Monthly Archives: February 2011

Yum Yum ASIA CAFE Reply

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Dear Diners,
Well the local guy was out chowing down again in the Metro Orlando area. My travels this time takes me to the Maitland/Altamonte Springs area. I was in the mood for some Chinese food for lunch, so I headed out to Yum Yum Asia Café. The meal I had at Yum Yum was very good for a sit down/take out restaurant. It’s not a big place but there is ample seating inside or you can choose to eat outside. I chose to eat inside. You place your order at the counter, they give you a number, and they bring it to your table.
Yum Yum has a lunch special that includes an egg roll, vegetable spring roll or soup & choice of vegetable fried rice or steamed rice. Most dishes are $6.45 or $7.45 for lunch. I started my lunch experience with hot & sour soup. I must say I have eaten Chinese all over the place including China town in San Francisco, New York, Chicago, LA, Honolulu and I have never had better Hot & Sour soup then at Yum Yum Asia Cafe. It s to die for folks. Yum Yum’s Hot & sour soup does not get better than this. It was rich in flavor. The vegetables in the soup were cooked just right, they use fresh mushrooms as well, and the meat was tender enough and the soup was topped off with scallions. It was semi dark in color but not too dark (that’s important to me). I don’t like my hot & sour light in color and made broth like. The hot & sour soup had the right spiciness to it and boy it was kicked up a couple of notches, but in a good way! It is by far the best hot & sour soup on the planet in my opinion. Next, my entrée was brought out. I ordered the Chicken with Black Bean Sauce $6.45 with white rice. There was a pepper figure on the menu next to the item indicating this dish is spicy. The dish was very good in flavor but it was not spicy, I would eliminate the pepper figure on this dish on the menu. The chicken was tender, the vegetables were fresh and it was cooked in a nice flavorful dark sauce. There were enough black beans in the dish to balance out the flavors of the chicken and cooked vegetables (fresh onions, green peppers, carrots, mushrooms accompanied this dish). The dish was served piping hot! I like it just out of the wok, I like watching the steam coming towards my face.
My second visit I had the hot & sour soup again with just an egg roll. Did I share with you they have great Hot & Sour soup?? I also had the vegetable egg roll. The egg roll was just Ok. Nothing exciting but not bad. When I have an egg roll that’s just ok, I usually make a nice sauce on the side; I mix spicy mustard, duck sauce, and soy sauce together and dip my egg roll into this rich dark sauce. I can’t think of a better dipping sauce for an egg roll my friends. I know the sauce is not very ingenious but it works for me.


Yum Yum is located in a strip mall with Publix being the anchor store. Yum Yum Asia Café is nearby the Maitland exchange and Forest City Road (434) area. Yum Yum is open 7 days a week. Mon-Thur 11am -9:30 pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm, and Sun 12-9pm. They do deliver and cater and you can order online at http://www.yumyumasiacafe.net.
Address:
851 S.R. 434 #1120
Altamonte Springs, Fl 32714

Yum Yum Asia Café on Urbanspoon

Beefy King 1

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Dear Diners,

Well the local guy was out chowing down again. On this day I was in the mood for a sandwich, a hot sandwich. I was craving a roast beef sandwich. And there is only one place to go in town for a authentic roast beef sandwich. Yes I am talking about the almost world famous Beefy King. This institution has been around since 1968. Its one of the oldest restaurant establishments in Orlando. Three generations have operated the family-owned establishment starting with the Smith’s who passed the store onto son Roland and his wife Sandee whom after operating the store for 30+ years have turned the day-to-day operation over to their daughter Shannon and husband James Woodrow. I just love stories like this.

When I go to Beefy King. I usually only order one thing. Yes you guessed it, the roast beef sandwich. Folks, this is not an ordinary roast beef sandwich in my humble opinion. When this sandwich is made, its made with true love. After the roast beef is cooked and sliced its kept warm until the order is made. After you place your order, the sandwich maker “steams” the meat on the steam vents which are located on the surface of their counter. The steaming process is the key that perfects this sandwich. It comes on a Kaiser Roll which is also steamed to perfection. I always have cheese on mine. It comes plain unless you opt for the extras like cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion. Trust me, stick to having it plain or add cheese like I do. I always get the regular meal deal. The meal deal comes with spuds and a drink. The spuds are tater tots. The tater tots really compliment this sandwich. They are always crisp, and fried just right. Just the way I like them. When I sit my tray down in front of me is when the real magic starts. I put the house bbq sauce on the sandwich. Next I put the house horseradish sauce on the sandwich. Next I eat it and I am in roast beef heaven. Out the door my total was $7.77 for the regular meal deal. I like those numbers! I always feel like I hit the jack pot in this place!

