Category: orlando

bananas

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lemon cotton candy

we spent yesterday sleeping, picking up the house and recovering from the workweek.  About 4:45 Z asks if we should cook or go out.  We opened up the list of Orlando to-do’s and landed on Banana‘s, a diner in the Mills 50 district downtown.  Opentable confirmed a table although for the hour of 6, it wasn’t a problem.  It isn’t a diner in the strictest sense of a counter and a few tables but has the red and black checker vibe going for it.  The drinks menu was backlit and it had the effect of drawing me to the technology and away from the content and I ended up with a glass of water.  Z ordered a handspun dreamsicle milkshake – it was only mildly orangey but had some nice orange zest on top.  He had a buffalo burger and I had the patty melt.  They were really both only just average and we were mildly disappointed.  We expected more boldness.   I think they forgot the cheese on my melt and the burger was way too thick for the bread.  A lemony cone of cotton candy came with our bill and this was the highlight of our meal.  I think this is really a latenight (post drinks) place or a brunch spot and would hit that note better than it hit us.

old and new

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went to 4Rivers last night with old friends in town from Denver.  It was a breezy night, great for eating outdoors and people watching.  The longest line I have seen at 4R and we were thrilled to be in line behind a couple of guys who were straight out of old St Cloud.  Camos, Ripped off sleeves, Carhartt coveralls.  They are the ones who turned us on to the Oreos.

cross section of Oreo

Strangely, or maybe not strangely, Vicky didn’t order any brisket, no pulled pork but all southern sides.   Corn, fried okra, collards, baked beans, cole slaw and sweet tea.  They threw in a deep fried pickle for her and a taster of Krispy Kreme bread pudding studded with raisins.  We usually eat lunch here and since it was dinnertime and we had guests pulled out all the stops and added in some deep fried Oreo’s – that’s right.  Deep. Fried. Oreos.  Three to an order.  The Oreo doesn’t stay crisp but goes to limp chocolately ooze.  It was fun to introduce old to new.

hype

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if I remember correctly, my friend Linda never wanted to hear too much about how great restaurants were, in order not to build it up in her mind to unachievable mythic proportions.   I am terribly guilty of browsing online menus and judging a book (or restaurant) by its cover (website/storefront) and dreaming in my foodie world about everything from amuse-bouche to decor to bathroom sinks (really.)
We go to a church in Orlando called Summit.  It is quite a bit different than anything Z or I grew up with and sometimes leans a little on traditions of the high church in order to teach a lesson or draw us closer to Jesus.  Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, a tradition I am certain I have never previously participated in.  There was a service about considering our mortality which concluded with the imposition of ashes, a mark on the forehead in ash with the sign of the cross.  It is a way to begin the Lenten season moving toward Easter.  Our small group meets on Wedsnesday evenings so we decided to meet for dinner and head to the service.  The chosen dinner spot was Pom Pom’s Teahouse and Sandwicheria.
Where am I going?  We had never been to Pom Pom’s and there was some hype – ‘my favorite’ and ‘great menu-lots of items.’  We snooped it out on the website.  It looked alright but I had an off vibe.  We made our way to the tiny stripmall housing it with it’s unlit metal sign.  It is dimly lit with sort of pop-asian art for sale.  A wall of $9 loaves and a few gourmet cupcakes in a case.  A sign on the wall proclaiming best non-bar hangout.  We ordered drinks – tea is a specialty, I had Passion – which is a black tea, good but nondescript.  Z had Coke (usual) and sandwiches.  Oddly they had no chips, only gourmet (read, not matchy to the food, but inventive- German potato salad with your Asian pressed sandwich anyone?)  All I wanted was a few crunchy chips.   Z ordered an Asian pulled pork and I had a Turkey with cranberry chutney, no sides.  It was ok, if not a little overpriced.  I kept thinking, well, I could make this with a minimum of work.   So, there is is, hype.  It didn’t live up.  It was probably ok, a good lunch spot even, but not worth my dreams of grandeur.

chicken souvlaki with tzatziki

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as I rummaged through my cookbooks making my shopping list I ran through the Epcot Food & Wine Fest book.  I saw what looked like a pretty easy recipe with fresh flavors for chicken souvlaki.  We made it tonight and I served it on warm tandoori na’an with crumbled goat cheese and vinegar dressed butter lettuce.  Fantastic fresh and fast Greek food.  Garlic breath notwithstanding.

chicken souvlaki
2 T Olive Oil
1 T Lemon Juice
1 1/2 t minced garlic
1 1/2 t oregano (I used dried)
1/2 t paprika
1/2 t salt
1/2 t pepper
1# chicken breast tenderloins (cut bite size)

tzatziki
1 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 cup finely diced cucumber
1 T minced garlic
1/2 T Olive Oil
1 t  lemon juice
1/4 t salt

For the chicken – whisk together all marinade items.  Add chicken chunks and let sit for about 30 minutes.   While chicken marinates, mix all ingredients for tzatziki and hold in fridge.
Preheat large non-stick frying pan with just a touch of olive oil.  Saute chicken until cooked through.

While the chicken cooks and rests toast water sprinkled na’an.
Place chicken, vinegar dressed lettuce, goat cheese crumbles, and tzatziki on the na’an.
Enjoy!