Out and About: Tastings at Soco Thorton Park

Earlier this week we attended a media social at the new Soco restaurant in Thornton Park where we sampled a few things from the menu.

Our first appetizer was the Crab-stuffed Deviled Duck Eggs with bacon and truffle oil ($12). The dish was well-balanced but very rich and creamy. One or two of these would do as a meal starter.

Next up was Cornmeal Crisped Oysters on a bed of chicharrones, with pickled green tomato relish and herb cream ($9). If you love oysters, you’ll love this different take on them. The dish really works if you can manage to get all four components in the same bite.

This was followed by Slow-Roasted Barbeque Pork Belly Biscuits with jalapeno jelly and chow chow (vegetable relish) ($11). From photos, I had thought these came with a top and bottom biscuit, but ours were served open-faced – maybe a new presentation? At any rate, it was the jalapeno jelly that really made this dish for me. In fact, I’d have been happy with just the jelly and biscuits, it was that good.

Our final appetizer to try was the Soco-Style “Chicken and Dumplings” with local mushrooms, edamame and a soy butter sauce ($11). Dumplings was a bit of a misnomer, as they were more like ravioli pillows, and they were filled with lobster. But the combined flavors made this dish a stand out among those eating at our table.

The evening closed with dessert, House Made Whoopie Pie, though this seemed more a plate of whoopie pie-inspired fingers. It had a base of fudge brownie cake with an RC Cola reduction, and house-made marshmallow cream. The table cleaned the plate on this dish, which paired a dense chocolate base with the lighter almost whipped cream density marshmallow.

We also got to enjoy a beverage with our samplings. I tried their Grown-Up Cherry Cola, which featured Flor de Cana 4 yr rum, Cola simple, Whiskey-soaked Cherry and Barrel-aged Bitters. It was good, but I expected more cherry flavoring from the title. I couldn’t taste any cherry in the drink, which just seemed like a really good rum & coke to me.

My companion tried the White Julep, made Jacob’s Ghost White Whiskey, fresh mint and a simple syrup. I enjoyed this drink much more, which to my taste buds, resembled a mint mojito.

Soco is located at 629 East Central Blvd. It occupies the space formerly known as HUE, right on the corner of E. Central Blvd, and Summerlin Ave. The space has been reimagined, with a nice flow between the indoor and outdoor dining areas. Their menu features southern classics updated with a contemporary twist.

For more information, visit socothorntonpark.com.

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About Michelle Snow

Michelle is the owner and editor of CitySurfing Orlando. She also owns Zengrrl.com, is a freelance writer specializing in travel and entertainment, and has authored/co-authored four guidebooks on Orlando and Florida. She lives in Orlando near Disney, and hears Magic Kingdom fireworks every night.