The Narrows Bottom-Up Trail

We were new to canyon river hiking and Utah in general—yay 6-month move-aversary! So we did the The Narrows Bottom-Up hike from the Temple of Sinawava to Wall Street with a little detour at the Confluence fork. No permit necessary and minimal-to-no risk of flash floods in mid-May with mostly shin-level water. Only some areas were waist deep for me, and I’m about 5’3″ tall. We started the hike a little late at 10:00 a.m., which we learned is a very late start! (Side note: Parking inside Zion was already full at 9:00 a.m., but we happened upon a ledge spot after the first campground, so next time we’ll definitely start earlier!) We hiked approximately 6 miles roundtrip up the Virgin River in the canyon shadows. Temperatures were approximately 70°F in the daylight, but about 60°F in the shade, and the Virgin River was even colder. We rented dry pants to keep somewhat warm along with walking sticks, neoprene socks, and water hiking shoes from Zion Guru in Springdale but we also brought our own general outdoor gear:

– Waterproof 10L Dry Bag
– Cotopaxi Tarak 20L Lightweight Durable Backpack
– Quick-dry top and leggings
– Waterproof GoPro Hero 4 Session
– Cotopaxi 34oz (1L) water bottles
– Light hoodies
– LÄRABARs
– Canon T3i and Fuji XT1 cameras
– Sunscreen
– Waterproof phone cases

Endurance was the theme of our entire Zion trip. The Virgin River currents pulled at our legs almost the entire way to Wall Street—talk about an entirely different kind of leg day. Plus, we literally kicked rocks countless times as the river bed shifted underneath our feet. Thank goodness for hard, closed-toed shoes otherwise I’m not sure we’d come away without a few fractured toes.

Big groups of people waded into the river at The Gateway of the Narrows, but once we got past the first few turns the canyon went silent. Swifts clung to canyon walls as they intermittently dove for prey and the river echoed off the canyon walls. These were the magic moments. The moments where I forgot about cities and everything modern. Those were the moments we drove out to Zion to experience.

Lamb’s Knoll

Under Canvas Zion was right beside the Kolob Terrace Road entrance into Zion, so we signed up for an intro to canyoneering half-day adventure with Zion Guru. Just hiking around the Lamb’s Knoll area is incredible in itself. Our guide parked his truck and we followed the spiderwebs of sandy trails around the area as we kept an ear out and watched for rattlesnakes.

The entire place is covered in tall roughage and more tall, wild sage than I’ve ever seen in my life. The sage scent wafted around us as we hiked toward the the red sandstone outcroppings. Geared up with our guide, we did our fair share of bouldering. I wish I had worn long sleeves because this is where my forearms and elbows brushed up against the rocks the most. But the view! Every scrape and bruise was worth the panoramic view of Zion.

Then, we incrementally worked our way up from a 20-foot rappel to an 80-foot rappel. The fear was swept aside pretty quickly after the first rappel after learning to hook in safeties and trusting the gear. Leaning back-first down an 80-foot rock was exhilarating and the view while going down was even better. There were also some tight spots we scooted through and a quick shimmy down a narrow, rocky corridor. Rappels aside, this area is full of light hikes and a few easily scaled rocks if you want a better view.

Angel’s Landing Trail

Starting at The Grotto Trailhead, this trail was more of a whim while we were in the Zion area. We had time and solid hiking shoes for another trail before our drive back to Salt Lake. Angel’s Landing! Why not? Only a 5-mile (8-kilometer) trail. Strenuous, but we had time. Now I’m wondering why we hiked this thing without thoroughly Googling the hell out of it first. Also, how many couples surprise themselves and each other with Angel’s Landing? Hindsight raised so many questions.

But here we were, parking at Zion National Park visitor’s center at 6:30 a.m. and arriving in time for the first Zion shuttle of the day to Angel’s Landing. There were already about 20+ people hiking along the beginnings of Angel’s Landing Trail in the morning 40-something chill. The elevation snuck up on us quickly as the trail got steep fast at The West Rim Trail. Then, Walter’s Wiggles start. Sound cute don’t they? The wiggles were these steep, twisty bits of the trail that are guaranteed to make your calves burn. We trekked through Refrigerator Canyon and swung a right up to Scout’s Lookout, which marks about the 3.8-mile (6-kilometer) point of the trail. But why come this far if we weren’t at least going to flirt with reaching Angel’s Landing? After a Sam-Beckett-Oh-Boy and a silent Hail Mary later, I followed Mr. Forkful up the first cliff chains.

