The Alibi Bar and Grill, Geneva

I had a pretty respectable Cowboy cheeseburger tonight at this biker bar on 46A. Topped with cheddar, bacon, onion rings and bbq sauce. Side of tots. Cost $14. Burger to temp (medium). Came out quick. Crispy bacon. Nice shell on the rings and tots. Fair portion of tots. Good bun. Outside stage for a band. Bar and some high tops inside. Dart boards. Wood decor. Dirt parking lot. I think they wrote that they did breakfast now. Pub/sports bar like menu. I had always seen it heading to 95. Now I know.

Grub Crawl - Altamonte Springs: Brazilian Bistro and Rinconcito Colombiano

I tried these spots on either side of 436 on 434 Friday at lunch. The first is where La Patrona just was in the strip mall on the southwest side with the Lowe's. The second is in a strip mall just past the northeast corner around 436. Up a small hill. Both were pity fucks that disappointed.

Brazilian Bistro - Opened three months ago. Obviously to no acclaim/fan fare. They maybe painted some new murals. Still around twenty booths and a few tables and four tables on a patio in the front. Brown and white. Spartan. I'll state here that Brazilian food is pretty far down the tennis ladder for me. This didn't do anything to alter my feelings on that. I had the Dose Dupla for $23 ($22 on the menu). Two slices of dead flank steak. Well done. Not medium rare. Though it was so tough that maybe that was a good thing. Pale. Tasteless. I didn't finish it or take it to go. One store bought sausage. Dish water bean stew. It was the tastiest thing. Over-boiled yucca. Dry, plain white rice. Even if all these things were prepared as well as could be prepared, it's still mostly composed of B film produce. With no herbs or spices. And at $22, you have to deliver a better cut of beef. Especially with the sub-dollar assortment of sides delivered with it. I almost did a few cheaper dishes because I knew this wasn't going to be worth $23. I just didn't trust them to deliver on shrimp/seafood and I didn't really want dried beef stew or stroke me off. A medium sized, pan-Brazilian menu. I think ALL the Apps were in the high teens. Some dishes for two were near $50. I think they bought the tequila from the former place. Odd category for a Brazilian restaurant. They also blasted banal, nasal-y, Brazilian music the whole time. Just as disappointing/annoying (not really because both are Brazilian) as the food. Three female servers. One other table dining there. I'm getting kind of tired coming to this location. The sad thing is I have an uninspiring AYCE meat+ one (OBT and Sand Lake) in the hopper which I think costs less than this meal. Couldn't be worse. Skip.

Rinconcito Colombiano - I think they have been there for a long time. Six tables. Wall sized photo murals of Colombia. Bright colors. Open until 6:30pm. Part bakery. I just grabbed a cheese, chicken and beef empanada at $2.80 (menu says $2.75) to go because the menu was more expensive than I believe it deserves to be. Beef and chicken seemed machine formed. Beef most mostly bean (some strings of dried beef). The chicken was mostly potato (with strings of chicken). Cheese seemed like Mexican string cheese. Different shell. Sandwiches were $11. Everything else was in the high teens. Breakfast was a bit more in line. Around ten dishes. Kind of who I thought they'd be. Why it took this long. Skip.

Grub Crawl - Ocoee: Rock 'n Rev, Jaws Topoki and Da Bang

I tried these spots on Wednesday at lunch. The first is in a strip mall as Ocoee begins (before a pond that you can see the Turnpike from). It was a Gator's Dockside. There is a San Jose restaurant on the corner. The next two are at H-Mart back towards DT. North side of 50. On the east side of a strip mall after Something (Grand?) Lakes strip mall. BTW. H-Mart = BFD. Hordes of imbeciles staggering around like zombies. Orange County is sacrificing cops to guard it. Not enough crimes in OC? H-Mart paying for it? Most stalls seem generic. Uninspiring. I checked out the sushi aisle/area. No bargains. H = Huh?

Rock 'n Rev - Said they are the first. Figured they were a chain like Rock & Brews. Part sports bar part music venue. Two rooms. Left side like the right except that it has a stage. Bars and tables at both. Gray and black and wood. The wall tvs were too small. License plates on the wall of the stage room. Not a ton of investment in the decor. I had the chesseburger with fries on the $10 lunch menu. They said it was a 1/4 pounder. Maybe? Bad flavor. Not hand formed. The veg and brioche bun were good. Not a ton of fries. I'm guessing the food cost on this special is under two dollars. The menu has the usual junk food/stuff. They do have a Juicy Lucy CB for $15. Booze. Almost empty. Getting interviewed by Spectrum Channel 13. Open since April.

Jaws Topoki - I grabbed a Deep Fried Set L to go for $12. The fried part was done properly. The ingredients were straight from the H-Mart frozen food aisle. One pathetic half of a shrimp. Three pathetic halves of a squid. Some mushy sweet potato and potato. A tasteless cheese stick. Some other things decribed as dumplings or veg. The two saving graces were a clear noodle one a a noodle surrounded by a black filament. Never had those. Who would guess that little packets of rice noodles would work. They just calm with soy sauce packets. I used the Hari chutney from the Indian restaurant. That worked. I'm guessing the food cost on this item is a dollar or less. They have four topokki soups ($15+). Eight gimbap (sushi rolls) from $9. Two fried sets. Three set menus ($24-$42). Two sides and two slushies.

Da Bang - I grabbed a mozzarella coin crepe to go for $7 because I had never had one. Do you think it was worth it? I'm guessing the food cost on this item is twenty five cents. Kind of like taiyaki. More of a waffle/pancake/McGriddle. Terrible cheese. I wanted a nutella or bischoff cookie one. They were out. Took too long. They had five employees. The two male ones did nothing then walked away. I hope they were ownership. They also sell drinks. The sparkling ones were just crap mixed with Perrier. I saw an interesting chocolate pistachio one. They harden chocolate on the outside of the plastic glass and put some pistachio concoction inside it. You then squeeze the glass to break up the chocolate.

*I noticed that Subway caved at started putting back their coupons in those flyers you can't get the post office to stop stuffing in your mailbox. They still have a $6.99 one that you can use any almost all nine dollar...nine dollar footlong (the cheapest one now). What I recommend is getting the Subway Club ($12+) and jamming all the veg that you can on top. And then you peel away two of the meats and the veg that won't work with it and you have three meals. Obviously you must buy some bread. I also separate the jalapenos and onions and use those in two or three tuna sandwiches. I bring this up because it also let me play with that green puree from the Indian restaurant. It makes a great dip for cucumbers. Semi-good with spinach. Didn't have tomatoes left over. On a sandwich, it overwhelmed ham and roast beef and spinach on top of either. Roast beef on its' own held up. If you put black olives on either, you could still taste the olives. Same with jalapenos. Now I wish I had saved some to test with tuna. And yes, I realize that both of the meats mentioned can not be eaten (alternately) by the two most common religions in India. But, here's a news flash. Other kinds of people eat Indian food too. The more you know...

Grub Crawl - Universal Area: Chima, Madras Cafe, Papparella and Wonderful Hand Pulled Noodle

I tried these spots Sunday at lunch. The first two are in a strip mall on the southeast side of Sand Lake Rd from I4. It has a Sixty Vines in it. The next two are south on Turkey Lake Rd. The third in past the Walmart and before a 7-11. The last is back towards Sand Lake in the strip mall with Spoiled Fish. I had no idea it existed.

Chima - Another reviewed without eating there because they aren't worth it. I was going to make this the main attraction despite the $28 for just the salad buffet. Then I saw tat they had raised that to $36 over the summer. That's not even a justifiable increase percentage wise. Do they think they are Chick-fil-a or Subway? Plus it looked basic. I think some pale smoked salmon was the dearest component. At least Divina Carne had sushi and other expensive things. Twice as much of it. They also have a dress code fyi. Open for two years I believe.

The Madras Cafe - Open for five years they said. I kind of remember when they replaced whatever was there before. Looks worn. Duct tape on cushions. Black and yellow. Around twelve tables. Long narrow footprint. Bar on the right. Private room in back. Some Indian statues/decoration. Vegetarian fare. Southern Indian. I had the Mysore (a southern town) Masala Dosa to go for $12. Large dosa. Potatoes and a tomato and eggplant "sauce". That green puree they always add. I thought the menu said chutney. Maybe that is what the "sauce" was. I was expecting a sweet chutney. I expect that was the masala. Since it was to go, all these components were in separate containers. Not sure how it would have come out if I had eaten in. It was ok. Sizzle (spices) trying to be steak. But if you can't kill and eat God's creatures, you are swimming up stream. The menu was large. Categories such as: Curries, Specials, Chinese Apps and Dishes, Dosas. They are so many Indian choices (why this lasted on the list so long), an aged vegetarian one never had a chance. *The green puree is a corriander and mint chutney called Hari. Not sure if I would have ordered it had I known that.

Papparella Trattoria - Open for two months. From restauranteurs from Sao Paolo. Trying for a fancy vibe in a strip mall location. Mostly dark browns and beige. Wood floor. Some greenery. Around ten small booths at the edges and two rows of assorted sized tables in between. Bar on the left. Wine "closet" and kitchen (with pizza oven) sandwiching that. Cloth table cloth. But, not ironed. Paper napkins. These are things a really upscale restaturant wouldn't allow. Good, tranquil mood music. Uniformed staff (6?). Mostly dinner. Lunch on Sunday. It was starting to fill up. No dress code. Seemed like mostly Brazilians. I had the Fried Chicken Panuozzo for $15. It was phenomenal. Huge. A fried chicken breast cutlet, prosciutto, arugula and sun dried tomato sandwich in pizza dough. Some mayo-y sauce on top. Maybe some cheese. The dough was a whole pizza's worth. Great char. Oily. Thick. Soft. Spongy. I think the menu said the proof/rest the dough for 72 hours. The pizzas (starting at $18) must be great too. This thing was so big that I could barely force half of it down. A knife and forker. I'll add here that even the tap water was good. No odd tastes. Must be filtered. Ice too. The menu is Italian. Duh. Big. Many pizzas, primos (pastas) and secondi (mains). And apps. Maybe soups? Booze and wine. Probably beer. Primos started (and mostly stayed) around $20. I almost did the $20 lasagna. Secondi were $30+. Mostly meat. For plan b, it knocked it out of the park. They were hospitable as well. On the Favorite's list for sure. Suck on that Chima. That $15 filled me up in a way your lame buffet never would. And I got a to go bag out of it!

