Eat Local Orlando

Sunday, August 7, 2022

Hen & Hog coming soon to Winter Park

Hen & Hog is coming soon to Winter Park.

Details here: https://bungalower.com/2022/08/04/mason-jar-owner-finds-new-home-in-winter-park/

Follow their progress here: https://www.instagram.com/the_hen_and_hog/

Orlando Meats has closed

Orlando Meats which moved to Winter Park few years ago has closed.

The Creative chefs have moved on to a new endeavor:

follow Red Panda Noodle here:

https://www.instagram.com/redpandanoodle/

I sampled their noodle creations at a recent Redlight Pop up and they were spicy and delicious.

More details:

https://www.orlandoweekly.com/food-drink/eliot-hillis-and-seth-parker-leaving-orlando-meats-to-start-red-panda-noodle-32110129

Sunday, July 24, 2022

Juju

Juju is a new Japanese style restaurant opening in mid-August on Colonial and Maguire.

700 Maguire Blvd, Orlando, FL 32803

https://goo.gl/maps/vKmFaWBYtiHsRfpV7

Details from the owners:

"JUJU" the sizzling sound of grilling in Japanese

ABOUT JUJU

Welcome to Juju, a retro Showa era (1926-1989) themed izakaya featuring a six seat kappo har, irakaya dining room, and lounge. We want our guests to feel like they've stepped into howa era Japan the moment the see our stand alone building (which used to be a local Pizza Hut). We communicate this with our design and décor, most of which is straight from Japan creating an authentic atmosphere with not only our food, but with signs and toys plastered on our walls

Our goal is to provide the local Orlando community a fun and relaxing place where they can come to eat drink, and create memories with their friends, co-workers, etc. Juju truly offers something for everyone and every mood.

Kappo Bar

Located in the center of Juju our six seat Omakase experience offers a chef's tasting menu led by our executive chef and owner Lewis, head chef Cayo, and chef de cuisine Albert. Our chefs will create different set menus featuring in season ingredients so that returning customers will have a different experience each time! Kappo bar menu will feature, dry aged fish, A5 Wagyu and Binchotan charcoal grilled items. Reservations are available on Resy

Izakaya Dining Room

Our izakaya dining room is a casual and traditional dining experience where customers are seated and waited on with our team of servers. This dining room will offer various small plates, raw dishes, and Japanese charcoal grilled skewers (yakitori, kushiyaki, etc)

Bar & Lounge

Our bar and lounge will feature an extensive variety of Japanese whiskey, shochu, premium sake, and craft beers. We'll have craft cocktails from the popular Japanese hi-ball and chu-hi along with Japanese shows ers pop culture themed cocktails. Our lounge and bar will also offer a separate kitchen menu consisting of various Japanese bar snacks only available at the lounge

Bar and lounge will be open seating allowing customers to leisurely eat, drink, hangout while waiting for their seat in the izakaya dining room or relaxing after their Kappo bar dining

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I recently had the opportunity to preview the new Juju. Here I'm excited for their opening, the things we sampled had great flavors, especially the grilled meats and Mackerel are the pics and videos:

Salmon

Beef

Dessert

Chicken Karaage

Mackerel Charred with Charcoal, great smoky flavor

Videos:

Saturday, July 2, 2022

Christmas in July at Kelly's Homemade Ice Cream

Christmas in July at Kelly's Homemade Ice Cream.

Starting July 25th

Flavors:

Santa's White Christmas - Coconut, Toasted Nut, Vanilla, Layered with Caramel

Ginger Snap

Candy Cane

Hot Cocoa+Marshmallows

Also they now have 6 scoop flights

#Orlando

#IceCream

#ChristmasInJuly

#KellysHomemadeIceCream

Sunday, June 26, 2022

AVA Mediterraegean

AVA Mediterraegean has been open for a little while in Winter Park in the former Luma space on Park Ave. The decor and atmosphere are beautiful.

It's a creative restaurant with a nice mixture of Mediterranean dishes.

Seared Branzino Crudo - Tomato, fresno, basil

Beet Salad - Blood orange, fig balsamic, scallion, feta, lemon caviar, espelette. This dish had these amazing little tangy citrus balls it turns out were from finger likes, a ingredient I hadn't encountered before. This dish was sweet and moist, very enjoyable.

Chicken Tagine - Zucchini squash, dried fruits, AVA spices, olives, couscous.

Overall I was very impressed with the dishes and flavors. Staff was very pleasant and helpful.

AVA Mediterraegean

290 S Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789

https://www.avamediterraegean.com/

Friday, June 17, 2022

The Pink Party at The Hampton Social

The Pink Party is this coming Saturday 6/18 from noon to 5pm at The Hampton Social. Celebrating Rosé Month.

Enjoy a Garden Oasis Experiential Pop-Up, immersive Rosé Tasting Bars from all over the world & Culinary Delights.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-pink-party-hosted-by-the-hampton-social-orlando-fl-tickets-331280658367?aff=estw&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-source=tw&utm-term=listing

Friday, June 10, 2022

Orlando added to the MICHELIN Guide

Orlando is finally getting some recognition by Michelin Guide for it's great food scene.

https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/florida/orlando/restaurants

The Michelin Guide now lists 27 Orlando restaurants and also 4 get 1 Michelin star and 7 get the Bib Gourmand.

