Grub Crawl - Oviedo and Winter Springs: Briskets BBQ Shack, Hidoe Sushi, Lemongrass and Cuba Libre Camaguey *Southern Caliifornia Travel Notes

I tried these spots on Wednesday at lunch. The first is on Geneva Dr off 426. Think around where the Townhouse is. Across from that is a pond. Across from that is them. They are doing road work there, so, I think I took Oviedo Dr to a roundabout and you can see their little white structure from there. The next two were down 426 (east) at Lockwood Blvd. Turn right. In a little strip mall on the right. Near each other. I saw them when I tried that ice cream place down 426 earlier last year. The last is on 434 in that strip mall before 17-92. East side. Think Chilangos. The other place I was seeking there has closed.

Briskets BBQ Shack - I read about them on that Orlando Weekly site. Some new guy listed his favorite bites of the year. I think it was a beef rib. That was the first I had heard of them. Open for a year though. I had a plate with brisket and a side (mac and cheese) for $15. The brisket was good. Thickly cut. I think they said 6 oz. Good balance of moist, oil, smoke and beef flavor. Not much middle muck or fat (though a point cut). Not a ton of bark. Pulled apart properly. I'm hoping no liquid smoke. They drizzled a little sauce over it. Two slices of white bread, sweet pickles and a grilled jalapeno on the side. The mac and cheese wasn't as great. Some kind of sweet blend over cavatappi pasta. The pasta was mushy. It worked best when you put some chopped up jalapeno in it. They cook Texas style. The guy is from South Florida though. They also sold sausage, pulled pork, beef ribs (out), ribs and turkey and chicken (quarters) too. The sides were cole slaw, potato salad (not homemade) and I forget what else. Brisket was $40 a pound. I think sausage was $20. The rest were in between. They do sandwiches (mostly in the mid-teens). I'm still a little confused on the pricing for plates with more than one meat and side. It seemed like if you order two and two, they just charge you for what each plate alone would be. They had a $10 taco special. You order inside. Tiny. You eat outside on picinic tables (4?). It will probably be on this year's Favorites List. I'll probably pop back in before that to make sure. Around eight people there. Nice service. Came out quickly.

Hinode Sushi - I just grabbed a $3 miso soup because they wanted +$7 for every roll or two piece nigiri (and it seemed like there would be a wait for anything more challenging). For comparison, Koy Wan is $12 for all you can eat (and I try to eat seventy pieces - no shit) and their quality is just as good as most of these non-high end places. Soup was the usual miso. The menu had usual offerings. Small place. Dull decor. Full. Open for five years.

Lemongrass Thai Kitchen - Menu was as cliche as the name. I had the Tom Kha Kai for $6 because I've had enough Thai lately and I didn't drive here for them but didn't want to ever make another trip here either. It was good. Way too small a portion though. Half of one of those medium sized plastic containers. Chicken was fresher than Neveyahs. Two pieces. Some lemongrass, ginger and onion. Coconut milk broth. Rectangular layout. Modern. Seats on the right side. Counter on the left. The usual menu.

Cuba Libre Camaguey - I figured I'd knock them off the list as well. I just grabbed some finger foods. A ham croquette ($1 but free for me). The usual mushy fishstick. Ham was awol. A ground beef empanada ($3). Good. Not oily. Tender beef. They said they make them. A pork tamale ($3). Looked homemade. Encased in a corn husk. Good. Nice size. Some evidence of pork. The place was pink. Kind of old furniture. Some posters of Cuba. Camaguey is a city in the middle of the island. They also sell potato balls, tostones, fried yuca, 4 salads, 7 sandwiches, Bandeja Criolla (variety plate), 11 entrees, 7 sides, 5 coffees, 5 desserts. Kids menu. Sandwiches were around $11. With fries. They serve breakfast too. Plus lunch and dinner. Closed Monday. Open for a year. They cater. You could probably do worse. I may go back and try a real meal.

*Travel Notes - Southern California: I flew a split ticket (Jet Blue/UA) to LAX for $184. At good flight times. No issues. I rented a car for the week from Budget for $398. It was a cluster fuck at LAX. I got the last car they had (at 3pm) and it was a hassle getting that and it was beat up and they kept screwing up the pricing when they finally figured out how to swap the cars. I canceled the LV portion of the trip because I didn't trust the car. They ended up double billing me. Working that out. I stayed the first night again at the Wave Hotel (Booking 7.4) in Manhattan Beach on Sepulveda for $105 (it was $179 the last time). I grabbed tacos at El Pollo Loco. Drinks in Redondo Beach at Bluewater Grill, The Slip Bar and Tony's on the Pier (since 1952). Their specialty is called a Fire Chief. Drove down to Carlsbad the next day. McD's for lunch. Stayed at Carlsbad by the Sea (Expedia 7.6) for two nights at $99 plus $12 for parking. It was more by the highway and Legoland than the sea. There was a food hall (Windmill Food Hall) in front of it. I had yellow curry chicken with rice from Thai Style for dinner. They used whole pieces of chicken. The next day I went to the Farmer's Insurance Open at Torrey Pines for $80. $20 bribe for parking. All the parking locations they had on the website were wrong. Hot dog and chips at the event. Back to Windmill for dinner. A longaniza and a spam musubi at Rolled Up SD. Potato rolled tacos (flautas stuffed with mashed potatoes) at El Puerto Street Tacos. Beer at Windmill Bar. Finally tried a TB breakfast (egg burritos) the next morning. More filling than McDs. Cheaper too. A taco and chips at Tito's Tacos in Culver City (that's LA) off 405 at Washington. Hard shell. Beef was a consistency between pulled and ground. It is supposedly a legend. I never heard of it when I lived there. It took my alumni magazine to hip me to it. It was average. Took the 405 to 10 to PCH to the 101 to Buellton. Had two (red and white) tastings (they were running a special) at Hitching Post Wines. Tastings were $20-$35. Good. Down 246E a few miles to Solvang (Danish town). Checked into the Hamlet Inn (Expedia 8.8) for $135. Drove back to Buellton for a mixed tasting at Kaena Wine Company. Good. $20. They had one wine aged in a barrel that was 1/3rd Acacai wood. Nice dinner of pea soup with ham, crudite, bread and pork chop with baked potato and cherry tart at Hitching Post II (from Sideways). Fairly expensive. This was $30 something as the cheapest dish on some Restaurant Week special. Back to Solvang. A beer at Solvang Brewing Company. Walked the streets. Been there before. Breakfast custard danish at Mortensen's Danish Bakery. More walking. Old Mission Santa Ines. Was going to breakfast there, but, tons of people bum rushed it (Brekkies) while I was looking at the menu. I also note now that a friend told me to have uni at Ramen Kotori. They opened too late though. Drove to Buellton. Grabbed a bagel with cc at Enjoy Bagels & Sweets. They did a cute thing with mini cupcakes in an egg carton. Down 101 and PCH to Trancas area of Malibu. Had a smashburger with homemade waffle cut chips and beer at Malibu Brewing Company. They hadn't opened yet in the last SC post. Checked into the Mailbu Country Inn (Expedia 7.6) at Zuma Beach for $155. Walked down and to the left to Point Dume (many films like the end of Planet of the Apes and pre-cgi'd Tony Stark's house were filmed here). Walked up it and farther south and back. FYI - the Grease opening was filmed more north at Leo Carillo State Beach. Grabbed some cheese and wine at Pavillion's (tip - they let you enter your phone number at the register to become a member). Watched the sunset. Woke up and finally found (a few miles south) this motel I stayed at when I was moving to LA a while back. Now called Hotel June. Popped into Geoffrey's and finally got a table (without ressy). I've been trying forever. Had a filet mignon with scrambled eggs and roasted potatoes. One of the more expensive brunch options. Only $40. Valet was $15 (added to the bill) and I gave the guy $10. Great table by the ledge. Popped into town and walked to the pier and back. Took Sunset Blvd up past Beverly Hills and back on Santa Monica Blvd to SM. Down 1 to Marina del Rey. Stayed at the mold infested Foghorn Harbor Inn (Exedia 8.0) for $155. It was on the water/marina. Walked to the beach. On the pier. Down to Venice Beach and back. I think they shot White Men Can't Jump and American History X at the basketball hoops area. Muscle Beach of course. What a collection of human trash though. Grubbier than ever. Grabbed wine and cheese at Gelson's on Lincoln. Grabbed spam ramen from L&L Hawaiian near there. Also saw some bar with turtle racing (Brennan's). Wasn't open the next day. Drove to the marina access canal to the ocean. Didn't see Charlie Harper. Up 1 to Malibu again. Ate a too pricy breakfast of three basted eggs, roasted potatoes, avocado, salsa on tortillas at Patrick's Roadhouse (I saw it on S1 of 3D the night before). Schwarzenegger designed some "garbage" plate there. But, it was $30. This is on Entrada Dr (near Will Rogers Beach) off PCH. Probably Santa Monica. I felt queasy after this, so, I just walked the town and Bluffs in Malibu. I was going to get more food. Next time. Down PCH to Lincoln to Manhattan Beach again. I tried the sister hotel (next door) to the Wave for $101. Hotel Pacific (Expedia 7.0). Had salmon and spicy tuna poke and a kulua pork taco at Ali'i Fish Company near the hotel.

