By Peter Covino
Lifestyles Editor

Looks like it is time for another one of those unique downtown Kissimmee dining experiences.

Last month John Siudut over at Vintage Vino gave us a mac and cheese competition.

This week: Roll out the sushi.

Thursday, July 19 is Naked Sushi Night, a celebration of all things sushi, according to John.

The event kicks off at 6 p.m. at Vintage Vino and the sushi restaurant next door.

There will be a open buffet of sushi for $25.

Add to that, John says the restaurant will be doing a modified Naked Sushi event, an ancient Japanese ritual honoring women as the source of life. This is where the naked part comes in, sort of.

Vintage Vino is partnering with a local model agency and there will be models. Naked. Almost.

They actually will be in a discrete area and they won’t be naked, but will be wearing a light gauze body suit.

The sushi will be served on large banana leaves. I am sorely tempted, but will not make any comment.

VIP tickets for $50 also will be available, and it includes special wine, beer and sake flights with the sushi.

He didn’t say anything about space limitations or reservations. But you might want to try and call ahead (917-627-8432) if you can get hold of him.

I say be brave. Get out your best (and biggest) banana leaves and just show up at the City Centre in downtown Kissimmee.

Speaking of the mac & cheese event, the finals have been set for the competition.

The top three finishers from round one (Amanda Trim, Kelly Trace and Madame Mac) will face off against three local chefs in the finals tentatively set for Saturday Aug. 4 or Aug. 11.

The first event raised $2,500 for the Sunshine Foundation. There will be more details as the event date gets closer.

Sniffing out lunch

Had one of those rare opportunities for weekday lunch in St. Cloud and stopped in at Mutt’s on 13th (a winner in last year’s Best of Osceola reader competition).

This is a good place for hamburgers. The daily special, including a drink and fries was still $8.50, which is kind of pricey for lunch. And there really is no lunch menu.

But it was a very good burger.

A single burger (tomato, onion, pickles) is  $4.67 by itself ($6.97 double, $9.07 triple). Fries extra. All the beef comes from Rife’s Market in St. Cloud too.

The menu also includes gravy fries, chili fries, cheese fries, onion rings and sweet potato fries.

Other menu options (didn’t try any) include hot dogs ($2.50), double dog ($3.97), dogs with toppings; Italian sausage ($6.09); Carolina BBQ pork ($6.09) and fried chicken breast ($6.09).  Also on the menu Chix tenders and pork tenderloin.

They also serve shakes and malts and floats made with your choice of Stewarts Soda.

I think the floats, shakes and malts may well be worth going back for a second trip.

Not to mention another burger.

Mutt’s is located at 1517 13th Street (at the corner of Minnesota).

CiCi’s fundraiser

Cici’s pizza will never be mistaken for a gourmet Italian delight, but it is always a good deal and with lots of pizza choices to choose from.

If you need another reason to visit one of the many Central Florida locations (including several in Osceola County), all 56 Florida locations are participating in a fund raiser for Special Olympics Florida.

Starting Monday and continuing through Aug. 13, all Cici’s restaurants will give guests the opportunity to purchase and personalize “Buy a Smile, Be a Fan” Special Olympics paper logos for $1. The logos will be displayed in the restaurants and all proceeds from the logo sales will benefit Special Olympics Florida’s state programs.

The fundraiser will conclude on Aug. 13 with a “Dough Raisers” event, a one-day challenge for CiCi’s guests to purchase enough “Buy a Smile, Be a Fan” Special Olympics paper logos to cover an entire law enforcement vehicle. In addition to the logo proceeds, CiCi’s will donate 10 percent of that day’s sales to Special Olympics Florida.

“At CiCi’s we care about our communities and all the families that make them great,” said CiCi’s Field Marketing Manager Lauren Albright. “Special Olympics Florida does so much for our neighbors and we’re honored to engage our restaurant teams and guests to give back to such a worthy cause.”

Special Olympics Florida provides year-round sports training and athletic competitions in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.