Best Fries: Shake Shack or In-N-Out?

There is an ongoing argument: who has the better fries - Shake Shack or In-N-Out Burger? I've never had the pleasure of visiting In-N-Out, but Shake Shack in Winter Park has one of my favorite French fries in Orlando. The crinkle-cut fries are fried nice and crispy. There is not a lot of unique or spicy flavor, but that is fine. Just yummy, crispy fries.

Unfortunately, we did not get a chance to try a hamburger on this visit, but my friends rave about all of the restaurant's burgers. We did have the chocolate malt, which was a bit chalky, but the flavor was great. Shake Shack has several other old-fashioned shakes and floats to choose from.

One of my favorite things about visiting Shake Shack, though, is the environment. It is so nice to sit out in back of the restaurant, especially at sunset. Next to a lake, the entire area has been landscaped beautifully, so individuals and families can relax and hang out. I love going to Jillycakes after for dessert and to Trader Joe's for our new obsessions: Speculoos Cookie Butter and dehydrated strawberries, among other things.

Who do you think has the best French fries in Orlando?

Top 3 Things We Love at F&D Kitchen and Bar

Finally. A restaurant that we believe has long-term staying power has set up shop in a location in Lake Mary/ Heathrow that was doomed for many other restaurant concepts, including most recently Chavo's. We had a wonderful experience at F&D Kitchen and Bar at 1541 International Parkway (near Applebee's and Moe's) and believe the restaurant will continue to be successful for these reasons:

1. The atmosphere. Whoever designed the interior knew the right mix of brick, dark woods, dark leather upholstery and modern lighting that would make guests feel like they are enjoying cocktails with friends in a modern gastropub. The bar seating is expansive, with both bar stools, tables and couches, which makes me feel like I could hang out here for awhile, especially during happy hour, which runs from 3:00-6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Restaurant seating is also expansive, with room for big parties. The place was packed on a recent Saturday night.

2. The food. Executive Chef Pete Morales developed a Southern-inspired menu that utilizes local produce, meat and seafood whenever possible. The restaurant cures its own meats in-house, including bacon. The level of care that goes into food preparation here is undeniable. The decadent Pork Belly app is brined for several hours, until it is simply falling apart and melts in your mouth. It is paired with a smoked bean puree (mimicking pork-and-beans), spicy honey, salted almonds and pickled red onion and peppers. Eaten as a composed bite, the flavors pair very well together. We would highly recommend this dish, but just know that it is a small portion for $13. The Grouper Tacos - a special that night - were also tasty with a very flavorful grilled corn tortilla and fish that was cooked perfectly. The Double Standard

burger ($14) was also delicious, but we probably should have ordered it with a fried egg to make it more unique than other gastropub burgers. 

3. The drinks. Craft cocktails are delicious here. We preferred the Sazerac, with rye, bitters and a twist over the Lavender Blue, which contained vodka, blueberry, and lavender. We couldn't taste the lavender in this drink. However, F&D is known more for its local craft beers and wine selection, so we will try those on our next visit.

The menu had a great a great variety, and there were so many other entrees and desserts that we would like to try, including: Southern Fried Green Tomatoes, Spicy Rock Shrimp Mac 'n Cheese, Strawberry Corncake and Bag of Donuts. We only wish the restaurant was open for lunch and brunch. However, it has only been open for around two months, so we are sure hours will be expanding soon.

Top 3 Brunches in Orlando...So Far

In my quest for the best brunch offerings in Orlando, I have been fortunate to enjoy three delicious brunches recently. These are the top three I have tried, but there are so many more restaurants that I have been told have great brunch, including Soco Thorton Park, Hash Hash a Go Go, Briar Patch Winter Park and White Wolf Cafe. I hope to try them soon. Let me know your favorite brunch spot in the comments section below. Meanwhile, try not to drool over the scrumptious dishes that made it into Flavorful Excursions' Top Brunches list:

1. Two Chefs Seafood & Oyster Bar: Although Two Chefs began serving brunch only a few short weeks ago, the chef/owners got the menu and execution right from the beginning. $8 unlimited mimosas and a massive Blood Mary Bar are enough to draw diners in. Then, they will be delighted to find an extensive menu that features sweet and savory items, and both breakfast and lunch fare. We recommend the Rosemary Parmesan Waffle with Fried Chicken, the Duck Confit Hash with Fried Egg & Truffle Oil, the Cinnamon Roll and the Banana Bourbon Bread Pudding.

