Have you heard about this new Cantonese Chinese Dim Sum and Seafood restaurant in Orlando?
It’s called YH Seafood Clubhouse and they recently opened in the Dr Philips / Sand Lake area, serving up some of the best Cantonese Chinese food in town with unique dishes – like black truffle mushroom ha gow dumplings and abalone siu mai – in a gorgeous setting.
Cha Siu Roast Pork
For those who are new to dim sum, basically dim sum is a large range of small Chinese dishes that are traditionally enjoyed in restaurants for brunch – often including dumplings, noodles, and baked buns served with tea. Cantonese cuisine is cuisine developed in the Canton / Guangzhou region in the southeast of China, near Hong Kong.
YH Seafood Clubhouse is brought to Orlando by the people behind Yummy House, the authentic Chinese restaurant originally founded in Tampa. This is one of owner John Zhao’s first new projects for the Orlando area, with upcoming projects including a Korean barbecue themed restaurant and a Hong Kong diner / bakery style in Mills 50 – stay tuned for more.
Something special about their kitchen – they installed specialized ($$$$$) woks for stir frying and have chefs from both Hong Kong and New York City in house to bring some of the latest flavors in Chinese cuisine to life.
You can really taste the flavor and skill and it has become my favorite Cantonese restaurant in Orlando.
Here are 10 Must Try Dishes at YH Seafood Clubhouse:
1. YH Clubhouse style Fried Lobster Mountain
2. Seafood Siu Mai
3. Cantonese Beef Chow Fun Noodles ????
4. Beef Ribeye with Scallions and Pepper
5. Deep Fried Shrimp Ball
6. Black Truffle Shrimp Dumpling
7. Salt and Pepper Calamari
8. Baked BBQ Pork Puff
9. Abalone Siu Mai
10. Baked Egg Tarts
These are just a few suggestions, of course there are many other dishes that would easily make this list and will be updated in the future – but this is a great start – enjoy!
YH Seafood Clubhouse
8081 Turkey Lake Rd #700
Orlando, FL 32819 United States
(407) 440-4979
After a 2 year hiatus, the 8th Annual Edible Orlando Field to Feast Dinner featuring the Walt Disney World chefs returns this November 5 at Long & Scott Farms in Mt. Dora. All proceeds benefit Kids Café Program of Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.
The reception is 2:30-3 p.m., with culinary stations from 3-5:30 p.m.
Disney culinary stars from all around the Kingdom include: Cinderella’s Royal Table (Magic Kingdom Park), Tiffins, (Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park), Sanaa (Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge) Cítricos (Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa), The Hollywood Brown Derby (Disney’s Hollywood Studios), Flying Fish (Disney’s BoardWalk), Amorette’s Patisserie (Disney Springs), Topolino’s Terrace – Flavors of the Riviera (Disney’s Riviera Resort), Disney’s Port Orleans Resort Bakery, EPCOT Festivals and Global Catered Events.
Each dish will be paired with wines selected by Master Sommelier George Miliotes, proprietor of Wine Bar George at Disney Springs. A raffle, live music by Blender, and farm tours in a hay wagon are part of the fun. Meet the Scott family, fourth-generation farmers, and the only farm still harvesting the famous Zellwood sweet corn.
The dinner is sponsored by Walt Disney World Resort and Edible Orlando magazine.
Cost is $195; tickets available at edibleorlando.com starting Sept. 12 via this link.
Resources from FEMA – for more details, visit: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/hurricane-ian
Resources to Jumpstart Recovery
Florida survivors who live in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Hardee, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns and Volusia counties and affected members of the Seminole Tribe of Florida can apply for federal assistance at www.disasterassistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or by using the FEMA App. Survivors using a relay service, such as a video relay service, captioned telephone service or others, give the FEMA operator the number for that service. More than 83,000 survivors have applied for assistance to help begin their recovery.
Small Business Administration disaster loans are available to businesses, homeowners, renters and nonprofit organizations in some Florida counties. Applicants may apply at disasterloanassistance.sba.gov under declaration #17644. For help, call 800-659-2955 or send an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management has a webpage dedicated to emergency information for Hurricane Ian survivors. Visit www.floridadisaster.org/info.
If you are one of the 1.6 million Floridians, 76,000 Georgians or 201,000 South Carolinians with flood insurance, contact your insurance agent or carrier to file your claim immediately even if you’re evacuated and suspect flood damage. Be sure to ask them about advance payments. The National Flood Insurance Program has ample adjuster resources available to process claims quickly and fairly. To learn more about how to start your flood insurance claim, visit Floodsmart.gov.
Mental health resources are available. Survivors experiencing emotional distress can call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 800-985-5990. The national hotline provides free 24/7, crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. Deaf and Hard of Hearing ASL callers can use a videophone or ASL Now.
Florida residents who did not evacuate but now need to leave their home can visit www.floridadisaster.org/shelter-status for open general and special needs shelters in Florida. If you do leave your home, do not leave pets or animals behind.
Florida residents can call the Florida State Assistance Information Line at 800-342-3557 to receive up-to-date information regarding Hurricane Ian.
Medically dependent residents of Florida who need electricity to operate medical equipment, transport services to evacuated due to a medical condition or need help getting medication during a disaster can register for assistance at FloridaDisaster.org/SNR.
If you need assistance locating a missing friend or relative call the Red Cross at 800-733-2767 and provide as much detail as you can to assist us in potentially locating your missing loved one. You can also complete a form at missing.fl.gov for yourself or with the last known location of your loved one(s). This information will help rescue workers locate you and your loved ones as quickly as possible
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has free reunification assistance for children and families impacted by disasters. If you or someone you know is missing a child related to a disaster or any other incident, please immediately call 911 and then 800-THE-LOST for assistance.
The Internal Revenue Service announced tax relief for individuals and households affected by Hurricane Ian that reside or have a business anywhere in the state of Florida. If you are in one of the designated Florida counties for individual assistance or a member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, you now have until Feb. 15, 2023, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments.
Floridians who use Veterans Affairs medical centers and clinics and need urgent care services should call 877-741-3400. Find a list of open VA centers at Find VA Locations | Veterans Affairs. Additionally, the Heritage Health Emergency Pharmaceutical Refill Program is activated in Florida, call at 866-265-0124, option 1 with questions. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET, and weekends from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET. Veterans needing emergency refill locations can visit va.hhspharmacy.com/locations/index.html.
Visit Hurricane Ian | FEMA.gov for information and resources available for Florida residents affected by the storm. The page is available in Creole, Simplified Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish and Vietnamese.
How to Help
After a disaster, people come together to help. To make the most of your contributions, it’s important to follow guidelines for donating and volunteering responsibly.
Please do not self-deploy. If you want to volunteer as part of the Hurricane Ian recovery, visit Florida’s official volunteer portal at VolunteerFlorida.org to find volunteer opportunities.
Think long term. There will be volunteer opportunities for months, often years, after the disaster. A list of agencies with volunteer opportunities can be found on the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster website at www.nvoad.org.
Cash is the best donation. After a disaster, people always want to help, but it’s important to donate responsibly. When people support voluntary organizations with financial contributions, it helps ensure a steady flow of important services to the people in need after a disaster. find national and local charities at www.nvoad.org.
USACE announces start of Blue Roof Program in response to Hurricane Ian
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been tasked by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist eligible homeowners with temporary roof repairs. The Operation Blue Roof program will begin on Oct. 3 to provide a temporary blue covering with fiber-reinforced sheeting to help reduce further damage to property until permanent repairs can be made.
Operation Blue Roof is a free service to homeowners. The counties that have been identified are Charlotte and Lee. The initial sign up period is set for 21 days and will end on Oct. 23.
Residents impacted by Hurricane Ian can sign up at Blueroof.us. Here, you can sign up for Blue Roof assistance using a Right of Entry (ROE) form, which gathers information about your residence. The ROE is a legal document that allows Corps workers to access your property and assess your home’s damage. The ROE also allows contracted crews to work on your roof.
Operation Blue Roof is a priority mission managed by the U.S. Army Corps Engineers. It protects property, reduces temporary housing costs, and allows residents to remain in their homes while recovering from the storm. This program is for primary residences or a permanently occupied rental property with less than 50 percent structural damage. Vacation rental properties are not eligible for this program.
After the blue roof is installed, the structure is declared habitable. Not all roof types qualify for the program. Roofs that are flat or made of metal or clay, slate, or asbestos tile do not qualify. All storm debris must be removed for the roof to qualify.
Residents can also call toll free 1-888-ROOF-BLU (1-888-766-3258) for more information.
Safety Considerations for Residents
Beware of frauds and scams. All FEMA employees carry an official badge. Federal and local disaster workers do not solicit or accept money. Don’t trust anyone who offers financial help and then asks for money or personal information. Call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 right away if an inspector comes to your house, but you haven’t applied for assistance. This might be a sign of identity theft.
Stay out of floodwater. Standing water may be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines or contain hazards such as human and livestock waste, contaminants that can lead to illness, sharp debris or wild or stray animals. Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters.
Be careful when cleaning up. Wear protective clothing, including work gloves and sturdy thick-soled shoes. Do not try to remove heavy debris by yourself. Use an appropriate mask if cleaning mold or other debris. People with asthma and other lung conditions and/or immune suppression should not enter buildings with indoor water leaks or mold growth that can be seen or smelled.
Be safe using generators. Generators can help during a power outage but can present serious health and safety risks. Only use a generator outdoors and far from open doors and windows. Visit www.ready.gov/power-outages to learn how to use a generator safely.
Avoid downed power or utility lines. They may be live with deadly voltage. Stay away and report them immediately to your power or utility company.Do not cut or cover fiber optic cables with debris.
Stay off the roads. Emergency workers may be assisting people in flooded areas, restoring electricity or cleaning up debris. You can help them by staying out of the way and off the roads.If you evacuated do not return home until local officials tell you the area is safe.
Place debris wisely. Never place debris near trees, structures or downed powerlines. This makes removal difficult.
Keep paying attention to local officials. If you evacuated because of Ian, keep in mind that flooding is still happening in many locations. Roads may be blocked and power is still being restored. Only return once local officials say it’s safe and you have access to food and water.
State, Federal Response Actions
In Florida, thousands of Florida National Guard members and National Guard members from other states are activated to help with the response.
Administrator Criswell reiterated FEMA’s support for all Ian survivors as the agency continues responding to other active disasters. As of Sunday, FEMA had nearly 10,000 staff deployed to support open and active presidentially declared disasters. This includes more than 2,400 supporting Ian response efforts, 890 in Missouri, 780 in Puerto Rico and 520 in Kentucky.
More than 670 staff are supporting FEMA’s call centers and FEMA is working on contract support for additional operators to assist. Additionally, federal personnel from the Internal Revenue Service and the Census are supporting FEMA’s call centers. As of Sunday, 400 IRS staff and 250 Census staff were helping or training to help answer survivor calls for assistance and minimize wait times.
More than 850 emergency management personnel from other states have been deployed to Florida through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.
DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas activated the DHS Surge Capacity Force. The Surge Capacity Force is composed of nearly 7,500 members from other federal agencies who can help augment FEMA’s disaster staffing.
Power restoration continues across Florida, thousands of personnel working to continue restoration where electricity can be restored. Nearly 70% of peak power outages have been restored and fewer than 800,000 power outages remain.