Wonderful Hand Pulled Noodle - I wonder what they serve? Open for two months. Replaced some Asian place. Looks the same inside. Light gray. Eight tables. Spartan. I had (you guessed it) hand pulled noodle soup with vegetables for $12.95 to go. It was very good. The noodles were fresh. Duh. Such a difference. I saw the guy doing it. The broth was savory and not too salty. If we compare this with pho, it had no sweet component and the noodles are a thousand times better. Give me this over that any day. And we're talking vegetable broth. I think. The veg were broccoli (a bit soft), carrot (a bit hard) and baby bok choy (just right). Would you believe I drained the broth first with some bok choy and a few noodles. Then I warmed the rest of the noodles the next day and had some with the remaining Indian masala and the rest warm with the broccoli and a spicy pepper oil they tossed in. Both worked. Can't recall having Indian noodle dishes. Did I just invent that? Damn, seems like it is becoming a fusion thing.  They also have eleven apps. Scallion Pancakes ($6) to Wings ($9) to Black Fungus Salad ($9). Eight soups ($13-$17). Stir fried and mixed noodles ($13-$18). And six fried rices ($12-$16). Closed Tuesday. Lunch and dinner. On the cusp of Favorites.

*I espied that next to Sixty Vines is a bar that opens at 1pm on Sunday. Rest pm. It looks decrepit from outside. Inside looked very nice. And next to Spoiled Fish in the Noodle strip mall, there seem to be a new Middle Eaastern place being built out.

Travel Notes - New York/New Jersey

I flew Frontier and Jet Blue (return) to LGA for $115. I learned that a runway at MCO is closed for repairs and is causing the long taxiing. I took the M60 to Astoria Station and the W to Herald Square (34 St). I stayed at the shabby New Yorker Hotel (Expedia 8.2) on 34th and 8th Ave for three nights at $625 ($142+24Tax+40RFX3). I did this to be near Penn Station for the train to the UBS Arena at Belmont Park. I learned later that now the LIRR also leaves from Grand Central now. And the Moynihan Station also had trains to towns on LI. I didn't ask if it went to Elmont (Belmont Park Station). I got an interesting Pastrami Panini with Waffle Fries for $14 at Bagel Pub (5) on 7th. The bread was like pita. So grilled that I couldn't be certain. I took the 4pm train to Elmont ($23RT). There was a shuttle bus to the arena to see the Islanders vs the Rangers. I bought a seat on the first level near the corner for $103. The box office said that was their cheapest. I think that was NY bullshit. The guy next to me said he paid $35 on a resale site. I watched a period and left. I was just there (pre-season) to knock this newly built arena off the list and didn't trust the train system. Only scrubs were playing anyway. They really knocked down all of the old Belmont Park Grandstand. The new one was still under construction. I walked back to the train station because the shuttle wasn't there and there was no on around to ask about it. Grabbed an adobada (their al pastor) taco on 7th at Los Tacos No 1 (6) for $6. It was ok. I saw their original location in Tribeca on some show called Everything Off The Menu. I'll state here that I will rate all the restaurants (out of 11) in order in parentheses.

The next day I refilled my MTA Card for $14. They are discontinuing them in 2026. I took the N down to Canal St and took Mott to Pell to Doyers to the original Nom Wah Tea Parlor (3). They claim to be the first dim sum restaurant in NYC. I had been to two other locations. The internet said they were only open TU and TH. I asked and they said they are open every day. Oh well. I had 4 dumpling orders. All just over $6. Shrimp and Snow Pea Leaf (ok). Shrimp Sui Mai in Wonton Wrapper (best). Har Gow (tough wrapper). Shanghai Soup Pork (terrible). I tried to walk under the Brooklyn Bridge/FDR. This is all under construction AGAIN. I walked to South St Seaport. I had mango basil sorbet at Jean George Vongericten's Tin Building Food Hall at Spoiled Parrot (9) for $6. I walked to Battery Park. Also under construction AGAIN. I asked a worker and he said they finally got money to fix Sandy damage. I walked up the river to the 9/11 Memorial. Saw the finally repaired/new St Nicholas Church. Walked through the two newest buildings and down an escalator to the Oculus. Out the north side and up to Chambers. Took the subway to 42nd and walked west to the river. Felt out the ferry terminal. Through Hudson Yards to the entrance to the Edge. It's a balcony on the top of the building. I almost paid the $34 and then remembered that I've seen the same view from MANY tall vantage points before. Back to the hotel. At Moynihan Station, I grabbed an excellent buttermilk fried chicken over a Caesar Salad from the Jacob's Pickles stall (1). The original on Amsterdam and 84th has been on my list for ages. I looked it up on line and the menu was similar, but, twice the price. There is no way the sit down place could do this dish any better. It was great. Huge portion of perfectly crunchy chicken and fresh salad. Cost $15. I also grabbed a 1/4 lb of pastrami for $10 from the Pastrami Queen stall (8). It was ok. I think I have been to their location on Lexington and UES. Watched Yankees.

The next day I walked to Grand Central Station for Doughnut Plant (10) at their Food Concourse. I saw this on Chow Down Countdown. The original is in the LES on Grand. I had a vegan tasting $5 Coffee Cake Doughnut. I walked to Bierhouse (7) on Lexington and 45th. I had always seen this driving up Lex. I finally got there. I had their Classic Pork Schnitzel with Warm Potato Salad, cabbage and Cucumber Salad. It was ok. I walked 45th to the West Side. Took a ferry (every 20 minutes) to Weehawken and took the overpass in front past the train tracks to stairs to Hamilton Park. You make a right at the top and a left soon after. I walked about a third of a mile to the spot where Hamilton and Burr dueled. There is a statue and a plaque and a rock he laid his head on. Great views. I took another set of closer stairs down. I had to then walk through new condos to the terminal. I took the ferry back. I walked the High Line to the end. Crossed over to see Little Island (a park on the Hudson built atop plastic long stemmed cups). Back to Gansevoort to 14th and took the subway back to the hotel. I would have walked, but, my Metrocard money will be worthless if I hold on to it. I went back to Moynihan Station and tried a salmon chirashi rice bowl at the Yono by Bond St (2) stall for $18. No other location. It was excellent. I have been to Bond St. Lots of fresh salmon. Good rice. Came with salmon roe, edamame, tamago, avocado, wakame, ginger, wasabi, soy and some spicy creamy sauce that had sesame oil in it and needs to be bottled. Not chintzy with the portions either. I'd like to take this moment to encourage you to recall the quality of these stalls and prices versus Sanford's own Henry's Depot (or most of our food halls and trucks). They should hang their heads in shame. Watched Yankees.

The next day I went back to Moynihan Station and grabbed a pepperoni slice at Sauce stall (4) for $6. Excellent. I saw them in Vegas. I think at the Cosmopolitan. I thought it was made up. Nope. Original (now closed) on E 12th. I walked to 7th and grabbed piss poor eggs and potatoes and toast at Andrew's NYC Diner (11) for $10. Back to Herald Square (Macy's) and took the N to Astoria and the M60 to LGA.

Ok trip. Good weather. No complications. NY just feels icky and soulless. Everyone was sniffling. Even with all the new buildings and areas, most of it feels sad and drab. No pretty girls. And no excitement. Even with all the crazies back. Maybe it's me. Seen too much of it (and better cities). Maybe it is the omnipresent sweet vape weed smoke giving you a sinus headache and nausea. I was going to try the Italian Market at Arthur Ave in the Bronx, but, it required a subway and a bus transfer, etc. Randazzo's at Sheepshead Bay required a subway and a fifteen minute walk. I have a few more restos on the list. All only open for dinner though. Not earth movers anyway. Learned that the pineapple from al pastor goes well with pastrami. Parking was $64. Game was $103. Food/Wine was $211. Total Cost = $1175.

Grub Crawl - International Drive: Palm Tree Club and Corazon

I tried these spots on International Drive yesterday at dinner. The first is at Pointe Orlando. The second is near the cylindrical hotel near Kirkman. I also tried to try Sal's Pizza at Pointe Orlando. Their systems were down.

Palm Tree Club - I grabbed fried rice with shrimp ($16) to go because their menu was mostly sushi/rolls and that doesn't travel. I really can't remember the rest of the menu. Pizza starting at $18. But, I thought I was getting some at Sal's. A chicken yakatori was only two skewers worth. The rice was ok. Not a ton. Tiny pieces of shrimp. Not oily or soy saucy. Some kind of nut pieces. Thirty-ish tables. A few more in a covered front patio. Rounded corners. Palm-y coastal jungle feel. Green and khaki. Some framed posters. Very nice decor. Clean. A bit dark. A bar in front. Owned by Live. Open for a year. Empty. Not one soul eating. They said they might bring brunch back. Now open only for dinner. Added a facility fee. Had I eaten in. And if it was good. And had they not been closed so often when I tried them in the past, I may have had a better opinion of them. But, that wasn't what happened. This was just an exercise in getting them off the list at this point. I didn't really give the a chance to wow me. They validate. Maybe you will validate them.

Corazon Cocina Mexicana - I didn't know about the last two words of their name until now. I thought it was island Latin or South or Central American. It turned out to be cute. Like a shabby chic place you would find in Austin. A rainbow of colors. Aquamarine base. Lots of colorful pom poms on strings and paper flag colorful skeleton heads. Booze as decoration. They still have the ceiling dragons and window treatments from when it was an Asian place. Around thirty wooden booths and more on a side patio. Bar. Hostess stand front and center. HUGE menu. Apps/Dips, Salads, Tacos, Seafood Tacos, Seafood, Vegetarian, Specialties, Favorites, Molcajete, Fajitas, Rice Bowls, Little Amigos, Sides, Desserts, Margaritas, Wine, Beer, Sangria, Cocktails. And most of these categories run TWENTY deep. Many regions represented. Prices are in line. I had three lengua tacos with rice and beans for $18. The yellow rice had flavor. The beans were pureed. The lengua was a little tough. Small cubes. The tortillas were home made and flour. But, raw. Onions and cilantro. Served on an wavy yellow holder on a white rectangular dish. The free chips and salsa were excellent. The salsa in particular was fresh and had a nice kick. If I hadn't run out by the time the tacos arrived, it may have saved that dish. Six or so staff. Food came out quick. It was at about half capacity. By the lack of cars in the lot, I assume they were from the hotel that surround it. It looks a little dark in the recessed area they occupy. I hadn't tried them earlier because it was my understanding that they weren't open early in the week and only then at night. The guy I talked to as I left said they were open all 7 days for lunch and dinner. Check online to see what's what. Very nearly a Favorite. Too simple a dish to fail at though. Otherwise, I encourage anybody wanting a good (uncomplicated) Mexican experience to give them a whirl. Open for just under a year.

