Tag: Orlando

The celebrity chef Todd English has restaurants all over the country. Blue Zoo is one of those restaurants located inside the Dolphin Hotel at Walt Disney World. The restaurant is beautiful inside and a perfect place to go with a group of people.

They offer a wonderful menu of unique cocktails. I ordered the Smoking Sangria because the description alone made it sound so fascinating. The sangria itself was made with Riesling that was infused with fresh strawberries. Then peach liqueur and fresh lemon juice was added in. The liquid nitrogen was placed on top. When the drink came to the table it was indeed smoking. It was the coolest cocktail I have ever ordered. I was a little afraid to drink it at first, but I finally took a sip. The liquid nitrogen did not change the flavor of anything. It was just for the presentation. I did like how sweet the Riesling and strawberries were.

They brought out some fresh made bread to the table. There were sautéed, caramelized onions on top of the bread. They were not baked on; they were just placed on top. So, if you do not like onions, then you can pick them off and it will not affect the taste. But if you like onions, you will love how sweet and savory these onions are.

The Mighty Meat Flatbread is a great appetizer to share around the table. The thin crust was covered in pepperoni, house made Italian sausage, prosciutto cotto, and mozzarella cheese. The crust was crispy and the meats added a nice saltiness that was softened by the creaminess of the cheese.

The Shake and Bake Fries were another great starter to share. These crispy fries were covered with roasted garlic, rosemary, and grated parmesan cheese. The garlic and rosemary flavors paired perfectly together. It made these fries savory and really stepped them up a notch from a typical French fry. The parmesan cheese added a slight saltiness.

The Risotto Tots was an amazing appetizer that everyone at the table loved. I could have easily ordered this just for my meal because they were so delicious. These “tots” were risotto rice mixed with white truffles and cheese and formed into a ball shape. They were lightly breaded and fried to create a crispy outer coating. A creamy romesco sauce was served on the side. The truffles, with their earthy taste, accented the bold flavor of the garlic and cheese. There was no reason for me to dip these tots into the sauce because the flavor was impactful just by itself. However, I did try a little of the bold romesco sauce. It did add another layer of flavor. The risotto was tender and absorbed all the flavors from the other ingredients.

It was time for all of the dinners to start coming out. There were so many great options that everyone chose. One of the simplest dishes that was ordered was the Lobster Risotto. This was a beautifully grilled lobster tail and the creamy risotto. Normally they would have been on the same plate, but the person who ordered it did not want their food to touch. I really liked how beautifully these were prepared. I tired to risotto and it was even creamier than the risotto that came in the “tots”.

Another dish I got to try was the Seared Tuna. The tender, mouthwatering tuna was seared to perfection on the outside with a pink center. They placed the tuna on top of the creamy risotto and fresh broccoli and carrots. They served a white wine sauce in a little pot on the side. This was so you could drizzle some over the tuna and vegetables. The sauce made the tuna even more savory, where it just melted in your mouth.

For my dinner I got the Lobster Bucatini. They made homemade bucatini pasta and mixed it with chervil butter and Calabrian chili flakes. The fresh, tender lobster was tossed in and covered in the sauce. A dollop of fresh ricotta cheese was placed right in the middle. I spread it around to make the pasta even creamier. The lobster was extremely sweet. It was tender along with the tender pasta, this dish was easy to eat. It was the perfect portion size so that I did not get overly full. There is something very satisfying about homemade pasta.

It was time for dessert. I ordered their Strawberry Angel Food Cake because it was strawberry season. This dessert was presented uniquely on the plate. There was a fluffy cake in between layers of crispy tuile and some creamy vanilla ice cream. Tuile is a thin, crispy cookie. There were marinated strawberries on the side, along with a strawberry gelatin. The dessert felt like a deconstructed strawberry shortcake. It was sweet and delicious. It was a perfect dessert to share.

The food and the atmosphere were wonderful at Blue Zoo. It was a magical dining experience in a very magical place. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting the area.

Check out their website at: https://swandolphin.com/dining/todd-englishs-bluezoo/

Enjoy!

T

Inside the Marriott World Center in Orlando, Florida is an Italian restaurant called Siro. They call it Urban Italian because they take classic dishes and put an updated spin on it.

I was there for a large group dinner, so the restaurant put together a fixed menu for us to choose from. They did offer a good number of choices. There were a few appetizers that came out to all the tables.

The Charcuterie Board was well put together. The presentation was beautiful and made my mouth water. They offered three meats: salami, prosciutto, and soppressata. They offered three cheeses as well: brie, parmesan, and sharp cheddar. It was great to make different combinations of meat and cheese with either the stone ground mustard or berry jam. The am was my favorite because it paired perfectly with the salty meats and cheese. The jam and brie with the prosciutto was my absolute favorite combination because the brie added creaminess.

