Review - Giordano's Pizza in Kissimmee

7866 W. Irlo Bronson Hwy. Kissimmee FL

Pizza Chap rating..

4.5 out of 5 slices 

I stopped in at Giordano's the other day for lunch.  If you weren't aware, they have a pretty good lunch special that's been running for awhile now.  From 11:00 to 3:00 p.m. You can get a 6 inch stuffed deep dish pizza with all cheese, pepperoni, or sausage, and a choice of a side for just $8.95.  You might scoff at the thought of a 6 inch pie, but I attest as an official card carrying "Big Guy".. you will not be disappointed with this meal.

A cute little Deep Dish Pizza Pie that will fill your belly!

Be aware that this pizza even at six inches, is going to take a half an hour to bake, so if you're in a hurry, you might want to order something else off of the lunch menu.  Personally however, if I'm taking the time to go to Giordano's, I am always going for their signature Deep Dish Pie!  I opted for a sausage Pizza, and was not disappointed.

Tons of cheese, tons of crust, tons of satisfaction

Here are my findings:

The Crust - Nice and crispy on the outer layer, and not doughy anywhere else.  Nice and bready on the end crust, but I love this!

The Cheese - Their aged Wisconsin Mozzarella tasted incredible and provided great creaminess, with a nice buttery flavor.  The stretchiness of the cheese is something you just won't believe until you see it.

The Sausage - A roundish sausage crumble that one gets accustomed to seeing in pizzerias of all sorts.  I would have liked to see a sausage in this pie with a more artisan feel and taste to it.

The Sauce - A very fresh tasting sauce that helps pull this deep dish together.  Giordano's sauce does not have any preservatives or chemicals and is made fresh daily.  Crafted from fresh tomatoes grown in Mendoncino County California, this quality sauce is definitely a star.  It would be so easy for a pizza chain to 'Phone it in' and use a mass produced sauce from a distributor, so I really respect how Giordano's keeps it real.

Some video of that famous Giordano's 'Cheese Pull'

on my Instagram account..

View this post on Instagram

First I cut carbs.. THEN I stretch. #pizzapie #pizza #giordanos #deepdish #cheesepull #chicagostyle #za #pizzapizza #pizzalove #lovepizza #pizzafanatic #pizzaholic #thepizzachap #pizzachap #pizzafan #pizzaaddict #pizzaAddicted #floridafoodie #orlandofoodie #pizzablog #pizzablogger #floridapizza #orlandopizza #whydontIstrechOut

A post shared by The Pizza Chap (@thepizzachap) on Oct 24, 2018 at 10:55am PDT

New York style is usually my go-to pizza of choice, but I do get a hankering for a good Deep Dish pie on occasion.  I really do dig everything about these pies, even the massive end crust that you're left with when you finish your slice.

Some people don't care for end crust to begin with, so I can see how a Chicago style crust may not excite some folks.  If that includes you.. I will share a trick with you that might help you finish off that crust a bit easier.

How to eat your Chicago Deep Dish End Crust

(for those who don't particularly care for end crust)

Step One - Stop eating the pizza when you get a couple inches away from the end crust.

Step Two - Rotate the crust so the tip of where your slice used to be, is facing straight up.

Step Three -Hold and eat the crust the way you would eat a Hot Dog.


When you utilize this technique, you will have sauce, cheese, and toppings to go with every bite of the thick end crust.  The toppings won't fall off thanks to the sheer width and flatness of the end crust.  It doesn't work on any other type of pizza!

All in all I had a wonderful dining experience at Giordano's.  One of these days I will have to visit and order one of their full blown loaded large pies that can feed 4-6 people. If I do.. rest assured you will read about it and see it here!

World Food Truck Park in Kissimmee Florida

I had an incredible dinner the other night at a place in Kissimmee that's been right under my nose for the eighteen months I've lived in the area.  I heard rumors recently about an incredible permanent Food Truck lot located across from Old Town Kissimmee on Hwy 192.

While you can get fare such as Sandwiches, Dogs, Hawaiian Shaved Ice, etc.. there are tons of Spanish and Latin Food Trucks there as well.   I saw Mexican, Puerto Rican, Peruvian and Colombian Food Trucks just to name a few.  I had to actually take a couple laps around the park because EVERYTHING looked and smelled so great.

First off, we ordered a couple items from the 'Salsa Queen' Food Truck.  Check them out..

Tripletas Tostones Rellenos

Fried Plantain Cups filled with shredded meats

Tostones Burger
A Puerto Rican style Burger,
with crispy fried mashed plantains for the buns!



Next.. I had to get a couple Tacos from 'Tacos My Guey'. 

I opted for one steak and one fish taco and both were incredible.  These were hands down the best tacos I've eaten since moving to Florida from Colorado.  Their sauces were great as well.

Here's a few other trucks that caught my attention..

