BLT Bites

I've made BLT (bacon, lettuce, and tomato) bites before. They can take a lot of time but have excellent flavor and are impressive. I think I've perfected both the ingredients and the technique. Here's what I did.

First, cherry tomatoes work best for this, the bigger the better. But remember the word "bite"--they must not be so big that you can't eat them in one bite, but not so small that you need a microscope and tweezers to assemble. The key to making these is in the preparation.

First, the tomatoes. Wash and clean your cherry tomatoes, picking out the best. Then take a very sharp knife and slice a bit of the top off. You should just see the cells of the tomato. Now you need to get the "stuff" out. I used a large cake decorating star tip. Push it in, twist and then turn at an angle to break out the center "stem" of the tomato, actually the cell wall. Turn over and the juice and seeds will drain out. Clean up a bit with a small tea spoon if you need to, then turn upside down on a few thicknesses of paper towels and let drain for a good hour or two in the refrigerator. You'll need about 48 of these if you want to serve in an 11x13 pan, serves 12 people as an appetizer.

Now prepare your other ingredients. You need a sauce. A half cup of mayonnaise and a half cup of sour cream play well together. Add a half teaspoon of salt, half teaspoon of fresh ground black pepper, and a pinch of cayenne. Here's where you can let go and be creative if you want, try some other seasonings, but make sure they're ground. Season to taste, that's the key. Mix well and put in a squeeze bottle. Let sit for an hour or so for the flavors to melt.

Fry one pound of good quality bacon until very crisp, then drain thoroughly, cool, and rough chop. You'll want a few of the larger pieces reserved for the top of your BLT bites.

The last ingreident is the "L," the lettuce. Romaine works well but you can use any lettuce you want. Next time I may just try arugula, for the bitterness and bit of it. Finely chop your lettuce (about 3-4 romaine leaves). Then in a food processor, finely chop one small rib of celery and two scallions (white and very light green parts only), and add to the lettuce. Mix well and set aside.

Now you are ready to assemble. Think about presentation--line an 11x13 pan with a few romaine (or other lettuce) leaves. line up your hollowed out tomatoes on another tray and very lightly salt them with table salt--very lightly. From the squeeze bottle, put a little dollop of sauce in each one, then
put a few bits of bacon, then a small portion of the lettuce mixture. Use your little finger or the handle of a wooden spoon to tamp down the mixture if needed. It should almost come to the top of the bit, and it's great if a few pieces of the green lettuce mixture are sticking out. Now add another small dollop of your sauce, then one or two large bits of bacon for presentation. Line up in your 11x13 pan and refrigerate for at least an hour. That's all there is to it. Believe me, whoever you serve these to will be much impressed. Smacznego!

Taste of Thyme Cafe

Unimpressive, that's how I'd sum up the panini I had at Taste of Thyme Cafe on a recent Sunday afternoon. My Beef and Gorgonzola panini was not bad, but there also was no real "wow" factor to it. Sliced beef mixed with roaster red peppers, fried onions, a bit of mushroom, and some gorgonzola was served on a tasty bun. The bun got a big soggy--it would have been better toasted first to avoid getting soggy. It was a good sandwich and tasty, but just not great. For a go-with I chose the pasta salad. The main thing I can say about it was that it was "lackluster." Just not impressive. There are a number of great eating establishments in downtown Sanford--Stones Throw Bistro is right across the stree and serves vastly superiour sandwiches for a comparable price. Next time, I will cross the street and eat a sandwich elsewhere. 

To their credit, Taste of Thyme also serves ice cream and a selection of coffees and teas. Again, it's good, just not great, in the midst of other great places. Walk on by if you want a sandwich, cross that street!

Spanish River Grill

If their Sunday Brunch is any indication of their overall food quality, Spanish River Grill will be around for along time. My friend and I were in New Smyrna Beach for their Arts Fiesta recently. After perusing all the arts and crafts--and making a few purchases as well, we decided to try Spanish River Grill. They are normally open only for dinner, but on Sundays also are open for brunch. This was lucky for us! 

We were promptly greeted and seated. Though they were not packed, there was a decent crowd there, and all seemed to be having a good time. Our waitress, Charlene, was very pleasant and helpful and willing to offer suggestions--though telling us it was "all good" didn't help narrow down our choices. I suspect she was telling the truth, though.

We started out with mimosas (at a buck apiece, how could we pass up that deal). I had first a mango mimosa, and later guava--the later was my favorite.

For an appetizer we ordered the Shrimp Grits and Toast--even though I know my friend Tommy does not like grits (but I do!). It arrived in due time. A bowl of delicious cheesy shrimp grits was topped by a lone shrimp and served with two pieces of hearty toast. Though Tommy does not like grits, he did like this dish--it was awesome. Only two minor disappointments. In my first bite, I got just a bit of shell. That did not happen again. And the shrimp that topped the dish. while delicious in taste, was definitely quite overcooked. Not quite rubbery, but danged close. But, the tastiness of the grits make up for these two small missteps. It was awesome. Rich and creamy, cheesy and with a hint of shrimp. And, it had a nice but subtle smoky flavor--I'm sure it's due to smoked paprika. These were awesome. 