Another appetizer that came out was meatballs. These large, homemade meatballs were juicy and moist. They were covered with a fresh marinara sauce. The parmesan cheese sprinkled on top melted nicely. The meatballs were seasoned well. I would have enjoyed these as a meal with some pasta.

The calamari rings were an easy appetizer to pass around the table. They were lightly breaded and fried. They served the same freshly made marinara sauce on the side that came with the meatballs. The calamari pieces were extremely tender.

For my dinner I selected the Seared Scallops. These jumbo scallops came on top of a sweet corn risotto and pickled Fresno peppers. The scallops had a beautiful sear on the edges that created a slight crispiness. The scallops were tender and extremely sweet. The sweet corn risotto was a unique take on risotto. It did not have a strong corn taste – just a sweetness like creamed corn. The risotto was tender and cooked perfectly so it would not be mushy.

I also got to try the Seafood Pasta. They made fresh spaghetti, which helped make this dish special. They coated the spaghetti with a white wine cream sauce with lobster and shrimp. It was so creamy and rich. The lobster added a sweetness to the dish. It was crave worthy comfort food for sure.

For dessert, we were given a few options. I went for the Gelato. This was a homemade vanilla gelato. It was sweet and creamy. The fresh vanilla flavor made this dessert refreshing after such a rich dinner.

It was a great dinner at Siro to enjoy with a wonderful group of people. The meal was great and even with a pre-fixed menu the choices were excellent. I would go back again just to try their regular menu.

Check them out at the Marriott website at:

https://modules.marriott.com/hotel-restaurants/mcowc-orlando-world-center-marriott/siro-urban-italian-kitchen/5478680/home-page?scid=bb1a189a-fec3-4d19-a255-54ba596febe2

Enjoy!

T

When in Florida, having fresh seafood is a must have. There is a restaurant in Orlando that has been serving up seafood since 1995 called High Tide Harry’s.

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When you walk into the restaurant you are automatically transported to the beach. The ceilings and walls were painted with ocean scenes. There were huge fish hanging all over.

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After sitting down, the waitress brought over some homemade Hush Puppies. They reminded me more of a fritter. The dough was a little sweet and soft on the inside. There was a nice crunch from the deep fryer on the outside.

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They served a cinnamon butter on the side. When I spread some on the cut open hush puppy it melted instantaneously. It was sweet and creamy and now made the hush puppy more like a dessert. I loved how the cinnamon flavor paired perfectly with the sweet dough. I could have just eaten these and been full. They were a nice surprise, and I would come back just for these.

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As an appetizer I got the Hot Blue Crab Dip. This cheesy dip was loaded with lump crabmeat. It was sweet and creamy. Tortilla chips accompanied the dip. It was a great way to scoop up the dip.

I was excited to try their Chargrilled Oysters. I only got a half dozen because I wanted to save room to try a few other things. The oysters came out pipping hot. They use a great amount of garlic and butter. There was only a little sprinkling of parmesan cheese, but they used a generous amount of Italian seasoning to help create a savory flavor.

The oysters were cooked perfectly that they briny taste was gone. They were tender and went down easy. They served some garlic toast on the side which was great to soak up the extra garlic and butter.

The Ahi Tuna was also a delicious dish. They seared Yellowfin Tuna and served it with seaweed, wasabi, and soy sauce. The tuna was so fresh that it melted in my mouth. There was a nice seasoning on the outside that added a salty taste. I added a little wasabi to the spy sauce to help give the tuna a little heat.

The last thing I tried was the Blue Stew. This was a tomato-based soup that was loaded with Blue Crabmeat, potatoes, and vegetables. It was a nice savory soup because of the seasoning they used. It had a little hint of Old Bay. I liked the chopped-up potatoes they used. It added a slight creamy texture to each bite.

I enjoyed everything I tried at High Tide Harry’s. The menu is huge so I barely scratched the surface. They had a nice crowd of both tourists and locals. They are not far from the International Airport so I would pop over again in the future. Visit their website at www.hightideharrys.com

Enjoy!

T

In the wake of the country’s new social distancing reality, it has been a challenge for a food blogger to write about restaurants. Fortunately, there are a few places open for take-out that I have been able to visit. Stasio’s Italian Market in Orlando, Florida is one of those places.

This is an Italian market that offers meats, cheeses, and homemade dishes that you can take home and enjoy.

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They also have a little market area where you can get sauces, pastas, cookies, and some everyday cooking essentials.

