Wednesday, July 29, 2009

TEXAS de BRAZIL, Florida


Who would guess that you can satisfy your carniverous cravings in the Sunshine State? When I think about Florida, orange juice and Disney World and bathing suits come to mind. When I think about meat in Florida, I wonder about alligator - not beef, chicken, lamb, pork, and sausage. Going to this Brazilian-style all-you-can eat restaurant is a fun experience. Gauchos (carvers) come to your table offering choice cuts of various grilled meats. In addition to these offerings, there is a 50-item "salad bar" with something for everyone. My family frequents this restaurant during our annual trip to Orlando and each time, we swear we are not going to eat as much as we did "last year". I'd like to say that this year we accomplished that, but everything was so good, no can do.


FYI: This is a fixed-price dinner which could be considered moderately expensive once beverages, desserts, tax, and gratuity are added.


TEXAS de BRAZIL
5259 International Drive
Orlando, Florida
p: 407-355-0355

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

THE HIGH LINE, New York





Walking the streets of New York City is one of my favorite things to do. There's so much to take in and it's so much more interesting than walking on a treadmill facing the wall in a gym (not that I would know). Recently I discovered the High Line, a former elevated freight railroad track that has been partially rejuvenated and newly opened in June, 2009. Located on the West Side of Manhattan, you can walk a little over a mile with the city landscape on all sides. It's a real treat to see Manhattan architectures, the Hudson River, and the Jersey coastline all in such a short span. In two places, the park travels under and through buildings. There are many benches for soaking up the ambiance as well as a stadium style bleacher area overlooking traffic. This wild flower filled attraction screams eclecticity!

The High Line
Manhattan's West Side
From West 20th St. in Chelsea to Gansevort St. in the Meatpacking District

Sunday, July 19, 2009

THE BOATHOUSE RESTAURANT, New York


I took this picture of the Boathouse Restaurant from our boat as my strapping brother, Steve, rowed me around The Lake in Central Park. It was a beautiful morning to sit and take in the sights, not to mention watching him "heave-ho" helped me work up an appetite. Afterward, we turned-in the boat, went next door to the restaurant, and got in line to receive a little disk that we were told would signal us in an hour and a half to tell us that our table was ready. Normally an hour and a half would seem like an eternity, however there is a lovely little bar on the adjoining pier with terrific mimosa's. After two rounds and a spill (I swear the wind knocked it over), our buzzing disk beckoned us to the restaurant and we were immediately seated. We had a great table for two facing out to the water. We could see the reflection of the waves dancing on the ceiling, the blue sky spotted with white puffs, majestic building tops, plush green trees, and the lake with all it's boaters. The perfect view! Our waiter took great care of us bringing us various breads, delicious appetizers and wonderful entrees, giving us even more reasons to not be in a hurry (notice I'm not mentioning drinks). It was the perfect way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon in New York City.

The Boathouse Restaurant
East 72nd St and Park Drive North
Central Park, NY
P: 212-517-2233