Grub Crawl - Sand Lake Road Area: Chronic Tacos and Veranda

I tried these two restaurants on different ends of Sand Lake Rd last week at lunch. The first is in the strip mall west of I-4 that has Moonfish. The second is in the strip mall at OBT (Florida Mall) that has Izziban sushi. One street in. You can't see it from the road.

Chronic Tacos - I believe I have been to the original in 2013. That's if it is in Corona del Mar. In any case, I remember them as good. However, I was not about to be bamboozled like I was at the Taco Bus taco bust. Plus I knew I was eating twice at lunch in any case. So, I only had a test taco. A $3.50 carnitas soft taco. It was good. Nice quantity. Nice flavor. Not scratch. Served street style. Could have been plastic bag pork. But, passable. Probably more in my head than in reality. The franchise stigma was playing on me. They opened a month ago. It had a decent size line. Plastic, fast food scenery. Assembly line execution. Plates are $8. They have steak, mahi, shrimp, chicken, al pastor, veggie, breakfast and fake meat options. Almost all a plus one or two dollars from the individual price. Sodas were $2. They have some chips, churros, fries, etc. Not much new here. A little pricy, but, in line with Chipotle (now over $10 for two barbacoa tacos and a soda), et al.

Veranda - I was disappointed by their execution after being intrigued by the extensive Eastern European menu. I gave them a lay up and they missed it. A chicken schnitzel with mashed potatoes. I was going to try lamb ribs (chops), but, the waitress said that would take fifteen minutes. The chicken took as long. I'll forgive her. She was cute. The chicken tasted like a dogs chew toy. I've had freezer burn chicken in my life, but, this was beyond. It was hard like the center of the breast bone. I thought for sure I was going to get sick before my plane ride. Thankfully, I did not. And the mystery continues. I asked her to ask the kitchen for an explanation and they had none. Said it was how they always do it. As such, I could never give them a second chance. It was also a tiny piece of chicken. And not pounded flat. The mashed potatoes were awful too. No salt or flavor. It reminded me of all those Soviet era jokes about life over there. How they ate boiled shoes. The chew toy and the play doh cost $15. Another off putting feature (and a stereotype confirmed) was the oonce oonce music they blasted at lunch. It brought back memories of Will Farrell and Chris Kattan in shark skin suits. The place has brick walls. I remember it being low lighted and black and gray and red. They have been open for a month or so. I don't expect them to stay open for long. Unless they are a front for the mob. In which case, it was nice knowing you.

Grub Crawl - Audubon Park: Hinckley's Fancy Meats and Bird of Paradise (Closed) *KOR/TAI/JAP Travel Notes

I tried these two newcomers at the East End Market yesterday at lunch. I was trying to try Sette. It turns out that they don't do lunch. I audibled to Orlando Meat Company and while trying a very good roast beef sandwich, I thumbed through a copy of the OW and saw a review of one of the purveyors. So, I popped in.

Hinckley's Fancy Meats - I was speaking to a man there (I suppose the owner) who told me that he ran a place in NY called Public. I'm pretty sure I ate there and it had a fine reputation. Now, he's here playing with his meat. He does rillettes, pates, terrines, cured meats, game meat (deer, antelope), etc. I had a pastrami sandwich because the article said it was bubby worthy. I don't think many bubbies expect their pastrami to be like theirs. It was very cured. Almost prosciutto like. I've not seen it's equal. Not a compliment or criticism. Just a fact. With the other components in the sandwich (rye roll, mustardy thousand island sauce, red cabbage slaw and some cheese - I'll guess Swiss), it blended well. Alone, it was less appetizing. I like my pastrami juicier and cut thicker. Standard pastrami. This was sliced like prosciutto. I'm not sure if this is the intent or it was old or it was over cured. It is a conundrum. You'll have to sample it and see if you like this result and inquire into its origin. It cost $15. Probably 50% too rich. Like most of the options. They also serve (sandwich wise) a double pate banh mi, blt, chicken salad, porchetta and others. They sell meat by the pound. They opened in February. It's a little stall with no seats.

Bird of  Paradise - This used to be Florida & Co. or something like that. Of course they closed it right after I tried it. This is the same people in a rebrand. It couldn't see any difference. I think I had a bowl there. They still serve that. I think they featured shrimp. I had that. I had the shrimp lettuce wraps for $12. It consisted of five or six romaine lettuce leaves, pickled shredded carrots, pickled root vegetable (maybe parsnip or carrot) and five or six medium shrimp cut length wise. I think they were Florida white shrimp. It was fine. still took too long to prepare. They officially open on Sunday. They said they are going to change the menu. Maybe I just got there too early to see the change.

*Travel Notes - Korea/Taiwan/Japan: Some odd things I saw in Asia (aside from their regional specialties that you might find odd as well). Dry squid covered in peanut butter, canned silk worm larva (sold near the tuna fish) and pickled radish stems (for example - they pickle everything) in Korea. KFC had fried squid and egg and chicken sandwiches. Scallop lip sushi in Taiwan. They have lips? MCD's had a shrimp burger and some wild black and/or green burger buns with other junk on them. I also saw a unique vendor that can be reproduced here as a gimmick for little cost. In Okinawa, they sell octopus and shrimp crackers pressed while grilled/baked in front of you. The gimmick is that they plop a raw shrimp or octopus arms onto the cracker batter and then squeeze the life out of it. It makes an imprint of the creatures on the cracker. You don't really taste the flavor as much as you would expect though. Fun to watch. Kids loved it. Ohh, and they sold a hot dog dipped in batter and covered with potato cubes. Some had cheese inside. The supermarket had a sick selection of sushi and sashimi (in Seoul too). I got amaebi (4 huge ones) for less than $3. for example. The tuna was fresh as all get out.

**Can somebody tell me if Forever Naan is in business? I've been by two times (on days they are supposed to be open) and they were not. They are becoming "Ever? Naan".

