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CONTENTS
march
Volume 14
Issue 3
DEPARTMENTS 8 JAY BOYAR’S LIMELIGHT Jay makes a few modest proposals; Jack Black’s Tenacious D rolls into the Hard Rock; The Odyssey as a one-man show at the Shakes; the Amway welcomes poprockers Maroon 5 and “Waltz King” Andre Rieu.
20 A FEW MOMENTS WITH The Cornell’s new director, Ena Heller, seeks to reintroduce an enigmatic institution. by Harry Wessel • photographs by Rafael Tongol
26 DESIGN STYLE / HOME Two prominent local interior designers pick 5 top trends for 2013. by Marianne Ilunga and Ashley Annin
28 ATTRACTIONS The Orlando Museum of Art celebrates the artful wonders of studio glass. by Michael McLeod • photographs by Rafael Tongol
35 SPRING FASHION
Cirque du Soleil provides the ideal backdrop for a colorful array of new fashions for spring. by Marianne Ilunga • photographs by Rafael Tongol
44 HEAD OF THE CLASS
Hair-transplant surgeon Matt Leavitt is a multimillionaire on the cutting edge. by Michael McLeod • photographs by Rafael Tongol
It’s a lengthy drive to Dade City, but Pearl in the Grove is well worth it. by Rona Gindin • photographs by Rafael Tongol
64 RESTLESS NATIVE
When it comes to guns, paranoia runs deep. by Mike Thomas
CASHING IN ON GUN PARANOIA ■ FIVE FIXES FROM THE CULTURE CZAR
CIRQUE DU
SPRING FASHION MEETS FUN WITH THE CAST OF LA NOUBA
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN FOLLICLE A MEMORABLE MEAL AMONG THE KUMQUATS
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ABOUT THE COVER: The colorful cast of La Nouba fits right in when the subject is spring. Photograph by Rafael Tongol.
Photos: RAFAEL TONGOl
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FIRST
from the editor
For a Kentucky Girl, a Dream Comes True
I
never thought I’d meet a fashion model who’s had experience castrating bulls.
That’s what I call well rounded. That’s why I like Laura Kirkpatrick. Laura is the model we used for this issue’s spring fashion feature, staged at Downtown Disney on the permanent set of La Nouba, the resident Cirque du Soleil spectacle. When I heard she had grown up in a small Kentucky town, I knew I wanted to talk to Laura, runner-up in a recent series of America’s Next Top Model episodes. I thought it was pretty interesting that a person from such down-home digs would wind up in such a high-pressure profession, and I wondered what it would be like for her to be surrounded by a multinational circus-arts cast. “I grew up on a cattle farm in Stanford, Kentucky,” she told me, in one of the softest, sweetest southern drawls I’ve ever heard. “My Daddy raised me and my sister. It was just the three of us, herding cattle, fixing fences, driving tractors around. I think I was 14 when I birthed my first calf. My Daddy just told me, ‘That cow’s gonna die if you don’t pull that young ’un out.’ “I was a pretty weird kid. I always loved fashion, and I’d wear these crazy outfits around. People in town would stare at me. My Daddy embraced it. He would just say: ‘This is a phase. You’ll pull out of it.’” Not bloody likely. She saved up her money, drove to New York City and managed — thanks to a combination of verve, luck, charm and wide-eyed naiveté — to land the Top Model gig and get a foothold in the industry. I asked her what it was like to do the La Nouba shoot. “It was wild,” she said. I didn’t hear much of what came after that, because I was mentally tallying up the number of syllables that are in the word “wild” the way she says it. Waaaaaaald. It’s just so sweet and soothing, you could use it as a mantra. When I came back around, she was talking about how, as a little girl, she’d climb up on her grandmother’s lap to page through fashion magazines. And how once they saw an ad for a DVD of Cirque du Soliel performances and she talked her grandmother into sending away for it. “I remember one day on my summer break I put the DVD in and watched it over and over and over again,” she said. “I was dreaming that one day I would get to see one of the shows. But I never dreamed that one day I would actually be standing with those people in real life. That just wasn’t the sort of thing that could ever possibly happen to anybody in Stanford, Kentucky.”
Michael McLeod Editor in Chief mmcleod@orlando-life.com 4
ORLANDO LIFE
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Take Note What’s SOCIAL
Follow us on twitter: @OrlandoLifeMag and Facebook at: facebook.com/orlandolifemagazine. We’re on Pinterest too: pinterest.com/orlandolife/.
What’s ONLINE Check out our expanded listing of arts organizations and their schedules of events for the upcoming season.
What you CAN DO Take in the 20th annual International Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot. In addition to some Oz-inspired foliage, this year’s event includes a plethora of garden marketplaces boasting food items ranging from smokehouse barbeque to delicate watermelon salads — all prepared with locally sourced ingredients. Opens March 6.
What’s ON DECK In April, we’ll visit a musically inclined French-Canadian couple who gave new meaning to the term “home theater” when they built their home around an elaborate three-story performance space. MARCH 2013
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Copyright 2013 by Florida Home Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part prohibited without written permission of the copyright holder. ORLANDO LIFE (USPS 000-140) (Vol. 14/Issue No. 3) is published monthly by Florida Home Media LLC, 2700 Westhall Lane, Ste 128, Maitland, FL 32751. Periodicals Postage Paid at Maitland, FL and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Orlando Life Magazine, PO Box 5586, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33310-5586 6
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LIMELIGHT
jay boyar
If I Were Orlando’s Culture Czar, Here Are Five Fun Fixes I’d Decree
F
or the past few months I’ve been mulling over a question:
What would I do if I were Orlando’s Culture Czar? I’ve been asking other people with an interest in the arts for their ideas, too. The five-point list that follows is the result. Naturally, it doesn’t cover everything that needs fixing, but I hope it’s a good start.
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One of our community’s truest treasures is Maitland’s Enzian Theater, whose regular programming, various festivals (especially the Florida Film Festival) and special events (including Popcorn Flicks, Cult Classics and Saturday Matinees) enrich the local arts scene. But as Culture Czar I’d want the Enzian to also regularly serve as a forum for discussions about film. When controversy recently flared about waterboarding scenes in Zero Dark Thirty, for example, a discussion — with, perhaps, a small panel of experts — could have been valuable. Same goes for the newly contentious issue of Hollywood’s role (or lack of a role) in curbing gun violence. The Enzian has occasionally held similar events, but I’m talking about a series. Would this sort of thing have to take place at this particular venue? Maybe, maybe not. But what other local institution has the sophisticated audience and sheer film savvy to pull it off?
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I was glad to hear that the board of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and the Florida Theatrical Association have worked out their differences about the lucrative job of presenting touring shows at the multimillion-dollar facility once it opens. Now I’ve been thinking about the next step. Yes, the association has done a consistent job of bringing some of the top Broadway musicals to Orlando. (And, yes, I’m really looking forward to next season’s The Book of Mormon!) But isn’t it time that somebody did the same thing for plays that don’t happen to be musicals? Other local theater groups offer those kinds of productions all the time, but not necessarily as a formal series. Though the audience for shows such as these may not be as big as the one for musicals, they would be less expensive, and would draw a different crowd to the center, enriching its connection to the cultural community. 8
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3
Another local treasure is Winter Park’s one-of-a-kind Morse Museum of American Art, with its exhibits of Louis Comfort Tiffany creations. That treasure was made all the more valuable when the museum built a new wing and filled it with more than 200 items, ranging from lamps to pottery, salvaged a half-century ago from the burnt-out ruins of Laurelton Hall, Tiffany’s fabulous Long Island mansion. The recently mounted show, Lifelines — Forms and Themes of Art Nouveau, is a tour de force of furniture, lamps, jewelry, ceramics and art glass. Like the majority of the museum’s exhibits, Lifelines consists of objects culled from its own collection. The fact that the Morse can consistently offer such a variety of new and intriguing displays without importing them from elsewhere speaks to the astonishing depth and breadth of its holdings. But I’m hoping, now that the monumental work of completing the new wing and restoring the treasures on display there is complete, that the museum is as creative as possible in not only honoring but aggressively reinterpreting Tiffany’s genius from a contemporary perspective. For example, I’d love to see an exhibit that compares Tiffany’s work with abstract art. In the past, the two were considered very different — almost enemies. With the passing of time, however, their similarities have become increasingly apparent.
4
Our troubled economy has been very tough on local arts organizations. And it’s also been tough on many local arts aficionados and potential aficionados. So even as arts groups struggle to survive, they must somehow find more — and more creative — ways to make their presentations affordable. The Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College has recently gone all the way by arranging to make admission to the museum free for everyone for this entire year. Very few arts groups are in a position to do something that extreme, and many arts groups already offer discounts in more limited ways. But, to avoid losing the next generation of arts supporters, now is the time for every Central Florida cultural organization to go as far as possible in bolstering outreach efforts and making themselves accessible.
5
It’s bad enough that some moviegoers can’t seem to keep their phones in their pockets. Now these rude individuals are turning on their phones at plays and other live-performance events. This is even worse, because not only does the light from the phone distract the audience, it also conveys disrespect for the performers on stage. And it ought to be easier to control because, although attentive ushers at movie theaters are largely a thing of the past, most live-performance events have ushers right there in the auditorium who could promptly deal with the phone nitwits — if they are trained to do so and are stationed to be on the lookout throughout the performance. ■
Jay Boyar, arts editor of Orlando Life, has written about film and travel for the Orlando Sentinel and numerous other newspapers. He’s the author of Films to Go: 100 Memorable Movies for Travelers & Others and a contributor to ReelRomance: The Lovers’ Guide to the 100 Best Date Movies. ORLANDO-LIFE.COM
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ORLANDO LIFE
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LIMELIGHT
plan on it
Wicked
Godspell
Revisit the magical Land of Oz years before Dorothy’s arrival and meet the young women who later became the memorable witches in this splashy, expansive, revisionist musical retelling of L. Frank Baum’s iconic fantasy.
Presented in collaboration with The Vine Theatre, this musical based on the Gospel of Matthew features the well-loved score by Stephen Schwartz along with colorful costumes and timeless themes of forgiveness, love and compassion.
Through March 10 Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre
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Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat
Feb. 14–March 24 Orlando Repertory Theatre
The mischievous Cat, along with Thing One and Thing Two, have “lots of good fun that is funny” with Sally and her brother while their mother is away. What could possibly go wrong?
orlandorep.com Deftones
March 11 Hard Rock Live
Northern California’s multiplatinum-selling alternative metal band boasts one of the most diverse sounds in popular music, with influences ranging from punk to new wave to hip-hop.
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Sheryl Crow
March 17 SeaWorld
Sheryl Crow and Shamu unite in SeaWorld’s annual Bands, Brew and BBQ celebration, featuring a live performance by the Grammywinning country-rock songbird.
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LIMELIGHT
music
Fans of Maroon 5 are drawn to the pop-rock group’s sultry lyr-
ics, smooth guitar riffs and front man Adam Levine, whose steamy singing made hits out of such songs as “Moves Like Jagger” and “Payphone.” Now there’s yet another reason to love the group: It’s fiscally prudent. Levine says the current tour has been budgeted to cut down on the band’s travel expenses and put more money into the on-stage production. “We want it to be the most amazing experience for our fans. We’re foregoing luxury and dumping it into the experience of our show,” Levine says. Maroon 5 will be at the Amway Arena on March 30 with special guests electronic/synthpop artist Adam
Young — whose performing name is Owl City — and Neon Trees, best known for the hit single, “Everybody Talks.” Maroon 5’s most recent album, Overexposed, is a reference to the band’s decision to open itself up to artistic risk by deviating from its rock-inspired sound to create its most “poppy” tracks yet. Fans can expect a lineup of songs from each of the band’s studio albums. Overexposed is the band’s fourth studio album, following Songs About Jane, It Won’t be Soon Before Long and Hands All Over. Maroon 5 won a Grammy in 2005 for Best New Artist, and two subsequent Grammys for Best Pop Performance for a duo or group with vocals. Visit maroon5.com for more information. —Ashley Annin
photo: courtesy orlandovenues
Maroon 5: Overexposed but Under Budget
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LIMELIGHT
music
Dual-Threat Jack Black: ‘Tenacious’ Hard Rocker dian’s roles in High Fidelity, Nacho Libre, Kung Fu Panda and School of Rock, among others. But it’s that last one, School of Rock, that helped propel the boisterous Black into a comedic genre that fits him like an overstuffed spandex suit. He’s a mock rocker in Tenacious D, a pompous pseudo-band that not only figures in a movie — Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny — but helped create a sideline touring career for Black and partner Kyle Gass, who will bring their schtick to Hard Rock Live Orlando on March 11. Over the past year, the dual-threat Black earned a Grammy nomination in the comedy category for Tenacious D’s wonderfully absurd album, Rise of the Fenix. He also landed a Golden Globe nomination for a dramatic role in Bernie, a film based on the true story of a small-town Texas funeral-parlor owner who remained popular despite a murder conviction. When Tenacious D is on stage, Gass plays straight man to
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Black’s preening rock-god, sex-god, over-the-top vocalizing persona. The ultimate irony is that the band is taken seriously as a musical force. Black, in fact, says he’s proud of the music, and critics laud the band’s technical proficiency as well as its satirical savvy. Visit tenaciousd.com for more information. — Danny Romero
photo: weekly dig
Think of Jack Black and you probably think of the actor-come-
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LIMELIGHT
theater
Good news for those who missed it in
high school: Writer-performer Charlie Bethel has squeezed down The Odyssey into a two-hour, one-man-show debuting at the Orlando Shakespeare Theater. Don’t be intimidated. Bethel says that he missed Homer’s voluminous, requiredreading classic in high school, too. Bethel, who specializes in monologues and solo performances, was born and raised in South Carolina by what he calls “a long line of talkers.” He’s known for his re-imagined performances of such epics as Beowulf and Gilgamesh. His rendition of The Odyssey, which will run at the Shakes through March 17, took Bethel two years to write and perfect. During that span, life began to imitate art as the actor left his home
base in New York City to see the rest of the country and revisit his childhood haunts. He’s also been toying with the idea of mirroring Odysseus’ journey even more closely by heading out to sea. “I didn’t mean to become The Odyssey — that was one of the last things I wanted to do — but it happened,” he says. The epic work is delivered in two acts by Bethel, who’s surrounded by books, scrolls and ancient maps as he tells the tale. As opposed to the original, which begins in the middle, the adaptation is arranged in chronological order, starting with Odysseus and his escape from Calypso’s island. Visit orlandoshakes.org for more information. —Ashley Annin
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LIMELIGHT
music
Waltzing in the Aisles, for Rieu mean feat, but it’s nothing special for Dutch conductor and violinist extraordinaire André Rieu. Rieu, aka “The Waltz King,” brings his rousing Johann Strauss Orchestra to the Amway Center on March 7, kicking off a 12-city tour aptly dubbed “And the Waltz Goes On.” In addition to waltzes, the program for Rieu and his handpicked, 60-piece orchestra includes film scores, Broadway musicals, Sousa marches and popular operettas. It’s upbeat, crowd-pleasing classical music that may make some aficionados cringe: As one music critic put it, “Classical radio stations avoid [Rieu’s] music as they might avoid a leper in the mall, though — let’s just say it plain and clear — Rieu is a superb violinist.” And a popular one as well. His worldwide album sales have topped 32 million, and his shows routinely sell out. The son of a prominent Dutch conductor, Rieu, 63, received his first violin at age 5. His violin now is a 1667 Stradi-
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varius. “A violin is really like a woman,” Rieu once told an interviewer. “She is unique. There are many women, but only one woman you love. With a violin it is the same.” Visit andrerieu.com for more information. — Harry Wessel
photo: courtesy orlandovenues
Getting a classical music audience dancing in the aisles is no
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A FEW MOMENTS WITH
ena heller
Ena Heller believes the Cornell Fine Arts Museum is an underappreciated cultural resource.
