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Celebrating Easter Sunday

Apr 082017

Hippity, hoppity…..to Easter brunch we go! With eggcellent (sorry) options abounding in town, here are the best places to celebrate this glorious day.

The Capital Grille: This Easter Sunday, in addition to their full dinner menu, The Capital Grille will offer a prix-fixe Easter brunch menu for $49 per person and $15 for children. We’d recommend the Shrimp and Grits with Jumbo Shrimp Sautéed with Bacon, Onions, and Sweet Peppers over White Cheddar Grits Reserve here: thecapitalgrille.com

Ravello: The Resort’s modern Italian restaurant Ravello will present a lavish Easter buffet. The menu includes a wide array of offerings, ranging from a raw bar/seafood station to an antipasti and salad bar, a carving station with lavender honey glazed ham and braised lamb shank, and a hot entrée station with grilled salmon with lemon butter and capers, garlic marinated grilled chicken, and much more. Ravello Easter brunch will be offered from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm for $105 per adult and $45 per child.

Plancha: For a brunch menu with a Cuban twist, celebrate Easter Sunday at Plancha, the Resort’s Cuban American restaurant. Located at the Tranquilo Golf Club clubhouse, the lakeside restaurant offers a three-course brunch including bottomless Mimosas and Bloody Marys from an extravagant Bloody Mary Bar. Entrée choices include traditional brunch items such as eggs benedict with truffle hollandaise, very-berry French toast, shrimp omelet, chicken and white cheddar waffles, and oatmeal pancakes. Plancha brunch is offered every Sunday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm for $68 per adult and $20 per child.

Highball & Harvest: The menu will feature an omelet station, carved meats, a fresh raw bar with crab claws and cold water oysters, farm-fresh spring vegetables galore, desserts and the Bloody Mary and Mimosa bar. Available to guests for $115 for adults and $50 for children 12 and under. Brunch will be served from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling (407) 393-4422 or visit OpenTable.

Luma on Park: Luma on Park unveils an Easter menu filled with delectable brunch items along with Bellinis and Bloody Marys. Kick off the festivities with Luma’s upscale and locally inspired cuisine. The menu will be available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling (407) 599-4111 or book online.

Paddlefish: Special brunch features for Easter Sunday aboard Disney Springs’ latest arrival. Reservations here: paddlefishrestaurant.com

Prato: Celebrate Easter at Prato with a lunch menu with brunch dishes, Bellinis and Bloody Marys. Complement a lovely Easter morning with a note of Italian-inspired brunch creations. The menu will be available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling (407) 262-0050 or book online.

Reunion Resort: At Reunion, Easter is hopping with endlessly fun activities for the whole family. From classic Easter Egg hunts, traditional Easter brunch and appearances by Peter Cottontail, to waterslides, legendary golf courses, spa specials and so much more. Indulge in a variety of food stations such as the Sunrise Station with Omelets and Waffles, Morning Fare Favorites and a Carving Station with Cola Smoked Ham and Herbed Beef Tenderloin. Reservations required, call 407.662.3463

Ocean Prime: For brunch, guests can enjoy an assortment of menu items include smoked salmon with sliced tomato, arugula, whipped cream cheese and bagel for $18, blackened salmon salad with an assortment of fruit, goat cheese, field greens, candied walnuts and basil poppyseed dressing for $19, French toast with mixed fresh berries, lemon curd, candied bacon and maple syrup for $15 and much more. For reservations call 407-781-4880.

TR Fire Grill: Enjoy a $35 4-course Easter menu which includes your choice of appetizer, salad/soup, entrée and dessert. Selections include Prime Rib Egg Rolls, Wood Grilled Shrimp Cocktail, Jalapeño Soup, Salmon & Zoodles, Wood Grilled Filet Medallions, Smoked Pork Tenderloin, Smoked Flank Steak and Tempura Battered Strawberries. Reservations: Call (407) 708-3600

Happy Easter y’all!

A Luxe Breakfast for Dinner

Apr 072017

Waffles for supper? We say yes.

Chef Fabrizio Schenardi and Faiyaz Kara (one of our favorite writers in town) will be hosting a Breakfast for Dinner event at Ravello at the Four Seasons April 20 at 6:30 p.m.

