Spice Steakhouse - Downtown Orlando

I really don't know where to begin about Spice Steakhouse on Lake Eola. First of all, their website doesn't tell you anything. They have great specials, including Happy Hour Monday through Friday from 3-7pm and again from 9pm to close. Do they tell you that? Nope. I happened to be walking around Lake Eola and noticed a small sign out front. I have dined there before, for brunch or lunch, but always aspired to be apart of the bar crowd. Little did I know - they do not have a bar crowd.

So there we are, a happening Friday night and the girls are there. We are waiting for a table so we belly up to the bar for a full price bev - since we got there early. There is literally no one else there at the bar. The tables, however, are full. Full of couples having a quiet dinner for two. Note: couples don't talk to G.N.O. participants. It's like being a traitor to your kind. You stick with your "couple". Booohooo.

The wine was good - the brie and tuna wontons were even better. Unique, tasty, just enough. The Baked Brie en Croute came with great fruits (strawberries, blueberries, apples) and a strawberry dip. Creamy and delightful. The Tuna Wonton's were seared tuna on a fried wonton.

The tiki torches and low lighting gave you the feeling of a vacation away somewhere exotic. There was a low humm of chatting in the background and the beautiful people were dining - in away that us normal people don't understand. We watch. We pretend we get it. We really don't.

Overall, if you want to have a great meal with your honey, this is your place. Just don't go for Girls Night Out. Consider yourself warned.

A New Year's Resolution Gone Viral

Businesses in Orlando - please send me an answer! WHY DON'T YOU HAVE A WEBSITE? Or, if you have a website - WHY DON'T YOU GIVE YOUR CUSTOMERS SOME INFORMATION ON YOUR WEBSITE? This is where this two fold hobby for 2010 began for me. (I'm going to vent and scream and rant and rave and praise here...).

First, I decided to make 2010 a great year, and my resolution is to eat out more. I know, I know, most people try to lose weight or get married - not me! I want to strengthen my friendships and meet new people all while trying all the places I either have never been, or want to go back to. Ta Da! A resolution was born. Now lets put it into action...

So I start the planning phase - who has specials, when are they, what kind of events do they have, and lets get started. Wrong...

Half the places didn't have a website. WHAT?!!!!!!!!!!!! The other half had out of date and uninformative sites. WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY? Were they hiding under a rock? Did they not remember that the whole world is tuning in and this is a cheap/free way to reach LOTS of people? Somehow they have missed the memo. Whoa.

So here I am - lost and looking for a plan. Wanting information - not sure how to get it. Now I have it all figured out. I am going to give it to you. Every week I will be going to new places and writing about my adventure, and also posting great specials and info about the area.

So here it is - the good, the bad, and the ugly. Hope to see you all out there along the way. =)

Got Kissed at Yellow Dog Eats

The owners name is Fish. That should be your first indication that this is not your regular run of the mill lunch spot. Located in the Windermere/Gotha area of west Orange County, Yellow Dog Eats does not disappoint. It has the "I just discovered an awesome secret" feeling to it, even from the outside. Located in what appears to be an old house, Yellow Dog is funky from the start. Old Florida streets and hanging moss trees, crazy signs and homemade hot sauces (something about a "fire butt"), you are greeted by the man himself, Fish Morgan. He tells you all about the menu - even mentions that "dude, my friend caught the mahi yesterday, it's awesome."

With wraps, salads and pulled pork BBQ, the menu is different and cool. Names are unique, such as Are You a Chicken? Salad to the Buffalo Soldier wrap, it is fun to order. I had an organic beer, because who doesn't enjoy a weird beer for a unique lunch?

We ate outside (with fellow friend and foodie Molly), with millions of signs and an eclectic variety of diners. Shortly into our meal, Fish himself came outside to announce to all the regulars that we had a couple of F.N.G's. To my surprise, he was talking about us, and we were the "Freaking new girls". And then it happened. He KISSED me on the cheek with a big hug to welcome me to his restaurant. Can't say that ever happened to me at Chili's!

There's something to be said about a small town restaurant with a personality. The food was good, made with a lot of love. The atmosphere rocks and the little store inside has all the little things you would want - home made hot sauce, wine, cool extras.

I suggest checking out their website, because unlike the mainstream places around Orlando, Fish actually tells you everything you need to know on his. http://www.yellowdogeats.com/

Definitely a place to check out. You might even get kissed!