Travel-Freak's Blog

This is my first blog here, so let me just say that I am total "foodie"!!  We are leaving for Vegas next week and I have spent more hours looking for places to eat than cool things to do and see.

 So, with that said, I have, without a doubt, had THE best meal of my entire life at Emeril's Tchoup Chop in Orlando.  My sister and I were planning our parents 50th wedding anniversary, it included a cruise and a stay at the Hard Rock hotel (LOVED that hotel also).  Anyway, the 25 people who traveled from all over the country to attend this bash are still talking about how great the meal was.  Since we had such a huge party, we had to "create" a menu with a few selections.  They printed up this very cool menu with my parents name, wedding date and 50th anniversary at the top. 

I chose the pork chops ~ "Grilled Double Cut Pork Chop with Ginger Roasted Sweet Potato Mash, Tamarind Barbecue Glaze and Five Spiced Green Apple Chutney" Who knew a pork chop could taste like that???  It was out of this world.  Even though it was about 2 inches thick, it was very tender.    For dessert they presented my parents with a tray of samples of their entire dessert line.  I ordered the "Emeril's Banana Cream Pie with Graham Crust, Caramel Sauce, and Chocolate Shavings "  it was PACKED with bananas.  I just can't do it justice by describing it. Of course the service was unmatched.  They couldn't do enough for us. 

Since that meal was SOOO good, when we went to Vegas last year, we decided to try Emerils Delmonico Steakhouse.  We had friends from Texas meeting us there.  Boy, where we disappointed.  The waitstaff was superb.  Couldn't have asked for better service.  But their food was lacking.  I ordered "Seared Tenderloin and Sea Scallops Homemade Bacon Potato Confit, Toasted Walnuts and Blue Cheese".  The tenderloin ended up being 4 little itty bitty tips.  Maybe a 1/2 inch long, and the scallops (4 of those, also) were so over cooked, it was like chewing on rubber.  That dish cost me $40.  I don't mind paying the price if the food is good, but I can't even say that this dish was just OK.  It was so bad that when we returned from our trip, I wrote Delmonico to tell them, they pretty much responded with a "too bad, so sad" email. 

I always believe in giving a restaurant a second chance, because everyone has "off-nights", but this was so bad, I am not sure I want to throw another $200. their way.

Although, when I am back in Orlando, I will be making a trip to Tchoup Chop.