Great Food Coming From a School Bus

Sometimes, you can stumble upon a place that seems old-school, looks old-school, is located in an old-school location, but the institute is actually quite new. Old School Coffee Stop is a place self-aware of its behavior and style, but nonetheless delivers some of the best food in the area. The oddities of this place are what drew me into trying it out. Located in the classic small town of Christmas, Old School Coffee Stop can be found next to a small theme park that runs like a zoo (Animal Kingdom-style). The family running the place (driving the bus actually makes more sense here) has been doing it for a mere 4 years, but its uniqueness and its ability to deliver excellent food to multiple locations within the state will be sure to keep the franchise running for years to come. Besides, where else can you find a restaurant that cooks all (I mean all) their meat in different types of alcohol?



Let’s put down all the uniqueness in a couple of paragraphs, shall we? The kitchen is a school bus, a movable school bus. It is both a good thing for them, but a bad thing for those looking for the place. We passed by the theme park (and very small sign saying “Old School Coffee Stop” ) and noticed a variety of chairs and tables, but the signature school bus was nowhere to be found. A few miles later, we take a U-turn and practically guessed where the school bus was going to arrive (we were right, by the way). What complicates the scenario is that while they claim they run on set hours, the hours isn’t always guaranteed. The easy solution to this is to call before heading out over there, because you never know. Me and my cameramen arrived at the place around noon, when they weren’t ready to serve lunch until a little after one. Luckily for all of us, there was a lake full of friendly gators roaming around separated by a fence.





Like I said before, there is a small park full of animals located right next to the institution. While the park isn’t well-known outside the general area, they do have the largest gator in the entire planet. That’s an accomplishment right there. All their meats are cooked in a variety of alcohols, but set at over 170 degrees in case you are driving. The menu itself is a mix of Floridian and your typical restaurant chain: they do cook gators but also have pasta, BBQs, an assortment of salads, smoothies, and even breakfast. The last major oddity is a very nice one in their part: they do not price anything. This place gives us a range of prices on ach of the items and depending on your financial situation (or how much you can shell out) you pick how much you are going to pay. Any restaurant that can twist and turn its prices like that deserves plenty of praise.





The cast running the place is very friendly, not an ounce of hostility can be observed amongst the four cooking, cleaning, organizing, and maintaining it. We started with a round of cream sodas (underrated drink if you ask me) and ordered our meal. We started with our very first helping of gator. Appletini Gator Bites consist of gator tail marinated in vodka, lime juice and mango seasoning. This dish is breaded in butter and served with a mango sauce. The result is absolutely delicious, with the texture resembling that loosely of chicken, but the taste being something totally different. It tastes different, but it was very good, and the mango sauce helped it for sure.

While waiting on the main courses, we were offered free samples of baby back ribs and swamp juice. I didn’t get a chance to try the ribs, but my cameramen (Michael and Josh) definitely liked them, as the meat separates itself from the bone quite easily. The swamp juice was very good too, has a Sprite-like kick to it. The juice is actually an assortment of different sodas combined together. While we waited on the food, Matthew, one of the four owners of the place, was cooking and talked to us, engaging in a variety of fun conversations. Clearly they take their time cooking the food, no hurries in rural Florida.



My dish was The Club. By the way, the Mixed Grills portion of the menu consists of meats mixed in with an assortment of food and can be served in a tortilla bowl, or as a wrap. My Club was in a bowl, and was a mix of turkey cooked in rum and coke---served with potatoes, ranch sauce, cheese, bacon, and butter. While I am not usually a fan of meshing foods together into a bowl (KFC’s food bowl was a disgusting disaster), the end result here was spectacular. They give you plenty of turkey, and the other ingredients enhanced the taste. While I forgot to ask to remove the tomatoes, it wasn’t too much of an issue because some of the best bacon ever was contained in my bowl. The chives, cheese, and potatoes were also great.



Josh ordered the philly cheesesteak-like bowl, which was a blend of steak cooked in rum with a variety of other flavors. Michael orders the top sirloin bowl, which resembled mine, except different meat. Let’s just say all three of us were in heaven, as we had our food and alcohol all in one. Best part is: no hangover intact. Just a full stomach. The three bowls looked great, tasted great, and the atmosphere was very friendly---even when the weather was at its ugliest.

