Saturday, April 24, 2010

ANNAS POLISH RESTAURANT: A STAR IS BORN


Anna’s is cathartic. This is the only word that comes to mind post-dining that truly sums up the experience. After a very long time, I have stumbled upon a place so worthy of kudos. Do you know the feeling you get when something deep down in your soul says “This is special”? Well, this is one of those moments. After having my taste buds electrocuted back to life, truly, I came very close to finding the Olympian of Restaurants. Read on… this blog is a must.

Upon arriving, I was a little shocked how small the place was- about 15 tables max. I took my seat and ordered pierogis right away. Watching years of Martha Stewart (née Kostyra) does that to you. A plate filled with them appeared 10 mins later. They were boiled with a caramelized onion oil drizzled on top. A duet of potato-and-cheese and pork dumplings, they were delicious. It was at this time I had realized that I had stumbled upon a gold mine. I proceeded with extreme caution towards the main course- surely, with a starter this good, you almost wince in fear that the rest would only lead to disappointment.

The main course DID NOT disappoint. Rather, it only took my tongue (leashed to my brain and belly) to another stratosphere. Pyzy- yes, a word without vowels only wows. Sublime, the next American Idol, the lost Arc of the Covenant… call it what you want, this dish certainly threw my tongue into a mini orgasm. Potato dumplings stuffed with pork, it was different from the pierogi. Soft yet with enough structure to encase the meat it bore, these Silesian dumplings smothered in mushroom sauce are the equivalent of Soul Food. If my brain ignored satiation, I would have ordered this dish over and over again.

It is worth mentioning the side items at this establishment. Of notable attention is the beet root salad. Beet lovers, YOU ARE FORBIDDEN from passing this up. EXQUISTELY CRIMSON! And oh so delicious. Another star was the cucumber salad- such freshness from thinly sliced cucumber and sour cream can ONLY BE GENERATED IF HIGH STANDARDS OF FRESHNESS ARE KEPT. Cucumber being so sensitive to the elements, I quickly noted that they were sliced very recently and marinated in dressing just before serving to preserve the subtle crunch and sweetness. As far as the beet salad, it’s the best in town with the appealing color (another attribute to freshness) and texture.

Impressed would be a down play of what I felt. Gratitude would be more accurate. Anna treated us to a trio of desserts that were all homemade. The Nalesniki were divine and the clear front runner in an otherwise very good dessert platter. The Pychotka with walnuts were also good. Somewhere, Martha is smiling.

We left with congratulating and thanking Anna. She needs some kitchen help. I felt a little sympathetic to her work life as she is there from 6am to 2am every night! Please connect with her if you can ease her burden. Her son works the front of house- he would be the one to get a hold of.

IN A NUTSHELL- A GOLD MINE. Anna has nailed Polish food with her primary ingredient- love. I rate this place very high. It’s up to her son’s business skills to take her talent to the next level. After having the opportunity to interview her, I believe this place has the potential to become major.
Anna's Polish Restaurant on Urbanspoon

SMOKEY BONES: SMOKEY WINGS AND CHEAP


Smokey Bones has done a 180 since being dumped by Darden. It’s evolved into a semi-sports bar that still keeps some of its casual Darden dining feel. Smokey Bones has definitely changed up price points. All of a sudden, I feel like a little chick wanting to scream- CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP!

The smoked wings were great and so were the beer specials. Yes, gentlemen, please get rev up your beer bellies for Smokey. I had a “big boy” Miller Lite for $2.50 and that’s not all- liquor was also a bargain at $5 for a double shot of Absolut. Let’s just say this place has the blue collar people in the Fashion Square Mall area smiling cheek to cheek.

Smokey has a lot of specials that change daily-heck, even hourly. We were there early afternoon and missed their happy hour (between 4-6pm) half-priced appetizers. As I recall, they have trivia night every Thursday. So much going on, so little time…
From a foodie perspective, their barbeque sauces were notable. From about 4 different ones that they land in front of you in squeegee bottles, I thought the honey mustard went perfectly with the wings. The sauce was a great elixir of mild mustard spice with a soothing lip-smacking sweetness. I just couldn’t have enough of it. When I depleted my wings, I even experimented with the sauce on celery sticks.

