The Final Visit

This is it.





My final blog post for the Florida Dine and Dash. After five years, 51,000 views, 150 restaurants, and a multitude of breaks and failed videos (and a failed movie for those of us that remember), it is time to end it all. Finances have not been very supportive since the beginning and now we have reached a point in which I cannot continue. There have been a multitude of great memories, fun times, and lots of wonderful food. Unfortunately though at this stage in my life I can’t keep traveling around in search of these locations. I still have over 150 restaurants, bars, dives, and eateries to visit and that list will remain in my computer for when and if I am close to these spots.

I need more money. I need more resources. I need help. I have none of the three, but that’s not anybody’s fault. Circumstances got in the way so here I am, having to make the tough choice of ultimately giving up on this blog. I don’t regret anything, I just wished things had turned out a bit different.

To complete the blog full circle, I wanted to return to the first spot I visited since starting the blog (not counting the previous experiences that led me to do this blog in the first place)---but the place no longer exists. So I went to the second spot, which was Julie’s Waterfront. I reviewed this spot way way back in May 2010—nearly exactly 5 years ago.

The place is still mildly pricy, still has a gorgeous view, and still has good food. What has changed is that the menu has gotten deeper and more daring, the seafood options have expanded slightly, and their dessert is better. I got their fried shrimp (wish they would give me more) and fried catfish (always a good decision). And I sat there by myself and thought about the five years of doing this and envisioned all the places I had gone to, all the food lessons I have learned, and all the unique dining experiences I faced. I tried food I never would have tried before starting this, and I found places I never would have found if it had not been for this blog.

I am not doing a big dramatic goodbye, I am not trying to make a huge deal out of this. The blog never really took off, never was able to hold an audience, and never really caught on to anything. Down the road maybe in the future we can reboot this into something special. But as of now, I am done with this blog. It has been a special ride, lots of good memories.

Take care, each and every single one of you. To all the restaurant owners that didn’t make it after I reviewed you (and there have been several unfortunately), I wish you all the best. To those that are still around, I wish you all the best of success (even The Pearl). And for all future restaurants that will pop up in the craziest state in the country, may you find your success and financial stability.









Adios.

Crown Fried Chicken: Fast Food Rhythms, High Quality Beat

Craving lunch and trying to hide from the upcoming rainstorm, I was browsing through the streets of Kissimmee in search of a place. I was in the outskirts of Kissimmee, the area focused strictly on auto repair, auto tuneups, and used auto sales. Lots of blue collar workers, lots of Hispanics roaming this stretch. So I was expecting lots of Hispanic food options. Instead, I found a sprawling fried chicken place. Fried chicken is usually a Southern staple, but Florida seems to be lacking in the non-chain fried chicken joints. Inside I went.

Crown Fried Chicken is small in size, but had plenty of people coming in and out. You can order take-out, or dine in. About 99% of the people showing up were ordering to go. Having nothing to do and needing a temporary seat to allow for life to catch up, I decided to stay and people-watch. The menu was surprisingly diverse, and extremely cheap. Although they specialize in fried chicken, they also have an array of salads, sides, and even some seafood options if that’s your craving. But I’m here for the chicken, nothing more.

Chik-Fil-A and the legendary Yoder’s made me a fan of pressure-cooked chicken more than anything else. But there’s something that’s always satisfying about chicken when its fried. Nonetheless, the 20 chicken nuggets for $7 deal was quite appealing. That’s practically 35 cents per chicken nugget, some of the best rates I’ve ever seen for that type of meal---and it comes with fries. I went with 3 pieces of chicken, fries, and a biscuit---for just around $7. Awesome price. I got greedy and ordered some macaroni and cheese to add to that.

The place never has chicken lying around, and it’s probably because they sell out so fast. It was a 5-10 minute wait for the meal not because they are slow, but because everyone was ordering essentially the same thing. You can tell the place has a following when one of the customers was talking it up with the cook working his tail off behind-the-scenes. After a brief wait, I got my food.

The macaroni and cheese was delightful, nothing outstanding, nothing too fancy. Simple cup of joy is the best way to describe it. The French fries were decent and got the job done too. Honestly, in this era of fries becoming mediocre (McDonalds, Burger King, AND Wendys had better fries in the past), its good to find a place containing french fries that don’t suck. And by the way, the best fries come from the criminally underrated Checkers and the South Florida staple Miami Subs.

Back to the restaurant. Their fried chicken was legit. Nothing felt dated or aged, the chicken looks and tastes fresh. And adding to the fun, the pieces aren’t small either. I didn’t know this but I was allowed to choose my pieces, as this was being done a few times while I was eating. I am not a chicken wing kind of person, I prefer the thighs and breast (stop snickering). But all three pieces have the soul food touch; savory, bursting with flavor, and stick-to-your-ribs texture.

