Café Murano, Dining in Altamonte Springs

Jan 132015
 

Altamonte Springs isn’t exactly known for its culinary scene, sure the city hosts “Red, Hot and Boom” every year and boasts quality suburban living for its residents. Yet, there’s a hidden gem of sorts tucked behind the mall with a lakeside view. Café Murano has over 30 years of experience serving guests and creating delectable recipes. Every menu item is made in-house including bread and pastas, all under the hand of Chef Khai and Chef Scott. Their portions are generous, service is friendly and new dishes are introduced monthly depending on the chef’s choice.

The lively bar scene is filled with locals, regulars and rotating craft beers. If beer isn’t your thing, their wine list is fairly extensive and cocktails are crafted with care. With an affordable made-from-scratch menu, there’s sure to be something for everyone in your party. The atmosphere is lively, but not pretentious, and the dishes are filled with Italian goodness. Recently, we ventured over to Café Murano and enjoyed quite a lovely meal.

Here’s what we tasted and recommend for your next night out:

  • Happy Hour: We dined on a Friday and enjoyed half price drinks until 7 p.m. Amazing. Plus enjoy the sounds of live music on Fridays and Saturdays. We happily sipped our half price wine and beer, while unwinding from a long week!
  • Chicken Marsala: When dining out for Spork I tend to completely ignore the fact that I’m terribly allergic to gluten and soy. It’s just not practical and, let’s get real, everything tastes better with carbs. When I do venture out for pastas, it’s gotta be worth it! Luckily, this fantastic dish was worth every bite, the chicken is sauteed with shallots, mushrooms and Marsala wine atop fettuccine. The homemade pasta was perfection and I nearly licked my plate!
  • Chicken Parmesan: (Actually) hand-breaded, topped with marinara, mozzarella and served over spaghetti. Lots of places claim “hand-breaded,” but here you can taste the difference. From the house-made pasta to the fresh tomato sauce, you’ll be instantly transported to Italy with each bite!

If you’re looking for something different, lively and family friendly venture over to Café Murano. It’s conveniently located within walking distance to a movie theater, so why not make a night of it with your favorite people? Café Murano is located at  309 Cranes Roost Boulevard, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701.

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Café Murano on Urbanspoon

Live Music & Flavor at Tin Roof

Jan 122015
 

I-Drive has received yet another upgrade with the arrival of Tin Roof, a “live music joint.” Headquartered in Nashville, the first Tin Roof opened in 2002 near Nashville’s Music Row.

“We think Orlando is a perfect fit for Tin Roof, for both tourists and locals,” said William Hodges, Tin Roof Regional Manager. “I-Drive 360 visitors can grab some food or listen to some great music before or after they visit some of the other new attractions.”

Tin Roof focuses on booking top local and regional bands from rock to alternative to country. It’s not be a ticketed venue, but cover charges will apply at certain times. Free cover is offered to Florida residents on Fridays though.

Our first visit was delicious, entertaining and we’ll definitely be back for more bites and sounds. The food vastly exceeded our expectations, the presentation and quality were impressive and we’d go back just for their Creamy Shrimp & Grits. Tin Roof will be open for lunch and dinner, here are a few menu highlights and our favorite tastes from last week’s visit.

  • Hot Chicken Torta: Buttermilk fried chicken rubbed with cayenne, ranch potato salad and pickles on a Mexican style roll. A unique and tasty take on fried chicken all wedged between a fluffy roll. Pair with a beer and your cares will melt away in this relaxed atmosphere.
  • Creamy Shrimp & Grits: Sautéed shrimp, peppers and bacon simmered in a spicy tomato sauce atop stone ground white corn grits and mascarpone. Oh my. We’ve tasted a lot of shrimp and grits in our day, but these were impressive. The grits were perfectly creamy and the shrimp were coated with spiced tomato goodness. Make sure this dish ends up on your table.
  • O-Eye Mac & Cheese: Maple smoked white cheddar and breadcrumbs. There’s nothing more satisfying on a cold Florida day than warm, creamy dishes and this wheel shaped pasta is expertly coated in gooey, comforting goodness.

There’s a handful of other things on our list to try next time like their Tuna Tataki and Pimento Crab Dip! Join Tin Roof for its grand opening bash on Saturday, January 24; starting at noon and lasting until close featuring live music and their full menu.

Tin Roof is located at 8371 International Drive (I-Drive 360). For more, visit their website at www.tinroofbars.com/Home/Orlando.

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Tin Roof · A Live Music Joint on Urbanspoon

Food Trucks {Mickey Mouse Style}

Jan 102015
 

The ever-evolving culinary food scene at Disney has some new permanent additions, food trucks. Their four food trucks have a new home at Exposition Park at Downtown Disney. The trucks include Namaste CafeŽ with flavors from Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Superstar Catering with flavors from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Fantasy Fare with Magic Kingdom Park treats and World Showcase of Flavors with Epcot offerings. The trucks are open evenings, with hours varying seasonally.

We’ve yet to taste the food, but I’m sure it’s comparable quality to what you’d find at Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival. We did walk by the trucks recently on our way to Splitsville. The bustling area was quite quaint, an oasis of sorts from the Downtown Disney mobs. Situated lakeside, it looks like the perfect place to watch the sunset and grab a bite to eat before catching a movie or attending a Cirque show.

