Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Bananas: The hype could be tastier



It’s Drag night at Bananas. With a few songs here and a few dollars there, my eyes were not distracted by the queens in all their glory. My eyes, however, had met their destination- the menu. And if the costumes hadn’t given me a clue, a quick glance over the options told me that this place was no ordinary diner.

Firstly, you should know that I’ve waited for a while to review this place. Unfortunately, there has been a lot of dramatics (apparent inconsistency of food, service, and customer relations) associated with this restaurant when none were necessary to begin with. So I decided to wait for more than a few months to pass and let things congeal into what they are supposed to be by now.

I carefully ordered the following items and for the following reasons:
1) Beer Battered Onion Rings ($3.99): This appetizer has gained popular status.
2) The Funk Monkey Burger ($9.95): For paying homage to Funky Monkey Wine Company (a sister restaurant) that’s right down the road
3) The Buffalo Chicken Sandwich ($9.90): Because the same batter for the onion rings was going to be coated over the chicken breast. I liked where this was going…
4) Phone Home ($6.99): Wha… a handspun milkshake that’s got part of my blog name? Gotta try it.


The Onion Rings were all they were promised to be- amazing. A tad on the oily side, these rings had a flake-factor that some restaurants would vie for. It’s a recipe worth safe-keeping in a vault. Word is that the beer the use for the rings is Pabst Blue Ribbon! Imagine that.

The continuation of the special fry batter was evident in the Buffalo Chicken Burger. In ordinary circumstances, the chicken breast would have been tossed in buffalo sauce after receiving its crunch coat, but we opted to skip it in order to preserve its crisp couture as much as possible. It was quite good decision and the product lived up to its expectation. I recommend it.

The Funky Monkey Burger was a lesson in unsuccessful execution. All the main ingredients (Angus Beef, Fried Goat Cheese, Tomato Jam, Panko, and Almonds) made sense, but the way they came together was a disappointment. There were two main flaws- the goat cheese was PACKED on with panko. Being a drier tasting cheese, the panko only took it to the extreme. The other problem was the portion size of the tomato jam- a lot more of it would have given this burger the depth it really deserved. These two proved to make the Burger lack juiciness. Additionally, I was asked while ordering how I would’ve liked my beef cooked and I had requested medium. When it arrived, the burger was well done which only made the entrée drier.

The burger comes with your choice of a side- chips, fries, coleslaw, or macaroni salad. Opting for the macaroni salad proved to be the mistake- it was the deadest thing on my tongue. Tremendously bland, I had to jump-start it with quite a few shakes of salt and pepper before it even attained a weak pulse.

These technical errors made me question some previous reviewers- notably Scott Joseph’s. Perhaps being a prominent figure in the Gay community, he was recognized prior to his dining experiences. When identity is known, it is my inference that the probability of a skewed review is high. I, personally, would have written a delightful review of the food if I had experienced the same.


Onto better news, our server spun me up a delicious milkshake made with Vanilla and Chocolate Ice Cream, crushed Reeses Cups, and Yoo-hoo. Utterly sweet and topped with an ultra-generous serving of whipped cream, it was so delicious and so filling. I took what I couldn’t finish home and it held up perfectly in the fridge until the next day. It also happened to be the clincher of the entire experience: think about it- if a drag queen (‘Miss Addison Taylor’) can fix up a shake this good, Bananas definitely serves up a twist (hence, ‘modern’) on an American diner.

