Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Introducing A New Video For Anna's Polish Restaurant... Enjoy! :)

Friday, April 22, 2011

A Special Post........ :)

EATTYPHONEHOME has jumped on Facebook and Twitter... FINALLY!

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Live long and gobble,

EPH

Finesse: An Unexpected Family Affair

To celebrate a special event one night, I ended up Finesse in Lake Mary’s. Upon arriving at the hostess stand, I was greeted by Bella, the cutest little infant that I have seen in quite a while. It did strike me as odd that the hostess would have a child in her arms but Bella just happens to be the owner’s daughter. Bella, unbeknownst to me at the beginning, would become instrumental in my final perception of this new establishment.

To kick things off, let’s get the math out of the way. Sugar Cane Chicken $9, Duck Confit $13, Maytag Wedge $6, and Chimi Skirt Steak $18.

The sweet and slightly chary Sugarcane Chicken was good. Slightly on the drier side, the chicken was particularly enjoyable when you bite down on the semi-thick sugarcane skewer to extract some of the sugars inside the stem with each bite.
I especially liked this dish because it left the consumer at his/her own devices to figure out how to layer the cilantro, lime, and tamarind flavors in the dish with a delightful burnt sugar taste that’s derived with a little effort using their own teeth. If you didn’t want that flavor, you could skip it entirely for the next bite. So, the dish succeeded in presenting a slightly variable flavor profile depending on personal tastes. I dig that.

Alas, the Duck Confit fell short on its promise. The skin was extremely crisp and tasty, but the meat itself wasn’t fall-off-the-bone. If the dish wasn’t called this, then I would find no error with it as I enjoyed it very much (duck just happens to be my weakness).
A slow and low approach to the cooking process would have resulted in a more tender meat. The accompanying Shitake and Baby Bella (um, wordplay anyone? The menu could’ve easily described them as Criminis instead… *smirk*) mushrooms were perfectly executed- not overcooked, meaty, and just glide-down-your-throat good. Overall, there was a rich flavor to the dish which can only be described as tasty due to its fatty, mildy nutty, salty, and texturally crisp dimensions.

The Maytag Wedge left more to want. First, the portion size was small. Which I suppose is understandable for the establishment and the price point. However, touting it as the ‘best bleu cheese dressing’ was not accurate.
Acutely small chunks of cheese lacking that distinct tartness that goes hand in hand with a characteristic bleu cheese taste didn’t qualify this dressing anywhere near the top of my list. However, the salad as a whole was very fresh and all the ingredients (including the bacon) were crisp and enjoyable.

The Chimi Skirt Steak was suggested by the server as being the best option for a well-done cut of meat. So, I went with it with a slight adjustment- DUCK-FAT FRIES instead of ‘shoe fries’. This dish was simply delicious from one corner of the plate to the other.
‘Abuela’s Chimichuri’ was so addictively refreshing that I wished that there was more dotted around the Angus meat that sat beside onions cooked in a Cabernet reduction. The duck-fat fries were good as well. Crisp, decadently oily, and salty- the flavor of these fries are a notch above the regular kind. All in all, a perfectly executed dish for the main course.

Towards the end of the meal, the Bella’s mother Autumn McCoy (who also happens to be one of the chefs) started talking up a conversation with us. It wasn’t what she was saying, but rather what was being conveyed through it. It became very quickly evident that there is a lot of love, focus, and hard work that has gone into the making of this establishment. And love, above all, seems so centric to their vision- it has been the young couples dream to open this concept for many moons. And to crown the achievement, Excecutive Chef Alex Brugger named his new company Bella as well :)

IN A NUTSHELL: This place showcases good food and presentation. They have a sizeable trove of beers to choose from (I liked the Paulaner Hefeweizen for $6) but if that doesn’t tickle your fancy, there’s a full bar as well. Semi-private, small groups can book a large table in a separate room for a base price that can be negotiated with what you want served for your company. Sundays bring DISCOUNTED PRICES FOR THE BRUNCH CROWD- as well as a free first round of Mimosas or Bloody Marys on the house. Try the duck-fat fries for a deeper, fattier twist to a classic. Tastefully decorated, its ambiance beckons the casual-formal crowd. For a special night on the town, give this new place in Lake Mary a try.
P.S. A handful of people have inquired with me about the Brunch. I've attached a pic of the Brunch Menu but be forewarned that their prices as well as menus are constantly updated.