For an entree Tommy had the Blue Crab Benedict. Two crab cakes on toast were topped with hollandaise and poached eggs. The poached eggs could have been cooked just a slight bit more, but overall, the flavor of this dish was spot-on. The hollandaise was obviously fresh and homemade--you can't get that good flavor from a bottle. It was a very good dish overall--I know, I had a taste--and Tommy managed to eat the whole thing.

For my main dish I had the Roasted Chicken Pasta. This was linguini served with roasted chicken and with sauteed mushrooms and green beans, and topped with some shaved parmesan cheese. I thought the green beans a bit different--but not in a bad sense. The flavors and textures worked well together and it was a very good dish. I wonder what it would have been like with asparagus in place of the green beans? Nonetheless, it was a fantastic dish with a rich and meaty flavor. I would not be surprised if there was a bit of wine in the sauce, though most of the meatiness probably came from the mushrooms--they were delicious.

We only had brunch here, but also had a chance to peruse the dinner menu. It looks fantastic. We had a hard time choosing what to have for our lunch, there were so many good sounding choices. Dinner appears to be the same. Though it's a bit of a drive, I know for sure we will be back for dinner some night--our food was that good. The attention to detail as well as the presentation show that this Chef knows how to deliver top quality food and he succeeded with our lunch, that's for sure. My recommendation: if you're anywhere near the New Smyrna Beach area on a Tuesday through Sunday night (or bruchtime on Sunday), consider stopping at Spanish River Grill. I do not think you'll be disappointed, and I'm sure you'll find some good eats here.

Chili's Grill & Bar

My friend and I were hungry for some comfort food the other night and so decided on Chili's Grill & Bar in Daytona Beach. Chili's does not pretend to be gourmet food, but it is mass produced food done well with good service in a nice atmosphere. 

It happened to be the opening weekend of Bike Week in Daytona, so restaurants were busy and Chili's was no exception. However the host seemed to have a great grasp of the situation. We had no sooner gotten one of those wireless beepers than he came by to retrieve it and take us to our table. Wow, that was the shortest wait I've ever had--barely had that thing in hand two seconds! Our waitress also was very competent and friendly and she did a very nice job.

I started out with a draft beer--didn't know it was two for one but I didn't complain either. And we started with the chips and salsa. I'm used to run-of-the-mill salsa, but this was actually above average (though the chips were just average). But the salsa was not only flavorful, but had a nice kick to it. i ate a lot of these and needed the two drafts to help wash them all down.

I ordered a salad with my dinner and it came promptly. It was a good salad, though sort of full of "stuff." It had chopped tomatoes, chopped cucumbers, corn, and a few red onions in it and some nice croutons. The lettuce was primarily romaine. It was a good salad. I only needed a small portion of the house citrus viniagrette to dress it. Yumm, it was good.

For my dinner I opted for the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich. This was also very good. It was served on a whole wheat roll (my choice) which was nice and hearty. The chicken was breaded and fried and covered in a nice and hot/spicy buffalo sauce, atop a slice of tomato and a bit of lettuce. It was also dressed with some blue cheese dressing. You know, for what it was, this was a nice sandwich and I thoroughly enjoyed it--a lot!

We had a nice meal at Chili's, just good food with good service and for a reasonable price. At a time when some big-chain restaurants are empty and some floundering, this location seemed to be very busy and sure knew how to take care of people. I'd eat here again, for sure. If you want gourmet, try elsewhere. But if you just want a good meal for a fair price, give this place a try.

Ming's Bistro

Like it? I loved it! I stopped at Ming's Bistro for lunch the other day. The choice was a spur-of-the-moment choice, but I was blown away. First, the atmosphere. The place was packed, always a good sign. Many of the people there were Asian. Another good sign. The waitstaff did not speak English all that well--another good sign. But everyone seemed to be enjoying their food.

For lunch I ordered the Beef and Scallions--tender pieces of beef were wok-fried with onions and a few scallions, and tossed in a delicious sauce. This dish alone was a winner. I was here with my cousin, and she ordered a rice noodles and chicken and bok choy stir-fry dish--it was also excellent. We both enjoyed the food.

Ming's Bistro has servers going around with carts of dim sum and other delicacies. You just point at what you want and it's served and added to your tab. Because of the nature of this, it would be a great place for a group of people so you all could share bits of many dishes--indeed, that's what many patrons were doing.

While waiting for our lunches, I noticed an item on the dim sum menu that intrigued me--Fried Turnip Dumplings. I enquired about if and one of the waiteresses hurried off and returned in short order with an order of it for me. It was outstanding, simply wonderful. It appeared to be shredded turnips in a sort of dough that had been cut into cubes and then pan fried. The flavor was wonderful. I know I'll be searching the Internet for this recipe.

The only disappointment was that I could not eat more. The food was wonderful. I'd like to return with a group of people so we could all taste some of the various dishes I saw going by on the carts. The food all looked very good. I'll be back!