The state of Florida provided 4,000 gallons of diesel to Lee County to power emergency generators to supply water to nearby hospitals. The state is also delivering 1.2 million gallons of water from Lakeland to Fort Myers for hospitals without water.
More than 550 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers personnel are conducting safety inspections, installing generators and assessing power needs.
Generators arrived at the Generator Staging Base in Immokalee, Florida. The Defense Logistics Agency is delivering additional generators to Craig Field, Alabama in anticipation of state requests.
FEMA and its feeding partners are serving tens of thousands of meals per day and are working with state partners to increase that capacity daily. Large scale feeding operations will increase this week.
Points of distribution began distributing food, water and ice in Lee and Charlotte counties.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has two mobile labs in Gainesville and Fort Myers to increase water analysis capacity.
FEMA activated a medical support contract for ambulances and paratransit seats. More 840 missions have been completed.
FEMA’s Incident Management Teams, Mobile Communications Operations Vehicles and Mobile Response Support teams are deployed in Atlanta, Fort Myers, Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Tallahassee supporting response efforts.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a Public Health Emergency for Florida and South Carolina. HHS Disaster Medical Assistance Teams under the National Disaster Medical System are supporting medical centers in Charlotte, Lee and Sarasota Counties. Other medical support including task force teams, pharmacists and the Kidney Community Emergency Response program for people who need dialysis.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Routine non-criminal immigration enforcement operations will not be conducted at evacuation sites, or assistance centers such as shelters or food banks. Additionally, officers will be vigilant against any effort by criminals to exploit disruptions caused by the storm.
The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes
October 7-9, 2022
Curated Experiences is exclusive weekend hosted by The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes. Guests will take part in exceptional culinary experiences from award-winning and globally recognized chefs along with a through immersion into the unparalleled services, amenities and entertainment of Grande Lakes Orlando.
For a sneak peek at past Curated Experience Weekends, check out:
COMPLETE CURATED
EXPERIENCES WEEKEND
(Resort Guest)
$710 per person
COMPLETE CURATED
EXPERIENCES WEEKEND
(Non-Resort Guest)
$810 per person
MINGLE WITH MICHELIN
$225 per person
GALA DINNER: MICHELIN UNDER THE STARS
$250 per person
Curated Experiences access valid for ages 21+ only.
Overnight guestrooms not included. Package rates are for event access only.
MICHELIN WEEKEND
AN AMAZING CURATED EVENT
Friday, October 7
Mingle with MICHELIN
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7 | 6PM
Of all the chefs out there, only a handful have the honor of holding MICHELIN Stars to their name. Michelin Star chefs work tirelessly to perfect their technique both in the kitchen and on the plates they create.
Join us alongside various MICHELIN award-winning chefs including; John Tesar, Executive Chef (Knife & Spoon, Orlando FL), Rhys Gawlak, Executive Sous Chef (Primo, Orlando FL), Niven Patel, Executive Chef (Ghee Indian Kitchen, Miami, FL), Cindy Hutson, Executive Chef (La Tropical, Coral Gables FL) and others as we indulge in their exquisite creations and relive the moment when Florida’s vast culinary industry was recognized in the 2022 Florida MICHELIN Guide.
MICHELIN
WEEKEND
AN AMAZING CURATED EVENT
Saturday, October 8
Brunch with Melissa Kelly & Friends
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8 | 11:00am – 1:00pm
Join 2x James Beard Award-winning Chef Melissa Kelly as she hosts the most brilliant female talents of the culinary industry. Reknowned chefs such as Julie Petrakis (The Ravenous Pig, Orlando, FL), Alexia Gawlak (Swine And Sons, Orlando, FL) Cindy Hutson (La Tropical, Coral Gables, FL) Joanna Kaskiw (Grande Lakes Orlando Pastry), Alexa Delgado (Grande Lakes Orlando EvrBar), Amanda Gibbons (Grande Lakes Orlando Primo) will create a brunch experience unlike no other.
Gala Dinner: MICHELIN Under the Stars
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8 | 6:00pm
FEATURING CHEF MITCH LEINHARD
ALONGSIDE OTHER CELEBRATED CHEFS
Mitch has been reaching for the stars in the kitchen ever since he was young. MICHELIN stars to be exact. Over his ensuing career, he went on to hold pivotal roles at an illustrious group of MICHELIN three-starred restaurants: chef de partie at Alinea in Chicago, sous chef at Grace in Chicago, executive sous chef at Saison in San Francisco, and chef de cuisine at Manresa in Los Gatos. Mitch is excited to have taken on the role as co-founder of Suited Hospitality (suitedhospitality.com)
PRIVATE
CONCERT
AN AMAZING CURATED EVENT
Saturday, October 8
NASHVILLE SONGWRITERS JIM BEAVERS & JON NITE | 8pm
JIM BEAVERS
A Texas native, Jim’s songwriting credits include Luke Bryan’s “Drink A Beer,” Dierks Bentley’s “5-1-5-0” and “Am I the Only One,” Toby Keith’s “Red Solo Cup” and countless other singles by artists including Faith Hill, Easton Corbin, Tim McGraw, Josh Turner, Billy Currington, and Gary Allan. Beavers’compositions have received multiple CMA, ACM, BMI and NSAI nominations and awards.
JON NITE
Hailing from West Texas, Jon Nite’ has had 12 #1 singles and been awarded three CMA Triple Play Awards, ACM Vocal Event of the Year for “We Were Us” and his song “Whatever She’s Got” was named one of the Top 100 songs played this decade. He recently received NSAI’s peer-voted Song of the Year Award for Cole Swindell’s “Break Up In The End.
FIREWORKS FINALE
Cap off a wonderful weekend with an exceptional fireworks display lighting up the beautiful night sky over Grande Lake.
MINGLE WITH MICHELIN
6:00pm-9:00pm | Friday, October 7
Join us alongside various MICHELIN award-winning chefs including; John Tesar, Executive Chef (Knife & Spoon, Orlando FL), Rhys Gawlak, Executive Sous Chef (Primo, Orlando FL), Niven Patel, Executive Chef (Ghee Indian Kitchen, Miami, FL), Cindy Hutson, Executive Chef (La Tropical, Coral Gables FL) and others as we indulge in their exquisite creations and relive the moment when Florida’s vast culinary industry was recognized in the 2022 Florida MICHELIN Guide.
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT | 8:00pm – 9:00pm | Friday, October 7
COFFEE IN THE KITCHEN
9:00am-10:30am | Saturday, October 8
Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Grande Lakes’ unique breakfast offerings. Interact with our local coffee curator, Lineage, and learn about the roasting process as you sip on your morning cup. Then peruse the various feature stations where you can learn about and enjoy chocolate carving presentations, pastry delicacies, espresso martinis and more while you meet the local farmers.
BRUNCH WITH CHEF MELISSA KELLY & FRIENDS
11:00am-1:00pm | Saturday, October 8
Join the brilliant minds of some of the culinary industries’ most talented female chefs for a next-level brunch experience. You’ll be hosted in the recently redesigned and MICHELIN Recommended Primo, conceptualized by 2x James Beard Award-winning Chef Melissa Kelly. Allow Chef Kelly herself to kick-off your brunching, and then prepare your taste buds to continue to be delighted by the culinary creations of award winning chefs and promising up-and-coming talent all while celebrating the amazing contributions women have brought to the food and beverage industry.
FALL ON THE FARM
11:00am – 3:00pm | Saturday, October 8
Whisper Creek Farm is a 7,000-square-foot fruit and vegetable garden with an adjoining 11,000-square-foot outdoor event space, barn, apiary and chicken coop. Products produced on the farm are featured in restaurant dishes, beverages, and even spa treatments at the resort. Our Fall on the Farm event offers a hayride, pumpkin picking, and pumpkin carving, painting workshops, fly fishing demonstrations, falconry experiences, and more!
CABANA LIFE
1:00pm-4:00pm | Saturday, October 8
Be one of the first Grande Lakes’ guests to bask in the new cabana lifestyle experience found at Grande Lakes Orlando. Enjoy oysters shucked tableside, a ceviche bar, open fire skewer dishes, a signature event cocktail and mixology station, and more! Learn why our spa was awarded #1 by USA Today 10Best with a featured presentation of the Bespoke Facial By Biologique Recherché. With live music and those hourly surprise delighters, you’ll be relaxing poolside where luxury meets comfort.
GALA DINNER: MICHELIN UNDER THE STARS
FEATURING CHEF MITCH LIENHARD
ALONGSIDE OTHER CELEBRATED CHEFS
6:00pm-9:00pm | Saturday, October 8
A Curated Experiences staple, the Gala Dinner will showcase some of Grande Lakes’ best at this elegant plated dinner. We are delighted to announce our esteemed Guest Chef, Chef Mitch Lienhard, will be leading the evening. Multiple MICHELIN stars seem to follow Chef Lienhard wherever he goes, so this evening is sure to be an unparalleled culinary experience.
PRIVATE CONCERT
Nashville Songwriters Jim Beavers & Jon Nite
8:00pm-9:00pm | Saturday, October 8
Jim Beavers songwriting credits include Luke Bryan’s “Drink A Beer,” Dierks Bentley’s “5-1-5-0” and “Am I the Only One,” Toby Keith’s “Red Solo Cup” and countless other singles by artists including Faith Hill, Easton Corbin, Tim McGraw, Josh Turner, Billy Currington, and Gary Allan. Jon Nite has had 12 #1 singles and been awarded three CMA Triple Play Awards, ACM Vocal Event of the Year for “We Were Us” and his song “Whatever She’s Got” was named one of the Top 100 songs played this decade. He recently received NSAI’s peer-voted Song of the Year Award for Cole Swindell’s “Break Up In The End..
FIREWORK FINALE
9:00pm | Saturday, October 8
Cap off a wonderful weekend with an exceptional fireworks display lighting up the beautiful night sky over Grande Lake.
BREAKFAST AT LEISURE
9:00am-11:00am | Sunday, October 9
After a full weekend of being luxuriously wined and dined, re-energize your body with all your favorite southern comfort foods. Grande Lakes is proud of its Florida Heritage, and Highball & Harvest is inspired by the railroad system which enabled the region to become an agricultural powerhouse that remains as important today as it was in the 19th century. Complete your stay with this homage to Florida. If you don’t try the Parker House Rolls, you’ll be missing out.
Located in West Orlando at the intersection of Kirkman Road and West Colonial Drive – in the same plaza as Golden Sparkling Supermarket and old favorite Formosan Garden / Teriyaki House (Taiwanese), Mr. Wang’s Sports BBQ may be an odd name for an establishment that does not show many sports games on their TVs – at least not on our visit.
Grilled meat skewers and beer – think of Mr. Wang’s Sports BBQ as a Chinese pub – with some pretty tasty meat skewers. I met some friends here on a recent weekend evening, and thoroughly enjoyed not just the meat and beer, but also the house made pork and chive dumplings. Smashed cucumbers, beef skewers, and grilled squid were also highlights.
The Menu
The owner must be a fan of the anime, One Piece, or perhaps the owner’s son judging by the plethora of One Piece decor at the restaurant. Service is kind of an after thought here, so make sure you aren’t shy about waving down your server to point at the menu for you want. They are open late usually till at least midnight. Check them out soon!
