Millie’s Jamaican Cafe , now known as Mama Millies, in the UCF area in the plaza behind McDonald’s on Alafaya and University recently underwent major interior and menu renovations, all for the better.

Millie’s used to be a small hole in the wall type place with bright fluorescent lighting and sparse, all in all very typical and all in all not a very glamourous place to dine in.

However, the owners of Lazy Moon nearby have apparently provided their personal touch in the transformation of Millie’s Jamaican Cafe to Mama Millies. The lighting is much more easy on the eyes, darker and more classy. Giant photos of scenes from Jamaica and the Caribbean decorate the walls like a photo art exhibit, an absolutely stunning photo of an elderly woman delighting in a smoked cigar particularly jumps out at me.

The order system is the same where you head to the front counter and are greeted by a young and jovial man named Matt, who is also the current purveyor of the establishment. In the past the place has been known for slightly spotty, whimsical service, but today everything is just jammin.

The menu has slightly been renovated with new items such as “bowls” and “bashy wraps” added. Bashy wraps are small yet delightful wraps filled with red cabbage and your choice of fried fish or fried shrimp or chicken or vegan, reminiscent of a remixed rendition of fish tacos.

Before

After

She is enjoying the simple things in life

Bashy Wrap

Bashy Wrap:

Kingston Bowl: Jerk chicken with rice and cabbage

Kingston Bowl: Curry Chicken with rice and veggies

Fried Fish Bashy wrap
Another addition to the newly revamped menu are the various combos that offer choice of meat, side and drinks all for a reasonable price. In fact most of the items here are under $10, minus seafood items. My favorite items are the stew beef and bashy wraps, however I do notice that some of the chicken items are a bit dry and stringy at times.

One thing that hasn’t changed to Mama Millie’s is that dear Mama Millie still wanders the restaurant from table to table from time to time to check up on how things are going, all with the same contagious, wide smile.

Celebrate 25 years of Film Food and Friends

The Enzian
cordially invites you to the
official unveiling of our new courtyard granite centerpiece
Permanently Commemorating Enzian’s 25th Anniversary

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010
Cocktails at Eden Bar at 5:30
followed by
Ceremony at 6:00
Reception afterwards

Check out (formerly of Orlando) Eddie Huang on Food Network’s Ultimate Recipe Showdown this Sunday at 9pm.

“Party Food”
Food Network looks for the ultimate party food recipe. From finger food to full-on entrees, four contestants take party food to the next level, serving up dishes like Chicken Cordon Blue Roll-Ups and Plantain and Shrimp Party Boats. Contestants include: Barbara Estabrook (Rhinelander, WI), Thalia Patillo (New York), Eddie Huang (Orlando, Fla.) and David Fogelman (Stamford, Conn.).
Premiering Sunday, March 28th at 9:00pm ET/PT

Eddie’s recipe is for a bun which included certified angus skirt steak marinated and hit up with Chinese firewater and served on a bun.

Recently Eddie Huang opened up his own restaurant in Manhattan New York City called Baohaus, selling his famed bun creations and recently winning Best Bun of New York City in New York Magazine. They were also recently featured in a New York Times article here

check out their website here:

http://www.baohausnyc.com/

Iron Chef Cat Cora

will be at the Macy’s store at the Mall at Millenia on March 20. She will host a free cooking demo and book signing. She’ll also share recipes from Kouzzina, her new Mediterranean style restaurant at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort.

Cat Cora made history as Food Network’s Iron Chef America as the first and only female Iron Chef. She’s also the Executive Chef of Bon Appetit magazine. She’s also the President and Founder of Chefs for Humanity, an organization that was founded in response to the 2004 Tsunami disaster. This year, Chefs for Humanity launched a fundraising campaign to help Haiti.

Cat will be at Macy’s as a member of the Macy’s Culinary Council – http://bit.ly/culinarycouncil.

WHEN:?
Saturday, March 20, 2010
?2:00 pm??

