Circosta – Italian – Oviedo
Pizza Fusion – Pizza – Sand Lake Road
Pizza Fusion in Orlando
yup thats a toyota hybrid for pizza deliveries 😀
Inside the Pizza Fusion restaurant
The Rotodex oven behind the pizza man Zach
A few years ago Pizza Fusion owner Michael Day’s daughter developed some health issues. Wary and cautious of the effects of all the medications and pharmaceuticals, he and his wife decided that it was time for a family lifestyle change. They began by cutting out milk from their diets, and along their way to leading more healthier life styles, Michael’s daughter’s illnesses began to fade away.
It is no small coincidence that there is a direct correlation between diet habits and health. Recent studies show that our diets of increasingly processed, manufactured foods have increased the rates of heart disease, obesity, diabetes and a myriad of other health issues eventually leading to shorter lifespans.
Michael and his wife brought Pizza Fusion to Orlando with all of that in mind, bringing together two aspects and fusing them: all natural, organic food with a green-minded business model. Most of the building material that make up Pizza Fusion, from the wooden tables to the lightbulbs, are made of either reclaimed or recycled or energy efficient material, saving not only the earth but also saving on cost and efficiency.
On our visit, we tried out the “sampler” of beer organically brewed right here in Orlando at the Orlando Brewing Company, the only place licensed in the state to organically brew their own beer. The beer ranged from light to dark ales and were a great accompaniment to our pizza.
My friend Ed ordered the personal Big Kahuna pizza, a Hawaiian with bacon, fresh organic pineapple, red onion, tomato sauce, and cheese on a multigrain bread. I ordered the personal Spinach and Artichoke pizza with roasted garlic, tomato sauce and cheese.
Hawaiians made with real pineapple, not the canned stuff
The best part of the evening was the “XL” pepperoni pizza, a 28″ (the longest pizza I have ever seen!) bazooka shaped pizza with a slightly tangy tomato sauce, three cheese blend (parmesan, mozzarella, and provolone ) and topped with giant 3″ sized organic pepperoni.
A young mother passed by on the way out, grateful for having healthy food that her daughter enjoys and is actually not allergic to. Pizza Fusion also serves their pizza on gluten free crust for those who are allergic to gluten.
Overall, the pizza tasted healthy and good, and afterward there was none of that heavy, greasy feeling that usually accompanies pizza. I definitely recommend coming here with your family and getting the XL pepperoni pizza to try out, it will definitely spark some wide eyed gazes and happy tummies.
Special Thanks to Michael Day and Pizza Fusion for placing this visit for us! I am glad that I got to come by and talk to the owner and share in their inspiration and passion for food.
Special Events
KARAOKE on Monday Nights 6:30PM-9:30PM
Pizza Fusion Orlando
7563 West Sand Lake Road
Orlando, FL 32819
www.pizzafusion.com/orlando
Amura Sushi – Orlando
I visited Amura Sushi a while ago. Maybe I had too high of expectations, maybe I was hoping to find that one perfect place to go for some delicious, melt in your mouth, freshly cut, savory sushi at Amura. Alas, my hopes were too high and my visit to Amura proved to be quite ordinary.
Appetizer sampler at Amura
Rolls Royce at Amura
I have a problem with places that charge too much for too little. That’s how I felt when I ordered the Rolls Royce, and all I got was rice with a sliver of shrimp in the middle drizzled with sweet sauce and topped with masago. I know it looks pretty but pretty is not going to fill my tummy. The Crystal Bubble roll that I got reminded me of a Vietnamese spring roll wrapped in rice paper. Maybe I ordered the wrong rolls this time around, but overall I was quite underwhelmed with my experience at Amura.
Crystal Bubble Roll
Amura was just okay.
Pho Vinh – Vietnamese – Orlando
Pho Vinh – Vietnamese – Orlando
One of the newest contenders to throw their hat into the Vietnamese restaurant ring: Pho Vinh. Coming onto the scene with strong traditional Vietnamese offerings, Pho Vinh is a restaurant where attention must be paid.