2. Artisan's Table: Like Two Chefs, the brunch menu at this beautiful, buzzing downtown eatery has everything you would want in a brunch: inventive plates that are both sweet and savory, and a wide array of breakfast and lunch items. I knew I was in for a treat when brunch started with a friendly server and classy tea presentation. The dish I had was heavenly, and I would highly recommend it: Breakfast in Bread, a puff pastry tart with medium cooked egg, crispy crumbled bacon, parmesan cheese and queso blanco. The Breakfast Potatoes on the side were perfectly seasoned and fried to the right amount of crispness, and I loved the garnish of scallions. Bonus points: General Manager Monica McCown was very accommodating with my food allergy substitutions. 

3. Dexter's: The restaurant chain has been offering great brunch for years. But I re-visited the Dexter's Lake Mary recently for brunch and was reminded that the local restaurant chain offers a unique take on traditional brunch dishes - and executes them well. My favorite brunch dish there is the Dexter's Benedict. I really like the addition of smoked turkey, along with tomatoes and spinach, as well as the flavorful hollandaise sauce. We also really liked the Country Style Chicken & Biscuits, Waffles and Blackened Mahi & Grits. The mimosas come in so many different flavors - including mango and yummy peach - and are inexpensive at $2.96 each or $12 for unlimited.

Lombardi's Opens Beautiful Winter Park Store

My husband and I know Lombardi's Seafood well. It is the fish market we have gone to for years when we want the freshest fish and shellfish, including live crawfish and blue crabs. It is exciting to visit the market's new store at 1888 W. Fairbanks Ave in Winter Park, Fla., and see even more fresh and frozen seafood selections.

The store itself is much bigger than the old location, and is bright and welcoming. Now, Lombardi's has room to carry many different types of fresh seafood, including live mussels, clams and lobster. The wild sockeye salmon looked beautiful when we visited this past weekend and was only $7.98 a pound. While some fish, such as snapper and grouper, are higher-priced, you can often save money when Lombardi's sells grouper and other fish pieces for a significantly discounted prices. The fish pieces are great sauteed on their own, or to add to a seafood chowder or soup.


While I have visited the store a couple of times, I have not yet tried the new Lombardi's Cafe. Everything on the menu looks delicious and interesting, especially the Lobster Mac 'N Cheese Egg Rolls, the Tuna Poke Chips, the Key West Pink Shrimp and the Pine Island Grouper Basket. If you have tried the new cafe menu, please let me know what you liked or didn't like in the comments section below.

New favorite cupcake shop: Jillycakes

I am sorry I have waited this long to try Jillycakes, in the same shopping plaza as Trader Joe's in Winter Park. In the past, I deemed Sweet by Holly to have the best cupcakes in Orlando. These are on the same level. I was so impressed by the light, fluffy, flavorful cake and the tasty icing. it is rare that a cupcake baker gets both things right at once, and Jillycakes definitely does that. 

What I was most impressed by was that the flavor of the cake and icing tasted exactly like what the bakery promises. The Cherry Cola cupcake is spot-on like the soft drink - and of course the cola is included in the cupcake batter. Yummy. Our

favorite cupcake, though, was one of the bakery's most popular: Speculoos Cookie Butter. You get the cinnamony, nutty flavor of Trader Joe's cookie butter in both the icing and the cake. Inside the cupcake is some actual cookie butter and the cupcake is topped with one of the Speculoos cookies.

Another great thing about visiting Jillycakes is its location. In the same plaza with Trader Joe's and Shake Shack, you can eat a yummy dinner, and then enjoy cupcakes outside by the lake. And, of course, pick up your gourmet treats at Trader Joe's after.

Where: 125 N. Atlantic Ave., #5, Winter Park. Fla.

  

Win Brunch for Two at Two Chefs Seafood

I am very excited to hear that Two Chefs Seafood & Oyster Bar in downtown Orlando is now serving brunch every Sunday from 11:30-3:00, starting July 12. I have had excellent food on two previous visits there for dinner, where I got to sample high-quality seafood dishes and the chefs' modern take on Southern cuisine (see review below). And Two Chefs is giving away Brunch for Two to two lucky Flavorful Excursions readers! Simply tag whom you would like to bring to brunch on our Facebook page or on Instagram at Flavorful Excursions, and we will randomly select one lucky winner on Friday, July 10, at 3:00 p.m. One entry per person, must live in Central Florida.

Of course, I would also highly recommend visiting the restaurant any day for lunch or dinner. Here is my recent review after my first visit to Two Chefs:

I had the best meal I have had in a long time at the new Two Chefs Seafood & Oyster Bar. I am usually very nervous when trying a brand new restaurant. It typically takes a while for management and staff to work out the kinks, and you really don't know if the food will be good. 

