Need Help from Local Chowhounds to Narrow Down Orlando Options for Visit Next Week

NYC is a short plane ride away for me- will be saving my money for next trip and visit to eleven. Best meal I've ever had was at Statlanders farm in singhampton - so if northern Ontario is in the cards for you, you've got a destintion

timpano in Florida

Need Help from Local Chowhounds to Narrow Down Orlando Options for Visit Next Week

Orlando Report Back

A quick report back on my recent culinary adventures in Orlando:

Cafe Tu Tu - ambience fun and lively. Great belly dancer. Placed filled with people of all ages and types - families, business groups, young adults. The place where any group would feel comfortable. We went to tu tu at the end of a long travel day and I think we may have ordered the wrong types of food for a end of. Travel day. We had dynamite shrimp, chicken egg rolls - both deep fried and pretty heavy. We also had tuna which was seared but refrigerated and served cold which kind of numbs the flavor of a delicate fish. review - ambience & service great, food ok.

Luma on the Park - pretty location on the park, very cool interior, but get instructions before you use the bathroom - almost needs a manual. A train ran by several times in the evening which was pretty funny. Table of three, we shared everything - 2 great salads, one beet, one honey crisp apple, had butternut soup ( which they kindly split into 3 bowls), great shrimp dish, ravioli and the best desserts of the trip - the lemon dessert which was Devine. Review, service good, food very good.

Ravenous Pig - where do I start- absolutely spectacular. Extremely warm, knowledgeable warm Harrison, great menu that had just changed that day and out of the ball pRk food. Frigate biscuits perfectly baked, crispy on outside, warm and flaky inside, shrimp tacos - very simple And so so good, crisp cabbage, super light tempura and a strip of guacamole - yummy. Tuna speck so subtly smoked and flavorful with persimmons and beets. Review: outstanding service, outstanding food

Luce - in a Hilton I have to admits we struggled finding but nice spot to arrive at. Valet parking is free for the restaurant. Does not feel like a hotel, two servers per table. The fried olives were sloop good, you could not stop eating them. Stuffed with anchovies with a very very light tempura(thx for the tip Yosemite). Light eating day - had the silk handkerchiefs - light pasta, gorgonzola, walnuts - hard to go wrong with those flavors. Had the Boston cream pie dessert - would pass on that next time - too heavy but might appeal to someone who really likes the donut of the same name. Review: service good, food very good.

Thanks for all your help, particularly Yosemite and sandwich sister, you made my trip. Celebration was the weirdest place I've ever stayed and my travelling companion had never been to florida. Your food recs gave her a balanced view of Florida.

Ciao

timpano in Florida

Need Help from Local Chowhounds to Narrow Down Orlando Options for Visit Next Week

Kept the reservation at luma and ravenous. After my Celebration experience, i needed a sure thing and they did not disappoint. Both outstanding but loved loved loved the ravenous pig. Food and service were spectacular. Likely
Luce tomorrow night. Thanks for the help and the celebration giggle.

timpano in Florida

Need Help from Local Chowhounds to Narrow Down Orlando Options for Visit Next Week

So I arrived at the bohemian, the celebration Marriott bohemian. It's been a bit of a surreal experience for a Canadian - fake snow, ice rinks ete. About the strangest place I've ever been. Went to cafe tu tu last night. Great atmospher, ok food. Maybe I ordered to many fried items but it was a bit heavy for a post travel day meal. We are booked at luma, rav pig and k rest. They all seem so faraway...given the desire to have a nice relaxing meal, some wine but know I will Ned to drive 30 min back home. Sorry messing up on the llocation info.

Suggestions

timpano in Florida

Jupiter - What are the great restaurants in this area?

