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CayCakes Bakery hosts inaugural “Last Course Dinner” an underground dessert dining experience

Second Course: Black sesame and vanilla cake with amaretto infused ganache (moist & delicious, my favorite!)

Have you heard of the new vegan bakery CayCakes Bakery?  They’ve only been open for half a year and are quickly becoming one of Orlando’s popular vegan bakeries.  Superstar soccer player Alex Morgan recently tweeted that CayCakes Bakery is one of her favorite spots in Orlando for vegan food.

We were invited to their inaugural “Last Course Dinner” this past weekend and we really impressed with their vegan desserts and their venue at Lake Eola Heights was perfection.

The First Course:  Crème Pâtissière with sou vide pineapple infused with vanilla and star anise

Third Course:  Activated charcoal chocolate cake topped with powdered matcha and lavender


Last Course: Grilled oats with macadamia nuts and agave topped with a grilled peach drizzled with olive oil and star anise, vanilla and cinnamon infused oatmilk ice cream

Co-owner of CayCakes Bakery, Cayden Fielder

Be sure to follow them on IG at @LastCourseOrlando for more information and tickets to their upcoming dessert dinners!

Morimoto Asia hosts first Guest Chef Series Dinner during their inaugural Sakura Festival

Photos by: Terrence M. Gross

We were invited to the first “Guest Chef Series Dinner” at Morimoto Asia last night during their inaugural Sakura Festival.  Our guest chef was Executive Chef Hitoshi Sugiura and he was exceptional.  Chef Hitoshi flew in all the way from Japan for the event and was joined by Morimoto Asia’s very own Executive Chef Yuhi Fujinag & Chef de Cuisine Chef Hung Huynh.  All three chefs prepared for us an collaborative six-course Pan-Asian dinner, paired with wines from across the globe.  Morimoto Asia plans on hosting a Guest Chef Series Dinner every quarter.

Chef Hitoshi has a history of creating unique menus for restaurants and events while having received acclaimed notoriety including the “Top 8 Chef” at Italy’s 2017 Vegetarian Chance competition. Chef Hitoshi currently leads the team and menu creation as Executive Chef of Patinastella Restaurant in Tokyo, Japan.

Fresh cherry blossoms that were flown in from Japan for the inaugural Sakura Festival at Morimoto Asia.


First Course (Chef Hitoshi)
Bouquet – daikon, tofu, ginger, sesame seed puree, hazelnuts, maple syrup (almost too beautiful to eat!)

Second Course (Chef Hitoshi)
Spanish Mackeral with Shiso Sauce – Spanish mackerel, broccoli, Japanese mustard, shiso (this was one of my favorites!)


Third Course (Chef Hung)
Wok-fired Maine Lobster – ginger, scallion, jalapeño, zucchini noodle


Fourth Course (Chef Hung)
Roasted Poussin – goji berry koshihikari rice, Chinese sausage, foie gras, chicken jus


Fifth Course (Chef Yuhi)
Mishima Reserve Wagyu Ribeye – slow braised rib cap, porcini dashi, morels (simply elegant and wonderfully rich, another of my favorites!)

Dessert – Sakura and Peach Bavarian with Sakura Gelato

Our talented pastry chef


Cheers to our wonderful host, Sommelier – Eric Bandauski.

Guest Chef Hitoshi Sugura. Many thanks for making the long journey to celebrate with us.  Well done chef!

The ceiling fixture colors were modified to reflect the spirit of the Sakura Festival.

Be sure to grab your tickets to the inaugural Sakura Festival at Morimoto Asia – they will be hosting a series of events until Sunday, April 15!

(Source credit: Morimoto Asia)

Morimoto Asia – Disney Springs
1600 East Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
https://www.patinagroup.com/morimoto-asia/sakura
(407) 939-6686

SeaWorld will debut a Latin-inspired menu this weekend at their annual Seven Seas Food Festival

Crazy Empanadilla – Pastry Filled with Cheddar Cheese, Tomato Sauce, Diced Tomato, Lettuce, Beef & Mayo/Ketchup Sauce

We were invited to a media preview at SeaWorld Orlando to sample their Latin-inspired menu that will make its debut tomorrow at their annual Seven Seas Food Festival.  The festival runs each Saturday and Sunday, February 17 through April 29, 2018 and will feature a variety of international street food including Mexican, Caribbean, All-American, Florida, Mediterranean, North Atlantic, Pacific Coast, German, Polynesian, Gulf Coast, Asian, Brazilian, and Latin.

Enjoy local craft beers and exciting new flavors while you explore culinary marketplaces throughout the park plus enjoy live performances from top country, rock and Latin music artists.

Upcoming concerts:

  • Eddie Palmieri – Saturday, March 31
    3:00 p.m. at Bayside Stadium
  • El Gran Combo – Sunday, April 1
    3:00 p.m. at Bayside Stadium
  • Yandel – Saturday, April 7
    3:00 p.m. at Bayside Stadium
  • Jerry Rivera – Sunday, April 8
    3:00 p.m. at Bayside Stadium
  • N’Klabe – Sunday, April 15
    3:00 p.m. at Bayside Stadium

Reserved concert seating starting at $19, availability is limited.

Pincho de Pollo con Tostones
Skewered, Flame-Grilled Chicken Finished with a Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce, Served with Fried Plantains

Mofongo with Carne Frita – Garlic Mashed Plaintains with Onion Mojo, Served with Fried Pork (my favorite!)

Empanadilla de Pollo
Pastry Filled with Chicken

Bacalaítos
Thin, Crispy Salted Codfish Pancake

Lechón Asado
Traditional Roasted Pork Rubbed with Caribbean Seasonings, Pigeon Peas, and Choice of Ripe or Sweet Plantains

Mashing tostones to make mofongo

Executive Chef Héctor Colón talks about the new Latin-inspired menu offerings at this year’s food festival

Be sure to check out SeaWorld’s Seven Seas Food Festival!  You will love the international food!

(Source credit: SeaWorld Orlando)

SeaWorld Orlando
7007 Sea World Dr, Orlando, FL 32821

First Look: STIR Restaurant & Bar in Orlando’s Ivanhoe Village

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When I heard that STIR was opening in Ivanhoe Village, I thought this place might be another restaurant in the long line of businesses that have occupied the space on the corner of Virginia and N. Orange.

However I was proven quite wrong. STIR is a restaurant that is at its heart, a refined version of Southern cuisine.

According to their owners “The menu at STIR is designed to be creative yet practical. With this STIR wishes to maintain an approachable menu.  STIR will introduce exciting menu options, including a brunch, appetizer, lunch, full dinner menu, desserts, and signature cocktails that draw in new and local guests in our city of Orlando.”

All food was delicious but the stand outs for me were the Pork Puff Pasty and Pork Tenderloin.

After sampling their menu I truly think this restaurant is about Southern Traditions and Ingredients Refined, quite frankly not to be missed.

Southern Caviar
Three cheese creamy blend with artisan bread

Buffalo Calamari
garlic buffalo sauce, house made blue ranch, celery carrot slaw

Pork Puff Pastry
braised pork cheeks, shallots, cheek ju, and fresh chives

Shrimp and Grits
succulent shrimp with bacon and red pepper in buttery and creamy stone-ground grits

Pork Tenderloin
herbed corn, baby carrots, and mixed greens

Dessert
Chef’s Selected Trio

Orange Avenue

 

Sunset Sangria

Chef Chastity Harvey and her culinary team.

