Let's Eat, Orlando with Amy Drew and Biggie

Let's Eat Orlando with Amy Drew and Biggie - Summer snacks, popcorn, and Orlando food finds. Amy Drew and Biggie are back with a food-filled catch-up that starts with snacks and ends with a stack of new Orlando eats worth trying. They trade road trip favorites, movie-theater popcorn strategy, and a handful of memorable local discoveries, from Korean katsu to Surinamese comfort food and fresh wild catfish in Central Florida.In this episode:Biggie and Amy Drew kick off with summer snacking, road trip food, and the universal power of movie popcornAmy Drew names her longtime favorites like Combos and original flavor Corn Nuts, while Biggie admits to a serious Cheez-It habitThey dig into the oldest snacks and preserved foods, including popcorn, pretzels, and ancient jerkyAmy Drew shares a standout meal at Yumikatsu, a Korean spot with big katsu portions, curry, stews, and banchanShe also recommends Grand Ruprum Roti, a Surinamese restaurant in Orlando serving roti, stewed meats, chicken liver wraps, and very hot house-made sauceBiggie talks about Antica Pizzeria and Market, including the Stella pizza with truffle ricotta, burrata, arugula, tomato, and balsamic drizzleThey compare kiosk ordering with counter service and agree that kiosks are fine as long as you can still ask questionsBiggie spotlights a few coffee stops, including Those Guys Cafe and Paperback Coffee, plus a Japanese-inspired coffee house in a pickleball space on OBTAmy Drew shares her recent story on Sanders Catfish House, where a family has been hauling wild-caught St. Johns River catfish since the 1960sThe episode closes with listener shoutouts, requests for suggestions, and a promise that the show is back on a regular recording scheduleTune in to Let's Eat Orlando for more local dining insights and recommendations!****Follow Us:**- *Instagram*: @LetsEatOrlandoPod- *Amy Drew*: @AmyDroo- *Biggie*: @UCFBiggie and @DeliFreshThreads

Amy Drew and Biggie chatted about trends for 2026.  We talk about the trends we hear are being predicted for the year as well as we make some our predictionsWe chatted about everything from prebiotic sodas, Fiber, protein, solo eating, to Sweet Tomatoes and Rotisserie Chicken places. Was good to be back chatting and sharing with you. Tune in to Let's Eat Orlando for more local dining insights and recommendations!**Follow Us:**- *Instagram*: @LetsEatOrlandoPod- *Amy Drew*: @AmyDroo- *Biggie*: @UCFBiggie and @DeliFreshThreads

This week, Amy Drew and Biggie kick off the holiday season with the ultimate comfort-food conversation: Thanksgiving Sandwiches. Biggie’s all-time favorite meal might just be the day-after sandwich, and Amy Drew is always on the hunt for the next great Orlando creation.Turkey Day Talk: We dive into the magic of the Thanksgiving Sandwich—why it hits so hard, even days after the feast.Where to Get One in Orlando: Amy Drew shares some of her 2025 favorites, including:Arby’s Deep-Fried Turkey GobblerPastrami Project - Open on Thanksgiving tooDeli Llama’sYellow Dog EatsMust-Have Ingredients: From cranberry sauce to stuffing, gravy, and the perfect bread—what really makes a Thanksgiving Sandwich? We break down the essentials.Home-Made Greatness: Amy Drew reveals the incredible sandwich she crafted using Jeff’s Bagel Run Nana’s Stuffing Bagel. (Yes… it’s as good as it sounds.)Biggie’s Bonus Leftover Hack: When he’s not stacking sandwiches, he’s rolling up his leftovers into… Thanksgiving Egg Rolls. Genius.What Are You Making? We share why we’re thankful for our listeners and want to know—what do you do with your Thanksgiving leftovers?Tune in for delicious ideas, laughs, and plenty of Orlando food love.Follow Us:Instagram: @LetsEatOrlandoPodAmy Drew: @AmyDrooBiggie: @UCFBiggie + @DeliFreshThreads🥪 What’s Inside This Episode🍽️ Stay Connected & Keep Eating Local!

