Orlando Food Blog 010

Orlando Food Blog 009

As a long time resident of Orlando, you’ll find that its often rare to see any good Asian culinary choices outside of the Colonial/Downtown area. A new found place in the developing Lake Nona area where the upcoming UCF medical school and Nemours hospital/medical city are sprouting up, defies this conventional wisdom. That place is Durian Durian, a Thai restaurant near Moss Park road and Narcoossee road.

Durian Durian is staffed and managed by a very amiable and particular to detail young woman from Thailand. The owner remembers us each time and asks about our family and things going. What a unique and personal touch it felt.

Upon entering the restaurant, the elegant and simple Thai influenced decor brings about a warm feeling for the place. We are here for lunch where the prices are more than affordable.

My partner orders the Thai tea ($2.75), a delicious and refreshingly sweet beginning to the lunch.

There are a few specials today which include the samosa flat bread ($3.95) served as a appetizer. The bread is crispy and flaky similar to a fresh baked pastry and stuffed with peas, carrots, potatoes and sweet potatoes with a rich, sweet curry flavor sauce on the side for dipping. The samosa flat bread met and exceeded our expectations and we hope that they will make this a permanent item in the future.

My partner orders the beef panang curry ($6.95). The beef is tender and the curry has a tasty texture to it, although it was a bit too strong on the lemongrass side. Lemongrass is a common ingredient in southeast asia as a healthy and spicy ingredient with a decidedly sour aftertaste.

I order the spicy drunken noodle with beef ($6.95). The waiter asks if I would like the Thai Hot style and I reply after some consideration that yes I would love it. Too many times have I had thai food a bit too bland and always wondered why. When he mentioned Thai hot i remembered that Thai food is actually supposed to be spiced up with chili peppers traditionally and is eaten that way normally within the Thai culture. I like to make myself culturally aware and eat the way things are supposed to be eaten. The Thai hot proved to be a worthy adversary but complemented the noodles and the beef very well. The beef was very tender and succulent. Overall this was one of the best spicy drunken noodle dishes I have ever had.

Durian Durian is a fine restaurant with fine dining choices in Thai cuisine. Check it out today!

Durian Durian Asian Thai Cuisine.
10743 Narcoossee Rd
Orlando, FL 32832
(407) 282-2992
http://duriandurian.com/Main.asp

Orlando Food Blog 007

Seito Sushi Japanese Restaurant
Location: Baldwin Park in Orlando, FL

Holy crap! I looked down into the huge bowl that awaited for me below: a generous mixture of fresh romaine lettuce and salad leaves, luscious morsels of sashimi: tuna, salmon, white octopus, yellowtail and more, orange masago fish eggs sprinkled on top a bed of sushi rice. The Spicy Korean Chirashi bowl had just been whisked to my table and positioned in front of me as if challenging me to defeat it. The bowl was gigantic, a traditionally Japanese dish with a Korean spicy red pepper paste sauce to mix with on the side. The spicy korean chirashi bowl melded two of my favorite cuisines together into a delectable and scrumptious dinner masterpiece. I was glad that my friends chose Seito’s Sushi at Baldwin Park for tonight’s occasion.

The Spicy Korean Chirashi Bowl ($19)

The Spicy Korean Chirashi Bowl in its glory

Seito Sushi restaurant is located on Broad Street in the “downtown” area of Baldwin Park,one of the surprising pockets of communities that dot the Orlando landscape. A distinct slightly-eerie pleasantville atmosphere resonates in this area, a recreation of the American small town center and a call to return to the values and hometown community togetherness of yesteryear that had been so long forgotten by the advent of the suburban sprawl.

Seito Sushi is sleek and modern, a mixture of new city sophistication and Japanese influenced design and decor. A matching soundtrack of light jazz/electric/lounge music plays in the background.

We were without a reservation for a party of 10 but the hostess and staff at Seito’s readily and kindly accommodated us and we were quickly seated. Tonight we were celebrating a few friends’ graduation from UCF and a friend’s departure to the next part of her life as she trades Orlando for northern Virginia.

It must have been girl’s night out because I was the only male in the restaurant at one point. Young women in tables of ten filled the restaurant this evening, like a scene out of Sex in the City. I asked my partner why she thinks it is and we came to agree that its because sushi is all in all a seemingly sophisticated, exotic and at the same time healthy food choice . Fish are known to be high in nutrients and low in fat, and since most of it is raw, theres little frying involved. The raw food craze going on now thats been popularized was practically invented and perfected to a crisp by the Japanese.

Various rolls of Tasty Sushi from Seito

In addition to the spicy korean chirashi bowl ($19), I ordered the spicy volcano roll ($9), a crab roll topped with a blend of spicy minced crab, crawfish, lobster topping, baked and topped with a red masago called tobikko.

The Spicy Volcano Roll ($9) – CHOMP.

