My second day in Orlando was a busy one. It started with breakfast a Bull & Bear, followed by lunch at Pho 88, chocolate-making at Farris and Foster’s, beer-drinkin’ at the Orlando Brewing Company, and it concluded with a lovely dinner at Le Coq Au Vin.
Le Coq Au Vin offers a fresh twist on traditional French cuisine by implementing new world flavors with classic dishes. They utilize the philosophy “from farm to the table” by using many products that are indigenous to Florida. The chef/owner even grows all of the herbs (and some of the produce) that he uses in his cooking outside of the restaurant.
Our meal started with a number of appetizers, which we shared among the table.
We had Escargot in garlic butter.
Lobster Macaroni & Cheese.
Souffle au Fromage (Gruyere cheese soufflé with grits).
Grilled Ahi Tuna and Boudin Noir and French Style Garlic Sausage Combo (traditional blood sausage, French-style garlic sausage, and caramelized onions topped with applesauce).
I tried all of the appetizers, but, of course, the escargot was my favorite. What can I say, I have a thing for snails! 
For my entree, I selected the Le Poisson Bronze.
Le Poisson “Bronze” was Bronzed Fish with toasted pecans and citrus beurre blanc coated with 10 spices, cooked in a cast iron skillet, with chayote butternut squash and Creole plantain. Doesn’t that sound delicious? The menu description immediately caught my attention– and the actual dish did not disappoint! The chayote butternut squash and Creole plantain were to die for!
Just before dessert, the chef owner, Reimund Pitz, sat down at our table and chatted with us. It was Friday night, so the restaurant was quite busy, but he still made the time to talk with us and answer all of our questions. Chef Reimund was a super nice guy.
For dessert, the table shared six souffles in three different flavors: Grand Marnier, Chocolate, and Raspberry. I wasn’t hungry at all, but I tried a few bites of each souffle and pretty much finished off the Grand Marnier one myself!
What a day! I’ve definitely never eaten like that before! 
{ 58 comments… read them below or add one }
Next Comments →
Grand Marnier souffle sounds like absolute HEAVEN. It’s my dad’s favorite liquor, and the smell of it always reminds me of him ordering it after dinner at restaurants!! What a lovely dinner
You seem to be having the most incredible food on this Florida trip – it all sounds and looks so fancy! I’m somewhat jealous here..!
Looks like a very rich and delicious dinner…Oh My! Heaven:) The fish dish looked like it’s to die for!
Sounds like quite the delicious dinner!
Wow, the Grand Marnier souffle looks mouthwatering! I’ve never had food at a French restaurant, but it looks very rich and delicious. And of course, very photographic
You have been eating some fantastic meals!!!
Yum! That mac and cheese looks so good!
Lobster mac and cheese sounds like quite a step up from KD! Everything else looks amazing too.
Great that the chef grows his own herbs!
What does escargot taste like?
I have a thing for snails too! Love love escargot!
It’s nice the chef took the time to chat with you all
and that souffle au fromage is HUGEEE!! Dagumm
I adore French food – and your meal looks fantastique! I love French butter, with a crusty baguette – did you get to try some when you were there? And now I want some escargot…
Snails, I don’t know those did not look good. Your belly must be so full.
That fish dish sounds fantastic!
That lobster mac n’ cheese has me drooling.
I love your new website!!! So cute – and Murphy will definitely be proud
The chayote butternut squash and creole plantain dish looks mouth-watering! The pairing of sweet plantains with the nutty squash sounds amazing
It reminds me of how I put mashed banana on my baked sweet potato!
Wow what a foodie feast! I would have probably filled up completely on cheesy grit souffle. And maybe some escargot because, hey, garlic butter.
I love the quaint restaurant front and farm to table philosophy. Everything is more delicious when it has a little heart behind it!
oh gosh that all looks amazing
foodie heaven!
Lobster Mac and Cheese sounds (and looks) delicious! I love the idea of “farm to table” — I bet the food tasted fresh and reallly flavorful.
I’ve never tried escargo but have always wanted to. And lobster mac ‘n cheese? Sounds like a match made in heaven.
I can’t get over all the spreads of fabulous food you get to have. Orlando sure does have some great places and options.