Eath Fare, Downtown - Re-opened

I grabbed some stuff to go at this supermarket between downtown and the hospital (South Orange) today at lunch. I was under the impression that it was a vegetarian fast casual restaurant. It is more like a Lucky's or Whole Foods or Trader Joe's. It is in a brand new apartment complex called Novel. It has been open for a month. It is out of NC and has locations there and SC and GA and KY... and one in Lake Nona and one coming to Winter Park. I thought it was interesting. Some good values. It's a white privilege type store. Fill your own (bottle) honey, soy sauce, agave syrup, vinegar, etc. Gumball type offerings of nuts, beans, etc. Trendy frozen foods, et al. Earth friendly cleaners, hygiene products, etc. Craft beer and wine. Salad bar. Olive bar. Soup bar. I found the prices on certain items that I passed by (cured salmon, whole roast chicken, etc) to be better than Publix and even Winn Dixie. The chicken was only $5. The salmon was $5 as well. I grabbed a chicken salad sandwich (cranberries and pecans) on their fresh baked baguette for $5 (take that Sub-waste) and a two slice pizza deal for the same $5. I haven't tried the sandwich yet, but, they jammed it with salad (at least twice as much as anywhere else) and they had better toppings (ie sprouts). They had eight or so different options at that price. All beat the fast food sandwich pricing levels. And they didn't just put their cheap meats options at that price. A price that beats their low price point in any event. The pizza was fresh from the oven, huge and good. They use a better (less salty) cheese than most American pizza parlors. It was a bit "cracker-y" for my liking, but, still a bargain. The sauce was nice. They have a seating area where you can eat. And many lunch options besides the ones described. If I lived near by, I would be here all the time. Good pricing. Differentiated selection. Fresh products. Good in store, free parking. Nice atmosphere. Rewards program. It's a nice place to shop or lunch (or dinner). More than fair. Should we be planning another going away party for Winn Dixie?

*I had an interesting product in Buhl ID at a fast food place called Arctic Circle. Finger steaks. They individualize chicken fried steak into "fingers" and fry them off. Not ground breaking, but, a nice change from nuggets.

Grub Crawl - Ocoee: Inay's Kitchen, West Orange Creamery, Prime Mediterranean Grill, Negril and Joe's Pizza

At lunch on Wednesday I decided to clean up all those neighboring spots that I mentioned in the post on Saporito and add one more in the area. The first is right after the mall off 50 (at the 408 entrance which is Clarke St on the north side of 50). The second is on Maguire (further towards Winter Garden with a left off 50) on the right before the light. The rest are in the strip mall to the left of that light (Old Winter Garden Rd).

Inay's Kitchen - This is a Filipino restaurant open for a year. I had a beef and vegetable stew (mechado) with rice and two mini spring rolls for $7. It was fine. Probably the stuff you see sold in supermarkets as cubes (chuck I think). It had carrots and onions and potatoes in it. Not very Asian flavored. Brown sauce. The rice was a bit crusty (old). The spring rolls were the best thing. The place was empty and I think most (at least at non-special days and times) just walk to the counter in the back and get some of the "buffet" items to go. I probably could/should have done that. It wasn't a very attractive location. Black and white (and a mish mosh of accents) coloring with old furniture and decorations. They were blasting the tv and radio. You felt like you were invading a stranger's living room. They surely treated the space as such. Closed on Monday. You would have to really want Filipino food to make the trip out here.

West Orange Creamery - It was past 2pm when I got here, so, they were open. I was a glow with my brown butter bourbon (with chocolate chunks) cone for $3 when I spotted Hershey's ice cream containers in the fridge near the door. It turns out that not only are they too lazy to open before 2pm, they are too lazy to make their own ice cream. Kudos to Hershey's though. Who knew they made ice cream? Good ice cream. This place also makes (I hope so anyway) shakes and old fashioned sodas and other old timey things. They said they are open earlier when school is out. They have been open for two years.

Prime Mediterranean Grill - I grabbed a doner kabob sandwich to go for $8. It was very good. They shave off real beef in lieu of that meatloaf stuff you usually see. I had a nice, unobtrusive flavor to it. The garlic sauce was ok and the vegetable were fresh-ish. They serve it on the thinner pita. Lavosh, I believe. They have been open for a few months. Only location. Owner is Turkish. They serve the usual as platters or sandwiches. Nice, clean. modern looking location. Pleasant attitude.

Negril - I grabbed curry chicken roti at this Jamaican spot next to Prime. They have three locations and I think I have been to one. I didn't eat this until the next day and the roti bread separated. It was a chick pea dust storm. I'm not sure if the delay caused that or that's what they served me to begin with. The chicken was not deboned and it is as curious to me how certain cultures think this is acceptable for a sandwich. Like when you get a bone in rib sandwich. It is exasperating. The chicken (drum and four other hunks) was dry-ish. The curry was bland. I had it with rice that I cooked myself because of the condition of the roti and the bones making it unsuitable for a sandwich.  This also cost $8 and if I were to make a recommendation for a use of $8, I would pick the gyro at Prime over this. They have a pretty extensive menu. Breakfasts also. Different size portions starting at $3. The place is just a little take out square that seats about six. They have been open for eight years.

Joe's Pizza - This is your usual pizzeria. It is closer to Maguire. I grabbed the two slice/soda special for $5. The crust looked over floured, but, it was ok. Big slices. What you expect from American pizza. It also has a full menu. The place is a rectangular spot with sparse décor. Nothing out of the ordinary. Open for ten years.

A La Cart, East Colonial

I tried this location for food trucks off 50 Tuesday night. It is near Total Wine on Irvington (a Chipotle is across the street). It loans space to a rotation of four food trucks and has a permanent craft beer structure. The trucks that were there on Tuesday were Poke Kai, a vegetarian one, a steak one and a Brazilian empanada truck. Given that the first two still can't control their overhead with out a brick and mortar responsibility ($15 poke bowls or faux meat burgers and $5 faux meat tacos) and I find the former the height of culinary laziness and the latter as an irritant, I shot them down expeditiously. The steak wagon wasn't open and the prices for cheesesteaks, etc were near $15, so, that was a non-starter as well. The empanada truck (Adao) was the least annoying. I just bought a singular beef (ground), egg and olive one for $4. It took over ten minutes. It was average. Like asking me to critique my nachos at a ball game. She made a bunch of savory and sweet ones. Ignore the listed prices. She rounds them all up to the next dollar. This was an extreme let down and another nail in the food truck coffin. I think this area has been in service for under a year. It was almost devoid of customers and none seemed pleased with the choices or prices.