Bottom Line: Crown Fried Chicken is a simple place with excellent prices and good food to boot. It has the fast food prices, but contains far superior portions, and a freshness that you don’t experience in your typical KFC or Popeyes (ugh…). It is simplistically engaging, and displays that a restaurant can serve good food without trying to drain your wallet. If you are roaming Kissimmee and don’t want to spend too much, give this place a shot. Definitely deserves at least a visit.


Final Verdict: Recommend



Crown Fried Chicken
2022 N Main St
Kissimmee, FL 34744

Downtown Disney Food Trucks: No.

Dear Disney,



It has come to my attention that you have not learned from your mistakes concerning your “food trucks” that silently exist in bustling Downtown Disney. I am telling you this as a friend, and as a subtle fan: your food trucks are a disaster. The prices are too high, the portions are too small, the dining options aren’t very reasonable coming from food trucks, and overall you are embedded in an area that has dramatically upped its game in food truck cuisine---meaning you have to do the same if your food trucks plan on surviving without issuing a loss.

Look, Central Florida has a thriving Hispanic community consisting of Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, Colombians, and Venezuelans. With that we have food trucks left and right all over Orlando and Kissimmee long after the sun comes down. And even with the lack of food trucks, we have hole-in-the-wall places that are open extremely late. Each of these places provide simple foods and very simple prices that gets the job done. And even without the Hispanic food trucks, we have several successful food trucks located within Downtown and close to it---including a famous Korean BBQ spot and an awesome chicken-and-waffles truck. Food trucks appeal to local Hispanics much more than tourists that find the concept a bit foreign, so why not whether a) cater better to this crowd or b) cater more to your tourist crowd.

Let’s look at these pictures, shall we? Downtown Disney during Avengers Day (Avengers: Age of Ultron premiere) has thousands of people roaming around waiting for their movie to start. They were scattering all over the streets, but ultimately avoiding the food truck area entirely. And I assure you if you skipped over to the other side, there will be a line 100 people deep at the spectacular Earl of Sandwich. When people would rather wait 10-25 minutes to order as opposed to ordering food truck food should really say something.

Guys, I can get an arepa, a perfectly baked bread stuffed with whatever I want (My personal favorite is handmade cheese, white cheese, shrimp, and chicken) at just $6. Almost all your items are far beyond that price and I assure you will not be as filling. Food trucks should not sell meals, they should sell simple yet engrossing and fulfilling foods. Macaroni and cheese with a pork shank is not a food truck option---that type of food is more suitable for a sit-down place. Why would I spent $12 on this meal AND not be served this food when I can find a restaurant, order essentially the same thing at the same price, have myself a server, and get a better portion out of it? Wolfgang Puck on both sides offer this similar item---and they have a full-staffed kitchen working on this meal as opposed to just one cast member.

Food truck food is supposed to be simple. Grilled cheese sandwiches, fried chicken, popcorn, ice cream, corn dogs, hot dogs, funnel cake, tacos, quesadillas, pizza slices, and doughnuts are all examples of foods that would do much better in that small Downtown Disney corner. Gyros, sliders, butter chicken is not what we consider food-on-the-go. It never has been this way.

The ONE food that I would consider keeping within the entourage of pricing and quick-service overkill would be the Disneyland-inspired corn dog. This hunk of calorie-infested meat is a gem, definitely worth its pricing (when you order it without the pointless fries). Its savory, lightly sweet, and has that perfect fried texture to match with the hot dog. This is the ONLY reason why you should visit one of these food trucks. I ordered the chicken and waffles just out of curiosity. It was a disaster, I couldn’t even finish it. The waffles were small, way too fluffy without much flavor, and the chicken just didn’t mesh well with the meal. The whole thing was disappointing. And it’s not the fault of the cast members, they are merely following the simple formula. Melissa’s food truck features a waffle that you can fold like a taco and consume it with the chicken inside---now that was perfect.

Bottom Line: Downtown Disney’s Food Trucks will never even come close to the success of the nearby places mainly because they are trying to charge us fine dining prices for simple foods that’s still too complex for something that should be finger food on the go. Instead of mac and cheese, they should be mac and cheese bites. Instead of flatbread, they should be pizza slices. Instead of sliders, they should be legit burgers. And why can’t you sell simpler fresh foods like popcorn, funnel cakes, donuts, and hot dogs? The idea of food trucks in Downtown Disney is good, but the execution couldn’t be more disappointing. There is always room for change, but the way it is now, it does not work and it will not work. You can’t compete with the heavy-hitters like Bongos, T-Rex, Splitsville, and especially Earl of Sandwich. Go in a different route and offer simpler foods and more valuable (and acceptable prices). Very simple. Keep the corn dogs though….



Final Verdict: Do Not Recommend


Downtown Disney Food Trucks
Downtown Disney
Lake Buena Vista, Fl