster! Onto Miccouskee Casino Resort for $235. I screwed myself waiting for prices to drop here or around the Keys. They didn't. Went the other way. I chose them because I've always wanted to see what's up. They gave me the top (executive) floor. Drove down to Key Largo. Had a good tuna melt and fries at Buzzard's Roost. On a canal. Had chilled shrimp and mango tacos at Chef Rolf''s Tuna's in Islamorada. Had seared yellowtail at Snapper's in Key Largo. Good water setting. Grabbed bad bacalao croquettas and worse tamal at Fernando the Bull in Key Largo. They started in Naples. Slept in Florida City at Fairway Inn for $94. Had to make up for the overspends somehow. Grabbed a ham and egg and cheese sandwich and Frito Burger (potato sticks and Med spiced) at Cuban Guys in Palmetto Bay on US 1 on the way home. Rental car (Nissan Rogue) cost $243 with Budget. Spent about $120 in gas. Only had bad weather on one day (Thursday). Good trip. No traffic problems. Even drafted my fantasy team during it. I used some credits on two of the hotels, so, they weren't as expensive as I listed.

Root Canal Tutorial

Although this will still probably be long, I will try and give an abridged version of what I want to impart and focus on the pricing. That is is the hardest to pin down. I needed a root canal (or extraction and replacement) because of crack in the tooth that allowed bacteria to flow through to the rootsin to my interior/blood stream. I should add that I have no insurance and all the prices quoted will be at their "reduced" no insurance rate. Also, almost every visit was like a Nascar pit stop. The crack was likely years in the making.

Symptoms: I first felt a little sinus pressure. Then a few days later some chills with slight pain around the cheek and jaw. Then pain in the teeth area while eating. aspirin helped. Then swelling around the lower jaw. Came and went. Then lymph node (below jaw at neck) swelling. Then "pimples" on the gums around the tooth. Then they burst and gray sludge oozed out. At that point (I was away when this happened) I was home and had to decide between dentist and doctor. I chose dentist. Total time was under two weeks.

Evaluation 1: I went to the last dentist I had a cleaning with (Dentists of Sanford). He was gone. A new guy (Jimmy Huynh) was in his place. They let me have the new patient rate of $59. He didn't mention a crack. Kind of acknowledged the abcess on the xray after I suggested it (did some internet research before). Suggested a $1200+ cleaning and gave me a prescription for Amoxycillin and suggested I may want to see an Endodontist. At least that helped. Free at Publix. That was a bad diagnosis.

Evaluation 2: Approx two weeks later (it was the holidays), I called on Alexsandra Shaykova at Baytree Family Dentists based on a flyer I had collected and the $1 Emergency Rate she offered. Plus she claimed to be able to most dental work and had a slot. She diagnosed a crack and suggested yanking the tooth and replacing it for $5137 in six steps over six months. That floored me.

Evaluation 3: The next day I tried Jessica Du at Smile Design Dentistry. Her teaser rate was $29. She confirmed the crack and said it was beyond her ability (although the flyer claimed she could do this type of work) and I should see an endodontist for a CT scan to be sure that it should be yanked. She recommended one. Her prices (spoiler alert - I come back here) went from $1421 to $1204 to $1087 for a crown. Not sure why. I guess keep asking.

Evaluation 4: I went to Mark Goldberg of Mid Florida Endodontics (another two weeks because of holiday #2) for the scan. It cost $250 ($150 eval and $100 scan). He said crack was too close to gum line and he wouldn't do a root canal. Yank it. Would not recommend anybody. Said not time sensitive if it didn't hurt. It didn't.

Evaluation 5: Did some eval of endodontists and periodontists. Most wouldn't do the whole job or didn't have appts for two months. Crazy. Found one who would and had openings. Kevin Bonn. I paid him $82 and he said I should he thought it could be saved. Sent me too a colleague that day. I should add that he wanted to take a new ct scan for $400ish. Extraction part of replacement would have been $407. Crown $1808. It was hard to pin them down on pricing. That and his refusal to do the crown until I did weeks of some jaw alignment therapy (while not telling me until I stopped by for another issue) made me move on. They also quoted me these prices: CT $406, Extraction $150-$350, Graft $475. Wouldn't quote implant. Total for replaced tooth $3 to $5k.

Evaluation 6: Travis Cassie at Lake Mary Endodontics said he could save it. Would have charged $250 for CT unless I brought my own (get a copy when you get one done). His initial eval was $185. He did the root canal two weeks later (because we were trying to line up schedules with Bonn) for $1330. It didn't hurt much. They put in a soft cap. You need to replace it within a month. Would have been $695 if aborted.

Evaluation 7: Not really an eval. Went back to Jessica Du. Another week or so. See drilled out what Cassie filled in (don't ask me why) and ground some things down and made a mold. Two week later she put the crown from the lab on. Once again that part was $160 for the crown build up and $927 for the crown.

Synopsis: This has been a nightmare. My teeth have shifted. My bite is off. It cost so much more than I expected. And I got off light. It took forever. And I didn't just accept the first offers/advice. Replacing seemed like a nightmare and I didn't want some idiot drilling into my jaw bone. The tooth still may not last. No one in my social circle knew anything about this or could make any good recommendations. That's why I'm posting this. I never have dental issues. Yet, this can happen to any of us. And it sucks.

*Here is an addendum that of docs for didn't make the final cut. I tried to evaluate colleges and work experience. It's hard to find Ivy league level training around here. Just tried to get someone NOT from a school like Nova:

D Whitman of Orlando Oral & Facial Surgery - Wouldn't do fake tooth part if replaced.

Ed Kennedy of Kennedy Periodontics - Had no appts  for months. A consult would have been $150, CT $350, Extraction $325, Graft $475, Blood something $175, Implant $2275 plus $100.

Tim Tiralosi - No appts for too long. $5500 for tooth replacement.

Oreth - $150 exam, $375 extraction, $1000 PTF membrane graft, $2600 implant, $1500 crown.