Finesse on Urbanspoon

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Carmela’s Of Brooklyn Restaurant Pizzeria: Surprisingly good

When the first choice of eatery didn’t work out (they were closed), I ended up at Carmela’s today. It just seemed the obvious destination in Longwood- big bold neon red signs, in a sizeable strip mall right off the I-4 intersection. You can’t miss it. However, it was 11am in the morning and I was questioning myself, “Do you really want Italian for brunch?” Carmela’s, however, turned out to be a surprisingly enchanting experience.

The menu is standard for an Italian restaurant- pizzas, pasta, and some seafood here, and the standard Italian meat dishes there. What I should’ve paid attention to was the bold font on the front page- ‘Imported Pastas’, Ripe San Marzano Tomatoes, and Fresh Mozzarella. These ingredients would later prove to reveal themselves even when the eye didn’t bother to read.

First, let’s get the math out of way. Fresh Handmade Mozzarella with Roasted Red Peppers and Tomatoes- $6.99, Ricotta filled Ravioli with Pomodoro Sauce- $10.49, and Gnocchi with Alfredo sauce (a custom order)- $10.49.

If you’ve seen the menu (or my picture attached with this review), Carmela’s definitely takes pride in making their Mozzarella in-house. Bold print encased in a double-red lined box easily denotes that this is one of their specialties.
Verdict? Very good. But I’d shy away from excellent. You could tell the Mozzarella was recently prepared, but it wasn’t super fresh… and that’s important especially if you’re promoting ‘mozzarella curds prepared fresh by hand throughout the day.’ It was probably a day old. In the big picture, it doesn’t make a huge difference but the taste definitely changes subtly over time.
The rest of the dish was perfect- the fresh slices of tomato and generous topping of basil provided clean and brightening flavors that married well with the oil.

The Pomodoro sauce was remarkably delicate. I quickly noted the slight acidity of the tomatoes that gave a smooth tart finish to the dish. Later, I found out these were San Marzano tomatoes in the sauce which are arguably the best variety for a tomato sauce. Smooth but slightly lumpy, tart but not too tart, the sauce was all about simple deliciousness. The ravioli only added to the enjoyment- they were made in-house.
A little too al-dente for me, I still appreciated that the effort that went into it and the clear taste of the ingredients especially when they are made in the kitchen. Granted that the pasta itself was not ‘imported’, I was quick to verify with the server if the ingredients were. And that turned out to be true. The ricotta is filled into the ravioli- not stuffed. Please keep that in mind if you’re looking for more cheese to this dish. However, there’s also enough atop the ravioli in the form of mozzarella. I, for one, didn’t feel the need for more cheese. It was just right.

The Gnocchi was also made in-house. And it showed- the deliciously soft interior of each potato pasta denoted that it neither came from the freezer nor was it overworked.
The Alfredo that I substituted it with was rich and heavy. My mouth was coated with cream and butter. It was not as cheesy as I had hoped but the dish was deceptively filling (i.e., the plate didn’t look so satiating in the beginning). I wish I had saved room for dessert.

