I was visiting Orlando when they were having their restaurant week that they call Magical Dining. This was a nice surprise. There were so many restaurants on the list, but I did not have time to visit all of them. I decided to check out what Vines Grille had to offer. They were having a 3-course meal with an appetizer, entrée and dessert. I started with the Yuca Croquettes. The Yuca was mashed like potatoes and had bacon and cheese mixed in. Then they were breaded and deep fried till crispy on the outside. They served a jalapeno cilantro aioli…
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Lakeland is located in Central Florida in between Tampa and Orlando. It is home to many lakes, hence the name. Downtown you will find Lake Mirror, breweries, cigar bars, food trucks, craft shops, and so many other great things to see and do. The Terrace Hotel is one of those places that is a must visit in downtown Lakeland. It is a hotel from 1924 that has been restored to its former glory. Located inside the hotel is the Terrace Grille. They serve a nice Sunday brunch. Naturally I started off with a mimosa. If you have read…
Leave a CommentThe town of Winter Garden has a cute downtown main street. There are several places to sit in Centennial Park and enjoy music or people watching. There are walking and biking trails, and several shops and restaurants. It was around lunch time and I went to check out The Whole Enchilada. The restaurant has a walk-up counter to order. Then they bring the food to your table. It is a great set up. It really allows for customers to come and go quickly. I placed my order and headed over to their salsa bar. They have four different salsas ro…
Leave a CommentWhen visiting a town or city I have never been to sometimes it is a challenge to know where the good hang outs and restaurants are. I find that asking the locals is a great way to start. But there is something even better to try, ask a local bartender. Why? They will know the hot spots that stay open late. Bartenders and kitchen staff from other restaurants want to go out and party too, unfortunately they have to wait till their places close. I have discovered tons of places that stay open late just to make sure they can…
Leave a CommentWhen people think about Florida beaches I am sure that Daytona Beach is top of mind. However, about 30 minutes north is a small community called Flagler Beach. This beach was named after Henry Flagler who was an oil tycoon and a Florida railroad developer. Do not think that this is a quiet beach town because there are several hot spots that I found on my most recent visit. One of those spots was Tortugas. Located right across the street from the beautiful Atlantic Ocean sits this two story restaurant. This place was hopping with a live music and tons…
Leave a CommentItalian food is very comforting with all the cheeses and sauces that cover everything from pastas to meats. After a busy day, I was in the mood for some comfort food. I thought that Palace Italian Restaurant would satisfy that mood. I had never actually eaten inside the restaurant. In the past I have gotten take out. This time I wanted to eat there. They have amazing murals painted on the walls, many are of famous landmarks around Italy. Once I sat down my waitress brought over some homemade bread. This was a flat bread that was topped with butter,…
Leave a CommentI was helping my sister celebrate her birthday. We decided to go on an airboat ride to explore the Florida Everglades. We chose Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures since it was pretty close to her house (www.bcairboats.com). While we waited for out time, we checked out their restaurant right there on the grounds. It was called Boggy Bottom BBQ. It was a cute little restaurant, complete with a gift shop. I went for the BBQ beef brisket plate. It came with one side, so I chose the sweet corn. The brisket was extremely lean and very tender. It pulled apart easily…
Leave a CommentThere is a great neighborhood bar in Lakeland, Florida called 716 Burgers & Brew. This bar is tucked away off the main road, in between neighborhoods and golf courses. This is the type of place where all the locals go to hang out. Everyone knows each other. If you are a Buffalo Bills fan (or any team from Buffalo) this is the perfect hangout for you. See the owners of the bar, Bo and Lisa, are from Buffalo. This is why it is called 716 – it is the area code for Buffalo. I think it is a clever name…
Leave a CommentI did not expect to find a little piece of New Orleans in downtown Lakeland, Florida, but that I what I found with Harry’s. I was given a big “Crescent City” welcome when I walked through the door. I took a seat at the bar which was clearly the hot spot. I started off with one of Harry’s signature cocktails. They had several options that sounded good but I went for the “Big Easy”. It was a combination of spiced rum, whiskey, amaretto, banana liquor, Midori, and pineapple juice. It was sweet and the flavors of banana and pineapple are…
2 CommentsKey West is not lacking on bar to check out. One important stop is to the Green Parrot. This is one of the oldest bars, dating back to 1890. I had to go visit and be a part of history. I was excited when I walked in and smelt popcorn. They had a machine all set up and I was able to help myself. I love popcorn and it is a great snack while enjoying a drink and fun conversation with locals. Even the roosters walked in to enjoy the popcorn that fell on the floor. They had a couple…
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