Jalapeño cheese grits at the East Orlando Bubbalou’s Bodacious Bar-B-Q
12100 Challenger Parkway, 407-423-1212, alafaya.bubbalous.com
These cheese grits are ridic. Choose them over the pedestrian fries and coleslaw and you’ll never look back. Creamy, cheesy, spicy – a dish of the stuff is full up with every flavor and texture that’s a perfect foil to smoky, sauced protein. The other Bubbalou’s locations don’t serve jalapeño cheese grits, so you’ll have to make a special trip to the UCF-area location to taste them. And you should.
Smoked duck under glass
Scratch, 223 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, 407-325-5165, scratchtapas.com
The waiter approaches, bearing a white plate topped with a glass cloche filled with an opaque white cloud. The cloche is removed, the smoke shimmies above the plate for a moment in a fragrant swirl, and then as it disperses, all heads turn toward your table, seeking the source of that woodsy aroma. Listed somewhat unassumingly on the menu as “smoked duck,” this stunning dish is a high point of Scratch’s menu. The succulent lavender-cured duck breast medallions sided with maque-choux and scattered with pea tendrils are delectable on their own, but the high theater of its arrival puts it over the top.
Se7en Bites
207 N. Primrose Drive, 407-203-0727, se7enbites.com
OK, admittedly, Little Debbie didn’t invent the classic snack cakes most kids grow up either eyeballing or inhaling. But when you encounter the Swiss rolls and nutty bars behind the glass at Se7en Bites, we’ll be shocked if you aren’t transported back in time to feel that same uncontrollable urge to indulge. We love the oatmeal pies best, but maybe that’s just predictably Southern of us. And if you aren’t so nostalgic to pad your pantry like Mama used to with the store-bought stuff, their bakery case hosts a wealth of more sophisticated pastries that would probably make Hostess cry for its mom.
Lineage Roasting
East End Market, 3201 Corrine Drive, lineageroasting.com
The gleaming white tiles and the row of shiny silver coffee drippers lend Lineage, snugged into the back corner of East End Market, a laboratory atmosphere – which, given the seriousness of purpose displayed by owner Jarrett Johnson, is not far from the truth. Johnson and his staff go deep, experimenting endlessly with roast times and brew techniques to bring out the very best from each single-origin, limited-edition bean. When you tire of burnt-black roasts or utilitarian road-trip juice; when you outgrow caffeinated milkshakes topped with whipped cream; when you are ready to truly taste what you’re drinking and only that, Lineage will brew you the most modern cup of coffee Orlando has to offer. And if you’ve got that summertime sadness, a bottle of Lineage cold brew – black or white – will chill you right out.
Chairman Meow’s Revenge
by Fat Cat Foods
fatcatfoods.com
Writer-cum-hot sauce magnate Eyal Goldshmid has crafted one of the finest all-purpose hot sauces we’ve sampled and, what’s more, it’s locally made. The scorpion and habañero peppers that go into the aromatic (and seriously stinging) Chairman Meow’s Revenge are grown in Ocoee and Brooksville, while many of the sauce’s ancillary ingredients (onions, cilantro, red peppers, lime) come from Florida farms. The sauce is bottled in St. Augustine and sold locally at the Fresh Market, Cavallari Gourmet, Hoovers Market, Local Roots at East End Market, the Ancient Olive and other spots – but it’s the infernal yet well-rounded flavor of this Caribbean-style pepper sauce that makes it good on everything from burgers to omelets.
Maxine’s on Shine
337 N. Shine Ave., 407-674-6841, maxinesonshine.com
Sultry proprietress Shelly “Maxine” Broadwell has been known to purr a few tunes at her always fun and boisterous neighborhood restaurant, but don’t expect the animal-print-loving chanteuse to belt out any old song at any old time. There are conditions: 1) the musician must be attuned to the Beatles, Johnny Cash or her fave, Nancy Sinatra; 2) she actually needs to be present at the restaurant. If those stringent conditions are met, the former Miss New York 1979 contender will gladly show off her talents. There are times when hearing Maxine sing is assured, though: when it’s your birthday and on the fourth Friday of every month when musician John Gallagher is in the house.
Fiorenzo Italian Steakhouse at Hyatt Regency Orlando
9801 International Drive, 407-284-1234, orlando.regency.hyatt.com
What we might have lost by the closing of La Coquina at the Hyatt Grand Cypress a few years ago is made up for a few times a year at Fiorenzo at the former Peabody, now the Hyatt Regency Orlando. A sparkling raw bar with prawns and oysters sitting in an ice sculpture; rows of petite, beautiful desserts; mountains of French cheeses and accoutrements; a to-order entree bar; pizza oven; giant antipasto spread; paellas; imported bagels and smoked fish; sushi – it doesn’t get better for a special occasion. They do the brunch on Easter, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.
100 Montaditos
417 N. Alafaya Trail, 407-384-9040, us.100montaditos.com
The Spaniards may have gotten knocked out of the World Cup early (boo-effing-hoo), but their most popular tapas chain has made a big difference in East Orlando’s dining scene. We’ll credit it to the flocks of broke-ass UCF students who recognize that these diminutive montadito sandwiches are a steal. The bread is quality, they’re built to order, the fillings are full-on Iberian (Spanish tortilla and jamon Iberico!) and the sangria is potent. Order two as a pre-cinema snack, or fill your gullet and go to tiny sandwich heaven.
Artichoke Red
2808 Edgewater Drive, 407-898-3353, artichokered.com
If you read about some new vegan product in VegNews or on Isa Chandra’s Twitter feed that you’re just dying to try, no need to special-order it from Abe’s Market or Food Fight Grocery – chances are you’ll find it in College Park at Artichoke Red. Owner Sam Cardon keeps the new products cycling through his all-vegan store, from innovative pantry basics like Daiya “cheese” shreds and the Vegg, a vegan egg-yolk imitator, to animal-free junk food like Earth Balance “cheddar” puffs and Luna & Larry Coconut Bliss salted caramel ice “cream.” Products that don’t meet a great reception are mercilessly dropped, but if customers show love for something, Artichoke Red will find a long-term place for it among their crowded shelves and refrigerated cases.
