P is for Pie Bake Shop by Tara Gould

Unique Michael

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May 9, 2014

When I first heard about a pie shop opening in Audubon Park, I instantly thought of “Pushing Daisies,” an amazing series that used to air on ABC about a Pie maker who had the ability to resurrect the dead. In this series, the pie maker was able to touch wilted or not so alive produce and bring it back to life with full flavor, making his pies the best in town! There is also a huge thing about resurrecting dead people and not being able to kiss the love of his life but we won’t get into that.

Pushing Daisies, a cancelled television show that once appeared on ABC

This beautiful Pie shop is located down the road from the beautiful East End Market and is home to an extraordinary array of bath-bomb sized pies and more. Before you go, please call to make sure they are open as the shop closes its doors once it sells out of products, which seems to happen according to the owner, Tara Gould.

Her pies are as beautiful as the shop, which is accented with varying shades of wood surfaces and dim lighting through what looks like mason jar bulbs.

The sun shines through just enough to illuminate the faces of happy employees showing off pie to excited customers.

I wouldn’t really consider this a spot to work and lounge. This is more of a “Devour pie with friends and leave without any kind of judgement” kind of place, and be prepared to pay between $3 – 5 for a single serving. The pie makers here are committed to creating miniature artisan treats with fresh and local ingredients.

I asked Tara why she decided to open this Pie shop and her response was “I didn’t want to regret it when I was in my sixties.”

After chatting with Tara for a few minutes, I found out that she possessed true passion about her products. She used to bake pies when she was in college. Unlike other girls her age, she was busy creating tasty pies instead of partying. However, I’m sure she’d be the life of any party if she brought those pies with her.

Okay, so now we know that Tara had her priorities in order when she was growing up. Without further delay, here’s what you can expect at P is for Pie but make sure you call because the menu changes with the season – sometimes daily! Oh, and did I mention Tara has plans to extend her hours? That’s right. You can get your pie all the way until 9p.m. on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Yes, this means you are able to satisfy your sweet tooth after dinner and before you go out for a night on the town. What could be better?

Rosemary Peach and Lemon Cream Piefait (I totally named it the Piefair)

Blackberry Lemon Cream Mini Pie with Walnut Thyme Streusel

Caramel Pecan Hand Pies

Blueberry Cobbler

Oatmeal Cream Pies

Tu Casa – Dominican lechonera near Florida Mall

Latin American

Ricky Ly

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May 8, 2014

2

Tu Casa – Dominican lechonera near Florida Mall

Lechoneras are a category of Latin American restaurants, primarily from Puerto Rico, Cuba, or the Dominican Republic, selling roasted pork along with rice and a variety of other homemade dishes.

It’s a lovely sight to see the dining cart and can be fun to pick up the different entrees and items that you want for the meal.

It’s also usually relatively cheap ranging from $4.99 to $6.99 for a hefty plate of yellow rice and beans (or pigeon peas) and a side of pernil – roasted pork shoulder with some nice pork skin cracklings.

Tu Casa, a hole-in-the-wall on South Orange Blossom Trail is one such Latin American restaurant, specializing in cuisine originating from the island nation of the Dominican Republic.

Other dishes available include Beef Stew, Baked Chicken, and Chicken Stew, but at Tu Casa there are a variety of different daily specials ranging from fried tilapia, cod fish, to lasagna.

I had the roast pork, which was excellent with the rice, but my dining partner, who had ordered the beef stew, found that dish to be a bit dry. Overall, a good value for a home-y meal.

“No hay nada mejor que comer en Tu Casa” – There is nothing like eating at home.

Tu Casa Latin Cuisine
Hours: Monday-Saturday – 7:30am-8pm
Phone: 407-856-3997
http://www.tucasarestaurant-orlando.com/

Roast Pork with rice platter

Bananas Modern American Diner to close, re-open as Mills Brew Pub

Orlando

Ricky Ly

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May 7, 2014

0

Bananas Modern American Diner to close, re-open as Mills Brew Pub

We have been notified by our friends that Bananas Modern American Diner will close after Mother’s Day this Sunday according to a note posted on their facebook page.

The restaurant, popular for their colorful “drag queen” gospel Sunday brunch and late night hours serving up brunch dishes, is run by Nicholas Olivieri and Eddie Nickell of FMI Restaurant Group – which also runs Funky Monkey restaurant in Mills 50 and in Pointe Orlando. The restaurant will reopen, according to the note, as Mills Brew Pub, featuring pub fare from burgers to Belgian fries. The restaurant is scheduled to open this July. This is a developing story, check back for updates.

From the Bananas facebook page:

After 4 years and close to one half million meals served Bananas Diner will officially close after Mothers Day Brunch this Sunday.
Thank you for all of the support over the years and the wonderful memories ..FMI Restaurant group “our parent company” is bringing Mills Ave a new concept called Mills Brewpub a whole new Beer and dining experience for the Mills 50 district .. we will open in early July… come see us this week and weekend and say goodbye to Bananas. We will completely renovate the space to an ultra modern Beer Pub and Eatery. Our famous Bananas Gospel Brunch is moving to Funky Monkey Pointe Orlando every Sunday at 12 noon. Check out our website for updates on our new concept opening information … CHEERS AND THANK YOU ORLANDO. www.millsbrewpub.com

Burger and Beer Joint restaurant to open near UCF this May 2014

Burgers
news

Ricky Ly

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May 5, 2014

0

Burger and Beer Joint restaurant to open near UCF this May 2014

I ran by the new Burger and Beer Joint restaurant today, and it looks poised to open any day now, with a soft opening on May 15 and grand opening in June, according to the OBJ.

With thousands of UCF students nearby and Four Rivers Smokehouse recently open a few doors down and lines out the door almost every day, will University Boulevard become Orlando’s “Fast Casual” Restaurant Row?

Photo of Burger and Beer Joint on University taken May 5, 2014

The restaurant based out of Miami will open its doors this May 2014 after some finishing touches this month. It replaces Culpepper’s, a restaurant founded by nearby UCF alumni Daunte Culpepper, most famous for his time as the quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. That restaurant closed after just a few short months, and never really getting the footing needed in the very competitive and tight UCF market. The location previously was the home to Ichiban buffet for about a year before that, as well as Perkins for many years.

Burger and Beer Joint has a sports and rock ’n’ roll theme and of course lots of burgers and beers on the menu.

Their restaurant specializes in “massive burgers with a gourmet twist – You pick a beer, then pick a burger.”

This location will be the fourth in the company, and the first outside of South Florida.

Some highlights on the menu include the $125 ten-pound Mother Burger , the fried Twinkie with ice cream, fried zucchini sticks and adult milkshakes.

The Mother Burger consists of 10 lbs of Certified Angus Beef ® brand Prime, served with lettuce, tomato, onion, and a pickle, the size of a manhole cover and sandwiched in a bun that resembles a couch cushion. If you finish it yourself within 2 hours, it’s free! Otherwise, share with your table.

They also offer light fare options including seafood, chicken and salads.

Looking at the menu, with many of their specialty burgers ranging in the $13.99 and up levels, it will be facing some stiff competition especially with that price point in an area where the dining crowds are mostly UCF students or nearby corporate industry employees.

Burger 21, Super Burger, Graffiti Junktion, and Junior’s Colombian Burger (taking over the spot for the briefly opened Pioneer Kitchen burger joint) are all open now in the area with BurgerFi opening soon as well with the new Plaza student apartment complex on University and Alafaya.

Photos below via Burger and Beer Joint Orlando

The 10 lb Monster Burger at Burger and Beer Joint

Burger and Beer Joint set to open May 2014

Burger and Beer Joint renovations - formerly Culpepper's — Burger and Beer Joint renovations – formerly Culpepper’s

Chowzter’s Global Fast Feast Awards 2014 in London, England

Ricky Ly

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May 4, 2014

2

Chowzter’s Global Fast Feast Awards 2014 in London, England

TastyChomps Mini Travel Guide Visit To London, England – Series
Part 1 – The Tourist Sights of London, England, including Stonehenge, Bath, and Windsor Castle
Part 2 – Chowzter’s Global Fast Feast Awards 2014 in London, England
Part 3 – A Food Lovers’ Feast at London’s Borough Market and Broadway Market
Part 4 – London – Harrod’s Food Hall, Full English Breakfast, Fish and Chips, Tayyab’s

This past weekend, I attended Chowzter’s 2014 Tastiest Fast Feast in the World Awards on Sunday, April 28th in London. Sponsored by Coca-Cola, the Second Annual Chowzter World Awards aimed to find the tastiest fast feast around the globe, taking place at London’s L’Anima Cafe to announce the winners of the world’s very best dishes.

Orlando’s very own Hanamizuki Japanese restaurant (whose Kyoto-style chef was once a cook for the royal family in Japan) had an entree in the esteemed awards, with its Shio Butter Ramen noodle soup dish nominated as one of the top five very best noodle dishes in the world. But alas, our noodle dish was defeated by the formidable Pad Thai at Pad Thai Thip Simai in Bangkok, Thailand.

It was revealed that a simple Ceviche dish from the tiny Chez Wong restaurant in Lima was the overall winner of ‘the tastiest item in the world’. Javier Wong’s tiny restaurant in one room of his house gets reserved months in advance for one of seven tables at Wong’s, this reservation only restaurant has no menu and serves ceviche only ever made from Pacific sole.

Bangkok was announced as the world’s foodiest city and fought off stiff competition from the shortlisted cities: London, Lima, Singapore and Vancouver.

Jeffrey Merrihue of Chowzter.com

Winners from each main food categories (pizzas, seafood, noodles, rice, sandwiches, bird and baked item) spanned all corners of the globe, and winners included the Di Fara’s pizza slice from Brooklyn, Singaporean Chicken Rice dish and the fried jam croissant from London’s very own Albion cafe in East London. Awards were also awarded to the best dishes which represented four regions of the world: best in Europe; North America; Latin America and Asia.

Winners were chosen by the Chowzter team and top food bloggers, the ‘Chief Chowzters’, who travelled the globe tasting and testing the entries, as well as the bloggers themselves who battled it out to argue the case for their personal favourites via online debate. The party was attended by an international audience of foodies and guests feasted on an array of delicious dishes including suckling pig devised by Francesca Mazzei’s soon to open L’Anima Cafe in the city.

Click here for the full list of 2014 Chowzter Fast Feast Award winners!

Media Coverage for the 2014 Chowzter Global Fast Feast Awards

L'Anima Cafe in London - Whole Roast Pig - Porchetta — L’Anima Cafe in London – Whole Roast Pig – Porchetta

Chowzter’s Global Steak Symposium

On the Saturday prior to the Awards event, the Chief Chowzters visited London’s Flat Iron steakhouse in Soho to attend a Global Steak Symposium by Mark Schatzker, author of Steak: One Man’s Search for the World’s Tastiest Beef.

On his world wide journey, Mark discovered that rather than breed or marbleization of the beef that tended to skew its “tastiness” factor, it was actually what the beef was fed. This is why it is so important to have grass-fed rather than corn or grain fed beef to maximize taste.

The restaurant is a bit tight and cozy, spanning 3 floors with nice wooden floors and 6 seat tables.

What’s notable about Flat Iron steakhouse, run by Chef Charlie Carroll, is that it is one of the few, if only, London restaurants that provide expertly cooked, mouth-watering, grass-fed Flat Iron steak with house salad for just £10. No wonder they take no reservations.

We blind-tasted and rated the 6 steaks based on their juiciness, taste, and finish, among other things. Here is what the scorecard looked like:

The steaks were numbered 1 through 6 and their identities were later revealed to be:

1- New Zealand Grass Fed Wagyu
2- USDA Prime
3- Australian Barley OZ Black Angus
4- McKie, Scottish Highland, Grass Fed
5- Highland Island from Yorkshire:
6- Grade A5, Wagyu, Japan

And the winning steak was Steak #5, a Highland bred beef, over 30 months old, fed apple and grains, and beer finished with beer from Farmer Charles Ashbridge. It was also, with a sigh of relief, my personal choice for best steak – full of deep, lasting flavors and many different notes ranging from sweet to bitter. Glad to have my tastebuds validated.

Istanbul Chief Chowzter Tuba Satana with Farmer Charles Ashbridge, owner of the winning steak

Flat Iron's Chef Charlie Carroll — Flat Iron’s Chef Charlie Carroll

TastyChomps Mini Travel Guide Visit To London, England – Series
Part 1 – The Tourist Sights of London, England, including Stonehenge, Bath, and Windsor Castle
Part 2 – Chowzter’s Global Fast Feast Awards 2014 in London, England
Part 3 – A Food Lovers’ Feast at London’s Borough Market and Broadway Market
Part 4 – London – Harrod’s Food Hall, Full English Breakfast, Fish and Chips, Tayyab’s

Yard House Preview Party – Now Open in Orlando

Krystle Nguyen

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May 4, 2014

0

Yard House Preview Party – Now Open in Orlando

Upscale-casual eatery with great food, classic rock music and an endless fleet of tap handles of craft ales and lagers.

Darden Restaurants features some of the most widely recognized brands in full-service dining and will now have all eight restaurant concepts in Orlando. Located on International Drive, Yard House features an eclectic American menu and draught beer offering from a unique beer delivery system.

The extensive menu showcases more than 100 chef driven items with a range of appetizers, salads, pastas, grilled burgers and steaks, street tacos, sandwiches, seafood, and a generous selection of vegetarian dishes. There is also a Kids Klub menu that includes fresh-to-order favorites and a selection of healthy items.

Yard House creates a contemporary yet casual environment that includes elements such as an island bar, exhibition kitchen, colorful abstract artwork, lively music, and flat screen TVs in every direction.

A glass enclosed keg room houses 250 kegs and features 140 craft ales and lager. There is also a unique selection of handcrafted cocktails, chilled martinis, selected wines and sake round-out.

Yard House is now open in Orlando. Yard House is known for great food, classic rock music and a seemingly endless selection of beers on tap including imported, craft and specialty ales and lagers. Yard House at will open daily at 11 a.m., serving lunch, dinner and late night seven days per week.

Yard House Orlando

8367 International Drive

Orlando, FL 32819

407-351-8220

yardhouse-16 — **Grilled Sweet Korean Beef BBQ**
Marinated boneless short ribs over jasmine or brown rice with green onions, korean vegetable salads

yardhouse-2 — **Penne with Chicken**
Crimini mushrooms, asparagus and sun-dried tomatoes in marsala cream sauce, dusted with parmesan

yardhouse-3 — **Blue Crab Cake**
With mango papaya chutney, passion fruit beurre blanc and tomato oil

yardhouse-6 — **Seared Ahi Sashimi**
Seared rare, lightly blackened served with soy vinaigrette, wasabi and pickled ginger

yardhouse-7 — Chicken Garlic Noodles
Finely chopped chicken, asparagus, spinach, shiitake mushrooms, smoked tofu, parmesan & edamame

yardhouse-10 — **Southern Fried Chicken**
Served boneless and skinless over spinach-corn-mashed potatoes and bourbon gravy

yardhouse-17 — **Summer Salad**
Romaine, strawberries, avocado, oranges, candied walnuts, leeks and spiced balsamic vinaigrette

yardhouse-19 — **Spinach Cheese Dip**
Baked with feta, jack, parmesan & cream cheese served with crispy flatbread

yardhouse-28 — **Chicken Rice Bowl (gardein*)**
Bok choy, baby corn, snap peas, carrots, shiitake, celery, peppers & broccoli over jasmine or brown rice

GARDEIN™ is a chicken or beef substitute made from soy, wheat, pea proteins, vegetables and ancient grains.