 

STIR Restaurant and Bar

https://stirlakeivanhoe.com/

1409 North Orange Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32804,

Black Bee Honey bringing a Sweet Buzz to Orlando’s Parramore Market

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Black Bee Honey is a non-profit business founded by the youth in the Parramore Kidz Zone program. The business started with the dream of providing youth an opportunity to learn firsthand entrepreneurship skills while simultaneously enriching the lives of their community members by providing raw honey.

This start-up business, run by PKZ youth, will offer high quality honey for sale at the Parramore Farmers Market while providing work related educational and entrepreneurial experiences, further developing the youth of the Parramore Community into future workforce leaders.

Black Bee Honey comes from Dadant & Sons in High Springs, FL, one of the top businesses in the beekeeping field. PKZ are selling six different kinds of honey, including:

Wildflower
Saw Palmetto
Gallberry
Sourwood
Orange Blosom
Tupelo

Once the raw honey is purchased from Dadant and Sons, PKZ Inc. employees jar and label the honey at the Dr. J.B. Callahan Neighborhood Center in Parramore. The honey will be sold at a booth during the Parramore Farmers Market for $12.

BLACK BEE HONEY MISSION

The mission of Black Bee Honey is to provide Parramore youth an opportunity to operate and manage their own business while simultaneously providing the residents of the greater Orlando area high quality, nutritional, honey. These simultaneous provisions introduces an intangible wealth into the community by investing in underserved youth who will later invest in the community.

The mission stands on four pillars: Ethics, Education, Community, and Wellness.

These core values help communicate who we are and provide everyone here at Black Bee Honey with a sense of purpose and meaning to guide their work. We strive to have the highest possible ethical and moral standards for ourselves as we honor our commitment to serving our customers and our community.

Black Bee Honey isn’t just about how healthy our products are. It’s also about creating a healthy community, physically, socially, and economically.

Parramore Kidz Zone Youth Employment Program has created PKZ Inc. as an entrepreneurial enterprise. PKZ Inc. will function as a learning tool by giving students in the Parramore area a chance to start their own business. Their first venture is Black Bee Honey.

When and how did this program begin?
The PKZ Black Bee Honey program started in 2017 before the official opening of the Parramore Farmers Market. Students looking to learn entrepreneurial skills spent months before the farmers market debut working on a business plan, attending an online business course and developing marketing tools. When the market opened in January 2018, students shifted into sales and customer service, attending the market each Saturday to sell their product.

How is it impacting the community now?
The program has inspired the youth involved on an entrepreneurial level, demonstrating that it’s possible and obtainable to start a business, while also contributing to a larger picture issue – in this case, food deserts in our community.

What are some things students learn from the program?
Students are learning entrepreneurial skills relating to operating a business, including understanding profits, sales and management.

How can the community get involved and help?
Support PKZ by visiting the Parramore Farmers Market each Saturday! For a full schedule, visit: http://www.cityoforlando.net/economic/parramore-farmers-market/.

For more info, visit: http://www.cityoforlando.net/parramorekidzzone/black-bee-honey/

Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar – Orlando

We were invited to media dine at Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar nestled in Restaurant Row on Sand Lake Rd.  My favorite part of our lunch was the fresh guacamole that is made tableside and served with seasoned “Rocco’s chips”.  They are the best chips and guac that I have ever had in Orlando.  I highly recommend them!

Surf & Turf – marinated grilled steak, chorizo, sweet potatoes, chicken and shrimp in a roasted garlic verde sauce.  Served sizzling in a traditional lava rock molcajete with our tortillas, pico de gallo, cotija cheese, guacamole, sour cream

Dining with a view

Mexican Chocolate Brownie Sundae – vanilla ice cream, dulce de leche, buñuelo, whipped cream, honey salted peanuts

Be sure to check out Rocco’s Taco’s soon for some of the freshest Mexican food in town!

Rocco’s Tacos and Tequila Bar
7468 W Sand Lake Rd, Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 226-0550
www.roccostacos.com/orlando

25th Annual EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival 2018 – What to Eat and Menu

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival, which runs from February 28-May 28, 2018.

This year, there is a special marketplace called “The Honey Bee-stro” Hosted by National Honey Board. As we all know, the humble honey bee plays an integral part in our ecosystem, helping to pollinate our plants as they go about their day. One of my favorite dishes this year is the Roasted Cauliflower with Buckwheat Honey Carrot Puree, Wild Rice Pilaf, Asparagus, Honey Blistered Grapes and Sunflower Brittle from this booth. Not too heavy, but just enough with a nice sweet brittle crunch with the rice.

Here are my other foodie favorites from the festival:

 

Northern Bloom – Griddled Maple Pound Cake with Warm Peach Compote and Sweet Corn Gelato
La Isla Fresca – Tropical Mousse Cake: Layers of Passion Fruit Cake, Coconut Mousse and a Tropical Fruit Glaze with Fresh Pineapple
The Honey Beestro – Roasted Cauliflower with Buckwheat Honey Carrot Puree, Wild Rice Pilaf, Asparagus, Honey Blistered Grapes and Sunflower Brittle
Smokehouse – Beef Brisket Burnt Ends and Smoked Pork Belly Slider with Garlic Sausage, Chorizo, Cheddar Fondue and House-made Pickle

As always, there are also a ton of topiaries to see at the Flower and Garden Festival.

Here are some of our favorite topiaries for 2018:

Here is the menu for all the marketplaces for EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival 2018:

The Berry Basket

Food

Lamb chop with Quinoa Salad and Blackberry Gastrique – $7.25,
Field Greens with fresh Strawberries, Crisp Quinoa, Strawberry Vinaigrette and Spiced Pecans (V) – $5.00,
Warm Wild Berry Buckle with Pepper Berry Gelato (V) – $4.50,

Beverage

JDub’s Brewing Company Blueberry IPA, Sarasota, FL – $4.25
Island Grove Blueberry Moscato, Hawthorne, FL – $6.00
Twinings® Green Tea Berry Mint Julep – $8.75
Twinings Green Tea Berry Mint Julep (Non-alcoholic) – $4.25

Northern Bloom

Food

Seared Scallops with French Green Beans, Butter Potatoes, Brown Butter Vinaigrette and Apple-wood Smoked Bacon (GF) – $6.50,
Beef Tenderloin Tips, Mushroom Bordelaise Sauce, Whipped Potatoes with Garden Vegetables – $6.75,
Griddled Maple Pound Cake with Warm Peach Compote and Sweet Corn Gelato – $4.50,

Beverages

Maple Popcorn Shake with Crown Royal Maple Whisky – $11.75
Maple Popcorn Shake (non-alcoholic) – $4.50,
Unibroue Maudite Amber Ale, Chambly, Québec – $5.00
Unibroue À Tout Le Monde Saison, Chambly, Québec – $5.00
Unibroue Éphémère White Ale, Chambly, Québec – $5.00
Beer Flight – $11.00

La Isla Fresca

Food

Jamaican-braised Beef with Pigeon Pea Rice and Micro Cilantro – $6.25,
Sugar Cane Shrimp Skewer with Steamed Rice and Coconut Lime Sauce – $6.75,
Caribbean Conch Salad with Mango, Papaya and Pickled Red Onions – $5.25,
Tropical Mousse Cake: Layers of Passion Fruit Cake, Coconut Mousse and a Tropical Fruit Glaze with Fresh Pineapple – $4.25,

