Fakenit tater tots at King Bao
710 N. Mills Ave., 407-237-0013, facebook.com/kingbaoorlando
Clearly, not everyone who eats vegan is doing it to be healthy – we've seen some pretty kickin' vegan dishes that would give Chris Christie palpitations. These fried tots at the new Mills 50 bao hamlet are covered in tofu, fake bacon, roasted garlic and onion jam and sprinkled with scallions. Also, they're just $2.50, so if you wanted to also eat a Veganville bao for lunch (crispy tofu with ginger-pepper relish), your wallet would only be a smidge lighter.
Eleven at Reunion Resort
7593 Gathering Drive, Kissimmee, 407-662-1000, reunionresort.com
By day, the rooftop where Eleven is located is the hotel's pool deck (which, really, is unique enough for Orlando), but come dusk, the sliding glass wall opens to reveal an elegant space where some of Central Florida's best steaks are served. Whatever you order for your main, don't miss the roasted garlic app that spreads like buttah over toasted baguette, Cambozola cheese and confit cherry tomatoes. Views of the Magic Kingdom and Epcot fireworks are on deck post-dessert.
Brownies from George's Gourmet Cookies
501 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park, 407-622-1499, georgesgourmetcookiesandcatering.com
You know how everyone in your office knows when there are leftover brownies from that board meeting? Everyone scampers like starved cats to the break room and descends upon the spoils, and then they're gone. If you find yourself so unlucky as to miss out, get to George's location on Lee Road and Orlando Avenue early enough to score one of the hefty handheld treats topped with caramel, marshmallow, chocolate drizzle and nuts, all for yourself.
Shoyu tuna poke bowl from Da Kine Poke Truck
Poke tuna is quickly becoming the next local food trend; we've seen it popping up at Quickly Boba Snow, Sus Hi Eatstation and even Publix, but our favorite so far is the mobile version from Da Kine Poke Truck. Not only does the truck seem to show up just when we get a craving for plump, toothsome tuna chunks in a tangy soy-based sauce, but the truck also offers a wide variety of furikake – seasoning blends made with nori, sesame and various other ingredients – to give the accompanying rice just the right flavor boost. And even though the owner has referred to us as "the worst news source out there," we'd be happy to split a bowl with him any time.
Valhalla Bakery's Nanaimo bars
2603 E. South St., 407-613-5968, valhallabakery.com
Until butter tarts, muktuk, moose in a can, peameal bacon, Montreal smoked meat sandwiches and poutine decent enough to make a Canadian stand "on guard for thee" make their foray south of the 49th Parallel, Valhalla Bakery's Nanaimo bars will be the singular finest Canadian treat you'll find in these here parts. The dark-chocolate graham-cracker coconut crust layered with a top-secret vegan "butter" custard filling and topped in magical dark chocolate is best eaten with your hands. If forking it, flip it upside down to avoid any custard ooze. That's how Ryan Reynolds does it.
Good Vibrations at New Moon Market
2314 Edgewater Drive, 407-440-8147, newmoonmarket.com
The drink of summer 2016, the one you're tired of seeing on every basic bitch's Instagram, is the Starbucks Pink Drink, a "secret menu" concoction of their strawberry açai refresher made with coconut milk instead of water, with strawberries and blackberries blended in. Bleah. We say New Moon's summer 2016 Good Vibrations juice, a blend of cold-pressed organic watermelon, pineapple, basil and lime, beats that goop all to hell. It's a prettier color, it tastes cleaner and more summery, and it's a LOT better for you.
Saigon Noodle and Grill
101 N. Bumby Ave., 407-532-7373, saigonnoodleandgrill.com
You know that pile of toppings (basil, jalapeños, bean sprouts) and the lazy Susan packed with sauces (hoisin, sriracha, chile-garlic paste)? You won't need them. Out of all the pho-bulous pho joints in this town, Saigon Noodle and Grill's pho broth needs no help at all. On its own, it's rich, perfectly seasoned and full of umami. Just pass the chopsticks.
Carne asada tacos at Tortas El Rey
6151 S. Orange Blossom Trail, 407-850-6980
There are three basic requirements to look for in a street taco before you sit down: double corn tortillas, salsa roja strong enough to give you a small asthma attack and lengua on the menu. Tortas El Rey has all of these things, qualifying them for consideration. And their carne asada tacos are some of the best in town. For less than $3, you can buy one pocket of meat heaven at this remodeled Checkers drive-thru and have enough cash left to buy a medium horchata to wash it down.
407-456-7890
There's nothing more British than Indian food, and expats craving the curries found in merry ol' England now have an outlet in which to enjoy Brit-style kormas, tikka masalas and, yes, even fiery (and very Indo-British) balti roshan thanks to the Viceroy Chipshop's Curry Club, run by chef Paul Skingley and his wife, Jennie Lynn. The gang gathers every two weeks (check their Facebook page) at various venues across the city to eat and chat about matters across the pond. One thing you won't hear is "Do you want that mild, medium or spicy?" The curries are prepared the way they're supposed to be.
Cap'n Crunch ice cream at Sprinkles
1676 E. Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista, 407-560-9192, facebook.com/sprinklesdisney
First thing: Sprinkles is supposed to be a cupcake shop, not an ice cream shop. Second thing: Crunchy cereal mixed into ice cream shouldn't work. Third thing: Forget those other two things, because this is the flavor of the summer so far as we're concerned. The ice cream is dense as gelato, infused with that special brown sugar and butter flavor and studded with individual Crunch nuggets. It's so much better than their cupcakes that eponymous sea captain Horatio Magellan Crunch might commit auto-cannibalism if he got his cartoony little paws on a scoop.