Yard House offers a variety of menu selections made with gardein™ that do not contain meat, fish, poultry, shellfish or product derived from these sources, but may contain dairy or eggs.

yardhouse-20 — **Blackened Swordfish**
With green cabbage, cilantro, cumin crema, pico de gallo, guacamole & mango papaya chutney

yardhouse-23 — **Spicy Thai Chicken**
Firecracker sauce, mozzarella, macadamia nuts, carrots, green onion & cilantro

Heart of Florida United Way 22nd Annual Chef’s Gala Preview

Krystle Nguyen

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May 3, 2014

0

Heart of Florida United Way 22nd Annual Chef’s Gala Preview

The Heart of Florida United Way Chef’s Gala (May 10) features exquisite cuisine from more than 20 of Central Florida’s top chefs, accompanying thoughtfully paired fine wines, live music and a silent auction. Chef’s Gala is United Way’s largest fundraiser for education, income, health and basic needs programs for the residents of Central Florida, and we want to give you an exclusive preview of the event, and of course, the delicious food.

On Thursday, April 17, during lunch at Primo Restaurant in Orlando, the United Way held a preview opportunity to the Chef’s Gala, called “The Dish on the Chef’s Gala: Media Preview,” featuring five select sample signature dishes made by the event’s top chefs.

22nd Annual Chef’s Gala

Benefiting Heart of Florida United Way

Saturday, May 10, 2014
Epcot® World Showplace
WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort

6:45 p.m.: Silent Auction, Sparkling Wine and Martini Bar Reception
7:30-10:00 p.m.: Main Event

Thanks to the generosity of host and sponsor, WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort, and other fine sponsors, last year’s event raised more than $296,000 for local residents in need, which makes it easy to see why Chef’s Gala has been a Tasteful Way to Make a Difference for 22 years!

2014 Participating Establishments
(as of 4-30-14)

Artist Point
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

Biergarten Restaurant
Epcot®

Bull & Bear®
Waldorf Astoria Orlando

Cítricos
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Cress Restaurant

Flying Fish Cafe
Disney’s BoardWalk

Jiko – The Cooking Place
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

K Restaurant

Mama Melrose’s
Ristorante Italiano
Disney’s Hollywood Studios®

Napa
Hyatt Regency Orlando

Primo by Melissa Kelly
Grande Lakes Orlando

Raglan Road Irish Pub
and Restaurant

Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion

The Crystal Palace
MAGIC KINGDOM® Park

Thornton Park
Restaurant Group

The Wave …
of American Flavors
Disney’s Contemporary Resort

Tusker House Restaurant
DISNEY’S ANIMAL KINGDOM® Theme Park

Victoria & Albert’s
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Desserts

Disney’s Hollywood Studios® Bakery
Disney’s Hollywood Studios®

BoardWalk Bakery
Disney’s BoardWalk

Coffee

Coffee Roasters’ Alliance

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company

Beverages

Coastal Wine & Spirits

Crush Distributors

Southern Wine & Spirits

Strategic Importers

Heart of Florida United Way (HFUW) is Central Florida’s most comprehensive health and human services charity and the largest provider of funds to the region’s most critical health and human service programs. Last year it raised and managed $25.3 million throughout Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. HFUW is working to advance the common good by focusing on education, income, health and safety. It also operates United Way 2-1-1, Central Florida’s community crisis and suicide hotline and information and referral helpline; a Volunteer Resource Center; a Gifts In Kind Center; a Stewardship program that works with agencies to provide emergency assistance; and the Ryan White Part B program, which administers more than $2 million to provide HIV/AIDS services and referrals.

HFUW impacts more people annually than any charity operating in the tri-county area and partners with local businesses, government, other charities and individuals to increase awareness of local health and human service issues and to inspire hope, provide options and create possibilities for people in need. In 2011, HFUW was awarded Charity Navigator’s highest “Four-Star Rating” for exceeding industry standards in fiscal management and outperforming other charities in its area of focus. Visit www.hfuw.org for more information, or call (407) 835-0900.

cg-17 — Chef Gilberto Ramirez // Primo by Melissa Kelly at Grande Lakes Orlando

cg-8 — Poached Maine Lobster Truffled Brioche with Garlic Aïoli, Primo Garden Chives, and Crispy Buttermilk-Malt Vinegar Marinated Shallots

cg-7 — Chef Greg Richie // Thornton Park Restaurant Group

cg-11 — Slow-braised Pork Shank on Parmesan Grits with Shrimp and Sausage

cg-16 — Chef Jared Gross // Napa Hyatt Regency Orlando

cg-10 — Spicy Florida Shellfish Cioppino with Smoked Paprika Rouille and Saffron Croutons

cg-12 — Spicy Florida Shellfish Cioppino with Smoked Paprika Rouille and Saffron Croutons

cg-1 — Crunchy Sugar Cookie Puff with Lemon Grass Cream

cg-2 — Caramel Custard with Passion Fruit Glacé

cg-3 — Banana-Toffee Mousse on Cocoa Crunch with Strawberry-Banana Pearls Caramel

cg-5 — Milk Chocolate Crémeux with Mojito Concoction on Almond Rocher

cg-19 — Desserts All Together…This was all so very amazing…

10 Foodie Things You Might Have Missed From this Week plus Instagram Contest!

Orlando

Ricky Ly

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May 3, 2014

0

10 Foodie Things You Might Have Missed From this Week plus Instagram Contest!

1. Tasty Chomps – A Foodie Guide to Orlando’s newly opened Sunrail Stations

2. Orlando Business Journal – 31-story megamall, hotel proposed for I-Drive by Anjali Fluker

3. Orlando Sentinel – Central Florida’s Guide to Barbecue by Heather McPherson

4. Orlando Weekly – 14 places to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Orlando by Shannon Scheidell

5. Orlando Weekly – Bite 2014 Guide – Jessica Bryce Young

6. Orlando Weekly – Best of Orlando 2014 Poll – Vote!

Beyond Central Florida

7. Vietnamese Cuisine in New Orleans – Video documentary

8. Wall Street Journal – Bangkok named World’s Foodiest City by Sara Schondhart

9. The Guardian – The World’s Best Fast Feasts Award Winners by Chowzter

10. CNN – Noma places first in The World’s 50 Best Restaurants

TastyChomps’ #OrlandoEats Weekly Instagram Contest

Tag your most delicious looking food photo in Orlando with “@TastyChomps #OrlandoEats”with a short description and the most delicious photo will win a giveaway prize each week. Contest ends 12pm on Sunday May 11, 2014. Winner will be notified via Instagram. A post of the best photos will also be compiled next Sunday!

This week, the winner will win 2-$20 gift certificates to the new Fresh 2 Order restaurant in Waterford Lakes.

Cappadocia Turkish Cuisine – Luscious Turkish Delights Within

Ricky Ly

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May 3, 2014

3

Cappadocia Turkish Cuisine – Luscious Turkish Delights Within

Turkish food is largely the heritage of Ottoman cuisine, prevalent throughout the Mediterranean reaching from Central Asia to the Balkans and even Greece, a remnant of the influence held by the long standing Ottoman empire of days past. The Turkish empire continues to expand even today, well, at least as part of Central Florida’s culinary world.

Cappadocia Turkish Cuisine took over the long time standing Cafe Italiano restaurant on Semoran Blvd a year or so ago. The interior is very much like what you would expect a Turkish restaurant would look like after minor renovations to an Italian restaurant – additions of hookahs, some paintings of Turkish seaside. Italy and Turkey are after all both Mediterranean countries. It kind of felt like walking into a Turkish family’s dining room and, in a way, like crashing a family dinner as we were the only non-Turkish in the house at lunch. Several other diners all appeared to be conversing in Turkish with the owners – always a good sign for an authentic experience.

Service here is a bit of a hit and miss, though, with some need of polishing around the edges.

Sesame toasted pide bread – lovely, slightly sweet Turkish bread…

The restaurant is named after the eponymous Cappadocia, the historic region in Turkey known for its beautiful rock fairy chimneys and rock cut temples, coming from a name of the ancient Turkic kingdom dating back to before the time of Alexander the Great.

For our appetizer, my dining companion and I order the cigarette borek, tasty little cylindrical scrolls of pan fried Phyllo (shaped like tiny cigarettes) stuffed with feta cheese, savory and crunchy.

Cigarette borek, stuffed with feta cheese

Fried Calf livers from Cappadocia Turkish – a popular appetizer, but ultimately, not for me.

For our entrees, I had an exceptional chicken adana kebab platter over fragrant rice pilaf with lettuce and tomatoes and my companion had a similarly tasty beyti kabab made with skewered lamb mixed with parsley and garlic. Our only complaint is that we wish we had more of the lovely skewered meats.

Chicken Adana Kebab – Chopped chicken flavored with paprika and red bell peppers, grilled on skewers – $6.99

Beyti Kebab – Lamb flavored with parsley and garlic, then grilled on skewers and served with homemade pide bread and rice – $6.99

Doner kebab is a Turkish dish made of meat cooked on a vertical rotisserie, normally lamb but also a mixture of veal or beef with these, or sometimes chicken. The dish is also widely known by its Arabic name “shawarma” or the Greek name “gyros”. The doner here is made by hand in house, rather than the processed gyro meats that we are used to at the Mediterranean stalls at the mall food courts.

Here at Cappadocia, you can order your doner with rice or as a sandwich in between two slices of fatty pide bread. Make sure to specify which one you want. The lamb gyro (doner kebab) sandwich is now one of my favorite sandwiches, and also one of the most filling sandwiches I’ve had in a while with layers of sliced lamb stuffed in the warm, fluffy sesame toasted Turkish pide bread along with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, lathered with some spicy sauce and tzatziki.

I would definitely return for some more Turkish delights.

Gyro Lamb doner sandwich – Döner served in a “tombik pide” (“fatty” pita)

Lamb Gyro Platter with rice and tomato and lettuce - so good — Lamb Gyro Platter with rice and tomato and lettuce – so good

Turkish cinnamon tea

Traditional Baklava for dessert

TastyChomps Mini-Travel Guide to London – Part 1 – The Tourist Sights

Ricky Ly

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May 1, 2014

2

TastyChomps Mini-Travel Guide to London – Part 1 – The Tourist Sights

TastyChomps Mini Travel Guide Visit To London, England – Series
Part 1 – The Tourist Sights of London, England, including Stonehenge, Bath, and Windsor Castle
Part 2 – Chowzter’s Global Fast Feast Awards 2014 in London, England
Part 3 – A Food Lovers’ Feast at London’s Borough Market and Broadway Market
Part 4 – London – Harrod’s Food Hall, Full English Breakfast, Fish and Chips, Tayyab’s

I traveled over the pond recently to visit our cousins in the United Kingdom, more specifically, London, England to represent Orlando at the Chowzter Global Fast Feasts Award.

During my visit, I used some of the extra time to travel the English countryside and visit Windsor Castle, the Roman Baths, and Stonehenge through the Evan Evans Tour.

The tour was quite fabulous, in large part to our very friendly tour guide, Mark, and lasting about 12 hours and covering almost 300 miles.

Windsor Castle

Just 30 minutes outside of London, Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. It has been the family home of British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years.

The original castle was built in the 11th century after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I, it has been used by succeeding monarchs and it is the longest-occupied palace in Europe.

Queen Elizabeth II still uses Windsor Castle as her “home away from home” even today and on our particular visit, she was in residence as evidenced by the flying flag above the castle’s keep (the strongest, most central tower of the castle).

On reaching Windsor Castle’s railway station, you walk through a shopping arcade with a few eateries and gift shops until you reach the main entrance line for the Windsor Castle. Once inside, you can walk through the exhibition areas (on this visit it was Queen Mary’s Doll House collection) and then walk through the “State Apartments”, various palatial dining rooms and bedrooms and such that were constructed to rival the ones found at Versailles in France. It reminded me a bit of our White House in Washington, D.C., except much more grand and larger.

The train at the Windsor castle railway station

Roman Baths in Bath

The first shrine at the site of the hot springs was built by the Celts thousands of years ago, and continued to be used after the Roman invasion, leading to the town’s Roman name of Aquae Sulis (“the waters of Sulis”), after the goddess Sulis, identified as Minerva among the Romans.

The temple was constructed in 60-70 AD and the bathing complex was gradually built up over the next 300 years.

After the Roman withdrawal from Britain in the first decade of the 5th century, the Roman baths fell into disrepair and were eventually lost due to silting up and flooding.

The baths were later found in the 1800s and reconstructed to the museum you see today. The water inside the bath is not safe to swim in or drink, but they do have a potable water fountain inside the museum that lets you taste the spring water (it tasted rather metallic, probably not recommended).

I really loved the unique architecture here at the city of bath, crafted from light brown stones. The city of Bath became popular as a spa town during the Georgian era (1700s), leaving a heritage of Georgian architecture crafted from Bath Stone, and was often the setting for Jane Austen novels.

Today, this sleepy town is still known for quaint shops and street performances.

A street performer in statuesque form outside of the Roman Bath

Roman Baths with statues of famous Roman emperors surrounding the top area

A Roman guard stands in wait at the Roman Baths — A “Roman guard” stands in wait at the Roman Baths – his hand is raised to signify he is unarmed and comes in peace.

Beautiful architecture at bath, notice the lovely stone

Cornish meatpie, looks a bit like an empanada - quite tasty — Cornish meatpie, looks a bit like an empanada – quite tasty

Cornish meatpie filled with lamb and potatoes

Stonehenge

One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is the remains of a ring of standing stones set within earthworks, built anywhere from 3000 BC to 2000 BC.

It pre-dates the druids by several thousand years, but we still have pre-conceived notions that it was used for ancient druid rituals.

Archaelogists still do not know for certain what the area was used for, some say a marketplace, some say an early form of Parliament where the people would come to pass laws and judgement, and still others say Stonehenge was some sort religious sacred ground.

One thing for certain is that it was an important site for burials of important people, evidenced by hundreds of elaborate burial mounds found within eye sight of the complex.

My guess, it was a gate way of some sort – maybe to the stars.

This thing is heavy — This rock thing is heavy

The Tower of London

Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London.

It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England by William the Conqueror, and was a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new ruling elite.

I could imagine the horror stories of all the executions, public and not so public, that have occurred throughout the years. It’s said that when they dug up the floor beneath the cathedral here, over 3000 bodies were found. Many of whom probably served the kingdom well, and others, who may have been a bit less fortunate like the wives of King Henry VIII.

The Tower has also served variously as an armoury, a prison, a treasury, a menagerie, the home of the Royal Mint, a public records office, and the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. From the early 14th century until the reign of Charles II, a procession would be led from the Tower to Westminster Abbey on the coronation of a monarch.

The peak period of the castle’s use as a prison was the 16th and 17th centuries, when many figures who had fallen into disgrace, such as Elizabeth I before she became queen, were held within its walls. This use has led to the phrase “sent to the Tower”.