The trail just gave way to rocks and a chain around The Saddle. Wind whistled past us from both sides as we inched along the mountain crags. Steep drop-offs bordered us on both sides most of the way. If you stand up right now, square your shoulders, and line up your feet with your shoulders—that’s how narrow the trail got along The Saddle. The breaks between chains were also unnerving. This was about the moment when I realized I didn’t have a fear of heights, I had a fear of falling.

Things got sketch, fast. Yet another thing I didn’t think about: The sandstone was covered in SAND, which made all surfaces extra slippy. We had our hands tightly around chains, tree trunks, and rock outcroppings at all times. There’s few places I’ve visited——from Japan to Southeast Asia to Panama—where Mother Nature’s savage AF majesty hit me hard. But The Saddle was one of them.

Mr. Forkful sat down on a ledge for a moment, looked ahead at The Hog’s Back, and looked at each other. We decided then an there that we were very happy and fortunate to have gotten this far along the Angel’s Landing, so we turned back around and inched around people on our way back down. That’s another thing, we didn’t imagine how narrow these cliffs got let alone that we had to share the sandstone ledges with more and more brave hikers as the morning wore on. Achey and sore, I’m sure we’ll be back at Zion better-prepared and ready for another set of hikes. Suggestions are welcome! Thinking about taking on these hikes? Need some hike inspo? Check these sites for more valuable info:

• Zion Guru – Hiking The Narrows
• Visit St. George – Canyoneering Lamb’s Knoll
• Utah.com – Zion National Park – Angel’s Landing
• NPS.gov – Narrow’s Bottom Up – Plan Your Visit
• Dirt in My Shoes – 10 Things You Can’t Miss on Your First Visit to Zion

Taiko drums thundered from the stage; Taikoza performed selections from their Kodama album, which included custom pieces by their sensei. Memories flashed with each beat. Japan. Sakura. EPCOT. Utah. Each moment bringing me back to the present, steps closer to feeling more at home.

We waded into the politest festival crowd I’ve ever seen Stateside. People just organically moved by each other along the food and gift vendors. Buddhist literature, custom hiragana calligraphy, silk textiles—then, we spired some takoyaki across the way! So Mr. Forkful and I beelined with a mission and we were not disappointed.

Crispy and fluffy with sweet barbecue sauce—like the ones from a stand near Takeshita-dori complete with tangy mayo, scallions, and dancing bonito (dried fermented fish) flakes. I was smiling on the outside but all YAAASSS on the inside! We also shared a side of fresh potato croquette and umeboshi onigiri.

Mr. Forkul and I also waited in a hefty line for snow cream shaved ice—almost like Vietnamese pat bing su topped with fruit, sweet adzuki beans, mochi, and wafers. But! It was not meant to be. The power went down moments before we could place our order and no more shaved ice. They even had popping boba flavor combos like mango, lychee, and green melon. We promised ourselves we’d quest to Shirokuma Snow Cream’s brick-and-mortar later for a thorough nomming later.

We skirted past cosplayers and into the Lumbini’s Garden, Salt Lake Buddhist Temple’s first bookstore. Sure, there were Sanrio, Ghibli, and maneki-neko but there were traditional tea sets, kimono accessories, and incense sets too. Maneki-neko in-hand, Mr. Forkful and I hung back near the Buddhist temple entrance. I took a breath, decided this was a beautiful day in Utah, and took a detour through Temple Square on the way home. Because Spring.

Live Theatre Main Stage

I’ll be live-tweeting and instagramming as “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro, Food Scientist and cake design authority Mich Turner, and Food Network Sweet Genius and couture cake design master Ron Ben-Israel headline on the live theatre main stage. The main stage hit parade will continue throughout the 3-day weekend as led by toastmaster Retro Rad Chef Emily Ellyn. Chef Nancy Fuller and Natalie and Dave Sideserf of Food Network’s “Texas Cake House” will also be sharing their protips at the Fair.

