Saturday, February 22, 2025

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Bagel King in Casselberry, FL

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Bagel King, Casselberry

My favorite lox and bagel is from Russ and Daughters in NYC , and it had been months since I’d been back. This led me to crave some authentic lox and bagel and my search here in Orlando brought me to Bagel King!

Located off of SR 436 in Casselberry, Bagel King can boast to be one of the few authentic bagel shops in Orlando modeled after New York style bagel shops. They serve sandwiches and a whole bunch of other great items too, but on this visit I had their  “fresh fish fantasy” with nova lox which includes your choice of bagel and lettuce, tomato, sweet bermuda onion & capers, fresh sliced.

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I also tried out their potato knish, though it wasn’t a favorite.

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 I would try to come back to Bagel King to see their other offerings, we definitely need more places like it here in Orlando!

Bagel King on Urbanspoon

Chipotle Halloween!

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CHIPOTLE AND JAMIE OLIVER EXPOSE THE HORRORS OF PROCESSED FOOD THIS HALLOWEEN

$1 Million Fundraiser Encourages People to Dress as Horrifying Processed Food
Proceeds to benefit Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution
DENVER, October 6, 2010 – Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) has partnered with Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution for a $1 million fundraiser designed to highlight the horrors of eating processed food. This Halloween, Sunday, October 31st, visit any Chipotle restaurant between 6 p.m. and closing time dressed as a horrifying processed food product, and Chipotle will treat costumed customers to a burrito made with wholesome, naturally raised ingredients for only $2. Proceeds from the “Boorito 2010: The Horrors of Processed Food” program, up to $1 million, will benefit Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution.
As part of its “Boorito 2010: The Horrors of Processed Food” program, Chipotle will also host an online costume contest, with a prize for the most horrifying processed food costume. To enter, customers can take a photo in their costumes at a Chipotle restaurant on Halloween and post it online at chipotle.com/boorito. One grand prize winner will receive $2,500, with five runners up getting $1,000 each. Twenty honorable mention winners will receive a burrito party for 20 guests at the Chipotle location of their choice.

Backyard Burger Orlando – Most underrated burger of all time?

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I think Backyard Burger has got to be one of the most underrated burgers of all time. It seems 5 Guys Burgers gets all the love these days ( I think they are a bit too greasy).

Backyard Burger sure isn’t much to look at, the decor is like a fast food joint dressed up like your auntie’s house (you know, the one that was featured on Hoarders). I know its near UCF and everything around here gets throwed up on after 2 AM anyway. Maybe because it started originally as a drive thru only and added dine in later on.

The most important thing after all about this place is the food: The Burgers are bangin’. I think they are the only burgers I have tried around here that actually taste like they came right off the grill from my backyard. Delicious.

So that got me thinking, what’s your favorite burger joint in Orlando? 

You can find Backyard Burger at 11556 University Blvd, Orlando just down the street from UCF. 

If you sign up for their email list serv at backyardburgers.com, you can get a free burger coupon 😀
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1/3 lb angus burger at Backyard burger

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Back Yard Burgers on Urbanspoon

TACOTOBERFEST AT DEL TACO !!! !

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The Del Taco restaurants in Oviedo and Orlando are putting a spin on one of Germany’s most famous events – Oktoberfest.   From 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Oct. 20, both restaurants will be offering 29-cent tacos (limit of 10) at a “celebration worthy of tacos” – Tacoberfest.
The Oviedo Del Taco is located at 3551 Dovera Drive, and the Orlando Del Taco is located at 12025 Collegiate Way.
Del Taco menu items are made fresh to order, and are prepared with many quality ingredients including lard-free beans made from scratch daily, real cheddar cheese grated daily, chicken grilled fresh every hour, hand-made salsa and fresh produce. 
for more info check out this cool flyer

Dixie Crossroads Restaurant: Rock Shrimp. Rock On!

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Dixie Crossroads Restaurant: Rock Shrimp. Rock On!

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A Central Florida icon for over half a century, Dixie Crossroads located in Titusville, Florida is probably known best for elevating the once difficult and unwieldy rock shrimp to become a delicacy all over the world.

The story begins over 27 years ago on January 1, 1983 when Dixie Crossroads opened with 35 seats by the Thompson family with Laura Lee. With this, the Rock Shrimp King was born and today Dixie Crossroads has grown to a family restaurant with over 419 seats, grown upon the original Dixie Crossroads.

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A distinction about the seafood at Dixie Crossroads

The shrimp at Dixie Crossroads is wild caught and not farm raised, a distinction that can be clearly tasted in the flavor and the freshness of the shrimp. They feature shrimp from Key West up the Atlantic to the Northwest. The Thompsons are also a part of the Wild Ocean Seafood company which is featured at the Audobon Park Community Market on Monday nights and College Park Community Market at Infusion Tea on Thursday nights which features premium, fresh-caught domestic shrimp and seafood.

