Jan 272016
 

On Saturday, March 5 at the Orlando World Center Marriott, top local Central Florida chefs from renowned restaurants and resorts will showcase their creativity to help raise funds at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida’s Appetite for the Arches event. This is a culinary event with a twist, chefs will use fresh McDonald’s ingredients to create one-of-a-kind signature dishes. All proceeds from the gala help Ronald McDonald House keep families together when they need it most —during the treatment of a critically ill child.

We’ve attended for the past three years and were lucky enough to attend a sneak peak this week at Cask and Larder. Here’s what we enjoyed and is set to debut at the event March 5! PS: for the full recap of last year’s event check out our 2015 event post.

  • Kathleen Blake, The Rusty Spoon: Deviled stuffed eggs with bacon brittle and oven-dried tomatoes.
  • Kevin Fonzo, K Restaurant: Chicken tortilla soup with savory biscuit bread pudding.
  • Rhys Gawlak, Cask & Larder: Kale Gnocchi Carbonara
  • Clayton Miller, DoveCote {coming soon to downtown!}: Smoked beef tongue, Reuben, crispy potato and Big Mac sauce.
  • Julie Petrakis, The Ravenous Pig: Cheesecake with espresso crumble and strawberry-Frangelico sauce.
 Participating Restaurants Include:
  • 4Rivers
  • Capa at Four Seasons Resort Orlando
  • Cask & Larder Public House
  • DoveCote
  • Emeril’s Tchoup Chop
  • Hard Rock Orlando
  • Hamilton’s Kitchen at the Alfond Inn
  • K Restaurant
  • LUMA on Park
  • Orlando World Center Marriott
  • Ravello at Four Seasons Resort Orlando
  • RusTeak
  • Spanish River Grill
  • Swine & Sons Provisions
  • The Ravenous Pig
  • The Rusty Spoon

Tickets are $150 per person until Thursday, February 4.On Friday, February 5, ticket prices will increase to $200 per person. For additional information about Appetite for the Arches including ticket information visit www.appetiteforthearches.org.

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Photo Credit: So May Ly Photography (tortilla soup), all other photos by Spork Orlando.

Jan 272016
 

A few months ago we visited Plancha at Four Seasons and so enjoyed our lunch by the lake. This lakeside Cuban American restaurant at Tranquilo Golf Club will begin offering Sunday brunch on March 13, 2016.

There are three options for brunch at Plancha:

  • A three-course menu with buffet appetizers, choice of one entrée and dessert, plus soft drinks/juices and one alcoholic beverage, for $68 per person.
  • Buffet only (excluding choice of a la carte entrée) for $45 per person
  • And a la carte only. Bottomless beverages, including Mimosas and Marys, will be available for an additional $18.

The buffet will include assorted salads, fruits, smoked salmon and bagels, artisan meats and cheeses, black bean hummus and vegetables, assorted breakfast pastries and more.

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Entrees and a la carte items include a roasted prime rib, vegan spaghetti zucchini, cured salmon, American beef slider, Tampa Bay shrimp omelet with jalapenos and cilantro, a twisted benedict with truffle hollandaise and grilled asparagus, a “very berry” French toast, oatmeal pancakes, and fried chicken and white cheddar waffles.

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The dessert buffet will include a selection of seven signature desserts, including Plancha’s flan, tres leches and guava roll.

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“I’m very excited to begin serving brunch at Plancha,” says Pedro Sanchez, Plancha Chef. “The location is perfect for a leisurely brunch, and we’ve prepared a delicious menu with a lot of flavor to ensure there’s something for everyone.”

Brunch will be available every Sunday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.  Plancha offers complimentary valet parking and complimentary self-parking.  For reservations, call 407 313 6161.

 

 

Photo Credit: Plancha

Jan 182016
 

With a three-day-weekend we found some bonus time to enjoy a variety of Orlando’s eats. Here’s what we enjoyed and tasted this weekend as we wandered the city for the best bites.

