I wish for all of my friends and family to have a healthy, happy, and rewarding 2011!
Rich and I had a wonderfully gastronomic dinner at the Ravenous Pig in Winter Park Fl. on Tuesday December 28th! We ate like, well like the name of the restaurant, ravenous pigs! We tried quite a few of the menu selections (our selections are at the bottom), which change almost every day. We also had a few of their signature beers and drinks. We really wanted to eat through the menu as it was so hard to decide what to select but, since we were headed to see the movie “True Grit” we held back so we could enjoy the movie without suffering overstuffed stomachs. About the movie. While I enjoyed this version I still enjoy the 1969 original (John Wayne, Glen Campbell, Kim Darby) better. On Wednesday Matt and I saw “The Fighter” (Mark Wahlberg) and had the all-you-can-eat St. Louis ribs and sweet potato fries at the Route 46 Smokehouse. Needless to say I’ve probably gained back some of the 40 pounds I’ve lost since moving to Belize! But…it’s worth it! Thursday was spent in the Disney Studio theme park and, except for breakfast at Denny’s, we ate park food and had a great time. Time to finish my shopping and prepare for my trip home on Sunday and back to my normal menu.
Reading the emails that I got from friends in Hopkins it sounds like I missed a good New Years Day BBQ at Louie’s house. Dang, I hate when that happens! But I did enjoy eating my way through my “must eats” the past 13 days in Orlando. It sure will be nice to get back to my normal routine of rising with the sun, fishing, hanging in my hammock reading, fishing, and going to sleep at a reasonable time. Traveling upsets my internal clock now that I’m old. Of course spending my 1st and last nights in Orlando getting plastered, doesn’t help! The 1st night was spent in a joint called “World Of Beer” where my son Rich and I drank a multitude of designer beers, including chocolate and coffee flavored pints. Last night was spent with my son Matt at the “West End” drinking 2-for-1 Guinness and a number of different flavored shots. Needless to say I was not ready for my 5am wake up this morning. The one thing that I am grateful for is that I’ve never had a hangover. I’ve been a bit queezy a time or two but don’t suffer the pounding headaches that my friends have. Not sure that’s a blessing or not but I sure am grateful. Matt says he inherited my good genes including the no hangover one. None the less it was a good was to start and end my trip.
And so, life, and good eats, goes on for the Fatboy in Belize… As always, stay well, keep happy, and practice peace. I am!!!
The Ravenous Pig
Chef/Owners James & Julie Petrakis
407.628.2333
SOUP
Peasant Soup
New Smyrna Little Neck clams, house-made chorizo, black-eyed peas, butternut squash, parmesan broth
APPITIZER
House-made Soft Pretzels with whole grain mustard, taleggio-porter fondue
House-made Gruyere Biscuits and smoked sea salt butter
SALAD
House-made Charcuterie and Artisan Cheese
served with house pickles and grain mustard
- sopressata
- Coach Farms Triple Creme
- toscano
- venison terrine
- spiced orange
- Tarentaise Vermont alpine guryere
- coppa
- lardo grilled bread
Waterkist Heirloom Tomato Tart
smoked rogue river bleu cheese, arugula and almond salad, balsamic-caramel reduction
ENTREE
Guinea Hen
mushroom and truffle stuffed breast, roasted garlic polenta, red wine jus, fresh oregon black truffles
Cocoa Nib Crusted Venison
Roasted sunchock and brussel sprouts, heirloom caramel-apple puree, cider gastrique
DESSERT
Brûlée
butterscotch crème brûlée, stout-fall fruit bereweka, cocoa-nib tuille
Dumpling
gala apple dumpling, brown sugar-cranberry streusel,
cinnamon ice cream