I’ve eaten there before! Very rich and delicious. Glad to hear you’re having fun in Orlando.
Oh man, I love me some lobster mac and cheese!!! Looks like an ah-mazing meal!!!
Oh wow. That looks amazing. I’ll be glad when your tour is over so I don’t have to find a tub to catch the drool every time I read your blog.
It looks amazing! My husband and I go there often. He is Cajun and loves the french cuisine. We have great places to eat here in Orlando!!
Brave girl with the escargot! Not my cup-o-tea but it’s fun to see other’s adventurous eats
Sounds like a day of my dreams! So much delicious food!
And thus ends the perfect day. Should’ve gone out for froyo too
Hey Tina! I enjoy reading your blog but have been doing it MUCH less since you changed the format because I cannot figure out how to navigate to the previous or next day from a “full story” posting. Maybe others have commented on this? Can you make it obvious how to navigate? It’s very cumbersome this way.
i’ve never tried escargot before – but i grew up eating snails in black bean sauce @ chinese restaurants so i bet i’d like them!
i have the same complaint. i love the content of your blog, but i do not like the click to see more for each post.
wow so much food! making me sick to my stomach looking at so much haha!
I think your layout is fine, clicking one more thing to read more is not that difficult, I think some people may just be a little lazy
P
Tina, I just saw your tweet about how you’re afraid you’re losing readers over this whole layout thing. While I did prefer the old one (and that’s more my stodgy resistance to change than anything on your part), I love the content just the same. Yours was the first food blog I have ever read, and doing so inspired so many changes in the way I look at food and fitness. You keep on keeping on, and don’t let the naysayers bring you down!
Hi Tina,
I noticed you twittered about losing readers and attributing it to your new blog design. I wanted to mention that I am not a fan of the recent Orlando restaurant posts. I find them unrelatable since it is very likely that I will never visit any of those restaurants. I have visited your blog this weekend, but find that I skip over most of the content of the post. Maybe other readers are finding the same thing and that could be the reason for your lower stats? Not trying to stir up controversy, I just wanted to give my constructive opinion and this was the easiest way for me since I don’t have twitter and you probably receive a million emails since you’ve been away!
Oh boy do those souffles look wonderful! Also, I am quite intrigued by lobster macaroni and cheese! Very interesting combo and I bet it was fantastic!
Also, I like your new format! I think people get so used to one way that when anything new rolls out, it just takes a while to get used to it. Personally, I like going to the main page and being able to click into each individual posts page by date. It helps me know what I am looking at.
Hope all the feedback helps!
French food is not my thing, it’s too rich for me
oh my goodness. Everything looks delicious. Lobster mac & cheese?! I am dead.
I like the new layour – it’s very clean and easy to navigate.
I’m sorry, my heart gave out at lobster mac and cheese. I’m in love.
The mac and cheese and the chocolate souffle.. oh yum!
The previous layout looked neater, this new one isn’t as appealing to the eye.
Oh my, you have certainly been eating very well on this trip! It all sounds amazing.
that souffle looks incredible!!!
It all looks amazing, but I think the lobster mac n cheese would be my fav!!
wow i am so impressed by these restaurants you are going to… makes me wish i had plans to go to orlando soon
you had me at lobster mac and cheese…i’m so hungry now!
My goodness, you must be FULL after all this eating in Orlando! I’ll bet Mal and Murphy will have plenty of cereal and greens for you when you get back to Boston.
It’s hard not to crave simple foods after eating out a lot in a row…
I’m very impressed you are able to eat all these wonderful foods and still exhibit moderation. Some of those look sooo tasty!
I know that page views are needed for ad revenue, but anything that puts a barrier up for your readers is going to result in some leaving. For people who are reading on a mobile device, clicking on another link to read a whole post is a barrier, for those reading through RSS having to click off the RSS to read a whole post (I don’t know if your feeds are partial or full) is another barrier.
I’m sure there’s a balance somewhere, and I’m sure you’ll find it.
I just love how you’ve taken photos of the other bloggers taking photos! This kind of touch has made these posts so personal. Almost like you’re bringing the readers along with you instead of just recapping the events for us. Thanks for the amazing content!
Next Comments →