Finding its Personality AN ENIGMATIC MUSEUM IS BEING REINTRODUCED. by Harry Wessel photographs by Rafael Tongol 20
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T
he new director of the Cornell Fine Arts Museum
at Rollins College was born and raised in Romania, emigrating with her parents to the U.S. in her early 20s. Ena Heller went on to earn an M.A. and a Ph.D. in art history from New York’s Institute of Fine Arts, after which she founded and directed the Museum of Biblical Art (MOBIA) in Manhattan. Heller, who took over the post last September, spoke with Orlando Life about parking problems, carpet squares, revolving doors, Kindle, Rembrandt, Mad Men, the connection between art and religion — and the challenges presented by her new job. Q. Has it been tough adjusting to a secular museum after heading one that’s religious in nature? A. Actually, MOBIA is secular. It’s a museum that’s about reMARCH 2013
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ligious art, but it’s not a religious museum. Walk through the Met [Metropolitan Museum of Art] and tell me what percentage of the art you see that has some connection with the Bible. I used to joke: Give me 10 minutes with any piece of artwork and I’ll find a connection with the Bible. But what I missed at MOBIA was that we didn’t have a permanent collection. Every exhibition you did was entirely different from what you did before. On the one hand it felt very liberating: It exposed me to so much art. It was my first full-time job after graduate school, and it got me out of the 14th century chapels in Florence that I wrote my dissertation on — that I knew everything about and nothing about anything else. I have done exhibitions that ranged from biblical archeology to 21st century art and everything in between. Q. Will you be teaching any classes at Rollins? A. I will definitely consider it, but not
for my first year or two. I need to focus on getting this museum back on track. Q. Is it off track? A. I think it has been. This museum
has been without stable leadership for a very long time. There’s been a bit of a revolving door since Arthur Blumenthal left in 2005 — there have been two permanent directors and three interims. The lack of stability at the top has made it impossible for the staff or the board or anybody involved to create a longterm vision. Certain programs went dormant or even moribund. So there’s a lot of that to take care of and bring back. For me, the single greatest challenge, the one thing everything else is dependent on, is that we need to plan our exhibitions further in advance. I’m used to working two to three years out. Right now I should have a full schedORLANDO-LIFE.COM
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ule through the end of 2015. It takes that long to create an exhibition that’s thoughtful, that has real new scholarship, that has a significant catalog that comes with it. Right now we’re scheduled barely through the end of this year. Once we can schedule for the next three to four years, that puts me in a much better position to go out to the community and get people excited about what’s coming down the pike. There hasn’t been a lot of fundraising for the museum because there wasn’t anybody here doing it. There are a number of donors that need to be cultivated and engaged again. Q. Won’t it be tough to compete for donors with all the nearby museums?
A. The Morse [Museum of American Art] doesn’t need to fund raise; that’s the one museum everybody knows here. I think we should be the other museum that everybody knows. I’m a little biased, but there are certain things about the Cornell that are really unique. We’re the only museum in the greater Orlando area that has an encyclopedic collection that’s not just about American art. We also have the infrastructure of the college and all the professors who work in fields related to the museum. They’re a tremendous resource of scholarly knowledge, and they’re always willing to help. It seems to a lot of people that we’re just inward-focused on the campus. As a teaching museum, we are here for our students. But I’d like us to have the same educational impact on the entire community. I’d like us to have the kinds of thoughtful programs that help everybody learn how to look at art, and learn about collecting. I’d like for people to feel comfortable coming in here and asking questions and learning new things.
I also want to make it into a place that people know is family friendly. At MOBIA we had special booklets with kids’ activities. We had little carpet squares that the kids could drag along, so they could just plop down and do their thing. And we always had an audio tour for children narrated by a child. I stole that idea from the Phoenix Art Museum, because I remember going there with my daughter when she was little. Q. One problem for the Cornell is a lack of parking. What can you do about that? A. The reality is there’s a scarcity of
parking throughout the campus. I hear this complaint a lot, but I’m from New York. To me, the SunTrust garage [on Lyman Avenue] is not that far. Anybody who comes to the museum can park there and we validate their tickets, so it’s free. I understand the walk is not so pleasant in the summer, and it’s hard for the elderly. But for anybody who’s able-bodied, walking from the SunTrust garage is not that difficult. Q. You’re celebrating Cornell’s 35th anniversary with free admission for the entire year. Any chance that will be made permanent? A. I would like to be able to do that.
We’re doing this as an experiment for the anniversary year, and I hope it will get a lot more people to come to the museum. I would very much hope that we’ll be able to find other sources of funding that will allow us to continue that indefinitely. I’m one of those people who very firmly believes we should have free education and free culture. The Europeans are a little better at it than we are. Q. Any other plans this year? A. Right now we’re showing the part of
our collection that was given to us by individuals and families. We have another ORLANDO LIFE
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‘I’m one of those people who very firmly believes we should have free education and free culture. The Europeans are a little better at it than we are.’
part of the collection where endowments were set up for us to purchase art. That’s going to come in the fall. Also in the fall we’re going to do a collaboration with the Morse, because at one point there was a Morse Art Gallery here on campus. I want to show that part of history when some of the extraordinary Tiffany collection was here. We’re talking to them to get some of their stuff from storage that would have been on view on the Rollins campus during those years, which started in the ’40s and went up to the ’70s. After that, at the very beginning of 2014, we’ll have an exhibition of prints by Henri Matisse. It’s a great exhibit that started in Baltimore, a survey of all the different printing techniques that Matisse experimented with during his life, which is pretty much everything. I want to pull from our sizable print collection and do 22
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a companion exhibition that would take the same media and see what printmakers and artists did with it later on. If we continue to take loan exhibitions that originated elsewhere, I want to be able to relate them back to our collection. One of the things that’s been missing lately has been a sense of coherence and consistency, which in my view is necessary in the process of building a brand. I’ve asked people what’s special about the Cornell, and nobody really knows. I refer to it as the personality of a museum. I don’t think anybody really knows what our personality is. Q. What should that personality be? A. I don’t want to impose my view. Q. Isn’t it part of leadership to impose your view?
A. You want to first get good knowledge
about what’s there. Sure, I have ideas, but if you impose your point of view too early, you may steer it in the wrong direction. I want to first do my homework, cross the t’s and dot the i’s, and then say, ‘This is where we’re going.’ Q. Focusing on the Cornell’s collection of European art seems like a good start. A. That’s the No. 1 distinction we have
that doesn’t seem to be known in the community. My other big thing is that at any given time, we should have at least one of our galleries dedicated to the permanent collection. When I came here in September there was not one thing on view from our collection. I pulled out some sculpture and put it in the orientation gallery. Before the museum was expanded in 2005 and this building was opened, we MARCH 2013
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had about half the space we have now. It was teeny. They did this big, successful capital campaign, saying that we needed more galleries because we needed to have part of our permanent collection on view all the time. There have been some shows of the collection, obviously, but not as consistently as I would like. That, to me, is very important, because we have good stuff. Q. You have an interesting background, emigrating from Romania in your early 20s. What made you decide to leave your native country? A. Oh, God, when I first gained con-
sciousness I wanted to get out. It took a long time. My sister came first, in 1984, then my parents and I were finally allowed to leave in 1988. It was two years before the revolution; I think if we’d had any inkling I would have still come, but my parents would have probably stayed. My dad actually went back part-time, afterward, and he still spends half a year there. Q. How was your English? A. I was fluent, but without the ease of
speaking it every day, it took a little adjustment. My parents are obsessed with languages; my mom is a linguist. We spoke French at home until we went to school. And we started English very young. Q. How many languages do you speak? A. Four: English, French, Italian and
Romanian. Romanian is very close to Italian. I can read German, but it’s a struggle. I’ve only taken German for art-history purposes, because it’s the language art history was invented in. I couldn’t read a novel in German, but I could read an art-history book. Q. What was your biggest adjustment in coming to America? A. I was amazed at all the freedom I
had. In Romania, if you got a visa and 24
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you’re younger, what my 13-year-old daughter is experiencing right now: The fear that I’m not going to make friends. Q. Is your daughter making friends? A. I have to say, all the kids are so nice.
They’ve been so open, and she already has a couple of girls she hangs out with regularly. That age can be difficult, especially for girls, not known to be the nicest among themselves. But my daughter is very much like my husband: They make friends very easily; they’re extremely social and extremely likable. Q. It sounds like she’s adjusting pretty well to the move. A. It’s not ideal; it wasn’t her choice.
The Cornell is celebrating its 35th anniversary with free admission all year. a passport to go on a trip, when you returned you had to hand in the passport. So, for every trip abroad you had to apply to the government, this whole big process that could take months or years. I remember being amazed at how many people I met in New York who didn’t have a passport. To me, you have the right to do it and you choose not to do it? Another thing that amazed me was the access to information. Our libraries in Romania didn’t have open stacks; you could never just roam around. In New York I spent every waking hour the first couple of years in the library. My friends thought I was the biggest geek they’d ever met, but I had a lot to catch up with. On the not-so-easy side, the biggest adjustment was the sense that whatever my life had been until that point had ended, and that I may never be able to go back and see my family and my friends in Romania. Had things not changed, it would have been very difficult to go back. I think that was the hardest part for me. And that fear you have more when ORLANDO-LIFE.COM
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But she’s a good kid and she went along with it. She’s doing better than I thought. It’s a hard age to be, even if you don’t move. And my husband, who was born and raised in the Bronx, is the type of person who, until very recently, thought that if you go outside New York City the air is different, that you can’t breathe. I give the guy enormous credit for doing this for my career. When I started looking at other opportunities and we decided it was time for us to consider moving away from New York, we realized we had about a two-year window: In two years, which is going to come next year, our daughter would be in high school. We both said, once she starts high school we’re not moving. We got in right under the wire. Q. So, what do you do to relax? A. I’m not a huge watcher of television.
Mad Men and Modern Family are the only TV shows we watch religiously, although we’re also addicted to Frontline, the investigative show on PBS. I like to read novels. I don’t like to exercise, and the thing that saved my health was the Kindle. I read on the treadmill, on the bike, whatever I’m doing at the gym. I just started Cutting for Stone. n
Cornell at a Glance What: The George D. and Harriet W. Cornell Fine Arts Museum at Rollins College. When: Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; noon to 5 p.m. on weekends. Where: On the Rollins College campus, overlooking Lake Virginia, at the eastern end of Holt Avenue in Winter Park. How much: Admission is free throughout 2013 in celebration of the museum’s 35th anniversary. Parking: Tickets are validated for the SunTrust parking garage on Lyman Avenue, a 10-minute walk. Current exhibits: Florida’s Useable Past: The Sunshine State and the Index of American Design, which continues through April 14; and Collecting for the Cornell, featuring contemporary art collected and donated by Barbara and Ted Alfond, which continues through May 12. Two other exhibits running through May 12 feature the works of AfricanAmerican artist Felrath Hines and Native-American artist Jeffrey Gibson. For more information: Call the museum at 407-646-2526 or visit its website, rollins.edu/cfam.
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DESIGN STYLE
home
Duo On Décor IT’S GREEN, SHEEN, BRASS AND CLASS. by Marianne Ilunga and Ashley Annin We asked two Central Florida interior designers, Jose J. Cabrera and Catherine Sands, to each name their Top 5 home-furnishing trends for 2013. From colors to fabrics to lighting to surfaces, here’s what has caught the eye of these experts.
1.
CATHERINE’S TOP 5 1. Keep It Low Key
For more subtle ornamentation, exotic patterns on neutral colors mesh well, like this neutral-patterned pillow with turquoise link embroidery. 2. Mix-and-Match (and Modern)
Decorative pillows can add a pop of color without overwhelming the room when natural shades and bright textures combine. The pillows — one sunburst and orange, the other quatrefoil — work symbiotically to break up monotony. 3. Art Imitates Life
The line between furniture and art is often blurred to add unique accents to classic and contemporary rooms. This wire end table adds a geometric element not found in traditional furnishings, but it functions just as well. 4. Fluorescent Fashionable
2.