Beverages

Golden Road Brewing Tart Mango Cart Wheat Ale, Los Angeles, CA – $4.25
Tropical Freeze with Cruzan Mango Rum – $9.50
Tropical Freeze (Non-alcoholic) – $4.25

Cider House

Food

Pear Cider-brined Shredded Corned Beef with Braised Cabbage and Branston Dressing with Pears – $10.50,
House-made Potato and Cheddar Cheese Biscuit with Smoked Salmon Tartare – $5.25,
Freshly Baked Lemon Scone with Crème Fraîche and Mixed Berries (V) (GF) – $4.25,

Beverages

McKenzie’s Black Cherry Hard Cider, West Seneca, NY – $4.50
Florida Beer Company Caribé Pineapple Tropical Hard Cider, Cape Canaveral, FL – $4.50
Ciderboys Grand Mimosa Apple Orange Hard Cider, Stevens Point, WI – $4.50
Cider Flight – $10.00
Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider, California (Non-alcoholic) – $4.75

The Honey Bee-stro Hosted by National Honey Board

Food

Roasted Cauliflower with Buckwheat Honey Carrot Puree, Wild Rice Pilaf, Asparagus, Honey Blistered Grapes and Sunflower Brittle (GF) (V) – $4.50,
Honey Tandoori Chicken Flatbread with White Cheddar Cheese, charred vegetables, Clover Honey Sour Cream and Micro Watercress – $5.25,
Local Wildflower Honey-Mascarpone Cheesecake with Orange Blossom Honey Ice Cream garnished with Fennel Pollen Meringue Kisses (V) – $4.75,
Beverages

Florida Orange Groves Winery Orange Blossom Honey Wine, St. Petersburg, FL – $5.00
Orange Blossom Brewing Co. Orange Blossom Pilsner, Orlando, FL – $4.25
Honey-Peach Cobbler Freeze with Blueberry Vodka – $10.25
Honey-Peach Cobbler Freeze (Non-alcoholic) – $4.25

Pineapple Promenade

Food

Spicy Hot Dog with Pineapple Chutney and Plantain Chips – $7.50,
Pineapple Soft-Serve (V) – $5.00,

Beverages

Coastal Empire Beer Co. Coco Piña Gose, Savannah, GA – $4.25
Maui Brewing Co. Pineapple Mana Wheat, Kihei, HI – $4.25
SweetWater Brewing Company Goin’ Coastal IPA with Pineapple, Atlanta, GA – $4.25
Pineapple Beer Flight – $9.50
Florida Orange Groves Winery Sparkling Pineapple Wine, St. Petersburg, FL – $11.75
Playalinda Brewing Company Violet Lemonade Ale, Titusville, FL – $4.25
Pineapple Soft-serve with Parrot Bay Coconut Rum – $10.25
Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade (Non-alcoholic) – $4.25,
Pineapple Soft-serve with Fanta (Non-alcoholic) – $5.75,

Jardin de Fiestas

Food

Pork Taco: Slow-braised Pork Taco served with Apple Relish, Goat Cheese and Chile de Árbol Sauce – $6.25,
Chilaquiles: Chilaquiles served with Chorizo, Mexican Cream and Cotija Cheese – $5.95,
Capirotada: Bread Pudding served with Rompope – $4.25,

Beverages

Tiger Lily Sangria – $10.25
Rose Margarita – $11.50
Violet Cassis Punch – $12.25
Daisy Spicy Beer – $6.75

Lotus House

Food

Spicy Meatballs with Crispy Tofu – $5.00,
Fried Chicken Dumplings with Peanut Sauce – $6.25,
Vegetable Spring Rolls (V) – $4.50,

Beverages

Oolong Peach Bubble Tea (Non-alcoholic) – $6.75
Kung Fu Punch: Vodka, Triple Sec, Mango and Orange Juice – $8.75
BaiJoe Punch: Chinese Bai Jiu Spirit, Lychee, Coconut and Pineapple Juice – $11.00
Plum Wine Cooler – $8.75
Tsingtao Lager – $3.50

Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market

Food

Potato Pancakes with House-made Apple Sauce (V) – $4.25,
Potato Pancake with Caramelized Ham, Onions and Herb Sour Cream – $4.50,
Toasted Pretzel Bread topped with Black Forest Ham and Melted Gruyère Cheese – $5.00,
Warm Cheese Strudel with Mixed Berries – $4.25,

Beverages

Hugo-Charles De Fere “Organic” Brut with Elderflower and Mint – $9.50
Paulaner Original Munich Lager – $4.50
Ayinger Bräu Weisse Hefeweizen, Munich, Germany – $4.50
Köstritzer Schwarzbier Black Lager – $4.50
Beer Flight – $10.00

Primavera Kitchen

Food

Frittata di Asparagi: Asparagus Frittata, Mixed Greens and Citrus Dressing (GF) (V) – $7.00,
Fritto Misto: Crispy Shrimps, Zucchini and Spicy Sauces – $8.00,
Ravioli: Maine Lobster Ravioli with Vodka Sauce – $12.00
Panna Cotta al Melone: Cantaloupe Panna Cotta (GF) (V) – $5.50,

Beverages

Pinot Grigio – $8.00
Chianti – $8.00
Prosecco – $9.00
Corbinello – $9.00
Moscato – $9.00
Bellini: Sparking Wine and Peach Purée – $10.00
Frozen Italian Margarita with Limoncello and Tequila – $10.00
Moretti Lager L’Autentica – $5.50
Moretti La Rossa – $5.50

The Smokehouse: Barbecue and Brews

Food

Pulled Pig Slider with Coleslaw – $6.75,
Beef Brisket Burnt Ends and Smoked Pork Belly Slider with Garlic Sausage, Chorizo, Cheddar Fondue and House-made Pickle – $7.25,
Beef Brisket Burnt Ends Hash with White Cheddar Fondue and Pickled Jalapeños – $6.50,
Warm Chocolate Cake with Bourbon-Salted Caramel Sauce and Spiced Pecans (V) – $4.00,

Beverage

Zen of Zin Old Vine, California – $5.25
Central 28 Brewing Company Sunshine Greetings Orange Hibiscus Wheat Ale, DeBary, FL – $4.25
3 Daughters Brewing Phantasmas Spicy Double IPA, St. Petersburg, FL – $4.25
Shipyard Maple Bacon Stout, Clearwater, FL – $4.25
Beer Flight – $9.50
Frozen Lemonade with Firefly Blackberry Moonshine – $11.75
Frozen Lemonade (Non-alcoholic) – $3.50

Hanami

Food

Frushi: Fresh Pineapple, Strawberry and Melon rolled with Coconut Rice, sprinkled with Toasted Coconut and Whipped Cream with Raspberry Sauce on the side (V) – $5.95,
Ginger Beef Yaki Udon: Thin-sliced Beef, Onions and Noodles tossed on the grill with Soy and Ginger – $6.50,
Teriyaki Salmon with Furikake Seasoned Brown Rice (GF) – $6.75,

Beverages

Pineapple Momo Sake Cocktail – $6.50
Karatamba “Dry Wave” Sake – $8.00
Sapporo Draft Beer in a Kampai Cup – $4.25