Presentations, Seminars, and Demos

Domino Sugar plans some sweet presentations, business seminars, and demonstrations include Erin Gardner (Erin Bakes), Paul Bradford, Shawna McGreevy, Avalon Yarnes, and Edwald Notter. Amongst the 100+ hands-on classes and demonstrations, I’m going to try and check out some glossy Korean buttercream flower work by the Lucia Im.

VIP Meet and Greet

Food fans can also get VIP Meet and Greet tickets (USD 125), which include appetizers, cocktails, and selfies with the Satin Ice Artists of Excellence and Buddy Valestro, Mich Turner, and Ron Ben-Israel. I’m also a food competition die-hard and there’s plenty to see including novelty, sculpted, and wedding cake competitions as well as the Live Global Cake Challenge (October 13) and Live Chocolate Challenge (October 14).

Sugar Art Fashion Show

Also, don’t forget the Sugar Art Fashion Show—edible fashion pieces crafted by cake, sugar, and chocolate artisans will glide down the catwalk for a good cause: Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Every ticket (USD 125) to the fashion show purchases USD 90 worth of groceries for people in need including families, seniors, and veterans.

Follow the Sweet

Keep track of all things Cake Fair by following the event on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@cakefair). For more information, visit www.cakefair.com. And don’t forget to keep an eye on my Insta and Twitter for some Cake Fair fun too. I’ll be sure to report back on all things sweet and sculpted during and after the Fair.

Disclaimer: I am a Digital Ambassador for The Americas Cake Fair, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending the show and reporting my opinion within this blog, The Americas Cake Fair has provided me with complimentary tickets and other exclusive opportunities. Images were provided by Cake Fair.

It’s adjacent to East End Market, one of the beating hearts of Audobon Park. The gilt lettering, soft lights, and craft cocktails are a honeyed hello. House-made and Locally Sourced are Domu’s calling cards. The KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) and ramen are the main events. And if you’re lucky, you have room for a fruity pebbles-laden ube soft-serve cone.

Below are just a few past favorites Mr. Forkful and I have gleefully devoured, although what I love the most about Domu is their every-evolving food and cocktail menus. They keep some favorites, like the KFC, but they haven’t stopped creating challenging and surprising menus with some fun Japanese-inspired eats.

The KFC

Double-fried and glistening, this Korean fried chicken was everything fried chicken should be and more. Bonchon Chicken eat your heart out. When we sprinkled some chili magic on those wings it was like powers combined—the salty, juicy, and crunchy harmony was instant. Oh and the butter sauce too! If you’re a fan of crunching on the bones and cartilage, these wings made it easy as the flavor found its way into every last morsel.

The Tsukemen

Tsukemen (dipping ramen) is usually seasonal at other places because it’s room temp noodles served with piping hot dipping broth, so it was one of the first things we tried during the cold months. The noodles and veggies were served in a separate bowl, and the broth was a spicy tonkotsu reduction with a chashu option. When do we add on chashu? Always. An ajitama brûlée (marinated hard-boiled brûléed egg—salty-sweet amazing!), fried, garlic, scallion, and lime finish this broth bowl off with a punchy spice. While this one’s off the menu, a few of the elements

The Mazemen

This ramen had me at uni and pancetta. Then, a heaping bowl of fresh noodles hits our table and I quickly realized this wasn’t like any other ramen I’ve ever had. The broth was absent, and in its place was a sake bechamel sauce. A side plate of roasted bone marrow was placed to my left with instructions—scoop out the bone marrow and gently mix it into the ramen. What happened after that? Magic happened. The uni and bone marrow melted into the ramen and suddenly it was Thanksgiving on my side of the table. I gave thanks for all of my life decisions that led me to this bowl of ramen. The Mazemen is no longer on the menu but order the Uni Pasta, its luscious spiritual successor.

