Avenue Thai and Sushi Gets Both Right

When I was craving Thai food the other night, I decided to visit a place I have been wanting to try for months: Avenue Thai and Sushi on Park Ave. in Winter Park, Fla. I am really glad I did! It was surprising to see an affordably-priced restaurant with a great atmosphere and food on Park Ave.

I tried the Green Curry, which featured the perfect mix of sweetness from the coconut milk and hot spice: not overdone, but not too little. The chicken was slightly overcooked, but I liked the flavor so much that I didn't mind too much. The dish was $12.95, and I had leftovers for lunch.

I have heard great things about Avenue Thai and Sushi's many sushi rolls, too. My friends love

Photo Courtesy Avenue Thai & Sushi

the Mango, Soft Shell Crab and Tempura Shrimp roll, along with the Spring Rolls and Chicken Satay dish. Next time I visit, I will try more sushi rolls, and let you know how they are.

If you have been dying to try Avenue Thai and Sushi, now is the time! There is a Refer Local deal that is $10 for $20 worth at the restaurant for a limited time only. Here is the link: https://referlocal.com/offers/winter-park/10-for-20-to-avenue-thai-and-sushi.

Outstanding Burgers, Atmosphere at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville

Photo by Mike Blank, www.jumpingborders.com

By Guest Blogger Mike Blank, 
JumpingBorders.com 

We recently visited Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville for National Hamburger Month, and had such a wonderful experience that we will return many times. It was not only the delicious hamburgers, apps, and desserts that impressed us, but also the atmosphere and attitude of the servers that made for such a special night. 

This was not like any other restaurant visit. We sat on the newly expanded porch on a breezy Central Florida evening, listening to very talented musicians as we sampled Margaritaville's delicious margaritas. Chef Daryl brought us the "Drunken" Shrimp Skillet appetizer, which is sauteed with Tequila Key Lime butter and is served with a delicious baguette. It is unlike any shrimp appetizer I have tasted!

Photo by Mike Blank, www.jumpingborders.com

Of course, we had to try Margaritaville's renowned hamburgers. One of our dining companions loved the Bayou Burger, and everyone agreed that the Baja Burger is one of Margaritaville's best burgers, because of the addition of the fresh avocado and Pico de galo. A nice addition to the burgers was the choice of regular French Fries or Sweet Potato Fries, which were delicious.

Even though we were stuffed, we made room to taste some of the restaurant's many great, unique desserts. All are great, but we really loved the Carrot Cake dessert and the Chocolate Hurricane, which is vanilla ice cream with brownies, candy bars, shortbread cookies, bananas, and nuts. It is the perfect sundae!

The attention to detail and attitude of the servers also makes for an unforgettable dining experience. We definitely recommend this spot to family and friends. Don't forget: parking is free at Universal Orlando Citywalk after 7 pm!

Great Cajun Food, Atmosphere at Tibby's

This was our second time dining at Tibby's New Orleans Kitchen - its new location in Altamonte Springs - and, once again, we had a great experience. It was busy but not jam-packed on a Friday night, so service was quick and friendly in the bar area.

We ordered different dishes than last time, when we had the Seafood Gumbo and etouffee. The Blackened Chicken Pasta wth lemon butter sauce, artichokes, and roasted peppers, has such an amazing flavor! It is spiced well and the heat doesn't drown out the flavor. We also ordered the "Fried Shrimp Po-Boy" sandwich, which was delicious, but flawed. We ordered it with the Remolaude sauce and, unfortunately, that drowned out the flavor of the delicious shrimp.

For dessert, you must order the beignets, which are fried crispier than other beignets I have had, topped with a generous heaping of powdered sugar. It's the perfect sweet ending to a Cajun meal.

One note: Tibby's tends to pour drinks a little strong, which is good in most cases, but made our Mai Tai taste not quite right.

Always Happy at Bonefish Grill

While Bonefish Grill has been around Central Florida with two locations for a few years, people tend to forget the restaurant when planning a special night out with family or friends.

We visited the Longwood location recently and had a wonderful experience overall. I ordered my favorite specialty cocktail there: the Black Cherry and Guava Mojito. With fresh mashed cherries and a light feel, this is a delicious drink. We also tried the Pineapple Martini, which was refreshing and not too sweet.

Unfortunately, our appetizer was not the best. While the Shrimp and Scallop Ceviche has great flavor, the scallops were overcooked and rubbery. However, the flavor and quality of our entrees made up for that. We both ordered that night's specials. The hubby had Imperial Sea Bass: Chilean Sea Bass stuffed with crab, shrimp, scallops, and a lemon caper butter sauce. The crab stuffing was delicious and the bass was perfectly cooked. All the flavors came together to make a delicious meal. I ordered the Chilean Sea Bass with a side of Jasmine Rice. I actually like this preparation of the bass better: simply wood-grilled with butter. The fish flaked nicely and I enjoyed each delicous forkful, even if the portion size was too small.

On this night, we decided to splurge on entrees priced at around $24 each. However, Bonefish Grill offers several small plates and appetizers that allows for an affordable night out, especially during the restaurant's great happy hour. I recommend the Bang Bang Shrimp, Mussels Josephine, and the Wagyu Beef & Ginger Dumplings.

