8 minute read
Ask the Locals: Central
MARY'S GALS
Ginger Minj (L) and Gidget Galore welcome you to Hamburger Mary's Orlando.
PHOTO BY DYLAN TODD
Dining with Pride
Ask the Locals: Ginger Minj & Gidget Galore
JEREMY WILLIAMS
Rodgers and Hammerstein, Kander and Ebb, George and Ira Gershwin; the dynamic duo of Ginger Minj and Gidget Galore deserve to be named among those talented pairs, and in Central Florida these two larger than life drag sensations are just as beloved and popular.
On their own, Ginger and Gidget are forces to be reckoned with, but together they are unstoppable. They are the responsible party for the award-winning, hugely successful "Golden Gals Live" show, a parody of the hit '80s sitcom "The Golden Girls." That turned into the series of sitcom parodies known as "TV Land Live."
The pair have been friends for years and have pretty much become experts on all things Central Florida since moving to Orlando — Ginger, born in Leesburg, Fla., moved here 15 years ago and Gidget came here in 1995 from Beaver Falls, N.Y. "We love Orlando, it will be my home forever," Ginger says. "And one of the things that will keep me here forever are the theme parks and attractions. And it's not just Disney and Universal, although we think they're great. It's the things o the beaten path. We love Gatorland so much. In fact, I picked my house because of how close it is to Gatorland."
Another reason that Ginger and Gidget think that Central Florida is just the bee's knees, the countless dining options. "Orlando is the perfect inbetween city," Ginger says. "It's small enough that you can get to know everybody and big enough that you have plenty of places to eat." "My brother lives up north still and the closest restaurant is 45 minutes away and it's a Denny's, so when they come here it's just like wow," Gidget says. "So many options and so much good food."
We asked Ginger and Gidget, who can be seen entertaining crowds every week at the popular burger joint Hamburger Mary's in Downtown Orlando, to share some of their favorite dining hotspots in Central Florida.
FAVORITE LGBTQ-OWNED
RESTAURANT: "Where else but Hamburger Mary's," Ginger says. "It's a staple in the community. Really good food, really great entertainment." Hamburger Mary's 110 W. Church St., 321-319-0600, HamburgerMarys.com/Orlando
FAVORITE BRUNCH: "For me,
the most fun you can have during brunch is at April Fresh's Comedy Brunch," Gidget says. "I love brunch at The Grand Bohemian," Ginger says. " Just for sit down and have some delicious food, that is the best bang for your buck. And it is right in downtown, so you can go, have a good time and stumble where else to keep the party going." April Fresh's Comedy Brunch at Southern Nights 375 S. Bumby Ave., 407-412-5039
The Grand Bohemian 325 S. Orange Ave., 407-313-9000, Marriott.com/Orlando
FAVORITE PLACE FOR
DRINKS: "Cocktails and Screams is fantastic," Gidget says. "Back in their witch bar they have a mixologist, and the drinks come in different containers with dry ice and everything. It's like a show." Cocktails & Screams 39 W. Pine St., 407-885-3558, CocktailsAndScreams.com
FAVORITE DESERT SPOT:
"We haven't gone in yet but we did order dessert from Better Than Sex during quarantine," Ginger says. "I had the popcorn pimp cheesecake and it was really good." "We actually go to Friendly's a lot," Gidget says. "I just love the clown sundae with the cone hat." "We do go a lot," Ginger adds, "and they treat us like gold whenever we walk in there." Better Than Sex 1905 N. Orange Avce., 407-761-8949, BetterThanSexDesserts.com Friendly's 8718 International Dr., 407-345-1655, FriendlysRestaurants.com
FAVORITE RESTAURANT THAT SCREAMS CENTRAL
FLORIDA: "Café Tu Tu Tango because, just like Central Florida, it is a mix of everything," Ginger says. "Where else can you get southern spare ribs alongside bao buns alongside caulifl ower tacos then end it with a cake pop. It's the most eclectic menu I've ever seen." "The food there is always great and you can take anybody there who is coming into town to visit and they are blown away," Gidget says. "A close second would be The Boathouse at Disney Springs. They have the best seafood and the staff is so friendly and they remember you every time you come in."
COLORFUL DRINK:
Café Tu Tu Tango’s “Love is Love” rainbow cocktail.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROCKAWAY PR
SOUTHERN COMFORTS:
A selection of southern dishes from The COOP.
