The Top Food and Drinks to Try at Waldorf Astoria Orlando

We started out our unforgettable dining experience at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando in the hotel's lounge, Peacock Alley. We had to try a cocktail there like no other: The Peacock Egg. So, this delightful concoction is a basically a Gin Lavender Lemonade drink, frozen into the shape of an egg. You sip the liquid through a hole in the egg, which is lit from below. You must try this at least once! Another delicious drink in Peacock Alley was the Waldorf Special, an amazing rum and pineapple martini. Peacock Alley also has several small plates and appetizers, and is a great place to hang out with a glass of wine and enjoy the piano music.

Next, we visited Bull & Bear, the hotel's signature steakhouse. Our first apps were Steak Tartar with Ground Mustard and Tarragon and Cheese and Sausage Crackers. Not only was the presentation of these apps delightful, but so was the flavor. The

tartar was probably the best we have tried, and the cracker was so light. The Tuna "Ring Around the Rosey" is a wondrous platter of tuna prepared three different ways: Tuna Tartar, Smoked Tuna and Tuna Confit. The delicious preparations - we liked all three! - were paired with a sorbet of water from the Atlantic Ocean. The sorbet brought all the various sea flavors to life even more.

The starter you must try at Bull & Bear is the Pasta Explosion. The pasta is so light because of a unique phyllo-dough type pasta that is prepared in-house. Inside is a mousse made with the highest quality prosciutto from Spain, paired with Parmigiano Reggiano. The tiny pastas each make for a perfect bite. 

On to entrees: The New York Strip is unlike any strip steak you have seen. It is so thick, you would think it was Filet Mignon. Bull & Bear gets its steak from a butcher in the Midwest who selects only the top five percent of cows. And you can tell it is a top quality piece of meat, with its delicious flavor and simple preparation.

We also had Florida Black Grouper, which is in season. The grouper may have been the most perfectly-cooked piece of fish I have had: not overdone and crispy skin. But the flavors that are paired with the fish is what I will remember most. The light almond milk sauce (prepared dairy-free for me) and walnut oil atop the quinoa accompaniment added a different flavor profile to the fish, which I really loved.

We had to try the hand-cut French Fries, which are cut in house, fried in beef tallow, and paired

with house-made aioli and ketchup. Can I just say the accompaniments are perfect? The French Fries themselves were crispy, but too salty for my taste.

There are so many amazing desserts to choose from at Bull & Bear, including Beignets. Because we were so stuffed, we opted for something lighter: The Lemon. I'm so glad we did. You cannot really understand how unique and flavorful this dessert is until you try it for yourself. Waldorf Astoria chefs basically developed a way for guests to enjoy all parts of the lemon. The candied lemon rind is delicious, as is the lemon curd. The lemon sorbet is probably the lightest sorbet I've had.

Obviously, we were beyond pleased and impressed with this dinner. The atmosphere is incredible, as is the service. A team of servers takes care of your every need. I also appreciated how the chefs prepared special foods for my gluten-free and dairy-free needs. So many people have food allergies, and this is one restaurant that makes a variety of delectable options available for those with special diets.

Unforgettable Culinary Adventures at Waldorf and Hilton's Food & Wine Weekends

Are you looking for an unforgettable dining experience this weekend? I promise that you will find that at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek's Orlando Food & Wine Weekends, which run through November 9.

The two fabulous properties have created unique culinary events that complement the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. However, after dining at the Waldorf's Bull & Bear restaurant, I can tell you that the food that these expertly-trained chefs whip up - and the personalized treatment you receive - will be far beyond the crowded experience of the Food & Wine Festival.

Every weekend, the Waldorf and Hilton Bonnect Creek features the events below and more. Pick and choose which ones you would like to try, and then go back next weekend for something different.

Bar du Chocolat and Champagne Tasting: choose from a buffet of carefully made chocolate treats from Waldorf Astoria Orlando's world-class pastry team, using recipes from all over the world. These chocolate conocotions are paried with an extensive selection of fine champagnes. 

A Taste of Waldorf Astoria: try exclusive tasting menus and wine pairings from master chefs in the Waldorf Astoria brand. 

II Cibo Della Vita: New tasting menus and wine pariings every weekend from the kitchen of La Luce by Donna Scala at Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek.

