Spork Orlando - Page 70 of 72 - Finding Orlando's Tastiest Tables

Orlando’s Best Pad Thai

Aug 052014

Five years ago street fare was reserved for hot dog stands and sketchy food carts. It’s amazing how a concept can quickly turn from gross to gourmet. We recently ventured to the Mills 50 District for Orlando’s infamous Hawkers. If you haven’t been lately, it’s time to give this Asian street fare another taste.

We ordered a variety of dishes including their Roti Canai, Malaysian flat breads served with a side of signature spicy curry dipping sauce. All were equally delicious and washed down with $3 mimosas.

We’ve searched citywide for the best Pad Thai……and Hawkers, we pick you! Their authentic sauce is simmered for six hours and stir fried with shrimp, chicken, vegetables and red chili peppers. The dish is then garnished with peanuts and a squeeze of lime. Their noodles will leave your taste buds on fire, but you’ll ignore your spice tolerance once you experience this flavor.

Lettuce wraps usually taste like copycats from P.F. Chang’s, but Hawkers found a way to infuse flavor and spice into their version. The wraps are served with crisp lettuce cups and filled with stir fried mushrooms, water chestnuts, carrots, bean curd, garlic, ginger and choice of protein.

Three hours later we rolled ourselves out of Hawkers happy, full and a little bit spicer. Head to Hawkers to satisfy your next Asian craving. Hawkers is located at 1103 N Mills Ave, Orlando, FL, 32803 and Hawkersstreetfare.com.

Photo Credit: Instagram @hawkersstreetfare

Taste of the Nation + Coalition for the Homeless

Jul 312014

Returning for its 25th year, Orlando’s Taste of the Nation will take place August 9 at the Orlando World Center Marriott. The event celebrates Orlando’s culinary excellence and benefits Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Click here to purchase your tickets!

Today we’re taking a break from the Orlando dining scene to highlight volunteer opportunities with the Coalition for the Homeless. We recently visited their downtown campus and were completely blown away by their daily efforts to transform the lives of homeless men, women and children.

Coalition for the Homeless provides crucial services to help end the crisis of homelessness. Every day, the Coalition helps an average of 650 homeless individuals, about 200 are children. Those are staggering numbers, so we started thinking, who provides food for everyone and how?

The onsite team provided us a variety of ways to help our neighbors in need. If you can’t make it to Taste of the Nation, consider one of these options. You’ll never regret the time spent serving someone in need.

1. Food Donations

Not every meal is sponsored or served by a community group, so having a stocked pantry is imperative.
Immediate needs: canned/frozen fruit and vegetables, whole and 1% milk, instant potatoes, cereal, spices in bulk.
Items can be dropped off Monday-Saturday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., at 639 West Central Blvd, Orlando.

2. Kitchen Supplies

Just as you need tools in your own kitchen, the Coalition needs supplies to operate neat and sanitary kitchens and dining rooms.
Paper towels, napkins, foil, plastic wrap & storage bags
Spray bottles, mops, brooms, dustpans, household cleaners
Hand soap and dish detergent
Large and small garbage bags
Coffee mugs (new or used)

3. Meal Service

The Men’s Service Center offers new volunteer opportunities such as groups sponsoring or serving breakfast. There are also individual opportunities to assist in the dining room.
Option to cook a meal at your location, bring to the Coalition and serve onsite
Sponsor a meal or several meals.
Serve a routine breakfast, dinner or special lunch.
Make sandwiches for bagged lunches.
Contact Mary Vevera at marty.vevera@cflhomeless.org or 407-872-5784 for more details. Click here for more details as well.

Coalition for the Homeless served over 300,000 meals last year. With the opening of their new Men’s Service Center, they are poised to serve even more this year. Look through your kitchen for donations or grab a group of friends and plan a few hours to serve!

And see you at Taste of the Nation!

Photo Credit: Coalition for the Homeless Central Florida

Chicken N’ Waffle Cupcake

Jul 302014

Upgrade your sweet tooth with chicken n’ waffles at The Sweet Shop. The sweeter side of 4 Rivers Smokehouse is rolling out a new creation tomorrow, the Chicken N’ Waffle Cupcake!

There’s much debate over chicken and waffles originating from Thomas Jefferson’s purchase of a waffle iron from France or if it was born in South. We side with the South. Either way, this classic dish will be available in cupcake form at all 4 Rivers Smokehouses tomorrow for $3.75!

This fabulous cupcake is a butter cake blended with waffle batter then folded in fried chicken crispies. The cupcake is then drizzled with house made bourbon maple glaze, frosted with maple butter cream and topped with a waffle cone wedge. Oh my.

For more on The Sweet Shop click here for our original post Satisfying a Sweet Tooth – Best Bakeries Part I.

Key Lime Pie Oh My {Shake Shake is Open!}

Jul 302014

After endless months of anticipation, Shake Shack is finally open in Winter Park! Shake Shack originated from a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park in Manhattan. The original cart was quite successful with fans lining up daily. Today, this modern “roadside” burger stand serves up burgers, hot dogs, frozen custard, shakes, beer, wine and more. An instant neighborhood fixture in Manhattan, we’re thrilled they’re joining the Winter Park community.

We’re most excited about their beloved classic from the Miami Beach Shack that will now be served in Winter Park as well, the Key Lime Pie Oh My (vanilla frozen custard blended with a slice of key lime pie from Orlando’s own P is for Pie Bake Shop). Don’t let the long lines scare you, hop in the C-Line and skip the regular line for cold items!