*At Pointe Orlando there is a club/bar I don't think I have mentioned. Houndsmen or something. It doesn't matter. They said they are changing it to Gin and Juice. So get your AK ready. Can I get a prop bet on first gun shot? Caliber? Sounds like a great idea. I also saw that that place (Taffer's) I mentioned in the last ID post was open. Not sure if they just opened or have been open just at night. I think an Indian place replaced the place near the Hulk Hogan location. And a new Japanese (Naomi Express) replaced a place in the strip mall in front of the AYCE Brazilian place towards Kirkman.

Grub Crawl - International Drive: Arcade Time and Eskina

I tried these spots on International Drive Sunday at lunch. The first is in between Sand Lake and Kirkman (more towards there) in a strip mall with parking in front. It replaced some thing that just came and went called Roboland or something. Says open 24 Hours! The second is at Kirkman. Northwest side. Neither of these were plan a. But, someone should tell Palm Tree Club to tell the internet that they don't do brunch any more (ever?). And this other place at Pointe Orlando (Taffer's) is either not open yet or defunct.

Arcade Time - I just learned about them. Open for a week. I didn't really believe they had food. But, almost half the space is food/sports bar. I tried the Cuban for $14. Bad. Four slices of ham. No pork. Beyond stale roll. Came with fries. They were ok. a bit under fried. Everything was cool. Like it had been sitting. May explain the thirty minutes I had to wait. Kitchen must have one person. Fifo ordering system. If I hadn't paid in advance (at the bar because there was no waitress when I came in), I would have left. Fairly big menu. Soups, salads, 9 apps, pizza, burgers, hd, wings, pasta, 9 other mains from poke to filet mignon. Desserts and booze. Low of $13 for guac and chips to $28 for Hawaiin BBQ Chicken. Wine was $9-$10. Beer was $5 (to start). Frozen drinks were $7. Two extra large tvs. Around a dozen tables. Bar. Black and blue. 80s arcade decor. 80s and 90s music. Arcade side has more carnival games than video. It was ok. Less people at the arcade and more in the kitchen would help. *I also saw another arcade place (Arcade Monster?) almost next door. Not sure if it is open.

Eskina -  Brazilian. Open for a month. I grabbed their cheapest thing (Peito de Frango Grelhado) to go for $19. You'll see why. It is two pounded grilled chicken breast over sauteed onions. It comes with two sides. I chose excellent mashed potatoes. It came with some kind of cheese shavings on top. And I chose potato salad. It was uniformly cut cubes. Slightly undercooked. Ok. Chicken was good. The other choices and the rest of the menu is the usual Brazilian assortment. Prices are ridiculous. French fries are $14. Three empanadas (an app) is $15. I think the next cheapest main was $30. Some things were over $60. And yet they had a crowd. I guess they live in a spend it while you got it environment. Or are just saps. Modern feel. The place is rectangular. Side room like a day care center. Bar. Stage in back with warbler. Around twenty tables. Black and white and green and yellow. Some tile accents. Exposed black duct work. Bottles of booze displayed at the bar. Enough uniformed staff. The order came out in minutes. If you go, go during the week at lunch. I saw that ten item menu. More acceptable. My dish was down to $14. Around that price was stroganoff and some other dishes. If you act wisely, this may be a find. It means corner.

Burger Vault, Altamonte Springs

I tried this halal burger spot near Tibby's/Kobe on 436 Saturday night at dinner. The original is in Tampa. Not much to report on. Burgers and chicken sandwiches and sides. One hot dog. Yawn. I tried a classic burger for $13 (plus 42 cent hidden cc surcharge). That's their cheapest. Worth half as much. Came with cheese. Sloppy. Ketchup, mayo, sauteed onions, pickle, lettuce, tomato. Stringy grind. About 1/4 lb. Tasteless. They have a silly 24k waygu one for $30. They replaced a good shwarma spot. Shame. They improved the interior. Nine booths. Black with red brick. Brown pleather. Open for two months. Somehow aligned with Jordan. The halal angle is really all they have. And that they are in a food desert. No pun intended.

Grub Crawl - Sanford: The Bait and Hook, Pollo al Fuego and Chin

I went to these stalls at Henry's Depot on 1st St Tuesday at lunch. The first two opened in the last week or so. The last has been there for a year. The first is owned by the Ramen stall people/person. The last two are owned by the same people/person. But not the same as the first pair. I couldn't bite on the $17 Pom Pom sandwich stall. Don't know if the coffee (with a few Latin pastries) stall was there last time.

The Bait and Hook - I tried the last of the Red Grouper Collars Special with white rice and some kind of Thai chimichurri for $20. The two collars one big and one small) could have been boned better. Ok. I never really have been impressed by this cut of of the fish. Or other cuts like ribs. This was beefy. The chimichurri had a pronounced fish sauce flavor (not note - notes are for music). The rice was fine. They cooked it to order. Said the fish came in on Friday or Saturday. A relative bargain compared to the nigiri that is $4 a piece or the $18 sandwiches. A $8 order of hush puppies is the only thing under high teens. They have a large and varied (for seafood) menu. Rolls are around $15. Hand rolls $7. Sashimi is $4 for two pieces. Crab cakes. Fish and chips. Fish Spread. Po boys. Etc. They replaced the Current Seafood stall. They moved down the street.

Pollo al Fuego - They have those chickens. But, I just bought one from Publix for $8 and these were $20. Even a quarter was around $10. I won't do flatbreads, so, I settled on of there four or five pasta dishes. The cavatappi (corkscrew) with sausage in a pesto sauce for $15 to go. The manager gave me a flyer with a $3 off coupon and had me add tomato sauce to it and make it a build your own which was a buck cheaper than the listed one for some reason. It was ok. The pasta was cooked properly. The sauces were good. Huge portion. The thing that made it a food court dish was the sausage. Like little meatloafs. Like they use at shitty pizzerias. Improve that and we can talk. They have an odd menu. Like they said "I know rotisserie chicken. But, is that enough? We've got this pizza oven from the old tenant so let's do that (kinda) and pasta is Italian. We just need a hotplate. No one else here is doing these things".

Chin - I am reminded of the fat guy joke. I am also wary of "Asian" menus. Pick a lane. And this is hardly even that. I tried the beef bulgogi for $15 ($12). Used their flyer here too. Here they added a 51 cent surcharge because it was to go. One stall got a tip. One did not. It was easily the worse bulgogi I have ever been served. Sloppy Joe on rice. I have never seen it made with ground beef. Flavorless. Textureless. Soulless. They tossed in wilted kim chi, nude lettuce strips and pickled radish slices. The rice was mushy. Just a scoop and serve operation. The menu has bao, Korean Hot Dogs, TACOS (!?) and other rice bowls. Most things around $12 and up. This owner thinks he's a food court onto him or herself. Bad culinary instincts. Maybe choose another line of work?

*On the way home I stopped at Winn Dixie and bought 1/3 lb of chicken nuggets/pieces from the salad bar ($10/lb) for $3. That was around ten pieces. Everyone two to four times as big as a McNugget. I believe four of those now run $3.49. And the quality is worse in my opinion. If you are still buying fast food in America, you are an idiot. Have you seen they new "Value Menu" commercial? They think $8 is value! We need to bankrupt these gougers. Who's with me? They even took away the soda machines, so, you can't refill. Not to mention the shrinkflation. 

Travel Notes - France/Belgium/Netherlands

I am going to start listing these notes on their own because the way it is being done now is stupid. Makes it hard to find on my site and probably annoys readers who just want Central Florida info. Plus it seems to confuse the fuck out of AI.

I flew to Paris CDG through Newark on UA for $581 (really $431 b/c I used a credit). As usual they had issues. Here we were a half hour late taking off to NJ. Just because. We took off from the Int'l runway? No wifi. No entertainment. Boarding in NWK, they were making people check bags. Haven't seen that on an Int'l flight ever. Let each attendant have their own locked compartment! Then we had to wait one hour for a cargo weight issue. The food on the flight poisoned me. On the way back, they pawned us off (though I booked through their site) to Lufthansa and their bitch offspring Discover. I had to go through Frankfurt. The first flight was fifteen minutes late taking off. The second was an hour late because of a door issue and then missing PAPERWORK! We seemed to have landed at the runway as far away from Terminal C as possible. Then we waited a half hour to deplane. They didn't explain why. I should say here that I took this trip to make up for one that Milton screwed up last year (and Paris was the cheapest way in).

At CDG, I took a train from T2 to Lille Europe for $41E. First class was 2E more so I did that. Just went to a machine and bought the next departure. This is a big benefit of CDG. I would transit from here if you can. They go to many cities from there. Skip Paris until the end of your trip. If I went to the other areas in France (ie Normandy) that I was considering first, I would have had to pay to go to Paris and switch stations. I stayed at the Hotel Lille Europe (Expedia 8.8) for $95. Lille has two stations. They are barely 100 yards apart. This was in between. I checked fares to different cities. I toured Lille. I went to Eglise St Maurice, Hotel de Ville, Porto de Paris, Palace de Beaux Arts, Prefecture, Citadelle Vauban, Cathedrale, Vielle Bourse, Opera, Place Charles de Gaulle, etc. I decided to buy a ticket to Brussels because it was the cheapest at 25E by far and try for Ghent of Antwerp from there. That was the right call. Inter-country tickets were way more expensive and limited. I was so tired and it started to rain, so, I bought food and wine and beer at Carrefour and booked a hotel in Antwerp and went to bed. I had driven through Lille before and thought it looked industrial. It was very good. Very cute. Birthplace of Charles de Gaulle.

The next day I took the train to Brussels Midi Zuid (only 30 minutes). There I bought a first class (2E more) ticket that allowed me to go anywhere in Belgium. I just took it to Antwerp. I had driven through there once before. I missed most everything. The station is a sight unto itself. I went to the booking office because the machine was confusing me. It was good that I did because they said they would be working on the tracks during the weekend (next day) and the ticket I would have bought would have been invalid. So, I had to pay almost 50% more for an inter-city ticket (37E). I stayed at the Trip Inn Eden (Expedia 7.6) near the station for $78. I walked to the Peter Paul Ruebens Home, Kathedraal, Grote Markt (square), Stad Huis, Schelde (waterway), Het Steen (castle), Mas Museum and Opera. There is some famous statue a bit farther up the waterway. I was too tired. I bought some food and wine and beer at Okay City. Antwerp was cute as well. I should state here that all the hotels I stayed at were doing the extra tax due thing and didn't have USB plugs.