Sitting in the remodeled building that once housed 4-5-9 Chinese restaurant on Primrose, the decor is elegant and simple, with pink orchid decor and paintings of Vietnamese women and children along the walls ( a la Lac Viet nearby). Right next door is Pho Hoa who also provides decent Vietnamese fare for our area. It’s a shame that not more people know about these two restaurants, despite being only a few blocks away from the busy Mills Avenue / Colonial Dr corridor.
Among the many dishes I have tried on various visits here with friends and loved ones, a few things stood out for me. The flavor of the Pho here at Vinh is deep and tasty, and the meat is plentiful. The thit nuong (grilled pork) is exceptional, where I once thought that all the Vietnamese restaurants used the same meat or recipe, the grilled pork here is actually quite delicious.
The service isn’t too bad here either as the waiters on all occasions have been considerate and thoughtful during our meals, bucking the trend of brutish service at our local establishments.
Overall, Pho Vinh is a pleasant surprise and welcome addition to the Orlando food scene.
Banh Xeo – A Vietnamese crepe/pancake dish stuffed with shrimp and pork
(make sure you dip it in the fish sauce provided)
I like to wrap my egg rolls in lettuce and dip it in the sauce yummy
Bun Bo Hue – a mildly spicy noodle soup from the city of Hue
Izziban – Sushi – Orlando
Izziban – Sushi – Orlando
Izziban is a sushi restaurant located close to the Florida Mall on the southwest corner of Orange Blossom Trail and Sand Lake Road. I’m always cautious when there is a sushi restaurant calling itself a derivative of “Ichiban’ meaning “number one” with two zz’s, but hey maybe it is their twist on the traditional. It turned out to be one of the better sushi places around town and I was glad that I dropped in for dinner on this evening.
Inside, the decor is pretty sleek, a modern blue metallic sheen on the walls and settings. There is a long sushi bar that runs along one of the walls.
Izziban has some pretty interesting and unique rolls, some ok and some really good.
On this evening we tried the Sushi Pizza. a interesting invention made with: Seaweed Paper Tempura topped with Crab, Shrimp, Mushroom, Avocado, Scallion, Masago, & Mozzarella (Oven Baked). It was definitely a different twist to the traditional sushi rolls, though not a particular favorite.
Futomaki roll
the Cowboy roll was probably the favorite of the evening, made with delicious bulgogi beef
I would definitely come back and try some more items on the list, there were just so many I didn’t know where to start!
Valentine’s Day is coming!
Valentine’s Day is this weekend! What are your plans with your loved ones? 😀
Four Rivers Smokehouse – BBQ – Orlando
Four Rivers Smokehouse – BBQ – Orlando
I finally got to try Four Rivers Smokehouse, yes I know I am late on this train, and as has been professed over and over again: Four Rivers is pretty damn good ‘que!
Located on a corner on Fairbanks Ave right before I-4 in Winter Park, Four Rivers is a brick house building with one thing on its mind: really good barbeque for the masses. They have only been open a few months and yet the line is almost always out the door and wrapped around the street.
The first thing you will notice is that parking is a bit limited, but there’s additional parking across the street, and also “they’re working on it”. The ordering system is much like the “fast casual” style that have been proliferating throughout the nation a la Chipotle and Qdoba, etc. You order at the counter and they put the plates together as you walk to the register. It is a delight to see the gentleman at the counter slice your brisket right off as you order.
The dining room is actually outdoors so it may not be the best idea to go on a stormy night. There are about six picnic tables as well as heaters in this room for those “cold” Florida winter days.
I met up here on this evening with a few of my bros Kha and Ed who just got off of work as well. Kha ordered the brisket with a side of prime rib with baked cheesy grits and other sides. I ordered the beef brisket platter with added pulled pork and some fried pickles and collard greens and baked beans. Ed ordered a half rack of St Louis ribs and some pulled pork. All was delicious and you could tell they took great care in their food. We actually had left overs cause there was so much food.
Is it worth the wait? Hell yes it is. (but you can order ahead and pick it up at the window if you don’t feel like waiting hah). Indeed it is the best barbeque in Orlando thus far.
Mark’s Caribbean – East Orlando
Mark’s Caribbean – East Orlando
Mark’s Caribbean sits in a small, somewhat shady plaza on the corner of Dean road and University Blvd. My brother Ninh and I were on our way to the park when we decided to drop by one morning. I was in the mood for some delicious Jamaican spicy beef patty.