Bib Gourmand is defined as: good quality, good value cooking. Learn more about Bib Gourmand at this link: https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/article/features/the-bib-gourmand

The 4 restaurants that get the Michelin star are:

Capa - in the Four Seasons Resort out by Disney

Soseki - Sushi in Winter Park

Knife & Spoon - At the Ritz Carlton

Kadence- Sushi in Orlando

Also the 7 that got the Bib Gourmand are:

Bombay Street Kitchen

Congrats to everyone!

Sunday, May 1, 2022

SoDough Square Pizza Co.

Opening soon (5/12/2022) in SoDo District, 419 East Michigan Street, Suite 3 next to Tin & Taco

419 E Michigan St, Orlando, FL

https://maps.app.goo.gl/5oMTJSj9QMLWT7N86

The pizza's come in 2 sizes

Small (4 Square)

Large (8 Square)

Detroit Style pizza with a caramelized cheese edge.

The topping flavors were excellent, dough was light and airy with a crispy crust.

Pictured is the Detroit Rob City

Whipped Ricotta, House Red Sauce, Fresh Basil, Pinched Sausage, Ezzo Cup Pepperoni, Mike's Hot Honey

A lot of research, testing and tasting has gone into creating these pizzas. Perfecting the dough, finding the exact right toppings, getting the crisp just right, perfecting the process.

Expected Operating Hours 11-9 daily

SoDough Menu (Final Menu subject to change):

T&T (Taco Pizza)

Seasoned Ground Beef /Shredded Lettuce/ Diced Tomato/Sour Cream/Crushed Doritos/Cotija Cheese

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Woodward White

Breaded Chicken/ Parmesan Garlic Sauce / Fresh Basil/Red Onion/ Diced Tomato

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Big Mac Attack

Ground Beef/Lettuce /Tomato/Dill Pickles / Secret Sauce / Sesame Seeds

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Boblo Island Blues

Breaded Chicken / Diced Green Onion / House Ranch/Wing Sauce/Blue Cheese

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The Enforcer #24

Applewood Smoked Bacon/Pinched Sausage/Ezzo Cup

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Chicken Bacon Ranch

Diced Chicken Tender /House Ranch / Applewood Smoked Bacon/Parmesan Cheese

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6 & Conant (The Og)

House Red Sauce / Fresh Basil / Pecorino Romano / Brick Cheese Blend

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Detroit Rob City

Whipped Ricotta / House Red Sauce / Fresh Basil / Pinched Sausage/Ezzo Cup Pepperoni / Mikes Hot Honey

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Eastern Market

Impossible Meat/ Green Pepper/ Black Olives/Shrooms/ Red Onion / Fresh Basil

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Build Your Own

Choose Your Toppings

Ezzo Cup Pepperoni/Pinched Sausage/Fresh Basil/Green Onion/ Shrooms/Whipped Ricotta/Red Onion/Diced Tomato /Hot Honey/Extra Cheese

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Starters:

Brick Sticks

House Rolled Dough/ Pepperoni/Brick Cheese Blend Hot Honey Chicken Nugs

Breaded Chicken Bites Tossed In Hot Honey And Topped With Scallions Served With House Ranch

Death By Garlic Knots

Garlic Butter Rolls Loaded With Fresh Garlic & Parmesan Cheese

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Detroit Dough Sandwiches

Killer Club

House Sliced Turkey & Ham/Applewood Smoked Bacon / Cheddar Cheese/Romaine/Basil Pesto

Hot Honey & Ham

House Sliced Ham/Mikes Hot Honey/Whipped Ricotta / Arugula/

Tomato Jam

Caprese

Fresh Sliced Mozzarella, Tomatoes, Red Onion, Fresh Basil And Balsamic Glaze

Detroit Grilled Cheese - Cheddar Cheese/Applewood Smoked Bacon/Roasted Garlic Aioli

Bangin Chicken

Breaded Chicken Cutlet/Romaine/Bang Bang Sauce/Tomato

Smoked Pastrami

Cheddar/Romaine/Tomato/Ground Mustard

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Go Green

Antipasto

Fresh Romaine /Diced Tomatoes/Pepperocini Peppers/Cucumber/ Diced Ham/Pepperoni/Brick Cheese Blend/Italian Dressing

Blt Caesar

Lions - Chopped Romaine/Applewood Smoked Bacon / Diced Tomato / Caesar Dressing With Parmesan Cheese

Chef Salad

Drinks:

Faygo

SoDough Square Pizza Co.

"Detroit Stile Pizza Was Created In 1946 On 6 Mile Road And Has Since Become A World Sensation.

We Craft Everything In House From Our Traditional Detroit Dough, Fresh Stanislaus County Sauce & Our Brick Cheese Blend, Baked At 500 Deg. In Our Traditional Seasoned Blue Steel Pans Creates The "Frico" Or The Famous Caramelized Cheese Edge.

We Hope That You Enjoy This Detroit Tradition, Its Not Your Typical Deep Dish, Its Airy, Light And Just Right

Each Pizza Is Made Fresh And Can Take Some Time To Craft"