The Food Truck Bazaar
December 18, 2011
5-9pm
Fashion Square Mall (behind Dillards)
Bring chairs, tables, tents. Family friendly. No cost for parking or admission.
The Food Truck Bazaar at Fashion Square Mall December 18!
The Food Truck Bazaar
Yum-Mi Sandwiches Orlando serves up some tasty banh mi
There’s a new banh mi shop in town, complete with new bar seats and tables and modern lighting. Where Ba Le bakery once sat, a new and trendy sandwich shop now occupies in its place, completely remodeled on the inside and out with a fresh new look.
yum-mì sandwiches focuses on bringing a modern twist to the traditional Vietnamese banh mi. The Phans (sisters Linda and Rosa, and brother David) all UCF alumni, came together with a passion for the Vietnamese culture to share their food with the community. Growing up they always talked about having a business together (they come from a family with roots in the restaurant business a la Pho 88 down the street). This common love of food inspired them to create Yum-mi sandwiches.
Having upbringings in a Vietnamese family, the Phan’s inspirations came from the traditional flavors acquired growing up and with an open mind for the cultural diversity surrounding the Orlando area. Most of the prices range from $2.75 to $7.95, very affordable.
“It was very exciting for us to come together and see our dreams come to life. The most challenging obstacle was to target the right audience while staying true to our Vietnamese roots. When we were younger, we noticed our friends were always hesitant to go into some of the traditional sub shops. So we wanted to create a place that was more inviting to the young crowd while still satisfying our traditional Vietnamese customers.” explained Linda Phan.
“We serve the traditional banh mi dac biet which is different cold cuts served on a French bread spread with pate and top with cucumber, cilantro, pickled daikon and carrots and jalapeños with splash of soy sauce, but also have yum mi specialities like the V.P. which is our version of Vietnamese philly steak n cheese with two fried eggs on top,” Rosa Phan added.
Some other must try’s also include the Lost Tofu (made with lemongrass spiced tofu)for the vegetarians out there and their custom fresh fruit boba tea freezers. The bread is baked fresh on the premises each day as well.
On a recent visit, I admired the new digs at yum-mi and ordered a VP with the two fried eggs and thit nuong (grilled beef) inside. The sandwich was filling and enjoyable and the eggs over easy oozing yolk onto my banh mi made my lunch divine. My friend had the Ms Piggy with pork belly, lettuce and tomato and noted that although it was a great banh mi, he wished that there was more meat to the sandwich. I think filling is a very important part to the banh mi, as the bread and the meat ratio has to be a respectable amount so that one does not overpower the other. I believe this will improve as time goes on. Overall, it was a fun trip to visit yum-mi and it is definitely a welcomed addition to the new banh mi landscape in Orlando.
You can sit inside yum-mi sandwiches at the new bar stool area, watching the cars race by on the concrete paved Mills Avenue.
Delicious Vietnamese street food: banh bao, steamed buns filled with pork and hard boiled egg.
Mango-lychee freezer boba drink
Miss Piggy: The Pork belly, tomatoes, and lettuce banh mi
The VP – Vietnamese Philly with two eggs
yummi sandwiches are yummy
The Capital Grille Fall Lunch and $18 3-item lunch menu
Fall is in the air. As we get ready for the autumn harvest, many local restaurants are starting to bring out their new menus featuring fall squash, pumpkin, and other dishes in season. The Capital Grille recently invited me to check out their current fall lunch and share with our readers. Many visitors don’t realize that the Capital Grille is not just about awesome steaks, they have an awesome lunch menu as well. Check it out!
The Capital Grille Announces New Fall Flavors
on Their $18 3-Course Lunch Menu
The Fall Lunch “Plates” menu kicked off on September 26, offering guests new customizable combinations of soup or salad, a sandwich and a side – all for $18. Guests of The Capital Grille can choose from nine “plates” offerings – three soups/salads, three sandwiches and three sides, including “Knife and Fork” BLT, creamy Porcini Bisque and Roasted Butternut Squash with Cranberry Chutney.
“Our new Knife and Fork BLT adds a signature twist to this classic sandwich favorite. A generous portion of crisp bacon is paired with a Grana Padano Cheese Crisp and Heirloom Tomatoes on a bed of lettuce, topped with a unique black pepper and chive aioli,” notes Executive Chef Matthew Price. “We are also pleased to offer dishes made with seasonal vegetables like mushrooms and butternut squash. Our creamy Porcini Bisque captures the rich flavor of the mushrooms in a smooth, velvety soup. We added our special twist to Roasted Butternut Squash by pairing it with Cranberry Chutney for a balance of flavors that is sure to please.”
The Capital Grille also features traditional lunch menu favorites like French Onion Soup, The Grille’s Signature Cheeseburger, Ribeye Steak Sandwich with Caramelized Onions and Havarti or the Lobster and Crab Burger, among other classics.
Porcini bisque – Porcini mushrooms with chive oil, a creamy coffee-like taste rich in flavor sherry wine, one of my favorite new items on the menu at The Capital Grille lunch special!
Clam chowder – chunks of potatoes and clams
BLT Knife and Fork – Calorganics reds on the vine tomatoes, this is what tomatoes should taste like, fresh and real and full of flavor.
Roasted Butternut Squash with Cranberry Chutney
Truffle Fries
Lobster and Crab burger
Fresh green beans
Ribeye Steak Sandwich with Caramelized Onions and Havarti
Coconut Creme Pie
The Capital Grille is located at 9101 International Drive, Suite 1000. Reservations can be made by calling 407-370-4392 or by visiting www.TheCapitalGrille.com. In addition to its main dining room, The Capital Grille also features private dining rooms for up to 36 guests, as well as a Chef’s Table accommodating up to 10 guests, with a frontline view of the open kitchen. Chef is pleased to create special menus for private dining events.
NaraDeva Thai Restaurant in Orlando by Mall at Millenia
Tucked away next to the Coliseum of Comics in a small plaza near the Mall at Millenia (next to the Super Target), NaraDeva Thai is truly a hidden gem. When you first walk into the restaurant (previously occupied by Bear Rock Cafe), you are immediately transported into a world resembling a wooden village in the jungles of Thailand. The decor is lush and earthy, with all the pieces hand picked by co-owner Tammy, a native of Thailand. Over the fireplace, a solemn statue of Buddha sits watching over the restaurant by the eastern wall.
A Look inside NaraDeva Thai Restaurant
Naradeva comes from the ancient Sanskrit word meaning “human being”, a ancient language that came to Thailand via India. The restaurant is a by-product of a beautiful love story spanning the world and over two decades. The owners of NaraDeva Thai restaurant, Tammy and Ali, originally met as students in Paris, and finally arriving here in Orlando, Florida.
The owners graciously hosted a food blogger media event to showcase their dishes and items to our readers. The waitresses and staff were all excellent and kind and the food was delightful. The menu, filled with authentic Thai dishes, is featured in English and in Thai for the native speakers out there.
Steamed Dumplings ($5.95) at NaraDeva Thai
For appetizers, we began with the Steamed Dumplings ($5.95), steamed Gyoza Wrapper, filled with a seasoned pork mix, with garlic chives and shredded cabbage in sesame sauce, served with Sweet & Sour Soy Dip. The dumplings were soft and tender, and I particularly enjoyed the texture of the dumpling wrappers, made with a very thin, delicate skin.
Chicken Curry Puffs : $ 5.95
Another favorite appetizer were the Chicken Curry Puffs ($5.95), home-made crunchy puff pastries filled with mildly spiced, curried chicken and potatoes
Chicken Satay $7.95
Shrimp Rolls ($7.95)
I really enjoyed the Shrimp Rolls ($7.95), crispy, fried whole shrimp wrapped with ground pork mix fried in a spring roll sheet and with a sweet Thai chili dipping sauce.