Four Seasons Chef’s Night

  • Our friends at Aggressive Appliances invited us to join them for Chef’s Night at Second Harvest. If you’re in the market for some home improvements, you must visit their showroom on Mercy Drive! A zillion times better than Home Depot, promise. Anyways, if you’re not familiar, Chef’s Night brings local top chefs into Second Harvest’s Community Kitchen to celebrate food and raise money for a good cause. All proceeds benefit Second Harvest’s Culinary Training Program, which provides students with the skills and inspiration they need to obtain an entry-level position in a food service establishment.

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  • Last week, Executive Sous Chef Sam Faggetti and Executive Pastry Chef Rabii Saber from the Four Seasons whipped up an incredible four course meal with courses ranging from pork belly to pan roasted lamb. Our personal favorites from the night included a vibrant king crab dish with brown butter, celery root and grapefruit – as well as the grand finale, the lemon bar. Paired with fresh-made strawberry ice cream, this citrus dish was a true delicacy. And for the grand, grand finale we walked away with the most fabulous macarons which truly put the Four Seasons pastry skills on display!
  • Thank you, thank you Aggressive Appliances, we so enjoyed dining with you, your guests and our new friends from the Ancient Olive. {PS: read more about this fabulous Winter Park spot here.}

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The Coop {Breakfast}

  • With so many options we couldn’t decide on just one or two plates, so we ended up with umm….four dishes. Oops. After walking around Winter Park with our pups we settled in outside and indulged in a carb-licious breakfast. If you order nothing else, make sure their cinnamon roll ends up on your table. This gooey-ooey warm piece of bliss is so good you won’t care how bad it is for your diet.

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  • We also sampled the chicken and waffles (with chocolate chips of course) and fried chicken scrambled eggs. Plus, now they have Peet’s coffee which makes for the perfect accompaniment to all that brunching. Oh and their biscuits? The fluffiest in town.

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Tim’s Wine Shop “Breaking Resolutions”

  • We ditched our well intended resolutions and sampled the 30+ wines on display across Ivanhoe Village. We even picked up an adorable card from Paper Goat Post. Throughout the evening we tasted wines from the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Argentina and Australia and met many of the people who make them. Our favorite sip of the night? Besserat de Bellefon Brut Rosé NV. Rated 92 points by Wine Spectator and the real deal hailing from the Champagne region of France.

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Santiago’s Bodega

  • After all that wine sampling we walked towards this tapas hot spot. Seriously, it was standing room only at 9 p.m.! Well worth the wait as we ordered their massive Greek salad, sparkling sangria and mini quesadillas. The perfect spot for a quick bite at the bar, sipping wine or a full meal if you can score a table.

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Photo Credits: Santiago’s Bodega and Besserat de Bellefon. All other photos owned by Spork.

Jan 172016
 

The Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by FOOD & WINE (SOBEWFF) is pleased to announce its event line-up for the Festival’s 15th anniversary, taking place February 24 – 28, 2016. The event was recently recognized as the #1 food and restaurant industry event in the U.S. by BizBash for the third year in a row.

The inaugural edition of the Festival’s new Taste Fort Lauderdale Series will begin on Wednesday, February 24 with Seaside Eats hosted by Robert Irvine at the historic Bonnet House Museum & Gardens, featuring pours from Chȃteau D’Esclans.  The series will include a selection of intimate dinner experiences taking place at various Fort Lauderdale restaurants and featuring renowned chefs and culinary personalities like Todd English, Debi Mazar & Gabriele Corcos, Marc Vetri, and Auberge Resorts’ Robert Curry and Paul Lemieux.  Culminating with a Bloody Mary Brunch hosted by the Cast of Chopped at The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, February 28, the introduction of the Taste Fort Lauderdale Series marks a natural evolution of the Festival in its 15th year.