The next day I grabbed some McD (McChicken with bacon!) and walked around the station. I took the train to Rotterdam. The station is a modern wonder. I stayed at the Hotel Van Walsum (Expedia 8.8) for $113. Rotterdam was bigger. This hotel was about half way between the station and the water. I walked past the Depot Boijmans Museum through Witte de Withstraat to the Maritime Museum and over Laurens Kerk and the Urban Surf to the Markethal. I had an oyster for 3E and herring for 3E at Andalus Fish. The herring was great. Not fishy. Sweet. I had it once in Amsterdam (and pickled). I don't remember loving it this much. I also had some free cheese at Cromwijk Kassedok and from Henry Willig's (I guess he's Dutch - these shops were everywhere) Cheese & More. I walked back towards the Maritime Museum and over to the Erasmusbrug (bridge). Across and to the right to the dock area. Back across the bridge and left to another port area and a tower called Euromast. Then back to the hotel. Some food and wine and beer from Albert Heijn (their main supermarket). It was some holiday, so, it was very busy. I should state at this point that it had drizzled just a bit up to this point. From this point on it got colder and drearier and drizzlier for most of the trip. Rotterdam (most of these cities) was very diverse. Big food culture. Great architecture. I missed some attractions. I'll get back to them...

The next day I passed by Paulus Kerk on the way to the station. I walked around looking for an ATM. Never found one. In the whole city! I bought a 5.60E ticket to Delft. In Delft I found an ATM. I saw the Stad Huis, Nieuwe Kerk, Vermeer Home Location, Maria Van Jesse Kerk, Vermeer Center, Molen de Roos (windmill), Oude Kerk and back to the Markt where they were had set up stalls. I had a Dutch Ham Sandwich with arugula and onion and curry mustard for 7E at a stall called Het Lekkerste Broodje. Only there for about 90 minutes. Back to the station where I bought a ticket to Haarlem for 14E. Delft was small. Cute. In Haarlem, I stayed at the Nui Dairy Holiday Inn (Expedia 9.2) for $117. I walked to the city center and the Grote Markt and the Stadhuis and the St Bavo Kerk. Then over to the Binnen Spaarne (canal) and over to the Frans Hals Museum and Verwey Museum. I should say here that I will tell you if I actually paid and went into any of these. They were all over 10E. Then back to the canal and the Teylers Museum that I walked by. A different way to the Grote Markt (past a music hall) and to the hotel. I stopped for a grilled sausage sandwich at Het Broodjus Huis for 3E because all these youngins were lined up when I first walked by it. Got some food and wine at Albert Heijn. Watched US Open. Haarlem was also cute.

The next day I bought a 7E ticket to Amsterdam. I've been here multiple times. I only chose here because I was ahead of schedule and had done the major destinations and was trying to get to elsewhere via train or plane. Flights from Schipol were no bargain and going through Utrecht became an issue ($300 hotel rooms). I was also going to try for a town nearby called Marken. It took a change over bus instead of a train and was relatively expensive (an all day bus card just under 20E), so, I declined the opportunity. I stayed at the Hotel Old Quarter (Expedia 7.8) for $105. I didn't realize how close it was to the station (and Red Light). I walked through that. Saw one hot girl. Got some friets at Fable Friet for 4E. Oude and Zuider Kerks. Chinese area. Walked an area to the left (coming out) of the station that I'll call a harbor. Through Dijks Park (I think this is newish) to the Maritime Museum and back. Then bought some food and wine at Albert Heijn at the harbor. The main tenant there is a cool looking Doubletree Hotel (and Booking.com HQ). Got a little tipsy and walked the Red Light and over to the City Center.

The next day I walked back along that route. Was offered a free one at 10am. Surprised they were still working. I was looking for a different hierarchy of need (food) and it started raining. Never found (interesting/appropriate) food. Too early. Rushed to the station because of the rain. Bought a 12E train ticket to Hoorn. Stayed at the Hotel de Keiserskroon (Booking 8.0) for $113. I chose here because I wanted to do something north of Amsterdam on the water. I had only been to Edam. This was the second northiest and had a museum (Westfries). The other option didn't. That was the reasoning. It turned out to be closed for repairs. It rained all day. I suffered through a walk to the Grote Kerk and an Albert Heijin for lunch. Then another walk at dinner to the Westfries and over to the Haven (harbor) and AH for dinner and wine. It was a very small town. Cute. You can pass through. Or just pass.

The next day I bought a ticket (just one machine and no people) to Den Haag for 22E. I had been there before. Had to go there to get to a beach location called Scheveningen. Plus working my way back to France. I bought two bus/tram passes for 9E at the station. and plotted routes to other cities at the ticket office (computer). Walked into the city. Had a 5E veggie burger combo (just to be different) from BK because theirs was the best/cheapest in NL. As opposed to their prices in every other country. Over to the Plaats. Pond in front of the Binnenhof (Parliament). Over to the St Jacobs Kerk and to a main street with a statute called Haggse Harry. Back towards the station past a building with cranes around it. Took the 9 tram (3km - not walkable) to De Pier in Scheveningen. Checked into the Fox Hotel (Expedia 8.6) for $99. Walked the pier and beach. It had all these rides, etc. Like a cheese-y English or Jersey-ish/Daytona-ish sea side town. Lots of shells. Walked the north side of the beach. Weather threatened. Grabbed a Lana Sandwich (curried chicken with potatoes and long beans) for 6E at Lana's Surinam Kitchen at a food hall on the boardwalk by the pier. My first Surinamese food. Basically West Indian fare. Bought some food and wine at the AH. Got tipsy and walked the south side of the esplanade to a lighthouse at sunset. That was nice. Learned of Charlie Kirk murder.

The next day I took the tram back to the station. Thankfully, I asked information about train stuff and they said I should still buy my ticket from the domestic office. There really was no international office or machine. I bought a ticket to Brussels for 39E. You had to transfer in Rotterdam to get out of the country. This ticket allowed me to exit in Rotterdam and come back in. This was good because I wanted to stay there that night, but, the weather and hotel availability was bad. Why I settled on Brussels. It started to drizzle. I hightailed it to the Markthal. In the hub bub of the crowds, I had missed the Cube Houses. A collection of yellow slanted cubes on top of each other. Cool. Then over for lunch. The first stop was Bapao & Bobo. I espied them on the first visit. Too long a wait then. They had a hot pot where they dip skewered items into the broth called Chuan Chuan. I looked it up and this and the next thing seem to be their thing. The lady said Shanghai, but, I think there was a double language issue. I did order the steamed then pan fried 20 piece thumb fried Baopo with pork. Little dumplings. Excellent. There shouldn't be a place where this isn't. Get on it! They cost 9E. Internet says it is an Indonesian thing. Or unique to this stall. I then just grabbed a local thing called a Kalfs Vlees (veal) Kroket at Bram Landage for 2E. Then back to Andalus Fish for another round of herring for 3E. Back to the station past the Stadhuis. Rain. It was too rainy to walk to the place where the Pilgrims left for England before America. I exited at Brussels Midi Zuid. Bought a ticket (possibly improperly) from a machine at the international ticket office to Lille Flandres for 20E. Stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn City Center (Expedia 8.4) for $101. Walked past the Porte de Hal. Over to the Palais de Justice and an area with a view by a ferris wheel (The View). Down the street past Square de Petit Sablon and Eglise Notre Dame des Victoires au Sablon and Magritte Museum. Right onto Rue de Namur. It started to rain, so, I missed out on the Royal Palace just ahead because I didn't bring the umbrella. Not sure if I had seen that before. Right onto Avenue de la Toison d'Or to the hotel. Very nice shops there. Food and wine from Delhaize. 9/11 moment of reflection.

The next day I went to the station only to find out that there was no direct train back to Lille like the one I took there. I had to catch some dingy local train that took three times as long and had to change in some town called Tournai. I stayed again at the Hotel Lille Europe (Expedia 8.8) because it was only $66 this time. I came back to Lille to have options in France. I went with my first choice and bought a ticket to Caen (change in Rouen) for 58E. I moved on to things I missed last time. The Marche de Wazemmes first. I had a quiche choufleur fourme at Le Fournil Bio stall and gyoza at Gambatte stall. I got a little lost going there and back. Saw Eglise Sacre Coeur on the way. Made my way past the Opera to La Rue de Monnaie past the Hospice Comtesse to St Andre to Jemmaps to the Charles de Gaulle Birthplace. Back to his plaza and nearby I had a framboise sorbet at Jeff de Bruges for 2E. Dinner and wine from Carrefour.

The next day I awoke early to catch a 7am train to Caen. I stayed at the Hotel de la Paix (Booking 7.0) for two nights at $70 per. Caen was compact. This was near the Castle/Chateau. I went first to the tourist office next to Eglise St Pierre. Then around and into the "Chateau". It was free. This was William the Conquerer's base when he was Duke of Normandy (1660). I then walked through town to his Abbaye aux Hommes. Attached to it is St Etienne. He is buried there. Back past the Palais de Justice and a street one above the way I came. Got dinner and wine at Carrefour.

The next day I went to the Sunday market next to the hotel. Had 6 unplump Blainville Sur Mer oysters from Huitres Yann Couillard stall for 8E. Was given a free foul tasting (tampered?) falafel from Nour Echam stall. A Normande galette with andouille and Camembert for 6.50E at Les Delices de Malau stall. I thought it would be a link wrapped in galette like the basic one. It was slices. I walked past the Chateau/Castle (no tourist signs) to the Memorial de Caen WWII Museum. It didn't seem worth the 21E. Back to town to the Abbaye aux Dammes/St Trinite. Mathilde the wife of William founded this and is buried in the attached church. Down past canals to the station to buy a ticket to Paris (45E). I found that most shops (including Carrefour though the hours open sign said otherwise) were closed. Grabbed the 5E meal deal again at BK. DCB with CB this time. They use reusable glasses and french fry holders! 

The next day I took a delayed train to Paris St Lazzare. I stayed in Pigalle at the Villa Royale (Expedia 7.8) for $163 because they said it was $80 off. Nothing was cheap. It was pretty good. Just car street noise galore all night. Tried to eat at some places near by that came up when I searched best of the area. They were closed. Walked up to Sacre Coeur. Grabbed some salami at Mono Prix for a hangry lunch. Walked Clichy past Moulin Rouge south to Amsterdam to Hausmann to Galeries Lafayette. Saw there was a Pierre Herme there and I wouldn't have to find his shop that I saw on I'll Have What Phil's Having. Got a Tart Paradis for 8E. Sick packaging. Took it past Place Vendome to the Tuileries. Ate it in front of that balloon I think they had at the Olympics. Past the Louvre and down the Seine to Notre Dame. It is open but not finished. Scaffolding and cranes all along the outside. Back to hotel past Tour St Jacques and up Sebastopol to Poissoniere. Some food at Carrefour. Wine and more food at Mono Prix. Been to Paris many times. Did it all before.

