Travel

Dining Outside the Home: Cupcake Delights in Mt. Dora

Before I begin, let me clarify…I did not make a meal of cupcakes. I’m not saying I couldn’t have, I’m saying I showed tremendous restraint! After all, I could easily fulfill the four major food groups in one sitting:Vegetable = Carrot Cupcakes

Fruit = Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Cupcakes

Dairy = Red Velvet with Cream Cheese Frosting

Protein = Maple Bacon Cupcakes

The dining area is as quaint and appealing as the cupcakes themselves. Overall, it’s a taste of paradise one bite at a time. 
Pastry Chef and Owner, Judy, says it quite well: 

“The way I see it… Cupcakes are a form of art, a magnificent masterpiece, on an edible canvas and you can never have too many hanging around.”

Lakefront Charm Meets Southern Hospitality 

Palm trees lined the middle of the boulevard waving their fronds in greeting. Spanish moss hangs in crimped curls from regal trees like Rapunzel’s braid let loose. The timeless beauty of the historical Lakeside Inn with its grande veranda is a rejuvenating respite from the fast-paced obligations of everyday Life. Picturesque? Yes, Ma’am. 

Dining Outside the Home: Turkish Bar and Grill in Altamonte Springs, Florida 

Behold a rich menu of Turkish cuisine. Imagine this, take your hands and gently tear the sesame-laden puffed homemade bread. Feel the air deflate like a balloon as you dredge it across a plate of authentic hummus prepared with classic ingredients like olive oil and tahini. Next, the main course is a buffet of chile-infused chicken, garlic lamb and beef gyro strips plus grilled vegetables over sweet sticky rice. The platter is drizzled with enough melted butter to make your eyes roll back in satisfaction. All the flavors culminate with a sweet, nutty finale of homemade layered baklava dessert drenched in a syrup of natural honey. Pure and simple gratification. 

Dining Outside the Home: Copacabana Cuban Café in Mt. Dora, Florida 

Down a cobblestone alley, among palm treed archways and iron grillwork, you can hear the passionate Cuban rhythms playing overhead. The aromas of sweet plantains and garlic butter mojo sauce waft over tropical breezes. A dark-haired beauty, Gaby, served up fresh mint and iced lime juice concoctions for sipping in leisure as we wiled away the afternoon. At the copa…Copacabana, the hottest spot north of Havana!

Dining Outside the Home: Pisces Rising in Mt. Dora, Florida 

Dining Outside the Home: Pisces Rising, Seafood and Steak House. This alluring southern home-turned-restaurant sits on the edge of a quaint downtown in a peaceful lakefront community. Its quiet elegance is visible through full length windows in views that overlook the endless beauty of Lake Dora. Our meal was spectacular, especially the classic dessert finale skillfully prepared table-side, French Creole Bananas Foster. 

Follow the Boston Freedom Trail

Everyone should experience this once in their lifetime. The Freedom Trail traces the footsteps of United States history beginning with the American Revolution. The red-lined route can be followed at a pace you set for yourself leaving plenty of time for stops along the way. Paul Revere’s House. The site of the Boston Massacre. Bunker Hill Monument. Old North Church. The 2.5 mile walk is “visitor-friendly” and filled with landmarks. Do it your way. But do it. 

Dining Outside the Home: Petey’s Seafood by the Seashore 

Just north of the Hamptons on the Eastern Seaboard is a small community called Rye, where lobster is plentiful and people drive there to eat seafood. Yes, please. We indulged ourselves in a monstrous lobster roll, broiled lobster on a stick, crispy fried clams, and chunky clam chowder. Thank you, Leah, for the exceptional service!