Friday, September 28, 2012

Sunday Brunch at Cask & Larder






Zucchini bread, PB&J pastries, cinnamon rolls, Beignets from @casklarder brunch 
Grits with fingerling potatoes, soft boiled egg, pickled ham hock, Gouda

Grits with fingerling potatoes, soft boiled egg, pickled ham hock, Gouda
Fried chicken and waffles from @casklarder brunch, buttermilk ricotta, maple balsamic 
English Muffin Canadian Bacon, Foie Gras! Scrambled Egg, Maple-Mustard syrup, mustard greens

Brisket Pastrami with potato pancake & fried egg

Kegs

Brand New Winter Park Restaurant: Fresh Cafe - Organic, Locally Sourced

Brand New Winter Park Restaurant: Fresh Cafe - Organic, Locally Sourced


Today I had the chance to experience a new and exciting Cafe/Restaurant in Winter Park on New England across the street from Dexter's and next to Chez Vincent.


Fresh Cafe just opened earlier this September, their focus is on locally sourced organic healthy food. They cater to all diets, vegetarian and carnivores alike.



I started off with the spreads and bread which featured the following spreads with grilled pita bread: garlic hummus, cucumber Tzatziki sauce and goat cheese/sun-dried tomato spread. My favorites here were the sun-dried tomato spread and the grilled pita bread. The spread was really creamy, smooth and had a great flavor, the grill marks on the pita bread pieces was a really nice touch and added to the taste.



Next up I had the Ms. Saigon Asian inspired salad($8) with grilled chicken added. The chunks of chicken were generous and large and again had a nice set of grill marks on them adding a nice light char to the flavor. The salad itself was medium sized with vegetables on a bed of black rice. The vegetables were julienne Cabbage, Daikon, Cucumbers, Carrots, Scallions, Peanuts, Cilantro, mint, basil sesame-ginger dressing



In addition to unique salads they also have a nice variety of sandwiches and a daily soup special.

Staff and owner were all really friendly and service was good. Prices averaged about $10 for lunch with dinner being a bit higher. They are open for lunch and dinner.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fresh-Cafe-Catering/221749584617272

Phone: (321) 295-7837

Email: windsor@freshcater.com

Website: http://freshcafe-wp.com

Menus:



Other pics:








Fresh Café on Urbanspoon

Trader Joe's Orlando

new article in the Sentinel, seems likely it will be at 17-92 near Houston's
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-02-26/news/os-trader-joes-winter-park-20130226_1_site-plan-winter-park-village-mayor-kenneth-bradley

http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/print-edition/2012/09/28/trader-joes-sniffs-out-orlando-sites.html

According to Orlando Business Journal, Trader Joe's is looking to open 4 -5 stores in the Orlando area and is quietly scoping out locations here but they won't open until more than 2 years down the road.

Here is a related article from The Daily City http://www.thedailycity.com/2012/05/no-trader-joes-to-be-built-in-orlando.html

and the campaign to bring Trader Joe's to Orlando http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bring-Trader-Joes-to-Orlando/111492512207720

From The Palm Beach post "Trader Joe’s has a cultlike following for its mostly private label products that include a mix of gourmet and organic products, as well as basics like milk and eggs, all at low prices. The retailer is also known both for its off-beat interior design, with cedar-covered walls, Hawaiian decor and local artwork highlighting area landmarks."
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/business/trader-joes-will-open-first-south-florida-outpost-/nSGRh/

and another article about the Trader Joe's store that just opened in Sarasota "Two Buck Chuck!" http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20120907/ARTICLE/120909718

UPDATE!!

I've recently heard that Trader Joes will be building their new Winter Park store in the complex next to Houstons/Hillstone on 17/92 currently an office complex that will be torn down. There will also be 3 or so restaurants in the complex.
 

Sunday, September 23, 2012

A Taste of Happiness Supper Club

Last night I attended a Supper Club event at a private home in Sanford created by A Taste of Happiness.  A Taste of Happiness is the brainchild of Chef Juan “Jay” Arjona & Chef Doug Long both who have impressive restaurant resumes which you can read on their website. The event was non-profit and donated all the proceeds to Just Our Soldiers Helpers (JOSH) https://justoursoldiershelpers.org/

Each month A Taste of Happiness has an event and they donate the proceeds to a different charity.

A Taste of Happiness website is here http://itastehappiness.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/A.Taste.Of.Happiness.2012
Twitter: @TasteOfHappines

If you would like to attend the next event which is scheduled for the end of October please contact A Taste of Happiness on their website. 

