Where can you find delicious birria tacos in Orlando? That’s a loaded question because everyone will have a different take. As usual, my stance is never to declare what reigns supreme in any food category but to share options with you that I have had only good experiences with. For me, good birria comes down to three essential things: the taco shouldn't be overly soggy and needs to hold firm to the consommé dunk. The consommé itself needs to add flavor, not be the ONLY flavor, so those meats still need to be seasoned and tender from slow cooking in the right spices. Thirdly, it shouldn't be ov ..read more

Have you ever had a powerful Chicken Katsu craving? Despite its popularity and being a staple in Japanese and Hawaiian cuisine, sometimes it can feel hard to know where to find it in Orlando. It’s one of my favorite breaded indulgences because it hits many taste sensories. Salty, crunchy, and hopefully tender. If it’s something you haven’t had before, you can expect chicken coated in crispy panko breadcrumbs and then deep-fried to golden perfection. It’s often served with a tangy tonkatsu sauce (which I prefer, but some may decide not to use) and can come as a platter with sides, a sandwich, a ..read more

I’ve been excited about Coro's opening for some time now. Knowing Chef Tim Lovero's background at Luma, Prato, and Luke’s, I was excited to see his creative vision for our culinary scene. He has described this new solo venture as American-style small plates with a slight Italian bent, which explains not only the Italian name but also the well-crafted agnolotti dish in my future. The general manager, Jonathan, explained that Coro focuses on local ingredients from Florida farms and environments. Seasonal products are fresh that day, which means an ever-changing menu, less waste, and a focus on ..read more

If you live near College Park or have been keeping tabs on the “Packing District” (for better or for worse), you’ve been waiting to see what would come of the new food hall - The Great Southern Box Company Food Hall. The space is in soft opening this weekend, although it’s not at 100% capacity yet. Right now, you can buzz around the open space and do a few loops before deciding what vendors you will try or how many. To its credit, there is a decent variety of cuisines to be found. the space: The 13,140-sf food hall consists of: Eleven vendor stalls An elevated outdoor patio, som ..read more

This one for my thrifters, my treasure hunters, my trash-to-treasure refurbishers, and my collectors. These are the spots in my regular rotation locally when I want to thrift here and outside of Orlando where I've found success. It's true, thrifting isn't what it once was, and places have hiked up their prices to deal with resellers, but undoubtedly just out of greed. Despite that, give me an iced latte and a map of second-hand stores, and that's all I need for a good weekend, whether I find a treasure or not. I even found and painted a cute little shelving unit from Facebook Marketplace wher ..read more

My last fun, non-work trip to Chicago was back in 2011. We ate some good food (The Purple Pig, The Gage) and visited almost every museum the city had to offer. However, we stayed downtown and didn’t really venture outside of it, and that was a mistake.  On this trip we stayed in Wicker Park, limiting our time downtown to an architectural boat tour, and one museum on a rainy morning.  I liked Chicago on my previous visit, but sticking to exploring the neighborhoods this time made me love Chicago. There are so many options for food and things to do, so if you’re planning a tr ..read more

Obviously, I like Boba Tea. And there may be no better place to live if you like Boba than the Greater Orlando area. In years past, I have created maps that tried to encompass as many boba shops as possible, but due to the vast and sprawling landscape of boba shops throughout the greater Orlando area, a map just wasn’t sufficient. Or entirely geographically accurate, as some people on Reddit made clear. I’m no cartographer; I just wanted a cute way of showing how rich we are in Boba. So, no more maps; instead, I’ve created four graphics based on locations. North, South, East, an ..read more

Are you a recent Orlando transplant? In 2020 we saw an influx of people move in (and move out) and they say 1,500 are moving here everyday in 2024. Whether you moved here because it was a lifelong dream to live near Disney (sorry, no Disney content here for you) or you had to move here due to circumstance, and you are counting the days until you can leave again, this guide will prove helpful. Does Orlando suck? Well, that is relative. Would I rather live in a different city. Sure! Am I happy to live here over a lot of other places? YES! Orlando is what you make of it, and as someone who has l ..read more

With prices soaring and choices overwhelming, finding a satisfying midday meal that doesn’t break the bank can feel like an arduous quest that will land you in the Chick-fil-A drive-thru line with everyone else. I’m here to guide you through a local-only eating journey where delicious food meets affordable food. Whether you’re in the mood for a hearty sandwich, a fresh salad, or a warming bowl of Pho, I’ve rounded up some of the best spots to enjoy a fulfilling lunch for under $20 around Orlando. My #1 hack to lessening the lunch bill will always be to bring your own beverage. My trusty Owala ..read more

I'll start by giving you my disclaimer: This was a hosted dinner for a media night. If you know me, I rarely attend these (it’s been literal years) but this was an exception as I'm a long-time fan and supporter of the East End Market (and good friends with the GM), and we wanted to celebrate the christening of Mid Drive Dive together. If one of us goes, we usually beg the other to accompany us since events are not our thing. Ok, we got that out of the way. College Park is my neighborhood and has been for over a decade. I've seen the constantly revolving doors of Edgewater Drive restaurants, a ..read more