New Festival events in 2016 also include:

  • Grilled Cheese Happy Hour hosted by Laura Werlin & Ms. Cheezious
  • Midnight Breakfast hosted by Chrissy Teigen & Fireman Derek
  • Dessert Party hosted by Duff Goldman
  • Croquetamania hosted by Jean-Georges Vongerichten
  • Like Water for Chocolate Screening & Conversation with Screenwriter Laura Esquivel

The Festival’s iconic tents on the beach stretching between 10th & 13th Streets off Ocean Drive house Goya Foods Grand Tasting Village featuring MasterCard Grand Tasting Tents & KitchenAid® Culinary Demonstrations, which continues to capitalize on the revamped setting and programming structure successfully introduced during last year’s Festival.  This gourmet sampling features the finest pours from the Southern Wine & Spirits of Florida portfolio, and a tri-county array of restaurants, led by this year’s Culinary Captains representing neighborhoods across South Florida.

Popular returning events for the 15th year include:

  • Wine Spectator Wine Seminars, highlighting Heitz Wine Cellars, Joseph Phelps Winery, Opus One Winery, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, and more.
  • Bank of America Lifestyle Seminars
  • Paella & Tapas by the Pool hosted by José Andrés, featuring pours from Vibrant Rioja.
  • Tacos After Dark hosted by Aarón Sánchez
  • Oyster Bash hosted by Josh Capon, paired with samplings from HENRIOT Inc.
  • The Art of Tiki hosted by Guy Fieri
  • YogArt presents Buddhas & Bellinis, accompanied by Cavicchioli Prosecco.
  • Yappie Hour hosted by Rachael Ray, with sips from Chateau La Paws™ Wines.
  • Chicken Coupe hosted by Andrew Carmellini, including bubbles from Champagne Bligny, Pol Roger and more.
  • Goya Foods Swine & Wine hosted by Lorena Garcia, showcasing samplings from the Frederick Wildman and Sons, Ltd.

So make plans to attend this fabulous multi-day festival and hop on the turnpike with a few of your best friends. For tickets and full details, visit their website. See you in Miami!

 

 

Photo Credits: SOBEWFF

Jan 142016
 

The New Year has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean the celebration needs to end.  It’s the prime time to celebrate National Meat Month.  Here’s some places to get your carnivore fix:

Baldwin Park

  • In addition to a raw bar stocked with fresh oysters and extravagant paddlefish caviar, The Osprey Tavern (4899 New Broad St) boasts succulent craft meats cuts such as Vande Rose Pork Chops and Allen Brothers Beef Ribeye.

The Osprey Tavern  Allen Brothers Beef Ribeye

Winter Park 

  • Check out what’s smokin’ at 4 Rivers Smokehouse (11 locations including Downtown, Winter Park and East Orlando)—there’s a reason the Signature Angus Brisket is said to be the best in town! Prefer pork or poultry? Take a bite out of a Southern Pulled Pork or Six Shooters Stacker– cheese grits topped with pulled pork, slaw, pickles, jalapeños and 4R sauce.

4 Rivers Smokehouse 18-Hour Smoked Angus Brisket

  • It’s not hard to see why Cask & Larder (565 W Fairbanks Ave) is a meatlover’s favorite gastropub! Cask & Larder caters to the adventurous palate with wondrous dishes like Braised Rabbit and Smoked Bone Marrow. For guests looking for simpler dishes, can enjoy Hanger Steak and Country Ham.

Cask & Larder Country Ham

  • It’s a pig party at The Ravenous Pig (1234 N Orange Ave)! Pork-centric offerings like the Pork Porterhouse and Tete de Cochon Board will elicit squeals of delight. For diners looking for less porcine options, keep an eye out for morsels like the Beef Tartare and Duck Confit.
  • If you prefer to intake your meats in the comfort of your home, Swine & Sons (595 W Fairbanks Ave) has you covered! Offering both dine-in and take-out options, guests can enjoy Rib-Eye Hotdogs and a Country Terrine. While you’re there, grab an order of Swine & Son’s celebrated biscuits, the perfect side for any meaty dish.

