Winter Park Archives - Spork Orlando

Cows ‘n Cabs in Winter Park

Sep 032014

Cows ‘n Cabs returns to Winter Park’s West Meadow Saturday, October 25! The outdoor, Western-themed festival will benefit the Community Food & Outreach Center and Elevate Orlando, which assists with fighting hunger and mentoring youth, respectively.

4 Rivers Smokehouse, K Restaurant, The COOP, P is for Pie and Txokos Basque Kitchen are just a few of this year’s participating restaurants. Grab your cowboy boots, your appetite and head to Winter Park for the season’s best culinary event!

For $140, you can purchase a VIP ticket and receive a one-hour sneak preview at 6 p.m. General admission tickets priced at $110 grant entrance at 7 p.m. until the festival concludes at 10 p.m.

For more information and a complete list of sponsors and participating restaurants, visit www.cowsncabs.com.

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

More than Small Plates {Scratch}

Jun 252014

Walk, sprint or Sun Rail your way to Winter Park’s newest tapas and wine bar, Scratch. Winter Park’s newest bistro received rave reviews from my co-workers and friends, but still I was skeptical about a “modern tapas restaurant.”

The moment I walked through the door my skepticism turned to awe and my taste buds nearly salivated in anticipation. The low ceilings and funky furniture bring a vibe to this small space unlike any other tapas bar or Winter Park restaurant.

Scratch was perfect for sharing a variety of flavors and cuisines with a friend. Anyone can dish out an “Artisanal Cheese Plate”, but pairing it with berries, house-made fruit preserves and toasted brioche made it memorable. The thick hand-cut russet potatoes for the Scratch Fries were tossed in a delectable garlic-saffron aioli and fresh oregano. The real winner though was the Pork Belly Adobo – tender, juicy and served over black rice and a carrot puree with micro scallions. Scratch did an amazing job delivering culinary forward dishes in a way that you can share and savor with others in your party. Oh and how could I forget about the wine flight? Based on our order, the bartender paired each of our wines with the variety of dishes we ordered.

While the food was fabulous, the atmosphere was equally enjoyable and ideal for catching up with an old friend. Don’t be thrown off by the pottery place to the left or the karate studio on the right, Scratch is quickly becoming a Winter Park favorite.

Photo Credit: snaptapas.com