IN A NUTSHELL: Go for the onion rings. If you’re a night owl, you’ll appreciate that they are open 24hrs on Friday and Saturday. Your dining experience on those late nights will be paired with a drag queen server who may consider to indulge you in a bombastic lip-sync number. And if you’re coming from the clubs, please don’t take it upon yourself to impress your friends with a ‘Hot Wing Challenge.’ INTENSE is probably a timid suggestion on how inexplicably spicy this sauce is. Delicious, but alarmingly provocative. Not only do you have to sign a medical release form, but you will be suffering the consequences the next morning at the Oval Office (*wink*). And if you’re going for show and a place to see-and-be-seen rather than just a bite to snack on, Bananas definitely meets the expectation. I, however, came for the food and it is my hope that it only gets perfected as this restaurant continues to evolve.
Bananas · A Modern American Diner on Urbanspoon

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Phở 88: A local food haunt

There is something to be said about Phở 88 when you are thinking about it more than ONCE in the SAME week. Some of my friends just don’t get it- what’s so special about this joint? And my answer to that can be pretty complex. But it probably stems from the fact that you have so many choices to chose from and I have been consistently happy (and sometimes elated) with the food.

All Vietnamese eateries are not created equal. This is why I’m not reviewing touristy Little Saigon first… I’ll take Phở 88 with their tiny little parking lot any day of the week. If you want servers to have lively conversations with you, go to the former. If you want some tasty food in a more spacious-looking environment, come here.

My accompanying friend this time doesn’t like seafood or things that are too spicy. In other words, my selections were slightly limited. So, I decided to try the Cơm Tấm Thịt Nướng (literally, ‘broken rice grilled pork’- #58 on the current menu) for $6.25, Mì Sợi Lớn Xào Rau Đậu Hủ (Egg Noodles with Tofu and Vegetables- #111) for $9.95, and Bò Nấu Lá Quế (a mixture of Beef and Vegetable sauté infused with Thai Basil- #160) for $9.50. Knowing their portion sizes from previous visits, I knew I didn’t have to order anything more.


They all arrived simultaneously- of which the Grilled Pork caught my eye like the blonde in a crowd of red-heads. You may laugh reading this, but broken rice may be an acquired taste- especially when your mind interprets broken rice as being something wrong. It came to no surprise when I researched this dish afterwards that Cơm Tấm was first used for cooking by impoverished farmers that didn’t let anything to waste. But like many other dishes over time (Coq au Vin, for example) it has become a popular mainstay. The grilled pork atop the rice could have been more generous but it was well-done. Slightly salty, semi-sweet, a little fatty, and, most importantly, not overcooked.

I also liked the Beef-vegetable sauté. However, the Thai Basil flavor was much, much more subdued than I imagined it to be. In addition to red bell pepper, a few leaves of Thai Basil , onions, and scallions (the jalapenos were omitted at my friend’s behest), soft pieces of bamboo shoots and straw mushrooms were also present. Overall, a good dish with delicate earthy flavors tied together with beef.


But it was the Tofu dish that let my friend down. He gave some promising insight that the tofu should have been cooked with the vegetables a bit further to properly absorb some of their flavors (tofu, after all, is rather bland). I, too, felt that the dish would have been more successful had the tofu risen up to the occasion. The Egg Noodles are not too THICK (I had envisioned a 1/4” width on them). Rather, they are slightly smaller than regular Fettuccini.

For spice lovers, you may find some of the food too subtle in flavor (notably the vegetarian options). You will be happy to know that each table at Phở 88 has a condiment rack comprising of- Chili sauce (think something like Sriracha), Hoisin (a necessary condiment when it comes to Vietnamese noodle soup) as well as the NOTORIOUS Nước Mắm (fish sauce)

which will be present in the CONCENTRATED FORM (the diluted form with vinegar, and lemon juice will be presented when main course comes out) on the spice rack and will resemble the soy sauce visually. A word of caution- if you don’t like fish, chances are you will not like the smell of this. For better or worse, it is a condiment with distinct flavor. I, for one, am digging it.

On a final note, I’d like to dedicate this review to our server- I’m sorry you didn’t introduce yourself but you did mention that you are thinking about going back to Vietnam to study classic Vietnamese culinary techniques. I wish you the very best in this endeavor.