Hinomaru

At the core of this cocktail are the caramel and vanilla notes of Mars Iwai Japanese Whisky, something I hadn’t really seen very often outside of Japan. The bitter Aperol and herbal Chartreuse tied together with the lemon make for a bright drink for any palette. If you like pucker in your glass, that is.

Kohii

Mr. Forkful and I are Lineage fiends, which made this cocktail choice a no-brainer. The bases for this drink is a Lineage Cold Brew Black Coffee and Mars Iwai Japanese Whisky. I was onboard until the Cynar and Fernet Branca, but the rosemary Demerara syrup smoothed out the bitter edges just a bit. This cocktail was a definite sipper, but what a sipper!

The sights, sounds, and people leave me stunned and amazed every time. Tokyo is New York City to the nth power, but spotless and filled with the nicest, most respectful people I have ever met. I try to look beyond the city limits from floor-to-ceiling windows in New York Bar at the Park Hyatt Tokyo or Tokyo City View in Roppongi Hills, but the city seemed to inception in on itself the farther I looked. The sheer amount of things to see and do can seem overwhelming, but below are a few things I learned that helped wrap my head around the whole experience.

Enjoy a View

Mr. Forkful and I rented an affordable hotel room—we weren’t going to be in there much anyway because there was so much to see and do! But we made sure to see a view of the city while we were in town. We didn’t just pay for a view, we paid for an experience. Our first time around, we snagged a cocktail (2,180 JPY including tax and gratuity) at the New York Bar in the Park Hyatt Tokyo before 8:00 p.m. and take in the view to avoid the 2,400 JPY cover charge after 8:00 p.m. Our Lost in Translation whim was complete. (On the other hand, the cocktail of the same name was too sweet, but it was worth the view.)

We avoided the crowds at Tokyo SkyTree. Instead, we strolled through the latest special exhibit in Tokyo City View (1,500 JPY-1,800 JPY) on the 52nd of Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills and walked around inside the 360-degree outer gallery for an unforgettable view without all the wind of an open deck. Past exhibits include the 25th anniversary Sailor Moon celebration, and the current exhibit was Marvel: Age of Heroes, which covers a history of all things Marvel Comics and Marvel Studios with rare comics and movie props.

Celebrate Spring

Late March and early April are the tail-end of low season and a prime time to see sakura (cherry blossoms), so my husband and I had to take a second chance to see the sakura at peak bloom one more time. Tokyo is a busy city anyway (understatement!), so I can’t imagine the crowds during Golden Week (festival week, 29 April through 5 May) or summer.

The flower passion in Japan is awe-inspiring. We’ve seen a forecaster on the morning news whose specialty was communicating when flowers are expected to bloom across Japan. Google Maps even has sakura bloom indicator with information of which parks are in full bloom during sakura season.

Protip: Check the  Instagram “#cherryblossom” hashtag to quickly spot which blossoms are in bloom in any part of the city.

— Fellow Traveler, Baird Beer Craft Beer Taproom, Harajuku

 

We couldn’t forget to hanami. Picnicing under sakura blossoms around town is a must. Whole businesses reserve areas for their employees to hanami with a tons of food, sake, and beer. Buy a mutli-dish bento at a train station or 7-Eleven—konbinis (convenience stores) actually have great quality food—get a small blanket or tarp at the Don Quijote and savor a meal under the blossoms. Don’t forget to BYOB because drinking under the blossoms is legal.

Ueno Park is the most popular, but also the most crowded park to see blossoms. Our best bet for a lower key hanami was to see the blossoms along the canals in Meguro-ku or around the north side of the Imperial Palace complex. The crowds were thinner and we could actually pause and soak in the moment without getting jostled by other tourists.

That said, Ueno Park did have a ton of amazing food stalls up the long walkways leading up to the Bentendo Temple. Grilled mackerel and squid, mochi (rice balls), chocolate-covered bananas on a stick—the variety was mind-bloggling. The crowds also thinned around Shonibazu Pond behind Bentendo Temple near the end of the day, the shores were lined with sakura trees, and the pond was dotted with people in swan boats. Ueno Park was still stunning sakura-viewing option, albeit busier than Meguro-ku or the Imperial Palace.