Taste of Marrakesh

Food

Harissa Chicken Kebab with Dried Fruit Couscous Salad – $6.00,
Fried Cauliflower with Capers, Garlic Parsley and Chili Ranch Sauce – $5.00,
Walnut Honey Baklava – $4.00,

Beverages

Desert Rose: Sparkling Wine topped with Pomegranate Liqueur – $8.00
White Sangria – $6.00
Casa Beer – $4.00

Florida Fresh

Carne Guisada with Black Bean Cake and Cilantro Lime Sour Cream – $6.50,
Spicy Blackened Shrimp and Stone-ground Cheddar Cheese Grits with Brown Gravy and Local Sweet Corn Relish – $6.75,
Key Lime Tart with Toasted Meringue – $4.50,

Beverages

Florida Orange Groves Winery Key Lime Sparkling Wine, St Petersburg, FL – $11.75
Tampa Bay Brewing Company Quat Seasonal Fruit Ale – $4.25
Big Top Brewing Company Conch Republic Key Lime Wheat, Sarasota, FL – $4.25
First Magnitude Brewing Co. Monarch Milk Stout, Gainesville, FL – $4.25
Watermelon Cucumber Slushy with Tamiami Florida Gin – $11.75
Watermelon Cucumber Slushy (Non-alcoholic) – $4.25
Beer Flight – $9.50

Fleur de Lys

Tarte à la Tomate Provençale: Provencal Tomato Tart with Sautéed Onions, Fresh Thyme and Rosemary on a Flaky Pastry Crust (V) – $5.50,
Canard Confit Aux Gnocchi à la Parisienne: Braised Duck Confit with Parisian Gnocchi – $5.75,
Macaron au Chocolat en Sucette: Large Chocolate Macaron Lollipop (GF) – $4.95,

Beverages

La Vie en Rose Frozen Slushy: Grey Goose Orange, St. Germain Liqueur, White and Red Cranberry Juice – $10.75
Kir Pomegranate: Sparkling Wine, Pama Pomegranate Liqueur – $7.95
Cabernet Sauvignon, Village de France – $4.95
Kronenbourg Blanc 1664 – $4.50

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Carts Specialty Festival Offerings
Beverages

Showcase Coffee Cart: Orange Blossom Twist — Frozen Orange Pineapple topped with Vodka – $9.99
Disney Traders Port of Entry Coffee Cart: Garden of Guava — Frozen Pink Guava topped with Rum or Vodka – $9.99
Future World East: The Final Lap — Iced Tea topped with Frozen Passion Fruit with Vodka – $9.99
The American Adventure: Strawberry Piña Colada — Frozen Piña Colada and Strawberry with Rum – $9.99

 

St. Patrick’s Day at Arnold Palmer Invitational

We were invited to experience the Arnold Palmer Invitational on St. Patrick’s Day and we were treated to a BBQ lunch at their main hospitality during Saturday’s event. The “Birdies & BBQ” luncheon was located at the scenic 9th hole and featured a variety of food from nationally-recognized 4 Rivers Smokehouse from 12-3pm.

Beer from Anheuser-Busch
Whole Pig Pickin’
Carved Beef Brisket
Smoked wings with celery & BBQ beans
Mini cupcakes
Tiger Woods
Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club and Lodge
9000 Bay Hill Blvd, Orlando
http://arnoldpalmerinvitational.com/special_events/birdies_and_bbq

Mighty St. Patrick’s Festival at Raglan Road – Disney Springs

The Maguires family – Emma, Aoife, Sean, Philip

We were invited to a media preview of the annual Mighty St. Patrick’s Festival at Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant in Disney Springs. The Mighty Festival runs Friday, March 16 through Sunday, March 18, 2018.

Guests can enjoy a mighty selection of beers, spirits and craft cocktails to pair with exceptional pub grub and more elegant Irish fare while musicians and dancers perform on multiple stages, indoors and out, from noon-1:30 a.m. March 16 and 10 a.m. until 1:30 a.m. March 17 and 18.  Mighty Festival guests can accent their Irish holiday attire with complimentary face painting available for up to nine or 10 hours each festival day.  On March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, guests will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis with a cover charge of $10 for each guest age 18 and older.

If you want to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day like the Irish, share these truisms:

  1. Please don’t call the holiday “St. Patty’s.”  It’s either “St. Patrick’s Day” or “St. Paddy’s.”
  2. A shamrock has three leaves (not four – that would be a clover).
  3. Americans invented the St. Patrick’s Day parade in 1737 in Boston.
  4. Most Irish pubs do a full month’s business on St. Patrick’s Day.
  5. Guinness sell 13 million pints on St. Patrick’s Day versus the usual 5 million daily.
  6. Raglan Road is America’s #1 Irish Pub.
  7. Green beer is an American invention.  Raglan Road does not serve green beer.

Heritage Tomato Salad – heirloom tomato & rocket salad with shallots, Parmesan crisp & balsamic reduction

Salmon Swoon – Irish smoked salmon served on rush soda bread

Rack of heaven – slow roasted Guinness glazed baby back ribs (so crispy, sweet, and savory.  It was delish!)

Mini Fish & Chips – a miniature version of our famous fish and chips with tartar sauce

Mini Shepherd’s Pie – beef & lamb root vegetables and red wine jus

Gnocchi Sea Gnocchi Do – Potato gnocchi served with George’s bank scallops, crispy pork belly, tomatoes & kale in white wine butter sauce


Apple Crumble – fresh Granny Smith apple crumble with vanilla ice cream & crème anglaise

Mini Bread & Butter Pudding – famous bread & butter pudding served with crème anglaise and butterscotch sauce

Raglan Road & Cookes of Dublin is located behind the pedestrian bridge, across from Morimoto Asia.

Be sure to check out the Mighty St. Patrick’s Day Festival at Raglan Road this weekend starting Friday, March 16 through Sunday, March 18!

(Source credit: Raglan Road)

Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant – Disney Springs
1640 Buena Vista Dr. Orlando, FL 32830
(407) 938-0300

Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs celebrates Sakura Festival

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Morimoto Asia Sakura Festival

Enjoy a month-long celebration of the arrival of spring and the cherry blossoms at Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs.The restaurant will be decorated with Instagram-worthy décor, showcasing the pink blooms of the Sakura. Similar to the festivals in Japan, guests can attend a series of ticketed events, and menu specials dedicated to the cherry blossoms.

Events include: 

  • Happy Hour with the brewmasters from Crooked Can Brewing Co.
  • Late night whiskey pairing  and bites with Suntory
  • Seas of Japan 101
  • Morimoto Asia’s Guest Chef Series with Chef Hitoshi Sugiura
  • Ramen Seminar and Tasting
  • Matsuri Festival

Every day of the festival, enjoy special menu items inspired by the Japanese cherry blossoms during lunch and dinner service: COCKTAIL | BEER | APPETIZER | DESSERT

A variety of special events will take place during the festival:

Crooked Can Happy Hour, Sakura Festival
Crooked Can Happy Hour

Thursday, March 15 | 5-7PM

Tickets: $25

Kick off the festival with Crooked Can Brewing Company’s brew masters to taste the Sakura Kolsch, available only at Morimoto Asia paired with Pan-Asian bites.

