Recent Reviews and Restaurant News

Oudom, the Thai and Sushi restaurant in Thornton Park’s Sanctuary condominium complex, is closed. A sign on the window of the South Eola Drive business says the closing is “due to deep cleaning” and it will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 11.

A bright orange sticker on the same window from the State of Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) reads, “This establishment is closed to protect public health and safety.” The sign has a date of Jan. 5.

Bye-bye to another Bubbalou's and Stonewall but good stuff, too.

It was just in September that we learned the original Bubbalou’s Bodacious Bar-b-que, on Lee Road in Winter Park, had closed. Now comes word that the Apopka location on Rock Springs Road has also shuttered. As with the Winter Park store, circumstances created by the pandemic are the reason, although a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page said: “There’s no one to blame. There’s no situation to blame.” But the post also stated: “For almost the past two years, we have stayed ahead of the pandemic and everything surrounding it. With all of the obstacles we have faced, we have given it our best shot, but can no longer justify staying open.” That leaves the Altamonte Springs and Conroy Road, Orlando, locations the only remaining.

While we’re on the subject of closings, Stonewall, the gay bar on Church Street across from Exploria Stadium, has also closed. I mention it only because it originally opened as a bar and restaurant, Stonewall Bistro, and over the last 14 or so years made other attempts to serve food along with booze. Booze won.

The newish Marketplace at Avalon Park has added breakfast hours, with Pico de Gallo and Nola at Avalon Park serving breakfast burritos, tacos, pancakes, biscuits and more along with joe cups from Rosso Coffee Bar. You can also get a mimosa when Avalon General Store opens at 11 a.m. to make it a boozy brunch, because as we’ve already established, booze wins.

Citing obstacles created by the ongoing pandemic, the Corner Cafe, a popular Sanford eatery, has temporarily moved to a catering-only model, according to chef and owner Michael O’Brien Sr.

I’m happy to announce a new collaboration with The Community Paper, the widely read publication covering College Park and Downtown Orlando. Each month in a column called Local Flavor, I’ll be offering a recipe from chefs and favorite restaurants for you to try at home.

For January, I have the popular Cranberry Walnut Chicken Salad from Greg and Terry Granda of Shakers American Cafe in College Park. This is an easy one because it requires little cooking – no cooking at all if you use cooked chicken you already have on hand, such as from a rotisserie chicken.

Take a look at the recipe on The Community Paper’s website and give it a try. And if there’s a chef’s recipe you’d like me to try to get for future editions, let me know.