This week we dive into the 2025 Michelin Guide and Orlando’s exciting new additions! 🎉

Biggie puts Amy Drew on the spot, challenging her to pick three Orlando spots she'd personally recommend to Michelin inspectors — and her answers might surprise you! 👀

We also dig into:

• How Orlando’s growing Michelin presence is a huge win for the entire local dining scene 🍴

• Big congratulations to Jamila Muhammad of Mila’s Front Porch for her "Rebel Pie" victory at the American Pie Council’s National Pie Championships! 🥧👏

• A little chatter about wrestling 🤼‍♂️ and brainstorming what foods we should eat, rank, and debate next!

✨ Major love to our newest Orlando Michelin winners and honorees! ✨

🏆 Two MICHELIN Stars:

• Sorekara — Baldwin Park

⭐ One MICHELIN Star:

• ÔMO by Jônt — Winter Park

🍴 Bib Gourmand Additions:

• Smokemade Meats + Eats — Curry Ford West

• Bánh Mì Boy — Mills 50

• Coro — Audubon Park

• UniGirl — Mills 50

🥢 New Michelin Recommendations:

• Nami — Lake Nona Wave Hotel

• Bar Kada — Winter Park

• Gyukatsu Rose — Audubon Park

• Kai Kai — Mills 50

• Walala Hand-Pulled Noodle House — West Orlando

🎧 Tune in now for all the delicious details, food nerd moments, and local love!

Follow Us for more Orlando eats and updates:

• 📸 Instagram: @LetsEatOrlandoPod

• 📸 Amy Drew: @AmyDroo

• 📸 Biggie: @UCFBiggie + @DeliFreshThreads

🎙️ Let’s Eat Orlando: Garlic, Crawfish Tails! and Tavern Pizza!

In this deliciously garlicky episode, Amy Drew and Biggie are sauced up and ready to dish on all things flavorful around town!

🍜 Biggie slurped up some serious goodness at Kai Asian Street Fare now with Red Panda’s Noodles,—a collab worth noodling over!🐔 He also got cozy with the epic Chicken Biscuit from Chef Jes at Redlight Redlight. Comfort food meets craft brews? Yes, please.

🧄 Amy Drew dives head-first into Garlic Month, sharing her convo with Bruno of Pizza Bruno—they just opened their third location at Maitland Social (where Biggie even enjoyed a lovely outdoor bite!). She spills a fun origin story about Bruno’s beloved garlic knots—don’t miss it!

🇱🇧 They shout out the shawarma and garlic paste dreams at Beirut Grill and Deli🍗 Then head over to ChimiKing for that flavor bomb Garlic Chicken and Mofongo. Amy Drew is team seafood mofongo, while the gang also explores BiFongo and TriFongo!

🧴 Biggie brings up the lowkey gem: D’Amico’s roasted garlic in balsamic—aka caramelized perfection in a jar.

💘 Biggie gets nostalgic, sharing the story of his first date with his wife at PR’s Taco Palace (beer + tacos = forever love).

🦞 Then it’s time to Pinch the Tail and Suck the Head—we’re talkin’ Crawfish and the legacy of King Cajun Crawfish. Amy Drew dishes the backstory of how it started in Mississippi and made its way to Orlando post-Katrina. Biggie’s a fan of their Po’boy, Jambalaya, and house wings, while Amy Drew can't resist a seafood boil!

🍕 Finally, Amy Drew shouts out Nuri’s Tavern on Pine Street for its crispy-edged bar pie. She loved the Triple Meat, and loved they cook the mushrooms on pizza but had thoughts on raw mushrooms. (Pro-tip: cook 'em first!)

Come hungry and leave with a list of local spots you’ll want to hit up ASAP.

🎧 Tune in to Let's Eat Orlando for more local dining insights and mouthwatering recommendations!

