Tasty Chomps: A Local's Culinary Guide | A local's perspective to food and drink – food guides and more

Crimson Tavern at Orlando Airport Marriott – “Everything Lamb” Dinner

Ricky Ly

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Mar 9, 2015

Crimson Tavern at Orlando Airport Marriott – “Everything Lamb” Dinner

Crimson Tavern at the Orlando Airport Marriott – A Six-Course Nose-To-Tail Tasting Menu Featuring Whole Local Lamb, Craft Beer & Cocktails

With a 2,500 square foot Chef’s Garden, Executive Chef Anthony Hull of Crimson Tavern works hard to continue the “farm to table” culinary movement.

The team has even started to make the most of the fruits and vegetables on hand, by jamming and pickling, making hot sauce, pickles, jams, and chutneys from their garden and seasonal offerings. As the BBQ program grows, (the restaurant offers seasonal Friday Night Barbecues), a line of rubs and sauces will also become available.

According to Chef Hull, “The main reason we are producing these products is to control what goes into them — not just from a flavor standpoint — but also a wellness aspect by eliminating additives and unnatural ingredients. And if we have a really good harvest, it is also a way to preserve the extra product.”

Executive Chef Anthony Hull also pulls from his own roots back in England and resurrects many old school cooking techniques to prepare much of what diners see on the menu.

We’ve always been fans of Crimson Tavern, especially their burgers and creative, seasonally changing dishes.

This past week, we were invited to check out what the team is capable of with an “Everything Lamb” dinner.

Some of my favorites included the chickpea fritter, crispy on the outside yet delicate and flavorful on the inside, and the pickled lamb tongue on arugula with pumpkin blossoms and apple vinaigrette. The meat balls were good, but the sauce could have used some more depth. House pulled ramen with lamb breast and belly was a nice touch, as was the roasted saddle and loin. Each item was paired with an appropriately complementary or contrasting wine.

* * * *

Everything Lamb Dinner at Crimson Tavern – Orlando Airport Marriott

Chickpea fritter (olive oil, chickpea flour, ras al hanout)

House smoked trout, horseradish garden chives, crostini

Head Cheese – Lambs head, shanks, lamb stock, aromatics

Meat Balls – Ground lamb leg, mortadella, house pomerola, tarentaise alpine cheese

Peak organic simcoe spring ale

Pickled lamb tongue – Hydroponic arugula, garden pumpkin blossoms, granny smith apple vinaigrette

House pulled ramen, lamb breast & belly, lamb dashi, Kissimmee river oyster mushrooms, poached lake – Ramen Bowl, meadows pullet egg, crispy taro paired with St Supery unoaked chardonnay

Roasted Saddle & Loin – Charred baby artichokes, cannellini beans, lamb reduction, arbequina olives paired with True Grit Petite Sirah

Parksdale farm Strawberry Gelato – House spun gelato (house preserve, cream, whole milk), cardamom shortbread, strawberry basil flower salad

For additional information on Crimson Tavern, visit www.CrimsonTavernOrlando.com or call (407) 851-9000. The restaurant is located at 7499 Augusta National Drive in Orlando.

3 Top Dishes at Lechonera Latina 1 and 2

Ricky Ly

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Mar 9, 2015

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3 Top Dishes at Lechonera Latina 1 and 2

You might have seen Lechonera Latina 1 a few times if you’ve ever driven down East Colonial right before Dean Road, hoping to fill up on some gas, only to find yourself at a Latin restaurant converted from a gas station.

Don’t be too afraid – they have some of the best Latin style street food in East Orlando.

Though they need to wipe down their counters and floors a little better, this greasy corner of the world does a few dishes quite well.

Here as it is at Lechonera Latina 2, you order at the counter, pointing at desired dishes like stewed chicken or roasted pork, plantains, and a list of rice dishes (white, yellow, with beans, etc.). Or you can order off the menu.

I recommend 3 favorite dishes here:

1. Pernil (Roasted Pork Shoulder) with yellow rice

2. Tripleta Sandwich – Like a Cuban sandwich on steroids, these babies are filled with sliced ham, pork, and chicken between two long slices of Cuban bread.

3. Mangu is a Dominican dish made from boiling and mashing unripened plantains, with a consistency almost of a potato puree. The dish is popular with breakfast and often served with eggs, slices of salty, savory salami sausage and grilled cheese (queso frito) as it is here at Lechonera Latina.

Boiled mashed plantains can be traced back to Africans in the Congo region who came to the island during the height of the slave trade. The original word was something akin to mangusi and referred to almost any root vegetable that was boiled and mashed.

American Q at B Resort – Downtown Disney area

Ricky Ly

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Mar 9, 2015

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American Q at B Resort – Downtown Disney area

American Q is a new restaurant located just outside of Downtown Disney, spawned as a collaboration between the new B Hotels & Resorts and the acclaimed New York City restaurateur Jeffrey Chodorow of China Grill Management, bringing a “Brazilian rodizio” take to traditional American barbecue.

With an industrial, farmhouse-chic vibe, the flatbed of a 1950s cherry-red, Ford F1 pickup truck houses an all-you-can-eat appetizer and salad buffet with homemade soups and chili, a baked potato bar, peel-and-eat shrimp, a selection of hot and cold seasonal vegetables, and a variety of salads.

A delectable selection of smoked meats and poultry, from the Carolinas and Kansas City to Latin America, are carved tableside by “cowboy/cowgirl” servers.

We were recently invited to check out the new place and found some great barbecue, and lovely sauces, but also some areas that greatly needed improvement, particularly overall service and improving on the buffet bar.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by our server, but were never explained the directions regarding the buffet vs. a la carte option. So we were a bit at lost what to do after sitting down and getting our drink orders in – do we go to the buffet bar or do we wait to get our orders in so that the server knows what we are each getting?

Our server was very nice, though, and was very cordial throughout the evening, and I am guessing it is more of a management or procedural issue. Hopefully they will improve on this soon.

Another area for improvement – the flat bed truck was impressive but the salads and even the mac and cheese were rather pedestrian and uninteresting, especially when compared to other rodizio buffet style salad bars in the area.

The strongest aspect of dining at American Q: the smoked meats from the beef brisket to the turkey, all had great flavor, accentuated by the variety of barbecue sauces available at the table.

DEVILED CRAB STUFFED EGGS – blue crab & rémoulade – the yolk was a bit runny for what I was accustomed to for deviled eggs

JERK CHICKEN WINGS – mango chow and ALLIGATOR BOUDIN – roasted tomatoes, peppers & okra

TABLE SIDE CARVINGS
SLOW SMOKED TOM TURKEY DRUM WITH MAHOGANY GLAZE
BACON WRAPPED BONELESS CHICKEN THIGHS
HOUSE MADE SAUSAGES
SMOKED PORK SHOULDER WITH SPICED ONIONS
COLD SMOKED & GRILLED TURKEY THIGH WITH TURKEY CHORIZO STUFFING
CAROLINA STYLE FLANK STEAK
BRISKET OF BEEF WITH TEXAS BARK
PICANHA OF BEEF
VEGETABLE BROCHETTE

JAPANESE OLD FASHIONED
Hibiki whisky, chai simple syrup & Angostura bitters

HOUSE BAKED CORNBREAD – served at the end of the meal, apparently here at American Q it takes a while for cornbread to get to the table.

CROISSANT BREAD PUDDING – warm apple compote, another highlight of the meal – dessert

Duffy’s Sports Grille: Lake Mary

Nhi Nguyen

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Mar 5, 2015

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The Super Bowl is over! and with it, all the excitement to watch the Seahawks (Seattle) and the Patriots (New England) play against each other. However, the question is where are some of the best places to watch this once a year game, as well as other sports games now?

I got invited for a chance to visit Duffy’s Bar Grill new location in Lake Mary, and their whole idea was to reimagine bar food. I could definitely see their concept coming through as their menu had something for everyone as well as their price range:

Appetizers from $4.99-$13.99

Lunch Specials from $5.99-$8.99

Entrees from $7.99-$18.99

Desserts from $1.99-$5.99

Drinks at the bar from $2.25-$13.00

For the Seafood Lover: Sesame crusted Ahi Tuna
Fresh slices of tuna that’s thinly seared with a mixed sesame shell, served with soba noodles and cucumber salad. Definitely one of the more refreshing appetizers!

The Fusion Enthusiast: Korean Beef Tenderloin Mini-Tacos
Super juicy and tender pieces of Korean marinated beef, topped with onion-relish and held together by soft shall tacos.

The Veggie lover: Roasted Artichoke & Goat Cheese Flatbread
The roasted artichoke was accompanied by sweet red peppers, balsamic onions, and savory goat cheese on top of a crispy baked flatbread.

The Meat Lover: Churrasco Steak
Let’s talk about this beautiful assembly, first off, we have a super tender skirt steak that’s grilled and seasoned so nicely and then sauced up with chimichurri ( an Argentine based sauce that consist of finely chopped parsley, garlic, oils, and other herbs.). Then we have sweet fried plantains, and mouth-watering black beans…in fact it made my friend convert from pinto beans to black beans from being so delicious.

The Classic: Traditional Jumbo Wings
A must have bar food, crispy wings tossed in a wide selection of sauces. Such as: Honey garlic, BBQ, asian sesame, sweet buffalo, spicy roasted garlic, firecracker, and my personal favorite-Mango Habanero.

Not only was Duffy reinventing Bar food, they have a couple of cocktails that could perk up any night.

Cotton Candy Cosmopolitan
This was definitely a conversation starter drink! You have your classic drink with a side of cotton candy for you to dissolve into the drink. This allowed you to control the level of sweetness all the while entertain you as you watch the colours of the candy melt and swirl together.

Pineapple Mojito
Super easy to drink, they combined with yummy mojito with a splash of pineapple juice making it all the more refreshing with a hint of tartness.

Ultimate Patron Margarita
If you like tequila, this is most likely made for you. With Patron silver, triple sec, and patron citronge, it could get dangerous since you could hardly tell the alcohol content in it.

At Duffy’s I was able to have the enjoyment of a full bar and restaurant quality foods. A bonus is that there are T.V Screens on about every wall space, so you won’t have to worry about missing a big moment of any future games or events.

Duffy’s whole idea was to reimagine bar foods, and they definitely delivered.

So here’s to a wonderful season, Cheers!

Orlando Restaurant News and Updates!

news

Ricky Ly

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Mar 1, 2015

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Local Orlando foodie news!