Weather was perfect. Only the second day (and only in SD) was gloomy. No traffic issues. Didn't see much homelessness. Couldn't do Musso & Frank's. Maude seems like a pain too. Both only do dinner. I chose hotels with free parking (mostly). Didn't get to Vegas. I already have remedied that though. No real deals on hotels there anyway. The only real hiccup was Budget.

Grub Crawl - Downtown: Eola Lounge and Neveyah

I tried these spots on Tuesday at dinner. They are next to each other on South Eola Drive and Church St. Where Stubborn Mule is. Both are only open for dinner. I did find free parking down the street from them.

Eola Lounge - I forget what was here before. Some kind of California themed something something? I don't think they changed much. Maybe a small, platform stage? On the list for at least a year. They have a nice looking bar. A patio area in front. The menu was a bit disappointing. I don't think it is the focus. They divide it into sections like land and sea. Dishes are from all over the globe. I passed on the chicken skewers (Morocco) after learning there were only two of them ($16). I went for the salted croaker fried rice for $18. It was ok. The croaker (if that was what it was) was dried as described. Served as crumbles. That wasn't the problem. It just doesn't taste very good. No desiccated seafood does. I'm not sure from what country this hails from? Laos? They also had a blue crab version. I think that is Thai. The rice was good though. Not too oily. Fresh. Not dry. They prepared it quickly. Fair portion. I remember a burger and some Greek stuff on the menu. There were around 24 options. Some small bites. It seats about sixty. Ten at the bar. There were only six people there (at the bar). Palm tree wall paper. Square floor plan. You can probably skip it.

Neveyah Sushi & Thai - I'm not a fan of this combo. They seem incompatible. I went Thai because the sushi prices were too high (I really can only justify some AYCE sushi at this point). I had Singapore Noodles with chicken for $16. For the record, I can get these at the local Chinese Take Out for $9. It tasted of dry curry powder not sauce. The chicken was a bit dry/old. The ultra thin noodles were good. They tossed in some bland, long, translucent vegetable and some long cut scallion with it. Decent portion. Took too long to cook. They had the usually Thai offerings. There is a sushi bar in the rear. L shaped room. Modern. Dark black mostly. Seats around sixty. Three at the bar and three in seats. Patio too. They used to be open for lunch (why I was there last week). No longer. This was Oudom six months ago. They said they are about to switch up the menu. You can pass on this one as well. 

*I will have Travel Notes and four more reviews on Sunday. FYI - I saw a taste test on tv with the three new Subway snacks. Pretzel ($3) was disgusting. Churro ($2) was ok - thin. Cookie was the best. But the most ($5).

Grub Crawl - Lake Mary: Daddy's Chicken Shack (Closed) and Pal Campo

I tried these spots on Monday at dinner. They are across from each other at the 46A exit. The first is in the strip mall on the left. The second is in the strip mall (Publix) on the right.

Daddy's Chicken Shack - It was a Moe's Caribbean and then a Halal Guys. It is a chain from Pasadena that really hails from Houston. This is the only one in Florida. This was the first day it was open. I had a Simple Daddy for $6. It was disappointing. Very wide. Not so tall. Big spaces between crust and chicken. Ends were mostly batter. Chewy crust. Like it had sat out. Stale, bland too. Ok marinated chicken. Made it a bit slippery. Three pickles. Glossy bun. They also sell breakfast, waffle buns, tenders, fries, etc. Same floor plan. A few tables. Nothing new.

Pal Campo - Means - Into the woods. Open for three months. On the corner, near the Chase bank. Was a sandwich place before. I had the pechuga de pollo al ajillo with a side (rice and pink pigeon peas) for $17. Too $. Flat, rubbery chicken. Mushy, flavored rice. Raw garlic. Veg bits. They also sell mofongo, pork, beef, seafood, soups. Large, square, dark, open space. Bar. TVs. Lunch and dinner. Open for three months. Puerto Rican. Not a destination spot.

Grub Crawl - Winter Park and Downtown: Crisp & Green, Jeni's and Bynx

I tried these spots on Monday at lunch. The first two are in the Winter Park Village near Lee Rd. The last is on Church St near Eola. I was trying for other spots that turned out to be closed. These were just poor substitutions.

Crisp & Green - A chain from Minneapolis. I had a make your own bowl for $9. I chose field greens, romaine, grated radish, cukes, cherry tomatoes and radicchio. Ranch dressing. Bland. Small portion size. You can also choose quinoa, wild rice, etc. Acai, smoothies and tea. Bright white look. Modern. Nothing notable or necessary about them.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream - You know I also have little need for a place like this. Especially at $6.25 for their small. They give you two 1/2 scoops. I like that. I also liked the ice cream. Alot. I tried Brambleberry Crisp and Gooey Butter Cake. Came with a waffle cone triangle. They also sell pints. Colorful look. Out of Columbus OH.

Bynx - I just grabbed a coffee for $4 because they only had pricy paninis at that point. I wanted more. It's really just a drinks option. Not a destination spot.

*I also tried (and will never again) Sushi Saint near the Marriott. No parking. Won't do take out. I think a hand roll starts at $9. 

Grub Crawl - Ocoee and West Colonial (50): Mr J Hand Pulled Noodle (Closed) and Pho Ga Hien Vuong (Closed)

I tried these spots on Monday in the afternoon. I grabbed the meals to go. The first is two blocks north of West Colonial (50) on East Silver Star Rd in a Publix strip mall (Sliver Crossing) at the intersection with Clarke Rd. The signage is inadequate and probably from the last owners. Something crab. The second is in Chinatown in the righthand corner.

Mr J Hand Pulled Noodle - I tried their basic bowl for $16. A salty beef broth with some sliced beef, spicy sesame oil, ground nuts, green onion and some almost potato like, clear, bland vegetable sliced thin (turnip, parsnip, radish, beet?). The beef was tender. They had eight types of noodles. I chose triangle. They didn't look any different. Certainly not like prisms. They were mushy. Disappointing. I'm not sure if being enclosed in a plastic bag did this or if they are always in this condition. I haven't had too many hand pulled noodles. I think I recall much better ones in Las Vegas. You can also get them hand cut. They have a few bowls and finger foods. Things like: gyoza and a spring roll looking thing. They had a lamb and cumin dish like that of Chengdu. They said the food is from the North of China. I forget the province. Something with an L? A small space. Maybe seven tables. Tightly packed. Gray, fake flatstone walls. Cartoons on the tables. Tiny fish tank. Large tv showing a journey through a Chinese airport. It was full. Three workers. Tables were left unbused. Open for a year. It took me a while to get here. I'm not sure if it was worth the effort. Closed on Sunday. Lunch and dinner.

Pho Ga Hien Vuong - This is another spot that I have been thwarted by for a while. If you are a avid reader, you may recall me mentioning it before. They call themselves a Vietnamese Noodle House. I grabbed a chicken (ga) pho for $17. They play up the quality of their chicken and broth. The broth was exceptional. Clear. Clean. Delicious. A hint of star anise. The chicken seemed like the casualty of the broth construction. Like all the flavor had been boiled out of it for it's brother. Plus they chop up the carcass and count that as part of the meat booty (there are some shreds of white meat too). Too much work and mess getting the scraps of meat from it. The chicken had a tiny, scrawny frame. Probably some word soup variety marketed to sustainiacs. Came with greens/herbs (unwilted), scallions, some kind of flavored oil, bean sprouts and deseeded jalapeno slices. I actually used the remaining noodles from Mr J in place of their noodles. I think I like the thicker noodles better. They do a few riffs on this pho. Plus beef ones. They also sell rice and noodle dishes. I forget if they have snacks. They are the people behind Z Asian on East Colonial. They said Hien Vuong is a street in Vietnam that is known for chicken pho. Small footprint. Maybe six tables. Order at a counter. Modern. Lunch and dinner. Was closed on Mondays. No longer. Now closed on Fridays. Open for two months. This is a hard one. I did love that broth. But, is that enough? Maybe for a fly by if you are in the area already. I wonder if you should avoid the non-broth dishes then? Will the meat be as bland?

