Jason's Deli - Salad Bar

Jason’s Deli is one of my GO TO places. They have a variety of great Sandwiches, Soups and those giant Baked Potatoes, but quite honestly I just go for their amazing Salad Bar. There are so many delicious options on it, so many that don’t normally come on a standard Salad Bar, and everything is always really fresh!

I could go on and on with details of their ingredients, but instead I am just going to mention a couple of my favorite items that they offer.

They have a Nut Blend topping that I usually take several scoops of. It consists of Dry roasted Peanuts, Almonds, Pepitas and (My Favorite) Cashews!

There is also an option of just Slivered Almonds if you prefer that.

After I have properly topped my Salad with Nuts, then I finish with the Fruit and Nut Blend, which contains Raisins, Dried Cranberries, Pepitas and Walnuts.

Can you tell that I like Nuts on my Salad?

So this is generally what my meal from Jason's looks like.

I always order a cup of Soup with my Salad Bar. 9 times out of 10 I get the Tomato Basil, but one time I got the Chicken Pot Pie and it was pretty good too. I’m sure all of their Soups are pretty good.

Another standout for me is their Roasted Red Pepper Hummus. It is thick, creamy and full of flavorful and they offer an assortment of Crackers to scoop it up with.

One time I got the Manager’s Special, which is a half of a Sandwich and a cup of Soup (then of course I added a Salad). The Sandwich was really good, it was on a Croissant and had Turkey, Ham, Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato and Cheddar. As long as I can add a Salad Bar to it I would definitely get it again.

Then I round out the meal by having either some Pudding or Chocolate Mouse (or both).

 

You can also get a complimentary self-serve Twisty Cone with any purchase, which is yet another reason to head to Jason’s Deli.

Jason's Deli - For me it is comparable to Sweet Tomatoes, but I might like it just a little bit better!

Tolla's - Chicken Touscan

A year or so ago I tried Tolla’s in Winter Park because I has purchased a Groupon and got a pretty good deal. I remember it tasting pretty good and being very fresh. I also remember that our server was very nice, and at the end of our meal she talked me in to signing up to their email list because they would send out occasional coupons and you got a free meal for your birthday.

Well it was just birthday time for me, and sure enough I got a free entrée coupon, and since we had a couple guests visiting town we decided to return and see if they liked it.

Sitting on Pennsylvania Avenue, a little bit off of the beaten path of Downtown Winter Park, Tolla’s is both cute and cozy. They have a small inside dining room as well as a screened in dining area that is a little larger and quite nice during good weather. It is climate controlled and you feel like you are inside because the screen allows you to see out, without being seen by people on the outside.

As we arrived around 12:30 on a Tuesday afternoon we opted for the screened in seating. There were only two other tables dining and just one server. We decided on a few appetizers while we waited to order out main courses.

First the Bread came out with the Oil and Vinegar to dip it in. Nothing too special about the Bread, but it was a nice first bite.

Then the Pepper Shooters (stuffed with provolone and Prosciutto) were delivered. The briny peppers combined with the chunk of Provolone and the Prosciutto made for a nice second bite.

Then our next two appetizers came out: Pan Fried Fresh Breaded Mozzarella (which were huge wedges of Mozzarella perfectly coated and perfectly crispy) and a special Pasta appetizer (Little Pasta Purses filled with Pear and Four cheeses). The Pear gave it a sweetness, while the four Cheeses gave it a saltiness that was interesting and very tasty.

Then for my Entrée I decided on the Chicken Touscan (Pan seared chicken with sundried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, smothered in gorgonzola with white wine garlic sauce over bowtie pasta). First out was a Salad with Mandarin Orange Sesame Ginger Dressing that was out of this world. The Salad was extremely fresh, and the Dressing was thick and sweet. Then when my main dish came out I was so excited after the first bite. I loved the combination of the Sundried Tomatoes and the Artichokes, and you could definitely taste the tangy Gorgonzola in the sauce. The Chicken was lightly Pan fried and very tender. The whole dish was very successful and although I had consumed a ton of food already I managed to eat every last bite. The three other people I was dining with ended up taking home doggie bags, but it was so delicious that I couldn’t resist eating it all! I look forward to getting another free entrée coupon next year, and I also have several people that I occasionally dine with, so I plan on taking them also because I don’t want to have to wait another whole year to return.

Vince Carter's - Create Your Own Burger

My parents spend a lot of time in Daytona Beach, and for a couple of years they have been telling me that some time when I am over that way I need to try Vince Carter’s. My first thought was, “Who is Vince Carter?” I am not at all a “sports” person and when they told me who he was I assumed that his restaurant would be a loud sports bar with mediocre food. I was wrong, very wrong.

This past Sunday I met up with them and we headed there for lunch. Skeptical of how busy it would be with the post-church crowd, they assured me that it was a big place and that we would be fine. As we pulled up I realized what a big place it was and I was excited to see what all the hoopla was about.

We walked in and the hostess asked if we wanted to be seated in the Sports Bar or the Dining Room. My Dad insisted on the Sports Bar so that he could see the game. To my amazement it was really comfortable with modern furnishings, a casual elegant feel, and plenty of high-end video screens to watch sports on, yet it was not too loud. In fact I have never been so comfortable in a sports bar in my life.

