Orlando Home and Leisure December 2009 : Page 57
BeST DeSSeRT n Whatever suits your fancy, Croissant Gourmet Bakery When you’re desperately seeking sugar, just close your eyes and point. Talented pastry chef Francois and brother Philippe Cahagne came from France to open CG in 2008, and everything is made in-house daily, including croissants, éclairs, tarts filled with seasonal fruits, napoleons and, best of all, crème brûlée. n Roy’s Melting Hot Chocolate Soufflé, Roy’s Restaurant Dark chocolate cake with warm chocolate oozing madly – so good it should be mandatory. We hope this signature dessert never leaves the menu. n Sweet Potato Pie or Red Velvet Cake, Johnson’s Diner A soul food fixture in downtown Orlando, the judges couldn’t choose between the heavenly pie and the devilishly sweet cake. Take your pick. BeST VIeW n California Grill It’s all about the fireworks and a bird’s eye view of the Magic Kingdom. But Chef Brian Piasecki’s talented team in the open kitchen puts on a show that competes with the pyrotechnics. Request a coveted window seat when you book. If you can’t get a win- dow seat, ask for one at the bar in front of Yoshie, the sushi chef. For foodies, that’s a great view too. n Houston’s Sip a chardonnay in an Adirondack on the grassy backyard on Lake Killarney where there’s a great view of the sun setting. The basic menu never changes, but seasonal creations kick it up, and everyone has a favorite, from the addictive grilled artichokes to the juicy burger. And we love the dock for a private party. n Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Ask for a table beside the 9-foot-high windows with a view onto the resort’s Sunset Savannah where giraffes, zebras and other wild animals roam just a few yards away. But the food is so good that sometimes we forget to look. We love the warm naan bread with coriander and WWW.OHLMAG.COM Jennifer Cappello, The Vineyard Wine Company mango chutneys and cucumber raita, and anything cooked in the tandoor oven. LOnGTIMe FAVORITe n Antonio’s, Maitland Like an old pal, Antonio’s is the go-to restaurant after a long day, or for Sunday lunch or for a business dinner. Whether you head upstairs to La Fiamma for a classic veal chop or pork tenderloin with a fine bottle of wine, or hang out in the casual downstairs deli and share a margherita pizza and a cold beer, it’s all good. n Enzo’s Once you walk through the front door, the servers whisk you far, far away with the ambience of a quaint European villa on Lake Fairy. The grounds are lovely, the cuisine is rustic Italian (a top-notch antipasti and authentic pastas). When romance is in the air, book a table for two. n Le Coq Au Vin Classic coq au vin is the quintessential upscale comfort food, and loyal diners still head to this modest restaurant for its namesake dish, even though Louis Perrotte has left the building and Chef Reimund Pitz is in the kitchen. But Pitz seems to be at ease following in his longtime friend’s foot- steps. So far, so good. BeST neWReSTAuRAnT n Black Olive “Brings upscale dining back to downtown Orlando,” says one judge. A stylish dining room dressed in the warm colors of the Mediterranean sets the stage for light cui- sine from Italy, such as grilled octopus, pas- tas in scented broths, grilled seafood – but the New York strip steak comes with a rich French béarnaise. Eclectic wines pair with the simple, delicious cuisine. n Café 118° If it’s a stretch to imagine raw fruits, nuts and veggies as an award winner, maybe it’s time to think outside the oven. The “118” refers to the fact the nothing is heated over 118 degrees Fahrenheit, preserving the nutrients that make food good for you. Hot seller is lasagna with noodles of paper-thin zucchini slices, ricotta made from macadamia nuts, sauce from sun-dried tomatoes. Innovative and progressive, we applaud Chef Osaliqui Barruos’ cool hand in the kitchen. n Stone’s Throw Bistro Another cheer for the independents, hip Stone’s Throw Bistro gets a warm welcome in historic downtown Sanford. Chef-owner Richard Lendino’s best dinnertime dishes feature Gulf shrimp and Florida grouper and mahi, but he throws a delicious curve ball with wild game like venison, kangaroo and elk, and our favorite – pork belly. l WELL DONE! Our panel struggled to name just three restaurants in each category, and there were some excellent restaurants that we felt also deserved Silver Spoon Awards: • Azure at The Shores Resort • Funky Monkey Wine Co. • Harmoni Market • Hemispheres • Park Plaza Gardens There’s a full list of winners and our Silver Spoon awards for Memorable Dishes on our website, ohlmag.com. ORLANDO HOME & LEISURE 57
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