IN A NUTSHELL: The Menu is VAST- at least 183 choices of appetizers and entrées alone at last count. First timers may gain appreciation without losing much money by taking advantage of their lunch time prices (everyday between 10a-4p). Be cool and stay ahead of the trend by trying the Sinh Tố Mít (a Jackfruit Milkshake)- this will probably be the next exotic fruit on everyone’s lips- for a measly $2.95. Or if you’re just plain brazen, the Bò Tái Chanh (a beef tartar of sorts) for $9.95 (it’s pretty good). Say hello to the old man that is selling some garden-grown vegetables and fruit right outside the door (we picked up a few Pumelos this time around- yum). Portion sizes are good- be careful not to over-order. Service is good- they may not speak with a perfect American click, but they are definitely reliable. The pretty girl at the counter is someone I went to high school with (go Panthers!). Maybe she’ll throw in a discount if you said that (lol).
Phó 88 on Urbanspoon

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Bombay Café: Cheap, above-average, and tasty

Who knew you'd find a good eatery tucked in the furthest corner of a hallway in an Indian Plaza? At Bombay Café, you'll find the locals- either taking a respite after some grocery shopping, or just in for a quick, cheap Indian bite.

Look, this is not a fine dining concept. You have to take a menu upon entering, walk up to the front counter, order, take a numbered stanchion to an open table, and wait for your order to be dropped off. If you want to be served hand-and-foot, this place is NOT for you.I ordered a few dishes to sample a variety of their offerings- Pani-Puri ($3.95), Paneer Pakora Chaat ($5.99), Mysore Masala Dosa ($7.95), and the hard-to-find Gobi Paratha ($3.50). In retrospect, I'm glad I stopped from ordering more since it was more than enough food.

For standard Bombay-style cuisine, the Pani-puri was the right choice. 8 puris (small hollow, fried, crisp dough spheres) were presented with a sufficient amount of a garbanzo-potato mixture and a side bowl of sweet-and-spicy water. A triad of chutneys- mint-cilantro, tamarind, and a mildly spicy orange-colored one were promptly set beside the appetizer. I like assembly of this dish a lot- you have to deftly fill the water inside the hole of the puri and gobble the entire thing in one fell swoop. Yum. The garnish of Sev (thin fried lentil noodles) and cilantro was perfection.

The Paneer Pakoras were definitely a toss-up. Some people would prefer a thicker piece of Paneer in it. Others would be content with how spongy the batter was that soaked up the flavors surrounding it. But I did feel that this was consistent with a street food order- paneer, in India, especially if you're not in the North, can be a higher priced item. At Bombay Café, their pakoras have a scant slice of paneer. About 4 large pakoras were quartered and topped with curried garbanzos, yogurt, tomatoes, and chopped onions. It was good. The side condiments are integral to this dish. So when you go, don't forget to add the chutneys.

The Mysore Masala Dosa was okay. The dosa (a sort of fermented lentil crepe) needed to be crisper- a simple technique of cooking it over the skillet for a slight longer would have scored higher on execution. The flavors were a little subdued- especially of the masala that was smeared onto the crepe. I have a feeling that this is the orange chutney that was part of the condiment triad. The turmeric-laced mashed potatoes, lentils, and green peas that were tucked inside the rolled-up crepe were standard. So was the accompanying side of Sambhar (curried vegetable stew) that you get to dip the crepe in. However, I found myself skipping over the crepe to get to these tastier items.

The Gobi Paratha was intriguing since I've never tried one. A little bland for my taste, I realized that gobi (cauliflower) doesn't have much flavor to begin with. The gobi inside this flat bread is minced ultra-fine with a touch of garlic and cilantro. A side order of Ghee (clarified butter) made the paratha more enjoyable. Next time, I will pair this with a main-course curry item.

After lunch, I did have the opportunity to talk to the owner, Joy Kakkanad, who mentioned that they are known for their Indo-Chinese specialties. He also mentioned that his restaurant's main goal is to deliver speedy, minimal service with flavorful food and highly competitive price points. Mr. Kakkanad, I think you have a good concept and I think your flavors are successful in capturing the Bombay dine-and-dash scene.