Inside, the decor is minimal, and otherwise pretty typical of a Caribbean joint with bright yellow colors and wooden chairs, creating the feeling of being down home in the islands, or so I would imagine. We ordered our spicy beef patties, denoted by the red dot on the patty, and were good to go.
I must say, I did enjoy these patties quite a bit. The bread used for the patty was flaky and crispy, unlike any other patty I have had before. The meat was the usual ground beef in gravy type deal. All in all it was a tasty patty, and I would definitely go back to try the rest of their menu for some good Caribbean cooking.
The Jamaican beef patty (spicy as noted) at Mark’s Caribbean
Holeman-Finch Public House – Gastropub – Atlanta
Holeman-Finch Public House – Gastropub – Atlanta
Holeman-Finch is a newly arrived starlet on the Atlanta culinary scene. With seating very limited, this “public house” is crawling with young professionals out on the town as well as families out for the night. The space is very small, with a bar taking up one side and a few tables and booths and seats on the other end. Once arriving inside, you can see through a long window the inner workings of the chef’s kitchen with the masters putting together their art pieces for tonight’s consumption.
After about a wait, we are seated to a small table to the side. The food here is served in small dishes, similar to tapas with similar pricing. Knowing this ahead of time we decide to order several dishes, beginning with the deviled eggs, prepared three ways:
Deviled Eggs three ways
Cornish Hen with Polenta and rosemary jub
Seared strube ranch Kobe Beef sirloin with parsnip puree and candied shallot
Pork Shoulder confit on top of braised collard greens with an apple cider glaze
Fried Apple pie – a caramelized empanada with ice cream
Overall, it was a enjoyable meal despite the cramped circumstances. I wish I could have stayed longer to try their famous burger, of which only 24 are made a night at a certain time…
IKEA Furniture Store…the Restaurant?
IKEA Furniture Store…the Restaurant?
IKEA, the affordable, chic Swedish furniture store near the Mall at Millenia here in (mostly) sunny Orlando, Florida is not only home to cheap, well designed living room and dining room sets, but also to a small and similarly cheap dining hall.
More like a cafeteria than anything, Ikea’s cafe serves up some pretty good Swedish meatballs with mashed potatoes and lingonberries. Although they are probably not the best Swedish balls in the world, they do well to hold one over when shopping the voluminous furniture store.
A bottle of some lingonberry apple juice
It’s a cafeteria
Is this a traditional Swedish meal?
Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, and lingonberries – good enough for now!
A Swedish dessert with some caramel
Pom Pom’s Teahouse and Sandwicheria – UCF Area
Pom Pom’s Teahouse and Sandwicheria – UCF Area
This place is pretty awesome………. The atmosphere is very chill and relaxed and the servers are all very friendly. The space is a bit small with a few bar stools and a few tables around the room.
Inside Pom Pom’s Teahouse and Sandwicheria ….a black board!
Inside Pom Pom’s at UCF
Friends enjoying a lovely Friday afternoon
I ordered the Mama Ling Ling’s Thanksgiving sandwich ($8), probably the favorite of the bunch my friends and I ordered today: stuffed with turkey meat, stuffing, cranberry, and mashed potatoes with a side of gravy to dip in! it definitely gave me the holiday good feelings! in my belly.
Mama Ling Ling’s Thanksgiving rox
Pasta salad of the day with turkey pastrami
My friends ordered a Fu Manchu sandwich and a Asian bbq sandwich. I believe part of the secret ingredient is the hoisin bbq sauce. Although they both enjoyed their sandwiches, the goat cheese in the fu manchu was sensory overload and did not appear to go well, but c’est la vie.
The Fu Manchu stuffed with asian bbq pulled pork, goat cheese, watercress, and asian slaw!
Asian BBQ Slaw
if you order a drink, a side is only $.50 more!
Overall, Pom Pom’s Teahouse and Sandwicheria is recommended for a chill environment and some great sandwiches.
Tasty Chomps Rating!!!!
4 out of 5 Tasty CHOMPS!!!!