This week, Amy Drew and Biggie sink their teeth into an Orlando legend — Beefy King, the family-run institution that’s been serving locals with love for over 57 years.Fresh off watching Adam Scherr (aka WWE’s Braun Strowman) spotlight Beefy King on his new USA Network food show, Everything on the Menu, we bite into why this place holds such a special spot in so many hearts… including ours!And yes — they got to try THE MONSTER, the sandwich Adam created for the show. Picture this: Every. Single. Beefy. King. Meat.- Roast Beef, Pastrami, Ham, Turkey, Corned Beef… stacked high with cheese and stuffed into that classic soft bun. It’s a carnivore’s dream and an instant Orlando icon.Amy Drew and Biggie share their own go-to orders, reminisce about Beefy King’s retro charm, and celebrate the nostalgia, show love to Jack Sauce, and community love that make this spot a must-eat for locals and visitors alike.If you’re craving Orlando flavor, this is the episode for you.🎧 Tune in to Let's Eat Orlando for more local dining insights and delicious recommendations!Instagram: @LetsEatOrlandoPodAmy Drew: @AmyDrooBiggie: @UCFBiggie & @DeliFreshThreads

This week on Let’s Eat Orlando, Amy Drew and Biggie dive fork-first into one of our favorite trends in dining — food halls! Whether you’re craving noodles, empanadas, vegan comfort food, or cookies the size of your palm, Orlando’s got a food hall for you.We chat about some of the newest (and tastiest!) openings around town, including:✨ Art² Downtown Orlando — a creative urban pocket park that’s now home to À La Cart Downtown Orlando, featuring:🍜 Red Panda Noodle🚚 Culinary Collective — a static food truck serving up ever-changing culinary concepts🍪 Phat Ashe Bakes — those thick mini cookies you’ll want to grab by the dozen!🍽️ Hall’s on the 5th in Apopka — the city’s first-ever food hall and a delicious new reason to explore! Featuring favorites like:🥩 Butcher’s Nook🥟 Empanada & Co.🍔 Parlor Kitchen🌱 Soulicious Vegan🍰 Sweet & Salty🥗 Thrive EateryAnd of course, Biggie gives a shoutout to Henry’s Depot — a Sanford staple packed with flavor from:🍦 Greenery Creamery🥪 Pom Pom’s Sandwiches🍤 The Bait & Hook🔥 Pollo Al Fuego(and yes, Sweet & Salty makes another delicious appearance!)We also get into why food halls are such a win for Orlando diners — the variety, the community vibe, and the chance to support multiple local chefs all under one roof.🎧 Tune in, get hungry, and make plans to eat your way through Orlando’s newest food halls!Tune in to Let's Eat Orlando for more local dining insights and recommendations!****Follow Us:**- *Instagram*: @LetsEatOrlandoPod- *Amy Drew*: @AmyDroo- *Biggie*: @UCFBiggie and @DeliFreshThreads

This week, Amy Drew and Biggie take a delicious trip down memory lane at Linda’s La Cantina, Orlando’s legendary steakhouse that’s been serving sizzling cuts since 1947!From the moment they walked in (yep—at 4 p.m. with a line already forming!), they were surrounded by the old-school charm that makes Linda’s a true local treasure.Biggie went big—as always—with the La Cantina Medium T-Bone, a hearty 1.5 lb combo of NY Strip and Filet, while Amy Drew savored the 16 oz Ribeye, perfectly cooked and full of flavor.They chat about everything that makes this place special:🥗 The housemade salad dressing that hits all the right notes🍰 Biggie’s creative dessert mashup—Chocolate Cake meets Key Lime Pie (trust us, it works!)🍸 Amy Drew’s appreciation for a well-made Negroni and Linda’s great drink prices that don’t break the bank👔 The laid-back-yet-classic vibe—whether you show up casual or dressed to the nines, you’re in for a good timeIt’s a celebration of nostalgia, community, and seriously good steak. Pull up a chair and join us for a bite of Orlando history.✨ Follow & Connect:Podcast: @LetsEatOrlandoPodAmy Drew: @AmyDrooBiggie: @UCFBiggie | @DeliFreshThreads🎧 Tune in and let’s eat, Orlando!

