Eat Like a Rabbit

Back to catching up on the restaurant reviews from New York back in December. . .(luckily, we're pretty sure these popular places haven't closed)! I can't recall where we learned about Lombardi's, but it didn't take us long to understand why it was so popular. I will give a warning here: The wait for a late lunch was one and a half hours. The problem is, I hear there's always a wait. I am willing to bet that comes with living in a big city, but that also comes with wanting some really good food.

I've heard people say that some restaurants make you wait so the food tastes better--cause you're too hungry to care. Just like with our favorite pizza haunt in Rome, this is not the case. The wait is just that long because the food is just that good.

The encouragement: the staff is very efficient in order to minimize wait time. We were very impressed at how quickly a bus-boy cleaned off a table and reset it very smoothly. Also, it seemed the wait staff was always on top of things to make sure you had the drinks you wanted and to provide you with your food very quickly. I assure you, the time you are inside the restaurant eating is considerably less than the time you are outside the restaurant waiting. But who cares!

After our post nearly three weeks ago about our amazing trip to Paxia, our friends and photographers, Jim and Garrett, went to Paxia the next day (Friday). They had the same server we did and had the same incredible experience.

However, we went back with Garrett on Sunday night and had a slightly different experience. It actually took about 30 minutes to get our chips and salsa. I learned that only one basket of chips is complimentary. Any more than that is )I believe) $4.99 a basket. That price is a bit steep in my book--even for the best chips and salsa in town.

Garrett ordered the black bean soup to be split between the three of us, and the waitress brought us three spoons. We decided it was a good idea to have two extra bowls, too. She had told Garrett the soup was good. It tasted like a black bean dip. Good, but not earth-shattering. The same lack of thought replayed when the family-style rice and beans were delivered without serving utensils. We either used chips or our silverware before we ate with it.

The guac and salsa were again top of the ladder. We would go there all the time if only those were good.

The first time I heard of Paxia, I was getting off of I-4 and saw a guy dancing around with a sign saying it was the best Mexican restaurant in Orlando. The next time I heard of Paxia was less than a week later when I was researching the restaurants participating in Eat Local Week sponsored by Slow Food Orlando. Tonight we chose to dine there mainly because I couldn't remember any other restaurant on our list and it was close by--because it was getting late (like 5) and I was very hungry. Boy, was I glad it was the only one I could think of!

Let's start with our entrance into the restaurant. This is only the second restaurant I've ever seen that actually tries to sit people in the windows first so that the place looks full. Of course, by the time we left, the place was full so it didn't really matter! But, it's a wise marketing move. The greeter who seated us was the first person at any restaurant we've been to this week to completely explain the concept of Slow Food, and he did so in great accurate detail.

We dined at Infusion Tea tonight even though it wasn't as early as I had planned. Even at 5 and 6 o'clock, there was a nice stream of diners at the restaurant, which is always encouraging. Generally a full restaurant suggests a good restaurant.

I don't think I've ever been disappointed by Infusion Tea. Tonight was no different. They even offered a Prix Fixe menu in honor of Eat Local Week, hosted by SlowFood Orlando. Paul ordered the Prix Fixe option, which I passed on because we're pretty sure blue cheese isn't recommended on the diet of pregnant women. Although the restaurant is all vegetarian, there are some vegan options that are clearly marked on the menu. The clear details make ordering carefully much less stressful.

Well, let's start by apologizing for a complete lack of tweeting this evening. My phone was dead when I awoke this morning. (The brain is forgetting to charge it at night.) And I appear to have lost my travel charger. I didn't get home until after dinner to get the phone charged.

We dined with our friends, Sarah and John at Harmoni Market and Bistro in Longwood this evening. We have eaten at the one in College Park nearly two years ago and thought it would be a nice opportunity for all four of us to try this new restaurant.

I didn't look at prices, but I will say the market part is kind of spiffy with its food selections. The pasta sauce available is one highly recommended by Smitten Kitchen. I think such things are good to note when you evaluate the estimated quality of food.