The sights and smells here are amazing, because everything is being made fresh to order.
If you're ever in the area of Old Town Kissimmee and are in the mood for some great Latin food.. I highly recommend stopping by the World Food Truck Park. You're bound to find something delicious suited to your taste.

Visit World Food Truck Park Online

Rosie's Fried Green Tomato Sammich at DIsney's Hollywood Studios

Nestled in the back of Sunset Ranch Market on Sunset Boulevard in Disney's Hollywood Studios, sits Rosie's All American Cafe.  I got off of work early the other afternoon, and decided to hit the park to do some shopping.

I had skipped lunch and was quickly on the verge of getting "Hangry", so I made myself stop to get some fuel.  Having wanted to try Rosie's Fried Green Tomato Sandwich for quite some time, I ordered one up.  At $9.99, it definitely did not break the bank, and was served with a heaping helping of hot fries.

This beauty sported Fried Green Tomatoes topped with Jalapeño Ranch Dressing, Pepper Jack, Red Tomatoes with Arugula on Ciabatta Bread.  It really did look and taste like something you would get in a nice sit down restaurant.

The sandwich was indeed as good as it looks.  Freshly made, the fried green tomatoes were piping hot, and the arugula and red tomato cold and crisp.  The only fault I could find with this sandwich, was with the jalapeno ranch.  Mind you.. the sauce was great, but I feel the sandwich just needed more of it.  The Ciabatta bread was nice and dense, so that combined with the breading of the fried green tomatoes, made for a bit more dryness that I normally don't like in a sandwich. 

But fear not! This problem can be simply remedied with your choice of spreads from the condiment bar nearby.  The condiment bar offers several options, so adding some mayo or hot sauce is a nice touch you can pull off yourself.  I opted to mix these two with just a wee bit of ketchup, concocting a spicy spread which nicely complimented the sandwich.  Of course.. you could ask for extra jalapeno ranch, which is what I might do next time.

So in closing, Rosie's Fried Green Tomato Sandwich is a tasty, affordable and super filling sandwich that will calm any "Hangry" beast very quickly.  I myself am a huge fan, and can't wait to enjoy another one very soon.

Review - Troy's Cuban Deli in Clermont Florida.

One thing I've learned since moving to Florida, is that people are a lot less patient and in a much bigger hurry than folks in Colorado. In fact, I'm not sure If I ever quite fully understood the term "Rat Race" until I relocated to the Orlando area. The madness that is the tourist industry, coupled with the sheer amount of people that live in here, can be a bit overwhelming to someone who's never experienced it and finds themselves suddenly thrust into the thick of it. 

With all that being said, in the midst of the madness and busyness, there are places like the one that I had breakfast at this morning.. 'Troy's Cuban Deli'. It seems that time moves a little bit slower as soon as you walk through the doors.  Something as simple as getting myself a Cuban coffee and an authentic Cuban breakfast aligns my chakras, gets me copacetic and feeling zen.

You wouldn't think such Simple Pleasures could do this, but it does for me. A lot of it has to do with the people there. The owners and staff are incredibly wonderful people which makes the experience all that more enjoyable. Orlando is such a huge Melting Pot, there are tons of places like this all over the place whether it be Puerto Rican, Colombian, Cuban, polish, etc.  And don't even get me started on the little pizzerias ran by folks that have moved down here from New York.  Fuhgettaboutit!! 

'Cuban Breakfast'

2 Eggs over easy, sweet plantains, croquettas, 

Sliced Ham & Swiss Cheese and buttered & pressed Cuban Toast.

Oh yeah.. it's under $5.00!

'Cafe' con Leche'

Made to order with Cuban Espresso, scalded milk, 

and for me.. sugar.  Always Sugar.

That nice froth you see on top is a result of sugar that's started to caramelize.

Cuban Sandwich

House made roast pork and ham, Swiss Cheese, pickles and Mustard, 

tucked in fresh Cuban bread, and pressed on a grill.

I often drop in for the Cuban Sandwiches, served with house made plantain chips.  If I'm really hungry (like I was on this particular day) I'll order a 'Papa Rellena'.. a mashed potato ball, stuffed with Picadillo (a seasoned ground beef) and deep fried.

Fresh pastries, Empanadas, Croquettas, and Papa Rellenas made all day long.

If you love Cuban food, this is the place to go in Clermont Florida.  The quality, value and taste is absolutely incredible.  The ambiance is great as well.  Bright colors, Cuban decor and an airy feel instantly get me into a happier mindset and lightens any burden or stress I may bring along with me.

Troy's Cuban Deli.. a place where I can go to de-stress and get recharged, all in the time it takes to drink my freshly made Cafe Con Leche and Cuban breakfast. I absolutely love it, and it's places like this that make me love the area I live so much.

Visit Troy's Cuban Deli on Facebook