2010 Vietnamese Lunar New Year Festival at the Central Florida Fairgrounds
Vietnamese “Tet” Lunar New Year Festival at the Central Florida Fairgrounds
This year the Vietnamese Tet Lunar New Year holiday falls on Sunday February 14 also Valentine’s Day, and also shared by the Chinese Lunar New Year. This year is the year of the Tiger and as holidays go, Tet is the biggest and most important holiday of the year: a time when families reunite, homes are cleansed, and offerings are made to the heavens.
The Vietnamese community puts on various events through out the month to celebrate the holidays and usually try to spread their festivities apart so as not to step on each others toes. This past weekend was the big two day Tet Festival put on by the Vietnamese Association of Central Florida which included a beauty pageant for Miss Vietnam Florida as well as various children acts and performances and most importantly of all…VIETNAMESE FOOD!
Sure, Vietnamese restaurants have plenty of Vietnamese food, but its usually the same things on everyone’s menu. At the Tet Festival there are dozens of booths with homemade Vietnamese dishes from dumplings to banh xeo pancakes to the traditional banh tet sticky rice in bamboo leaves, and more. It is truly a foodie’s delight and probably the closest thing to Vietnam this side of Central Florida .
The only thing about this festival that I don’t like is that it costs about $10 just to go in for the day…Maybe one day they can have it free. There is another festival this weekend on Saturday put on by the Vietnamese catholic church in Orlando St Thanh Philliphe and on the actual weekend of new year’s there will be many other celebrations in town, mostly at the temples.
banh tet?
Banh mi viet subs of course
Beef balls on a stick!
Cha Chien, fried pork deli meat
Cha gio – Vietnamese spring rolls
Banh beo
banh xeo – its called xeo because of the crackling noise it makes as it fries
xeo xeo xeooo
shrimp dumpling
chao long, congee with pig intestines, blood sausage, and pretty much every other piece of pork
Greetings to Lollicup !
Meat on a stick
Traditional candies and gifts for new years
Del Dio Pizzeria
Del Dio Pizzeria
The pizza at this place is pretty bangin. The crust is thin and crispy, yet actually tastes like bread rather than cardboard and the cheese is fresh and yummy. There is surprisingly alot of bad pizza places in Orlando and Del Dio’s thankfully is one that does pizza justice. And of course i fold it in half to eat it. Sure its greasy but still, a very tasty Chomp!!
I got a slice of Pepperoni Pizza, thin crust, around $2.50
The only thing that sucks about this place is that its hidden! in a plaza, next to HH Gregg on Colonial . If you get off the Crystal Lake exit on SR 408 and go north you’ll see it on your right, right before the Colonial Drive light. They also serve quite a few other dishes here, so I will definitely try to come by and check it out again.
Fox Bros BBQ – Atlanta, GA
Fox Bros BBQ – Atlanta, GA
With its reputation for having some of the best bbq around Atlanta, I knew I had to arrive early at Fox Brothers BBQ. I decided to meet with my friend Eric here for some lunch before the lunch crowd started. Luckily we did because within minutes, around 11:30 am, the place started filling up with guests from all over.
There’s not much inside Fox Brothers, just your typical bar dive kind of look, but the meat is where its at. We begin our order with the “smoked wings”, hickory smoked jumbo wings tossed in their home made bbq sauce. It was one of the first times I’ve ever tried smoked wings and I must say they were a delightful treat with a touch of tangy sweetness and smokey goodness that can only come from a masterful bbq man.
For our lunch, we shared a whole rack of baby back ribs, my favorite of the items offered. It was succulent and juicy, with just the right amount of spices rubbed in and barbequed to perfection. I would go back again and again for just these ribs alone!
For our sides we had some of the mac and cheese, a bowl of tomato-y brunswick stew, and tater tots. My partner ordered a plate of brisket, however we did not enjoy them as it was a bit cold when it came out, like it was old or something. Otherwise the meal was very enjoyable.
Fox Brothers BBQ is one of the best barbeque joints I’ve ever been to. If you’re ever in Atlanta, definitely check it out! especially for their ribs!! nom nom nom
Tasty Chomps Rating !!!!