The Castle Irish Pub, College Park *TX/LA/MS/AL/FL Travel Notes

I tried this Irish pub on Monday at lunch. It replaces Thai Farm Kitchen which replaced another Irish pub, so, it's a bit deja vu-y. It is half way between the high school at Princeton St on Edgewater Drive. It has been open for three months. I tried the special of ahi tuna salad for $14. They quoted $12. But, that was without fries. It was still the cheapest options. A burger was $15+ and most of the other items were reaching for the twenties. The waitress and a manager said it was their favorite item. It wasn't great. The tuna was dry as jerky. Like this is what they do with the misfired ahi pieces. It was described as the opposite - seared. It didn't make that much difference. I was just curious as to what kind of tuna salad (with mayo) that would make. Guess I'll never know. The owner said it was to be made as decribed. She would look into it. It was unreasonably salty as well. The bread was good. Semi sweet. Thick cut. Seemed a tad above store bought. The l and t were covered up by mayo, so, it was hard to tell the quality. The l seemed ok. The t seemed a bit unripened. The fries were good. Rectangular. Thinish. Pulpy in the middle. A goodly portion. They offer a typical selection: bangers and mash, shepard's pie, fish and chips, fish tacos, steak, fried chicken sandwich, etc. They spent alot on the decor. Black, gray, silver, yellow, burgandy, stained wood and steel. The ceiling has two patterns of steel structures. Plush seats. Some booths. The room is divided into a front area with the bar on the left. There is a connected rear room behind it. A half wall divides it into sections. Each seats about 40. They kept the large patio in the front. TVs at the bar. The staff (only 2) seemed a bit harried. Florida Women. Pubs aren't my bag baby. But, if you are inclined to like them, I think you'll find this one agreeable. The prices reflect the new build/investment. Though they aren't that out of line. Just hope that what you order is under more scrutiny from the kitchen. I think they are trying/sincere. It was a bit underlit. Parking is limited. It was pretty full.

*Travel Notes - Texas/Louisiana/Mississippi/Alabama/Florida: I rented a car from Hertz for two weeks fo $492. I spent the first and last days here. I drove to Pensacola and stayed at the Sole Inn again for $100. I had a Rubble Rage Hot Dog (K/M/Mayo/Chili/Sri/SC and Fruity Peebles) at The Dog House. I had a too sweet wild boar sloppy joe with shoe string ff at Union Public House. I had good beer at Perfect Plain Brewing Co and Odd Colony Brewing Company. I drove the next day through Mobile. Had a good chicken shwarma with corn chowder at Mediterranean Sandwich Co and good crawfish etouffe with corn bread at The Noble South. I forget how I found out about them. I think Yelp's top ten. I also found this bbq place called Cotton State BBQ near my parking spot and picked up a bad chicken salad sandwich. I drove on to New Orleans. To the Faubourg Brewing Co. They have signs showing you the way off 10 now. Stayed at the St Charles Coach House again for $108. No charge for parking any longer. I ate dinner at Jacques Imo's (magazine article). Met a pretty tipsy Jacques Leonardi - Owner. I didn't need a reservation. Had a $70 meal of fried rabbit tenderloin, chicken fried venison with a peppercorn sauce and a side smothered  cabbage and mashed potatoes. They tossed in a creme brulee. Glad I finally knocked this off the list. They are usually not open on the days I choose to be in NO. I could have lived without the rabbit. The venison was huge and delicious. I drove to Elgin TX the next day. 10 to 610 to 290. Stayed at the Quality Inn for $67. Reviews for hotels in other towns were worrisome. I drove back east about thirty miles east the next day to Lexington for Snow's BBQ. It is only open on Saturdays. It is usually ranked as number one in Texas. Some old lady does the cooking. The line starts before 8am. I got there at 9am. It took three hours to order. It was ok. I had 1/2 lb of brisket and a guy I was in line with gave me a piece of sausage. The brisket was plain and dryish. The sausage was crisp and good. I think she is also known for chicken. That was gone by 10am. Still a fun experience. I actually could have come at 11am and the line would have been gone. I will add in here that many of the bbq places I will be mentioning were charging almost $40 a lb for brisket. I drove on to Austin. Had 1/2 lb of brisket (point) at La Barbecue on Cesar Chavez St. It was oily (good), but, had too much of that dark brown layer between the fat and the meat and too much fat. Saved that later for dinner. I had beer across the street at Blue Owl Brewery. I stayed two nights again at the Holiday Inn Town Lake for $125 a night (free parking). I walked up the river on the now completed river path and up to the Capitol. Across to Red River St (quite a few places here) and had beer at Central District Brewing. I then grabbed a fabulous 1/2 bbq chicken at Iron Works Barbecue on the same street. I just ran into all those places by chance. Except La. I saw them while driving around on my last trip. I walked back to the hotel through a fun nightspot area on Rainey St. Bought wine at Rainey St Market. Drove up 35 a few miles to Pflugerville the next day. Had an ok thick cut pastrami rueben at Brotherton's Black Iron Barbecue. Adding some variety. Probably should have tried anything else. It was on this show Daytripper with Chet Garner on Create TV. I will refer to it as DT from now on. I drove east through Round Rock on 70 to Taylor again. This time for Davis Grocery & BBQ (DT). It is hidden aside the railroad tracks on MLK Blvd. I had (affordable) tasty mutton sandwich and a sausage wrap (just one piece of white bread). He gave me some tasty brisket to sample. Back to Austin. I checked out the beautiful O2 Stadium (MLS) just north of town. I drove to South Congress (across the river) and got a delicious redfish boy boy with ff to go at Perla's (Yelp I think) and an ok black bean and cheese and a pork and beef tamale at Guero's Taco Bar (Yelp I think). I ate those for breakfast. No night time activity (Sunday). I drove 35S to 71E to 360N to 1N to Bee Cave Rd to The County Line BBQ (DT). I had a combo plate of a beef rib and second cut (their term for point) brisket and a salad and potato salad. The rib may be the best one I have ever had. The brisket was great too. Even the sides were good. Good value too. I drove 1S to 290W to Fredericksburg. I stayed at the Fredericksburg Inn & Suites for $113. I went just east to a new winery area. Rejected the $35 tasting at Invention Vineyards. But, got roped into a $25 tasting at Augusta Vin. Both the reds and whites were good though. I drove on to Santa Maria Cellars. It was closed. I had dinner at Otto's German Bistro (Samantha Brown's Places to Love). Had a good (pricy) duck schnitzel with kase spatzle, rotkohl, duck cracklings in a Kirsch demi-glace. Watched the BCS game. Good breakfast at the hotel (free). Drove the next morning on 87S to 10E to San Antonio. Stayed at a nice La Quinta in Downtown on Cesar Chavez Blvd for two nights at $111 a night (free parking). I was worried that this area was going be dangerous. Nope. Perfect. They are redoing the whole city. Hardly any area is sketchy anymore. This was near a portion of the riverwalk too. DT was a few blocks away. Most other hotels in town charged alot for parking. There was a HEB market across the street. I had lunch of a tasty Botanas Platter at Mi Tierra Cafe & Bakery (on DT) at Market Square. Chicken flautitos, chalupitas bocadillos and  quesadillas. Good value. This place is a legend. I walked through downtown to the Alamo and down the south part of the Riverwalk. Dinner from HEB. The next day I walked down the Riverwalk to the Pioneer Flour Mill and the Guenther House (magazine article). I had ok sweet cream waffles with pork sausage. I walked across to the King William District. Grabbed a delicious "Brazilian" butternut squash soup with ground almonds at Pharm Table (Samantha Brown's Places to Love). Many restaurants and shops here. Walked past Anton Wulff House to the Riverwalk all the way north to the Performing Arts Center, old Pabst HQ, Make Ready Market, San Antonio Museum of Art to this area called the Pearl (the old Pearl Brewery that is now an urban living center). Great walk. Back to DT. Had a beer at the oldest saloon in Texas - The Buckhorn Saloon (DT). Walked the inside loop of the Riverwalk. Saw Stargazer statue, St Anthony statue and Briscoe Western Art Museum (closed). Walked back to King William and grabbed some tacos al pastor and gringa (quesadilla al pastor) at Taqueria Los Cuates (the twins). Saw it earlier that day. Drove the Mission Trail the next morning. Four other National Parks missions just south of SA. Cute. The church at the Alamo (San Antonio de Valero) is the fifth. Also the Espada aqueduct. Through SA on McCullough to Hildebrand to the past their prime Taco Taco Cafe (3D+). I believe they popularized the puffy taco. Mine was a greasy mess. A Migas and Mexicana weren't much better. Empty. Up McCullough to 410 to 35N to 21E to Lockhart. I missed the exit for the Bracken Bat Cave (15 million bats). But, bats aren't there until March (same in Austin). Had dry and fatty 1/2 lb of brisket at Smitty's Market. Sausage too. Ate that at dinner. Back to 35N to South Austin (south of 71). Stayed at noisy (on 35) Comfort Suites for $103. Drove across 35 to William Cannon Rd to Bill Hughes Rd to see the school they filmed Dazed and Confused at (Bedichek Middle School). Up Cannon to 1N to Enfield Rd to see where they filmed the baseball game (West Enfield Park). Up 1N to Wes Anderson Lane to Burnett Rd to Top Notch. The drive in from the movie. Had a cb combo. Down Burnett to The Aristocrat Lounge (was Doodle Dog Lounge in the movie). Alright, alright, alright. Back up Burnett to Anderson (east) to 290E. Drove though Houston to 10E to a noisy Best Western in Rayne LA for $79. One exit from Lafayette. Don't stay there. Drove the next morning to New Orleans. Exited at North Claiborne (39) Ave and down Elysian Fields towards the river to Bywater Bakery (some show with this actor Mischa). Grabbed a breakfast gumbo. Scrambled eggs and grits in a gumbo. In an area called Faubourg Marigny and Bywater. Felt fairly safe. Back to 10E to Bay St Louis exit. Ok Cobb salad at 200 North Beach. Coastal road 90 to Biloxi. Went to the Ohr-O'Keefe Museum of Art. Frank Gehry designed buildings. Ohr was a potter. O'Keefe an industrialist. Some other art. $8 with AAA. Back to 10E to Pensacola. Stayed at Sole Inn again for $116. Bad pizza at Papa's Pizza. Went to Ice Flyers game at the Pensacola Bay Center for $21. It was pretty full. Drove home. Lucked out on the weather. Knocked many restaurants off the list. No major travel delays. Austin had six new skyscrapers going up. San Antonio is a very livable city now. One of my new favs. Good trip. Under a bridge on the Riverwalk, they hung these giant fish sculptures. We should try that. It's funny how many public works projects they have sponsored for their residents and Bloody Dyer-ia has almost nothing that will live on after him.

