FORK ON THE ROAD

ELIJAH’S CAFÉ

Diners of this Eustis-based restaurant have become smitten by its delicious and authentic Mediterranean food

STORY: JAMES COMBS PHOTOS: FRED LOPEZ AND MATTHEW GAULIN

Iconfess. When it comes to food, I am a walking stereotype of a Kentuckian. I love my fried chicken, fried catfi sh, green beans, mashed potatoes, and Grandma’s delicious homemade biscuits and gravy. With the exception of Mexican and Chinese food (the Americanized versions, admittedly), I’ve rarely been brave enough to try worldly and exotic foods.

In April, I surprised myself by having lunch at Elijah’s Café, which serves authentic Mediterranean food. For someone like me, I was not stepping out of my comfort zone; I was running out of my comfort zone.

My nerves eased somewhat as I drove on Bay Street and turned into Eustis Square Shopping Center. Seeing a Tractor Supply store let this country boy know he was not completely out of his element. Resisting the urge to go in there and purchase hunting accessories, I parked and walked to Elijah’s.

At fi rst glance, I could not help but to notice the simplicity of the ambiance. However, if you cannot judge a book by its cover, then it is certainly unfair to judge a restaurant by its interior. These kinds of restaurants are the hidden treasures we all desire to fi nd. Moreover, most tables were fi lled with a mix of business associates, retirees, and young couples. A crowded restaurant is typically a good sign.

I was warmly greeted by owner Elijah Abraham, who, come to fi nd out, takes orders, cooks food, serves food, and rings up customers. With his warm smile and likeable personality, I quickly realized whatever this restaurant lacked in atmosphere, it made up for in customer service.

Elijah, who is half Italian and half Lebanese, discovered a passion for cooking at a young age. While growing up in Beirut, he would spend countless hours in the kitchen helping his parents cook popular Mediterranean dishes. After moving to the United States at age 34, he opened four restaurants throughout Michigan, Ohio, and Florida. He did all the cooking, even without formal training. “I made each one of them successful, and then I sold them,” he says. “When you cook with love and serve with love, you will always be successful.”

He opened his fi fth restaurant — Elijah’s Café — eight years ago and runs it

with his two daughters, Nasrine Abraham and Rosine Abraham. The now 64-yearold restaurateur explained why his latest venture has also been a success.

“I make homemade Mediterranean food, and no other restaurant in the area has a menu like mine. Customers continually come back with family, friends, and neighbors because they enjoy our delicious, unique food.”

Hearing that, I was ready to put his Mediterranean fare to the test. For an appetizer, I ordered falafel, a deep-fried vegetarian patty mixed with chickpeas, garlic, onion, cilantro, and various spices. The exterior is crispy, while the inside is soft with a spicy kick. This was certainly a good way to become acquainted with Mediterranean food.

Even though I could not accurately pronounce the word, I ordered a gyros platter for lunch. It came with hummus, pita bread, tzatziki dressing, and a garden salad.

I was intrigued by the hummus, which looks somewhat like a light-colored bean dip but actually has a smooth, creamy texture. Elijah makes his hummus using chickpeas and tahini, a sesame seed paste. In the middle is a “pool” of lemon juice, as well as extra virgin olive oil imported from Italy and Lebanon. The hummus is fresh because Elijah soaks the chickpeas in water overnight and boils them each morning. As I took two bites with, the lemon and garlic fl avors became apparent. But the real treat was dipping into the hummus with soft, perfectly browned, and piping hot pita bread special ordered from Chicago.

The pita bread was equally tasty with the generous serving of meat, which Elijah explained is 85 percent beef and 15 percent lamb. It was my fi rst time eating lamb and I was quite impressed with the warmth, freshness, and tenderness of the meat.

The garden salad was your typical tomato and lettuce combo, but what made this salad distinctive was the homemade tzatziki dressing, which is made of cucumbers and sour cream. The dressing was tangy and creamy and certainly a nice alternative to traditional salad dressings such as blue cheese and ranch.

All in all, I found the food to be delicious, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Elijah. It is clear a great deal of skill and pride go into each dish he serves. Perhaps Eric Meeker, a Mount Dora resident who visits Elijah’s Café twice a week, sums it up best. “The combination of great service and excellent food makes it hard for me to stay away.”