The next day I went back to Condorcet for those recommendations. First to Babka Zana (also at Galeries Lafayette) for my first rugelach (chocolate and cinnamon) for under 2E. Great. Like a croissant and cinnamon roll mixed up. Then down the block to Mamiche for a Prince de Paris (ham, cornichon, butter, mustard) for 6E. Good ingredients. Line here was thirty deep. Across Condorcet to Gare du Nord. Bought a 13E plus 2E (card) ticket to CDG. Stayed at the Ibis (Expedia 8.0) for $232! I paid half that last time. Cheapest at airport. Should have checked/booked when I landed. Was $200 the day before. Flight was at 9am, so, I didn't want to be around Gare du Nord that early. Got my boarding passes printed at kiosk. Back to hotel.

The next day I flew out. It was an ok trip that gets better in remembrance. I was a bit antagonized most of the time. Probably because no BIG things to see or do. Weather probably didn't help. Incompetence in general also is creating travel anxiety about simple things like transportation. The French had a strike on the 10th and then were going to again the day after I left. Such brats. Exchange rate was up to $1.17 then $1.18. I spent 344E ($402) on Transport. $1419 on Hotels. Spent $65 on Rental Car to MCO and $120 on Taxi home (I probably could have negotiated this better). I let my return car rental expire because it was $110 and Hertz has been pissing me off. 260E ($304) on Food/Booze. 0E ($0) on Museums. 17E ($20) on Misc. $2761 Total. 

Some new things I ate: Cheese - Gris du Perigord, La Buche de Poitou, Clemont Bleu and tomme de Pyrenees Noir. Pate - Porc aux Airelles, Crem Pate Groene Peper and Pate au Campagne. Charcuterie - Jambon de Savoie (their bad attempt at prosciutto) and Mosterd Gehakt (bad). Beer - Jupiter, Texels, Vieux Lille and Cristal Pils. Saw fish lasagna and mackerel with cream cheese.

*Neither Lufthansa or their bitch low fare offspring Discover offered any compensation for their flight issues.

Grub Crawl - East Colonial (50): A Gourmet Chinese Cuisine and Cowboy Curry

I tried these spots across from each at the intersection of East Colonial (50) and Mills today at lunch. They both are in softs. Just opened last week. The first is a rebrand of what I believe was called Chuan Lu. The second is in the little food market with Unigirl and that hanging duck place that just was awarded a Michelin rating (not sure if it was an actual star). 

A Gourmet Chinese Cuisine - A mouthful. And the portion size was as well. May be a Favorite. They spent a lot of money on the refurbishment. Mostly brown tones. Modern classic look. Reminded me of the Brasserie in NYC. If I am remembering correctly. Like it would mean anything to most readers anyway. Lots of dark stained wood that also acts as a decorative element. Big. Open. High ceilings. Around forty tables of four to six seats. Faux leather seating. I'm trying to remember another Chinese restaurant in the area that seems so done up. I wasn't expecting this kind of rebrand. I would hide the high chairs and similar distractions. But, no one else ever seems to think they are an eye sore. I was the first to arrive at 11am. They are open for lunch and dinner every day except Tuesday. Huge menu. Cantonese mainly. Separate dim sum menu. From $7 to $8 to $9. Really only the last two. Usuals like shrimp dumplings and pork buns. But also, salt and pepper ribs and black truffle and shrimp, etc. The main menu starts with $19+ shareable soups. Apps like from egg rolls to smoked fish ($6 to $23). Chef's Recommendations like pork belly and prawns with salted egg yolk ($19 to $49). Beef, Seafood, Poultry, Pork, Vegetables like General Tso's to Lotus Delight ($17 to $29). Peking duck is $79. Lamb chops are $37. Seafood was MP. Clay Pots ($19 to $25). Rice and Noodles ($17 to $29). Desserts ($9). I didn't price the drinks. I would like to interject here that everyone was drinking water. They do in almost every restaurant I go to nowadays. Do you think that has something to do with your prices? How much revenue are you throwing away be trying to gouge in this area? Fountain soda costs cents. I tried the Teochew Style Wet Beef Chow Fun (flat rice noodles in a brown sauce with stir fried beef and vegetables) for $19. The funny thing is that I just remarked to myself the night before that I dislike Asian noodles. But, I guess I was in the mood for something different. It was mostly good. Three portion sizes. Plated nicely in a decorative bowl. Fresh baby bok choy and carrots and mushroom tops and scallions. The noodles were beyond mushy. As I don't usually order these types of dishes, I am not sure if they are not supposed to be. The beef was mostly too tough. Sixty chews on most pieces. The few tender pieces were very pleasant. Short rib meat? Alot. I'm not sure if these serving sizes will last or if they are just here for the opening when they are trying to make a good impression. Service (4) was attentive and knowledgeable. Uniformed in black. Around seven tables were seated around me. Mix of white and Asian. Their plates seemed nice. I saw a cool fondue like hot pot (I am assuming) set up. I have been waiting for the opening since the Fall. I went here a long time ago when it was the other place (they still have a Chuan in WP). This is a humungous upgrade. Maybe too ambitious? I certainly hope they find a following. They are certainly a positive development. Of course I would like to see the dim sum prices come down. But, I fear these are the new new price points we have to get used to. They are in line with most of the places I have reported on. I think McDonald's is basically charging a buck a nugget at this point. I would make an effort to give this place a go as soon as you are able.

Cowboy Curry - Another one I've been waiting for. They are open Friday through Sunday at noon. Unsure when they close. Ten person line. About five or ten minutes after that. They were only serving a beef curry over rice that you could add things to. I added a Cowboy Menchi Katsu (fried ground beef and pork patty). $15 + $5. It was good. This isn't my thing. I like my curry on Indian and Thai dishes. Not hot dogs and cutlets. Fairly big portion. Big chunks of beef. That's good. I thought it would just be a beef flavored curry. Large hunks of carrot and potato. The rice was good. Don't know how to rate the curry. It had a bit of a dried curry powder after taste. A slight bit of heat. It's a stall. To go orders. Unsure if this will be the only item on the menu forever. How bad do want curry katsu? Or a newish (to the area) thrill? There was another area next to it that seems being prepared to be another Japanese named stall. I hadn't heard that was in the works. Oh. They (4) wear little cowboy hats. If that's your kink.

*I have also been forgetful about construction on Michigan near Orange where I believed the Shaq's Chicken place was meant to go. Is that them? Finally. The new bank mi place is across the street. I think they replaced a donut shop where I made fun of the Mayor's acne in a post. 

La Hacienda, Winter Park

I went to this Mexican spot on 436 and Aloma on Tuesday at lunch because the Universe seems to want to pull me where it wants to go not where I plan to go. I was going to try Hong Kong Kitchen. They couldn't be bothered to show up it seems. Same as most of the bars at Virginia and Mills that I tried to try on Sunday. Who doesn't work a holiday weekend? This place has been there for years. They said five. I just saw the signage for their market. It was a typical mid-range Mexican restaurant. Lots of wood. Black pleather cushions. Alot of booths. Red brick. White tiles. Around twenty five tables. Some decoration. Fairly full. I had chicken fajitas to compare with Tacos vs Pizza. These cost $16. But, WAY more chicken. To be fair, I think the TvP plate was a smaller lunch special. Tons of peppers and onions. Barely any sour cream. Some guac. A bit of salsa. Lettuce. Beans. Yellow rice. Four large tortillas. I went flour this time. Steamed in foil. So much that I took half home. Plus their chips and salsa were good. All in all, probably better than TvP. Typical large Jalisco style menu. Fried fish, quesa birria, chilaquiles, tortas, huaraches, milanesa, etc. Tacos were $2.79. They didn't list what kinds. Enough wait staff. Uniformed in black. They have another location in Ocoee. It's funny. This strip mall has/had three Mexican places. One is gone. This is probably the best of them. The funniest thing was that they were playing 80s and 90s music in Spanish. It clarified things for me. It isn't Spanish/accent that is the problem. These tunes were still listenable. It is Mexican music itself that sucks. And you can blow it out your Mariachi trumpet if you have a problema with that. I was also here because Tijuana Flats increased their Taco Tuesday price to $8. Another place I won't be eating at ever again. On the flip side, Taco Bell "dropped" their taco price to $2. 

Ice House Grill, Titusville *Germany/Poland Travel Notes

I tried this spot on S Washington Ave on Wednesday at lunch after swimming at the beach at Cape Canaveral NP because I awoke so early from jet lag and had a rental car for the day. Sand mites chased me away though. I also drove to stop 13 that they say has nudists. Yeah they do. Franks and beans! I had a fried bay scallop basket with fries for $13. I know it was just frozen food fried up, but, it was good. Fifty scallops! Pretty fresh. I didn't love the starched fries, but, they were fried well. A soda with unlimited refills was $2.29. The menu has 11 fried baskets, 7 rice bowls, 3 salads, 11 apps, 5 tacos, 9 sandwiches, 4 wraps, 5 burgers, dinners, sides, milkshakes and a kid's menu. Costliest item is $20. A slight Indian influence (ie tikka taco and bowl). Gyro, BLT, Cheesesteak, pulled pork, cod, shrimp, wings, falafel, salmon, Cuban. Lots of ethnicities. Basic decor. Seats about thirty. Four cops were the other customers. Order at a counter. Fine basic diner/fast food option. 

*Travel Notes - Germany and Poland: I flew Delta to Berlin through JFK for $665. Took the FEX train to the Hauptbanhof for 4.70E. Bought from kiosk. Station on bottom floor of airport. It took around 40 minutes. Stayed at the Ibis (Expedia 8.8) across the street for $90 plus 5E tax due in cash. Walked past the Cube, Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Grosser Tiergarten, Victory Column (Siegessaule), Bismarck Statue, President's Residence (Bellevue) and back along the Spree River because the room wasn't ready. I had done three of the first four before. Bought a ticket (71E) from the ticket office to Gdansk thru Poznan for the next day. Made some hotel reservations. Got some food and wine at Rewe at the station. Crashed. I should say at this point that I had been to Berlin before. Euro was 1.16 to USD. It was over 90 degrees. Trains were too expensive as always unless you got a regional all day ticket (in some areas). I did at some points. You have to pay extra to guarantee a seat! Trains to foreign countries were a pain. Not all available on machines and (I was told) in poor condition (ie you would need to get on a bus in points) in certain regions. I was maybe going to fit in Czechia (that's what they call it now) and Austria. Couldn't get where I wanted to go in Czechia easily. Salzburg was too expensive for Austria. Plus I may do them two trips from now. Had been to the bigger cities in Poland before.

The next day the train to Gdansk was bullshit. They made me transfer at another Berlin station minutes away (but not on return?). The train had a brake problem and couldn't go fast. The AC didn't work. Missed two transfers in Poznan. They had one info person! Four hours late. Seats barely available. Got into Gdansk at 9pm. Stayed at the So Stay Hotel (Booking 9.0) for $97. Poland doesn't use the Euro. Ate a candy bar I had left over. I found out after I had booked the ticket that the next day/weekend was one of their bigger holidays. They claimed things would be closed (weren't here). Prices were 4x. This is why I only spent two days in Poland.

