Recently I went to a Magic game, I think they were playing the Golden State Warriors. A friend of mine decide to skip the concession eats and go to one of the arena’s restaurants – Jernigan’s. Most people would be in ah of the white plates with the primly placed Amway Center logo, the lavish buffet spread & the great “high roller” view of the game but I WAS NOT as a foodie.
The buffet had a double set-up with items such as, risotto, fried plantain, shrimp pasta, lemon zest asparagus, fresh cut prime rib, cobb salad and mushroom sauced chicken – just to name a few.
I had a difficult time envisioning many of the fares flavor combinations, so I opted for a sample plate of a few things – not taken too much even it was a buffet.
My hesitancy was warranted & confirmed; the risotto (which I’ve always wanted to try) was more gummy than creamy, the shrimp paste was bland & the asparagus was oddly grilled than chilled – which left it to be un-desired approach.
The best thing was the least altered – the fried plantain.
On the up side, the lemon drop on the rocks was perfect with my favorite taste for tart & sweet (Try the Recipe for yourself w/ the help of Martha Stewart).
And by some enate calling, I performed a sweet tooth check with the chocolate cake which was tall, dark, rich & over the top with one too many dessert techniques for one plate.
But where there is disappointment, happiness usually follows and at Jernigan’s their happiness comes in a blue “Magic”cloud. At the end of meal they served cotton candy in a cup. It was super cute & the BEST part of the meal, especially since the game was whack.
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Jernigan’s Info from the Press
Jernigan’s is a surprisingly affordable $35.95 for unlimited plates, not including desserts ($10 each) or wine. The high point on my visit: the Butchers Block station, with savory hickory-smoked beef tenderloin as succulent as the best steak house offering, hand-carved Niman Ranch turkey (I went back three times) and a wild mushroom ragout….
