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

Ana's Kitchen: Little Restaurant, Big Flavor

Word of mouth is a special, special thing.

There is a very small restaurant hidden behind Wet n’ Wild, located far from the more popular Tourist Country sites. This place is in a small plaza with throwaway stores and stereotypically-named restaurants. Ana’s Kitchen is in a tough location to make good money---and then being open strictly in the afternoon adds to the difficulty of maintaining itself.

But the word of mouth has allowed for this place to thrive. I was told of this place by a Brazilian co-worker, who doesn’t even officially live in Orlando (Has a one-year program). When I personally arrived, it was chock full of Brazilians and South Americans---tourists and locals. The place is just a few tables deep, the kitchen within sight, and barely enough room for decoration. Nice Brazilian artwork scatters the place, but you really don’t have space to enhance the vibe and atmosphere. Ana’s Kitchen is very friendly though from staff to management.

Being a small place with obvious limited budget, they pull off daily lunch specials to replace some of the main menu items that aren’t always available. Although I really wanted steak, due to limitations I instead ordered their chicken parmesan with rice, fried yucca, and French fries. I know, cool diet. Throw in some mango juice and I will call it a nice South American lunch. Although chicken parmesan doesn’t sound too Brazilian, keep in mind Sao Paulo is one of the top places for Italian food in the world. They love their pizza there.

The rice, fries, and yucca arrive first, which I found rather odd. The rice was decent, nothing too fattening (like Hispanic rice) or plain (like sushi rice). The fried yucca didn’t have much of the infamous Hispanic flair, but its yucca so you can’t really go wrong. You get a nice healthy portion, and each bite is just as crunchy and flavorful as the last one. Yucca is honestly everything the potato wishes it could be---if you haven’t discovered the magic of yucca (cassava in English) then you must change this today. Although the sides were good, I was still pondering why they arrived so much earlier than my –

---Holy crap. This is not chicken. This is a monstrosity. Not only is it a ginormous hunk of chicken lathered in fresh marinara and topped with a mountain of cheese, but it is a darn good chicken that is hugged by Italian goodness. When the plate arrives you can hardly see evidence of the meat—you have to start consuming it before you are convinced its chicken parm. Now, a plate of this size would usually mean that the dish is around $20-$25, but in Ana’s Kitchen it is a steal by costing just north of $12---and remember it comes with all those sides that had been delivered earlier.

Among the best chicken parms I’ve ever consumed, this behemoth is packed with intense flavor from top to bottom—from the smooth marinara to the fresh melted cheese to the chicken itself which was baked perfectly. Despite the size it was very easy to eat because the texture was being generous. But then combine with the rice and yucca and you have easily a full meal—it feels like the appetizer, sides, and main entrée was wrapped up in a nice $12 package. Hands-down one of the best lunch deals you’ll find in all of central Florida. If all the meals are this size then we are looking at one of the best restaurants in terms of value in the entire state.

Of course, I had to try their dessert. Chocolate flan was the dessert of choice, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. One of most egregious things you can do to moist desserts like flan or tres leches is not engulf the treat in extra syrup, sugar, or sauce. This flan was sitting on a sea of pure sugary mayhem, which contributed to why it was a nice sweet kick to offset all the salty and savory lunch I just consumed. It was nowhere near as big as the chicken parmesan but it was plenty to satisfy.

Bottom Line: Ana’s Kitchen is an awesome choice for lunch, especially if you’ve seen better days financially. Spotting a $20, you can engage yourself in a very full lunch that might hold you over past dinner, as the lunch items are big and the sides contribute to the great value you’ll find within these skinny walls. The menu is definitely smaller, but with the lunch specials and the good variety within that lonely page you won’t be moaning too much at the limited options. Everything I had here was fresh, delicious, and great in quantity. If you are looking for a calmer Brazilian restaurant that doesn’t have the typical buffet mannerisms, then Ana’s Kitchen is your spot.Word of mouth is the main reason why a secluded restaurant open only 5 hours can still remain a success story. And with this article, I am merely continuing the hype train.


Final Verdict: Recommend


Ana’s Kitchen
7500 Universal Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819

Chimiking: (Temporarily) I'm Home..

My opinion towards my country’s food has been documented several times. There are foods over in the Dominican Republic that can never be duplicated here in the United States, no matter how hard you try. This is not an insult to America, this is just the truth. The fruit there is fresher, the water is better, the yucca is nineteen layers above anything cassava/potatoish here in Florida, and even the street foods have a special flavor.

One of our most infamous creations is the chimichurri, which is actually street burgers. What makes the chimichurri over in the Dominican Republic so fascinating is that you never actually know when was the last time that grill was cleaned, you don’t know what else has been cooking in the same vicinity, and you never quite know what that special sauce is (even though nine times out of ten its mayo/ketchup). None of this is healthy, but I assure you that there are few things in life sweeter than a good Dominican burger. So when we have a food truck that has excelled and survived throughout Orlando mainly because of Dominican burgers, I of course had to find this place.

ChimiKing the food truck actually became such a hit that the owners decided to also open up a permanent restaurant in the edge of Whisper Lakes, one of the neighborhoods between Orlando and Kissimmee. Good luck figuring out what exactly is their chimichurri contents, as not even their website points out details of the burger---and yes there is a secret sauce attached. The restaurant itself is a small building that houses a small menu and a section where there is already-made food that you can order to go. I didn’t care about anything else, I just wanted the chimuchurri. Because I am a weakling for these things (and because I still can’t figure out how to make a successful one at home) I complimented the burger with a morir sonando (milk/orange juice hybrid straight from heaven).

The chimichurri arrives in all its glory: it’s a thick burger that is surrounded by shredded lettuce, plenty of sauce and wrapped in thick toasted bun that is far meatier and heavier than the average burger bun. The entire creation was a sheer delight, as the burger packed plenty of heat and flavor, and was supported immensely by the creamy sauce that was lathering on top with the lettuce. With the buns being well-toasted, it kept the temperature of the beautiful burger nice and high all the way to the last bite. Simplicity is key here: burger, good sauce, good bread, and a veggie alternative to touch the rest of your taste buds.

While I deemed it impossible, this burger does a great job transporting you to the sketchy corners of the Dominican Republic where secretly some of the best cooks concoct their evil creations. Also helping the trip down Dominican memory lane was the equally superb morir sonando, which was just the right amount of sweetness to counter the heat, salt, and savory punch of the chimichurri. I didn’t have anything else. I didn’t need anything else. Coming back here would just result in me ordering the same thing—similar to my relationship with Hollywood’s Le Tub: I am only here for the burger.

Bottom Line: If the food truck’s chimichurri is just as good as the restaurant version, then it is definitely worth making the trip at 3 a.m. to this area to nab one of these late night delights. The chimichurris here are fantastic and worth every penny and every mile. Similar to a magician keeping their tricks secret to preserve the magic, I’d rather not know what that secret sauce is, I just want to relive the experience and hear the bachata playing as I consume one of these delights. If you are looking for a great late night burger, look no further. Look for the ChimiKing truck. Get the chimichurri. Thank me later.



Final Verdict: Recommend


ChimiKing
2108 Whisper Lakes Blvd, 
Orlando, FL 32837