Lamps now lean toward fashion rather than function. This white resin lamp has a lacquered shade and metallic accents that make it a perfect accessory for nearly any style room. 5. Green Gear
Industrial products can add a rugged twist to a classic or feminine room, and many are made of recycled materials. This indigo-blue mirror was once an industrial oil can. Now it can be the focal point of a room. Available at Canvas Interiors in Altamonte Springs. (canvasinteriors.com)
3.
Catherine Sands, owner of Blue Blaze Designs in Orlando, has degrees in business and interior design, and has been working in the interior design industry locally for more than 20 years.
PHOTOS: KEN LOPEZ
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1.
JOSE’S TOP 5 6. Stumped
We’re are seeing many organic forms being using for home interiors. They not only add a unique interest factor to a room, they also make a natural “green” statement. 7. Brass Tactics
Designers and decorators around the country are predicting brass/gold will be a hot trend in 2013. From accessories to furniture to accent hardware, you’ll be seeing it making a reappearance.
6. 7.
8. Let’s Be Clear
The perfect neutral option for lighting is a simple clear glass, or acrylic, lamp. These lamps add class and style to a space without distracting from other items in the room or clashing with your color scheme.
8.
9. Oz Revisited
Pantone’s color of the year for 2013 is emerald green, which is brilliant and luxurious. Emerald green also represents balance and harmony, as shown in a chair covered with Malakos-Malachite fabric from Robert Allen. 10. A Slab of Perfection
Calacatta Gold is currently one of the most popular marbles. Many clients ask for Carrara, but what they really want is Calacatta Gold. Although the two marbles come from the same region in Italy, they’re very different. Calacatta Gold has a warm, white background with soft gray and gold veining.
9.
Available at CL Studio in Orlando. (clstudioinc.com)
PHOTOS: COURTESY C.L. STUDIO; MYSTIC GRANITE AND MARBLE
Jose J. Cabrera, head designer, owner and principal of CL Studio in Orlando, has more than 20 years of experience in the interior design industry.
10. ORLANDO-LIFE.COM
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ATTRACTIONS
oma
Glass Menagerie OMA’s luminous exhibit opens a window Onto a half-century of fire-and-ice creations. by Michael McLeod • photographs by Rafael Tongol
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MARCH 2013
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n 1962, a visionary art professor named Harvey K.
Littleton built a small, free-standing furnace and set it up in the garage of the Toledo Museum of Art. He began using it to melt, color and shape glass into sculptures — something that until then had only been possible in a factory setting. Soon he was leading seminars on that do-it-yourself approach for other artists. Their numbers multiplied over the years, as did the volume and diversity of their creations, dozens of which are on display at the Orlando Museum of ORLANDO-LIFE.COM
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There’s a subtle message in Therman Statom’s Crow Crow Portal, Portal which consists of cut plate-glass panels decorated with a multicolored flock of crows. The passageway through one of the panels is in the shape of a vessel. Both vessels and crows have their place in ancient myths about spiritual transformation. Art’s exhibit, Contemporary Glass Sculpture: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Studio Glass. The sculptures that Littleton and followers such as Dale Chihuly and Marvin Lipofsky have wrought are well worth celebrating. So is glass itself — for its fluidity, its depth, its occasional grandeur and the tricks it can play on our unsuspecting eyes when enrolled as an artistic medium. The exhibit will run through May 12. For more information visit omart.org. ORLANDO LIFE
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MARCH 2013
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Christopher Ries used optical glass that was cut, ground and polished to create Desert Flower (opposite page). The crab-like creature by Andrew Erdos in To the Bottom of the Sky (above) is enhanced by the use of inward-facing, twoway mirrors that create the illusion of the image multiplied into infinity. Polish sculptor Marta Klonowska’s Red Dog (left) is a droll evocation of a lap dog that appears in an 18thcentury painting. Her piece is fashioned from shards of colored glass on metal.
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MARCH 2013
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Jon Kuhn’s Divine Mantra (opposite page) is a diamond-like, kaleidoscopic spray of color within a cube, crafted from optical glass. Transformed Orange (above), by Stephen Knapp, brings to mind the lines of a great cathedral and the majesty of a sunset via glass panels with an invisible coating that transforms light into shafts of multiple colors. Working to Relax (above right) is by Richard Jolley, who in 1994 began creating totems using blown glass sculpted while still molten. Atomic Atomic, by Sydney Cash (bottom right), casts intertwining, orbital shadows from a half-circle of etched glass. n ORLANDO-LIFE.COM
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17th Annual
Starry, Starry Night
Friday, April 12, 2013 6:30 p.m. Harold & Ted Alfond Sports Center Rollins College Proceeds fund adult student scholarships. Call 407-646-1577 or visit rollins.edu/holt/starry for more information.
Thank you to our 2013 event sponsors! Alan and Kelly Ginsburg Bank of America Merrill Lynch Ƥ Ƭ Concord Management Dexter’s Epoch Properties
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Fields Auto Group Gencor Industries, Inc. GrayRobinson Greenberg Traurig Harriet Lake Hulk Heavy Transport Luxury Trips
Massey Communications Moore Stephens Lovelace Orlando Life Orlando Magic The Gourmet Cuisine at Rollins College Tupperware Brands Walt Disney World Resort Winter Park Construction
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Spring by Marianne Ilunga hair and makeup by Elsie Knab photographs by Rafael Tongol
CREDITS: PHOTO ASSISTANTS, CHRIS RANK, LOGAN SALTSMAN; STYLIST ASSISTANT, LIZ HORNE; EDITORIAL INTERNS, ASHLEY ANNIN, DANNY ROMERO
r
Cirque du A party that never ends. A place where there’s no such thing as winter. Where better to stage our spring fashion shoot? So we invaded the custombuilt, free-standing theater at Downtown Disney where La Nouba (“the party”) is staged 10 times a week by a French-Canadian, Montreal-based circusarts entertainment company called Cirque du Soleil (“Circus of the Sun”). Cirque has performed all over the world, in every continent save one: Antarctica. So yes, we were ready for the colors of spring. And we knew we’d find like-minded spirits among the cast of La Nouba, and a proper setting for what we’ll call … La Mode et Le Cirque.
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FEBRUARY 2013
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Laura Kirkpatrick of AbFab Management, a recent runnerup on America’s Next Top Model, is all set to run away and join the circus in an orange sheath dress by La Petite Robe di Chiara Boni, $740; a multicolor paisley three-quarter jacket by Etro, $2,790; a gold link necklace by Stephanie Ann, $495; and white and gold chandelier earrings by Jose and Maria Barrera, $437; all from Neiman Marcus, The Mall at Millenia. Her white patent leather wedges are by Via Spiga, $250, from Bloomingdale’s, The Mall at Millenia.
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Laura wears a neon floral skirt by Alice + Olivia, $396; a neon green collared shirt by Lafayette, $248; a magenta crocheted crew-neck sweater by Theory, $265; Rockstud slingback pointed-toe sandals in magenta by Valentino, $895; a blue sodalite necklace by Devon Leigh, $475; a Peruvian chalcedony ring by Alexis Bittar, $275; and carries a mini-yellow “motorcycle� purse by Balenciaga, $1,235. All are from Neiman Marcus, The Mall at Millenia.
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FEBRUARY 2013
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Laura’s contrast stripe pants are by Vince, $275; her black-and-white stripe boat-neck blouse is by Alice + Olivia, $220; and her white tuxedo blazer is by Theory, $385; all from Saks Fifth Avenue, The Florida Mall. Her elephant white bangle, $495; black bangles, $250 each; black jeweled cuff, $525; black feather earrings, $350; snake ring, $295; and black bejeweled ring, $385; are all by Miriam Salat and from Neiman Marcus, The Mall at Millenia. The blackand-white geometric heels are by Sophia Webster, $635, from Neiman Marcus, The Mall at Millenia. ORLANDO-LIFE.COM
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Laura wears turquoise tweed shorts with a neon green belt by Milly, $250; a collared sheer white and aqua color-blocked blouse by 15&20, $194; and a turquoise lightweight blazer by Lafayette, $498; all from Neiman Marcus, The Mall at Millenia. Pink neon chandelier earrings, $98; pink and gold neon necklace, $148; and pink neon ring, $78; are all by Kate Spade and from Bloomingdale’s, The Mall at Millenia. The pink neon wedges by Enzo Angiolini, $130, are also from Bloomingdale’s, The Mall at Millenia.
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FEBRUARY 2013
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Laura’s multiprint, crew-neck satin top is by Peter Pilotto, $755; her midlength multiprint pencil skirt is by Peter Pilotto, $910; and her citron-color platform heels are by Yves St. Laurent, $875; all from Neiman Marcus, The Mall at Millenia. The offwhite clutch with gold studding is by Michael Kors, $795, from Saks Fifth Avenue, The Florida Mall. The gold and orange-lucite drop earrings, $150; gold and orange-lucite bangles, $125-$165; and orangelucite flower ring, $295; are all by Alexis Bittar and from Neiman Marcus, The Mall at Millenia.
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Laura sports blue silk jogger pants by Vince, $295; a denim jacket by Aqua, $78; colorblocked blue and white heels by Guess, $110; all from Bloomingdale’s, The Mall at Millenia. Her blue and white floral blouse, by Rena Lange, $745; turquoise and gold necklace, by Devon Leigh, $440; gold and turquoise drop earrings, $295; and gold and turquoise cuff bracelet, both by Oscar de la Renta, $365; are all from Neiman Marcus, The Mall at Millenia.
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#2
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Get screened today.
Each year more than 150,000 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer. As a part of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Florida Hospital is urging you to put a stop to this preventable disease before it starts. Because colon cancer can develop with no signs or symptoms, a regular colonoscopy is the recommended method to finding pre-cancerous polyps. If you are at least 50 years of age or have a family history of colorectal cancer, get screened today.
CANCER-13-11560
Call (407) 303-1700 or visit ScheduleYourScreening.com to schedule a colonoscopy today.
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2/18/13 11:42 AM 2/19/13 11:49:50 AM
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Orlando hair-transplant surgeon Matt Leavitt has leveraged locks into a multimillion dollar medical empire.
The Man with the Golden Follicle He also has the thickest head of hair you’ve ever seen.
