2017 FEB 23 ACHILLES ART CAFE ORLANDO

ARCHILLES ART CAFE

2869 Wilshire Dr #103, Orlando, FL 32835

MY RATING: 3 OF 5 STARS 

WHERE WAS THIS AND WHY DIDN'T I FIND THIS EARLIER! 
I'M NOT A COFFEE EXTRAORDINAIRE AND WASN'T INTO THE THEMED CAFE SCENE THAT IS QUITE POPULAR IN KOREA WHILE I WAS THERE. HOWEVER, MISSING IT NOW THAT IT IS CONSIDER AS A RARE KIND OF ESTABLISHMENT HERE. 

ACCORDING TO ACHILLE'S WEBSITE, IT IS SAID THAT THEY OPENED AUGUST OF 2008. SO, IT'S BEEN IN BUSINESS AT THIS LOCATION FOR A WHILE. BUT, IT IS ALSO PRETTY HIDDEN IN THE METRO WEST AREA. I ALMOST CONTINUED DRIVING WHEN I ONLY SPOTTED "COFFEE SHOP" AND NOT IT'S FULL NAME.

THE VIBE OF THIS PLACE IS PRETTY WARM. THE STAFF ARE PRETTY FRIENDLY.
THE LITTLE AREAS SECTIONED BY A SET OF COFFEE TABLE AND COUCH GIVES AN INVITING FEEL TO GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS TO LOUNGE AROUND. 

I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT CAME CLOSE TO LOOKING LIKE THE ONE IN THE FRIEND'S EPISODE. THIS WILL HAVE TO DO FOR NOW.

I WAS INTRIGUED WITH THE FLAVORS OF THE LATTES AND ENDED UP GETTING THE LATTE WITH BUTTERBEER FLAVOR. IT WAS DELICIOUS!

THE PRICE SEEM TO BE IN THE PANERA RANGE. $8 FOR THE MOZZARELLA, PROVOLONE, SWISS CHEESE ON SOURDOUGH, AND TOMATO SOUP.

$8 FOR THE BEEF EMPANADA WITH SOUR CREAM, GUACAMOLE, AND TOMATO SALSA. THE GUAC AND SALSA TASTED FRESH!

PEACEFUL DURING CLOSING TIME!

 

I WOULD DEFINITELY BE BACK SOON, BUT NOT TOO SOON. I'M STILL ON THE HUNT TO FIND MORE CAFES NEAR ME.

your Photo Princess

FAREWELL 9-5 HELLO TRAVEL

04.09.14

THE TITLE OF THIS BLOG INDICATES LEAVING A NINE TO FIVE JOB TO TRAVEL.

NOPE, NOT IT!  (AT LEAST FOR NOW, SHHHHH)

INSTEAD, WE ARE CELEBRATING KRISTIN'S DEPARTURE WITH A COMPANY THAT SHE'S BEEN WITH FOR A GAZILLION YEARS.  BY A GAZILLION, I MEAN 15+ YEARS. 

BEAT THAT!

THIS IS KRISTIN R.  SHE HAS WORKED AT HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT SCHOOL PUBLISHERS FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.  SHE AND HER HUSBAND LOVES TO TRAVEL AND WILL BE LEAVING THEIR FULL TIME JOBS BEHIND TO TRAVEL.  I AM EXCITED TO KNOW THAT THEY WILL BE POSTING PHOTOS THEIR JOURNEY ON "INSTAGRAM" AND WILL BE FOLLOWING THEM TOO!

IMAGE SNAGGED FROM KRISTIN

                                                                                                                                  THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD BE TRAVELING TO AND FROM, BETWEEN APRIL THROUGH THE FALL OF THIS YEAR. 

THIS IS THE ORLANDO HMH BUILDING THAT WE WOULD BE HOLDING SECRET DECORATING GALORE FOR HER SURPRISE PARTY ON HER LAST DAY.

ORLANDO HOUGHTON MIFFLIN PUBLISHER

THERE WAS NOT MUCH DAMAGE DONE WITH THE BEFORE AND AFTER DECOR.

BUT SOMEONE ON THE FAREWELL DECORATING TEAM WAS BEING VERY CONSIDERATE AND NICE. AND NEAT TOO!  THAT PERSON WAS NOT I.  I SHOULD WHIP UP SOME DAMAGING DECOR PHOTOS FROM THE PAST ONE DAY AND BLOG IT.  THERE WERE THOUGHTS OF FLIPPING THINGS UPSIDE DOWN.  

