http://www.talkofthetownrestaurants.com/moonfish_menu.html

Wrapping up a nice week in Florida. Met with some great customers and they all gave me some options for dining in Orlando that were rat-free! I ended up heading to a place called Moon Fish which is known for their seafood! I was accompanied by two customers and we were ready for a nice meal, I will post pics a little later, but you can use the link above to the menu.

We started with the sushi appetizer that was made up of a King Crab California roll, a Spicy Tuna tartare, a Super Crunchy roll with crab and smoked salmon that was lightly fried in panko bread crumbs. Following this we each had house salads that were nothing special but was made just right and had warm bread with nice soft butter that came along with it.

And now on to the main course. It was hard enough to choose from the expansive menu but then the daily specials threw me for a loop. Ever been in a situation where you spend so much time figuring out what you want and then bam the specials come out and just make you second guess your original selection?! My selection was a Chilean sea bass encrusted in lobster mousse sitting on a bed of schezuan sting beans in a soy sauce glaze. It was pretty fantastic. The lobster mousse was broiled on top to give it a nice crust while the sea bass was tender and absolutely delicious.

Moon Fish is a great restaurant with a diverse menu for anyone's tastes. With steak, sushi or seafood you can take your pick! I will definitely return and I'm looking forward to the next trip out there

Well, just about bed time and gettin' ready for travels this week to Miami and Orlando. What's funny is that as I am getting ready for bed I am sitting here watching the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives" and "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" (profiles celeb chefs' fav places to eat). Nothing has come up in the areas where I am headed. There should be no shortage of places in Miami so I am looking forward to trying something new and exciting there. As for Orlando, it is so touristy that I don't think I've ever had a memorable meal there. I am always open to suggestions so please feel free to help me out if you know of any must-eat places.

Regardless, I should find something note worthy. Talk soon.

Being in Orlando for so long had gotten to us a little so we decided to ask some of the staff at the resort where they eat before and after work. It was late in the evening and we decided to grab a snack and have a beer after a long day of work. The staff recommended local favorites including Miller's Ale House, a casual bar located just outside the Disney resort area.

After a $10 cab ride we found ourselves situated at a table in the bar surrounded by big screen TVs broadcasting various sporting events. Miller's Ale House is not fancy - just a good old-fashioned American tavern with a pretty expansive menu located here for your review. I didn't realize at the time that the place is a chain but as it turns out they have plenty of locations across the US.

Miller's is known for their Zingers, basically chicken fingers in a sauce of your choosing. For an appetizer, we ordered a round of Zingers with Mt. St. Helen's sauce which was supposed to be "dangerous" hot. Now, I grew up on spicy food so my palate can sometimes run a little more tolerant of spice than most, but I can honestly say this was just not spicy. The sauce gave the chicken fingers a nice coating of flavor but not much heat.

For the main course I ordered the blackened prime rib sandwich. I was a little skeptical after the mediocre appetizer but as the entree came out it looked really good.

Looks didn't disappoint - the meat was prime and cooked to perfection. My first bite took me by surprise (after the appetizer) as the sandwich was really good! The portion was huge so I only ate half of the sandwich. The au jus sauce was great- I could smell and taste all the flavors the prime rib had to offer. After a beer (really nice selection by the way), apps and a great sandwich we called it a night.

Again, nothing fancy about this place, including the price. Don't get suckered into the Zingers; they're really not worth the hype. Stick with the sandwiches which are on the cheap but have what you are looking for when it comes to taste! A drink, apps and prime rib sandwich set us back $25.00.

Still in Orlando and looking for a decent lunch without breaking the bank, I went to the Contemporary resort with co-workers looking to escape the trade show floor for a bite to eat.

The resort caters mostly to families. There are character breakfasts and lunches that feature Disney characters for kids during meal times and most diners pay a premium for these activities.

For the Eating Executive, I wasn't looking to dine with cartoon characters. Instead we found a restaurant called The Wave. For those of you who like to plan ahead, here is a link to the website with menu.

The Wave has pretty typical American cuisine with a modern flare. Portion sizes are decent and should fill most appetites. The decor is really nice with a very trendy bar/lounge featuring a blue-lit lounge playing up the "wave" theme. As an added benefit the restaurant is known for using only organic ingredients and is also defined as a "green" establishment making it eco-friendly.

Because it was lunch, I opted to order light. I went with the vegetarian sandwich made with grilled tofu, zucchini, eggplant, roasted red pepper, and herb goat cheese served on grain bread. My colleagues laughed at me as I'd more typically order heartier fare, but it sounded good and it did not disappoint.

I really enjoyed the sandwich. The texture and firmness of the tofu was just right giving it a little crunch and not feeling rubbery, as can be the case with tofu. The veggies were crisp and grilled nicely locking in all the flavors that were so perfectly released with every bite. The dish came accompanied with a papaya slaw that was really good as well.

Since we were on a tight schedule, we appreciated the prompt service that allowed us to eat well and get back to work all within an hour and within our budgets. A drink and entree cost $15.00 - a very reasonable price considering it is a Disney resort serving quality food.

Last week I attended a conference in Orlando, FL - not one of my favorite places to go, especially since we were stuck on Disney property most of the week. The Disney experience usually means some pretty big dollars! For the most part it's pretty hard to find decent food at a reasonable price while on the resort. However, I did manage to find some reasonable items, at least as good as it gets given the location.

First off, Wolfgang does it right. If you have ever dined at one of his restaurants you know it's top notch when it comes to service and atmosphere. Even in the commercialized world of Disney he has managed to create a restaurant where it is fun to dine with a great, vibrant atmosphere and a friendly, knowledgeable crew. The crowd is diverse, you will find some of the patrons dressed to the nines coming out of the Cirque Du Soleil show while many are casual theme park-goers looking to recharge after a long day of Mickey madness.

The menu is just as diverse as the crowd. Click here to see the website with menu options. You will find something for even the pickiest of eaters. From sushi, to pizza, steaks to pasta - take your pick! I opted to sample the sushi, specifically the Chef's Sushi Special roll. It was eight pieces of yum. The roll was a spicy tuna roll, with crispy tempura bits inside and topped with smoked salmon, drizzled with a spicy ginger sauce. I enjoyed the combination of the flavors and loved the heat of the spicy tuna and sauce that was on top. As other dishes went by me to neighboring tables they all looked well assembled and the faces of the people eating them looked very satisfied.

For being in the middle of tourist trap overpriced restaurants, Wolfgang delivers on the reputation his brands are known for at a reasonable price. A drink and the Chef's Sushi Special set me back $18.00. If I find myself back in Downtown Disney, you can bet I will be heading back.