L
by Michael McLeod • photographs by Rafael Tongol
ou Holtz needs a touch up. He’s come to the right
place. Holtz’s hair has been thinning for years: not a good thing when you make your living in front of cameras. The loquacious former college football coach turned ESPN color commentator has had several hair transplants over the years. Now, on a Tuesday morning, with his fairly well-covered blond pate anesthetized but his folksy wit intact, Holtz is sitting upright on a brightly lit surgical gurney in the Maitland office of his longtime hair-transplant surgeon, Matt Leavitt. Using an instrument that pokes small, shallow holes of precisely the right angle, circumference and depth, Leavitt is creating an artful array of what surgeons call “sites” on a 2-inch wide section on the left-hand side of Holtz’s forehead. A crop of transplants has already been harvested from the back of the scalp, where the hairs, unlike those atop the head of many a male, are not predisposed by a biological quirk to
Dr. Matt Leavitt is one of the nation’s top hair-transplant surgeons. He’s also a successful businessperson, with a chain of dermatology clinics and a practice-management company. ORLANDO-LIFE.COM
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wither away, sabotaging any chance their owners might otherwise have had of becoming television personalities. Leavitt hovers over his patient. Assistants garbed in powder blue swirl about. But judging strictly from Holtz’s lockerroom banter, you’d think he was already at Bay Hill Country Club, where he plans on teeing off later in the day. “Well, I might let you play just nine holes,” Leavitt cautions. “Sure, I’ll just play nine,” says Holtz, one of many national sports celebrities to call Orlando home. “Then I’ll go out and play nine more.” Sounds pretty cocky for a 76-year-old with freshly poked holes in his head. Then again, Holtz’s confidence is probably well founded, given the relatively simple nature of the procedure — and the considerable reputation of his surgeon. At 51, Leavitt is at the top of his game, not just as a practitioner but as a businessperson. He is the man with the Golden Follicle, not to mention the Midas touch. The widely used, state-of-the-art instrument that he is using to beef up Holtz’s hairline is called the Leavitt Mindi: He invented it himself. He owns the largest chain of dermatology clinics in the country, with 600 employees, and operORLANDO LIFE
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Leavitt has performed thousands of transplant surgeries on patients ranging from celebrities to cancer patients. He also hosts an annnual workshop for hair-transplant surgeons that brings practitioners from all over the world to Orlando. ates, along with his brother, a highly successful, nationwide company that manages billing for other doctors. And in the biggest financial coup of his life, he built up a chain of hairrestoration centers, then sold them off at a multimillion-dollar profit to a Japanese corporation in 2008, just prior to a recession that triggered a lull in discretionary spending. He has done thousands of transplant surgeries across the country, from Rodeo Drive to Manhattan, ranging in price from $3,000 to $25,000. His patients have included 8-yearolds scoured by cancer and chemotherapy; men in their 90s who want to spruce themselves up enough to prowl for women in their 70s; mideastern royals who arrive with retinues in tow; a mysterious Russian businessman who told him, “We checked you out;” 25 NFL quarterbacks; and various local celebrities such as, say, auto dealership magnate David Maus. “I had hair. I just wanted more,” says Maus, who bonded with Leavitt after having his locks enhanced and has come to consider him a trusted friend. “Matt is genuine,” he says. “He’s a very successful businessman and a great family guy who really does care about the community. When you’re around him, he makes you feel larger than life.” Leavitt has been doing hair transplants since his dermatological internship days 30 years ago at Grandview Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, when he was motivated to go the transplant route — partly by a mentor who told him he was gifted with unusually steady hands, and partly by his own thinning hair. “I got tired of being known as ‘The guy in the hat,’” he says. He learned hair-transplanting techniques in the early ’80s, when the procedure was still largely viewed as a luxury for celebrities and the rich, and practitioners had to travel from city to city, with instruments and assistants in tow, to find enough patients to get by. In those days, most hair-transplant surgeons worked in loosely regulated isolation. But Leavitt soon became active among a circle of doctors who wanted to change that. Eventually, he organized an annual workshop for budding hair-transplant surgeons which, for the past 19 years, has brought practitioners from all over the world to Orlando. That, among other collaborative efforts, prompted the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery to present him with the 2002 Golden Follicle award. It sounds like something out of a Saturday Night Live skit and looks a bit like a prop from a science-fiction movie. But 46
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the award itself is actually a 2-foot tall rendering of a human follicle, medically accurate from papilla to shaft. Were it cast not in plastic but brass, you might mistake it for one of those vaguely unsettling models of various human organs that doctors insist on keeping in their waiting rooms. But you’ll never find the Golden Follicle in such pedestrian digs. The trophy commands one of the finest lakeside views Central Florida has to offer from its perch on a polished maple shelf in a well-appointed office overlooking a secluded stretch of Lake Brantley. The office is at the far end of Leavitt’s ultra-modern Longwood home, which he and his MARCH 2013
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wife, Judye, designed themselves and built on a secluded lot atop a coveted stretch of land that was once a fish camp. They also own a mountain-view home in Colorado. But it’s mainly from his Lake Brantley enclave that Leavitt, who since moving here in 1989 has quietly become one of Central Florida’s savviest multimillionaires, oversees his medical empire. “Most doctors are terrible businesspeople, and a lot of them have trouble relating to patients,” says Leavitt’s mentor from his med school days, Arizona dermatologist Shelly Friedman. “Matt is a very rare combination of a great doctor and a great entrepreneur.” ORLANDO-LIFE.COM
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Leavitt also has — as if you hadn’t figured this out already — an obscenely healthy head of hair: black, lightly sprinkled with gray, and appearing to consist of such outrageous density that it makes you wonder if you’d risk busting a knuckle or two should you try, either in a moment of affection or a burst of curiosity, to run your fingers through it. “Oh, that,” he says. “It’s kind of a rite of passage with the surgeons on my staff.” He’s had multiple procedures over the years, using a mirror to critique the surgeons as they work. It’s characteristic multitasking on his part — or as he calls it, “leveraging time.” ORLANDO LIFE
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DAVID MAUS Photo: Michael Cairns; Wet Orange Studio
The Golden Follicle Award (right), may look a bit menacing, but it’s actually a substantially enlarged, medically accurate reproduction of a human hair follicle. It’s also a badge of honor for Leavitt. The award has a prominent place in his office in the sprawling home on Lake Brantley (opposite page) that he shares with his wife, Judye, and their three children. He counts sports analyst Lou Holtz and Orlando car dealership owner David Maus among his customers. He grew up in Grand Rapids, Mich., where his father was an optometrist who made all three of his sons assist him in running the apartment complexes he owned — then made sure they took business classes in college, regardless of what career they chose. Leavitt was a Boy Scout, traveled nationally on an all-star baseball team, ran cross-country and went to the University of Michigan on a wrestling scholarship. While in med school at Michigan State he taught tennis lessons, developed a business providing lecture notes to fellow students, then created a medical-supply company to sell classmates the books and supplies — including human skeletons — they needed for their training. He met Judye, who was studying to be a veterinarian, while both were students at Michigan State. By the time I spoke to her, I was getting a little alarmed at how perfect her athlete/doctor/businessman husband appeared to be. So I asked her, in an email, to catalogue his faults. Here is what she sent me: Matt’s Faults: 4 Favorite food Doritos Nacho Cheese — will work out then come home and eat them!! 4 Eats too much candy! ORLANDO-LIFE.COM
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TOP 10
COSMETIC SURGERY TIPS AND TRENDS n An apple a day won’t keep the wrinkles away. Plant-derived facial serums currently on the market, including one made from the stem cells of “rare Swiss apples,” supposedly renew human stem cells and thus reduce crow’s feet and other signs of aging. No legitimate studies support the claim. “There is no science to date to substantiate the effectiveness of topical stem-cell therapy in any form of cream,” says Orlando cosmetic surgeon Dr. Kenrick Spence. n Implants aren’t forever. Orlando cosmetic surgeon Dr. Jon Paul Trevisani worries that some cosmetic surgeons are not as forthcoming as they should be about that reality. “Nothing is final. There’s an ongoing maintenance issue,” he says. “A woman who has the procedure will likely need another one in 10 or 15 years.” n They are, however, here to stay. Breast augmentation is the No. 1 cosmetic surgery procedure in the country. The silicone scare is a distant memory; improved implants are less likely to rupture, and surgical procedures have been developed that leave less scarring. More than 300,000 women per year undergo the procedure in the United States. n The eyes have it. Maybe. Some dermatologists are quietly and cautiously prescribing Latisse, a drug that makes eyelashes fuller, for use on eyebrows and hairlines. Patients are reporting good results, but they run the risk of an unusual but harmless side effect called hyperpigmentism. Applied to the scalp and eyebrows, Latisse is absorbed into the skin. When that happens, the drug can sometimes change the color of patients’ hair — and even the color of eyes. Though approved by the FDA for lashes, the drug has not yet been officially approved for eyebrows and scalp. n A kinder, gentler laser. In a relatively new procedure called fractional laser resurfacing, the discomfort and inconvenience of facial rejuvenation has been considerably reduced. The technique involves sparing use of a laser to target sun damage, fine lines, crow’s feet and acne scars. “It treats a ‘fraction’ of the skin’s surface — about 25 percent — allowing rapid recovery, one day or less,” says Orlando plastic surgeon Dr. Edward Gross. Erbium lasers are the newest generation to treat superficial and medium-depth skin problems while minimizing redness associated with older, more aggressive CO2 lasers. n Rub it in. Patients who like the results of Botox but aren’t too crazy about the way the medication is delivered are hoping they’ll be able to say no to the needle, thanks to a new approach researchers are exploring. It involves applying Botulinum Toxin to the skin in a gel form. Some dermatologists, however, remain wary. Gross had a one-word answer when asked if he’d use topical Botox, if approved: “No.” n Fat is good. The technique of transplanting a patient’s own fat tissue from one part of the body to another has continued to increase in popularity. Fat drawn from places that will never miss it is now used to plump up and rejuvenate the face, build up buttocks and enhance breasts in patients who are looking for a modest increase in cup size. n Fat is bad. Liposuction is highly effective in targeting annoying pockets of fat that exercise and weight loss can’t seem to eliminate. Now, the procedure is considerably safer as well. A new approach called the tumescent technique makes liposuction possible under local anesthesia and allows for patients to return to work days, rather than weeks, after the procedure. n Top 5 cosmetic surgery procedures. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, here are the top procedures, in order of popularity: breast augmentation, nose reshaping, liposuction, eyelid surgery and facelifts, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. n Top three body complaints from patients. From men: breasts too large, “beer belly,” aging face. From women: breasts too small, cellulite, gray hair. 50
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4 Not punctual — actually makes it just on time but scares anyone with him. 4 Types w one finger! 4 Packs too much into each day. 4 Knows way too many Michigan sports facts — stalks the recruiting pages and MGoBlue website every spare moment — he could even tell you the Michigan women’s field hockey scores. 4 Never loses his temper — is that normal? The Leavitts have three children. Lauren, 23, is studying at Nova University to become a physician’s assistant in dermatology and plastic surgery. Adam, 21, is a senior studying cognitive neuroscience at the University of Michigan. Danielle, 18, who has battled Crohn’s disease since she was 8 years old, will graduate from high school this year and has been accepted in pre-med at Harvard, where she hopes to play volleyball and focus on stem-cell research. Leavitt is on the National Board of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation (CCFA) and chairs the local chapter. He’s also the driving force behind an annual Corporate Cocktail Fundraising event, which he began in 2010. Since 2006 he also has cosponsored the David Maus Foundation’s Celebrity Golf Charity Event, proceeds of which are donated to Ronald McDonald House and CCFA . Over the past few years, the man with the Golden Follicle has gradually diminished the time he spends doing transplants himself, bringing it down to twice a week. He’s spending more of his time teaching, collaborating, and overseeing his growing chain of dermatology clinics, using the funds he made from selling the hair-transplant centers to expand and improve. “At this point,” he says, “I see nothing but green fields ahead of me.” No doubt they’ll be not only green, but well groomed. n MARCH 2013
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YOUR GUIDE TO DERMATOLOGY AND PLASTIC SURGERY All of the doctors listed below are board certified by the American Board of Dermatology (abderm.org). Information on board-certified dermatologists also is available at aad.org, the website of the American Academy of Dermatology. Board-Certified Dermatologists Jerome A. Africk, M.D. vitals.com / 407-339-4441 321 Maitland Ave., Ste. 1500, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 David L. Allyn, M.D. vitals.com / floridahospital.com / 407-340-2128 / 352-243-2544 n 12381 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32837 n 210 N. Highway 27, Ste. 1, Clermont, FL 34711 Anthony V. Amoruso Jr., M.D. advancedderm.com / 407-829-6637 120 International Parkway, Ste. 240, Lake Mary, FL 32746 Allison K. Arthur, M.D. sandlakedermatology.com / 407-352-8553 7575 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Ste. 370, Orlando, FL 32819 Vitaly Blatnoy, M.D. orlandodermatologycenter.com / 407-706-1770 7250 Red Bug Lake Road, Ste. 1020, Oviedo, FL 32765 Jean-Denis Boucher, M.D. advancedderm.com / 407-645-2300 / 352-241-4298 / 352-343-5968 n 400 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, FL 32789 n 1920 Don Wickham Drive, Ste. 330, Clermont, FL 34711 1816 Salk Ave., Tavares, FL 32778 Andrea L. Cambio, M.D. vitals.com / 407-875-2080 2600 Lake Lucien Drive, Ste. 180, Maitland, FL 32751 Rodolfo E. Chirinos, M.D. fldermdoc.com / 407-299-7333 n 100 W. Gore St., Ste. 600, Orlando, FL 32806 n 829 Woodbury Road, Ste. 103, Orlando, FL 32828 Randall B. Coverman, M.D. myskindoc.org / 407-788-8900 220 N. Westmonte Drive, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 Christopher P. Crotty, M.D. sandlakedermatology.com / 407-352-8553 7575 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Orlando, FL 32819