BEFORE

AFTER

"CAMPING" IS THE THEME FOR HER FAREWELL.  IT MATCHES HER TRAVELING JOURNEY, AS HER AND HER HUSBAND WILL BE DRIVING THEIR CAMPING TRAILER TO THEIR DESTINATIONS.

THIS IS THE LOVELINESS OF NEAT DECORATING.

BUT JUST BECAUSE IT IS NEATLY DECORATED INSIDE, DOES NOT MEAN THAT I CAN'T PUT IN MY OWN SIGNATURE DECOR ON THE EXTERIOR......

2013 01 31 MY CHINESE NEW YEAR'S EVE IN ORLANDO

Guang Ming Buddhist Temple                      

6555 Hoffner Ave, Orlando, FL 32822

(407) 281-8482

PERKS TO BEING ASIAN?

WE TEND TO CELEBRATE THINGS TWICE, SUCH AS BIRTHDAYS AND NEW YEARS!

ALTHOUGH I DON'T REALLY CELEBRATE ANY HOLIDAYS THESE DAYS, I WAS SUMMONED (BY MY PARENTS) TO THE GUANG MING TEMPLE ON HOFFNER AVENUE ON NEW YEAR'S EVE.  

THIS HOLIDAY USUALLY LASTS FOR 15 DAYS AND THE DAYS ARE DICTATED BY THE LUNAR CALENDAR.  YES, WE GO BY A DIFFERENT CALENDAR AS WELL.

FOR 2014, THIS HOLIDAY FALLS UNDER JAN 31 - FEB 14.  

WITHIN THESE 15 DAYS,  YOU TYPICALLY CELEBRATE IT BY GOING OVER PEOPLE'S HOUSES AND EATING LARGE FEASTS (LIKE A THANKSGIVING FEAST), WISHING EVERYONE YOU ENCOUNTER ALL THE POSITIVES THAT YOU CAN THINK OF, AND IN RETURN, COLLECTING "LUCKY MONEY" THAT ARE USUALLY DISTRIBUTED BY MARRIED COUPLES WHO ARE OLDER THAN YOU. SO IF YOU ARE SINGLE, IN THE NON-MARRIED SENSE, THIS HOLIDAY IS IN YOUR BENEFIT! LOL!

IT IS JUST PLAINLY TRADITIONAL CUSTOMS WHERE THE IDEA IS FOR KIDS AND YOUNG ADULTS TO START OUT THE NEW YEAR WITH SOME SORT OF WEALTH.  SINCE THIS IS A HUGE HOLIDAY IN ASIA, I FOUND OUT THAT SOME PLACES SUCH AS TAIWAN STRETCH IT TO A 4-DAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY.

EVEN THOUGH MY VISITS TO THE TEMPLE ARE RANDOM, I LIKE LOOKING AT THE SET UPS CATERED TO THE DIFFERENT HOLIDAY THEMES. 

OVERALL, I ENJOYED THE FESTIVE DECORS.

THIS SET UP WAS NICE WHERE PAINTED GOLD BRANCHES WERE PLACED BEHIND THE STATUE AND VASE FOUNTAIN ON THE GROUND.

I WAS WONDERING IF THE GOLD DECORS ON THE GROUND WERE CHOCOLATE......

RESPONSE FROM SMASHBURGER

SMASHBURGER RESPONDS!

WHILE MY LAST POST TAPPED INTO MY LATEST OBSESSION WITH SMASHBURGER, OF COURSE I FOLLOWED UP WITH AN EMAIL TO THEIR PR DEPARTMENT.  I DON'T HAVE MUCH PATIENCE FOR THE WORLD OF THE UNKNOWN.

MY TASTE BUDS ARE JUMPING FOR JOY KNOWING THAT AROUND 2014, SOMEWHERE IN ORLANDO WILL HOUSE A SMASHBURGER!

I REALLY HOPE THAT THE QUALITY AND TEXTURE, AS I REMEMBERED GIVES ME THE SAME REACTION.  (THERE HAS BEEN MANY OTHER PLACES WHERE CONSISTENCY IN THE WAY FOOD IS COOKED, OR QUALITY OF HOW A PRODUCT IS MADE DIFFERS IN A DOWNWARD MODE.  AND THAT IS ANNOYING! ~ JUST SAYING.....)