Crunchy Shrimp Salad $ 13.95, made with crunchy battered shrimps, on a bed of mixed vegetable salad, drizzled with House Recipe tangy Thai Salad Cream
Spicy Beef Salad $ 13.95
The large plate of Spicy Beef Salad $ 13.95, made with slices of grilled Beef Steak, tossed in spicy & sour salad sauce, with cucumber, tomatoes, scallions, and cilantro was fresh, filling, and healthy.
Thai Red BBQ Fried Rice $ 12.95, a Fried Rice with B.B.Q. pork, eggs and chopped scallions. This dish is one of the most popular dishes at NaraDeva and I can see why; The bbq is sweet and salty, the fried rice is flavorful and rich, unlike any other fried rice that you would find normally.
Battered Prawns in Sweet Tamarind Sauce $ 19.95, crunchy battered prawns, sautéed in Sweet Tamarind Sauce served on a bed of Steamed broccoli, cauliflower & carrots
Classic Combo: Coconut Pandan Rice with Thai Jerky (Beef) and Papaya Salad $ 16.95
Steamed Jasmine Rice in Coconut milk with a subtle blend of Pandan Leaf fragrance, served with Thai Jerky (beef). I thought the pandan coconut rice was very unique in its flavor, a sweet and aromatic taste. The dish was very large, reminding me of those rice and beans and pork dishes you could get at the local lechonera. The beef here is fried and served with some fish sauce I believe, making it a tad bit on the salty side.
Crispy Duck $ 19.95, boneless Duck, lightly battered, deep fried until crispy served with your choice of sauce. This duck was truly crispy, fried, and delightful.
Deep-Fried Whole Snapper with choice of sweet chili, sweet and sour sauce $ 28.95 – $ 34.95
Soft shell crab served with a yellow curry sauce $ 19.95
Thai Desserts
Thai Coconut Cream Custard $3.95, steamed coconut cream and rice flour custard pudding in mini cups. This dessert reminded me of the ones my mom used to make growing up, very simple yet touching.
Thai Doughnuts with Pandan Coconut Custard Dip $ 4.95. The pandan coconut custard dip really brought out this dish, made with the aromas of the pandan, a fragrant leaf found in south east Asia.
Sticky Rice with Sweet Taro Stuffing $ 4.95
Steamed and served wrapped in banana leaf, with Coconut Cream Sauce dip
Black Sticky Rice with Coconut in Palm Sugar Caramel Topping $ 4.95
Black Sticky Rice with Shredded Coconut in Palm Sugar Caramel topping, topped with Coconut Cream Sauce
Overall, I was very impressed with the large array of dishes, authentic and unique, to Thailand that NaraDeva Thai has to offer. My favorites of the night included the crispy duck, the Thai Red BBQ Fried Rice, Crunchy Shrimp salad, and all of the wonderful Thai desserts! I would definitely check this place out again and try more of their menu items.
Hours
Everyday
11:00am – 9:30pm
Address
4696 Millenia Plaza Way
Orlando, FL 32839
(407) 903-0300
naradevathai@yahoo.com
www.naradevathai.com
http://facebook.com/naradevathai
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Lake Nona Food Truck Bazaar presented by TheDailyCity.com
This Sunday Oct 30th 2011
TheDailyCity.com is bringing the Food Truck Bazaar to the Lake Nona area for the very first time!
Location: CrossPointe Church Orlando, 11002 Lake Hart Dr., Orlando, FL 32832.
View Larger Map
The church is having a (free) Fall Festival as well there. Too much fun! 4:30-8pm.
Know Before You Go
1. Expect to wait in long lines. While the food is delicious, it does not come fast. Why? Its not fast food. These are restaurants on wheels. Plan to wait. And please note: we (The Daily City) have no control over the speed at which the lines move. The food trucks themselves control that.
2. Some trucks will run out of food. This can happen even while you’re waiting in line and if you show up to the event too late.
3. Bring chairs, tables, tents: think tailgating. If you want to sit down while in line or while eating, bring a chair.
4. Many of the trucks have loud lawn mower-sounding generators attached to them. With 15 – 20 trucks in one spot, it can get pretty noisy. You’ve been warned.
5. Most trucks now take credit cards, but sometimes the credit card machines (these days which are now ipads and iphones!) can break down, so bring cash. Ones and fives (not tens and twenties) are VERY welcome by the vendors.
TRUCKS (ALL SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE)
Dinner Trucks: C&S; Brisket Bus, Firehouse BBQ, Melissa’s Chicken & Waffles, Winter Park Fish Co., Tastebuds Catering, Dandelion Vegan Truck, The Crooked Spoon, The Mobile Deli (Korean), The Pupusas Truck, Korean BBQ Taco Box, The Travelling Gourmet, Big Wheel Provisions, Treehouse Truck, The Gator Truck. Dessert Trucks: Yum Yum Cupcake Truck, The Batter Bowl, Sunset Italian Ice, Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, The Crepe Company, Gastrotruck
LAKE NONA SCHEDULE 5-9pm
Oct 30 | CrossPointe Church Orlando*
Nov 19 | CrossPointe Church*
Dec 17 | CrossPointe Church*
*11002 Lake Hart Dr., Orlando, FL 32832
http://www.myfoxorlando.com/video/videoplayer.swf?dppversion=8705
The Big Easy – Winter Garden – Who Dat stirrin’ up some New Orleans cajun dishes in Winter Garden?
The Big Easy
Winter Garden is coming up in the Central Florida foodie scene. Despite being far west of Orlando in western Orange County, many new restaurants have been popping up in this once sleepy area of town. Most recently, Four Rivers Smokehouse BBQ restaurant established a western outpost of their highly popular barbecue restaurant replete with indoor dining out here in Winter Garden.
The Big Easy is a new authentic New Orleans-style cajun “home-cookin'” restaurant located in Winter Garden, serving up some real mighty fine dishes from the heart of Louisiana country. Inside The Big Easy, memorabilia such as gold and purple beads, newspaper clippings, dolls, and umbrellas hang along the walls, all symbolizing the good times found in New Orleans. Vibrant purple and yellow walls frame the interior. Brass band and jazz music is the soundtrack to The Big Easy, and I even caught myself tapping my foot to the beat once or twice.
Authentic New Orleans cajun cooking is hard to find here in Central Florida. There are plenty of imitators but very few originators. Many times in the places I have visited, the spices and flavors are missing or the ingredients are too processed. Not the case here at The Big Easy, the food is the real deal and made from scratch on the premises.
We start with the Cajun Crab Dip ($8.99) a creamy dip made with cheese and crab and served with a toasted baguette. The crab dip is full of wonderful spices and flavors that delight the taste buds, and is definitely a great start to this culinary journey into the Louisiana low country. If the crab dip isn’t your flavor for appetizer, you can try the alligator bites, shrimp poppers, praline kahlua brie, or the nawlins seafood sampler filled fried oysters, shrimp and crawfish with a side of homemade remoulade sauce.
Cajun Crab Dip ($8.99)
We also ordered a cup of the chicken and sausage gumbo ($4.99 for 8 oz cup) , a flavorful dish made with fresh chicken, sausage, rice and a lovely, hearty broth.
chicken and sausage gumbo ($4.99 for 8 oz cup)
For my entree, I choose Estrelle’s Crawfish Etoufee ($12.99). Étouffée or etouffee (pronounced: [e.tu.fe]) is a dish found in both Cajun and creole cuisine typically served with shellfish over rice. The base of an étouffée is a dark roux which should be dark brown. Onions, green peppers and celery are added to the roux. The étouffée is usually seasoned with cayenne pepper, paprika, white pepper, fresh garlic, fresh parsley, salt, and perhaps even a host of other seasonings. The dish is usually mounted with butter for richness and then served with white rice cooked in seafood stock. At The Big Easy, Estrelle’s Crawfish Etoufee has a certain kick to it, reminded me of the fond memories from my trips to New Orleans and the fine cajun food I experienced there. Its all about the spices and The Big Easy does it right! One thing that I noticed however, was that the rice was a bit dry on my visit and could have been a bit more fresh. The etoufee was still amazing despite this, and the crawfish and roux mingled in a wonderful dance in my mouth. Awesome.