The next day I walked through Gdansk. This is where Lech Welesa started Solidarity. It was Danzig. A port town that gets lots of ferry visitors from Scandinavia. Modern with on old town look. Walked in from Uplands Gate and Golden Gate. Dluga St past Town Hall, Neptune Statue, Farenheit Thermometer to the Stara Moltawa (canal) "center". Past Green Gate and Milk Can Gate to Nowa Moltawa canal. Up past MS Soldek and then over the drawbridge towards the train station (Glowny). Past St Catherines Church. I took the train south to Poznan for 90E. I booked this in Berlin. It included the next trip to Leipzig through Berlin. I saw this town on Curious Traveler. Checked into the Platinum Residence Boutique Hotel (Booking 8.7) outside the old town (because of the holiday) for $163. Walked to the old town. Past Wolnosci Plaza to to the Ratusz (Town Hall) Plaza. Past Archeological Museum and Church of St Stanislaus and Teatr Polski and Centrum Syzfrow (WWII Enigma Program) and Zamek Cesarski (Kaiser's Castle). It was getting dark. I went back to the hotel and ate the fruit plate they gave me. I should have walked to the Cathedral. It was a bit far.

The next day I walked through Park (Woodrow) Wilsona and the MTP Poznan Expo Complex. Took the train to Leipzig in Saxony. Checked into the Premium Inn Hahnekamm (Expedia 9.0) for two nights at $158 plus 6E tax due. Got some food and wine and beer at Rewe in the station.

The next day I walked to the Stasi Museum (East German KGB). Cost 5E. Onto St Thomas Church (where Bach is buried and was a Cantor/Choir Master and Organist and many of his pieces were debuted and many famous Classicists played). Across was the Bach Museum. Over to the Altes Rathaus and Markt Platz. Past the statue that is half Commie and half Facist. Over to the Neues Rathaus and through a park to Mendelessohn's (last) House where he composed Elijah. The city is compact. Inside a circular grid. Back up to Augustus Platz and Gewandhaus and University and First Gewandhaus (Oldest Civic Orchestra in 1781 in which Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Wagner, Brahms, etc premiered works) and St Nikolai Church (helped end Communism) to the Opera House. More food and wine and beer at Rewe. Bought some train tickets from the machines at the station. I really liked Leipzig. Very clean and compact. There is also a memorial to a battle over Napoleon at the outskirts that I didn't get to and big skyscraper you can get good views from. 

The next day I took the train (47E) to Erfurt. A total rip off for this short jaunt. This is Luther town. Stayed at the Prize by Radissson (Expedia 8.6) for $91 with 4E due that they wouldn't allow cash for. Room wasn't ready. Walked into the old town to Michaelis Kirche. This is where the first Protestant Sermon (not Luther) was given. Across the street is Luther's College (Collegium Maius). Up the street and right to his dorm (Georgenburse) and on to where he became a monk (Augustiner Kloster). Back to the Dom Platz and up to the Zitadelle Petersberg (Citadel) and back down and around the Marien Dom and Severi Kirche. Back towards the hotel and the Rathaus and Kaufmanns Kirche St Gregos and Luther Statue. Got some food and wine at Tegut.

The next day I took a train to Nurnberg for 35E. This was one of those regional tickets. It seems that you can use it as an unlimited day pass on all RE trains in the region. I did this because I was going to try and get south to Berchetsgarden through Salzburg and tickets to there or Munich were crazy. It turned out to be a waste of a day. Especially since I went there last year. I checked into the Premier Inn Opernhaus (Expedia 8.6) for $78 no tax. I walked into the center and the Executioner's House (Henker) and the Bratwurst Museum and Deutsches Museum Turnberg and Spieltraume (Toy) Museum. Just browsed the free areas. Back to the hotel and some food and wine from Aldi. To the train station to buy a ticket to Passau after I looked at the hotel prices in Salzburg. Regional for 32E.

The next day I got off the train at Regensburg. It is a cute town on the Danube. Lots of river cruise tourists here (and Passau). To the river. Past Dom St Peter. To the bridge. Across the bridge. Back. Past the Rathaus. Had a Regensburger (pickles, horseradish and kraut) on Semmel (roll) at Wurstbraterei Reisinger for 4E. Back to the train. I'll add here that the train situation isn't great. Most trains are late or cancelled. Lots of track work. You will miss a tight connection. They were thirty minutes late to here on a thirty minute journey. Why I had to rush. Back on the train to Passau. Walked into the peninsula town. Past the Pfarrkirche St Paul and Dom and Dom Platz and this head statue called Passeur Tolpel. To the Hange Brucke (Bridge) where you can see the Veste Oberhaus (Fortress). Down to the tip where the Danube and Inn converge. Up the Inn side to the bridge and over to my hotel (they were scarce) on the other side. Not too bad of a walk. Hotel Innsento (Expedia 8.8) for $91 no tax. Had some food and wine and beer from the Edeka next door.

The next day I took the train back through Nurnberg (cluster fuck of cancelled and SRO only replacement trains) to Bayreuth for 32E Regional. I was trying to get as close to Dresden as possible on one of these tickets and the train lady told me this was Wagner territory as well. I stayed at the B&B Hotel (Expedia 8.6) for $90 no tax. I was late because of the train, so, I walked to his grave and house and museum and garden and Franz Liszt Museum. There were these little man statues throughout the city of Wagner. It seems to be a city for musicians. To city center and Neues Schloss at Residenz Platz. Back and on past Schloss Kirche and a May Pole. Onto the Stadt Kirche. Got some food and wine and beer at Netto. Bought another regional ticket for 49E to Dresden.

The next day I walked past the Opera House, big Wagner Statue, bus station and around the train station. Train through Hof to Dresden. Stayed at Occidental Dresden (Expedia 8.6) for two nights at $230 plus 10E tax. Great views. I had been to Dresden before for an hour or so on a bus tour twenty years ago. I totally mis-remembered it. And it must of grown. Lots of Chinese tourists. I walked to the Altmarkt. Had some cheese samples at Henri Willig. Past through the adjacent buildings and murals of the Residenz Schloss (Royal "Saxon" Palace). It has a museum inside called the Grunes Gewolbe (Green Vault). 17E. Didn't go in. To the Elbe. Past the Kathedrale SS Trinitats Katholische Hof Kirche and Semperoper (Opera House) and into the Orangerie (Zwinger). That was cool. It has a porcelain museum (5E)+. Didn't go. Past the Kunste (Art) Museum and Albertinum (Modern Art Museum) and Rathaus and the rebuilt Frauen Kirche (go to the top). Just went to public areas. Bought some food and wine and beer at Rewe. Tried to recall Slaughterhouse-Five.

The next day I retraced those steps and went across the river to Albert Platz in the area called Neustadt. Markthalle and Augustus I Goldener Reiter (Golden Rider statue). There are more things to see. Back to other side and Standehus and up on the Bruhlsche Terasse and museums and Frauen Kirche again and over to the Schauspielhaus (music hall) and Kreuz Kirche. Rewe for food and wine. Bought a ticket to Berlin for 60E. It shouldn't have cost that much. I was going to try and go to a town on the Polish border called Gorlitz on a day trip. They have filmed movies like Inglorious Basterds there. Couldn't muster the energy. I liked Dresden more that I thought I would. 

The next day I took a too slow moving ICE train to Berlin. Checked in at the Motel One (Booking 8.6) for two nights at $175 no tax. I bought a 24 hour S train pass for 12.30E. I went to Potsdam. It is called their Versailles and the Allies met here for the conference breaking up Germany and fighting Japan. It takes about 35 minutes. A must do. I walked to the Potsdam museum and St Nikolai Kirche. Then up through the Neuer Garten to the Marmor Palais (Marble Palace) and the Cecilien Hof (where they had the conference). I saw this on Joseph Rosendo. It is full of lakes (sees) and canals I walked back (two km or so) through some Dutch and Russian enclaves to Park San Souci. It has three big palaces (Sans Souci, Neues and Charlotten) and an Orangerie with a Windmill. Big park. I walked back to the train station by Garnison Kirche and some other buildings. Got some food and wine at Rewe in Berlin.

The next day I took the S train on the Spandau route. Stopped at the Olympic Stadium stop. It is still there. Cost 11E. Didn't go in. To Spandau. Didn't find the ballet. Found out it means the jerking of legs of Nazi war criminals while being hanged at their prison that looked like the jerking of dying soldiers on barb wire in WWI. Past the Rathaus to St Nikolai Kirche and back. They love them some Nikolai don't they? Was running out of time on the 24 hour pass. Should have seen the Fort. Didn't research Spandau before I went. Back to train station. Walked along the Spree past the Reichstag to Bode Museum. Pergamon was closed for repairs. Over to the Dom and Altes Museum and Humboldt Forum. Up to the Rotes Rathaus and the Fernsehturm Tower. Over to the Hackesher Market and Monbijou Park and back to the hotel. Food and wine at Rewe. I had done some of these sites before.

The next day I bought a 4.70E FEX train (not S) ticket to the airport from one of the hard to find machines and flew home.

I wish I had done Gorlitz and Wittenburg. Some odd things I ate were: Frankendammer cheese, Krater Rolle and a Ritter with cashews. I saw kraut in hummus. They mess with hummus. They put a spicy ketchup on the chicken sandwich at McDs. Bottles of beer were under 1E. The German wine was mostly bad. But, I bought the supermarket middle tier stuff (5E). Weather was very hot until the last two days. Some of these itineraries were inspired by Tricky Ricky Steves. Spent $1264 on hotels. 24E on extra hotel tax. 438E on transportation. 175E on food. 18E on Misc. That is $760. $163 on rental cars to and from the airport. Total in USD = $2852. Ouch. I guess it aligns with two one week trips. Actually spent less because I used some credits on the airfare and hotels. Really $2690. And I am going to get a refund on some of those train journeys.

*The German rail system fought every dispute over dealys and offered no compensation.

Grub Crawl - Orlando and East Colonial: Tropical Paradise Pepperlicious and Moa Kai

I tried these spots yesterday at dinner. The first in on 436 near the 408. I think it was a Cuban place. The second is in the old Mongolorian spot on East Colonial (50) near the Milk District. 