Follow Us:

📸 Instagram: @LetsEatOrlandoPod👩‍🍳 Amy Drew: @AmyDroo🍔 Biggie: @UCFBiggie | @DeliFreshThreads

Let's Eat Orlando - Show Notes

Episode Title: Orlando Sentinel’s Foodie Awards & Top Picks for Local Eats

In this episode of Let's Eat Orlando, Amy Drew and Biggie dive into the Orlando Sentinel’s Foodie Awards, where Amy Drew highlights her picks alongside the Readers’ Choice selections. If you're looking for the best spots in Orlando for coffee, BBQ, burgers, sushi, and more, this episode is your ultimate guide!

☕ Coffee:

• Austin’s Coffee

• Fable Coffee

🥐 Best Bakery:

• ButterMilk Bakery

• Sister Honey’s

• Light on the Sugar

• Charley’s Bakery

🍩 Donuts:

• Donut King

🔥 BBQ:

• Mohawk Smoke House

• Briskets BBQ Shack and Grill

• Smoke Made Meats

🍔 Best Burger:

• Burger Jawn

• Bad As’s Burgers

• Hangry Bison

• The Whiskey

🍽️ Best Chain Restaurant:

• Kura Revolving Sushi Bar – a fun experience!

• Seasons 52

• Huey Magoo’s

💰 Best Cheap Eats:

• Shakaia Sushi Lounge

• Beefy King (We also talk about Braun Strowman repping a Beefy King shirt on SmackDown!)

🥡 Best Chinese:

• Wallala Asian Noodle

• Taste of Chengdu

🍕 Best Pizza:

• Frank’s Pizza

• Dough Boyz

• Pigzza’s

• Pizza Bruno

• Black Magic Pizza

• Trotto

• Pasquale’s Pizzeria

🥪 Best Cuban:

• Cubans on Wheels

• Black Bean Deli

• A Lo Cuban

• Gnarly Cuban

• Cubans On the Run

🇬🇷 Best Greek:

• Zorba’s Kitchen

• Mykonos Authentic Greek

🥪 Best Sandwiches:

• Mama Napoli

• Butcher’s Nook (Mt. Dora)

• Hinkley’s

• Stasio’s

• Slam Dunk Sandwich

🦞 Best Seafood:

• Nauti Lobstah

• High Tide Harry’s

• Four Flamingos

🌮 Best Tacos:

• Hunger Street Tacos

• Black Rooster Taqueria

• Taqueria Las Cazuelas

🥡 Best Takeout:

• Meng’s Kitchen

• Kai Kai

• Bella Roma

We love shining a light on Orlando’s incredible food scene! Consider this episode your go-to list for amazing local eats. Get out there and support these fantastic spots!

🔹 Instagram: @LetsEatOrlandoPod
🔹 Amy Drew: @AmyDroo
🔹 Biggie: @UCFBiggie | @DeliFreshThreads

🎧 Tune in to Let's Eat Orlando for more delicious discussions and expert recommendations on where to eat next!

Follow Us & Stay Hungry!

It finally happened—Amy Drew and Biggie embarked on the ultimate fast-food chicken tender adventure! We visited 10 fast-food locations and put their tenders to the test, rating them on four key categories:

• Seasoning – Does the flavor stand out, or is it just another bland bite?

• Chicken – Is it juicy and tender, or dry and disappointing?

• Breading – Crispy perfection or soggy letdown?

• Signature Sauce – Does it take the tenders to the next level?

We spent an absurd amount of time (aka a fried clucking good time) eating and ranking the best fast-food chicken tenders, and now we’re here to break it all down for you.

Which chain came out on top? Who underwhelmed? And did we survive this deep-fried journey? Tune in to find out!

We also discuss our favorite local sports you need to check out like Jam Hot Chicken, Chicken Fire, and Chi-Kin, to name a few.

You can also read the article Amy Drew wrote here: http://tinyurl.com/tenderbender407

What’s Your Go-To Fast-Food Chicken Spot? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Drop us a comment or tag us on social media with your favorite chicken tenders.