Traditionally, rock shrimp were not seen favorable to eat because of their hard shell. Dixie Crossroads fixed this problem by creating a cutting tool that allowed them to more easily cut through the shell to serve the shrimp. Over the years the harvesting of rock shrimp eventually led to rapid depletion of the rock shrimp along the Atlantic, prompting the Thompson family, Dixie Crossroads and other local fishermen to lead a conservation effort to control the rock shrimp population and stopping the rock shrimp from going to extinction.

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Each meal begins with complementary  Corn Fritters (delicious!) topped with powdered sugar here at Dixie Crossroads

On this day, we were able to sample the various shrimp available from Dixie Crossroads including the Rock Shrimp which had the texture of lobster and flavor of shrimp. Bacon wrapped shrimp was another favorite from the sampler as well as all the other very fresh wild caught shrimp on the sampler.

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House Salad!
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Clam chowder made from fresh clams!
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Shrimp platter with Rock Shrimp and Fried Shrimp!
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Bacon Wrapped Shrimp!

Something that most people are not aware is that Dixie Crossroads also serves steak in addition to seafood. Usually when restaurants try to branch out into other cuisines, they usually don’t do as good of a job at it as their original more well known items but I found the prime rib at Dixie Crossroads was a cut above the average prime ribs.

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Prime Rib and Porterhouse steaks!

Overall, I would definitely recommend a trip out to Dixie Crossroads in Titusville for a day if you’re headed to the beach or just want some really fresh wild caught seafood. It only took us about 25 minutes to get out there on 528 and I-95, pretty much the same amount of time it takes to get to Disney from Orlando. 🙂

 Find more information here:

Dixie Crossroads
1475 Garden St
Titusville, FL 32796-3389
(321) 268-5000
http://www.dixiecrossroads.com/

Dixie Crossroads Seafood Restaurant on Urbanspoon

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Newly added Sports Bar building at Dixie Crossroads for watching the game!
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Disclosure: This preview was sponsored by Dixie Crossroads, though I try to remain as neutral and unbiased as possible during my reflections. Thank you to Dawna and Harrison from Dixie Crossroads for making this trip possible and for introducing us to an awesome place.

The Capital Grille Orlando: Fall Specials!

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I visited The Capital Grille once before during their wine tasting event and was graciously invited back to try a new twist on their fall flavors and give my thoughts.

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Levash bread is a favorite

Capital Grille Menu

This fall, the Capital Grille began offering a “Flavors of the Pacific Northwest” menu from September 20 to October 31st (hurry and get there before it runs out!). Each restaurant has a different special dish that rotates around from this menu. Here in Orlando during my visit to the Capital Grille, the Seared Halibut with Harvest Vegetables was on the menu.

I ordered the Seared Halibut on my visit and was delighted by its taste. The fish was seared to perfection, not too dry and not too soft, very lightly seasoned going well with the Conundrum, a 2008 California white wine suggested by our very attentive and considerate waitress for the evening.

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The Seared Halibut

Other items that go well with the main dish include the Lobster Mac and Cheese, a dish filled with decadent cheeses and chunks of lobster meat (A favorite), and the prosciutto wrapped mozzarella, a slightly salty appetizer. The roasted tomatoes and lemon gusto that came with the seared halibut was a fine addition to the fish as well.

Lobster Macaroni cheese

Lobster Mac n Cheese Goodness

Overall, I would definitely go to The Capital Grille especially if you are on a business trip to Orlando staying near the Convention Center or out on a special date or want to escape for a moment, but do remember to bring the company card.

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The Capital Grille Orlando is located at 9101 International Drive. Reservations can be made by calling (407) 370-4392 or by visiting TheCapitalGrille.com. In addition to its main dining room, The Capital Grille features private dining rooms for up to 36 guests, as well as the Chef’s Table, with a front line view of the open kitchen, accommodating up to 10 guests.

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Disclosure: This preview event was sponsored by The Capital Grille, though I try to remain as neutral and unbiased as possible during my reflections.

Rosen Hotels whip out a Thanksgiving Feast

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For those of you vacationing in Orlando or feel like having a festive buffet during Thanksgiving this year, check out the Rosen Hotel’s line up for this Thanksgiving!