Look at the new digs – The Osprey Tavern at Baldwin Park

About to open any week now in Baldwin Park – gorgeous.

Chef Eddie’s Restaurant Moving to Church Street

One of my personal favorite places for soul food in Orlando, Chef Eddie‘s restaurant is moving from their west Orlando location to the more centralized Church Street location in downtown Orlando. They are moving into the former location of Johnson’s Diner, which also briefly housed Fish n Loaves, and McKnight’s most recently. We spoke to the representatives at Chef Eddie’s who confirmed they would be moving to the location in just two weeks.

All the best of luck to them as they have always had great food – from red velvet waffles and fried chicken to the smothered pork chops and oxtails as well as great hospitality. Karaoke was a bit loud some nights but entertaining…

Visit them: https://www.facebook.com/chefeddiesrestaurant

Current Location:

3214 Orange Center Blvd, Orlando, FL 32805
Phone:(407) 826-1731

New Location:

595 West Church Street Suite E Orlando, FL 32805
(just a block west of the Amway on Church St)

Hawker’s 3rd Location is coming to St Petersburg Florida

“Hawkers” Brings the Streets of Asia to St. Pete’s EDGE District

Orlando, Fla., (February 13, 2015) – It’s of=icial – Hawkers is expanding coast-to-coast… of Florida that is. The owners of Hawkers, a name derived from the term for street food vendors in Asia, have just announced their plans to join the EDGE district of St. Petersburg. Currently operating stores in Orlando and Jacksonville, Hawkers management anticipates a “mid-summer” opening for their St. Petersburg restaurant that will be located at 1235 West Central Avenue.

Guests will enjoy a menu full of small plates that includes the most popular street foods from regions across Asia: Hong Kong, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, and Korea, to name a few. Each menu item is served with sharing plates, encouraging guests to experience new dishes together, as is the custom with traditional hawker centers. The difference? These street foods are served in a hip, trendy environment accompanied by dozens of local craft beer selections.

“We are rede=ining what “eating Asian food” means to mainstream Americans,” says co-founder Allen Lo, who contributes Malaysian in=luence to Hawkers’ menu. “Our goal is for guests to experience authentic flavors, unique to their palettes, in an environment that is as comfortable as it is exciting.”

Traditional noodle soups, wok stir-fried noodles and small plates =ill the menu with dishes ranging from $4-$9. A few of the most popular items include: Char Kway Teo, a Malaysian stir-fried noodle; Siu Yuk, a Chinese roasted, crispy pork belly; and their signature dish, Roti Canai, a Southeast Asian flatbread served. To accompany Hawkers’ extensive food menu, the St. Petersburg location will offer a craft beer selection with over 50 microbrews (many of which will hail from Bay Area breweries) as well as Asian-inspired.

“We all agreed from the onset that =lavors of this depth deserve only the best paired wines, beers, and cocktails,” says Kaleb Harrell, who procures an evolving drink menu for Hawkers’ guests.

To stay updated with the latest progress on Hawkers’ St. Petersburg location or to view a full menu of their current locations, visit Hawkers’ Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/hawkersstreetfare.

Founded in 2011, Hawkers offers authentic Asian street food in a sharing-encouraged, full-service casual restaurant. With a menu that includes the most popular street food recipes from regions across Asia, Hawkers creates an environment that allows guests to experience unique cuisines at affordable prices with service that educates guests. For more information visit www.facebook.com/hawkersstreetfare.

Sonny’s BBQ Readies for new Strategy for the next 50 Years

Sonny’s BBQ will reveal the grand opening of a brand new location on Archer Road in Gainesville, Fla. on March 16, where guests will find a newly designed, updated version of their favorite local BBQ joint.

The Archer Road opening represents the brand’s ongoing effort to providing guests with a local BBQ experience

The new brand direction will also remind guests of Sonny’s dedication to giving back to the communities it serves. The new restaurant plans to be an integral part of Gainesville through community outreach and recognizing hometown heroes through Sonny’s ‘Random Acts of BBQ’ program, which recognizes those who selflessly give their time and spark the spirit of BBQ in their communities.

This is just the beginning of Sonny’s BBQ efforts to update the brand. Over the next several years, the barbecue chain plans to update as many locations as possible.

Sonny’s BBQ
3635 SW Archer Road
Gainesville, FL 32608

Upcoming Events

The 6th Annual RP Funding Orlando Chili Cook-off Turns Up the Heat on Saturday, March 7, 2015

The 6th annual RP Funding Orlando Chili Cook-off will heat up again at Orlando’s Festival Park Saturday, March 7 starting at noon. New to the event this year is a kick-off concert which will be held Friday, March 6 at 6 p.m. The RP No Fee Concert will feature Vertical Horizon. The free night of music precedes a day for chili-lovers on Saturday, March 7 with the RP Funding Orlando Chili Cook-off.

General admission tickets are now available for presale at www.orlandochilicookoff.com. Presale tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 – 12 and children 5 and under are admitted free. Same-day general admission tickets are $15 for adults.

The world’s best competitive eaters will once again descend on Orlando as part of the third annual World Chili Eating Challenge. Featuring six-minutes of jaw-dropping eating skills, the world’s top eaters will participate including Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, currently ranked the world’s No. 1 competitive eater. Other top ranked competitors include No. 4 ranked Miki Sudo, No. 6 ranked Erik The Red Denmark, No. 7 ranked Adrian Morgan and No. 15 “The People’s Champ” Badlands Booker. Joey Chestnut will be defending his world record set last year. The event will also feature an appearance by Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI) World Chili Champion Jason Goaines.

The RP Funding Orlando Chili Cook-off has raised more than $200,000 for Special Olympics Florida, placing the Orlando Chili-Cook-off among their private donors. The event also raises funds for Kiwanis Clubs of Greater Orlando and several other local charitable organizations.

Visit www.orlandochilicookoff.com for tickets or call Events for Change at 407-777-8309 to learn more about vendor, musical performance, cooking, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities.

Top Local Chefs to Join Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida at 2015 Appetite for the Arches Gala

On Saturday, March 7, at the Orlando World Center Marriott, top local chefs from acclaimed restaurants and resorts will showcase their creativity to help raise funds at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida’s Appetite for the Arches benefit. This is a culinary event with a twist — one that has a little something to do with the Golden Arches.

Chefs will use fresh McDonald’s ingredients to create one-of-a-kind signature dishes. Guests will have the opportunity to interact with participating chefs while sampling the gourmet creations at this free-flowing event.

Participating restaurants include:

4 Rivers Smokehouse
Blue Bird Bake Shop
Cask & Larder
Chef’s Table at the Edgewater
Cuisiniers Catering
Emeril’s Tchoup Chop
Hamilton’s Kitchen
K Restaurant
Kabooki Sushi
LUMA on Park
Orlando World Center Marriott
Paxia Modern Mexican & Tequila Lounge
Pig Floyd’s
SeaWorld Parks & Resorts Orlando
The Ravenous Pig
The Rusty Spoon
The Smiling Bison
Txokos Basque Kitchen

Julie Petrakis, who owns The Ravenous Pig and Cask & Larder with her husband James, sits on the planning committee for the event and was in charge of organizing chef participation. “Appetite for the Arches unites Central Florida’s best chefs and the community on a night of culinary surprises and delight for a special cause. All proceeds from the gala help Ronald McDonald House keep families together when they need it most —during the treatment of a critically ill child.”

For additional information about Appetite for the Arches including ticket information, please visit www.appetiteforthearches.org.

Join the conversation on Twitter: @RMHCCF #AppetiteOrlando

About Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida: Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida finds, creates and supports programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and families. The cornerstone program, the Ronald McDonald House®, provides a home away from home that offers comfort and care to families with children receiving treatment at local hospitals and medical facilities in Orlando. The two Ronald McDonald Houses in Orlando serve over 1,800 families each year.

First annual 5 Chefs 5 Courses 5 Charities event at The Alfond Inn (hashtag #5Chefs5Charities)

The Alfond Inn will host on March 15

Executive Chef Marc Kusche from Hamilton’s Kitchen, The Alfond Inn, has invited a group of Central Florida’s finest chefs to join him in raising money for each of their chosen charities. Each chef will prepare one of the 5 courses for a family style, farm to table dinner accompanied by live music and fine spirits. The prestigious culinary lineup and charities include:

· Marc Kusche. The Alfond Inn. Chosen Charity: Harbor House

· Fabrizio Schenardi. Four Seasons Resort. Chosen Charity: The St. Jude Mission

· Henry Salgado. Txokos Basque Kitchen. A James Beard Nominee. Chosen Charity: Pace Center For Girls

· Kathleen Blake. The Rusty Spoon. A James Beard Nominee. Chosen Charity: Edible Education Foundation

· Kevin Fonzo. K Restaurant. A James Beard Nominee. Chosen Charity: The Kevin Fonzo Foundation

Tickets are $150 per person. Cocktails served 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m. Advance reservations required by calling (407) 645-6604.

Artegon Marketplace to feature The Art of Beer Featuring Orlando Brewing and Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill on March 10; Spring into Spring Art, Food & Wine Stroll on March 21; Food Truck Fridays starting March 27 … and More!

In addition to experiencing Orlando’s most unique shopping, visitors to Artegon Marketplace Orlando are also treated to a busy schedule of special events and activities. From the permanent Sky Trail ropes course to weekend entertainment and seasonal events, there’s always something happening at Artegon Marketplace. Here’s a look at line-up ahead:

SIGNATURE SPECIAL EVENTS
THE ART OF BEER – TUESDAY, MARCH 10 AND APRIL 14, 5:00-8:00 P.M.
Mark your calendar to join ??Artegon Marketplace for The Art of Beer on Tuesday, March 10 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Enjoy a night of craft beer plus live music and tantalizing treats from Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill, all for FREE (while supplies last). Relax on the patio while enjoying freshly poured, hand-crafted ales from Orlando Brewing. Mingle with the artisans from The Village at Artegon Marketplace and discover a new way to shop local. This special event makes a repeat performance on April 14.

SPRING INTO SPRING – SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 6:00-8:00 P.M.
Guests can “Spring into Spring” on Saturday, March 21 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at this FREE art, food and wine stroll through the Village at Artegon Marketplace. Mingle with artisans displaying their hand-crafted items and art while enjoying complimentary bite-sized treats, wine and the jazz jams of a live three-piece band.

FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS – FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 5:00-9:00 P.M. (RECURRING)
Artegon Marketplace’s “Food Truck Crazy” truck rally held on the fourth Friday of every month kicks off on March 27. Gather on Artegon’s front patio for live music, entertainment and a kaleidoscope of food options, plus savor a unique deal: bring a purchase receipt from The Village at Artegon Marketplace to guest services and redeem for $5 in Food Truck Bucks.

WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT
Check here for the most up-to-date list of upcoming events:
http://www.artegonmarketplace.com/things-to-do-in-orlando/

Chan’s Chinese Cuisine

Ricky Ly

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Feb 24, 2015

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I tend to break down Chinese restaurants into three categories:

Chinese take outs (you’ll see the neon signs saying New York Style Chinese Takeout at these places – New York meaning “Americanized – often a miss in terms of quality and a menu full of general tso’s chicken and pork fried rice with chicken wings combos ),

Traditional Cantonese sit down restaurants (you’ll find some form of beef chow fun, salt and pepper squid, and possibly dim sum at these establishments),

and the increasingly less rare,

“Other Chinese cuisine” restaurant (Sichuan, Shanghainese, Taiwanese, etc).

I’d file Chan’s under traditional Cantonese sit down restaurant —
1. Dim sum on the weekends? Check.
2. Lazy susans on the tables for family style banquets? Check.
3. Seemingly callous waitresses? Double check.

The decor is rather minimal, like walking into someone’s house for a dinner party and there’s not really enough space for everyone.

The food here is solid Cantonese fare – you’ve got your pan fried noodles to dim sum via cart on the weekends. For dinner, it gets a bit fancier with dishes like Cantonese style pan fried steak, salt baked chicken, sweet and sour pork chops, and even abalone, the exceptionally pungent mollusk that the Cantonese go crazy for.

I was at Chan’s recently for a banquet with some friends – the brothers of Pi Delta Psi Fraternity at the University of Central Florida to be exact – who held an end of the semester banquet at the restaurant with quite a list of about 7 banquet dishes for just $25. Call ahead to find out if you can organize something like this there because it’s got great value if you have a group of 10 or so per table.

Pie Five Pizza – Customized Pizzas in 5 Minutes – UCF Orlando

Ricky Ly

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Feb 22, 2015

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Pie Five Pizza – Customized Pizzas in 5 Minutes – UCF Orlando

There’s a new place in Orlando that will have your personalized pizza ready in just five minutes.

Pie Five Pizza Co. is the place – opening up just outside of UCF on University Blvd.

You might be familiar with the concept – made popular by Chipotle and Subway.

Order at the counter and the folks prepare it assembly line style as you go down the line. They use a super hot oven to heat the pizza and have it ready for you by the time you finish paying at the cash register.

At Pie Five, guests can create personal pizzas and a variety of specialty pie choices, all for one price. Typically a pizza, any way, is $6.99. Meaning a specialty pizza or a pizza with anything you want on it – all $6.99. Same goes with the salad. If you want to add an extra side salad and drink, it’s $2.99 more.

They offer 4 crusts (including pan, thin crust, gluten-free & whole grain) and have hand-made salads made from a pizza crust.

Everything is prepared right on the spot and the entire meal will be ready in less than five minutes. I checked – it was under 5 minutes.

Pizza was good for $6.99, ingredients were fresh, and I really liked the customization. One thing that I thought could use improvement – the crust – a little bit too pedestrian, ho-hum, and if they can update that and make it tastier, it would be a really good pizza. For the price, it can’t be beat.

Blaze Pizza, another “chipotle” style pizza joint will be opening soon near by in the UCF area at the Plaza, so it should be interesting to see how business goes. It’s definitely a food trend to watch- custom pizza joints.

Let us know what you think – have you been to Pie Five? Is it something you’d try? Comment below!

Sushi Kichi near Seaworld

Ricky Ly

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Feb 22, 2015

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I was first introduced to Sushi Kichi by a Japanese friend.

She told me, “you have to go check this new place out – it’s authentic!”

Lots of sushi restaurants dot the Central Florida landscape, but not all are equal. Some are certainly better than others, particularly with their care for sourcing and execution of technique. Sushi Kichi falls into the group that does sushi well.

The chefs at Sushi Kichi, I found out, actually once worked at the popular Shin Japanese sushi restaurant in downtown Orlando. On this night, the chef was manning the sushi bar with his son.

I ordered a sashimi and nigiri plate which I found to be quite fresh and delicious. The fried squid that we ordered was a bit too rubbery and bland for my tastes. Definitely needs work. The gyudon (beef rice bowl) was a bit too sweet, but was good overall. The sushi rolls that my fellow dining partners ordered were all very good as well. Overall, a positive experience, particularly for sushi rolls.

Visit them at:

Sushi Kichi
5386 Central Florida Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32821, USA
407-778-1953
http://www.sushikichi.com/

Chef Owner of Sushi Kichi with his son

Interior of Sushi Kichi – sleek, modern, though feels a bit empty

Side salad with ginger dressing

Fried squid – a bit too tough to chew, least favorite of the dishes. Seasoning was off as well. Basically tasted like rubber.

Gyu-don – a popular beef bowl – made with mirin, sugar, soy sauce, and some dashi broth

Shrimp udon noodle soup

Fresh sushi rolls

Green tea sponge cake

Downtown Orlando Food and Wine Festival 2015

Ricky Ly

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Feb 21, 2015

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Downtown Orlando Food and Wine Festival 2015

The Downtown Food & Wine Fest at Lake Eola – Orlando is going all weekend long from Saturday, February 21, 2015 (noon to 9 p.m.) to Sunday, February 22, 2015 (noon to 7 p.m.).

The festival features “mouth-watering dishes from 30 of Orlando’s premier restaurants, domestic and international wines, and live entertainment.”

It’s like a mini Epcot Food and Wine Festival with a local Orlando flair – there’s an admission price as well as food tickets to purchase.

And the food was wonderful – from veal meatballs and cannoli gelato cones from Primo at JW Marriott to the cajun bratwurst from Hollerbach’s Willow tree – the quality that I encountered today was just excellent.

It’s all in all a great idea for family and friends to check out and get a taste of local Orlando flavor.

Visit www.DowntownFoodandWineFest.com for more details.

Exclusive Restaurant News

Some interesting restaurant news, while talking to a few of the owners, chefs, and managers at the festival this weekend:

– Hawkers Asian Street Fare is poised to open their newest restaurant soon in the St. Pete / Tampa area
– Jeremiah’s Italian Ice is looking to expand not only in Orlando but also possibly the St. Pete area as well in the coming months
– The Smiling Bison’s stolen food cart had been “found” at a “junkyard”. The owner of the junkyard turned it in as well as a few other stolen items after the police came by. No charges filed due to lack of evidence.
– Chef Alexia Gawlak has left her position at Siro at Orlando World Center Marriott to team up with her husband Chef Rhys Gawlak of Cask and Larder to head the new Swine and Sons Provisions project from the Ravenous Pig team, soon to open, overseeing “Swine & Sons Provisions’ delectable pastry and dessert items.”

The Fest is presented and produced by CBS RADIO, led by Orlando favorites MIX 105.1, 1059 SUNNY FM, and 1019 AMP Radio in partnership with the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association.

General Admission – Online tickets are $15 per person per day presale only. Food & Beverage tickets sold separately inside the event. Tickets at the door are $20 per person per day. Food & Beverage tickets sold separately inside the event. Wine Tasters Club Lanyard + General Admission: $30 for (5) 2 oz fine wine samples. Children 12 and under are FREE.

Restaurants featured include:

The Smiling Bison
Hollerbach’s Willow Tree
Siro at World Center Marriott
Primo at JW Marriott
Marlow’s Tavern
Old Hickory Steakhouse at Gaylord Palms
The Knife
Hawkers
Sushi House
Kobe Steakhouse
The Pub at Pointe Orlando
Shari Sushi
Morton’s Steakhouse
Jeremiah’s Italian Ice
Christner’s Prime Steak and Lobster
and more

Check out our video from day 1:

Appetite for the Arches sneak peek at The Ravenous PIg

Events

Ricky Ly

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Feb 20, 2015

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Appetite for the Arches sneak peek at The Ravenous PIg

by Mike Cho of ImpressInk.com

On Saturday, March 7, at the Orlando World Center Marriott, top local chefs from acclaimed restaurants and resorts will showcase their creativity to help raise funds at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida’s Appetite for the Arches benefit.

This is a culinary event with a twist — one that has a little something to do with the Golden Arches.

Chefs will use fresh McDonald’s ingredients to create one-of-a-kind signature dishes.

Guests will have the opportunity to interact with participating chefs while sampling the gourmet creations at this free-flowing event.

Julie Petrakis, who owns The Ravenous Pig and Cask & Larder with her husband James, sits on the planning committee for the event and was in charge of organizing chef participation. “Appetite for the Arches unites Central Florida’s best chefs and the community on a night of culinary surprises and delight for a special cause. All proceeds from the gala help Ronald McDonald House keep families together when they need it most —during the treatment of a critically ill child.”

Hosted by Chefs James and Julie Petrakis, Appetite for the Arches media preview was a preview showcase of culinary creativity.

Two signature cocktails

Vodka Lemonade
Strawberries, lemons, balsamic vinaigrette and sugar from McDonald’s

Old Fashioned
Hazelnut Syrup and Cherries from McDonald’s

The first entrée, created by Chef James Petrakis was a Chicken Terrine with bacon jam and picked apple. It used chicken, bacon, onions; apples, apple juice, balsamic vinaigrette and brioche roll from McDonald’s.

The second entrée, created by Chef Kevin Fonzo from K Restaurant was a Cola BBQ meatball. The smoked meatball was made using McDonald’s steak hamburger, bacon, pork sausage and white onions. The Cola sauce was made with McDonald’s tomatoes, ketchup, coke and mustard.

John Rivers, Chef and Founder of 4 Rivers contributed a Southern Chicken ‘N Biscuits. Using McDonald’s chicken breast and maple syrup created these tasty chicken biscuits combined with 4Rivers Buttermilk Biscuit.

For dessert, Chef Julie Petrakis from Cask & Larder contributed a delicious and decadent Creamsicle Parfait. The parfait was composed of a vanilla bean Panna Cotta, mandarin compote and granola. McDonald’s supplied the oranges, yogurt, granola and vanilla syrup.