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I got a container of anti-pasta salad. This was a blend of pepperoni, cheese, salami, ham, peppers, olives, and celery. It was tossed in an Italian dressing that had hints of basil and oregano. It was very filling. They were very generous with the amount of meats they used.

I also got a container of pasta salad. They used tri-colored pasta and mixed it with carrots, cheese, and zucchini. They combined it all together with a little mayo and a little seasoning. The pasta was tender. I liked the raw zucchini they included; it added a nice crunch.

The final thing I ordered was their meatballs. They were huge in size which were perfect for sharing. The meatballs were tender and moist. There was the perfect ratio of meat and breadcrumbs. The flavor from the seasoning was spot on. Their marinara sauce was a little tangy and complemented the meatballs.

I was grateful that Stasio’s was open for takeout. I am glad I was able to help a local business during this time of uncertainty. The items I ordered were great. I look forward to when everything gets back to normal, so I can go and enjoy a few other items from their menu at their restaurant.

Check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/category/Restaurant/Stasios-Italian-deli-194418224503776/

Enjoy!

T

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.

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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 on the side, but I did not feel I needed to use it.

The filling was extremely creamy. It had a nice smoky taste because of the bacon.

For my entrée I went for the Faroe Island Salmon. This fresh Atlantic salmon was cooked perfectly, with a little crispiness on the outside skin. It was flakey and fell apart as I cut it with my fork. There was a lemon-dill sauce poured on top. It added a little tangy taste.

For a side they served up delicious fingerling potatoes, asparagus, and confit tomatoes. These also had the dill sauce on them. The asparagus was tender. The potatoes were my favorite. They were tender and sweet.

For my dessert I chose the cheesecake. It was a classic NY style. There was a strawberry sauce that they decorated the plate with. This allowed me to take a little of the sauce and not overwhelm the taste of the cheesecake, which was nice and creamy. It was the perfect ending to the meal.

I am so glad I got to not only experience Vines Grille but that it was part of the Orlando’s Magical Dining. Plus, the restaurant donated some money from my dinner to local charities. If you are visiting Orlando and want to try somewhere other than a chain, the Vines Grille is for you.

Visit their website at www.VinesGrille.com and see what they have to offer.

Enjoy!

T

One of my favorite shows on the Food Network is Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. I was excited to find out when I was visiting Orlando that there was a restaurant nearby that was featured on the show – The Meatball Stoppe.

     

I got such a warm welcoming when I walked through the door. The entire staff said hello. I saw right away the signed poster of Guy hanging on the wall.

I also found the colorful stencil that the show puts on the wall of every restaurant they visit.

This restaurant lives up to their name. In looking over the menu I see they offer 12 different types of meatballs. There were several unique combinations. Luckily they offered a meatball flight so I was able to taste several of the meatballs.

     

While I was waiting for the flight to come out I enjoyed the fried calamari. They used a corn meal breading that gave the calamari a unique flavor and an extra crispy coating. They served a side of homemade marinara sauce. It was on the spicy side which went nicely with the calamari.

     

I also got a fresh garden salad. There was nothing special about the salad just that it was fresh and cleansed my palate as the meatballs were brought to the table.

So I got to try 6 of the 12 meatballs:

     

• Nonna’s Traditional – This was a classic Italian meatball. They were very moist and light. The mea had great flavor.

• Sausage Pepper & Onions – This was a ground sausage based meatball that was topped with peppers and onions. It was the meatball version of a traditional sausage on a hoagie roll.

• Chicken Marsala – This was a ground chicken meatball that was tossed in s Marsala sauce and accented with mushrooms.
• Spicy Pork – This ground pork was loaded with spices that really added heat.
• Mac & Cheese – This reminded me of a rice ball. They added rice with a ton of cheese to form a ball along with a little meat. It had great creamy flavor.

• Lamb – This meatball had a unique flavor because of the lamb itself. Plus it came with mint jelly. I am not a fan of lamb but I knew I wanted to try this to see how it all came together. It reminded me of lamb chops.

Now I also tried two of their sides. The fresh polenta was creamy and soft. It reminded me of grits that I get at breakfast places.

The other side was a white bean Ragu. It’s a bean dish but it reminded me of a bean soup. There was amazing flavor. It had a creamy texture full of savory notes. I could have eaten a whole bowl just of this. It was very hearty.

There was one last thing I had to try – the homemade cannoli. It had a great crunchy shell that was filled with the creamy filling and chocolate chips. It was the perfect ending to the meal.

I really enjoyed everything I ate at The Meatball Stoppe, plus the staff was so nice and clearly they enjoy working there. I would recommend checking them out at www.themeatballstoppe.com . Make sure to try all the meatballs.

Enjoy!

T