With its chic exterior and glowing Yelp reviews we recently decided to try Kasa Restaurant & Bar in Downtown Orlando. If you’re looking for trendy and tasty eats, grab your friends, head to Kasa and feast on an array of mini plates.

Here’s what we sampled and enjoyed during our recent visit.

• Quinoa Greek: A fresh bed of greens atop cucumbers, Kalamata olives, red onions, feta, cranberries, bell peppers, tomato, mixed greens, citrus vinaigrette and red quinoa. Fresh and flavorful, you won’t mind that it’s healthy!

• Mango BBQ Glazed Baby Back Ribs: Literally fall-off-the-bone, you could slice this juicy meat with practically your fingers. Tasty, tender and served with Yucca fries, ramen or kimchee slaw.

• Drunken Kobe Brisket: Dark beer braised brisket, garlic cream sauce, horseradish havarti, pepper relish. A unique taste on brisket, but something I’d order next time. Like the ribs, this meat was tender and uniquely spiced.

• Tuna Tostones: Spicy tuna served with tostones, avocado puree and a tropical mango relish. Not my favorite, but my better half was obsessed with this plate.

• Kasa Corn: Oh. My. Goodness. I’d go back to Kasa just for corn and wine. Presented as three mini corn skewers and lathered in miso lime aioli, spices, manchego and queso fresco. The cheeses and spices are perfection!

• Adobo Pork & Crispy Polenta Cake: Mmmm polenta and pork, need I say more? These mini cakes are artfully served and are perfect for sharing. Served with Avocado puree, chipotle braised pork, pickled red onions, queso fresco and cilantro.

Kasa also has a killer Happy Hour on Tuesdays, unlimited wine and bites for 20 bucks on Wednesdays and a Sunday brunch buffet complete with bottomless mimosas and Kasa Roja Sangria. Happy tasting!

Photo Credit: All photos taken by Spork with the exception of the corn post

McDonald’s is now randomly accepting Lovin’ as a form of currency. Following the launch of McDonald’s “Pay with Lovin’” Super Bowl commercial, the company is bringing the idea to life at participating restaurants across the U.S, including right here in Central Florida.

Customers who enter participating McDonald’s restaurants* in the Central Florida area at randomized, predetermined times between Monday, Feb. 2 and Saturday, Feb. 14 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time each day will be selected at random to participate. Once a selected customer has completed his or her order and presented a method of payment, the restaurant Guest Service Manager or Lovin’ Lead will explain that McDonald’s is doing something special that day, and the customer will be given the option to pay for his or her order with an act of Lovin’ instead. For instance, breakfast might cost a friendly fist bump to the crew member on duty, lunch could be paid for with a call to a loved one and dinner could go for a compliment**.

“McDonald’s is in a unique position to bring a little more lovin’ to our customers,” said Deborah Wahl, chief marketing officer for McDonald’s USA. “We’re on a journey to change the relationship and conversation and Pay with Lovin’ is a direct way for us to engage with our customers. We believe that a little more Lovin’ can change a lot.”

McDonald’s is encouraging people to share their Lovin’ experiences and join the conversation by following @McDonalds, @McD_CentralFL and by visiting McDonalds.com .

* Drive Thru not included

** Examples only

Food Network star Alton Brown will extend his tour, Alton Brown Live! to Orlando at the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center in February. The two hour show will feature comedy, talk show antics, a multimedia lecture, live music (he sings! who knew?) and a dash of “extreme” food experimentation.

“We have combined science, music, food, and a few other things no one in his right mind would allow me to do on TV, into a two hour extravaganza that’s fun for the whole family,” says Brown.  He has been cultivating the show’s material for about a decade and wrote most of the musical numbers which all take a comedic look at food.

Brown, author of seven books including the James Beard award winning “I’m Just Here for the Food” and New York Times bestselling sequence “Good Eats,” has hosted numerous food series including “Iron Chef America.”  He currently serves as host on the game show “Cutthroat Kitchen.”

Alton Brown Live:

• Where: Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
• When: Saturday, February 7
• Cost: Starting at $39.50
• Tickets: Click here to purchase tickets

If you haven’t made it over to Soco yet, you’re really missing out. As an added bonus Soco is now serving up happy hour Monday through Friday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Sip and taste their specials including $5 house wine by the glass and $1 off all Bar Plates and Small Plates.

Offerings include:

• $4 bottled beers
• $5 house wines by the glass
• $6 mixed drinks
• $8 house cocktails
• Slow-Roasted Barbecue-Glazed Pork Belly Biscuits (our favorite!)
• Crispy Macaroni and Cheese Croquettes
• And more!

Each week Soco will also feature a Whiskey or Bourbon from their extensive list. Offerings will range from Templeton Rye, a small batch whiskey created by the enterprising residents of a small Iowa town during the Prohibition Era to Blanton’s Bourbon, a spicy combination of burnt sugar, caramel and orange.

Grab your friend or favorite coworker and wind down the day at the trendiest corner in Thornton Park!

Drink photo credit – Soco, all other images belong to Spork