Here’s a little more on each food truck:

  • Superstar Catering (Hollywood Studio Tastes): Serving up tastes like the turkey meatball sub and a slow-cooked pot roast sandwich—both served with house-made chips and the margarita flatbread, topped with basil and balsamic glaze.
  • Namaste Café (Animal Kingdom Tastes): Offerings range from a naan and samosa dipping to lamb kefta with tomato cucumber raita sauce.
  • Fantasy Fare (Magic Kingdom tastes): Enjoy sticky chicken and waffles inspired by those at Magic Kingdom, the Croque Monsieur from Disneyland Paris and hand-dipped corn dogs from Disneyland.

Happy food trucking!

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Photo Credits: Disney Parks

2015 Food Trends

Jan 092015
 

Kale, quinoa and the “crount” are so last year. As we move into a new year, there’s plenty of room for new food trends and ingredients to watch for as rising stars. Up and coming trendy ingredients have a sneaky way of presenting themselves on local menus and in your kitchen. So, we turned to the experts for their trend predictions and flavors you’re sure to see popping up at a restaurant and grocery store near you. Here’s to a happy and tasty new year!

For more on food trends and predictions from Orlando’s chefs head to Orlando My Way!

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Photo Credit: All photos from each chef respectively 

Brunch – American Gymkhana Style

Jan 082015
 

Chef Aarthi at American Gymkhana is back again with some tasty new dishes, lately she’s been busy whipping up brunch! We’re getting a sneak peak soon, but in the meantime here’s what we know about the new brunch offerings.

American Gymkhana Brunch:

  • Where: American Gymkhana, 7559 W. Sandlake Road, Orlando
  • When: Saturdays and Sundays, 11:30 – 3:30
  • Price: $25, includes an entré, side and TWO brunch drinks (plus tax and gratuity)

Sample of Menu Items:

  • Desi Omelet – Serrano chili, sauteed onion, cilantro, Amul cheese, buttered toast served with Masala Potato Wedges or Kake & Cashew Salad.
  • Mumbai Frankie – Gymkhana chicken, red onions, sweet peppers, garlic aioli, flaky paratha served with Masala Potato Wedges or Kake & Cashew Salad.
  • Banjara Chicken & Waffles – Spiced fried chicken, garlic yogurt and buttermilk taska waffle, served with syrups and flavored butters.
  • For a side try the Black Cardamom & Hickory Smoked Lamb Bacon
  • Drinks: Orange-Mango Mimosas, Lychee Mimosa, Peach Bellini, Mumbai Bloody Mary

We’ll be back next week with a full recap and tasty pictures from our brunch!

American Gymkhana Brunch Flier

American Gymkhana on Urbanspoon

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen

Jan 072015
 

Cheddar’s Casual Café, a Texas-based group of restaurants, has repeatedly garnered No. 1 ratings from Zagat, Consumer Reports and Nation’s Restaurant News for food quality, customer experience, value and atmosphere.

In each restaurant, dozens of culinary team members prepare Cheddar’s dishes by hand. The menu offers a range of selections including steaks seasoned with a special blend of herbs, ribs slow-smoked for hours in-house, hand-cut seafood, crisp salads, generous pastas, classic burgers, chicken and more.

True to their Texas roots, the designer-quality interior and exterior features real copper awnings, Austin chalk stone from a Texas quarry, solid cherry and walnut butcher-block table tops. Although new, the restaurant was impeccably clean and warm, from the interiors to the friendly staff, the atmosphere was notable and impressive.

Our food was hot, the margaritas were abundant and the servers were helpful and attentive. Cheddar’s is definitely a nice option if you’re in the area. Here’s what we tasted and sipped throughout the evening.

  • Honey Butter Croissants – Oh my. I’d go back just for these treats. Hot from the oven and melt in your hand, these croissants are Instagram worthy.
  • Santa Fe Spinach Dip – Blended with sour cream, spices, four cheeses, topped with mozzarella cheese and served with unlimited chips and salsa. We were painfully hungry after a long day, so this appetizer was a nice compliment to our margaritas as started our meal.
  • Skinny Margarita – Sauza Gold with Cheddar’s Skinny Agave Sour. Served in a massive glass and boasting a mere 109 calories, this marg is a good bet for your meal. Oh and did I mention it’s only $3.99?
  • Sweet Heat Chicken & Shrimp – Chicken breast with grilled shrimp, glazed with sweet chili sauce and served over ginger rice with a salad tossed in tomato herb vinaigrette. I really wanted to order something “bad” but thought I’d give their “Lighter Side” menu a whirl! For a dish under 575, I was impressed by the portion size and flavor. The chicken was tender and I could slice it with a fork, paired with rice and a salad, you’ll forget you ordered a calorie controlled dish.

Cheddar’s is always packed so head out early if you want to avoid the crowds! As my Dad would say, this place definitely passes the “parking lot test,” parking lots and crowds don’t lie when it comes to restaurant popularity. So, what do you think of Cheddar’s? Tell us in the comments below!

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Cheddar's Casual Café on Urbanspoon

Cheddar’s Casual Cafe on Urbanspoon

Miami’s February Food Paradise

Jan 062015
 

Tacos After Dark, Food Network Celebs and a doggie happy hour are just a few things you’ll find in Miami next month. The 14th annual Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE returns February 19-22, 2015, and consists of more than 75 events during the four-day gathering.

The Festival kicks off on Thursday, February 19 with Ronzoni Pasta’s 100th Anniversary Al Fresco Feast, a celebration of pasta and all forms of Italian-American cuisine under the Festival’s signature white tents in the sand behind South Beach’s iconic Delano. Hello swanky.

The Festival is brimming with culinary goodness and can’t miss events. So click over to their website and head south for one of these amazing events:

With events for every budget and taste, you’re sure to have a memorable weekend. So hop on the turnpike and head to Miami with your best group of friends for a foodie banazana!

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Photo Credits: South Beach Food Festival

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