Estrelle’s Crawfish Etoufee ($12.99)
A friend ordered the Louisiana Low Country Shrimp and Grits ($12.99), a heaping of lovely grits topped with shrimp and a thick sun dried tomato alfredo sauce on top. A truly decadent dish that was thoroughly enjoyed at the table. We also ordered the popular Grandma’s Jambalaya ($9.99), made with andouille sausage, chicken, caramelized vegetables, spices, and all mixed with rice.
Louisiana Low Country Shrimp and Grits ($12.99)
Grandma’s Jambalaya ($9.99) with cornbread
The Big Easy also serves a large variety of various po boy sandwiches (oyster, shrimp, etc), muffuletta, and burgers, including a famous Turkey burger.
Wife’s Famous Turkey Burger
The staff here is wonderful; our waitress is attentive and genuine, coming back often to check up on us during our meal. Featuring all the authentic New Orleans down-home country cajun cooking that you can hope to find in Central Florida, The Big Easy should be on every’s list to try this fall!
The Big Easy Restaurant
Website: http://facebook.com/whodatbigeasy
Address:
15502 Stoneybrook West Pkwy Ste 120, Winter Garden, FL 34787
Phone: 407-654-3279
Omni Resort Championsgate – New Cocktails at the Bar!
A mysterious e-mail arrives in my inbox one autumn day. An invitation to visit the illustrious Omni Resort Hotel at Championsgate, just outside of Orlando a few exits south of Disney World on Interstate-4. The reason? To try out some new drink menu items on their bar menu and be whisked away for a mini-staycation at the hotel. Hmm…I thought…this sounds enticing…
On that pre-arranged date, ten strangers assembled on the steps of the lobby of the Omni Hotel, greeted by Ms. Jackie of the Zimmerman Agency, the ever smiling Mrs. Kelly Burnett (Follow her official Omni Resorts twitter here @kdburnett), Director of Leisure Sales for the Omni Orlando resort, and Mr. Mel, head of food and beverage at the hotel. Some of the guests this evening come from Orlando Style magazine, Orange Appeal, and local blogs like ourselves and our friends at MEGAYUMMO.
All of it seemed too much like out of a summer mystery novel to me: strangers meeting at a hotel, invited by a unknown mysterious host, having a delightful time, a lovely overnight stay…only to awaken in the morning to find out one of the guests has mysteriously disappeared overnight and the whole hotel is locked down while an old detective with a checkered past is brought in to figure out the crime and solve the mystery.
Luckily for us, things did not require a detective in the morning. Things actually went quite smoothly and relaxing.
A beautiful view of the family pool and the golf course at Omni Resort at Championsgate
First off, the drinks. Omni Hotel has a nice little bar area on the left of the lobby near Zen restaurant where a piano player is set up for light enjoyable piano music. Here, the bartenders have assembled a presentation area where they whip out the latest “organic” and “local” creations from Omni resorts including the Sweet Honey Dew Foam made of Monin pure can syrup, Highland pepper, Berry ron-dezvous, Southern Basil Smash, and New Age Juleps. My favorite of the evening was the Berry Ron-dezvous, a very sweet yet also very potent mixed drink that packs a punch right after the unassuming sweetness settles in.
Below are the recipes for the new drinks at Omni Resort at Championsgate.
Sweet Honeydew Foam
(topping for the New Age Julep Recipe)
Ingredients:
8oz Orange Juice
4oz Monin Pure Cane Syrup
2oz Organic Pasteurized Egg Whites
Method:
1. Pour ingredients directly into iSi Gourmet Whip Plus Canister* 2. Place the lid on and screw tightly 3. Screw on the CO2 cartridge, you should hear a hissing noise during this
step 4. Shake the canister well 5. Completely invert the canister upside down 6. Last, pour the foam at the side of the glass and top your cocktail
*an iSi canister is also known as a whipping cream bottle/canister
Highland Pepper
Glass: Highball Method: Muddle/Shake & Fine Strain
Ingredients: 1 each Jalapeno Slice
Muddle above ingredients
1each Dash of Celery Bitters
1.5 oz Patrón Silver
.75 oz Fresh Squeezed Florida Grapefruit Juice
.5 oz Fresh Lime Juice
.75 oz Monin Agave Nectar
Shake above ingredients with ice
Garnish: Fine Strain over Ice
Jalapeno Slice Grapefruit Wheel
Southern Basil Smash
Glass: Rocks Method: Muddle/Shake & Fine Strain
Ingredients:
2 each Fresh Strawberries (hulled & sliced)
3 each Basil Leaves
Muddle above ingredients
1.5 oz Woodford Reserve
.5 oz Cointreau
.5 oz Dry Sack Sherry
.5 oz Monin Pure Cane Syrup
.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
Garnish: Fine strain over ice
Berry Ron-dezvous
Glass: Martini Method: Shake with ice & fine strain
Ingredients:
2 each Fresh Blackberries
4 each Fresh Raspberries
Muddle above ingredients
1.5 oz Bacardi Superior
.5 oz Grand Marnier
.5 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
.5 oz Monin Pure Cane Syrup
Garnish: Fresh Blackberries
Glass: Rocks Method: Muddle/Shake
New Age Juleps
Ingredients: 8 each Mint Leaves
Muddle above ingredients
1.5 oz Absolut Vodka
.75 oz Plymouth Gin
.75 oz Monin Honey Sweetener
1 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
Shake above ingredients with ice Strain without ice
Garnish: Top with Mint Sprig
Sweet Orange Foam
After the presentation, we were treated to a very amazing dinner at David’s Club, a kind of relaxed pub type restaurant inside Omni hotel, best known for their steaks. Right next door is Zen, a fusion Chinese pan-Asian restaurant, whose dishes were also presented that evening. My favorites included the Chinese style barbeque spare ribs, the Zen roll, and the Florida sushi roll from Zen as well as the short rib ossobucco from David’s Club. All in all, the food was magnificent and the company was great.
Zen Restaurant – Pan Asian cuisine
Seafood Bird nest
The Chinese style bbq spareribs – must try!
Lobster Tempura
Amazing, fresh sushi rolls
Short rib ossobucco
The Lamb chops
Swordfish steak
In the morning, we ventured out into the Trevi restaurant, traditionally a Italian restaurant, but also a breakfast spot in the morning where they have a full blown breakfast buffet as well as select specialty menu items such as the french toast, eggs benedict, etc.
Trevi’s
French toast
Bacon, bacon, bacooonnn
Salami cuts and charcuterie
Omni Resort at Championsgate is pretty much all you could ask for in a staycation trip: great food, a nice little lazy river to lounge in, a huge pool for the family, and a giant golf course, all within 30-45 minute drive from downtown Orlando. You definitely feel at peace at this place and away from all the noise and traffic of the City Beautiful. Check it out some time if you can!
Luxury and relaxation.