The majority of the Tower of London was used as an armory with a whole museum dedicated to knight’s armor and cannons and guns to defend the castle, and consequently the entirety of London. No wonder they stored the Crown Jewels here.

The Crown Jewels were absolutely stunning, from the crown to the scepters, they were all very opulent and regal.

The White Tower where the king lived inside the Tower of London

Where they keep the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London

A View of the Tower Bridge inside the White Tower at the Tower of London

Tower Bridge (not London Bridge, which is much plainer)

Big Ben, the Palace of Westminster - home of the 2 Houses of Parliament — Big Ben, the Palace of Westminster – home of the 2 Houses of Parliament

London's famous black taxi cabs — London’s famous black taxi cabs

Trafalgar Square, named after the 1805 British victory

Staring up the lion statue towards the sky and Nelson's column at Trafalgar Square, which commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, a British naval victory of the Napoleonic Wars over France and Spain — Staring up the lion statue towards the sky and Nelson’s column at Trafalgar Square, which commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, a British naval victory of the Napoleonic Wars over France and Spain

Actor Tate Donovan after shooting for 24: Live Another Day in London near Trafalgar Square. He's also the voice of Hercules in the Disney animated film. — Actor Tate Donovan after shooting for 24: Live Another Day in London near Trafalgar Square. He’s also the voice of Hercules in the Disney animated film.

A troop marches down the way with band in tow for The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace

TastyChomps Mini Travel Guide Visit To London, England – Series
Part 1 – The Tourist Sights of London, England, including Stonehenge, Bath, and Windsor Castle
Part 2 – Chowzter’s Global Fast Feast Awards 2014 in London, England
Part 3 – A Food Lovers’ Feast at London’s Borough Market and Broadway Market
Part 4 – London – Harrod’s Food Hall, Full English Breakfast, Fish and Chips, Tayyab’s

For more of London’s stunning attractions, check out on Where to Stay in London: The Ultimate Sightseeing Guide by HotelsCombined.

The Foodie Guide to Central Florida’s SunRail Stations

Ricky Ly

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May 1, 2014

17

The Foodie Guide to Central Florida’s SunRail Stations

Ok, so Sunrail is set to launch this Thursday, May 1st – a commuter train running through Central Florida from DeBary to the north to Sand Lake Road to the south, mostly from 6am-8pm hours during the weekday with free wifi, power outlets for charging laptops and phones, etc. so you can get your work on while going to work.

SunRail trains will arrive at each station every 30 minutes during peak service times when traffic on the roads is typically at its worst. During non-peak periods, trains will operate every 2 hours. Initially, there will be no service on the weekends. They hope to expand the network and hours in the future depending on demand.

It costs $2 to get on and an extra $1 for every time you cross a county line, but the first two weeks in May, it’s free to ride.

Connect using Lynx buses in Seminole and Orange Counties http://www.golynx.com/ (Lynx will be updating services to about 30 minutes per hour during peak hours at the stations)

While coming up with this list of local Orlando restaurants (no chains), I realized that many of the stations would require some other form of transportation such as biking or bus from the station to reach the foodie destination.

The only two stops which appears to have the easiest access to foodie destinations by foot would be the Winter Park and Church Street Station stops. Hopefully, the other stations will be able to provide better modes of transportation for the “last mile.”

This list is by no means final, so please suggest your favorite foodie spots near the Sunrail stations in the comments below! Make sure to call to check for business hours, too.

It’s also important to note: no food is allowed on the trains, so finish your meals before boarding, at least for now.

DeBary Station

630 South Charles R. Beall Blvd.
DeBary, FL 32713
(855) 724-5411

Please proceed to the next station…

Sanford Station

2720 West State Road 46
Sanford, FL 32771
(855) 724-5411

~ 1 mile away
Donuts to Go II
(407) 878-2856
1400 West 1st Street
Sanford, FL 32771
Facebook Page

~ 2 miles away
Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Café
(407) 321-2204
205 East 1st Street
Sanford, FL 32771
http://www.willowtreecafe.com/

Hollerbach’s Magnolia Square Market
(407) 878-4942
117 South Magnolia Avenue
Sanford, FL 32771
http://www.magnoliasquaremarket.com/

Lake Mary Station

2200 West Lake Mary Blvd.
Lake Mary, FL 32746
(855) 724-5411

~220 meters away
Chez Jacqueline French Bakery

101 N Country Club Rd
Ste 126
Lake Mary, FL 32746
(407) 321-5662
https://www.facebook.com/Jacquelinebakery

~ 1.6 miles away
That Deli
(321) 363-1394
3801 West Lake Mary Boulevard
Lake Mary, FL 32746
http://thatdelifl.com/joomla/

Longwood Station

149 East Church Ave.
Longwood, FL 32750
(855) 724-5411

~0.3 miles away
Parada Restaurant
254 W State Rd 434
Longwood, FL 32750
Phone number (407) 951-8037
http://www.paradarestaurantpr.com/

Cafe Paisano
182 W State Rd 434
Longwood, FL 32750
Phone number (407) 767-0011
http://www.cafepaisano.com/

~ 0.4 miles away
Thai Delight
190 S Ronald Reagan Blvd
Longwood, FL 32750
Phone number (407) 339-6612
http://newthaidelight.net/

Hourglass Brewery – Artisan Beers
255 S Ronald Reagan Blvd
Longwood, FL 32750
Phone:(407) 262-0056
http://thehourglassbrewery.com/

~ 1.3 miles away
Korea House
1155 W State Rd 434
Longwood, FL 32750
Phone number (407) 767-5918
http://www.koreahouseorlando.com/

~1.8 miles away
Enzo’s on the Lake
1130 US Hwy 17/92
Longwood, FL 32750
http://www.enzos.com/Welcome.html

Altamonte Springs Station

2741 South Ronald Reagan Blvd.
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
(855) 724-5411

~ 0.7 Miles Away
B & B Caribbean Restaurant
1349 E Altamonte Dr
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
Phone number (407) 960-2665
https://www.facebook.com/BbsCarribeanAmericanResteraunt

Maitland Station

801 North Orlando Ave.
Maitland, FL 32751
(855) 724-5411

~ 0.6 miles away
Seoul Garden
511 E Horatio Ave
Maitland, FL 32751
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Seoul-Gardens-Restaurant/111517862221209

~ 0.7 miles away
Kappy’s Submarine Sandwiches
(407) 647-9099
501 North Orlando Avenue
Maitland, FL 32751
8:00 am – 9:00 pm
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kappys-Subs/109745275721785

~0.8 miles away
Francesco’s Ristorante & Pizzeria
400 S Orlando Ave #104
Maitland, FL 32751
http://francescos-rist.com/

~0.9 miles away
Chubby’s Hot dogs and Sandwiches
9400 S US Highway 17/92
Maitland, FL 32751
(407) 331-3647
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chubbys-Hot-Dogs-Burgers-and-Subs/215193178511478

Winter Park Station

148 West Morse Blvd.
Winter Park, FL 32789
(855) 724-5411

~0.1 miles away
Prato
124 N Park Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789
Phone number (407) 262-0050
http://www.prato-wp.com/

The Widowmaker Pizza at Prato

Barnie’s CoffeeKitchen
118 S Park Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789
Phone number (407) 629-0042
http://barniescoffeekitchen.com/

Croissant Gourmet
120 E Morse Blvd
Winter Park, FL 32789
Phone number (407) 622-7753
Facebook Page

Bosphorous Turkish Kitchen
108 S Park Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789
Phone number (407) 644-8609
http://bosphorousrestaurant.com/

Le Macaron Bakery
216 North Park Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789
Phone number (321) 295-7958
http://lemacaron-us.com/winter-park/

Luma on Park
290 S Park Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789
Phone number (407) 599-4111
http://www.lumaonpark.com/

Peterbrooke Chocolatier
300 S Park Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789
Phone number (407) 644-3200
http://peterbrookewp.com/

~ 0.4 miles away
The Coop – A Southern Affair
610 W Morse Blvd
Winter Park, FL 32789
www.asouthernaffair.com

Scratch Tapas
223 W Fairbanks Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789
(407) 325-5165
ScratchTapas.com

~0.5 miles away
Cask and Larder
565 W Fairbanks Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789
Phone:(321) 280-4200
www.caskandlarder.com/

Florida Hospital Health Village Station

500 East Rollins Street
Orlando, FL 32803
(855) 724-5411

~0.5 miles away
White Wolf Cafe
1829 N Orange Ave
Orlando, FL 32804
Phone number (407) 895-9911
http://www.whitewolfcafe.com/

Wolfie’s Pizzamia
1905 N Orange Ave
Orlando, FL 32804
Phone number (407) 237-0921
http://wolfiespizzamia.com/

~ 1 mile away
Santiago’s Bodega
802 Virginia Dr
Orlando, FL 32803
Phone number (407) 286-2903
http://www.santiagosbodega.com/

~1.2 miles away
Hawker’s Asian Fare
1103 Mills Ave N
Orlando, FL 32803
(407) 237-0606
https://www.facebook.com/hawkersstreetfare

~1.4 miles away
Tako Cheena
932 Mills Ave
Orlando, FL 32803
Phone number (321) 236-7457
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tako-Cheena-by-Pom-Pom/174918999187662

~ 1.6 miles away
K Restaurant
1710 Edgewater Dr
Orlando, FL 32804
Phone number (407) 872-2332
http://krestaurant.net/

~2 miles away
Chuan Lu Garden
1101 E Colonial Dr
Orlando, FL 32803
Phone number (407) 896-8968
www.chuanluyuan.com

Lynx Central Station

101 West Livingston Street
Orlando, FL 32801
(855) 724-5411

Please see Church Street Station listings

Church Street Station

99 West South Street
Orlando, FL 32801
(855) 724-5411

~0.2 miles away
Hamburger Mary’s
110 W Church St
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone:(321) 319-0600
hamburgermarys.com/orlando/

~0.3 miles away
Kres Chophouse
17 W Church St
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone number (407) 447-7950
http://www.kresrestaurant.com/

Schumann’s Jager Haus
25 W Church St
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone:(407) 985-1950
http://www.schumannsjagerhaus.com/

The Rusty Spoon
55 W Church St
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone number (407) 401-8811
http://www.therustyspoon.com/

Artisan’s Table
22 E Pine St
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone number (407) 730-7499
http://www.artisanstableorlando.com/

Kasa Tapas and Raw Bar
183 S Orange Ave
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone number (407) 985-5272
http://www.kasarestaurant.com/

Kasa Tapas and Raw Bar - Adobo Pork corn cakes — Kasa Tapas and Raw Bar – Adobo Pork corn cakes

Orlando Health/Amtrak Station

250 Columbia Street
Orlando, FL 32806
(855) 724-5411

~0.1 Miles Away
Thai Stop
1325 Sligh Blvd
Orlando, FL 32806
Phone number (407) 999-8088
http://www.thaistop.net/menu.html

~0.2 Miles Away
Orlando Brewing
1301 Atlanta Ave, Orlando, FL 32806
Phone:(407) 872-1117
http://www.orlandobrewing.com/

~1.2 Miles Away
Chai Thai
2447 S Orange Ave
Orlando, FL 32806
Phone number (407) 841-8981
http://www.letseat.at/chaithaicuisine/menu

Sand Lake Road Station

8030 South Orange Ave.
Orlando, FL 32809
(855) 724-5411

~ 243 feet away
Bauern-Stube Authentic German Restaurant
8015 S Orange Ave
Orlando, FL 32809
Phone number (407) 857-8404
http://www.bauern-stube.com/

~0.4 miles away
Gnarly Barley
7431 S Orange Ave
Orlando, FL 32809
Phone number (407) 854-4999
https://www.facebook.com/gnarlybarley407

~0.5 miles away
Dixie Belle’s Cafe
7125 S Orange Ave
Orlando, FL 32809
(407) 812-7012
DixieBellesCafe.com

View SunRail in a larger map

RanGetsu’s 67th Anniversary Celebration at Lake Lily, Maitland

Katherine Nguyen

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Apr 29, 2014

0

RanGetsu’s 67th Anniversary Celebration at Lake Lily, Maitland

On Saturday, April 26, 2014, we were invited to RanGetsu’s 67^th Anniversary Celebration in Maitland, FL. The original RanGetsu in Tokyo was founded in 1947, initially led by Mr. Konaka’s son Masayasu Konaka and currently by his grandson Masaaki Konaka, President of RanGetsu.

In 1986 RanGetsu opened on International Drive in Orlando as part of their contribution to the cultural enrichment of the City Beautiful and the multi-cultural themes of the opening of Epcot Center. The restaurant stood for a quarter century until moving for the 2011 opening of “RanGetsu at Lake Lily,” a new and unique dining experience in the City’s Maitland-Winter Park area.

RanGetsu welcomes you with complimentary valet and a relaxing ambiance. The lighting is dim all around to augment the modern styles within the restaurant.

The hosts, waiters and waitresses work as a team here – every now and then, the general manager would come by, greet you and talk about your evening at RanGetsu.

At 8:30pm, the Taiko Drummers performed a heart stopping show filled with power and emotions. However, not only are the ambiance and family of RanGetsu amazing, but also the food is absolutely distinctive and fit for the emperor himself.

The Tuna Flatbread is raw seared tuna garnished with a sweet and spicy Asian slaw, avocado and crumbled feta cheese. The sweet and spicy Asian slaw heightened the fresh tuna. You can definitely taste both the sweetness and spiciness of the appetizer in every bite.

French Bread Cheese Gratin contains 7 Imported Gorgonzola and Gruyere cheese sauce baked over French bread crostinis. This dish comes out sizzling hot and melts in your mouth. Not only is this great, but also ask your waiter for the story of what this dish represents.

Next, we tried a sample of the sushi/sashimi menu that included seared Kobe beef, Blue Fin Tuna and Flounder. Each is simple with a light sauce on each to bring out the flavors of the main items. Not only does the flounder sashimi is appealing and contains a beautiful color to it, it had a few unique flavors brought out individually.

The Sizzling Tofu is firm fried tofu served on a sizzling cast iron skillet with stir-fried vegetables and finished in tantalizing ginger teriyaki sauce. The tofu is great and can easily be cut apart to share – even with using only chopsticks – but it also doesn’t fall apart on its own and make a mess! Together with the vegetables and ginger teriyaki sauce, it is a simple delight to enjoy after a long and tiring day. Although, if soaked in the sauce for too long, it may be a bit high in sodium, so make sure you enjoy it while it’s hot!

The Chilean Sea Bass Miso Teriyaki is perfectly baked sea bass to release its subtle and sweet flavor; it is served with a side of vegetables. The sea bass is subtle and sweet as they insisted it to be as well as fresh with a buttery texture.

Sukiyaki is a traditional Nabe course describing thinly sliced Wagyu Kobe beef quickly simmered in a traditional sweet soy broth. This dish is cooked at your table and includes: the Wagyu Kobe beef, baby bok choy, enoki and shiitake mushrooms, napa cabbage, onions, tofu, and udon noodles. When they said it was served traditionally, you may find it uneasy to be eating it all with raw scrambled egg, but it will add a buttery texture to each item of the dish. The sauce provides a sweet taste where the beef, etc can be enjoyed without the raw egg, but you won’t want to eat it without the raw egg once you try it once!