IN A NUTSHELL- Guys, this place is decent and cheap. Did I mention, cheap? The number of flat screens they have are proportional to the number of specials they have. Ask for their barbeque spice-rub shaker- it tastes exactly like the powder you’d find on barbeque potato chips. I hang out at the bar and the service is always awesome. Somewhere, Ale House execs are worried about their competition…
Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill on Urbanspoon

Friday, April 16, 2010

Linda’s Winter Park Diner: Why, Linda, Why?


Linda’s is located on prime real estate right on Fairbanks, yet its food is so saddening. Bland, cheap and made like a roughage stop, Linda’s diner fails reasoning why a diner in a good location for business would succumb to such low standards.

First off, as a “classic” diner, this place only accepts cash. Don’t even think about swiping your plastic over some pre-Cambrian era cash register. Being promptly seated, I ordered the meatloaf with mashed potatoes as a side. The meatloaf was standard and satisfactory but definitely not something to write home about. What I did find objection to was the mashed potatoes- clearly this was powdered, reconstituted crap that you get from a box. Why, Linda, why? For the sake of a few dollars, you really had to stoop to this?

On a positive note, the service was good and well received. Several waitresses checked on us and kept topping-off our iced-tea and coffee. It was appreciated.

IN A NUTSHELL- A definite roughage stop. But you can find tastier roughage stops until Linda takes a hint.
Winter Park Diner on Urbanspoon

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Green Lemon Café: Amanda’s smart business move


The Green Lemon Café’s sign only advertises as “Café” in the strip mall next to Tijuana Flats. Yet, you should go here instead of the latter. It’s a small (and a bit cramped) place. However, what you’re surrendering for luxury, you are more than making up for some tasty crepes.

Service is fast-food style. You hunt down a menu at the counter, browse, and order with the person at the register. You find a seat, and food is eventually dropped off to you. My companion and I ordered 4 different crepes- the Norwegian, the Lemon Delight, a Raspberry Chicken Crepe, and a Prosciutto Fig Crepe.
The Norwegian was by far the most daring. Garnished with a dusting of paprika, a mélange of red onions, capers, and salmon on a whole wheat crepe was nothing short of sublime. The way all these ingredients came together made me realize that this place really takes their craft seriously. The salmon was fresh and non-fishy smelling- even more reason why you should give this crepe a shot when you go to the Green Lemon.

The Lemon Delight could only be explained as a perfect after-dinner crepe. Highly fragrant with beautiful lemon overtones, this crepe is like a seductive siren that lures you until you find your nose almost crashing into the plate. Exceptional sweetness with a mild tart finish, this crepe is married with lighter-than-air whipped cream.

Raspberry and Chicken- at first thought this crepe was not for me. From the moment my companion ordered this one, I wasn’t really looking forward to even sampling it. For some reason, I’m not a big fan of sweet meats (the only exception being ham). Yet, this was the surprise of the course. In my opinion, it was the thinly sliced pieces of chicken that made this dish successful. There was just the right amount of meat texture that complimented the raspberry jam. The addition of cheese in the mix bonded two very different flavors into a heavenly combination. So good was this crepe, that it has converted me into appreciating sweet-meat concoctions. You’ve got to try this too- it will make a believer out of you.

Alas, the disappointment- the Prosciutto Fig. It was… bad. Astringent and oddly savory, you would think this one would be a shoe-in on a white crepe but it left a very unpleasant aftertaste. The problem was the prosciutto wasn’t fresh- the odd smell of it completely foiled the dish. Weird, but true.

After all was said and done, we had an opportunity to talk to one of the proprietors- Amanda. A restless woman, she quickly asked how was everything while her eyes flitted about processing about five other things in her mind. She mentioned something about Saturday & Sunday brunches between 10am- 2pm and extending her Café’s selections to flat breads while offering beer and wine on the menu as well. When I asked about how she came about opening a crepe concept restaurant, her response was a smart business-like one: she looked around the Winter Park area and decided that crepes were a niche market that people would come specifically to her for. And crepes she does well… how do you like 'em apples?... er, crepes?

IN A NUTSHELL- Enjoy some great crepe concoctions modestly priced. Try the European blend coffee that has a strong, mildly-bitter finish as a complement to any of your crepes. Say hi to Amanda and tell her to relax even if the store rent is killing her. After all, she is brains behind this very delectable business. All crepes are made with white or wheat batter, so choose carefully what you pair your toppings with. This is a good place to stop when you’re in the heart of Winter Park looking for a sensible and satisfying snack.
Green Lemon Cafe on Urbanspoon

Followers