The food was excellent, a great combination of flavors, hard work and creativity.

A few of the dishes that really stood out to me were: the Stuffed Jalapeno Appetizer that was on a wonderful bed of sour pineapple and coconut cream.


The other standout dish was the compressed watermelon infused with ginger and served with a small slice of Chorizo and a layer of Balsamic vinegar on the bottom. The watermelon paired with in the Chorizo was a superb unexpected combo which I really enjoyed.



My favorite dish was the Citrus Smoked Prime Rib

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail

Mango Vanilla Sorbet

Salad - Watercress, Apple, Pecan, Grapes, Crab

Raspberry Chive Sorbet

Soup - Greens & Mushroom Base for Soup

Soup - Potato, Leek & Mushroom

Citrus Smoked Prime Ri

Citrus Smoked Prime Rib with Blackened Seasoning, Cabernet Mashed Potatoes & Green Beans

Bananas Foster

Bananas Foster Flambé

Bananas Foster



Menu

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Books & Cooks - An Evening Celebrating Homegrown Talent

Books & Cooks - An Evening Celebrating Homegrown Talent

STAR PANEL CHEF NORMAN VAN AKEN
co-author with son Justin of his latest book My Key West Kitchen

JAMES & JULIE PETRAKIS
owners of the Ravenous Pig and the brand new Cask & Larder

HEATHER McPHERSON
co-author with Pam Brandon and Katie Farmand of Field to Feast

EILEEN DASPIN
author of The Manhattan Diet: Lose Weight While Living a Fabulous Life

EMILY ELLYN
the retro rad television chef from Food Network Star
 
EVENT DETAILS
TICKETS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012
Rachel D. Murrah Civic Center
1050 W. Morse Blvd., Winter Park
6-9 PM
Feast on a lively panel discussion
moderated by renowned novelist
Bob Morris and accompanied by
Cask & Larder craft brews, signature
cocktails and fine wine. Then
stroll and dine from fan-favorite food trucks.
9 PM
After-Party at the Ravenous Pig
FOOD TRUCKS PROVIDED BY THE FOOD TRUCK BAZAAR

$10 GENERAL ADMISSION
or
$75 GENERAL ADMISSION
PLUS THE AFTER-PARTY
AT THE RAVENOUS PIG
ADD $25 TO EITHER TICKET OPTION
FOR RESERVED SEATING
TO PURCHASE TICKETS
CALL THE LIBRARY
AT 407.623.3277 OR

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Cask & Larder Grand Opening




Last night was the grand opening to the public of Cask & Larder the new restaurant from the founders of famed Winter Park restaurant The Ravenous Pig. There has been a lot of buzz about this place since the start of construction and it was great to finally see it realized. Cask & Larder bills itself as a Southern Public House.


One of the most interesting features of Cask & Larder is that they have their own brewery inside. Master beer brewer and certified Cicerone Ron Raike(Bio) is the Brewmaster at Cask & Larder and judging from the beer menu it's something to be very excited about. I tried the Black Cyprus Brown beer which is a dark & rich ale brewed with English oats (ABV: 5.0% IBU: 19). It was mild but with just the right amount of bubbles. Some other beers that caught my eye were The Ravenous Red
brewed in partnership with Green Room from Jacksonville(link). The Ravenous Red is an American red ale brewed with ruby red grapefruit, Hamlin oranges & coriander (ABV: 4.9% IBU: 32) & The Olde Southern Wit a Belgian style wheat beer brewed with coriander, citrus zest, & other spices
(ABV: 4.8% IBU: 13). It's going to be exciting to be able to go in regularly and try Ron's newest beer creations.


The layout of Cask & Larder is pretty similar to the previous incarnation of this location when it was The Boathouse and before that O'boys, but the all new decor really makes it something special. It was nice to see the antique bottles on the beam way above the dining area survived the remodel from the previous places. The one big difference to the space is the doors that lead out to the parking lot, which were where most people used to enter from, are not longer used and you must enter through the front doors on Fairbanks. I think many patrons last night found this very confusing so I'm sure they'll add a sign.

We sat at the oyster bar which was a great spot to watch all the action. Turns out sitting at the oyster bar was perfect because our old friend Bruno was behind the bar shucking oysters and we also got to see the pastry chef perform her magic on the desserts, watch the staff work the hand cranked ham slicer and even interact with Chef & Owner James Petrakis.


