Visited ‘Le Bon Apettit’ french restaurant in Ocoee (West of Orlando) and indulged in French cuisine. This was part of our visits to non-American restaurants with Sandra, school buddy James Saunders, writer G.K. Sharman and myself.

The restaurant had changed hands and it was evident in the cooking. Though I’m no expert of French cooking, the others are and were generally disappointed. We left after the restaurant closed and as we conversed in the parking lot noticed that the cook was Indian. That might have been part of the problem.Since Mr. Saunders is an expert cook, especially French, maybe they should have James create the dinners.

The chicken lamp was decoration on our table.

Had dinner at an Outback Steakhouse and sketched the bread on the table.

I was down in the Fort Lauderdale area for the New Year. drving home on the first I did my typical Florida history site seeing.

Here’s a sketch I drew of an original Dairy Queen from 1955. The take out only stand sits on U.S. 1 just north of Fort Lauderdale in the city of Lighthouse Point. According to the fellow who was working there, this Dairy Queen opened with the giant neon Dairy Queen sign on top. Eventually zoning laws had the sign taken away and destroyed. After stand was opened a strip shopping center was built behind it in three parts over the years. Over time the shopping center was completely made over and no longer reflects it’s origin. Thankfully, the Dairy Queen has maintained it’s integrity and still looks as it did in 1955.

The employee provided a photo of how the area originally looked. I took an unfortunate blurry photo of the photo. Nevertheless, I boxed in red the Dairy Queen. At the time it was pink. You can still make out the blue neon sign with an ice cream cone on it. Doesn’t that giant green shopping center sign, now gone, look cool!

We made a second trip to Stumpknockers in a week. This time we took our friend Phyliss Malinksy. I just quickly sketched part of the sign.

Sandra and I indulged in the Belleview Biltmore’s brunch Sunday morning. Ann E. Sabo and Jo Ann Fenstermacher joined us for coffee and goodies in the ice cream parlor/ coffee shop in the Biltmore, Maisies. We had a great time. I only got this little drawing completed of a wreath at the Biltmore.

Something else completed were reference photos for next years Christmas card. Thought I ‘d start reeeeeaaaaalllll early this year.

We had a wonderful time with G.K. Sharman and old school buddy, James Saunders, as we in dulged in food other than good ol’ American. This time we ventured to the former ‘Bombay Bistro’ in Longwood on 434. Renamed ‘Gateway to India’, we indulged in it’s many offerings of Indian food.

There is a sketch of a corner of the restaurant. I make it look rather rustic, which it is not.

Now I should mention this is not my kind of fare. I’m all steak and potatoes. Don’t care for spices. The old ulcer days keep it at arms length. Especially after a terrible sick spell I was getting over from the previous week, spicy food was way off my ‘To Do’ list. This is all an opportunity for Sandra to get out and have vittles she also enjoys. And who better to do that with but a conniseur of such treats. Mr. Saunders is part time survey employee and full time lover of exoctic foods. Our mission is to hunt down international restaurants and the last place in the world you might find ME!

Writer G.K. came along for the ride as she loves such foods also. Was I the odd man out! G.K. and Sandra had been there before in it’s former guise.

The unaminous vote was thumbs up for the three. I was still trying to figure out why the live entertainment of Indian music didn’t include at least a banjo!

Saturday we headed south so that Sandra could research park areas for one of her upcoming books. We stopped at the Desert Inn for some food. The Desert Inn opened somewhere between 1860 and 1883 as a stop for cowboys and cattlemen to pick up food and/or for lodging. All can still be done today at the crossroads of 441 and 60 just west of the Florida Turnpike. Got a great hamburger! Here’s a sketch of the fellow managing things at the bar.

After celebrating ‘Patrick Smith Day’ in Holopaw, we headed home and had dinner in Winter Garden at ‘The Grove’ in the historic  ‘Edgewater Hotel’ on Plant Street. It opened in 1927 just in time for one of Florida’s real estate crashes. But it lived on. You can learn more here:
http://www.historicedgewater.com/

Here is the collection of condiments one end of the table.

We were out in Holopaw, just south of St. Cloud, Florida, to participate in honoring the pre-eminent Florida author, Patrick D. Smith. If you have not read ‘A Land Remembered’, you must. Especially if you are a Floridian.

The event was held at ‘Forever Florida’, a working cattle ranch and destination for Floridians or tourists to learn and participate in horse riding, cattle roping and experience an eco-safari.

Sandra manned the ‘Florida Trail’ area and I drew caricatures. Volunteering, of course. After the event I drew Rose, “The Boss” of the gift area and restaurant. She apparently has had a bit of a problem keeping wine glasses intact.