4.5 out of 5 CHOMPS
Cafe 101 – Taiwanese – Atlanta
Cafe 101 Atlanta
A rainy, cold morning in Atlanta. Pulling out of the slicked streets and pulling into the parking lot, the giant hexagonal shaped building of Cafe 101 loomed over us. One strange looking building. But my friends Vince and Lisa say that the food here is pretty authentic Taiwanese style so I decided it’d be worth a visit.
The inside of Cafe 101 was not as horrid as its exterior. Walls covered with posters, new table sets and decor, all gave the feeling of a traditional yet modern Chinese setting.
A Look inside Cafe 101
We began with a complementary hot and sour soup and some pickled cucumbers, and although I am not usually a fan of hot and sour soup, this one tasted a bit more balanced than the standard too sour variety found in NY Style Chinese restaurants.
Hot and Sour Soup
Our first order arrived: the spicy Szechuan style beef noodle soup. It was a steaming bowl of noodle deliciousness, filled with a wonderful broth, small chunks of beef, spices, and collard greens.
Beefy Szcheuan noodle soup
I also ordered their “basil chicken” or in chinese “sam ding gai” (three cups chicken). My partner thought that the basil was a bit strong but I thought it was just the right mix of sauces and herbs. The chicken was tender and arrived in a clay pot. Delicious.
“Basil Chicken” or Sam ding gai
The last order was my least favorite, not to say it was bad or anything, but the “House special Tofu” was just a dish with very large rectangular chunks of tofu in a soy based sauce, nothing to write home about.
Tofu House Special
Overall the experience was pretty good and I would definitely want to come back to try some of the other dishes with my friends Vince and Lisa.
Overall Tasty Chomps Rating!!!
4 out of 5 Tasty Chomps!!!!
So Kong Dong – Korean – Atlanta Georgia
So Kong Dong – Korean – Atlanta Georgia
A dark, cold night in a dark, cold strip mall plaza. The sound of moving cars on Buford highway rumbled behind us as we took another step closer to So Kong Dong, out of the cold and into the warm embrace of spicy tofu stew and motherly Korean waitresses.
Stepping inside, the decor is like a comfy old house you may see in Korean dramas. Comfy homey feel for comfy homey food. We sit and are immediately greeted by a older Korean lady with a constant smile. They are really nice here and attentive to our water glasses and everything else.
To our delight, we notice there are special combo value meals that combine 1) type of tofu stew with 2) kalbi, the delicious bbq short ribs of korea. I order the seafood and beef stew as well as a pancake while my partner orders the kimchi tofu stew. The kalbi that came on a plate with the stew was one of the most deliciously flavored kalbi I have ever had and the stew was warm and hearty. A perfect dinner to warm up the cold night.
A look inside So Kong Dong – Atlanta, Ga
banchan or assorted dishes
So Kong Dong’s delicious short ribs aka kalbi
buckwheat noodles myun yummy
Seafood pancake
the seafood and beef tofu stew! at So Kong Dong
bon apetit!
A Trip to Atlanta Georgia …
This past holiday season, I had the pleasure of traveling to Atlanta for some R & R and also visit a few of the land marks of Atlanta. It was a cold couple of days but enjoyable nonetheless. I went with my partner to both the Georgia Aquarium and saw whale sharks get fed (yummy plankton chomp!) and also next door to the World of Coca Cola Museum, the highlight of which is the 60 odd flavors of various coke products throughout the world .
For breakfast on the first day, by the suggestion of a few fellow foodies, I visited nearby Alon’s Bakery and Market for some delicious pastries and food. Inside, the Alon’s Bakery was designed in European style with a bakery, deli, and more all quite nicely displayed. I ordered a poppyseed danish while my partner had the croissant. The only complaint was the pricing of all of the products, which I found to be a bit too high.
Poppyseed pastry at Alon’s
Croissant
Mocha cappuccino
Overall everything was pretty good, but also pretty pricey 🙁
CNN CENTER VISIT
There is a huge food court inside attached to the Georgia Dome
Even CNN has a snuggie, do you?
The Centennial Park, site of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games
Georgia Aquarium
the largest sushi bar ever jk no sushi 🙁
Whale Shark feeding time chomp chomp
giant japanese Spider crab
World of Coca Cola
they had me thoroughly brainwashed by the end of this. the Taste it section at the end where you get to taste all the coke products was definitely the best part of the whole thing.