Oh, and a word of caution- these are Bombay flavors. Hence, the name of the place. Not Delhi, Kolkata, or Chennai. I get perplexed at self-entitled people that request (like this particular 'special' man in front of me at the counter) "authentic Gujrati style" and the equally profane "make it medium-spicy but not too spicy." I suppose the cook had to stop everything and have a little interview with him about exactly how much chilly would be perfect in return for a STAGGERING SUM OF $6 from his precious little wallet. GET REAL AND GET SOME ETTIQUETTE. If you don't like the food, just don't go back. You're making the person behind you (viz., me) look like I just stepped off the boat with you.

IN A NUTSHELL: A great way of introducing your friends to Indian cuisine with a Bombay flare (which happens to be the second most-populous city in the WORLD). If they don't like it, you didn't bust your wallet over them. For 2 appetizers, 1 main course, and 1 bread, my bill came out to be $22 with tax. And they were big enough to be split between 2 people! And we couldn't finish all of it! The décor is tastefully done but don't expect 5-star service. Do expect a good price point for what you're being offered.
Bombay Café on Urbanspoon

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Jeremiahs Italian Ice: A near-perfect experience

It’s 42F outside and there’s STILL a line at Jeremiah’s. Really, you say? Yes, really. It’s that good and more importantly, that good to stand in line outside in the winter.

When locals say they’re going for a “Jeremiah’s fix” please don’t misinterpret that for some narcotic rendezvous in a dark alley with some shady guy named Jeremiah. It’s this place they are referring to. And the Italian Ice does have some addictive qualities. No wonder people crave this stuff even in the middle of January.

It’s the FLAVOR that makes you go into withdrawal after a few weeks of not having it. At this current ‘fix’, I had a medium sized cup with Strawberry, Lemon, and Chocolate which were divided in between with vanilla soft-serve. I wanted to put Jeremiah through the ultimate foodie blog test because, factually, PURE FLAVORS ARE HARD TO NAIL on the dot with imitation substitutes.

BOY WAS I AMAZED! The Lemon was so good- I even noticed tiny bits of real lemon zest in it. The Strawberry also had little strawberry seeds dotted sparsely across the ice. And the Chocolate was spot on. One thing people miss out on noticing is how RICH the vanilla soft-serve is. It was ridiculously creamy. Heck, I felt like I was having heavy cream soft-serve. Which only made the boundary of each layer vividly interesting (Strawberries and cream, Lemony cream and Über creamy Chocolate)

So you may be wondering by now- why do I state this place as being not completely perfect? Why not call this the Olympian of Restaurants and give up my search? Well, it’s not a restaurant. The outside seating sucks- about 4 tables max… most of the people park and eat in their car. There’s little to no ambiance about this place. Obviously, that’s not part of their business equation since it’s not hurting them too much... or me… well except that I may be a *tad* co-dependent by now ;)

IN A NUTSHELL: Flavors routinely change. Some are only season-specific (check out Pumpkin Spice for winter). Nevertheless, they are spot-on. AND CHEAP (a medium-size cup will cost you around $4 with tax!). I’m confident that they use real fruit for the fruit options because they are exactly what the fruit tastes like. Go ahead and get yourself addicted.
Jeremiah's Italian Ice on Urbanspoon

Bikkuri: Good Sushi, Good View, Dream of Burmese dishes for the future

“Ooo, a restaurant upstairs overlooking Colonial”- that’s about what you’ll say when you pass Bikkuri. In actuality, the restaurant is the entire building. The dine-in just happens to be upstairs.
Happy hour- that’s the name of the game. 2 for 1 beers, $1 select cocktails (yes, a full bar) and $1 on select sushi. Alas, I was there around 8pm and completely missed out on the fun (never again). I opted for a booth by the window (it’s great to see Colonial – by far one of the busiest highways in Orlando from a different angle) and took the server's suggestion of a Crispy Dragon Roll ($9.99) and a Sushi Combo Roll ($6.99). To try something non-sushi, the Fried Udon Noodles with Chicken and Vegetables ($10.75) was also recommended.