Ttt

timpano in Florida

Need Help from Local Chowhounds to Narrow Down Orlando Options for Visit Next Week

Thx - we are booked in. Last question. Whats the current reviews for cafe tu tu for fun factor and food.

timpano in Florida

Need Help from Local Chowhounds to Narrow Down Orlando Options for Visit Next Week

The conference that we are at 8 hours a day is at the Marriott World Centre but we are staying at the bohemiem. I'll check out luma, chefs table and la Luce.

timpano in Florida

Need Help from Local Chowhounds to Narrow Down Orlando Options for Visit Next Week

A couple of Torontonians are coming to Orlando for a conference and we would like to experience some local chefs/restaurants. I've reviewed all the previous strings by Yosemite and contributors - great job btw but need some help narrowing down options. We are staying at the Bohemian and will be spending one day at the Gaylord and the remainder at the Marriot World Centre for the conference. I've settled the further away Winter Park options - K Restaurant and the Ravenous Pig (they appear about 20 miles away) but need some help with what should be the top two option closer to the the Bohemiem/Marriot/Gaylord area that we will be spending most of our waking hours at...

So a couple of questions:

Do you agree that K and Ravenous Pig are the two restaurants are worth the drive?

How long would it take us to get there by taxi? (remember we live in downtown Toronto and 20 miles seems like a long way for us, yet I know in Florida it is be different.

What top 2-3 options would you recommend closer to the Marriott/Bohemiem area?

I really appreciate your help.

timpano in Florida

Quebec City - Place to take 10 for Dinner

Ok you sent a shudder through my spine when you mentioned Boston Pizza. I will check our Cafe du Monde and Cochon Dingue. Thanks so much.

timpano in Quebec (including Montreal)

Quebec City - Place to take 10 for Dinner

Coming to a conference in late November and would like to take my team out for a reasonably priced fun dinner in walking dinner to the Frotenac. I love Pain Beni but I'mthinking I will save that for a nice dinner for 2 while I'm there. Any suggestions for a place with a good fun atmosphere, mid point prices and a menu line up for a crowd whose palates are mostly unknown to me. Would prefer to avoid any typical tourist traps and find a place that has a unique in Quebec city experience that is easy on my bank account. Suggestions?

timpano in Quebec (including Montreal)

Girls Hockey Team Celebration Spot in Annex

Thanks I'll check out the above suggestions - any other ideas keep em coming. Appreciate the help. These kids are 0 for 10 or so games and deserve a party

timpano in Ontario (including Toronto)

Girls Hockey Team Celebration Spot in Annex

Thanks - puck theme lines up. Do they have a typically pub menu with a variety of offerings?

timpano in Ontario (including Toronto)

Girls Hockey Team Celebration Spot in Annex

Looking for a kid friendly celebration spot for our young girls hockey team. 12 kids who are between the ages of 8-12 and their parents. Somewhere the kids can have a bit of fun and the adults can have a beer or glass of wine. Any ideas would be great.

timpano in Ontario (including Toronto)

50th Hip Chick Birthday - Help me narrow down res with Private room & good food

Planning a 50th birthday party for January. Looking at having a party with 20-30 people. Preference is a place where people can arrive, mingle, have a few cocktails then sit down for dinner. There will be a range of people/palates and we are looking at anywhere from 50/pp to 120/pp depending on the type of place and quality of food. Some options we are thinking of are:

Globe Bistro - Upstairs
Quince - although there seems mixed reviews
Noce - not sure if they have a private area
Oro - the downstairs room with the fire
Joy

I'd really appreciate some advice. She's a great person and we'd like to pick out a great location with great food and service.

timpano in Ontario (including Toronto)

Searching for the Toronto's Finest Granola

I'm still mourning the loss of Vienna Home Bakery and her 5.95 bag of yummy granola. I'm looking for a replacement and I wondered if any Chowhounds have advice. Vienna's granola was mostly oats, pumpkin and sunflower seeds with a touch of sweet and cinammon.

Any thoughts?

timpano in Ontario (including Toronto)

Chow Worthy Weekend Lunch Spot in Las Vegas?