*I tried to parlay this stop by crossing off Iron Cow. They were not open. Yet again. There was a food truck gathering in their parking lot. I believe it happens every Tuesday night. Another collection of over priced has beens like Monsta Lobstah.

Wine By George, Disney Springs

I had lunch at this wine bar a week ago. It is next to the Irish place. I had the steak frites (flank or skirt) for $19. I could have gone with a lower priced (low teens) sandwich, but, I wanted to have some idea if they can cook. The steak was good. Properly cooked. A fair portion. The fries were plentiful and good. It was topped with a sautéed onion "gravy". I saw two of their sandwiches being eaten and they looked good (big). They only have the steak, sandwiches and some "bites". The bites are almost as expensive as the sandwiches. The menu is the same for both meals. As such, I wouldn't recommend this as a dinner destination. Too bad for us. The wines seemed to be three to four times marked up from retail. The list is pretty large and they have some "celebrity" vineyards. They sell them in 1oz, 3 oz.... sizes. They also have a big spirits selection. The place is two levels. A balcony on the second level. The look (if I remember correctly) was grey wood with black accents. Kind of cramped/cozy. The bar is on the ground floor. They have a take out menu with a few different options (food and wine). Service was good and the food came out fast. It seats about seventy. I think they opened last summer. I liked it. I wish they had a larger menu. I'll drink my wine at home though. It's way more sensible. By George I think he's onto something.

New Golden Sparkling Supermarket BBQ Department, East Colonial

I grabbed some roast pork and roast duck on rice tonight at the part of the market that says East Manor Restaurant. That is why I was there. I've driven by a few times and I could swear it was open or looked to be opening from the street. It isn't. It may be in the future. It may have been in the past. The supermarket worker I asked wasn't too certain. Said it was owned by the market and was opening. Didn't look like it. Full of boxes. In any case, I didn't feel like going to plan b, so, I had what they had. It wasn't half bad. The rice and meats were good. It cost a robust $6.75. The meats were hanging from hooks like the macabre corpses they are. The also had a full roast pig. You can buy the meats by the pound too. The market was outstanding. Tons of stuff. Many sea creatures in tanks. They even had goeduck clams. Lots of meat and produce. Tons of packaged products. Clean. Most Asian nations represented. BTW - next time you order shumai or dumplings know they probably were bought here at $4 and $5 a package. I also got some oils and sauces at around $2 or $3 a bottle. The place is located at the corner of 50 and Kirkman.

*Oddly I had clipped an article about markets in NYC (that isn't the important thing) from The Post to hip you to some food ideas (plus the ones they spurred in me). Here that is. Soul Food Sunday Cupcake from Chef Boyar Nutty - base of mac and cheese, stuffed honey cornbread, topped with garlic Parmesan mashed potatoes and topped with a fried chicken wing. That got me to thinking of ice cream and how it could be replaced with mashed potatoes. IE - banana split with gravy as the syrup and sausages or bacon as the banana. Or a waffle cone stuffed with them and a fried chicken finger for a chicken and waffles spin. You are welcome Dairy Queen or KFC. Or jam a finger in a regular ice cream cone or cup as a jammed in spoon. Or ice cream topped with savory dusts like chicharron. Back to the market offerings. A stand called Kochin - Vietnamese flan over coffee. A version they sell is coffee, flan, banana brulee, coffee ice cream and coffee jelly. A Filipino stand called Kanin NYC sells lugaw - ginger flavored rice porridge with chicken and egg or tripe. Jaa Dijo Dom South African food. They sell kota - a hollowed out quarter loaf of white bread stuffed with fries and sausage and bacon and cheese and mayo. and bunny chow - same bread with curried chicken and sour cream. Petisco Brazuca sells a Brazilian croquette of chicken and Catipiry cheese. And Dottie's Norwegian Kitchen sells a lamb and cabbage stew called fankal and fiskegrot a fish pudding similar to gefilte fish.

Jaleo, Disney Springs

I tried this one month old Spanish restaurant on Monday at lunch. The executive chef is Jose Andres. I first learned of him (I believe) through Anthony Bourdain in one of the episodes where he visited the now defunct Il Bulli in Spain. I can't recall if he (Jose) worked there at one time or was/is just an acolyte. In any case, this is probably as close as I will ever get to Ferran Adria. So that is what I did. And not surprisingly, Igor is not (hopefully) as good a scientist as Dr Frankenstein. This meal was as convoluted as his politics.While much of the blame can probably by laid on the people who actually did the cooking (although his supposed right hand man is still in the kitchen), the menu construction is also a miss. Too much repurposing food. Half the menu or more must be other peoples effort plated with an upcharge. Like $30 for anchovies. I like that people can be exposed to a panoply of regional gastronomy, but, that is what food halls and markets are for. You are supposed to be a wunderkind. Let's see some actual cooking.

I'll return to the menu later on. Now let's see what troubled me particularly. I started with a paella of mushroom and chicken. I wanted a rabbit and chicken from Valencia, but, they only do two of the six on any given day. That is in tiny print in that section of the menu. I must say that I settled on the paella because the menu doesn't have many off ramps under $30. You are forced into paella (high twenties to thirties) or a two apps/tapas shame fest. They did have a basic sandwich for under twenty. I was scared it was going to be Triscuit sized. A slider is $8 or 9 and a taco was $18 (and it is just a slice of Iberico and roe). Back to paella. Or should I say - steamy elephant dump. It was like bad chaufa. Leeching oil. Over cooked bomba (at least) rice. Rubbery chicken. Molted mushrooms. Offensive, fattening aioli strewn across the plate.  I swear they made it the day before. It didn't have any of the "crunch" you are supposed to get from the bottom layer's overcooking. It was like bad fried rice you get at a cheap Chinese buffet where they cooks are Mexican and make the rice like they make Mexican rice. I (yes me!) couldn't eat it. I know. I eat everything. Just couldn't do it. Fortunately, the manager comped it. Kudos. I said they didn't have to. It cost around $26. I turned that generosity back into the menu and ordered his famous olives and a Canary Island rabbit app. The olives are done via molecular gastronomy. Olive oil is turned into a blob (with nitrogen I believe) that looks like an olive. It was cute for a minute. Then you realize the accompanying "real" olives are tastier. Thank You Mother Nature. The real science expert. You get four of each for $12. The "blobs" have a gummy texture and you taste a little lemon up front. They serve the blobs in spoons and the real olives in a sardine tin. Nicer plating than the paella (unadorned white plate). The rabbit was a leg smothered with a paste. The flavors are probably best described as pseudo Moroccan. Not much flavor for all that slop. The rabbit was also a bit dry. It was seated on an apricot puree/jam that had no flavor. No sweetness. No brightness. And this dish needed both or either or anything. It was as if they were using my five year old flavor spent spices, It cost $15. As Maximus implored - "Are you not entertained"? Uhh, no. Not really. Really unimpressed actually. Not that I truly believed a franchised, celebrity chef mega-outpost at Disney was going to be able to recreate the level of artistry evinced (ostensibly) at the place that made this place possible. But, one can always hope....and always have the football yanked from underneath one. I'm flat on my back again.