Winter Park Shake Shack will also donate 5% of sales from the Winter’s Wonderland concrete to BASE Camp Children’s Cancer Foundation, a local non-profit that provides year-round support for children and families in Central Florida who are facing cancer and other illnesses.

Spork got a sneak peek of Shake Shack’s food, view and creamy shakes last night. Here’s some of our favorite shots from the night. Even if you’re not crazy for burgers and french fries, Shake Shack is worth the visit for the outdoor patio complete with a fire pit, lounge chairs, ping-pong table and incredible view of Lake Killarney. Be sure to bring along your furry friend for a Pooch-ini, ShackBurger dog biscuits, peanut butter sauce and vanilla custard. See you at the Shack!

The Capital Grill + Taste of the Nation

Jul 292014

Taste the fabulous flavors of The Capital Grille at this year’s Taste of the Nation. Click here if you missed our featured post on the event. Grab your tickets here!

Pricey steaks and stuffy service probably come to mind when you think of Capital Grille. Yet, there’s another side to this fancy steakhouse like handpicked unlimited wine for $25 and their Bone-In Kona Crusted Dry Aged Sirloin with Shallot Butter. Yay!

For the longest time we avoided Capital Grille, saving it for boring business dinners or a yearly treat. Lately though, it has been our go-to for celebrations big and small. We’ve come to the conclusion that there’s no better place in town for quality service and consistently good food. We’ve never had a bad meal here and we are always pleasantly surprised by the small service touches and exceptional food quality. You can’t go wrong with the Kona steak, Wedge with Bleu Cheese and Applewood Smoked Bacon Salad or the Seared Citrus Glazed Salmon.

The Seared Citrus Glazed Salmon recently replaced their Cedar Plank Salmon. This new version is light, flavorful and so full of flavor, you’ll forget its salmon. My husband, who typically despises avoids seafood, always debates salmon or steak before ordering. This dish is so juicy and buttery, it’s worth the overall indulgence.The Bone-In Kona Crusted Dry Aged Sirloin with Shallot Butter is the best cut of steak I’ve ever tasted. This cut is rubbed in coffee, boldly flavored and worth the extra cash.

Obviously, Capital Grille is not an everyday or weekly occasion, but right now they are offering The Generous Pour through August 31. Five highly acclaimed wines, two exclusive premieres, and all seven are hand selected by their Master Sommelier. Oh did we mention it’s only $25? That’s right, all you care to drink wine for twenty-five bucks!

Still not convinced? Head to their I-Drive or Millenia location during Magical Dining Month in September for a $33 three course meal. Even better, Capital Grille is serving up tasty bites at this year’s Taste of the Nation on August 9. Click here for your tasty tickets.

Next time you’re debating where to go for a fancy night out, head to Capital Grille for fabulous flavor and attentive service. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed!

Photo Credit: The Capital Grille Twitter

Shack’s Orlando Debut

Jul 272014

After endless months of anticipation, Shake Shack’s opening week is upon us! Shake Shack originated from a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park in Manhattan. The original cart was quite successful with fans lining up daily. Today, this modern “roadside” burger stand serves up burgers, hot dogs, frozen custard, shakes, beer, wine and more. An instant neighborhood fixture in Manhattan, we’re thrilled they’re joining the Winter Park community.

Spork is getting a taste of Shack Shake on Tuesday and we can’t wait to share all the flavors and photos. We’re currently coveting their Key Lime Pie Oh My Concrete and Chak-cago Dog. Stay tuned for more!

Photo Credit: @ShakeShack Twitter

Sweet Tooth Saga {Best Bakeries Part II}

Jul 262014

In case you haven’t noticed, we’re crazy for sweets around here! Today we’re dishing on Orlando’s best bakeries, click here if you missed part I.

There’s always more room for dessert. If you missed part I of “Best Bakeries”, click here for more sweetness. Read on for more fabulous Sunshine State sweet treats.

Peterbrooke Chocolatier – Peterbrooke technically isn’t a bakery, but I had to include them in this list because of these three words – Bananas Foster Gelato. This stuff is so good that Oprah supposedly has pounds of it sent to her house. Fact or fiction? Doesn’t matter, either way it’s amazing. The gelato is creamy, perfectly sweet and mixed with glazed pecans. Desserts mixed with nuts aren’t usually my thing, but these pecans complement the gelato perfectly. Peterbrooke’s chocolate is pretty darn good too – go for the dark chocolate pretzels or chocolate covered bacon for the ultimate salty-sweet mix. Peterbrooke is located on the darling corner of Park Avenue and East New England Avenue in Winter Park.

Mon Delice French Bakery – This simple French bakery, located in New Smyrna Beach, has served up French flavor since 1976. The owner (Serge Sorese) grew up in the Provence Region of Southern France, so you know every ingredient is authentic! The all-time hands down winner here is the Whipped Cream Éclair. It’s filled with whipped cream and topped with a smooth chocolate fondant. The éclairs are so good that a friend of mine brings a cooler with her every beach trip just to stock up on éclairs to take home. At first I thought she was crazy, but it’s actually pretty genius! And if you’re looking for the world’s best lunch, try their self-proclaimed “unforgettable” Crusty French Subs and finish your meal with a Key Lime & White Chocolate Chip Cookie. It’s paradise on a plate. Mon Delice French Bakery is located at 557 E Third Avenue, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169 and http://www.mondelicebakery.net/.

Photo Credits: droolius.com, tripadvisor.com

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