Peach Valley Cafe

I have never been disappointed in my meal at Peach Valley Cafe. The food and service here is consistently high quality. My visit for lunch recently was no exception. We arrived shortly before the lunch rush and were promptly seated. Our waitress, Rachel, was polite, friendly, and efficient.

I elected to start with the soup of the day, a Hearty Grain soup. This was an excellent soup. The grain base was barley, but the flavor was amazing. Corn, carrots, celery and onions formed the vegetable base of the soup, and barley was the predominant grain. The soup was hearty--almost chowder-like, yet delicious and flavorful. I was sad when I was done with my cup of soup. This was one of the best soups I've had in recent memory.

For my lunch, I elected to try the basic Patty Melt. I love Patty Melts, and this was one of the better ones I've had. First of all, the bread was a nice, hearty rye and grain bread, nicely grilled. The onions and cheese were tender and flavorful. But the star was the beef patty. It was cooked just a tad bit beyond the medium rare I requested, but was tender, juicy, and flavorful. This was a Patty Melt that I really liked, and I've had many.

I have eaten at this location and the one in Ormond Beach nearly a dozen times now, and I've never had a bad meal. I can remember my first meal--the Chicken Pot Pie. It's the best I've ever had. I remember the Cajun Pasta--yummilicious! And the Sequoia Burger--outstanding. And one of their best items is their Sausage Gravy and Biscuits--because the sausage gravy is obviously home made--and so are the biscuits.

I will keep on coming back to Peach Valley Cafe time and time again, often with guests. It's always sure to impress, and this visit was no exception. Probably the best brunch place in the Orlando area. Yumm!

Polonia Polish Restaurant

Good Polish Food is here in Central Florida, thanks to Polonia. I have not been to Poland--yet (on my short list) but all of my ancestors came to the US from Poland between 1886 and 1907, and I know good Polish food when I have it. I had it again at Polonia on a recent evening.

I was fortunate to eat at Polonia wiht both my parents, two of my cousins, the husband of one--all from out of town, and a friend of mine on a recent Sunday evening. When we first arrived around 4 or so, the restaurant was not busy, but by the time we left, there were no available tables, a good sign and a testament to the good food. I've eaten here a good half dozen times and never been disappointed. Our dinner party of seven had a variety of tastes and a variety of dietary needs, and overall, we did a great sample of their menu, ordering everything from pierogi to gołubki to blintzes and potato pancakes, not to mention żurek, barszcz, and more. Everyone raved about their meals--none of us were disappointed at all.

Our waiter--a young guy with no discernable Polish accent at all--promptly took our drink and appetizer orders, then our dinner orders. He got it all right and had an amazing knowledge of the menu. I was impressed. I can't possibly comment on all the food we had, but I'll mention a few hightlights.

My friend Tommy ordered the soup of the day, a hearty Chicken soup. It was indeed excellent. A rich and creamy broth had nice chunks of chicken and vegetable in it as well as what I can only describe as mini-dumplings. The flavor was awesome, some of the best chicken soup I've ever tasted. I don't know if this was authentic Polish food, but I do know that it was very good food. 

For an entree, Tommy ordered the Chicken Cutlet--a tender piece of chicken breast that had been pounded thin, breaded and fried, and was topped with a garlic butter. It was absolutely delicious, tender and juicy with a nice crisp coating. For go-withs he had the Red Potatoes--sliced thin and pan fried--and the applesauce. This was not traditional applesauce as you may think of it, though. The apples had been grated and so had a lot of texture, not at all overcooked, and served cold. It was very, very good.

For her meal, my mother ordered a blintz. Being the great mother she is, she shared a piece with me. The crepe was nicely cooked and the filling was a delicious but not overly sweet cheese filling. There were strawberries to go-with as well, and a bit of sour cream to add to the flavor. This was very good. Someone else in our party had a blintz, too, and loved it. My mother also started dinner with a bowl of żurek, a white soup make with rye sour started and containing some sausage and a boiled egg. I had a taste and have had it before, it is excellent. I'd never heard of żurek until I ate at Polonia, but it is indeed quite a treat.

Several in our party had the gołubki and all enjoyed them. I got to sample some a day or two later as leftovers, and I agree, it was very good. A very healthy portion of meat and rice was cooked in a cabbage leaf and topped with a mushroom gravy. Another person had the potato pancakes, also a success story.

I started my dinner with a bowl of barszcz--it was excellent as always. Tender beets were grated and served in a delicious broth with a hint of lemon and a bit of dill and a dollop of sour cream. This was an excellent soup. For my main course this time I tried the Chicken Paprikash--boneless pieces of chicken thigh were served in a paprika-laced gravy/sauce atop a bed of kopytki, small potato dumplings. It was marvelous and i not only finished it all, but used my bread to sop up every last drop. Fantastic dinner. 

We had a great experience here, as I've had time and time before. Polonia is a real gem of a restaurant, very good authentic Polish food. I highly recommend Polonia to you. If you've never had Polish food before, try the sampler, it's divine and will give you a good idea of what good Polish food is like. There's a reason that Polonia has such a high rating on urbanspoon.com--great food!

