Bistro CloClo - French Food at Its Best

Bistro CloClo - French Food at Its Best

I was whisked away to France for an hour or so one afternoon when visiting Bistro CloClo in Dr. Phillips. We truly enjoyed the French cuisine and atmosphere.

The Bistro offers both indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seats are covered and provide the outdoor parisian cafe feel (Except with protection from the Florida rain). The interior has a nicely classic look with beautiful rich red walls and hung artwork.

So now that the scene is set, let's talk about the food. I started off with a very tasty French Onion Soup (Soupe A L'oignon), seasoned just right not to salty!

The entrees were very well prepared and quite delicious! I had the Coq Au Vin and my wife had the Butternut Squash Raviolli. Both were well executed and very enjoyable meals.

To top off a great meal we had their Crepes with Strawberries and Nuttela! It was an excellent ending to a great meal.

If you are looking for a little taste of France then Bistro CloClo is a wonderful place to visit and enjoy a meal.

 

Bistro CloClo

7600 Dr. Phillips Boulevard Suite 22, Orlando FL 32819

Hours

Sunday - Thursday 11 AM -10:00 PM

Call: 407-745-5405

Shake Shack is Coming!

Shake Shack is Coming!

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Front shot

Shake Shake the iconic hamburger stand is coming to International Drive. The International Drive location will open it doors for the first time on Wednesday August 19th at 11:00 am. Now all the visitors and guests attending conventions in the area can sample the classic hamburgers, fries and milk shakes from Shake Shack.

Shack Shack also has a Winter Park location that opened last year and has been wildly successful. If you are in the area Shake Shack will serve you a burger experience that you will remember! I recommend the Smoke Shack Burger, it is really good, just take a look for yourself below!

Smoke Shack Burger

Smoke Shack Burger

And of course you have to try one of their rich shakes. If you are going to stop by be prepared for lines because people are willing to wait for their burgers!

Shake Shack

8359 International Drive

Orlando, FL 32819

idrive@shakeshack.com

407-205-0362

Hours

Sunday-Thursday, 11AM - 11 PM

Friday & Saturday, 11AM - 12 AM

The Columbia Restaurant

The Columbia Restaurant

If you are looking for a great place to eat that has unique food and rich history then the Columbia Restaurant is the place to go. The restaurant is known as Florida's oldest restaurant and has been family owned since it started in 1905. The original location was first opened in Ybor City (Outside of Tampa) in 1905. Now there are locations in Sarasota, St. Augustine, Clearwater Beach, Riverwalk Tampa, Tampa International Airport and Celebration (Not far from the Disney Parks area).

The menu offers traditional Spanish cuisine such as paella and tapas along with a number of Cuban influenced dishes. A must try dish is their famous "1905 salad" tossed table side freshly for you. It is definitely worth trying, their special homemade dressing is excellent! The food is outstanding especially their Spanish rice which is served with each meal.

The seating areas are comfortable and make any visit enjoyable. You have the option of eating inside in the classic dining room with all the rich history and aesthtic or eat out on the patio and enjoy a great Florida day or evening.

If you are looking for something different than the chain restaurant experience than give Columbia Restaurant a try it won't disappoint.

 

Columbia Restaurant (Celebration)

649 Front Street Celebration, FL 34747 (407) 566-1505

Hours

Sunday - Saturday (11:30 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.) Open 365 days of the year. Serving Lunch & Dinner daily.

Things to note

Casual attire is fine, but they do not allow sleeveless shirts on men.

The restaurant offers a Children's Menu.

Reservations Accepted

Live music Friday and Saturday nights from 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. in the Tapas Bar.

 

Making the most of your Disney Cruise

Making the most of your Disney Cruise

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Recently, I spoke with a family that was going on a Disney Cruise.  If you have not been on a Disney Cruise, I highly recommend taking one.  Adults and children enjoy the cruise.  The food is good, the service is superior and the activities are outstanding.  We had a great time. When I met the family going on the cruise I gave them two points of advice:

1.  Go on the water slide as soon as possible and often - it's awesome!

2.  Get a Cabana on Disney's Castaway Cay

We were able to get a cabana when visiting Disney's Castaway Cay.  It was amazing.  The cabana came with snorkeling gear, inner tubes, free bike rentals, non-alcoholic beverages, fruit, access to a private beach and FUN!!  We were in cabana 15, which held up to 10 people. We enjoyed the lounging in the hammock or lawn furniture or chatting inside the cabana.  It truly was a highlight of our trip.

Excitement for the beach!

Excitement for the beach!

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Our private beach!

Cabana 15

Cabana 15

Cabana

Cabana

I highly recommend that you book the cabana in advance because they sell out quickly.  Most of all, have fun!