Last, but not least, dessert was served: Vanilla Ice Cream, Chocolate Cake and Green Tea Crème Brulee. Each item can be enjoyed individually, but mixing is also suggested. The ice cream was made just right and cannot be complained about because it has the right amount of sweetness! The chocolate cake is very fluffy/airy and mouthwatering! Mixing the chocolate cake with the vanilla ice cream as well as the fruit that comes with it creates a sense of heaven in your mouth for every bite you take!!! Personally, I enjoyed the Green Tea Crème Brulee more than ice cream and chocolate cake that night, as it was very, very smooth and cooling beneath its candied surface!

Again, I highly recommend this restaurant for anyone who would like to experience fine dining alone or with family and friends. RanGetsu will satisfy your every visit and it’s quite possible you’ll see me at a table when you decide to visit RanGetsu.

Also, after dinner, you could head over to Lake Lily park within view of RanGetsu for a nice stroll.

Mother’s Day Brunch Specials in Orlando 2014

Orlando

Ricky Ly

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Apr 29, 2014

0

Mother’s Day Brunch Specials in Orlando 2014

Mother’s Day at Hyatt Regency Orlando

Brunch as good as Mom would make. Pampering she deserves.

Fiorenzo Italian Steakhouse offers a full spread of all her favorites, including sparkling wine, juice and tea. Take her out this year, reservations now available: 407 345 4570 or email orlando.regency.dining@hyatt.com.

Sunday, May 11, 2014
Seating available 11:00a – 4:00p
$64 per person, plus tax and gratuity
$32 children ages 5-12, ages 4 and under complimentary
View the Menu

Pampering she deserves.
Pamper Mom the way she deserves this Mother’s Day at The Spa at Hyatt Regency Orlando.
Special offers* available for the special woman in your life.
$99 50-minute spa refresher massage OR facial
$75 30-minute Mommy & Me pedicure
$125 Bahama Mama manicure / pedicure – A Mother’s Day private island getaway
Reserve today by calling 407 345 4431 or email TheSpa.MCORO@hyatt.com.
*cannot be combined with any other specials or offers, Mommy & Me services are available for guests ages 6 years old and older

The Capital Grille

Prato

Luma on Park

Dixie Crossroads

Rosen Centre

INSPIRING MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH AT KESSLER COLLECTION HOTELS

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Kessler Collection, a portfolio of 12 artistically inspired boutique hotels and restaurants, is honoring Mother’s Day with an “Inspiring Brunch,” featuring exquisite culinary creations and libations at select hotels across the U.S., on May 11, 2014.

Signature dishes and flavorful displays at each Kessler Collection hotel include gourmet breakfast favorites, fresh seafood and pasta stations, savory sides, mouth-watering dessert bars and complimentary champagne toasts. An “Inspiring Brunch” to include:

Casa Monica Hotel – St. Augustine, Fla.
Grand Champagne Brunch at 95 Cordova – 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
$69 for adults, $29 for teens, $9 for children.
Grand Bohemian Hotel Orlando – Orlando, Fla.
Three-Course Prix-Fixe Brunch in The Boheme – 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
$55 per person with sparkling wine or Mimosa.
Endless Brunch in the Johann Strauss Ballroom – 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
$69 for adults and $25 for children.
Bohemian Hotel Celebration – Orlando, Fla.
Luxurious Lakeside Dining at Bohemian Bar & Grill – 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
$59.99 per person with complimentary Mimosa.

Capturing the classical and unconventional spirit of Bohemian cultures, The Kessler Collection’s portfolio of passionately created and artistically inspired boutique hotels boast chic design, luxe accommodations, enriching ambiance and intuitive service. Whether visiting properties in Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Florida, New Mexico, North Carolina or South Carolina each hotel’s exquisite art, music and cultural influences are deliberately approachable. Designed to inspire mystique and experiences beyond reason, Kessler guests are bathed in re-defined Bohemian luxury, from an 1888 historic hotel, a cutting edge downtown landmark and a magical castle, to an earthy Native American retreat, high design southern mansion and elite ski lodge.

The Kessler Collection, the founding member of the Marriott Autograph Collection, was introduced with seven Autograph Collection branded hotels and now proudly represents 11. Each property is a bold original hotel carefully selected for its distinctiveness, style and synchronicity for the individualist traveler.

For more information or to make reservations at any of The Kessler Collection properties, please visit www.thekesslercollection.com or call 888.472.6312.

Ocean Prime Seafood

Celebrate Mother’s Day with family and friends at Orlando’s modern American supper club. Ocean Prime will open early at 11 a.m. on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 11, serving executive chef Jeremy Mattson’s special brunch menu from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The dinner menu will be available all day.

Brunch options include blood orange mimosa, quiche with spinach, swiss, provolone, parmesan, arugula salad and fresh fruit, blueberry French toast with cream cheese, powdered sugar, warm maple syrup and smoked bacon, braised short rib with marble potatoes, caramelized onions, roasted peppers, poached eggs and cabernet jus, crab and eggs with toasted English muffin, jumbo lump crab cakes, poached eggs, hollandaise, fingerling potatoes and fresh fruit and blackened salmon salad with strawberries, grapes, cantaloupe, goat cheese, field greens, basil poppyseed dressing and candied walnuts.

Reservations can be made online at www.ocean-prime.com.

Hyatt Grand Cypress

Toast Mom With The Ultimate Weekend Getaway at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress
Celebrate Mother’s Day with Hemingway’s Champagne Brunch

ORLANDO, Fla. (April 22, 2014) – Make your mother’s day on Sunday, May 11 with Hemingway’s champagne brunch at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress. Featuring Hemingway’s signature island-inspired selections, the gourmet menu includes Blue Corn Strawberry Pancakes, Maryland Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, Chilled Kobe Tenderloin, and Hibachi Style Sea Bass along with assorted salads, cheeses, hand-crafted desserts, and free-flowing champagne.

Brunch is $69 per adult and $34.50 per child age 4-12 and is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for resort guests, as well as area residents. Reservations may be made online or by calling 407.239.3854.

Offering families more than 1,500 acres of activities surrounded by a private, tropical oasis, Grand Cypress provides the perfect setting to treat mom to a full weekend of pampering with soothing spa treatments and refreshing, poolside cocktails. Enjoy Orlando’s original luxury resort for rates starting at $179 with the Florida resident savings.

“Give mom the gift of a weekend getaway with resort activities the whole family will enjoy,” said Area Vice President and General Manager Pat Engfer. “From world-class service, deluxe amenities and gourmet dining, Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is the place for making memories.”

Texas De Brazil

Celebrate Mother’s Day the Brazilian Way at Texas de Brazil

While many Americans will be celebrating Mother’s Day with traditional gifts – flowers, apparel, and gift cards – treat your mom like a queen this Mother’s Day with a special outing at Texas de Brazil. Perfect for families or just you and mom, the all-you-can-eat offerings are a great way to give a gift she will definitely remember.

WHAT: Texas de Brazil will open at 11:00 a.m. for Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 11. Families can enjoy Texas de Brazil’s signature cuts of beef, pork, lamb, chicken and Brazilian sausage carved tableside in true Brazilian Churrascaria fashion.

Mothers will receive a special certificate for $25 off their next visit!*
*Limit two per table.

WHEN: Monday, May 11, open at 11:00 a.m.

COST: Regular Dinner $46.99/Light Dinner $24.99. Texas de Brazil will be serving the regular dinner menu and price all day. Drinks, dessert, alcoholic beverages, tax and gratuity are additional.

WHERE: Orlando, FL: 5259 International Drive, 407.355.0355

About Texas de Brazil
Texas de Brazil is a family-owned and operated restaurant company providing traditional Brazilian hospitality and cuisine to thousands of guests each day. Founded in 1998 and based in Dallas, Texas de Brazil is recognized as one of the country’s premier Brazilian steakhouses, known as Churrascarias. The menu features a wide array of grilled meats including choice cuts of beef, pork, lamb and chicken. Each are prepared in the time-honored Brazilian method of cooking over an open flame and carved tableside by the restaurant’s authentically-clad Gauchos. Each restaurant also offers an elaborate salad area with more than 50 fresh selections as well as an extensive wine list and dessert menu. Beautifully appointed private dining rooms are available for special functions and larger parties. The company operates 28 domestic locations and three international restaurants with planned openings in Albany N.Y., Buffalo, N.Y., Cleveland, Ohio, Huntsville, Ala., Miami-Dadeland, Fla., New Orleans, La., Norfolk, Va., Oklahoma City, Okla., Rochester, N.Y., Tulsa, Okla., Washington D.C., and international locations in Dubai, Mexico City, and Seoul.
For more information, please visit www.texasdebrazil.com.

Celebrate Mom with Brunch at Reunion Resort

Treat a mom to a special Mother’s Day brunch at Forte

Orlando, Fla. – Treat mom to a delicious brunch for Mother’s Day at Reunion Resort’s Italian-inspired restaurant, Forte. On Sunday, May 11, 2014 from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., Forte’s Mother’s Day brunch selection will feature omelet and salad stations, a fresh fruit and berries display, carving station and an assorted breakfast bakery display. Mom’s special brunch also includes breakfast favorites with an Italian flair such as biscotti-crusted French toast and eggs Benedict with crispy pancetta.

The cost is $45.95 per adult, which includes a complimentary mimosa for Mom. Cost per child is $16.95 (4-12 years old). Reservations are highly recommended by calling (407) 396-3184.

Reunion Resort is located at 7593 Gathering Drive, Kissimmee, FL 34747. For more information, visit www.ReunionResort.com or call (407) 662-1000.

About Reunion Resort, a Salamander Golf & Spa Resort
Operated by Salamander Hotels & Resorts, the AAA Four Diamond-rated Reunion Resort located in Orlando offers premier multi-bedroom villas, highlighted by the 96-suite main hotel with a stunning lobby; and luxury private homes, each with lavish appointments and exquisite decor. Reunion Resort features 360 resort accommodations including luxury condominiums, private villas and vacation homes surrounded by 2,300 acres of lush landscape and nature preserve, elegantly appointed meeting space, a full-service boutique spa, multiple pools, slides, water playgrounds and a 1,000-foot lazy river. Part of the Grand Golf Resorts of Florida portfolio, Reunion Resort is the only location in the United States with golf courses designed by the golf greats Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson and also features the exclusive ANNIKA Academy by Annika Sörenstam. For additional information call 407-662-1000 or visit www.reunionresort.com.

Fresh To Order F2O opens at Waterford Lakes – a Preview

Katherine Nguyen

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Apr 27, 2014

1

Fresh To Order F2O opens at Waterford Lakes – a Preview

On April 23, 2014, I was graciously invited to a tasting event with Giriam Patel at his new Orlando Fresh To Order (f2o) restaurant located in Waterford Lakes Town Center at Alafaya Trail in East Orlando. Fresh To Order caters to all from meat lovers to pescetarians, vegetarians, vegans, and those who require gluten-free meals!

At Fresh To Order, the service was excellent as each person of their family is sweet and charming. They greet you with a smile from when you walk in to having small talk and suggesting great items from the menu that they, themselves, love. Also, while you enjoy a freshly made meal, you can bring your books and laptops to study for your classes!

Founded in 2006, Fresh To Order is a “fast-fine” restaurant and combines the quality of chef Inspired cuisine found in informal fine dining with the operating platform and price point of a fast casual restaurant. Founded on the vision of “Incredible Food, Service and Facilities,” Fresh To Order serves a menu of freshly prepared entrees, panini sandwiches, soups and salads in less than 10 minutes for around $10.

When they say “fresh”, they mean it – there are no walk-in freezers located at Fresh To Order. They only have a freezer to store their desserts and a walk-in cooler to keep their food fresh for the day. Fresh To Order receive shipments of food and prepare their ingredients in their kitchen every morning; this includes cleaning the squid, salmon, etc!

At this event, we were first served samples of warm soup with honey-glazed croissants. The soups rotate on the menu periodically and are house-made twice each day.

The Creamy Chicken Vegetable soup was my favorite. This soup was deliciously smooth and creamy, filled with flavor in every bite. This will be my “go-to” soup when it’s chilly out or if I’m in a mood for soup! There are chunks of chicken and sliced vegetables (ie carrots, etc) found in this dish.

The Wild Mushroom soup was made with Button and Portobello mushrooms creamed by a processor as well as small-diced mushroom for that minor chunky texture. I thought that this soup is a little sweet and easy to eat. This is my second favorite soup from f2o.

The Tomato Bisque soup is also another sweet but subtle soup with a hint of carrots.

The Chicken Tortilla soup isn’t creamy like the others and the flavors are a bit too intense for my taste. The Corn Chowder soup to the left of the Chicken Tortilla is spicy, but sweet. The spiciness comes from the jalapeños snuck into it and the corn chunks provide a second texture to the creamy processed soup itself.

In my opinion, the Ahi Tuna Steak has a nice, thin, crunchy coat made of rosemary, sesame seeds and crushed panko. The tuna was fried for 35 seconds before seared and laid on Asian cabbage with an apricot-ginger Dijon vinaigrette drizzled on top.

The Almond Chicken Skewers is one of my favorite dishes at f2o! The chicken is cut thin and has an almond rosemary crust. It is served with two sauces: a Thai peanut sauce made with peanut butter and a spicy chili with marmalade.

Tender Crispy Calamari added onto a Mediterranean Salad contains mixed greens, feta cheese, roasted tomatoes, olive salad, grilled onions, toasted almonds, fresh herbs, and red grapes. This salad is recommended with an Oriental apricot dressing that I also suggest you to order for the salad! The calamari is also fried with lemon slices coated with the same crunchy coating. The crispy calamari and lemon slices are delicious, but the lemon slices aren’t overpowering or tart if you try one! Together with the salad creates a mixture of flavors that you can pick out with your taste buds individually. If I were to decide to have a meatless meal and wanted a salad, this would be my top choice.

The Spinach Salad was served with raspberry vinaigrette and bourbon filet steak added to it. Alone, the Spinach Salad contains a seasonal fruit (this one had shredded mango!), spinach, strawberries, blue cheese crumbles, dried cherries, and almonds. On the other hand to the last salad mentioned, this is sweeter and refreshing. However, the sweetness is very bold so try not to drench your salad in the vinaigrette!

The Salmon Panini consists of bourbon-marinated salmon, avocado, lettuce, tarragon aioli, and corn cilantro relish. This is a healthy and delicious Panini. If you’d like to make it a bit healthier, you could switch the white bread to whole-wheat flat bread! I think the avocado is a little dense for my taste and overpowers the salmon. Other than that, I think this is a wonderful Panini with fresh salmon!

The Black Bean Burger consists of black beans, rice, avocado, house pickled jalapeños, lettuce, tomatoes, corn relish, grilled wheat flat bread, and horseradish honey mustard. Unlike other black bean burgers you may have tried, the black bean patty does not fall apart on you! The texture was better than expected. However, if you don’t like jalapeños like myself, you may wish to order the burger without it because it can get quite spicy!

The Garlic Mashed Potatoes were delicious as ever and didn’t even need a drip of gravy on top to add flavor.

Instead of Garlic Mashed Potatoes, I prefer the Sweet Mashed Potatoes, as sweet potatoes are a healthier option! Also, f2o did a great job of giving it such flavors with their seasonings and walnuts.