Though I did have a tummy ache full of carbon dioxide and syrup after this event…
My favorite was the sodas from Asia haha surprise.
the secret formula to coke? no just a inventory list from back in the day
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfU17niXOG8]
my favorite coke commercial of all time
yes i have been brainwashed i cant get enough of coke now -_-
Food Shack – Jupiter Florida
Food Shack – Jupiter Florida
During the holidays I was able to check out a popular little place by Jupiter Beach as well as catch up with an old friend from high school. The place is called Little Moir’s (pronounced Moyer) Food Shack, or just Food Shack for short.
I’ve always drove by this place and noticed the long lines waiting outside its door. Trusting in the wisdom of crowds, I made a guess that this place may be worth a visit.
After about a 20 minute wait, my friend and I are ushered into the “Food Shack“. Inside, the decor is definitively “beachy” themed with tikis, oceany memorabilia, and tropical colored lights make it feel like some dive bar near the Florida keys rather than the Palm Beaches. The place is small (no wonder there is always a line) with probably no more than 25 seats in the whole place.
Jupiter is not known for great or cutting edge cuisine, but the Food Shack is an exception. The menu is updated daily and contains mostly seafood with a pacific twist.
We begin our order with an appetizer: the Fried tuna and basil roll with wasabi dipping. My friend Jesse comments that “it’s really good.” I concurred. For our entrees, he had the sweet potato crusted yellowtail over greens with green beans, mango, and a garlic lime dressing while I had the butternut and rosemary crusted yellowtail over greens with asparagus, apple, pears and a tomato lime dressing. The dishes were creative and executed very well.
My friend Jesse, Princeton grad and Stanford Med student,
ready to devour his plate and conquer its soul
ready to devour his plate and conquer its soul
New York, New York
I am heading for another Tasty Chomps adventure in New York City this weekend! Where should I go? 😀
Golden Lotus – Dim Sum – Orlando
Golden Lotus – Dim Sum – Orlando
For a city with a relatively thriving Asian population, Orlando is surprisingly lacking in the delicious dim sum department. Sure there are establishments out there that serve dim sum, and some proclaim they do but really don’t (Dim Sum Feast in Pine Hills does not – its a buffet). Of my visits to various Chinese restaurants in our area, I believe that Ming’s Bistro still stands firmly as the best for dim sum, if you don’t mind the weekend crowds.
If you are not in the downtown area, there is one other place in Orlando where I can trust their dim sum to be deemed delightful: Golden Lotus.
Situated in awkward Wal-Mart Plaza on the corner of John Young Blvd and Sand Lake Rd, you might visit it if you are headed to or coming from the Florida Mall just a few street lights away. The place is often sparse on the weekdays but can get quite busy on the weekend. They serve dim sum every day till 4 pm.
Inside, at first glance it may seem to be another stereotypical “Chinese” restaurant, but take a look closer and you will find delicious wonders within.
Although the die hard dim sum fans who love the “authentic” push dim sum carts may be disappointed that Golden Lotus only serves their dim sum the “list” way, I actually love that they use this method rather than the former. The reasons are simple: I hate waiting for a slow moving cart who by the time reaches your table, has either a) ran out of desired dish b) not have the dish at all or finally, c) is stale/cold from sitting there all day.
I’d much rather order on a list and at least assure that my food is hot and fresh and I get what I want.
Anyways, Golden Lotus has some delicious food ….
In case you forget what is what they have a helpful little menu outside with photos and corresponding names:
other delicious items on their menu:
one of the most popular dishes:
Steamed Shrimp Dumplings (or Ha Gow in Cantonese)
Steamed Shrimp Dumplings (or Ha Gow in Cantonese)
Steamed Pork dumplings (siu mai)
( i think its actually rice vermicelli noodles inside…)
Fried Shrimp Dumpling
Fried Shrimp Dumpling (chomped)
Shrimp rice paste (don’t ask me why its called rice paste)
Singapore sweet bun
Sweet Egg custards
Beef Chow Fun Noodles
Dan Dan noodles (it was ok)
Overall, I would highly recommend Golden Lotus for some good, fairly priced authentic Chinese food and would rate it 2nd only to Ming Bistro . Also try the Szcheuan Beef Noodle soup here, a huge steamy bowl of deliciousness.