WHERE: ?
Macy’s Home Store at The Mall at Millenia?
3rd Floor Home Department?
4200 Conroy Road
Orlando, FL 32839??

RSVP: ?Customer RSVP’s are recommended, but not required. To reserve your seat at the event, please call 407.264.2332.

SANFORD POLLO TROPICAL® TO UNVEIL A NEW LOOK,
FEEL, MENU AND SERVICE AT GRAND RE-OPENING ON MARCH 26

SANFORD, FL – Pollo Tropical® welcomes the spring season with a fresh new look and new flavors at its Sanford restaurant located at 1001 W.P Ball Boulevard. Pollo Tropical will unveil its masterpiece to the public on Friday, March 26. The Sanford restaurant marks the first location in Central Florida to boast the brand’s elevated concept, which features complimentary table service, real plates and silverware.

The grand re-opening day at the Sanford Pollo Tropical will be buzzing with excitement as customers celebrate the restaurant’s unveiling and also have a chance to win big! Starting at 4:00 p.m., the first 250 customers to arrive at the restaurant, located in the Marketplace at Seminole Towne Centre, can play the Rolling with Pollo dice game. Each participant will roll six dice marked with letters and Pollo Tropical artwork, and the first person to roll “POLLO!” will receive a $5,000 grand prize. The contest is free to enter, participants must be at least 18 years old, and each person receives only one turn.

FREE TABLE SERVICE
In addition to offering free table service, the re-branded Pollo Tropical will feature new menu items, such as a new assortment of signature sandwiches and artistic wraps, including the grilled Chipotle Chicken Sandwich, Classic Chicken Sandwich with Peppadew Sauce, Guava Pork BBQ Sandwich, Chicken Caesar Wrap, and Grilled Cuban Wrap.

Some new ingredients to complement Pollo Tropical’s new work of art menu include the use of Sea Salt seasoning instead of iodized salt on side dishes like yuca, rice, beans, and balsamic tomatoes. Other side dishes that motivate the flavorful masterpiece include a new Fiesta Salad – made with black beans and corn, an award-worthy coleslaw and an array of rices and beans inspired by kitchens throughout the Caribbean.

A new kid’s meal menu lets you create your own kid-loving masterpiece with the choice of grilled drumstick & thigh, or grilled chicken breast strips, or four grilled Tropical Wings – along with your choice of any one side dish. But the most exciting part: the kid’s meal also includes a cup or cone of the Vanilla Soft Serve!

SANGRIA & MORE!
Moreover, a diverse wine list from Spain, Argentina, Chile, and Napa Valley starting at just $3.50 a glass and $15 per bottle was also added – plus a signature Sangria and a variety of bottled beers. Customers will be able to unwind with a daily happy hour from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., featuring pitchers of sangria for $5 and $1 off beer and wine.

A full service coffee bar was also added to include lattes, espresso, cappuccino and American coffee.

“We are excited to feature the new concept in Central Florida,” said Vicky Timmer, Director of Operations for Pollo Tropical, Central Florida. “It showcases a unique and fun side to Pollo Tropical that we think the residents and visitors of the area will enjoy.”

The restaurant will also continue to serve up classic favorites like the marinated grilled chicken and the sizzling Fajitas with your choice of grilled chicken or steak with all the Fajita fixings. The complimentary Salsa Bar will also be available with the popular Salsa Fresca, Salsa Fuego, Guava BBQ, Curry Mustard, the new spicy Poyo-Poyo sauce and more.

For those eager to get a taste of the new flavors, the new restaurant will open for business starting at
11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 26, 2010.

About Pollo Tropical®
Born in a Caribbean kitchen with a Latin accent in the melting pot of Miami, Pollo Tropical’s signature citrus marinated, tropical-spiced grilled chicken (Pollo in Spanish) created its namesake. People came from all over just to get a taste of the Pollo. Today, that same recipe is being grilled fresh and served fast to about 20 million loyal Pollo Tropical fans at more than 90 Pollo Tropical restaurants. There’s no mistaking the taste, the freshness and the flavor of Pollo Tropical.