ANYWAYS, I AM REALLY HAPPY THAT THEY WERE QUICK IN THEIR RESPONSE AND ALSO KNOW THAT I WILL EXPERIENCE THE GREATNESS IN A BURGER, ONCE AGAIN.

WAITING!

2013 09 13 ORLANDO FLORIDA IS BOILING HOT

IT IS MUY HOT!  THIS IS COMING FROM CAR THAT IS SITTING UNDER SCORCHING SUN SINCE THE GARAGE IS TOO LAZY TO ORGANIZE ITSELF!  

I COULD PROBABLY ROAST SOMETHING IN THE CAR.

BUT THAT COULD BE ME.

DAYS LIKE THIS MAKES ME "NOT" ENJOY THE OUTDOORS.  IT IS SUCH AN 

I LITERALLY RAN BACK IN THE HOUSE AFTER ERRANDS TO SHOWER.

SUCH A PROCESS TO ENDURE ALONG WITH THIS.

1.  PUT SUNBLOCK ON

2.  LEAVE THE HOUSE

3.  DUCK IN SHADES WHEN POSSIBLE

4.  RETURN HOME

5.  SHOWER OFF THE SWEAT!

2013 06 30 ORLANDO RESTAURANT MARLOWs TAVERN AND ATMOSPHERE

MARLOW'S TAVERN WINTER PARK

Address: 1008 S Orlando Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789

Phone:(407) 960-3670

Hours:  Friday hours 11:30 am–12:00 am 

MARLOW'S TAVERN

MY FIRST VISIT TO MARLOW'S TAVERN WAS INTERESTING. THE SET UP WAS TRICKY. DID NOT CIRCLE THE ENTIRE BUILDING TO REALIZE THAT THERE WERE TWO ENTRANCES.  IT WAS HARD TO TELL WHICH WAS THE MAIN ENTRANCE. AND, WE WERE PLAYING HIDE AND SEEK.  

WHILE WAITING FOR FRIEND IN PARKING LOT AND NOT SEEING HIS CAR, I WENT INSIDE TO PEAK AND DID NOT REALIZING THAT THE PARKING LOT SANDWHICHED THE RESTAURANT.

SO, WE WERE BOTH WAITING AT THE PARKING LOT AT THE SAME TIME ON OPPOSITE ENDS WITH THE RESTAURANT IN THE MIDDLE.  (IT WAS ENTERTAINING BECAUSE FOR A SECOND I THOUGHT I WAS IN THE WRONG RESTAURANT.) WE COULD HAVE JUST WAITED INSIDE. HA!

THE DOOR HANDLES ARE SOOOOO CUTE.
I THOUGHT THE OTHER SIDE WOULD HAVE A FORK HANDLE, BUT NOPE, ALL SPOON.

INSIDE WAS NICE AND DARK WITH HIGH COMFTY BOOTHS TO SIT IN.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT WAS SO DARK AND THE LIGHTS THAT WERE SHINING DOWN ON EACH TABLE WERE SO STRONG THAT IT WAS HARD TO READ THE MENU WITH THE GLARE.  I WAS CONSTANTLY SHIFTING MY MENU TO DODGE AND GET LIGHT AT THE SAME TIME.  OH BOY!

               

NOTICED THAT THEIR "WALL DECOR" WAS FULL OF BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE RESTAURANT.  THE RED CEILINGS ARE BRILLIANT, GIVING IT THAT RED MOODY GLOW.  I ALSO LOVE THE SPLASH OF RED THAT ARE SPORADICALLY ACCENTUATED ABOVE THEIR DROP DOWN LIGHTS. MODERN CHIC!

2013 06 30 ORLANDO FOOD FINDS AT MARLOWS TAVERN

MARLOW'S TAVERN WINTER PARK

Address: 1008 S Orlando Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789

Phone:(407) 960-3670

Hours:  Friday hours 11:30 am–12:00 am 

DROPPED IN MARLOW'S TAVERN IN WINTER PARK ONE FINE, YET RAINY SUNDAY AFTERNOON.  OVERALL, THE FOOD AND SERVICE WAS GREAT.

  

Location : 1008 S. Orlando Avenue (17-92) Winter Park, FL 32789

AND FOUND GREAT FOOD, LOW LIGHTING ATMOSPHERE, AND SOME FUN CHEERY STAFF INCLUDING ONE OF THEIR CHEF THAT STOPPED BY THE TABLE TO GREET AND INTRODUCE  NEW FOOD THAT I DID NOT EVEN SPOT ON THE MENU.