The Crispy Dragon Roll- fried shrimp, caviar, cream cheese, avocado, cucumber, chili sauce- was good. All the ingredients were present and accounted for… I just wished they added a touch more of the caviar… it would have raised the dish higher. I liked the chili sauce dotted on each piece. The Sushi Combo- imitation crab, avocado, and cucumber (California Roll) with salmon, cream cheese, and cucumber (Philadelphia Roll)- was good too. Of the two, the Philly Roll tastes better- fresh ingredients interacted well with the cream cheese and rice combination. Not truly authentic Japanese, but delicious anyway.
THIS

EQUALS THIS


The Udon dish… mmm… (see the picture of me kissing the bowl and ravaging it of every drop of the sauce) was amazing. More on the salty side, it made up for flavor in a very big way. Purple onions and some seriously perfect Udon noodles hugged a SUBLIME brown broth reduction. Although my suspicion is that they came from a box, it cannot be denied that they were cooked and presented just right. Caramelized and juicy on the outside, soft and tender on the inside…. my mouth is already watering just thinking about it! Disappointingly, however, the vegetables in this dish (carrots and broccoli) were undercooked while the Chicken was slightly overcooked- a sure sign that their prep-work need to be tweaked just a bit. An excessive garnishing of cilantro was unnecessary.
This place is a definite go… however, I have put some things in a numbered list for you to keep in mind:
1) They don’t believe in spell-check or grammar. Menu’s have edamame listed as ‘edamade’… among others. LOL. It’s cool though.
2) Take-out is downstairs. Don’t climb up just to walk back down.
3) There’s a lounge/dance floor space as well. It can be rented. Prices are negotiable depending whether you are catering from them also.
4) LUNCH SPECIALS are from 11a-3p. They offer Bento boxes of rolls and nigiri combinations that range from $8.99 - $10.99.
5) LARGE PARTIES will enjoy their ‘TRAYS’ which range from $23.99- $62.99. A combination of sushi and nigiri, you will have to pick out which ones you want from a list. Slightly expensive items will have a surcharge of $2- $3 extra per item.
6) Unfortunately, NOT ALL THEY ADVERTISE IS OFFERED. I saved my appetite for some GINGER ICECREAM and an unusual ICE SALAD (an assortment of beans, jelly, saved ice, and condensed milk) but was dismayed to find out both were discontinued.
7) The service is good and pleasant. They work together so don’t be alarmed if you are waited on more than one charming girl.
8) As a personal request, CLAMOR FOR BURMESE DISHES! This type of cuisine is rare in Orlando… but I promise, ORLANDO WILL LIKE THEM!

IN A NUTSHELL: The sushi’s decent. The chefs and owners are Burmese- I think if they took a chance and opened a Burmese eatery, they would make a WHILE LOT MORE MOLA! Talk about having monopoly on an entire type of cuisine! In the mean time, enjoy happy hour with an interesting angle over Colonial Drive.
Bikkuri Sushi on Urbanspoon

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

BaconFest 2011

A first for me-- a non-restaurant review-- but definitely necessary. Loc of DiabetesCanBeDelicious.blogspot.com invited me to BaconFest at his home this week. This was a momentous occasion for him as he had given up cooking bacon at home for over 2 years since he was diagnosed with diabetes. With his health vastly improved, Loc celebrated with BaconFest to overindulge in one of his most coveted foods (he even has a tattoo of it).

With bacon-infused maple syrup vodka starting off the celebration, the cheddar cheese quiche was brought in accompanied with a tomato salad and homemade bacon-dripping-brushed croutons. The croutons were fabulous with a surprising twist for their hint of bacon on a ‘meaty’ chunk of bread! I wish he had made more.


The quiche was equally great. Light and fluffy, it was not too bacony. Rather, bacon played a side role only to heighten the frothy egg whites intermingling with just the right amount of cheddar cheese. Loc has promised more of this little piece of heaven someday. I’m going to hold him to his word on that.

