Inside Look: Carrabba’s $10 Take Home Special

Tiffany Nguyen

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Mar 10, 2020

Inside Look: Carrabba’s $10 Take Home Special

Carrabba’s Italian Grill is currently running a $10 Take Home Special for a limited time only. Guest can order any made-from-scratch regular priced entrée, then take home a second entree with a soup or salad for only $10*.

*Dine-in only. The offer is not available for Pizza, Filet or Ribeye. The take home entrée must be of equal or lesser value. Excludes tax and gratuity.

For more information, please visit: http://carrabbas.com/offers/10-dollar-take-home

We were invited to visit the Carrabba’s Italian Grill location near the airport and we had an exceptional experience. The food, service and ambiance was great! We enjoyed everything we ordered, our server Jessica was very knowledgable and friendly, and the Managing Partner Eric Hoffman was very kind and hospitable. I highly recommend this location!

Zucchini Frite

Hand-breaded, lightly-fried and served with roasted garlic aioli.

Cozze In Bianco – Prince Edward Island mussels steamed in white wine, basil and lemon butter sauce.

Caesar Salad – wood-grilled chicken or shrimp served over romaine hearts, croutons, parmesan cheese and caesar dressing.

Mama Mandola’s Sicilian Chicken Soup – spicy chicken soup that has soothed the family for generations. Carrabba’s most popular soup.

Sausage & Lentil – hearty lentil soup with Italian fennel sausage.

Tuscan-Grilled Filet – with marsala sauce, sautéed broccoli. Highly recommended!

Lobster Ravioli

Ravioli stuffed with lobster and romano in white wine cream sauce topped with diced tomatoes.

Carnevale Pizza

Pepperoni, Italian fennel sausage, roasted red bell peppers, and basil with mozzarella and romano cheese.

Tuscan-Grilled Sirloin – with marsala sauce, mashed potatoes.

Hurry in to Carrabba’s Italian Grill and check out the $10 Take Home Special while it is still here!

Carrabba’s Italian Grill
Gateway Village Cir Unit 103 Orlando, FL 32812
(407) 251-8479
carrabbas.com

The 12th Annual Lake Mary St. Patrick’s Block Party On Saturday, March 14

Orlando

Katherine Nguyen

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Mar 9, 2020

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The 12th Annual Lake Mary St. Patrick’s Block Party On Saturday, March 14

Celebrate St. Patty’s 2020 With Liam Fitzpatrick’s, Graffiti Junktion, Duffy’s And F&D Cantina At The 12^th Annual Lake Mary St. Patrick’s Block Party On Saturday, March 14

Central Florida’s #1 Irish Pub Joins Together with Colonial Town Park Plaza Neighbors For the Biggest, FREE St. Patty’s Block Party in North Orlando Featuring Festive Live Entertainment, Multiple DJs, Drinks and Supporting Orlando City Youth Soccer

Orlando, FL (February 20, 2020) – It’s time again to go green and join the luck of the Irish at Liam Fitzpatrick’s Restaurant and Irish Pub, Graffiti Junktion, Duffy’s Sports Grill and F&D Cantina for the 12^th annual St. Patrick’s Lake Mary Block Party on Saturday, March 14. North Orlando’s biggest block party is FREE to attend and kicks off at Colonial Town Park plaza at 4pm. The epic event features festive live entertainment throughout the night from Orlando Firefighters Bagpipes & Drums, three live DJs, drink specials and authentic Irish food and fun.

The Lake Mary St. Patrick’s Block Party also supports Orlando City Youth Soccer, who will be on site collecting donations. Orlando City Youth Soccer is the preeminent youth club in Lake Mary, whose core values are player development, parental guidance, coaches education and community outreach.

“While we strive to deliver a traditional Irish pub experience 365 days a year, St. Patty’s is, without question, our most highly anticipated main event,” says Liam Fitzpatrick’s General Manager Dominick Coloni. “We are excited to join back together with our plaza neighbors and Orlando City Youth Soccer, start 2020 off strong and see all of our loyal patrons at the best, the biggest and the most memorable St. Patrick’s party.”

Enjoy the 12^th annual Lake Mary St. Patrick’s Block Party on Saturday, March 14 starting at 4pm at Colonial Town Park located at 951 Market Promenade Avenue, Suite 1115, Lake Mary, FL 32746. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/liamfitzpatricks.

First look: Orlando Chef Julie Petrakis partners with Club Wyndham in new digital culinary series

Orlando

Tiffany Nguyen

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Mar 8, 2020

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First look: Orlando Chef Julie Petrakis partners with Club Wyndham in new digital culinary series

Club Wyndham, the world’s largest vacation club with more than 100 resorts, has partnered with renowned chefs from around the U.S. to launch a new culinary series – Suite Meals by Club Wyndham™.

The digital culinary series features simple and delicious recipes that families can prepare right in their vacation club suite, crafted by James Beard Award nominee Julie Petrakis, local chef and restaurateur of The Ravenous Pig, Cask & Larder and The Polite Pig, from Orlando, Florida.

Club Wyndham has also partnered with two other chefs: Chef Gabriel Paredes from Austin, TX and Chef Karl Holl from Portland, OR.

Each recipe features local ingredients and is simple to prepare, using the tools found in the in-suite kitchens or kitchenettes. Guests will be able to recreate dishes at the resorts located in the chefs’ hometowns, thanks to in-suite recipe cards and demo videos on the resort’s TV channel and website.

We were invited to Club Wyndham Bonnet Creek resort to meet Chef Julie Petrakis who prepared for us her three signature Suite Meals dishes and they were all simple to make and delicious!

Southern-Style Breakfast Sammy

Florida-Style Shrimp and Grits

Florida Farmer Salad with Honey-Dijon Pork Chops

Petrakis aimed to provide family-friendly dishes that everyone can enjoy while taking a break from a busy day at the theme parks.

For more information, visit: SuiteMealsbyClubWyndham.com

Club Wyndham Bonnet Creek Resort
9560 Via Encinas, Orlando, FL
(407) 238-3500
wyndhambonnetcreek.com

Mondays Burgers, Bourbons & Beats at American Social Bar & Kitchen

Tiffany Nguyen

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Mar 7, 2020

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Mondays Burgers, Bourbons & Beats at American Social Bar & Kitchen

We had the opportunity to check out the new Mondays Burgers, Bourbon & Beats at American Social Bar & Kitchen on Sand Lake Road, located next door to Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi, and we enjoyed each of the burgers that we tried.

The Mondays Burgers, Bourbons & Beats special is available every Monday, all day long.

Prices:
$5 AmSo Burger
$8 Beyond Burger
$8 Specialty Burger
$5 Select Bourbons & Whiskeys
$10 Widow Jane 10YR

Pictured below are their $8 specialty burgers:

1. Infinity & Beyond Burger

Beyond meat plant based burger, avocado, lettuce, tomato, caramelized onion, bistro sauce, brioche bun.

This was our favorite! The plant based patty tasted exactly like meat, it was unreal. It was the perfect meatless burger. Simple yet delicious.

2. Social Smash Burger

Two 1/4 lb. AMSO beef blend patties, American cheese, caramelized onions, smash sauce, pickles, pretzel bun.

The patty was juicy and the caramelized onions, melted American cheese, smash sauce and pickles were ridiculously good. I really enjoyed the pretzel bun on this one as well.

3. Horseradish Cheddar Burger

Two 1/4 lb. AMSO beef blend patties, horseradish cheddar sauce, pickled peppers, lettuce, cheddar cheese, potato sticks, brioche bun.

A more adventurous burger that had a lot of flavors and textures to it. If you are feeling bold, try this one!

You can also find Tiger Wood’s personal locker at the front entrance when you first arrive if you look closely!

American Social is an upscale, high-energy sports bar and music-centric restaurant that offers an award-winning menu and entertainment. Guest can enjoy live music from favorite local artists and special guests, big-screen televisions highlighting must-see game, private and semi-private dining areas, and weekly events like Trivia Nights and Cocktail Therapy. The vibe is fun and classy, yet casual. American Social offers a variety of tasty options and fun memories that will leave you coming back for more.