My partner orders the Bento box ($18) which comes with miso soup, salad, gyoza dumplings, two entree choices and rice. For the entrees, she orders the kal bi (soy-ginger-garlic blend marinated and chargrilled beef ribs) and the shrimp tempura for the entrees. Typically Bento boxes are served for lunch menus in lunch portions, but the bento boxes at Seito for dinner are enough for two to eat healthy. The kal bi beef was voluptuously tender and tasty and the shrimp tempura was also fresh and delicious. It was a great value for the quantity and quality of food.

Huuuge Bento Box dinner with Shrimp Tempura and Kal Bi short ribs

My other friends order various rolls of sushi including the dragon skin roll, winter park roll, torchamaki roll, and more, all enjoying their orders with satisfaction. The prices are also all very reasonable ranging from 6 to 15 dollars a roll.

Satisfaction!

Tasty Chompin!

The service was good. The gentleman who waited on our table was sincere and attentive and the food arrived relatively quickly for our rather large dinner party.

Dessert was tempura-fried cheesecake with ice cream . Scrumptious. Our friend Christina, the one who is soon departing from Florida, described “the yummy cheesecake was fried in a rich dough complemented by the icy coolness of the sweet ice cream and a slight drizzle of chocolate syrup.” That is definitely a sweet way to go out.

Orlando Food Blog 006: Mellow Mushroom in Orlando near UCF area

Orlando Food Blog 005: How To Eat Sushi – Instructional Video from Japan

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0b75cl4-qRE]

just kidding 😀

Orlando Food Blog 004: New Taco restaurant Del Taco in Oviedo!

Del Taco
Location: Oviedo, FL

There’s a new ranchero in town and his name is Del Taco (literally meaning “Of the Taco”). Taco Bell has some competition to contend to with California-based Del Taco which is also 24 hours a day (even if its only store in Florida is in Oviedo). Del Taco recently moved in where Fazoli’s used to be off of Red Bug Lake Road near the Oviedo Marketplace. This is the first Del Taco to open in Florida in the past few years and it is a welcome sight to see culinary options expanding here in Central Florida even though it may be considered by many as “fast food”. Food like this is meant to be fast though right? 😀

Fish Tacos originated in Baja California in Mexico.

I order the fish taco ($1.45), a big fat steak taco and big fat chicken taco ($2.09 each) and a churro to go (all adding up to about $7.45). Having only been opened a few weeks I could see the drive-thru service still had some kinks to work out as the computer order screen was apparently off-line and there was quite a car line waiting out the drive way.

The fish taco consisted of a fried fish fillet, crunchy cabbage, pico de gallo, and a sour cream/ citrus/mayonnaise sauce, all placed on top of a corn or flour tortilla and served with a slice of lime. The fish taco was just the right portion and had a zesty savory taste. Not too bad for starters. As Del Taco’s motto says “Go Bold or Go Home.”

My second item was the big fat chicken taco which consisted of a lot of lettuce, some shredded cheese, tomatoes, and grilled chicken on a taco bread. The bread was soft and sweet, the lettuce and tomatoes were fresh, and the chicken were succulent, tasty morsels. Definitely a tasty chomp!

The churro was a great end to the meal. Churros are typically fried until they become crunchy, and then are sprinkled with sugar. The churros at Del Taco are soft and warm, a sweet dessert to entice the tastebuds adieu.

Other items on the Del Taco menu include breakfast items such as steak and egg burritos, big fat breakfast taco, as well as a “American” menu with cheeseburgers. The super-size option is called “Macho” as in Macho Nachos or Macho Tacos or Macho Burritos.

Overall Del Taco in Oviedo is a slight step above Taco Bell and the prices are definitely not a issue. I think a little work on the service and it will do just fine here in the Orlando food scape.

Del Taco has announced the opening of its first restaurant in Florida as it begins its move to become the local favorite Mexican quick-serve destination.Del Taco franchisee Floridel LLC will open the first of 10 Del Taco restaurants planned for the Orlando area.

The first location is at 3551 Dovera Drive in Oviedo.Founded in 1961, Del Taco operates or franchises more than 510 restaurants in 17 states.

Del Taco in Oviedo Del Taco in Oviedo Del Taco in Oviedo Del Taco in Oviedo Del Taco in Oviedo Del Taco in Oviedo Del Taco in Oviedo Del Taco in Oviedo Del Taco in Oviedo Del Taco in Oviedo Del Taco in Oviedo Del Taco in Oviedo Del Taco in Oviedo
FAST FOOD.