“EAT LOCAL” Slow Food Orlando Week!
The Orlando chapter of Slow Food USA is working to raise awareness of the Slow Food philosophy in our Central Florida community and are starting the first-ever Slow Food Orlando Eat Local Week for the last week of January, the 25th-31st 2010
At least 20 local farmers and artisans and over 20 restaurants including Primo, Journeys at Alaqua, and The Ravenous Pig will be participating. You can read more about the specific goals of Eat Local Week on our website at www.slowfoodorlando.org/eat-local-week.html.
Slow Food Orlando
www.slowfoodorlando.org
Padrino’s Cuban Bistro – Cuban – Orlando
Padrino’s Cuban Bistro – Cuban – Orlando
We are lucky in Central Florida to live in an area relatively rich in Latin American culinary offerings. Puerto rican lechoneras, Colombian, Peruvian chicken joints, Cuban establishments and more abound in the Orlando landscape. They are mostly mom and pop type operations with small store fronts and the customary hole in the wall type atmosphere. Padrino’s, a small family owned restaurant with three branches in Florida, is one of the few exceptions to this rule.
Just north of Kissimmee on John Young Parkway, south of the SR 417, Padrino’s sits in a relatively new plaza offering its delightful, beautifully crafted Cuban dishes both traditional and with a twist.
I would dare to say that Padrino’s is the best Cuban restaurant in Orlando with the food that my partner and I enjoyed on this one late afternoon.
The decor is definitely classy, dark browns, paintings of various scenes from Cuba, a set area for Cuban musicians and performers, and a bar.
Beginning our meal we are given a plate of fried banana slivers with garlic and oil. The dish is beautifully presented, like delicate, edible fingers outstretching from the basket.
Similarly, our first order of empanadas come beautifully arranged with a unique, sweet, quava based salsa in the middle of the plate. The ground beef filled appetizers tasted as great as they looked.
For our main entrees, my partner orders the lush ropa vieja, made with shredded flank steak slow cooked with green peppers and onions in a tomato sauce and served with white rice, black beans, and sweet plantains. She loved it.
My order of lechon asado, slow roasted moist and tender pork, marinated with citrus mojo and topped with sautéed onions, was a bit dry for my likings on this occasion. On a return trip I tried the vaca frita, marinated shredded flank steak grilled to a crisp and topped with sauteed onions, and was much more delighted with the taste.
Overall the experience was enjoyable and memorable for the great tastes and presentation as well as overall good service. I would definitely come back again.
Tasty Chomps rating!
4.5 out of 5 Tasty Chomps!!!!
Einstein’s Bagels
I always enjoy a good bagel and Einstein’s Bagel Bros, although a chain, serves up a great tasty bagel. I was in the mood for a nova lox and bagel this early morning and decided to drop by the store on US 17/92 at Orange Ave in Winter Park for a bite.
Although the bagel was good, I still reminisce with bittersweet nostalgia about the delicious bagel I had eaten at Russ and Daughters in New York…
I always love some salmon, cream cheese, and a bagel in the morning sunshine.
Pi Delta Psi Winter Banquet at UCF
Pi Delta Psi Fraternity Winter Banquet at UCF
I had the pleasure to attend the annual winter banquet at UCF this past weekend, featuring a unique array of delicious buffet foods both from Filipino grocery store De Guzman as well as some home made Latin American influenced dishes. Overall, it was a pleasurable event with great moments and memories with loved ones and friends alike. A great way to end the year.
I liked the chicken adobo from De Guzman the most, made with chopped chicken pieces with bone-in marinated in saucy adobo spices. Although there have been a few Filipino restaurants to come and go in Orlando, De Guzman’s Grocery store has been one of the more reliable places to get your dose of enormous (jk theyre small) lumpia egg rolls and other Filipino dishes (you may have to call ahead). The store sits just west of the SR 417 interchange on SR 50/Colonial Drive.