IN A NUTSHELL: Carmela’s is good. Simplicity of flavors win here because the sum of their parts equal to something greater on the palate. They have 2 locations- Longwood and by Universal Studios. A must try if you’re into Italian cooking because unlike other Italian joints, the key things here are prepared from scratch. And that’s important. I, for one, prefer to taste the ingredient- not the preservative.
Carmela's of Brooklyn Restaurant Pizzeria on Urbanspoon

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Teak Neighborhood Grill: The hidden gem of MetroWest

This is the second time on my blog (the first being Hollerbach’s Willow Tree) that I will stress how entertaining a WHIM can be. I’ll be the first to admit- I’ve never heard of Teak. In fact, if you even pass by the road that it’s on, you probably wouldn’t see what’s so special either. Well, unless you live in the neighborhood. And that’s what Teak stresses- it’s a neighborhood restaurant. However, if you see the caliber of food that they are pumping out (at astonishingly reasonable prices), Teak will soon draw a whole lot more than just their neighborhood. Thank God for my whim… and I haven’t stopped thinking about this place since I ate there.

“Most of our customers are brought here by word-of-mouth,” said Brian Buttner. As owner, Brians concept was simple- keep it fresh, clean, and low-key. He also wanted Teak to be more than just a Burger Bar. So here’s some of the different food fares I tried out this week- Brushetta $6.95, Pan Roasted Mussels $8.95, Tuscan Steak Flatbread $8.95, and the Brazilian Burger $9.95.

So the Bruschetta was intentionally different. Rather than on a Crostini, this one comes with Focaccia. A mélange of the standard mozzarella, tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and fresh basil were fresh and good. The Focaccia substitution was good too.
Crostini lovers may probably want to try this version a chance since it’s slightly crisp on the outside and chewy-soft on the inside (I wished it was little more crisp though). What I was really gawking at was the ULTRA GENEROUS drizzle of balsamic glaze that imparted a mild sweet and tart finish to the entire dish. Yum.

According to Executive Chef Danny Ortera the Pan Roasted Mussels are “his baby.” And I have to agree- the dish definitely shows a latin hand involved in its expert creation. There were 3 things that were really enticing about this appetizer:
1) The number of mussels served for the order- I counted 20 medium sized Chilean Mussels.
2) The number of mussels served for the order- at $8.95 as an appetizer? RIDICULOUS.
3) The number of mussels served for the order- with a SUBLIME and simple white wine reduced broth.
3a) Um. Yeah. Ridiculously Sublime.

Exquisitely handled mussels embraced a delicate broth replete with minced garlic and tomatoes. Focaccia, again, graced the edges of the dish brushed with herb oil. I found myself getting really perplexed with how Brian is giving a customer what they really want all at the same time- quality, quantity, and value. Usually, one thinks that it’s downright impossible- the portion size for the mussels might as well have been main course. And then my mind suddenly went to something even more perplexing- Half-Price Mondays- can you imagine this dish being $4.50? Ridiculous.

The Tuscan Steak Flatbread was a personal favorite. Thin slices of prime-rib steak, mozzarella cheese, spinach, sautéed Crimini mushrooms, caramelized onions, and sundried tomato aioli made a perfect formula for success.
The Criminis balanced the flavors very smoothly and my tongue made it a tightly controlled captive of my mouth. Chef Ortera makes flatbreads where the toppings go ALL THE WAY TO THE EDGE. This results in an AMAZING mouth-watering experience. The flatbread transformed itself into a nostalgic comfort food before my very eyes. I loved it. And I don’t say that too often.

And finally, the Brazilian. Call it a big boy burger- a fried egg, sliced ham, crisp potato strings, and provolone cheese sit atop a half pound of angus beef.
Now if I had saved room for this lovely piece of edible art, I would have truly relished in her beauty. But from what I managed to eat, I liked it. The patty was juicy even though it was well-done. All of it made sense. However, if I had to critique anything it would be the potato sticks which were a little on the semi-burnt borderline. They imparted a charry taste to the burger which was good, except my inner-child wanted to single out the sticks and nibble on them. I was glad that the bun got some attention- a light toast and quick brush of oil. I can’t stress how many times a promising burger has been eclipsed by a stale, boring bun. Not this time. At Teak, all breads are locally bought from a little French Bakery in Winter Garden. And you can taste the difference.

As a side note, Teak’s fries rock. These come with the burgers and they are just as good when eaten alone. At Teak, the fries are not just dusted with a spice blend. Rather, it’s a secret SAUCE that they are tossed in.