Let me know your experience at Bonefish Grill in the comments section below!

New Favorite Food: Chia Seed Peanut Butter

I am so glad that I was sent samples of Bliss Nut Butters to try, otherwise I never would have known about this great-tasting and healthy peanut butter! Where else can you find peanut butter that is sweetened only with honey - not sugar or corn syrup - and contains a touch of sea salt, not regular salt? 

Plus, two of the flavors contain chia seeds, which are high in Omega 3 fatty acids, fiber, antioxidants, minerals, and a host of other cool things. Thanks to Bliss Nut Butters, I began researching more about chia seeds' benefits and found that they also help control blood glucose levels and can be used as an egg replacer!

But I digress. I want to tell you about the amazing flavor of the nut butters. Cinnamon Chia Seed is my favorite - I now plan to start adding cinnamon to any peanut butter that does not have it. So amazing. And the Chia Seed and regular Peanut Butter flavors are also delicious. This is the way my friend described the flavor of the Chia Seed Peanut Butter: "I really like the texture and crunchiness of it, but my favorite is the touch of honey. Just sweet enough without the artificial taste." It is great that her young son has been eating it like crazy too!

The flavors and the health benefits make Bliss's peanut butters my new favorite. Sorry, Jif!

Where to buy: While Bliss Nut Butters are not in Central Florida stores yet, they can be ordered on their web site and they are reasonably priced! Visit: http://www.blissnutbutters.com/#!buy-online/c1anq

Run, Don't Walk, to Se7en Bites Bakeshop

I had been craving real, handmade pastries all week when I finally had a chance to try the six-month old bakery, Se7en Bites, in downtown Orlando. I am so glad I came to a place that could really fulfill my cravings. 

The problem was trying to pick out which dessert I wanted to try. They had such a broad selection, from cheesecake, to pies to cakes to large muffin-like brownies, that I just wasn't sure. The staff and other guests recommended the Salted Caramel Chocolate Pecan Pie, which I didn't try this time but will soon, along with the Oatmeal Whoopie Pie Cookie. This is, hands down, the best cookie I have had, and one of the best desserts in Orlando. The delicious, crispy cookie edges combined with the soft center and delicious filling, make this one of the customer favorites at Se7en Bites. 

I also had the the Lemon Shortbread Cookies, filled with limincello curd. The shortbread was delicious and absolutely the texture I am looking for in a shortbread cookie, but the limincello curd filling was what made the cookie stand out. It was very tasty, and not too sweet or tart. In fact, I don't find Se7en Bites' desserts to be overly sweet like some other cupcake shops and bakeries in town.

But wait, there's more! In addition to a variety of desserts - which change daily - Se7en Bites offers a few savory dishes. I opted for the Se7en Bites Benedict, which is the bakery's own twist on an Eggs Benedict. Instead of an English muffin, you get probably the best savory Southern-style biscuit I have had. You can taste a bit of herbs and it is very flavorful overall. That is topped with a fried egg with runny yolk, a crispy fried heirloom tomato, high quality crispy bacon and a house-made Benedict sauce that is light and delicious.

The price for the Benedict ($7.75) is fairly reasonable, considering the portion size and all the homemade, high quality ingredients. The pastries are somewhat pricey, at between $2.75 and $5.00 each, but they are well worth it.

Have you tried Se7en Bites yet? If so, let me know your favorites in the comments section below.

Where: 207 N. Primrose Dr., Orlando.

Best Shrimp, Fritters at Dixie Crossroads

I was overjoyed to be able to go back to Dixie Crossroads in Titusville, Fla., for a second visit the other day. I had been craving the restaurant's Royal Red Shrimp, a delicacy caught off the East Coast of Florida that many people are not familiar with, since the last time I dined there. Once you have tried the delicate, flavorful shrimp, all other shrimp just seems second-rate.

Of course, it's the way that Dixie Crossroads prepares the shrimp as well. You can get it prepared several ways, and we like the broiled, scampi-style preparation best so far. The shrimp was cooked perfectly, so it was tender and juicy and paired perfectly with the scampi sauce. The garlic butter sauce is great too!

The other dish I was most looking forward to was the light, fluffy corn fritters topped with powdered sugar that are served complimentary to each table. I am used to dense corn hush puppies, so I really love this recipe that makes fritters light, airy and sweet. It is the perfect bite of fried goodness. I also really liked the soup of the day: a Caribbean tomato-based seafood soup. It was very flavorful and hearty.

There were a couple of things I was disappointed with, though. While the crab cake appetizer was delicious, I don't believe it should be priced at $9.99 for a small cake. The Royal Red Shrimp is pricey too - nearly $15 for a dozen - but I expect that for a delicacy that not many restaurants serve. Another complaint on prices: the restaurant's Signature Cocktails are $12, and I don't see cheaper alternatives on the menu if I don't want a drink that comes in a take-home Dixie Crossroads glass.

I was so looking forward to the Apple Walnut Cobbler, but it was not as good as I remembered. I don't like the soft pastry at the bottom, nor do I like the flavor of the topping. 

Still, I will always love Dixie Crossroads' seafood and fritters, and will be back...again and again. Let me know your favorite dishes on the menu in the Comments section below!

Where: 1475 Garden St., Titusville, Fla.