The talented Chef Fabrizio and his team will prepare five dishes from Faiyaz’s new book — Gourmet Breakfasts for the GENIUS — along with 3 specialty beverages and treats. Enjoy for $75, includes a signed copy of cookbook as well. Click here to purchase your ticket.

Breakfast for Dinner Menu:

Piperade Basquaise
Rosemary Belgian Waffles with Seared Foie Gras and Pomegranate Syrup
Crispy Duck Confit Potato Cakes with Heirloom Tomato Gravy
Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee Ribbed Rib-Eye with Chanterelle Cream and Huevos Fritos
East African Doughnuts with Coconut Pigeon Pea Curry
Negroni Cappuccino
Mimosas
Peanut Butter & Jelly Sno Cones

Here’s to the enjoying the most “important” meal of the day at the end of the day!

A Salty, Sweet Spring at Dunkin’

Apr 072017

Dunkin’ Donuts has released some fun creations for spring! For breakfast lovers (because donuts are superb anytime of day) Dunkin’ Donuts has unveiled a pretzel croissant as part of its new Pretzel Croissant Breakfast Sandwich.

Available at Dunkin’ Donuts now for a handful of weeks, highlights from the spring beverage menu includes:

Chocolate Pretzel Donut: Glazed chocolate cake donut topped with sweet caramel icing drizzle and salty crushed pretzels. The salty pretzel topping and sweet notes of chocolate and caramel provide the ideal balance to the sweet, creamy, toasted nut flavor of their new Butter Pecan Coffee.

Peanut Butter Delight Croissant Donut: Glazed croissant donut filled with peanut butter buttercreme (!) and topped with a chocolate icing drizzle.

Pretzel Croissant Breakfast Sandwich: With Cherrywood Smoked Bacon, egg and Wisconsin Aged White Cheddar Cheese, served on a new pretzel croissant that brings together the flaky, buttery goodness of a croissant with the salty deliciousness of a pretzel.

Click here to find a Dunkin’ in your neighborhood!

Epcot in the Spring

Apr 012017

Celebrating 24 years, the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival is underway through May 29. This 90-day festival features stunning blooms, life-size topiaries throughout the park and fresh, fun eats. Most impressive are the “flower towers” and beds of multi-colored blooms that truly transform the park’s landscape. At least 70,000 bedding plants surround the park – all in pristine condition despite these 90-degree days.

Fresh, farm-market food and beverage flavors are found at the new Northern Bloom and The Berry Basket Outdoor Kitchens that will join 13 returning Outdoor Kitchens. Chef-inspired bites from Northern Bloom include Seared Scallops with French Green Beans and Butter Potatoes with brown-butter vinaigrette and Applewood smoked bacon. A Maple Popcorn Shake for sipping can become an adult libation with the addition of some Crown Royal Maple Whiskey. At Florida Fresh taste the Key Lime Tart with Toasted Meringue that’s topped with a chocolate butterfly.

Sample your way through craft beers including a Raspberry Ale from Founders Brewing or Pineapple Mana Wheat Ale from Maui Brewing – both a refreshing departure from your typical craft beer. Additionally, one of the popular Outdoor Kitchen gardens, Urban Farm Eats, will return with savory bites, sweet treats and ideas for planting your own produce.

The new generation of princess topiaries (Snow White, Anna and Elsa – the first to be designed and created with topiary facial features) welcome a brand-new Belle topiary. Located outside the France Pavilion with Beast, Belle comes to life with sculpted facial features and her ball gown is created with golden blooming Joseph’s Coat and Creeping Jenny plants.

The popular Garden Rocks concert series has expanded to four days each week, with three concerts each Friday through Monday presenting pop musicians that span multiple genres over five decades. New acts this year include Simple Plan, Exposé and Berlin featuring Terri Nunn. Festival favorite Jon Secada kicked off the series March 3 and 4, and Dennis DeYoung featuring the music of STYX wraps the long weekend March 5-6.

Beautiful blooms are aglow at Epcot, don’t miss this spectacular festival that’s bursting with flavor and magnificent florals. For more information about the 24^th Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, call 407/W-DISNEY (934-7639) or visit www.epcotinspring.com.

Photo Credits: Disney World, tart and floral bed taken by Spork

The Hunt is On…

Mar 222017

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida is inviting Orlando to team up and start sleuthing through Downtown Orlando for the Key Initiatives Scavenger Hunt event on Saturday, April 8.

