Events Archives - Spork Orlando

A Magical Dining Favorite (+ Champagne)

Jul 222017

We are magical dining obsessed, it’s the best way to try over 100 local restaurants for just $35 per person! Our favorite and one that’s worth visiting multiple times is Ravello at Four Seasons Resort. Their prix-fixe three-course meal (and all Magical Dining meals) benefit Freedom Ride and BASE Children’s Cancer Foundation. One of the tastiest and best options, the Ravello menu includes:

Appetizer (select one)

Insalata Mista with trevisana, arugula, lola rossa, moscato vinaigrette
Polpettine meatballs with mortadella, prosciutto, pomodoro sauce and mascarpone, grilled pan pugliese
Gelato di Parmigiano with radish, artisan lettuce, cucumber, tomato vinaigrette, Parmigiano cheese gelato and taralli crumble
House made charcuterie and cheese board

Entree (select one)

House made bucatini amatriciana with guanciale, onion, pomodoro sauce
Chicken puttanesca with polenta, taggiasca olive, capers and pesce spada
Swordfish with sale speziato, salmoriglio, roasted potatoes, spinach, pomodorini, taggiasca olives

Dessert (select one)

Affogato vanilla housemade gelato with Café Umbrian espresso
Sicillian cannolis with pistachio and candied orange

Magical Dining runs August 25, 2017 and runs through October 1, 2017. For reservations and the full list of restaurants, click here.

Don’t want to wait a whole month to enjoy a special Four Seasons experience? Capa will feature an incredible Louis Roederer Champagne Dinner on August 3, at 6 p.m. August 3 also marks the resort’s third anniversary, truly an occasion worth celebrating! The five-course dinner will feature rare pairings, including Cristal and Cristal Rose. Proof that bubbles pair with more than just caviar, here’s the stellar lineup for the evening!

Between all that Magical Dining and champagne sipping, you’ll want to “take the elevator home” after the night out. With adult amenities such as The Oasis adult-only pool, the 18-hole Tranquilo Golf Club (with an awesome brunch at Plancha) and a 18-treatment room Spa, Four Seasons Resort Orlando is an ideal adult destination. So tell us, what’s your favorite way to experience Four Seasons?

The Ultimate Champagne Dinner (!) at Four Seasons

Jul 092017

What’s more luxurious (and fun) than a champagne dinner at the Four Seasons? Yea, we can’t think of anything either! Last week we were fortunate enough to attend a special Louis Roederer champagne dinner at Capa celebrating the resort’s third birthday. The five-course dinner featured rare pairings, including Cristal and Cristal Rosé.

A good night always starts AND ends with champagne…..the evening’s stellar lineup below.

Amuse Bouche

Zanahoria PB&J, Foie Terrine Tetilla, Cheese Puff Fingerlings, Smoked Crema, Caviar – so many fun bites to start off the meal, especially all the caviar!
Champagne Louis Roederer, Brut Premier NV – super tasty and available for about $50 bucks from a wine shop, well worth the money.

Primero

Lobster with turnips, ponzu vinaigrette and lardo – lobster and champagne, the ultimate and perfect pairing.
Champagne Louis Roederer, Brut Premier NV

Segundo

Oxtail Consommé, A5 wagyu and artichoke – always a treat to taste some of the finest wagyu on earth.
Champagne Louis Roederer, Brut Nature 2009 (zero dosage) – bone dry, but still delicate, so obsessed with this sparkler!

Tercero

Salmon, burnt leek and champagne sabayon – because when you’re drinking champagne, why not also make it a main ingredient in a dish too.
Champagne Louis Roederer, Brut Rosé 2011 – takes the whole “Rosé All Day” thing to another level, I must find a bigger champagne budget so I can order more bottles for myself.

Entrante

Braised Veal with potato and truffle – fork tender and exploding with goodness, this main dish was fabulous.
Cristal, Brut 2009 – see comment above about needing a bigger champagne budget. I’m still dreaming about this elegant champagne in my sleep. Maybe someday I’ll have the chance to enjoy it again.

Postre

Turron Helado, apricot, currant and pistachio – every single morsel of dessert that their pastry chef has ever created is divine. This dessert was no exception, the right ending to an evening of bubbly and gourmet fare.
Cristal, Brut Rosé 2007 – Vintage. Bubbly. Rosé. No better way to end an evening.

And then we called Uber. The end!

Caribbean Carnaval at Loews

Jul 092017

Loews Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal Orlando recently debuted a new weekly themed dinner show, Caribbean Carnaval, featuring an all-you-can-eat buffet and high-energy, live entertainment for the entire family. You’ll be immediately greeted by the sights and sounds of a party in paradise. Accompanied by stilt walkers and acrobatic dancers, the evening’s lively hosts take you on a flavorful, musical tour through the Caribbean.

