Fork on the Road

NORM’S PALETTE

A great place to meet friends

STORY: LEIGH NEELY // PHOTO: FRED LOPEZ

Nestled in the center of North Baker Street, Norm’s Palette just may be Mount Dora’s special secret, but it’s defi nitely “a destination for the senses.”

Norm’s Palette is cozy and welcoming. You can lounge in a seating area while having wine with friends or sit at the bar and talk with Norm while enjoying a beer. The menu always is artfully written on a small chalkboard set on a small easel on the bar.

Norman Rinne is an artist, so the bar is fi lled with artwork by many of his friends and some of his own. There also are antiques and bits and pieces of life from around the world. Two outdoor seating areas are available.

My friend and I weren’t in the mood for wine or beer, so Norm made us a nonalcoholic drink with fruit juice that was absolutely delicious. And while we enjoyed our drinks, he fi xed our tapas fresh in his small kitchen. We began with cream of rice soup with Portobello mushrooms. Garnished with a bay leaf, it was the perfect starter. That was followed by shrimp and pasta with a curry cream honey sauce. The shrimp sat atop a tomato slice on perfectly prepared orzo. Delightful!

Two more couples came in, and Norm introduced himself. He met everyone at the door that way. As soon as someone else came in, Norm made introductions and conversations kept going.

Our next culinary delight was roasted garlic with toasted ciabatta bread. It was heavenly, and we fi nished our gourmet tapas with two perfectly prepared Cedar Key clams with Myers lemons and garlic.

It’s not just about the food at Norm’s, there’s also open mic night and group painting nights. Reservations are needed for group painting classes.

Everybody may not know your name, but they’ll defi nitely know “Norm!” once they’ve visited Norm’s Palette.

Norm’s Palette // 303 N. Baker St., Mount Dora // 352.729.6196

SUSHI STORM THAI AND JAPANESE RESTAURANT

It is to Thai for

STORY: JAMES COMBS // PHOTO: FRED LOPEZ

When dining out, I rarely venture outside my comfort zone of Mexican food, cheeseburgers, and seafood. However, there are those rare occasions when I actually expand my culinary and cultural horizons. Dining at Sushi Storm Thai and Japanese Restaurant was one of them.

This restaurant rocks…and rolls! Located in Clermont, Sushi Storm features table seating, as well as a sushi bar where patrons watch the art of preparing sushi unfold right before their eyes. Four strategically placed televisions provide diners viewing opportunities for the latest from the world of politics and sports.

We began our meal with coconut shrimp, one of the restaurant’s popular appetizers. Lightly breaded with fresh coconut, these large shrimp pack plenty of delicious fl avor, especially when dipped in the accompanying sweet-andsour sauce.

I ordered the aptly named Suicide Rolls for my main meal. The 10 colorful, vibrant rolls tasted every bit as good as they looked. Neatly wrapped in seaweed, this roll has many fl avors and layers going on. The rich taste of salmon perfectly contrasted with the spicy jalapeños and sweet cream cheese. Carefully adding bright-green wasabi on the roll produced a zingy but refreshing heat in the back of my throat.

Being a doughnut afi cionado, I could not resist ordering Thai doughnuts for dessert. Deep-fried from a fl our dough, they are fresh, hot, and melt-in-your-mouth good. It comes with a glaze sauce that does not overpower the doughnut’s unique taste.

Despite its name, the restaurant offers much more than just sushi. Diners who browse through the extensive menu will notice a wide selection of popular Japanese and Thai dishes. In fact, one friend ordered sweet-andsour chicken, while my other friend indulged in stir fry with mixed vegetables.

The combination of attentive service and quality food make Sushi Storm a popular destination for Lake County residents.

And for country boys like me, it’s an excellent place to broaden your culinary horizons.

5

Forks

(Out of a possible 5)

Sushi Storm Thai and Japanese Restaurant

13900 County Road 455 Clermont

407.614.3944

Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11am-9:30pm; Friday and Saturday, 11am-10pm; Sunday, noon-9pm.

Fork Report:

Casual dining. $$// Seated immediately (lunch hour).

WAIT FOR MEAL: 15 minutes

OUT-OF-THE-ORDINARY STARTERS: ($4.20-$12.20): Steamed dumpling, shrimp blanket, fish ceviche, and spicy octopus.

ENTREES:($5.20$26.20): Massaman curry, ginger steak, storm salmon, egg fried rice, crab avocado salad, California roll, rainbow roll, and lobster roll.

How Fork On The Road Works Our reviewers are objective and unbiased. This is not a paid feature. Our reviewer makes one unannounced visit and we pay for our meals.

“We always use clean labels, organics, cage-free eggs, and none of our food is genetically modifi ed.”

NEW YORK CAFE

Cafe brings New York favorites to Eustis

STORY: THERESA CAMPBELL // PHOTO: FRED LOPEZ

Tucked at the end of Sorrento Hills Village in Eustis sits New York Cafe, where bagels, omelets, and the chef’s breakfast specials are available for morning diners.

Pitas, salads, wraps, penne pasta, and cold and hot sandwiches are the lunch/dinner menu choices.

Decisions, decisions.

My friend and I had a diffi cult time choosing, but we agreed the house salad— featuring fresh spinach, cranberries, sunfl ower seeds, blue cheese crumbles, chicken, and balsamic vinaigrette—would be a healthy option.

The salad was tasty and fresh, making it an ideal light lunch. And it was nice to discover the café did not skimp on chunks of chicken underneath the spinach leaves.

“Our goal is to provide clean, quality ingredients,” the cafe notes on its menu. “We always use clean labels, organics, cage-free eggs, and none of our food is genetically modifi ed.”

The chips, cheese, and deli meats come from Metro Deli, the cafe noted. The breads are from Chef’s Line, and the kettle-boiled bagels are shipped straight from Just Bagels in the Bronx.

Other eye-catching menu items: The Frank Sinatra Delight, featuring smoked turkey, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, avocado, and chipotle spread on a hero; Penne Pasta of alfredo, pesto, vodka, garlic, and with or without chicken, which can be topped with roasted artichokes, red roasted peppers, olives, or mozzarella cheese.

A BLT on ciabatta bread or a hero is available, too, along with Philly Cheesesteak and the Signature Pastrami with sauerkraut, Russian dressing or mustard on rye or white bread.

The eatery’s décor features large metallic photos of the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the New York skyline that is a treat to see. Seating is limited indoors, but the cafe does have outdoor seats and also offers catering.

New York Cafe // 24432 SR 44, Eustis // 352.552.5373

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