Pea Ringu - The Art of Sushi Pairing: the outstanding culinary team at Zeta Bar & Sushi Lounge explore perfect pariings for its outstanding sushi dishes, includign beer, sake, and wine.

Royal Tea: Guests can savor to tea, house-made pastries, and tea sandwiches in the wonderful, fun environment that is Peacock Alley. 

For more details on these events, visit www.waldorfastoriaorlando.com/food-wine or www.hiltonbonnetcreek.com/food-wine.

Funny New Indy Movie & Great Food at Enzian

Run, don't walk to the Enzian to see "In a World...." This indy film, written and produced by Lake Bell, had our whole family laughing throughout. That is difficult to do, when you get a group of people together who all have different interests and backgrounds!

Bell also stars in this movie, as a struggling vocal coach who strikes it big in the cutthroat world of movie-trailer voiceovers. The many dysfunctional family moments throughout are great, since she is competing against the voiceover king of the day, which happens to be her father.

I love going to the Enzian, not just for the movies, but for the atmosphere. It is nice to sit back and relax and order real food (not just nachos and hot dogs) and adult beverages. All the meals I have had there have been delicious. There are quite a few different sandwiches, salads, pizzas, and desserts to choose from.

For snacks, I recommend the Truffle Fries and the Popcorn. Yum. Homemade, buttery tasting popcorn. 

Where: 1300 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland, Fla.

Enjoy a Long Weekend in Jacksonville

 I don't understand why more Orlandoans don't think of Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach for a long weekend getaway! I had a chance to experience the city recently and want to share with you the best places to stay, eat and play.

I think what really made our trip special and relaxing was staying at the Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk on the St. John's River. I would highly recommend staying at one of the hotel's expansive suites on the fifth floor. When you walk into your suite, the first thing you see is the amazing view: the immaculate 1.2-mile wooden Riverwalk sports a ferry that takes you to Broadway plays and the symphony. And the backdrop is the beautiful Jacksonville city skyline.

Inside the suite is a massive living room with modern furniture, a kitchen/ bar area, a beautiful bedroom with king-size bed, and the biggest hotel bathroom I have ever been in. Seriously. This bathroom sports a jacuzzi tub, shower, and even a closet. 

Fortunately, you don't have to go far for food and drinks. The Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk sports the Currents Lounge, which has an elegant atmosphere and upscale cocktails to match. The lounge's dinner menu - which features many Cajun dishes - is quite extensive. You can ask the mixologist to create one of his unique concoctions. The night we were there, he crafted a delicious chocolate strawberry margarita! 

For dinner, we tried the special of the day: grouper with rice pilaf and vegetables. The fish was cooked alright, but was quite greasy. The rice and vegetables were good. We also had the Cajun Chicken and Shrimp Pasta. It was seasoned well, but was oversauced. 

Within walking distance of the hotel is the highly-rated BB's Restaurant and a yummy Thai eatery. Stay tuned: next week, I'll tell you about the other great places to eat in Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach!

Amura: Does Good Value & Food Offset Horrible Customer Service?

For Sunday brunch at Amura in Lake Mary, you can enjoy pretty good sushi and other Japanese-style dishes for a reasonable price. You can choose from a long list of the restaurant's high quality rolls at $12.99 for two rolls. And, $12.99 can get you a variety of entrees such as Spicy Garlic Shrimp, Chicken Cashew and Top Sirloin Delight. When I arrived, seeing all the choices on the menu made me happy. I enjoy Amura's sushi but find that it is over-priced and not as good as Fuji Sushi and other restaurants in town.

On the recent Sunday I visited Amura Lake Mary with a friend from out of town, the restaurant must have been understaffed. That is the only reason I can think of for the slow service and the customer service fiasco that ensued. Because of an allergy to gluten (and therefore, vinegar that is included in most sushi rolls), I asked that my sushi be made with plain rice or rice paper. Although there was only one roll wrapped in rice paper on the menu, our waitress assured us that the chefs could make any of the rolls on the menu with rice paper instead of rice. It turns out they couldn't. The plate was brought out with one roll made with rice paper, and the other with regular rice. The roll with rice paper had sauce on top, which I asked to be left off. 