American Social Bar & Kitchen
7335 W Sand Lake Road, Orlando, Florida 32819
(407) 454-9992
americansocialbar.com/orlando/

New Spring Menu at STK – Disney Springs

Tiffany Nguyen

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Mar 7, 2020

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STK at Disney Springs is excited to unveil brand new core and seasonal dishes to their spring menu.

As you know, STK is “not your daddy’s steakhouse,” so it should come as no surprise that they are pushing the culinary envelope again and giving guests even more reasons to dine at the Orlando restaurant.

The new dishes that they have added to their seasonal menu include: quinoa & hearts of palm, bone marrow wagyu meatballs, ceviche, roasted ora bay salmon, steamed chilean seabass, mushroom & truffle tagliatelle, sautéed green beans and roasted cauliflower.

We had the opportunity to check out their new spring menu and we enjoyed our entire visit. We tried a mixture of classic dishes as well as some new ones and everything we ate was delicious!

LIL’ BRGS / wagyu beef – melted gouda – caramalized onions – special sauce – tomato – pickle – sesame seed bun. I have to order these every time I dine at STK. They are ridiculously good!

PARMESAN TRUFFLE FRIES. Yum!

CRISPY OCTOPUS / buffalo wing glaze – kimchi spice – pickled cucumber. My favorite rendition of octopus, ever.

TUNA TARTARE / avocado – soy-honey emulsion – taro chips. I have had this dish a couple times and it still brings me happiness every time.

*NEW* ROASTED ORA BAY SALMON / butternut squash – miso caramel – sweet soy – edamame mushroom relish. It was sweet and delicious.

*NEW* STEAMED CHILEAN SEABASS / wild mushrooms – bok choy – ginger chili & cilantro relish – tamari sesame oil. This dish was inspired by Executive Chef Ryan Vargas’ grandfather. Growing up in Hawaii, his grandfather would make this for dinner every week. It was so fresh and the fish just melts in your mouth.

Executive Chef Ryan Vargas

*NEW* MUSHROOM & TRUFFLE TAGLIATELLE / braised mushrooms – king oyster mushrooms – baby spinach shaved black truffle – pecorino. I’m in loooove.

WAGYU FLAT IRON 8oz. Wow!! This steak was AMAZING!!

L-R: STK BOLD, AU POIVRE, CHIMICHURRI, BLUE BUTTER, RED WINE, HORSERADISH, BÉARNAISE, STK

*NEW* SAUTÉED GREEN BEANS – confit garlic. A nice, healthy side dish!

YUKON GOLD MASHED POTATOES – parmesan crust

These mashed potatoes were soft and pillowy, I really enjoyed eating them.

Chef Brandon Santiago

CHOCOLATE CRACK CAKE & COTTON CANDY, KEY LIME PIE, STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE SUNDAE

A fun, whimsical, sweet creation! The chocolate cake was moist and dense, the vanilla ice cream was rich, and the chocolate pearls added a nice touch to it all.

A creamy, sweet treat that honors its Key West, Florida origin.

I felt like I won the jackpot with this strawberry shortcake sundae. It was sooo good!!

If you get Charles as your server, you are in great hands. He was highly impressive in hospitality!

STK is a truly one-of-a-kind concept that artfully blends the modern steakhouse and chic lounge into one – offering a dynamic, fine dining experience with the superior quality of a traditional steakhouse. It distinguishes itself by focusing on the dining experience as a whole versus any singular aspect of a good night out. It’s not just the food, sleek décor, in-house DJ or elevated Happy Hour offerings, but rather the combination of all these things that create the Vibe Dining found only at STK.

STK at Disney Springs
1580 East Buena Vista Drive, Orlando, FL 32830
(407) 917-7440
stksteakhouse.com/venues/orlando/

First Look: Restaurant Elize Opens in Downtown Orlando’s 55 West Church Street

Tiffany Nguyen

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Mar 6, 2020

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First Look: Restaurant Elize Opens in Downtown Orlando’s 55 West Church Street

We were invited to Elize located in downtown Orlando’s 55 West Church Street to check them out before they officially celebrate their grand opening today, and we had the best time.

Michelle Lagerweij, an experienced restaurateur from the Netherlands and award-winning Dutch Executive Chef, Leon Mazairac.

Elize is a European style restaurant focused on elevating the dining experience by bringing Dutch influences to its guests through simple flavors, scratch-made menu items and fine wine. Elize is under ownership of Michelle Lagerweij, an experienced restaurateur from the Netherlands and the menu is the creation of award-winning Dutch Executive Chef, Leon Mazairac.

Executive Chef Leon has experience working in Belgium, Paris, the Netherlands and even hosted a Dutch culinary TV show called BinnensteBuiten. He calls his personal style “complexity through simplicity.”

Elize offers what the Dutch call “Gezellig,” meaning cozy and friendly to entice guests to stay a little longer and enjoy the experience. “When you dine at Elize, you are family, sitting at our table enjoying a glass of wine and eating comfort food that allows you to taste the ingredients and the love that went into each dish,” says Lagerweij.

Lagerweij brings her European influence from her first Elize that she co-owned with her sister in Utrecht, Netherlands. Lagerweij followed her dream of relocating to the U.S. and brought a piece of the Netherlands with her. Elize is designed to be a European gastro bar style eatery with exceptional food and drinks at reasonable prices.

Orange and cayenne pepper ice cream served inside an orange.

Our tasting menu was approachable with familiar items but also offered something for our palettes to explore. It was all an amazing experience for my taste buds.

Raspberry Point Oyster – served on ice with all classic garnish.

“San Daniele” Prosciutto & Tinned Sardine Spread – Sourdough bread.

Shoyu Tamago – Elizes “deviled eggs” kaffir jalapeno & puffed rice.

15 x Floridian Vegetables Salad – Oxtail Vinaigrette – cauliflower cream – Dutch style yoghurt.

Tuna “ELIZE” – fresh oyster mayonnaise – ginger – kumquat.

Scallop – coco – horseradish – tarragon – raw & fried “caviar” – kitchen table version.

Roasted White Shrimps “like home” – mashed potato mousseline – brown butter – buttermilk.

Raviolo with Duck “confit” – Mascarpone – bourbon caramelized apples – Fried “lake meadows” Duck Egg.

Beef Cheeks – Jus with Bay leaves – green cabbage – sunflower seeds

Strawberries – Sweet basil topped with “Kletskop”, a Dutch cookie.

Huge thank you to the culinary team at Elize for an amazing dinner! Everything was perfect!

Every dish had a lot of flavors and textures, it was like a great adventure. Be sure to check out Elize the next time you are in downtown Orlando, highly recommended!

Elize
55 W Church St #101, Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 401-8811
elizefoodwine.com

Rosati’s Pizza Brings Chicago Style Pizza to Winter Park

Stephanie Scelsi

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Mar 5, 2020

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Rosati’s Pizza Brings Chicago Style Pizza to Winter Park

Rosati’s has been serving up Chicago style pizza and other Italian fare for the past 50 years. They’ve got everything from pizza to pasta to wings, so you can definitely find something you like!

You can’t go to a pizza place and not start off with garlic bread. These Dough Nuggets are little bites of pure heaven, especially with the marinara sauce.

Now for the main event, the Chicago style deep dish pizza. Just look at that cheese! If you like deep dish, then this is the pizza for you.

If you’re like me and prefer thin crust, I highly recommend the Rosati’s Monster with Italian sausage, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, onion, olives, mushrooms, green peppers, and tomato. Or, you could go with the classic Pepperoni pizza!

Rosati’s also offer subs like this Italian Beef and Meatball Parmigiana sandwiches. The Italian Beef sandwich is piled high with thinly sliced Italian beef and served with sweet peppers and hot giardiniera.

