East Volusia Eats

The seemingly never ending addition of new chain restaurants continues this month. First Watch  opened last Monday  at One Daytona. (Daytona Beach News Journal)  The daytime cafe  will enter a very competitive area that contains fellow rivals Denny’s, IHOP, Cracker Barrel, and Waffle House, to name a few. However, with IHOP  changing it’s name and upsetting it’s customers , maybe First Watch can swoop in and steal their loyalty. Menu The restaurant offers standard breakfast foods like eggs, pancakes and sausage, but they offer their own unique items as well such as  quinoa bowls ,  Floridian French toast , and  chickichangas.  First Watch also offers a basic sandwich, salad, and soup lunch menu along with a seasonal section. This section contains some tasty creations like  rainbow toast and million dollar bacon .  What’s Next? First Watch plans to open  a second location in the eastern Volusia area in Port Orange...

Usually my posts are about unique eateries in the east Volusia area, which explains the title, but this post is going to come with a little twist. Yes, it will be about food, but it will be about food in an unfamiliar area to some of you. However, I’ve noticed that much of the food I’ve tasted here has many similarities to the food back in Volusia. Where I am These past five days have been chaotic as I’m currently in Denver, Colorado for my brothers wedding. It’s been almost 17 years since I’ve visited the area, and I can confidently say I remember none of it. The scenery is breathtaking though. The Experience During my week long vacation I took it upon myself to try some of the local food, much to the expense of my wallet. The results were down right tasty, and reminded me of home with weach bite. To see some of the delicious food I tried, check out my Instagram post below! From Denver’s oldest bar (My Brother’s Bar) to pizza that’s purposely dented (Brooklyn Pizza),...

This week had me pressed for time as I spent hours preparing for a flight to Denver for my brothers wedding. Realizing I would only be in Volusia County for the first two days of the week and that my availability was limited, I needed a eatery close to home. Thankfully, I found the perfect one.  Daily Grind Burgers  has been a staple in the Port Orange area since they arrived. Known for their unlimited topping bar and unique condiments, such as garlic ketchup, Daily Grind Burgers is the go-to place for anyone in need of a gourmet hamburger. They offer burgers from six to ten ounces as well as specialty burgers. I chose to stay simple with ten ounces but I loaded it up with lettuce, tomatoes, olives, and pickles. The burger was tasty enough plane but when I can put as many toppings on as I’d like, I might as well. I went a tiny bit overboard as the burger started falling apart after my first few bites. The bun was freshly baked and so soft, the patty was full of ...

The restaurant known for pancakes and breakfast has shocked the nation when they  changed their name to IHOb,  and the reactions have been mixed. The ‘b’ stands for burgers as the chains promotion for their new line of hamburgers, even though burgers have always been on their menu since they first opened over a half-century ago. They look quite tasty after watching IHOb’s promotional video on their Twitter. Dear Internet, we abbreciate your batience. Now let’s see who guessed right. B-hold!!!!! #IHOb pic.twitter.com/Fh3SkZ7s3Y — IHOb (@IHOb) June 11, 2018 The chain says the change isn’t permanent, but they’re just hoping to get their lunch revenue up. People don’t always like change, which is why some have become upset with news that their favorite breakfast diner changed their name — for the time being. I'VE NEVER HAD A BURGER WHY MESS WITH SOMETHING THAT WORKS #IHOB — Michelle (@miche5592) June 12, 2018 However, others were more welcoming to trying somethin...

As with most celebrity deaths, the world was shocked when word spread that celebrity chef and TV personality Anthony Bourdain committed suicide Friday morning in his hotel room in France, as  reported by Brain Stelter of CNN . Host of CNN’s ‘Parts Unknown’, Bourdain was in France filming for the show when, “His close friend Eric Ripert, the French chef, found Bourdain unresponsive in his hotel room Friday morning,” Stelter said. This unexpected death has gathered the attention of many public figures and fellow chefs who took to Twitter to express their condolences and memories. Former President Barack Obama shared his memory of an unusual meal he had with Bourdain. .  “Low plastic stool, cheap but delicious noodles, cold Hanoi beer.” This is how I’ll remember Tony. He taught us about food — but more importantly, about its ability to bring us together. To make us a little less afraid of the unknown. We’ll miss him. pic.twitter.com/orEXIaEMZM — Barack Obama (@BarackOb...

Being a college student, I don’t take many opportunities to eat pizza because it’s usually a pricey food. However, this week I found a 20% off coupon for Gabbie’s Pizza  located at the Pavilion  in Port Orange right next to the San Diego Grill . I was nervous because I’m very picky when it comes to pizza, but I was not disappointed. The pizza parlor was moderately small having about a dozen tables, but what it lacked in size it made up for in atmosphere. It was very clean, and the décor gave it a homely yet modern feel. It was a very welcoming environment. Next up was the menu, which contained more than just pizza. It had salads, pasta, calzones, strombolis, shrimp baskets, and subs. I decided to start off with some garlic knots, an appetizer that never fails to please. The knots were brought out covered in chopped garlic and sat in a shallow pool of rich olive oil with other seasonings. My mouth began to water instantly. The knots were packed with flavor. I ...