Yes, another free sample. We were given gator pudding, which was something Josh and Michael definitely did not want to sample. Given that I’ve already tried gator, I decided to give a gator-infused dessert a shot. The end result was fantastic and extremely sweet. The others, being surprised at my reaction, gave it a try. After a little more torture, the owners revealed that gator pudding was nothing other than sweet bread pudding. Gator or not, it was good. We order a cinnamon roll, which was also sweet, and paid our bill. We waited a bit, but the service, food, and total experience was well worth it. I’ve uncovered yet another hidden treasure.

Bottom Line: This extremely unique place was very satisfying, very fun, and very tasty. No food stood out, but all the foods throughout our lunch was very good. The staff was amazing and also very good cooks, as they prepare their food in a unique yet successful way. I can truly classify myself a Floridian now, knowing that there is a gator’s tail in my stomach. Fantastic all-around experience, I highly, strongly recommend. Just be sure to call first.


Thanks Lonnie, Julie, Matthew, and Katie.

Open: Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday
Hours: Look at Picture Below





Old School Coffee Stop:
26205 East Colonial Drive
Christmas, FL 32709-9628
(407) 568-4005

Quietly Serving Amazing Chinese

Chinese restaurants are extremely easy to find. Good Chinese restaurants however, not so easy. Whether it’s Chinese-run Chinese restaurants, Chinese-American Chinese restaurants, or Hispanic-run Chinese restaurants (they do exist sadly enough), you can find your kung pao fu yung chicken in many places in each city that has its share of varied cultures. New York City is the Chinese Restaurant Capital of the World (this award does not exist, you don’t have to Google it), with one in almost every single corner—literally. You don’t have to take more than 10 steps before finding a Chinese joint. They are also well-known for fast delivery, excessive amounts of food, and almost a guarantee they will forget to give you something if you make the order to-go. Despite that, Chinese food in New York is absolutely fantastic, especially that of Chinatown (It sounds stereotypical, but it rings so true). For anyone keeping tally, “Chinese” was said 11 times in this paragraph.

The closest Orlando has to offer to top New York Chinese is this tiny small local joint that has stood the test of time with a dedicated fanbase, good reviews, and strong word-of-mouth. Green House is not your typical Chinese joint, its one with quality food, quality prices, and quality portions. Emerging somewhere in the late 90s, Green House has outlasted nearly every other place in the plaza. It has managed to survive the worst of times, when at least half a dozen places went under in the five-mile radius of that area. Movie theaters were failing, gyms were failing, restaurants were going under, and even some gas stations couldn’t make it. Despite all this, Green House stood tall and mighty, still receiving visitors, still delivering plenty of times, and still maintaining its quality after all these years.

The biggest issue with Chinese restaurants (and this ESPECIALLY applies to restaurant chains) is the pricing and the amount that follows. Very rarely will you ever get enough food to justify the nearly-ten dollar dish that’s barely occupying a tenth of your table. Pei Wei and Panda Express are pretty much on top of the list for most expensive quick service eateries in the country. Of course, it wouldn’t be such an issue if the food was good and if they gave you a lot. However, when you can spend only 5 bucks on footlongs, or only 10 bucks on massive pizza, paying over 10 dollars for a few pieces of chicken and rice is a tough pill to swallow. With Green House, the second you are seated you start with a small appetizer—before even ordering. With two sauces on the side at all times, you are ready for Chinese food.




Their standout appetizer is the crab Rangoon, which is a delicacy enjoyed in almost all Chinese restaurants, but the ones here are much more fulfilling. Usually the Rangoon (in the Orlando/Kissimmee area) is shaped like a stuffed triangle, but in Green House they not only taste good, but they look good. The ones here are shaped more like a big flower, with all the incredible stuffing hiding underneath. The stuffing is just a right amount, never too much, never too little. Green House also has incredible ribs and fried chicken wings, which is a bit odd for a Chinese joint. It is not every day a person can find ribs from a Chinese hole-in-the-wall location rivaling those of Chilis and T.G.I. Fridays.




