RG-cartoon

Rona Gindin is an Orlando-based multimedia writer, editor and TV personality.

  • Go Cowboy-Chic at Creek Ranch

    Creek RanchHaines City, Florida -- Not even an hour from Disney World, Creek Ranch is an immersive cowboy-chic experience. You lodge in the actual family bunkhouse of a working ranch -- it is quite upscale, with pampering service -- and dine, fish, ride horses, take airboat trips, and way more, all at one set all-inclusive price. Rona spent an afternoon touring and chatting with the owner and produced this feature article. Read and enjoy.  

  • Rona Recommends: Three Amazing Food Finds for June

    Orlando -- Siro Urban Italian Kitchen, Mi Tomatina, and Emeril's Orlando offer terrific ways to save money in June. Take a look at the details here.  

  • This Chick Has No Need for Speed

    Exotic Driving 8 Lambo 570Rona drove a Lamborghini around the Daytona International Speedway. Only she forgot one thing: speed. Read her blog.  

  • Cafe Carmel Brings Mediterranean Food to Winter Park

    carmel cafe ravioli verde spring13Orlando -- Cafe Carmel, Winter Park's newest restaurant, is a relaxing spot on Orlando Avenue featuring mostly Mediterranean flavors, and at reasonable prices. Begin with the Mezze platter featuring edamame hummas, goat-cheese-stuffed peppers, marinated artichoke hearts, fried feta, and more, or the curry-laced chickpea fries. The ravioli verde (pictured at left) is rich, filled with spinach and ricotta, and topped with truffle butter, peas, and mushrooms. The short ribs are flavorful with polenta and olive tapenade. End with grilled pound cake.  

  • Celebrate the Summer Solstice with Chef Kevin Dundon

    Summer Solstice Strawberry Fields DessertCelebrate the Summer Solstice Irish-style with a five-course meal at Raglan Road. Chef Kevin Dundon will be on the premises for this Signature Dining Experience, which will feature dishes such as crispy Dungarvan pale ale-battered Atlantic monkfish with sea salted golden chips. Menu. June 20. $95  

  • At Emeril's, 3 Courses for $30

    Grilled Peaches smallOrlando -- This summer, Emeril's Orlando will offer three-course dinner menus for only $30. Each month's selections will come from one of celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse's cookbooks. For example, the July selections will be a watercress/avocado/mango salad; salmon with peach-tamarind barbecue sauce or chicken paillards with arugula, roasted peppers, parmesan, and lemon; and a dessert of grilled paches with marscapone cheese and local honey. They're from the book Emeril at the Grill.  

  • Do a Dishcrawl of International Drive

    Orlando -- Dishcrawl came to town a couple of months ago, guiding a group of participants to have tastes of different foods at a bunch of restaurants in one neighborhood. Next up is International Drive. For $45, you get to check out several places near home.  

  • Orlando's Hot Restaurant Tables

    Orlando -- With nationally recognized chefs and a burgeoning food scene, Orlando is becoming a culinary destination. Read about it.  

  • Orlando, Zagat-Style

    Zagat Orlando 90Orlando -- Learn what fellow locals and visitors think about 360 restaurants 75 nightspots, 152 shops, and 57 attractions in the 2013 Zagat Orlando City Guide.  

  • Summer Fun at Gaylord Palms

    SummerFest at Gaylord Palms ResortOrlando -- Gaylord Palms is eager to fill up with locals ove the summer when its conventioneers are gone. Here's what may bring you to Kissimmee: Live music on Friday evenings at the casual seafood restaurant Sunset Sam's; a Friday night Craft Beer Garden at Wreckers Sports Bar; a ShrekFeast character breakfast at Villa del Flora; after dark Splash 'N' Screen movies; and unlimited playtime in the Cypress Springs Family Fun Water Park. Great opportunities, but, Dear Gaylord Palms, your old website was so much better!  

  • At Norman's, the Party of the Decade

    Orlando -- To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the ultra-luxe New World Cuisine restaurant Norman's is throwing a massive bash with live entertainment. Several renowned chefs will join Chef Norman Van Aken in the kitchen, including Dean Fearing, Charlie Trotter, and Emeril Lagasse, each providing a signed cookbook to guests. Six master sommeliers will join them in hosting the multi-course dinner. Saturday, August 24. $1,000, including a room for the night. 407-393.4343. Special Ritz-Carlton rates: 800.576.5760 code ZZLP.  

  • Summer Bargains at Mexico's Moon Palace

    Mexico -- Soak up the sun and save money at Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort. Summer sizzles: kids stay free; guests for five nights or more get $1,500 toward perks; you'll receive tickets to Cirque Dreams Rocks; the Beach Boys will play there August 6; you can pet dolphins and ride a wave simulator. Offers.  

  • Refreshing New Menu Items at Rocco's

    Roccos Salmone e Carciofi2Orlando -- Rocco's Italian Grille has long served up higher-quality Italian meals in its calming, romantic dining room. Now the Winter Park restaurant's owner, Rocco Potami, has added several items to the menu. Among them are salmon with artichokes and capers (pictured), veal pizzaiola, and pasta in a wild boar sauce.  

  • French Classics Made Easy

    French Classics Made EasyFrench Classics Made Easy is a cookbook that gets you to satisfying Gallic fare without a ton of sacrifice. Author Richard Grausman simplified a load of recipes and takes away the intimidation factor, shrugging that unbleached all-purpose flour is best "but if you have bleached flour, use it" and casually explaining that using a food processor cuts pasta-making time to mere seconds.  I have bookmarked several recipes to try ASAP and I'm sure you will too.  

  • Ready to Wham Your Picky Eaters Upside the Head? Join the Club

    Read Rona's blog, "Picky, Picky".  

  • Spirited Drinking at The Pharmacy

    Orlando -- Hand-crafted cocktails and seasonally inspired snacks are served at Pharmacy, a speakeasy-style bar in the Dr. Phillips neighborhood. It is owned by the same folks who run The Table Orlando.  Monday-Saturday, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., 8060 Via Dellagio Way.  

  • In Orlando, Try TOASTED for Grilled Cheese

    Orlando -- Grilled cheese sandwiches are the focus at Toasted, a tiny new restaurant in Winter Park. The roasted vegetable, goat cheese and fig, and Forever Fall with roasted sweet potatoes were each boldly flavored and entirely different, and the fries (rosemary! truffle oil!) were a treat. There are burgers, too, but we didn't try them.  

  • Dinner, Tommy Bahama-style

    Tommy Bahama Seared Ahi and Kale SaladOrlando -- At Pointe Orlando, the Tommy Bahama restaurant has a bunch of tempting-sounding spring dishes. Try out a seared lemongrass-crusted ahi and kale salad with tahini miso dressing, a blackened grouper Reuben on marble rye with Asian lime-citrus slaw, and a Hawaiian miso-marinated black cod with bok choy, shiitakes, Meyer Lemon Beurre Blanc and sweet soy glaze.  

  • Orlando's New Food and Wine Conference

    Orlando -- The new Food & Wine Conference coming to Orlando will be aimed at bloggers, publishers, food writers, cookbook authors, agents, and public relations professionals --a hodgepodge, but maybe a useful hodgepodge. Loads of speakers and networking. July 19, Rosen Shingle Creek, $250.