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Robert W. Demetrius, M.D. dermgroup.net / 407-332-8080 / 352-383-0733 n 521 W. State Road 434, Ste. 202, Longwood, FL 32750 n 2850 Morningside Drive, Mount Dora, FL 32757
Michael S. Henner, M.D. dermgroup.net / 407-332-8080 / 352-383-0733 n 521 W. State Road 434, Ste. 202, Longwood, FL 32750 n 2850 Morningside Drive, Mount Dora, FL 32757
Amy E. Derrow, M.D. derrowdermatology.com / 407-389-2020 800 N. Maitland Ave., Ste. 202, Maitland, FL
Jeannette Hudgens, M.D. hudgensmd.com / 407-704-7546 7450 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Ste. 200, Orlando, FL 32819
Rion Forconi, M.D. drforconi.com / 407-330-7546 385 Waymont Court, Ste. 101, Lake Mary, FL 32746 Madison W. Gay, M.D. vitals.com / 407-296-5177 5151 Raleigh St., Ste. B, Orlando, FL 32811 Dean R. Goodless, M.D. drgoodskin.com / 407-278-8443 410 Celebration Place, Ste. 301, Kissimmee, FL 34747 Alfredo E. Gonzalez, M.D. vitals.com / 407-645-2737 201 N. Lakemont Ave., Ste. 2100, Winter Park, FL 32792 James D. Gordon, M.D. vitals.com / 407-846-7546 725 E. Oak St., Ste. 103, Kissimmee, FL 34744 Jeffrey S. Greenwald, M.D. dermgroup.net / 407-332-8080 / 352-383-0733 n 521 W. State Road 434, Ste. 202, Longwood, FL 32750 n 2850 Morningside Drive, Mount Dora, FL 32757 William J. Grisaitis, M.D. vitals.com / 407-644-9030 331 N. Maitland Ave., Building A, Maitland, FL, 32751 Michael M. Gutierrez, M.D. fldermdoc.com / 407-299-7333 n 100 W. Gore St., Ste. 600, Orlando, FL 32806 n 4151 Hunters Park Lane, Ste. 156, Orlando, FL 32837 n 390 Maitland Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 n 1000 Executive Drive, Ste. 2, Oviedo, FL 32765 n 815 Oakley Seaver Drive, Clermont, FL 34711 n 523 13th St., St. Cloud, FL 34769
Sima Jain, M.D. vitals.com / 407-876-5555 4800 S. Apopka-Vineland Road, Orlando, FL 32819 Jerri L. Johnson, M.D. vitals / 407-260-2606 411 Maitland Ave., Ste. 1001, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 Kathleen W. Judge, M.D. centralfloridaderm.com / 407-481-2620 700 E. Michigan St., Orlando, FL 32806 J. Matthew Knight, M.D. knightdermatology.com / 407-992-0660 801 N. Orange Ave., Ste. 520, Orlando, FL 32801 Ronald C. Knipe, M.D. kmskin.com / 407-581-2888 n 70 W. Gore St., Orlando, FL 32806 n 1000 W. Broadway, Ste. 206A, Oviedo, Fl 32765 Jose V. Lara, M.D. vitals.com / 407-644-4212 1840 Greenwich Ave., Winter Park, FL 32789 Farooq Lateef, M.D. orlandodermatologyinc.com / 407-351-1888 6000 Turkey Lake Road, Ste. 110, Orlando, FL 32819 Matt L. Leavitt, D.O. advancedderm.com / 321-594-5530 n 400 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, FL 32789 n 260 Lookout Place, Ste. 103, Maitland, FL 32751 Clifford W. Lober, M.D. drlober.com / 407-846-7166 1151 Blackwood Ave., Ocoee, FL 34761 505 W. Oak St., Ste. 201, Kissimmee, FL 34741 Francille M. Macfarland, M.D. floridahospital.com / 407-647-7300 1992 Mizell Ave., Winter Park, FL 32792
Erica Mailler-Savage, M.D. comprehensivedermorlando.com / 407-339-7546 1933 Dundee Drive, Winter Park, FL 32792 Jere J. Mammino, M.D. advancedderm.com / 407-359-2100 1410 W. Broadway, Ste. 205, Oviedo, FL 32765 John Meisenheimer, M.D. orlandoskindoc.com / 407-352-2444 7300 Sandlake Commons Blvd., Ste. 105, Orlando, FL 32819 Herbert E. Mendelsohn, M.D. advancedderm.com / 407-834-9091 106 Boston Ave., Ste. 105, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 Jeffrey G. Moskowitz, M.D. kmskin.com / 407-581-2888 70 W. Gore St., Orlando, FL 32806 1000 West Broadway, Ste. 206A, Oviedo, Fl 32765 Mehdi Nabipour, M.D. seminolecohealth.com / 407-665-3000 400 W. Airport Blvd., Sanford, FL 32773 Kemka S. Ogburia, M.D. dermgroup.net / 407-332-8080 / 352-383-0733 n 521 W. State Road 434, Ste. 202, Longwood, FL 32750 n 2850 Morningside Drive, Mount Dora, FL 32757 Dimitry Palceski, M.D. reflectionsdermatology.com / 407-895-8818 875 Outer Road, Orlando, FL 32814 Edward J. Posnak, M.D. vitals.com / 407-629-1599 5201 Raymond St., Orlando, FL 32803 Steven M. Price, M.D. vitals.com / 407-898-3033 300 E. Hazel St., Orlando, FL 32804 Raymond J. Ramirez, M.D. advancedderm.com / 407-333-4200 120 International Parkway, Ste. 240, Lake Mary, FL 32746 Tace S. Rico, M.D. flpediatricdermatology.com / 407-303-1687 615 E. Princeton St., Ste. 416, Orlando, FL 32803 Daniel B. Seff, M.D. vitals.com / 407-678-9595 2828 Casa Aloma Way, Ste. 500, Winter Park, FL 32792
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Joseph A. Shirer, M.D. vitals.com / 407-521-3550 10000 W. Colonial Drive, Ste. 481, Ocoee, FL 34761 Lisa F. Shirley-Williams, M.D. dermorlando.com / 800-827-7546 7824 Lake Underhill Road, Ste. J, Orlando, FL 32822 Kevin M. Spohr, M.D. advancedderm.com / 407-445-9445 1507 Park Center Drive, Ste. 1D, Orlando, FL 32835
Michael W. Steppie, M.D. dermorlando.com / 800-827-7546 n 7824 Lake Underhill Road, Ste. J, Orlando, FL 32822 n 7932 W. Sand Lake Road, Ste. 202, Orlando, FL 32819 n 106 Boston Ave, Ste. 100, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 n 530 Ocoee Commerce Parkway, Ocoee, FL 34761 n 725 E. Oak St., Kissimmee, FL 34744 3106 17th St., St. Cloud, FL 34769
Sharon A. Stokes, M.D. amazingskindoc.com / 407-944-0999 n 7798 Winter Garden-Vineland Rd., Ste. 100, Windermere, FL 34786 n 3276 Greenwald Way North, Kissimmee, FL 34741 Maxine Tabas, M.D. dermatologywinterpark.com / 407-647-7300 1901 Lee Road, Winter Park, FL 32789
James D. Talley, M.D. vitals.com / 407-629-1599 5201 Raymond St., Orlando, FL 32803 Lawrence T. Wagers, M.D. vitals.com / 407-645-2300 400 W. Fairbanks Ave, Ste. E, Winter Park, FL 32789 Dinah M. Warner, M.D. vitals.com / 407-303-2814 2501 N. Orange Ave., Ste. 235, Orlando, FL 32804
All of the doctors listed below are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (abplsurg.org). Several have additional certifications from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (plasticsurgery.org) and/or the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (surgery.org). Board-Certified Cosmetic Plastic Surgeons Richard Arabitg, M.D. plasticsurgerycentralflorida.com / 407-704-3337 95 W. Kaley St., Orlando, FL James L. Baker Jr., M.D. dr-baker.com / 407-644-5242 400 W. Morse Blvd., Ste. 203, Winter Park, FL 32789 J. Barry Boyd, M.D. naturallook.md / 407-645-2007 200 Benmore Drive, Winter Park, FL 32792 Orlando Cicilioni, M.D. orlandocicilioni.com / 407-681-3223 2501 N. Orange Ave. Ste. 209, Orlando, FL 32804 Clifford P. Clark III, M.D. dr-clark.com / 407-629-5555 701 W. Morse Blvd., Winter Park, Fl 32789 James Farrell, M.D. winterparklaser.com / 407-601-1185 n 1350 S. Orlando Ave., Winter Park, FL 32789 n 1155 North Kentucky Ave., Winter Park, FL 32789 Thomas Fiala, M.D. plasticsurgeryinflorida.com / 407-339-3222 220 E. Central Parkway, Ste. 2020, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 Rami Ghurani, M.D. advancedderm.com / 407-333-4200 120 International Parkway, Ste. 240, Lake Mary, FL 32746
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Richard O. Gregory, M.D. instituteofaestheticsurgery.com / 321-594-5586 / 407-303-4250 n 661 E. Altamonte Drive, Ste. 312, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 n 400 Celebration Place, Ste. A-320, Celebration, FL 34747 F. Jorge Gonzelez, M.D. lecontoursurgery.com / elase.com / 407447-1628 / 407-835-7577 / 407-333-4300 n 2902 N. Orange Ave, Ste. L, Orlando, FL 32804 n 6645 Vineland Road, Ste. 270, Orlando, FL 32819 n 1210 S. International Parkway, Ste. 174, Lake Mary, FL 32746 Scott A. Greenberg, M.D. scottgreenbergmd.com / 407-644-3137 1925 Mizell Ave., Ste. 303, Winter Park, FL 32792 B. Rai Gupta, M.D. floridahospital.com / 407-321-7111 3300 W. Lake Mary Blvd., Ste. 220, Lake Mary, FL 32746 Wade W. Han, M.D. floridaent.com / 407-944-3340 n 7327 Stonerock Circle, Orlando, FL 32819 n 3270 Greenwald Way, Kissimmee, FL 34741 Jeffrey M. Hartog, M.D. lookandfeelbetter.com / 407-678-3116 4355 Bear Gully Road, Winter Park, FL 32792 Saulius Jankauskas, M.D. plasticsurgery.org / 407-834-5255 521 W. State Road 434, Ste. 106, Longwood, FL 32750 Dean L. Johnston, M.D. deanjohnstonmd.com / 407-333-2525 4106 W. Lake Mary Blvd, Ste. 212, Lake Mary, FL 32746
Brian P. Joseph, M.D. orlando-plastic-surgery.com / 888-398-5725 147 E. Lyman Ave., Ste. D, Winter Park, FL 32789
D. Scott Rotatori, M.D. orlandofloridaplasticsurgery.com / 407-628-5476 800 W. Morse Blvd. Ste. 5, Winter Park, FL 32789
Richard D. Klein, M.D. orlandohealth.com / 321-841-7090 1400 S. Orange Ave., Orlando, FL 32806
James T. Shoukas, M.D. drshoukas.com / 407-333-2518 934 Williston Park Point, Ste. 1028, Lake Mary, FL 32746
Helen Kraus, M.D. helenkrausmd.com / 407-483-9330 720 W. Oak St. Ste. 105, Kissimmee, FL 34741 James A. Matas, M.D. yournewlook.com / 407-792-0429 7300 Sandlake Commons Blvd., Ste. 100, Orlando, FL 32819 Charles E. Newman Jr. , M.D. newmanplasticsurgery.com / 407-481-9505 444 North Mills Ave, Orlando, FL 32803 George Papanicolaou, M.D. altamontespringsplasticsurgery.net / 407-217-1845 687 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 Calvin Peters, M.D. petersplasticsurgery.com / 407-898-1436 2501 N. Orange Ave., Ste. 442, Orlando, FL 32804 Kendall Peters, M.D. petersplasticsurgery.com / 407-898-1436 2501 N. Orange Ave., Ste. 442, Orlando, FL 32804
Walter R. Siemian, M.D. doctorsiemian.com / 407-521-7431 10000 W. Colonial Drive, Ste. 496, Ocoee, FL 34761 Armando Soto, M.D. drarmandosoto.com / 407-218-4550 7009 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Ste. 100, Orlando, FL 32819 Kenrick Spence, M.D. hillcrestaestheticinstitute.com / 407-999-2585 130 Hillcrest St., Orlando, FL 32801 Frank Steig, M.D. internetmd.com / 407-647-4601 851 W. Morse Blvd., Winter Park, FL 32789 Roxanne L. Sylora, M.D. instituteofaestheticsurgery.com / 321-594-5586 / 407-303-4250 n 661 E. Altamonte Drive, Ste. 312, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 n 400 Celebration Place, Ste. A-320, Celebration, FL 34747 Jon Paul Trevisani, M.D. jptrev.com / 407-901-4934 413 Lake Howell Road, Maitland, FL 32751
David V. Poole, M.D. drpoolemd.com / 407-788-8080 829 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs 32714 George Pope, M.D. georgepopemd.com / 407-857-6261 3872 Oakwater Circle, Orlando, FL 32806 MARCH 2013
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FLAVOR
rona gindin
PHOTO: rafael tongol
Dade City’s Pearl in the Grove offers Orlando food lovers many tasty reasons to make the long drive to Pasco County. Among those reasons: catfish beignets with smoked tomato grit cakes, remoulade and a vegetable medley. ORLANDO-LIFE.COM
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MARCH 2013
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Of Pearls and Kumquats: Ramble to Pasco County for a Memorable Meal
PHOTOS: rafael tongol
I
t wasn’t the catfish beignets in particular that had me
hankering to get back to Pearl in the Grove, although I relived eating those savory donuts for days following my first dinner. It wasn’t that mustardy remoulade dip. It wasn’t the smoky tomato-and-grit patty. It wasn’t even the boiled peanuts, jokingly called Pasco County edamame, although the complimentary bowlful of goobers, ebony from being boiled in cast iron, was certainly compelling. It was the sweet-potato ice cream with homemade marshmallow topping that was the clincher. And so I returned to Pearl in the Grove, a quirky farm-totable “Fresh New Southern Cuisine” restaurant located just outside Dade City, a Pasco County community southeast of Orlando perhaps best known as a producer of kumquats. I encourage you to venture there, too. You’ll drive 60 to 90 minutes to reach it — Tampa is the nearest major metropolitan area — passing orange groves and grazing cattle en route. To get the most out of your not-inconsequential trip, check out the area’s down-home attractions before dining. You can enjoy a safari-style tour at Giraffe Ranch and then meander around Dade City’s delightful downtown, which is anchored by a historic courthouse and packed with boutiques and antique shops. Be warned, however, that Pearl in the Grove is a low-budget operation. The wine and craft beer list consists of two sheets of well-worn paper attached via a wooden clothespin to a rectangle of corrugated cardboard. A broken shudder covers half a window. The cement floor is covered with splotches of paint. If the décor feels like your first post-college home, be assured that the cooking is just as earnest — but more professional. Pearl in the Grove is owned by Curtis Beebe, a former IT specialist and former Dade County commissioner who became a chef-owner after the recession scuttled his original career. Beebe’s sidekick is his wife, Rebecca, who teaches language arts in a middle school. Both grew up in military families with
Pearl features unpretentious wine-and-beer lists, an outdoor sign with ambiguous dining hours and a ramshackle building befitting its rural location near a sprawling kumquat grove. It’s a low-budget operation, but it doesn’t scrimp on the food. ORLANDO-LIFE.COM
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mothers who cooked the foods of the world from scratch. Needing money a few years ago, Beebe catered for friends, hosted pop-up dinners and then opened his own restaurant in October 2010. I was the restaurant’s guest the night I had the catfish beignets. I sneaked in uninvited for a second meal recently, and the experience — except for the service — was just as good. The young man waiting on us must have been a wayward nephew hauled in to replace a real server who called in sick. He offered no specials spiel, plunked three appetizers onto the table at once and was completely humorless — the opposite of the gregarious, knowledgeable, personable help waiting tables elsewhere in the dining room. To his credit, when turning down our request for lemon with our water (apparently the backyard lemon tree wasn’t producing ripe fruit just then), the dude brought over two kumquats as replacements. What a kick. Of those three side-by-side starters, the best was the onion pie. It was so good I’d drive back just for another wedge: A cheese scone crust was filled with caramelized onions, and a slice of baked winter squash was served alongside. My coeater said it was like French onion soup without the soup. A salad called the Underground was ultra-fresh — curly lettuce and greens tossed with bits of creamy goat cheese. The dressing was a sweet yet tangy vinaigrette made with Vidalia onions and kumquats, in tribute to the kumquat grove down the road. I wouldn’t get the steak tartare appetizer again. The meat tasted so fresh that I’d swear the cow was slaughtered just that morning. But the beef was in chunks, salty, with hard-boiled egg, capers, onions and bread on the side. It would have been better with ground meat, the extras folded in. As for entrées, I’m not sure the pork belly roulades beat out the catfish beignets from my first visit, but by golly were they interesting. Essentially, the roulades were two slices of rolled up, fatty bacon infused with hickory smoke. They were delicious. I was just afraid of what my heart would do if I ate both, which is why I brought the second one home and continue to not (yet) let myself near it. The “risotto” was sweet rice cooked in heavy cream and white wine. There were wilted greens under the pork plus a medley of beets, string beans, broccoli and zucchini. On the first visit we also tried a savory shrimp Creole in ORLANDO LIFE
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ON THE SIDE
What other Central Florida restaurants are worth half a tank of gas? Here are five that my dining companions and I have enjoyed over the years.