Before I sound too bitchy, know that I am always understanding that some restaurants are not used to dealing with food allergies. I am very patient and explain why I can't have a sauce or a particular ingredient. However, when the waitress tried to take the rolls back to the kitchen - after what had already been a half hour wait - the manager came to the table and asked what was wrong. I explained the situation and he said there was nothing they could do to help or to alter the dish. I felt like he was begging me to leave. His attitude was so rude and careless. In fact, I did decide to forgo ordering a different dish - because he said there was nothing they could do to help me - and leave the restaurant.

At the same time, I was embarrassed that my friend from out of town, whom I was trying to show off Lake Mary's great restaurants to, had to leave as well. Fortunately for her, the Hurricane Roll and Bubble Roll she ordered were very well made and delicious.

Many readers believe that Amura has the best sushi in town. I disagree. I have experienced - and heard about - so many other great sushi eateries. One of my favorites - for the sushi rolls, Chili Garlic Edamame, and eclectic atmosphere - is Sushi Pop in Oviedo. Where do you go for sushi?

4 Rivers' Sweet Shop Takes the Cake

So many of Flavorful Excursions' readers love 4 Rivers Smokehouse for its amazing barbecue (including St. Louis style ribs and brisket sandwiches), but have you tried the restaurant's desserts? You really should. There is something at 4 Rivers Sweet Shop for everyone!

If you are into cupcakes, Sweet Shop has more than 10 varieties daily, including oustanding, unique flavors such as Mountain Dew, Junkfood, Earthquake and the popular Birthday Cake. The shop also features a number of cakes, such as Red Velvet and Carrot Cake. S'Mores Brownies, Chocolate Mint Covered Oreos, and Red Velvet Whoopie Pie sandwiches also make the list. 

Still, I have not even begun listing the ice cream flavors and desserts available, since I simply could not try all the desserts there in one visit! When I recently visited the Longwood location (which is very convenient, since it is right off of I-4 on 434), I tried a few of the house-made bars because the flavors sounded so unique and delectable. The Texas Bourbon Pecan Pie did not disappoint. I really got the strong flavors of bourbon in the not-too-sweet fillng, along with a wonderful crust and toasted pecans. This bar is one of my new favorite desserts. 

Texas Bourbon Pecan Pie

I also loved the Peanut Butter Kiss bar. It tasted exactly like the name and the flavors work perfectly together. The Peanut Butter and Jelly Bar tastes exactly like a sweeter version of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Again, it is not too sweet and all the flowers fit together perfectly. I really have no complaints about my first visit to the 4 Rivers Sweet Shop, and can't wait to go back. Which desserts should I try next?

Where: Inside 4 Rivers' Winter Park, Longwood, and Jacksonville locations

Delicious Asian Fusion Tacos at Tako Cheena

Panko Crusted Cod & Korean Beef Takos

A loyal Flavorful Excursions reader and friend has been urging me to try Tako Cheena since it opened less than a year ago in the Mills District in Orlando. I can see why. This small, unassuming Asian fusion spot (I call it Asian-Mexican, but there are lots of other flavors incorporated into the food) provides something new and different to the Orlando dining scene.

The "takos" are reasonably priced and delicous, and the restaurant draws a young, eclectic crowd. Our favorite tako was the Panko Crusted Cod tako, which is lightly breaded and has just the right amount of crunch with coleslaw and a sweet and sour sauce. The house-made sauce, which is both sweet and spicy, blanaced out the cod perfectly. We also liked the Korean Beef tako, which features delicious marinated beef, house-made Kimchi, cliantro, and roasted sesame seeds. For some reason, the beef itself had a weird texture, so we would recommend the cod tako over the beef.

The entire staff was so friendly and welcoming, especially when I mentioned I had food allergies. This restaurant goes out of their way for guests on special diets, including vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free. Since I eat gluten-free, I was able to order my Thai Peanut Chicken tako served over rice (you can also order any of the takos served over cabbage slaw). It was delicous over rice! The secret recipe peanut sauce is to die for. I loved the perfect balance of sweet and spice in that sauce, and it made the dish.

Have you tried Tako Cheena yet? Please post your review below.

Where: 932 Mills Ave., Orlando, Fla.