2010 Buffets
Rosen Plaza, Rosen Centre and Rosen Shingle Creek

Rosen Plaza Hotel

9700 International Drive
Holiday Buffet
Buffet Hours: 11:00 am – 5 pm
Price: Adults $31.95 plus tax and gratuity; children ages 5 – 12 $15.95 plus tax and gratuity; children 4 and under – one free child with each paying adult; Bring in this listing for $3 off each adult
Reservations: 407-996- 0256
http://www.rosenplaza.com

Rosen Centre/Cafe Gauguin

9840 International Drive
Champagne Brunch Buffet
Buffet Hours: 11 am – 5 pm
Price: Adults $39.95 plus tax and gratuity, children ages 4 – 12 $16.95 plus tax and gratuity
Reservations: 407-996-9840 ext. 3593
http://www.rosencentre.com

Rosen Shingle Creek/Café Osceola

9939 Universal Blvd.
Holiday Day Buffet
Buffet Hours: 11:30 am to 7:00 pm
Price: Adults $55.95 plus tax and gratuity, children ages 4 – 12 $24.95 plus tax and gratuity; 25% Florida resident’s discount (show id)
Reservations: 407.996.FOOD (3663)
For parties of 10 or more, please call 407.996.9770.
http://www.rosenshinglecreek.com

Rosen Shingle Creek/A Land Remembered

9939 Universal Blvd.
Hours 5:30pm – 10:00pm
Reservations call: 407.996.FOOD (3663)
A la carte menu – Florida Residents receive 25% off

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Rosen Centre
Thanksgiving Holiday Brunch 2010
Featuring Unlimited Mimosas & Champagne and over 39 wonderful dishes including the following:


SOUPS
Cream of Butternut
Harvest Vegetable with Chicken & Saffron
MARKET SALADS
Marinated Artichoke with Lemon & Basil Salad 
Pecan Chicken with Cranberry
Fingerling Potato Salad with Sweet Onion
 English Cucumber & Heirloom Tomatoes with Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Chiffonade of Basil
Cheese & Fresh Fruits Displays
International and Domestic Cheeses
 Fresh Fruit & Berries Spectacular
Antipasto Display
Featuring an Assortment of Freshly Grilled Peppers, Portobello Mushrooms, Artichokes, and Asparagus, with Freshly Marinated Calamari, Clams & Mussels
SEAFOOD STATION

Spiced Shrimp Boil

with Lemon, Cocktail & Cajun Remoulade

Smoked Salmon with Classical Garnishes
Grilled Tuna with Roasted Red Tomatoes
& Kalamata Olives
CHEF PASTA BAR
Five-Cheese Ravioli
with Cajun Crawfish, Shrimp & Andouille 
Egg Pappardelle
with Leek, Asparagus & fresh Spinach
CARVING STATION
Pineapple Rum Glazed Ham
Golden Pineapple Sauce
Roasted Muscovy Duck Breast
with Jicama Slaw & Cranberry Horseradish
ENTREES
Roasted Tom Turkey
Giblet Gravy & Cranberry Relish
Pecan crusted Salmon with Bourbon Cream
Braised Short Ribs with caramelized Onions
Pecan Glazed Sweet Yams
Traditional Cornbread Dressing
Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes
Autumn Mixed Vegetables with Turnip, Rutabaga & Brussels Sprouts
OMELET AND WAFFLE STATION
Made-to-Order:
Belgium Waffles
Chocolate Chip Pancakes
with Flavored Butters Warm Maple Syrup
Omelets
Eggs Benedict
Country Sausage
Applewood Smoked Bacon

 

SWEET INDULGENCES

Assorted Breakfast Danish, Croissants & Muffins
Warm Cinnamon Apples with Brandy over Vanilla Hagen Dazs Ice Cream
Assorted Selection of Swiss Sweet Shots
Chocolate Fondue Fountain with
Fresh Strawberries & Golden Pineapple
Assorted Cakes, Tortes and Pies including
Pear Tart, Cinnamon Holiday Cheese Cake Pineapple Upside-down Cake, Apple Strudel Sacher Torte, Key Lime Pie, Linzer Torte, Pumpkin Pie, Mincemeat Pie
French Pastries & Petit Fours


