[null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.eatlocalorlando.com/2014/11/southern-meets-asian-fusion-at-soco.html", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1NZg4-MyElU/VFmTfjPhBrI/AAAAAAAAFT4/kPTih52XVn0/s1600/porkbis.JPG", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1NZg4-MyElU/VFmTfjPhBrI/AAAAAAAAFT4/kPTih52XVn0/s1600/porkbis.JPG", "formatted_filename": "porkbis", "rendered_width": 320, "rendered_height": 264}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.eatlocalorlando.com/2014/11/southern-meets-asian-fusion-at-soco.html", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EGgJki_ktFw/VFmTYHUvGhI/AAAAAAAAFTo/bxhI_SwneXE/s1600/chickendumplings.JPG", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EGgJki_ktFw/VFmTYHUvGhI/AAAAAAAAFTo/bxhI_SwneXE/s1600/chickendumplings.JPG", "formatted_filename": "chickendumplings", "rendered_width": 320, "rendered_height": 198}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.eatlocalorlando.com/2014/11/southern-meets-asian-fusion-at-soco.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kuKM3ZO86-s/VFmTYOvgBEI/AAAAAAAAFTg/kVpmuJjPrF8/s1600/oysters.JPG", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kuKM3ZO86-s/VFmTYOvgBEI/AAAAAAAAFTg/kVpmuJjPrF8/s1600/oysters.JPG", "formatted_filename": "oysters", "rendered_width": 320, "rendered_height": 235}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.eatlocalorlando.com/2014/11/southern-meets-asian-fusion-at-soco.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w4a56gVwYEM/VFmThiOq7PI/AAAAAAAAFUI/M4Rgh_J1XII/s1600/sparkler.JPG", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w4a56gVwYEM/VFmThiOq7PI/AAAAAAAAFUI/M4Rgh_J1XII/s1600/sparkler.JPG", "formatted_filename": "sparkler", "rendered_width": 183, "rendered_height": 320}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.eatlocalorlando.com/2014/11/southern-meets-asian-fusion-at-soco.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sD4O_UMZEag/VFmTiNNyUZI/AAAAAAAAFUM/fY8LxhgW9Mw/s1600/whoopie.JPG", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sD4O_UMZEag/VFmTiNNyUZI/AAAAAAAAFUM/fY8LxhgW9Mw/s1600/whoopie.JPG", "formatted_filename": "whoopie", "rendered_width": 320, "rendered_height": 218}, null, null, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.eatlocalorlando.com/2014/11/southern-meets-asian-fusion-at-soco.html", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-uHxsoZxic/UdmDoPyWokI/AAAAAAAABhI/uwOAha8hrYs/s1600/facebook.png", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W-uHxsoZxic/UdmDoPyWokI/AAAAAAAABhI/uwOAha8hrYs/s1600/facebook.png", "formatted_filename": "facebook"}, {"document_url": "http://www.eatlocalorlando.com/2014/11/southern-meets-asian-fusion-at-soco.html", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L2Op3idPnrM/UdmDqc-M9dI/AAAAAAAABhQ/94kf2b_Lg6I/s1600/twitter.png", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L2Op3idPnrM/UdmDqc-M9dI/AAAAAAAABhQ/94kf2b_Lg6I/s1600/twitter.png", "formatted_filename": "twitter", "alt_text": "Follow EatLocalOrlando on Twitter"}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.eatlocalorlando.com/2014/11/southern-meets-asian-fusion-at-soco.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eWtsdNX8hcw/UQ-vfjETGdI/AAAAAAAABWU/mHFZnHWcOkc/s170/DCBestOf2013.jpg", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eWtsdNX8hcw/UQ-vfjETGdI/AAAAAAAABWU/mHFZnHWcOkc/s170/DCBestOf2013.jpg", "formatted_filename": "DCBestOf", "rendered_width": 162, "rendered_height": 170}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.eatlocalorlando.com/2014/11/southern-meets-asian-fusion-at-soco.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aOy3xTSigUo/Tzfw_7AWGyI/AAAAAAAAAu4/pkMUfkazTPE/s250/2012-01-02_18-33-29_971.jpg", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aOy3xTSigUo/Tzfw_7AWGyI/AAAAAAAAAu4/pkMUfkazTPE/s250/2012-01-02_18-33-29_971.jpg", "alt_text": "Rocco's Italian Grille", "rendered_width": 250, "rendered_height": 188}, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.eatlocalorlando.com/2014/11/southern-meets-asian-fusion-at-soco.html", "unformatted_src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KH5a5X5u8r4/TzfwPeWm9zI/AAAAAAAAAug/1w1Vj-LUo38/s250/IMG00198.jpg", "src": "http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KH5a5X5u8r4/TzfwPeWm9zI/AAAAAAAAAug/1w1Vj-LUo38/s250/IMG00198.jpg", "formatted_filename": "IMG", "alt_text": "4 Rivers", "rendered_width": 250, "rendered_height": 188}, null, null, null, null, null]

Southern Meets Asian Fusion At SOCO

Set on a busy corner in Thornton Park, SOCO is an exciting new addition to the neighborhood.  Texas-born Executive Chef Greg Richie trained with Emeril Lagasse and Roy Yamaguchi, picking up some Asian fusion inspiration.  Soco brings together his Southern roots with the exotic influences that he mastered while working in Hawaii. I had the pleasure of tasting several cocktails and small bites at a recent media mixer.

The Slow-Roasted Barbecue-Glazed Pork Belly Biscuits with Jalapeño Jelly are delicious, though I find the pork belly too fatty.  The flaky, buttery biscuit is perfectly made, which bodes well for SOCO’s new Sunday Brunch offering. One of Soco’s most famous dishes is Chicken and Dumplings, which is really more of a ravioli.  It combines Chicken Breast, Lobster Dumplings, Local Mushrooms and Edamame. The Soy Butter sauce is way better than it sounds, complex and creamy, bringing all of the flavors together in perfect harmony. Oyster lovers will enjoy SOCO’s Cornmeal Crisped version, served with Pickled Green Tomato Relish on housemade Chicharrones, and topped with Herb Cream. Craft Cocktails set the mood perfectly when dining on the expansive outdoor patio.  The Royal Palm is a very strong and flavorful drink, made with Palm Ridge Reserve, House Orange Marmalade, Scrappy’s Chocolate Bitters, and Agave. My favorite drink was The Sparkler: Sparkling Wine, Bernheim Wheat Whiskey, Aperol, Lemon, Agave. So refreshing and delicious! The House Made “Moon Pie” is WAY better than the original. A nice crunchy graham cracker crust is filled with dense, truffle-like chocolate, and topped with toasted marshmallow swirls. An RC Cola reduction provides exciting contrast. Everything I tasted at SOCO offered excellent flavor and exciting interpretations, there’s nothing basic about this place.  I look forward to trying more of their offerings very soon, especially the Sunday Brunch!

Located in Thornton Park: 629 E Central Blvd, Thornton Park, Downtown Orlando
Website: http://www.socothorntonpark.com/about/ Posted by at 10:08 PM