Adventures in Gourmet

  •  

Chez L’Epicier

1 min read by

Set in a French country décor, Chez L’Épicier offers French Canadian Cuisine in a laid back atmosphere.

Read More

View articles about or explore all

Share

Featured Adventures

Instagram

Quick Bahamas recap 🇧🇸☀️🌴 Details coming soon!

#bahamas #bahamar #nassau

Open
Quick Bahamas recap 🇧🇸☀️🌴 Details coming soon! #bahamas #bahamar #nassau

An afternoon at @disneysprings ✨

It should come as no surprise that my favorites were the oysters 🦪 @theboathouseorlando and outstanding by the ounce flight 🍷 @winebargeorge but it was fun to check out some new-to-us spots too.

We missed @jaleobyjose & @morimotoasiafla this time but those would also fall into the favorites category.

Until next time! 🐭❤️

#disneysprings #disneyspringsorlando #disneyspringsfood #orlandoeats #orlandofoodie

Open
An afternoon at @disneysprings ✨ It should come as no surprise that my favorites were the oysters 🦪 @theboathouseorlando and outstanding by the ounce flight 🍷 @winebargeorge but it was fun to check out some new-to-us spots too. We missed @jaleobyjose & @morimotoasiafla this time but those would also fall into the favorites category. Until next time! 🐭❤️ #disneysprings #disneyspringsorlando #disneyspringsfood #orlandoeats #orlandofoodie

@kaya.orlando is always an 11/10 experience. 💜 Details below…⁣
⁣
Drinks:⁣
✨𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗱𝗮 - @waterloogin , mango, mint, lime - Very mango-forward and refreshing. Why don’t more places pair gin & mango?!⁣
✨𝗔𝘆 𝗕𝘂𝗵𝗮𝘆 - vodka, elderflower, lemon, watermelon - If you want something similar to the above but less sweet, this was great. ⁣
✨𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 - @waterloogin , Montenegro, dolin blanc, sugarcane vinegar, cucumber - Served straight up, this was boozier than anticipated but very well made.⁣
⁣
Food:⁣
✨𝗗𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 - pork belly, blood jus, puto cake, pickled peppers - A pretty and perfect little bite
✨𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗼 & 𝗨𝗻𝗶 - I LOVE uni and this was such a unique dish that I had to try it. It didn’t disappoint!
✨𝗟𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗶 - chicken, pork & shrimp spring rolls w/sweet chili sauce. Generous portion and hit the spot
✨𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗮 - kurobuta pork belly, caramelized soy sauce, star anise, peanuts, kamote puree - Kurobuta is the Wagyu of pork and my gosh does it just MELT in your mouth 🤤. I recommend pairing w/Sinangag (garlic rice)
✨𝗕𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗸 𝗕𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 - soy kalamansi, kennebec pomme purée, charred onion - I’m not typically one to order a steak & potatoes dish, but this was absolutely heavenly. I would reorder it over and over again.⁣
✨𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶 𝗣𝗶𝗲 - A beautiful dessert for all the key lime pie lovers out there. It’s currently on special!⁣
✨Not pictured: 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗲 w/cashew meringue & French butter cream - Jami kindly let us order this to go. We popped it in the freezer and it was perfect. The texture is a wafer coated with cookie crumbs. YUM
⁣
Needless to say, we could not stop ordering everything with mango, kalamansi (Philippine citrus), and pork belly! 🤣⁣
⁣
If you haven’t been to Kaya recently, it’s time to go back and enjoy their patio and a la carte menu. We loved the relaxing vibe and thoughtful touches on the patio, the music (@khruangbin is one of our favorites!), and on-point recommendations.⁣
⁣
Thank you Jami, @chef.lordfer.lalicon and team for your excellent service and friendly hospitality. 💜