The Meatball Parmigiana is simple with meatballs, marinara, and Mozzarella, but not lacking in flavor!

One thing I did not expect from Rosati’s, was the hot wings. When you think Italian food, you typically do not think of wings, but these were very good (especially the buffalo hot sauce). Other popular flavors include BBQ and Garlic Parmesan.

For dessert, you can’t pass up the Zeppole. The same bite sized dough from the Dough Nuggest is used but tossed in powdered sugar and served with Nutella.

Check out Rosati’s Pizza at 7756 University Blvd #104, Winter Park, FL 32792.

Lunch Special at Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar

Tiffany Nguyen

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Mar 5, 2020

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Lunch Special at Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar

We were invited to Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar on West Colonial Drive to check out their weekday lunch special which runs Monday through Friday from 11:30 – 3pm. Guest can choose one entree and two sides for only $10, lunch menu below.

We started off our lunch with a favorite childhood snack of mine called shrimp chips, or prawn crackers. They are colorful fried chips made with a mix of cuttlefish, arrowroot flour, tapioca flour, onion, garlic, sugar, fish sauce, cracked black pepper and salt. They have a slight sea/shrimp flavor, light/airy texture, and are seriously addicting.

For my lunch combo I ordered the 1/2 shrimp po boy with cajun fries and clam chowder.

Clam Chowder

1/2 Shrimp PoBoy & Cajun Fries

During lunch time, guest also have the option to create their own seafood boil from an à la carte menu.

We ordered one of everything from the à la carte lunch menu and had a great time enjoying the diversity of all their delicious seafood offerings.

Crawfish

Sausage

Black Mussel

New Zealand Mussel

Shrimp

Special Offers:

Check in at Hook & Reel and leave a review for a coupon good for 2×1 on selected drinks. Must show proof to server.

Mango Mai-Thai

Hook & Reel offers $5 off your first online order. Please call the store at (407) 801-5223 for more details.

If you choose to stop by for dinner instead, make sure you come in on a Thursday evening for an breathtaking performance by Qiana Miles, a ridiculously talented singer for the Lion King show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. She performs every Thursday at Hook & Reel from 5pm – 9pm and you do not want to miss it. She has the voice of an angel that is admired by all.

At Hook & Reel you will get is a culinary creation that will make you feel like you’re down in New Orleans. Their food quality, friendly service and cleanliness will exceed your expectations.

Hook & Reel Cajun & Bar
7480 W Colonial Dr. Orlando, FL 32818
(407) 801-5223
hookreel.com

Inside Look: Duck & Drake Kitchen

Orlando

Katherine Nguyen

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Mar 5, 2020

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Continue

Orlando Foodie Forum Saturday Lunch at Stefano’s Trattoria on Saturday 3/7/2020

Events

Ricky Ly

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Mar 5, 2020

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Orlando Foodie Forum Saturday Lunch at Stefano’s Trattoria on Saturday 3/7/2020

This Saturday March 7, 2020, at noon, is the exclusive Foodie Forum lunch at Stefano’s Trattoria – special menu just for us! This will be family style, $20 per person, not including tip or gratuity.

*** RSVP here. Deadline March 5th, 9pm.***

Do NOT miss this! See you there!!! ?

Appetizers:

STUFFED MUSHROOMS: Roasted silverback mushroom caps stuffed with bacon and mozzarella cheese and finished with balsamic glaze.

CRAB ARANCINI: Risotto balls with lump crab meat, mascarpone, and lemon zest breaded and fried; finished with a house remoulade.

ANTIPASTO CONTADINA: Chunks of salami, sopresato, prosciutto, sharp provolone cheese, sun dried tomatoes, artichokes. mushrooms, black and green olives and anchovies, marinated in a seasoned olive oil.

MEATBALLS AND SAUSAGE PARM STYLE: Homemade meatballs and sausage part style bake with mozzarella cheese and serve with our marinara sauce.

INSALATA POMODORO: Grape tomatoes marinated in a red wine vinaigrette with fresh mozzarella and fresh herbs.

Entrees:

TORTELLINI DI STEFANO:
Tortellini pasta in a creamy meat sauce with a touch of prosciutto, baked and topped with provolone cheese. Served with a dinner salad and bread.

POLLO DI STEFANO:
Strips of chicken with sliced sausage, mushrooms, prosciutto, pepperoncini and black olives, sauteed in a white wine lemon garlic sauce. Served with dinner salad and bread.

SHRIMP SCAMPI:
Shrimp sautéed in a garlic white wine sauce finished with lemon all over linguine.

DESSERT: Homemade Mini Cannoli. ???

Saturday, March 7th, at noon.
Location: 1425 Tuskawilla Rd, Winter Springs.

Below are photos of some of the wonderful dishes they serve on the regular menu.

Orlando Foodie Forum Meetup at American Social on Sand Lake for Weekend Brunch

Ricky Ly

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Mar 3, 2020

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Orlando Foodie Forum Meetup at American Social on Sand Lake for Weekend Brunch

Look out for this excellent weekend brunch going on at American Social Orlando on Sand Lake Road – delicious dishes from the smoked salmon eggs benedict to the country fried pork chop to the fried chicken sandwiches. Thanks to everyone from the Orlando Foodie Forum presented by Tasty Chomps! and NAAAP Orlando – National Association of Asian American Professionals for coming out recently to our meet up!

Avocado Toast with Egg – avocado , corn, spicy mayo, multigrain bread, sunny side up egg

Country Fried Bone In Pork Chop with Sausage Gravy and Fried Egg

Brunch BLAT – Southern Fried Chicken sandwich with sunny side up egg, avocado, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, honey aioli, and brioche bun

Wide awake Steak and Eggs with chimichurri and potato pancakes

Smoked Salmon Benedict with two Poached Eggs and Fried Potato Cake

American Social
7335 W Sand Lake Rd #101, Orlando, FL 32819

Brunch Menu

Pompeii’s Table Project Resurrects the Food of Ancient Italy in Orlando

Events

Ricky Ly

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Mar 1, 2020

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Pompeii’s Table Project Resurrects the Food of Ancient Italy in Orlando

Eight events open a window on the culinary past, revealing what Pompeiians ate in 79 AD

In support of this summer’s Orlando Science Center exhibition, Pompeii: The Immortal City, eight Artistic Partners across Orlando were commissioned to imagine the sights, sounds, words and, in one case, the food, of ancient Italy.

Pompeii’s Table: Sublime and Ancient Food That Survived Vesuvius’ Fury, an original series of events celebrating the powerful food legacy of ancient Italy, was conceived by Joseph Reed Hayes—freelance writer, playwright, and Dining Critic for Orlando magazine.

What do we know about the food of Pompeii, what did they eat, how did they eat it, and what can we take from that inspiration and go Ancient Roman wild?

Seventeen of Orlando’s most inventive chefs, culinarians and creative artists have joined the Pompeii’s Table project to answer these questions. Through eight culinary and artistic events they will explore the history and food of Pompeiian kitchens.

Challenging the chefs to work solely with ingredients available at the time, each dining experience is an experiment in creativity: no tomatoes, potatoes, peppers or eggplant allowed.

But seafood, goat, quail, game, cheese, fermented fish sauce and a world encyclopedia of spices—very much yes. Plus, the odd cheesecake, jelly donut, fried chicken, and hamburger, all of which appeared on Pompeiian plates.

Hayes pored through copious written records, physical and visual evidence to discover the actual ingredients and recipes of Pompeii to inspire the group to leap from the 1^st century to the 21^st.

Some of the recipes have traveled well through the centuries to become what we recognize as Italian food; others, such as dishes featuring stuffed dormice, lark’s tongues and haunch of giraffe, less so.