Green House stands out because of the main courses, moreso than the lovely atmosphere, fast delivery, and vast quantity. Even something as simple as chicken fried rice, results in you getting a mountainload of rice with plenty of chunks of chicken sprinkled throughout. Nothing is ever cut back; you get a lot of food. I am a huge fan of their sweet and sour meat, especially the sweet and sour shrimp. Unlike your usual seafood joint, their shrimp requires the entire fork. Unlike your usual chicken bites, it requires multiple bites to finish off one piece.


Bottom Line: Green House is as close to New York Chinese food as you’ll ever get, as the food, service, and prices are fantastic. You always get plenty of food, you’ll always receive smiles from the staff running the place, and the overall experience is always a delight. This has been my top choice for Chinese food for years, and its one of the better hidden eatery treasures in the Orlando-Kissimmee area. You want good Chinese food and not have to sacrifice your wallet? Look no further.



12915 South Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32837-6592

Aye Dios Mio!

Rangetsu was one of International Drive’s best kept secrets. It was a franchise with the look and feel of a local eatery. The place was massive, pretty, and contained some of the most popular sushi in the county. Located by one of twelve TGI Fridays in the area and inches from what-used-to-be-the-world’s-largest McDonalds (Damn you Russia and China), this Japanese joint seemed invincible. It was always full, always kicking, and always had the rave reviews. Then came reality, and the economy struck, shutting down the place out of nowhere. Months after offering New Year’s Eve specials, Rangetsu was taken down by the sluggish economic times. Now, what does this have to do with Choo Choo Churros? Well, Choo Choo just might become the next Rangetsu---a great place that will be marred by the economy, leading to magnificent food never being served again. This Argentine delight is quite high in price, but ups the price because they know they can back it with some of the best Hispanic food in the state.

This culinary adventure all started because of a co-worker that doesn’t speak Spanish but has Argentine blood running through her veins because of the fatherly side of the family. She was craving chimichurri, which is a well-known sauce/topping/slice of heaven originating and being popularized in Argentina, with most other Spanish countries giving their own take on it.




Chimichurri (according to Wikipedia) is traditionally a blend of chopped parsley, minced garlic, oil (vegetable or olive), white or red vinegar, and red pepper flakes. There are two versions of this topping; it can be green or red, depending on your preference. The green version contains a more limey flavoring, giving the dish an island touch. The red chimichurri is spicier and has much more of a kick, because it contains actual peppers and marinara sauce. Either way, she was craving it, so the search for legit chimichurri began. There was only one fully-legit Argentinean restaurant in Orlando however. Most Argentina dining can be found more along the south ends of Florida, especially in Miami (you know, Hispanic New York).





This lone stop for a slice of pure Argentina is located in the confusing confides of Downtown Orlando, right off the outskirts. Being located on the backends of Orlando and inches from Titusville, this eatery is quite a hassle to find, especially with the forever-pathetic, annoying, and frustrating 408 in the way. In other words, yes, I got lost, and yes, I was way off. Just as bad as my trip to Kissimmee, but it’s still not the worst case of being totally lost I’ve ever dealt with (My and my mom’s discovery of Christmas, Florida during an attempted trip to Gainesville made for some interesting storytelling).




After about an hour of hunting, we finally find the spot. The presentation from the outside wasn’t much to brag about, especially with a tree blocking the main title of the establishment. Definitely had a cozy, homey setting. We approach the restaurant, noticing that nobody else was in there, except for the employees. A very nice man opened the door for us, and seated us inside. His English was just as good as his Spanish, as his Argentine accent was as strong as my sarcastic accent when speaking to idiots. We were the only two guests in the place, with another lady in the background resting. The setting on the inside was quite romantic, with all the lights being dim and each table containing a small candle. That wasn’t the intention, I swear.