In this case, I had no worries at all. I had already heard that the two chef-owners are Bernard Carmouche, former culinary director for Emeril Lagasse's Florida restaurants and Larry Sinibaldi, former chef of The Palm restaurant at Hard Rock Hotel. Also, my friend Amy Gilbert, pastry chef at Emeril's Tchoup Chop, is a chef and pastry chef at this great restaurant.

Near the 7-Eleven on Colonial Drive, you almost miss Two Chefs, which is a small eatery in a renovated house. There is some parking in the back and on the side streets. The atmosphere is very inviting - not stuffy - with white butcher paper on the tables instead of white linen tablecloths. The atmosphere almost fools you into thinking that you will be getting casual,

everyday food. 

That is certainly not the case here. While there are familiar Southern items on the menu like baked oysters, Shrimp Po'Boy and macaroni and cheese, the chefs have taken a very unique and fresh approach to each app, side and entree. We started with the Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, which was full-flavored. I love the smokiness from the sausage and appreciate the huge chunks of tender chicken in the gumbo. After eating gumbo in New Orleans, it has been so hard to find one I like in Orlando and now I have! Instead of Oysters Rockefeller, the chefs offered a delicious Baked Oysters app, which my husband was a little leery of because it includes Brie cheese fondue, bacon and toasted Panko bread crumbs. He was pleasantly surprised when he realized that the oyster flavor pairs perfectly with both the brie cheese and bacon.

Of course we had to try the Shrimp Po Boy. This is one of our favorite things to get when we go home to South Mississippi. The chefs fly in bread from New Orleans for the Po Boys, so we knew it was going to be great. The plentiful, lightly-breaded shrimp paired perfectly with the mayo, lettuce and lightly toasted bread. We will definitely be back for that sandwich! We also had the Fish Sandwich of the Day, which was red drum. Chefs in New Orleans and Mississippi know how delicious this fish is, but I never see it featured in Orlando restaurants. I was so happy to have it, and it was cooked nearly perfectly. The sandwich was great, but the housemade remoulade sauce was even better. 

We also wanted to try the unique sides. We had the Crispy Pancetta and Jalapeno Mac n Cheese with toasted Panko bread crumbs. We liked the kick from the jalapenos, and the flavor and texture of the pancetta. I think a different cheese would elevate this dish further; the cheese reminded me of macaroni and cheese you make at home, which is likely what the chefs were going for. Our favorite side was the Charred Okra with oven-dried tomatoes, lemon and basil. And this is from someone who doesn't like okra outside of gumbo and the fried okra. I couldn't get enough of this dish! The beautiful, light tomato broth paired perfectly with the firm - not mushy - okra.

Of course, we had to try dessert. It was so hard to choose from Key Lime Pie, Chocolate Cake, Creme Brulee and others, but we settled on the Banana Bread Pudding. We are so glad we did! Each bite was a mouthful of bliss. The pudding doesn't look as moist as it actually is. Once you bite into it, you realize that it is soaked in a delicious whisky anglaise. We loved this decadent, but light dessert!

Where: 743 N. Magnolia Ave., Orlando, Fla.

Go to Shula's for Great Burgers, Happy Hour

What is the first thing my husband wants to do after getting off of a 10-day cleanse/ fast? Eat a hamburger, of course. But not just any burger. A lot of thought and planning went into where we could get the best burger in Orlando. Teak Neighborhood Grill was on the top of our list, and we have also been wanting to try Beth's Burger Bar. Still, we have always had great burgers at Shula's 347 Grill in Lake Mary and, since it is closer to us, the restaurant won out.

As usual, my husband's Shula Burger, which is made with 100% Angus beef, was cooked perfectly. At $11, we think it's a pretty good value, too. It was such a decadent treat after several days of no meat! And we love the fries. Meanwhile, I took advantage of the Happy Hour appetizer specials - filling enough for dinner and a value at $3.47 each. The Boiled Shrimp app is tasty but I like the mussels app even more. The wine, garlic and tomato broth is yummy.

Cocktails - including some of Shula's signature martinis - are also a great value during Happy Hour (Monday - Friday, 4-7 p.m.) at $3.47 each. However, the regular cocktail, wine and beer prices at the restaurant are out-of-control. $14 for an Old-Fashioned in a small tumbler glass? Sheesh! Go during happy hour, if you want to enjoy a drink. We love all the desserts at Shula's 347 Grill, but we were sad to see the Apple Cobbler go. That was a perfect dessert.