Back to the menu. Some examples. A 22oz ribeye is $75. Is that a lot? I just had two steaks (14 and 18oz) at very famous steak restaurants in Texas and both were mid-twenties with all the sides. Very fresh beef. One cheese option was over $20. A three piece cheese plate was around $20. The Iberico ham was pricy. Starting at the twenties and climbing. They had some salads. High teens. Sides were all around $10. Not much molecular gastronomy. I think a foam was the other science experiment. There is a small section of the menu that are his "specialties". Nothing too special. Tapas you see on most menus. The menu's print is tiny. I see many a codger having trouble reading it. And that is during the day. God help them when the place is electrically lit. They also appear to have two tasting menus. One in the seventies (14 course) and one at around one hundred and fifteen or so where the chef prepares a meal for you. I don't think they list it. Lunch and dinner menu is the same. I didn't peruse the wine or cocktails lists. The best dish I saw was an ice cream dish the table next to me had to end their two hour tasting adventure.

The space is amusing. It is shaped like an artichoke. It has lots of "corner" seats. Many tables are angled so they face each other at forty five degrees. The hexagon is celebrated. There are many plush, low backed booths (curved) with red and yellow (Spanish flag) cushioned backs. Up front are two large tables made from foosball tables. A bar/waiting area in the front left. A patio on the lake in back. The open kitchen on the left. The "lab" area and cheese and meats "kitchen" on the right. A large mural of some seaside town on the left wall aside a staircase to a yet unopened (permit) second level. Some beaded curtains to break up the open floor plan. Lots of glittery objects. A few ham slicing "carts" Modern and funky.

The service was almost one on one. Part of that was probably the lack of customers. Part was my poor humor. They seemed to want to please me. But, I think they have this part down well. My waiter was very conciliatory and upbeat. He also had enough knowledge of the place and the man he represents. I almost felt bad for being nonplussed at the experience. And that is the sad thing. I really kind of wanted it to be great. The execution just wasn't. And it's not like they haven't had time to get the kinks out. Maybe they just are exhaling from the opening and things are going slack for a period. Maybe it is because they just started doing lunch? Maybe they don't care about lunch service as much as dinner? Maybe it was an outlier of an experience? Maybe I wouldn't look for so many excuses if it was different chef? But, the menu is also a let down. At least sushi can claim that the freshness requirements of their stock and trade demand significant upcharges. I don't accept the same justification for tinned sardines and dried ham Maybe I should since waiting for things to age is also expensive. However, I will maintain that neither can claim to require much talent in the kitchen. Just a few knife skills and assassins have those. They just require a smart purchasing manager and a Fed Ex delivery person. Maybe a "curator"? Ooooh. Jose Andres- Curator to the Stars.

The name was said to mean "celebration" and Wikipedia (yeah I looked it up for you) says it is "a chorus in flamenco in which dancers and singers clap". I'll give it a golf clap. It's not bad. It's not outrageously overpriced. It's just not special. And if you go in with that expectation it may be cause for celebration. It's open from 11am to 11pm on weekdays and until 12 on weekends (probably just Fri and Sat). It's in between HOB and Bongo's in the old Wolfgang Puck spot. I don't know why the name makes me think of a Michael Chrichton novel.

*The NBA place is finally being built.

Grub Crawl - Downtown: The Menagerie (Changed to a Rusteak) and Tre Bambine (Closed) *MN Travel Notes

I tried these new restaurants around Lake Eola last Thursday at lunch. The first replaces Spice on Central Ave (across from Publix). The second replaces that Cajun place that was Mucho before that. It is one block east and south on South Eola. Both show promise.

The Menagerie - It is done up like a freak/side show. They bought out and incorporated the liquor store next door and call it The Broken Cage. You can still buy bottles to go as well. I grabbed two apps to go because the menu was a bit blah and by doing that I didn't need to get dinner or come down here a second time to knock out Bambine. I chose Taiwanese Night Market Chicken ($8) and Blackberry Habenero Wings ($9). The Market Chicken was eight pieces of white meat chicken tempura-ed and served with fried basil and a dragon sauce. I haven't been to Taiwan (going at the end of the month), so I don't know if they are authentic. But, they were good. Even after an afternoon of sitting. I did try a piece earlier on. They held up well. The dragon sauce was a let down. Just a red pepper infused jam that you see a lot. There is something sweet in the batter. I found the wings a bit paunchy. And since they were grilled and smothered in a sticky sauce, they weren't how I like my wings. I like crispy and hot over limp and sweet. The habanero was MIA. And I'm not a huge fan of the moist chicken movement. It leads to rubbery-ness more times than it leads to flavor. The menu has some fun items and that (and the fact that they are run by the Rusteak guys) is why I say it has promise. You will have to see if the other dishes match up. Some fun elements: caramel lacquered pork belly, pisco sour relish, potato nest, kambucha bbq beef, coconut mayo, pickled English cucumbers, burger with hollandaise sauce, burger with fried chicken cutlet on top, corn coleslaw, popcorn mayo, smoked honey aioli, cauliflower fried rice, cheesy purple grits and Jarlsberg mac and cheese. The menu is apps, burgers, salads, sandwiches and six mains. They go as far as serving lobster. The menagerie theme, I guess. They kept the interior mostly the same. They replaced some art and maybe some wall hangings. They opened in October. I guess just after I wasted my time on the Cajun visit. I hate returning to this street year after year to try the next version of the four spaces on it. Hopefully, they can save me a return trip for quite a while.