The menu, let’s just say, revealed the theme of the dinner : expensive. The place is definitely up there on the price scale, with certain appetizers hitting way past the $10 mark. Almost all the entrees breezed past the $15 mark. This was not a place to spend cheaply, this place was going to test your wallet limits. But hey, you must try all things in life once, so bring it! Our server was more than courteous to us, as he explained the short history of the place and what items are popular on the menu. Coincidence or not, the more popular items are the heavier-priced ones, go figure. He recommended this dish that concerns provolone cheese being baked with spices and herbs—then being topped with tomatoes.



The bread first arrives, then the cheese delicacy. The bread was freshly baked and came with delicious garlic butter. The chimichurri sauce arrived as well. It was the red-style chimichurri sauce. While it was a little bit spicy, it was still very tasty. I still prefer Bongos’ style, but that’s because theirs is heavy on the lime and has no evidence of spicyness. Pointless trivia: Chimichurri in the Dominican Republic is actually a type of burger---not a sauce. Their cheese appetizer however was simply spectacular. The provolone was extremely thick, but very tasty indeed. It was cooked just right and the spices only enhanced the flavor. The cheese mixed with the bread was a combination straight out of heaven. It was definitely a great start.


I ordered the steak (Churasco) and my partner-in-crime Chelsey orders the chicken. My steak came on top of a pile of fries, seemingly still on fire. The steam was spewing from the meat and wasn’t showing signs of slowdown. The chicken arrives in an impressive manner, engulfing three-fourths of the plate. The chicken arrives on a bed of rice and was topped with two lemons. The steak turned out very well; despite me knowing that if I had ordered it any rarer, it would have been even better (I am a wimp and asked for it well-done). Chelsea’s chicken (that just sounded like a typical name of a mom-and-pop joint) was very impressive, very tasty, and huge. My partner in crime had the face of someone that knew she was not going to finish her plate. We exchange plates and she fell in love with the steak—flat out in love. I didn’t mind finishing off the chicken, which was very good too. The entire dinner was impressive; with the only minor disappointment being the chimichurri (both of us clearly prefer the lime-style sauce)

As we were finishing (trying) the food, more people started arriving, adding some hope to the restaurant. This joint has been around for almost two decades, and the server mentioned that before, people used to wait 30 minutes for a table (There are only 9-10 tables in the eatery after all). However, tough times and tough breaks led to the place not raking the money they used to make. It’s a total shame too, because they have some fantastic dishes to offer. Then……came the dessert.




The dulce de leche crepe is easily the best crepe I have ever had the fortune to taste in my entire life. Second place is not even close, not even close. Epcot can only dream of delivering a crepe to the quality of Choo Choo Churros. The dulce de leche was rich, very sugary, and extremely high in flavor. In a wasabi-style flavoring takeover, the dessert absolutely delivered, was absolutely top-notch. The calories were rushing down my throat, but I did not care (As I write this, I have only eaten rice and tuna to make up for all the calories I chowed down last night). It was the perfect icing on the cake to the dinner, the experience altogether.

Bottom Line: The best way to sum this up is in Dominican Spanish: Lejisimo, Carisimo, pero Buenisimo. In plain American English: it was far, very expensive, but damn good. It honestly does an excellent job justifying the crazy prices. If you want good steak, this is the place to go. If you want a nice romantic setting, this is your spot. If you want some of the best dessert Orlando has to offer, Choo Choo Churros is your your place. The service was amazing, the food was spectacular, and it yet another reason why doing this blog was a fantastic idea. I don’t have much more to say, this place is high-quality-true-authentic stuff. If you are willing to spend the cash, prepare for some fine, fine cuisine.

Choo Choo Churros
5810 Lake Underhill Road
Orlando, FL 32807-4311


P.S. Visit #2

So I decided to come back and try their most popular item: which are the dulce de leche-stuffed churros. Now, on the second visit, the chicken was still awesome, the steak was even better the second time around, and the churros......wow...wow...wow. They were crispy, sugary, and sweet amazingness right down to the core. Now, if this added part to the review doesn't convince you, then perhaps these new pictures will:








Final Final Verdict: Highly Recommend

Seaside Dining in Central Florida

Every person living in a city for a long time has that one building or restaurant they pass by all the time, almost every time they are on the road, but never uses an opportunity to know the place. My example is Julie’s Waterfront, a lakeside restaurant located across from a massive church on Orange Avenue. This restaurant was always passed by because the two churches I have attended in my life are located inside/near Downtown Orlando, and Orange Ave. is the safest, quickest, and smoothest way of reaching them. But, as soon as this blog started, the curiosity became bigger, because this is an example of a restaurant that has lasted for at least two decades, no question. Since I was seven I remember driving by Julie’s Waterfront on the way to noon mass, always wondering just how good the food was. Today, I receive my answer.




