Panicked, they query me via email, Twitter, and food boards: "I'm coming to Orlando. I'm going to Disney World. Are there any healthful/vegetarian/vegan meals for me?" Yes yes yes, whichever you seek.
Read moreWin Two Tickets to Fresh from the Field
Win two tickets to Fresh from the Field, an over-the-top alfresco dinner held on a farm.
Read moreOne Delicious Dish: Flowersprouts at The Porch
"Flowersprouts" are a tumble of brussels sprouts and cauliflower tossed in a pancetta vinaigrette.
Read moreOne Delicious Dish: Pork Hash at Raglan Road
Do you see those little squares, the ones on the right of the plate? They're Irish enchantment, going by the playful name Pork Hash Tagged. And, starting soon, they'll be on the breakfast menu at Raglan Road.
Read moreOne Delicious Dish: Grumpy's Homemade Ice Cream
9 a.m is a bit early for an ice cream cone, sure. But strolling around the Clermont farmer's market on Sunday morning, I came across Grumpy's Homemade Ice Cream.
Read moreOne Delicious Dish: Lobster Sliders at the Palm Bar
I expect more from a restaurant as high-end as this renowned steakhouse, tucked into the Hard Rock Hotel Universal Orlando. After all, humble independents like Oblivion Taproom and The Crooked Spoon have ridiculously delicious hamburgers.
Read moreGive Pollo Tropical Another Try
I'm the last one to write respectful words about fast food chain restaurants, except maybe Chipotle on a charitable day. But I revisited Pollo Tropical yesterday, sampling new foods within the company's revamped decor. Honestly, I liked what I ate. Give Pollo Tropical another try.
Read moreFlorida Cracker Cuisine--I Dare You!
Along with jams and fruit samples and salsas and such, Farmer John's sells Cracker-cuisine standouts: "swamp dogs," made with alligator meat and topped with chili, and the chili alone--it, too, made with gator flesh.
Read moreOrlando Chefs Tap Mickey D's at Upscale Fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House
You kind of feel humbled on their behalf. At Appetite for the Arches, Orlando chefs prepare bite-size foods--elegant hors d'oeuvres--using McDonald's ingredients. It's a playful yet upscale culinary fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House.
Read moreRadishes with Smoked Crème Fraiche: A Tale of Capa, Orlando's New Spanish Steakhouse
Look at this. Just look at this. It's four types of radishes on top of smoked crème fraiche--ya! smoked crème frache!--with a bit of pomegranate laced in. Hint: We're talking about Capa, Orlando's new Spanish steakhouse.
Read moreSteak with a Florida Twist at A Land Remembered
Every upscale steakhouse has a shtick to set it apart from competitors. In Orlando, A Land Remembered embraces Old Florida.
Read moreYet Another Superb Vegetarian Entree at Disney World
At the brand new Italian restaurant Trattoria al Forno, I found yet another superb vegetarian entree at Disney World.
Read moreA Spicy Fruit Plate at the Charlotte Airport
We lunched on quesadillas and Plato de Frutas, which is a red plate with wedges of pineapple, cantaloupe, mango, and watermelon, plus strawberries. On the side was a cup of "chili-lime seasoning."
Read moreA Chinese Lobster Dinner for $14 at Ming's Bistro
Bingo! The lobster dinner comes in any of five preparations: ginger-scallion, plus salt and pepper, or with a house, spicy Thai sweet chili, or black bean sauce.
Read moreSample the Superb Gelato at Rome's Flavours
They're from a small Winter Park sidestreet shop called Rome's Flavours. The foodery also has small pizza and pasta offerings that appear to made with good ingredients--plus Italian expertise.
Read moreA Spud-tastic Meal at Ellie Lou's
The menu is extensive, including pulled chicken, smoked sausage, and the intriguing Turducken Burger, described as "turkey, duck & chicken dressed with cornbread stuffing, cranberry relish & sweet potato fries." Several beers are available.
Read moreDig Into British Pub Fare at Leaky Cauldron
I was outright dreading these beverages. I liked them, though. They're all mentioned in the Harry Potter books and available nowhere else on property--or in the world, probably. My favorite was the Tongue Tying Lemon Squash.
Read moreTry Arepas El Cacao for Venezuelan Street Foods in Orlando
A Venezuelan family just moved in next door. Within 15 minutes, I had the well-heeled woman with an impressive corporate career bubbling enthusiastically about where she finds the flavors of home. It's no fancy spot--just a spiffy, upbeat self-service joint turning out abundantly stuffed, flavorful versions of Venezuelan street foods. So yesterday I tried Arepas el Cacao.
Read moreWhy Is Mamak So Much Like Hawkers?
Mamak is a terrific new place to eat Asian street food. It's a handsome spot with an expansive menu of small dishes meant to share, from pad Thai to coconut shrimp. Yet I'm stumped. The menu--not just the offerings, but also the execution--is nearly a duplicate of the one at Hawkers, a nearby establishment. Why is Mamak so much like Hawkers?
I like having a choice, don't get me wrong. Hawkers is a family favorite. Its spiffy if budget dining room is often so packed that we have to wait for a table--and we're willing to, which we won't do elsewhere.
I sure would like to know the back story, though. While the Mamak bill of fare offers far more than Hawkers does, much of the line-up is a carbon copy. Take the roti canai, flaky bread with a curry dipping sauce. We order it every visit and always want more. Not only does Mamak's look just like Hawkers' version, it tastes the same too.
The beef skewers, pictured above, are a bit different: They're more caramelized at Mamak, which I prefer, but don't come with a spicy peanuty sauce, which I miss. The barbecued roast pork is pretty spectacular, with its sweet outer area and tender insides. The hoisin dipping sauce is a plus.
The sesame noodles were a little pasty at Mamak. Still, I'm glad the cold, kid-friendly item is on the menu. Until a couple of years ago, we could barely find this dish in Orlando.
I don't recall seeing wontons in hot sauce on Hawkers' menu. These peanuty, spicy dumplings are a treat. Maybe Hawkers should do the carbon-copy thing itself.
French fries with five-spice powder? Both restaurants. Coconut shrimp? Both. Lettuce wraps, chicken tacos, stir-fried string beans ... I could go on. In fact, both restaurants use Facebook pages as their websites, which usually only smaller spots do.
I'm happy to have a second Asian street food restaurant in Orlando's Mills 50 district, and I'm glad the food is promising. If you know who owns this grand space, and why it's so doggone similar to Hawkers, please let me know. Otherwise I'll do a feature for a print magazine at some point and do intense digging myself.
Eat enthusiastically,
Rona
See the Sweet Gingerbread Village at Caribe Royale
A team of four pastry chefs, led by Patrick Binion, began working on the Caribe Royal gingerbread village back in June. "We started thinking about the concept and decided on a Thomas Kinkade 1950s, 1960s look," Binion explains.
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