Chipotle will introduce its new vegan Sofritas menu item to each of its restaurants in Florida on Oct. 13. The rollout expands on the success of the test launches in California, Colorado, the Pacific Northwest, Chicago and select East Coast cities, and the placement as a permanent menu item in Boston and New York earlier this year. Exclusive to Chipotle, Sofritas – organic shredded tofu braised with chipotle chiles, roasted poblano peppers and a blend of aromatic spices – takes its name from “sofrito,” an aromatic combination of peppers, onions, sautéed garlic and tomatoes.

“In creating the recipe for Sofritas, we wanted to produce something that would appeal to vegetarian and vegan customers, but that was delicious enough to have crossover appeal as well,” Steve Ells, Chipotle founder, chairman and co-CEO said.

Chipotle’s tofu supplier, Hodo Soy, is known as an industry leader for its organic, non-GMO tofu. The San Francisco Bay Area company’s mission is to craft the highest-quality, best-tasting whole bean tofu, and Hodo Soy has become one of the most reputable tofu producers in the country.

Sofritas are available in burritos, tacos, bowls and salads and will become a permanent menu item in all U.S. Chipotle restaurants by the end of 2104. Stay tuned, we’re going in for a tasting soon and will be sure to share our flavor report!

Photo Credits: Chipotle

Decades ago my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer, she’s been in remission for years and three months ago she found out her breast cancer returned. My other grandmother passed away years ago from the disease, so I’m always grateful for the awareness that October brings about prevention and finding a cure for breast cancer. There’s a handful of restaurants giving back to breast cancer research and various foundations this month.

Here’s our picks for dining out with a cause in October:

• 4 Rivers Smokehouse’s The Sweet Shop: Strawberry Basil Bayou Bar, $3.25, vanilla blondie bar with basil, topped with The Sweet Shop’s fresh strawberry house frosting. 100 percent of proceeds will benefit Florida Hospital’s Breast Cancer Fund during October.

• Taverna Opa Orlando: Phyllo Our Ta-Tas, $6, nest of honey shredded house made phyllo dough topped with strawberry custard and whipped cream. 100 percent of proceeds will benefit Florida Hospital’s Breast Cancer Fund during October.

• Tijuana Flats: Turn your tacos pink for $1.00 and purchase Just in Queseo Hot Sauce for $5.00, proceeds will benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

• Rocco’s Tacos:  Taco & Tequila Tuesdays features all you-can-eat tacos including chicken, pork, steak, beef, mushroom, shrimp or mahi tacos, each with a handful of fixings, for $14.95 per person. During October, Rocco’s Tacos will donate a percentage of their Taco Tuesday sales to breast cancer research via Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Minimal lines, semi-private concerts and an abundance of tasty foods sounds like a Disney dream, but it’s a reality we experienced during last week’s Epcot Food & Wine Late Nights LIVE! After tasting various plates during Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival, we continued our feast during this new late night street party taking place every Thursday during the festival. This weekly party includes food and beverage items from select marketplaces, musical performances, street entertainment and a live techno DJ! For more on the Epcot Food & Wine Festival click here to read our original post.

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect for this late night party, but we were thrilled with our evening and the many surprises Disney included throughout the night. Between the two of us we sampled 12 drinks and dishes at marketplaces including Canada, Greece and more! Most exciting was the speciality cocktail drink, a Cranberry Cosmo served in a crazy light-up cup. We had as much fun with these glowing cups as a kid with a Mickey Mouse Ice Cream Bar.

Beyond the food, the streets of Epcot were filled with glowing dancers, stilt walkers, acoustic music and a full band. Disney is the master of catering to adults and kids alike and this event is further proof of their ability to create magic and memories for all ages.

Here’s our top picks for food, drinks and entertainment during the Epcot Food & Wine Festival – Late Nights LIVE! Happening every Thursday during the festival from 9:45 PM to 1:00 AM, $79 per person.

• Ireland: Kerrygold cheese selection with reserve cheddar, Dubliner with Irish Stout and Skellig. A variety of cheese flavors ranging from mild to semi-strong in flavor.

• Desserts & Champagne:Möet & Chandon Nectar Impérial, not too sweet, not too tart. And of course it’s always fun to drink champagne during Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival.

• Hawai’i: The Kālua pork slider with sweet and sour Dole Pineapple chutney and spicy mayonnaise was tasty, moist and a nice mix of flavors. Also notable is the Tuna Poke with seaweed salad and lotus root chips.

• Canada: “Le Cellier” wild mushroom beef filet mignon with truffle butter sauce. Even better, this dish is gluten free! One bite and you’ll know why this filet makes an appearance every year during the Epcot Food & Wine Festival.

• Greece: I’ve determined that Greece doesn’t get the attention it deserves because it’s neighbor Canada is hogging the spotlight. We were pleasantly surprised with our Chicken Gyro topped with tzatziki sauce. After grabbing your Canadian flavor, head to Greece for a gyro.

• Late Nights LIVE Entertainment: Don’t miss the acoustic duo next to Canada, this pair was incredible and spot on with each classic song they sang. Keep an eye out for the glowing street dancers and freakishly tall stilt walkers, both make surprise appearances throughout the night. They may even pull you into their dancing, you’ve been warned! The variety of entertainment was a fantastic addition to our tasty bites and sips.

If you’re looking for the perfect date night or addition to your Epcot Food & Wine Festival experience, head to Late Nights LIVE! for a memorable and tasty evening. Click here to purchase your tickets!