MENU  
Chicken Satay with Spicy Peanut Sauce
Yogurt marinated chicken, grilled over binchotan, with spicy peanut sauce
 
 Shrimp and Mint Summer Rolls
Rice wrapper filled with local vegetables, Cape Canaveral Shrimp, served with hoisin sauce
 
Sakura Ebi and Ginger Onigiri
Sakura shrimp, and pickled ginger mixed with our Koshihikari polished rice shaped into a ball with a nori wrapper
 
Sakura Mochi
Soft rice pancakes filled with sweet red azuki bean paste
 
Pulled Soy-Ginger braised Pork Sliders,
Sakura Slaw
Braised pork ribs, Japanese BBQ sauce 
Suntory Japanese Whiskey Pairing, Disney Springs
Late Night Suntory Pairing

Friday, March 23 | 9-11PM

Tickets: $32

Japanese Whiskey-based cocktails presented by Suntory paired with lite bites at Morimoto Asia’s Forbidden Lounge. Accompanied by DJ Jimmy Joslin.

MENU  
Japanese Madai Snapper Carpaccio, Chinese Style
Crispy Skin Berkshire Pork Belly
House Smoked Sakura Sea Trout, Szechaun Pepper Sauce
Hong Kong Style Curry Fried Rice
Almond Milk Tofu Jelly, Peach, Osmanthus Flower Sauce
Taste From The Seas of Japan Educational Series
Taste From the Seas of Japan

Friday, March 30 | 4-6PM

Tickets: $45

Every week, Morimoto Asia’s sushi chefs spend time educating the restaurant’s staff about the varieties, quality and the traditional process of breaking down the fresh fish delivered from Japan that is served. Now guests have the opportunity to attend this educational seminar learning and tasting about the seas of Japan while enjoying a sake sampling.

Morimoto Asia Guest Chef Series, Sakura Festival
Morimoto Asia’s Guest Chef Series

Tuesday, April 3 | 7-9PM

Tickets: $120

Executive Chef Yuhi Fujinaga and Chef de Cuisine Hung Huynh welcome Chef Hitoshi Sugiura to kick off Morimoto Asia’s Guest Chef Series. The chefs will prepare a collaborative six-course Pan-Asian dinner, paired with wines from across the globe. Chef Hitoshi has a history of creating unique menus for restaurants and events while having received acclaimed notoriety including the “Top 8 Chef” at Italy’s 2017 Vegetarian Chance competition. Chef Hitoshi currently leads the team and menu creation as Executive Chef of Patinstella Restaurant in Tokyo, Japan.

Ramen Seminar & Tasting Disney Springs
Ramen Seminar and Tasting

Saturday, April 7 | 12-3PM

Tickets: $36

Spend the afternoon learning about the various types of Asian noodles and how they are made. Following the seminar, guests will visit multiple ramen stations to taste different types of ramen dishes.

Matsuri Family Fun Day at Sakura Festival
Matsuri Festival

Sunday, April 15 | 12-4PM

Tickets: $45

The festival ends with a family fun day inspired by the traditional Matsuri festival of Japan. Guests can enjoy multiple Pan-Asian street food stations, 4 beer and cocktail stations throughout the interior and exterior of the restaurant. Gaming stations will include traditional Japanese carnival games, shuffleboard, origami artist, calligraphy artist, giveaways and a station in partnership with our Disney Springs neighbors, Uniqlo.

Brunch at Pizza Bruno

Eggs In Purgatory – farm eggs, arrabiata, polenta, and pecorino

We attended a media preview at Pizza Bruno this past Sunday to check out their revamped brunch menu, available every Saturday & Sunday from 11am-3pm and we enjoyed our brunch and experience.  The restaurant gets slammed every evening so your best bet is to get there early for lunch during the week or brunch on the weekends when there is no wait time.


Garlic Knots – Too much garlic, pecorino, chili flake, oregano.  These are a classic appetizer at Pizza Bruno, I highly recommend them!


Kale Salad – Golden raisins, candied pecans, pizza crumb, Emperors Dressing, pecorino.  Most addicting kale sale ever!

Cinnabon Bun,  they were so good and a must for every brunch.


Frittata – Roasted tomato, white cheddar, Arugula salad, Ricotta toast with honey and pine nuts


Shrimp & Grits – Rock shrimp, aribiatta, fried egg, Calabrian oil.  This dish has a little kick to it.

Dutch Baby in two variations.  Wood Fired pancake with amish butter, sea salt, maple syrup.  The taste and texture was like a pancake flan.


Foxtail Coffee Co. Cold Brew

Guaincale & Blueberry in two variations.  It was sweet and savory.  This pizza was popular among our group.

Pizza Amatricana – tomato, chili, red onion, guanciale, and pecorino

The Dude – fresh mozzarella, pecorino, tallegio, lots of black pepper.  This is a classic pizza at Pizza Bruno it was popular among our group as well.  The Dude was my favorite pizza out of the three.

My togo box of all the pizza variations offered

The talented and down-to-earth owner of Pizza Bruno, Bruno Zacchini III working expo.  Thank you for hosting us, you and your staff were amazing!

Be sure to check out brunch at Pizza Bruno soon for their delicious brunch menu and the BEST pizza in Orlando!

Pizza Bruno
3990 Curry Ford Rd, Orlando, FL 32806
(They do not have a phone)
pizzabrunofl.com

 

KINGS Orlando introduces Asian-inspired menu

Peanut Pad Thai With Seasoned Grilled Shrimp
Do you love delicious food, crafty cocktails, and fun games?  If your answer is yes, than KINGS Orlando is the perfect place to be any day of the week!

We were invited to check out KINGS Orlando, an upscale dining and entertainment venue.  During our visit we got to try a few items from their Asian-inspired menu (pictured below) and we also got to bowl.  We had so much fun cannot wait to go back! Our server Kimberly was super friendly, engaging, and down-to-earth.  Her communication skills were on point so we always knew what was going on at all times.  Kimberly was the best server that I’ve ever had and I know she is going to go far in the KINGS company one day SOON!

Free game on Sunday with lunch reservation
Fried Bang Bang Calamari
Buffalo Chicken Wontons
Peanut Pad Thai With Seasoned Grilled Shrimp (my favorite!)
Baja Street Tacos With Seasoned Grilled Shrimp
Private room
Be sure to check out KINGS Orlando soon for food, fun, and more!
Kings Dining & Entertainment
8255 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 363-0200
kings-de.com/orlandokings-de.com/orlando

Adobe Gila’s at Pointe Orlando Celebrates 20 Year Anniversary

Fun times at Adobe Gila’s run Tuesday-Sunday at Pointe Orlando with their indoor and outdoor bars as well as live music.

We started our journey on their menu with their Hand Crafted Guacamole made fresh to order from rice avocados and their freshest ingredients. Although the menu says the same words, each word rings true in my opinion.

The Brisket Sandwich, served with french fries, is absolutely flavorful. Make sure to try the brisket on its own, which you’ll taste the smokiness of the delicious brisket. This is my favorite item on the menu.

Ahi Tuna Tacos with a drizzle of cucumber wasabi sauce, served with yellow rice and black beans. The ahi tuna is seared nicely and the cucumber wasabi sauce adds an interesting and smooth touch to the dish. If you’re not a fan of wasabi, this sauce may not be your favorite; however, it may grow on you.