Our first night eating local started off pleasantly in at a great little restaurant on Orange Ave. in downtown Orlando. Virgin Olive Market used to be on Clay, and I think the change in location surely must have increased its exposure. There was a nice, steady stream of customers during our entire dining experience. Virgin Olive makes the grade in a couple of areas. First, it is a fast, very friendly, and significantly cheaper restaurant than the two restaurants it's sandwiched in between. Next, it holds down the spot as a source for good coffee and breakfast in the immediate vicinity. Also, it offers healthy (generally), light, budget friendly meals on top of some unusual foodie items for sale to take home.

Central Florida isn't just home to Kennedy Space Center (although I highly recommend the back-lot tour of the area if you're ever in town visiting the attractions. It's a day's activity, but well worth it.) It's also home to some great restaurants that focus on the Slow Food Movement. Rachel from Slow Food Orlando contacted me about the project and even shared a link to a fabulous map of Central Florida with restaurant locations in relation to food sources. It is completely fascinating. Slow Food Week starts tomorrow; so do your research. . .or just read mine!

Looking back through pictures, it's time I put some more focus on our fabulous trip to New York City at the beginning of December. We walked around town on Saturday Night and were absolutely amazed by the crowds running around. Police were managing intersections, even some with lights, to make sure the crowds and cars moved smoothly. I have nothing to compare it to to know if it was a success or not.

This great announcement came in my Google Reader. January 25-31, restaurants in the Orlando area that support local (within 200 miles) growers will be focusing on "promoting connection, community, culture and cuisine in Central Florida." You can go to Heather McPhearson's Food Blog for a list of participating restaurants.

Paul and I are thinking about saving our pennies for a week of eating out in Orlando to show our support. Some of the restaurants that are our top choices to visit are: Harmoni Restaurant, Dandelion CommuniTea Cafe, and the Virgin Olive Market. Thank you, Travis and Patty for recommending the latter.

If you have a recommended restaurant on the list complete with dishes to order, please comment at the bottom of this post so others can enjoy the tastes, too.

Surprise! Monday has rolled around again! Where does the time go? I have an idea where it went last week. I worked 5 days last week, which isn't normal for my 10-hour-days. I'm sorry to say some of those days totaled more than 10 hours. However, I'm grateful God got me through since the tiredness is already hitting.

One thing that took up some time this weekend was participating in the Celebration Founder's Day Race. Paul ran the 10K and walked the 5K with me. Fortunately, it wasn't so stressful because we normally put in about 3 miles a day. I was fearful that I would get dirty looks from people shocked that I would be so active at 27 weeks pregnant, but I actually got more looks regarding my LSU baseball cap. Giggle. You can take the Cajun out of the swamp. . .well, you get it.

This is your daily wake-up call to vote!

I was selfish last night and completely forgot that Garrett Nudd's Photography Blog is also on the Orlando Orbbies. He's often a guest poster, guest photographer and/or food critic for Eat Like a Rabbit. You can vote for him, too.

If the name of the blog on the list changes based on placement, as I assume it must because Eat Like a Rabbit has been constantly moving up the list, then I'm excited to share that we are number two! We are also number 10 for best overall blog! This is very impressive because there are some great blogs out there, not just foodie blogs.

Thank you to those who have given a plug for the site on their Facebook (John!) and for everyone who is emailing that we have their vote.

Keep telling your friends and voting!

So much of this post should be about focusing on the great pictures. And it's not just about giving Paul all the credit for the fabulous photography. The last time we were at Seasons 52 would have been my birthday, and the restaurant still had roughly the same fall/winter menu with a few changes. In fact, the items from February's post were still available. I'm not complaining. As long as the quality is consistent, there are no issues for me. I suppose we don't visit Seasons 52 during the summer because there are so many options available for cooking at home.