Lazy river at the Omni
For more information visit:
Omni Orlando Resort at Championsgate
1500 Masters Blvd
ChampionsGate, Florida 33896
Phone: (407) 390-6664, Fax: (407) 390-6600
http://www.omnihotels.com/findahotel/orlandochampionsgate.aspx
Omni Orlando Resort at Championsgate
1500 Masters Blvd
ChampionsGate, Florida 33896
Phone: (407) 390-6664, Fax: (407) 390-6600
http://www.omnihotels.com/findahotel/orlandochampionsgate.aspx
Special thanks to the good people at Omni Resorts, Kelly and Mel, and Jackie of the Zimmerman Agency for setting up this beautiful event! And to the great staff at Omni resorts for doing such a fine job in hospitality and guest services.
Longhorn Steakhouse Special Dinner for Two for $29.99! and Giveaway!
Longhorn Steakhouse, which has recently been going under construction to get a new facelift to their older structures and is a member of the Darden Restaurant Group, has come out with a new special.
This fall, Longhorn recently introduced a new three course dinner for two menu special for $29.99
Menu Specials
Steakhouse Dinner for Two $29.99Start with two fresh salads, then choose two entrees from 7 expertly grilled options. |
LongHorn Steakhouse was founded in 1981 by George McKerrow, Jr. and his father. McKerrow was a former manager at “Steak and Ale”. The first location, originally called LongHorn Steaks Restaurant & Saloon, opened on Peachtree Street in Atlanta, Georgia. It was a former antique store then a porn peep show place. The walls were still painted black and some of the booths were divided by recycled black partitions. He filled it with steer heads and western paraphernalia. The Longhorn featured top quality steaks grilled in a butter sauce.
It was across from a very popular restaurant, Harrison’s on Peachtree. Harrison’s was the favorite hang out of Atlanta Journal and Constitution columnist Ron Hudspeth and Lewis Grizzard. Hudspeth regularly featured quotes from “Pete the barkeep” at Harrison’s. Harrison’s had a very limited bar menu. So regulars ventured over to the Longhorn for a quality steak after a night of drinking. However, in January 1982, a sudden snow storm that became known as SnowJam 82, trapped the area’s commuter population within the city limits and McKerrow offered $1 drinks and menu specials to the stranded motorists. Hudspeth featured it in his column. A legend was born. This helped turn the struggling restaurant around.
By 1990, the franchise expanded further south. It primarily has locations throughout the Eastern United States. It also has a few locations in the Midwest, Southwest, and Puerto Rico.[citation needed]
In August 2007, LongHorn Steakhouse, formerly owned and operated by RARE Hospitality International Inc., was purchased by Darden Restaurants, Inc.
he restaurant is best known for serving various kinds of steak, including its “Flo’s Filet”. In addition to steak, the menu also includes: ribs, chicken, salmon, lobster, shrimp, and salads. Appetizers include their “Texas Tonion” and “Wild West Shrimp”; and side dishes are also served. The restaurant offers a full bar with draft and bottled beer, wine, and several signature margaritas. A lunch menu that includes soups, salads, sandwiches, and hamburgers is available.
Orlando Home Show this Weekend + Tickets Giveaway!
The good folks at Orlando Home Show are offering a special $4 discount off full-price $10 admission when purchasing online at www.orlandohomeshow.com and using the promo code “BLOGDEAL” at check out.
We are also giving away two free tickets to the show this weekend! Leave a comment below about what you look forward to seeing at the Orlando Home Show with your e-mail and the winner will be chosen tonight at 9pm using a random generator! Make sure you like our facebook too but not necessary to win. We’ll send you an email to let you know you won tonight!
Press release follows below
ORLANDO HOME SHOW RETURNS OCTOBER 7-9, 2011
BRAVO’s Top Chef Just Desserts Winner Yigit Pura to Appear
ORLANDO, Fla. – One of the region’s most anticipated fall events will be here in no time: the 2011 Orlando Home Show Show, returning October 7-9 to the Orange County Convention Center’s North/South complex off Universal Boulevard in Hall South B. Central Florida’s original, most-established home show boasts the area’s largest selection of the latest products and services for virtually every area of the home, indoors and out. Consumers can find inspiration, celebrity tips, must-see features, great entertainment and one-stop-shopping all under one roof.
New at this year’s show will be the creation of a one-of-a-kind sand sculpture.
Guests will be in awe when they watch an artisan from The Sand Sculpture Company — a 7-time Guinness World Record holder — create a unique work of art on the show floor. Construction begins on Friday and continues throughout the weekend, so guests should get there early for the best view! Returning crowd pleasers at the show include celebrity appearances and the edible Orlando Cooking Stage with many of the area’s top chefs dishing up delicious samples and tips.
According to research conducted by Marketplace Events, the nation’s largest producer of home shows, including the Orlando Home Show and the Central Florida Home & Garden Show, consumers continue to invest in their homes for their current enjoyment, as well as make smart improvements to help sell in the future.
“Local residents can find inspiration throughout our show floor and meet with hundreds of experts to get the most bang for their home improvement buck,” said Cristian Moore, Orlando show manager for Marketplace Events. “Our show has something for everyone and offers a fun day out.”
And a sweet one, too. BRAVO’s Top Chef Just Desserts winner Yigit Pura will bring his tantalizing talents to the edible Orlando Cooking Stage on Saturday at 12 noon and 3:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m.
Attendees can learn from other culinary experts and dig into delicious samples throughout the weekend at the edible Orlando Cooking Stage. Chefs from The Crooked Spoon, Big Wheel Provisions, The Rusty Old Hickory Steakhouse at Gaylord Palms Resort, edible Orlando and Whole Foods Market will appear, plus healthy cooking expert Charles Mattocks, known as “The Poor Chef,” and Real Radio 104.1’s self-proclaimed grill master, Dirty Jim, will also appear.
Guests can “spice up” their Saturday early evening at 6:00 p.m. with a one-hour live performance, followed by an autograph signing session, by Sony Music Latin recording artist Fabi?n. Presented by Jose 98.1, DJ Victor Pacheco “El Pache” will host this exclusive event, free with paid admission.
If you’re a steadfast DIY-er, you’re in luck: Dr. Fix-It, a guest columnist appearing every Sunday in the Orlando Sentinel, will present on the Home Improvement Stage on Friday and Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday at 11:00 a.m. with tips on tackling your most important projects while saving a bundle in the process.
And speaking of saving money, Josh Elledge of SavingsAngel.com® appears on the Home Improvement Stage at 12 noon on Friday and Sunday at 1:00 pm on Saturday with advice on “extreme couponing” without the time, hassle and waste usually associated with coupon-savvy shopping. From energy savings tips to fall entertaining ideas, guests can pick up helpful advice from a variety of other experts presenting throughout the weekend on the Home Improvement Stage.
Other experts can help you save in the garden, too. Fall offers some of the best gardening weather of the year in Central Florida and now is a great time to prune and plan before winter’s chill arrives. Show attendees can meet some of the area’s leading experts in gardening, landscaping, water features and supplies, including A & R Landscaping and Lighting, Knox Nursery, Pondtastic Water Gardens and Smithwell. Landscape Supply will also make an encore appearance at the show with a huge retail display of garden supplies, from mulch to trimmers.
Need home improvement advice but worried about missing the big game? Catch all of the college football action on Saturday and NFL games on Sunday at the Home Show End Zone, provided by the Home Theatre Geeks, Coast to Coast Communications and custom-themed tables by OFAB – perfect for putting your feet up after walking the show.
Guests can also shop, compare and save at hundreds of exhibits with the industry’s latest products and services for home and garden, plus enter into contest and prize drawings.
Show hours are Friday and Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m, and Sunday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Tickets are available at the door, and are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors (60+; this discount is ONLY valid at the door and no other discounts apply), $5 for students 13-18 (ID required), and free for children 12 years and younger.