Chorizo Burger is one of the many unique Gila Burgers on the menu, served with seasoned french fries. This Chorizo Burger is a grilled burger topped with spicy chorizo, Pepperjack cheese, lettuce, and pico de gallo. The burger is very tender and moist even if it was served to us well done.

When at Adobe Gila’s, you should try their pork. We decided to have it as our protein with the fajitas. It’s prepared with Mojo sauce with grilled peppers and onions. Lettuce, fresh pico de gallo, cheese, and tomatoes are on the side for you to wrap on your own with flour or corn tortillas. The pork is flavorful and moist. No regrets in picking this option as our protein!

Don’t forget to order a drink with your delicious food. How about a Coconut Margarita or Adobe Colada? The Adobe Colada, among other Bikini Drinks, at Adobe Gila’s will come with a festive souvenir glass you are able to keep!

For more information, please visit Adobe Gila’s.

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Shows Off Made-From-Scratch Recipes

We deeply enjoyed visiting our local Cheddar’s to try some made-from-scratch recipes and the new bone-in 10 oz. Bourbon Glazed Pork Chop, with a scratch-made glaze. Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen has a menu built on simple, honest and natural ingredients. Each of Cheddar’s scratch-made recipes are hand-crafted with care and time since 1979.

While waiting for our dishes, we tried Cheddar’s Painkiller, which is nice and smooth. It also has a delicious ring of roasted coconut nibs. Cheddar’s Painkiller is made of Pusser’s rum, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, orange juice, toasted coconut rim, topped with nutmeg. Limit 2 per guest… I wonder why.

Homemade Onion Rings are fresh-cut, hand-battered and made to order. They are served with homemade ranch and Cajun dipping sauce. The sauces are ok for the onion rings, but they are delicious on their own as well.

Chips & Homemade Queso with a side of seasoned ground beef. The cheese was slightly on the salty side.

Citrus Miso Glazed Salmon is on the lighter side of the menu for dinner. It consists of hand-cut salmon fillet glazed with citrus miso sauce and served over seasoned rice with a side of steamed broccoli. The salmon was cooked well, tender and moist; as it should be. The citrus miso glaze is sweet, but it does not overpower the salmon itself.

Half rack of in-house, slow smoked Baby Back Ribs with grilled or fried shrimp served with two sides of your choice. Each bite of the tender ribs leaves a hint of smokiness. We ordered grilled shrimp and it has its own flavors that are unique to the ribs. The shrimp are made well and not chewy, like how it is when someone overcooks them.

We have two made-from-scratch sides here, Mac & Cheese and Broccoli Cheese Casserole. The Mac & Cheese is my favorite side from Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen. I quite prefer it over the Broccoli Cheese Casserole as I’m not a fan of casseroles.

New bone-in 10 oz. Bourbon Glazed Pork Chop is a center-cut, bone-in pork chop on a bed of mashed potatoes and topped with bourbon glaze and homemade onion rings. Served with one side. The pork chop is very tender, moist and flavorful. Congratulations to Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen for being able to appropriately season their pork chop as it is usually hard to do so.

Our side was their housemate coleslaw, which was delicious and refreshing.

20 oz. Bone-In Ribeye is made to order and served with two sides of your choice. The ribeye was seasoned very nicely and I am craving more of it as I type this. The Baked Sweet Potato and Buttered Off-The-Cob Corn are both delicious sides to have.

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen has a number of delicious desserts on their menu. Their Dessert Minis option allows you to try three types in a shot form. Here, we pick Key Lime Pie shooters after Manager Tim suggested how it is as delicious as his mother’s homemade Key Lime Pie. The Key Lime Pie at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is made with specific limes from Key West, Florida and Manager Tim wasn’t lying about how delicious these mini Key Lime Pie shooters were.

For more information, visit Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen.

ViVi Bubble Tea opens first Florida location in the Mills 50 District

Congratulations to our long-time friend Sam Lau on his newest business venture: ViVi Bubble Tea at Mills 50 – it is such a cute little bubble tea shop that you need to check out asap!  They officially open tomorrow and will be running a buy one, get one free special on select drinks.  My big sister Krystle & I enjoyed their Blue Galaxy (pictured above) a caffeine-free herbal tea beverage with no artificial coloring.

Tiramisu Slush

Signature fruit tea

Blue Galaxy

Be sure to check out ViVi Bubble Tea soon!

ViVi Bubble Tea
1111 E Colonial Dr. Orlando, Florida
(321) 310-4147
vivibubbletea.com

The Simple Greek from “The Profit” opens location in Oviedo

Pictured: Chicken gyro bowl

We were invited to a media preview today at The Simple Greek – Oviedo as seen on CNBC’s “The Profit” – one of my favorite show that comes on after my favorite show, Shark Tank.  The food was so good and fresh and the restaurant was very clean.  They will be running a Grand Opening special tomorrow 3/9 of $1 GYROS ($7.95 value) from 11am-3pm, limit one.

The Simple Greek redefines the traditional Greek restaurants with an interactive concept that combines fresh, high-quality ingredients and Greek atmosphere in a fast casual setting. The concept utilizes a build-your-own assembly line style set up in an open kitchen to show off all of the fresh food being prepared.  The menu features a variety of dishes such as build your own bowls, salads, pitas and Greek yogurt with a variety of proteins, toppings and sides to choose from at an affordable price.

The Oviedo location is owned by Jonathan Tonn.   Jonathon opened his own franchise after witnessing its success on “The Profit” and he is in partnership with DeSisto Restaurant Group.  DeSisto Restaurant Group also owns The Simple Greek locations in Tampa, FL & East Providence, RI.

Build-Your-Own Gyro Bowl

Top to Bottom:
Gyro Bowl
Greek Fries
Chicken Gyro Whole Wheat Wrap

House-Made Sauces: Hummus, Spicy Hummus, Tzatziki (middle)

Dolmades – rice & herbs rolled in grape leaves

Avgolemono Soup – traditional rice soup

Lentil soup (vegetarian) – lentils & vegetables in a vegetable broth

Baklava – crispy golden filo dough, walnuts, honey.  I highly recommend this dessert!

(Source credit: The Simple Greek)

Be sure to check out The Simple Greek – Oviedo soon to discover your inner Greek!

The Simple Greek
945 City Plaza Way, Oviedo, FL 32765
(407) 542-0106
thesimplegreek.com

Extremely Fresh & High Quality Margaritas at Cocina 214

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.

Busch Gardens’ Food & Wine Festival

I’ve heard about Tampa’s Busch Garden’s Food and Wine Festival over the years, but never had the chance to go until now! With it being my very first foodie festival, I was not disappointed. This year being their 4th annual event, Busch Gardens had an array of cuisines, wines, craft beers, and cocktails to choose from with vegetarian and gluten free options available, as well. Guests have the option of sampling a number of foods and drinks throughout the park, while enjoying the animals and rides too; a plus for parents and their kids.

To start off our evening, our eyes were caught by the Char Siu Duck on a Steamed Bun and the Grilled Lamb Chops with Tabouleh & Tzatziki at Field House Eatery. The grilled lamb was my favorite! The meat was cooked and seasoned nicely and wasn’t gamey at all, when paired with the tabbouleh and tzatziki sauce it balanced the dish perfectly.

Next, we visited Artisan Eats, there we sampled the Duck Fat Truffle Fries with Parmesan Truffle Aioli and the Fleur de Mer Rosé.