I excused myself to the bathroom and as I explored the place I saw that the Dining Room area was also very nice, the entire place has an upscale feel to it, even the bathroom was really nice. Vince Carter spared no expense on this place!

Our server came around and took our orders and brought us a complimentary Bread Basket. The Corn Bread was a little too sweet and the Rolls were a little too salty for my likings. (I’m not complaining – it was free!)

Being a Burger Lover I noticed on their menu that you could create your own “Hand Crafted” Burger for $9. Start with a half pound of certified Angus Beef and add any toppings that you like (For no additional fee, Can you believe this? Multiple choices of Cheese, Bacon, sauteed Mushrooms, etc… Again… at no additional cost). I thought this was great, and then the server asked if Fries were OK or would I prefer a different side? (I get a side too? Wow)

I decided to top my Burger with Bleu Cheese, Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato, and for my side I got the Macaroni and Cheese.

The Burger was excellent! The Burger Patty was slathered in Bleu Cheese and the Bacon was crisp and delicious. It was very tasty and cooked perfectly to my likings.

The Macaroni and Cheese was also delectable. Five Cheeses, baked in an individual ramekin this was creamy and would have stood alone just fine as a main dish.

My Dad also ordered a Burger which he loaded with just about everything, and my Mom had a Breakfast Special that included Eggs, Home Fries, Bacon, Sausage and Fresh Fruit. They were both very happy with their meals, and there was even enough left over for them to take some home for later.

Three of us had an amazing lunch and we all left completely satisfied for just over $30. I was quite delighted at how elegant Vince Carter’s is, how low the prices were and ultimately how outstanding the food was! If you haven’t yet been, give it a try and see for yourself.

Bloodhound Brew Pub and Eatery

I had a friend recommend Bloodhound Brew Pub and Eatery so I met him there for a late dinner. We sat outside, the service was mediocre and our server seemed as though she couldn’t be bothered with us, and they were out of the first two beers that my friend ordered. As for the Food the Hound Shanks were moist and tender and fell off the bone.

. I ordered the Kinston Burger (10 oz. hand-pattied Burger grilled to perfection. Topped with Havarti Cheese, Brazed Pineapples, and Onion Straws. Finished with our homemade Pineapple BBQ Sauce. Served with Yucca Fries - $9.99) In theory this should have been delicious, however the Burger Patty itself was just not up to par. It lacked flavor and was dry. The Yucca Fries were pretty good, and I didn’t hate the entire Burger, so I didn’t want to completely give up on this place.

I had another opportunity to go there with four different friends. On this visit they were again out of several Beers (including Bud Light), so now both times that I have been to Bloodhound Brew their Beer selection has not been what it should be. This time although our server was very nice she couldn’t remember the specials or get our drinks right. I knew I didn’t want a Burger (however two of my friends did order Burgers and seemed to like them pretty well). I ordered the Fried Chicken and Biscuits (Hand battered, specialty seasoned and extra crispy Chicken Breast and handmade Biscuit on a stick, with White Country Pepper Gravy and Macaroni and Cheese $8.99). Now this was a really delicious meal! I was surprised for the low price that you got two Chicken Breasts and two Biscuits, plus the Mac and Cheese! Super crispy and well seasoned I ate every bite. Not sure if I will ever go back to Bloodhound Brew, but if I do I would definitely order this again.

So ultimately my thoughts on Bloodhound Brew are Food = Yes, Service = No and If you are going there to drink then you might have to come up with a second or third choice on beverage because chances are that they will be out of the Beer that you really want.

Tako Cheena

Tako Cheena (located on Mills ave.) is about to celebrate its One Year Anniversary!

I have been there many times and have enjoyed just about everything on the menu.

The ATMOSPHERE… This small space offers four seats at the bar and about 8 small tables. Art hangs on the walls and it is often packed.

The SERVICE… Fairly quick with a friendly staff

The FOOD… Standard Mexican dishes such as Takos, Burritos and Empanadas only with a cultural twist, the flavors are Thai, Korean, African, Indian, etc. I once heard someone describe Tako Cheena’s Food as “Brown meets Yellow” and that seems to be pretty accurate.

I usually get the Takos. (3 for $7.98) I really enjoy the Thai Peanut Chicken (with mixed Cabbage, Cilantro, Scallion and crushed Peanuts) and the Indian Yellow Curry Crispy Tofu (with mixes Cabbage, Cilantro, Celery and Scallions)

Sometimes I also get one of their ever-changing Empanadas ($2.35), which come with your choice of several Salsas (I like the Ginger Guava Salsa – sweet and flavorful with a slight kick).

On my last visit I got the Thai Panang Chicken Burrito (with Jasmine Rice, Bell Peppers, Basil and Peanut Sauce $7.98). It was really tasty and very filling.

If you haven’t been there yet and want to try something a little different that is reasonably priced then give Tako Cheena a try.

They are open for Lunch and Dinner, and they stay open late (4am) on Fridays and Saturdays!