Grub Crawl - Astor: Drifters and Essex Seafood House

I tried these spots yesterday at dinner. The first is on the river in the old Blackwater Inn location. The second is slightly east on 40.

Drifters Riverfront Bar & Grill - They spell it without punctuation. I just grabbed some potato skins for $8 because it didn't seem so different than the last spot. They (5) were good. Some pulp, cheese and bacon. Side of sour cream. Fresh. Warm. The waitress/bartender looked at the first batch and went back to the kitchen to chew them out. Not sure how I would have felt about those. Not sure how I feel about the kitchen's quality control after hearing that. They have the usual menu and prices. Fried seafood, burgers, sammies, snacks, etc. They redid the bay windows overlooking the river. Big improvement. The place looks nicer. There is a bar (McHenry's Pub) upstairs. Lots of servers. Parking. I think they switched ownership two years ago. I've driven by a few times since the switch.

Essex Seafood House - I've been meaning to try this forever. It's been there for a while. The issue was that I usually drove by on the wrong time or day. They aren't always open. Check the schedule before you go. They also only take cash, so, that usually doesn't help tempt me. I was surprised by their breadth of items. Not just fried clams. They had bellies and strips. But also: oysters, scallops, shrimp, haddock, catfish, grouper, salmon, flounder, gator, pork chops, chicken and lobster. You can get those grilled or baked as well. I tried a "boat" (with one side) of fried frog legs (5) for $12. Very good. Clean. Fresh. Tender. Great fry. I chose a baked potato. Fine. Came out quick. You can also get fries, onion rings, cole slaw, mac and cheese, applesauce or hush puppies. Boats are $12-$16. They do those main options along with ribs, strip steak, snow crab legs, mussels or mixed seafood (one more side) for $19-$25. I saw good looking snow crab plates and fried chicken fingers or fish. They also steam: Ipswich steamers, mussels and shrimp. $14.50 to $23. Their apps are: clam chowder, gator snack, buffalo catfish and chicken, onion hearts, cheese sticks, blooming onion, poppers, and fried mushrooms and pickles. $8-$10. They put some of those main items on sandwiches. And burgers, rolls and hot dogs. $7-$16. The lobster roll was $23. It's a little, untidy joint. Potholes galore in the parking lot. Good service. Full. I will have to make it a point to try them more often. I think I remember reading about them in the Sentinel ages ago. 

Grub Crawl - Altamonte Springs: Fonda La Petrona (Closed) and Torchy's Tacos (Closed)

I tried these spots off 434 last Tuesday at dinner. The first is in a Walmart strip mall on the south side of 436 and 434. It was called San Jose's before. It's way in the back. Look for Backyard Burgers. The second is in the refurbed strip mall on the way to I-4.

Fonda La Petrona - Not food truck La Patrona. Named after a singer. Not sure if it is this Colombian one named La Patrona. Open for two months. Lunch and dinner. I had the Pollo La Petrona for $18. I was tasty. Sliced chicken and mushrooms over yellow rice and smothered in a queso sauce. They also offer up street tacos ($5), birria and other items I don't recall. Limited, basic decor. A big tv. Some murals of those sexy skeleton painted women. You could do worse.

Torchy's Tacos - I just had one egg, cheese and potato taco for $4 because my last meal at another location was disappointing. They helped redeem their honor. They opened two weeks ago. Nice and new. $4-$7 tacos. Burritos, bowls, etc around $10. Beef, chicken, pork, sausage, vegetables. Bar. Tvs. Pretty full. Publix is behind them. This is their first location in CF. 

Pollo Campero, SoDo

I tried this Guatemalan fast food chicken restaurant (Est. 1971) at the corner of Michigan and South Orange last Tuesday at dinner. Open for just a few months. I only had a $3 chicken empanada to go because the rest of the items were too expensive and they took FOREVER. It was pretty poor. They sell fried chicken platters, chicken sandwiches, nuggets, Latin sides. A two piece is the cheapest at $10. It looks like a fast food place. They have a drive thru. Looks ok from outside. Inside is already dirty. Cheap contracting work. The lights came on while I was there. They were off. They had a power problem. They had around twenty workers. Half were just f'ing around. Only ONE girl was at the register. The entire clientele was composed of Latin Americans. You can skip it.

Grub Crawl - Disney Area: Kung Fu Kitchen, Portillo's, White Castle and K-Bob

I tried these spots on Tuesday at lunch. The first is in that strip mall off Palm Parkway that has Kitty O'Shea's and Susuru. The rest are in a new strip mall area a little way closer to Sand Lake Rd on Palm Parkway. They have many newly built places (like World of Beer and Raising Cane's) over here. I got off I-4 at Sand Lake and drove down. I think you can also get off at the Disney Springs exit and go the opposite way.

Kung Fu Kitchen - Not KF Dumplings or KF the drink chain. I believe they are an outpost of a NYC resto. Open for two months. Mostly dumplings, noodles, rice and ramen. I tried the Pork Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings) at $14 and the sticky rice shui mai dumplings at $9. The soup dumplings (6) were flat circles. Ok. A little pasty. Bland soup. The sticky rice ones (4) were new to me. Ok. The rice tasted a bit like wild rice. The pork was not prevalent. So, all in all, I'd choose Kung Fu Dumplings or Bakery 1908 over them (for example). It was packed though. The noodles and rice and ramen were around $20. The wonton soup was around $15. Dumplings and vegetable dishes were $9 to $14. A square room. Black and red with gray floor tile. Maple tables. Wood Chinese "screens" around the exterior. Steam basket tops on the wall. Quick service. A bit disappointing.