And what did I learn about myself? I did not step out of my comfort zone; I simply expanded my dining options. Considering my great all-around experience at Elijah’s Café, I will now have to familiarize myself with other local ethnic restaurants.

ADDRESS:

248 W. Ardice Ave. Eustis, FL 32726

PHONE:

352.483.0006

HOURS OF OPERATION:

10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday

POPULAR DISHES:

Chicken Gyros Platter: $12.99 Falafel Sandwich: $7.49 Baba Ghannooge Platter: $10.49 Shish Kabob Platter: $14.99

Destinations of good taste

BAMBOO BISTRO

700 NORTH HWY. 441 (IN FRONT OF TARGET), LADY LAKE // 352.750.9998

The Villages Bamboo Bistro welcomes you to experience a delightful dining experience with us. Enjoy an impressive selection of Asian dishes from China, Japan, Vietnam, and Thailand, as well as a full sushi bar. Some of the more popular items include Peking duck, pepper seared fi let mignon, the bamboo basil seafood delight, and the Chilean sea bass served in black bean sauce. Of course, there are plenty of other enticing items made with our freshest ingredients, such as the shrimp in lobster sauce, Mongolian beef, and the ever-popular General Tso’s chicken. Noodle soups and noodle dishes are also available; a variety of Asian beers and the extensive selection of wine will complement that perfect meal. Dim Sum Hours: Monday–Saturday 11 a.m.–4 p.m.; Sunday Noon–9 p.m.

HOURS OF OPERATION: MONDAY–THURSDAY 11A.M.–9:30P.M. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY 11A.M.–10P.M. SUNDAY NOON–9P.M.

COUSIN VINNIE’S FAMILY SPORTS RESTAURANT

OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK: 11A.M.–9P.M. // FOOD, SPIRITS, MUSIC, SPORTS 10700 U.S. HWY. 441, LEESBURG // 352.253.2442 // WWW.CVINNIES.COM

Cousin Vinnie’s is located on U.S. Highway 441 across from Lake Square Mall and Home Depot. Owner “Cousin” Vinnie Vittoria and his family have created a unique atmosphere by combining a sports bar with a family restaurant. Famous for outstanding food and even better service, Vinnie’s was recently named Medium Business of the Year for 2013. They also have been voted Best Wings in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. Additional menu items include killer half-pound burgers, melt-in-your-mouth chicken strips, personal pan pizzas, amazing ribeye cheesesteaks, healthy wheat wraps, homemade salads, 16 awesome appetizers, and their signature deep fried ice cream and Snickers bars. Every Monday is “Texas Hold’em” from 6–10p.m. Tuesday night is “Family Night” from 4–8p.m. where kids 12 and under eat free. Wednesday night is “Trivia Night” with the fun starting at 6:30p.m. and prizes being given to the top three teams. Thursday night is “Karaoke Night” where everyone is a star! There is no better place on the weekends to enjoy the game. Cousin Vinnie’s also offers many cool electronic games for the children, free Wi-Fi, great music, and an enthusiastic staff ready to exceed your expectations. “I absolutely look forward to serving you and your family very soon!” says Cousin Vinnie.

EVANS PRAIRIE COUNTRY CLUB

1825 EVANS PRAIRIE TRAIL, THE VILLAGES 352.750.2225 // WWW.EVANSPRAIRIERESTAURANT.COM

Evans Prairie Country Club is a casual fi ne dining restaurant inspired by a Western fl air while serving delicious cuisine in an intimate dining atmosphere. As the newest country club in The Villages, and as an extension of Brownwood Town Square, you will fi nd our rustic décor pleasing to the eyes and our exceptional food a delight to your palate. Wrought iron chandeliers grace our dining areas accented by wood-like fl oors, giving you a feel of being in the Old West. Comfortable and inviting, our outside bar will delight your senses while the patio and outside tables provide a scenic up-close view of beautiful Evans Prairie. Our western-style menu is chock-full of cuisine you would expect to fi nd, including citrus-infused salads, hearty steak dishes, and fresh mouthwatering seafood, while staying reasonably priced. Evans Prairie’s specialty drinks and our eclectic dessert menu are sure to have you satisfi ed, and we greatly value your guest experience from each and every visit.