$39.95 per person ~
$16.95 children 4-12
Does not include tax or service charge
November 26, 2009 / 11:30am – 6:00pm
Reservations recommended, call 407-996-9840 ext. 3593
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Rosen Plaza Thanksgiving Day Grand Buffet
Thursday November 25th, 2010
Grand Ballroom 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Soup Station
King Crab Bisque with Garlic Buttered Croutons
Carrot and Toasted Almond Soup, Assorted Crackers and Flat Bread
Antipasto and Chilled Salad Station
Mediterranean Meats, Cheeses and Vegetables
Chickpea and Spicy Black Bean Hummus with Toasted Pita Chips
Garden Fresh Greens Salad Bowl with Assorted Dressings
Plaza Seafood salad
Wilted Spinach Salad Tossed with Endive, Cranberries, Roquefort and Zinfandel
 Broccoli Salad with Smoked Bacon, Cheddar and Dried Cherries
Fruit and Granola Bar
Fresh Whole and Cut Seasonal Fruits and Melons, Low Fat Yogurt Accompanied By Crispy Granola, Raisins and Fresh Berries
Selection of American and European Pastries, Muffins and Breakfast Breads
Seafood Station
Oysters-on-the-Half-Shell, Beer Basted Peel-n-Eat Shrimp
House Cured Salmon and White Fish Accompanied By Marinated Onions,
Capers, Shallot Dill Spread and Mini Pumpernickel
Cocktail Sauce, Tabasco Pepper Sauce and Lemon Wedges
Pasta Station
Mushroom Ravioli and Cavatappi Pastas Sauteed with Choice of Shaved Prosciutto,
Diced Tomatoes, Chicken, Artichokes, Black Olives or Shrimp 
 Carving Station
Roast Prime Rib of Beef Au Jus
Hot Buffet Items
Sliced Roast Turkey, Giblet Gravy, Fresh Cranberry Sauce
Seven Grain Stuffing with Sausage and Pearl Onions
Cornish Game Hens Stuffed with Wild Rice
Potato Crusted Cod with Walnut Pesto, Pilgrim’s Loaded Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallow-Pecan Streusel
Autumn Roasted Vegetables with Balsamic Glaze, Green Bean and Porcini Casserole
Dessert Station
Pumpkin Pie, Orange-Cranberry Cheesecake, Mocha Java Cake
Italian Rum Cake, Key Lime Pie, Jack Daniel’s Chocolate Cake, Assorted Dessert Shots
Warm Apple-White Chocolate Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce
Hazelnut Crème Brulee Flambéed to Order
$31.95 per Person
Children 4-12 $15.95, Under 4 Free
(Tax and service charge Not Included)

Top Chef Master Rick Bayless coming to ORLANDO!

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Macy’s Culinary Council chef and Top Chef Master Rick Bayless will be appearing at Macy’s at the Mall at Millenia in Orlando on Sunday, October 17 for a free cooking demonstration. Rick will offer tips for serving up his trademark Latin cuisine by preparing dishes like Achiote Shrimp and Bacon Tomato Guacamole for customers to sample. Following his demonstration, Rick will be available to sign copies of his newest cookbook, Fiesta at Rick’s, available for purchase at Macy’s the day of the event.

WHEN:
Sunday, October 17th, 2010
2:00 PM

WHERE:
Macy’s at The Mall at Millenia
Home Department, 2nd Floor
4298 Millenia Blvd
Orlando, Florida 32839

RSVP:
Customer RSVPs are recommended but not required. Reserve your seat by calling 1.800.329.8667. This event is free.

*This post was sponsored by beeverywhere.tv

Padrino’s Cuban Bistro – All you can Eat Pig Roast

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Padrino’s Cuban Bistro – All you can Eat Cuban Pig Roast!


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Don Mario Padrino at the helm!

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Note: I wrote once on Padrino’s Cuban Bistro before, check it out here.

On the second Saturday of every month, Padrino’s Cuban Bistro in South Orlando ( right off of SR -417 and John Young Parkway in the plaza with Mikado in Hunter’s Creek) hosts a all you can eat cuban pig roast for lunch. I had the opportunity to interview the owners of Padrino’s and also sample some awesome roast pig or “lechon”.

Don Mario and his wife just drove up from South Florida, where the original Padrinos restaurant is based, to oversee the Cuban Pig Roast event and carve up the lechon roast pig. I met with Don Mario Padrino, a tall man with a kind smile and a booming voice, and spoke with him about the history of his family’s restaurant.

The restaurant started in South Florida in the late 1970s where the recently immigrated Padrino family set up a small shop after escaping the rise of Castro in Cuba. The restaurant started out with Momma Padrino’s authentic Cuban dishes. “The concept was Momma’s homestyle Cuban recipes and cooking with a modern and appealing presentation” recalled Mario.


Plaintains

Plantains!

Soon enough, the traditions passed onto their son Mario, who took over the restaurant and has been running it ever since.

On this Saturday afternoon, the all you can eat menu consisted of yucca, white rice, black beans, a rice and beans mix, oven roasted pork, pork rinds aka chicharrones, and the pig roast from La Caja China.

La Caja China is literally the “Chinese box”, whose origins are still a mystery to most Cubans today. Origin stories range from soldiers bringing the box home from the Vietnam War to the large Chinese immigrant community that thrived in Cuba during the late 1800s. Don Mario said that “we used to make our pig roasts the traditional way with cinder blocks, but with la caja china, the coals are placed on top so its much easier to roast.” The pig is injected with a mojo marinade the night before and the roast began at 5:30am.


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The pork from the rib area is the juiciest and most succulent part, but also one of the fattiest parts.

Sigh, it is true that the best things in life are often bad for you…

The Next Cuban Pig Roast is:
Saturday October 9, 2010
12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
All you can eat carving station which includes white rice, moros, black beans, sweet plantains, yucca and one drink (soda or beer).
$14.99 per person plus tax and gratuity.


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Chicarrones – pork rinds!

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Oven roasted pork

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Yucca!

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Rice and beans

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Disclosure: I was invited by Padrino’s to this event and although this meal was provided complimentary, I do my best to try to remain as unbiased as possible in my observations.