Hours
Monday
2:00 pm?–?12:00 am
Tuesday
2:00 pm?–?12:00 am
Wednesday
2:00 pm?–?12:00 am
Thursday
2:00 pm?–?12:00 am
Friday
2:00 pm?–?1:00 am
Saturday
2:00 pm?–?1:00 am
Sunday
2:00 pm?–?12:00 am
What – Fundraising Dinner for Afghan Refugee Fund When – Monday, October 17th 6:00 – 8:00 pm Where – Z Asian Vietnamese Kitchen,1830 E. Colonial Dr. Ste B, Orlando How – Click here to buy your tickets
All proceeds from the dinner will go to WorldOrlando’s Afghan IVLP Alumni Emergency Relief Fund. This fund was set up to help IVLP alumni, located both within Afghanistan and in third countries, to cover urgent short-term needs such as food, shelter, medical care, and/or relocation expenses.
Hien Nguyen, owner of Z Asian Vietnamese Kitchen, was a refugee from Vietnam in the 1970s and has lived in Orlando for over 40 years. Ricky Ly, founder of TastyChomps.com, is the son of Vietnamese refugees and is also a board member of WorldOrlando. “In a way, this is a small act to give back to those in need and seeking refuge from the tragedies of war.”
Since 1963, WorldOrlando, a 501c3 nonprofit, has served as the local implementer of the U.S. Dept. of State’s premier professional exchange program, the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).
WorldOrlando hosted numerous IVLP participants from Afghanistan over the years whom we’ve stayed in contact with and are committed to supporting during this current humanitarian crisis. Your support addresses the urgent needs of these IVLP alumni and their families, who are at risk due to their previous involvement in U.S.-funded activities.
Marketplace at Avalon Park celebrates its One Year Anniversary Party this Saturday September 17, 2022. I will be there as a judge at 4pm -5pm – come on down! There will be a live band, DJ, All-day specials, face painter, balloon artist, giveaways, foodie contests and great family fun all day long.
We spoke with Marketplace At Avalon Park’s General Manager Derek McCracken about the upcoming event and how everything went so far this past year!
Interview with Marketplace at Avalon Park’s Derek McCracken
Ricky Ly of Tasty Chomps: What are some of the biggest changes that you have gone through over the past year?
Derek McCracken: Over the past year it has been very satisfying to watch the Marketplace evolve from concept to concrete. Watching the facility grow and become not just a place to eat and drink, but to be a true part of the Avalon Park community. We’ve hosted charitable event for folks in the community struggling.
We’ve cultivated a relationship with the first responders in the area and particularly the new fire station, Station 87. We’ve been a part of holidays, back to school, sports programs, etc. It’s provided employment opportunities for many of the families in Avalon. It’s providing a place for folks to gather with each other.
What are some challenges that you have overcome and successes that you remember the most this past year?
Opening a first of its kind food hall in east Orlando was a challenging undertaking. Many of the vendors were new to the food hall concept and even to the restaurant game. It’s been amazing to watch vendors like Pico de Gallo and Brazas start in the Marketplace and quickly grow into new brick and mortar establishments. It’s been inspiring to watch folks cultivate new food concepts from the ground up. It’s been exciting to welcome new vendors into the facility like Spoletos and Dusty Dogz.
What has feedback been like so far from local residents and the greater Orlando community?
The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. From the food, to the events, to the Sunday afternoons, the community seems to really enjoy the variety, the atmosphere and having something unique so close to home.
If you could pick one signature dish/product from each tenant at the Marketplace what would that be?
Rosso’s – Cookie Latte
Sip – Ice cream tacos
Cheese to Share – Signature Cheese Board
Spoleto’s – Ravioli Lasagna
KBBQ – Spicy Pork
Nola – Big Easy Grilled Cheesy
Dusty’s – Double Smash Burger and Onion Rings
Lemon Shark – Poke Bowl
Bowigen’s – Avalon Park Amber Ale
Cantina – Flautas with a Spicy Margarita and Weekend Brunch
Avalon General-Wine Slushie
Avalon Kitchen-Meatball Slider
What can people expect at the upcoming 1 year anniversary party?
Folks should expect a fun day with lots of different opportunities to participate in our 1st anniversary. We’ll have live music, special promotions, drink specials, people’s choice voting, and of course great food and good times!
What are some new things coming up for the Marketplace at Avalon Park?
In the upcoming year we are looking at some exciting new things. We are looking forward to welcoming our newest vendor who we should be able to announce soon. We are looking to bring curb-side-to-go online. The vendors are exploring new collaborations and pairings that should be available throughout the next year.
Located six miles from Orlando International Airport, Lake Nona Wave Hotel is a new luxury lifestyle hotel with experiences to charge and recharge the soul.
Lake Nona Wave Hotel recently opened this year in the heart of Lake Nona. We were provided a complimentary one night stay and we absolutely loved our experience at this beautiful and eclectic property.
The hotel includes 234 high-tech guest rooms and 18 suites that are all thoughtfully and artistically designed.
An in-room tablet is provided to give you control of your room. Guests can explore hotel features, amenities, and chat with concierge directly from the device. The Wave Hotel mobile app can be downloaded on your phone prior to your visit to unlock the most out of your stay. The mobile app includes the same features as the in-room tablet and can also be used as the key to your guest room for keyless entry.
The smart glass windows dynamically tints throughout the day to block UV rays and keep your room cool. The 65-inch HD smart television has built-in Chromecast that allows you to stream directly from your personal devices.
A robe is available for use during your stay and can be for purchased for $75. Upon request, housekeeping can deliver a new one at the same cost.
The coffee and tea station.
I truly loved how clean and smart our guest room was. The Lutron keypads located on each side of the bed makes it easy and convenient to control lighting and curtains to your preference so you do not have to get out of bed.
The TOTO Neorest toilet gives you a cool and refreshing experience.
Its functions includes an adjustable bidet spray with three wash modes, warm air drying, heated seats, an automatic lid and deodorizer, and innovative cleaning technologies like eWater+ and Tornado Flush.
The shower is beautiful and spacious. It came stocked with luxurious bath products from Paris, France. All the details in this hotel were well thought out and special – no matter how big or small.
Our room balcony overlooked Florida’s most colorful pool deck and cabanas located on the second floor, next to HAVEN Kitchen and HAVEN Lounge.
Every Saturday and Sunday from 1pm-5pm hotel and cabana guests can enjoy poolside beats by local DJs, flavorful dishes and unique cocktails at HAVEN Pool.
HAVEN Kitchen is a sophisticated Mediterranean restaurant that brings a twist to traditional Florida flavors.
From today until Oct 2nd, guests can enjoy a three-course meal for $40 with HAVEN Kitchen’s Magical Dining menu. You can read more about my spectacular HAVEN Kitchen Magical Dining experience on my blog post here.
HAVEN Lounge is a stunning light-filled lounge with live entertainment, innovative small plates, and experiential cocktails. They are open Thursday through Sunday from 7pm-12am.
Located on the first level is BACÁN. BACÁN is an elevated, approachable, and innovative dining experience centered around a dramatic open theater kitchen and influenced by the many flavors of the Americas.
At five-months old, BACÁN was recognized by 2022 MICHELIN Guide as one of the MICHELIN recommended restaurants in Orlando.
BACÁN guests can also dine in the restaurant’s patio overlooking the multimillion-dollar Sculpture Garden that features World-class art sculptures on 50,000 square feet of lush tropical outdoor space. The Sculpture Garden is a must-visit for art lovers of all ages.
A cool perk of staying at Lake Nona Wave hotel is that guests receive unlimited complimentary access to Lake Nona Performance Club. The fitness center is located just footsteps from the hotel.
The atmosphere is relaxed and inviting throughout the entire property. For something unlike anything else, located in a place like nowhere else, Lake Nona Wave Hotel is the perfect place to getaway. Book your next stay there today!
Have you heard of Amare, the new Mediterranean restaurant at Walt Disney World Swan Reserve, the new sister hotel of Swan and Dolphin resort?
We were invited to dine there and we loved our experience. With a name meaning “to love”, guests will fall for this casual upscale venue inspired by the Mediterranean region cultures and tastes. Amare’s menu highlights fresh local premium ingredients, a variety of seafood, citrus, olive oils, pasta and pitas.
At Amare you can find a Wine Wall featuring Mediterranean-based wines with selections from across the region.
Here is an inside look of the new menu items at Amare:
Fried Calamari – Crispy Calamari served with a Tomato-aleppo Pepper Sugo and toasted Sumac Crema. My favorite appetizer!
Chargrilled Pepper Crostino – Chargrilled Pepper Crostino topped with marinated and grilled Bell Peppers, Parsley, and grated Manchego Cheese
Polpetti – Tomato braised Lamb and Beef Meatballs with crispy Potatoes, Saffron Aioli, and a roasted Pine Nut Crumble
Seabass Al Cartoccio – Comprised of two filets of sustainable Striped Bass steamed in a parchment paper pouch with Thyme, Garlic, wilted Greens, Tomatoes, and Heirloom Potatoes, finished with a rich White Wine Sauce
Romesco Chicken – Fennel Marinated Roasted Chicken Breast, Paprikash Style Braised Thigh, House Made Pappardelle Pasta, Organic Vegetables, Cauliflower Puree, Roasted Red Pepper and Walnut Romesco Sauce
Hand Made Manti Dumpling – Bahrat spiced Lamb filled Dumplings from a beloved family recipe, served with Cauliflower, Roasted Eggplant and a Yogurt Sauce
Dessert Flight
Greek Yogurt Cheesecake – edible white chocolate squares, blueberries, crème fraîche Flourless Chocolate Cake – raspberry caviar and ganache Cannoli – with accent of orange, hazelnuts on top, powdered sugar
Old Fashioned Cocktail
Here is an inside look at Walt Disney World Swan Reserve:
Situated in Lake Buena Vista, Walt Disney World Swan Reserve provides guests with a refined yet tranquil oasis near the attractions and theme parks of Walt Disney World.
The hotel provides complimentary transportation to Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and other locations throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. As an added benefit, guests can enjoy full access to all amenities at Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts, including special Disney perks.
Swan Reserve 3rd floor lobby
Stir bar and lounge
Vintage crank cocktail shaker at Stir lobby bar
Citrus elements around the property pay homage to the resort’s orange grove history, including hanging planters that evoke oranges at Tangerine pool bar, hotel decor, and more.
“Living Wall” located along the pool deck
Guests can workout in their brand-new, state-of-the-art fitness center.
Catch the Disney fireworks from an Epcot View Room. I highly recommended booking this type of room to get the most out of your stay.
After a day in the theme parks, guests can relax in a lavishly appointed hotel room or suite, ideal for families.
Orange colored closet interiors to pay homage to the resort’s orange grove history.
Walt Disney World Swan Reserve in Orlando, FL is truly like nothing else, located in a place like nowhere else. Book your next stay there today!
It’s the most magical time of the year for Orlando foodies!
Taste something magical at the award-winning Rocco’s Italian Grille with a fabulous 3-course prix fixe dinner for just $40 per person (tax and gratuity not included) starting now through October 2nd! View Rocco’s Italian Grille’s Magical Dining menu here.
Plus, through Visit Orlando, $1 from each meal served will benefit The Able Trust which works to help expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Rocco’s Italian Grille is a romantic Italian restaurant located in the beautiful Winter Park, just a 10-minute drive from Downtown Orlando. Rocco’s proudly presents an authentic Italian cuisine prepared by their experienced native chefs.