Tune in to Let's Eat Orlando for more local dining insights and recommendations!

Follow Us:

• Instagram: @LetsEatOrlandoPod

• Amy Drew: @AmyDroo

• Biggie: @UCFBiggie and @DeliFreshThreads

In this episode, we somehow find ourselves deep in a conversation about Sanford, Henry's Depot, Chicken sandwiches and some wrestling!

Biggie’s Sanford Food Tour:

• Biggie ate his way around Henry’s Depot, exploring some of the best bites Sanford has to offer.

• He took on one of Amy Drew’s favorite chicken sandwiches—Sweet and Salty’s Butter Chicken Katsu Sandwich, featuring seasoned chicken paired with a side of delicious macaroni salad.

• Chin’s was on the list, where Biggie indulged in a Bánh Mì and some flavorful bao buns.

• A ramen fix was in order, so Biggie made a stop at Yugiri Ramen Project for a comforting bowl of goodness.

Amy Drew Talks Henry’s Depot:

• With Pom Pom’s heading to Henry’s Depot, she’s pumped for the new addition to this already stellar food hall.

• She loves the cozy atmosphere, the bar, and, of course, all the amazing food options.

Musubi Mania:

• Amy Drew is a huge fan of Sweet and Salty’s musubi, and Biggie shares his love for the dish from Over Rice and Aloha Kitchen as well.

Sanford—A Foodie Hotspot:

• We gush about Sanford’s incredible dining scene, from Tuffy’s and Sullivan’s to Hollerbach’s German Restaurant and beyond.

• With Pom Pom’s joining the mix, the food scene in Sanford just keeps getting better!

Sweet Treats at Greenery Creamery:

• Biggie indulged in the Triple C flavor—a dreamy combo of Coffee, Sweet Cream, and Cookie Crumble.

Orlando’s Best Chicken Sandwich Battle Heats Up!

• Red Panda’s newest food truck, Baba Yaga Chicken Truck, is throwing down for the title of best chicken sandwich in Orlando.

• We recently tried their new chicken sandwich, and let’s just say—it’s a serious contender!

Picnic Project’s Taste & Sips Event - March 22nd

• Biggie talks about Picnic Project’s 3rd annual charity event, featuring food from Red Panda, Sweet and Salty, Bayou, and more!

The Chicken Tender Tour Continues!

• We’re on a mission to complete the second leg of our fast-food chicken tender tour.

• Amy Drew faced off with The Reaper from Dave’s Hot Chicken—did she survive?

What’s Your Go-To Spot in Sanford? We’d love to hear from you! Drop us a comment or tag us on social media with your favorite Sanford eats.

Tune in to Let's Eat Orlando for more local dining insights and recommendations!

Follow Us:

• Instagram: @LetsEatOrlandoPod

• Amy Drew: @AmyDroo

• Biggie: @UCFBiggie and @DeliFreshThreads

Amy Drew was on the road in this episode of Let’s Eat Orlando, but that didn’t stop us from diving into some delicious topics!

🍖 Palm Beach Meats
We recently (and separately) enjoyed some amazing bites at Palm Beach Meats! We compare notes on our favorite meaty selections and why this spot is a must-visit for carnivores in Central Florida.

🏆 Orlando Sentinel Foodie Award Nominations
We break down some of the nominees for the Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards, including categories like:

• Best New Restaurant

• Best BBQ

• Best Burger

• Best Pizza

• Best Chain Restaurant

• Best Sandwich

• Best Tacos

• Best Wings

  
  Make sure to cast your vote here: https://orlandosentinel.secondstreetapp.com/2025-Orlando-Sentinel-Foodie-Awards/gallery

🍗 Chicken Tenders Update
We’re officially on a Chicken Tender Tasting Tour! We tease our latest adventure in the world of crispy, golden tenders and hint at what’s to come in a future episode. Stay tuned for our top picks!

🎧 Tune in to Let’s Eat Orlando for more local dining insights and recommendations!