HOURS OF OPERATION: SUNDAY – THURSDAY: 11A.M.–9P.M. FRIDAY – SATURDAY: 11A.M.–10P.M. HAPPY HOUR: EVERY DAY 11A.M.–5P.M.

What’s cooking at KADEE KAY?

Since opening KaDee Kay in 2010, Karen Monte and her daughters, Kelly Davant and Danielle Taylor, have baked up some delicious ideas that will make your time in the kitchen enjoyable.

The company, which is located in historic downtown Mount Dora, offers one of the state’s most extensive selections of unique and hard-to-fi nd specialty kitchen products. It is not uncommon for shoppers to venture into the 2,400-square-foot showroom and say, “Wow, I’ve been looking for this product for years!”

Visitors are delighted to browse through KaDee Kay’s merchandise, which ranges from teas and special gourmet ingredients to Nordic Ware products and kitchen tools. Fact is, you can spend hours inside the store and still not see everything.

“We carefully research and test our products and product lines before we bring them into the store,” Karen says. “This ensures the highest quality and tried-and-true selections to offer our customers. For us, it is also important to carry American-made products. Buying American has to start with retailers.”

In addition to kitchen products, the company also offers cooking demonstration classes, which have proven to be wildly popular among customers. So much so that the Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce awarded the company with the prestigious Business Innovation Award in 2012. One year later, KayDee Kay received the coveted Business of the Year Award from the Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce and the Critics Choice Foodie Award from the Orlando Sentinel.

Karen contributes most of the company’s success to old-fashioned customer service. “We pride ourselves in being customer-driven. We thoroughly enjoy interacting with our customers and educating them about our products. If we do not have a product someone is looking for, we are more than happy to special order an item. In fact, quite a bit of our inventory comes from customers’ requests.”

Never short on ideas to continually improve customer service, Karen and her daughters recently launched a gift and wedding registry. This totally computerized service allows brides and grooms to scan items they wish to include in their registry. Then, family and friends can purchase these items by shopping online or visiting the store. The registry can also be used for anniversaries, birthdays, renewing of vows ceremonies, and other special events.

KaDee Kay Gourmet Kitchen Products is located at the corner of W. Fourth Street and Alexander Street. For more information, call 352.383.3600 or visit KaDeeKay.com.

Destinations of good taste

THE GOBLIN MARKET RESTAURANT & LOUNGE

331-B DONNELLY STREET (REAR ALLEY), MOUNT DORA 352.735.0059 // WWW.GOBLINMARKETRESTAURANT.COM

Nestled on a back alley in downtown Mount Dora, the Goblin Market Restaurant has been charming locals and tourists alike since 1996. The restaurant, housed in a renovated warehouse, features three intimate, book-lined dining rooms and a full-service lounge furnished in soothing, muted tones with tasteful modern art. The private, tree-shaded courtyard and garden patio are open year-round for al fresco dining. Low lighting and “new age” music add the fi nishing touches to the restaurant’s casual elegance. Owners Vince and Janis Guzinski embrace a simple philosophy of offering the highest-quality products, served in a unique and romantic atmosphere by a personable and attentive staff. The Goblin Market’s wine list and menu represent a refreshing mix of ideas from its culinary team. The diversifi ed origins and background of each member ensure exciting menu offerings and nightly selections.

HOURS OF OPERATION: LUNCH TUESDAY–SATURDAY 11A.M.–3:00P.M. DINNER TUESDAY–THURSDAY 5–9P.M. FRIDAY–SATURDAY 5–10P.M. SUNDAY 11A.M.–3:30P.M.

JOIN US FOR OUR NEW “LIGHTER FARE” DINNER MENU, GOURMET SOUPS, SALADS, AND SANDWICHES. TUESDAY– THURSDAY FROM 3–9P.M. (REGULAR DINNER MENU ALSO AVAILABLE).