With over 200 people in attendance at the banquet hall near UCF, the stroll competition, video competition, and dance off were all at the same time hilarious, heartwarming, and at times, disturbingly lovely.
Although this beef may look tasty, it was my least favorite item of the night =(
Chicken adobo from De Guzman
Rice with pigeon peas and a look at pancit, the national noodles of Phillipines
Peach Valley Cafe – Dr Phillips Area – Orlando
Peach Valley Cafe – Dr Phillips Area – Orlando
I stumbled upon Peach Valley Cafe early one morning on my way to meet a friend. I was in the mood for breakfast and decided to check Peach Valley Cafe out, tucked inside a shopping plaza at the end of Dr Phillips Blvd at the intersection with Conroy Windermere road.
The feeling of Peach Valley Cafe is decidedly “American”, very simple tones and smiling faces on the waiters this morning. Its interesting that they name the place Peach Valley when there’s only like one item with peaches on it, but I digress.
I am brought to my table where I order the Belgian Waffle with a side of turkey sausage links and a glass of milk. The Belgian waffle was sprinkled with powdered sugar and topped with some butter. Overall, a great, tasty breakfast for me.
My breakfast looking lovely at Peach Valley Cafe
The Turkey sausage links, healthier than regular sausage links perhaps?
Belgian Waffle, get in my belly!
Syrupy sweets
I can taste it…
ChanuIKEA® | 7pm Fre 18 Dec 2009 | Åttonde Night of Chanukah
Viktigt: Detta resultat konstverk är (nästan) helt i Google Translated svenska.
Important information: This performance art is (almost) completely in Google Translated Swedish.
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Vem: Brian Feldman Projects (Chanukah with The Feldman Dynamic, The Feldman Dynamic Chanukah Spectacular, Home for the Hanukkahs, Hanukkah in Little Havanaka, Cracker Barrel® Old Country Chanukah, Jai-Alai Hanukkah, The Singing Menorah)
Vad: ChanuIKEA®
När: 7pm Fre 18 Dec 2009 | Åttonde Night of Chanukah
http://bit.ly/ikeamco [Google Maps]
Kostnad: Gratis
“Det var kul! Det var fabulous, och kreativ också! Jag älskade den reaktionen regelbundna IKEA shoppers…” – Genevieve Kubersky (Konstnärlig ledare, Voci Dans)
“Liksom en massa stor konst, allt detta är underförstått i subtil metafor, inte knuffades i ansiktet.” – Rick Jones (Bildkonstnär)
Brian Feldman (Bästa performance konstnär, Orlando Weekly Bästa of Orlando 2009), inbjuder er att tillsammans med honom för detta judisk-svenska fest där du kan beställa allt utanför IKEA® Orlando Restaurang menyn, på din bekostnad, och sedan äta tillsammans under de senaste natt Chanukah. Det kommer att finnas dreidels, kommer det att finnas elektriska menorahs kommer det att finnas svenska Fish®. Om du råkar ha en Dreidel eller en elektrisk Menorah, ta det! (Ju mer Chanukahier!)
Efter middag, kommer vi att vandra, precis som våra förfäder gjorde, genom IKEA® Ljus avdelningen och förenas i sång Peter Yarrow’s (Peter, Paul & Mary) Chanukah klassiker, “Light ett ljus.” Nästa år i Älmhult!
Credit: ChanuIKEA® myntades av Brian Feldman far, Edward Alan Feldman, som en del av Cracker Barrel® Old Country Chanukah.
Detta självständigt arbete inte sanktioneras, rekommenderats eller sponsras av INGKA Holding B.V., IKEA Holding S.A., Inter IKEA Systems B.V. eller IKEA North America Services, LLC.
Länkar:
http://brianfeldman.com (Brian Feldman)
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/store/orlando (IKEA® Orlando)
http://twitter.com/ChanuIKEA (@ChanuIKEA på Twitter)
http://bit.ly/cikfb (Facebook Händelse)
http://bit.ly/cikrls (Pressmeddelande | Google Dokument)
Brian Feldman Projects är Central Florida premiär experimentella time-baserad konst. Middagar på scen med det verkliga livet familjer, hoppa från stegar i 24 timmar, gruppresor i Google översatt svenska via IKEA® – det är vad vi gör.