Portillo's - A hot dog chain from Chicago (1963). Large floor plan. Looks like a 50's Diner. Cool. I grabbed a Chicago Dog for $4. It was ok. The casing was a bit rubbery/tough. The dog was a bit bologna-like. Good veg. I think someone took me to the original when I worked in Chicago. They offer up burgers, Italian beef, sausages, salads, chicken, fish, bowls, fries, sides, shakes and desserts (I saw a guy icing a chocolate cake). Pricing was fair. Order at a counter. Big guitar and upside down tables, etc hanging from the ceiling. Clean. New. 

White Castle - I have been to many around the country. This is one of nicer/newer ones. I just grabbed a hamburger for $1.19. One of the fresher ones. Came out in seconds. You know what they are all about.

K-Bob Korean Street Food - I saw them there and had to try. Prices seemed to high. +$14 for tiny bowls and $8 corn dogs. I tried a $6 Hotteok (pancake). It was ok. Like a non-spiral Cinnamon Roll. Square. They also sell boba, fried chicken and are promising bingsu (milk based shaved ice) in the future. The place is red, white and modern. New. Order at a counter. Seats. Fast food looking. I don't think it is a chain though. May be ok if the food is.

2023 Favorites List and Travel Notes Index

If you haven't noticed, I have tried to make this list a bit more helpful by adding the dates that I wrote the reviews of the restaurants and added the Travel Notes Index to the site. It should make it easier to look back upon the posts with the most value. Since the search tool is so horrible. Not as horrible as the recent hires at the news channels though. Especially WESH. Are we trying to hire unattractive/overweight people? Is their new sports hostess cupcake constantly high?

$$$$ - Doshi (January 31), Kaya (February 9), Norigata - Winter Garden (May 16)

$$$ - Turci Pasta (April 10), Bruno's Oyster's - Winter Garden (May 16), Otto's High Dive (August 4), Superica (December 16), Bar Italia (December 29)

$$ - Hen & Hog (January 3), Kura Sushi (January 3), Argentinian Bakery (January 6), Kung Fu Dumpling (January 21), Orange Crate Cafe - Winter Garden (January 24), Mangoni - Winter Garden (January 24), Kebab King (February 5), Banana Leaf (March 16), Chilispot (April 20), Oodle (June 3), Bayou (June 11), Summer House - OIA (September 10), Caravan (December 16), Zaru (December 22). Bakery 1908 (December 22), Eet - Disney Springs (December 27)

$ - Sampaguita (March 25), La Patrona Food Truck (April 27), Big Mike's Burgers - New Smyrna Beach (November 24), Talkin Tacos (December 16)

2023 Travel Notes Index

January 24 - UT/NV

February 12 - AL/LA/FL

February 21 - NC/GA

February 28 - Washington DC

March 20 - Mexico

April 2 - UAE

April 16 - AZ/NV

May 1 - CO/NM

May 16 - NC/TN/GA/FL

May 28 - Northern California

June 11 - VT/NH/ME/MA

June 24 - Guyana

July 10 - UK

July 16 - UK (continued)

July 31 - Al/IN/OH/WV/VA/NC

August 25 - Switzerland

September 15 - England

October 8 - Sweden/Norway

October 17 - South Florida/Florida Keys

November 6 - Spain

November 24 - Italy

November 29 - Italy (continued)

December 19 - Hawaii

December 29 - Florida

Grub Crawl - Casselberry and Winter Park: El Toque, Chuan Fu and Bar Italia *FL Travel Notes

I tried these spots on Sunday at lunch. The first is in a strip mall on 436 where Aladdin and Alex's Fresh Kitchen are. Near the Red Bug Lake overpass. The second is in a strip mall on North Orlando Ave (17-92) near Lee Rd. On the corner with Miller's Ale House. I believe The Ravenous Pig's meat offshoot was there last. The third is in the Winter Park Village in the old Brio location. I also passed by Chayote, Crisp & Green (in the old Johnny Rocket's location) and an ice cream place (Nina's?) in that marketplace. Everything else was the same. I'll try them at some point. Chayote was way more fancy than I expected. They wouldn't do take out. I will post the Favorites List on Sunday.

El Toque - A Venezuelan spot. It means "the touch". Open for a month. I had a $14 Platano Mini Bowl. They form three mini bowls (pretty large) out of plantains. Fried. They fill them with shredded pork, beef and chicken and pico de gallo, sour cream, avocado and cheese. They were good. Some of the meat was dry. They also offer two other bowls (chicharron and nacho). And tweleve empanadas at $5. Three pasteles. Four tequenos. Three arepas. Fajitas. Tacos. Two cachapas (sweet corn pancakes). Three pepitos (sandwiches). Six burgers. Three grilled meat plates. A Sancocho (looked like a stew). A Patacon (plantain sandwich). Sides. Prices for most are in the mid-teens. Lunch special at $15. Order at a counter. Some tables. Black paint. Mural. Posters of local sites. Square room. It was better than I was expecting. And more expensive. I would try it out. Favorites possibility.

Chuan Fu - They said it translates loosely to Home of Szechuan. They put the chuan in Szechuan! Get it? Same people as Chuan Lu at Mills and East Colonial. This is a fancier. Nice interior. Classic, traditional look. Some large tables. Booths. Open for a month. I made a huge mistake and ordered Ratten Pepper Tongue for $19. The tongue tasted like thin sheets of plastic. I'm not sure if it is meant to or not. Bad. Caustic, spicy broth. Tasted like lye and black licorice and raw ginger. I think it was the green peppercorns. I had to rinse it with water to make it tepidly eatable. The veg sucked up the broth or were the cause of its terrible taste. Sliced potato. Bean sprouts. Cloud Ear Fungus? Huge portion size. Came in a cool to go bowl. Rice. I was going to cheap out with a $13 lunch special, but, they wouldn't do it on a Sunday. A dish with soup or egg roll and rice. They have a crazy menu with things like frog, tripe, cloud ear fungus, chitterlings, shrewish kidneys, tomato omelette soup, pig snout and overwater fish. Normal stuff too. They break up the menu into these sections: boiled, beef, chicken, pork, fish, hot pots, vegetables, rice, noodles, featured, apps and soup. Most in high teens. a small Wonton Soup was only $3+. Some values like that. Open for lunch and dinner. No Tuesday. I wish I had tried something else. Anything else. I bet I would have put it on the Favorites List. Just can't because this was such a total failure. My worst choice since a bittermelon mistake in Chinatown NYC many years ago.

Bar Italia - I have been avoiding them because I feared they were a chain and how much different from the place they replaced could they be. The answer is - I don't know. Can't remember Brio. They were "Favorites" good though. I had their lasagna for $19. I'm not sure if this is the usual portion size, but, it was a double. Good too. I'm not sure if they mix ground meats. I tasted some fennel seed, so, maybe pork sausage too? Good whipped ricotta. Nice, fresh sauce. Some of the top layer of cheese had a funk. Aged provolone? I was very happy with it. They also serve twelve primi (ie sausage bread, carpaccio) from $5 to $17. And four salads from $11 to $14. Seven pizzas from $16 to $18. Eight pastas (ie garganelli) from $17 to $18. Eight secondi (ie halibut risotto) from $19 to $36. You will find staples and some unique dishes. It looks nice. L shaped bar with reverse L shaped bar room on the front right. Main room behind it. Large, wrap around patio. Huge ceilings. Seats many. White, gray and stained wood. Pottery Barn catalog look. Kitchen on the left. Large amount of dressed staff. Open for eight months. Only location. I was pleasantly surprised. You can go without reservations (the emotional kind). And probably without the other kind. It always seems busy.

*Travel Notes - Florida: I drove to Delray Beach. Stayed at the Atlantic Hideaway (Expedia 9.2) for $114. It was more like a 2.9. Had a lunch of Fusilli Boscaiola at Dolmoros. They have a machine that spits out fresh pasta. They say they started in Venice Italy. They claim they are coming to Orlando. Someone should tell them that the Bumby Arcade will never happen. The pasta was very pasty. The sauce was bland. Saw the Delray Tennis Center. Their tournament is on February 9-18. I went to the Boca Raton Bowl that night. At FAU. $35. They actually printed a ticket. Parking was $20. Nachos at the stadium by Tacos al Carbon. $2 less than the stadium's kiosk. Good. The next day I drove to Lakeland. 95N to 706 to 710 to 70W to 27N to 60W to 98N. That is up through the center of the state. I was going to go to the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa (didn't want to sleep there though), but, I was too tired to deal. Plus two accidents on my route required rerouting/extra time. Stayed in Lakeland at the crappy Lakeview Motel (Booking 6.9) for $88. Had good beer at Dissent Craft Brewing Company and Swan Brewing Co. Ok pulled pork with ff at a food truck at Swan (Bad Dog BBQ). Decided to call it quits after that. Went home. Tip - You don't have to pay for metered parking in either city. Go a few block away from main drag in Delray (they have some free lots as well that are always full though) and find the covered lots in downtown Lakeland.