If you’d like a more Southern dish, try the Garlic Jack Grit Cake as a side! This is very dense, but so amazing you’ll want to come back for seconds…and thirds.

The Chicken Wild Mushroom is a great dish if you’d like a mix of grilled chicken and mushrooms like I do! The chicken was cooked just right where the juices ran fresh with no hint of rawness to it. The roasted mushrooms on top of the chicken will add its own fresh texture to the meal.

The Grilled Salmon is topped with black bean orange sauce and roasted corn peanut relish. It normally comes with baby greens and wheat berry rice. All I can say is, the salmon is to die for!

These are only a few dishes that I tried with Giriam Patel at his restaurant – to go with it, you should try some house-made teas and lemonades like I did. The house-made teas and lemonades rotate weekly for new and exciting flavors to take a chance to wow you – even better, not only does Fresh To Order give free refills, but they encourage it and trying all of the teas and lemonades.

If you would like a wine or craft beer instead of tea, lemonade or your ordinary fountain drink, then don’t worry – Fresh To Order serves wine and craft beers too.

You didn’t think I left without trying some desserts did you?

A variety of cookies are available on hand and made fresh daily at Fresh To Order – Some of my favorites include the chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter cookies! They also had white chocolate chip cookies and cranberry cookies.

The brownies were fudgy and like a slice of heaven! I could taste a hint of fruit, which may mean that they used dark chocolate to make the brownies!

Last but not least are icebox pies! In total, Fresh To Order serves Mini Mango Pie, Mini Key Lime Pie, Mini Chocolate Silk Pie, Mini Peanut Butter Pie, and Mini Seasonal Pie (ask for the seasonal flavors). I was able to try the Mini Key Lime Pie, Mini Chocolate Silk Pie, Mini Strawberry Pie, and Mini Banana Pie. I’m not sure which I like best because they were all uniquely tasteful.

The Great American Pie Festival

Unique Michael

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Apr 27, 2014

4

I was recently invited to attend The Great American Pie Festival, hosted at Lakeside Park in Celebration, Florida. After paralleling parking for the first time in my life, I took note of the extreme heat and multiple crowds gathered across Columbia, an upscale Columbian restaurant. In these crowds, I spotted volunteers wearing red shirts reading “PIE. A Slice of Life.” If that wasn’t epic enough, I was tempted to jump into the pie car with the giant pie on top!

The Great American Pie car with a giant pie on the roof.

The festival took place outdoors and felt like a farmer’s market at first. From handmade aprons to glitzing jewelry, vendors of all kind came together to show off their unique products. After walking past all the vendors, I started to worry because there was no sign of pie. After all, I was attending a pie festival. There had to be pie. Once I managed to get past the vendors, I smelled food. Not Pie. I’m talking about real food. What smelt was the combination of melted mozzarella and sweet yellow corn from Gran Arepa. The combination was dynamic.

Melted Mozzarella and Sweet Yellow Corn from Arepa
Not even one minute after, a man walked by with a giant roll of something insane. I wasn’t sure what it was so I asked him and he pointed to Monsta Lobsta, a food truck specializing in lobster rolls. Oh, and they are monstrous!

Monster Lobster Roll from Monsta Lobsta

Making it through the food vendors was tough. I was tempted to stop at every vendor. Gyros. Fresh Smoothies. Everything. Before I could stop anywhere else, I made it my life mission to find the pie! Nothing would stop me, except for Super Pie Man, aka the Great American Pie Festival’s mascot who guided me to the Never-Ending-Pie Buffet!

Super Pie Man & Unique Michael

An hour had passed before I made it to the pie section of the festival. This was perhaps the most insane gathering of pie lovers I’ve seen in my life. Multiple tents were being raided for pie, and I’m talking all of it. People were walking away with two to three slices and I should have picked up on the Hunger Games desperation for pie. The pie entrance notified guests that they were prohibited to carry out any pie – as a normal buffet would. Instead, attendees hoarded boxes of pie and retreated to tables to feast. At first, I felt anxious because the lines were extremely long. Actually, the lines kept breaking and reforming, so it was almost chaotic to get a single slice of yumminess. Fifteen minutes passed by and I finally managed to grab a slice of Caramel-Chocolate Silk Pie from Legendary. If chocolate mouse had a love child with pecan pie, this is what their child would look and taste like. The chocolate filling was sweet but not too overwhelming. My taste buds were zinging from the globs of oozing caramel, and the whole pie was brought to a beautiful finish with the crunch of toasted pecan.

Caramel Chocolate Silk Pie from Legendary

Out of the smaller pie companies, I spotted a trusted friend. Publix. They were manning down their pie stand by cranking out ten to twenty pie slices at a time. From blueberry to apple pie, they kept dishing it out. What made them even more epic was the complimentary vanilla bean ice-cream they were giving out. Yum!

Apple Pie from Publix
By that point, I had at least 5 slices of pie. I should have stopped but I came across Wicks’ booth and sampled their Pecan Pie. Normally, Pecan Pie is too sweet and I’m not a fan of the overly buttery taste but Wicks was dishing out gold. Their Pecan Pie had a slightly firm consistency and wasn’t as sweet as sugar. Each bite was reminiscent of bourbon and roasted pecans.

Pecan Pie from Wicks

Once I finished off my third slice of pecan pie, I hobbled out of the pie arena. People were starting to go back for sevenths and I wasn’t ready to lose an arm for dessert. Now, I was ready to explore the festivities. When I say festivities, I’m referring to more pie eating activities. One specific event was a children’s pie eating content. The air was still. The adults were rubbing their kid’s shoulders and cheering them on. This was the real hunger games.

A table of youngseters getting ready to compete to find out who is the fastest pie eater.

Also, let’s not forget about the live entertainment. This guy was showing off some serious tricks and dance moves.

Live entertainment at The Pietopia

After another hour of devouring pie and watching children eat more pie than their parents would normally permit, I walked back to the pie buffet. By then, most of the pie was gone and families were eating despite being extremely full. After all, you can’t go to a pie festival and not go into a sugar coma after. One such group showed off their pie with pride.

Locals eating pie at The Great Pie Festival in Celebration, Florida.

Overall, it was a wonderful family-oriented event. There were tons of activities aside from eating pie and the weather was great. My only SLICE of advice is to mentally prepare for the not so sweet parking situation.

Contest Alert!

What’s your favorite type of pie and why?

Comment below for a chance to win a $25 Publix Gift Card!

BRIO Tuscan Grille at Winter Park Village Hops Into Easter

Krystle Nguyen

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Apr 21, 2014

0

BRIO Tuscan Grille at Winter Park Village Hops Into Easter

BRIO Tuscan Grille at Winter Park Village in Winter Park is celebrating springtime with its fun-filled Bunny Brunch.

BRIO’s Bunny Brunch offers plenty of delicious items for both adults and children. Dishes on the adult menu include Eggs, Home Fries & Bacon, Sicilian Omelette, Berries & Cream French Toast, and Ham & Biscuit Benedict. Children’s entrees are scrambled eggs, bacon and fresh fruit; and French toast with bacon and fresh fruit. In addition to the Bunny Brunch menu, my guest and I were able to get a taste of the Calamari and Spicy Shrimp & Eggplant appetizers recommended by our friendly server, Sterling.

The new menu options appeal to many different tastes and Executive Chef Eric Carter did a beautiful job with the dishes. BRIO offers flexible options to cater dietary preferences and can substitute entrées with egg whites or turkey sausage. There is also a light gluten free menu with entrées under 550 calories.

To add festivity to the brunch, the Easter Bunny walked around greeting guests at every table for photo opportunities and there was also a face painting station for children.

The restaurant decor is classically polished with white linens and dark marble details. There is a large indoor dining room and outdoor terrace to accommodate any party size, and I opted for outdoor seating to relax in the perfect morning light and weather.

brio-5 — **Sicilian Omelette:** Cherrywood smoked ham bacon, Fontanini sausage tomato compote, Mozzarella Provolone and Parmesan cheeses. Served with brunch potatoes.

brio-13 — **Ham & Biscuit Benedict:** Two poached cage free eggs, Cherrywood smoked ham, house made biscuit, hollandaise. Served with brunch potatoes.

brio-15 — **Eggs, Home Fries & Bacon:** Scrambled eggs, bacon, brunch potatoes, toast. (Turkey sausage available upon request)

brio-11 — **Berries & Cream French Toast:** Mascarpone cream cheese stuffed French toast, honey, cinnamon, fresh berry compote. With Applewood smoked bacon.

brio-12 — **Berries & Cream French Toast – my favorite dish!**

brio-18 — **Spicy Shrimp & Eggplant:** Pan seared shrimp in a black pepper cream sauce over Romano crusted eggplant. Recommended by our server and it was delicious!

brio-19 — Executive Chef Eric Carter and Tiffany Nguyen posing with the Easter Bunny

BRIO at Winter Park Village
480 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park, FL 32789

BRIO offers Call Ahead Seating and Reservations. (407) 622-5611

BRUNCH AT BRIO ~ Available Saturday & Sunday until 3:30pm.

Taste of Winter Park 2014 by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce

Ricky Ly

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Apr 17, 2014

1

Taste of Winter Park 2014 by the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce

The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce hosted the 29th Annual Taste of Winter Park presented by CenturyLink on Wednesday, April 16, 2014, showcasing more than 40 of Central Florida’s top chefs, bakers, caterers and confectioners for a fun evening at the Winter Park Farmers’ Market.

All-inclusive tickets featured unlimited samples of signature dishes, refreshing beverages and decadent desserts.

The 29th Annual Taste of Winter Park included samplings from John Rivers’ new concept, The COOP and live entertainment from saxophonist Johnny Mag Sax, raffle prizes and more and lasted from 5 – 8:00 p.m, just barely enough time to try all the glorious food and beverage offerings!

More than 40 of the area’s finest restaurants served over 1,300 attendees with unlimited samples of unique culinary creations, steakhouse favorites, quality seafood, decadent desserts and a variety of coffees, teas, wine and beer.

“The Taste of Winter Park continues to be one of Central Florida’s best foodie events,” said Patrick Chapin, President/CEO of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce. “We’re proud to showcase the many fine dining opportunities in Winter Park and bring the community together for an unforgettable evening.”

Throughout the event, a select panel of judges from local media outlets sampled each menu item to determine the recipient of seven coveted awards. Judges included Pam Brandon and Katie Farmand, editors, Edible Orlando; Ricky Ly of TastyChomps.com; Megan Ribbens, web producer, Orlando Business Journal; Scott Richardson, food writer, The Park Press; and Mark Baratelli, owner/founder, TheDailyCity.com.

This year I was sad to note that Cask and Larder, Prato, Luma on Park, and the Ravenous Pig were not present. Luckily, there were a few new comers who were able to hold up the torch of local, delicious food like the Hamilton’s Kitchen at the Alfond Inn, which featured locally farm-raised whole roasted pig with Apopka Wild field greens tossed in oregano vinaigrette, fried mac and cheese lollipops with sweet pepper aioli, and house made ricotta cheese “Heavens to Betsy” jams on crostini – one of my favorites of the night!

Winners of the Taste of Winter Park included:

Best Entree – The Coop – Chicken Biscuits

Best Appetizer – Marlow’s Tavern – Ahi tuna poke

Best Decor / Presentation – Orchid Thai

Best Drink – Bungalow 23

Best Dessert – Cocina 214 – Tres Leches

Best Healthy Eating – Bosphorous Turkish Kitchen

Best Fresh From Florida – Hamilton’s Kitchen at Alfond Inn

Sunrail - still on practice run - officially open May 1st - first two weeks in May is free to ride! — Sunrail – still on practice run – officially open May 1st – first two weeks in May is free to ride!

Grilled sugarcane skewered Kalbi shrimp and pineapple atop Avo Kyu roll - The Meat House in Winter Park — Grilled sugarcane skewered Kalbi shrimp and pineapple atop Avo Kyu roll – The Meat House in Winter Park

Grilled steak tips with wild mushroom and burgundy wine sauce - The Meat House in Winter Park — Grilled steak tips with wild mushroom and burgundy wine sauce – The Meat House in Winter Park

John and Shirley's Catering - chicken, yellow rice, swamp salsa — John and Shirley’s Catering – chicken, yellow rice, swamp salsa

Mitchell's Fish Market in Winter Park — Mitchell’s Fish Market in Winter Park

Carrot Cake Cupcake - Mitchell's Fish Market — Carrot Cake Cupcake – Mitchell’s Fish Market

Seared ahi tuna - Mitchell's Fish Market — Seared ahi tuna – Mitchell’s Fish Market

Tolla's Italian Deli and Cafe - Chicken touscan with pasta — Tolla’s Italian Deli and Cafe – Chicken touscan with pasta

The Coop - Chicken and Biscuits, pimento cheese grit squares, and cinnamon roll bread pudding — The Coop – Chicken and Biscuits, pimento cheese grit squares, and cinnamon roll bread pudding

Brian Waggoner - Carmel Cafe and Wine Bar — Brian Waggoner – Carmel Cafe and Wine Bar

Braised short ribs, creamy polenta, edamame hummus w pita chips - Carmel Cafe and Wine Bar — Braised short ribs, creamy polenta, edamame hummus w pita chips – Carmel Cafe and Wine Bar

Orchid Thai Cuisine - Summer Rolls — Orchid Thai Cuisine – Summer Rolls

Orchid Thai Cuisine - chicken satay — Orchid Thai Cuisine – chicken satay

Orchid Thai Cuisine - pad thai noodles — Orchid Thai Cuisine – pad thai noodles

Smart Coffee HD - Chicken and Waffles — Smart Coffee HD – Chicken and Waffles

Smart Coffee HD - Tomato Soup — Smart Coffee HD – Tomato Soup

Smart Coffee HD - Hamilicious Breakfast sandwich — Smart Coffee HD – Hamilicious Breakfast sandwich

Miller's Ale House - University Blvd — Miller’s Ale House – University Blvd

Miller's Ale House - University Blvd - Cajun chicken pasta and jambalaya — Miller’s Ale House – University Blvd – Cajun chicken pasta and jambalaya

Park Plaza Gardens - mini crab cake with spicy aioli — Park Plaza Gardens – mini crab cake with spicy aioli

Marlow's Tavern - ahi tuna poke — Marlow’s Tavern – ahi tuna poke

Marlow's Tavern - shrimp and grits — Marlow’s Tavern – shrimp and grits

Hamilton's Kitchen at Alfond Inn — Hamilton’s Kitchen at Alfond Inn

Hamilton's Kitchen at Alfond Inn - Whole Roast Pig — Hamilton’s Kitchen at Alfond Inn – Whole Roast Pig

Hamilton Kitchen's locally farm-raised whole roasted pig with Apopka Wild field greens tossed in oregano vinaigrette, fried mac and cheese lollipops with sweet pepper aioli, and house made ricotta cheese "Heavens to Betsy" jams on crostini — Hamilton Kitchen’s locally farm-raised whole roasted pig with Apopka Wild field greens tossed in oregano vinaigrette, fried mac and cheese lollipops with sweet pepper aioli, and house made ricotta cheese “Heavens to Betsy” jams on crostini

Fiddler's Green Irish Pub — Fiddler’s Green Irish Pub

Fiddler's Green Irish Pub - Shepherd's Pie and Corned beef egg roll — Fiddler’s Green Irish Pub – Shepherd’s Pie and Corned beef egg roll

PF Chang's chicken lettuce wrap — PF Chang’s chicken lettuce wrap

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse — Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse - Sliced beef tenderloin, shrimp — Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse – Sliced beef tenderloin, shrimp

The Wine Barn - Margherita — The Wine Barn – Margherita

The Wine Barn - Double Diablo pizza — The Wine Barn – Double Diablo pizza

The Wine Barn - wood fired oven — The Wine Barn – wood fired oven

Kilwin's Chocolates — Kilwin’s Chocolates

Shula's Steakhouse at WDW Dolphin — Shula’s Steakhouse at WDW Dolphin

Shula's Steakhouse at WDW Dolphin - Bacon wrapped barbeque shrimp with ny strip, creamed spinach — Shula’s Steakhouse at WDW Dolphin – Bacon wrapped barbeque shrimp with ny strip, creamed spinach

Italio - shrimp alfredo basil pesto pasta, bruschetta with cannoli — Italio – shrimp alfredo basil pesto pasta, bruschetta with cannoli

Whole Foods Market - Thai kale salad, guava bbq chicken — Whole Foods Market – Thai kale salad, guava bbq chicken

Sonny's BBQ - Sliced beef brisket and redneck eggrolls — Sonny’s BBQ – Sliced beef brisket and redneck eggrolls

Tibby's New Orleans Kitchen — Tibby’s New Orleans Kitchen

Tibby's New Orleans Kitchen - Andoille sausage jambalaya — Tibby’s New Orleans Kitchen – Andoille sausage jambalaya

Cocina 214 - chicken fajitas — Cocina 214 – chicken fajitas

Cocina 214 - Tres Leches Cake — Cocina 214 – Tres Leches Cake

Crispers' Signature summer salad — Crispers’ Signature summer salad

Inside the Winter Park Farmer's Market building — Inside the Winter Park Farmer’s Market building

Winter Park Chocolate - fountain — Winter Park Chocolate – fountain with Alea Z.