Advance tickets can be purchased online for a $3 discount off full-price $10 admission at www.OrlandoHomeShow.com. Convenient on-site parking is available adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center off Universal Boulevard, and is $8 per car. Consumers can get a free parking pass (while supplies last) through the show’s partnership with Hometalk.com. (Visit www.OrlandoHomeShow.com to obtain a pass).
For more information, visit www.OrlandoHomeShow.com, or call 877-871-SHOW (7469). The Orlando Home Show and its spring sister show, the Central Florida Home & Garden Show (May 25-28, 2012) are both produced by Marketplace Events.
Kalbi…sweet delicious Korean beef short ribs
This photo was taken at Seoul Garden in Maitland, FL, a well-kept secret and one of the best Korean restaurants in town. Their Kalbi beef short ribs are sweet, succulent, chewy Korean goodness. Notice the glistening of its grease fat and imagine the splendor of its juicy tastes as you bite into the Kalbi pieces…
More to come…
Vitale Spa Cafe at Ritz Carlton Hotel
I recently took my significant other out for her birthday and treated her to a nice day out at the spa at the Ritz Carlton Orlando Grand Lakes. The Ritz Carlton Hotel is located off of John Young Parkway just south of SR 528. This spa actually placed in the top ten best resort spas as part of a recent Conde Naste Traveller magazine survey. Inside the Ritz Carlton just downstairs from the spa is the Vitale Spa Cafe, where one can enjoy some very delicious offerings while sipping tea with a beautiful view of the pool side.
The Vitale Spa Cafe offers some very healthy dishes ranging from salads to wraps and sandwiches, and also surprisingly, bento boxes. If you choose the bento box, you can have your pick of one protein from the list:
Citrus Marinated Grilled Chicken
Grilled Shrimp
Teriyaki Glazed Salmon
Grilled Snapper
Grilled Marinated Tofu
Filet Mignon Brochette
and also a Choice of 3 Sides:
Soy Glazed Mushrooms
Indian 3 Bean Salad
Soba Noodles
Mixed Greens
Tomato & Avocado
Fresh Fruit
Citrus & Hearts of Palm
Farro Salad
My partner chose the bento box with the Grilled Snapper with Fresh fruit, soy glazed mushrooms and mixed greens. The snapper was grilled to perfection, tasty and not too dry or too flaky. It reminded me of the way my dad used to grill fish in the backyard on summer afternoons when I was a child.
I chose to get the Seared Ahi Tuna with Heirloom Tomato and Baby Arugula, Soba Noodles, with Wasabi-Sherry Vinaigrette. The tuna was seared just right and was extremely fresh and red, just the way I like it. The tomato, arugula, and soba noodles all went well together with the wasabi sherry vinaigrette.
What I enjoyed most about my experience at Vitale Spa Cafe was its emphasis on fresh, healthy ingredients while also making the full flavors of the ingredients jump out in their dishes. The ingredients all went very well together and I was very pleased to find this unexpected gem of a cafe inside the Ritz Carlton hotel.
A look inside the Vitale Spa Cafe
Bento Box with Grilled Salmon and soy glazed mushrooms, fresh fruit, mixed greens.
The Seared Ahi Tuna with Heirloom Tomato, and baby arugula, soba noodles, with a Wasabi Sherry Vinaigrette
Bon Apetit
The Vitale Spa Cafe is open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. from Sunday – Thursday and 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Friday & Saturday. Located inside of the Ritz Carlton Hotel at Orlando Grande Lakes at 4012 Central Florida Parkway, Orlando, Florida 32837 USA.
Orlando Magical Dining Month September 2011 – Le Coq Au Vin Dinner for Two giveaway
Orlando Magical Dining Month is still going on this month! It ends at the end of September so make sure you check it out before its too late! All throughout this month you can get three course pre-fixe meals for $30 at select area restaurants. Visit www.orlandomagicaldining.com for details.
In order to spice things up with the month and encourage our readers to check out the restaurants, Visit Orlando is partnering up with Tasty Chomps! to provide gift certificates for dinner for two to the famous Le Coq Au Vin restaurant (http://www.lecoqauvinrestaurant.com/index.html)
Le Coq Au Vin is a French restaurant and winner of many Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards, rated by Zagat and Fodor’s. Le Coq au Vin Restaurant was among the first, open in 1976, and is still among the best Zagat America’s top restaurants 2009. Le Coq Au Vin restaurant is now owned and operated by Chef Reimund Pitz and his wife Sandy, in partnership with Chef Louis and Magdalena Perrotte. The cuisine reflects traditional classical cooking techniques as well as different cultural influences.
In order to enter the giveaway contest, please purview the OrlandoMagicalDining.com website to answer these questions and e-mail the responses to tastychomps@gmail.com with the subject heading “Orlando Magical Dining Month Contest!” to enter to win:
1. How many restaurants (including the number of multiple locations of a restaurant brand) are featured in the Orlando Magical Dining Month event?
2. Chef Brandon McGlammery is the executive chef for which Winter Park area restaurant?
3. What and where was Chef Juan Mercado of the Prickly Pear’s first professional kitchen job?
4. What charity does the Orlando Magical Dining Month benefit?
5. What day is the last day for Orlando Magical Dining Month?
Deadline to Enter: 11:59pm September 20 2011
Thank you for your participation!!
UCF Area – Kyoto Japanese Sushi and Grill
A hibachi chef clatters his utensils on the hot steel cooking surface, getting ready his next meal…behind a glass counter?
When you first enter Kyoto Sushi and Grill, formerly the location of a stand-alone Boston Market building, there aren’t large hibachi tables every where: only one behind the counter. Kyoto Sushi and Grill is a fast casual Japanese hibachi/ teppanyaki/ sushi joint in the UCF area and the unique part about this place is that you order at the counter, much like at the nearby Pei Wei’s, then receive a number and wait for your food at one of the tables in the dining area. The sushi and hibachi are prepared at the front and are behind the counter rather than in your face with flaming onion volcanoes. The trade-off is in the prices: for considerably less you can get your hibachi meal that you would typically get at a Kobe’s steakhouse, minus the show and high tickets. For lunch, its a steal for the quantity and quality of a hibachi meal that you receive.
On this occasion, I was in the area for lunch with an old friend. I ordered the steak and scallops hibachi lunch meal with the side salad and fried rice while my friend ordered the salmon hibachi meal with miso soup. There is a young and happy manager here who is always making sure you are taken care of, you can feel that customers receive a real genuine welcome. Although the decor is much like any fast food place, the seats are very comfortable and the tables are clean. Almost every seat in the house is taken up, its pretty amazing how busy it can be during lunch, which says a lot about the operation they are running here.
My steak and scallop hibachi meal was quite enjoyable: the scallops were large, plump, and flavorful not too chewy or too rare. The sirloin steak was cooked the way I wanted with a warm pink center. With the fried rice, I honestly believe that the food here is better than what you get at Kobe’s down the street at more than half the price and minus the glitz. My friend also enjoyed her meal and had enough for leftovers for dinner. Also, don’t forget to use the almighty white sauce to flavor things to your liking. All in all, Kyoto Sushi and Grill is probably shaping up to be one of my favorite places to go to lunch in the UCF area, if you can fight off the crowds. Itadakimasu!
This Kyoto Grill location is on the southwest corner of University Boulevard and Alafaya Trail, just at the gates of the University of Central Florida, is actually an offshoot of the original Kyoto Grill at the UCF Arena plaza on the north end of campus.
Order Menu board
The Hibachi and Sushi Bar
The Dining Area is packed!