THE OLD SPANISH SUGAR MILL
Make your own pancakes on a griddle in the center of your table at this family restaurant tucked inside De Leon Springs State Park. The food is hearty, wholesome — and cheap at $4.95 per person. Pour on raw honey, syrup or unsulphured molasses and add a side of exceptional bacon. De Leon Springs State Park, 601 Ponce De Leon Blvd., De Leon Springs, 386985-5644, planetdeland.com/sugarmill
SPANISH RIVER GRILL
Henry and Michele Salgado will soon open a farm-to-table restaurant in Orlando’s new East End Market, but the chef and his wife made their mark at Spanish River Grill, a “Bistro Latino” in New Smyrna Beach. Tapas, handcrafted cocktails, Nuevo Latino dishes and whatever else Salgado feels like whipping up have helped make this a beach town hot spot. 737 E. 3rd Ave., New Smyrna Beach, 386-424-6991, thespanishrivergrill.com
YELLOW DOG CAFÉ
I run into lots of characters while writing about restaurants, and Stuart and Nancy Borton are among the most colorful. Their Yellow Dog Café, located along the shores of the Indian River, draws a loyal following. The eatery serves up an eclectic mix of seafood and meat creations, and each dining room has an entirely different décor. Note: This establishment is unrelated to Yellow Dog Eats, the funky Gotha restaurant located too close to Orlando to qualify for this worth-a-drive round-up. 905 U.S. Highway 1, Malabar, 321-956-3334, yellowdogcafe.com
CRESS
Hari Pulapaka is a Stetson University mathematics professor and his wife, Jenneffer, is a podiatrist. However, when they finish their day jobs, the couple run Cress, a tiny Deland restaurant putting out such bold flavors that, despite its Volusia County location, it earned the area’s top ratings in the 2013 Zagat Orlando City Guide. Chef Hari is from India, which influences his flavoring, but his ingredients encompass the globe. 103 W. Indiana Ave., Deland, 386-734-3740, cressrestaurant.com
CAFÉ MARGAUX AND ULYSSES PRIME STEAKHOUSE Cocoa Village is a cute little historic area near the bustling beachfront, and two sister restaurants have made it a dining destination. At Café Margaux, you’ll find a creative menu of European-influenced dishes. Ulysses, by contrast, is a straightforward steakhouse with exceptional beef. The service at both is polished, and the wine selections are extensive. 220 and 234 N. Brevard Ave., Cocoa. Margaux: 321-639-8343, margaux.com; Ulysses: 321639-3922, ulyssesprime.com
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Pearl’s dessert platter (facing page, top left) is definitely calorie-worthy. So is the pork belly roulade entrée (facing page, top right). The dining room décor is about as down-home as you can get, right down to cement floors adorned with splotches of paint. a multi-flavored tomato sauce, and it satisfied. The shrimp and white beans plate we gobbled up this time was even better. It must be the shrimp stock and Creole seasonings that Beebe cooked into the sauce, because the all-white dish didn’t look like it could pack much of a flavor punch. Yes, you’ll need dessert. It will be calorie-worthy. The selection changes constantly, so that sweet-potato ice cream is elusive. But chocolate pecan pie, and chocolate cheesecake with a strong amaretto flavor, were apt substitutes. If you’re most likely to explore the Pearl on a weekend, consider a Saturday brunch, perhaps featuring War Eagle Mill grits, or a family-style Sunday dinner. Everyone eats the same meal — pot roast one week, rib roast or meatloaf the next — each with plenty of garden-fresh sides with sweet tea and desserts such as banana pudding. I may return for a third dinner, if only to try the sweet-potato chips listed on the “snacks” section of the menu. I know I won’t be able to stop myself from ordering them a third straight time. ■
WHERE: 31936 St. Joe Road, Dade City WHEN: Dinner Wednesday– Saturday. Brunch Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday family-style dinner 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. HOW MUCH: $$-$$$ WHERE TO CALL: 352-588-0008, pearlinthegrove.com
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AFRICAN
Nile Ethiopian 7048 International Dr., Orlando, 407-354-0026 / nile07.com. Locals willingly navigate International Drive to dine at Nile, a family-owned restaurant specializing in the exotic cuisine of Ethiopia. Order a few dishes to share and scoop up the intriguing concoctions with the eatery’s signature spongy bread. End with a strong cup of aromatic, brewed-to-order coffee. $$
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Sanaa 3701 Osceola Pkwy., Lake Buena Vista, 407-9393463 / disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/sanaa. Sanaa, one of Disney’s most interesting restaurants, offers dishes based on cuisine from the Spice Islands, a coastal African area rich with Indian influences. Flavors are intense, but spicy only upon request. (Curry, the chefs insist, is a melding of flavors, not one particular spice.) The marketplace-style dining room boasts picture windows overlooking the Animal Kingdom Lodge’s savannah, so you might spot zebra or wildebeest while lunching on tandoori chicken or a vegetarian platter with stewed lentils and a vegetable sambar (stew). $$
AMERICAN Bananas
942 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, 407-480-2200 / bananasdiner.com. Bananas has a split personality. It’s a wholesome, family place to grab higher-quality versions of such classics as burgers, shakes and pancakes (the Buffalo Benedict is a surprise pleaser). Other times, it’s a delightfully outrageous experience for more adventurous diners who enjoy the antics of cross-dressing servers. The Sunday drag gospel brunch (“Sinners welcome!”) is like no church service you’ve ever attended. $$
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Cask & Larder 565 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, 321-280-4200 / caskandlarder.com. Billing itself as a “Southern Public House,” this casual Winter Park eatery serves up modern twists on traditional favorites. Look for a three-ham platter with pepper jelly; pimento cheese; and seasonal favorites such as grilled pork belly and chicken-and-biscuits. Many beers are made on the premises. $$
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Chatham’s Place 7575 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Orlando, 407- 345-2992 / chathamsplace.com. For an old-fashioned dining experience – a subdued dining room and doting personalized service by a longtime staff – dine at this hidden Restaurant Row establishment. Locals return regularly for Chef Tony Lopez’s classic dishes such as black grouper with pecan butter, rack of lamb and filet mignon. $$$ Citrus 821 N. Orange Ave., Orlando, 407-373-0622 /
citrusorlando.com. A clubby yet stylish restaurant in a convenient downtown Orlando location, Citrus features modern American cuisine with a nod toward regionally grown and produced ingredients. International influences also highlight the menu, from smoked chili aioli complementing herbmarinated chicken to balsamic rum glaze topping juicy pork chops. $$$
Dexter’s 808 E. Washington St., Orlando, 407-648-2777;
558 W. New England Ave., Winter Park, 407-629-1150; 950 Market Promenade Ave., Lake Mary, 407-805-3090 / dexwine. com. Central Florida has three Dexter’s locations, and each has become a neighborhood magnet, drawing diners of all ages for hearty portions of creative American fare (at fair prices), good wine and, in some cases, live music. Casual dress is the rule. The brunches, and the pressed duck sandwiches, are especially popular. $$-$$$
Emeril’s Orlando 6000 Universal Blvd. Orlando,
407-224-2424 / emerils.com. Get a taste of New Orleans at Emeril’s, a fine-dining restaurant at always-bustling Universal CityWalk. You’ll find classics from celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, including the signature barbecue shrimp, andouille-stuffed redfish, double-cut pork chops and banana cream pie. The service, of course, is superb. Consider sharing appetizers at the bar area. $$$$
Graffiti Junktion 900 E. Washington St., Orlando, 407-
426-9503; 2401 Edgewater Dr., Orlando, 407-377-1961 / graffitijunktion.com. The Graffiti Junktions in Thornton Park and College Park are loud and purposely grungy looking, hence “graffiti” in the name. But this ultra-casual duo dishes up great burgers, wings and zucchini fries. Live entertainment ranges from performance art to trivia contests. Watch for daily happy-hour specials. $
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Hillstone 215 S. Orlando Ave., Winter Park, 407-740-
4005 / hillstone.com/hillstone. Formerly known as Houston’s, this Winter Park mainstay is part of a high-end chain. Still, it grows its own herbs, bakes its own bread, grinds its own meat, cuts its own fish and whips its own cream. In nice weather, guests relax with a cocktail in Adirondack chairs overlooking Lake Killarney. Many proposals have been popped during dinners for two on the boat dock. $$$
Jernigan’s 400 W. Church St., Orlando, 407-440-7000 / www.amwaycenter.com. Watch a Magic game in style at Jernigan’s, a well-appointed buffet restaurant located on the Amway Center’s exclusive club level. The reservationsonly eatery, open to ticket holders, serves wholesome meals for about $40. The menu of the day might offer slow-smoked barbecue ribs, grilled rib-eye steak, pasta pomodoro and Chinese chicken salad. Jernigan’s is run by Chicago’s Levy Restaurants, the team behind Downtown Disney’s Portobello Yacht Club, Fulton’s Crab House and Wolfgang Puck Grand Café. $$$
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The menu also has a significant vegan-friendly section. The dining rooms are scattered throughout a funky, historic building that was once a country store. $
ASIAN
Anh Hong 1124 E. Colonial Dr., Orlando, 407-999-2656. You’ll receive a bundle of fresh herbs to tear into your soup at this Mills 50 Vietnamese eatery, and another bunch for a roll-your-own entrée that’s like a DIY summer roll. Asian classics, such as grilled meats and scallion pancakes, are done exceptionally well here, which makes Anh Hong a top choice for local Vietnamese-Americans longing for a taste of home. $ Dragonfly 7972 Via Dellagio Way, Orlando, 407-459-1892 / dragonflysushi.com. Stylishly attired 30-somethings regularly pack this oh-so-hip restaurant, where groups share sushi, grilled “robata” items, and tapas-style Asian foods such as soft-shell crab tempura, crispy black pork belly and shisowrapped spicy tuna. $$
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Rusty Spoon 55 W. Church St., Orlando, 407-4018811 / therustyspoon.com. Foodies flock to this Church Street gastropub, a warm and welcoming space at which meals are described as “American food. European roots. Locally sourced.” Your salad will consist of über-fresh greens, your sandwich will be filled with slow-braised lamb, your pasta will be hand-rolled and your meat will be robustly seasoned. $$-$$$
Hawkers 1103 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, 407-237-0606 / facebook.com/hawkersstreetfare. This Mills 50 mainstay, named for street vendors of Asian fare, serves up generous tapas-size portions of curry laksa (an aromatic Singaporean soup), roti canai (Malaysian flatbread with a hearty curry sauce), five-spice tofu, chilled sesame noodles, smoky mussels and sensational beef skewers with peanuty satay dip. $$
Seasons 52 7700 Sand Lake Rd., Orlando, 407-3545212; 463 E. Altamonte Dr., Altamonte Springs, 407-767-1252 / seasons52.com. A Darden concept founded in Orlando, the two local locations turn out creative and tasty meals in grand, bustling spaces. The food happens to be low in fat and calories; that’s just a bonus. The wine selection is impressive and the itty-bitty desserts encourage sampling without guilt. $$$
Ming Bistro 1212 Woodward St., Orlando, 407-898-9672. Enjoy perhaps Orlando’s best dim sum for dinner or, on a weekend morning or afternoon, select shrimp dumplings, beef balls, turnip cakes, sticky rice, barbecue pork buns and egg tarts one small dish at a time from carts that roll between tables. The a la carte menu features Hong Kong-style staples from stir-fry beef to chicken feet. $
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Shipyard Brew Pub 200 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, 321-274-4045 / shipyardemporium.com. This ultra-casual brewpub has been packed night and day since it opened in 2011, and not just because it pours a great lager. To complement suds brewed both in-house and elsewhere, a from-scratch menu offers Buffalo chicken dip, amazing white-bean hummus, sandwiches, flatbreads and entrées, including étouffée and pot roast. Stop in any time to pick up a loaf of some of Orlando’s best bread. $-$$
Tap Room at Dubsdread 549 W. Par St., Orlando, 407650-0100 / taproomatdubsdread.com. One needn’t play golf to dine at this historic course-side tavern, a College Park icon offering a varied menu – and a reputation for fine burgers. Options other than the famous half-pound patties include steaks, salmon, tequila-citrus chicken and a dandy Reuben sandwich. $$
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The Table Orlando 9060 Via Dellagio Way, Orlando, 407-900-3463 / thetableorlando.com. For special occasions, book a place at The Table, a tiny restaurant that serves a five-course gourmet meal with wine pairings. Up to 22 guests at a time share the repast around an oversized table. The New American menu changes regularly and is comprised in large part of locally sourced foods. The price is a set $100 including tax and tip. Groups can host private events here. $$$$ TooJay’s Various locations / toojays.com. When it’s time
for a taste of Jewish Brooklyn – pastrami on rye, latkes, blintzes, knishes – the six local outlets of this South Floridabased chain have it all. You’ll also find diner foods such as omelets, sandwiches and pot-roast dinners. Take home some black-and-white cookies. $
Yellow Dog Eats 1236 Hempel Ave., Windermere, 407-
296-0609 / yellowdogeats.com. It’s the lunch locale for the Windermere-Gotha crowd, who come for scratch-made sandwiches, hearty barbecue and wholesome baked goods.
THE KEY
$ Inexpensive, most entrées under $10 $$ Moderate, most entrées $10-20 $$$ Pricey, most entrées over $20 $$$$ Very expensive, most entrées over $30 indicates the restaurant is a Silver Spoon winner (Judges’ Choice).