POMPEII’S TABLE COLLABORATORS:
Kathleen Osterhaus Blake, multiple James Beard Award nominee
Stephen Doyle, Hamilton’s Kitchen at The Alfond Inn
Bruno Fonseca, The Foreigner Experience
Joseph Hayes, food writer, playwright and Pompeii’s Table creator
Brent Hernandez, head brewer, Redlight Redlight
Brian Kerney and Rob Chase, Digress Wine
Susan Lilley, Orlando Poet Laureate
Anna McCambridge-Thomas, artist and animator
John O’Leary, pianist
Trina Gregory-Propst, SETTE Italian
Va Propst, SETTE Italian
Fabrizio Schenardi, Ravello at Four Seasons Resort Orlando
Jes Tantalo, Pompeii’s Table Consulting Chef
Shannon and Janice Talty, Olde Hearth Bread Co.
Bruno Zacchini III, Pizza Bruno

Pompeii’s Table events run from May through July, 2020, but will begin with a preview on March 7 at the Orlando Science Center as part of Science Night Live. Tickets for all Pompeii’s Table events may be purchased at pompeiistable.com or facebook.com/PompeiisTable.

The museum’s exhibition, Pompeii: The Immortal City, is open to the public from June 6, 2020 to September 7, 2020, at Orlando Science Center; advance tickets available at osc.com/pompeii.

POMPEII’S TABLE EVENTS:

March 07, 2020, 8pm; Forgotten Recipes of Pompeii; $16pp
Orlando Science Center, 777 E. Princeton St.
The story of food culture in Pompeii. Hayes will take the stage at Science Night Live, to offer an entertaining sneak peek at the Pompeii’s Table series, with visuals, animations and discussions, along with recreations of 1st Century Pompeiian bread, wines from the slopes of Vesuvius via Digress Wines, and samples of olive oil, cheeses and the pungent sauce called garum that accompanied the legions around the empire.

May 14, 2020, 7pm; Imperial Rome Reinvented; $125pp
Ravello at Four Seasons Resort Orlando, 10100 Dream Tree Blvd
A sumptuous multi-course meal at Ravello, from Executive Chef and Italian native Fabrizio Schenardi, who will prepare dinner live in front of the guests for a present-day version of an ancient patrician banquet.

May 24, 2020, 7pm; Pompeii’s Words: A Poetic Exploration; $10-20 suggested donation
Timucua Arts Foundation, 2000 S. Summerlin Ave.
An evening at the extraordinary Timucua Arts Foundation features Orlando Poet Laureate Susan Lilley, animator Anna McCambridge-Thomas, pianist John O’Leary and obscure italiano storytelling from Hayes. Of course, there will be some Pompeii-inspired food and wine to share.

June 6, 2020, 11am; Pompeiian Delights: “Ab ovo usque ad mala”; $70pp including beverages and valet
East End Market, 3201 Corrine Dr.
A Pompeiian-inspired brunch (“from eggs to apples”) prepared by multiple James Beard Award nominee Kathleen Blake (Rusty Spoon), and our consulting chef, Jes Tantalo. Ticket price includes a traditional, gluttonous multi-course meal, selected beverage pairings, valet parking, tax and gratuity. Beverage pairings from Digress Wines and reimagined Pompeiian beer from Redlight Redlight Beer Parlour.

June 10, 2020, 7pm; “Antiqua cervisia”: Reviving Ancient Ales; $30pp
Redlight Redlight, 2810 Corrine Dr.
Redlight Redlight head brewer Brent Hernandez instills his dual loves of history and beer into recreating Italian and Etruscan ales for a matchup of brews and Italian-style cheeses from Central Florida cheesemongers The Salty Cow.

June 19, 2020, 7pm; Et Two Brunos: A Collaborative Adventure; $75pp plus $25 wine pairings
Edible Education Experience, 26 E. King St.
A six-course dinner inspired by 1st-century Pompeii with two visionaries of the kitchen: Bruno Fonseca (The Foreigner Experience) and Bruno Zacchini III (Pizza Bruno), and wine pairings from Digress Wines.

July 9, 2020, 7pm; Journey to Pompeii; $95 including wine pairings
SETTE Italian, 1407 N Orange Ave.
A five-course modern interpretation of the heart of Pompeian life in true abundant Se7en Bites/SETTE style, from chefs Va Propst and Trina Gregory-Propst, along with authentic baked creations from Olde Hearth Bread Co. Two seatings.

July 24, 2020, 7pm; Pompeii & The World; $100 including wine pairings and valet
Hamilton’s Kitchen, The Alfond Inn, Winter Park
The final event of the series, a four-course crafted dinner influenced by Pompeii’s world-spanning trade, featuring modern interpretations of Roman staples such as boar, duck and sea bass, from chef Stephen Doyle.

Tickets and more information are available now at pompeiistable.com and facebook.com/PompeiisTable, or write to pompeiistable@gmail.com

About Joseph Hayes
Pompeii’s Table creator, freelance writer, playwright and events producer Joseph Hayes has been writing about the Orlando scene since 1997. As the only independent producer presenting work during this series of artistic partnerships with the Orlando Science Center, Hayes is crafting the Pompeii’s Table events to celebrate Italian cuisine and its unique heritage. He has travelled extensively during the past two decades in the Campania area around Pompeii, researching the foodways and culture of the area. He writes for national and international publications about food, travel and the arts, and has won five Florida Magazine Association “Charlie” Awards for his food writing in Orlando magazine. With 42 productions and readings of his plays from coast to coast and in three countries since 2001, he continues to explore new environments for theater and jazz. He is the Chair of Word Play programming for The Timucua Arts Foundation. www.jrhayes.net

About Pompeii’s Table
Pompeii’s Table is made possible through an arts and cultural partnership with Orlando Science Center and the Orange County Arts and Cultural Affairs Office to support the event, Pompeii: The Immortal City, open to the public from June 6, 2020 to September 7, 2020, at Orlando Science Center. Info and tickets at www.osc.org/pompeii. Special thanks to the Orange County’s Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Council, and its Blockbuster Committee and Tourism partners.

Inside the new Kathi Rolls – Indian cuisine with Chef Shantanu Sen

Ricky Ly

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Mar 1, 2020

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Inside the new Kathi Rolls – Indian cuisine with Chef Shantanu Sen

A kati (or kathi) roll is a popular street-food dish originating from Kolkata, West Bengal, originally consisting of a skewer-roasted kebab wrapped in a paratha bread. Today, mostly any wrap containing a filling enfolded in an Indian flatbread (roti) is called a kati roll.

The Kathi Roll’s origins can actually be traced back to a single restaurant, known as Nizam’s. At the time of the kati roll’s conception, Kolkata was the capital of the British Empire. The story goes that British patrons did not want to eat kebabs with their hands, so someone at Nizam’s decided to roll the meat up in a paratha–a crispy, buttery unleavened flatbread–and then serve it in a paper wrapper.

Owner and Chef Shantanu Sen started as an apprentice cook in Chennai, India, going on to specialize in ice, sugar and fruit carvings and food presentation. After India, he worked for Royal Caribbean and was in charge of Gala buffets.

He then moved to Bermuda to be the executive chef in an Italian restaurant before moving to the US. Once he got here, he worked as an executive chef for multiple corporate accounts such as universities and hospitals and used his skill to create healthy and flavorful meals in DC before making his way to Orlando.

While looking for a kitchen, he and his team happened upon the current location of Kathi Rolls on Curry Ford Road. He then shifted his focus and came up with an Indian Street Food menu for the location.

Q and A with Chef Sen of Kathi Rolls

Tasty Chomps: How did you become interested in cooking?

Chef Sen: From a very young age, I was very interested in cooking and was always in the kitchen with my mother. At 6, I could make a souffle omelet. Some of my first memories around food revolved around my mother, who inspired me to not just help in the kitchen but also learn while I was doing it. At 10, I had the opportunity to make dinner for a visiting celebrity and eventually made my passion my profession.

What do you wish people knew about Indian food?

Most people are confused about what Indian food is all about. The misconception is the concept of curry. Some love it and some don’t. It is anything in a sauce or gravy and curry powder is not used much in Indian cuisine. Spice blends are based on the dishes and each corner of India is unique and has their own flavor.