Their menu is composed of a variety of appetizer, pasta, seafood and meat dishes that recreate old favorites and bring out new flavors. Choose one of their wines from the wine list, where you will find wines ranging from Aglianico to Zinfandel. They offer an ample selection of Italian wines, along with great Californians and others. Sip on an Amarone, Barolo or Caymus, you will find just the right one for your meal.
Here are our recommendations for Rocco’s Italian Grille’s Magical Dining menu:
Vitello Tonnato – roasted veal, chilled and thinly sliced, served with a lightly fragrant tuna and capers sauce
Gamberoni Al Gorgonzola – shrimp flambéed with a vecchia romagna brandy and finished in a gorgonzola cheese reduction
Filetto Al Gorgonzola – beef tenderloin topped with a melted imported gorgonzola sauce, served over roasted potatoes
Pesce Del Giorno, catch of the day – Coho Salmon. Wild salmon from Alaska with pesto, arugula sauce, pumpkin seeds, served with russet potatoes and Julianne vegetables.
Ravioli Dello Chef, daily specials of homemade ravioli – stuffed with a mix of mushrooms, touch of cream, tomato demi on top.
Cannoli – pastry shells made with red wine, ricotta cheese mixed imported dried fruit from sicilia and finished with chocolate morsels
Chocolate Cake – triple layer chocolate cake
Come in and enjoy an evening with proprietor Rocco Potami and his exceptional team. Rocco’s has a full bar and a cozy cocktail lounge, where you will also find live music playing Wed-Sat. Join them for an evening of fine food and friends in their comfortable dining room or the cocktail lounge.
Recently named the sixth best bar in North America and the 28th best bar in the world, Café La Trova is a Miami hotspot created by Julio Cabrera and Chef Michelle Bernstein. It is a Cuban bar with cantineros manning it in the traditional fashion with a focus not only on the cocktails they are creating but on service and atmosphere in general.
The bar takes their show on the road at pop up events and stopped at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes over the Labor Day weekend.
One of the cantineros, Davide, hosted a masterclass Saturday afternoon for bartenders to learn a little about mixology and a lot about the extra effort cantineros take to ensure all their patrons have an exceptional experience.
Being a cantinero is a lot more than simply being a bartender. They place a focus on neatness and cleanliness in their appearance and work. They also pride themselves on being able to have conversations on any topic with patrons without injecting their own personal opinions so as not to offend. And they are always part of the show, including playing an instrument and dancing at the Café. It’s a long training process that requires a great deal of dedication.
In fact, cantineros take their job so seriously they do not take breaks during a shift. If they must even have a drink of water they go to the back of the Café for a few moments and then take thirty minutes assisting other cantineros and getting back into the swing of things before they return fully to service. This is important to ensure a consistent and excellent experience, particularly when those positioned at the service bar prepare up to 1300 drinks per night. That requires a lot of focus and momentum!
Though I do not work in a restaurant or bar, I appreciated learning all that goes into making sure customers have a wonderful time. By the end of the class, I understood it is no easy feat. Though I have not been to Café La Trova, I have a suspicion one of the reasons they have been so highly praised is the attention to detail and exceptional experience. Great cocktails come from all kinds of places, but great experiences can be more difficult to find.
As the sun began to set, the pop up bar, Havana Nights, began. By just after six, every seat was taken, the band started playing, and food and drink were popping up on every table.
On the surface, it might seem like cocktails were the star of the evening, but the food was the real star. The Cuban flatbread, inspired by the classic sandwich, sweet and spicy ribs with a jalapeno and guava glaze, and the choripan, a pressed sandwich featuring chorizo were huge hits. Totally irresistible and packed with flavor, and something none of us had had before.
The picadillo empanadas and ham and cheese croquettes were crispy on the outside and packed with tender filling inside. The best part of these dishes might have been the presentation, a delightful surprise inside of a Cuban cigar box.
It really is a shame these dishes were a one night only thing at the JW Marriott lobby bar because it would be worth returning again and again to order them.
The cocktail menu presented by Café La Trova ranged from the classic daquiri to a rum twist on an old fashioned to the Buenavista, a Bombay Sapphire cocktail with cucumber, mint, elderflower, lime, and simple syrup that was created by Julio and earned him the cover of GQ magazine. The cocktails varied in flavor from refreshing to sweet to spirit forward, and like the food, offered something for everyone.
It was a night to remember with good vibes, flavorful food, and elegant cocktails. If you want to visit Café La Trova, it is located on Calle Ocho in Miami and is open seven days a week. The JW Marriott has dining and cocktail options and frequently hosts events, as does its sister hotel the Ritz Carlton. They are located on Central Florida Parkway.
Have you heard about the new Brazas Chicken in downtown Avalon Park in East Orlando featuring Peruvian style rotisserie chicken , ceviche , chaufa fried rice and more?
Peruvian cuisine is one of my favorites in all the world – blending together rich ancient Latin American traditions with recent immigrants from China and Japan – you can see the influences come together in chau fa (literally fried rice) and ceviche, which features sliced fish in lemon juice and herbs.
Founded by Avalon Park resident and Peruvian native, Franco Del Solar, Brazas Chicken – which has been open in South Orange in Orlando since 2006 – recently opened their newest location in East Orlando in downtown Avalon Park. “I have called Avalon Park home for over a decade and I am proud to continue to expand in this community and bring a little bit of my home culture to my American home,” says Franco. “We love what we do and that’s all that matters. Good food. Good service.”
– Ceviche Limeno – fish in lemon sauce with corn and sweet potato
-Ceviche Mixto
– Jalea de Pescado – deep fried breaded fish
– Papa a la Huancaina – sliced potatoes with creamy cheese sauce
– Pollo a la Brasa – rotisserie chicken marinated in special peruvian sauce
– Pollo Saltado – chicken stir fried with sliced tomatoes and red onions
Experience the wonders of Orlando’s acclaimed culinary scene with Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining, celebrating its 17th year from Aug. 26 through Oct. 2, 2022 — 38 delicious days. It’s your chance to enjoy three-course, prix-fixe dinners at many of Orlando’s most popular restaurants, including MICHELIN Guide honorees, for just $40 per person, plus tax and gratuity.
Plus, through Visit Orlando, $1 from each meal served will benefit The Able Trust, which works to help expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Once this year’s program begins, call your family, friends and coworkers, and make plans to enjoy fantastic meals at fantastic prices while supporting a fantastic cause.
And now, you can upgrade dinner and a movie to dinner and an overnight stay with Visit Orlando’s Magical Nights. This popular program features special offers from some of Orlando’s best resorts and hotels — including many that host one or more restaurants participating in Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining. Romance packages, weekend escapes, girls’ or guys’ getaways, and stay-and-dine savings are perfect for making your nights out even more magical. But don’t delay: Book your stays now to ensure your preferred dates.
You can also take advantage of open-air seating at select restaurants — there’s no wrong way to enjoy Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining.
Due to the program’s popularity, diners are strongly encouraged to make reservations via OpenTable or directly with your favorite venues as soon as possible to ensure you’ll be able to enjoy Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining at your preferred dates and times. Bon appétit!
Have you heard about the Aardvark – the SoDo District neighborhood convenience store that turned into a true neighborhood Florida gulf coastal-inspired gastropub with some of the finest seafood and burgers in Orlando?
Aardvark Beverage’s story goes back over 30+ years, starting as a local convenience store. In early 2020, new ownership changed to a full service restaurant – a true gastropub. With the new ownership under Emmie Olivecrona, came new inspiration and a new menu with everything made in-house and sourced locally as much as possible – They source their brioche bread from Douce France Bakery in Winter Garden and fly in their po boy bread from New Orleans twice a week.
Shrimp Scampi
The Aardvark also offers a selection of sparkling, champagne , white, & red wine with hand selections from around the world. Beer lovers rejoice – there is also a rotating lineup of 22 beers on tap, many regionally sourced, and over 200 different beers offered in bottles or cans to enjoy in the restaurant or to take home.
For those brunch lovers, there is also a fantastic Brunch – Saturday, Sunday & Monday -10 am – 4 pm featuring $15 Unlimited Mimosas per Entree and frozen drinks.
We recently got a chance to interview owner Emmie Olivecrona – who smokes all the fish dip and smoked items in house her self – and got some insight behind The Aardvark.
Interview with The Aardvark’s Emmie Olivecrona
Ricky Ly of Tasty Chomps: Tell us about your experience growing up – What were some of your favorite memories around food growing up?
Emmie Olivecrona: My mother was from Japan so I grew up with some amazing Japanese food & traditions. She believed in always using the freshest ingredients in everything she made. I loved helping her in the kitchen. In addition, being a military brat, I got to live in some amazing countries with incredible food options. Hawaii & Sicily were probably my favorite countries to live in. In Sicily, our Landlady had an olive farm that she would take my brother & I to on the weekends. She had a coal fired pizza oven on her farm. She would make us the best pizzas! Visiting my family in Japan was always a treat as well. Getting to eat as much onigiri, natto, soba, & udon were my favorite things when visiting them.
MAC AND CHEESE
What do you think makes The Aardvark special?
The nostalgia of the neighborhood convenience store turned into a Coastal Inspired Restaurant with full service dining. It’s definitely not what you expect when you walk inside. The amount of fresh seafood we have I think really surprises people when they see our menu
What inspired you to get into the food industry?
I have been in & out of the restaurant industry for over 30 years. In high school, I worked in several restaurants in Colonial Williamsburg, VA. When I moved to Florida, I worked in lots of different types of restaurants paying my way through school. My Japanese Grandmother had a Pub in Yokohama, Japan so maybe it was always a part of me to be in this industry.
Shrimp and grits
What are some of your favorite lessons learned in your years in the industry?
You can never care too much about the quality of food or the level of service.
What is something you wish people to know about Aardvark for their first time dining there?
We make all our sauces & pickles in house and have some of the freshest seafood around. We have a rotating selection of seafood for our Fish Monger’s Special & Anchors Aweigh Sandwich. Our Butcher’s Blade Special rotates with different farmhouse meats weekly as well. Most importantly, people would not expect the Wine Selection we have such as Groth, Shafer, Orin Swift, & Louis M. Martini. It is not something you think you would find in an old convenience store in SoDo.
What is new at The Aardvark?
We come out with a seasonal menu with the changing of the seasons, well, what “seasons” we have in Florida . Some of our new summer menu items are Half Chicken, Burrata Salad, Smoked Gouda Mac, & Steak Frites. Our Fish Monger’s Bounty & Butcher’s Blade are Chef’s Weekly Specials that rotate. Recently, our Chef did a Butcher’s Blade with Elk Filet that was out of this world. We may add it to the next menu roll-out.
Tell us about your favorite menu items right now that people can get at your restaurant?
My favorite items are The Kraken & Fish Monger’s Bounty. Our Chef does a weekly special for Octopus & Seasonal Fresh Fish which are always amazing! I do love our Mahi Reuben & you can’t ever go wrong with our Aardvark Burger.
Top five most popular dishes at The Aardvark?