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Sea Thai 3812 E. Colonial Dr., Orlando, 407-895-0985 / seaorlando.com. Start with a green papaya salad and beef yum, then feast on steamed whole fish with garlic chili sauce, pad Thai and green curry chicken. But you can’t go wrong with any of the Thai classics offered at this welcoming East Orlando eatery. $$
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Seoul Garden 511 E. Horatio Ave., Maitland, 407599-5199 / orlandokorearestaurant.com. Seoul Garden is so Asian-focused that the “about us” section of its website is written in Korean. That authenticity extends to the food. Barbecued meats are grilled to order in the dining room. Be sure to try the marinated beef short ribs and the soft tofu stew. $
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Sushi Pop 310 W. Mitchell Hammock Rd., Oviedo, 407-542-5975 / sushipoprestaurant.com. Oviedo is an unlikely location for this cutting-edge restaurant, a popular spot for sushi. The food is serious and often experimental, as chef-owner Chau uses molecular gastronomy to create some of the fusion fare. The aura is fun: Asian anime on the walls, playful colors, and servers who dress in outrageous themed outfits. $$ Tasty Wok 1246 E. Colonial Dr., Orlando, 407-896-8988 / yelp.com/biz/tasty-wok-orlando. True, it’s a humble spot, but Tasty Wok offers an array of satisfying dishes, among them roast duck and steaming soups. Try the beef chow fun, eggplant with minced pork, and salt and pepper ribs. A smaller menu of American-style Chinese dishes is also available. $
BARBECUE
4 Rivers Smokehouse 1600 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park; 1869 W. S.R. 434, Longwood; 1047 S. Dillard St., Winter Garden / 407-474-8377, 4rsmokehouse.com. A diverse array of barbecue specialties – from Texas-style brisket to pulled pork, smoked turkey and bacon-wrapped jalapeños – has gained this rapidly growing homegrown concept a large following. The Longwood outpost even includes a bakery and an oldfashioned malt shop featuring homemade ice cream. $
BURGERS Hamburger Mary’s Bar & Grille
110 W. Church St., Orlando, 321-219-0600 / hamburgermarys-orlando.com. A colorful crowd is part of the fun at this Church Street hotspot, where bingo games, trivia contests and cabaret shows are among the events that vie for guests’ attention beside the enormous and creatively topped burgers. $
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Johnny’s Fillin’ Station 2631 S. Fern Creek Ave., Orlando, 407-894-6900 / johnnysfillinstation.com. Neighbors gather for hearty burgers, along with wings, subs and wraps, at this homey spot in a residential downtown neighborhood. Beer flows, TVs broadcast big games, and families love the pool tables and dart boards. $ Pine 22 22 E. Pine St., Orlando, 407-574-2160 / pine22.
com. Burgers go chic at this fast-casual downtowner, where every ingredient is special. The burgers are from happy cows, the eggs from free-roaming chickens, the pork from lovingly raised pigs. Mix and match your toppings over a patty of beef, turkey or black beans (or pulled pork), with options ranging from mango salsa to sautéed mushrooms. $$
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Luma on Park 290 S. Park Ave., Winter Park, 407-599-4111 / lumaonpark.com. If there’s pancetta in your salad, the salumi was made in the kitchen, by hand, starting with a whole pig. Most herbs are from local farms, fish from sustainable sources, pickled vegetables jarred in house and desserts built around seasonal ingredients. Luma’s progressive menu, which changes daily, is served in a sleek and stylish dining room in the heart of Winter Park, under the passionate direction of Executive Chef Brandon McGlamery, Chef de Cuisine Derek Perez and Pastry Chef Brian Cernell. $$$
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Norman’s 4012 Central Florida Pkwy., Orlando, 407278-8459 / normans.com. Celebrity Chef Norman Van Aken’s restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton, Grande Lakes, turns out artistic New World cuisine combining the flavors of Latin America, the Caribbean, the Far East and the United States. The dining room is dramatic, the food astounding and the service polished. Be sure to begin with a Norman’s classic: foie gras “French toast.” And you’ll be delighted with the Mongolian veal chop. $$$$
Park Plaza Gardens 319 S. Park Ave., Winter Park, 407645-2475 / parkplazagardens.com. After 30-plus years, Park Plaza Gardens is practically an institution on Winter Park’s
CONTINENTAL Venetian Room
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8101 World Center Dr., Orlando, 407-238-8060 / thevenetianroom.com. Walk though a run-of-the-mill convention hotel to reach the AAA FourDiamond Venetian Room, an elegant, domed-service, continental restaurant that hearkens to the heyday of unapologetic, butter-and-cream-enhanced fine dining. The lobster bisque is an absolute must. After that, try the filet mignon, duck a l’orange or Dover sole. $$$$
CREATIVE/ PROGRESSIVE Chef’s Table at the Edgewater Hotel
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99 W. Plant St., Winter Garden, 407-230-4837 / chefstableattheedgewater.com. Husband-and-wife team Kevin and Laurie Tarter are your personal servers at this intimate Winter Garden hideaway, where Kevin prepares the evening’s three-course, prix-fixe meal and Laurie helps choose the wine. Both stop by every table to chat with guests. Adjacent, the Tasting Room offers tapas-size portions of international dishes and a full bar. $$$
Finesse 7025 County Road 46A, Lake Mary, 407-805-9220 /
finesse-therestaurant.com. Talented chef Alex Brugger runs a remarkable kitchen at Finesse, a stylish Lake Mary restaurant with an ambitious menu. Begin with the tender duck confit encased in puff pastry, the complex black bean soup and whatever raw tuna appetizer happens to be on the menu. Continue with the creamy seafood paella, made with risotto, or the steak or pork with chimichurri and duck fat French fries. End with the chocolate-orange soufflé served with peanut butter anglaise. $$-$$$
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Funky Monkey 912 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, 407427-1447; 9101 International Dr., Orlando (Pointe Orlando), 407-418-9463 / funkymonkeywine.com. Every meal begins with complimentary lime-garlic edamame at these eclectic eateries, known as much for sushi and intriguing wine lists as for creative American cuisine and an ever-changing menu. FMI Restaurant Group also owns Bananas, Nick’s Italian Kitchen and Prickly Pear as well as a catering arm and the Funky Monkey Vault, a wine shop that also sells gifts, apparel and furniture. $$ Hue 629 E. Central Blvd., Orlando, 407-849-1800 / hueres-
The year has just begun, and we’re already making shelf space for our new 2013 Foodie Awards such as “Orlando’s Best Hotel Restaurant” and “Orlando’s Most Romantic Restaurant.” We’ll just scoot last year’s Golden Spoon Award and our AAA Four Diamond Award® over a few inches to make room.
taurant.com. Hue is a progressive American restaurant on a busy corner in trendy Thornton Park. Well-dressed 30-somethings sip colorful martinis at the bar and dine, indoors and out, on of-the-now items such as tuna tartare, duck breast with cranberry reduction and amaretto risotto, and grouper with smoked paprika olive oil. $$$
And of course, there’s always room for you in the Venetian Room.
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K Restaurant 2401 Edgewater Dr. Orlando, 407-8722332 / kwinebar.com. Kevin Fonzo, the go-to chef in College Park since 2001, owns this homey eatery, which is, in fact, located in an erstwhile residence. The menu is mostly creative-American, along with Italian favorites celebrating Fonzo’s heritage. Casual wine tastings and themed special dinners, along with a constantly changing menu, bring back regulars for singular experiences. $$-$$$
thevenetianroom.com
Le Rouge 7730 W. Sand Lake Rd., Orlando, 407-370-0909 /
407-238-8060
lerougewinebar.com. This Restaurant Row hot spot is a sexy lounge with backlit lighting, a long bar and comfy sofas. It also features fine food. Guests can choose from among three-dozen tapas, including garlic shrimp and sautéed wild mushrooms, or enjoy traditional entrées such as seared salmon with wine-lemon-dill sauce. $$$
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tony Park Avenue. People-watchers gather at the small bar and sidewalk tables to linger over casual meals and cold beers, while those looking for an indulgent experience dine in the garden-like back dining room, which boasts atrium windows and plush décor. The menu features a melding of American, European and Asian flavors and cooking techniques. $$$-$$$$
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Ravenous Pig 1234 N. Orange Ave., Winter Park, 407-628-2333 / theravenouspig.com. After leaving their hometown for serious culinary training, Winter Park natives James and Julie Petrakis returned to open the region’s first genuine gastropub. Dinner reservations have been tough to snag ever since. The ambitious menu changes daily based on the fish, meat and produce that’s available, and it’s executed by a dedicated team that abhors shortcuts. Besides daily specials, The Pig always serves up an excellent burger, soft pretzels, shrimp and grits and a donut dessert called Pig Tails. $$$
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Victoria & Albert’s 4401 Floridian Way, Lake Buena Vista, 407-939-3463 / victoria-alberts.com. Indulgent, sevencourse prix-fixe feasts are served in the serenely elegant main dining room, accompanied by live harp music, while 10 courses are offered in the more intimate Queen Victoria’s Room. But what the heck? Why not go for 13 courses at the Chef’s Table? Chef Scott Hunnel, Maitre d’ Israel Pérez and Master Pastry Chef Erich Herbitschek travel the world to seek out impressive food and service trends, then adapt the golden ones locally. That’s why V&A, at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, is Orlando’s only AAA Five Diamond restaurant. $$$$
EASTERN EUROPEAN Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Café
205 E. 1st St., Sanford, 407-321-2204 / willowtreecafe.com. If you like to indulge in a good schnitzel with a liter of hearty beer, head to Sanford. There you’ll find Theo Hollerbach overseeing the gemütlichkeit while serving up authentic German foods from sauerbraten to a wurst sausage platter. Live music on select evenings gets the whole dining room swaying together in a spirit of schunkel abend. $$
Yalaha Bakery 1213 N. Orange Ave., Orlando, 321800-5212; 8210 County Road 48, Yalaha, 352-324-3366 / yalahabakery.com. Fans of hearty German breads and scratchmade German pastries can drive to this homey outpost in rural Lake County, or they can pick up their loaves and sweets at an Ivanhoe District storefront. The Yalaha unit also sells sandwiches and hot lunches. $
HAWAIIAN/ POLYNESIAN Emeril’s Tchoup Chop
6300 Hollywood Way, Orlando, 407-503-2467 / emerils.com. Emeril Lagasse’s Polynesian-fusion fare is executed by locally renowned chef, Greg Richie. Within a dramatically decorated space, diners enjoy tropical cocktails, steamed dumplings and creative entrées such as pan-roasted duck breast with gingered pear chutney and umeboshi (pickled) plum glaze. $$$$
Roy’s 7760 W. Sand Lake Rd., Orlando, 407-352-4844 / roysrestaurant.com. Hawaiian-fusion flavors enhance familiar and exotic fish dishes at this Restaurant Row pioneer, a link in a Honolulu-based chain owned by namesake chef, Roy Yamaguchi. $$
INDIAN Aashirwad
5748 International Dr., Orlando, 407-370-9830 / aashirwadrestaurant.com. Begin with kashmiri naan, a slightly sweet bread stuffed with nuts, coconut and raisins, and continue with chicken biryani, cauliflower in exotic Manchurian gravy and a mixed tandoori grill. Whole spices are roasted and ground daily on site, further enhancing the cuisine’s authenticity. $$
Memories of India 7625 Turkey Lake Rd., Orlando, 407-
370-3277; 3895 Lake Emma Rd., Lake Mary, 407-804-0920 / memoriesofindiacuisine.com. Exceptionally good Indian fare draws diners in Dr. Phillips and Lake Mary to these twin restaurants, where dishes such as palek paneer (creamed spinach) and lamb masala in rich ginger-garlic gravy always satisfy. $$
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ITALIAN Antonio’s
611 S. Orlando Ave., Maitland, 407-645-5523 / antoniosonline.com. Fine Italian fare comes at reasonable prices at Antonio’s, proprietor Greg Gentile’s culinary homage to his ancestors. The upstairs restaurant, recently remodeled and expanded with a balcony overlooking Lake Lily, is somewhat formal, although the open kitchen provides peeks of the chefs in action. Its downstairs counterpart, Antonio’s Café, is a more casual spot that doubles as a market and wine shop. $$$
Bice 5601 Universal Blvd., Orlando, 407-503-1415 / orlando. bicegroup.com. Bice, with 50 locations around the world, has a local outpost of ambitious Italian cuisine at the Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal. Homemade egg pasta is used for several dishes, such as spaghetti Bolognese; other choices include veal piccata and steak with a Gorgonzolademi sauce. $$$$
Enzo’s on the Lake 1130 U.S. 17-92, Longwood, 407834-9872 / enzos.com. Long before Orlando became a serious foodie town, Enzo’s was serving up lovingly prepared Italian specialties inside a converted Longwood home. Little has changed. Split a bunch of antipasto to begin your meal. After that, you pretty much can’t go wrong, but standout dishes include homemade ravioli stuffed with chicken and spinach, veal with artichoke-caper-white wine sauce and possibly the best spaghetti carbonara in town. $$$ O’Stromboli 1803 E. Winter Park Rd., Orlando, 407-6473872. This innocuous neighborhood eatery isn’t fancy, but the food is filling and fresh. That’s why it has become a favorite of residents of Merritt Park, Rose Isle and Baldwin Park. The carbonara is particularly hearty and the fettuccini Alfredo is rich, buttery and more than you should eat in one sitting. The homemade soups are always a dependable starter. $$
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Peperoncino 7988 Via Dellagio Way, Orlando, 407-440-2856 / peperoncinocucina.com. The menu changes every night at this cozy Dr. Phillips Italian, where chef-owner Barbara Alfano puts out plates of fried pecorino drizzled with honey, pear- and four-cheese pasta, and fish steamed in parchment paper. $$$
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Prato 124 N. Park Ave., Winter Park, 407-262-0050 / prato-wp.com. This is one of Orlando’s very best Italian restaurants, but don’t expect a classic lasagna or chicken parmigiana. Executive Chef Brandon McGlamery and Chef di Cucina Matthew Cargo oversee an open kitchen in which pastas are made from scratch, pizzas are rolled to order, sausages are stuffed by hand and the olive oil is a luscious organic pour from Italy. Try the chicken liver Toscana, a satisfying salad Campagna with cubes of sizzling pancetta tesa, shrimp tortellini and citrusy rabbit cacciatore. Begin with a Negroni cocktail; it’s possibly the best around. $$-$$$
Rocco’s 400 S. Orlando Ave., Winter Park, 407-644-7770 /
roccositaliangrille.com. Calabria native Rocco Potami oversees this romantic Italian eatery, where fine authentic fare is presented in an intimate dining room and on a secluded brick patio. Classics include carpaccio (raw, thinly sliced beef with white truffle oil and arugula), ricotta gnocchi and a breaded veal chop topped with a lightly dressed salad. It’s easy to miss, tucked away in a Winter Park strip center, but once you find it, you’ll be back. $$$
LATIN Mi Tomatina
433 W. New England Ave., Winter Park, 321-972-4317 / mitomatina.com. This eatery bills itself as a paella bar, and indeed guests share a half-dozen varieties of the signature Spanish rice dish. Yet others come for a mellow meal over tapas (garlic shrimp, potato omelet, croquettes) and sangria, enjoyed while seated within a small contemporary dining room or outdoors overlooking Hannibal Square. $$-$$$
THE KEY
$ Inexpensive, most entrées under $10 $$ Moderate, most entrées $10-20 $$$ Pricey, most entrées over $20 $$$$ Very expensive, most entrées over $30 indicates the restaurant is a Silver Spoon winner (Judges’ Choice).