Tre Bambine - They are run by first timers and fancy themselves a "bacaro" (usually a Venetian wine bar that serves snacks). They have been open for six weeks. The "grand opening" hasn't happened yet, so, I guess they still have some kinks to work out. One I saw immediately was kitchen staff. There was ONE person working in the open kitchen at noon. I think a few more came in as I was leaving, but, I won't swear to it. The order did take a while and it wasn't very crowded. And it was a panini! A lazily plated roasted pork panini that was 20% fat and gristle. They were also lazy with the side dish. Terra chips. Are we on Jet Blue? It cost $14 but the bill said $15. Watch for other "mistakes" on your bill. You notice how they always run in their favor? Either way it shows a lack of management/detail orientation. The wait staff was also bare bones. One waiter. One hostess. One bartender? She wasn't doing much of anything. The menu is semi-Italian. They reinterpret some dishes to be more American (meatloaf) and some to be more Italian (dammit I forget the liquor, but, they flavored the pastrami in a pastrami sandwich with it). They also put lasagna (2) in cup cake form and have mac and cheese and blue crab ravioli. An osso bucco costs $27. It was one of the more expensive items. The whole menu could probably use a 30% hair cut. They have eight apps (lots of skewered things) six mains, four bruschetta, six flatbreads and six panini. They spent a boatload on the redo. Lots of white, tile and rusted iron fixtures. It is a big open space. The wine list is bit ordinary. They sell limoncello. They'll have a take out window soon. I forget if that will sell sweets or what. As you can see it is a mish mosh. Hopefully, a delightful mish mosh. It will be a "different" Italian experience that's for sure. I can't tell if I dig it or not. They have to nail down the staffing issues though. Hopefully (for them), that was just a blip or lunch issue.

*Travel Notes - Minnesota: Id like to call out a dish I had at Meritage in St Paul yesterday. Eggs in cocotte (a little cast iron dish). Two poached eggs atop a mushroom duxelles in a cream sauce. You mix it all up and dip bread into it. Simple and delish.

Pub/Grub Crawl - Tavares: Bru and BTW *NM Travel Notes

I tried these two places, a street off the lake (Main St), around eleven days ago at dusk. I was there to try a place called Puddle Jumpers. But, those dipshits didn't think there was anything wrong with setting the stage for a deafening rock band four feet (not exaggerating) from the tables. Plus the upstairs smelled like pee and it just looked like the sort of place with shitty food.

Bru - I mentioned them in a post about a year ago. It's a good craft beer bar. Decent selection, prices, decor, etc. I guess that's all I have to say about that.

BTW - It is two doors down from Bru. They own it. They sell burgers, tacos and waffles. And more. I had Bar Ba Coma Tots for $8 and a KBQ (Korean Barbeque) Taco for $4. The tots were well fried (crunchy) and plentiful. They topped them liberally with barbacoa pork, cotija cheese, avocado lime crema and raw onion. There was so much food that I had half for lunch. The pork was better in this than in the taco. The taco also used pork. It was supposed to be bulgogi pork. Either they ran out or it didn't taste like it was cooked with the same ingredients as bulgogi beef. It was heaping though. The charred tomatillo tasted like a snuffed out cigarette. It also had sesame seed sauce and mango jalapeno slaw. They offer soft corn or flour tortillas. They also do Brussels sprouts, street corn, fried cheese curds, waffle fries and pretzels. You can bring it to Bru. I'll let you see the waffle, burger and the rest of the taco combos for yourself. It's set up like a fast food place. Counter ordering. They give you a number. It is decorated more nicely than a fast food place. It should be franchised.

*Travel Notes - New Mexico: Here are some taco combos I saw in a smallish taco place in Sante Fe. Taco Fundacion. Kind of like some of our hipster taco places. Our taco peeps could learn a thing or two. Bison with Creamed Corn. Goat. Lamb. Fried Oyster. Beef Cheek. Lengua. Roasted Pig. Sweet Potato and Kale and Pine Nuts, Avocado Fingerlings with Baby Artichokes and Fried Egg. I won't even go into the sauces and other add ins. The meats also had the usual suspects as well as the above. They cost about $3 and were huge. The oyster was awesome. So easy.

Saporito, Ocoee

About ten days ago I tried this Italian restaurant at the end of Old Winter Garden Rd at lunch time. It is in the strip mall that has Rusteak. If you are coming from I-4 you can reach it by going down 50 and cutting across to OWG Rd or take 50 all the way to just before the overpass for the loop that is just before Winter Garden. I forget the name of the street. They have been open for three months. It's Italian (owner) with a Puerto Rican (chef) nuance. I had small order of zuppa di pesce for $6 and pancetta alla saporito for $10. The zuppa was a fairly large bowl of clams and mussels and one shrimp in fresh tomato and stock broth. The seafood was pretty fresh. One mussel had a beard. It was a nice beginning. The plating was considered. The pancetta was three finger wide strips of pork belly with beans. The beans had nice flavor. The pork was a little dry. They leave a lot of fat on it. I would prefer a little trimming or more rendering time. They also do a lot of flatbreads, pastas, salads, calzone and panini. Not just run of the mill ingredients and pairings. A variety of antipasti. Quite a few specials. They were doing meatballs and short ribs and some other things that day. I believe all their ingredients are procured in order to conform to a variety of dietary infirmities (gluten, lactose, etc). I Thought that it was a vegan type place when I came here, but, the menu and the few things I had seem to succeed despite the hurdle they have created for themselves. You wouldn't know it's good for you. The pricing is also very fair. I almost tried an alfredo. It was only $10. I just ate too much pizza for dinner the night before. I wasn't hungry. The pricing here makes it possible to eat like an Italian. A pasta as a first or middle course and a main. The mains were all (or mostly) under $20. The dinner menu is similar. A few trade outs (panini). The place is cute. Big, open space. Open kitchen and bar in the rear. windows up front. Little décor. Service was good. It seats about fifty. There were three other tables seated at noon. They also make baked goods. It's worth a trip.

*There are three other restaurants in the strip mall. Negril, A Middle Eastern or Greek place called Prime and a pizzeria named Joe's. There is also a hipster ice creamery on the cross street. I would have tried it, but, they don't see fit to crawl out of bed until 2pm. I guess people need time to digest lunch before they get their cream on.

