There are zillions of recipes on the internet, but only a handful of people really know how to artfully craft ingredients together in a dish. So, we present to you seven guaranteed-to-be-tasty recipes from award winning James Beard Chefs. Happy cooking!
It’s always nice to indulge in a bit of luxury and thanks to the Four Seasons there’s plenty of upcoming opportunities to experience the “finer things” in Orlando. From tequila dinners to new menu items there’s plenty to explore this time of year at the Four Seasons.
Casa Dragones Joven Tequila Dinner:
The five-course menu will be served at Plancha, the Resort’s lakeside Cuban American restaurant at the Tranquilo Golf Clubhouse. The full dinner will be paired with Casa Dragones Joven, a 100 percent blue agave Joven tequila. This master blend of silver tequila and extra aged tequila, rested in new American oak barrels for five years, lends a complex, smooth taste that is perfect for sipping and pairing with food. The evening will begin with a reception at 6:30 pm and seated dinner at 7:00 pm. The menu includes:
Reservations for this tequila pairing dinner, $145 per person, can be made by calling 407 313 6161.
Miami Takeover Dinner:
Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort is spicing up the night with a special “Miami Takeover” dinner, featuring three prominent guest chefs visiting from Miami. On June 25, 2016, the Resort’s Plancha restaurant at Tranquilo Golf Clubhouse will welcome Executive Chef Aaron Brooks from EDGE, Steak & Bar at Four Seasons Hotel Miami; Executive Chef Dena Marino from MC Kitchen; and Executive Chef Jose Mendin from Pubbelly Restaurant Group. The chefs will cook alongside Capa Chef Tim Dacey and Executive Pastry Chef Rabii Saber from Four Seasons Resort Orlando.
Events + Dining for Global Wellness Day:
In observance of the fifth annual Global Wellness Day on Saturday, June 11, 2016, Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort is encouraging guests to “Say Yes!” to wellness, with fitness classes and special menu options designed to promote a healthy lifestyle.
See? Told you there’s lots to celebrate in luxurious style at the Four Seasons. If you need me I’ll be taking a stay-cation on Dream Tree Boulevard.
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
+++
SOMM, Orlando’s newest wine bar, offers a focused, smart and approachable selection of wines from the world’s top wine producing regions. Located along I-Drive, their wine list features 60 varietals, which are available by the bottle or in three, six or nine-ounce pours as well as create your own flight options.
Last week we were invited to a blind tasting with Master Sommelier Michael McNeill where we started with champagne and tasted six different wines, three reds and three whites alongside The Court of Master Sommeliers tasting grid. We spent the evening making conclusions about each wine while trying to keep up with a room full of professionals with way more experience at blind tastings. Overall, we had a delightful and informative evening as we furthered our knowledge in the world of wine!
If you missed last week’s tasting, we’d highly recommend joining SOMM every Monday at 7 p.m. for their weekly blind tasting. Whether you’re new to wine or studying for your next exam, you’re sure to further your wine knowledge and have fun while at SOMM. And while food is still in the works, they will soon be serving a variety of hot and cold dishes from SLATE. Additionally, a Happy Hour will launch soon – we’ll be sure to share all the details with you!
SOMM is open daily from 4 p.m. to 10 pm (Mon.-Thurs.), 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. (Friday) and noon to 12 a.m. (Sat.-Sun.). For more information about SOMM, visit http://www.slateorlando.com/p/somm.html.
A few weeks ago we visited and wrote about our first experience here, since then we’ve returned for multiple visits and had to share more of their dishes. The menu at NOVA is inspired by Executive Chef Valintinus Domingo’s lifetime of travels as well as his southern and Pacific Islander roots. Here is a rundown of Chef Val’s offering we were able to sample last week.
Haven’t visited NOVA yet? Add this spot to your “must try” list!
Founded in 2002, Freddy’s opened their first location in Wichita, Kan., offering a unique combination of cooked-to-order steak-burgers, Chicago dogs, and frozen custard made fresh throughout the day. Recently Freddy’s has migrated down south and opened two locations throughout Orlando. In a world of over-saturated burger joints, we had to check out what makes Freddy’s unique. Different than say a Shake Shack or gourmet burgers piled high with fancy toppings, Freddy’s has done an excellent job keeping their burger simple and flavorful. Their burgers are akin to a Steak ‘n Shake’s patty, but exceptionally tastier.
In addition to their steak-burgers, Freddy’s has also added Fried Pickles and a Cookie Butter Concrete available now through June 15. Sliced pickles are breaded, fried golden and crispy on the outside, but remain tangy and crunchy on the inside. The salty sliced pickles are the perfect alternative to french fries. To craft the Cookie Butter Concrete, vanilla frozen custard is blended with creamy cookie butter made from Belgian spice cookies. A buttery soft confection that we so enjoyed tasting alongside our burgers and deep fried pickles.
Between the burgers, fried pickles and sweet concrete we’re now fans of Freddy’s and are definitely adding this spot to our burger rotation. Freddy’s is located at 3200 South Orange Avenue and 8107 Vineland Avenue. For more information and menu details visit https://freddysusa.com.
I’m always envious of “beer drinkers,” with their portable cans and rolling coolers, hops connoisseurs are always able to enjoy a beverage on the go. If you prefer wine (like me) tailgates and pool parties are often void of wine because a bottle of wine isn’t practical in all situations. So when we found out about imported Italian wine in single-serve aluminum bottles we were suddenly inspired to host a tailgate.
Riboli Family Wines has introduce a convenient new way to enjoy wine beyond the bottle. Their European design with a resealable twist-off cap offers the perfect way to enjoy this low-alcohol, frizzante wine anywhere, anytime.
From Orlando City Soccer games to Amway concerts, barbecues, picnics, and more, these 8 oz. aluminum bottles are the perfect alternative to bringing your wine bottle and corkscrew outside (although we’ve done that before). Throw these baby bottles into a wine cocktail or drink them solo because you’ll be drinking these bottles all summer long.
The aluminum bottles feature Stella Rosa Black and Platinum, both part of Stella Rosa’s luxury collection. Stella Rosa Black bursts has flavors of ripe blackberry, blueberry, and raspberry, while Stella Rosa Platinum has refreshing notes of crisp green apple, creamy vanilla, and fragrant elderflower. Both flavors are best enjoyed chilled either alone or paired with fresh fruit, cheese, spicy cuisine, or desserts.
The new aluminum bottles are being rolled out across the country throughout 2016.