Coast to Coast Cookery’s Pan-Seared Steak with Chimichurri & Roasted Poblano Hash, Flourless Chocolate Torte with Raspberry Sauce, and Swamp Head Brewery, Wheat Night Honey Cream Ale.

Garden Gate Café’s Truffle Seafood Mac & Cheese with Shrimp, Scallops, and Cod in a Creamy Gruyere Bechamel with White Truffle, Hawaiian-Seasoned Tuna Poke, You’re My Boy Blue Blueberry Brew, and Graffiti Orange American Wheat Beers. I’m a huge fan of tuna, so that was definitely one of my top dishes.

Now by this point, we were already getting full but we decided to end our night with Chef’s Plantation’s Salmon Cake with Lemon Aioli, Comfort Kitchen’s Fried Plantain Cups filled with Stewed Chicken, and Tasty Taqueria’s Frozen Mojito! The salmon cake and lemon aioli was such a light and refreshing dish that regardless of how full I was, I couldn’t stop eating it.

There were so many other cabins and vendors we missed out on, but the ones we visited definitely didn’t disappoint. From food to entertainment, Busch Garden’s Food and Wine Festival has something for everyone! You can visit Busch Gardens and experience this all yourselves, every weekend from March 3rd – April 29th. Happy eatings, everyone! Until next time.

Author: Melissa Dam
Photo Creds: Cindy Nguyen

Heart of Florida United Way’s 26th Annual Chef’s Gala on April 14th

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For the 26th 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.

Whiskey Dinner by Buffalo Trace and Outpost Neighborhood Kitchen

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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

New seasonal flavors and toppings at Duck Donuts

1st : Smores/Boardwalk/Key Lime with Coconut
2nd: Glaze with Spring Sprinkle/Vanilla with Spring Sprinkle/Strawberry with Spring Sprinkle
3rd: Lemon with Coconut/Blueberry Pancake/Chocolate with Spring Sprinkle
4th: Key Lime/Bacon in the Sun/Key Lime with Graham Crackers Crumbs & Marshmallow Drizzle

Today, Duck Donuts nationwide released a NEW seasonal flavor and topping: Key Lime Icing & Spring Sprinkles, available for a limited time only.  Duck Donuts is my best friend & I’s favorite place to get donuts because all of their delicious vanilla cake donuts are served warm, fresh and made-to-order with a variety of flavors, toppings, and sauces so the possibilities are endless.  We were invited to try their new seasonal flavors, new breakfast, and donut sundae and we enjoyed our food and experience.  My donuts were made by an amazingly nice employee named Princess and when she brought out my beautiful donuts on a donut stand I genuinely felt like a princess.  Princess’ superior customer service will make you feel like royalty.

NEW Breakfast Sandwich – Sausage, Egg & Cheese with Chopped Bacon. I really enjoyed the spiciness from the sausage and the sweetness from the donut!

S’mores Donut Sundae – vanilla ice cream, melted chocolate and graham cracker crumbles onto a classic donut.

Be sure to check out Duck Donuts – Kissimmee next time you’re in the area!

Duck Donuts
710 Centerview Blvd, Kissimmee, FL 34741
(407) 350-5832
duckdonuts.com

Sonny’s Smokin’ Showdown ’18

High Valley concert

Yesterday, Sonny’s BBQ hosted their annual “Sonny’s Smokin’ Showdown” at Tinker Field – Camping World Stadium and it filled with great food, cookin’ demos, a kids’ zone, and amazing live country music all day.

The nation’s top pitmasters traveled from all across the world and came together to put their skills to the test in an epic BBQ battle for a chance to win a grand prize of $20,000.

Fun brand ambassador at the Orange Buick GMC booth

Kids’ zone

Listening to Jill’s Cashbox

Unlimited Cheerwine at the VIP Tent

A delicious plate prepared by Sonny’s BBQ

Cornbread

Mac ‘n cheese

Pulled pork

Sweet and smokey ribs

Sliced brisket

Winners taking pictures with the Sonny’s BBQ crew

Iowa’s Smokey D’s picking up their grand prize check of $20,000

Grand prize winners of the $20,000 – Iowa’s Smokey D’s.  They also won last year!

High Valley concert

Merchandise booth

Rodney Atkin concert

Sonny’s Smokin’ Showdown
Tinker Field at Camping World Stadium
1 Citrus Bowl Pl. Orlando, FL 32805
http://sonnyshowdown.com

Dinner at Bulla Gastrobar

What pairs well with a great conversation? Great food, that’s fresh to order, and imported from Spain. Located in Winter Park, FL is an amazing restaurant called Bulla Gastrobar.

The chef described every dish to our table, and I found myself eating food and talking about it at the same time. That’s when you know you’re at a table full of foodies!

The Lemongrass Collins has easily become one of my favorite drinks of all time. It’s the right amount of refreshing, and as you can tell the bartender does not skip out on the rosemary.

Ingredients are St. Germain, Wint & Lila gin, lemongrass syrup, cucumber.

I also ordered the Proper Gin & Tonic. The star anise was a surprising touch!

Ingredients are Wint & Lila gin, lemon peel, lime wheel, star anise, Fever Tree tonic water.

First up was a meat and cheese plate. My favorite was the Manchego cheese and the fresh olives coming in every shape and size. You can just taste how fresh each ingredient is.

Cured Meat & Cheese Plate:
Jamon Serrano
‘Fermin’ Serrano ham, aged 15 months

Chorizo de Cantimpalo
Mildly spicy pork sausage from Segovia

Manchego
Sheep’s milk, nutty, sweet, tangy flavor, aged 6 month

Murcia al Vino
Goat cheese from Murcia, wine cured rind, sweet & smooth flavor

House Marinated Olives
Thyme, orange peel, garlic

Pan de Cristal con Tomate
Toasted crispy ethereal bread brushed with fresh tomato

Huevos Bulla
Eggs, homemade potato chips, Serrano ham, potato foam, truffle oil
The eggs come unbroken, until they get to the table! The server mixes up the dish before it’s served. The homemade chips add a perfect crunch to this savory dish.
Montaditos
Brisket, tomato marmalade, guindilla, tetilla cheese
My favorite dish of them all. The bread was toasted to the right second, the meat was tender, and the tomato marmalade was amazing. Also, the pepper is not spicy, it was delicious!

Sangria Blanca
Cava, peach schnapps, triple sec, strawberries, blueberries

Grilled Octopus Salad
Roma tomatoes, cucumber, croutons, lemon
The best part about the octopus was the charcoal edges. Absolutely delicious. And it was paired with fresh to order vegetables.
Paella
Valencia style rice, calamari, prawns, clams, shrimp, red sofrito, saffron
 
The rice and seafood complimented each other so well. Every last bit of the paella was eaten.
Fun fact: Tuesday, March 27th 2018 is National Paella Day! Scroll to the end of this article for special event details*
Bullfighter
Bulleit bourbon, Aperol, Dow’s Port, lemon juice, cranberry
Churros Con Chocolate
Traditional fried dough, chocolate sauce, dulce de leche
My favorite dessert of the two that I tried. The Churros are just a cute bite size,  fried to the perfect texture, and I’m obsessed with caramel, so the caramel dip won me over.
Torrija
Caramelized brioche, turrón ice cream, honey.