This week, Amy Drew and Biggie welcomed a true culinary legend to the table: Chef Norman Van Aken – American chef, author, and the only Floridian chef inducted into the prestigious James Beard Foundation’s Who’s Who in American Food and Beverage.We dove deep into Norman’s incredible journey, including:🍴 How he became the founding father of “New World Cuisine.”🍴 What excites him most about today’s Orlando food scene.🍴 The mentors and inspirations who shaped his culinary path.🍴 Why the James Beard Foundation’s Good Food for Good® mission is close to his heart.🍴 Details on his upcoming Toast to Orlando benefit event at his restaurant, Norman’s.📅 Event Spotlight:On Friday, October 10th, Norman will host Toast to Orlando, a celebration honoring local Orlando chefs and supporting the James Beard Foundation’s mission of Good Food for Good®.📍 Norman’s – 7924 Via Dellagio Way, Orlando, FL🎟️ Tickets + details: Reserve on OpenTable🌐 Learn more: normans.comDon’t miss this inspiring conversation with one of the icons of American cuisine — and of course, stick around for more of Amy Drew and Biggie’s take on Orlando’s tastiest spots.✨ Follow & Connect:Podcast: @LetsEatOrlandoPodAmy Drew: @AmyDrooBiggie: @UCFBiggie | @DeliFreshThreads🎧 Tune in and let’s eat, Orlando!

This week, Amy Drew and I discussed and caught up and talked about Food Rules-  We discussed everything from:Raisins Pineapple on PizzaRaw mushroom and peppers on pizzaKetchup on HotdogsCheese with Fish or seafood Order of milk with cerealHow you cut your sandwich- Half or DiagonalEating Handheld foods with fork and knifeThoughts on Same Side SeatingMayo vs Light Mayo vs Miracle WhipLeftovers- yes or no?Warm fruitShopping Carts- put away or leave cart somewherePlaces mentioned:Perla’s Pizza TrattoNuri’s Tavern Big Dave’s CheesesteaksTune in to Let's Eat Orlando for more local dining insights and recommendations!****Follow Us:**- *Instagram*: @LetsEatOrlandoPod- *Amy Drew*: @AmyDroo- *Biggie*: @UCFBiggie and @DeliFreshThreads

It’s a big week for Orlando foodies! Amy Drew and Biggie are diving into Magical Dining, kicking off August 15th with 160 restaurants serving up three-course menus — and celebrating 20 delicious years of this local dining tradition.Biggie grills Amy Drew on her latest foodie adventures, including:Paco Submarine in the New Smyrna area – a sandwich spot making waves 🌊El Coqui Ninja Restaurant – a Puerto Rican–Chinese fusion that’s as unique (and tasty) as it sounds 🥡🍍Plus, Biggie’s got his sights (and appetite) set on the Ronald McDonald House’s Appetite for the Arches charity event happening Friday, August 15th – a night of creative bites for a great cause.From magical menus to mouthwatering mashups, there’s plenty on the plate this week. Tune in for the latest dining buzz, hidden gems, and insider tips to keep your taste buds happy.Follow Us:Instagram: @LetsEatOrlandoPodAmy Drew: @AmyDrooBiggie: @UCFBiggie & @DeliFreshThreads

Amy Drew asks Biggie- Is a hotdog a sandwich? We chatted about it and what we really should be discussing the bun to hot dog ratio. We also talked about condiments and how we like our hot dogs.  Biggie also spoke about a person he recently spoke to that started a potato chip company based on her love of Chicago foods-  and her Hot dog chips will be available at Portillo’s the week of National Hot Dog week.  We spoke about the hot dog spots we enjoy-  Hot Dog Heaven;  Cholo Dogs and also discussed Primrose Lanes homemade hotdogs Biggie asked Amy Drew about how her article and how $32 is not too much for a local grouper sandwich.  She discussed her Grouper story and the cost of grouper and why the cost is so high and the various options available for less than $32.How do you like your hot dog?  How do you enjoy your grouper?