Grub Crawl - Disney Springs and International Drive: Eet, Salt & Straw and Sickie's Garage

I tried these spots on Saturday at lunch. The first is between Rainforest Cafe and Earl of Sandwich. The second is across from Jaleo. The third is in a strip mall just south of Sea World/Central Florida Parkway on International Drive.

Eet by Maneet Chauhan - Opened two weeks go. She has a show on Food Network. Don't believe I've seen it. Order at a counter. Fast casual. Beeper. They bring it to you. I tried the $17 Tandoori Chicken bowl with basmati rice and Bhunna Curry Sauce and a $5 refillable soda. It was good. Tender to too soft chicken. Alot. Cabbage, cukes, rice "pebbles". Spicy curry. Served in a cardboard bowl. They offer up a selection of apps (like samosas, poutine, etc), salads and bowls (cheese (paneer), shrimp, etc. Rice, cauliflower and one other thing as the base. Sauces like Saag (spinach), Moilee (coconut), Korma (cashew), Tikka. Seats 60+? Basic tables and chairs. Darkish tones. Simple. Attentive servers. Pretty full. It will be on the Favorite's List.

Salt & Straw - Started in Portland. Many locations now. Ice cream. Open for over a year. I had a small Dwanta's Teremana Spiked Egg Nog for $8. Large scoop. Good flavor. In a bowl. They had flavors like Gingerbread Cookie Dough and Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache. It seemed "seasonal". I'll bet it changes alot. You can get a few sizes or pints. Cones too. Shakes. Rectangular floor plan. Small. 

Sickie's Garage - Open for two weeks. One of those mass market looking spaces like Ford's Garage or any number of I Drive locations. Only one prior location in Kissimmee though. Huge. Two rooms. One with a huge central bar. TV's. Wood all over. Empty oil drum decorations. Gift shop. Pretty empty. 50 burgers, sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, meatloaf, mashed potato bowls, mac and cheese bowls, baskets, wings, salads and a variety of apps. Beer. I grabbed a Chicken in a Coupe grilled chicken sandwich for $13 ($12 on the menu) to go. Came with great tots. Alot. Chicken was big and good. Tender. Bun was ok. L&T were bad. All in all it was fine. I just don't get excited about places like this. 

Summer House took over the Bongo's location at the Springs. I went to the one in the airport, so, I doubt I'll try this location. It was pricier too. Didn't see anything else new. Gideon's Bakehouse is still very busy.

Grub Crawl - Mount Dora: Beruit Bites, Munchie's Live BBQ and Dark & Light Cafe

I tried these spots on Wednesday at lunch. They are all in that new "marketplace' on 4th Ave.

Beruit Bites - I tried a $12 Gyro to go. Not shaved meat. Average. Side of hummus. They sell the usual six things (falafel, shwarma, etc). Bare bones cooking tools. No seating. Open for 2 to 3 years. Skipable.

Munchie's Live BBQ - Next to Bites. Open for one year. Original location in Gotha. I'm unsure if they closed that. I had a great bargain with their $6 Lunch Express. One meat and one side and a drink. I chose the curry chicken with yellow rice and a side of beans. I did bbq beans. Probably should have done black. All were good. A bit oily at the bottom of the container. Probably the rice flavoring. Good flavors. Tender chicken. Sweet tea. They also have a few more "Island" type bbq dishes along with all the smoked "American" meats. Lots of sides. Sandwiches were around $9. Platters too. One to two tables. Wood look. Catering.

Dark & Light Cafe - In a different building than the first two. In the rear. Vegan stuff. Argentinian. $13 and over. Bowls, etc. $5 pastries. I tried a $4.25 eggplant empanada. It was good. My first. I think I'm starting to like vegetable stuffed empanadas more than meat. Open for a year.

*I will be posting every other day (some good and/or just opened ones) until the end of the year. Disney Springs in the next one. Plus one more Travel Notes. 

Grub Crawl - Downtown and East Colonial: The Bao Spot, Great Harvest, Zaru and Bakery 1908

I tried these spots on Tuesday at lunch. The first is on Church St. The second is Lake Ave and East Church St near the Publix at Lake Eola. The third is on 50 across from Fluffy Fluffy. The last is aside Fluffy Fluffy. I also saw that they intend on opening Blu Wave Sushi to the left of the first one and Birria 1983 to the right (seems very close). Near the second place, I also saw Draught House, Earthy Picks ($13+ Vegan things) and Bynx (drinks and some food). Mochibae will open next to the last place.

The Bao Spot - I had a $6 fried shrimp bao. It was ok. The shrimp (one whole one) was quite large. Fine fry. The let down was the Japanese guac (the cheap kind of avocado) and the bun (mass produced). The grilled onions were ok. They have around six baos. Terrible looking $9 burgers (paper thin) and $4 worse looking fries. Two $13+ bowls. Some other things. Order at a counter. Seats around thirty. Full. Looks like a submarine inside. Open for two weeks. Too expensive. You can pass.

Great Harvest - A chain. Bakery plus dining. Baked goods were very expensive. I think a loaf of bread was $14. I settled on a $3 biscuit. It was very good. Moist. Oniony. Breakfast all day. $7+. Ten $10+ sandwiches and salads. Large footprint. High ceilings. 

Zaru - Sanuki Style Udon from Kagawa Prefecture by Bento Group. Near the Mills corner. I had the Kake Udon to go because there was a wait for a table and it was the cheapest option. It was good. Cost $12 with a $2 Onsen egg added. Thick Udon. Made there. There is a machine. They said they make the broth too. Probable. They had quite a few cooks and they were acting obsessive over their charge(s). The dish came with some scallions and tempura bits and something that looked like nori and maybe umebushi along with it. They offer four cold noodle dishes ($12-$20) and five hot ones ($12-$36). Eighteen add ons like tempuras, roe, waygu and vegetables. Six Zensai (apps) from $5-$11. Things like gyosa and chicken chasu. Two mizumono (desserts). Seats around thirty. L shaped room. Looks out on 50. Earth tones. Chic. Open Kitchen. Open for two months. You can find parking for now at the Dunkin Donuts lot. It may be on the Favorites even though it is a ramen place.

Bakery 1908 - This WILL be on the Favorites List! It may be the BEST upgrade of venue. From that shitty crawfish (King Crab Shack) place to this excellent, no hassle Chinese restaurant. They do have a bakery. But, the hot food is what sets it apart. A total surprise to me. I had $10 wonton soup and $10 har gow. Either was enough on its own. The wonton broth was light and unsalty. Very healthy. Fresh bok choy. Six tasty dumplings. Huge bowl. Has to be one of the best in town. The har gow could have been steamed more properly. The edges were hard and dry. The middle was sticky and fragile. The shrimp, however, were top notch. No paste. Just pieces of real shrimp. Nice flavor. Five in number. Came in a wood box. Red vinegar dipping sauce. They offer about a dozen hot items (dim sum) like Shanghai Dumplings, Shiu Mai, Hong Kong Sticky Rice. Steamed and fried dumplings. The bakery area (on left) had sweet and savory options. Many things that were quasi-sandwiches. The servers were a little undertrained/confused. Efficient order counter. They bring you the dishes. Large room. Two levels. Full. White with accents. Seats 50? Lots of parking. Open for two weeks. Not a chain. I can't get back quick enough. Find this!

Happy Lemon - A chain. Across from Bakery 1908. I had a $6 bubble waffle. It was good. Crepe-y. They sell mostly drinks. Large. Modern. White and yellow. Was a Goncha. Open since May? Pretty empty. 

*I also tried to try Sushi Saint near Brew Theory. It isn't open on Tuesday. Finally sorted out where Eola Lounge is. It looks good. A Thai/Sushi place is on the corner. Named Neveyah. I have to check if I have been there before. Did something real similar if not. Oudom. Didn't come across any other newbies. Oh. I have to laugh at the signs for the Bumby Arcade. I thought The Bao Spot was in there. Nope. Still nowhere near opening.