Attempt to Eat All the Things

After a combined 24 days over 2 trips, I can safely say eating bad food in Japan is nearly impossible. Sure, I’ve come across things that just aren’t my taste. I’ve eaten natto (fermented soy beans) for breakfast about 5 times before accepting that if I stirred too much or didn’t add enough spicy mustard or soy sauce, I can’t handle the bitterness. But I try everything because I have no idea when I’ll be lucky enough to return to Japan.

At Hotel Unizo Ginza, I was 3 days into our stay before I realized the mysterious, translucent white salad with ponzu sweet vinegar I looked forward to eating every morning was squid. Ha! As a Puerto Rican, ceviche makes my heart sing so of course the squid salad was right down my alley.

I’m also already suffering Japanese pickle withdrawal—they’re so good. And a staple with every meal. The pickles can be daikon, cucumbers, eggplant—you name it—as well as sweet, salty, or tarte. Umeboshi (pickled plum) is one of my favorites, although I learned the hard way that tiny bites are the way to go. Putting a large umeboshi in your mouth borders on Fear Factor levels of sour.

Tsukiji Fishmarket is also a must, but ruins me for all other sushi and sashimi for a while. There’s few things like starting the day with a chaotic tour of one of the world’s busiest fishmarkets in the world followed by breakfast at Sushi-dokoro Okame in Tsukiji Fish Market—the uni nigiri, ikura, and toro sashimi still stand out as a few of the most freshest, vibrant things I’ve ever eaten. (Check out a detailed map of all the sushi stalls at Tenkai-Japan.com.)

Side note: The market is supposed to move to a newly built venue in Toyosu due to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, although the move was delayed until Winter 2017/2018.

We also stop for Michelin Star soba served ramen-style at Kagari in Ginza without breaking the bank. The line was long due to there being only about 8 seats in the whole place, but the caliber of the noodles and umami in that stunning, heavy broth was damn-near soup nirvana.

Oh and Tokyo DisneySEA has nearly ruined me for all other Disney Parks—the place is definitely better than anything at Walt Disney World. (Separate Tokyo DisneySEA post to come!) Become a part of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (the SEA in Tokyo DisneySEA) and explore every corner of seven ports of call including The Little Mermaid’s Atlantica and an incredible Jules Verne-inspired steam punk area dubbed the Mysterious Island.

There’s also such as a thing as food hunting (think scavenger-hunting but with food) across Tokyo DisneySEA. Disney Parks are geniuses at creating artificial scarcity through making specific snacks available at specific snack stands. Want a sweet potato torta that basically tastes like sweet potato pie in churro form? Wait over by the High Tide Treats snack stand on the ramp between Mysterious Island and Port Discovery. Craving a hot, flaky meat pastry? Stop by Breezeway Bites above Aquatopia.  Think you can plan your culinary escapades in advance to avoid the 1+ hour long snack stand lines? Think again. Some stands are not listed on the park map and if they are, the food descriptions don’t list exclusive menu items. Oh, and my husband and I made sure to try every new drink we could find. The Suntory Lychee and Salt Soda was by far my favorite.

Bar High Five is one of the best cocktail experiences I’ve ever had. This place feels elegant and Old World but everyone is warm, welcoming, and ready to surprise us because there was no menu. Instead, our bartender took a few minutes to interview me about my personal tastes and write down my answers. Then, I sat back and watched the magic happen. My first cocktail was a refreshing sakura Japanese gin fizz creation and my second turned out to be an Old Ezra 7-year bourbon violet Suntory grape beverage. Mr. Forkful opened with a yuzu whiskey beverage, followed by a Bols Yoghurt vodka pinepple cocktail, and wrapped the night with a shiso liquer and rum cocktail.

Embrace the Electric

Robot Restaurant is a glorious mish-mash of neon, chromed out robots, and thumping dance music. My husband and I saw the most Western tourists at this show, but we didn’t care. We were too busy practicing our first row safety routine (taught before the show) by leaning back to avoid head trauma from the ceiling-high parade floats packed with dozens of taiko drummers. We were entranced.

Gorgeous taiko drummers doing battle from the top of moving neon floats? Check. Piano solo video game and anime songs by a chromed out angel robot guard on a pedastal? Check. A ginormous laser-eyed robot shark fighting a giant lizard and gorgeous girls in battle mechs? Check.