I left Bulla Gastrobar full and happy!

*In celebration of “National Paella Day,” the chefs at Spanish Winter Park restaurant Bulla Gastrobar will prepare massive paellas on the restaurants patio during happy hour. You’ll have the opportunity to observe how the paellas are made and will receive complimentary samples to enjoy on the patio, which will be decked out in festive decor! Bulla Gastrobar will also be offering $5 red sangrias all day long and will raffle off a $50 gift card to a lucky guest. Happy hour is between 4pm-7pm and 9pm – close!

 

By Gina Nguyen

Armature Works – Heights Public Market – Tampa

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This may be the first time I am jealous of Tampa in my adult life.

Just opened on Thursday, February 1, Armature Works at the Heights is revitalizing the historic Tampa Heights neighborhood. It’s got a huge food hall called the Heights Public Market, comparable to the ones you may see in big cities like New York or San Francisco.

With its unobstructed view of the Hillsborough River, the $16.5 million redeveloped historic structure which once housed the city’s trolleys, has been reinvented as a community destination with innovative eateries, Heights Public Market, reimagined event spaces and an exclusive coworking space.

It features multiple events venues, a 13,000-square-foot co-working space, the Southern-inspired full-service restaurant Steelbach and Heights Public Market, a market-style food hall that brings together 14 new food vendors to Tampa Heights.

Nearby, Ulele and the Hall on Franklin have opened within walking distance of the Heights in recent years.

These are the 14 concepts that are open or will open in the public market:

  • Ava, wood-fired pizza restaurant
  • Astro Ice Cream Co.
  • Zukku, which serves Sushi, burritos and bowls
  • Butcher BBQ, which will also provide meats for Steelbach
  • Cru Cellars, which features organic wines
  • Cocina Taqueria
  • Fine & Dandy Emporium, the official Armature Works bar with craft cocktails, beer and wine
  • Graze 1910, which serves breakfast, brunch and dinner all day – think modern American diner
  • Hemingway’s, which serves Cuban cuisine, sandwiches and breakfast
  • Ichicoro Imoto Ramen
  • Inside the Box, Metropolitan Ministries’ salad and sandwich concept
  • Surf and Turf truck.com, which will be the first vendor in a rotating three-month lease stall
  • Swami Juice, acai bowls and cold-pressed juices
  • Union Coffee and Tea by Commune + Co., pressure brew, full espresso bar, drip coffee

ARMATURE WORKS – 1910 N Ola Ave, Tampa, FL 33602 – http://armatureworks.com/

Check out the photos by our friend Don Nguyen – you can follow him at https://www.instagram.com/thekitchensource/

Romantic weekend getaway at Streamsong Resort

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.” – Robert Frost, Road Not Traveled

This is Florida’s best kept secret.  Streamsong Resort is nestled in Fort Meade, FL (2 hours from Orlando) and is a hidden gem, literally and figuratively.  This 5-year old resort stretches out to 16,000 acres and the land was formerly used for mining phosphate also known as P2O5, which became the name of one of their restaurants.

Interior of P205

The resort is breathtaking, the food was so good – the best I’ve ever had in my entire life, the customer service was top-notch, and nature really did its job. Out of all the assignments I’ve done for Tasty Chomps, this one was my favorite.

Thank you Diana & Michelle from The Zimmerman Agency for hosting us! We all had an amazing time and we couldn’t have asked for a better weekend escape.  Everything was perfection.

The one-of-a-kind/state of the art infrastructure at Streamsong Resort attracts bountiful of visitors, however, you won’t find any of them lounging around the main lobby on a sunny day.  You can find them outside utilizing three of the country’s top luxury golf courses, bass fishing on the serene lakes, shooting sporting clays, practicing archery, going on a walk on the nature trails, dining at the five casual or fine dining restaurants, sunbathing at the lakeside infinity pool, or getting pampered at the AcquaPietra – the resort’s European-style grotto spa that looks like elephant legs dipped in an ocean. The healing pools has various temperatures from warm to ice-cold. The wet sauna was my favorite because it was a heated steam room that had cold water running down from a shower head… It was a pretty exhilarating experience feeling two sensations at once.  Streamsong Resort has a lot of offer on and off-site. My room alone came with a beautiful view, free Wi-Fi, complimentary bites from The Zimmerman Agency, a Keurig machine, a mini-fridge, two televisions, a therapeutic shower and a mini-library of literary classics… perfect for a rainy day.

Smoked almond bark (the best chocolate bark I’ve ever had!), brown sugar smoked bacon, smoked monchego
Red sangria – Cabernet Sauvignon, josh cellars, blackberry brandy, freshly squeezed orange juice, spriteWhite sangria – chardonnay, josh cellars, triple sec, lavender bitters, apple juice, freshly squeezed orange juiceSottaTerra, the resort’s restaurant that is under Earth.Private limousine (right) and a shuttle (left) that runs every 15 minutes.

Jim & Maria from the hospitality team were extremely welcoming and accommodating.

Chef demonstration with Executive Chef Michael Ford at Streamsong Blue No. 1.  A really nice guy.
Shrimp Cocktail – shrimp, kumquat, cilantro, chives, rum, olive oil, red onion, chili flakes, plum sauce, lime, red bell peppers, horseradish, watercress, napa cabbage.
Fifty-Nine Restaurant & Bar, the epitome of a luxurious seafood and steakhouse.
Key west yellowtail with coconut curry & handmade coriander noodles
 72-hour pastrami short rib with popcorn grits & pickled vegetables
Four peppercorn mizayaki Kobe ribeye with unagi glacé. I highly recommend this!  Best thing I ever ate. My palate is forever changed and will never be the same.
Bone Valley Tavern, the resort’s newest and most popular dining experience.
Tuna wonton – pineapple, avocado mash, puffed rice
Smoked bacon – apricot dressing, frisse
Rotisserie chicken – potato puree, jus lie, chives
Haberno Mary (virgin version) outdoor fire pit — the perfect spot for a glass of wine and stargazing.
One-pound meatball atop alta cucina tomato sauce
Linguine pesto & diver scallops
Veal ossobuco with truffle risotto & gremlota
Mason jar strawberry shortcake – strawberry ice cream, Florida strawberry filling, biscuit crumble.  The strawberry ice cream was the perfect touch to this classic dessert!
Cast iron skillet cabernet and amarena cherry cobbler
S’mores – dark chocolate brownie, graham crust, brûlée marshmallow
 Golf lovers will experience a new standard at their three critically-acclaimed luxury golf courses: Red, Blue, and Black; the only destination in the world where three distinct golf courses were designed by four legendary architects.
The view from my room.  Serene lakes and streams offer best-in-class bass fishing. 
Outdoor pursuits include sporting clays, archery, nature trails and a lakeside infinity pool.
The intimate haven features 228 spacious, modern guest rooms; 25,000 sq. ft. of flexible conference and function space, with distinctive outdoor venues.
The grotto-style AcquaPietra spaPreserved Megalodon shark teeth that were all found on Streamsong Resort property.

Be sure to check out Streamsong Resort soon for an unforgettable experience!  You will love it!

Streamsong Resort
1000 Streamsong Dr, Bowling Green, FL 33834
(888) 294-6322
http://streamsongresort.com

Plant-Based Beyond Burger at Burgerfi – Beyond Meat

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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