I-Drive/Sand Lake

  • Bring the meat month celebration to Taverna Opa Orlando (Pointe Orlando, 9101 International Drive #2240, Orlando, FL 32819), where the party isn’t over until the ouzo stops flowing.

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  • Treat yourself to an international twist on your favorite meats at Dragonfly Robata (7972 Via Dellagio Way)! There is no shortage of options for meat lovers, from Tontoro, pork cheek with a sesame oil dipping sauce to Gyu, certified Angus ribeye.

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Photo Credits: Photos provided from each respective business.

Jan 132016
 

John Rivers is bringing Taco Tuesday to 4 Rivers Smokehouse and The COOP! Every Tuesday, visit any 4R location for a smokin’ special—three Brisket Street Tacos—topped with cilantro lime crème fraiche, guasacaca, pico de gallo, queso blanco and fresh cilantro—and a fountain drink for just $6.99!

Prefer Southern fare to barbecue? Make The COOP your Taco Tuesday destination, where they’re serving up the same deal with your choice of Fried Chicken Tacos—topped with ranch dressing, cabbage, pico de gallo, cilantro and queso fresco—or Fried Catfish Tacos—topped with corn salsa, roasted salsa and white cabbage.

See you there!

4R Brisket Tacos

The COOP Chicken Tacos

 

 

Photo Credit: 4 Rivers and The Coop

Jan 112016
 

With no formal plans, and a lot of time on our hands this weekend, we dined out. A lot. Our plates varied wildly from Park Ave eats to drive through dining. Here’s what we enjoyed (and didn’t) this weekend as we scoured the city for the best eats.

Prato: Arguably the trendiest restaurant in Winter Park and one that just exudes that coolness factor. My brother gave us a generous gift card for Christmas, so we were eager to nab a reservation and a date night. I’m obsessed with their Widowmaker Pizza, but opted for a seasonal pie instead this trip. Big mistake. While still tasty, you just cannot beat that egg and sausage goodness. Alas, their famous meatballs made up for the mildly disappointing pineapple pizza.

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Peterbrooke: We strolled over for some creamy gelato and inhaled their Banana Caramel Praline gelato with sugar coated pralines. It’s rumored that Oprah has buckets of this confection shipped to her house, so you know it has to be good. 

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Lineage Coffee: I love that this place takes coffee as serious as say a winemaker takes grapes or a chef with his ingredients. Their passion is intense and their methods refined. I ordered the mocha (too bitter) but gulped down their white cold brew. This bottled goodness is bound to replace your Starbucks habit.

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The Boathouse: We finally made it to this Disney Springs spot. After strategically avoiding the parks due to marathon weekend, we settled into a waterfront seat out on the dock. We enjoyed a very belated lunch and glasses of sparkling rosé. Their impressive wine list boasts all the “celebrity” brands you’d expect to see at a trendy restaurant, many of which you can enjoy by the glass. From Caymus to Penfolds, and plenty of bubbly, you’ll have a difficult time deciding on your libation. We ordered a variety of plates to share, but settled on the filet mignon sliders as our favorite. Grab a seat by the water, order a bottle (or two) and enjoy that endless summer that Florida has to offer at The Boathouse.

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The Ganachery: An adorable little chocolate shop adjacent to The Boathouse. Other than the terribly unpleasant odor (assuming there was a plumbing problem this weekend?) these bites of bliss were perfection. My caramel sea salt square was sprinkled with the perfect amount of salty crystals and filled with luxurious caramel. Pop in for a few squares during your next trip to Disney Springs.

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Until next weekend Orlando….

 

 

 

 

Photo Credits: Disney Springs/The Ganachery + Peterbrooke

Boathouse Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato