Tasty Chomps' Orlando Food Blog

• Protected: Moe’s Tour de Burrito pop up restaurant truck headed to Orlando November 9th
• Highball & Harvest’s Homestead Harvest Dinner at Whisper Creek Farm
• Rosen Plaza for the Holidays
• New ViVi Bubble Tea featuring cotton candy bubble tea and more coming to Mills 50
• Chef’s Night at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
• Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House releases biggest menu relaunch

Protected: Moe’s Tour de Burrito pop up restaurant truck headed to Orlando November 9th

Highball & Harvest’s Homestead Harvest Dinner at Whisper Creek Farm

Highball & Harvest of The Ritz-Carlton Orlando hosted its inaugural Homestead Harvest, the first annual chef-collaborative dinner at Grande Lakes Orlando’s on-site farm, Whisper Creek Farm. The evening benefited Fleet Farming, a local non-profit organization whose goal is to assist in fostering a movement which moves towards a more sustainable farming and food production system in the region.

Highball & Harvest’s Chef Scott Pizzo and Peter Zampaglione, Executive Chef of The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes joined an all-star line-up of local chefs who donated their time and resources to create a once in a lifetime culinary adventure.  I really enjoyed this event and I hope they do it again next year.

Fleet Farming strives to reduce the environmental impact of food production through a pedal-powered, hyperlocal urban farming model that creates a culture of health and vibrant ecosystems by: teaching an intergenerational fleet of volunteers how to grow their own food, activating and re-engaging the community through biweekly Swarm Rides, and creating a breathe free and biodiverse environment through emissions-free, organic farming.

Scott Pizzo, Highball & Harvest
Argentinian Roasted Suckling Pig, charred pumpkin

Kenny Gilbert (Top Chef), Gilbert’s Underground Kitchen/Gilbert’s Social
Smoked Alligator Ribs with SC BBQ Sauce
Field Peas with okra, smoked gator broth, radish, savory herbs and spices 

Kathleen Blake, The Rusty Spoon
Deviled Eggs
Duck Mortadella

James Petrakis, The Ravenous Pig
Wood-Grilled Octopus, black garlic skordalia, roasted beets
Lamb Kofta, quince yogurt, dill pesto

Elek Kovacs, The Osprey Tavern
Pickled Shrimp, chili citrus marinade, fresh garden vegetables
Pheasant, local rice grits, corn succotash

Kevin Fonzo, Kevin Fonzo Foundation
Red Kuri Squash Soup, truffle, Brussels sprouts, pears, apple

Paula DaSilva, Burlock Coast Seafare & Spirits at the Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale
Palmetto Creek Farms Pork Belly, truffle grits & collards
Wahoo Crudo, pickled heirloom tomatoes and chili peppers

John Janucik, JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes
Lobster Deviled Duck Egg, house bacon, surplus mustard aioli, chili oil
Smoked Short Rib, butternut squash pierogi, local mushrooms, sour cream
Espuma, horseradish crumbs

Stanley Miller, The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami
Lamb and Chorizo Empanada, olive, raisin, pimento
Chilled Heirloom Tomato and Melon “Tea”, Popcorn, Avocado, Lemon Oil

Sebastien Thieffine, The Ritz-Carlton Naples
Daisy – Florida Keys Honey Millefeuille, candied raspberries, crunchy pistachio
Coonies: chocolate chip cookie/brownie bar, salted butter caramel ice cream, vanilla bean gel

Stephane Cheramy, The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes
Assorted Pastries

Live music from Brocato Entertainment

(Source credit: Highball & Harvest)

Rosen Plaza for the Holidays

Hotelier, Humanitarian & Hospitality Legend Harris Rosen & I standing in front of his grandparents’ portraits.

Whenever I run into the President and COO of Rosen Hotels & Resorts, Harris Rosen, I feel like I am spotting a unicorn – it always happens quick and fast, and you have to catch it before it disappears. I was in for a real treat when I attended the media sneak peek of Rosen Plaza’s winter holiday events and Harris Rosen surprised us all with a low-key special guest appearance to welcome us and share a few stories with us about his family, hotels and food.

