A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Orlando and visit with a Radio friend, Steve Stewart with Country outlet WWKA (K92). Now the last time Steve and I got together it was in Chicago for a three-hour lunch.  We always have a lot to catch up on. And it doesn’t matter how long between visits, we just act like we eat at the same lunch table every day.  We’ve known each other for nearly 15 years. I trust him.  He trusts me.   We just pick right up. That is until he thwarted my Old-Fashioned suggestion and went with… oh hell, I’ve got to say it… A vodka drink.  Vodka! Can you imagine?  He ordered a Moscow Mule.  I get it.  I’ve had a few in my days.  But then I suggested a Bourbon Mule.  Nope.  He wasn’t having it.  He’s not a whiskey guy.  And that’s OK.  It just tripped me up.  Although it made me feel empty inside, I marched on.

I will say he chose one helluva restaurant-The Ravenous Pig.  Great name.  Great food. Great place.  Ha!  I forgive him.  I ordered their Old Fashioned, of course. It featured bacon-infused bourbon, vanilla maple & orange bitters. It was properly served with one large cube as God intended. I had two. They were fantastic. They were just different enough to stand out. That’s what I look for in an Old Fashioned, something different and unique. We started with a couple of highly suggested appetizers, Pork Terrine, which Steve described as fancy spam, and the Pork Belly.  Both were full of flavor. Our main course consisted of Steak Frites for Steve, and I was in a mood for a classic Bacon Cheeseburger.  I know we were both happy with our choices. It was a lot of food, and the staff was polite and timely.

As in the last time we sat down for a meal, dinner lasted three hours. Between business at hand, catching up on family and our shit talk, the time just flies. I love when I can sit down with a colleague, and we can just be ourselves.  It makes things so much better. So, if you ever find yourself in the Orlando area, in fact this is in the Winter Park, this is a place you should prioritize.  Great menu, great bar and a great place to catch up with an old friend.  Yes, even if he is a vodka drinker…