Tiger Loves Pizza, Sanford - Closed

I grabbed a pepperoni pie to go at this pizzeria plus in the strip mall on 46 behind the 7-11 and Subway on the west side of I-4 last night. It was better than I expected. In between a conventional, shredded cheese, thick crust American pie and a rustic, thin Italian pie. It cost $12. $11 for cheese. It is 14". They can do a bigger pie. They cook it in a steel oven with a dog house door opening that you see in brick ovens. The whole pie is thin. Even the crust. It looks like one of those conveyor belt pizzas, but, it was baked properly. Lots of inoffensive cheese. The pepperoni was Hormel-like, but, profusive. It took them too long to deliver. A half hour. They also serve a burger, wings, fries and crepes. The sign said the were out of the latter. They claim to be interested in serving a chicken sandwich and one other thing. I'm not sure if the last iteration was a crepe place, but, the lady who handed me the pizza sounded French. I wonder if this is a reboot from those people? The "special pizzas" weren't that special. A truffle pizza for around $20 is just truffle oil (usually a chemical compound with no truffle in it - see tutorial) and they call a meat lovers pizza a "redneck" or "hillbilly" or some other disparaging term for unknown reasons. I've never heard of that connection. Maybe it's just a slap at all "dumb" Americans and their pork fascination? I would personally be more irritated with a pineapple or ranch dressing lover. The place is named after their dog. A big mural of it is on the left side. The décor is chain link fence. Bricks I think. Leftovers from the last place? They had sports on the tube. They have been open since October. I really only wanted a slice or two. They don't do that. But, it turned out to my benefit. I ate most of pie last night. The lone surviving slice tasted good today cold. I'll go back and see how the burger is sometime in the future. Anyone commuting down 46 could do worse than bring one of their pies home to the family. I'm not sure what kind of lunch service they can expect without slices. Maybe they do that? I just can't remember seeing it. Four customers came and went while I was there. No one ate in though. Sodas were under $2. They had beer.

Pub/Grub Crawl - Milk District: Mx Taco and Sideward Brewing

I went to these two really new additions on North Bumby (near Stasio's) on Friday night. They are across the street from each other. The cross street is the main street in the area. Livingston?

Mx Taco - I was all ready to employ this foil against Taco Bus and it disappointed. I tried three tacos (of seven). I had a Sikl Pak Bistec from Sonora for $3.50, a Michoacán Carnitas for $3 and a Cochinita Pibil from the Yucatan for $3. The steak was the best. It had some beef flavor. The Pibil tasted of orange, but, was very salty. The carnitas was a little dry. All were served with pickled onions (the best element) and cotija cheese. It is said that they source their tortillas from Mexico. They seemed like the same dry, raw corn tortillas you buy in the supermarket. I was just in Guadalajara and their tortillas melted in your mouth. These caused trench mouth. I'm not one for looking a gift horse in the mouth, but, these tacos were too loaded. They could reduce the portion size by half. They also took way too long to prepare. I think I waited twenty or thirty minutes. I think they have a one person kitchen. They also serve two quesadillas, guac, salsa, chips, beer, sangria and a couple of other things. Tacos al pastor on the weekend. Pozole too, I liked their menu. It has a map that points out the regions from which these tacos are associated with (in Mexico). The place is tiny and sparsely decorated. I remember some framed photos and hanging silver stars. Eight seats inside and eight outside. I think they opened two weeks ago. Not terrible, but, not as good as some dollar taco places in Kissimmee and other authentic locales.

Sideward Brewing - They share a thankfully expanded (yet still inadequate) parking lot with Stasio's. They opened last Thursday. I tried five of their six beers (golden, pale, ipa, citrus ipa and stout). All were excellent except for the golden ale. It was average. A bit yeasty. The ales were very hoppy. Even the pale ale tasted like an IPA. The Irish Coffee Stout was sweet. They charge a bit more for some of the beers, but, it basically ran $3/$6/$7 for a 5oz/10ox/12oz. They also have some snacks like hummus, onion dip, boiled peanuts and potato skins. And five sandwiches. The place seats about ten at the bar and thirty in communal tables behind the bar. A patio fits around that many outside. It was jammed. There is a garage style glass door between the two areas. I remember a lot of dark tones. The bartenders were fast and eager. They had some funny T shirts. A pleasant addition.

Kona Poke, Lake Mary - Closed

If you are reading this then you will probably not realize that what I am about to reference concerns the post beneath what you are currently reading. And because of the way they list these, you should read from down to up to catch up and make sense of the references herein.

I forget who said it. I believe it is a Monty Python quote. John Cleese probably. You hear it "sampled" a lot on the radio. "Now for something completely different". This is in response to my experience here versus Boulay on the same day. I had a spicy tuna poke bowl for $12 at this spot in the new apartment complex on Lake Mary Blvd adjacent to the road that Lake Mary High school is on. It sucked. It sucked so bad I thought I was going to get the squirts. The tuna smelled. Even with the spicy sauce. It tasted off. even with the spicy sauce. It was sinewy/flossy. The rice was a mushy mess. We all know how much I detest these poke places, but, this is the worst one yet. And may I remind you that Koy Wan would serve you unlimited sushi and all the other buffet items and an endless soda for $12. The place seats ten or so. Counter. Open three months. No word on casualties. Another notch in Lake Mary's bed post for worst food town in Central Florida. Avoid.