For more information on Pollo Tropical®, including menu items and nutritional information, visit online at www.pollotropical.com.

###

Alcione Gonzalez
Impact Miami Public Relations
305-751-7001, Ext. 8003
305-978-0432, mobile
305-675-3188, fax
alcione@impactmiami.com

Tangierine Cafe @ Morocco – EPCOT

EPCOT is probably the theme park enjoyed more by adults than their young children. I guess our sensibilities and appreciation changes as we get older. Who wouldn’t want to travel around the world and back to the future in just one Central Florida afternoon?

What more, if you look in the right places, EPCOT can be quite the foodie destination. (If you look in the right places)

.
…….

Halfway around the world in Morocco, my fellow adventuring companions decide to sit down at the Tangierine Cafe after looking over the menu.

A Impressive array of gyro meat gyrating on their sticks in the Tangierine Cafe in Morocco

I chose the chicken/lamb shewarma combo platter with hummus, taboule salad, and Moroccan cous cous. It was plentiful of food and tasted just fine, although I have had better, it was decent. We also got a delightful little baklava dessert to round off the meal. The best thing about this place is that everything here is very reasonably priced 😀

The chicken/lamb combo platter at Tangierine Cafe

Desserts

Baklavas

BAKLAVA the favorite dessert of everyone in the middle east and greece

With a simple name like Tenders, you can expect what’s about to come. CHICKEN TENDERS. Big, chunky, fried (or grilled) chicken tenders, slightly spiced and ready to eat.

Located right across the street from UCF on Alafaya Trail behind the BP gas station, Tenders is a small, sparsely decorated joint where the chicken is where its at.

For around $5.00, my friend and I shared a 5 piece chicken tender meal which came with a choice of two sides. We chose the hush puppies and to balance it out on the healthy side: some cole slaw.

All in all the chicken tenders were decent, and actually better than your average chicken tenders so I appreciate that. I would definitely come back to try some more, especially if I am in the mood for some chicken tenders 😀

I guess I’m on a pizza craze these past few weeks cause here’s another entry about some local pizza joints!

The Primavera Pizza and the Pizza of the day

Pizza Valdiano!

The Hawaiian!

Lazy Moon – UCF Area – Orlando

Ah, pizza and cold beer, what else can be better on a moonlit night at Lazy Moon?

The pizza slices are literally as big as two-three pizzas together. We almost always eat the pizza with a knife and fork just to get at it without making a mess. On a special occasion, I ordered the large pizza to share (30″ diameter, about $24 plus $2/3 more for toppings) and it was well enough to feed 7 big hungry boys.

The Mushroom and Sausage pizza

Lazy Moon: the slices are really big !!

If we don’t eat this now, it may eat us…
check out their nice website:http://www.eatdrinkandbelazy.com/

El Corral – Orlando – UCF Area

El Corral has quite a following these days in the UCF area. On most days the house of El Corral is teeming with undergrads, most coming straight from the gym, all coming for some delicious pollos a la brasa, rotisserie chicken, or one of the many other items on their diverse menu. A favorite is the 1/4 chicken with rice and beans special for around an affordable $4.

Sometimes when I’m at El Corral with friends, I order a round of salchipapas, literally frankfurters with french fries, for an appetizer. My favorite item on their menu during the week is the churrasco skirt steak, a delicious, juicy, and savory cut of meat for around $8.99.

Gaby’s Pizza – Queens, NY

On one of my travels to New York, I met up with a few friends, courtesy of Winston, at a small little pizzeria in Jamaica Queens NY called Gaby’s Pizza. They are known (according to the Rachel Ray Show), as having the “Best Pizza in New York”. I ordered a Sicilian, a rectangular thick crust version of Pizza, and it was quite delectable. The cheese was fresh and the crust tasted like bread which in itself is quite the accomplishment. Although I did enjoy the pizza, I may have had better elsewhere. But Gaby’s Pizza was still pretty darn good pizza.