One of my favorite Vietnamese food dishes include the Vietnamese Banh Mi (misspelled bahn mi) sub sandwich, which is known for its fusian of French culture using the french baguette bread and assorted deli meat slices all for less than $3.00 each! The New York Times recently did an article on this dish with a American twist after it made its migration to the States.
“Building Layers of Tradition” NY TIMES

A List of Places with
Vietnamese Banh Mi (bahn mi is misspelling) in Orlando:

• Pho 88
• 730 N Mills Ave, Orlando, FL 32803 – (407) 897-3488
• Phuoc Loc Tho Grocery Store
• 2100 E Colonial Dr Orlando FL 32803, 407-898-6858
• Tien Hung Grocery Store
• 1112 E Colonial Dr, Orlando – (407) 422-0067
• Saigon Subs
• 1242 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803-(407) 897-1278
• Lollicup Boba Tea
• 1212 E. Colonial Dr. Orlando, FL – 407-897-1377

These banh mi (not bahn mi) shops are all located within the Mills-50 District of Orlando!!!
Check out their website at
http://www.mills50.org/ and shout out to KRISTINE!

Orlando Food Blog 001: Anmol Indian Cuisine !

Anmol Indian Cuisine Restaurant
Location: Orlando, FL

The best way to experience culture, in my humble opinion, is to experience through food. The sights and sounds are incomparable to the distinct tastes of a culture. Right beyond the University of Central Florida’s front entrance lays a passage to the land of India via the tastes of Anmol Indian Cuisine restaurant in Orlando, FL(http://www.anmolindiancuisine.com).

India, birthplace of Hinduism, Mahatma Gandhi, Bollywood films/musicals, and curry spices. The cuisine is characterized by its use of many rich spices and herbs native to India, subtly added to flavor and entice the palate. Each bite into the naan bread or the basmati rice dipped in chicken pasanda is a step into the centuries of cultural history of India.

Anmol Indian Cuisine Restaurant, local and family-owned, is conveniently located in the plaza behind McDonald’s on the northwest corner of University Boulevard and Alafaya Trail in Orlando, FL. The décor inside Anmol is similar to what you may find in an Indian living room: framed engravings of ancient gods in pose, paintings of decorated Indian elephants, the TV set interchanging between CNN International and some old Bollywood musical, flyers advertising Taj Mahal imported beer.

The menu at Anmol Indian Cuisine is diverse ranging from vegetarian dishes to chicken and lamb curry. During lunch time, there is a special which includes lentil soup, the entrée dish, a plate of yellow and white basmati rice, and naan bread all for $7.95. Naan is a light, flat bread made from a dough of super fine flour and baked in a clay oven.

Chicken Pasanda, in a almond curry sauce

Our group orders the samosa and special naan for appetizers. The samosas come in pairs, each fistful fried to a crisp, filled with potatos, peas, and other vegetables. The special naan is fluffy, tasty, and stuffed with boneless chicken tikka, vegetables, herbs and green coriander.

Special Naan, stuffed with chicken tikka, veggies, and herbs

For our lunch entrées, we order chicken tandoori, lamb curry, and chicken pasanda. These dishes can be ordered mild, medium, or for the adventurous, spicy. The chicken tandoori is a dish with pieces of chicken marinated in yogurt and mild spices, roasted in the tandoor, or clay oven. The clay oven, a traditional Indian cooking method, gives the chicken a fresh, boldly baked taste. The lamb curry arrives with pieces of tender lamb chunks, potatoes, and the curry sauce. The chicken pasanda, my personal favorite, comes in a small dish with savory morsels of chicken, in a rich almond flavored creamy sauce. The naan bread, slightly glazed with olive oil to a crisp, is luscious when dipped into these sauces. The mountain of basmati rice goes well with these entrees also.

Chicken Tandoori – cooked in the tandoor, the Indian clay oven

Basmati rice – mountains of fluffy goodness

Naan bread – buttery glazed and fresh

Unlike in western diets, meat in Asia is sparse and is used to complement the largely grain based diets of east and south Asians where rice and bread makes up most of the meal. The curry sauces help flavor the meal and by the end of it all we leave with our tummies thoroughly satisfied and quelled.

Lamb Curry

Other dishes recommended at Anmol Indian Cuisine include the vegetarian aloo mutter tamatar, made of green peas, tomatoes and potato cooked in flavored curry sauce. Also try the chicken tikka masala, chunks of chicken roasted in a clay oven and then folded in a creamy, tangy, tomato sauce. Wash it down with a mango lassi, a sweet yogurt based smoothie-like Indian drink that balances the more spicier tastes of India.

TASTY CHOMPS RATING:
4 out of 5 Tasty Chomps!!!!

Anmol Indian Cuisine
12239 University Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32817-2134
Phone: 407-384-8850

Lunch 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; dinner 5 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Monday-Friday; Lunch noon- 3 p.m. Saturday; Dinner 5 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday

http://www.anmolindiancuisine.com/

Photos by Huy Phan

This site will be a collection of reviews and blogs of various eateries and dining establishments through out my travels across Central Florida, Orlando, the US, and the WORLD!