Loc even went the extra mile on BaconFest with bacon trivia and even a bacon board game. For dessert, he introduced some of us for the first time to CHOCOLATE-DIPPED BACON! I believe Loc did it perfectly- the chocolate was generously coated on each bacon strip and garnished with a dollop of WHITE chocolate. I think if bacon tasted so delicious all the time, it would be worth the cardiac arrest down the road.

Maggiano’s Little Italy: The ultimate food and stomach face-off… family style!

Maggiano’s is a great venue for a family style meal in an adult atmosphere. Try to venture past the tourists, get to this South International Drive location, and delve into some serious eating.

A large space with a lounge and private rooms, Maggiano’s always seems to be over-capacity every time I’ve gone there. That’s probably because entire families or corporate businesses are out there munching on the floor. ‘Family-style’ involves three different price options that delineate the variety of appetizers, salads, entrées, and desserts you can have. This evening I opted for the ‘Classic’ ($27.95 adults, $15.95 for aged 5-12). To start off, I chose the Steamed Mussels, Barb’s Spinach and Artichoke al Forno, Maggiano’s Salad, and a Caesar Salad. Four Cheese Ravioli, Braised Beef Cannelloni, Seared Pork Medallions, and Chicken Saltimbocca were ordered for main course while Apple Crostada, and Crème Brûlée were requested as desserts.

If the previous sentences didn’t entail, THIS IS A LOT OF FOOD- WITH UNLIMITED REFILLS! So here was my game plan…. nibble and save my hunger for the main course and the brûlée. Bring it, Maggiano’s!


Great reviews stirred across the table when the Steamed Mussels arrived. They proved to be the star of the starters. In a momentary lapse of judgment, I ordered TWO MORE plates of them. The garlic and herb-infused broth was so tasty. Plus, the crostinis accompanying them made sopping the juice even more addictive. “What have I done?,” I thought… almost feeling as though the premature satiation was a crime!

As I panicked, my plan started to unravel. The delicious Maggiano’s Salad (a mixture of romaine and iceberg lettuce, onions, and tossed in Maggiano’s special dressing of mustard, garlic, and vinegar) looked with puppy-dog eyes towards my mouth. And my stomach enlarged a bit further.
I think if I was wearing a belt, it would be around this time that I would free it open a couple of notches. The main course arrived in one triumphant swoop. Like a boxing match, my stomach was in one corner while four plates lay in the other. It was ON…


First the Four Cheese Ravioli- cheesy but lacked complexity. TKO (total knock-out) - stomach wins and proceeds to plate #2. The Chicken Saltimbocca. Ok, but not flavorful enough. TKO- stomach conquers dry chicken. Moving over to the Seared Pork Medallions. It turned out to be the crowd pleaser. Everyone on the table that bit into it had a two-minute silence right afterwards. Juicy, flavorful, fatty, tender, moist, and seasoned to perfection. In other words, a mini orgasm. And stomach goes down fighting.

My personal favorite, however, was Plate #4- the Braised Beef Cannelloni. It was not the pasta shell that really enticed my tongue, but how well done the beef within was. Superiorly shredded and juicy, it was almost reminiscent of barbeque. With one forkful after another, my stomach was being punched even when it was already down. Winner- Braised Beef.

“Dessert. Really? Oh no… my Brûlée!” I had totally forgotten. They arrived and my stomach was going to retaliate very loudly if even one more spoon landed in my mouth. But I had to try it- the Brûlée. MMMM…Deliciousness. I almost cried like a five-year old because I couldn’t have more.

IN A NUTSHELL: Family style is for parties of 4 or more individuals. Beef lovers can’t go wrong with Braised Beef Cannelloni. Seafood, you say? Mussels will start you off in the right direction. And please, save room for dessert. I know, it’s hard. I tried and failed myself. But above all, have fun with the family. On previous occasions that I’ve gone, service has been a problem (slow, long-time delivering additional food items, etc.) but ask for Heather and you’ll be waited on beautifully. Park at Pointe Orlando’s garage- your parking ticket will be validated by your server. A definite experience for the gang.
Maggiano's Little Italy on Urbanspoon

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