JB BOONDOCKS

704 S. LAKESHORE BLVD., HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS 352.324.3600 • WWW.JBBOONDOCKS.COM

JB Boondocks is tucked away in a picturesque setting on Little Lake Harris in Howey-in-the-Hills. JB Boondocks is accessible by land, sea, and air via car, motorcycle, boat, or seaplane. With a full bar and a huge outdoor deck overlooking the lake, JB Boondocks makes for the ultimate setting to relax and unwind. The menu offers fresh seafood, steaks, chops, classic Italian dishes, tasty sandwiches, salads, sinfully sweet desserts, and much more. Each Friday night is our famous fi sh fry, Wednesday night features prime rib and Thursday night is Ladies’ Night. Cocktails from the bar are festive and we have a great selection of beer and wine, as well. Situated on fi ve acres on the lake, JB Boondocks is the perfect place for your car, motorcycle, boat, or seaplane club to gather. We have plenty of dock space and parking to accommodate all your needs.

JB BOONDOCKS IS OPEN FOR LUNCH AND DINNER SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

HOURS OF OPERATION: MONDAY 11A.M.–4P.M., TUESDAY–THURSDAY 11A.M.–9P.M. FRIDAY 11A.M.–10P.M., SATURDAY 11A.M.–10P.M., SUNDAY NOON–8P.M.

RAMSHACKLE CAFÉ

1317 NORTH 14TH STREET, LEESBURG // 352.365.6565

Established in 1989, Ramshackle Café has been a landmark for great food. Just for the FUN of it! Come on in and experience Ramshackle Café! It’s a great place for the whole family. Fajitas, steaks, sandwiches, salads, ribs, delicious burgers, and of course, killer wings. We feature a Happy Hour daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with most drinks 2 for 1! So, for a great time and great food, bring the kids and come on in to Ramshackle Café! Check out our menu at www.RamshackleCafe.net

HOURS OF OPERATION: SUNDAY 11A.M.–10P.M. MONDAY–THURSDAY 11A.M.–11P.M. FRIDAY 11A.M.–MIDNIGHT SATURDAY 11A.M.–11P.M.

Destinations of good taste

SUBWAY

WWW.SUBWAY.COM Custom-made, fresh sandwiches, salads, and fl atbreads made right before your eyes. The “healthy” alternative to fast food. LADY LAKE // 208 W. Guava St. // 352.750.4929 EUSTIS // 469 Plaza Dr. // 352.357.7827 MOUNT DORA // 18870 U.S. Hwy. 441 // 352.735.4376 LEESBURG // 2013 Citrus Blvd. // 352.787.6442 10135 U.S. Hwy. 441, Suite 4 // 352.326.3234 27405 U.S. Hwy. 27, Suite 4 // 352.314.8847 THE VILLAGES // 1580 Bella Cruz Drive // 352.750.9600 8796 S.E. 165th Mulberry Lane // 352.750.9991 1070 Lake Sumter Landing Drive // 352.205.8535 349 Colony Blvd. // 352.391.1657 WILDWOOD // 480 W. Gulf to Alantic Hwy. // 352.748.8800

HOURS OF OPERATION: MONDAY–SATURDAY 10A.M.–10P.M. SUNDAY 10A.M.–9P.M.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR RESTAURANT IN OUR DINING SECTION? CALL US AT 352.787.4112

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Game Schedule // Meet The Players Leesburg Baseball Heritage h Pl ers l //MeetThePlayers

MEDICAL & SURGICAL TREATMENT OF: • Bunions and Hammertoes • Corns • Morton’s Neuromas • Ingrown Nails and Warts • Heel and Arch Pain • Thick, Painful Toenails • Foot Injuries • Diabetic & Geriatric Foot Care • Sports Medicine • Orthotics • Diabetic Shoes • Numbness/Tingling of Feet

MEDICARE AND MOST INSURANCES

ACCEPTED SCAN HERE

with your smart phone To learn more about Tri-County Podiatry

1585 Santa Barbara Blvd., Suite B, The Villages tricountypodiatry.net // 352.259.1919

FOOTCARE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES WITH ACTIVE LIFESTYLES.

“Dr. Felix Esarey is a wonderful man and wonderful podiatrist. I also respect how he was so forthright about the good, bad, and ugly of the procedures I underwent. You do not always get that kind of honesty these days. If I ever develop other foot problems, I feel good knowing he is a short drive away.” --Mary Beth Kensell y