Bavarian Restaurant Bar and Grill

 had a very good meal here the other night. The food was excellent though the service was just a bit slow. But, it was a great dining experience overall, and I will be back.

I had eaten lunch at Bavarian Restaurant Bar and Grill some time ago, and that was an excellent experience. At that time, I vowed to return, and did so on a recent Saturday night with my parents and my friend Tommy in tow. It was a good choice.

We arrived about 7:30 on a Saturday evening to find live music--and accordion player--and a fairly full house. We were promptly greeted, given our choice of tables, seated, and given menus.  Our waitress took our drink and appetizer order after we'd had some time to study the menu. As the name indicates, the specialty here is German food. I started with a beer special, a 20 ounce glass of a Weiss beer for a remarkable $3.50. That is a real bargain. We ordered an appetizer, the Sausage Sampler. After receving our drinks, we placed our diner order. And then we waited. There was another large party of about 12 in the dining room and a second party of about 11, and it took a while for our food. Another waiter, perhaps sensing our long wait and that of another table or two, came aroudn and offered bread, which we gladly accepted. It also showed that they noticed and were concerned. The bread was actually very good, a wheat bread with a touch of sweetness, and served warmed. 

After a while, our Sausage Sampler came out. I chose the Bavarian and Nuremberg sausages. They came grilled and sliced, topped with grilled onions, and accompanied by a mustard-remoulade. These were really delicious, we all liked them. The grilled Bavarian sausages were a bit spicy, the Nuremberg ones a litte more tame. But both were good, especially when paired with the sweetness of the grilled onions and the tartness of the mustard-remoulade. This was a definite hit. And then we waited some more, though we were served more bread and our waitress and the waiter assured us dinner would be arriving soon.

I will say this about dinner--it was well worth the wait! Let's start off with what the others had. Dad and Mom elected to share the Pork Shank. Itwas a huge meal. A huge pork shank was slow grilled with some "secret" spices. The fat had all melted away, a testament to a great cooking process. There was a lot of meat and I had a taste--absolutely delicious! For go-withs they had the red cabbage and mashed potatoes and gravy, and also added a side of the spaetzle. This was a huge meal. Though Mom and Dad shared it, they still had a doggy bag to take home as well. 

For his dinner, Tommy ordered the Wiener Schnitzel with chicken. This was a pounded, flat piece of chicken breast that was breaded and fried. It was delicious as well, nice and crisp, with tender chicken that held up well to this cooking process. For go-withs Tommy had the creamy coleslaw and the mashed potatoes and gravy. The coleslaw was good, nice and creamy but with a good sharp bite as well. One thing to note, both my folks and Tommy had originally requested a baked potato, but shortly after ordering were told that they were out, so switched to the mashed potatoes, which were very good after all.

For my dinner I ordered the Rouladen. This was a good choice. It was fantastic, actually. This was sliced beef, rolled and stuffed with sauteed mushroom, pickles and bacon, seasoned wiht mustard and hebs, and then simmered for hours in a homemade gravy. It was soooo good. Now, I will say that the actual sliced beef was a bit dry, but the succulent stuffing made up for all that. I could tastes the onions and the pickle, and got a hint of bacon. It was fantastic. My Red Cabbage was also very good--it was still a bit crisp so did not suffer over cooking. The flavor was spot on. Same for the spaetzle, they were delicious, especially when mixed with some of the gravy. Simply divine.

One other minor criticism: my dinner was plated a bit on the messy side. A few dribbles of red cabbage and gravy, this should have been cleaned up a bit before being served. Yes, it's only a minor thing, and probably speaks to the fact that the service was slow. But still....

This was a very good meal, one of the best German meals I've had. I would highly recommend Bavarian Restaurant Bar and Grill to all.

Red Lobster

As good as expected, Red Lobster delivers consistent food and service. Yes, it's a chain, but they certainly know how to do things right and my recent visit there with my folks confirmed that.

We went on a week night and, though not packed, there was a decent crowd there. We were promptly seated and our waitress, Kelley, was very attentive and very competent--she provided excellent service.

We started with a salad, just a basic salad but good with fresh crisp lettuce on a chilled plate, some tomatoe and onion and cucumbers (not pictured as I gave mine away). The house dressing was very good and the salad was dressed just right. Of course, along the way we also had some of their delicious biscuits--fantastic, though I'm not sure on the healthy or lowfat menus.

For their entree, my folks split the Lobster, Snow Crab, and Shrimp Scampi dinner. Served with a baked potato, they both loved their dinner and cleaned it up. For my Mom, this was only the second time she's had lobster, but she loved it. 

I had the Shrimp Trio for my dinner. About a half dozen of nicely fried butterflied shrimp were served with the usual cocktail sauce. They were very good and well cooked. Next there was the Shrimp Scampi, delicious in its buttery, garlicy sauce. Yumm. Finally there was the Shrimp Alfredo Pasta. Though the alfredo seeemed to overtake the shrimp a bit in this dish, it was still very good. To go with I had the broccoli, always a hit at Red Lobster and my favorite side.