Speaking of cooking at home, the butternut squash on the big vegetable plate is the inspiration for our choice of dish for PumpkinFest this Saturday night. Stay tuned for how it turns out.

When Paul's folks were getting to Orlando last night, it was near dinner time. I asked Paul if he wanted to meet them somewhere and eat faster. I wasn't surprised with his choice of Dandelion CommuniTea Cafe. We have done a lot of eating there recently, including last month when Paul took a group of fellow attendees at an internet conference there for dinner on a Saturday night. The restaurant is a great choice for individuals who are vegan or who are allergic to dairy or wheat. Since I have pretty much been perfectly happy with salad, grapes and an occasional pizza during this pregnancy, I was more than happy to visit the restaurant for a salad I didn't have to make or clean up myself.

In case we haven't shared a photograph of it before, the Giddyup can be a salad or a wrap in "haystack" style--chili, blue corn chips, mixed greens, tomatoes, scallions, and vegan or organic cheese. We always choose the side of hummus, and Paul adds a ranch-style salad dressing called "green goddess" for an extra $0.50. My salad included a nice variety of vegetables, and I always like the sunflower seed topping.

Upon arriving at a lovely church for the wedding of my coworker, Paul proudly announced that it was right next door to an Indian restaurant he had been wanting to take me to. Paul had eaten there with some friends when they were in town for an internet convention and had completely enjoyed it. Unfortunately, I have been burned by Indian restaurants and up until Friday afternoon had staunchly refused to entertain the thought of visiting an Indian restaurant. However, marriage is all about give-and-take, and I agreed to take Paul there after the wedding as we were not planning on attending the reception, anyway.

In an effort to get more iron in my diet, I drug Paul to Olive Garden twice in one week. (I tried to get him to go back on Friday, but I got a staunch refusal.) The Never-Ending Pasta Bowl was most helpful in giving me the fat I craved plus the iron my body needs. The Alfredo was much better than the marinara, but at the same time I wanted to keep the calories down. I've been told I'm supposed to maximize my calories. That being said, I also didn't eat one breadstick during the second trip to make sure I got my calories with extra nutrients. The first time we went, our waitress gave us the Capellini Pomodoro sauce in the never-ending pasta bowl. However, the second trip the waitress wouldn't do that. Too bad. She would have gotten a better tip. Now that I can look at a cookbook without getting sick, I'll be making the effort to get my spinach at home for a while, but Olive Garden came in handy for a week.

Just before school started, Paul's college had a nice dinner for staff and spouses. We really appreciated the fun, and I enjoyed meeting some of Paul's coworkers and even talking to people I've known longer than Paul has known them.

The purpose of this post is actually to point out a discussion we had at the dinner table with six other people. I had only met one of them previously. One of the ladies asked if our vegetarian plate was good. Everyone else was eating chicken or steak, maybe? Anyway, our plate was more the topic of conversation because the lady asked what was in our vegetarian strudel. We honestly could not answer. I was pretty sure there were mushrooms somewhere, onions, and yellow and red bell peppers, but they were all more mashed, which made them less recognizable. Still, there was another base item, and we just couldn't figure out what it was. The lady nodded as if she understood and said "Yes, I used to be a vegetarian, but I found I preferred to be able to know what I was eating."

Wow! How true. I started thinking How often have I been somewhere and had no idea what was on my plate? Let this be a lesson to people who cook for vegetarians and who own restaurants. At any time, people want to be able to figure out what they are being served.

Those of you who have been following the story of my not-so-enjoyable pregnancy are up on the fact that for the first trimester snow cones were a staple. Jeremiah's Italian Ice would have made a fortune on us cause it is really close to the house and the closest thing to snow cones you can buy on the streets of Florida. Luckily, we have some very generous friends who shared their snow cone maker.