Miso soup and side salad
Salmon and White Rice
Steak and Scallop Hibachi meal
yummy
Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza: Roasted Cauliflower pizza and craft beers
Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, out on Sand Lake Road in “Restaurant Row” near the Whole Foods Market, recently introduced their new Roasted Cauliflower pizza and craft beers to the line up. I personally never thought much of the cauliflower: it always reminded me of a color-less broccoli that had been cooking for too long so it falls apart so easily. In fact, it belongs to the species Brassica oleracea which also includes cabbage, brussels sprouts, kale, broccoli, and collard greens. But Anthony’s has come up with a way to actually make the cauliflower quite delectable by putting on their pizza, roasted and with no tomato sauce. The roasted cauliflower pizza is made with romano and mozzarella cheese, topped off with bread crumbs and olive oil and garlic.
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The Roasted Cauliflower Pizza
yes please.
Try it with some of their craft beer like the Dogfish Head Imperial India Pale Ale
or the chicken wings!
Orlando Magical Dining Month September 2011
Orlando Magical Dining Month is going on all throughout September 2011! Basically, some of Orlando’s finest restaurants are offering great, delicious prix-fixe 3 course meals for only $30 which include appetizer, entree, and dessert . One dollar from each meal will be donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida.
Check out their website: http://magicaldiningmonth.com for details! The below are the restaurants participating, location, and cuisine for this year.
Restaurant Name
Location
Cuisine
Osceola County
Asian
Mediterranean Deli & Gyros – East Orlando
I suppose East Orlando can be demarcated unofficially by the SR 417 . Mediterranean Deli & Gyros of East Orlando is actually owned by the brother of Walaid Ali of the Mediterranean Deli of Fairbanks Avenue in Winter Park. This location, like its predecessor, is located in a tiny strip mall plaza that you just might miss if you blink. Just a little bit east of the SR 417 on Colonial Drive/ SR 50, Mediterranean Deli offers much of the same great combo wraps, gyros, and salads that can be found at its sister location.
Inside, you’ll notice how bare the small place is: fluorescent lights humming above small cafe tables, toward the back a counter for ordering, and the obligatory posters of attractive women eating some of Kronos’ finest gyro meats.
The owner here is a big hearted man who cares for his customers like old friends. Walking down to the order counter, you can pick your choices from the various salads laid out in trays and also order your gyro or wrap for eating in or to go.
I order the gyro platter with Greek salad. The owner cuts strips of the gyro meat rotating in the back and heats the heaping mass of Kronos meat on a press which is also used for the pita bread heating. A dab of tzatziki sour cream sauce and bundled up in some foil wrap. The gyro was delicious and overflowing with meat. Though flavorful, the meat might have been a bit dry that day as we were one of the first to visit that day. A special favorite dessert here is the baklava, homemade by the owner’s wife and made from some of the finest ingredients and phyllo dough this side of town. You must try it.
Though I have had better Greek salads and falafels elsewhere, overall, I would definitely recommend checking this place out if you are in the area for a quick bite or lunch.
obucket” border=”0″ src=”http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac66/tastychomps/MEDI%20DELI%20ORLANDO/DSC07512.jpg” />Looking into the Mediterranean Deli and Gyros
Various combos and wraps are available
The counter with the salads
Spanakopita – spinach pies!
Gyro platter
Falafel, a fried ball of chickpeas/fava beans.
Baklava!
Farewell !
Big Fin Seafood Kitchen Restaurant – Seafood Happy Hour in Orlando
Big Fin Seafood Kitchen Restaurant, winner of Best Seafood Restaurant by the Orlando Sentinel Foodies Awards, serves up some of the freshest seafood in Orlando (its flown in daily and picked up from the Orlando International Airport). It’s located on Sand Lake Road in the Dellagio plaza sharing the same area as Fleming’s, Dragonfly, and other Restaurant Row staples.
As part of our continuing series on Happy Hour Specials in Orlando, I visited Big Fin Seafood with Pearleen Buchala of Megayummo.com. The Happy Hour runs from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM and is available in the bar areas known as the Trophy Bar and the Bar-A-Cuda Patio Bar (a very popular area with the locals). The restaurant itself is beautiful, towering high ceilings with a large globe centerpiece, rotating on its axis above the dining area. Classy red shades and the smell of wonderful fresh seafood pervade the restaurant.
Some of my favorites from the happy hour menu included the queen snow crab clusters, the freshest and succulent crab legs I have had in a while. You can tell that they weren’t sitting around somewhere waiting to be eating like at one of the many buffets around town that serve crab legs. These crabs were fresh and slightly sweet. Delicious. The 3 ounce cold water lobster tail, was also a standout from the happy hour menu. Despite being a small 3 ounces, it was still full of flavor and again very fresh. Overall, I think the drinks and appetizer specials are well worth the price and a great start to any meal at Big Fin Seafood Kitchen. It’s probably my favorite Seafood restaurant in Orlando at the moment.
$5 Happy Hour Appetizers
½ Dozen Raw Oysters
½ Dozen Grilled Oysters
Housemade Potato Chips with roasted garlic horse radish and bleu cheese fondue
Fried Green Tomatoes with remoulade
3 oz. Cold Water Lobster Tail
8 oz. Queen Crab Cluster
Steakhouse Sushi Roll
Spicy Tuna Roll
Angus Burger with sea salt fries
Beef Satay
Crispy Calamari
Popcorn Shrimp
Fish Tacos
Shrimp Shumai dumplings
Shrimp Cocktail
$5 Happy Hour Drinks
Wine
Caposaldo Pinot Grigio, Hogue Chardonnay,
Canyon Road Merlot, Parducci Pinot Noir, Santa Carolina Cabernet
House Wells
Russian Standard Vodka, Seagrams Gin, Don Q Rum,
Montezuma Tequila, Grant’s Scotch, Early Time Kentucky Whiskey
Martinis
Appletini, Cosmopolitan, Lemon Drop, Triton’s Tea & Georgia Peach
Specialty Drinks
Don Q Rum Mojito, Fuzzy Navel, Tequila Sunrise, Tropical Breeze
& Classic Margaritas
8 ounce Queen Crab Clusters
Shrimp Cocktail
Popcorn Shrimp
Spicy Tuna roll
Grilled Oysters
Fish Tacos
Angus Burger
Tropical Breeze and Classic Margarita
Steakhouse Roll
Crispy Calamari
Raw oysters
3 ounce lobster tail
check out MegaYummo.com’s Review of Big Fin Seafood Kitchen Here!
TastyChomps TRIVIA – Vietnam Scenes – What is this red fruit?
While in Phan Thiet, in south Vietnam, we came across miles and miles of these fruit trees. The fruit were picked and laid out in buckets in front of these little shops by the road. Can you tell me, what are these fruits?? Answer below in the comments!
Two Degrees All Natural Food Bars now available at Whole Foods Market
I recently received these free samples from Two Degrees, a socially conscious natural food bar that donates nutrition packs to children starving around the world through the World Health Organization. The bars I tried included chocolate peanut, apple pecan, and cherry almonds, all made with quinoa, chia and mullet whole grains. They were quite “healthy” tasting, a difference I could tell from the use of whole grain ingredients and natural foods. They are now available at Whole Food and you can read more about them below!
Two Degrees® now available at Whole Foods Market®
Two Degrees, the food company on a mission to help feed the world’s 200+ million hungry children, announced today the availability of its all-natural food bars at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide. Two Degrees is the first food company to adopt the one-for-one business model of social giving, donating one medically-formulated nutrition pack to a malnourished child for every one bar sold.
The nutrition packs that Two Degrees donates are endorsed by the World Health Organization and have become the global standard for treating childhood malnutrition. They are 95 percent effective in curing malnutrition, but only a fraction of children in need actually receive them. With the simple purchase of Two Degrees food bars, everyday consumers can help bridge this gap.