What is the secret to great Indian cuisine?

Love, passion and authenticity of recipes.

What are the most popular dishes right now at Kathi?

The Kathi Rolls of course and the naan pizzas. The samosas are very popular which are hand made and served with sauces that are made in house. The lychee lassi is the most popular drink on the menu along with our spiced chai.

What are some upcoming plans for the menu at Kathi Rolls?

We have plans for our catering menu and have weekly specials that the chef comes up with to showcase the flavors from the different regions of India. We are in the process of planning a Chai Service as well so stay tuned.

Kathi Roll’s Menu

Kathi Rolls
$6.99 – $9.99
A spicy mixture of meats and vegetables marinated in a proprietary blend of hand-ground spices, delicately wrapped in tender and layered parathas, the kathi roll is among the heartiest and most satisfying of Kolkata street foods.

Naan Pizza
$7.99 – $9.99
Crispy naan bread topped with fresh ingredients like vegetables, meats and cheese and baked to perfection. Try this Indian twist on a classic.

Basmati Bowls
$7.99 – $9.99
Customize your bowl by starting with either white or brown rice. Then choose your protein from options like chicken, lamb, paneer (cheese) or vegetables! Finally, top it all off with one of our signature sauces based on your preferred spice level and flavor profile.

Desi Burgers
$5.99 – $7.99
Our burgers are ground in house with species and fresh herbs and made to order. They are placed in between two warm buns and topped with house made tandoori mayo and onion relish. Try our lamb or chicken burger today! We also have veggie burgers made with fresh vegetables and this can also be a Vegan based on the toppings selected.

Lassi
$3.99 – $5.99
A creamy and refreshing yogurt(Dahi)-based drink, blended with water and various fruits. Stop by and try our popular Mango Lassi today!

Samosa
$3.99
A very popular street food item! Samosas are a buttery and flaky fried turnover filled with savoury meats or vegetables and spices.

Kathi Rolls
4205 Curry Ford Rd, Orlando, FL 32806
https://kathirollsorlando.com/

Inside Look: Omni Orlando Championsgate – Zen, Trevi’s, David’s Club

Tiffany Nguyen

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Mar 1, 2020

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Inside Look: Omni Orlando Championsgate – Zen, Trevi’s, David’s Club

We were invited to Omni Orlando Resort at Championsgate for a collaborative dinner between three of the hotel’s restaurants: Zen, David’s Club and Trevi’s, and we were blown away with our experience. It was the most perfect meal of 2020.

The progressive dinner presentation was spearheaded by Resort Executive Chef Ramesh Kaduru.

And hosted by Director of Food And Beverage Michael Hitabidel (far left) and the amazing hospitality team at Omni Orlando Resort.

I was the first to arrive to the media dinner and the ambiance was so serene and beautiful. The calm before the storm. However, once all media personnels got seated and situated, we were in for a surprise. It was unlike any dinner I had experience before and I was captivated the entire time, full of curiosity of what they would bring out next.

Zen

O Toro Sushi Platters

Nigri, Sashimi, Maki, Nitro Soy

It was really great, high quality sushi. I could have spent the whole evening eating just the sushi and went home happy.

Szechuan Duck BaoDuck Confit, Cucumber, Sriracha Bok Choy, Pickled Mushrooms, Hoisin.

An Asian fusion of traditional French duck seasoned with Asian five spice then wrapped in an Asian bao and topped in pickled vegetables.

Trevi’s

Heirloom Tomato & BurrataProsciutto di Parma, Heirloom Tomatoes, Burrata, Balsamic, Basil.

A light and refreshing antipasto dish. It was excellent.

Lobster & Truffle Agnolotti Maine Lobster, Truffle Farce, Yellowfoot Mushrooms, Tarragon.

The sous-vide lobster paired nicely with Trevi’s house-made pasta. It was so delicious!

David’s

Prime Tomahawk Root Vegetables, Marble Potatoes, Demi.

A tasty, hearty bite!

Mascarpone Mousse with Lemon Pastry Cream.

An exciting panna cotta with a twist of fun flavors.

Cocktails

Lychee Martini with Smoked Bubble

Strawberry Peppercorn Gin & Tonic

Bramble On

Omni Hotels & Resorts’ Flavor Origins book is a helpful guide that will recommend specific cocktails for you depending on your preference.

Guest state their cocktail preference then locate its number with the corresponding cocktail in the book.

Kudos to the team at Omni Orlando Resort for an amazing dinner!

Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate
1500 Masters Blvd, Championsgate, FL 33896
(407) 390-6664

Inside Look: 2020 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival Returns March 4 to June 1 2020

Tiffany Nguyen

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Mar 1, 2020

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Inside Look: 2020 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival Returns March 4 to June 1 2020

We attended a media preview of the 2020 Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival and got to take a first taste of what to expect at this year’s festival. The 90-day event is Central Florida’s biggest and most spectacular harbinger of spring. The popular festival will feature dozens of Disney-crafted topiaries and beds of multi-colored blooms that transform the Epcot landscape into a floral extravaganza.

From March 4 to June 1, new sights, sounds and flavors of spring will envelop Walt Disney World Resort guests during the 27^th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. Guests will also enjoy edible delights, gardens to play in and an expanded lineup for the Garden Rocks Concert Series. With so much to see and do, your whole family will uncover something new with every single visit!

Honey-Peach Freeze in a Souvenir Spike the Bee Sipper Cup (Novelty Sipper Only Available While Supplies Last, Spork Sold Separately) from The Honey Bee-stro Hosted by National Honey Board™.

Grilled Baby Vegetables with Hummus Cream and Red Pepper Coulis from Flavor Full Kitchen Hosted by AdventHealth.

Southern Seafood Boil: Shrimp, Mussels, Crawfish, Potatoes, Corn and Andouille Sausage from Magnolia Terrace.

Grilled Oysters with Cajun Butter from Magnolia Terrace.

House-made Boudin Two Ways with Spicy Mustard from Magnolia Terrace.

Pecan Praline from Magnolia Terrace.

Popsicle Trio: Honeydew, Raspberry-Mint, and Coconut-Lime from Refreshment Port.

2020 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival official event merchandise

For more information, please visit: disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/epcot-international-flower-and-garden-festival/

(Source: Walt Disney World)

Epcot
200 Epcot Center Dr, Orlando, FL 32821
(407) 939-5277

Inside Look: Brunch at Soco Thornton Park

Tiffany Nguyen

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Mar 1, 2020

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Inside Look: Brunch at Soco Thornton Park

Conveniently located in the heart of Downtown Orlando’s Thornton Park, Soco Restaurant features Southern contemporary cuisine with a progressive culinary approach under the direction of award-winning Executive Chef/Partner Greg Richie.

They offer guests genuine Southern hospitality in a warm and welcoming environment with impressive culinary dishes at the center of it all.

We were invited to experience their brunch which is available every Saturday & Sunday from 11am to 3pm and we absolutely enjoyed our visit.

During brunch hours, bottomless mimosa is available for $15 with the purchase of an entrée.

I highly recommend checking them out for brunch soon. Amazing service, great food, lively crowd and vibrant ambiance. You cannot go wrong with Soco Restaurant.

Here are Our Favorite Brunch Dishes at Soco:

1. Soco-Style “Chicken and Dumplings”
Chicken Breast, Lobster Dumplings, Local Mushrooms, Edamame, Soy Butter. An innovative twist on a classic Southern dish. This was my favorite plate out of everything I tried. I could eat this every day!

2. Lobster Eggs Benedict
Buttermilk Biscuits, Benton’s Country Ham, Lobster Hollandaise. Succulent lobster topped over poached eggs and delicious homemade buttermilk biscuits.

3. Chicken -N- French Toast
Maple Sorghum Butter, Almond Granola, Pink Peppercorn Whipped Cream. This is Soco’s most popular brunch item. It was the perfect combination of sweet and savory as well as crispy and soft and it hit all the right notes in my taste buds.