It was a great experience seeing these Local chef’s transform McDonald’s ingredients into gourmet creations. You can have the opportunity to experience these and more on March 7th at the 2015 Appetite for the Arches Gala.

Participating restaurants include:
4 Rivers
Blue Bird Bake Shop
Cask & Larder
Chef’s Table at the Edgewater
Cuisiniers Catering
Emeril’s Tchoup Chop
Hamilton’s Kitchen
K Resturant
Kabooki Sushi
LUMA on Park
Orlando World Center Marriott
Paxia Modern Mexican and Tequila Lounge
Pig Floyd’s
SeaWorld Park & Resorts Orlando
The Ravenous Pig
The Rusty Spoon
The Smiling Bison
Txokos Basque Kitchen

Proceeds from Appetite for the Arches will contribute to Ronald McDonald’s House of Charities of Central Florida, which keeps families close to their critically ill children receiving treatment in local hospitals.

To find out more information about Appetite for the Arches including ticket information, please visit www.appetiteforthearches.org

Join the conversaion on Twitter @RMHCCF #AppetiteOrlando

A Foodie’s Guide to Celebrating Mardi Gras and a Taste of New Orleans in Orlando

Ricky Ly

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Feb 10, 2015

0

A Foodie’s Guide to Celebrating Mardi Gras and a Taste of New Orleans in Orlando

Mardi Gras is Tuesday February 17 this year, and if you can’t make it down to Universal Orlando Resort’s Mardi Gras celebration – there’s quite a few places to get your bayou bites on here in Orlando.

Mardi Gras, French for “Fat Tuesday”, refers to “events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after the Epiphany or King’s Day and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday, reflecting the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lent season.”

King Cake

One of the most popular foods of the season is the “king cake” -a sweet, sugary and iced Danish type cake that is braided with cinnamon inside and a plastic baby doll underneath (said to represent Jesus). The finder of the baby Jesus is said to be made King or Queen for the day and is also responsible for buying the King Cake for the next year. The three colors of the sugar are Purple (representing Justice), Green (representing Faith) and Gold (representing Power).

For King Cake in Orlando, contact:

Olde Hearth Bread Company
at East End Market
3201 Corrine Dr
Orlando, FL 32803
(407) 834-8881
$12 each starting Friday!!! Call ahead to order

Here’s what they look like:

@TastyChomps we do! We will have five in Friday, they are $12 pic.twitter.com/cdE9Q5n6Mv

— Olde Hearth Bread Co (@OldeHearthBread) February 10, 2015

Charlie’s Gourmet Pastries
3213 Curry Ford Road, Orlando, FL 32806
(407) 898-9561
http://www.charliesgourmetpastries.com/

Cajun vs. Creole

Louisiana Creole cuisine is a style of cooking originating in Louisiana, United States which blends French, West African, Amerindian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian influences, as well as general Southern cuisine. Cajun cuisine is named for the French-speaking Acadian people deported by the British from Acadia in Canada to the Acadiana region of Louisiana, USA. Creole is more known as “city” food while cajun is more “rural” – and a big difference often is that Creole cuisine has tomatoes in it. Popular dishes in both cuisines include gumbo, jambalaya, boudin sausage, and crawfish boils.

Key Terms

Gumbo – typically consists primarily of a strongly flavored stock, okra, meat or shellfish, a thickener, and seasoning vegetables, which can include celery, bell peppers and onions. Gumbo is often categorized by the type of thickener used: the African vegetable okra, the Choctaw spice filé powder (dried and ground sassafras leaves), or roux, the French base made of flour and fat. The dish likely derived its name from either the Bantu word for okra (ki ngombo) or the Choctaw word for filé (kombo). Several different varieties exist. In New Orleans, what is known as Creole gumbo generally ranges from house to house though still retaining its African and Native origins. The Creoles of Cane River make a gumbo focused much more on filé. After the base is prepared, vegetables are cooked down, and then meat is added. The dish simmers, with shellfish and some spices added near the end. Gumbo is traditionally served over rice. The dish combines ingredients and culinary practices of several cultures, including West African, French, Spanish, German, and Choctaw. The dish is the official cuisine of the state of Louisiana.

Jambalaya – a Louisiana Creole dish of Spanish and French influence. Jambalaya may have been created in Louisiana and may have its origins in Spanish paella, even if there is a dish also called jambalaia in Provence, southern France, that is also a mash-up of rice, chicken and saffron. Jambalaya is traditionally made in three parts, with meat and vegetables, and is completed by adding stock and rice. Creole jambalaya originates from the French Quarter of New Orleans, in the original European sector. It was an attempt by the Spanish to make paella in the New World, where saffron was not readily available due to import costs. Tomatoes became the substitute for saffron. As time went on, French influence became strong in New Orleans, and spices from the Caribbean changed this New World paella into a unique dish.

Roux – a substance created by cooking wheat flour and fat (traditionally butter) as the thickening agent. A roux is used in three of the mother sauces of classical French cooking: béchamel sauce, velouté sauce, and espagnole sauce. Clarified butter, vegetable oils, bacon drippings or lard are commonly used fats. It is used as a thickener for gravy, other sauces, soups and stews. In Cajun cuisine, roux is made with bacon fat or oil instead of butter and dark brown in color, which lends much richness of flavor, albeit less thickening power.

Crawfish – Crayfish, also known as crawfish, crawdads, freshwater lobsters, or mudbugs, are freshwater crustaceans resembling small lobsters
Po-boy – A po’ boy (also po-boy, po boy, or poor boy) is a traditional submarine sandwich from Louisiana. It almost always consists of meat, usually roast beef, or fried seafood. The meat is served on baguette-like New Orleans French bread, known for its crisp crust and fluffy center.

Beignet – synonymous with the English “fritter”, is the French term for a pastry made from deep-fried choux pastry. Beignets are commonly known in New Orleans as a breakfast served with powdered sugar on top. They are traditionally prepared right before consumption to be eaten fresh and hot. The most famous place to get these are at Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans.

Upcoming Events

Celt Irish Pub Louisiana Fat Tuesday Party
February 17, 2015 @ Harp and Celt Irish Pub and Restaurant
11a – 7pm
Menu:
Crawfish Poorboys
Crawfish Ettouffee
Chicken Jambalaya
Red Beans and Rice

25 South Magnolia Avenue
Orlando FL 32801
407-481-2928

Tibby’s New Orleans Kitchen
http://tibbys.com/

Two Locations:

2203 Aloma Ave
Winter Park, FL 32792
407-672-5753

494 West SR 436
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
407-951-6928

Favorite dishes: Fried oyster remoulade, seafood gumbo – shrimp, oysters, andouille sausage simmered with fresh vegetables, okra topped with rice, and the 12-napkin Fried Roast Beef Po-boy. Great beignets as well.

Belle Isle Bayou
5180 South Conway Road, Orlando, FL 32812
(407) 250-6763
http://belleisle-bayou.com/

The Big Easy
15502 Stoneybrook West Parkway, Winter Garden, FL 34787
(407) 654-3279
https://www.facebook.com/whodatbigeasy
http://www.thebigeasyfl.com/

Voodoo Kitchen Food Truck
http://www.voodookitchenfoodtruck.com/

For Crawfish, Shrimp, Crab, Seafood boils –

King Cajun Crawfish
914 North Mills Avenue
Orlando, FL 32803
(407) 704-8863
http://kingcajuncrawfish.com/
Great po-boys as well

New Orleans Cajun Seafood
5503 West Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32808
(407) 293-2719
7325 Aloma Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32792
(407) 678-5700
http://neworleanscajunseafood.com/

Hot N’ Juice Crawfish
7572 West Sand Lake Road, Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 370-4655
http://hotnjuicycrawfish.com/

LA Boiling Seafood Crabs and Crawfish
1242 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32803
(407) 898-7770
http://www.laboilingseafood.com/

Valentines Special Menu at Gigi’s Cupcakes

Katherine Nguyen

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Feb 10, 2015

0

Valentines Special Menu at Gigi’s Cupcakes

In 2008, Gigi Butler founded Gigi’s Cupcakes after her brother suggested she do so in Nashville with her delicious cupcakes. Although she struggled in the beginning, it is now a dream come true. We were invited, happily, to attend a tasting event at the Gigi’s Cupcakes located in Orlando, FL.

Gigi’s Cupcakes have their own bakers and decorators at least location every day to customize each cupcake however you wish. For instance, you could have a single layer of icing in a rose pattern, two layers or three. Gigi’s Cupcakes is known for their three layers of icing as well as their gluten cupcakes that are as delicious as “regular cupcakes”. The new Gluten Free cupcakes offered every day means there are at least 3 flavors offered each day rotating in and out. The cupcakes can come in sizes from mini to large. Not only do they sell cupcakes, but also cookies, cakes, cheesecakes, candles, lip balm, aprons, mugs, etc.

Gigi’s Cupcakes switches up their cupcakes everyday, but do have some that are consistent throughout the week. If you read the pamphlet about the cupcakes, you’ll see how the descriptions there are very similar to my descriptions. That is because their descriptions are on point to what I experienced and was cute to see how similar it is after I’ve written down my own descriptions!

The Lemon Dream Supreme is sweet, moist and soft with a hint of lemon. Neither sweetness nor the lemon flavor overpowers your taste buds. Prepare yourself before taking a bite because you’ll feel like you’re floating in mid air with lemon cupcakes dancing all around you. It’s a dream come true when it comes to lemon and cupcakes.

In the description on the menu for Miss Princess, it says this is made with fresh strawberries. The menu does not lie to you, as you can taste how delectable it is. You also get a creamy frosting and a fondant crown on top. This is a favorite for the little kids to believe their little princes and princesses.

Even though I don’t fancy this combination, the Chocolate Salted Caramel (not photographed individually) has a luscious taste in each chew. Once you’re done, all of the flavors linger in your mouth and makes you want another bite because it messes the tastes of saltiness and sweetness really well.

The Midnight Magic cupcake is crispy on the outside and moist as ever on the inside. Each taste of the frosting gives a hint of semi-sweet chocolate fresh to the mouth as if you took a sip of cold chocolate milk, which is a nice touch.

The Wedding Cake cupcake has a very light taste. I think the one I tried was drier than other cupcakes, but the core is still moist as promised. This is vanilla cupcake with nothing really exciting. It is great if you’d like a simple cupcake for the day.