With the friendly and attentive service provided, this was a very good meal and we all enjoyed the meal and had a lot of fun. I've eaten here a number of times and will be back. Always good, and one of the better chains.

The Smokehouse at Route 46

We enjoyed a decent meal at The Smokehouse at Route 46 the other night. The Route 46 complex is actually three different restaurants in what's called an entertainment complex on Route 46 in Sanford, just east of the Seminole Town Center Mall. I have eaten here before and have always had a satisfying experience. The Smokehouse is a laid back, somewhat noisy sort of place with both indoors and outdoor seating. During lunch you order at a counter and they bring your food out to you, but for dinner they've recently converted to "sit down" dining with table service and ordering from your waitperson. The other two eating establishments are "The Saloon"--more of a bar or cocktail lounge atmosphere, and "Monroe's" which is a more expensive, closer to fine dining experience--neither of which I've been to yet.

We arrived in "The Smokehouse" to a sign that said, "please seat yourself." Trouble was, there were no free tables. However, the host quickly approached us, took our name, assessed the situation, and said it would be maybe 15-20 minute wait. It was about 10, so not too bad. They did change the sign to "please wait to be seated" and seemed to handle future arrivals quite well. It can be a bit confusing beacuse there are actually two entrances. Nonetheless, they were pretty well organized--for the most part.

Our waitress took our drink order. I asked about any ale on tap and was told about their Route 46 Ale which I ordered--twice! It was not too bad, perhaps a bit more sweet and less hoppy than I really like, but it was a good beer nonetheless. I was dining with my folks and a friend, they all had tea or coffee or water. Heck, I wasn't driving!

We ordered an appetizer, the Pulled Pork Cocktail. I asked our waitress what it was, and she described it and also said it was one of her favorites. That was good enough for me, we ordered it. It came out rather quickly. Basically it was a layer of their baked beans topped by a layer of pulled pork and topped with coleslaw, served in a crock. It was actually very, very good. We all enjoyed it and all liked it a lot. The creamyness and juicyness of the baked beans combined with the pulled pork were contrasted by the crunch and acid of the coleslaw. I really liked this dish. It was made even better by a bit of the spicy barbecue sauce. We finished this up, lickety-split!

Both my freind, Tommy, and I ordered the soup, the White Bean Chicken Chili. I will say the name is confusing. Is it a soup or a chili? Well, I'd proclaim it a soup because it's thinner than a chili should be. Nonethless, it had a very good flavor. It was not too spicy hot (I could have stood a bit more but I like that kind of heat), but had a rich and hearty flavor. I'd eat this again. And again. And again! 

In due time our entrees arrived--oops, well, 3/4 of us got served. That was a bit maddening. I believe that all diners should be served at the same time, and that it's the job of both the kitchen and the waitperson to make sure that happens. My Mom ordered the Applewood BLT, a sandwich, but it came out several minutes after the rest of us were served. That should not happen, and especially not with a sandwich--what's to cook? That was a bit disappointing. The waitress did apologize for the delay. Eventually, we all had our food. 

Tommy ordered the Half Chicken Plate. His two sides were Creamed Spinach and Sweet Potato Fries. He liked his sides but did question whether the chicken was fully cooked. I did take a look and believe it was, but it was not falling off the bone cooked. It was tender and juicy, though. He had some leftovers but will cook the chicken a bit more just in case.

Mom ordered the Applewood Bacon BLT and really enjoyed it. This was your classic BLT but with a nice, smoky, applewood bacon on it. Thoroughly enjoyable and she ate the whole thing. For a side she had the Creamed Spinach and really liked it.

Dad also had the Half Chicken Plate. For sides he had Sweet Potato Fries and Baked Beans. I asked him about the smoke, and he said he really didn't taste much smoke. But overall he enjoyed the meal and has some left for another day.

I had the Ribs and Quarter Chicken Plate. For sides I had Creamed Spinach and Baked Beans. The creamed spinach was outstanding. I liked the fact that it had a bit of crunch yet--not overcooked. It had a very nice flavor. The baked beans were also good, though just a bit on the watery side. Not out-of-the-can watery, but a little less thick than I'd like them. I did not get a lot of smoke from them, either. My ribs consisted of a slab of four ribs. They were not fall-off-the-bone ribs and were done with a dry rub. They were tasty and tender, but I did not get a lot of smoke flavor or smell from them. It left me wondering about the smoke part of smokehouse. My chicken breast was tender and juicy, quite tasty actually. But again, I did not get a lot of smoke. I liked my meal, it was all pretty darned good, but the only thing I found really lacking was smoke, and that seemed a bit odd for a smokehouse. Now Tommy said he got the smoke, so maybe my nose was just not working to well.

At any rate, we had a decent meal here for a decent price. It is a bit loud, so be forewarned about that. It's a nice family atmosphere. I think they've done a good job of capturing what I think a 1940s or so smokehouse may have been like. There are other great BBQ place in the Orlando area as well, some nearby such as Kellers, others a bit further away such as Bubbalou's, and some--which I've not been too--that have rave reviews, such as Four River's. But still, The Smokehouse on Route 46 served up an OK meal for a fair price.

