Cocina 214 can be found in Winter Park of Orlando, FL and a new location opened in Daytona Beach, FL. Tasty Chomps was happy to make a stop into the Winter Park location to see what they have to offer us.

Margaritas at Cocina 214 are high-quality, fresh and strong. Cocina 214 serves their margaritas on the rocks or frozen with a rim of salt. The frozen margarita was my favorite of the two.

What’s great is how the margaritas made at Cocina 214 is extremely fresh and high-quality as they don’t use high-fructose mixes or low grade tequila. All citruses used are freshly squeezed with a juicer on site. If you’d like a sweeter option, try the frozen margarita mixed with sangria that is served at Cocina 214.

Start with the Cocina Trio and a fresh batch of tortilla chips. The Cocina Trio includes guacamole, queso blanco, and a fire-roasted salsa. Each of these, as well as other ingredients and items, at Cocina 214 is prepared daily and throughout the day as needed. Each of the Cocina Trio items were delicious and I cannot seem to decide which is a favorite.

The Fried Avocado Bites are lightly breaded and fried sliced hass avocados served with a chipotle cream sauce. The fried avocado slices are a tad bland if not dipped into the chipotle cream sauce, but the sauce is slightly spicy so be warned.

When ordering tacos, each option on the Taqueria menu comes with 3 tacos; rice and beans can be added for $2. We tried two types of tacos – the Rotisserie Chicken and Brisket. The tacos can be served on flour, corn, or wheat tortilla shells. Cocina 214 prides itself on being very flexible with patient dietary needs.

The Rotisserie Chicken tacos included veggie rice, queso fresco, roasted corn, and sautéed poblano salsa on the side. This dish is slightly bland, but the chicken itself is very moist and tender.

The Brisket tacos consists of beef brisket, pico de gallo, sautéed onions, and Monterrey Jack cheese on flour tortillas with a side of fire-roasted salsa. The brisket is flavorful, yet a little dry. This has to be my choice of tacos at this location, with extra lime because I love a touch of citrus.

Tex-Mex & Mexican Essentials include a number of options, which includes Chicken Tamales. The order of Chicken Tamales comes with 2 Tamales with rice, beans, serrano peppers, tomatillos, chicken, cilantro, garlic, and topped off with a ranchero sauce. The Chicken Tamales were delicious and full of flavors. The rice is more on the soft side, but comes with a number of different flavors you wouldn’t taste in the Tamales and beans.

For more information, check out Cocina 214.

For the 26^th year, more than 20 of the region’s top restaurants will gather for Heart of Florida United Way’s Chef’s Gala, a fundraiser benefitting local hunger and homelessness programs. Hosted by Walt Disney World at Epcot Showplace, this culinary adventure offers unlimited sampling of signature dishes prepared by award-winning chefs, each paired with a fine wine. The event will be held on Saturday, April 14 from 6:45 – 10 p.m.

Savory

• Artist Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Jiko – The Cooking Place at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Cinderella’s Royal Table at MAGIC KINGDOM Park
• Le Cellier Steakhouse at Epcot
• Shutters at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• The Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Ale & Compass Restaurant at Disney’s Beach Club Resort
• Tiffins at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
• Flying Fish at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
• The Turf Club Bar & Grill at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa
• Latitude & Longitude at Orlando World Center Marriott
• blu on the avenue
• Bull & Bear at Waldorf Astoria Orlando
• Primo by Melissa Kelly at JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes
• STK Orlando at Disney Springs
• Urban Tide at Hyatt Regency Orlando
• Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs
• Todd English’s bluezoo at Walt Disney World’s Dolphin Resort
• Hemisphere at Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport
• SLATE

Sweet

• Amorette’s Patisserie at Disney Springs
• Epcot Bakery Team
• Gideon’s Bakehouse
• Se7en Bites

Through the generosity of sponsors, like Walt Disney World, as well as the participating restaurants that donate all the food, 95 cents of every dollar raised at the event goes directly to community programs aimed at alleviating hunger and homelessness.

Tickets are available by visiting www.ChefsGala.org. Individual tickets are $325, couple ticket package is $600 and corporate ticket packages are $3,000. Sponsorships are also available by emailing ChefsGala@HFUW.org or calling (407) 835-0923

_________________

About Heart of Florida United Way
Heart of Florida United Way (HFUW) is Central Florida’s most comprehensive health and human services charity and the largest provider of funds to the region’s most critical health and human service programs. Last year, it raised and managed $24.4 million throughout Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. HFUW is working to advance the common good by focusing on education, income, health and basic needs. It operates United Way 2-1-1, Central Florida’s information and assistance, crisis, suicide and referral helpline; Volunteer Resource Center; Gifts In Kind Center; Emergency Homelessness Services; and the Ryan White Part B program, which administers more than $2 million to provide HIV/AIDS services and referrals. HFUW impacts more than 650,000 individuals annually through its direct service and funded programs. United Way partners with local businesses, government, other charities to increase awareness of local health and human service issues and to inspire hope, provide options and create possibilities for people in need. Visit www.HFUW.org for more information, or call (407) 835-0900.

