Eat Orlando

The commercial that started it all. Is he hot? Yes. Is he a dad? Yes. (At least he plays one on TV.) Is he worth calling out as a hot dad? Yes.

A Brit and a Canuck teach Winter Park that local, affordable and fresh don't have to exist in serparate sentences. Co-owners and veggie enthusiasts Troy Gage of Ontario, and Andy Dugard of Liverpool, England introduce their baby, a six-month-old farmer's market called Eat More Produce.

So Brazil's out of the running after their loss to the Netherlands on Friday, the United States put on a good showing but fell to Ghana in extra time.  England's gone.  So are Australia and Japan. But the World Cup final, whether it includes any of the remaining countries, will be watched by more people than the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the NCAA Championship, the World Series and the Oscars combined. Where will you be when the next world champion is crowned and another country wins bragging rights for four years? Orlando's footy following is growing and several local bars are offering specials to get them in the door.

Fiddler's Green in Winter Park keeps its chin up, even though Thierry Henry's "hand of God"-style handball was ignored by referees and Les Bleus took the Irish right out of the running.  They're showing the game along with their hundred beers and traditional Irish pub fare.

Devaney's in the UCF area has been open almost 24 hours a day since the Cup started, ready to slide a brew across the maple bar at 7:30am for a footy fan. They'll be open as well for the Final with a live band performing at halftime.

If you feel like battling the Englishmen down in tourist town, Raglan Road will be hosting a World Cup party at Downtown Disney. The award-winning restaurant serves up Irish and English pub staples and plenty of Killian's on draught.

Fiddler's Green, 544 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park, 407-645-2050

Devaney's, 7660 University Blvd., Orlando, 407-679-6600

Ever seen one of these?  It's a fresh lychee (litchi, litchee), the Southeast Asian fruit that tastes like what eating a sugared flower should taste like.  During the summer months, the Colonialtown Asian markets stock the stuff (along with the equally intimidating-looking rambutan and longan).

Peel away the rough skin to expose a juicy, soft, white flesh with a dark brown nut in the middle.  They're available at Dong-A-Supermarket from $3.99/lb or Saigon Market for $2.99/lb.  Best when they're still bright pink, you can also buy day-old ones for $1.99/lb at Saigon Market.  Delicious in smoothies and fruit salad, or on their own as a snack.

Dong-A Supermarket, 816 N. Mills Ave, Orlando, 32803, (407) 898-3807

Since the Highway 50 flyover displaced High Tide Harry's, fish eatery, raw bar and shellfish heaven, the restaurant acquired a build just down the road apiece.  The new building is closer to the airport and the flood of convention goers eager to gnosh on Gulf grouper between two buns and a cup of the signature blue crab bique, Blu Stu.

This would be all well and good...if the new restaurant weren't 500 feet from a major corporate competitor, Joe's Crab Shack.

Yes, Joe's. Corporate seafood giant whose marketing campaigns utilize such clever slogans as "Take Your Top Off," to peddle their particular brand of fresh fish.

High Tide Harry's is a local dive, first opening in 2001 with a loyal following of malt-vinegar toting fish fans.  They're confident that the new competition will be to their advantage, with lower prices, a rooftop oyster bar (in season) and a new attitude about transfats and sustainable fishing practices. 

It's a gutsy move, but we all know what happens when the little guy takes on the corporate behemoth.  It's not pretty.