Polaco Tacos

Taco Polaco or Polaco Tacos are Polish Tacos. The appear to have originated in Texas in the 1970s. You can read more about that here. I first became aware of them via a blog I subscribe to on Twitter, Eastern European Foods. The basic "recipe" I followed is located here.

Before attempting to assemble my Polaco Tacos, I did a bit of Internet research. Yes, these are an American invention. So what? It turns out they are very tasty. After reading a lot of recipies, I found that there were endless variations. I decided to go with the recipe i found on Barbara's Eastern Eurpoean Food Blog on about.com. Here's what I did.

First, the key was good kiełbasa. To that end I made a special trip to the Polish store in Orlando--Europol Polish Deli. They carry Polish Sausage from Bobak's in Chicago--those people know how to  make good kiełbasa! I got the wedding sausage. I took one stick and cut it into about 4 inch lengths, then split each lenghtwise. I grilled each for a good five minutes on a side until slightly browned and some of the fat had rendered out. I put the sausage on a warm flour tortilla--taco size. Then i began the toppings. I gave a generous coating of Kośćiusko Polish brown mustard to the kiełbasa, then added a portion of well caramelized onions. Next was some drained sauerkraut--Polish, of course. Finally, I topped this with cwikla, a mixture of ground beets and horseradish (chrzan, in Polish)--very heavy on the horseradish! I did not put any cheese on these....the chosen ingredients seemed to be enough.

I served these to my guests and to a person, they all loved them. I have to say, I was very surprised at the great taste and flavor. The spiciness and fat of the sausage was balanced by the sweetness of the caramelized onions. The mustard and cwikla gave a good spicy sharpness and the sauerkraut added a great texture, a good mouth-feel, to this delight. The tortilla was only the delivery vehicle, attempting to keep all the components somewhat together.

In retrospect, I'm sure I'll make these again--but the variations are endless. Refried beans? How about sauteed mushrooms? perhaps topped with potatoes and onion? Who knows, the sky's the limit...my imagination could run wild. These were very, very good. Bardzo Smaczne (good eats!).

Miller's Orlando Ale House

I have always had a good meal in a casual, relaxed atmosphere at Miller's Orlando Ale House, and my recent visit there was no exception. My parents, friend Tommy, and I went to Miller's for dinner early on a Saturday evening. We were promptly greeted and seated. I loved their tap beer selection--a nice variety, as well as an extensive list of bottle beers. Sometimes, a beer just hits the spot! Our drink order was taken as well as an appetizer, boneless buffalo wings. 

My salad arrived first, followed a bit later by the wings. The salads were very good and tasty full of fresh lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, carrots, cabbage, cheese, croutons...whew, there was a lot there. I sometimes call this a "kitchen sink" salad because it has so much in it. Nonethless, it was fresh and flavorful--and definitely filling. 

The boneless wings were good as well, 5 pieces of tender chicken tenderloin, breaded and deep fried, and servered in the requested medium hot sauce. Yes, a contradiction in terms, I guess, but I knew those with me would not appreciate a lot of heat. They were very good, the hot sauce adequately hot. 

Our food arrived in due time, and every one of us was happy with our meals. My mother had the Summer Salad, candied walnuts, craisins, red onions, and blue cheese over a spinach and romaine mix with a raspberry viniagrette dressing. Mom pronounced it "delicious."

Dad had the Breast of Chicken Sandwich, a boneless chicken breast chargrilled, and served on a kaiser roll. For go-withs he had mashed potatoes and gravy, and a vegetable. His only complaint was that the chicken was a bit dry, but otherwise the meal was tasty.

My friend Tommy had a Blackened Chicken Sandwich--a boneless breast of chicken that was blackened and served on a Kaiser roll with a side of a loaded baked potato. His chicken was cooked well and not dry, a good sandwich and a good meal.

I had the Cajun Chicken Pasta and it was indeed a good choice. A gender boneless chicken breast, blackened and sliced, was served on a bed of linguine tossed with mushrooms and tomaoes in a spicy alfredo sauce, and served with a few sliced of garlic toast. This was a very good dish. The chicken was cooked perfectly, tender and juicy. And the pasta and sauce had a very nice flavor, just spicy enough without being overpowering. I really liked this dish. Of course, I'd had the large salad to begin with, so was pretty full and could not finish. Well, lucky me, I had a doggy bag to take home and enjoy my meal all over again on another day. 

The food was good here, as evidenced by the fact that when we were leaving there was a bit of a line and the parking lot was full. I've always had good meal and a nice dining experience at Miller's Orlando Ale House, and this visit was no exception. I'm glad we went here.

Restaurant Reviewer BlogRoll

I've found another great food blog that links to other food blogs and joined it. The Henderson Epicurean focuses on the restaurant reviews, news and food trends in the Hendersonville, NC area and globally. Independent restaurants are the main focus of this blog, but occasionally, when a local Chain is doing something noteworthy, especially something that will benefit or be of interest to locals, it will be covered there as well.