Outpost Neighborhood Kitchen hosted a 3 course meal pairing with some of the stars of Buffalo Trace Distillery on Saturday February 24th, 2018.

Our first meal pairing was Colonel E.H Taylor Small Batch with Ancho Coffee Rabbit Roulade served over Meyer lemon arcadian blend with honey roasted baby carrots.  The rabbit pastry was delicious with just the right amount of sweetness.

Our main course featured Buffalo Trace’s Bourbon that’s made into a very fragrant old fashion that’s then paired with a Bone-in Pork Chop. Prepared by a brine, then at least 40 minutes in the smoker, then in the oven to create a beautiful browning. It was served with a cornbread puree, swiss chard, sweet potatoes fingerlings, and macintosh apple butter.

Our dessert course was definitely a fun & interactive one. Buffalo Trace’s brought us a “Throwback Thursday” with Southern Comfort 80. It was then paired with Smoked Peaches Creme Brulee that we poured alcohol over and set on fire. 

In the little College Park, Outpost Neighborhood Market aims to make their guests feel welcome with southern comfort and hospitality. I was told that they do multiple dinner pairings events during the year so I’d definitely keep an eye out for the next week because they do sell out very quickly!

Outpost Neighborhood Kitchen

Address: 2603 Edgewater Dr, Orlando, FL 32804

Phone: (407) 930-6282

BurgerFi is one of the country’s fastest-growing, award-winning gourmet burger joints. They brought on The Beyond Burger as a response to the growing mainstream demand for plant-based protein.

BurgerFi offers The Beyond Burger in two ways: a more traditional style burger with onions, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese, or a vegan green style either wrapped in lettuce or served on a vegan bun.

The Beyond Burger is “plant-based” burger, which uses beet juice to “bleed,” and is made of peas. It also packs 20 g of plant-based protein and has no GMOs, soy or gluten. The beets used in the beyond burgers give the patty a red-meat appearance have led some in the media to remark that the burger “bleeds” beet blood.

Overall, the burger was surprisingly delicious – and I would definitely order it again. A wonderful alternative to meat-based burgers, without the red meat guilt, but with all the great tastes and textures.

For those meat eating friends, there’s still the regular burgers and Kobe beef hot dogs to try!

Locations:
4100 N Alafaya Trail #125-131, Orlando, FL 32826
538 S Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789
4750 The Grove Dr, Windermere, FL 34786

www.burgerfi.com

10^th Annual Downtown Food & Wine Fest This Weekend at Lake Eola

WHAT:

10^th Annual Downtown Food & Wine Fest

The two-day Fest features mouth-watering dishes from 30 of Orlando’s premier restaurants, 50 domestic and international wines, and live entertainment.

WHERE:

Downtown Orlando on Robinson Street along Lake Eola

WHEN: 

Saturday, February 24: Noon to 9 p.m.

Sunday, February 25:  Noon to 7 p.m.

WEBSITE:

www.DowntownFoodandWineFest.com

HOW MUCH:

Admission is $18 per person, per day with advance online purchase (ends Friday).  Admission at the door is $20 per person, per day.

Food and beverage tickets are available at the Fest for $2 each; food and beverage offerings range from one to four tickets.

ENTERTAINMENT:

Subject to change without notice.

Saturday, February 24

• Nicholas Marks –1:10 p.m.
• Sidereal –2:40 p.m.
• Flor –4 p.m.
• Lovelytheband –4:40 p.m.
• Blue October –5:35 p.m.
• Echosmith –6:50 p.m.
• Plain White T’s7:55 p.m.

Sunday, February 25

• Evan Taylor Jones –1:05 p.m.
• The Caribbean Crew –2:55 p.m.
• Adam Moreno –4:30 p.m.
• Mondo Cozmo –5:55 p.m.

STAY SOCIAL:             

• Like Downtown Food & Wine Fest on Facebook
• Follow @DTFoodWineFest on Twitter and Instagram
• #DTFoodWineFest

The Fest is produced by Entercom Orlando (formerly CBS Radio Orlando) in partnership with the Central Florida Chapter of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association. A portion of the proceeds benefit UCF Foundation, Inc. and Valencia Foundation.

Something Fishy will celebrate their anniversary exactly two-years after they first opened their doors on February 24, 2016 with a special Two-Year Anniversary Block Party to be held on Saturday, February 24, 2018. Owner Patrice Phillips is a warm and welcoming character towards all of her customers. I came in as a stranger, left as a friend after trying a number of things Patrice surprised me with from the menu created by her husband, Owner and Chef Terence Phillips.

Something Fishy has a number of soups, which they rotate in and out each day. The Lobster Bisque served here is thick and creamy with small bits of lobster as well as appropriately seasoned. Many locals tend to call daily to see what the Soup of the Day is and often request to be on a calling list when their preferred soup rotates onto the menu.