STARTED OF WITH LIGHT APPETIZER OF THEIR HUMMUS ($6.00).

PRETTY AVERAGE HUMMUS.

Grilled, Toasty Pita Points, Crisp, Fresh Veggies and Marinated Feta ($6.00)

THE STEAK CAME OUT AND I THOUGHT TO MYSELF: IT LOOKED PRETTY TINY.  LATER, A CHEF CAME OUT TO GREET US FOR WHATEVER REASON.  PERHAPS HE KEPT ON SEEING MY CAMERA FLASHES FROM HIS OPEN KITCHEN.  HE TOLD US THAT THIS IS A REALLY GOOD PRICE FOR THIS SIZE OF "CENTER CUT FILET".  DID HE READ MY MIND OR IS THAT A POPULAR QUESTION ASKED BY CUSTOMERS?

Grilled "center Cut" Filet - crispy wild mushroom potato cake, baby broccolini, garlic tomato fondue, harvey's bristol cream, scented veal jus and crumbling gorgonzola ($19)

THEN COMES MY PLATE.  WHERE EVER I FIND SHRIMP AND GRITS, I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO TRY AT LEAST ONCE.  EVEN AFTER EYEBALLING THE MENU MULTIPLE TIMES, MY DECISION ROLLS BACK TO.....SHRIMP AND GRITS!

Shrimp & Grits - white cheddar grit cake, spinach, tomato, shallot and sauce beurre blanc ($15)

I DON'T THINK I'VE EVER TRIED GRITS IN CAKE FORM, NOR WHITE CHEDDAR. WHITE CHEDDAR GRIT CAKES WERE DEFINITELY DIFFERENT.
DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE THE GRITS WERE IN CAKE FORM AND THAT PIECE WAS BROKEN OFF UNTIL THE CHEF WHO CAME OUT TO GREET US, POINTED IT OUT.  YOU CAN TASTE THE WHITE CHEDDAR BUT IT WAS NOT STRONG.

THERE WERE A DECENT AMOUNT OF SHRIMP, GIVEN THAT THERE WAS NOTHING TO FLUFF IT UP.  I SORT OF WISHED THE PLATE WAS STEEP TO GIVE THE ILLUSION OF A HUGE $15 PLATE OF FOOD.  OR, MAKE THICKER GRIT CAKES.

I THINK THIS CHEF CAME OUT TO CHAT WITH US MORE THAN 3 TIMES.

AFTER DISCOVERING THAT WE'VE NEVER TRIED THE JALAPENO GRITS, HE CAME BACK WITH A LITTLE SAMPLE PLATE.  THE SAMPLE PLATE WAS AS BIG AS THE PLATE OF HUMMUS.  I OVER LOOKED THIS ON THE MENU.  OF COURSE! BECAUSE THEIR SIDE ITEMS WERE LITERALLY LISTED VERTICALLY ON THE SIDE OF THE MENU! I'M REALLY GLAD HE MENTIONED ABOUT IT.

IT WAS GOOD THOUGH.  WAS NOT SPICY LIKE I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.  INSTEAD, IT JUST HAD A HINT OF JALAPENO FLAVOR TO IT (WITHOUT THE SPICE).

REALLY SURPRISED THAT THIS JALAPENO GRITS IS A SIDE ITEM.

IT SEEM LIKE IT SHOULD BE SERVED AS MAIN DISH WITH SOME SORT OF BEEF.

Jalapeno Corn Grits - nora mills stone ground grit cakes with a hint of jalapeno

I WONDER WHAT I WILL BE TRYING NEXT TIME, BECAUSE THERE WILL BE A NEXT TIME.  THERE IS ONE ON INTERNATIONAL DRIVE.  HOPING TO HAVE SAME TYPE OF PLEASANT AND VIBRANT STAFF AT THE I-DRIVE LOCATION AS WELL.  UNTIL NEXT TIME.....

2013 01.13 MARATHON OF SALE FINDS AT OLD NAVY

TIS THE WEEKEND WHERE EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT THEIR MARATHON.
I, ON THE OTHER HAND CREATED MY MARATHON AT THE FLORIDA MALL AND FOUND A $6.97 CLEARANCE SALE AT OLD NAVY.