Of it has taken me a while to report back in but here are the details of the trip:

Birthday Lunch at Delmonico. 30 of us booked their private wine room and I have to say I have not ever had better service. We pre ordered wine and ordered off their regular lunch menu. The food was great, staff was outstanding and it was an all around great experience. We brought in a cake from Freeds and they did a great custom job with a 57 cadillac on the cake.

Dinner Celebration at Lotus of Siam
30 of use also went to Lotus. Like the previous posts, the food was fantastic. While we preordered a number of dishes as suggested by Dave, I asked her to serve us anything they thought was fresh and made sense for the group. We had lobster that was to die for. I caught myself licking the claws (wonderful salty garlic taste) several times. Everyone agreed it was the best meal of the trip.

Bouchon Breakfast
Ate breakfast at Bouchon several times. 2 times with my husband and 2 kids and once with the whole group of 30. Defintely a better experience with the smaller group. I felt they were overwhelmed by 30 and had real difficulty coordinating the brunch. While the breakfast was above average, I've had not cravings to return for anything specific. They blueberry preserves and bageutte were good but nothing else stands out and I had quite of few items.

Thanks to everyone who posted. The trip and celebration would not have been the same without your input. Send me an email if you are ever coming to Toronto.

timpano in Southwest

Seeking a good latte in the West End

IDEAL Coffee - 2 locations. One on Ossington south of Dundas and one in Kensignton Market. Still working on their environmental vibe but great coffee. If you buy a pound you get a free coffee of choice. Love the Prince of Darkness

timpano in Ontario (including Toronto)

Las Vegas Bakery for Custom Birthday Cake

Coming to Vegas and celebrating a birthday at Delmonico. I need to order a cake from a local bakery to bring in for the party. Delmonico has suggested Freeds. I visited their web site and I'm not sure their cakes fit the bill. Look like traditional wedding cakes - lots of buttercream, pretty basic types - chocolate, white ete. I was looking for something a bit more exiting. Any ideas of a local bakery that would fit the bill and deliver to the Venetian?

timpano in Las Vegas

Island Foods

I love Island Food rotis. I usually order boneless chicken, hold the potato but add spinach and channa. Its a big meal for 1

timpano in Ontario (including Toronto)

Vegas

Hey Dave. I have reservations for 20 at LOS - its my Dad's 80th. There will be a range of young adults (18-30) and adults. Do you think a large group is apprpriate for LOS. Your post above is making me think twice.

timpano in Southwest

Vienna Home Bakery is Closed

Sadly Gaye has hung up her baking gear on Queen Street. Building has been sold. I will miss her:

yummy creamy almost savoury pumpkin pies
tart raspberry pie
best in world granola - my granola will be very lonely
full of fresh ginger - ginger muffins
chocolate spider cookies
lemon curd and sour cherry tarts

Her baking was unique her quality quality was rock solid. I hope she turns up somewhere sometime. If anyone hears about her baking reemergence or knows her plans, please post.

timpano in Ontario (including Toronto)

Best Bakery in Toronto

Sadly Gaye has closed the doors at Vienna Home Bakery - she has retired. Not sure I'll ever have a pie as good as her raspberry one. :(

timpano in Ontario (including Toronto)

Chow Worthy Weekend Lunch Spot in Las Vegas?

Yeah rub it in. I was so looking forward to the 25 cent martinis but I won'd be there on a week day!

timpano in Southwest

Chow Worthy Weekend Lunch Spot in Las Vegas?

I need some help here. Many of the chowhound finds (Rosemarys) are not open for weekend lunch. I'm staying at the Venetian and I'm looking for a lunch spot for a big birthday celebration. Already have reservations for LOS for Sunday night and plan to go for breakfast at Bouchon. A couple of questions:

- need a recommendation for a weekend birthdday lunch
- need some feedback re whether it is worth going off strip 2x for dinner. Plan to go to LOS one night and I'm considering going to Rosemarys the other.

Any help would be appreciated

timpano in Southwest