Olive Garden Contest! New design!

Enter for a chance to win a $25 gift card to Olive Garden by

Posting in the comments section below!
1. Post your favorite Italian dish and
2. Post your email

One Lucky Winner Will be CHOSEN!


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Olive Garden Unveils Restaurant Remodel Initiative Inspired by Italy
Kissimmee Olive Garden among the more than 400 restaurants being remodeled through June 2015

ORLANDO, Fla. (Oct. 1, 2010) –Today, Olive Garden announced that more than half of its 721 restaurants will undergo an interior design refresh, inspired by the timeless warmth of farmhouses in Tuscany, Italy.

Within the newly remodeled restaurants, guests will find updated décor including new tables, chairs and booths that emanate the warm, rustic tones of a Tuscan Farmhouse. Other updates include modernized window treatments and updated decor, which together create a cleaner, more polished design. In addition, the refreshed bar area reflects a true, Tuscan-inspired space, with a more modern and sophisticated feel.

“We believe the Farmhouse design reinforces our vision by creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere that enhances the overall experience at Olive Garden,” said Valerie Insignares, executive vice president of operations for Olive Garden. “Within the next few years guests will enjoy the same genuine Tuscan look and feel inside every one of our family of local restaurants across North America.

For more than a decade, Olive Garden chefs, General Managers and restaurant team members travel to Olive Garden’s Culinary Institute of Tuscany (CIT) to learn Italian cooking techniques and to draw inspiration for menu items, promotional entrees and restaurant décor. It is at the CIT where members of the Olive Garden family learn the secrets of great Italian foods from Italian Master Chefs. Secrets include how to choose the freshest ingredients to create Italian-inspired entrees, how to layer flavors to produce the perfect Italian aroma and taste, and how to pair Italian wines with specific Italian dishes and sauces to enhance the dining experience.

“Each year, our Olive Garden development chefs travel throughout Italy to gain inspiration from the latest Italian culinary trends and traditions so they can bring the taste of Italy home to our guests,” said Terry Stanley, executive vice president of marketing for Olive Garden. “The Tuscan Farmhouse remodel is an essential element in completing the genuine Italian dining experience at Olive Garden.”

This restaurant design refresh also demonstrates Olive Garden’s dedication to supporting local communities. In celebration of the newly renovated restaurants, Kissimmee will host complimentary wine tasting events that are open to the public on October 5th, 6th, 12th and 13th from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Led by Olive Garden wine specialists, these interactive events will further educate guests on Italian wines including their origin, body style, aroma, flavor/finish and food pairings. To receive more information on the wine tasting event, guests can visit www.Facebook.com/OliveGarden, visit www.OliveGarden.com/remodel or sign up for the “Our Family Table” e-newsletter at www.OliveGarden.com.

About Olive Garden:
Olive Garden is the leading restaurant in the Italian dining segment with more than 700 restaurants, more than 85,000 employees and $3 billion in annual sales. Olive Garden is a part of the Darden family of restaurants (NYSE: DRI), the world’s largest company-owned and operated full-service restaurant company. For more information, visit Olive Garden’s Web site at www.olivegarden.com.

CONTEST: Whats the best food you ate at a Tailgate?

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Hello all! Contest for Free UFL tickets to see the Florida Tuskers play for the Game on Oct 21!

Answer this question below to enter into the contest to win!

What is the best food you ever ate at a Tailgate??

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUKab3e0750?fs=1]

The game is on 10/21 by the way!

What is Moon Cake? Mid Autumn Moon Festival Tradition

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hopia

Today is the Mid autumn Moon Festival, a holiday celebrated in East Asia (known as Tet Trung Thu to the Vietnamese) to signify the end of the harvest season and the coming together of the community. After long months of toil in the fields during the summer months, the family is able to relax once again and enjoy the beginning of the fall season with their children by going out side to admire the full moon. (There’s a legend about that moon tradition too)

This is one of the many reasons why this holiday is known to be a “Children’s” festival with all sorts of games and activities for children especially the beautiful home made lantern traditions.

One thing about the Mid Autumn Moon Festival that is a foodie’s delight is the “moon cake”. Legend has it that during the Mongolian occupation of China in the 1200s, the Chinese rebel forces would transmit secret coded messages in this moon cake to signal the attack to win back the nation from the invaders on the night of the Mid Autumn Moon Festival.

mooncake

These round moon shaped cakes come at quite a price, often around $8.00 each and $24.00 for a pack of four. I think one of the reasons why they are so expensive is because they are sold only once a year during the moon festival and also they are made of expensive ingredients. The original moon cake is made of lotus seed paste which can be quite expensive or red bean paste. There is also a moon cake made from various nuts and fruits, my least favorite. Inside the moon cake is a cooked egg yolk. These mooncakes are often given as gifts to friends and families and enjoyed with tea.

 banh trung thu

 As time went on, these cakes evolved with various types of fillings like chocolate, ice cream, cream cheese and more.

chinese moon cake

Make sure you drop by your  local Asian grocery and try some today before they go out of season 😀 put on by the UCF Vietnamese American Student Association for the Mid Autumn Moon Festival. Check it out! www.vasa.ucf.edu

so, what’s your favorite type of moon cake?

ps for those in the Orlando area, there is an awesome show going on this Sunday at UCF (Free!)