The Henderson Epicurean also maintains a list of other similar food blogs called Restaurant Reviewers, and I am listed there as well. If you'd like to see some of the other blogs they list, scroll through the "Restaurant Reviewers" window in the right hand bar of this window (you may have to scroll down just a bit to find it. And, if you have a food blog and are interested in joining the Restaurant Reviewers Blogroll, click here. 

Delano on the Park

Delano on the Park is a very nice place with excellent food and service. I have had lunch at Delano's a number of times and it's always been a very good experience. About a year ago they ventured into the dinner business. My first visit there for dinner was just after they expanded and, though the food was good, there were a few "rough edges" that needed polishing. They've succeeded, grandly!

My parents are in town visiting and along with my friend, Tommy, we went there for dinner on a somewhat dreary Friday night. The atmosphere inside was warm and inviting, though a bit loud. There was entertainment which added to the noise level. Basically, everyone in there had to talk loud. It was not painful loud, just a bit on the noisy side. We were promptly seated and our waiter, Dominic, promptly appeared. 

I had a glass of the house Merlot. It was decent and, at $5, reasonably priced and proportioned. My folks had coffee, my friend Iced Tea. We were hungry and chose to go right for dinner, no appetizer needed.

After we ordered, our salads appeared rather promptly. They were very good salads, chopped mixed lettuce with tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, and a few other things, nicely mixed and not over-dressed. It was a very good salad, very fresh and very tasty.

My one complaint is that there was somewhat of a wait for our main dish--the food was a bit slow in coming out. However, Dominic checked up on us frequently and eventually assured us the food was on its way. It was definitely worth the wait!

My Mom ordered the Mahi Ceasar Salad. A large bowl of nice and fresh salad, primarily romaine, was topped by a very healthy portion of mahi-mahi. The romaine was poperly dressed with a Roman Ceasar dressing with parmesan cheese and croutons. The fish was perfectly cooked. It was moist and tender and juicy and warm and flaky, not at all dry. I had a bite and indeed, it was so very good. Mom loved it!

Dad, being more of a meat-and-potatoes guy, had the Root Beer Glazed Pork Chop. This was a chargrilled center cut piece of pork loin, glazed with a slightly sweet glaze containing root beer. It was delicious. The pork was tender and juicy, not at all dry, and exactly what a good pork chop should be. It was accompanied by perfectly cooked asparagus--not at all overcooked, young and tender, and with red roasted potates. It was delicious and Dad manged to finish all his dinner. Very good and very filling.

Tommy, for his salad, hesitated. He wanted the Ceasar salad but was hesitant because, of course, Ceasar dressing contains anchovy. Dominic assured him that the anchovy would not be "fishy" in the least. Tommy acquiesced, and after having his salad, agreed that it was indeed very good without any fishiness. For his main course, he had the Blackened Chicken. This was two nice pieces of chicken breast with a nice curst of blackening spices, not overly spicy though, just enough to impart a lot of flavor. The piece that I sample was excellent, a nice flavor, tender and juicy. Tommy reported that one piece of chicken was excellent, but one was just a bit dry. Still, very good. He also had the oven roasted tomatoes on the side as well as Garlic Smashed Potatoes. The potatoes were very good, not overly garlicy, but nice and somewhat creamy and smooth. They had a delicious flavor.

For my dinner I chose the Coconut Rum Mahi Mahi. This was an excellent choice. A good-sized portion of mahi-mahi was coated in a panko crust and topped wtih a coconut-rum beurre blanc--It was excellent. The panko crust was nice and crunchy. The fish underneath was perfectly cooked--it was moist and tender and juicy and had a very nice flavor--among the best mahi I have had in a long time, maybe ever! The beurre blanc was also very good and a nice compliment to the fish and crust. The pineapple and coconut gave just a hint of sweetness, not at all overpowering, and the portion of sauce was excellent, not too much, just enough to add the right depth of flavor. I would eat this dish again (too bad my photo did not turn out so well!). I had the steamed broccoli to go with--it was very tender, and, though I generally enjoy broccoli that is less cooked, it was certainly not overcooked. It was very good. I also had the Oven Roasted Tomatoes--though they were good, I thought they suffered from the lack of something. Maybe just a bit more salt? The parmesan/bread crumb crust on top was good, the tomato had a nice fresh flavor and was not overly soggy, is just was missing something to make it pop! Maybe a hint of basil? A hint of lemon juice? I'm not sure. It was good, but not great.

Overall, we had an excellent meal here. Delano on the Park is located in "downtown" Lake Mary, across from the city hall. I was pleased to see it busy on a Friday night. It's a nice atmosphere (though was a bit noisy) with good food. They have certainly gotten their act together. Dominic, our waiter, was excellent and remembered everything we ordered and everything we asked for--and never once wrote a thing down. I like that. I konw for sure I'll be back her for lunch again and again, and now I know that I will be back for dinner as well. Our total bill was just under $60 before tax and--of course--generous tip. It was well worth it!