Mi Casa Kitchen, Longwood *HI Travel Notes

I tried this Puerto Rican spot in a strip mall on North Ronald Reagan Blvd on Friday at lunch. They said that they have evolved from catering to a food truck to this. Open for a short time. Wednesday to Saturday. 11am to 7pm. Tiny foot print. No true seating. Little decor. I had a mofongo pernil (pork) for $13. It was good. The mashed plantains were better. It didn't love the chichurron or fat pieces mixed in. Impossible to chew. The pork didn't have a ton of flavor. A bit dry. Lots of long, stringy pieces too. Probably from the shoulder/butt. Probably cooked during their off days the week before. They also tossed in a basic l&t salad with Italian dressing. Fresh though. Decent portion size. I would have preferred less at a lesser price. You can choose from pernil, chicken, carne frita, palomilla steak and shrimp criollo. Or those options on their platos. All $13 and up. They also sell sandwiches such as tripleta, smoked steak, smoked chicken and Qban. Patacones Locos rice bowl too. Tequenos, sorullus (fritters), empanadas and bacon wrapped maduros round out the apps. $5 and up. Three desserts. If you are in the neighborhood...

*Travel Notes - Hawaii: I paid $546 for airfare to Kona (because cheaper than Hilo). Delta through LAX there and UA through Denver back. Morning flight there. Night flight back. UA provided a horrible cold chicken dinner. No tv from Denver. Slight delay for de-icing in Denver. I rented a car from Hertz for a week at $247. Gas was slightly under $5. I drove the first night up 190N to 200 (Saddle Road) to 11E to Banyan Rd in Hilo. Around 80 miles. It's hilly. You make a left out of the rental car area and then a quick right on to 19S. A left at the (first?) light near the Texaco station and up a hill through residential housing to 190N. Turn left. I stayed at the Hilo Reeds Bay Hotel for $134 (their worst quality room). Missed the 10pm closing time, but, they left key with security guard. Hotels in Kona are expensive as hell. A little better in Hilo. I didn't consider other areas. The plane noise in Hilo is ridiculous and most hotels had at least one window that only had a screen. They are all decrepit too. I had Taco Bell for dinner. It was the only chain that wasn't double the mainland price. All that was open. I ate a breakfast of Kalua Pig and cabbage bowl (with rice) at Verna's Drive In the next day. I went to the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory off 11W. Then on to 130S to 137E to Kalapana and beyond. It's on the SE coast. Lava flows and State Parks. I was easing into it. I got some more TB and wine and Pringles and hummus at KTA (a supermarket) and went to the next hotel early to relax. It was a disaster. Wild Ginger Hotel (Expedia 8.2 could be 2.8). It looked good when I was going to go in June. And only $99 (pre-tax). $118 the week before I left. Two days later, it was $131 (pre-tax) and $154 with tax. And that was listed as 50% off! I booked the whole week. I am now fighting the owner over it. They fought me hard intitially and eventually acquiesced after a while (many missing amenities and in terrible condition and not connected to sea, etc) and promised (Expedia) to comp the one sleepless night with a no hot water morning. However, they ended up keeping two nights. Still fighting them. The next day I went to Hawaii Volcanoes NP. Bought an annual pass for $80 because it was $30 for here or $55 for a pass for the four parks on Hawaii (although the final three seemed free when I went). Drove 11E the Kilauea Crater and Chain of Craters Road to the ocean and a sea arch. Craters and lava tube and petroglyphs (path) and lava flows in between. I then drove a bit further on 11E to a road with a view of Mauna Loa. I turned back when it became less paved and one lane. It was cloudy anyway. Drove back to Hilo. Stopped in some village for Saucy Mama Food Truck. I had a Keiki plate of one Kalua Pork Taco with Hapa Rice. Very good. Learned later that Keiki means child. Went to KTA and discovered their poke was only $7.77 a lb. Got that and some wine and used the rice from Mama's for my own poke bowl. Stayed at Aaron's Cottage in Hilo that (and the next) night for $140 (including the $25 resort/cleaning  ;fee). I wasn't about to book a long stay again. It was cute. A little room with windows that closed and shades that blocked light. Tv. Quietest. It had a beautiful cove/beach at the end of the road. Went there for sunset. There again in the morning. I had lunch of Momo Loco (egg and hb and rice) the next day at Cafe Pesto in DT Hilo. On 3D (that's Diners, Drive Ins and Dives). Drove 19N to Hamakua Coast (NE). To Waipo Valley Lookout to Waimea and up 250 to Kohola (NW) and Hawi. Down Kohala Coast to Pu'ukohola Heiau NHP. It was the home/palace of King Kamehameha. The rest of the parks I was to visit closed at 4pm, so, I had to skip them for another day. I bullshitted my way into the Mauna Kea Resort to see if it had changed since I was a kid. Not really. Back to Hilo via Waimea (19E) to 190S to 200E. KTA again for poke and Pringles and wine. Breakfast of Khop Kwiki (scrambled eggs with Portuguese sausage and cheese on a muffin) at Ken's House of Pancakes. Up 11W past the volcanoes to Punalu'u Black Sand Beach Park. Excellent. Onto Whittington Beach Park. Then had lunch at Ama's Kitchen Food Truck at Paradise Meadows on South Point Rd. Had fried Kamanu (rainbow runner or rainbow yellowtail) with ff. Down the road to Southernmost Point in US. There was also a green (yes!) sand beach near there with turtles. It was too far to walk and too rough to drive. I tried. Back on 11W around the SW part of the island to Pu'uhonua o Honaunau NHP. You need to take a left on some road off 19 to get to the coast. This place translates to Place of Refuge. If you were an outcast you could ask for protection here. Back on 19 (now N), I drove through Kona. Too late (once again) for the final park. Took 190N to 200E to Hilo (again). Stayed at the Hilo Reeds Bay again (the final three nights). Better room. Bay view. $144. KTA had put away their poke, so, I went to Daiichi Ramen neat the Walmart for a special meal of Shio ramen with chicken katsu and gyoza. It rained the next day. Had a bacon and pate banh mi at Le Yellow Sub Food Truck (on 3D). I tried to find Rainbow Falls. Couldn't. Passed by Ola Brew Co and decided to have a rest day. Ate a fried mushroom bao there too. Poke dinner from KTA. The next day I walked Liliuokalani Gardens and had a terrible, hockey puck, blue cheese burger at Hilo Bay Cafe (on 3D). Fries sucked too. And they were full of themselves. Found Rainbow Falls and Boiling Pots. Up Waianuenue Ave (by the schools). Huge Banyan Tree too. Back down to 19N. A left on some numbered road to Akaka Falls SP. They wanted $5 plus $10 for parking. I drove off. Up to Umauma Falls. You can see them from the highway. But, difficult to get close. I found some bridge near a zipline place on a backroad. Back to town. Got lost and found the Hilo Brewing Co. Got two to go. Poke at KTA. Checked out of hotel and had a teriyaki burger at Kozmic Cones (near the schools). Finally found 200W. Stopped in the middle and drove up to Mauna Kea VC. You had to have a four wheeler to continue. I think it was free. On to Waimea. Had a good cheddar burger at Merriman's in Waimea (very famous it seems). Back to Kohala Coast and down to Kaloko Honokohau NHP. It was where locals lived at some point. Through Kona again and back up to the airport. Weather was bizarre. West side is usually sunny. East side usually rainy. Cloudy and cool in between. High elevations. You can stay in the different towns. Some or remote though (like near the volcanoes). I should have stayed a few nights in Waimea. Horse and cattle ranches up there. I was there to see the parks and island. You will probably wish to do more sunbathing/activities. Hotel prices and resort/cleaning fees are the major obstacle. There were alot of hotels in Kona that must not list on travel sites or were booked up because they never appeared on searches. Gas and rental car were way cheaper than I expected. If you are looking at a Hilo map, rotate it so the land/bay looks like a "C" not a "U" or you will get lost. Find the free "101 Things To Do" Magazine asap.

Grub Crawl - Belle Isle and SoDo: Caravan and Talkin Tacos

I tried these spots during the day on Wednesday. The first is Uzbeki. They also claim a little Turkish influence. The second is Mexican. It was already around two pm, so, I had my items at both places wrapped up to go. I liked both.