The Aardvark Burger with our House made Garlic Aioli, Gouda, Smoked Bacon, Artisan Romaine on a Brioche Bun
Grouper Sandwich with our House made Slaw, Cajun Remoulade & Pickles
Mahi Reuben with our House Sauerkraut, Cajun Remoulade, & Baby Swiss
Smoked Fish Dip House Smoked Fish with Chicarróns, Crackers & House made Seasonal Pickles
Southern Benedict (offered during Brunch) with our House made Biscuit, Blackened Catfish, Poached Eggs, Fried Heirloom Tomato & a zesty hollandaise sauce
The Aardvark FL
2610 South Fern Creek Ave, Orlando, FL 32806
(407) 894-9999
Kick off your Labor Day weekend by imbibing like Hemingway with JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes and Café LaTrova, one of North America’s 50 Best Bars, for an exclusive “Havana Nights” pop-up cocktail experience. Sponsored by Bacardi, the cocktail menu features drinks true to early 20th century Cuba, like the Daiquiri Clasico, Mojito Criollo and more. Each drink is handmade by the Café LaTrova team, using the “cantinero” style of bartending with quick handwork and theatrical shaking. Hosted in the recently renovated EvrBar at JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes, transport yourself to the shores of Havana with tropical décor, live music and a menu of Cuban-inspired small bites.
STK at Disney Springs – 50% off Essential Workers
Make the most of your three-day weekend by booking brunch, dinner or happy hour with STK! Plus, they’re offering all essential workers 50% OFF FOOD all weekend long! Additionally, STK will close one hour later on Sunday, September 4th to continue the party all night long. Make your reservation today at stksteakhouse.com.
JW Marriott Orlando, Bonnet Creek
DINING
UnReserved Food Bazaar, Ground Level
Daily, 5 – 10 pm
Explore a newly revealed dinner menu at our European style food hall that captures innovative and colorful culinary creations including exciting cocktails, local craft beers, creative sangrias and extensive wine offerings.
SLIDER & COCKTAIL PAIRING
Sear + Sea Lobby Bar, Lobby Level
Saturday, September 3 & Monday, September 5
Savor the final days of summer over a special slider and cocktail pairing with live entertainment from 7 to 10 pm.
LABOR DAY WEEKEND CELEBRATION
Palm Cove Poolside Grill, Ground Level
Saturday, September 3 – Monday, September 5
Enjoy hotdogs, brats and refreshing garden-inspired beverages featuring Grey Goose Essence at our backyard cook out throughout Labor Day Weekend from 12 to 3 pm.
LABOR DAY WEEKEND FIREWORKS DISPLAY
illume, Ninth Floor
Saturday, September 3 & Monday, September 5
Join us at illume overlooking the Bonnet Creek Preserve as the nightly fireworks display from Walt Disney World® light up the sky. Guests are invited to reserve a special illume VIP Package for $75 per guest which includes reserved seating, live DJ entertainment, special Jubako style shareables & light bites, access to the dessert lounge and an a la carte menu until 11 pm.
Formulated with turmeric, citrine gemstones and zeolite, this spicy facial awakens the skin. The natural power
of Vitamin C & E with a blend of citrus and leafy greens brightens the skin and reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Includes a complimentary take home gift.
50 minutes, $185/guest
SUN-SATIONAL BODY RESCUE
This body treatment is the ideal antidote for overly sun-exposed skin. This restorative gel body wrap increases circulation and contains powerful detoxifying actives, encouraging all-over skin rejuvenation.
50 minutes, $175/guest
COCONUT & MORINGA MANICURE / PEDICURE Enjoy the scent of summer with this luxurious manicure and pedicure pairing. Includes a coconut milk bath, nail prep, scrub, massage, moisturizer and polish.
80 minutes, $130/guest
ENCHANTED EXPERIENCES
Customized treatments designed for our youngest guests perfect before a day of adventure or special evening out.
For reservations, please visit SpabyJWOrlando.com or call +1 407.919.6318
DAILY OFFERINGS:
AMENITIES
MAIN POOL & GRIFFIN POOL
Daily, 8 am – 10 pm, Ground Level
Relax, enjoy a cocktail and embrace the sunshine at the Main Pool or the Griffin Pool. Kids will have their own fun splashing around at the Kids Splash Zone! Room Key is needed for pool access. Pool chairs may not be reserved, limit four per room. One or all of your party must be present.
CABANA & DAYBED RENTALS
Daily, 9 am – 6 pm, Ground Level
Enjoy the seclusion of your private cabana or daybed by the pool. Cabanas can accommodate up to four guests and daybeds up to two-three guests. Scan the QR code below to learn more or to make reservations. Fee, tax & service charge are associated.
WELLNESS CLASSES
Daily, Third Floor Motion Studio
From core to stretch, a variety of Wellness Classes are available daily to provide a sense of accomplishment or a sense of being. Scan the QR code below to preview the class schedule or to make reservations. Included in resort fee.
HIDDEN GARDEN KIDS CLUB
Daily, 9 am – 4 pm, Sixth Floor
Fun-filled adventures are in no shortage at the Hidden Garden Kids Club. Whether it’s creative crafts and games or activities indoors and out, an action packed day of fun awaits offered through three programming structures to fit your family vacation needs including morning (9 am – 12 pm), afternoon (1 pm – 4 pm) and all day (9 am – 4 pm). Space is limited and advanced reservations are required.
$65/child (Half-Day Morning or Afternoon), $120/child (All Day). For reservations, please contact the Kids Conservatory at 407.919.6377
FAMILY BY JW
KIDS CONSERVATORY
Daily, 10 am – 8 pm (Holiday Hours), Sixth Floor
A lounge area for kids and teens to read books, draw, color or challenge a friend to a game of Jumanji or Monopoly. Children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
ACTIVITY GARDEN
Daily, 10 am – 8 pm (Holiday Hours), Sixth Floor
Explore the garden by playing our 9-hole Garden Golf course, try your skills on the oversized chess board or play giant Connect Four on the open lawn. Please reserve your golf time online, children under 12 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.
FAIRY DOOR SCAVENGER HUNT
Daily, 24 Hours, Resort Property
Fairies are real and some live here! Enchanting doors can be found throughout the resort – grab your camera and embark on a mystical adventure to discover them all! Share your photos at #JWBonnetCreek.
INTERACTIVE FAIRY MAIL
Daily, 9 am – 5 pm, Main Lobby
Find the Fairy Mailbox in the Main Lobby and write down the question you have always wanted to ask. If you’re lucky, a fairy may answer you back!
Wild Fork Foods
You heard it here first! For a limited time only, stop by your local Wild Fork store and get a free Wild Fork Unlimited membership for 1 year when you spend $100. A Wild Fork Unlimited gets you free home delivery, access to flash sale events and more!
With two Orlando locations, Wild Fork is your new go-to meat and seafood market. With over 450+ blast-frozen meat and seafood products, they’re your source for everything from hard-to-find cuts like Wagyu Beef and Exotic Meats to everyday staples like Chicken Wings and Ground Beef Visit wildforkfoods.com for full promotion terms and conditions
South East Steel Appliance Warehouse – Labor Day Weekend Specials
Now through September 14, BUY MORE AND SAVE MORE with your GE Appliance purchase.
Get up to $500 in rebates with the purchase of eligible appliances. O% Financing is Available, and we can hold the product in-house if needed.
What better time to celebrate your home than with our Labor Day Event on GE products?
Shop Our Labor Day Sale Event for powerful deals on GE Kitchen appliances, laundry appliances, and impressive touches of performance and style that echo your taste for design. Whether you prefer timeless style or like to keep your look with the times, we’re offering you laundry and kitchen appliance sales you don’t want to miss.
It’s the most magical time of the year for Orlando foodies!
Taste something new at HAVEN Kitchen in Lake Nona Wave Hotel with a spectacular 3-course prix fixe dinner for just $40 per person (tax and gratuity not included) starting August 26th through October 2nd! View HAVEN Kitchen’s Magical Dining menu here.
Plus, through Visit Orlando, $1 from each meal served will benefit The Able Trust which works to help expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
In celebration, we are partnering with HAVEN Kitchen at Lake Nona Wave Hotel for a Magical Dining lunch or dinner experience for two – click here to enter the giveaway.
HAVEN Kitchen brings the outdoors indoors with a sophisticated Mediterranean menu bringing a twist to traditional Florida flavors. Offering an approachable menu featuring a twist on classic dishes, HAVEN Kitchen offers a stunning, botanical setting with both indoor and poolside dining available.
Here are our recommendations for HAVEN Kitchen’s Magical Dining menu:
Smoked & Grilled Chicken Wings
smoked paprika chimichurri
Fried Calamari
fried pickled vegetables, yuzu kosho aioli
Pan Roasted Salmon – Magical Dining Exclusive
grilled bok choy, sweet potato, Florida orange and ginger sauce, crispy rice
We highly recommend taking a stroll around their sculpture garden after your meal. The whole hotel is beyond amazing, just make reservations and go! This is a Magical Dining experience that you do not want to miss.
Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining returns Aug. 26 – Oct. 2 with 102 restaurants offering three-course, prix-fixe dinner menus for $40.
Celebrating its 17th year, the popular annual dining program supports area restaurants and donates one dollar from every meal served to a local nonprofit organization.
This year’s roster brings 16 restaurants new to Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining, as well as six restaurants recently recognized by the MICHELIN Guide. Menus are now live at OrlandoMagicalDining.com, along with the opportunity to book reservations and explore hotel offers as part of Visit Orlando’s Magical Nights. Additional menus and hotel deals will be added in the coming weeks.
Hemisphere at the Hyatt Regency – Orlando International Airport
“Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining celebrates our destination’s award-winning culinary scene by bringing more than 100 of Orlando’s best restaurants together to offer prix-fixe menus for dinners to explore new restaurants,” said Casandra Matej, president & CEO, Visit Orlando. “The program continues to be a source of support for our local businesses and provides funds for charities right here in our community. This year, one dollar from every meal will benefit The Able Trust, providing valuable funds to an organization making an impact on the critical workforce issue right here in our community.”
Also new features this year online at orlandomagicaldining.com? Dipika Hernandez with Visit Orlando tells us, “We refined the filters, adding an option for Michelin restaurants (there are six so far, but only three menus loaded into the website) and a “near me” option as a geographic filter. We’re encouraging people to check back as more menus get added!”
Unreserved Food Bazaar at JW Marriott Bonnet Creek joins Magical Dining this year
Dining for a Good Cause
Each year, Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining selects nonprofit organizations making an impact on the Orlando community to serve as a charity beneficiary. This year, Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining charity committee focused on identifying organizations supporting the Central Florida workforce. One dollar from every meal will benefit The Able Trust, an organization helping to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
To ensure this donation has widespread impact throughout the community, Visit Orlando will also award a $2,000 donation to one local nonprofit in each of Orange County’s six commission districts that also supports workforce development.
Rocco’s Italian Grille in Winter Park
New and Award-Winning Restaurants for 2022
The newest additions to Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining include:
7593 Chophouse
Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine (four locations in Dr. Phillips, Lake Nona, Winter Garden and Winter Park)
BoVine Steakhouse
Cedar’s Restaurant
HAVEN
La Boucherie
The Hampton Social at Pointe Orlando
The Monroe
The Wilson
Turci Pasta and
Wa Sushi.
Chef Shelby Farrell at Four Flamingos
Additionally, six restaurants were recently recognized by the MICHELIN Guide, including:
Four Flamingos, A Richard Blaise Florida Kitchen (a new addition to Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining)
Kabooki Sushi (Milk District location)
Maxine’s on Shine
The Ravenous Pig
The Strand Food & Drink and
Z Asian Vietnamese Kitchen (also a new addition).
