Delicious dining

American Fitness, March-April, 2003

Spring vacation is just around the corner and if you're one of the thousands heading to Orlando, Florida, you might want to check out the three signature restaurants at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center: Old Hickory Steakhouse, Sunset Sam's Fish Camp and Villa de Flora.

Old Hickory Steakhouse will tickle your taste buds with Black Angus beef, Maine lobster, Chef Brennan's famous pommes frites, asparagus in bearnaise sauce, creme brulee, martinis stirred or shaken tableside and a wine list focusing on "big reds" from almost 200 vineyards around the world. Entrees average $35.

Sunset Sam's Fish Camp serves crab cakes, lobster skewers, sauteed coconut prawns, ahi tuna sashimi--and those are just starters. The house specialties include bouillabaisse, seared George's Bank scallops and potato-crusted snapper. Desserts include a "mile-high" key lime margarita pie and a banana split for two. Entrees average $27.

The casual Villa de Flora contains six show kitchens celebrating the coastal cuisines of North Africa, France, Spain, Italy, Greece and Turkey. Tabletop herb gardens, complete with scissors, let guests snip off finishing touches for their plates. Sangria is a house specialty prepared at the table. Entrees range from $16 to $22. All restaurants look out onto an awe-inspiring 4.5-acre atrium.

The Gaylord Palms is located at 6000 W. Osceola Parkway, Orlando, FL, 34746. For more information, call (407) 586-0000 or visit www.gaylordpalms.com.