PHOTO FROM THE COOP'S FACEBOOK
Café Tu Tu Tango 8625 International Dr., 407-248-2222, CafeTuTuTango.com The Boathouse at Disney Springs 1620 E. Buena Vista Dr., 407-939-2628, TheBoathouseOrlando.com
FAVORITE FINE DINING
RESTAURANT: "We go to The Melting Pot," Ginger says. "But we don't dress up, we wear our stretch pants." "They always ask us 'What are you celebrating tonight?'" Gidget says. "We say 'dinner.' I like Kres a lot too." "Kres is good," Ginger syas. "I also really love California Grill. We wear non-stretch pants when we go there. That's our fancy fancy place." The Melting Pot 7549 W. Sand Lake Rd., 407-903-1100, MeltingPot.com/Orlando-FL Kres Chophouse 17 W. Church St., 407-447-7950, KresRestaurant.com California Grill at Disney's Contemporary Resort 4660 World Dr., 407-939-5277, DisneyWorld.Disney.go.com/ CalifoniaGrill
FAVORITE TAPAS: "Café Tu Tu
Tango, of course," Gidget says. "Santiago's Bodega is really good too." "I hear they have an amazing brunch also," Ginger adds. "I haven't been for brunch yet but I plan to. I hear nothing but good things." Santiago's Bodega 802 Virginia Dr., 407-412-6979, SantiagoBodega.com Café Tu Tu Tango 8625 International Dr., 407-248-2222, CafeTuTuTango.com
FAVORITE SOUTHERN
COOKING: "College Park Cafe," Ginger says. "There is no better biscuits 'n gravy in this town." "I'd have to go with The COOP," Gidget says. "I love The COOP." College Park Diner 2304 Edgewater Dr., 407-420-9892, CollegeParkCafe.com
The COOP by 4 Rivers 610 W. Morse Blvd., 407-843-2667, ASouthernAffair.com
FAVORITE TACOS: "I just love
TaKo Cheena," Gidget says. "They have a different kind of taco than most people are use to." "Pepe's Cantina, right next to Hamburger Mary's," Ginger says. "There tacos are great." TaKo Cheena 948 N. Mills Ave., 407-930-8608 Pepe's Cantina Church Street 120 W. Church St., 407-730-2341, PepesCantina.com/Downtown
FAVORITE LATE NIGHT
DINING: "We always go to the gay IHOP [on Colonial]," Gidget says. "We love the GayHOP," Ginger adds. "We also love Pom Pom's." "Yes, I love Pom's," Gidget says. "I get the Danny G with no red onions but I add turkey to it because I need it with meat." IHOP (Lovingly referred to as the GayHOP) 647 E. Colonial Dr., 407-896-8313, IHOP. com Pom Pom's Teahouse & Sandwicheria 67 N. Bumby Ave., 407-894-0865, PomPomsTeahouse.com
FAVORITE DINNER THEATER:
"Sleuths has reigned supreme for decades and there's a reason," Ginger says. "And everyone we know has worked there at some point," Gidget says. "I also think Medieval Times is just classic." Sleuths Mystery Dinner Shows 8267 International Dr., 407-363-1985, Sleuths.com Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament 4510 W. Vine St., 866-543-9637, MedievalTimes.com/Plan-Your-Trip/ Orlando-FL
FAVORITE FROZEN TREAT:
"Craft popsicles at La Palette in Hunter's Creek," Ginger says. "They are insanely good. They have any kind of popsicle you can think of and some that you would probably never think of. They have an avocado and citrus one and it was probably the most refreshing thing I have ever put in my mouth." La Palette Artisan Pop Bar 12720 S. Orange Blossom Trail Suite #24, 407-251-0735, LaPalettePop.com
FAVORITE PLACE TO PAMPER
YOURSELF: "There is nothing like Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian," Gidget says. "That is our favorite thing to do, period," Ginger exclaims. "Above going to Gatorland, above everything." "It was the last thing we did before the pandemic shutdown," Gidget says. "We use to do it all the time and we cannot wait until it has opened back up so we can start going again." "Everyone wants to feel fancy and pampered now and again," Ginger says. "Everything there is gorgeous and set up like a beautiful Victorian garden." Afternoon Tea at Disney's Grand Floridian's Garden View Tea Room 4401 Floridian Way, 407-939-5277, DisneyWorld.Disney.go.com/Dining/ Grand-Floridian-Resort-and-Spa/ Afternoon-Tea
BELOW:
REFRESHING TREAT: Craft popsicles from La Palette in Orlando. PHOTO FROM LA PALETTE'S FACEBOOK