4. “Bacon, Egg and Cheese” Shrimp and Grits
Fried Egg, Tomato Butter. The best shrimp and grits I’ve ever had. It had a kick to it which I really enjoyed.

5. Fresh Buttermilk Biscuits and Gravy with Crispy Pork Belly
Smoked Vidalia Onion, Andouille Sausage, Gravy, Two Farm Fresh Eggs. The highlight of this dish was the tender pork belly atop the fresh buttermilk biscuits that is smothered in a comforting house gravy.

6. Avocado Toast
Poached Egg, Bacon, Goat Cheese, Tomatoes, Radish, House Smoked Salmon. A fun and delicious bite!

To view the full brunch menu please visit: socothorntonpark.com/our-menus/

Soco
629 E Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32801
(407) 849-1800
socothorntonpark.com

CANCELED – St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl at The Ritz-Carlton – Saturday March 14

Ricky Ly

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Mar 1, 2020

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CANCELED – St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl at The Ritz-Carlton – Saturday March 14

EVENT CANCELED

Join The Ritz-Carlton for a St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl on Saturday, March 14 from 3-5pm.

“We’re hoping that guests get a little taste of Ritz Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes all while getting into the festive spirit of St. Patrick’s Day!” says Tina Mullett, Outdoor Operations Manager

The menu is as follows:

Highball & Harvest

Pulled Pork Slider
Apricot Jam, Napa Cabbage Slaw

Paired With:
Shamrocked
Green Spot Irish Whisky, Lemon, Cinnamon Syrup, Espresso Bean Infused Madeira

OR

Guinness Bottle Beer

Fairways

Mini BBQ Chicken Quesadilla

Paired With:

Irish Sour
Jameson, Melon Liqueur, Club Soda

Lobby Lounge

Heirloom Tomato Burrata Parfait

Paired With:

Nutty Irishman
Baileys Irish Cream, Frangelico, Lineage Cold Brew

Bleu

Tamarind Wing
Lime Ranch

Paired With:

Long Ireland Iced Tea
Jameson, Tea, Peach Puree, Simple Syrup, Lemon

The Ritz-Carlton for a St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl on Saturday, March 14 from 3-5pm.

Tickets are $75 per person (21 and older, valid ID required).

EVENT CANCELLED

Bayou Boil 2020 at Universal Studios Mardi Gras Celebration

Universal Studios

Ricky Ly

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Feb 28, 2020

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Bayou Boil 2020 at Universal Studios Mardi Gras Celebration

From February 1 through April 2, 2020, the Mardi Gras Celebration is back at Universal Studios Orlando, a festive time when guests can stroll around the “New Orleans French Quarter” and hear a live New Orleans style jazz band playing as entertainers and performers, decked out in jester costumes and crawfish costumes call out to passerbies with jokes and quips.

Louisiana’s diverse history brings together flavors from French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, and African cultures into a beautiful, rustic spicy stew known as Cajun cuisine. Much of the cuisine is characterized by steaming pots of rice, spicy Andouille sausages, juicy shrimp and seafood, tomatoes, and the holy trinity of green bell peppers, onions, and celery.

Bayou Boil, the add-on experience to the Mardi Gras Celebration that began last year, has returned for 2020, set at Battery Park Pavilion, overlooking the water and with an architecture style reminiscent of New Orlean’s French Quarter, something you might find on Bourbon Street or overlooking Lake Pontchartrain.

As part of the Bayou Boil experience you’ll be able to enjoy an all-you-can-eat Louisiana-style boil featuring crawfish, shrimp, potatoes, and corn-on-the-cob. There’s hint of citrusy lemon in the Cajun spice blend. You can also choose from chicken and andouille sausage jambalaya on request. Servers come by to pour out buckets of the freshly prepared seafood on a platter on your table. It’s a good old fashion southern Cajun boil. It can get a little messy and for the crawfish novice – one word of advice, step one is to twist the head off, then pull to get to the juicy tails.

Come time for the Mardi Gras parade, you’ll have an exclusive viewing area for the parade where you’ll be treated to miniature King Cakes, beignets, sparkling wine and assorted non-alcoholic beverages such as apple cider and coffee – think of it as a dessert reception for the parade.

For $59.99 per adult and $39.99 per child, it is well worth the price, especially if you are familiar with how pricing can go with theme park food and event costs.

MORE DETAILS ABOUT BAYOU BOIL

Gather on select nights in Battery Park in Universal Studios Florida for a delicious Louisiana-style crawfish boil. Not a seafood fan? Then enjoy chicken and andouille sausage jambalaya upon request. You’ll have an exclusive view of the parade while enjoying King Cake, beignets, sparkling wine and assorted non-alcoholic beverages.

The Bayou Boil ticket entitles one (1) guest to all-you-care-to-enjoy select Crawfish Boil meal and beverages at Battery Park; Access to exclusive Cafe La Bamba Parade Viewing Area (standing room only) for Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras Parade located within Universal Studios Florida. Desserts, sparkling cider and sparkling wine will only be available during Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras Parade.

Available Nights:
Feb. 1, 8, 15, 16, 22, 29
Mar. 7, 8, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 28, 29
Select nights only. Separate theme park admission required.

Times
Bayou Boil at Battery Park opens at 2:45 PM. (Each reservation lasts one hour in length. Reservation times are 15 minutes apart.)
Exclusive Parade Viewing Area outside of Cafe La Bamba (standing room only) opens one hour before parade time.
Parade start time varies by night

ADULT PRICE (AGES 10+)
$59.99
PER ADULT, PLUS TAX

CHILD PRICE (AGES 3-9)
$39.99
PER CHILD, PLUS TAX

Photos by Tiffany Nguyen

Melbourne Seafood Station Brings You Boils, Bowls & Bites

Orlando

Katherine Nguyen

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Feb 27, 2020

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Melbourne Seafood Station Brings You Boils, Bowls & Bites

Nick Moon, his wife Naomi, and old friend teamed up to create a place where friends and family can experience a seafood boil at an affordable rate. With years of experience sourcing and selling seafood, Nick identified an opportunity to offer quality ingredients at a lower price point, in a fast-casual environment focused on getting the food out in a timely manner.

From the east coast in Melbourne, it is brought to Hunters Creek in Orlando, FL.

There are signature boil baskets, build a bowl and family feast options to choose from before picking a mild or spicy seasoning. Nevertheless, you can start with some oysters on the half shell as a starter on their own or with one of the Lover for 2 baskets. You can taste the ocean in each bite.

This basket is No. 7 – Lobster Tail & Shrimp, which is served with chicken sausage, corn, potatoes, garlic toast, & garlic sauce. Here, it was served with the spicy seasoning, but it didn’t seem spicy at all unless my tastebuds are already trained. You tell me.

Basket No. 9 – King Crab & Shrimp, which is also served with the same items as No. 7 above. However, if you rather have the shrimps peeled for you or substituted for by rock shrimp, it’s an extra cost. It’s probably worth the charge if it makes you comfortable or if you feel like splurging a tad.

When sharing, you can order the Seafood Lover for 2 or Lobster Lover for 2 as mentioned above. Here, you see the Lobster Lover for 2 and it looks FABULOUS! It includes 4 lobster tails, 14 shrimps, 6 scallops (they ran out so I substituted it with some mussels), 6 oysters, double order of corn, chicken sausage, potato, and garlic toast. You can also substitute the shrimp as you please with rock shrimp or peeled shrimp.

On the other hand, you can be a shark and make your own bowl if you don’t want so much seafood. The first step is choosing a base: garlic rice, linguini, grits, or broccoli. Step two is choosing the seafood/protein. Last, you can decide on if you’d like it mild or spicy. Don’t worry, bowls are also served with corn, garlic toast, and garlic sauce so you won’t miss out on those.

Here, you’ll find garlic rice topped with 2 lobster tails and mild seasoning.

While you’re there, enjoy the amazing art and play with it a little. It’s definitely different from when your parents told you to not play with you food when you were younger.

