Dine on Healthy, Yummy Food at Whole Foods

When dining out, many people don't think of a going to a grocery store. However, after visiting the new Whole Foods Market in Altamonte Springs, Fla., I want to return for healthy and tasty lunches and dinners.

Of course, the new store - close to the Altamonte Mall - is gorgeous. In addition to the large selection of good-for-you products to buy in-store, I was most impressed with all of the dining options. The self-serve hot bar just seems to go on and on, offering all types of vegan and vegetarian fare, as well as Indian, Mexican, Italian, American and other cuisine from around the world. 

The in-store Asian foods provides sushi and rice bowls, such as Teriyaki, made to order. So, you can ask for whatever type of sushi you would like and for the rice or pasta bowls, you can customized your veggies, meat and seasonings. I tried a bowl with chicken, white rice, asparagus, brussel sprouts, peanuts and chili seasoning. It was delicious and light - I felt like I was eating healthy.

There is also a pizza eatery in the store - I sampled a piece and it was pretty good! I want to return to try some of the many meals and snacks available from the hot bar, including plantains.

Also see:

How Cost-Effective, Healthy Meal Delivery Service Came to Be

Sample Gourmet Food from Top Restaurants at Taste of Winter Park

Besides the Epcot Food & Wine Festival, the Taste of Winter Park is the local food festival that I look forward to every year. I am sure all my foodie friends agree. Where else can you sample dishes such as prime rib from Shula's Seakhouse, jumbo shrimp from Mitchell's Fish Market, and lobster hot dogs from The Ravenous Pig? Not to mention unique desserts such as Lavendar Tea Cake with Chambord Icing and all the wine and beer you would like.

This year, the Taste of Winter Park is featuring 45 restaurants and shops, including 4 Rivers Smokehouse, Cask & Larder, Luma on Park, P.F. Chang's, Kilwin's Chocolate and Ice Cream, Whole Foods Market, and Prato. For $45, you get as many food and drink samples as you would like. This is a wonderful way to try new restaurants along with all of your favorites.

When: Wednesday, April 17, 5:00-8:00 p.m.

Where: 200 West New England Ave., Winter Park

Top Chefs Can be Found on Food Trucks

Bruno Fonseca making Balsamic "Caviar"

For all my friends who are still worried about - or snobby about - eating food from trucks, I give you Bruno Fonseca and the 5 Gastronomy truck and catering service. Like several other food truck chefs in town, Fonseca is a classically-trained chef who has worked for the finest restaurants in town. Have you heard of the top-rated Norman's at the Ritz Carlton Orlando? Fonseca was a chef de partie and house butcher there prior to being the owner and executive chef at 5 Gastronomy.


Now, let me get to my point: Fonseca recently won a hard-fought competition at the Whole Foods Market on Sand Lake Road in Orlando. Whole Foods Market's annual Chef Summer Cook-off event reminds me of the challenges that Top Chef contestants have to go through, and I was happy to see that, this year, the store decided to feature the very talented chefs from local food trucks. Over three nights, Fonseca; Bryce Balluf, owner and  chef at Fork in the Road truck; Catarina Triacca of Gastro Trina Truck; and Tony Adams with Big Wheel Provisions, competed. Each chef was given $20 and 20 minutes to speed shop for ingredients, then they had 20 minutes to prepare a delicious, affordable summer meal using only a grill. 

The final three - Adams, Balluf, Fonseca - competed in the last cook-off challenge late last week. Fonseca won with his Sous vide Corvina fish with grilled smoked sausage, accompanied by a Spanish sofrito and watercress salad with sherry vinaigrette. Still, Fonseca is not satisfied. He is always try to think of creative ways to incorporate his fine dining dishes into hand-held food truck fare. "We get really bored with food, and want to show what else we can do.The other food truck chefs and myself talk about how we can translate our fine dining sense onto a paper plate," Fonseca told Flavorful Excursions.


Readers of this blog have heard about some of my favorite dishes from 5 Gastronomy, which makes regular appearances at Tasty Tuesdays in the Milk District, RDV Sportsplex on Friday afternoons, and several other Food Truck Bazaars and events. My favorite dish is the Soft Shell Crab BLT and 5 Gastronomy's crispy fries (better than many other trucks' fries). I also love the "Perfect Burger", which features melted Gruyere cheese and hickory bacon jam, as well as the Pork Tacos, and the FIVE Mac 'n Cheese.