Grilled Squid from Z Asian
Z Asian, The Strand, and The Ravenous Pig were awarded MICHELIN Bib Gourmand awards while the others were recommended in the brand new Michelin Guide for Florida.
Local favorites including Rocco’s Italian Grille in Winter Park, The Tap Room at Dubsdread, Hemisphere at the Hyatt Orlando International Airport, Unreserved Food Bazaar at JW Marriott Bonnett Creek, among others also return.
The Tap Room at Dubsdread
Magical Nights Staycation Hotel Deals
Visit Orlando’s Magical Nights is back this year and encourages diners to turn their night on the town into an affordable, end-of-the-summer Orlando staycation. After enjoying a three-course meal at one of Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining restaurants, enjoy an overnight stay at one of the destination’s amenity-filled hotels and resorts providing special savings for locals and Florida residents. Additional hotel deals will be added in the coming weeks. Find offers here and book early to secure preferred dates.
BoVine Restaurant in Winter Park
Improved Website Tools
OrlandoMagicalDining.com is a one-stop shop to see the complete list of participating restaurants, review restaurant menus (including options for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free diets) and book reservations directly. Diners can also utilize My Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining Favorites to build their online wish list.
To help narrow down selections, the website has new filters for restaurants featured in the MICHELIN Guide or the “Near Me” option to find the restaurants in proximity. Additional filters include outdoor seating, cuisine type and neighborhoods.
On Thursday, August 18, Four Flamingos: A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen will host a whiskey pairing dinner, featuring a carefully curated four-course menu by Chef Shelby Farrell paired with whiskey from Redwood Empire Whiskey.
We spoke briefly with Chef Shelby Farrell about their upcoming dinner as well as the recent Michelin Guide Recommendation for Four Flamingos after being open less than a year.
Interview with Chef Shelby Farrell, Four Flamingos:
Ricky Ly of TastyChomps: What are your reactions after hearing about Four Flamingos being recognized as a MICHELIN Guide recommended restaurant?
Chef Shelby Farrell: Being recognized by Michelin was an extremely exciting honor. Considering that we were only open six months when we were recognized, it was quite the achievement for our team. It has only motivated us further, as we’re striving to achieve a Michelin Guide star for next year!
Ultimately though, our primary motivation is to give the best experience to our guests. That inspires us to continually grow and improve our menu. If we keep working to make our guests happy, then any accolades that come along with that are a welcomed acknowledgment.
Tell us about working with Redwood Empire Whiskey and the inspiration behind this upcoming dinner?
Pairing up with Redwood has been a blast. Getting to taste their entire line of whiskey and building a menu directly off those tasting notes was a great experience. I think the guests who join us for the dinner will be amazed by the whiskey itself, and how each dish is designed to pair with it to highlight both the whiskey and the dish. Whiskey lovers will not want to miss it.
What are some upcoming plans for Four Flamingos this fall?
As always, we plan to continue to grow and evolve our menu as the seasons change so expect to see some new fun additions to the food and beverage menu in the near future. We expect the Redwood Empire Whiskey dinner will be just the first of many paired dinners to come!
Redwood Empire, world-class Whiskeys are each named for an iconic Redwood tree and features unique and disruptive woodcut art depicting different caricatures of John Muir. They source best Midwestern Rye, Corn, Barley and Wheat, as well as California grown grains. Rye is marked by its spicy intensity, with notes of pepper, clove, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Corn is bourbon’s signature ingredient. Over years of aging, corn becomes neutral, and allows the barrel selection to ignite the flavor profile. Malted Barley is renown for its chocolate notes.
Four Flamingos’ Whiskey Pairing Dinner Details are below:
Four Flamingos Whiskey Pairing Dinner
with Redwood Empire Whiskey
WHEN:
Thursday, August 18 | 6-9 p.m. (prompt start)
WHERE:
Four Flamingos: A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress – 1 Grand Cypress Boulevard Orlando, FL 32836
MENU:
The evening’s carefully curated menu from Chef Shelby Farrell features:
1st course:
Lost Monarch Whiskey Blend & Mushroom Toast: Orange Scented House made Labneh, Mushroom conserva, Honey
Mills 50 will soon get a brand new hand-pulled noodle shop.
Bang Bang Noodle Co., led by Top Chef winner and Director of Culinary Innovation for Jimmy and Johnny Tung’s Omei Restaurant Group, will feature a small, casual 25-seat dining room, and open kitchen.
The concept will neighbor Vietnamese cornerstone Anh Hong at 1114 E. Colonial Drive.
Bang Bang’s Chef Hung Huynh
Bang Bang will operate under Omei Restaurant Group’s wide family of restaurant concepts, which includes Camille, BENTO Asian Kitchen + Sushi, and the newly opened Doshi.
“Chef Hung and I share a common love for authentic Asian food. Being from New York City, I can’t wait to bring some of our Flushing favorites to Orlando,” says Omei’s Johnny Tung.
Like its name suggests, Bang Bang Noodle Co. will be serving up fresh, hand-pulled noodles and scratch-made broths by the bowl. Specialties will include Taiwan Beef Noodle Soup, Pad See Yum, Chicken Ramen, and of course, Bang Bang noodles.
“I’m excited to show the public my favorite ways to eat noodles,” says Huynh.
Vietnamese-born, Chef Hung has served as a consultant in New York City to several higher-end restaurants across the country after his win on season 3 of Top Chef.
With the last few years spent in Orlando, Chef Hung is eager to finally turn this passion project into a reality.
“Orlando is ready for new, exciting concepts and I want to be involved in making that happen,” says Huynh.
We spoke with Omei’s Johnny Tung and Chef Hung Huynh recently about the upcoming opening and other plans with the group!
Interview with Omei’s Johnny Tung for Bang Bang
Ricky Ly of TastyChomps: What are you most excited about this new concept?
Johnny: I am excited to work with Chef Hung to bring a fun noodle slapping concept to Mills 50. We want to bring authentic flavors and techniques while keeping the atmosphere cool and casual.
What are some future plans and goals for the group?
My brother Jimmy and I are focused on elevating Orlando’s food scene with amazing chef driven concepts. We are really excited to be part of such a great foodie and culinary community. We have exciting news that we will announce soon.
What makes the restaurant scene in Orlando special ?
I love Orlando’s melting pot of diversity, the support from local communities, and acceptance of new ideas
What are some of your favorite food memories from Flushing and NYC?
Most of my family lives in NYC and while visiting them every summer, we would always check out the newest spots in Flushing and Manhattans Chinatown. Since we had a big family we would always take up half the restaurant. New York always reminds me of my late father since he opened his first restaurant in Brooklyn
Q and A with Chef Hung Huynh
Ricky Ly of Tasty Chomps: What is the inspiration behind this new concept?
Chef Hung Huynh – I love eating noodles and always wanted to open a noodle shop. I enjoy putting my own spin on different styles of noodles and flavors that I crave when I want a bowl wet or dry noodles .
Will the noodles be hand made in house?
Yes, Some will be made in-house and some will be sourced.
What are some of the dishes expected to be on the menu?
Some of the dishes will include:
The famous hand pulled noodle from Xian, that’s seasoned with lots of spices cooked with tender lamb or beef.
Ramen with a roasted chicken broth, thyme, poached chicken, and charred scallion oil.
Roasted whole lobster and garlic egg noodle.
Tell us about Biang Biang noodles and what makes them special
what makes Biang Biang noodles special is the chewy and smooth texture of the noodle and the spicy, tingly, and numbing of the sauce that makes its so cravable. It’s spicy but you cant stop eating it.
What was your first memories of food growing up?
My earliest memory of noodles is eating curry noodle from a hawker on the street corner, I remember the curry leaf and lemongrass aroma from the curry broth to this day.
Why do you think people love noodles so much?
Noodles are an alternative to rice (laughs). Noodles are fun to eat – they have many different textures, sizes, shapes, and flavors, and are make with different grains depending on what part of the whole is eaten. Noodles are filling and comforting to eat.
What’s it like working together in the Omei Group?
Johnny: We make a great team because we have different strengths but the same goals. We both love to be creative and have fun trying out new dishes at our test kitchen in Collab Kitchens
Hung: I’m having a lot fun working at Omei. I get to work with talented Chefs with different backgrounds. Johnny is very opened minded with lots of ideas that keeps me busy.
Why is being in Mills 50 important to you?
Johnny: Mills 50 is the heart of the best Asian restaurants of Orlando. It has so much history of where the Asian immigrants started the food scene 50 years ago and Chef Hung and I are proud to do our part to keep it going for the next generation
Chef Hung-I love Mills 50 because that’s where I go to get my Asian food cravings. which is almost everyday.
Bang Bang is anticipating an official open date later this fall 2022. Follow @bangbangnoodleco on social media for updates!
The crown jewel of Walt Disney World dining reopened last week, and I was lucky enough to snag a reservation to dine there just a few days after its reopening.
Located in the Grand Floridian Resort inside Walt Disney World, the restaurant is tucked behind frosted glass doors near Citricos. It’s known for tasting menu dining in the main dining room, Queen Victoria room with just four tables for four or fewer guests, and the Chef’s Table near the kitchen, which has yet to reopen.
Having been honored with the prestigious AAA five diamond award as well as the Forbes five star award, it is virtually assured a Michelin star, or perhaps even two, when the Guide makes another trip to the Sunshine State.
I was part of a party of five, and we were escorted to a spacious round table in the corner of the main dining room where we had a great view of everything going on in the room and could hear the phenomenal harpist perfectly. Though I would consider visiting the Chef’s Table in the future, I’d pass on the Queen Victoria room as it lacks the ambiance of the main dining room.
Lazar and Sharon were our servers until one member of our party recognized an old friend in Christina, who joined our service team at that time. While the downfall of some restaurants is having more than one server per table, it works incredibly well here. We connected with each of them and they made the evening much more special and enjoyable than it would have otherwise been.
Beverage options are plentiful, as you choose from the water menu, peruse the hefty wine list, glance over the limited cocktail menu, and later in the meal (or early at our request) enjoy siphon brewed coffee, always a personal favorite of mine. We splurged on the Svalbardi Polar Iceberg Water. At $132.00 a bottle, it is worth a try as part of this dining adventure as it tastes so pristine, like you imagine water should taste but it never does. If it’s too much to add to the already pricey dinner, the Ty Nant was my second favorite of the six waters we tried.
Speaking of pricey, the dining room menu is $295.00 per person, with the optional wine pairing at $150.00. Currently they are also offering the Queen Victoria room menu in the dining room. It is $375.00, with a wine pairing at $200.00. The only difference between the menus is the addition of a turbot with baby leek and fennel dish as well as a Japanese Wagyu, potato rosti, and romesco dish, along with their wines. While these dishes were tasty, personally, my favorites were all included on the dinner menu.
The evening began with three bites – pink pineapple, langoustine, and Iberico ham. They were pleasant and set the stage for the progression, as it continued with delicate cauliflower panna cotta, topped with caviar and a briny squid ink and potato tuile. The Danish Hiramasa tiradito was presented third with the real star of the dish being the chili sauce surrounding the thinly sliced fish. Luckily, it was served with a spoon. This was followed by the turbot for the three of five of us who ordered the extended menu.