The list is out! Check it here:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/restaurants/os-cal-the-foodies-restaurant-awards-20100225,0,668719,full.story

Mochi Frozen Yogurt – Downtown Orlando

Mochi’s is the latest arrival of the frozen yogurt craze that has been hitting the nation by offering a healthier, lower calorie alternative to traditional ice cream.

Conveniently located right next door to Bento Cafe underneath the Plaza Cinema cafe plaza, you can head over to Mochi’s right after dinner for dessert and before a movie lol. Another bonus is that they provide parking validation! Scoree

What is a mochi? Mochi is a Japanese rice cake made of glutinous rice pounded into paste and molded into shape. They have about 2-3 different types of mochi available as toppings, chopped up into tiny bite sized bits, as well as numerous fruits, nuts, and other yummy toppings.

They have about six types of frozen yogurt from taro to mango to coconut to coco-nilla, all quite tasty and tarty. After you finish mixing and matching, they weigh your concoction at the register and you pay for it by the ounce. Definitely check it out if you’re in the area!

Beer sampler with organic beer made right here in Orlando at the Orlando Brewing Company!

The Artichoke and Spinach on a multigrain crust

The Big Kahuna!

28″ XL Pepperoni!

Its pretty huge

Buonnissimo and guilty free 😀

Special Events
KARAOKE on Monday Nights 6:30PM-9:30PM

Pizza Fusion Orlando
7563 West Sand Lake Road
Orlando, FL 32819
www.pizzafusion.com/orlando

I visited Amura Sushi a while ago. Maybe I had too high of expectations, maybe I was hoping to find that one perfect place to go for some delicious, melt in your mouth, freshly cut, savory sushi at Amura. Alas, my hopes were too high and my visit to Amura proved to be quite ordinary.

I have a problem with places that charge too much for too little. That’s how I felt when I ordered the Rolls Royce, and all I got was rice with a sliver of shrimp in the middle drizzled with sweet sauce and topped with masago. I know it looks pretty but pretty is not going to fill my tummy. The Crystal Bubble roll that I got reminded me of a Vietnamese spring roll wrapped in rice paper. Maybe I ordered the wrong rolls this time around, but overall I was quite underwhelmed with my experience at Amura.

Amura was just okay.

Izziban – Sushi – Orlando

Izziban is a sushi restaurant located close to the Florida Mall on the southwest corner of Orange Blossom Trail and Sand Lake Road. I’m always cautious when there is a sushi restaurant calling itself a derivative of “Ichiban’ meaning “number one” with two zz’s, but hey maybe it is their twist on the traditional. It turned out to be one of the better sushi places around town and I was glad that I dropped in for dinner on this evening.

Inside, the decor is pretty sleek, a modern blue metallic sheen on the walls and settings. There is a long sushi bar that runs along one of the walls.

Izziban has some pretty interesting and unique rolls, some ok and some really good.

On this evening we tried the Sushi Pizza. a interesting invention made with: Seaweed Paper Tempura topped with Crab, Shrimp, Mushroom, Avocado, Scallion, Masago, & Mozzarella (Oven Baked). It was definitely a different twist to the traditional sushi rolls, though not a particular favorite.

Futomaki roll

the Cowboy roll was probably the favorite of the evening, made with delicious bulgogi beef

I would definitely come back and try some more items on the list, there were just so many I didn’t know where to start!

Valentine’s Day is this weekend! What are your plans with your loved ones? 😀

Four Rivers Smokehouse – BBQ – Orlando

I finally got to try Four Rivers Smokehouse, yes I know I am late on this train, and as has been professed over and over again: Four Rivers is pretty damn good ‘que!

