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Thanks for visiting my Digital Collage! Food is a passion of mine and I love to share it with others. I hope you found this project as intriguing as I did!

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Agave Azul has multiple locations in Orlando. This name of the restaurant “Agave Azul” is in Spanish, which means “Blue Agave”. Like Las Carretas, the menu is in both Spanish and English! In addition, majority of their staff is bilingual in both Spanish and English.

References:

https://medium.com/illumination-curated/agave-azul-cocina-mexicana-the-modern-twist-to-mexican-food-881173a88d1

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Las Carretas is located just down the street from UCF Main Campus! Not only does the interior decor has an authentic Mexican style, but the menus are half Spanish and half English. Majority of the titles are written in Spanish, with the description written in English.

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Mexican cuisine is one of my favorite foods to eat. So naturally, I had to try different restaurants. Like most Mexican restaurants, menus are in both Spanish and English.

If you dine out at either restaurants, be sure to try the Shrimp Tacos from Las Carretas and the Fajitas from Agave Azul!

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My digital collage notes some intriguing and delicious culinary specialities. Being from mixed cultures, food was one thing that connected my families. This project has allowed me to share with you my favorite restaurants and places to eat on vacation or even for a night out with friends. I even mentioned some of my favorite meals and snacks to eat at the some of the restaurants! I hope you enjoy!

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Imprinted on the menu is a foreign symbol—which I believe is Chinese. This same symbol happens to be the logo of the restaurant.

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A menu on the counter of cafe. There is a bigger, wooden one on the wall.

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Please note the Japanese symbols for “whiskey” as well as the dish names.

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A seasonal menu was posted on the entrance door.

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This Latino restaurant is local to Orlando and Winter Park. This restaurant showcases how diverse Orlando is, not only through food, but through Latino music and staff. Delerme (2013) notes how “Latinization is about much more than food, marketing, and elements of popular culture; it is about the construction of identities, asserting agency, and ‘announcing [the Hispanic] presence to the world’ (Irizarry 2011:2)” (pp. 65). Although this restaurant represents the culinary world of the Puerto Rican community, it showcases their culture and customs. A step into Rice and Beans Cocina Latina is like stepping onto the beautiful island of Puerto Rico itself.

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A355248614/AONE?u=orla57816&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=ab36571b

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America’s obsession with Japanese culture has skyrocketed to the point where there is a sushi restaurant in nearly never corner you look. It can even be found in the deli of popular supermarkets like Target and Publix. The Japanese restaurant, Seito Sushi, is a good representation of this obsession. This restaurant serves devious sushi, nigiri, and other authentic Japanese specialties. Although it pays homage to the Japanese culinary world, it is also Americanized. Huy Tin, the chef at Seito Sushi in Lake Baldwin, explained that “cream cheese may not be tradition” but the “Philly roll are [an] American classic.” This is the perfect example of how Japanese food has adapted itself into the diversified customs of American culture.

References:

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/food-restaurants/os-et-sushi-and-its-western-evolution-back-to-tradition-20200104-yjfhuw6rpzaapj656abedcwj6m-story.html

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Baos—commons known as pork buns—are a Chinese/Taiwanese delicacy! Typically made with a clamshell bun and filled with pork belly, baos are a common street food in Orlando. They can be found in almost any Asian restaurant you see. Some popular bao shops include King Bao, Bend the Bao and Bao’s Castle. These delicious treats can also be found in Orlando restaurants like Hawkers and Viet Nomz.

King Bao is a local street-food restaurant found in Orlando and Winter Park. They specialize in unique bao styles and flavors; they even have a specials menu! Considering “baos” are the name of a Chinese/Taiwanese food, I thought I’d be fitting to introduce the Asian-American culture in Orlando. Orlando is known for its diversity in both culture and food; King Bao only accentuates that notion. However, if you do pay a visit to King Bao, be sure to try the Indian Harbour and the Hot-Hot Chicken!

References:

https://blog.resy.com/2021/01/pork-buns-have-become-an-american-favorite-why-cant-we-acknowledge-theyre-taiwanese/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/keshiahannam/2016/06/19/designer-street-food-reinvented-baos-capturing-younger-audiences/?sh=6963e99e35cd

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Mecatos began as a family business with the desire to diversify their communities through food and culture.This cafe has become very popular throughout Orlando, and in response, multiple locations have been opened. The website even mentions how more locations are in the process of being built throughout Florida!

The industrialization of Hispanic cafes and restaurants adheres to the growing Hispanic population in Orlando. A good portion of Orlando’s demographics are Hispanic and considering their population, the inclusion of Spanish languages and dialects would be very beneficial in society. Delerme (2013) explained “Spanish-speaking employees are a necessity” and considering “the size of the Hispanic population in this particular region, [this inclusioin] makes bilingualism as asset, although this is not the case in many other parts of the United States where other bilingual Hispanics reside.” The inclusion of more Hispanic, or Hispanic owned, businesses like Mecatos— or even Rice and Beans as stated in this collage—benefits the linguistic landscape and the speech communities in Orlando, FL.

References:

https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A355248614/AONE?u=orla57816&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=ab36571b

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The city of Orlando introduced the Asian Fusion phenomenon known as Hawkers.  Located in the Mills 50 District, this restaurant displays southeast Asian cultures and culinary delicacies to America culture. The interior decorum displays historical photos from Southeast Asia and their menus are decorated in different Asian languages, noting signature dishes from multiple countries.

Ironically, “Hawkers owes its name to the many vendors in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and other countries that hawk their food in open-air markets” (Coley 2022). Even the name pays homage to Southeast Asian culture! I mean, how cool is that? If you happen to stop by—which I think you should—be sure to try the Singapore Mei Fun and the Roti Canai!

References:

https://eathawkers.com/menus/dining/

https://www.fsrmagazine.com/nextgen-casual/hawkers-asian-street-food-out-redefine-pan-asian-cuisine

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Originating from Taiwan, boba—or bubble tea—has been a growing trend in the U.S. In a tremendously diverse city, Orlando has a boba tea shop in almost every direction you look. ROYALTEA originates in China and opened up a few shops in Orlando! They have a unique menu board, which offers Mandarin symbols beneath each item for translating (please see the picture above). The inclusion of both languages is a nice homage to the original locations in China.

References:

https://www.royalteaus.com/about

https://www.clickorlando.com/food/2019/01/31/boba-tea-is-the-new-cold-brew-get-your-sip-on-at-these-orlando-area-spots/