Protip: Order multiple beers before the show starts; the show is even more fun with a few adult beverages and refills are not allowed during the show because giant robots.

Against our better judgement, my husband and I went Roppongi club-hopping with the crew at Tokyo Pub Crawl. Apartment-style buildings contain dozens of tiny bars in a magnificent economical use of space. We booked a pub crawl tour with drinks and covers included so all we had to worry about was remembering to shuffle home before the subways shut down at midnight.

Slow Our Roll

Tokyo is the epitome of a modern metropolis, but we didn’t forget to escape the skyscrapers and constant go-go-go of Central Tokyo. One of the most unique and unforgettable experiences I’ll always hold close to my heart is the Ghibli Musuem in Minato (get tickets in advance). The museum was designed by Hayao Miyazaki and seems to just organically grow out of the surrounding park. Photos aren’t permitted inside, but that was actually a blessing in disguise. The entire experience turned me into Alice stumbling through the looking glass if she had phased through several Miyazaki films all at once.

Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory for the most adorable Totoro treats I inhaled during our whole trip in Setagaya. The cream puff shop can officially use the Totoro characters becuase the shop is owned by Hayao Miyazaki’s sister-in-law. Both the Ghibli Museum and Shirohige’s places were maybe 30-45 minutes by train, but filled our hearts with pure joy.

Asakusa also offered us a look at Old Tokyo with its tiny streets overshadowed by crisscrossing power lines, the vast Sensoji Temple, and surrounding markets lined with stalls featuring local culinary specialities, kimono cloth vendors, and traditional crafts. Cheesy souvenirs were there too, ha!

Uneno Park is home to Bentendo Temple (est. 17th century, rebuilt in 1958) and Gojoten Shrine (built in 1651, survived WWII), but an even better walk back in time was the younger Meiji Jingu Shrine inside Yoyogi Park in Shibuya. The tall forests in this park made the city all but disappear the deeper we wandered, Harajuku and the crammed Takeshita Street a distant echo.

The area was dedicated to the spirits of the 19th century’s Emporer Meiji and Empress Shoken. Their reign closed the chapter on fuedal Japan and ushered in a return to emporers and a more westernized style of life. Empress Shoken favored wearing western dresses over kimonos, engaged in charity work, and supported women’s education.

Mr. Forkful and I didn’t forget to leave a monetary offering and take home an o-mikuji (fortune) as a small momento. We tied good fortunes in the designated spots near the shrine to help them come true. People also tie a bad fortunes at the shrine so the fortunes won’t follow them around.

Go Home to Come Back

We tried to do every single thing anyone has ever said to do in Japan on our first trip even though that’s not possible. My husband and I visited only a precious six prefectures, from Kyoto to Tochigi, but there’s still so much more to experience. We packed every single day of our trips with sightseeing, hiking, and food but we also slowed down in onsens and stretched out under sakura blossoms. Hopefully, one day we’ll see Japan again. Until then, I’ll cherish our countless Japan escapades in my heart and dreams for decades to come.

Huevos Bulla

Disclosure: The food and beverages mentioned in this post were provided by Bulla Gastrobar, although the views and opinions expressed in this post are purely my own. This post was not reviewed by anyone else in any way.

The Café

Axum Coffee is one of the precious few coffee houses in Orlando (top 5 list coming soon!) where you can get a bomba** pour over. When ordering for the manual brew at an Axum, there’s usually a nice selection of single-source coffee beans to choose from. I went with the Axum Roastery Burundi Kayanza—rich, full-flavored, and smooth like chocolate—no sugar, creamer, or milk needed. Simply heaven.

Even better: All profits go to humanitarian efforts in Axum, Ethiopia.

They also had a posh pesto tomato mozzarella quiche otherwise known as the perfect way to round out a morning. A full breakfast on a nommy pastry crust. I couldn’t ask for more, except I knew there was a chance I could cuddle a few kittens.