Probably my favorite dish of the evening followed: Glacier 51 Toothfish (you probably know it as Chilean Sea Bass) with mushrooms and sambal. It actually didn’t sound that great to me on paper, but the symphony of flavors between the three main components was a delight and set the stage for the meat courses that followed. The dish ate very meaty and was uniquely paired with a red wine for the two that ordered the wine pairing.
Chicken with truffle and corn followed. It was a hit at the table, but since chicken is so widely consumed it would have been more interesting for the common bird to be swapped with something like quail or pheasant. Another favorite dish of the night was the progression of lamb. Collar, saddle, and a mincemeat of sorts were paired with blueberry and mustard. Not one of us left a bite behind. The A-5 Japanese Wagyu rounded out the savory courses.
From a cheese and plum course to a honey and elderflower ice cream to a warm cookie to a show stopping plated dessert that is typically a showcase of chocolate but was a presentation of meringue, praline, and banana for me since I am allergic to chocolate, dessert was beautiful and flavorful. One thing to know about Victoria and Albert’s is that they take allergies (and dietary preferences) seriously. I wasn’t sure how they would pivot when their main and stunning dessert could not be served to me, and my dessert was just as, if not more beautiful than the chocolate one.
A series of small dessert bites were served as well. I fought through the tiniest bit of dessert overload to fall in love with the brightness of the berry pavlova and passion fruit caramels with edible wrappers. Tahini mousse, banana gateau, pistachio petit four, and truffles also made their way to the table.
After a quick kitchen tour (a completely clean and empty kitchen), the evening was over. It was memorable and enjoyable at every turn. After wanting to dine at Victoria and Albert’s for so long, I almost can’t believe it is over. It was practically perfect at every turn, but there are a couple cons. The price is known, so while it is expensive, it is an experience that is ultimately worth it and this isn’t a con. However, we were there six hours, about twice the amount of time we anticipated. The meal was unevenly paced, and it was a very long time to sit there.
The guests that ordered the wine pairing were sometimes waiting for their wine when their food was served, meaning we were finished eating and they hadn’t so they could taste the food and wine together. Speaking of beverages, the cocktail menu is quite limited, though they mentioned they have a full bar. This isn’t entirely true as the cocktails were made at either Citricos or the Enchanted Rose, and once they closed for the evening cocktails could no longer be made.
These are relatively minor things that I have no doubt will be worked out with just a little more time. It is most definitely worth investing the time and money in this dinner if you love fine food, fancy nights out, and Disney World, of course.
Victoria and Albert’s is located inside the Grand Floridian. You can try to snag a reservation online or by calling 407-939-3862.
Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, the Culinary Crown Jewel of Walt Disney World Resort, Returns
Press Release below from Walt Disney World
Those looking to indulge in elegant cuisine and timeless opulence can do so once again at Victoria & Albert’s – the culinary crown jewel of Walt Disney World Resort. This signature dining experience at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa recently made its momentous return July 28, 2022.
Known for its lavish setting, Victoria & Albert’s will reopen with fully reimagined interiors inspired by Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Celebration. The redesigned space welcomes guests with a classic, yet contemporary touch. Soft shades of ivory, taupe and light blue are offset by accents of silver, gold and pewter.
Shimmering crystal chandeliers, delicate scroll work, fanciful murals and delicate wall coverings with subtle inspirations of an English garden have transformed the space giving it a spectacular modern look.
At Victoria & Albert’s, every member of the team strives to deliver a flawless dining experience, combining the perfect balance of creativity with a passion for impeccable service. A recipient of the prestigious AAA Five Diamond Award since 2000 and Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Award since 2018, the restaurant is the only one in Florida to be honored with both awards and one of only 26 nationwide.
Elevated Epicurean Experiences
Showcasing contemporary American cuisine, the culinary team sources the finest ingredients from around the globe to craft each exquisite course. With an ever-evolving menu, guests can indulge in dishes such as Glacier 51 Toothfish with charred mushroom and sambal, and Danish Hiramasa with carrot and Okinawan potatoes. Plant-based diners will delight in Heirloom Tomatoes with gazpacho and 100-year balsamico, and Carrot Tikka
Masala with cilantro and puri bread. Those who enjoy the finest of beef can experience the Wagyu A-5 Miyazaki with potato rösti and romesco. Dessert lovers will revel in the Spectrum of Chocolate, an ombré delight featuring specialty sourced chocolates with accents of vanilla, Champagne, and Grand Marnier.
Victoria & Albert’s offers three unique dining options:
The Dining Room presents a resplendent tasting menu, which can be tailored to suit guests’ dietary restrictions. An exquisite plant-based menu is also available. Each bite balances seasonal flavors and elevated craftsmanship.
For a more intimate evening, the private Queen Victoria’s Room offers an expanded prix-fixe tasting menu specially created by the Chef de Cuisine. Set behind frosted-glass doors, this richly appointed room features a glowing fireplace, delicate embroidery, lace details and artwork showcasing European royalty.
For those who want to interact with the chefs and watch as their dishes are expertly prepared, The Chef’s Table is a coveted experience offering a front-row seat in the heart of the kitchen. Throughout the experience, chefs offer guests superb morsels from the tasting menu. The Chef’s Table can accommodate up to six guests, with only one reservation available each night.
Outstanding Wines, Zero-Proof Cocktails and More
Victoria & Albert’s boasts a world-class wine collection featuring more than 500 selections from 35 regions. Staff sommeliers have thoughtfully curated this rare collection with extraordinary choices that date back as far as the early 1900s. In addition to traditional cocktails, a lavish zero-proof cocktail pairing has been expertly developed to complement each course. Innovative cocktail selections include the Guajillo Spice, a striking presentation smoked tableside to showcase the deep flavors of roasted guajillo chilis, charred jalapenos and black peppercorn. The drink is rounded out with a touch of rich caramelized sweetness from turbinado sugar and fresh lime.
An Exceptional Legacy
The talented culinary team is led by Chef de Cuisine Matthew Sowers. Since 2006, Sowers has worked at Disney theme parks and resorts honing his expertise with more than 15 years spent at Victoria & Albert’s. He also curated menus for the acclaimed Remy restaurant aboard the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy cruise ships.
With more than 30 years of experience, Pastry Chef Kristine Farmer was part of the opening team at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. She currently leads the pastry team responsible for the resort’s three signature restaurants, the Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings, pastry kitchen and production of the giant, life-size gingerbread house that becomes a centerpiece of the resort lobby during the winter holidays.
Executive Chef Kevin Chong oversees culinary operations at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. It is no small feat, but this chef and his team uphold the reputation that was long ago established for the resort’s incomparable eateries.
Sommelier Israel Perez serves as Victoria & Albert’s dedicated maître d’hotel where he and his award-winning team pay special attention to every detail of the dining experience. For more than 20 years, Perez has created memorable experiences for guests at signature restaurants across Walt Disney World Resort.
And no overview of Victoria & Albert’s would be complete without recognizing the legacy of Culinary Director Chef Scott Hunnel. The James Beard Award-nominee helmed the Victoria & Albert’s kitchen for many years and still provides direction and mentorship to chefs across multiple Disney resort hotels.
Details and Dress Code
Victoria & Albert’s is an intimate upscale dining experience. Guests are expected to dress accordingly in semiformal/ formal attire that respects the restaurant’s elegant aesthetic. Guests ages 10 and up are welcome. For pricing and other details, or to make dining reservations up to 60 days in advance, guests can visit the Victoria & Albert’s page on DisneyWorld.com or call 407-939-3862. Space is extremely limited; advance reservations are required.
A Grand Update
The reopening of Victoria & Albert’s comes during a multi-year enhancement of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa that honors the resort’s rich history while bringing a fresh, contemporary feel to its iconic Victorian charm and elegance. These grand enhancements began with the addition of Enchanted Rose lounge and an all-new look and menu at Cítricos restaurant – which now features sophisticated, subtle nods to beloved Disney films. More recently The Grand Floridian Spa was refreshed prior to reopening earlier this year,
and The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa introduced 200 new resort studios and other enhancements. Guests can expect additional improvements updated offerings in the future.
Investing in Future Talent
Disney is always looking for ways to empower and invest in students and future talent in the Central Florida community. To celebrate the reopening of Victoria & Albert’s, Walt Disney World Resort has donated $50,000 to Valencia College Foundation in Orlando – an institution Disney has teamed up with for nearly 50 years. This donation will support the culinary program, helping to enhance the overall education experience. Additionally, prior to the restaurant’s reopening, Valencia College culinary students were among the first to experience an unforgettable evening at Victoria & Albert’s, as they met with Disney culinary cast members (including Valencia College alumni) and received an exclusive look at the kitchen and newly reimagined dining room.
“A Taste of… presented by Tasty Chomps x Orlando Foodie Forum” is a new secret menu for foodies to get “A Taste Of…” a local Orlando restaurant with a special pre-fixe menu (similar to Magical Dining) for dine-in or takeout for a limited time.
Conveniently located on Par Street just off Edgewater Drive, Tap Room at Dubsdread is the gathering spot for all to enjoy a friendly and upbeat atmosphere while relaxing in a beautiful and unique woodsy setting nestled among the high trees with hanging moss.
The Tap Room at Dubsdread may have one of the longest histories in Orlando, dating back to when the golf course first opened in 1924, eventually becoming a popular hangout spot for officers during World War II and popular ever since. Politicians, celebrities, friends and families dine in for lunch, dinner and happy hour on the Verandah overlooking the historic 98-year-old Dubsdread golf course.
Starting August 4th – August 14th, 2022, guests can get a 3-course dinner at the award-winning The Tap Room at Dubsdreadin College Park for $55 per person. Price does not include tax or gratuity.
Choose one appetizer, entrée, and dessert from the menu below:
Glass of wine (your choice with a value up to $12)
The Tap Room at Dubsdread boasts a heritage of culinary excellence. Today, under the guidance of owner Steven Gunter and Chef Stewart Barney, their spectacular setting and delicious food have made them a perennial favorite for Central Floridians and has gained them recognition as some of the best prime steaks and seafood as well as outdoor dining in town.
Be sure to check out The Tap Room at Dubsdread for the secret menu starting August 4th till August 14th, 2022!
The Tap Room at Dubsdread
549 West Par St. Orlando, FL 32804
(407) 650-0100
Doshi, featuring a contemporary 35-seat Korean chef-tasting menu, will be opening its doors at 1040 N Orlando Ave STE 104 in the Whole Foods plaza in Winter Park.
Doshi is the evolution of Doshibox, one of the first restaurants to operate out of Collab Kitchens, a virtual kitchen and concept incubator located in Curry Ford West.
Inspired by the emerging Korean chef-driven restaurant scene in NYC, Jimmy and Johnny Tung aspired to bring this progressive take on Korean cuisine to Orlando through a partnership with long-time friend and Doshibox creator Gene Kim.
“As a second-generation Korean American, my primary connection to Korean culture has always been through the cuisine. The past decade of working with Johnny and the Bento Group has laid the perfect foundation to spearhead my first project, which allows me to explore my heritage further.” – Gene Kim
Executive Chef Rikku Ó’Donnchü will join the Doshi team alongside Kim and brothers Ray and Michael Gillette. Rikku will utilize his experiences operating Yuzu (Korean and Japanese fusion) in Cape Town, South Africa, to lead the team on this new concept.