La Fiesta

Wow, really good food, great service, and a popular place! I have been to La Fiesta before--it's always busy, always crowded, and always a bit of a wait. My friend Tommy and I went there at prime time on a Saturday evening and guess what? There was a bit of a wait! Duh-oh! We knew there would be one. Fortunately, we found two empty barstools and so had a drink while we waited. 

OK, the bartender was busy, but not paying good attention. I was sitting right by the beer taps and spied Dos Equis XX on tap. I asked for that and Tommy asked for a margarita. The bartender never asked what size, but served the largest size, a 28 oz., $7.99 behemoth. He should have asked. I asked for a Dox Equis XX tap and got a bottle--in his defense, it was loud and maybe he did not hear me, or maybe it was out. My change from a $20 was $12. I asked for the reciept...he should have provided that. To his credit, he gave me $8 change when the bill was about a quarter over $12. Still, he was a bit unattentive, or at the least, very busy. But, the margarita was good and had an very ample quantity of Tequila in it. It lasted my friend through the whole meal, and he noted that it was plenty to drink--he could certainly feel it. 

Our buzzer went off once and the host quickly hurried over to apologize and say that was a mistake. No problem. A few minutes later it went off "for real." I think our total wait was maybe 20 minutes, not real bad, actually. As we approached our table, the host noticed it was not cleaned yet! Oh no! But within maybe 20 seconds, bus boys and waiters appeared from nowhere and cleaned it spotless. I was impressed by the quick service. We were not even settled in our chairs when chips and salsa appeared. Wow, they are fast here.

If you follow my blog, you may recall my recent post on another "Mexican" restaurant in the Daytona Beach area--i was not impressed by the watery, bland salsa. Not so here at La Fiesta. Wow, the salsa was excellent! It had a nice hearty tomato flavor, you could taste the sharpness of the cilantro, and they were not afraid of a little bit of heat. Not too much for the faint of heart, but certainly the heat was evident. One of the best salsa's I've had--ever (except of course, for my own....). The tortilla chips were crisp and fresh as well. We did eventually finish the salsa--it was that good. There was also some sort fo crema servered along with it. It was creamy and spicy hot and sweet all at the same time. I liked it, it was different. Even though spicy, it had a mellowing affect on the spice. Another hit in my book.

La Fiesta has an extensive menu, it took quite some time to devour it. But eventually we decided on our meals. Tommy recognized our server, Omar, as being a long term employee. He was certainly very competent and provided us great service.

Tommy ordered the Quesadilla La Fiesta with chicken, a grilled flour tortilla fille with cheese and chicken, served with rice, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream and pico de gallo. He liked it. No, actually, he loved it an pretty much ate the whole thing. Fortuantely, I had a taste--it was excellent. The chicken was tender, the tortilla crisp, the cheese creamy. What a nice dish. Simple and yes elegant, all that a quesadilla should be.

It took me a long time to decide, partly because the menu is so extensive, partly because i was so hungry and wanted one of everything, and partly because it all sounded so great. But eventually I decided on the Pollo Fiesta. Wow, what a good choice! This was a grilled chicken breast stuffed with ham and cheese, then cooked with onions, tomatoes, mushrooms and medium hot chipotle peppers. It was served with rich, refried beans, and three tortillas. Oh my! it was to die for. I slice off a third of this and loaded it onto one of the tortillas, adding a bit of the refried beans. A very handy way to eat it. And the taste...it was magnificent. I could taste all of the ingredients: the chicken was tender, the smokiness of the ham, the creaminess of the cheese, the mushrooms, onion and tomatoes....it all made for a food orgy in my mouth. I am not kidding--it was that good. Simple ingredients. Fresh ingredients. Cooked well. Married well together. It was an excellent dish. And the best part: I have 1/3 of it in a "to go" box in my refrigerator right now, ready for take two!

A word about the sides. I tasted Tommy's guacamole, it was pretty good (OK, not as good as I make, but certainly good for restaurant are. The refried beans were average, but good. The rice...oh, wow, that was awesome, too. It had bits of carrot, lima beans, peas, green beans, and corn in it, among other things. It was sweet and savory at the same time. It was very, very good, actually, not your run-of-the-mill Mexican restaurant-type rice. Mmmmm!

Our total bill for the two meals (recall we ordered and paid for drinks earlier) was just under $22 before tax and a most generous tip--our waiter and the whole staff worked hard and deserved a generous tip. The Lake Mary Food Critic works a real job and eating well and blogging is my hobby--I believe in tipping well for a job well done, too.

This was certainly an excellent dining experience--an excellent meal, great service, a nice atmosphere, and a good time. There is a reason this place is always packed! Even when we left, there were a lot of people waiting for a table, a great testament to just how great a place this is. Though I live closer to Orlando, I am not aware of any place in Orlando that is this good when it comes to Mexican food, though I see that the owners have opened an Orlando location called Agave Azul. Yes, it's in the "tourist area" near Universal Studios. Still, based on my experience at the "mother restaurant," I'd like to try out this other location as well. But in the meantime, I highly recommend La Fiesta to all. It's great Mexican food at a decent price, definitely a value, definitely worth your time!