The Triple Chocolate Torte (not photographed individually) is one of my favorites because it has rich, dark chocolate with a fudge brownie texture for each bite I took. It is also gluten free (flourless). Although you’re eating a cupcake, you don’t have to feel too guilty because it’s made of dark chocolate, which is good for your health.

In the Strawberry Shortcake cupcake, I found bits and pieces of fresh strawberries inside the cupcakes. This is so precious and delicious! I recommend buying this for yourself and your kids.

The Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cheesecake is so creamy. There isn’t an overpowering taste of cheesecake like what you may have experienced from other cheesecakes outside of Gigi’s Cupcakes. These are small, cute and a nice portion size although they are a bit dense.

Have a preview of the other cheesecakes offered at Gigi’s Cupcakes from Turtle and Classic Cherry to Chocolate Chocolate Chip.

Gigi’s Cupcakes will be on Undercover Boss on CBS Friday, February 13^th, 2015 at 8pm EST. This episode will showcase employee interviews, photos, promotions and special offers on Gigi’s products.

For more inquiries of cupcake flavors, please visit the online site for Gigi’s Cupcakes here: http://www.gigiscupcakesusa.com

For Valentine’s Day, Gigi’s Cupcakes offers a special menu for all to order gifts for that special someone. Please see the site for more details and all the options. Gigi’s Valentines Special Menu will be available Friday, February 13 – Sunday, February 15, 2015; however, pre-orders are recommended.

Valentine’s Day in Orlando – Dining Deals and Packages

Events

Ricky Ly

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Feb 10, 2015

0

Valentine’s Day in Orlando – Dining Deals and Packages

Affordable

Barnie’s CoffeeKitchen
– Includes complimentary Framboise Champagne cocktail to celebrate with dinner on Valentine’s Day.
– Includes dessert – Venezuelan Chocolate soufflé with a Mexican Vanilla Bean Creme Anglaise and a Sweetheart Latte, made with special sweetheart blend coffee – a mix of Chocolate and Cherry flavors
– $95 per couple

Marlow’s Tavern Winter Park and Marlow’s Tavern at Pointe Orlando
– Valentine’s Day 4-Course Specialty Dinner
– $35/person

Mynt Fine Indian Cuisine at Winter Park’s Hannibal Square
– 4 course meal with a glass wine
– $100/couple

Moderate

American Gymkhana
– Modern Indian experience to Valentine’s Day.
– Six-course tasting menu for $65 per person; wine pairings available for an additional $35 per person

Soco in Thornton Park
– Southern Aphrodisiac menu, featuring items like Potato Chip Crusted Chocolate Cake, with peanut butter brittle and salted caramel.
– Wash it down with a Valentine’s Day-exclusive Frisky Whiskey cocktail filled with Four Roses Whiskey, chocolate bitters and a cherry heart.
– About $60 per person

Txokos Basque Kitchen

Barefoot Farmer Farms has some beautiful veggies coming off the farm this weekend. Our guests should look for Golden and Candy Cane Beets (local goat cheese and EEM dill), Romanesco and Vita Verde Cauliflower (wood roasted with Marcona almond gravy)

Grilled White Asparagus, poached Lake Meadow egg, Salbitxada and tint

Caramelized Onion Soup (blue crab & truffle)

Mary Ann (pastry chef AKA Dragon Lady) and I are making a Trio of Chocolate for two (chai macaron & ancho ganache, chocolate cherry cake and chocolate caramel mousse & feuilletine

Four Seasons Resort at Disney World

Capa – Spanish-influenced steakhouse
– Five-course prix-fixe menu for USD 85.00 per adult.
– Fresh oysters, Wagyu beef, and a choice of veal, arctic char or an expertly cut filet.
– Top off the night with a glass of Champagne and toast to love while watching the Wishes nighttime spectacular at Magic Kingdom Park from the terrace of Capa.

Expensive

Norman’s at Ritz Carlton
– Four-course menu is $150 + tax and gratuity, wine pairing is $75 + tax and gratuity.
– Requires a $50 per person deposit.
– Fried oysters, pan seared scallops, strawberry creme fraiche sorbet.

Puff n Stuff Catering at your Home
– 3 hour dining experience, Order by Wed. Feb 11
– Salad, Jumbo Scallops, Lamb Chop, Dark cherry and chocolate tarte
– $280 per couple
– Add One Dozen Roses for $85
– Call 407-629-7833

Artful Dining at Kappo at East End Market

Ricky Ly

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Feb 7, 2015

4

Artful Dining at Kappo at East End Market

Kappo at East End Market is one of Orlando’s best sushi restaurants, yet also one of the most hidden.

Founded by college friends Mark, Lo, and Jen – all graduates of UF – they all traveled the world from New York to London to Tokyo to learn from the masters and now, they are back here in Orlando, having opened up this small 7 seat sushi bar inside the wonderful East End Market in Audubon Park.

The 7 seat bar is intimate – you can watch each of the chefs work attentively on their dishes, giving great care and respect to each piece of nigiri sushi.

Dinner is reservations only, while lunch is available for walk-ins.

The dinner experience is unique – omakase style, which means chef’s choice, with the best fish of the day prepared piece by piece like a scene out of Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Sushi as art – and it is as delicious to eat as it is beautiful.

For lunch, we recommend their transcendent chirashi bowl, or a plate of nigiri sushi, ending with a savory cup of miso soup or some house made Japanese inspired ice cream.

I made a short film of a recent visit here:

39 Awesome Foodie Shots of the 2015 Vietnamese New Year Festival in Orlando hosted by the Vietnamese Catholic Church

Ricky Ly

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Feb 3, 2015

0

39 Awesome Foodie Shots of the 2015 Vietnamese New Year Festival in Orlando hosted by the Vietnamese Catholic Church

This past weekend, the Vietnamese Catholic Church of Orlando, St Philip Phan van minh hosted their annual Vietnamese New Year Festival at the Central Florida Fairgrounds for 2015 – the year of the goat/sheep. The actual Lunar New Year is not till Thursday February 19th this year so there are still lots of great events to come. (See Guide to Celebrating Chinese/Vietnamese New Year Festivals in Orlando Post for the lowdown).

Here are 39 photos showing why the Vietnamese New Year Festival rocks:

Entrance to the Festival – here, a recreation of the famous Cho Ben Thanh market in Saigon, Vietnam

The festival is fun for the entire family - here in the background, a recreation of Cho Ben Thanh Market in Saigon, Vietnam — The festival is fun for the entire family – here in the background, a recreation of Cho Ben Thanh Market in Saigon, Vietnam

Shout out to the Orlando Foodie Forum on facebook for coming out to the event!

Church Festival Volunteers snap a quick photo

Inside the festival building – some families stay all day watching the shows, eating their way around the building halls

Serving chao long, rice porridge with offal

Bun rieu, a seafood crab and pork noodle soup

A Vietnamese Catholic boy scout buys some banh tieu

Banh tieu, Vietnamese hollowed donut fry bread topped with sesame seeds

Grinding sugarcane to make sugarcane juice — Grinding sugarcane to make fresh sugarcane juice

Hu Tieu Mi, a pork and chicken noodle soup topped with hard boiled quail eggs

Steaming pots of bun rieu pork and crab noodle soup

Rolls of banh tet, kind of like Christmas yuletide logs, but with sticky rice and beans to celebrate the new year

Lion dancers scare away evil spirits and welcome in the new year

Hot Vit Lon - the fearsome Duck fetus eggs — Hot Vit Lon – the fearsome Duck fetus eggs

Fried Eggrolls and pork sausage meatballs on a stick

Pew pew - Carnival games and things for kids area — Pew pew – Carnival games and things for kids area

These Vietnamese ladies are getting ready for a cultural performance on stage

Pearl White Events, a local wedding planning business, markets their services

Mai tree, the symbol of spring for the Vietnamese

Orlando #FoodieFriday News Roundup – Super Bowl Weekend Edition

news
Orlando

Ricky Ly

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Jan 30, 2015

0

Orlando #FoodieFriday News Roundup – Super Bowl Weekend Edition

Restaurant Openings

Red Mountain BBQ
3020 Lamberton Boulevard #110 (off of Curry Ford and Dean)
Orlando, FL 32825, United States
(407) 270-4621
www.redmountainbbq.com

Wlad Bladi Moroccan
2934 Vineland Rd
Kissimmee, FL 34746
Phone number (407) 507-2696

http://www.yelp.com/biz/wlad-bladi-kissimmee

Trattoria al Forno at Disney’s Boardwalk
(taking over Cat Cora’s Kouzzina location)
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/boardwalk/trattoria-al-forno/

East End Market on Cooking Channel – Emeril’s Florida
http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/blog/2015/01/east-end-market-local-eateries-featured-on-chef.html

Upcoming Events

Check out our segment on WESH 2 News Sunrise on CW 18 with Chef John Rivers of 4 Rivers Smokehouse and the Coop and all their Superbowl Eats

Four Seasons Superbowl party and US News ranking

U.S.News & World Report today announced its Best Hotels rankings and Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort was ranked the No. 1 hotel in Orlando. http://travel.usnews.com/Hotels/Orlando_Walt_Disney_World_FL/. FourSeasons Orlando is also listed on the Best Hotels in Florida and the Best Hotels in the USA lists.http://travel.usnews.com/Hotels/Florida-r59/

Super Bowl party at Orlando’s Teak Neighborhood Grill

Winter Park Sip, Shop & Stroll -Thursday, February 5, 2015
The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce and Park Avenue Merchants Association invite you to sip, shop and stroll with your sweetheart! Experience the charm and romance of Park Avenue on this uniquely Winter Park wine walk. Spend the evening visiting your favorite Park Avenue area shops and restaurants. Discover new merchants, check out the latest fashions, gift ideas and seasonal menu items and enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres along the way.

When & Where
Thursday, February 5, 2015
5 – 8 p.m.
Park Avenue area in downtown Winter Park
Cost: $25 each

Cattle Baron’s Ball Orlando 2015

The Cattle Barons’ Ball is a unique Western-themed evening of live entertainment, a dine-around, dancing, live and silent auctions and
more. And as we come together to party for a cause, the American Cancer Society will continue to save lives and create more birthdays by helping people to stay well and get well, find cures, and fight back against a disease that has taken too many lives.

This one of a kind event allows cowboys and cowgirls to dust off their denim to kick cancer out to pasture once and for all!