“My passion for Korean cuisine grew through my many years of travel throughout Asia. Asian flavors have become a focus of my cooking style. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Johnny and Gene on this project.” – Chef Rikku
Doshi will open its doors with an intimate six-person chef’s table experience, serving two seatings per night, five days a week. The tasting menu will feature a 14-course exploration of traditional Korean cuisine, reimagined through a contemporary lens.
The beverage program led by sommelier Katie Zumalinksy will bring a whimsical twist to many popular Korean mixed beverages.
Reservations for the chef’s table are live now with reservations for the dining room opening in August.
Follow @doshiorlando on Instagram for updates!
Gene Kim Bio:
Born in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Gene spent his childhood in Misawa, Japan. After moving to Florida, Gene joined the Bento group in 2009. Gene has occupied many different positions within Bento Group, most recently working with the Corporate and Finance teams.
Rikku Ó’Donnchü Bio:
Born in Leicestershire, England, Rikku began his culinary career in a local Michelin kitchen, Hambleton Hall. This experience led to an illustrious career in many prestigious restaurants, alongside Michelin-starred culinary savants such as Heston Blumenthal (The Fat Duck), Thomas Keller (The French Laundry), and Marco Pierre White (Wheelers of St. James).
The Chef and I is one of my favorite new restaurants here in Orlando – and one of the reasons why is their very fun and absolutely delightful Chef’s Tasting Menu experiences.
The Chef and I’s husband and wife team Executive Chef Chris Rains and Erica Rains with Chef de Cuisine Michael Morrison really know how to make some very creative and tasty dishes. For some background – Chef Morrison is formerly Head Chef of Loretta Keller’s Famed Coco500 & Executive Chef of Hiro Sone’s Michelin Starred Ame in SF. He serves alongside Sous Chef Travis Chasteen.
The Chef’s Tasting Menu at The Chef and I counter
Grab a seat at the chef’s counter at The Chef and I for a memorable chef’s tasting menu experience, while watching the action live at your seat.
How it works – this meal really puts together The Chef and I – you choose on the menu your “featured” ingredient – say egg, or beef, or chicken – and the chef creates a dish based on that main ingredient and what is in season. Choose one, or two, or three dishes or feel free to go “all in” and pick all the dishes – It’s a fun take on the traditional omakase where everything is left up to the chef – but here it’s up to both The Chef and I.
Available during dinner service — Thursday, Friday, Saturday dinner service till 9pm only
Make future reservations by calling 321-328-5521!
Here is a sneak peek at some of The Chef and I’s Tasting Menuwe tried recently:
Raw ($16)
Walu Sashimi – Avocado, Tobiko, Unagi Glaze and Lime- Wasabi Vinaigrette
The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is the visitor center at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center just a short car ride away from Orlando in Brevard County on Florida’s Space Coast on Merritt Island, Florida. It makes for a fun afternoon with the family and kids – especially most recently with the debut of the Gateway Deep Space Launch Complex and a limited time Artemis Mission Manual Scavenger Hunt.
For those who don’t know – KSC features exhibits and displays, historic spacecraft and memorabilia, shows, two IMAX theaters, and a range of bus tours of the spaceport. The “Space Shuttle Atlantis” exhibit contains the Atlantis orbiter and the Shuttle Launch Experience, a simulated ride into space. The center also provides astronaut training experiences, including a multi-axial chair and Mars Base simulator.[ The visitor complex also has daily presentations from a veteran NASA astronaut. A bus tour, included with admission, encompasses the separate Apollo/Saturn V Center.
Guests can also see real flight-flown space hardware, as well as mock-ups of equipment that will be used for the Artemis missions in the recently opened, all-new Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex. Objects include:
LIFE Habitat Cut-Away, a scale model of a habitat designed for four to 12 crew members for long-duration space missions
Lockheed Martin Space Habitat, a full-scale mockup of what a habitat orbiting the Moon can look like can be explored.
A scale model of the NASA SLS Rocket that will launch the Artemis 1 mission
Flight-flown Orion EFT-1 capsule. The Orion spacecraft will play a key role in NASA’s Artemis missions.
The final weekend of the month-long Artemis Mission Manual Scavenger Hunt, August 5 – 7, KennedySpace Center Visitor Complex will host an Artemis Block Party celebration complete with street performers, DJ dance parties, and fun activities.
Read on to find out more about the scavenger hunt and the new exhibit from KSC:
Artemis Mission Manual Scavenger Hunt
Jul 01, 2022 – Aug 07, 2022
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
The Artemis mission manual has returned to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Start your adventure during your next visit! Explore the visitor complex and stop at six Artemis-themed education stations. There, you will see a QR code that will scan on your mobile device to view a short video. With the information found in the video, answer the related question found in the book. Each station is custom created for a segment of NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions: Explore Ground Systems, Space Launch System, Orion, Lunar Landers, Gateway, and Artemis Generation Spacesuits. Once you answer the question, place the appropriate sticker on the map to show you completed that station.
After you visit all six stations, return to Information or Space Shop on your way out to collect a prize! (It’s a neat pin!)
The Artemis Exploration Stations can be found in the following attractions:
HEROES AND LEGENDS JOURNEY TO MARS PLANET PLAY OUTSIDE LEGO® BUILD TO LAUNCH (PREVIOUSLY CALLED NASA NOW) SPACE SHUTTLE ATLANTIS® APOLLO/SATURN V CENTER, ACCESSIBLE VIA THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER BUS TOUR
This unique activity book can be collected at Information and Guest Services and is included with admission.
Keep an eye out – they are hidden in plain sight –
GATEWAY: THE DEEP SPACE LAUNCH COMPLEX
This bold new attraction explores the future of space travel while highlighting what is happening right now in the space program. First, see the spacecraft of today and the visionary designs paving the way of human deep space travel and discover the current cutting-edge space exploration innovations from NASA and commercial partners. Then, enter the spaceport of the future, Spaceport KSC. With your commander steering the path, launch aboard one of four unique journeys through the solar system and beyond during an immersive ride.
Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex models and artifacts include:
Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10 Upper-stage Rocket Engine
Boeing Crew Space Transporation-100 Starliner Mock-Up Capsule (full-scale engineering model)
Boeing Spacesuit
Boeing Starliner Simulator (full-scale model)
LIFE Habitat Cut-Away (scale model)
Lockheed Martin Space Habitat (full-scale mockup)
NASA Space Launch System (SLS) rocket (scale model)
Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 Capsule (flight flown)
Orion Heatshield Tiles
Sierra Space Dream Chaser (full-scale model)
Sierra Space Shooting Star (full-scale model)
SpaceX Cargo Dragon COTS-2 (flight flown)
SpaceX Falcon 9 booster, officially known as Booster B1023 (flight flown)
United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket (scale model)
United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket (scale model)
Of course we had to visit the Orbit Cafe to try some lunch – nice Cuban sandwiches, spring mix salad, and pizza!
The JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa, which opened here in Orlando in July 2020, recently hosted the Masters of the Craft – an internal competition among the culinary team and bartenders highlighting the immense talent that is on their property.
Masters of the Craft is actually a National Marriott competition, and this is the first time in three years the Masters of the craft is occurring due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
I had the honor to judge the event recently, alongside Sam Basu- General Manager of the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek and Kelly Pentecost- former Master of the Craft bartender National runner up. I can attest first hand to the great caliber of talent among both the culinary team and the bartenders team at the JW Marriott Bonnet Creek.
For the culinary competition, contestants had just 30 minutes to prepare a dish featuring the signature ingredient – corn. Meanwhile for the bartending competition, contestants had just 7 minutes to create a cocktail featuring the plumcot – a plum / apricot hybrid. Below are the winners and results of the competitions as well as some background on the participants!
Culinary Participants:
Andrew “Drew” Landis- first place – Originally from Missouri, Andrew is extremely passionate about cooking and discovering new cuisine. Drew has traveled around the country, and Puerto Rico cooking in various restaurants for the last 9 years. Drew joined the JW Marriott Bonnet creek team 6 moths ago and primarily works at Sear and Sea on the wood fire grill.
Christopher Butler- 2nd place is currently finishing his culinary arts degree at Valencia – joined the team 5 months ago in Unreserved
Alicia Priestly- 3rd place winner- joined our banquet culinary team 8 months ago, and has over 25 years’ experience
Anthony Newell- a 20 year culinary veteran, joining our team 4 months ago in Unreserved
Dom Smith- Dom recently finished his culinary training in Augusta, GA and joined our team 3 months ago, coming in as an intern. Currently he works in Illume Kitchen.
Bartenders:
Hunter McIntosh- 1st place winner; Illume bartender 5 years working for Marriott, 11 years total experience
Raymond Schmitz- 2nd place winner- S&S Lobby bar bartender for the last year, with over 17 years’ experience
Francisco Cadena- 3rd place winner Illume bartender for the last year, with 16 years’ experience
Juan Gorbea- 5 year bartender with Marriott, 21 years in the industry, currently works at Palm Cove pool bar
Dom Smith- Dom recently finished his culinary training in Augusta, GA and joined our team 3 months ago, coming in as an intern. Currently he works in Illume Kitchen. While in Culinary school, Dom would work as a bartender, and is passionate about Food & Beverage as he continues to curate his career path.
Samantha Deacy- Joined the S&S lobby bar team 4 months ago and brings 16 years of experience
Abel Caraballo- banquet server, has 7 years’ experience working for Marriott as a bartender and server, and has been in the industry for 14 years.
The winners of the competition at JW Marriott Bonnet Creek will compete at a regional event later this year, with an opportunity to go to Bethesda, Maryland where the National competition will be held at the new headquarters.
Executive Chef Melissa Sallman, who oversees all dining outlets at the resort— including illume, Sear + Sea, the Sea + Sea Lobby Bar, Unreserved, the Unreserved Beer Garden, Palm Cove and the JW Market—and the resort’s banquet options, said, “I was thrilled by the level of the excitement, not only from the contenders, and fellow F&B associates who came to cheer, but also the excitement it generated throughout the hotel. I cannot wait to see how far Drew and Hunter go in the competition, but I am also looking forward to making this an annual tradition at the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek.”
Scenes from the Masters of the Craft 2022 event at JW Marriott Bonnet Creek
About JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa
The full-service, five-star JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa opened in July 2020 and has everything guests need for a luxurious Orlando getaway, from 516 plush guestrooms to fun-filled amenities. Situated conveniently right outside the gates of Disney World, the resort boasts a 10,000 square foot spa with treatments unique to the resort; an outdoor pool with swanky cabanas; seven onsite restaurants and bars, including the chic steak and seafood restaurant Sear + Sea and the new illume rooftop bar; a rooftop miniature golf course and rock-climbing wall; and a complimentary shuttle service to the theme parks.
The Menu
-Ceviche Mixto
– Jalea de Pescado – deep fried breaded fish
– Papa a la Huancaina – sliced potatoes with creamy cheese sauce
– Pollo a la Brasa – rotisserie chicken marinated in special peruvian sauce
– Pollo Saltado – chicken stir fried with sliced tomatoes and red onions
What better time to celebrate your home than with our Labor Day Event on GE products?
The Chef and I is one of my favorite new restaurants here in Orlando – and one of the reasons why is their very fun and absolutely delightful Chef’s Tasting Menu experiences.
GATEWAY: THE DEEP SPACE LAUNCH COMPLEX