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Pio Pio 2500 S. Semoran Blvd., Orlando, 407-207-2262;
5752 International Dr., Orlando, 407-248-6424; 11236 S. Orange Blossom Tr., Orlando, 407-438-5677 / piopiointernational.com. Latin American-style marinated roast chicken is a mainstay at the three Orlando locations, each a dark, mid-scale den where families fuel up on heaping platters of pollo along with garlicky salad, fried plantains (sweet and green) and rice and beans. $$
MEDITERRANEAN Anatolia
7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd., Orlando, 407-352-6766 / anatoliaorlando.com. Sensational Turkish food in an upscale-casual setting makes Anatolia a popular choice in the Dr. Phillips area. Start with any of the “cold salads” and a piping hot puffy lavash bread, then try chargrilled whole fish, tavuk doner (Turkish gyro), lamb chops or spinach-feta pide, sort of like a boat-shaped flatbread. $$
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Bosphorous 108 S. Park Ave., Winter Park, 407-6448609 / bosphorousrestaurant.com. This is the place for flavorful Turkish fare in either a white-tablecloth setting or alfresco along Park Avenue. Many couples fill up on the appetizer sampler with oversized lavash bread. For a heartier meal, try the ground lamb “Turkish pastry,” a shish kebab or a tender lamb shank. Outdoor diners can end their meals by smoking from a hookah. Or not. $$ Taverna Opa 9101 International Dr., Orlando, 407-3518660 / opaorlando.com. The food is excellent, but that’s only half the reason to visit Taverna Opa. On busy nights, the place is festive indeed: Some guests join a Zorba dance around the dining room while others toss white napkins into the air, joyously shouting “Opa!” Then there’s the belly dancer. $$
MEXICAN/ SOUTHWESTERN Cantina Laredo
8000 Via Dellagio Way, Orlando, 407345-0186 / cantinalaredo.com. Modern Mexican cuisine in a spiffy setting draws lovers of cilantro, jalapeño and pico de gallo to this Restaurant Row eatery, where the margaritas flow, the guacamole is made tableside and the portions are generous. The spinach enchilada is a vegetarian-friendly treat. $$
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Cocina 214 151 E. Welbourne Ave., Winter Park, 407-790-7997 / cocina214.com. Tex-Mex food is top quality here (214 is the Dallas area code), with salsa, savories and even margarita flavorings made from scratch. The spinachmushroom quesadilla and braised pork tacos with “orange dust” are especially noteworthy. $$
El Tenampa 11242 S. Orange Blossom Tr., Orlando, 407850-9499 / eltenampaorlando.com. Many Orlandoans make El Tenampa part of their Costco shopping ritual, since the restaurant is located only a block from the OBT warehouse store. This authentic eatery features fresh fruit juices, spicy chicken chilaquiles (a Mexican breakfast, available all day long, made with fried tortilla pieces and a green sauce) as well as a satisfying shrimp quesadilla in addition to the standard enchiladas and fajitas. $
SEAFOOD Cityfish
617 E. Central Blvd., Orlando, 407-849-9779 / cityfishorlando.com. Feast on slabs of grilled, blackened or fried fresh fish at this hip Ts-and-flip-flops Thornton Park hangout. The atmosphere is ultra-casual and the sidewalk seating is great for people-watching. $$
Ocean Prime 7339 W. Sand Lake Rd., Orlando, 407-7814880 / ocean-prime.com. Designed to evoke the ambience of an old-time supper club, Ocean Prime’s white-jacketed servers offer sensational steaks and fish dishes along with creative options such as sautéed shrimp in a spectacular Tabasco-cream sauce, crab cakes with sweet corn cream and ginger salmon. End with the chocolate peanut butter pie. $$$$ Todd English’s Bluezoo 1500 Epcot Resorts Blvd.,
Lake Buena Vista, 407-934-1111 / thebluezoo.com. Creatively prepared seafood is served in an over-the-top undersea setting at this fine-dining restaurant, located in Disney’s Swan and Dolphin hotel. The fashion-forward choices might
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be a miso-glazed Hawaiian sea bass or fried lobster in a soy glaze. The desserts are among the best in town. $$$$
Winter Park Fish Co. 761 Orange Ave. Winter Park, 407-622-6112 / thewinterparkfishco.com. Fish and seafood dishes are fresh and well-prepared at this humble Winter Park spot, where a counter service format helps keep the prices reasonable. Crab cakes, lobster rolls, mahi-mahi sandwiches and more ambitious dishes such as grouper cheeks in parchment and stuffed grouper are among a day’s assortment. $$
STEAK Bull & Bear
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14200 Bonnet Creek Resort Lane, Orlando, 407-597-5410 / bullandbearorlando.com. Orlando’s Bull & Bear looks similar to New York’s legendary steakhouse (except for the pool and golf course views), but ours has its own ambitious menu. Guests of the Waldorf Astoria’s finedining spot can feast on traditional items such as veal Oscar and prime steak that’s dry aged for 21 days, and intriguing ones like appetizers of gnocchi and escargot with crescents of black garlic, and shrimp and grits presented under a dome that, when removed, introduces a waft of aromatic smoke. The chocolate and lemon desserts are superb. $$$$
Capital Grille 4600 N. World Dr., Lake Buena Vista, 407939-3463 / thecapitalgrille.com. Capital Grille tries to one-up its upscale steakhouse competitors by dry-aging its beef, an expensive process that results in especially flavorful meat. Try a beautifully unadorned chop or a more creative dish, such as citrus-glazed salmon or Kona-crusted sirloin. The setting is clubby; the wine selection is generous. $$$$ Christner’s Del Frisco’s 729 Lee Rd., Orlando, 407645-4443 / christnersprimesteakandlobster.com. Locals have been choosing this prototypically masculine, dark-woodand-red-leather enclave for business dinners and family
celebrations for more than a decade. Family-owned since 1993, Christner’s features USDA Prime, corn-fed Midwestern beef or Australian cold-water lobster tails with a slice of the restaurant’s legendary mandarin orange cake. And there’s a loooong wine list (6,500 bottles). On select nights, Kostya Kimlat hosts magic shows along with a prix-fixe menu in a private dining room. $$$$
Fleming’s 8030 Via Dellagio Way, Orlando, 407-352-5706;
933 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park, 407-699-9463 / flemingssteakhouse.com. Fleming’s puts a younger spin on the stately steakhouse concept, featuring sleek décor and 100 wines by the glass along with its prime steaks and chops. The tempura lobster “small plate” with soy-ginger dipping sauce is a worthy pre-entrée splurge. For a taste of the oldfashioned, visit on Sunday, when prime rib is served. $$$$
Nelore Churrascaria 115 E. Lyman Ave., Winter Park,
407-645-1112 / neloresteakhouse.com. This is one of two Nelore Brazilian all-you-can-eat steakhouses — the other one is in Houston — where the servers, or “gauchos,” come to your table as often as you’d like bearing skewers of premier beef, chicken or pork. There’s a world-class salad bar and Brazilian cheese bread to keep you happy between meat courses. $$$$
Ruth’s Chris 7501 W. Sand Lake Rd., Orlando, 407-226-
3900; 610 N. Orlando Ave., Winter Park, 407-622-2444; 80 Colonial Center Pkwy, Lake Mary, 407-804-8220 / ruthschris. com. With three stately steakhouses and corporate headquarters by Winter Park Village, Ruth’s Chris, a native of New Orleans, has become an Orlando special-occasion mainstay. Its service-oriented restaurants specialize in massive corn-fed Midwestern steaks served sizzling and topped with butter. $$$$
restaurant business. His Orlando outpost, located in Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin resort, is a dark, tastefully sportsthemed steakhouse where the menu is painted on a football. Offerings include Premium Black Angus beef as well as barbecue shrimp, wedge salad and crab cakes. $$$$
VEGETARIAN Dandelion CommuniTea Café
618 N. Thornton Ave., Orlando, 407-362-1864 / dandelioncommunitea.com. Proprietor Julie Norris meant to open a crunchy teahouse, but her organic, locally sourced foods were such a hit that the Dandelion is now a hot spot for lunch and a mecca for the “OurLando” movement. Even carnivores can’t resist Henry’s Hearty Chili, Happy Hempy Hummus, and wraps and sandwiches. As for dessert, Razzy Parfait’s vanilla soygurt is delicious, filling and healthful enough to be a meal. $
Café 118 153 E. Morse Blvd., Winter Park, 407-389-2233 / cafe118.com. Raw foods – none cooked past 118 degrees – are the focus of this crisp Winter Park café, attracting raw foodists, vegans and vegetarians. The spinach and beet ravioli stuffed with cashew ricotta is an impressive imitation of the Italian staple. Thirsty Park Avenue shoppers might stop by for a healthful smoothie. $$ Ethos Vegan Kitchen 601 S. New York Ave., Orlando, 407-228-3899 / ethosvegankitchen.com. Orlando’s Ivanhoe District is home to Ethos, a vegan restaurant with a menu that also satisfies open-minded carnivores. Fuel up on pecan-crusted eggplant with red wine sauce and mashed potatoes or a meat-free shepherd’s pie, if salads, sandwiches and coconut-curry tofu wraps won’t do the trick. $-$$
Shula’s 1500 Epcot Resorts Blvd., Orlando, 407-934-1362 / donshula.com. Coach Don Shula, who led the Miami Dolphins through a perfect season in 1972, is now in the
Featured in
Orlando Restaurant Guide 2013
W inter Park 400 South Orlando Avenue s 407-644-7770 Reservations online at www.roccositaliangrille.com ORLANDO-LIFE.COM
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RESTLESS NATIVE
mike thomas
I
have not experienced happiness since President Obama
was elected, the day my warm gun went stone cold. No bang bang. No shoot shoot. No quality alone time with the oil rag. I bought my Beretta while working at the Orlando Sentinel. Constant exposure to the Sentinel’s website convinced me that men with head tattoos were out there just waiting to kick down my front door, invade my home, bind me with duct tape and steal our soccer trophies and American Girl dolls. No place was safe. Not even the genteel, family burbs of Maitland. I became the first Maitlander I know of to own a gun, not counting the ones that shoot bursts of water up to 30 feet. I locked it in a small safe and once a month took it to the Casselberry Shoot Straight, quite the misnomer if you’ve ever watched the customers at the indoor range. Those were the days when target ammo was plentiful and cheap. We were secure in the belief that our guns would be with us forevermore. Until pried from our cold, dead, arthritic fingers at the wake. But then came Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2009. Soon after, from the NRA black-ops squads in the basements of Idaho, came dire warnings about Obama-Pelosi plots to take our guns. These rumors spread from computer to computer like a Chinese virus. All across America, pickup trucks roared out of driveways and into Walmart parking lots, where the gun racks and ammo shelves were soon stripped bare. There is enough hoarded firepower in Apopka to take out Iran. Naturally this had an impact on price. The cost of lead now exceeds the cost of gold, at least when molded into the form of 9 mm slugs. I no longer can bankroll both my 15shot clip and a college education for my children. If three home invaders broke into my house, I could only afford to shoot each one once. If four broke in, I’d have to throw the gun at the last guy, like the bank robber at Superman. Even worse, I have no way to defend my family against all these Labrador retrievers running around the neighbor64
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hood. You just never know when one is going to go bad. The liberals aren’t taking away my Second Amendment rights. Gun nuts being played by the Firearms Industrial Complex are a much bigger threat. The antidote to 50round clips is not being able to afford 50 rounds. Paranoia runs deep, into your life it will creep. I promise that’s my last reference to the greatest era of music ever. But the lyric is appropriate. Paranoia feeds both pro-gun and anti-gun mania, and it is in full swing at a time when there actually is very little to be fearful about. In its most definitive ruling ever, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2003 that guns are here to stay. Nobody is taking anybody’s guns. As for fear of gun nuts, Florida is the most gun crazy state in the nation. There are almost 1 million concealed weapons licenses. We have the “Stand Your Ground’’ law. And firearm violence is at record lows. Gun nuts don’t kill people. Nuts do. So do violent criminals who rarely venture out of their violent neighborhoods. Mayhem is very concentrated these days. We went through the worst economic crisis in a generation, faced massive unemployment, foreclosures and homelessness — all gateway conditions for crime. And the violent crime rate is at a 40-year low. The Sentinel has had to import violence from other cities for its web page. Orange County once confronted a prison over-population crisis. And now it’s trying to figure out what to do with all the empty beds. Never has reality been so distorted by advocacy groups, pundits, cable news, TV news, digital news — all cashing in on paranoia. On most nights, I don’t bother setting the burglar alarm because I know the invaders aren’t really coming. The gun in the safe is now unloaded. In the daytime, I often leave the door unlocked, just like you used to hear about in the old days. That’s because these days are just as safe. n Native Floridian and longtime Orlando columnist Mike Thomas is a freelance writer. You can reach him at miket@orlando-life.com.
Photo: RAFAEL TONGOl
Happiness Is a Warm Gun — If You You Can Still Afford the Ammunition
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You can’t judge a chef by his apron (if he or she wears one at all). Which is why we don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach to the luxury automobile. Rather, it should feel charismatic. Interesting. Special. Much like the individuals who drive them. It’s also why our all-new ���� MKZ Hybrid is not just the most fuel-efficient luxury vehicle in America,* but is also available to you at the same starting price as our gas model MKZ. Get the whole story at Lincoln.com. *EPA-estimated �� city/�� hwy/�� combined mpg. Actual mileage will vary.
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If we were all the same, how would anyone be special?