The scavenger hunt, an annual fundraising event for RMHCCF, kicks off at World of Beer and will send participants on a search through some of the city’s best known stops, such as the Amway Center and Lake Eola Park, and popular spots, including Mucho Tequila and Tacos, Stardust Lounge, Aku Aku Tiki Bar and Frosty’s Christmastime Lounge.

Teams will snap photos and post to Instagram in a race to solve clues and rack up points. Teams will then return to World of Beer to enjoy drink and appetizer specials while scores are tallied and the winning teams are announced. The three teams with the highest scores will be awarded:

1st Place: (6) 1-day park hopper tickets to Disney
2nd Place: (6) assorted gift cards
3rd Place: (6) RMH t-shirts

Proceeds from the scavenger hunt, now in its fourth year, will benefit RMHCCF and the families it serves at the three Central Florida Ronald McDonald House locations. The annual fundraising event is hosted in partnership with RMHCCF’s Key Initiative Committee, a group of Orlando’s young professionals who support the charity by hosting four fundraising events each year.

WHEN:

Saturday, April 8, 2017
Registration starts at 12:30 p.m.
Winning teams will be announced at 5:00 p.m.

WHERE:

World of Beer Downtown Orlando
431 E Central Blvd, Orlando, FL 32801

COST:

Individual participants – $30.00 per person
Teams of up to 6 people – $150 per team
Sponsorship (6 person team included) – $300 each

Ravenous Pig’s Replacement

Mar 182017

Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen + Bar is now open for dinner, brunch and happy hour! Located in the space formerly occupied by Ravenous Pig, this spot now serves up coastal inspired cuisine. Inspired by classic Florida fish camps, Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen + Bar offers a wide variety of seafood from the Sunshine State’s Atlantic and Gulf coasts in a contemporary family-friendly atmosphere. The menu features a rotating selection of seasonally available fresh fish and seafood.

The kitchen at Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen + Bar is led by chefs Michael Zajac and Michael Huffler. Zajac, an alumnus of Houston’s restaurants and former owner of High Cotton in Atlanta, oversees the culinary team. Huffler spearheads the restaurant’s daily blackboard specials, which features a rotating selection of fresh Florida species such as grouper, mahi-mahi, tilefish, triggerfish, sheephead and hogfish.

Central to the restaurant is a raw bar serving oysters on the half shell, broiled and steamed, as well as ceviche and peel & eat Florida shrimp. For the meat lover, Reel Fish offers beef and brisket blend burgers from Creekstone Farms, as well as a rotating selection of premium beef cuts.

Here are some of the brunch menu highlights!

Each entree comes with a complimentary cocktail! Choose from a sangria, mimosa and more
Fried Green Tomatoes with crumbled goat cheese and a red pepper vinaigrette
Shrimp & Avocado Toast with poached egg and shaved radishes
Chilaquiles with shredded chicken, avocado, eggs over easy and salsa
Reel Burger with Creekstone Farms beef, tomato bacon jam and aged Gouda. Or build your own burger!
Argyle Brut Sparkling Wine, Oregon 2013

For menus and reservations visit www.reelfishcoastal.com.

Read Between the Wines

Mar 142017

Celebrity chefs Art Smith and Norman Van Aken will headline the 10^th annual “Reading between the Wines” Adult Literacy League of Central Florida fundraiser April 12, 2017 from 6-9 p.m. at the Orlando Science Center.

Smith and Van Aken will engage in a lively discussion moderated by local author Bob Morris. Central Florida News 13 feature reporter and anchor Allison Walker-Torres will emcee the evening. Covering topics ranging from pecans to beef and seafood, these masters of Florida fare will dish with the audience and sign books at the event celebrated for its generous food and wine offerings by some of Orlando’s top restaurants.

During the festive three-hour event enjoy bites from Swine & Sons, 4Rivers Smokehouse, The Coop, Raglan Road, Carmel Café, Olde Hearth Bread Co. and more. Art Smith’s new Homecomin’ Florida Kitchen at Disney Springs and the new 1921 by Norman Van Aken in Mount Dora, also will feature signature bites.

All event proceeds will support Adult Literacy League programs and services designed to build a literate community. ALL provides one-to-one tutoring and classes to more than 1,000 adults on a weekly basis, plus books and learning materials to 600 preschoolers in low-income families each year. Tickets for the event are on sale now. Click her for more info!

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