Saturday, February 7, 2015
6:00 pm – midnight
Rosen Shingle Creek, 9939 Universal Blvd., Orlando, FL 32819

The event features a dine-around with culinary creations from local restaurants. Entertainment includes Western-themed activities, silent and live auctions and a live performance by great western entertainers.
Valentine’s Day at Barnie’s CoffeeKitchen

Barnie’s CoffeeKitchen on Park
Valentine’s Weekend Couple’s Prix-Fixe Dining Experience
February 13 & 14, starting at 6pm each night
$90 per couple
Call (407) 629-0042 To Reserve (reservation only, limited availability)

Menu:
Framboise Champagne Cocktail
Amuse
Appetizer: carpaccio of grass fed beef, with radicchio, pickled beets, and crunchy red quinoa, dressed in a sherry-paprika vinaigrette.
Entree: Stew of Florida shellfish and fish with a saffron, star anise, and tomato broth.
Dessert: Venezuelan chocolate soufflé with blackberries and a Mexican vanilla creme anglaise.
Sweetheart Latte

Wine and beer list available. Not included in the Prix-Fixe menu price.

Restaurant News

The former Napa restaurant at Hyatt Regency Orlando (formerly Peabody Orlando) has transitioned into Urban Tide which offers diners a modern twist on local Florida seafood favorites.

Highlights from the new menu include a selection of “Starters” like Ceviche with citrus marinated Florida sea bass and serrano spiked rock shrimp and Grouper Cheeks with shishito peppers, cilantro, and creamed Zellwood Farm corn. Seafood selections include Gulf Grouper, Sea Bass and Whole Red Snapper, which can be prepared blackened, grilled, or sautéed. All seafood dishes are served with a trio of house made sauces.

Other “Favorites” include Grilled Domestic Lamb Rack with tomato farro risotto and baby zucchini, and a classic Cioppino.

Further food and beverage developments include a new kosher kitchen which will be completed for events and meetings use by Passover this April.

“As Hyatt Hotels’ largest meetings property, we’re constantly evaluating how we can best accommodate our many diverse groups during their stay,” said Nate Hardesty, Director of Sales and Marketing. “Orlando continues to raise its profile as an ideal destination for meetings and leisure travel, and we want to ensure our offerings are evolving in order to provide the best possible guest experience.”

For further information, or to book a stay at Hyatt Regency Orlando, please visit www.orlando.regency.hyatt.com.

Spice Burgr – Downtown Orlando

Ricky Ly

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Jan 27, 2015

3

Spice Burgr recently took over for the space at the downtown Orlando Plaza that once belonged to grilled cheese sandwich shop Meltz. If the name “Spice” rings a bell, it’s because the owners of Spice Burgr are the same as the owners of nearby Spice Modern Steakhouse at Lake Eola.

It’s a counter service restaurant – order at the counter and the order is delivered to you when ready. I guess it’s the next evolution of the fast food restaurant with better ingredients. The decor is anonymous – minimal and white – and rather forgetful. The staff was friendly enough, but at times they appeared a bit lost and unsure about who ordered what when the orders became ready.

I ordered the Traditional – always a good base to start off with, I supposed. It was all right, juicy and slightly flavorful but nothing to denote any memorable “spice” moment. The fries came out hot, but needed a little salt. It was $5.95. I’d have to go back to try their other burger varieties and choices like the California Spice burger – topped with lettuce, tomatoes, sliced avocado, pico, cheese, “Burgr sauce” on a buttered bun and a side of fries. There is also a Burger of the Month, or BOM, that changes monthly.

Overall, Spice Burgr just did not leave much of an impression – spicy or otherwise – on me.

Spice Burgr - One of Many, Many new burger joints in Orlando — Spice Burgr – One of Many, Many new burger joints in Orlando

The decor - modern, sleek, boring — The decor – modern, sleek, boring

Outstanding in the Field – Farm Dinner at Lake Meadow Naturals

Krystle Nguyen

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Jan 27, 2015

0

Outstanding in the Field – Farm Dinner at Lake Meadow Naturals

‘Restaurant without walls’ travels to Florida for January table-to-farm feasts in warm-weather locales.

Outstanding in the Field (OITF) was founded by Jim Denevan who came up with the idea of setting a long table on a farm and inviting the public to an open-air feast to re-connect diners to the land and the origins of their food. Honoring the the local farmers and food artisans who cultivate it, the ingredients for the meal are almost all local and sometimes sourced within inches of your seat at the table. Bringing the farm to the table is a movement that redefines what it means to eat fresh, seasonal, and local food.

Since their first table in 1999 near Santa Cruz, California, Outstanding in the Field has staged farm-to-table dinners in all 50 states across the United States and nine countries around the world. Hundreds of talented chefs, including dozens of Top Chefs and James Beard award winners and nominees, have cooked in OITF’s pop-up kitchen.

At a ranch, sea cove, vineyard, rooftop, sea cave, and occasionally inside a refurbished barn or greenhouse — Outstanding in the Field’s unique locations create an elaborate dining experience that is visually powerful to diners, and inspires a broader discussion of where the food comes from.

Tonight’s dinner was hosted by Dale Volkert (Farmer/Owner – Lake Meadow Naturals) and prepared by Chef Kathleen Blake (Chef/Owner – The Rusty Spoon). Guests arrived early in the evening for cocktail hour and a tour of the property. At the center of the field was a long table with the most beautiful view of the land, accompanied with friendly farm animals. The simplicity of the white table and clear glasses provides a blank slate for the chef to feature the food’s vibrant colors as the centerpiece.

It was an incredible opportunity to be surrounded by a diverse crowd and converse with the farming community. Chef Kathleen Blake prepared an impressive multi-course meal, complete with wine pairings for each meal. Each dish was served on handmade pottery by local potter, Joshua James Freeman.

HOST: Dale Volkert, Lake Meadow Naturals, Ocoee, FL
GUEST CHEF: Kathleen Blake, The Rusty Spoon, Orlando, FL

OSIF-1 — Made some friends on the farm..

OSIF-2 — Chickens roaming freely on the field.

OSIF-4 — BYOP (Bring Your Own Plate) // A tradition that continued from the very first OITF dinner back in 1999, each guest brings their own dinner plate to the table. A long table set with a myriad of contributed plates provides a colorful one time only table setting.

OSIF-7 — Lake Meadow Naturals // Chicken liver mousse on Olde Hearth crostini

OSIF-9 — Grilled Lake Meadow Naturals // Chicken hearts, port lacquer

OSIF-11 — Lake Meadow Naturals Honey Butter — ADDICTING.

OSIF-12 — Waterkist Farm // Heirloom tomatoes, sunflower sprouts & sea salt

OSIF-13 — Waterkist Farm // Heirloom tomatoes, sunflower sprouts & sea salt

OSIF-17 — Hammock Hollow // Little gem lettuces, Sunny Morning goat cheese croutons, pickled local kumquats

OSIF-18 — Two Doves Farm // Charred cauliflower & Belle Fiore radicchio, preserved lemon

Underneath the stars . . . such a magical evening.

OSIF-20 — Lake Meadow Naturals cracked wheat with Two Doves Farm & Hammock Hollow herbs

OSIF-21 — Lake Meadow Naturals // Whey braised cornish hens

OSIF-23 — Lake Meadow Naturals // Duck egg sabayon, strawberries, rosemary shortbread

OSIF-24 — Lake Meadow Naturals // Duck egg sabayon, strawberries, rosemary shortbread

Special Thanks:
Dale Volkert, Lake Meadow Naturals (Ocoee, FL)
Kathleen Blake, The Rusty Spoon (Orlando, FL)
Carlos Jimenez, Waterkist Farms (Oviedo, FL)
Shannon & Janine Talty, Olde Hearth Bread Co. (Casselberry, FL)
Charlie Andrews, Hammock Hollow Herb Company (Island Grove, FL)
Joshua James Freeman, Pottery (Orlando, FL)
Bold City Brewery (Jacksonville, FL)
Local Roots (Orlando, FL)
Two Doves Farm (Webster, FL)
Sunny Morning Foods (Orlando, FL)

. . . and the Outstanding in the Fields crew!

To find out where Outstanding in the Field is traveling to next, visit their website: http://www.outstandinginthefield.com/

Layover at Hong Kong International Airport

Ricky Ly

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Jan 26, 2015

0

Layover at Hong Kong International Airport

On a recent trip overseas, my wife and I stayed over at the SkyCity Marriott at the Hong Kong International Airport. It was a bit rainy that evening so we decided to forgo the excursion over to the main part of the city and just settled in at the hotel before heading out to our next destination, which was Bali at the time.

Dining options are limited at the Marriott, but there is one nice restaurant there called Man Ho. Mostly empty that evening, but it had some sleek modern decor. We came for one thing – Hong Kong style roast goose. These succulent roast poultry is similar to the roast duck we might find at Tasty Wok hanging in display cases around town at the Asian supermarkets – but the roast goose is on another level – juicy, bursting with flavor. I don’t know why it hasn’t crossed overseas yet, but here’s to hoping it will one day.

Man Ho - inside the SkyCity Marriott at Hong Kong Intl Airport — Man Ho – inside the SkyCity Marriott at Hong Kong Intl Airport

The next morning, we awoke early to catch our flight out. The airport itself has a flurry of dining amenities, from fast casual ramen to the classic Hong Kong dim sum. Some popular Hong Kong eateries and coffee shops (known as cha chaan teng) like Tsui Wah and Cafe de Coral also have outposts here – selling sort of “Western” influenced Asian dishes like macaroni noodle and beef soup and stuffed rice in lotus leaf. Couldn’t find the legendary French toast this time around though.

We were flying – through a combination of points and finagling – first class on Cathay Pacific (one of the BEST airlines I’ve ever flown on in terms of service and comfortability) and after a quick breakfast stumbled upon their first class lounge, The Bridge.

Should’ve stumbled upon it earlier – we should have realized that Hong Kong is their main hub and headquarters. Food and amenities for days.

Cathay Delight - the signature drink of Cathay Pacific - made with coconut milk and kiwi juice — Cathay Delight – the signature drink of Cathay Pacific – made with coconut milk and kiwi juice

Scenes from Winter Park Farmer’s Market – Photoblog

Ricky Ly

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Jan 26, 2015

0

Scenes from Winter Park Farmer’s Market – Photoblog

The Winter Park Farmers’ Market is one of my favorite weekly farmer’s markets here in Orlando.

