The 2023 Dining Awards: Readers’ Choice Part 2

Principal Photography by Roberto Gonzalez

JEREMIAH’S ITALIAN ICE | MULTIPLE LOCATIONS

Best Frozen Treats: Readers’ Choice 

Founder Jeremy Litwack has come a long way since the days of selling his homemade Italian ice from a pushcart in front of Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell. Since opening his first storefront on Aloma Avenue in Winter Park in 1996, the franchise has exploded into 126 locations across the United States. “We’re opening about 40 stores a year right now,” Litwack says. Customers line up in droves to get their fix or try free samples of Italian ice (with the mint-chocolate chip Scoop Froggy Frog leading in popularity), soft ice cream, or both layered into a gelati. They keep fans engaged by offering seasonal “flavorites”—here’s looking at you, Lemon Basil—and through their perk-laden app, says marketing manager Maggie Sumner. As in Litwack’s early days of peddling his ice, the franchise emphasizes freshness. Products are made fresh daily at each store using premium ingredients, Litwack says, while keeping prices affordable. He and his team have brought on a director of research and development in their constant quest for new flavors, which sometimes are inspired by travels. Meanwhile, the family-friendly franchise spreads the love by supporting schools and other local organizations. “Being part of the community is essential,” Litwack says. jeremiahsice.com

COCINA 214 | WINTER PARK

Best Mexican: Readers’ Choice 

In Spanish, cocina means kitchen. In Dallas, Texas, 214 is the area code. Put those two together and you have Cocina 214, the trendy, family and date friendly restaurant which features authentic Tex-Mex favorites. Be sure to try one of their 12 types of margaritas with their “Oh My Mahi” Fish Tacos. cocina214.com

THE PINERY | IVANHOE VILLAGE

Best Outdoor Dining: Readers’ Choice 

Owner Carol Holladay didn’t choose the Lake Ivanhoe plot for The Pinery, the longtime hospitality professional’s first restaurant. It chose her. Then the restaurant began to shape itself: “Overlooking Lake Ivanhoe with the city skyline in the background and the sunset, it was a no-brainer to have the patio and also have the inside-outside bar,” Holladay says. The restaurant—even the name itself, which refers to a place where pineapples are grown—is a celebration of the area’s history. Names of seasonal drinks are nods to Central Florida: the Pineapple Sugar (Holladay’s favorite), the Snowbird, and the Ivanhoe and Orange, to name a few. Many ingredients in their menu are locally sourced and inspired. Enjoy sweet-tea-brined fried chicken topped with locally sourced Petal Honey, or grab some alligator tacos served with an aioli from datil peppers grown in St. Augustine. And prepare yourself for some Southern hospitality. Pineapples, according to Holladay, represent hospitality, which she and her staff serve up in abundance. “I treat The Pinery as an extension of my home, and so does our staff,” says Holladay, who puts her cell number on her business cards so customers can reach out for reservations. “That’s another part of the hospitality.” thepineryorlando.com

TAVERNA OPA INTERNATIONAL DRIVE

Best Greek: Readers’ Choice 

Taverna Opa Orlando welcomes you to loosen your ties and have an unforgettable lunch and dinner experience with authentic Greek cuisine and entertainment. Bringing a touch of the Mediterranean to Orlando, Taverna Opa imports cheeses, olives, and oil directly from Greece. They are known for their abundant selection of fresh seafood delivered daily as well as their Lamb Chops, the restaurant’s best seller. Signature selections such as Tzatziki, Hummus, Greek Yogurt and Dolmades are made daily on premises and from scratch. opaorlando.com

Courtesy of Taverna Opa

JALEO | DISNEY SPRINGS

Best Chef: Readers’ Choice 

I suspect readers are aware of the quality of food at Jaleo. Head Chef Kristoffer Anderson is, after all, our reader’s pick for Best Chef. What some might not realize is Anderson, who runs a kitchen with close to 60 employees, feeding up to 1,000 people a day, is just 28 years old. His career started in high school, when he got a job bussing tables at an Asian bistro in Naples. At the end of his shifts, he would ask his chef for a staff meal. The chef would tease him, telling him if he wanted to eat, he had to cook. Accepting the challenge, Anderson began cooking dishes off the menu. Eventually, he was offered a spot on the line. Jaleo is a tapas restaurant owned by celebrity chef José Andrés. Every summer, Anderson spends three weeks in Spain with Andrés and some of his other chefs. They go to the market each morning and, in the afternoons, they cook with Andrés. jaleo.com

Courtesy of Jaleo

VICTORIA & ALBERT’S | LAKE BUENA VISTA

Best Service: Readers’ Choice 

If we had to describe Victoria & Albert’s in a word, it’s opulence. From the carefully curated wine selection to the sumptuous cuisine to the elegant Victorian decor—and yes, the price tag—diners enjoy an unprecedented experience. According to Maître d’hotel and Sommelier Israel Perez, each team member “strives to deliver a flawless dining experience, combining the perfect balance of creativity and passion for impeccable service,” while carefully reading cues from each table. When guests recently told their server their flight was canceled, resulting in an 11-hour drive home the next day, the team got busy. “We surprised them with a basket full of treats for their trip, including bakery sweets prepared by Pastry Chef Kristine Farmer, snacks, candies and breakfast items prepared by Chef Matthew Sowers. The basket also contained water and bottles of sodas handcrafted by Chef Gabriella Syvaniemi,” Perez shares. Guests, who each receive a customized menu, can opt for the dining room or an even more elevated experience in Queen Victoria’s Room or at the chef’s table. Prepare yourself for a once-in-a-lifetime dive into decadence featuring carefully crafted course after course served in style. You’ll feel like a VIP. For a few hours, you will be. disneyworld.disney.go.com

Courtesy of The Grand Floridian

STASIO’S ITALIAN DELI & MARKET | MILK DISTRICT

Best Sandwiches: Readers’ Choice 

When the Palos visit family in New Haven, Connecticut, their first stop is their favorite Italian deli, Liuzzi’s. On one of these trips, they got the idea to open an Italian deli in Orlando. They’ve owned restaurants in the city since 1984. They thought running a deli would be easier. “The joke was on us. It’s not easier at all,” said Diana Palo, who, along with her mother, Maria, father, Louie, and brother, Al, owns Stasio’s. The reason the deli is so demanding is because the Palos take the time to do it right. They stock the shelves with hard-to-find, imported ingredients. Most everything behind the counter is made from scratch, including a variety of sausages, breads, salads, pastas, sandwiches and more. Louie runs the kitchen. “My dad’s one of those people that he’s got to make it perfect and then make it exactly the same every time,” said Diana. Maria does the baking. While her Italian pastries are delicious, it’s her cheesecakes which have won my heart. My favorite is her cannoli cheesecake. In the late afternoons, when the baking is done, you can find Maria at the coffee bar next to the cash register, nursing a glass of Italian red while chatting up customers, many of whom she is on a first name basis with. instagram.com/stasiositaliandeli

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