Service is slightly awkward at the oyster bar because the servers come behind you and the seating is a little tight, it would make more sense to me to be served from the oyster bar itself but I can see where that would be logistically complicated for the staff because of the large glass wall that sits at eye level.

One thing that we found a bit odd was the prices on the menu when we arrived were changed, many items were at least 2 dollars higher in price than the menu we found online. I guess we can chalk it up to opening day glitches but just be aware the prices on their online menu may not be the same you will find in the restaurant. They should probably just have a general sample menu online without the prices to avoid any confusion.

We started off with some James River Smoked Oysters from the bar that were served over a bed of rock salt & topped with a Vidalia Onion Relish. They were served with an in house made Serrano hot sauce that was thick, spicy and had a great flavor.


Next up I had to order the Roasted Boudin ($9) which was served with dijon chantilly(kind of like a mayo) & fried okra. The okra pieces were very long not the short little stubs you are typically served at most places. Boudin is a rice and pork sausage which is very popular in Southwestern Louisiana and it's origins are in French cooking where they make a much milder version. Boudin blanc is one of my very favorite things and very hard to find in Orlando and so I was very excited when I saw it on the menu. From the first bite I could tell they made this in house. The pork pieces had very large long strings of meat not the typical ground pork you find in Boudin. It had a really nice medium flavor, I knew I wouldn't be getting that Cajun spice bite that I'm use to with good Boudin from Louisiana but Cask & Larder's Boudin came into it's own because it has a special flavor I can't quite nail down, it was probably the fact that it was smoked though I wouldn't use that word to describe the flavor either. I look forward to trying this again many times and I hope Chef decides to try pairing it with other things too.


Another dish I had been eying on the menu was the Smoked Oyster & Crawfish Pot Pie $12. I really love the flavor of very smokey oysters but unfortunately that flavor didn't come through in this dish. I expected more of a pot pie type of creation but what I was served was a medium sized crock pot type bowl, not unlike the ones you might be served french onion soup in. Inside was a light brown gravy with too many pieces of celery, too few chunks of crawfish and a partial cornbread crust on top. This dish didn't work for me or the others who tasted it, maybe it was my high expectations but others who sampled it had the same opinion. The flavor was just too mild and the execution wasn't there.


The minute I saw the menu I knew my fate was sealed, I had to order the Grilled Lamb Heart ($12). I've eaten beef hearts before at Peruvian restaurants where they are called Anticuchos and they can be quite good if prepared properly, I've also tried them off Tony Adams Big Wheel Food Truck(link). The hearts in this dish were cut at a nice angle so as not to reveal their previous purpose as a blood pumping organ. They were served with very small pieces of popcorn, a thin smear of grits, fresh sliced peaches, & roasted peanuts. The outside of the heart slices had a nice mildly sweet flavor though some of the parts of the pieces were a bit tough, not sure if this is just the nature of this type of heart or the preparation. The tiny pieces of popcorn sprinkled over it were a odd addition to the dish and the grits portion was just a small thin smear under the hearts, barely enough to get a taste for the flavor of them. Others who sampled the hearts really liked the flavor on the outside of them.


I did get a chance to try the waffle fries which were thin and crispy but not crunch or full of potato. They were done just right not unlike a potato chip in thickness, and they were served in a nice chicken liver gravy and the portion was generous.

After watching the lady slicing the ham and hearing Bruno rave about the Rufus Brown ham I had to order a board of it. It was served with 3 generous piles of different types of ham, 3 buttermilk biscuits, a good sized jar of pepper jelly and pot of farmers cheese. The pepper jelly spread on a slice of biscuit with a topping of ham was the way to go here.


Finally I finished it all off with a dessert of the Mud Pie in a jar it was a chocolate crème, cream custard, raspberry glaze served with a side of chocolate crisps. The crisps while good didn't work with this dish but the Mud Pie itself was magnificent. Full of rich thick tangy flavors I really enjoyed every spoonful.


I'm very excited to go back and try many of the other dishes such as the Bacon & Leek Stuffed Quail  with figs & cherry molasses or the Beef Brisket with horseradish-dill pickles, mustard, yeast rolls. I imagine the menu will have a lot of rotating and new items like Ravenous Pig so catch them while you can!



Cornbread Dressing - blackened rock shrimp & eggplant - my friend raved about this and said it was really good

witte beer doughnuts, citrus-caramel glaze

ice cream
vanilla-sorghum, crunchy peanut, olive & Sinclaire fudge


 


Cask & Larder on Urbanspoon