Follow Us:
📸 Instagram: @LetsEatOrlandoPod
🍽 Amy Drew: @AmyDroo
🥪 Biggie: @UCFBiggie & @DeliFreshThreads

This episode we talked about everything from Dry January, Soup, Ramen Rumble and The upcoming Foodie Awards!

Dry January

Amy Drew tried Dry January

Realized Not drinking is better for her sleep

Amy Drew tried non alcoholic beer during Dry January - her fav she has tried was a Sam Adam’s She prefers that vs a caloric heavy mocktail

Biggie doesn’t think he’d drink Non-alcoholic beer

Soup

We talked Soup- January was soup weather and Soup Month.

Amy Drew enjoys chunky hearty soups year round.

We talked about soups we make at home and soup we enjoy eating at restaurants

Randomly we like and discussed how we both enjoy hot coffee year round.

Fun Biggie story about Las Carretas Tortilla Soup

Ramen Rumble

Amy Drew talks about Ramen Takagi, last years Ramen Rumble winner and then we chatted about this years Ramen Rumble contest with Red Panda Noodle, Patina Restaurant Group, The Monroe, Wa Ramen Lake Nona- with Red Panda Noodle

Foodie Awards

Amy Drew and I discuss the importance of nominating and voting for the Orlando Sentinel and the 50 categories of the Foodie Awards.

Who are you nominating for fav sandwiches, tacos pizza, burger?

Restaurants mentioned this episode:

Meng’s Kitchen

Las Carretas

Taste of chengdu

Tao de cheese

Bad As’s Sandwich

Ramen Takagi

Red Panda Noodle

Patina Restaurant Group

The Monroe

Norigami

Wa Ramen Lake Nona

Podcast Notes: Let's Eat Orlando with Amy Drew and Biggie 🎙️🍴

In this episode of *Let’s Eat Orlando*, Amy Drew and Biggie serve up a hearty conversation about Orlando’s vibrant food scene, looking back at 2024 and forward to the exciting developments in 2025. Here's what we covered:

🍽️ Restaurant Openings & Closures

- **Cheers to Gnarly Barley** for breaking the "Ivanhoe curse" and thriving in their location. 🎉

- Saying goodbye to beloved spots like SkyBird, V’s Diner, Ethos, Dajen Eats, and Valkyrie Doughnuts. 💔

- A reminder to support your favorite local eateries during challenging times—shoutouts to spots that also closed 💔 like Pom Pom’s, Mid Drive Dive, Dead Words Brewery, Persimmon Hollow, and many more.

🔥 Trends in 2024

- The smash burger boom continues to dominate the scene. 🍔

- Asian cuisine shines bright with innovative and flavorful offerings. 🍜

🌟 Amy Drew’s 2024 Favorites

- Kai Kai, Coro, and Seito top Amy Drew's list for must-visit spots!

🔮 What’s Coming in 2025

- Anticipating the arrivals of Cowboy Curry, Mills Market, Kai Kai’s Red Panda Chicken Sandwich Truck (Baba Yaga), Pepper Lunch, and more.

- Local gems expanding to Orlando's airport terminals: Stasio’s, Maxine on Shine, Smoke and Donut, Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream, Foxtail Coffee, Otto’s High Dive, and Swine & Sons, among others. 🛫

🍔 Biggie Bomb Mi & Burger Jawn Love

- A quick chat about Biggie Bomb Mi and Amy Drew’s undying love for Burger Jawn—a must-try burger destination.

❤️ Community Support

We emphasize the importance of rallying behind our local restaurants, whether they're old favorites or exciting new spots, to keep Orlando's food scene thriving.

Tune in for all this and more as we celebrate Orlando’s dynamic dining landscape. Hungry yet? Hit play now! 🎧

Follow Us:

- *Instagram*: @LetsEatOrlandoPod

- *Amy Drew*: @AmyDroo

- *Biggie*: @UCFBiggie and @DeliFreshThreads