For those who don’t know, my family respects Mr. Rosen, he is our biggest role model. Mr. Rosen started out with humble beginnings in New York City’s Lower East Side where people did not have a lot of money and he worked very hard to accomplish everything he has now (including hitchhiking to his first business pitch!) and he donates a lot of his earnings back to the community. The first time my family met Mr. Rosen was back on Christmas Day in 2014 at the hotel’s annual Christmas brunch buffet (open to the public) when Mr. Rosen stopped by my family’s table and greeted us and asked us all how we were doing. My mom was the only one who recognized Mr. Rosen at the time since she is an avid reader and had recently read an article about him. My mom quickly put everything together and asked the man at our table if he was Harris Rosen and he replied yes. Shortly after we met him, we witnessed him picking up a small piece of garbage off the ground while there were plenty of his employees around the room that he could have asked to pick it up for him but he choose not to – and it was at that exact moment that we began to realize how humble and hard-working Mr. Rosen is, to be working hard even on Christmas Day, a day most people take off, especially those who can afford to.

My family has made it a tradition every year since our first encounter with Mr. Rosen to dine at one of his hotels on Christmas Day to enjoy their delicious brunch buffets and say hi to him and take pictures with him.  My family pictures are included below, with my review to follow.  I hope you enjoy the rest of this post!

First time meeting Harris Rosen, 2014

We brought my relatives from Vietnam to Christmas brunch at the Rosen hotel and they are big fans of Harris Rosen as well, 2015.

Christmas Day at Rosen Plaza, 2016

Jack’s Place is named after Harris Rosen’s late father.

Caricature of celebrities drawn by his Jack Rosen when he worked at as a security engineer at the Waldorf Astoria in NY.  Jack’s Place displays 175 drawings out of his thousands of celebrity caricatures – they have the largest autographed celebrity caricature collection in the world.  Caricature artists come in on Friday and Saturday nights at Jack’s Place to draw restaurant guests.

Sculpture of Jack Rosen

Petite Filet Mignon Toast Garganzola

Manchego Cheese Crisp & Fig Lollipop

“You’re more important than me.”  Founder Harris Rosen (left) said to one of his managers, John Nichols (center), before John spoke to the media.  That was humbling to witness!

“We cater to any eater – those with celiac disease. We take time to prepare what our guests asks for.” -Harris Rosen

Octoberfest Big Boss Pretzels With Warm Alligator Drool Beer Cheese and Honey Mustard Dipping Sauces

Indian Pumpkin Craving

Edamame Dim Sum

Shrimp & Pork Dim Sum

Deer Ice Sculpture Carved By Chef Ricki

Jumbo Cocktail Shrimp

Crab Claws

Ceviche

Pulled Pork On A Pina Colada Roll with Guava BBQ & Crispy Sriracha Slaw

Grilled Bratwurst Banh Mi With Pickled Cucumber Petite Cucumber Sprout Garnish

Alligator Drool

Blue Harris

I highly recommend visiting the Rosen Plaza for the holidays to enjoy festive decor, yummy eats, frosty sips and the chance to mingle with Mr. Rosen – if you’re lucky enough to run into him as I have been these past few years on Christmas Day as he is making his rounds at all of his hotels.

For more information about future events, check out the links below.

Winterfest – https://www.rosenplaza.com/winterfest/

Iced Out! – https://www.rosenplaza.com/icedout/

The incredible holiday buffets –
Thanksgiving Day – https://www.rosenplaza.com/thanksgiving/
Christmas Day – https://www.rosenplaza.com/christmas/

Rosen Plaza
9700 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 996-9700
rosenplaza.com

New ViVi Bubble Tea featuring cotton candy bubble tea and more coming to Mills 50

Mills 50 will be home to a new bubble tea shop starting this December. Known for its cotton candy topped bubble tea and other innovative twists to the traditional Taiwanese drink, ViVi Bubble Tea will be located next to Chuan Lu Garden on East Colonial, joining other bubble tea shops such as longtime mainstay Chewy Boba Company and Bubbles and Ice in the Mills 50 District.

From Sam Lau, co-owner of ViVi Bubble Tea:

“I am proud to announce that I have partnered up with a good friend of mine from Hong Kong to bring ViVi Bubble Tea [ A very popular Taiwanese milk tea company with a twist that has been featured by Business Insider ] to Mills 50 District, Orlando. Its located right on the corner of Mills Ave and 50; next to Chuan Lu, & across the street from Little Saigon. Construction is already underway as we speak. We are looking to open up by the end of December. We hope to see you all very soon!”