For more information, visit the Melbourne Seafood Station online or in person to see how it is yourself.

Inside Look: Metro Diner’s New and Improved Menu for Metro Nights

Orlando

Stephanie Scelsi

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Feb 24, 2020

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Inside Look: Metro Diner’s New and Improved Menu for Metro Nights

We all know Metro Diner as a classic restaurant serving the best comfort food for breakfast and lunch. But, Metro Diner is putting a spin on things with their new Dinner menu featured during Metro Nights.

Their revamped menu for Metro Nights still feature the dishes you crave but with new flavors (and a few new menu items!).

They start out with bring fresh baked “mini” biscuits served with maple butter. These are a great way to start a meal, and they’re not too large to where you’d fill up on bread before your meal.

We couldn’t go to Metro Diner without getting at least one breakfast dish, so we decided on the Cinnamon Roll Pancakes. Two large pancakes with cinnamon and sugar swirls are served with cream cheese icing, candied pecans, and cinnamon butter. Yes, it’s as delicious as it sounds and I would definitely order these again.

After satisfying our sweet tooth, we chose to try some of their dishes that are available only for dinner. If you want a lighter meal, then the Lemon Dill Salmon is for you. The salmon is seared and seasoned with lemon and dill and served with tomato basil quinoa and green beans.

If you don’t like fish, then try one of Metro Diner’s new dishes: the Metro Sirloin Special (9 oz center cut steak, mashed potatoes, steamed veggies) or Dijon Chicken (sautéed chicken, dijon-lemon glaze, roasted veggie wild rice, green beans).

My personal favorite dinner dish was the Pulled Pork Mac Stack. BBQ pulled pork is piled on macaroni and cheese and cheddar cornbread waffles with maple butter. The best part about this dish was definitely the cornbread waffle. Who knew it would go so well with BBQ Mac n Cheese?

The Bold City Burger is a half-pound Angus burger topped with Provel cheese, bacon, sausage patty, caramelized onions, fried jalapeños, lettuce, tomato, and garlic aioli on a Briochie bun. All I can say, is that this is one stacked burger! You can also choose from a wide selection of sides to go with your burger.

I would also recommend getting a plate of thick cut, panic breaded Onion Rings to share for the table.

Don’t forget to check out their expanded beer, wine, and sangria menu as well for some great selections!

Metro Diner: 985 N. State Road 434, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714. https://metrodiner.com/

Rodizio Grill Brazilian Steakhouse opens in Pointe Orlando

Tiffany Nguyen

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Feb 23, 2020

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Rodizio Grill Brazilian Steakhouse opens in Pointe Orlando

We were invited to the new Rodizio Grill in Pointe Orlando, located next to Maggiano’s Little Italy, to check them out during their VIP preview event and we enjoyed our experience.

Founded in 1995 by Brazil native Ivan Utrera, Rodizio Grill is known as America’s first Brazilian steakhouse. They feature over a dozen rotisserie-grille meats & signature items served right at your table by Rodizio gauchos. They also offer a salad bar, authentic hot side dishes, fresh-pressed juices, homemade Brazilian Limeades, signature cocktails, Brazilian imported wine and beer, and homemade Brazilian desserts.

Grill menu below:

BEEF

MAMINHA – This Tri-tip sirloin steak is unique to Rodizio Grill, the Brazilian steakhouse. This steak is a moderate marbled-to-lean cut, which makes it a very flavorful steak. It’s our Founder’s favorite! This cut is best if consumed medium to medium rare.

FRALDINHA – Fraldinha, beef tender, is tender and robust in flavor – one of the most distinctive cuts of beef enjoyed in Southern Brazil. Pairs perfectly with our homemade chimichurri sauce.

BIFE COM PARMESÃO – This Parmesan center cut steak is unique to Rodizio Grill. It is lean, tender and topped with fresh Parmesan cheese.

PICANHA – This top sirloin (beef top sirloin cap, sirloin cap, sirloin culotte) is our signature cut, specially trimmed and prepared to assure final product perfection.

BIFE COM ALHO – Bife com Alho is a tender cut of beef basted with our traditional house garlic rub. Our Rodizio gauchos baste the beef with a special garlic butter recipe that infuses garlic flavor into the beef. When you bite into Bife com Alho, you can taste a delicate, not overwhelming, garlic flavor.

CHEF’S SPECIAL – Several meats and other local selections are served as Rodizio Grill Chef’s Special items and are not available at all locations at all times. Please contact your local Rodizio Grill for current Chef’s Specials.

POULTRY

FRANGO COM BACON – Frango com Bacon, chicken wrapped in bacon, is a Rodizio Grill guest and staff favorite. Tender, juicy chicken breast is wrapped in savory bacon and grilled to perfection.

SOBRE COXA – Sobre Coxa is Rodizio Grill’s marinated chicken. Boneless chicken thigh, marinated overnight in our “Vinha d’alho”, Rodizio Grill’s signature garlic wine sauce, then grilled to perfection.

FRANGO AGRI-DOCE – Rodizio Grill puts a spin on the traditional churrasco with this crowd pleasing sweet and spicy chicken. Frango Agri-Doce was created in the kitchens of Rodizio Grill to attend to guests requests for a flavorful chicken option. The chicken is basted in Rodizio Grill’s unique home-made gaucho sauce, then grilled to bring out the flavors.

CORAÇÃO DE FRANGO TEMPERAD – Coração de Frango Temperado is one of Brazil’s favorite “Churrasco” appetizers. Chicken hearts were traditionally found gracing in the first “Churrascarias” in southern Brazil. Chicken hearts, though different in texture, are very flavorful.

PORK

LINGUIÇA – Linguiça a very mild and flavorful Brazilian sausage. With a special MSG free Rodizio Grill recipe, this sausage is great right off the grill or as part of our Feijoada, our traditional Brazilian black bean stew found in the hot dishes section of our gourmet salad bar.

LOMBO COM QUEIJO – Lombo com Queijo is tender pork loin cubed and grilled with Parmesan cheese and bacon! Our Lombo com Quiejo has a robust flavor, is very tender and is served with a wedge of lime to enhance this great mixture of flavors.

PRESUNTO – Rodizio Grill’s Presunto is one of our signature grilled items. A lean cut of ham that is trimmed and grilled flawlessly to perfection then basted in our signature raw sugar glaze. Presunto is best accompanied with a piece of our signature grilled glazed pineapple, but it’s also good by itself.

LAMB *AT SELECT LOCATIONS

CORDEIRO – This boneless leg of lamb is lightly seasoned and grilled to perfection to make it a tender and flavorful cut of meat. Be sure to try this cut with our home made chimichurri sauce, available as a dressing at the salad bar.

FISH/SEAFOOD *AT SELECT LOCATIONS

FISH/SEAFOOD – Our fish and seafood selection varies from market to market based on what is available and in season. Not all locations offer fish at all times. Each fish and seafood selection is trimmed and marinated in a simple sauce that accentuates the flavor of this lean meat.

FRUIT

ABACAXÍ – Fresh glazed and grilled pineapple – a guest favorite!

Here are more photos from their VIP preview event:

A rodízio is a type of Brazilian style steakhouse where waiters bring unlimited grilled and roasted meats to each diner several times throughout the meal, until the diners signal that they have had enough.

Friendly staff, great selection of meats, and classy ambiance. Highly recommended. The whole experience comes at a competitive, affordable price so the whole family can celebrate together.

Rodizio Grill is officially open to the public so be sure to check them out the next time you are in the I-Drive area for a truly unique dining experience!

Rodizio Grill – Orlando
9101 International Dr # 1220, Orlando, FL 32819
rodiziogrill.com
(407) 593-4422

Swine and Sons’ Rhys and Alexia Gawlak compete on Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games

Orlando

Ricky Ly

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Feb 21, 2020

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Swine and Sons’ Rhys and Alexia Gawlak compete on Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games

Congrats to Orlando’s very own Rhys and Alexia Gawlak of Swine & Sons for winning $16K on Guy’s Grocery Games on Food Network! The couple battled against two other “husband and wife” teams for the “Valentine’s Day” edition of the show. The judges were very impressed with the technique, precision, and chemistry between Rhys and Alexia.