The Capital Grille Reveals New Fall Specials !

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The Capital Grille Reveals New Fall Specials
Inspired by the Pacific Northwest

Menu Features Fresh Fall Favorites with a Creative Twist

Orlando, FL (September 20, 2010) – What happens when an exceptional chef is inspired by the crisp, pure flavors of the Pacific Northwest?

Answer: A welcome migration of flavors reflecting the fresh waters and cool climate of the Northwest corner of the country, just in time for fall.

In this unique culinary event, The Capital Grille is offering new menu items inspired by the “Flavors of the Pacific Northwest” from September 20 to October 31. The specials reflect The Capital Grille’s innovative take on classic Northwest cuisine, focusing on authentic, quality ingredients from the region.

Enjoy dishes such as Seared Halibut with Harvest Vegetables and Tenderloin of Beef with Morel Mushrooms.

Of course, the Pacific Northwest is also known for its excellent wines and The Capital Grille’s own Master Sommelier, George Miliotes, has hand-selected several choices to complement this special autumn meal. Guests can choose Willakenzie Pinot Noir from Oregon, or Cold Creek Merlot from Washington’s Chateau Ste. Michelle, just one of the many internationally recognized vineyards in the Northwest.

Be sure to save room for The Capital Grille’s house-made desserts. The delectable Warm Washington Apple Tart with Handcrafted Vanilla Bean Ice Cream is certain to provide a perfect end to your Pacific Northwest culinary journey.

“We believe this special menu further exemplifies our dedication to an exceptional dining experience,” said Randy Cook, Managing Partner of The Capital Grille Orlando. “This menu showcases our chef’s culinary artistry, with artisanal twists on a uniquely American cuisine.”

The Capital Grille Orlando is located at 9101 International Drive. Reservations can be made by calling (407) 370-4392 or by visiting TheCapitalGrille.com. In addition to its main dining room, The Capital Grille features private dining rooms for up to 36 guests, as well as the Chef’s Table, with a front line view of the open kitchen, accommodating up to 10 guests.

For additional information about the “Flavors of the Pacific Northwest” dishes and The Capital Grille experience, please contact Heather Dratler at 212.871.3020, ext. 110, or hdratler@jgordonassociates.com.

Lady Gaga Meat Dress – MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) – Why ?

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So if you checked out the MTV VMA’s (or one of their many reruns of the show) you may have noticed Lady Gaga’s meat dress.

From music.yahoo.com

“After arriving at the ceremony in a dress from the late designer Alexander McQueen’s final collection and then changing into a weighty, architectural gown and spiky crown by Giorgio Armani, Gaga turned heads (and we’d have to imagine noses) in her final outfit, a Franc Fernandez dress (plus boots, hat, and purse) cut together from what appeared to be slabs of raw meat.”

Here is the pic/photo from the night: 

Lady Gaga’s Meat Dress at the MTV VMA’s

What do you think of it? Was it too much? What statement do you think Lady Gaga is making with the meat dress?

COMPLIMENTARY GLENMORANGIE SCOTCH TASTING – Thursday Sept 16 at MORTONs

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WHAT:

Morton’s The Steakhouse in Orlando is offering a unique scotch tasting experience during the Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch Tasting and Shoe Shining Event. Guests will enjoy complimentary shoe shines and have the opportunity to taste four distinct Glenmorangie single malt scotches: Original, Lasanta, Quinta Ruban and Nectar d’Or. The selections will be paired with passed hors d’oeuvres while Morton’s signature Bar Bites will be available at Power Hour pricing during the event.

WHEN:

Thursday, September 16 from 5 to 7 p.m.

WHERE:

Morton’s The Steakhouse Bar 12•21
7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32819

PRICE: FREE

FOR RESERVATIONS:
For more information or reservations, please call 407-248-3485 or visit http://www.mortons.com/

Morton’s Power Hour is offered from Sunday to Friday from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. and includes a taste-tempting variety of signature Bar Bites for just $5 or $6 a plate, including the Filet Mignon Sandwiches and Mini Prime Cheeseburgers which will pair perfectly with a Cabernet. Power Hour pricing on select wines by the glass, beers and cocktails ranges from $5 to $7.

Look Ma! Tasty Chomps is on Youtube!