Boulay, Winter Park

I tried this "build a bow"l franchise (next to Sprouts in the strip mall off Aloma that has Rice & Beans and Melted in it) last Saturday at lunch. I call this area "Winter Poor-k" because it feels more like Casselberry at this point. That reminds me. Who wants to start a bbq place here called "Winter Pork"? Anyway. I tried a small bowl ($8) and didn't eat it all (sampled some) until the next day. It was surprisingly tasty (and that was after steaming in my car and sleeping in the fridge and getting nuked) and a good value. You know my thoughts on these starch or green bowl places. I find them tedious. They remind my of the slog of school room or prison cafeterias. Put that last one in to see if you are paying attention. I don't get the fascination with the trough. And is the "bowl love" a subconscious longing for youth (cereal and ice cream and soup and oatmeal, etc)? A sign of our growing infantilism? Is it a desire to eat like our pets? Is a plate not child proofed enough for us to get to our seats with out spilling?  Back to the tedium of the tedious. They (places like this) usually proffer cheap, bland, spoiled, germy swill at inflated prices. And what is worse, it is often marketed as healthy or dietetic and is often neither. The combo I created here is an EXCEPTION. I tried black rice with some kind of sweet and spicy mojo pork and two hot sides (roasted potatoes and brussel sprouts) and a cold (cherry tomato salad). It also came with a side sauce. I chose pesto. It was good. As you can see it already SOUNDS like more food than the similar type chains I've tried over the last few weeks offer. It is. I couldn't eat a large. The rice was abundant. I'm not that conversant in black rice, but, this was sticky and tasted like honey. A little firmer than white rice. A nice deviation from the norm to start with. The pork was where they started really distancing themselves in my mind. It was fresh and flavorful and cooked properly. I'm not sure if this was the usual portion or if the server liked the cut of my jib, but, it was a huge portion of pork. The potatoes and sprouts were equally fresh, etc. A more sophisticated option than their competitors. The tomatoes were similarly agreeable. I can't really remember the other alternatives, but, I believe the other "mains" were chicken and steak and vegetarian. Extra for the steak. Maybe they had shrimp too? The "bases" were rice or noodles. Maybe quinoa? The other sides? I can't recall. You order at a counter. It seats about forty. It was packed. I remember a lot of light gray wood. It was cute. They also had that giant fan. They even do the eco-friendly bowl thing. I believe they just opened this branch. I saw a few in South Florida this past week. It goes to show you that I'm not inflexible. Keep the price point at $8. Serve decently made food - fresh. Serve enough of it to make me full. Throw in a few novelties. And you get platitudes. All the other franchises are on notice. Mendel's (if you get the reference or not - just substitute Boulay's here) is the best.

Taco Bus, UCF Area - Closed

I tried this two week old outpost of the famed food truck enclave in Tampa today (lunch). It was a total Taco Bust. I was waiting for an Apollos game to venture out here, but, they seem to be on an endless road trip. I couldn't wait. I wish I had. I'm fairly sure that I liked the original (I even believe I reported on it on this site). It was on one of the food shows (probably 3D). If I did enjoy that experience, then I either have really evolved gastronomically or this is one of the worst attempts to duplicate an experience in modern memory. I had three tacos for $9.50 ($3.29 a piece). Although, there is an extra 50 cents on the bills for some reason and I don't see anything I added that is listed as an extra charge of any amount. I had a cochinita pibil, a shrimp and a fried fish (grouper). All of the tacos were too big. I know. How can that be? It can. The tortillas are a mass manufactured joke. No flavor. Served raw. Both the corn and flour. They are loaded with a flavorless cheese and stale pico. I won't even go into the senselessness/artlessness of serving the same toppings on all their tacos. The pork was drowned in "fake" juice and salt. No trace of bitter orange. The shrimp seemed frozen and were a bit soft. And they were the best. The fish was dry and fishy. They also offer other dishes. A rather bland array that you'd find at fast food rival (plus a chimi). They serve four types of chicken, two beef, two pork and four veg. It looks like a fast food place with a fake school bus in front of the kitchen/counter. Black "wood" tables and black steel chairs. It's across from the Knight Library on University. It's worse than Tijuana Flats, etc. I'm going to try another new Mex place in the Milk district next week. Hopefully, it is nothing like this. Whomever bastardized/wasted this franchising opportunity should be added to the menu. What a disaster!

*Not many food changes in the area. I think the Chicken Salad Chick was replaced by Taco Bell and a place called Omelet is in the marketplace closest to the school. Down the "Trail" I think there is a new Indian bowl and a sushi place.

Salata, Lake Mary - Closed

I tried this "salad kitchen" (that replaced the Crispers in the marketplace off 46a) this Wednesday at lunch. I had a mailer coupon, so, the $9 salad plus $2.50 small bottle of soda became $5 off. Before I continue. I'll let it be known that no matter how great the experience could/would be, I will never pay that much for rabbit food (I think Sweet Tomatoes charges that for all you can eat - and tosses in soups and breads) and the only time I foresee returning is when and if the next coupon is delivered to my door/mailbox. That said, the experience was predictable. They serve up what they have in a bowl or wrap (Currito has a "burrito"). Chicken or other meats add to the ticket price. They have some soup and rolls/croissants (you get one and the rest are extra). That's it. They had a mixed greens, romaine, spinach and kale for bases. Vegetables (some not so fresh) you see at the Publix salad bar for $5 or $6 a pound. I'm not sure the weight of the bowls you get here, but, I doubt it is much more than a pound. They have some "esoteric" add ons like sesame sticks. I'll give them that. I think there were eight dressings. You order and pick up and arrange at a counter. They are a chain from Texas. The group that licensed/franchised this one has the go ahead to open 75 more in Florida.  They seem to be displacing old Crispers locations to begin with. Not sure what is up with Crispers. They remodeled the space. It's even more minimalistic now. The look is more antiseptic (white). They have that giant blade (first seen at BurgerFi in Winter Park) fan at the entrance now. I recognized some of the staff from Crispers. That is a mistake. That place was poorly run and the staff was impolite. Hopefully, that was because Crispers treated them badly. If not, then they have some rethinking/interviewing to do. They have been open for a few weeks. Tricking myself into thinking salads are (they can be, but, Americans make them less so) healthy doesn't work on me. I see the fatty dressing and add ons. Neither does overpaying make me feel that I'm getting quality (or spoiling myself). I buy these items. This is just Starbuck's for rabbits. If you are stupid enough to pay for it, I never want to hear you complaining that you aren't paid enough or your taxes are too high or that you just look at something and gain weight. You obviously don't know how to manage your finances or count calories. Now if they drop the prices in half, it would be a different story. I don't love depending on a nasty supermarket salad bar or Wendy's/McDonald's for a change of pace. And I'm definitely not stupid enough to pay 3X retail at a farmer's market and have to eat salad for a week to make it go away. These healthy concepts must be very profitable. They seem to be multiplying like the rabbits the feed. It's alata nonsense to me.

