Mount Dora Weekend

As further proof of my continuing recovery from the last treatment, Frank and I went to Mount Dora this weekend to visit our good friend Carol. This is the first time I have been away overnight since I was released from Moffitt in January. For those of you who do not receive my email "blast" with my medical updates, my last CT scan results was wonderful news - no new tumors and no progression of the existing ones.


OK, so let's move on to the weekend and the food. We arrived about noon, and soon thereafter we headed to Tavares, FL for lunch at Al's Landing. Tavares has done a nice job of fixing up their lakefront and adding a couple of restaurants. Al's overlooks the lake and offers a variety of sandwiches and salads. It was a nice day so we opted to sit outside in the shade. I had a very acceptable grilled portobello and gouda burger, Frank had a crab cake, and as usual, I forgot what Carol ordered. The entertainment for lunch was a jet ski race on the lake; can you say noisy. But is was only for part of the meal, and we had a good time anyway.


Later in the day we walked into Mount Dora from Carol's condo for a glass of wine at Maggie's Attic, cute wine and beer shop in downtown. It was a little too much exertion for me, but I made it back to Carol's for a short nap before dinner.


Jim and Georgiann, friends from Orlando, came up to join us to watch the Kentucky Derby before heading to Eustis for dinner at a cute Italian restaurant in old downtown Eustis - Cafe Gianni. Eustis is another small central Florida town that has spruced up their downtown and lakefront to increase the appeal to locals and tourists alike. We enjoyed Cafe Gianni for its good, reasonable priced Italian fare. Although (sorry Carol) I don't think it was quite up to the standards of Primi Urban Cafe in St. Pete or Vino e Pasta in Tampa. But is was very good food in a cute space in downtown Eustis, For entertainment we had a harp player playing a wide variety of music, including "Stairway to Heaven" and other non-harp classics. It was a fun evening with good friends and good food. I ordered a very tasty rigatoni bolognese. Frank and Carol each ordered the Penne alla Vodka. Jim had very good linguini with clams in a white sauce. And if memory doesn't fail me again, Georgiann had Spaghetti alla Norma (with eggplant). (Correct me if I am wrong on that)


We went to Lakeside Inn for Sunday brunch sitting on the long front porch enjoying a cooling breeze and lower humidity. The buffet brunch had something for everyone, from waffles to roast beef and more.  It was your typical resort Sunday brunch, a little pricey and way too much food. (OK, no one was forcing me to eat, but eat I did). The food was good and the setting was lovely. Here is a photo that was taken at brunch today.

That's all I'm Saying (and eating for today).