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As part of auction piece for a Food Network show, I made this youtube video. If it doesn’t work out hey, maybe it will turn out into a webseries! lol. Thank you to Michael Cheung and Jon Mildner for the video production and Rona Gondin for the hookup!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LGF7FfcpS8?fs=1]

Check out the awesome write up by Mark Baratelli from The Daily City: Local Food Blog Tasty Chomps expands into Video.

King Cajun Crawfish! Photos

cI recently was asked to do some photography work for King Cajun Crawfish right here in Orlando! I came on a number of previous occasions with friends and had a great time getting to know the owners and enjoying the food before taking these photos. The place is a hole in the wall located off of Mills Ave just north of Colonial Drive in downtown Orlando but hey crawfish is not a glamorous food, its all about the taste. You can order the crawfish in a variety of flavors including garlic, hot, and sha bang!

In addition to crawfish at King Cajun Crawfish, they have oyster, shrimp, fish, and chicken po boy sandwiches and a great bowl of gumbo soup with rice. If you are in the area I would definitely recommend King Cajun Crawfish to try out. http://www.kingcajuncrawfish.com is their website!


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Inside King Cajun Crawfish


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customers enjoying King Cajun Crawfish in Orlando

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Crawfish in Orlando!  shipped live from Louisiana!

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Shrimp, all types of shrimp
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Oyster  po boy sandwich special

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Gumbo soup with rice


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Combo oyster and shrimp po boy!

King Cajun Crawfish on Urbanspoon

September 2010 is Orlando Magical Dining Month

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Check out the latest and greatest list of restaurants participating this September 2010 for Orlando Magical Dining Month . $30 for three course meals! visit www.orlandomagicaldining.com for more info

Oyster Locals – Anatolia – Turkish/Lebanese/Mediterranean Cuisine in Dr Phillips Area

check out the article I wrote on Oyster.com about Anatolia

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Anatolia recently opened in the Dr Phillips Marketplace Plaza on Restaurant Row, just a short drive from The Ritz Carlton on International Drive and has been generating quite some buzz in becoming the next Best Middle Eastern restaurant in the Orlando Sentinel’s Foodie Awards.

The restaurant is perfect for families on vacation in Orlando looking to try out a exotic meal from Turkey. The menu is extensive and the dishes are filling, you could even share some of your dish with a friend. The atmosphere is cozy yet classy, with a soundtrack of the latest popular Turkish music playing in the background while you eat.

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For starters, I would recommend the Lavas, or “balloon bread”, its a thin Turkish bread made from flour, water, and salt thats puffed up with air like a balloon. The Lavas is fun to eat especially dipped in the cacik, a yogurt made with finely chopped cucumbers, herbs, and a hint of garlic.

For the entree, you can choose from one of the many kebab dishes on the menu, all served with rice, mixed vegetable or red potato. The Karisik Kebab is a mixed grill platter, enough for two people, with  Tavuk Adana (chicken) kebab, Lamb shish kebab, Chicken Kebab, Doner Kebab, and Lamb chops with a serving of Kafte Kebab, all quite delicious and very satisfying.

For dessert, you can choose from the traditional Baklava, a layered fillo pastry filled with pistachio and drizzled with home made syrup to the Kunefe, a large shredded dough layered with a mild cheese and syrup enough to feed a family of four.

Overall, for some great Turkish food in the Universal Studios area or if you are staying at The Peabody Hotel for a convention, you can drop on by Anatolia for a great evening of exotic foods.

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Lavas, the balloon bread

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Yogurt dip

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Calamari appetizer at Anatolia restaurant

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Chicken Kebabs

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The Mixed Grill at Anatolia, the ultimate feast

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Kunefe, a sweet cheesy dessert

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Baklava, the traditional dessert

Visit them online at http://anatoliaorlando.com

Anatolia on Urbanspoon

 

Morton’s The Steakhouse – Dr Phillips Area

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Restaurant Row, the area along Sand Lake Drive in the Dr Phillips Area here in Orlando, is a food blog heaven. They have dozens of delicious restaurants from Pizza to Lebanese to Sushi to Steakhouses and everything in between.

I was lucky enough this evening to be invited by Morton the Steakhouse and the lovely people at Pierson Grant (Lesli!) for this sampling of the newly vamped bar menu items with special “Power Hour” pricing.

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Morton’s Power Hour is the special budget pricing from Sunday to Friday from open to 6:30pm and 9pm to close at the Morton’s lounge area. Their bar bites range from $6-7 for Filet Mignon Sandwiches, Mini Prime Cheeseburgers, and the new Crab Cake BLTs and Smoked Salmon Pizza in addition to their specials on glass, beers, and cocktails.

My favorite was the mini prime burger, plump and tasty, so bite sized and ready to eat. As you can see below, there are alot of different mini bites and sandwiches to be enjoyed while sipping on your drinks after a long day of work, just relaxing in the lounge. Although it may not be the healthiest food on the list, it sure does the job in getting you full!