Midici, Maitland - Closed

I had lunch at this Neapolitan pizza chain (from California I believe) on Sunday. It is probably the best of the "chains" and damn good in it's own right. They serve thin crust pizza, calzone, salad, dessert and some small plates. That is where they really distance themselves from the competition. I had their house made meatballs for $7 and they (2) were very good. A meal in themselves. They seemed hand ground. I believe them to be baked and stewed in sauce. They were served in a bowl with a meat sauce. Topped with a dollop of mozzarella and two slices of grilled bread with drizzles of olive oil and balsamic. Very clean flavors. The meatballs are golf ball size. They also offer a meat or cheese board ($11), burrata caprese ($9), burrata with melon and prosciutto ($11) and garlic bread ($4). The salads (6) are around $10. The calzones too. I also had a Margherita pizza ($10) on the house thanks to a coupon they gave me when I stopped by before the opened. It was very good. Plate sized. Thin. Nice chew. Subtle char. Cooked in a wood burning oven. Plain, fresh tomato sauce. Gumballs of mozzarella. They could make the mozz fresher, but, at least they had decent coverage. They have a lot of toppings (some like truffle cream are unique) to offer. The top "pre-determined" pizza costs $15. They also sell wine and beer. The place looks nicer than the competition. They had an olive tree planted in the middle of the space. The back wall houses the big, round, white and ceramic wood fire oven and the display area and the register behind glass. You order. They serve. The soda/napkin area is also smartly dome. Loads of hot pepper. parmesan, etc containers are next to the straws, etc and pizza boxes if you can't finish. The seating area is modern and clean. White backdrop with black accents. It seats about forty. There were around ten people there before noon and it was filling up as time went on. All families. They are in a new development across from the McDonald's near the intersection of 17-92 (S Orlando) and Lake Howell (I think that's it). Near Francesco's. They have been open for around a month. I was first intrigued. Then wary (after I found out it was a chain). And now satisfied. If it was in my 'hood, I would be here once a week. I have something in my notes that looks like "chandelier". It may have one of those.

Itta Bena, International Drive

I finally succeeded in trying this new Southern restaurant at Pointe Orlando on Saturday night. It is on the second level between BB King and Lafayette's. I was told that it is owned by the same group. The name derives from the town where BB King was born (in Mississippi). There are three more of these - Alabama, Mississippi and the original atop BB Kings in Memphis (I believe that is on Beale St). I had a bowl of she crab soup for $9 and lamb chops with sweet pea risotto for $29. I considered some apps like scallops and grits ($14) or tuna tartare ($16) and entrees like grouper ($26) or jambalaya ($22). However, I didn't love the sides with the entrees and felt grits and risotto was a little much and raw fish and lamb was a bit of an odd pairing for my tum tum. I really wanted a rabbit dish that they no longer offer. I also saw a plate of salmon on another table and it seemed tiny, overcooked and poorly plated. The soup was ok. Very sweet. Not enough sherry. The crab could have had more resiliency (old). The red pepper flakes sneak up on you. It came in a cute, white square bowl on a white tray. The lamb (a three bone piece and a two bone piece) was a young/small one. It was cooked perfectly. Not gamey. It rested on the aforementioned risotto. The risotto had a ton of parmesan cheese mixed in and was cooked perfectly(al dente). A large portion. It was even more memorable than the lamb. The one improvement they could make is fresher sweet peas. They weren't very fresh at all. I've had risotto with sweet peas before and you could taste their sweetness. There was also a "level" of garlic sautéed spinach in between the lamb and risotto. It as a pleasant element. Maybe a bit over salted. This was plated on an ordinary white dish. Some jus and a gingery tomato sauce were served in droplets on the side. The rest of menu is smallish. Around eight apps and entrees. Fish, steak, chicken, pork and shrimp. My dish might have been the most expensive. A steak more be a bit more. I thought prices would be more exorbitant.

The room was modeled after a speak easy. They said they are ditching that vibe. I'm not sure how though. It's mostly dark brown wood with a few flourishes of gray. Tables as well. They have celebrity photos on the wall taken by the owner. Circa 1960's and 70's. They reminded me of those popularized by Richard Avedon or Annie Leibovitz. There is a bar and a small patio and a private room(s). It seats around sixty. It was a mixed crowd. About a quarter full. They had a piano man. Service was engaging when engaged. They forgot about me a few times. Parking was a total zoo. They validated.

The place is a notch below a dedicated service type chain like Ruths Chris or a stand alone affair. A notch above BB King's and Lafayette. It needs to formalize the service component and/or curate the meal and wine offerings with more originality to be considered a really posh place. As it is, it is still a really good "corporate" restaurant. Much better than Hard Rock, etc. The prices are appropriate/cheap for their "level". It's an odd positioning matrix for them to aspire to. They could charge the same (and others do) prices and deliver a very mediocre experience. A "B" or less. Or charge an extra $10 a plate and shoot for an "A". They give you an "A-" at "B" prices. They should be thanked for the extra effort.

Not open for lunch and sometimes closed for private events.

Naguara K' Arepas, East Curry Ford Road Area

I tried this Venezuelan restaurant in a strip mall at Curry Ford and South Chickasaw Trail last Saturday at lunch. I saw them last year when I tried Pizzeria Roberti and thought it was a gastro pub. It says that on the window. I was actually glad it was something a little less ubiquitous. I had a Pepito Laurence for $9. That would be a grilled steak and chicken hero. It came with fries and was topped with two types of mayo based sauces, lettuce, tomato, onion and parmesan cheese. It was good. Very large. The steak was probably cubes from a shoulder cut (chuck). The tomatoes were a bit old. The fries were medium sized and fried perfectly. They had a few more sandwiches and some apps and some desserts and some arepas and some platters. The arepas were around $6 and the most expensive platter was in the teens. They also had some great prices on beer ($2.50 domestic and $3 imports). It's a small, square space with a counter. Around seven tables. A mom and pop joint. They said they just took over fifteen days ago from the old owners who had been there for three or four years. Same style of food. Not sure if the menu has changed. I don't run across too many Venezuelan places, so, they still have sex appeal to me. And I think they have a touch of panache you don't see in all South American cooking. Not a world changer, but, a definite value. Obviously it depends on how far you reside from here as to whether it's worth the trouble. The name doesn't translate (according to them), but, it is a phrase they bandy about with each other. I got the feeling it is like "aloha".