Caravan - I believe the last occupant was a steakhouse (Steer). It was a German place before that. I told you in the last Travel Notes from England that I had never had Uzbeki before that trip. Interesting that we would get this right after I wrote that. I felt I had been sitting on them for too long. I was right. They will be on the Favorites list. I tried as much (within reason) as I could/should on this visit. I had Samsa with Beef for $5. Cheburak for $5. Lula Qiyma for $10. The Samsa was a baked pastry filled with small cubes of beef. Nice sesame covered, glossy crust on the pastry. Tender enough meat for a pie. Pretty much filled the whole (Afghani/Pakistani) samosa like container. I believe they seasoned with cumin and bitter herbs. It could be a small meal. Such as a pasty or empanada. I enjoyed it. The Cheburek was a pan fried, mezzaluna shaped crepe that looked like an omelet. It wasn't egg though. Dough. Crisp (at the edges) and spongy. Filled with ground beef. The same seasonings as the Samsa plus a sour flavor. Big. Like a three egg omelet size. The Lula was a kebab of ground beef. Slightly different spicing. Not as much cumin. Generous portion. Maybe ten inches long. I should say that all the dishes had good enough quality meat. Superior to most restaurants that serve similar (in geography) dishes. This dish might have used the best cut. Which would make sense because it was double the price. I liked this alot as well. They tossed in some hot sauce and a whole container of sliced red onion. I didn't have the sauce with the first two because I ate them on I-4. It would have been too messy and dangerous. The kebab had enough flavor that it didn't really improve the experience. Just overwhelmed the flavors. The first two are more app like. The last is a main. People probably order a few and a side of rice. They had some dishes like that on the menu in the high teens. Also some soups, noodle dishes, more rice dishes, specialities, other sections of animals, desserts, etc. A bit pricy. Twenties to thirties. Beef, chicken, goat?, lamb. They had some inards too. Out of the liver. I suspect that they are Halal/Moslem by the clientel. Don't remember if they had alcohol. They did have some tap and give machine for a mosque that I have never encountered before. The place is square with a low ceiling. They white washed the red brick. Limited decor. It looks cheery. One big tv showing a video on a loop of people making some kind on bread in a clay oven. I suppose it their version of naan/lavash. Maybe twenty or so tables. Some twos. Some fours. Even at that hour, the place was about a quarter full. They spoke English well. Lots of parking. I believe they opened around three months ago. A nice edition. Not just a curiosity.

Talkin Tacos - They are in the strip mall with a Publix and a Mooyo and PDQ. South of Michigan. They said it is a franchise that started in Miramar. Now a few locations in South Florida and Atlanta and DC and another coming in CF. I saw their sign months ago. When I tried to find it I couldn't. I assumed they had closed or never opened. They had just not opened yet. They opened two weeks ago. I almost walked out when I scrolled through the kiosk and only found only $12 three taco or burrito or salad or nacho options. They showed me how to just get one. Remember that I had alot of that weighty food from Caravan already. But, I was in the neighborhood and also like beating everyone to the punch. I sampled a birria with Taki chips for $5. It was good. The beef was chewable (not always the case with Mexican beef dishes and birria in particular). A goodly amount. The Taki's (spicy Doritos) added a little heat and texture (and fun). Some white onion. Crispy/oily shell. Flavorful beef broth dipping sauce. Came out fast. I liked it. Enough to go back and try the other kinds. Maybe enough to sneak onto the Favorites? They had around twelve kinds of fillings. Chicken, asada, pastor, mahi mahi. I can't remember the rest. Some just had things (like Takis) in them. It is fast casual. A rectangular bueprint. Not big. Some seating. Vibrant look. It was pretty full at 2:30pm. Different enough to entice. No JAMMR. A GMR. I'll be back.   

*If Big Chicken is to be at 250 East Michigan and that is the old Boston Market, it is not close to opening. They haven't started the demo yet. I also saw that near the condos on South Orange (south of the hospital), they opened a fast food chicken place (looks sharp) called Pollo Camaneros or something like that. I have to check if I have tried another location. It sounds familiar. I think I saw a few placards in the ares that seemed new in old locations. I will have to research what has come and gone when there is less traffic. If that is possible in that area anymore. I will have a post in a few days with some Travel Notes.                                                                                                                                                             

La Famiglia Italiana, Sanford

I tried this restaurant on Sanford Ave and 13th on Tuesday at dinner. I had two 14" cheese pizzas for $16. They are doing a two with second half off, but, they told me two for one, so, they honored it. It was average to below average pizza. Sauce was too garlic-y. Dry flour crust. Poor char. Rubbery cheese. They have a large selection. Five parms, two sammies, wings, a salads, apps, seafood, chicken, veal. And a variety of pastas and a separate "maccheroni" section. High water mark is $28. It's in a little old house. Let's call the interior "shabby chic". Parking. Open for two years. Opens at 4pm. Not a destination spot.

Grub Crawl - Winter Park: Superica and Chill N

I tried these two newcomers on South Orlando (17-92) on Tuesday at lunch. The first is across from Rocco's in that new strip mall that has Just Salad. Near to Fairbanks. The second is in that new strip mall closer to downtown where Guy Fieri's chicken place is.

Superica - I have been waiting on them for a while. Didnt diappoint. A chain (12) from Atlanta. In a few major Southern cities. Tex Mex. Will be on Favorites. Open for three weeks. Big, open, high ceilinged room. Seats one hundred? Bar on entrance side. Semi open kitchen across. Balcony seats. Mostly bright white. Two areas or seating. Tables v banquettes. I tried the tacos we pescado for $18 and a fluffy tostada (queso puff) for $4. The tacos (3) were almost perfect. Very large. Crisp coating. Not greasy. Some areas of the catfish were a tad fishy and a bit soft. Fresh cabbage and pickled onion slaw. Double ply, grilled, large corn tortillas. Nice plating. Came with tasty charro beans. The puff was interesting. Smothered in queso. I was stuffed after all this. They also offer soups ($9), enchiladas ($17+), quesadillas ($14), fajitas ($20), salads, deserts, other tacos, apps ($9-$14), kids menu ($8) and even a reasonably priced brunch on the weekends. When I think that Torchy's charges $6 per tacos for quasi-fast food in a fast food environment, I just love this place more. It is a bit pricy, but, at least it isn't child portions or slop. Definitely not a JAMMR. A GMR (Great Mexican Restaurant). Good looking crowd. Great service. Management makes the rounds and engages with the customers. Food came out quick. Hot. Servers were polite and accommodating. Getting doggy bags didn't seem to be a problem. Fast with the bill. Three bathrooms. Two good salsas (green and red). Good chips. Tequila/Mezcal menu. Should please everyone. Try it before word gets out.

Chill N - Another unnecessary intrusion from Miami. Ice cream made with Nitrogen in a bowl in front of you. I had a small Cuban coffee for $6. This type of ice cream making isn't good. You get a wet, easily melting paste. A large is a buck more. A regular is 35 cents more. A small was pretty big. Served in a cup. They had four styles. Yogurt, tangy yogurt and maybe vegan. A variety of flavor choices. You can add things too. Mostly cereal and candy. Very Spartan atmosphere. Bright white. No decor. Two computer terminals hanging from the wall. Unconnected ordering terminals. One employee. Empty.  I believe they opened a month ago. In the rear of that strip mall. You can ignore it as I suspected.

Mares, Winter Park - Closed (Now Cevi'ch)

I passed on this new (one or two months) Peruvian restaurant on Tuesday at lunch. It is on Park Ave near Fairbanks. I had high hopes, but, the pricing is just predatory. I gave you JAMMRs. Now I give you ROPPRs (Ridiculously Over Priced Peruvian Restaurants). It's becoming a trend. I wonder if it is the raw fish element that makes them think that they can charge kaiseki prices? Which, incidentally, is also out of control. Not to mention $7 California Rolls at the supermarket. So, they are only the second enterprise to be shunned (reviewed without trying). Mostly because I don't want to waste my money or energy on something that will be out of business in under six months. I should reiterate that I had high hopes (being among the first to see their opening) and I really like Peruvian cuisine. Low ceilings. Square room. Roll bar in the rear. White and blue tones. Pretty empty. Twenty or so tables. A few outside. The menu has $20+ soups and apps. Their version of patatas bravas was $19. $22 rolls. $25+ chaufas (fried rice). $40+ mains. You get the picture. It is just a bad value proposition. Even if everything is spectacular, it is still two to three times too expensive. The ambience or service certainly doesn't support it. At lunch, at least, they have to offer discounted pricing, specials and off ramps. Don't get ROPPed in. *They rebranded in Feb 25. Same ridiculous prices. Menu seems the same too.

*This post will be followed up tomorrow by a real one.