Tropical Paradise Pepperlicious - I think it was just TP before. Maybe just Pepperlicious now? I think I went there. Think of jacket (stuffed/baked) potatoes. Now picture green peppers instead. I had the Tradicional for $6. All are. I nuked it the next morning for breakfast (jet lag) and it didn't have any char, etc on it. Not sure how (or if) it was cooked. Seemed near raw. Picadillo and shredded mozz and a hint of a tomato sauce. I should state that I dislike bell peppers. Give me gas. Flavor is weird. I take it off any dish it comes on. I was so hungry this time that I ate them. The toppings were enough to mask most of the flavor. I liked them (the two halves). They also have empanadas and tequenos, desserts and smoothies. And a section called Cuban Pizza that looked like more peppers. I think they opened that night. Twelve or so tables of different seat levels. Two stages. Wood. Mish mash of interior design. Man and woman team. Parking. Something different. They said they were serving healthy items. Couldn't really pin down where from. 

Moa Kai - I read they were in a soft opening and hoped they would be open. They call themselves a Hawaiian Diner. I call them a Favorite. Cute. Good value. Worth the wait. From the people who do the Korean Fried Chicken on Mills and Poke Hana (I think). I had a spam musubi for $5 and the two item mix plate for $16. It comes with two suggested sides that you can either switch out for a few others or upgrade for a few bucks. I stuck with the two servings of white rice and mac salad. I chose shoyu ahi and Korean fried chicken for the mains. I had a fever for both (as Chris Walken would say). They do the rice well. Sort of sticky. Short grain. This helped the musubi. Big. I used the onions from the ahi and that should be required from now on. Everywhere! Even dipped it in the shoyu. There was a poke bowl size amount of ahi. Pretty fresh. No dental floss. There was one bad (stringy/dry/unchewable) piece (out of four) of chicken. The mac was the best one I've had from a Hawaiiann place. Not too sweet. Firm pasta. The dishes came out fast. Four cooks in black t shirts. They also offer up a bao type app, fried wonton with shrimp and pork app, burger, mahi, poke, kalua pork, pupu platter, moco loco, eggs, po boys, saitan dishes, desserts, cocktails and I think some noodle bowls. That not all. Just can't remember more. Three booths. Eight fours. Fourteen stools (L shape) in front of the cooking area and bar. Earth tones. Wood. Green jungle tree wall paper. Windows. Steel. Little travel posters. Patterned tiles. Off white. Faux white marble table tops. Two giant ceiling fans. A diner feel, but, a hipster diner. Two servers in red Hawaiian shirts. There was one family there when I came in. Six more tables (off all kinds) came in after. And it was 8pm. Opened last Tuesday. I think the name has something to do with a rooster or chicken. Probably the Kai part. If I lived near here, I would eat here at least once a week. Even the free water wasn't gross.

*Ok I tried to teach Grok AI on X (my first AI foray) to read my blog and tell me what Orlandoer would do. What are his Favorites? Make me a travel plan to X like he would. Etc. Things that I wish this platform would do. Things that would make this a usable web destination. Grok is not allowed to do much. Utter failure. It is only allowed to search from what other search engines find. Mostly Google. Like looking for fish in at a fish market instead of the sea. I asked it directly after much frustration. Which is funny because Google owns Blogger and as you know I often complain that it won't even (whatever the term is now for spidering) its own platforms. I tried to get Google's AI to "find" my content. You have to log in (if you have an account) and disable privacy function first. I didn't feel like doing that then. Maybe later on. I doubt it will do it either. I bet it will also say it can't access web sites directly. Grok said this was to limit requests from crashing servers. I guess I get it. Not sure if all AI companies have agreed to these rules. 

I would love it if you would crack the code (and tell us how). It seems you almost have create your own program to get the data you want. I had to request it ONLY use www.orlandoer.blogspot.com. I tried to get it to access the header/title and/or body. Because I put Travel Notes in the title and Grub Crawl, it would return odd things if you wanted Orlando Restaurant stuff vs Travel Info. It put Orlando restaurant info in Travel Plans. It didn't understand the state abbreviations I use. I had to teach it those. Or asterixs. It couldn't find the tutorials. It didn't understand that Grub Crawl meant numerous, different restaurants. I'm not sure it got slashes (/). I tried to get it to learn all posts from 2008 on and then by the months. Like I said, it won't get the info directly. It was funny, when I first started the session it whined that I ghosted it after I did something else while it was screwing up again. And the sucky thing is that if you suceed in training your AI, it isn't "house broken" for the rest of us. I think you even have to save the search and it is ONLY FOR YOU. It doesn't make it any smarter for the rest of us or for itself. There doesn't seem to be a common "brain". Hopefully, one of the AIs will. Or maybe that would be bad?

Tomasinos Pizza, Lake Mary

I had a chicken parm to go for $16. Fairly usual. Cut strips made mushy by sauce. Fake white cheese. I didn't like the narrow, sweet, glossy roll. The chicken had frozen qualities. I want an uncut scallopine with real mozz on an Italian roll baked in the pizza oven. The menu is large. Five subs, calzone, pizza, knots, pasta, wings, apps. Pizzas are from 14" and $22. Beer and wine. $10 for Junior's cheese cake. Four locations. Original at mall on 50. Some possibly true NYC origin story. Red and black and tan. Pallets repurposed as hanging gardens. 8 booths. A few tables. Patio. Older music playing. Been there a while.

*Still getting bonkers views. Seem to be big in Singapore, Hong Kong and Mexico now. Is this how one can see which countries are launching AI and gobbling up data? Can you tell AI to make me a travel plan to X like Orlandoer? Is that the answer? I tried on Google. Nothing happened. Too apprehensive to interact with the real doom bots. Imagine if my rantings inform/empower Skynet. I apologize. Just trying to digitize data to have mobile access to it. Will it turn out that AI learns of us through food bloggers. Like the quote on Iron Chef by Brillat Savarin - tell me what you eat and I'll tell you what you are.

Tacos vs Pizza, Azalea Park

Since there has been ridiculous interest (probably bots or AI stalking) and I am inexcusably drunk, I will hep you to this Mexican/quasi Italian boite in a strip mall on 436 near 50 that I left without tring a few months before. This time (Monday) a sole waitress actually appeared to take my order. I did the ($12.50) chicken fajita plate lunch special. It came with a tostada cup of refried beans, red rice and l and t. Three steamed corn tortillas. I know you are supposed to have corn. But, they sucked. Too flimsy. Plus they clogged your windpipe. Ok chicken with peppers and grilled onions. A big glob of sour cream. The salsa was a bit desicated (remember these terms are coming out au naturel from a sot). They gave you free chips and ok salsa. I hate to say it, but, it was a good "mid-level" Mexican meal. That price is like $5 to7 cheaper than most places. I was only here because the cunts at Cevich in WP stopped the $20 combo lunch. The place is mostly windows. Light gray and brown. 6 booths and two 8's. Mex music from tv. Pretty full. Food came quick. They hopped my order over a six of bimbos. Two cooks. I saw a few pizzas. Ok? Big menu. Better than I expected. You probably have the like in your home town.

Grub Crawl - Winter Garden: Mirchi, Tacos Padrisimo and Cariera's

I tried the spots in a strip mall at 50 and Dillard (Four Rivers on the corner) Wednesday at lunch. They are all on the same row.

Mirchi - It means pepper. Indian street food. From the people who have Cilantro on Plant St and Spice Kitchen and Market on Dillard. I had these thickish rice pancakes (mixed) called Uthappan for $15 and took an order of black pepper chicken home with me. Both were good. The first time for the pancakes. One was filled with green peppers. One with vegetables. One with onions. And one was coated with a spice powder. They served them with four dips on a metal tray. Coconut chutney, lentil broth, some oily one and an orange colored pureed something or other. The tap water was clean tasting. In a bottle with a topper. Pewter drinking glass. The chicken was great. I think I love anything with black pepper. Chunks of chicken alone. Coated in a thin batter. That was from the Indo China (maybe they called it Asian?) part of the menu. It was a mostly vegetable based menu. Large. Lots of dosas. Pan-Indian. Prices were pretty fair. Small place. Around a dozen tables. Colorfu umbrellas and basket lights above. Wallpaper "mural" of old advertising. Front of a Tata bus/van. Bar/counter. One server. Three couples. Open for seven months. Probably will be a Favorite. The one negative was the mumble rap they had on. I saw on the way out that the had a $12-$13 lunch special. Didn't see what it consisted of. *I looked into Spice Market. It seemed too be not very professional. The food prep area was unmanned and looked abandoned. They did have a full menu out. I also saw some $1.50 samosas on the way out.

Tacos Padrisimo - Next door. Small footprint. Order at a counter. A few seats. Other locations in Kissimmee. This one has been here for two years. I had the three taco (any) option for $9.50. They lied and said all tacos were included (at $8.50) and then upcharged for two of the three. $3 - $3.50 a piece. I chose lengua, barbacoa and carnitas. In (probably) store bought corn tortillas (double wrapped) that were warmed/grilled. The barbacoa was the worst. Still good. Chunks of soft tongue. They added a black chipotle sauce that tasted of cigarette ash and a verde that tasted of that non-Haas avocado (unripe). Onions and cilantro. They had lower prices if you buy in bulk. I think ten cost $25. You could get dishes with beans, etc. Additional meats were fried fish and shrimp and steak, al pastor, chicken and chorizo. They also sell birria, quesadillas, tortas, elote, burritos (one with fries inside) and combos. Prices were fair. Two employees. Spoke English. No customers. Would have been a Favorite if they made their tortillas and didn't lie about the price.

Cariera's - On the corner near 50. Been there for seven years. The second generation of the people from the defunct one on Dr Phillips. I reviewed that on March 5, 2012 it seems. Didn't re-read it. I had fried ravioli (for the first time) to go here for $7. I think (two out of the three menus said) the current price is an outlandish $12. Ten. Fried, mostly unfilled, probably frozen and store bought, cheese ravioli with no flavor. The marinara sauce was very necessary. The rest of the menu was standard American/Italian fare at inflated prices. A 12" pizza and half lasagna may be the best values. All their "Under $20" prices are reduced/small portions. Even a small chicken parm is $19. Lots of things are near $30. Risottos are a joke. Wait and see what they slap on top of them. Sandwiches (with side) on focaccia around all over $21. You can't get them alone. I think I saw a sign outside that said $1 wings on Wednesday. Dark, black decor. Around twenty tables. Bar. Tvs with live scenes from Venice. Those common, large, Italian advertising posters. One server. Two couples there. Charged a fee for cc use. You can avoid it.

*I noticed H-Mart driving here. It isn't in a strip mall as I thought. Right on 50 on the right side coming from I4. Still seems weeks away.