Cauliflower with a Kick is spicy and battered with Aleppo pepper and served with avocado aioli. The sauce cuts down on the heat of the cauliflower and also tastes delicious with french fries as well as everything else on the menu. The cauliflower is nice and crispy, which isn’t what you normally imagine cauliflower being.

The Salmon Tacos are made with blackened salmon, Cole slaw, and black bean and corn salsa in a soft taco topped with a drizzle of the avocado aioli sauce. The salmon is fresh and made just right.

The basket of Fried Swai (house fish) has a very mellow flavor and a great texture. There is an oh-so-slightly crunch from the batter, but that doesn’t overpower the delicate texture of the fish itself. It can be served with some lightly seasoned fries, which I mentioned to be delicious with the avocado aioli sauce.

The North Atlantic Cod photographed here is served with jasmine rice and broccoli, two of the many sides you can choose from. The fish is seasoned and cooked well, just like all of the fish I’ve tried at this visit. You can taste the saltiness of the fish, but it blends well with how it is made and served. You can also combine the fish with the rice to make the fish’s saltiness more subtle.

The Strawberry Cake is part of a number of cakes making up “Something Sweet” desserts. There is nothing fishy about any of the desserts served at Something Fishy. This Strawberry Cake is moist and filled with fresh strawberries. It has fruit in it so it’s healthy, right? The slice is on the sweeter side of the spectrum, but it will entice your sweet tooth.

Being at this restaurant and eating with Patrice was like eating and catching up with your mom-away-from-home. She makes sure you’re happy and doing well. She has an open ear to hear about your day and a great story on hand to get a laugh out of you. Not only will you crave a smile and hug from Patrice after you leave, but you’ll crave of the food she serves constantly. Be warned, you may lose sleep drooling about their food.

Make sure you stop by on Saturday, February 24, 2018 for a special Two-Year Anniversary Block Party. Try the delicious foods offered by Something Fishy, meet the family behind the restaurant, and check out the artwork created by Patrice’s daughter.

Swim by Something Fishy, where the food speaks for itself, located at 2107 E. Semoran Blvd., Apopka, FL 32703.  Something Fishy is open for lunch and dinner and serves a full menu daily until close.  For updated hours of operation and more information, call 407-703-4850 or visit www.somethingfishyapopka.com.

March 1, 2018, The Brass Tap teams up with another local brewery, Bowigens Beer Company, to host a Girl Scout Cookies & Brews pairing party in Orlando, FL. The Brass Tap, itself, began its franchise in Tampa, FL. This location on Mills Ave is the first to open in Orlando, FL three years ago.

Recently, we were invited for a preview of the pairing and we had a little fun.

The Girl Scout Cookies & Brews pairing includes:

• Bow N Berries (ABV 4.3%) is paired with Peanut Butter Patties (Tagalongs)
  • This combination resembles a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The peanut butter from the cookie will cut the acidity of this beer.
• Roschelle Roschelle (ABV 6.5%) is paired with Caramel deLites
  • It is like having cookies with your morning cold brew coffee. Notes of coffee from the beer and coconut from the cookie are enhanced.
• Bow 9 (ABV 6.5%) is paired with Lemonades
  • A New England style IPA will be replacing the Bow 9 the day of the event
  • This was my favorite pairing. You’ll have to try it yourself to figure out why it’s my favorite!
• 7 Layer (ABV 5.5%) is paired with S’mores
  • The S’mores cookie is interesting and is loaded with flavor. The 7 Layer beer consists of 7 different malts with flavors mixing with those of the S’mores smoothly.

We had a bite of a cookie before a sip of the beer paired with the cookie. You could also take a sip before taking a bite. OR, you could dip your cookie into the beer if you are brave enough.

The Brass Tap is a dog friendly establishment that brings “craft beer experience” to a whole new level. With 60-80 taps and over 100 bottles in many of our locations, you’ll be sure to find a beer that suits your palate’s needs. Experience live music every weekend while relaxing on our open air patio. Limited wine and cigar offered as well. Come see what craft beer culture is all about.

Once again, Miami-style nightclub and restaurant switches up their menu for your enjoyment while watching their live show. Check out some items you can find on Mango’s updated menu.

Classic Chicken Parmigiana – A nice twist to an Italian dish.

Shrimp served in plantains

Margarita Flatbread – Delicious and fresh with a number of textures.

Lobster Ravioli – They do not skimp on the amount of lobster in these raviolis swimming in a nice sauce.

Cuban Sandwich – served with potato wedges. Cuban Sandwiches are a must in Florida.

Buffalo Chicken Pizza

Braised Beef Ravioli

Churrasco Flatbread

Ropa Vieja Tacos

Passion Fruit Lemonade and Blueberry Lemonade – shaken, not stirred.

Mango’s Tropical Cafe is also a charitable location as they donated a $100 gift certificate and VIP access to a lucky winner of a raffle, where proceeds go towards proper oral hygiene education for children within our local community. This raffle will be ending March 12, 2018. For more information and to participate, contact Stephaniea at Vega4680@hotmail.com