If roast beef sandwiches it not your thing they also have ham, turkey, pastrami, corned beef and bbq sandwiches. Stick with the roast beef ladies and gentlemen. Helpful hints to know- you place your order at the counter. Minutes later you pick up your own order and you carry it to your table. Next go the little sauce station and fill up your small plastic containers with your favorites sauces and bring them back to your table, then dress your sandwich at your table. This is easier then bringing your sandwich to the sauce station. Parking is never a problem. They also have a drive thru. Beef King is located off of East Colonial Dr and Bumby. Beefy King is open Monday – Friday 10-3. Saturday 11-3. Sunday closed.

The address is:
424 N. Bumby Ave
Orlando, Fl 32803
http://www.beefyking.com

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STEPHANO’S ITALIAN GRILLE Reply

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Dear Orlando Diners,
Well it was Friday night and my wife and I were in the mood for some good Italian food. Too bad we were in an Italian food mood on this night… Will explain. We headed over to Stefano’s Italian Grille, located in the Summerport Village right outside of Windermere. Don’t get this placed confused with Stefano’s on Tuskawilla Rd, no affiliation. A couple to a few years back I recall this Stefano’s restaurant was also located in Dr. Phillips on Sandlake Rd (aka Restaurant Row) next to the Publix. Stefano’s Italian Grille did not last long at this location. I also remember the chef or owner being from Pittsburg. Then a sports bar opened up in its place and has now has closed. I remember back in the day when this location was Carrinos, an old southwest Orlando favorite. Anyway, we were greeted by a younger female server. She brought out our waters. They put a thin slice of cucumber in their waters, nice touch and creative. However, things go down from here. I ordered the Chicken Parmigiana . And like I do at other restaurants like Carrabba’s I always ask if the chef can pound the chicken extra thin for me. It’s just so much more tender this way. At Carrabba’s they don’t give you an odd look, they treat it like regular conversation and they make it nice and thin for me (try it) when you ask them. Not at Stefano’s! The server said they could not do that, it was already pre prepared. Found that very strange, they could not pound it thin for me. I can make this dish myself, and if its pre prepared or not, it can still be pounded accordingly, imagine that? Trust me, not to tricky at all. It came with pasta. I asked if I could get the Sautéed Spinach instead of the pasta, the spinach that is one of their sides on their menu (trying to eat more healthy). Again, no can do. 0-2 here. The young female server would not budge. Her stance was, it’s prepared as is or it is what it is. Again, same type of dishes is served at Carrabbas’s and you can get it this way plus you don’t get lip service, they just accommodate. I was still in the mood for Chicken Parm ($15.90) so I ordered it any way. I thought it might be surprisingly good; yes I was taking a chance. It was lightly breaded; pan seared, with marinara sauce, mozzarella, provolone and Parmigiano –reggiano cheeses. The chicken dish came out quite THICK, and not to my liking. That’s why I wanted it pounded thinner. The sauce and pasta was just OK. Entrees are served with a vegetable of the day and starch of the day. Salad with your meal is an additional price. Speaking of the salad ($4.50), it was fresh. It was served with mixed greens, with bacon, carrots, chi chi beans, cucumbers, croutons, olives and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, with house made balsamic vinaigrette. My wife had Pasta Arrabbiata ($13.90). It was served with Sopressata, San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella, parmesan, and banana peppers. This pasta dish is traditionally a semi-spicy dish. However it was not spicy. No kick to it. I thought the banana peppers in this dish unbalanced this entrée. My wife thought the dish was less than OK. I did see the chef come out and talk to some of the diners. However, on this night he did not stop by our table. Stefano’s is located in a Publix shopping center. There is plenty of parking available. For what we spent on this meal, adding salads, having adult drinks, and having the server “not try” to accommodate my small “asks”, I can’t recommend this place at this time. I will give it another shot in the future.
13424 Summerport Village Pkwy
Windermere, Fl http://www.stefanositaliangrille.com