They did us proud with a “date night” dish of Seared halibut and king crab with carrot pumpkin apple (baby food) puree and their signature Nashville hot chicken sandwich with white bbq sauce (and some orange zest for that Florida touch)! Big congrats!!!

New “Da Sun” Ramen Opens in West Orlando

Ricky Ly

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Feb 21, 2020

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New “Da Sun” Ramen Opens in West Orlando

You may remember Sapporo Ramen – the original ramen shop of Orlando – closed with great fan fare – and long lines, late in 2019. This week, Da Sun Ramen opens in the same location in the Chinatown Plaza in West Orlando.

The menu is 99% the same as the old Sapporo ramen menu, including the familiar Tonkotsu, Shio, Shoyu, and Curry Ramen Noodles with a few new additions including Mazeman and Chuka ramen. Most of the staff from Sapporo has also been retained.

I did notice a few doors down a new ramen shop called “Tokyo Ramen” was under renovation in the old Cheng’s Family Taste restaurant. Will this area become Orlando’s new Ramen Street?

“Da Sun” Ramen
5080 W Colonial Dr, Orlando, FL 32808

Limited Time Kappo Throwback Menu – Five Course Tasting $55 – at Kadence

Sushi

Ricky Ly

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Feb 21, 2020

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Limited Time Kappo Throwback Menu – Five Course Tasting $55 – at Kadence

Dinner at Kadence is usually a multi-course sushi and sashimi tasting menu showcasing seasonal fish and ingredients from Japan and around the country ranging from $160-175. However, starting in March, the sushi tasting experiences will be on hiatus. Instead, the team at Kadence is offering their limited-time Kappo throwback menu consisting of five+ courses featuring bounties from the land and sea for $55 per person.

Here are some Scenes from the $55 Five Course Tasting at Kadence

Photos by Aldo Ferrari

Kadence
1809 Winter Park Rd, Orlando, FL 32803
http://kadenceorlando.com/

Happy Hour at The Whiskey on Sand Lake Road

Stephanie Scelsi

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Feb 20, 2020

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Happy Hour at The Whiskey on Sand Lake Road

If you’re a big fan of whiskeys and burgers, and looking for a great Happy Hour with great deals, look no further than The Whiskey.

With an expansive whiskey, bourbon, and Scotch list (way too many to count!) and other mixed drinks, their happy hour from 4 to 7 PM Monday thru Friday is a great way to try out different whiskeys and delicious appetizers and burgers.

The happy hour food ranges from $4.25 to $10 with specials on drinks as well!

For drinks, I couldn’t turn down the “Whiskey” Old Fashioned (Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel, orange bitters, rhubarb bitters, fresh orange, Traverse City Black Cherry, rock candy stir).

But, if you’re wanting something on the sweeter side The Elderberry (vodka, essence of elderflower, strawberries, blackberries, cranberry juice, sparkling wine) is a good choice!

Start off with the Cheese Curds (White Cheddar cheese curds, tempura battered and fried), Jalapeño Bombs (4 whole jalapeños, stuffed with bacon pimento cheese, tempura fried), or my personal favorite, the Bangin’ Shrimp (fried, drizzled with sweet and spicy sriracha aioli). The Bangin’ Shrimp are lightly fried and the aioli is the perfect balance of spicy with a touch of sweetness.

Next, go for the Fried Pickles or Fried Mushrooms. We chose the Fried Mushrooms, and dipped in the side of ranch, they were my favorite part of the meal!

If you’re still hungry, definitely get one of the two burgers (or both if you want!) they offer during Happy Hour. There’s the Small Batch Whiskey Burger (5oz. burger patty, smoked Gouda, bourbon bacon, whiskey caramelized onions, greens, tomato, and dill aioli) we ordered, and the Small Batch Lassahn Burger (5oz. burger patty, cheddar cheese, bourbon bacon, greens and tomato).

With the burger, you can choose the Parmesan Truffle Fries or order the S & S Potatoes (Sweet potato waffle fries, tossed in house spices, drizzled with a honey glaze) which are also on the happy hour menu.

The Whiskey: 7563 W Sand Lake Rd, Orlando, FL 32819. www.downatthewhiskey.com

Inside Look: Wine Bar George – Disney Springs

Tiffany Nguyen

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Feb 17, 2020

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Inside Look: Wine Bar George – Disney Springs

We were invited to Wine Bar George, located in Disney Springs next to Raglan Road, to check out their newest menu item – Saganaki On Fire!

Watch the video below to see how their Sagnaki on Fire is served:

This traditional Greek dish is made with Vlahotiri cheese and Metaxa (a Greek spirit) then set on fire table-side and served with crostini. It was what cheese dreams are made of.

Master Sommelier George Miliotes recommends pairing it with Avancia, Godello from Valdeorras, Spain or any dry white wine from their wine list. Wine Bar George offers a unique wine list that features 140 wines from around the globe, all of which are available by the glass and the ounce.

Saganaki On Fire
Vlahotiri / Metaxa / crostini

We were in the mood for a frozen cocktail so we order the Frozcato to go with our meal and it hit the spot.

FROZCATO made with DOLE WHIP® PINEAPPLE
Moscato / Vodka / Pineapple

We also ordered their Ibérico Pork Pluma served with Yukon potatoes confit. George Miliotes personally delivered this dish to us and told us the meaning behind it. See what makes this cut so special in the video below:

Their Ibérico Pork Pluma was incredibly tasty that my dining companion, a huge foodie, praised this dish and said it was the best thing that he has eaten in a long time. It was outstanding.

Grilled Whole Greek Sea Bass
cannellini bean ragout / asparagus

This stunning grilled whole Greek sea bass was cooked and served perfectly. The fish was tender and the flavors were mesmerizing.

For the surf and turf lovers, Wine Bar George offered this filet mignon with red potato mash, asparagus, and butter poached king crab or winter black truffles as their Valentine’s Day special this year.

Tasty Chomps Q & A with George Mililotes of Wine Bar George:

Tasty Chomps: Tell us about the Saganaki dish – what is special about it to you and your heritage?
George Mililotes: Saganaki is an authentic Greek dish that is a lot of fun! The fun is all about lighting the cheese on fire at the table. The basis of any Saganaki dish though has to be the quality of the cheese. The Vlahotiri cheese we use is all sheep’s milk, and that is the basis for making our Saganaki special.

Tasty Chomps: Can you tell us a little bit more about your Greek heritage and how that has influenced your palate? What are some of your memories around Greek food growing up?
George Mililotes: While there are tons of different dishes that I remember from both my mom and grandmother cooking throughout my youth, the overarching theme was that there was always more than enough of everything on the table. Similar to the Vlahotiri cheese in our Saganaki, the quality of ingredients was always the most important thing at the table. I can even remember as a 7-year-old that we always had a huge tin of extra virgin Greek olive oil in the house and in the 60’s olive oil was an ingredient not many people were familiar with or used at home. So whether it’s real Greek olive oil, real Greek feta, etc. it was always about the quality of the ingredients.

Tasty Chomps: What are some upcoming plans for Wine Bar George in 2020? What are some other new dishes planned for this spring?
George Mililotes: In May we will celebrate our second anniversary and we look forward to continuing to serve exceptional wine and food to our guests. Our wine list which features more than 140 wines (all of which are available by the glass and the ounce) will continue to evolve as we discover more of the world’s best wines. We are constantly innovating in the kitchen and hope to roll out some new items in the coming months. Stay tuned!

We had an amazing first time dining at Wine Bar George and we are already looking forward to coming back soon. Thank you George Miliotes for hosting us and our server Bret for taking such great care of us on such a beautiful and lovely Valentine’s Day afternoon.

Wine Bar George
1610 E Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
winebargeorge.com
(407) 490-1800

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