OF COURSE THIS WAS THE LAST ONE. 
TSHIRT MATERIAL AND SUPER COMFTY.
SO THIS ADDS ANOTHER BLUE HUE OF DRESSES IN MY COLLECTION.
JUST COULDNT RESIST THIS CLEARANCE PRICE!

2012 01.13 SALE FINDS AT BATH AND BODY WORKS

TIS THE WEEKEND FOR MARATHONS, I MADE LAPS TO THE MALL AND FOUND ME SOME SALE !  HIT THE FLORIDA MALL AND BATH AND BODY WORKS WAS THE LAST STOP.

THE WALLFLOWER REFILLS $1.62 OPPOSE TO $6.50!THE CHEAPEST I'VE EVER SEEN WAS $2.00, UNTIL NOW.

2012 12.25 ORLANDO FOOD FINDS_COOKIES COUSINS XMAS TREE

Address: 2322 Edgewater Dr, Orlando, FL 32804

Phone:(407) 420-7940

Hours:  Friday hours 10:00 am–5:30 pm

COOL COOKIES FROM COOKIES COUSINS.  AND THE FUN PART IS THAT THEY CREATE  AND DAZZLE THESE SIMPLE SUGAR COOKIES WITH VARIOUS THEMES.  FOR TODAY, THE THEME IS CHRISTMAS.  SO THERE WE GO WITH A XMAS TREE!

ON AVERAGE, EACH COOKIE IS AROUND $3.00.

2012 11.30 ORLANDO FOOD FINDS_TWIST ASIAN FUSION

TWIST ASIAN FUSION
45 West Crystal Lake Street  Orlando, FL 32806

WOKE UP AND DECIDED TO GO CHECK OUT SODO.  WHAT ON EARTH IS SODO.  

LOOKED IT UP AND DUH! IT STANDS FOR SOUTH OF DOWNTOWN ORLANDO.I REMEMBER COMING HERE ON THE FLY ONE DAY AND TWIST ASIAN FUSION CAUGHT MY EYE.  SO  I HAD TO COME BACK!  

ALTHOUGH THE NAME GAVE ME A DIFFERENT IDEA OF WHAT THE MENU WAS GOING TO BE LIKE, I FOUND THE SELECTION TO BE A YAWN.  I DIDN'T REALLY SEE ANY "TWIST" TO THIS PLACE. AND THERE WAS NOTHING FUSION ABOUT THE FOOD WITH THE EXCEPTION  THAT IT INCORPORATED CHINESE AND SUSHI, AND A LITTLE CURRY AS THE DIFFERENT TYPE OF ASIAN FOOD IN THEIR MENU.  THE DECOR WAS AMAZING.  THE AMOUNT OF CUSTOMERS ON A THURSDAY LATE AFTERNOON WAS SAD.  BUT THAT GAVE ME ROOM TO TAKE PIX WITH NO CLUTTER OF VISUALS, AKA PEOPLE!

THE PRICES WERE SLIGHT ON THE HIGH END, BUT I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT SOME OF THE RAW FISHES IN THE SUSHI FROM OUR ORDERS WERE EXTREMELY FRESH!  SCANNED THROUGH THE MENU A FEW TIMES AS ALWAYS AND THERE WAS NOTHING NEW NOR ENTICING AT THE MOMENT. 

EVEN THOUGH I HAVE HAD SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THIS IN THE PAST AT A DIFFERENT RESTAURANT, I DECIDED I WAS IN THE MOOD TO HAVE IT AGAIN.  THEY LABELED THIS THE MALAYSIAN FRIED RICE $10.

WE ALSO ADDED A TUNA/CREAM CHEESE ROLL $6.


























THE TEXTURE OF THE RAW TUNA WAS RIGHT ON TARGET.  REALLY LIGHT, YET FRESH ENOUGH WHERE YOU CAN TASTE THE SWEETNESS OF A FRESH RAW TUNA.  
MY BROTHER GOT THE CHICKEN TERIYAKI $20, IN WHICH I THINK IS A WASTE BECAUSE IT IS BASICALLY GRILLED CHICKEN WITH SWEET SOY SAUCE (TERIYAKI) ON TOP OF IT WITH A BIT OF OTHER SIDE ITEMS. BUT, I WOULD HAVE TO SAY THAT THE SUSHI WAS REALLY FRESH!