Located just a block away from bustling Park Avenue, it’s the perfect Saturday morning outing for both friends and families to stroll around and grab little bites to eat or take home, before or after a meal on the Avenue.

It’s held at the old train depot, now the Winter Park Historical Musuem located at 200 West New England Avenue every Saturday morning from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is usually packed with folks walking their dogs and is a great opportunity for people watching.

Some of my favorite things to get here are the freshly popped kettlecorn – the best found in the city – from Mountain Kettle Corn, lovely croissants from Chez Vincent, fresh fruit jams from Ginger Jams and Jellies, artisan breads from Olde Hearth Bread Co, and a delicious breakfast bagel inside the Winter Park Farmer’s Market building.

Winter Park Farmers’ Market
200 West New England Avenue
Winter Park, Florida
407-599-3275

Tienda Mexicana Jalisco – Tacos inside a Mexican Grocery – Goldenrod

Ricky Ly

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Jan 23, 2015

0

Tienda Mexicana Jalisco – Tacos inside a Mexican Grocery – Goldenrod

You wouldn’t know it by driving by this little Mexican grocery store – but inside these red and yellow bodega bricked walls there is a little kitchen that serves up some very authentic Mexican street food from tamales, tortas and tacos to shrimp cocktails, menudos and tostadas.

Jalisco is a region on the west coast of Mexico known for being the “heart” of Mexican culture. A classic dish for the area includes the pozole, a kind of spicy, meaty corn-based stew, as well as menudo, a traditional Mexican beef tripe soup.

Here at Tienda Mexicana Jalisco on Goldenrod Road, in addition to the typical list of tacos, there are “caldos” or “soups” and “guisados” or “stews”. My favorites are the tostadas, fried tortillas topped with beans, cheese, salsa, lettuce, and your choice of meat – which range from the familiar carne steak and al pastor pork, to the more exotic like lengua (beef tongue) and cabeza (roasted beef head) – though they are known to be “out” of the more rare meats.

You order at the counter – Spanish helps, for sure, but there is also an English menu. As is typical at these roadside grocery eateries, you pay not at the kitchen counter, but instead, take the pay stub to the main grocery cashier to pay and then get a receipt there for the meal. It can be a little confusing for first timers.

After you’re done paying, take a seat, and when the carne or carnitas are done sizzling on the griddle and the tacos and tostadas and soups are all prepared, they bring the plates out, fresh and ready to be enjoyed.

Simple and satisfying. Watch the heat from the hot sauce, though.

Fried snapper

Daily lunch specials

The grocery market part of the grocery store

Seating area – a lot of the working crowd during lunch time

Mexican pastries – a lot of bread – for sale

Pay for your meal, or buy a phone card, at the register

Tacos – carne, lengua, al pastor – watch out for the red sauce – it’s spicy

Simple onion, cilantro, and a dash of lime for my street tacos

Christner’s Prime Steak and Lobster – Lee Road

Ricky Ly

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Jan 22, 2015

0

Christner’s Prime Steak and Lobster – Lee Road

Christner’s Prime Steak & Lobster Restaurant on Lee Road is Orlando’s quintessential steakhouse. Formerly Del Frisco’s, the restaurant is darkly lit with wood overtones and a decidedly clubby, intimate old school feel. Probably not many interior upgrades since the 1990s, but here it’s all about the classics: steaks.

The menu is emphasizes steak and lobster tail, with a salmon and a few shrimp and pasta dishes, plentiful sides like lobster mac and cheese and creamy spinach, soups, and salads. Lobster tail, luscious and fresh, carved tableside, is a luxurious add-on option to your steak. From prime ribeye to filet mignon and porterhouse cooked in butter, Christner’s has your carnal cravings covered.

On a recent visit, for a friend’s birthday, I ordered the Beef Wellington and was very impressed. Beef Wellington is a preparation of filet steak coated with pâté, a pate of butter, mushrooms and black pepper here at Christner’s, which is then wrapped in puff pastry and baked – flaky and delicious.

If you are lucky, you might find master magician Kostya Kimlat and his merry friends roaming the halls and entertaining guests with their craft.

House baked bread

A porterhouse – 20 oz. – with cold tail lobster tail

Carved table side.

A happy camper

New York Strip Steak

Beef Wellington – perfectly cooked

Mr. Kostya Kimlat delighting the table guests

Christner’s Prime Steak & Lobster
christnersprimesteakandlobster.com/
729 Lee Road, Orlando, FL 32810, United States
(407) 645-4443

Yuki Hana Fusion Sushi in Oviedo

Ricky Ly

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Jan 19, 2015

1

Yuki Hana Japanese Fusion, in Oviedo, just off of Aloma at Tuskawilla, serves Japanese modern cuisine with a fresh twist on classic dishes and a vast selection of delectable sushi, fresh sashimi, and signature rolls created by chef and owner Eddison Chen.

Yuki Hana Fusion’s menu represents chef Eddison’s nearly 15 years of experience including many years working with some of the best Japanese master sushi chefs in New York – where followers there have said Eddie “is devoted to maintaining the purity of his vision—-that is not to be simply good but transcendent.”

We were recently invited to visit the modern and sleek Yuki Hana to sample some of their dishes and were quite surprised and delighted by what they had to offer, a step above the typical sushi places in the area for sure. I would say it ranks among the best in Orlando in terms of its quality and taste.

We started with a glass of the Bunraku Kinmai “Dancing Gold Flakes” sake, while the gold flakes are believed to “enhance good fortune”, the sake itself had a smooth, rich flavor, slightly sweet and one of the best sake I have had the pleasure to taste.

Geoduck is in season and chef Chen made great use of the ingredient in two dishes sampled this evening. Also known as giant clam, the geoduck is a very large, edible, saltwater clam native to western United States. Distinctively shaped similar to the male genital, the geoduck can go for $150/lb in Asia where it is a delicacy.

We started with a geoduck miso soup made with both geoduck and little clams, as well as enoki and shitake mushroom. The soup was rich and flavorful, and had the mushroom and clam textures went well together.

Next, the geoduck served two ways – tempura and sashimi style with an orange lemon confit, crispy and soft – very good.

Uni was also in season – sea urchin is creamy and custardy and is often an acquired taste, but can be very wonderful if served fresh as it is here at Yuki Hana with a topping of quail egg.

Some Asian – Latin fusion is also present here at Yuki Hana, executed well with dishes like the Oxtail tempura avocado taco with a Korean spicy gochujang pickle sauce.

They’ve recently updated the menu, adding dishes like the Kanpachi Crudo with Hawaii yellowtail, black garlic, basil oil, tobiko, cucumber, lava salt, lemon confit, and togarashi and the Madai, Japanese sea bream with mango, avocado, cilantro, mustard seed vinaigrette, shallot chips, and furikake

Geoduck miso soup made with both geoduck and little clams, as well as enoki and shitake mushroom.

Geoduck Two ways

Oxtail tacos – braised oxtail, house Asian slaw, tempura avocado, gochujang pepper sauce, cilantro, lime wedge

Fresh, live uni sea urchin – available now in winter season – served here with raw quail egg.

Nigiri sampling – fresh sushi topped with lovely accoutrements

Dessert is handled here by Chef Eddison’s gracious wife Ping, who has picked up quite the skillset of pastry and dessert making from her travels around the world. The banana bread pudding I sampled was crispy, crunchy and delicately soft and sweet at the same time – definitely one of the best desserts I’ve had in Orlando.

Do visit Yuki Hana in Oviedo soon, for the lovely ambiance, fresh and innovative sushi and kitchen dishes, as well as wonderful desserts – I know I will be returning very soon!

Orlando #FoodieFriday News Round up – Openings and Closings

news
Orlando

Ricky Ly

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Jan 16, 2015

0

Orlando #FoodieFriday News Round up – Openings and Closings

Discussing the latest in Orlando food and drink this week

Barnie's CoffeeKitchen CEO Jonathon Smiga with Executive Chef Camilo Velasco — Barnie’s CoffeeKitchen CEO Jonathon Smiga with Executive Chef Camilo Velasco

Camilo in the Kitchen series debuts via Barnie’s CoffeeKitchen

Chef Camilo Velasco is one of my favorite chefs around town, and also, I believe, one of the most underrated. A protege of Chef Norman Van Aken, Colombian born Chef Velasco delights and surprises the diners at Barnie’s CoffeeKitchen each week with his chef’s menu.

In this first episode of this new series, Chef Velasco talks about his three favorite dishes on the Barnie’s CoffeeKitchen menu. The next episode will be focused on wine and wine pairings.

“This new web series positions Camilo as a thought leader in Culinary Arts and share his passion for cuisine from coffee growing regions worldwide. Other interests such as wine, rare & hard-to-find coffees and farming techniques will be topics he covers. Expect to see two-three new episodes each month. He will also provide insights on family-inspired dishes from his hometown Cali, Columbia. Expect guest stars from time-to-time from the world of coffee & cuisine.”

Restaurant Openings

Izziban BBQ and Sushi has opened on East Colonial just west of SR 436/Semoran in the location formerly of Mr. Sisters, right across from Hot Dog Heaven on the lake. They are known for their all you can eat yakiniku grilled meat barbecue which includes a salad bar and unlimited selection of apps and sushi, ranging from $19.99 at lunch time and late night happy hour to $29.99 at dinner time. 5310 E Colonial Dr
Orlando, FL 32807 Phone number (407) 270-8811 http://www.izzibansushi.com/

Quickly Boba and Snow has opened featuring not only traditional boba milk tea and snow desserts in “chubby cups”, but also Hong Kong style egg waffle puffs and Taiwanese popcorn chicken – not to mention their awesome mural wall created by local artist Boy Kong. 3214 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803 Phone number (407) 270-4570 https://www.facebook.com/quicklyorlando

The Meatball Shoppe has opened at 7325 Lake Underhill Rd, Orlando, FL 32822, Phone number (407) 270-6505 http://www.themeatballshoppe.co/ Hours: Monday – Saturday, for lunch or dinner, 11 AM – 8 PM.