Bosphorous Turkish Kitchen - White bean salad and kebabs — Bosphorous Turkish Kitchen – White bean salad and kebabs

Bosphorous Turkish Kitchen - baklava — Bosphorous Turkish Kitchen – baklava

Sprinkles cakes - mini pina colada cupcakes — Sprinkles cakes – mini pina colada cupcakes

Hanging out with fellow food bloggers Kelli Matheny www.ExploringOrlando.com and Lisa Wilk www.TasteCookSip.com

Peterbrooke Chocolatier's chocolate covered popcorn — Peterbrooke Chocolatier’s chocolate covered popcorn

Peterbrooke Chocolatier's Jami Wray and staff — Peterbrooke Chocolatier’s Jami Wray and staff

Sweet by Holly - cake pops and cupcakes — Sweet by Holly – cake pops and cupcakes

Barnie's CoffeKitchen — Barnie’s CoffeKitchen

Barnie's CoffeKitchen Chef Camilo Velasco — Barnie’s CoffeKitchen Chef Camilo Velasco

Chef Velasco with Valencia Professor Chef Kenneth Bourgoin

Jeremiah's Italian Ice — Jeremiah’s Italian Ice

Rob Sharpstein, the Chair of the Taste of Winter Park committee, Ashley Ringler, Director of Events and Sponsorship Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, and staff announcing the winners — Rob Sharpstein, the Chair of the Taste of Winter Park committee, Ashley Ringler,
Director of Events and Sponsorship
Winter Park Chamber of Commerce, staff, and Patrick Chapin, President/CEO of Winter Park Chamber of Commerce announcing the winners

Best Entree - the Coop — Best Entree – the Coop

Best Dessert - Cocina 214 — Best Dessert – Cocina 214

Best Display - Orchid Thai — Best Display – Orchid Thai

Best Healthy Eating - Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine — Best Healthy Eating – Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine

Best Fresh From Florida - Hamilton's Kitchen at Alfond Inn — Best Fresh From Florida – Hamilton’s Kitchen at Alfond Inn

Brunch with the Easter Bunny at BRAVO! Cucina Italiana Orlando

Katherine Nguyen

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Apr 17, 2014

0

Brunch with the Easter Bunny at BRAVO! Cucina Italiana Orlando

BRAVO! Cucina Italiana is a “polished casual,” affordable restaurant offering classic Italian food amongst the shadows of Roman ruins. The subtitle “Cucina Italiana” means Italian kitchen, in which all cooking is done in full view of the guest, creating the energy of a live theater.

BRAVO’s popular entrees include grilled steaks, chops, and made-to-order pizzas, pastas and house specialties, similar to an authentic ‘ristorante’ in Italy. BRAVO! is part of Columbus-based BRAVO I BRIO Restaurant Group. Founded in 1992, BRAVO I BRIO Restaurant Group currently operates more than 100 restaurants in 33 states including BRAVO! Cucina Italiana, BRIO Tuscan Grille and Bon Vie Bistro.

On April 12, 2014, BRAVO! hosted a fun-filled Bunny Brunch to celebrate springtime. This brunch will be available also during Easter Sunday. I was invited to try it out recently here in town.

Sit down with the Easter Bunny to enjoy dishes on the menu for adults and children.

Children’s entrées are scrambled eggs, bacon and fresh fruit; and French toast with bacon and fresh fruit.

Adults could chose from Sicilian Omelette (Cherrywood smoked ham, bacon, Fontanini sausage, tomato compote, Mozzarella, Provolone and Parmesan cheeses, served with brunch potatoes) to Berries & Cream French Toast (Mascarpone cream cheese stuffed French toast, honey, cinnamon, and berry compote with Applewood smoked bacon). Two other options will be mentioned below.

Once drinks are ordered, house baked muffins are brought out. At our table, we were given poppy seed and blueberry muffins. Both were delicious, but were a tad dry in my opinion.

With the Bunny Brunch, the meal also includes a yogurt & fruit parfait. Each cup was cute and had fresh fruit over yogurt taken right out of the fridge.

The Eggs, Home Fries & Bacon consisted of scrambled eggs, bacon, brunch potatoes, and brioche toast – turkey sausage available upon request. The scrambled eggs were requested to be of only egg whites and accommodated; they were delicious with a shake of salt and pepper. The bacon was crispy without being burnt. And the home fries were to die for with its delicious seasoning.

The Ham & Biscuit Benedict had two poached eggs, Cherrywood smoked ham, house made biscuit, and hollandaise, served with brunch potatoes. This was made to please every tastebud as each ingredient added to the dish in general. The poached eggs had a little sweetness to the palate; the ham was smoked and a little spicy, but bearable to those who can’t handle spicy dishes; and the biscuits themselves were fluffy as can be!

BRAVO! Cucina Italiana Orlando – Dellagio is located at 7924 Via Dellagio Way, Orlando, FL 32819, in the Dellagio development adjacent to The Marketplace at Dr. Phillips. The 7,482-square-foot BRAVO! restaurant includes indoor seating for 233, two private dining rooms that can each accommodate up to 30, and an outdoor terrace that seats 122.

BRAVO! offers lunch and dinner, as well as an award-winning children’s menu.

The restaurant is open Sunday–Thursday 11 a.m.–10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.–11 p.m. For reservations, please call (407) 351-5880.

10 Bizarre Foods Andrew Zimmern might like in Orlando

Ricky Ly

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Apr 17, 2014

3

10 Bizarre Foods Andrew Zimmern might like in Orlando

Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern is a travel and cuisine television show on the Travel Channel which focuses on regional cuisine from around the world – especially those items typically perceived by Americans as being weird, exotic, or bizarre.

Mr. Zimmern typically shows how the food is procured, where it is served, and, usually without hesitation, eats it – except for a few exceptions such as durian. The durian fruit is one “bizarre food” that, surprisingly, can actually be found at any number of Asian Markets in Orlando, including Tien Hung Market and Saigon Market in Mills 50 District and in smoothie form at local Vietnamese restaurants such as Pho Vinh and Pho 88.

Through food, we can experience the world’s culture and Orlando is the perfect place to find some bizarre foods and experience a new, diverse world.

We hope Mr. Andrew Zimmern will visit our city beautiful soon to try them out!

Lone Cabbage Fish Camp's fried catfish, gator tail, amd frog legs — Lone Cabbage Fish Camp’s fried catfish, gator tail, amd frog legs

Founded in the 1950s, the Lone Cabbage Fish Camp (and popular airboat ride destination) lies on the waters of the St. John’s River right off of State Road 520. Take a seat out on their wooden dock and watch the fishing boats go by and maybe an alligator or two. Have a taste of “Old Florida” with a platter of some of the best tenderly fried and crispy gator tail, frog legs, and catfish in Central Florida.

Lone Cabbage Fish Camp
8199 SR 520, Cocoa, FL 32926
(321) 632-4199
http://www.twisterairboatrides.com/cabbage.htm

Hot Vit Lon aka Balut aka fertilized duck fetus egg

Hot Vit Lon (Vietnamese) or balut (Filipino) is a developing duck egg embryo that is boiled and eaten in the shell. In the Philippines, balut eaters prefer salt and/or a chili, garlic and vinegar (white or coconut sap) mixture to season their eggs. The eggs are savored for their balance of textures and flavors; the broth surrounding the embryo is sipped from the egg before the shell is peeled, and the yolk and young chick inside can be eaten. All of the contents of the egg may be consumed, although the white may remain uneaten; depending on the age of the fertilized egg, the white may have an unappetizing cartilaginous toughness. In Vietnam, balut are eaten with a pinch of salt, lemon juice, plus ground pepper and Vietnamese mint leaves (southern Vietnamese style).

Locally in Orlando, you can find them at Asian markets such as Saigon Market or Tien Hung Market. Call ahead to find out if they have them in stock though.

Saigon Market
1232 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803, United States
Phone:(407) 898-6899

Tien Hung Market
1112 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803, United States
Phone:(407) 849-0205

Durian - the "king of fruit". Also known as the Stinky fruit — Durian – the “king of fruit”. Also known as the Stinky fruit

Regarded by many people in southeast Asia as the “king of fruits”, the durian is distinctive for its large size, strong odor, and formidable thorn-covered husk. The texture of the flesh, when served cold, is similar to a sweet custard. The persistence of its odor has led to the fruit’s banishment from certain hotels and public transportation in Southeast Asia. I like it in the smoothie form at our local area Vietnamese restaurants like Pho 88, but you can also buy it whole at the Asian markets (call ahead though to be sure). Try it out, even Andrew Zimmern wasn’t brave enough to stomach this pungent fruit.

Saigon Market
1232 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803, United States
Phone:(407) 898-6899

Tien Hung Market
1112 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803, United States
Phone:(407) 849-0205

Stuffed Lamb at Cedar's Halal — Stuffed Lamb at Cedar’s Halal

Whole stuffed lamb with spices and rice. Will have to call Cedar’s ahead for this one.

Cedar’s Halal Food and Deli
Address: 12100 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32826
Phone:(407) 381-8004
https://www.facebook.com/Cedarhalalorlando

Nihari at Chaat House — Nihari with Brain at Chaat House

Nihari is a Pakistani, Indian, and Bangladeshi stew dish consisting of slow cooked beef or lamb garnished to taste and served with cooked brains or bone marrow. Nihari with Brain is $9.99 at Chaat House, a local Pakistani eatery on South Orange Blossom Trail known for their street food dishes.

Chaat House Orlando
Address: 9472 S Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32837
Phone:(407) 240-4922
http://www.chaathouseorlando.com/

Natto, fermented soybeans

Natto is a traditional Japanese food made from soybeans fermented with Bacillus subtilis. It is popular especially as a breakfast food. Natto may be an acquired taste because of its powerful smell, strong flavor, and slimy texture. Known for their authentic Japanese Kyoto style cuisine, the Natto at Hanamizuki, located just off of International Drive near the Orange County Convention Center, is served here with tuna, fluke, squid, shirasu fish.

Hanamizuki Japanese Restaurant
Address: 8255 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819
Phone:(407) 363-7200
http://www.hanamizuki.us/

Stinky Tofu at Magic Wok - Image Courtesy of Kay Y. on Yelp — Stinky Tofu at Magic Wok – Image Courtesy of Kay Y. on Yelp

Stinky tofu or chou doufu is a form of fermented tofu that has a strong odor – I sometimes compare it to the body odor stench of a college boy that has not showered in about a month. It is a snack that is usually sold at night markets or roadside stands or as a side dish in lunch bars rather than in restaurants (the smell is rather overwhelming). The traditional method for producing stinky tofu is to prepare a brine made from fermented milk, vegetables, and meat; the brine can also include dried shrimp, amaranth greens, mustard greens, bamboo shoots, and Chinese herbs. Find some stinky tofu, but please take it to go, at Magic Wok near Universal Studios in the Dr. Phillips area.

Magic Wok Shanghai Restaurant
Address: 6700 Conroy Rd, Orlando, FL 32835
Phone:(407) 522-8688

Chitterlings with Rice at Nikki's Place - Image Courtesy of OrlandoSentinel.com — Chitterlings with Rice at Nikki’s Place – Image Courtesy of OrlandoSentinel.com

Chitterlings with rice at Nikki’s Place – chitterlings (made from the small intestines of pigs) are part of the African American and Southern culinary tradition commonly called “soul food.” The use of chitterlings in soul food cuisine stems from the time of slavery when the slaves had to utilize ingredients and parts of the animal that were often discarded and less valued for their own dishes. This can be found in Brazilian culture, too, where the stewed dish “feijoada” is made “dirty” style with offal or “clean” with the regular parts of the pig. Chitterlings are carefully cleaned and rinsed several times before they are boiled or stewed for several hours.

Nikki’s Place Southern Cuisine / Soul Food
742 Carter St, Orlando, FL 32805
Phone:(407) 425-5301
http://nikkisplace.net/

Shui zhu da chang – Sichuan style Pig Intestines.

Shui zhu da chang – Sichuan style Pig Intestines. “Shui Zui” originated from the cuisine of Sichuan province and the name literally means “water-cooked”. The preparation of this dish usually involves some sort of meat (usually it is beef), chili pepper, and a large amount of vegetable oil. The prepared raw meat is poached in water that is heated to boiling point for 20–30 seconds, just enough to remove rawness yet preserving the meat’s tenderness. Minced dried chili, sichuan pepper, minced garlic, and other seasoning are spread over the meat. Try some of the pig intestine, or chitterling, on the “da chang” specialties menu at Chuan Lu Garden, renown for their Sichuanese cuisine in Orlando’s Mills 50 District. In case you didn’t pick it up yet, da chang is pig intestines.

Chuan Lu Garden
1101 E Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32803
Phone:(407) 896-8966
http://www.chuanluyuan.com

Rice and Beans Beef Tripe Soup (Mondongo)

Sopa de mondongo is a soup made from diced tripe (the stomach of a cow) slow-cooked with vegetables such as bell peppers, onions, carrots, cabbage, celery, tomatoes, cilantro, garlic or root vegetables. The dish is from Latin America and the Caribbean.

Rice and Beans
504 N Alafaya Trail, Orlando, FL 32828
Phone:(407) 380-9962
http://www.cubanrestaurantsorlando.com/

In Turkey, fried liver and onions, a popular “meze” or appetizer, is actually called “Arnavut Ci?eri” (arna-VOOT’ JEE-air-EE’), or Albanian Liver, most likely a result of the years when the Ottomans ruled Albania and much of Eastern Europe. Liver is rich in iron and Vitamin A and has an unabashed flavor that nicely complements that of its usual companion, onion.

Cappadocia Turkish Cuisine
565 N Semoran Blvd, Azalea Park, FL 32807
Phone:(407) 985-2668
cappadociaturkishcuisine.com/?

Now, it’s your turn – what are some bizarre foods you’ve seen or tried in Orlando? Comment below!

Let there be light at Olive Garden! New menu debuts 2014

Katherine Nguyen

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Apr 16, 2014

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Let there be light at Olive Garden! New menu debuts 2014

Olive Garden consists of 800 restaurants inspired by the foods and wines of Italy. They’re known for their warmth and caring family of hosts, waiters and waitresses. On April 9^th, I was able to experience their warmth and was treated as family when I paid a visit after hearing rumors of a new menu for 2014.

Although the people of Olive Garden were great, I can’t say the same about all of the new food menu – some were hits, and some were real misses. The lighting was also very dim, which provided a nice relaxing atmosphere to enjoy after a long day of work. However, I have a feeling that the dim lighting was also to conceal how the food was not presentable and didn’t make me say: “YES! I’m excited to try this!”

THE BEST

The dinner menu features a number of things and started out well with the greatly known breadsticks that were moist, warm and full of flavor!

Polenta Shrimp alla Greca was nicely presented with a refreshing taste. The shrimp were made just right, but make sure you take the tail off before consuming.

The Spicy Calabrian Wings were my favorite dish of the evening! It was zesty and just to my liking! I could eat this all day. Note: if you are sensitive to hot and spicy food, you may want to take your time and test one before ordering a large number.

The Crispy Risotto Bites consisted of a dense and creamy risotto with bits of mozzarella fried to have a crunchy outer shell to provide a nice contrast to the texture.

As you enjoy your appetizers, you can get your hands on a Peach Bellini frozen cocktail consisting of a blend of Zonin Prosecco and fresh peaches. This cocktail is nice to have on a hot day and is one of my favorites.

If you’re not in the mood for a frozen cocktail, maybe you can try a Strawberry-Limoncello Martini. This martini consists of Smirnoff Citrus Vodka, Caravella Limoncello and strawberries. This drink has a strong alcohol taste, but it is minimized a tad with the help of fresh strawberries.

THE REST

The Antipasti Italian Meats and Cheese had a mixture of vegetables, meats and cheese that is usually served in Italy. From a healthy standpoint, you may pass on this, as the vegetables present won’t provide much nutrition and the deli meat toppers will probably raise your sodium levels and cholesterol. The dish came as seen in the photo and seem as though it was put together in a hurry and cut right out of their individual packaging.

The Roasted Tomato Caprese is a lighter salad. I like this better than the Antipasti Italian Meats and Cheese. The kale is crunchy, the salad is colorful and the mozzarella bites are a delight. Each vegetable provided a different texture and different taste to your palate. The roasted tomatoes were scarce and those that were found were bitter. The dressing they used for this salad was the same for the other salad; both had Italian dressing.

Smashed Chicken Meatball Sandwich

The Smashed Chicken Meatball Sandwich is nicely presented with a side of fries with a garlic seasoning sprinkled on top. The sandwich had fluffy buns that were rich in flavor. The chicken patty itself did not have a texture you’d imagine chicken to have as though it was over-processed and synthetic. The fries were limp and cold to eat.

The “Cucina Mia” section will allow you to create your own entrée out of six different pastas and five different sauces. Although they say the sauces are “made-from-scratch”, they tasted like any other sauce you can buy in your local grocery store at any brand.

The Large Paccheri with Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato and Chicken Meatballs was bland, had only a hint of sauce and had what it said in the name: a single, small “sun-dried tomato”.

When taken apart, the meatball doesn’t look appealing; its taste wasn’t pleasant either and reminded me of the texture of cat food. The large paccheri were rolled up tight or suctioned together to one another. The “creamy” sauce noted on the menu description didn’t exist. It was more of a drop of sauce given that didn’t even provide emollient between the paccheri.

All I have to say about the Vegetable Penne Primavera is that it is very bland, maybe more than Chef Boyardee from the can.

The Chicken Abruzzi was nicely presented and can be greatly paired with a Pinot Grigio or any white wine. I like the Pinot Grigio because of how smooth it is and is easy on the taste.

The Pappardelle Pescatore consisted of fresh seafood and asparagus. Yet, that doesn’t make up for how watery and flavorless the sauce and pappardelle was.

The Chicken Primavera with Giant Fusilli was overpowered by a heavy hand of basil. Other than that, it did not have much flavor. Although the lightness demonstrates “Leggeri,” which means “lighter Italian fare,” the moist chicken tasted very gelatinous.

The Wild Berry Layer Cake was very refreshing and moist. I believe the actual cake was soaked into sweet milk and reminded me of the Tres Leches cake that can be traced back to Central America and Mexico. If you have a major sweet tooth, you can try this cake!

The Caffè Mocha Latte (above) and Caramel Hazelnut Macchiato (not shown) were very watery and did not have very much coffee inside.

To have any hint of coffee/espresso/caffeine, Lavazza Espresso was added. Each specialty coffee was paired with sweet biscotti that I like with or without the coffee.

All in all, the new menu is a great effort from the Olive Garden, however it falls far short of its goal. The best dish to get would be the spicy calabrian wings.

20th Annual APC National Pie Championships – Calling all Bakers and Pie Fans

Events

Ricky Ly

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Apr 16, 2014

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20th Annual APC National Pie Championships – Calling all Bakers and Pie Fans

Bakers and Pie Fans From Around the World
Will Savor a Slice of ‘All-American’ Life and Celebrate Their Love Affair With Pie at 20th Annual APC National Pie Championships

Two Major Events Will Showcase Best Original Pie Recipes:
APC National Pie Championships, April 25-27, in Orlando;
APC Great American Pie Festival, April 26-27 in Celebration, Fla.

ORLANDO (March 6, 2014) – It’s a recipe that’s taken two decades to perfect. Bring together bakers of all skill levels, judges and pie fans from around the world, add in a dash of originality, a pinch of competition and a splash of fun, and bake in the warm, Florida sunshine. The end result is an “All-American” celebration like no other featuring close to 100,000 pieces of pie. This April, the American Pie Council® (APC) — America’s only organization dedicated to preserving America’s love affair with pie —will present the 20th Annual APC National Pie Championships, from Friday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27, 2014, in Orlando, and the 13th Annual APC Great American Pie Festival on Saturday and Sunday, April 26-27, 2014, in nearby Celebration, Fla.

From Friday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27, hundreds of competitors hungry for prizes and bragging rights will gather at the American Pie Council® (APC) National Pie Championships held at the Caribe Royal All-Suite Hotel and Convention Center in Orlando. From the Sunday afternoon family baker to the neighborhood bakery owner, from budding pastry chefs putting a twist on their grandmas’ recipes to the nation’s most experienced commercial bakers — all will gather to determine who bakes America’s very best pies. In conjunction with the pie championships, the APC is also proud to present its APC Great American Pie Festival on Saturday and Sunday, April 26-27, in nearby Celebration, Fla.

The APC is now accepting entries for the 2014 National Pie Championships from amateur, professional and commercial bakers. Amateur bakers may compete in 16 flavorful categories this year: including traditional favorites like King Arthur Flour Apple, Blueberry, Cream, Peanut Butter, Paramount Pictures “Labor Day” Peach and Chocolate, as well as newer categories such as Gluten-Free/No Sugar and Innovation. Also returning this year is a Pie Learning Center, offering championship attendees pie-baking tips and instruction by leading industry professionals and pastry chefs.

Last year, the prestigious pastry bake-off drew more than 441 commercial, 115 professional and 237 amateur entries for an astounding total of 793 pies in the quest to find America’s top bakers. Commercial winners took home bragging rights and the promise of greater sales, while winners in all other categories received plenty of dough, as in cash and prizes. This year’s competition is expected to be even more heated with the commercial competition being sponsored by Duncan Hines Globe. The professional competition, sponsored by Albert Uster Fine Foods, will be offering a trip to Switzerland as its Best of Show prize. Entry forms and pie categories for each division are available on the APC website www.piecouncil.org. Entry is $15 per pie for amateur APC members, $35/non members, and each entrant receives an Emile Henry pie dish. Please see website for membership information, as well as professional and commercial entry costs.
Pie lovers are also invited to apply to be a judge at the prestigious competition. Last year, 195 esteemed pie aficionados from all over the world lent their time and taste buds to nibble on more than 800 pies. No previous judging or baking experience is required; applicants need only explain why they would like to be a judge.

Hundreds of volunteers are also needed to help make the championships and the APC Great American Pie Festival in Celebration, Fla. run as easy as….well, pie. Those interested in applying to volunteer may indicate the shifts or duties they prefer to work by filling out an application online at www.piecouncil.org by Tuesday, April 22, 2014.

For overnight hotel accommodations, the Caribe Royal is offering a special rate of $129 per night for those competing in or attending the APC National Pie Championships or the APC Great American Pie Festival. To receive this special rate, guests must mention the event by name. Reservations may be made by calling 888-258-7501 or booking online at http://ow.ly/viZ5x.
For more information about the Caribe Royal, visit www.thecaribeorlando.com.

“In 20 years, we’ve seen and tasted some of the most flavorful and unique pies from across America, and yet every year, we continue to be surprised and delighted at the creativity presented by the competitors,” said Linda Hoskins, Executive Director, American Pie Council. “No matter if they are amateurs hoping to compete for the first time, or professionals who’ve been entering for years, it’s an exciting time right now knowing they are testing and re-testing their best pie recipes, preparing them for the national spotlight. We can’t wait to see what mouth-watering creations will be presented this year.”

More than 39,000 pie lovers from across the globe are expected to descend upon Celebration, Fla. on Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27 for the APC Great American Pie Festival. The increasingly popular, free admission festival returns with all the activities that have made it a family favorite, including the Duncan Hines Comstock/Wilderness Pie Creation Station, where everyone can get creative and make their own pie, as well as the pie tin decorating activity for art lovers of all ages, and the Pietopia Demonstration Stage sponsored by Village Inn and Bakers Square Restaurants, featuring entertainment and baking demonstrations with chefs from across the country. Always a crowd favorite, the kids’ and adults’ pie eating contests return this year, once again sponsored by Private Selection.

The highlight of the festival is the Never Ending Pie Buffet, which last year featured an astounding 90,000 slices of pie as well as ice cream, toppings and beverages from America’s best known commercial bakers. The buffet and the children’s activities are the only paid events at the festival. All stage entertainment and demonstrations are free. Tickets to the Pie Buffet are $10 for adults (ages 13+); and $5 for seniors (over age 65) and children (ages 6-12) to enjoy all they care to eat and drink.

The festival will be held at Lakeside Park at 631 Sycamore St. in downtown Celebration, Florida 34747. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, April 26; Noon to 5 p.m., Sunday, April 27. Admission to the festival is free, but some events require tickets that can be purchased onsite at the festival. For more information, visit the Front Porch Celebration Community at www.celebration.fl.us or the American Pie Council® www.piecouncil.org.

Those interested in updates on the latest news concerning the pie championships, pie festival or pie news can follow the American Pie Council on Facebook and Pinterest and on Twitter at FYPie.
The American Pie Council® is the only organization committed to maintaining America’s pie heritage, passing on the tradition of pie-making and promoting America’s love affair with pie. The APC offers personal, professional and commercial memberships. For more information, please visit www.piecouncil.org.

El Pueblo – Authentic Mexican Street Food on Aloma

Ricky Ly

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Apr 13, 2014

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El Pueblo – Authentic Mexican Street Food on Aloma

Blink and you just might miss it.

El Pueblo is a tiny authentic Mexican restaurant space on Aloma Ave just east of Forsyth in Winter Park. It is a hole in the wall that is a bit of a remarkable hidden gem, serving some of the best Mexican antojitos or “small bites” street food on the east side of town.

It’s a bit shady looking on the outside, but the interior is nice and clean with beautiful murals of scenes from Mexico. The staff is nice, despite the language barriers. The love for food transcends languages, and luckily, the menu is in English and Spanish.

Inside, the TVs play the day’s telenovela soap operas from Telemundo and a huge jukebox sits towards the front, ready to play some Mexican tunes.

Most of the antojitos are between $1.50 and $2.50 while the platters go up to $12.00, all very affordable. In fact, you might get full off of ordering a few tacos and a sope here.

The best tacos in Orlando still go to Border Grill off of Kirkman Road, but I do love the sopes here at El Pueblo. The tacos here are good, served Mexican street style with nice fresh corn tortillas and cilantro and onions and a slice of lime, but the sopes are excellent.

Gordita - fried tortilla taco sandwich — Gordita – fried tortilla taco sandwich

Sopes here at El Pueblo are crunchy, fried corn tortillas topped with tasty refried beans, fresh lettuce, queso fresco, tomatoes, and avocado as well as your choice of meat ranging from barbacoa to pastor pork and chicken and carne asada steak. It’s like a tiny mountain of crunchy nacho joy.

The Sope - so delicious — The Sope with barbacoa pulled beef – so delicious

On a recent visit, my friend and I shared a fajita platter with shrimp, beef, and chicken. Definitely very filling and homey. This is what I’d imagine Mexican diner food to be like, a little greasy but comforting at the same time.

They also have a nice selection of aguas frescas here, fresh, sweet fruit juices ranging from melon to pineapple, hibiscus, and of course, horchata, depending on the day.

Melon Aguas Frescas - also comes in pineapple, horchata (rice cinnamon), hibiscus flavors — Melon Aguas Frescas – also comes in pineapple, horchata (rice cinnamon), hibiscus flavors

Drop by El Pueblo if you are on the east side of Orlando and hankering for cheap, authentic Mexican street food. I want to visit again soon, to try their traditional Mexican soups and flautas.

Rotary Club’s Taste of College Park 2014 – Photos

Events

Ricky Ly

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Apr 13, 2014

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Rotary Club’s Taste of College Park 2014 – Photos

Every spring Rotary Club of College Park hosts the Taste of College Park Food & Wine Festival at the Historic Dubsdread on the outside patios and inside ballroom.

The Taste of College Park combines food, wine, live music, silent & live auctions for an extraordinary evening in College Park. Nearly a dozen local restaurants and distributors provide the food and wine; local retailers supply items for the silent and live auction. College Park businesses and Rotary Club members sell nearly 500 tickets.

The Taste of College Park Food & Wine Festival is the Rotary Club of College Park’s premier fundraising event and one of the largest events in the College Park Community. In previous years, the club raised more than $30,000 for local charities including Ronald McDonald House of Orlando, the Christian Service Center for Central Florida, Princeton Elementary, Lake Silver Elementary, and scholarships & awards for College Park students.