Down on Orange Avenue, passing the massive church that closes traffic after a mass is over (this is another story), lies the powerhouse popular restaurant. Finding the place isn’t difficult, especially with a massive lake crowding the scenery on the right side of the road. The location is purely perfect for outdoor dining, by day and at night (weather permitting). The inside of the restaurant isn’t very big, so if there were a crazy storm in the area, it would be quite a hassle to maneuver through the establishment. Just the thought alone would be a bit frightening. Luckily, it was perfect Florida weather (Come on other states, envy us, ENVY!) so I was able to dine outside.


The menu itself was multiple pages, but unlike your usual seafood, the place has a wide variety of foods that extends far from seafood to sandwiches to meatless burgers to even some hummus (not like I would ever try hummus in a seafood joint though). The older community benefits more from the variety as they have a slew of options to pick from in the final page. In an IHOP style, there is a small menu built just for those over 50 and in need of watching their health. I order coconut shrimp, while my cinematographer orders the most popular item in the restaurant: their famous fried shrimp. We first get our salad (which was the size of a small soup bowl) as we wait for the main course. The salad had a good ranch dressing, but it’s a salad. The only salad I have ever loved in my years on this earth: Polynesian Resort’s Ohana’s salad.


Their most popular side item was the sweet potato fries, which we proceed to order. Yes, they were very good; their flavor was more in the family of sweet plantains. Not saying it’s a bad family connection, but it is not for everybody. Strange texture, grand flavor. After about 10 minutes of waiting, all the shrimp arrives. The portions were rather small, but the food still looked very good. My coconut shrimp was with hushpuppies, but the hushpuppies were bite-sized and quite small. All hushpuppy fans know a good hushpuppy is a gigantic one. There was around 6-7 shrimp, and they were medium-sized. Same went with the fried shrimp, about 6 or 7, small, but looked good.


The shrimp, both items were very good, but the small portions were a bit on the disappointing side. The coconut shrimp actually was smaller then the fried shrimp. Margaritaville (which has the best coconut shrimp ever) trounces Julies by a mile. As for the fried shrimp, I’ve actually had better in a Chinese joint called Green House (which is the basis for another culinary blog entry in the near future). Despite being defeated by other restaurants, the meal itself was decent, just not fulfilling. Both dishes were over 11 bucks. The rule of thumb in my book is that if a dish is over 10 dollars (and doesn’t contain ingredients obtained in only small patches of grass in third world countries), it better do a great job filling you up at least.


After we were done with the food, we decided to buy crab cakes, just to see what they tasted like in the local secret. The long wait was right here, as the crab cakes took at least 15 minutes to prepare. Usually crab cakes aren’t too difficult, but this one must be lasting longer away from our table because of whether quality, or size. They turned out to be quite good, quite fulfilling, but also the most expensive appetizer I’ve had in a while. Nearly 12 bucks gets you those two large, meaty crab cakes. Just like your typical TGI and Chilis’, you are paying a bit for the atmosphere as well as the food. While the atmosphere was definitely nice, we still weren’t full.


Bottom Line: Julie’s Waterfront is a very nice restaurant in a prime, prime location. The food was very good, the service was nice, and the view is virtually flawless. It could make for a very romantic evening eating outside, overlooking a nice lake. However, just prepare for little amounts of food, whether it’s an appetizer or a main course. The shrimp was good, just not enough. The coconut shrimp was good, but it just wasn’t enough. Perhaps it’s because there’s an older cult following backing this place, and they can handle less food than your typical carnivore. Whatever the reason, Julie’s Waterfront is high price, (minimal) good local food.



4201 South Orange Avenue
Orlando, FL 32806
(407) 240-2557