#kayaorlando #orlandoeats #orlandofoodie #orlandofood

Open
@kaya.orlando is always an 11/10 experience. 💜 Details below…⁣ ⁣ Drinks:⁣ ✨𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗮𝗱𝗮 - @waterloogin , mango, mint, lime - Very mango-forward and refreshing. Why don’t more places pair gin & mango?!⁣ ✨𝗔𝘆 𝗕𝘂𝗵𝗮𝘆 - vodka, elderflower, lemon, watermelon - If you want something similar to the above but less sweet, this was great. ⁣ ✨𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 - @waterloogin , Montenegro, dolin blanc, sugarcane vinegar, cucumber - Served straight up, this was boozier than anticipated but very well made.⁣ ⁣ Food:⁣ ✨𝗗𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 - pork belly, blood jus, puto cake, pickled peppers - A pretty and perfect little bite ✨𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗼 & 𝗨𝗻𝗶 - I LOVE uni and this was such a unique dish that I had to try it. It didn’t disappoint! ✨𝗟𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗶 - chicken, pork & shrimp spring rolls w/sweet chili sauce. Generous portion and hit the spot ✨𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗮 - kurobuta pork belly, caramelized soy sauce, star anise, peanuts, kamote puree - Kurobuta is the Wagyu of pork and my gosh does it just MELT in your mouth 🤤. I recommend pairing w/Sinangag (garlic rice) ✨𝗕𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗸 𝗕𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 - soy kalamansi, kennebec pomme purée, charred onion - I’m not typically one to order a steak & potatoes dish, but this was absolutely heavenly. I would reorder it over and over again.⁣ ✨𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶 𝗣𝗶𝗲 - A beautiful dessert for all the key lime pie lovers out there. It’s currently on special!⁣ ✨Not pictured: 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗲 w/cashew meringue & French butter cream - Jami kindly let us order this to go. We popped it in the freezer and it was perfect. The texture is a wafer coated with cookie crumbs. YUM ⁣ Needless to say, we could not stop ordering everything with mango, kalamansi (Philippine citrus), and pork belly! 🤣⁣ ⁣ If you haven’t been to Kaya recently, it’s time to go back and enjoy their patio and a la carte menu. We loved the relaxing vibe and thoughtful touches on the patio, the music (@khruangbin is one of our favorites!), and on-point recommendations.⁣ ⁣ Thank you Jami, @chef.lordfer.lalicon and team for your excellent service and friendly hospitality. 💜 #kayaorlando #orlandoeats #orlandofoodie #orlandofood

Round 2 @juju.orl was SO GOOD. They definitely earned a spot in my 2023 Orlando Guide (coming soon)! 👏🏻 Details below for my fellow long(er)-form content fans.

Cocktails:
✨Juju Old-Fashioned - A great twist on an old fashioned with apple. 🍎
✨ Murasaki No Ame - My kind of cocktail! 100% reordering this next time.
✨ King Ghidorah - Really yummy and reminiscent of a Saturn.

Snacks:
✨ Teba Gyoza - A really clever dish where they remove the bone from the chicken wing and stuff it with rice and shiitake mushroom. A must-try!
✨ Okonomiyaki - One of my favorites in general. The crunch of the cabbage and the richness of the sauce make this preparation something extra special. It’s hearty and well worth the $9!

Raw:
✨ 7-day dry aged madai - This was our favorite dish of the entire meal. We loved the texture and the lemon zest really brought out the flavor. Beautiful presentation too. 😍
✨ 28-day dry aged Medium fatty tuna with Uni - Give me all the toro and Uni! Who’s with me? If I had one comment it would be to add a salty component to the dish to balance it.
✨ Summer Scallop - I order scallops constantly when dining out so I was thrilled to try this brand new dish. The texture was reallyyyy buttery 🤤. I was surprised how well it paired with the fruity flavors of plum and fig.

Juju Special:
✨ A5 Wagyu Tasting - So so tender that it literally melted in my mouth! We were obsessed with the sauce on this dish…a hint of sweetness plus wasabi spice.

Thank you @juju.orl for the excellent meal and service! 🥰 We can’t wait to come back and try the Omakase next.

#jujubysusuru #orlandoeats #orlandofood #orlandodining #orlandofoodie

Open
Round 2 @juju.orl was SO GOOD. They definitely earned a spot in my 2023 Orlando Guide (coming soon)! 👏🏻 Details below for my fellow long(er)-form content fans. Cocktails: ✨Juju Old-Fashioned - A great twist on an old fashioned with apple. 🍎 ✨ Murasaki No Ame - My kind of cocktail! 100% reordering this next time. ✨ King Ghidorah - Really yummy and reminiscent of a Saturn. Snacks: ✨ Teba Gyoza - A really clever dish where they remove the bone from the chicken wing and stuff it with rice and shiitake mushroom. A must-try! ✨ Okonomiyaki - One of my favorites in general. The crunch of the cabbage and the richness of the sauce make this preparation something extra special. It’s hearty and well worth the $9! Raw: ✨ 7-day dry aged madai - This was our favorite dish of the entire meal. We loved the texture and the lemon zest really brought out the flavor. Beautiful presentation too. 😍 ✨ 28-day dry aged Medium fatty tuna with Uni - Give me all the toro and Uni! Who’s with me? If I had one comment it would be to add a salty component to the dish to balance it. ✨ Summer Scallop - I order scallops constantly when dining out so I was thrilled to try this brand new dish. The texture was reallyyyy buttery 🤤. I was surprised how well it paired with the fruity flavors of plum and fig. Juju Special: ✨ A5 Wagyu Tasting - So so tender that it literally melted in my mouth! We were obsessed with the sauce on this dish…a hint of sweetness plus wasabi spice. Thank you @juju.orl for the excellent meal and service! 🥰 We can’t wait to come back and try the Omakase next. #jujubysusuru #orlandoeats #orlandofood #orlandodining #orlandofoodie

A hidden gem in Jacksonville serving up some of the best donuts I’ve ever had. 🍩 @parlordoughnutsfruitcove

#parlordoughnuts #jaxeats #jaxfood #jaxfoodie #jaxfoodies

Open
A hidden gem in Jacksonville serving up some of the best donuts I’ve ever had. 🍩 @parlordoughnutsfruitcove #parlordoughnuts #jaxeats #jaxfood #jaxfoodie #jaxfoodies

First impressions of @juju.orl below ⬇️

✨ We went early so there was no wait, but it definitely started to fill up quickly.