1st Spring Oriental Supermarket – the eastern sister to the wicked supermarket of the west – 1st Oriental Supermarket, 1st Spring Supermarket is set to make many folks who hate the trek out to Pine Hills very happy. They will be opening a bakery, kitchen, and live seafood section soon, they say before Chinese New Year is here. 10681 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32817 Phone number (407) 292-3668 1stspringorientalmarket.com

Restaurant Closings

Maria Bonita Mexican restaurant on East Colonial has closed.
Burger and Beer Joint by UCF has closed via Scott Joseph’s Orlando Restaurant Guide
– the price point was too high for the college crowd and the burgers were just way too slow coming out of the kitchen. This place was originally a Perkins for many years, then Ichiban, a short lived Chinese/Japanese buffet, and Culpepper’s most recently.
California Burrito on East Colonial has also closed, also via Scott Joseph’s Orlando Restaurant Guide

Coming Soon

The Osprey Tavern in Baldwin Park
Swine and Sons Provisions in Winter Park
Valentine’s Day – Saturday February 14 – Book your reservations ASAP
Berghoff’s Beer Hall at Artegon Marketplace on International Drive
Black Rooster Taqueria in Mills 50, former location of Tony’s Deli via Bungalower

Upcoming Events

CLEARWATER BEACH UNCORKED 2015

Clearwater Beach Uncorked is delighted to announce its 4th annual food beachfront spectacular to be held on February 7th and 8th, 2015, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., beneath the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa.

Clearwater Beach Uncorked, described as the finest beachfront culinary event on Florida’s west coast, is brought together by sponsors: Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa and Publix. Clearwater Beach Uncorked will bid the ultimate pre-Valentine’s Day beach getaway complete with delicious tastings from the area’s most renowned restaurants. Guests of the event will have the privilege of mingling at this exquisite paparazzi filled event sure to satisfy anyone’s cravings. For more information, visit http://clearwaterbeachuncorked.com.

Clearwater Beach Uncorked will donate a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales to the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee College of Hospitality and Technology Leadership. This year’s sponsors include: Publix, Duncan Hines, Florida Department of Citrus, Hefty, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Planters, and Reynolds.

DOWNTOWN FOOD AND WINE FEST AT LAKE EOLA
February 21 and 22, 2015

The Seventh Annual Downtown Food & Wine Fest is set for Saturday, February 21 and Sunday, February 22, 2015 for more than 30,000 foodies and wine lovers to experience unique local cuisine paired with wines from around the globe.

Date / Time: Saturday, February 21 (noon to 9 p.m.) and Sunday, February 22, 2015 (noon to 7 p.m.)

Location: Located in the heart of downtown Orlando at Lake Eola along Robinson Street

Tickets: Admission is $15 per person, per day with advance online purchase. Admission at the door is $20 per person, per day. Admission for children under age 12 is free. For all-weekend Fest fans, a two-day ticket is available for $20 per person with advance online purchase. Food and beverage tickets are available at the Fest for $2 each; food and beverage offerings range from one to four tickets.

“The Downtown Food & Wine Fest is one of our Downtown’s signature cultural events, showcasing the best of Orlando’s culinary scene. Events like this continue to expand Downtown’s offerings and bring more and more people to our urban core to celebrate the beauty, diversity, and vibrancy of our community,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.

For more information on the Downtown Food & Wine Fest:
Visit www.DowntownFoodAndWineFest.com

For more upcoming events, check out our newly created Orlando Foodie Calendar! shoot us an email if you want to add anything at tastychomps (at) gmail.com

Bonus

In case you missed it, here is the link to our segment on WESH 2 Sunrise News on CW 18 this week, talking about the Chinese/Vietnamese Lunar New Year: http://www.wesh.com/news/lunar-new-year/30735308

and the link to the Guide to Lunar New Year in Orlando 2015

See you next time on Wesh Sunrise News on CW 18 !

Top 5 Things to Eat at Mamak Asian Street Food

Ricky Ly

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Jan 15, 2015

4

Top 5 Things to Eat at Mamak Asian Street Food

A lot of comparisons have been made with the newly opened Mamak to another local Asian street food restaurant in town – namely, Hawkers Asian Street Fare just up the road on Mills Avenue.

The menu of small plates and craft beers look awfully familiar, and there is some history among the owners of which we do not know the full details. But, there are plenty of cases of restaurants having similar menus – examples range from the many local Vietnamese pho shops to Italian and Indian restaurants.

The main crux and differentiation of each lies in their execution of the dishes.

For that reason, I am happy to have Mamak in town because of the very distinct and robust flavors in their dishes, particularly in their curry dishes.

Their decor is modern and chic, with dark woods and a long communal table perfect for a night out with friends – more like a scene out of New York City than Orlando, but if it were to be in any place in Orlando, it would be in Mills 50.

Here’s what we recommend to get at Mamak:

Top 5 Dishes to Try at Mamak

1. Mamak Roti Canai – Start off with this Malaysian roti toasted till golden brown, crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside and served with an addictive spicy curry sauce.

2. Wonton with hot sauce – plump little wonton dumplings bursting with flavor in a nutty, spicy wet sauce.

3. Maggi Goreng – Stringy, bouncy Maggi noodles, stir-fried with shrimp, chicken, eggs, and veggie, in a spiced brown sauce. This dish reminded me the most of the nasi goreng noodle dishes I had while in Indonesia recently.

4. Malaysian Coconut Kari – Malaysia’s most popular dish, your choice of chicken, beef, or tofu and veggies, tossed in a fragrant curry cooked with freshly ground spices and chunky potatoes, served with jasmine rice and sliced cucumber.

5. Seafood Haw Fun – This rift on the popular beef chow fun is topped with piping hot seafood and veggies instead of beef and scallions. The thick rice noodles and the seafood make for a wonderful combination and tastes so authentic and real, you’d think you were on the streets of Southeast Asia after trying.

BONUS – Here are some other dishes at Mamak, though good, not as essential to our list of top 5:

Nasi Goreng Indonesia - hot Spicy sambai fried rice with shrimp, chicken and onions, topped with a fried egg. I think the nasi goreng kari fried rice may be a better option - that kari sauce is so good on everything. — Nasi Goreng Indonesia – hot Spicy sambai fried rice with shrimp, chicken and onions, topped with a fried egg. I think the nasi goreng kari fried rice may be a better option – that kari sauce is so good on everything.

BBQ Roast Pork - better else where in Mills 50, these tasted a little off on our visit. — BBQ Roast Pork – better else where in Mills 50, these tasted a little off on our visit.

Malaysian Asam Kari - Your choice of protein, tamarind infused coconut curry cooked with freshly ground spices, tomatoes, bell peppers, carrots and onions, served with jasmine rice and sliced cucumbers. This dish was a bit mild compared to the coconut kari version, so it's a good choice if you like mild flavors — Malaysian Asam Kari –
Your choice of protein, tamarind infused coconut curry cooked with freshly ground spices, tomatoes, bell peppers, carrots and onions, served with jasmine rice and sliced cucumbers. This dish was a bit mild compared to the coconut kari version, so it’s a good choice if you like mild flavors

Char Kway Teow -Malaysia's most popular street dish, wok-fried rice noodles, with shrimp, chicken, eggs, bean sprouts, and chives. — Char Kway Teow -Malaysia’s most popular street dish, wok-fried rice noodles, with shrimp, chicken, eggs, bean sprouts, and chives.

The CrepeVine

Nhi Nguyen

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Jan 14, 2015

0

The CrepeVine is a new dainty quick eat restaurant that’s located in Altamonte Springs, but to be honest, when I heard of this new restaurant concept I thought it would be located in Thornton Park or Park Ave.

However, I’m glad that something like CrepeVine popped up in Altamonte – it’s refreshing to have more dining options than just the typical Olive Garden and Wing House.

The interior is modern, but not intimidating.

When you walk towards the back you can see an open kitchen with a glass wall – delightful because as soon as you place your order, you can watch the staff prepare it right in front of you.

On a recent media visit, I was able to sample “The Czar”, which was a savory crepe with chicken, fresh romaine lettuce, tomatoes, creamy caesar sauce all wrapped up in thin crispy crepe. The chicken was definitely the highlight, neither smothered in seasoning nor overcooked.

It was as if I was eating a sub but without the heaviness of the bread, which is always a plus if you are trying to stay away from carbs…. or just don’t like bread.

I ended the visit on a sweet note with a decadent crepe ” The Gilberto” – a guilty pleasure with strawberries, bananas, whipped cream and Nutella all wrapped in a soft crepe that’s drizzled in chocolate syrup.

Needless to say this was a classic that could not go wrong with all the right sweetness and tartness from the syrup and the fruits.

The Crepe Vine definitely lived up to their slogan to be “Fast, Fresh, and Friendly.” I definitely enjoyed my visit and would definitely come back for a quick bite!

TASTYCHOMPSORLANDO FOOD BLOG

Tasty ChompsA Local's Culinary Guide

Everything Lamb Dinner at Crimson Tavern – Orlando Airport Marriott

Local Orlando foodie news!

Look at the new digs – The Osprey Tavern at Baldwin Park

Chef Eddie’s Restaurant Moving to Church Street

Hawker’s 3rd Location is coming to St Petersburg Florida

Sonny’s BBQ Readies for new Strategy for the next 50 Years

Upcoming Events

Exclusive Restaurant News

King Cake

Cajun vs. Creole

Key Terms

Upcoming Events

For Crawfish, Shrimp, Crab, Seafood boils –

Affordable

Moderate

Expensive

Restaurant Openings

Upcoming Events

Restaurant News

Restaurant Openings

Restaurant Closings

Coming Soon

Upcoming Events

DOWNTOWN FOOD AND WINE FEST AT LAKE EOLA February 21 and 22, 2015

Bonus

Top 5 Dishes to Try at Mamak

1. Mamak Roti Canai – Start off with this Malaysian roti toasted till golden brown, crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside and served with an addictive spicy curry sauce.

2. Wonton with hot sauce – plump little wonton dumplings bursting with flavor in a nutty, spicy wet sauce.

3. Maggi Goreng – Stringy, bouncy Maggi noodles, stir-fried with shrimp, chicken, eggs, and veggie, in a spiced brown sauce. This dish reminded me the most of the nasi goreng noodle dishes I had while in Indonesia recently.

4. Malaysian Coconut Kari – Malaysia’s most popular dish, your choice of chicken, beef, or tofu and veggies, tossed in a fragrant curry cooked with freshly ground spices and chunky potatoes, served with jasmine rice and sliced cucumber.

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DOWNTOWN FOOD AND WINE FEST AT LAKE EOLA
February 21 and 22, 2015