“The addition of Caribbean Carnaval takes our guest experience to a new level,” says Barb Bowden, complex managing director for Loews Sapphire Falls Resort and Loews Royal Pacific Resort. “Our team set out to create an evening filled with food, fun and celebration. Guests can savor an amazing array of Caribbean-inspired food and drink one minute, then be on their feet doing the limbo next.”

Experience authentic Caribbean dishes and drinks, including Planter’s Punch, mojo roasted suckling pig, ropa vieja, jerk chicken, grilled snapper, Caribbean rum cake and guava flan. A colorful cast of characters provides exciting live entertainment as they take you on a musical voyage from Florida through the Bahamas with stops in Cuba, Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad.

Caribbean Carnaval takes place every Wednesday night in the resort’s outdoor pavilion, Cayman Court. Seating begins at 6 pm and the show starts at 7 pm. Tickets are $69 for adults and $35 for children ages 3-9. Children under 3 are complimentary. Price includes gratuity, non-alcoholic beverages, wine, beer and Planter’s Punch. Tax and ticketing fees apply.

For reservations, call 407-503-DINE (3463) or visit caribbeancarnaval.eventbrite.com.

PS: In case you missed our post on Strong Water Tavern at Loews Sapphire Falls, see more on this rum filled spot here!

5 Reasons We Loved The Science of Wine

May 122016

Let’s imagine how much cooler college would have been with a course called The Science of Wine. Sign us up for courses I and II, please!

On Friday, April 30, The Science of Wine, one of Central Florida’s premier wine events, returned for the sixth consecutive year with hundreds of wine enthusiasts in attendance. The interactive evening, filled to the brim tastings of fine wines from the world’s major regions, benefitted the Orlando Science Center (OSC). If you’re reading this, we are officially friends, so I can share that I don’t even drink, and this event has gone down in the books as one of Spork Orlando’s local favorites. Luckily, my sidekick for the evening kept her glass full and served as my official drink tester.

Before we get started, click here to find out what kind of vino matches your personality with BuzzFeed’s wine quiz!

1. Yes Way, Rosé // With more than 150 fine wines poured from all around the world, guests left with a newfound appreciation for the many varietals available both locally and abroad. Julie Pepi, a fine wine director and second-level sommelier, led a sold-out wine seminar sponsored by Southern Wine & Spirits.

2. It Was Totally A Food Festival // Between me, you and your laptop’s firewalls, the evening’s food presence stole the show. Guests that headed down the wine trail discovered new foodie stops along every step of the way. Local favorites, such as Tapa Toro, Taverna Opa, The Swine Family, Black Rooster Taqueria and 4 Rivers Smokehouse helped balance palates with dishes ranging from vegetarian paella to smoked pork bang bang tacos.

Admittedly, Puff ‘n Stuff Catering’s avocado bar was pretty impressive. Imagine halved and seared hass avocados served with DIY toppings, such as crab, grilled corn, orange tomatoes, scallions, chickpeas, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Can we all agree that every event should have this?

3. Three Words: Chef Emily Ellyn // This Retro Rad Diva, who is best known for her appearances on Food Network and culinary contributions throughout Central Florida, invited guests to put on their lab coats and cook up some fun! Using just the right formula, she took guests down a twisted memory lane with a Peanut Butter & Jelly Snow Cone cooking demonstration.

Photo Credit: Orlando Science Center

4. Sip with Benefits // Proceeds raised by The Science of Wine help provide operating support for educational programs and opportunities for science learners of all ages to experience the fun and discovery of Orlando Science Center, a 501(c)(3) organization.

Photo Credit: Orlando Science Center

5. The Perfect Blend // Around every corner, we found Orlandoans from different industries and walks of life to befriend. The thing to remember is that you’ve already got something in common: a love for wine!

Next year, bring your cards and fully-charged phone because you’ll definitely see something Snapchat worthy, and you won’t want to miss it.

Snack on,

Major

+++

Cows ‘n Cabs in Winter Park

Sep 032014

Cows ‘n Cabs returns to Winter Park’s West Meadow Saturday, October 25! The outdoor, Western-themed festival will benefit the Community Food & Outreach Center and Elevate Orlando, which assists with fighting hunger and mentoring youth, respectively.

4 Rivers Smokehouse, K Restaurant, The COOP, P is for Pie and Txokos Basque Kitchen are just a few of this year’s participating restaurants. Grab your cowboy boots, your appetite and head to Winter Park for the season’s best culinary event!

For $140, you can purchase a VIP ticket and receive a one-hour sneak preview at 6 p.m. General admission tickets priced at $110 grant entrance at 7 p.m. until the festival concludes at 10 p.m.

For more information and a complete list of sponsors and participating restaurants, visit www.cowsncabs.com.