✨ I didn’t realize they had a bar area in addition to the Kappo Bar. Extra seating options, hooray!

✨ Matcha Mule - Super unique cocktail unlike any I’ve had before. It took some time to grow on me so I’m not in a rush to order it again.

✨ Tako (Octopus) Salad - Our favorite dish of the meal! The dressing really took it to the next level. I’d definitely reorder this.

✨ Chirashi in Masu Box - A great introduction to their raw section, however no chirashi compares to @kadenceorlando in my opinion. IYKYK!

✨ Mentaiko Fries with Spicy Roe Mayo and Nori - These were a little disappointing. I wanted more of the mayo, or even having some extra on the side as a dipping sauce.

✨ Wagyu Gyoza with black garlic sauce and truffle - Were they delicious gyoza? Yes. Did I taste the garlic or truffle? Nope, not one bit. I think my expectations were too high based on the menu description.

With easy parking, good service, and an interesting menu, I’ll definitely be back to try more. Sometimes you have to give a place a few tries before you find the dishes that’ll keep you coming back. 😊

What are your favorite cocktails or bites to order @juju.orl ?

#jujubysusuru #orlandoeats #orlandofood #orlandofoodie #orlandodining

Open
First impressions of @juju.orl below ⬇️ ✨ We went early so there was no wait, but it definitely started to fill up quickly. ✨ I didn’t realize they had a bar area in addition to the Kappo Bar. Extra seating options, hooray! ✨ Matcha Mule - Super unique cocktail unlike any I’ve had before. It took some time to grow on me so I’m not in a rush to order it again. ✨ Tako (Octopus) Salad - Our favorite dish of the meal! The dressing really took it to the next level. I’d definitely reorder this. ✨ Chirashi in Masu Box - A great introduction to their raw section, however no chirashi compares to @kadenceorlando in my opinion. IYKYK! ✨ Mentaiko Fries with Spicy Roe Mayo and Nori - These were a little disappointing. I wanted more of the mayo, or even having some extra on the side as a dipping sauce. ✨ Wagyu Gyoza with black garlic sauce and truffle - Were they delicious gyoza? Yes. Did I taste the garlic or truffle? Nope, not one bit. I think my expectations were too high based on the menu description. With easy parking, good service, and an interesting menu, I’ll definitely be back to try more. Sometimes you have to give a place a few tries before you find the dishes that’ll keep you coming back. 😊 What are your favorite cocktails or bites to order @juju.orl ? #jujubysusuru #orlandoeats #orlandofood #orlandofoodie #orlandodining

5am Airport Lounging in Vegas 🌅✈️ 🛋️ What has been your biggest travel game changer?

It is an absolute luxury it is to have lounge access at airports. I’ve had @prioritypass for years and only recently took the plunge with @americanexpress for Delta and Centurion lounge access too. Not having to rely on anyone else when I’m flying solo is going to be necessary for my upcoming travel schedule!

Lounge access + TSA precheck/global entry + @clear is the way to go, my friends. At MCO, one of the busiest airports in the world, I’m through security in 5 minutes or less every time. I get my water then hit the lounge until it’s time to board.

Next up: Being @delta loyal and achieving status for possible upgrades! 💎

Open
5am Airport Lounging in Vegas 🌅✈️ 🛋️ What has been your biggest travel game changer? It is an absolute luxury it is to have lounge access at airports. I’ve had @prioritypass for years and only recently took the plunge with @americanexpress for Delta and Centurion lounge access too. Not having to rely on anyone else when I’m flying solo is going to be necessary for my upcoming travel schedule! Lounge access + TSA precheck/global entry + @clear is the way to go, my friends. At MCO, one of the busiest airports in the world, I’m through security in 5 minutes or less every time. I get my water then hit the lounge until it’s time to board. Next up: Being @delta loyal and achieving status for possible upgrades! 💎

About Ariana

Ariana

Ariana is a food and drink connoisseur seeking her next memorable restaurant experience at home and around the world. She is a born-and-raised gourmet, detail-oriented planner, obsessive beauty collector and curious traveler.

More About Me