Located on a corner on Fairbanks Ave right before I-4 in Winter Park, Four Rivers is a brick house building with one thing on its mind: really good barbeque for the masses. They have only been open a few months and yet the line is almost always out the door and wrapped around the street.

The first thing you will notice is that parking is a bit limited, but there’s additional parking across the street, and also “they’re working on it”. The ordering system is much like the “fast casual” style that have been proliferating throughout the nation a la Chipotle and Qdoba, etc. You order at the counter and they put the plates together as you walk to the register. It is a delight to see the gentleman at the counter slice your brisket right off as you order.

The dining room is actually outdoors so it may not be the best idea to go on a stormy night. There are about six picnic tables as well as heaters in this room for those “cold” Florida winter days.

I met up here on this evening with a few of my bros Kha and Ed who just got off of work as well. Kha ordered the brisket with a side of prime rib with baked cheesy grits and other sides. I ordered the beef brisket platter with added pulled pork and some fried pickles and collard greens and baked beans. Ed ordered a half rack of St Louis ribs and some pulled pork. All was delicious and you could tell they took great care in their food. We actually had left overs cause there was so much food.

Is it worth the wait? Hell yes it is. (but you can order ahead and pick it up at the window if you don’t feel like waiting hah). Indeed it is the best barbeque in Orlando thus far.

Mark’s Caribbean – East Orlando

Mark’s Caribbean sits in a small, somewhat shady plaza on the corner of Dean road and University Blvd. My brother Ninh and I were on our way to the park when we decided to drop by one morning. I was in the mood for some delicious Jamaican spicy beef patty.

Inside, the decor is minimal, and otherwise pretty typical of a Caribbean joint with bright yellow colors and wooden chairs, creating the feeling of being down home in the islands, or so I would imagine. We ordered our spicy beef patties, denoted by the red dot on the patty, and were good to go.

I must say, I did enjoy these patties quite a bit. The bread used for the patty was flaky and crispy, unlike any other patty I have had before. The meat was the usual ground beef in gravy type deal. All in all it was a tasty patty, and I would definitely go back to try the rest of their menu for some good Caribbean cooking.

The Jamaican beef patty (spicy as noted) at Mark’s Caribbean

Holeman-Finch Public House – Gastropub – Atlanta

Holeman-Finch is a newly arrived starlet on the Atlanta culinary scene. With seating very limited, this “public house” is crawling with young professionals out on the town as well as families out for the night. The space is very small, with a bar taking up one side and a few tables and booths and seats on the other end. Once arriving inside, you can see through a long window the inner workings of the chef’s kitchen with the masters putting together their art pieces for tonight’s consumption.

After about a wait, we are seated to a small table to the side. The food here is served in small dishes, similar to tapas with similar pricing. Knowing this ahead of time we decide to order several dishes, beginning with the deviled eggs, prepared three ways:

Deviled Eggs three ways

Cornish Hen with Polenta and rosemary jub

Seared strube ranch Kobe Beef sirloin with parsnip puree and candied shallot

Pork Shoulder confit on top of braised collard greens with an apple cider glaze

Fried Apple pie – a caramelized empanada with ice cream

Overall, it was a enjoyable meal despite the cramped circumstances. I wish I could have stayed longer to try their famous burger, of which only 24 are made a night at a certain time…

IKEA Furniture Store…the Restaurant?

IKEA, the affordable, chic Swedish furniture store near the Mall at Millenia here in (mostly) sunny Orlando, Florida is not only home to cheap, well designed living room and dining room sets, but also to a small and similarly cheap dining hall.

More like a cafeteria than anything, Ikea’s cafe serves up some pretty good Swedish meatballs with mashed potatoes and lingonberries. Although they are probably not the best Swedish balls in the world, they do well to hold one over when shopping the voluminous furniture store.

A bottle of some lingonberry apple juice

It’s a cafeteria

Is this a traditional Swedish meal?

Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, and lingonberries – good enough for now!

A Swedish dessert with some caramel