Honest, Florida Mall Area *NC/SC Travel Notes

I tried this vegetarian Indian franchise today at lunch. It is across the street from the mall on Sand Lake on the I4 side. The menu had bad values. Vegetarian. Bare bones staff. Plus it took forever and the dish tasted bad. I had vegetarian Manchow Soup for $6. It has the mouth feel of sweet and sour soup. Bland. Dank looking. The only real flavor is a bit of hot pepper with the aftertaste of old coins. The place is five years old. Only Indians there. Gray tones with some yellow. Booths. Owner, one cook and a janitor were the only staff. So bad for a pity fuck on top of it. You can avoid. Let me state that this strip mall and OBT is a nightmare traffic wise. I'd avoid all the places I am about to list. Also there, on different corners of the intersection are: Picanha's ($20 AYCE Brazilian - not in the mood), La Verguenza (shabby looking PR place that took too long and cost too much), Sky Blossom Pho (pm only), Mammazitta (pm only), Viet Thai (I think I've been there) and Gozamba (pm). Turell's is closed on M and Tu. I was going to bundle a few of these, but, it just became too annoying. Especially after the Honest delay. Didn't find anything new on OBT towards I4.

*Travel Notes - North Carolina and South Carolina: I drove my own car because the imbeciles at Hertz ran out of cars. Thankfully, they called me ahead of time to let me know. HELL NO. NO WARNING. NO APOLOGY. I slept the first night in Wilson NC at a Microtel (Expedia 7.8) for $96. Tried the chopped pork (equal to any bbq joint) and onion rings at Cook Out. It is unbelievable that 95 through NC is in perpetual construction (my entire lifetime). South Carolina is no joy either. Assholes (mostly trucks) pull into the fast lane (and don't pass) on these pathetic two lane affair far too often. I should say here that the trip was meant to be a minor league baseball focused time waster either through the Gulf or the mountains of NC. The prospect of heat (in those areas) and high hotel prices scuttled that. Then unexpected, intense heat scuttled a central NC plan too.

The next day I drove a half hour to Zebulon NC to see the Carolina Mudcats. $15 top Sunday price plus $7 for parking. Did that. Learned it was pointless because they are moving to Wilson next year. Had a flight and chicken biscuit at Norse Brewing Longhouse. Drove to Durham NC. You can basically take 64 on and follow the signs for Durham. Stayed at the Springhill Suites (Expedia 9.2) for $126 plus $15 for parking. One block walk to Athletic Park (not the one in the movie) to see the Durham Bulls for $26 for behind home plate. Both stadiums gave a printed ticket. Had bbq nachos and free hot dog at the stadium. Durham has changed ALOT in the twelve years since I had been there.

The next day I drove to Raleigh. Had a forgettable chopped pork sandwich with potato salad and slaw and hush puppies and biscuit for $13 at The Pit Authentic Barbecue (MvF). The founder sold it to Harris Teeter. I was going to try a chicken place nearby as well, but, every square inch of road is metered. Drove around Capitol and back down 401 to 64 to 264 through Wilson and Greenville to 33N to 64 to Nags Head NC. I decided to come here because hotels were cheap and it was the only area in NC below 100+ degrees. I stayed at the Seahorse Inn (Booking 7.3) for two nights at $115 a night. It was right off where 64 enters the area at Jennette's Pier. Across the street from the beach. Went for a swim. Clear water. Many jellyfish. But, they seemed to have no sting. Drove north a bit. Got some beer and snacks. Watched DC Open.

The next day I went for a swim and then lunch in Manteo at Ortega'z (3D). Bad tuna tacos. Saw Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse. Drove 64S to the Bodie Island Light Station at Cape Hatteras National Seashore (free). Got some wine and great Heron Shoal and Cape Hatteras oysters (and steamed green tail shrimp) at Whalebone Seafood. I'll state here that the state of fresh seafood at every resort town is a joke. Most places have next to nothing that is LOCAL. One place here tried to sell me shrimp that they said was frozen from December. Aside from Whalebone, every local market I went to was a joke. You might as well buy from the supermarket. They were cheaper. In the next town I will write about, they told me it is too hot this time of year for anything local. Their shrimpers had to go to NC. Oyster farmers won't supply them. Took pics at the pier. Watched Billy Joel HBO documentary.

The next day I drove 64 to 94 to 264 to 17 to avoid 95. Still takes too long to get through Wilmington and Myrtle Beach. Tried the BLT, Chicken Q and Chicken Wrap at Cook Out in Surfside SC. Got into Charleston early enough to get fried oysters to go at The Wreck (MvF). Surprise, they use gulf oysters not local ones. Cute, ramshackle location near the creek though. Slept at the Comfort Inn at Patriot's Point (Expedia 8.8) in Mt Pleasant for $114 a night for two nights. Great location. Walked to the Golf Links and College of Charleston soccer and baseball fields. Found a trail that hugged the river. Watched the sunset at the river below the Ravenal Bridge. Hotels were way cheaper than I expected for this time of year. Watched Toronto Open. 

The next day I drove to downtown Charleston and had an overpriced ($60) swordfish (from NC) and broccoli rabe lunch at Chez Nous. It was on a list of favorite's by Callie on that show How She Rolls. Drove up King St to Graft and bought a bottle of overpriced wine. Also on that show. Her brother owns it. Over a bit to Taco Boy for uninspired chicken taquitos. Chilled a bit and did some late day swimming at a beach on the river with free parking on Sullivan's Island. Parking is a problem on most of the other areas there. Stopped at Poe's Tavern for a poor shrimp salad sandwich with fries to go. Stopped near the creek at Kickin' Chicken for ok nuggets and tots to go. Watched the rest of the Billy Joel doc.

The next day I drove home. Traffic jams just south of Jacksonville and in Daytona Beach. At noon! Spent $153 on gas. $679 on hotels. $375 on the rest. $1207 total. Two new stadiums. Two new oysters. Ten new restaurants. Five new breweries/beers. One new cider. Three new wineries/wine. Wish I had known the Greensboro Open was that week. Minors are a pain because they don't play on Monday. I couldn't justify wasting a day in Winston Salem during a heat wave for instance. Distance to Hatteras from 95 is a real pain. It's kind of low class on top of it. Only went to justify all those miles I had already put on my car. I left on Saturday and returned on Friday. I think Friday had less traffic!

Grub Crawl -- Apopka and Altamonte Springs: Just Like Momma's, Three Odd Guys Brewing (Moved to Longwood), Apopka Pizza and Mis Antojitos

I tried these spots today at lunch. The first three are in a strip mall on 5th St. That is one block south off Park Ave in the center of town. The last is in an old hot dog and ice cream shack on 436 back towards 434.

Just Like Momma's Soul Food and Wings  I had a three piece fried chicken with side and rice and corn bread for $12. They gave me six wings instead. Breaded. Ok. Small. Rice had no taste. Side (Mac) had none either. Isn't flavor an essential/renowned component of soul food? CB was good. Muffin looking. The cost is too much for this amount of food. The menu has things like oxtail ($18) and smash burgers ($10). The place is large. Black with some gold accents. A stage. Around twenty tables. Closed M and Tu. It was their one year anniversary today. You don't have to rush here. It was just like my momma's. She couldn't cook either.

Three Odd Guys Brewing - Next door to Momma. I tried a flight of five for $12. Mostly good. The place is large. Black with corrugated tin. Sofas. Games. High tops. Picinic tables. Tvs. Brewing equipment. Opens at 2pm on week days. Opening a sister location in Longwood. Open for five years. No outside food allowed.

Apopka Pizza - Inside Odd Guys. Steel pizza oven. Also do knots, stromboli and a few other items. I had a plain 12" pizza for $14. Ok. Fake cheese. Good crust.

Mis Antojitos Street Food - May have been their first day. I had three tacos at $2.45 a piece. The meats (pastor, pierno de cerdo and birria) were good. Salsa and limes were fresh. Two issues. Homemade looking corn tortillas weren't warmed on the grill. Tasted raw. What was supossed to be pastor tasted and felt like chicken. I was eating while driving, so, I'm unsure. They also offer up ten antojitos like hot dogs, nachos and elote. Sopes, tortas, quesadillas, burritos, etc. Seafood. Five special plates. Drinks. Sides. Kids menu. Good pricing. They cleaned up that little hut. New picinic tables and umbrellas too. Out of Vera Cruz. Would have been a Favorite if not for the issues cited. Worth a pop in. Good parking.

*I checked out the lechonera place on 436 near Apopka that I espied last time and another place that turned out to be a sushi/steak place (unclear if still in business). The lechonera couldn't be bothered to list prices and English was a foreign language. It seemed like you had to do a full meal. Rice and beans are almost always no temptation to me. So, I passed on this pity fuck. There was also a market next to Antojitos that served that kind of buffet meal. This seemed more Cuban though.

Grub Crawl - SoDo: Fritterbox (Closed) and Naz's

I went to these spots on South Orange Ave today at lunch. The first replaces Costa Rican coffee house Tico Forest in a strip mall near Gaitlin. The second replaces what I recall as a Miami based mac chain in a strip mall near that condo complex that has the Target. Closer to DT.

Fitterbox - Looks franchise ready. But a one off. They sell fritters and drinks. Both made to order at the location. I had a lamb and chicken combo box to go for $12. Really good. Ate them all before I got home. Sweet avocado dipping sauce. Probably home made. The fritters can be a bit bland if you don't get a piece of meat. The sauce helps with that. Twelve pieces. Thin. Oval shaped. Not too oily. Container was ecofriendly. Bag was some accordion like thing that expanded into a coiled basket. The do mixes of lamb, chicken, plantain, chickpea, turkey, turkey neck, etc. You can get a (here's a reversal) side of meat for $6+. I should have done that. Didn't figure it out until after I ordered. They also gave me a glass of a jackfruit/peanut smoothie they were concocting. Nice. One of the "drinks". Three employees. Friendly. From Jamaica. A few wood booths and tables. Lots of open space. Fairly large footprint. Light blue coloring. A few posters. Pretty good value at $1 a fritter. Could sneak in as a dark horse Fav due to originality. Open for L&D. Looks like they could use the publicity. Open for a month or so.

Naz's Halal Food - Not worth the wait. I guess they are a chain founded on a push cart in Queen's. Gryos and platters in the usual chicken or lamb (says with beef) options. Falafel and fried fish. Burgers, CSs, wings, nuggets round out the Arabic menu. That's a joke btw. We already have Halal Guys and Shah's and other chains in this segment. We didn't need another. A worse one. I had a mixed gyro for $10. Lamb was like Shah's. Chunks. Chicken was cubier and plain. I picked white sauce (green, hot, bbq). Ok? Pita was ok. Veg was ok. But, it came out in seconds and just looks sloppy. Sloppy like the place. It is one week old and it already looks years old. Like they didn't clean up after the last place closed down. And it also started off sloppy. Maybe this location is cursed? No need to rush over here. No tables. No decorations. Order at a counter. Opened a week ago. L&D. Until 2am! 4am on WE! But it is a Nahs for Naz's. It's like a pizza place that offers you ranch dressing.