The Hamilton Beach snow cone maker is compact, easy to put together and even easier to take apart for cleaning and air-drying. Quiet as can be expected, it was rather effective in shaving although ice cubes seemed to get caught in one side of the filter to the shaver, which slowed down the process. Ice cubes from our fridge worked quite well, and the shaver quality was the best for a store bought machine I've had experience with. We never tried the slushy setting to evaluate it. I was happy with the shaved setting.

We were having a hard time finding a place to dine in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida for dinner. We passed a sign for Carlos and Pepe's near our hotel. It boasted being "World Famous," and the reviews Paul read said the guacamole was tops. I was getting quite hungry, so we decided to stop.

The restaurant was very popular. It seems to be a very large restaurant with many tables, even outside and in a bar, and few tables were empty. The staff was quite polite.

Ordering from the menu proved to be trickier than expected. There were very few vegetarian items on the menu--mainly limited to the salad, quesadilla, and vegetable fajitas. Paul asked if he could have a burrito with just beans, and waitress said that wasn't on the menu. So, he ordered the Caesar cause the waitress said the dressing was without anchovies and I ordered the spinach quesadilla. Paul also ordered the guac with a side of flour tortillas.

We went out to Qdoba last Tuesday night with Travis and Patty, friends that work with Paul, but Patty and I knew each other long before we were married. They loved it and said they would go back. The great thing was that Qdoba has "Taco Tuesday" where chicken and beef tacos (crunchy or soft) are just $1 each. Paul asked the servers, and they agreed to make the vegetarian ones $1, too. (Why not? After all, the veggie ones are cheaper to make than the meat ones.) Paul had salsa, beans, cheese and lettuce on his, but it looks like guac would have cost extra.

For that reason, I stick with the burrito. Since beans are a texture not too favored right now, I just had rice, cheese, guac, pico de gallo, and a green medium salsa. Qdoba is always yummy. (Although, it always seems to taste just a little better when we're eating it in an airport coming to or from Italy, but that's another story.)

My fairly limited research doesn't say how long this great $1 taco deal is good for, and I did see a tweet from twitter that suggests the deal may be on another day of the week in another city. So, give your local Qdoba a call.

In the past, appetizers were known as a way to add to a dinner bill with food that can be prepared slightly faster than the rest of the meal (unless it's chips and salsa) for people who couldn't wait for the entree to arrive. But in my mind and in the mind of the author of the Wall Street Journal article I read today, this idea has evolved.

Entitled How to Eat Out without Spending a Lot, the article looks at someone who isn't about to give up dining out, but has learned how to do so within her means. Such information is useful in the slumping economy, but it also draws me to some other thoughts about the value of reaching beyond tradition when dining out--whether price is an option or not.

Metro is very special to us. It is the restaurant where we ate just after Paul proposed. One thing I love about Metro is that it is in a building with its back to Lake Eola. You can't see the lake while dining, only the street, which can be entertaining enough. But, I love to park half way around the lake and walk to Metro to take in the beautiful sights of the fountain, swans, and owners walking their dogs.

I was nervous that Metro would be feeling the crunch of the economy. I don't think we have been to Metro this year because we no longer live downtown, but five exits or so up from the street leading to the lake and to the restaurant. But, I was happy to see that, if anything, the economy has not hurt the family-owned-and-operated restaurant. In fact, I think it was the busiest I had ever seen it. There wasn't even room for us to eat at the tables outside.

Thank you to Fred Hardinge for the following information.

Vegetarian Journal did some research about a year ago of chain restaurants that serve meat, but also recognize and honor vegetarians. A complete list and story can be found on their website. The information is very helpful for travelers and for people who just want to eat well. You will notice that EatLikeaRabbit.net has reviewed most of the restaurants on the list. It makes us proud to know that we have similar ideas.

We are big fans of Qdoba, but only in airports because the food moves faster and therefore is fresher. On our way back from Seattle, Paul ordered his burrito to be in a bowl. He thought it would be easier to travel with. I suppose it was a "neater" meal, but it yielded more trash. We aren't so picky. We're just happy it tastes good.

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