Union Burger Lake Nona's Newest Restaurant

Union Burger Lake Nona's Newest Restaurant

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The Lake Nona area is near and dear to our hearts.  When we moved to the Central Florida area we moved to the promising Lake Nona community (which is southeast of the Orlando International Airport).  This growing community is home to three new hospitals and anticipating growth of over 100,000 in the next few years. New to the Lake Nona area is Union Burger.  This hip burger joint aims to please.  The restaurant offers burgers, fish sandwiches, beer and wine, milkshakes and all the other "normal" things you could imagine when visiting a restaurant specializing in burgers.

Union Burger

Union Burger

Inside Union Burger

Inside Union Burger

I tried the most popular burger, the Bourbon Street burger.  It comes with BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese, caramelized onions and smoked bacon.  The burger is filled with everything I LOVE.  Perhaps they can touch of chipotle mayo and name it after me.  Well, I can dream.

Milkshakes

Milkshakes

Bourbon Street Burger and Sweet Potato Fries.

Bourbon Street Burger and Sweet Potato Fries.

Stop by Lake Nona and visit Union Burger.  You will enjoy the burgers, fries and beverages.

Union Burger

9680 Narcoossee Road, Unit 103 Orlando, FL 32827 T. 407-745-4510

Starbucks Reserve

Starbucks Reserve

When visiting Downtown Disney (Soon to be Disney Springs) make sure you drop in and visit the new Starbucks Reserve! This particular Starbucks has some awesome design and aesthetic features that make it very unique. It is a special Starbucks Reserve store that offers special small batch coffees from around the world that are only available at Reserve stores. The store also has some unique design features like a touch screen wall that kids can write on and correspond with another Starbucks location and a living wall in the shape of the Starbucks logo. The store is also built to be environmentally sensitive by having a green roof that filters rainwater and reduce the stores carbon footprint. Even if you are not a fan of coffee it is worth stopping in just to see how cool the store is!

 

EXTERIOR

INSIDE THE STORE

Park Avenue Walking Food Tour

Park Avenue Walking Food Tour

Coming this weekend is the Park Avenue Walking Food Tour on June 6th and 7th. The event will highlight food from various Winter Park restaurants with a wide variety of cuisines. The cost is $47 per person. For more information visit their website at www.orlandofoodtours.com. The event will be held in downtown Winter Park on Park Avenue. Exact meeting location will be giving out after ticket purchase.  

Tin Roof: Live Music, Great Food

Tin Roof: Live Music, Great Food

The I-Drive 360 Complex has a number of new things but one specifically bright spot is the Tin Roof restaurant and bar! It is a great place to relax, enjoy live music and have a good time with great food, it's not your typical bar.

Atmosphere

The atmosphere is pretty lively with big screen TV's on most of the walls and colorful background decorations and surroundings. Check out their website and get an advance schedule of their live acts that they showcase at least 5 nights a week.

Food

The food is really good with lots of flavor. Some of their recommended dishes are the the Red Hot Chilli Peppers Shrimp (RHCP), O-Eye Mac and Cheese (Really good!) and the Smashville 8oz Angus burger. You may want to also try their Brunch which is offered on both Saturday and Sunday. My particular favorites are the Hot Chocolate Pancakes, the Andouille Hash and their Fried Green Tomatoes appetizer.

The Tin Roof is a great place to stop in after experiencing some of the attractions in the area like the Orlando Eye or Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum. If you are looking for a fun atmosphere with good food then stop in and try Tin Roof.

8371 International Dr.

Orlando, FL 32819

Hours: 11:00 AM to 2:00 AM

407-270-7926

http://www.tinrooforlando.com/

I-Drive's Newest Wonder: The Orlando Eye

I-Drive's Newest Wonder: The Orlando Eye

Foreground shot

Foreground shot

If you have driven past the I-Drive attraction area in the last six months you probably noticed the new 400 foot observation wheel under construction. Well now construction is completed and the Orlando Eye is open for business. The observation wheel allows riders to see Orlando from a truly unique vantage point, 400 feet above all the hustle and bustle. The experience starts with a brief 4D video experience highlighting some of the great views of Orlando via a helicopter with all the necessary special effects to make you believe you are flying.

Counter Area

Counter Area

Waiting area screens

Waiting area screens

After completing the short video you are then whisked out the door to the waiting line to board the eye. The capsules can hold about 10-15 people although when it is not crowded the usual number of riders is from 8-10. Inside the capsule there is plenty of space to move around and take pictures out the windows. If anyone in your party has fear of heights there is a seating area in the center of the capsule.

Capsule

Capsule

Inside the capsule as you ascend you are able to view out in every direction. It will be easy to see certain landmarks like Downtown Orlando, the dome at Epcot Center or the Orange County Convention Center.

Downtown Orlando

Downtown Orlando

Epcot Center

Epcot Center

Operating Hours - Orlando Eye
May 4th - December 31st, 2015