The Felines

The café and the kitten play area are separated by a wall and 2-door entrance system to avoid any door-dashing. Visiting with the kittens requires a reservations 24 hours in advance. Visitors must check-in inside Axum Coffee at the register to pay a small entrance fee to feed, house, and maintain all the kittens. Each reservation is for 1 hour, and you can bring any coffee or food bought on the café into the kitten play area. The café personnel only work in the café, and The Animal League volunteers only work in the kitten play area.

Possibly 1 or 2 walk-ins can be accommodated every hour. That’s it, so I was really lucky I was able to join my friends during their reservation period to meet the kittens. All I had to do was remember to sanitize my hands and let the kittens come to me—easy peasy! I just had to restrain myself from adopting all of those cuties.

Yes, adopt! All kittens are adoptable. Volunteers can explain in detail about the temperament of each fluffy ball of cuteness. Fill out an adoption application from the TheAnimalLeague.org to to speed up the adoption process when you arrive for your café playtime.

Amazing coffee, comforting food, and cute kittens—I keep my  Orlando Cat Café rewards card in my wallet because I know I’ll be back soon.

Orlando Cat Café | Axum Coffee

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Border Grill Orlando Fresh Mex (Universal Studios Area)

Mexico City-style tacos aren’t served in crunchy shells or buried in tomatoes and plastic cheddar cheese. Instead, the topping trifecta to look for is hot corn tortillas, cilantro, and diced white onions. Then, you have a touch of that crumbly, white cotija cheese. Finally, the heart and soul of it all—the protein. My go-tos are the savory carnitas (braised pulled pork) or al pastor (slow-roasted sliced pork) seasoned with love, tradition, and possibly achiote. Anoint these tacos with a squeeze of fresh lime and enjoy.

Camel Tow Taco Food Truck (Various Locations)

This little orange truck throws down some amazing tacos with a little East Asian feel served on flour tortillas. They also have original all-natural signature sauces; Junk in the Trunk (hot), Naughty and Nice (medium), Sweet & Innocent (mild). The tastiest, most-exciting taco on the menu here is the vegetarian taco. Tempura portobella mushroom, zucchini, and sweet potato are layered with sweet corn salsa, pineapple salsa, and dill sauce. A sprinkle of cilantro and toasted black sesame seeds later, I decimate this taco and its buddy with gusto. Yes, 2 tacos are a must. Change it up with the tempura chicken taco, which has its own chili garlic sauce.

Tako Cheena by Pom Pom (Mills 50)

Every time I try something new at Tako Cheena, like their Tom Yum Mojo Shrimp Tacos or the Indian Butter Chicken Burrito, I always crave my favorite Panko Crusted Cod Tacos. It’s the crunchy of the fried cod, the sweet and sour onion sauce, and spicy mayo with crunchy scallion. Even the sweet Chinese sausage hot dogs with kimchi don’t stop me from wanting to crunch through another Panko Crusted Cod Taco. There have been at least two solid weeks when Mr. Forkful and I jetted back to Tako Cheena for these cod tacos every other night—I can’t convey how much of a must these tacos are right now. Bonus: Dessert peach ginger empanadas smothered in caramelo.

Pig Floyd’s Urban Barbakoa (Mills 5o)

The pork belly and beef brisket (La Vaca Tahkaw) are the first two tacos to have at Pig Floyd’s. The pork is smoked and grilled with a touch of dragon sauce and a nice citrus peanut slaw crunch. I’m not a peanut fan, but these tacos make me throw personal preference out the window. Plus, brisket on a taco pretty much owns the night at Pig Floyd’s. Don’t forget a side of the Mexican street-style corn on the cob smothered in cotija cheese, chili, and lime.

Tacos El Rancho (Orlando International Airport Area)

Okay, so I’m cheating a little here by listing the Quesadilla de Lengua. Yes, lengua is marinated beef tongue and it’s consistently wonderfulat Tacos El Rancho. Just think savory shredded beef partying together with melted cheese, cilantro, onions, tomatoes, and the rest. Maybe even drizzled with a little sour cream. I believe you can fill your crunchy corn or soft flour tacos with lengua, as well as an amazing assortment 11+ other proteins including chorizo, pastor, and grilled tilapia as well as tinga—spicy, smoky chicken goodness.