Two Degrees food bars are developed by the former Creative Chef and Director of Product Development for Odwalla, Barr Hogen. The bars are all-natural, gluten-free, vegan and under 200 calories, and come in three flavors: Chocolate Peanut, Cherry Almond and Apple Pecan. Two Degrees will begin selling nut-free flavors later this year. Individual bars retail for $2.49 and a box of nine bars retails for $21.99.
People can also make a difference by giving Two Degrees virtual bars to friends by email or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TwoDegrees. For every virtual bar given, Two Degrees donates a real nutrition pack to a malnourished child.
For more information and to locate your local Whole Foods Market selling Two Degrees, visit www.twodegreesfood.com.
Debbi Dyer of Orlando Florida needs your VOTE on 45th Pillsbury Bake-Off®
Debi Dyer from Orlando, FL needs your vote to become a finalist and compete for the $1 million grand prize. The Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest is letting You Be the Judge!, allowing consumers a chance to choose who gets to go to the Bake-Off Contest finals.
Visit www.bakeoff.com for official rules and to vote for Debi’s Ginger-Coconut Bars as it faces off against Peanut Butter Crème Cookie Cups entered by Mary Fields of Gilbert, AZ. At the end of two weeks, the home cook whose recipe receives the most votes will become one of 100 talented finalists competing in the 45th Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest in Orlando, Florida from March 25-27, 2012.
The recipe is currently facing off on www.bakeoff.com against Mary Fields’ Peanut Butter Crème Cookie Cups. Voting is open for these recipes until 12:59 p.m. EST on September 1, at which point 2 new recipes will face off. Only 1 from each pair will take the 10 open finalist spots where they will join 90 others in March 2012. The final competition will take place at the Peabody Orlando hotel on March 25-27, 2012 where 100 finalists compete for the $1 million grand prize.
Ginger-Coconut Bars
Category: Sweet Treats
Eligible Ingredients: Pillsbury® Ready to Bake Refrigerated Sugar Cookies 16 oz (24 ct)
Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
LAND O LAKES® Unsalted Butter
McCormick® Ground Ginger
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Start to Finish: 1 hour 55 minutes
1 package Pillsbury® Ready to Bake!™ refrigerated sugar cookies
2 cups flaked coconut
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 can (14 oz) Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/4 cup LAND O LAKES® Unsalted or Salted Butter, melted
4 teaspoons McCormick® Ground Ginger
4 bars (1.55 oz each) Hershey’s® milk chocolate candy
1/3 cup crystallized ginger, finely chopped
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13×9-inch pan with Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray. Evenly arrange cookie dough rounds in pan; let stand 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in large bowl, combine coconut, cracker crumbs, sweetened condensed milk, butter and ground ginger; mix well (mixture will be thick). Press cookie dough evenly into pan. Drop coconut by small spoonfuls over cookie dough; carefully spread over dough.
Bake 33 to 37 minutes or until edges are golden brown.
Remove from oven to cooling rack. Break up chocolate and place over hot bars. Let stand 2 to 3 minutes. With spatula or knife, spread melted chocolate over bars. Sprinkle with crystallized ginger. Cool 30 minutes. Refrigerate 30 minutes to set chocolate.
For bars, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.
24 bars
Debi Dyer
Orlando, FL
Teriyaki House – Taiwanese mom and pop in Orlando
I recently re-visited Teriyaki House in West Orlando for their authentic, delicious Taiwanese cuisine. I had previously posted on it here: Teriyaki House – Taiwanese Mom and Pop in Orlando. This time I brought along a few friends and loved ones to try their dishes out. Check out the video from the visit below!
Oviedo Food Truck Bazaar at the Oviedo Marketplace Mall August 2011
The Oviedo Food Truck Bazaar hosted by TheDailyCity.com at the Oviedo Mall took place this past Sunday August 14th 2011. I arrived to a rather wet scene, the Central Florida skies had become overcast with intermittent rain storms. The rain poured for a few minutes before slowly dissipating, allowing food truck lovers to head out from their cars, where we had all been hiding, and lined up to sample the delicious food truck offerings at the bazaar.
Food trucks at the Oviedo Mall included C&S; Brisket Bus, Firehouse BBQ, Melissa’s Chicken & Waffles, Tastebuds Catering, The Crooked Spoon, The Pupusas Truck, Korean BBQ Taco Box, The Travelling Gourmet, Big Wheel Provisions, Treehouse Truck, Gastro-Truck, Mama’s Fixins, CK Jerk Shack Gourmet Island BBQ, The Gator Truck, Yum Yum Cupcake Truck, The Batter Bowl, Sunset Italian Ice, and The Crepe Company.
I had the chance to eat a few pupusas from the tiny yellow Pupusa truck with my buddies. A pupusa is a Salvadorean dish made from a thick corn tortilla and filled with beans, cheese and pork or chicken. The pupusas are served with a side of salsa and some curtido (lightly fermented cabbage slaw with red chilies and vinegar), which go very well together on top of the pupusa if you so choose.
Pupusas!
The Fall 2011 schedule for Oviedo Food Truck Bazaar includes: Sept 11, Oct 9 and Nov 13, 5-9pm all three nights. There is no December bazaar. All Oviedo bazaars happen at Oviedo Mall.
also, if you enjoy food trucks in Central Florida, make sure you vote for your Favorite Food Truck for Food Network’s THE GREAT FOOD TRUCK RACE going on RIGHT NOW!
Click here to vote: http://foodtrucks.teamdigital.
You can vote up to 10 votes a day. Food trucks in the Great Food Truck Race nomination include Big Wheel Mobile Food Truck, CK Jerk Shack Gourmet Island BBQ, C&S; Brisket Bus, and KalbiHau5.
First Annual OB3: Orlando Bourbon, Beer N’ Bites in Baldwin Park Sept. 24, 2011
First Annual OB3: Orlando Bourbon, Beer N’ Bites in Baldwin Park Sept. 24, 2011
Bourbon Sippin’, Beer Tastin’, Good Food…all for a Great Cause
Bourbon Sippin’, Beer Tastin’, Good Food…all for a Great Cause
Orlando, FL – July 21, 2011 – The producers of the Orlando Chili Cook-off, Events for Change, Inc., announce the first annual OB3: OrlandoBourbon, Beer N’ Bites taking place Saturday, September 24th, 2011 in Baldwin Park to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). The WWP is an organization founded by veterans and friends who took action to help the injured service men and women who served for our country – they have helped countless numbers of veterans and their families adjust to civilian life.
Bourbon lovers, beer aficionados and foodies are invited to come out to Baldwin Park to sip, mingle and enjoy live, local music. Your $40 admission buys you a sampling glass so you can enjoy UNLIMITED sampling of beer and bourbon, along with “bites” from local restaurants.
OB3 admission includes:
* A souvenir glass, with commemorative logo, for sampling
* Unlimited Bourbon and Beer tastings
* Delicious Bites! Enjoy a selection of food from some of Orlando’s best restaurants
* Vote on your favorite “bite” and chow down on other food items for sale
* Learn something new at the Tasting Theater from a local chef, master distiller or brew master
* Listen to Live Music on the main stage all day
* Like football? Watch college football on our giant screen!
* Valet Parking and plenty of FREE Parking also available
* Shuttle to Park Ave., Central Ave. and in-and-around Baldwin Park.
Founded by a group of Baldwin Park locals in 2009, Events for Change, Inc. operates under a “good times for a great cause” philosophy. With an end goal of raising at least $10,000 for Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), attendees at OB3 will get the chance to have fun while making a difference. “The event falls on the 10-year anniversary month of 9/11, so it’s a perfect time to give back to those who served our country,” Kenneth Roberts, Events for Change Founder explains.
VIP tickets are available for $50 on a first come, first served basis (only 1,000 available). A VIP ticket holder receives a 5 oz. commemorative glass and special lanyard (for hands free drinking), a private bar with waitress service, two extra hours to sample bourbon and beer before the crowd arrives and special seating, right in the middle of the action.