*Update: The prices were more than reasonable, the service was prompt and cordial thanks to our great server who had double-time as the waitress and the bartender, and the drinks were well made and mixed to our liking. I would definitely try it again, and maybe not eat so much cause it filled me up to the max. Thanks for the questions Mr T!

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Mojito to start things off
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Smoked Salmon pizza?
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Filet mignon inside the rolls
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Bleu cheese fries
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huge onion rings!
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cheeseburger minis
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crab cake blt

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full view

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dessert!


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Morton’s . Decadent.

Morton's - the Steakhouse on Urbanspoon
 

Pinkberry Preview Grand Opening Party – First in Florida

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Orlando, FL – The night air was alive with the music spinning from the dj booth, underneath the big white tent VIPs were sipping from champagne glasses, getting their nails down at a mini nail salon, and across the way the crowds lined up from the door out. It was like a scene from the reality tv show Platinum Weddings.

Alot of glam and glitz, but nothing less of course for the granddaddy of the frozen yogurt craze that has been hitting America, the opening of the first Pinkberry right here in Orlando Florida. This humble food blog was lucky enough to attend to get a sneak peak of the Pinkberry opening here in Doctor Phillips Marketplace in Orlando. Here are some scenes from the night:


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Sarah P attended by her escort for the evening Mr Xi Guo, co-owner of promoknight.com and impressinktees.com

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Mango yogurt

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WFTV reporter and Teen Magazine’s Miss Teenage America Mary Nguyen with her partner for the evening on the scene !

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DJ booth

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Pinkberry helps the community


Shout out to Pinkberry and the DeatrickPR group for putting this amazing event on!

Pinkberry on Urbanspoon

Pinkberry Grand Opening! Free T shirts and VIP Passes Contest!

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we are giving out 20 free t-shirts and 2 VIP passes to the Pinkberry Grand Opening Party on Thursday August 19th. Find out more about the Grand Opening of Pinkberry in Orlando here

“Pinkberry Preview Party” will be held Thursday, Aug. 19, 6- 10 pm.
Pinkberry is located at The Marketplace at Dr. Phillips, 7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd. , on the corner of Dr. Phillips and Sandlake Rd.

To enter, all you have to do is “Like Us” on Facebook and then Re-tweet this post on Twitter and add @tastychomps to it so I know that its been posted.The first 20 to do so will win the shirts! And the 5th person to do so will get the 2 VIP passes. I will contact you for your email to send the shirt/pass info.

These shirts were provided to us here at Tasty Chomps by Pinkberry! Thanks Pinkberry!

Cafe 118 Degrees in Winter Park, FL – Raw-tastic

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Cafe 118 Degrees is a restaurant with a very unique theme: their entire menu is not only organic and vegetarian but all of their food is also prepared completely raw. Located on 153 E Morse Blvd off of Park Avenue in Winter Park, Florida just a few miles north of Orlando, Cafe 118 serves up some pretty interesting and innovative dishes.

Cafe 118 Degrees is named after the optimal temperature at which foods are “cooked” here, with the belief that food cooked above 118 degrees begin to break down their enzymes and minerals, resulting in diminished nutritional value.  Truly natural food.

As America’s waistlines continue to balloon and more and more people are being diagnosed with health problems related to obesity and heart disease each year, we must start looking into eating healthier and living healthier. Cafe 118 Degrees hopes to continue the promise of this movement to healthier lifestyles through eating food as natural as can be. This Orlando food blog hopes this movement continues strong.

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On this evening, I am joined with Lily and her husband as well as old friends Jacques and Yvonne (who luckily has a restaurant.com gift certificate for our bill). As you can guess, eating healthy does come at a higher price as organic natural foods cost more since they are not mass produced like our every day processed foods.

Note, they also rotate their items in and out seasonally to ensure freshness.

For appetizer, we order the spiced macadamia hummus with sun-dried tomato flax crackers. The hummus is light and soft on the palate, almost airy and creamy. For my entree, I choose the ravioli made with macadamia ricotta and my partners choose the “pad thai” (made with zucchini and carrot noodles, pad thai sauce, drizzled with a sesame cashew glaze), the “lasagna” (made with sun dried tomatoes, herb pesto, and macadamia ricotta), and the mexican chopped salad (made with spinach, sweet corn, avocado,  corn chips, cherry tomato and a “queso blanco”). All in all I enjoyed my meal and thought it was quite ingenius to create such inventive dishes made entirely with vegetables and fruits and non-meat products and to make it entirely without cooking above 118 degrees. I would definitely try to bring friends here in the future especially if I have a gift certificate cause it can get really expensive…

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Macadamia Hummus with sun-dried tomato flax crackers 
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Ravioli with arugula!
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“the pad thai”
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The Mexican chopped salad
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The Lasagna
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Cafe 118 Degrees on Urbanspoon