IN A NUTSHELL: Go before everybody else beats you to it. Half-price Mondays have all items except Burgers half-off. Not surprisingly this also happens to be one of their busiest nights. Teak has a full bar so feel free to belly up to the bar and have something to eat at the same time. Take the time to notice the presentation of what you ordered- many of the dishes are supposed to be eaten first with your eyes. They have a Sunday brunch where you will find a modest Bloody Mary Bar. But what I love the most about this place is the price-point to product ratio- you really get a delicious bang for your buck!

AND A FIRST: If you didn’t sense my earnest already, I partnered up with another food blogger and made a YouTube video for Teak! It’s also visible on my blog :)



Teak Neighborhood Grill on Urbanspoon

Friday, April 1, 2011

Jimmy Hula’s: Disappointing for such a prime location

If real estate is what businesses look at before venturing in, Jimmy has it. Located on busy Aloma, across from the busy shopping center that has Whole foods, Jimmy has a very inviting feel from the exterior. You didn’t have to twist my arm hard enough to visit them just weeks after they opened.

Unfortunately, that’s where the fairy tale ends. I did my homework and I was aware that a) you had to order up at the counter and b) the prices are cheap. So, even knowing this, how could the experience be so lacking?

First, the math- Teriyaki Beef Taco with Creamy Teriyaki Sauce $3.29, the El Diablo Burger $6.59, the Veggie Jim-Bob kabob $4.99, and a South Beach Fruit Salad $6.29. LandShark beer was $3.25 a bottle.

The Teriyaki Taco was modest. Too modest. Heck, I couldn’t even see the SMALL pieces of beef that were blanked by shredded cabbage! To even get an appropriate picture for this, I intentionally kicked off some of the cabbage in the corner of the taco to show you the mediocre quantity of beef at the very bottom.
Which begs the question- when everyone else is focused on satiating portions, why doesn’t Jimmy charge… say, $5 for a taco and actually make it decent? I guess I could’ve order more than one, but it was my first time and biting into it didn’t make me crave another either- nothing exceptional, in short.

The El Diablo was laughable- the menu states ‘try it if you dare’. LOL. People accustomed and looking for spicy options will add MORE HOT SAUCE upon being seated. And if the adjoining picture for this one doesn’t really bring it home- it was such a lonesome little burger- there were no automatic sides for a burger at $6.59.
Even so, I would have been fine if the burger was stellar- unfortunately, the jalapenos looked like fried okra. The burger was creamy but there should have been more Sriracha especially if you’re going to advertise spiciness. The onions, lettuce, and tomato were fresh and juicy (bear with me, I’m trying to find a silver lining in all of this).

I think they got away with murder on the kabob. ONE PIECE OF PINEAPPLE PER SKEWER. Really?
There’s a difference between being cheap versus being A CHEAPO. Wait, there’s more- the small portions of rice wouldn’t even satisfy your 10yr old. The teriyaki sauce drizzled over did tie the dish together, but I really wish their kabobs were more substantial rather than just cut up pieces of grilled onions, bell peppers, tomatoes. Is their creativity so myopic?

The South Beach Salad was tasty. FINALLY.
The ingredients sang in my mouth and it was truly delicious. It would have been a bonus if the dressing was in-house… but I can bet you money that it was Ken’s Raspberry Vinaigrette that was just poured out of a tub or jar.

IN A NUTSHELL- This place is tragic in it’s portion size. At the day that I was there, they were out of take out menus and Iced Tea. Being in this industry, this didn’t bother me but others may state that they should have their business in order before opening to the public. Also, the flavors are not spectacular. A triple sucker-punch. For a more satiating lunch, Tijuana Flats across the street will more than fill 2 people up on $26 (my bill at Jimmy’s). Unless they regroup their vision, charge a little more, and put something more promising, I don’t recommend it. Which is a dismal thought when you’re located on such a good spot on the strip.
Jimmy Hula's on Urbanspoon

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