Tickets can be purchased and additional information can be found at: www.ob3fest.com or at the official OB3 Headquarters, Paddy Murphy’s Irish Pub in Baldwin Park www.orginalpaddymurphys.com. Find us on Facebook at: OB3: Orlando Bourbon, Beer N’ Bites to stay updated as the event approaches.
Eastern Pearl Chinese Restaurant by the Orlando International Airport aka the Airport District
With two locations, one in Altamonte Springs and the other near the Orlando International Airport tucked off of a side street of Semoran Boulevard, Eastern Pearl is probably one of the better Chinese restaurants around town. It is actually a sit down Chinese restaurant rather than your typical “New York” style Chinese (what does that mean anyway? cheap and fast Chinese take out joint?), with a full menu of dishes ranging from Szechuan specialties to traditional fried rice and seafood tofu hotpot, as well as “Americanized” offerings of general tso’s chicken, etc. (thanks Rob!)
I recently visited the Airport location for Eastern Pearl to check out their offerings. Although it isn’t the best Chinese out there, it is passable if you are in the area looking for some Chinese fare.
The biggest surprise that I had was that Eastern Pearl served soup dumplings, Shanghai style dumplings filled with small amounts of piping hot soup that spewed out from the dumpling when you bit into them. The only other place that I have had these devilishly good dumplings was in New York’s Chinatown where they serve an excellent rendition of the dish. The dumplings here, though not as authentic or flavorful as the hand made ones in New York, were enjoyable enough. I would wait to go to NYC to try the real thing though.
We also ordered the sizzling pepper steak, a huge plate of slices of beef served literally sizzling on a hot plate. Also ordered was the seafood tofu hot pot, a tricky dish to master as it often comes out a bit bland in most Chinese restaurants. Here the dish was okay. Which is pretty much my thoughts for Eastern Pearl, an okay Chinese restaurant that is a bit of a hybrid between the traditional Chinese authentic restaurants and the more ‘Americanized’ Chinese places that have been popping up every where. Don’t get me started on all the new Chinese buffets in the area!
A look inside of Eastern Pearl
“Shanghai soup dumplings” aka xiao long bao
Seafood tofu hotpot
Share our Strength’s 22nd Annual Taste of the Nation Orlando 2011 event recap
Share our Strength’s 22nd Annual Taste of the Nation Orlando 2011 event recap
Chef Ryan Cross – Creme Brulee from JW Marriott Hotel
Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation is the nation’s premier culinary benefit dedicated to
ending childhood hunger in America. Each spring and summer, national celebrity chefs
and mixologists donate their time, talent and passion at nearly 40 events across the
United States and Canada with one goal in mind: to raise critical funds needed to help end childhood hunger.
This was my first time ever going to the Taste of the Nation event here in Orlando and I must say it is the foodie event of the year.
The Taste of the Nation Orlando was held at the Marriott Hotel at World Center Drive right outside of Epcot in a beautiful ballroom. Tables lined the ballroom with chefs and their foods, a silent auction for charity, and a center stage with live music and a friendly “cook off” competition featuring Creekstone Farm’s angus steak.
Over 35 restaurants from all over Central Florida presented “tastes” ranging from pork belly dishes, desserts, lobster tacos, bratwurst sandwiches, prime angus beef cuts, and much more all in the name of charity. Many of the dishes were truly outstanding, loaded with complex flavors, textures, and made from the utmost quality ingredients. I felt like I was in some foodie heaven.
Taste of the Nation 2011 Highlights
- Over $167,500 raised at Taste of the Nation to Fight Childhood Hunger
- Local beneficiaries are Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, along with the statewide Florida Impact.
- Close to 2,000 people attended
- Food was prepared by 36 of Central Florida’s leading restaurants, bubbly and other beverages from 12 top providers, and live music by local band, Bucksworth.
- The winner of the Creekstone Farms “throw-down” cooking competition, judged by Orlando City Mayor Buddy Dyer, along with Orlando Restaurant Guide’s Scott Joseph and WFTV anchor Bob Opsahl was chef Dan Nester of Rosen Shingle Creek Resort. Creekstone Farms (who has the absolutely most delicious cut of angus steak I have ever had) donated $5000 to the cause in the name of Rosen Hotels.
Last year, Coalition for the Homeless provided over 302,000 meals to homeless individuals
and families, including over 220 children each night with an average age of under 10 years old; Second Harvest Food Bank distributed more than 30 million pounds of grocery product,
the equivalent of over 20 million meals.
Some of my favorite items of the night and a few photos follow:
100% of Proceeds go to the Coalition for the Homeless and Second Harvest Food Bank
Maria Diestro of Second Harvest Food Bank, Katy Widrick of Katywidrick.com, Mr. Tasty Chomps, and Pearleen Buchala of Megayummo.com at Taste of the Nation!
Maria Diestro of Second Harvest Food Bank, Katy Widrick of Katywidrick.com, Mr. Tasty Chomps, and Pearleen Buchala of Megayummo.com at Taste of the Nation!
An absolutely amazing, fresh cup of seafood gumbo from Cress
Cress’ Chef Pulapaka is a 2011 James Beard Regional Award Nominee for the South
Cress’ Chef Pulapaka is a 2011 James Beard Regional Award Nominee for the South
Beef empanada
This guy was tall!!
Chef Jean-Louis’ Award winning Banana Foster from The Royal Plaza at Disney
My favorite dessert of the night!
My favorite dessert of the night!
Thomas Thorspecken of http://www.analogartistdigitalworld.com/ sketching
Sanaa of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge in watercolor
Delicious desserts!
Chefs from Marriott Hotels and Rosen Hotels compete for $5000
using the angus beef from Creekstone Farms
Pistacchio Macaroons from JW Marriott – crispy and sweet, a wonderful dessert
Molten Lava chocolate cake from JW Marriott
Watermelon Brulee from Emeril’s Tchoup Tchoup
A pork belly dish from Cafe TuTu Tango
Sliced Salumi cones from The Ravenous Pig
Bratwurst on Pretzel bread with mustard seeds – The Ravenous Pig
Technical Education Center of Osceola County
BBQ Pork Belly with baked beans, apricot chips
Longhorn Steakhouse
A delicious flan dessert with white chocolate and coconut crisp from Renaissance Hotels
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Slow roasted pork taco from Nestle Professionals
Molten Lava chocolate cake from JW Marriott
Watermelon Brulee from Emeril’s Tchoup Tchoup
A pork belly dish from Cafe TuTu Tango
Sliced Salumi cones from The Ravenous Pig
Bratwurst on Pretzel bread with mustard seeds – The Ravenous Pig
Technical Education Center of Osceola County
BBQ Pork Belly with baked beans, apricot chips
Longhorn Steakhouse
A delicious flan dessert with white chocolate and coconut crisp from Renaissance Hotels
Slow roasted pork taco from Nestle Professionals
Vanilla Ice Cream made via liquid nitrogen
Fellow UCF SGA alumni and current blogger Julie F from PBFingers.com
One of my favorite dishes of the evening: Spicy Durban chicken with basmati rice, chutney, and papadum from Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
MegaYummo workin it at the dessert bar!
Happy Birthday Cake to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer
Happy Birthday time – break it down Mayor Dyer!
Judges Scott Joseph, Buddy Dyer, and Bob Opsahl for the Creekstone Farms throw down!
The winning dish from Chef Dan Nester of Rosen Shingle Creek Resort
Cash money! to charity !
Visit the following websites for more information:
http://www.strength.org
http://www.FeedHopeNow.org
http://www.centralfloridahomeless.org
http://www.flimpact.org