Food and drink vendors included:

The Hammered Lamb
Citrus Restaurant
Dubsdread
The Hangar
Restaurant K
Orlando Brewing
Cavanaugh’s Wine
Tijuana Flats
Downtown Credo
Publix
Infusion Tea
Bite Bistro & Wine Bar
Yum Yum Cupcakes
Cookie Cousins
Chocolate Provocateur
The Soda Fountain
Cecil’s BBQ
The Meat House
Green Coat Catering

This year I was asked to be a judge for the event by our friends at the Rotary Club and Bungalower.com, along with judges from the Orlando Weekly and TheOrlandoan.com

Best Tasting Station went to Citrus Restaurant

Best Dessert went to Yum Yum Cupcake

Best Presentation went to The Hangar

College Park's Soda Fountain shop — College Park’s Soda Fountain shop

Soda Fountain's Ice cream float — Soda Fountain’s Ice cream float

Tijuana Flats' Chicken Norita bowls — Tijuana Flats’ Chicken Norita bowls

Citrus of Orlando located on N. Orange Ave.

Citrus' Duck Meatballs - one of my favorites of the evening — Citrus’ Duck Meatballs – one of my favorites of the evening

Chef Kevin Fonzo and Pastry Chef Michelle Hubert of K Restaurant

General Tso's Sweetbreads from K Restaurant - very satisfying and delicious take on the American Chinese favorite — General Tso’s Sweetbreads from K Restaurant – very satisfying and delicious take on the American Chinese favorite

Cheesy grits with bacon from The Hammered Lamb

Pork egg roll pastry from Green Coat Catering

Five spice ahi tuna cocktail with pickled radishes from Bite at Crowne Plaza

BBQ from Cecil's BBQ — BBQ from Cecil’s BBQ

Chocolate Provocateur located inside Infusion Tea

Chocolate truffles from Chocolate Provocateur located inside Infusion Tea

The Shelter Box, one of the charities of Rotary Club at College Park, providing shelters for refugees around the world

Infusion Tea's vegetarian dishes — Infusion Tea’s vegetarian dishes

Loved these brie and raspberry pastries from Infusion Tea

Orlando City Commissioner Robert Stuart of District 3 awarding Citrus Restaurant for Best Tasting Station

Orlando City Commissioner Robert Stuart of District 3 awarding Yum Yum Cupcake Truck for Best Dessert

28th Annual CFHLA Bacchus Bash 2014 at Orlando Premium Outlets

Ricky Ly

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Apr 13, 2014

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28th Annual CFHLA Bacchus Bash 2014 at Orlando Premium Outlets

I had the honor of judging the Bacchus Bash hosted by the Central Florida Hotel and Lodging Association this past week along with Allison Walker, Entertainment Reporter/Anchor of News 13 and Chef Katurakes, Executive Chef, CenterPlate of the Orange County Convention Center. It was an arduous, yet delightful task with over 80 items to be judged that evening. The items were judged on taste, presentation, creativity, and originality.

Bacchus Bash started in 1987 to secure funds for Hospitality Educational purposes. Over the years, Bacchus Bash has donated nearly $1,000,000 to Central Florida Hospitality Students and Hospitality Schools in Central Florida.

Preliminary numbers indicate that the event grossed over $120,000 again this year!

On April 24th at a luncheon at the Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa, $46,500 in hospitality scholarships and $24,000 in hospitality grants will be distributed to local area students.

Additionally, a CFHLA Cares Collection Drive will occur at the entrance of the hotel during the luncheon. This program benefits the 10,000+ homeless students in Central Florida. Between 10 am and 2 pm CFHLA Lodging and Vendor members drop off much needed Hygiene and Food items, which are then placed on county school busses to be distributed accordingly. Last November over $15,000 worth of items were collected.

Best Original Drink

1^st Place – Tormenta Punch – Caribe Royale Resort & Convention Center

2^nd Place – Southern Swill – Orlando World Center Marriott

Best Menu Item

1^st Place – Steak & Fish Tacos with Tequila – DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld

2^nd Place – Bird 3 Ways – Orlando World Center Marriott

Best Dessert Item

1^st Place – Roasted Banana & Chocolate Souffle – Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

2^nd Place – Sweet Marsala Gelato – Must Gelato

Best Presentation Original Drink

1^st Place – Honduran Hurricane – Marriott Orlando Airport

2^nd Place – Sangria a la Fuego – Melia Orlando Suite Hotel

Best Presentation Menu Item

1^st Place – Steak & Fish Tacos with Tequila – DoubleTree by Hilton Orlando at SeaWorld

2^nd Place – Southwest Style Chicken – Disney’s Art of Animation

Best Presentation Dessert Item

1^st Place – Sweet Marsala Gelato – Muse Gelato

2^nd Place – Roasted Banana & Chocolate Souffle – Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

Most Creative Booth

1^st Place – Paramount Resort Group

2^nd Place – JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes

Most Interactive Booth

1^st Place – Brio Tuscan Grille

2^nd Place – Florida Technical College

VENDOR BOOTHS

A & L Associates
Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza – Orlando
Benihana – Orlando
Brio Tuscan Grille
Caribe Royale Resort & Convention Center
CFHLA Allied Relations Council
CFHLA Security & Safety Council
CFHLA Vacation Ownership Council
Disney’s Art of Animation & Disney’s Pop Century Resorts
DOUBLETREE By Hilton Orlando At SeaWorld
Doubletree by Hilton Orlando Downtown
Doubletree by Hilton Walt Disney and Embassy Suites Orlando International Drive
Edlen Electrical
Grand Bohemian Hotel, Downtown Orlando
Hilton Orlando
Holiday Inn Lake Buena Vista in the Walt Disney World Resort
Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress
JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes
Loews Hotels—Royal Pacific Resort
Marriott Orlando Airport
Melia Orlando Suite Hotel
Muse Gelato
Nickelodeon Suites Resort
Orlando World Center Marriott
Paramount Resort Collection
Pirate’s Town
Planet Hollywood Restaurant
Renaissance Orlando Airport Hotel
Sea Dog Brew Pub
Servpro of Osceola County
UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management
Valencia College Foundation
Westin Lake Mary Orlando North
Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort
Wyndham Orlando Resort International Drive

Pulled pork biscuit

Strawberry chocolate dessert pastry

Ham and cheese tapas with jam

Assorted waffle corn dish

Tantalizing Tastes at Tamarind Indian Cuisine in East Orlando UCF Area

Ricky Ly

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Apr 11, 2014

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Tantalizing Tastes at Tamarind Indian Cuisine in East Orlando UCF Area

The pickings for Indian cuisine on the east side of Orlando has been slim for a while now, ever since Anmol was closed at the UC-17 plaza by UCF, bulldozed over for a new high rise student apartment complex.

Well, a new Indian restaurant has popped up in East Orlando to satisfy the curry cravings of our eagerly awaiting friends (myself included). And it just may be one of my new favorite Indian places in town…

I recently dropped by Tamarind Indian Cuisine on Colonial Drive near Woodbury Road (formerly the second location of Cypriana Greek Restaurant) for lunch.

Their lunch buffet ($8.95) – with more than 12 different Indian dishes from vegetarian curries to meaty chicken dishes to naan and tandoori chicken – runs from 11:00 am till 3:00pm.

If you may be thinking you’ve heard of an Indian restaurant named Tamarind around town before, it’s because this outpost is actually a sister restaurant to the Tamarind Indian Cuisine in Winter Park, owned by the same folks who also run Bombay Cafe on Orange Blossom Trail and Aashirwad near Kirkman. It is a venerable Indian empire stretching the four corners of Orange County, so you can be assured that this iteration has some tried and true practices when it comes to Indian food.

On my visit, the buffet had some truly tasty choices: from savory dishes like tandoori chicken, chicken tikka masala (or butter chicken as it’s known in some parts), and goat biryani (a spiced aromatic rice dish with origins in Persia) to veggie options like the aloo mutta with potatos and peas and the gobi manchurian (a kind of Chinese influenced sweet and sour veggie stir-fry mix dish). The idli, little rice cakes, were good but the consistency was a bit too sticky for me that afternoon. Overall, a varied and satisfying selection that day, which, I was told, changes daily.

For dessert, I had a nice, sweet mango kulfi ice cream.

One thing that stood out for me during my visit at Tamarind was the remarkably good service that I had experienced there. The waiters were friendly and accommodating and, all in all, very sincere which is a breath of fresh air when compared to most other Indian restaurants that I’ve been to.

Goat Biryani, an aromatic spiced rice dish with roots in Persia

On a second visit with friends for dinner, we ordered the chicken tandoori (baked in a clay oven, flavored with yogurt and dusted with red spices), chicken tikka masala (cooked in a creamy, delightful tomato based sauce),lamb roganjosh (a spicy, aromatic dish based out of the Kashmir region), and a side of garlic naan bread.

Chicken Tandoori - cooked in a clay oven called the tandoor — Chicken Tandoori – cooked in a clay oven called the tandoor

We also ordered mysore masala dosa, a South Indian fermented crepe made from rice batter and black lentils, lathered here with spicy red chutney, and served with a cup of mixed potatoes and peas. The slightly sour and sweet dosa is a popular street food item in South India, rich with nutrients and fun to eat with your hands. The potato-pea mixture is wrapped in the flaky dosa and dipped in sambar, a vegetable stew made with tamarind popular in South Indian and Sri Lankan Tamil cuisines.

Mysore Masala Dosa, spicy and delicious vegetarian dish

Dinner was fabulous and I am very happy to report that we finally have a proper Indian restaurant on the East side of Orlando again! I hope to return again soon to satisfy those curry cravings…

Table Talk event at 4 Rivers test kitchen: What you need to know about Orlando’s food scene

Ricky Ly

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Apr 10, 2014

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Table Talk event at 4 Rivers test kitchen: What you need to know about Orlando’s food scene

By Veronica Brezina

The third Table Talk panel was led by Chef Norman Van Aken on April 1 at the 4 Rivers Smokehouse test kitchen in Winter Pak. Central Florida’s extraordinary chefs that attended the event: John Rivers (4 Rivers & The Coop), Scott Hunnel (Victoria & Albert’s), Hari Pulapaka (Cress Restaurant), Kathleen Blake ( The Rusty Spoon & Pine 22) and Brandon McGlamery (Luma on Park & Prato). The event featured some menu items on John Rivers’ newest restaurant, The Coop a Southern Affair.

Chef Norman Van Aken, owner of Norman’s, and the guest chefs discussed how Orlando’s food scene is largely credited to East End Market among other growing factors. They all agreed that East End Market encourages the concept of sourcing food from local farmers and only producing the freshest ingredients.

Hari Pulapaka spoke about what his duties are that go beyond being a chef.

“If you eat at a restaurant, you’re putting food into your body. You trust us. We don’t just have to be chefs, we have to be dietitians. We have to know the food laws.”

Pulapaka is the executive chef and co-owner of Cress. He studied at Orlando’s own Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. In 2008, he opened Cress with his wife. Pulapaka has been a three-time semifinalist for the James Beard Awards for the Best Chef South category. The James Beard Awards are the highest honor for food and beverage professionals working in North America. Cress was also rated the no. 1 restaurant in the Greater Orlando area by ZAGAT in 2013.

Aken led the panel by asking a handful of ranging questions to which he addressed to all the chefs and some individually.

With the question, “How do you climb the ranks in Orlando?”

Scott Hunnel answered, “Bring in the local guests and focus on them. People are coming in for you. Each restaurant has its own identity.” Hunnel attributed his answer to guests he had come in and said they were travelers, they’ve been to places across the country and Hunnel wanted to know what they thought of his food and asked about their experiences.

Hunnel’s restaurant, Victoria & Albert’s, had been nominated for two categories in the 2013 James Beard Awards.
Because Orlando is a large diversified food scene, there is a lot of friendly competition that heats up among restaurateurs to be the best.

Kathleen Blake, chef and owner of The Rusty Spoon & Pine 22 and semi-finalist for Best Chef of the South in the 2013 James Beard Awards, looks at competition at a different angle.

“It’s a collaborative effort. I’m a collaborator, not a competitor,” Blake said.
Blake carries a farm to table approach.

John Rivers book The Southern Cowboy. — John Rivers’ book The Southern Cowboy.

John Rivers, owner and chef of 4 Rivers and The Coop who has won numerous awards, added to why it might be a struggle for thousands of tourists to view Orlando as more than a giant theme park.

“People just don’t know about it [Orlando’s food scene]. When people hear ‘Orlando,’ they think about attractions, not food, Winter Park or the East End Market.”

The answer may be part of Hunnel’s response to a similar question. The chefs need to focus more on the locals than the tourists. It’s the locals who will keep coming back.

Aken then asked a question which was the topic of his book, “No Experience Necessary,” asking, what experience or credentials are you looking for in a chef or their resume?

Brandon McGlamery, co-owner and executive chef at Luma on Park and Prato who was nominated as a James Beard Award semi-finalist for Best Chef South in 2013, expressed his thoughts on the subject.

“Kids are spending $40,000 or more on culinary school. I try not to look at resumes.”

Blake joined in.

“We are still sharing our experiences.”

She approaches those getting into the culinary scene by saying, “I know you learned this in school, but let me show you this.”

Hunnel stated that there are three ingredients to finding success in the food industry. “You need passion, energy and desire.”

The questions kept rolling in as each responded with brilliantly formulated answers. The panel was excellent in delivering quick responses that Norman and the press asked. And of course, there was the outstanding food in the test kitchen.

Rivers’ The Coop, which will be located in Winter Park, will focus on fried chicken and other Southern comfort foods Rivers grew up eating.

The samples included chicken biscuits, which were warm, fired appetizer-sized chicken rolled up in a biscuit. Delicious, sweet maple bourbon drizzle accompanied it.

Appetizer sized chicken and biscuits, which were accompanied by maple bourbon drizzle.

There were poached eggs in spicy tomato sauce, biscuits with an assortment of jellies and jams, and much more to stuff your face into.

I ate so much that I apologized to Rivers for eating everything in the test kitchen. He just patted me on the back and said, “That’s great.”

Rivers has just recently opened up his sixth lactation for 4 Rivers Smokehouse, which is on University Boulevard.
“This is the best turnout we’ve ever had for an opening,” Rivers said in an interview with the Central Florida Future.
At the end of the event, the chefs stayed for their book signing: John Rivers, “The Southern Cowboy”; Norman Van Aken, “No Experience Necessary” and “My Key West Kitchen” ; and Brandon McGlamery, “9 Courses.”

Norman Van Aken's book No Experience Necessary — Norman Van Aken’s book No Experience Necessary

Brandon McGlamery's book 9 Courses — Brandon McGlamery’s book 9 Courses

About the Author – Veronica Brezina
Hello foodies! My name is Veronica Brezina, a journalism student at the University of Central Florida. Currently, I write for the Central Florida Future, UCF’s student-run newspaper, where I’m a contributor and a food blogger for the blog called Orlando’s Tastebuds. I also write for hypeorlando in my blog, Crave Central, and a contributor for Financial Ops magazine. In the past, I was a visual team member and writer for UCF’s magazine Centric in fall 2013.

I grew up in Tampa and spent a lot of time traveling to places in and out of the U.S. to experience different cultures, from eating Guatemalan cuisines in my grandmother’s kitchen to American dishes in my parent’s home. I know from first-hand experience, food is a huge part of everyone’s culture. Here in Central Florida, it’s a huge melting pot that gives me a hunger for writing and an appetite for adventure.

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