July 11, 2005
Former Kennedy family chef resuscitates Orlando’s fine dining scene
Orlando, FL – When
acclaimed chef Neil Connolly opened an upscale eatery in December, the
former Kennedy family chef breathed new life into a stretch of downtown
Orlando dominated by physicians’ offices, x-ray laboratories and
diagnostic centers.
Facing Orlando Regional Medical Center’s M.D. Anderson Cancer
Center, Doc’s Restaurant is just what the doctor ordered in the way of
fine dining.
The dinner menu at Doc’s Restaurant features fresh and flavorful
seafood, poultry, steak and vegetarian cuisine and sushi and sashimi
appetizer platters.
Many dishes are prepared using the same recipes Connolly used to
please the palates of the Kennedys and their distinguished guests while
he served as the family’s private chef for 11 years.
With more than 20 years of culinary experience, Connolly is
considered a practitioner in the culinary world. Besides serving as a
private chef to the Kennedys and earning a gold medal in the Culinary
Olympics, he has been hailed as the “doctor of food” by chefs and
foodies.
“When someone wanted to know something about food, they’d say, ‘Call the doctor,’” Connolly said.
Signature dishes like the pan seared marinated breast of Long
Island duck accompanied by a savory Bing cherry demi-glaze, and the
grilled spice-rubbed double thick pork served with andouille mashed
potatoes make it easy to see why Connolly quickly secured that
reputation.
Connolly’s obsession with using the freshest ingredients may be
another reason why the noted chef has already made an impression on
Central Florida’s restaurant industry.
“I believe in fresh product on the plate,” Connolly said. “We even make the oyster crackers here for the soup.”
“The feedback I am getting from people is, ‘Thank God you opened up a restaurant in Orlando,’” he added.
Like the dishes, the dining room atmosphere at Doc’s Restaurant is designed to make a bold impression.
The two-story glass-building, that provides a panoramic view of
downtown Orlando, emanates elegance with its stained concrete floor,
mahogany bar, earthy colors and elevated ceilings.
An outdoor patio, with misting fans and a 20 x 20 flat screen
television, offers an ideal ambience for lunchtime dining. The Sunday
brunch menu features everything from waffles to biscuits and gravy
accompanied by a live jazz band. A second-floor banquet room and
martini bar frequently host corporate luncheons and wedding receptions.
But Connolly insists the surroundings are as casual or refined as each patron chooses to make it.
Scrubs, sport shirts and suits are all considered appropriate
attire at Doc’s Restaurant. Doctors and nurses routinely file into the
establishment for lunch or an after-work cocktail donning scrubs.
Pharmaceutical reps make regular appearances in tailored suits hoping
to rub elbows with health care professionals.
“We have a modern, upscale look, but we’re still warm and comfortable,” Connolly said. “It’s retro, yet it’s classic.”
Martinis and cocktails are assigned kitschy names that mimic the
eatery’s namesake. The Candy Striper is a concoction of vodka,
rumpleminze, Carolans Irish Crème, Hiram Walker, Crème De Cacao and
grenadine, garnished with a candy cane. Doc’s Triage is a mixture of
Stoli O, Stoli Razberi, Stoli Citros, cointreau, orange juice,
pineapple and cranberry.
Doc’s Restaurant also boasts an ever-changing selection of
dessert soufflés that include classic flavors such as vanilla and
chocolate to wacky flavors like bubble gum and moon pie.
“Since we opened, we have only repeated the same flavor three times,” Connolly said.
Doc’s Restaurant is located at 1315 S. Orange Ave, Orlando.
###
Media Contact:
Krista Zilizi
Quantified Marketing Group
(706) 627-3204
(407) 936-1010
kzilizi@quantifiedmarketing.com
|