Gringos Locos (Downtown Orlando)

Double Ds, which are these unapologetically Tex-Mex double-decker tacos. Let me explain. The holy triumvirate here is the soft flour taco covered in melty queso and wrapped in a crunchy hard taco. My basic order are 2 Double Ds—a 7-hour slow-roasted pork and fresh chicken—with the usually toppings like pico de gallo, sour cream, lettuce, and cheese. After a pub crawl or a night of bar-hopping, the best advice I can give is don’t mess with the basics. Just ride the boozy taco wave, not pictured.

Every year Omni Orlando spotlights a humble, all-natural ingredient and celebrates it in amazing ways. This year, after a week-long culinary immersion in Vermont and Montreal maple syrup-producing areas, Chef Robert Ash and his culinary team made Vermont maple syrup the star of the show.

A Maple Smash was a honeyed blush opener with a mellowed flavor—this summer cocktail definitely belongs poolside. This cocktail shows its Southeastern influence through Crown Royal rye, lemon, dark maple syrup, and mint. Northeast, Midwest, Western, and Texas craft cocktails are also represented on this summer’s menu through the Northeastern Blueberry Maple Lemonade (Tito’s vodka, RE’AL blueberry puree, lemon and amber),  the Midwestern Maple Peach Margarita (Herradura Reposado tequila, amber maple syrup, lime, and RE’AL peach infused syrup with a salted maple sugar rim),  and the Western Double Grapefruit Greyhound (Deep Eddy grapefruit vodka, fresh grapefruit and lemon juice, golden maple syrup, and Aperol).

The maple leaf-shaped Share Me Charcuterie Board was dotted with pâté, house made pickles, and fresh lavash bread. Mr. Forkful especially enjoyed the sharp blue cheese, which cut through the rest of the offerings. The pickled beets were definitely a favorite—maple syrup toned down the usual earthiness I expected from the roasted beets and actually played up the natural beet flavor. Guests who book a maple package can expect this charcuterie board in their room alongside maple candy and maple popcorn.

The Chipotle Maple Chicken Tacos were so intense and rich I almost through they were pork tacos instead. Chicken tacos have no right to be this good. Plus, the house-made salsa and radish, cotija, and pineapple toppings had Mr. Forkful and I wanting about 5 more tacos each.

Another favorite was the Beef Tartare with barely, maple, and tangy sorrel. The quail egg was the crowning glory—it was poached in maple sugar water and didn’t weight down the tartare like I expected.

The salty-sweet Crisp Maple Cured Lamb Belly was almost like a candied lamb jerky accented with the bitey crispness of fresh carrots and slight mint-anise flavor of hyssop. The lamb wasn’t my favorite of the night but I couldn’t stop eating it.

The Charred Root Vegetables course was thoughtful course—a show of sustainability in nuance. The veggies had a slight char and snapped at first bite. After all the rich courses, the charred root vegetables were a nice reprieve.

A Maple Water Poached Arctic Char followed with a mild sweetness, although my favorite way to have Arctic Char is still sashimi-style. The strongest flavor on the plate was garlic confit, which as a Puerto Rican I was right at home. The garlic confit could have been portioned out in slivers so I could get a little garlicky goodness with every other bite. The Florida green sea beans were also another thoughtful nod to sustainable Florida food.

Then, Maple Endings arrived as a 4-part dessert course with a frozen maple-bourbon milkshake topped with a (Chef Robert Ash’s secret family recipe!) chocolate chip cookie and satisfyingly airy zeppoles with a (maple?) glaze and berry compote. Mr. Forkful took up the cause and helped me finish this amazing 4-part dessert tour of maple goodness.

Remember that Maple Smash? Pair it with Maple Endings and that alone is enough reason to head to Omni Orlando Resort and Championsgate this summer for a little dash of maple magic through September 5, 2016.

Website: The Magic of Maple at Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate

Disclosure: The food and beverages mentioned in this post were provided by Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate, although the views and opinions expressed in this post are purely my own. This post was not reviewed by anyone else in any way.

Website: Grills Seafood Deck & Tiki Bar

Phone: (321) 868-2226