ViVi Bubble Tea
1111 E Colonial Dr
Orlando, Florida 32803
https://www.facebook.com/ViViBubbleTeaMills50/?hc_location=ufi

Chef’s Night at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida

We were invited to the recent Chef’s Night event on Oct 18, 2017 at Second Harvest Food Bank. It was a mashup of 4 chefs, with Jim Colbert of PrimeTime Kitchen taking the lead.

Friends that accompanied Jim included Chef Tello Luna from Harry’s Poolside Bar & Grill, Chef Bryan Thoman from Canvas Restaurant & Market, and Chef Bruno Fonseca from Millenia 106 Restaurant. Here, they all join in the photo with the Second Harvest Food Bank culinary team.

Hors d’oeuvres were the focus of Chef Tello Luna and paired with

• Mexican Shrimp Cocktail – poached shrimp, spiced tomato juice, cilantro, onion, and jalapeño.
• Smoked Salmon Cucumber Cup – Atlantic salmon, cream cheese, and lemon juice. A cup a bite; very smooth and fresh.

The appetizer was made by Chef Bryan Thoman’s team.

Chef Bryan’s Wagyu Beef Cheek Tamale with Kombuca Squash Puree and Mole Negro had great flavors that blended well on your palate. The tamale is very soft and the beef is very tender. The garnish added a fresh feel to bring the dish together.

Chef Bruno Fonseca created the Mahi Crudo with carrot ginger sauce, cashews, carrot, and a pickled mushroom salad.. The Mahi itself was cured in coconut milk. This dish was paired with Snowbirds, Gruner Veltliner, Lake Chelan, Washington, 2016. This white wine is very smooth and fitting for the dish. Good choice.

The Mahi was fresh, but some bites were a little fishy from a sauce. The coconut milk was very subtle. The pickled salad blends well with the fish. My favorite was the delicious carrot ginger sauce.

Jim Colbert created a Braised Short Rib, Smoked Gouda Risotto with garden peas, asparagus tips, and honey crisp carrots. It was paired with Quantum Leap, Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon.

The tender braised short rib was full of flavor. The risotto was creamy and smooth, while the carrots were soft with a pop of sweetness from the honey.

Back at it again, Chef Tello Luna closes the show with a Chocolate Torte with Pecan ice Cream and Orange Vanilla Sauce. I can tell you now, the man knows his desserts!

In the kitchen, the chefs work side by side with the Second Harvest Food Bank team to bring a delicious menu alive from beginning to end.

The chocolate torte was very thick and coats the palate well – my kind of dessert. The strawberries and orange vanilla sauce adds a twist to the chocolate cake. I can’t stress enough how this was the best dessert I have had in a long time.

The dessert was paired with a Quantum Leap, Kaley’s Rescue Red, Red Blend, Columbia Valley, Washington, 2014.

As the chefs and Second Harvest Food Bank culinary team work together. They enjoy some nice tunes by KitchenKillaz.

Sous Chef John Dizon of Second Harvest Food Bank even stopped by and spoke on Facebook Live posted by KitchenKillaz.

Here are more shots of the event behind the scenes for your enjoyment.

While you wait for the next Chef’s Night, take part with us in Scouting for Food. On Saturday, November 11, 2017, Central Florida Boy Scouts of America will once again be collecting food for our hungry neighbors. Last year, our community helped provide over 96,000 pounds of food for our neighbors in need. For more information, check out Second Harvest Food Bank’s Scouting for Food.

Scout for food Nov 11

Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House releases biggest menu relaunch

If I had to choose one restaurant to eat at every day for the rest of my life it would be: Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House.  My first visit was a five-star experience with top-notch service and high-quality food in an astonishing environment.  The whole experience felt divine, like I was dining in Heaven, a place I did not deserve to be at, but I was there.

To clear up any confusion, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House has one location in Orlando, FL.  They are no longer operating in their original location off Lee Road and have relocated in 2015 to their newest location on International Drive, directly across from Pointe Orlando.   They also recently released their biggest menu relaunch so now is the perfect time for all my readers to check out their newest location and experience their unforgettable food and impeccable service for yourselves.  Below are a few pictures from my breathtaking experience at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House from when I was invited to taste their newest menu additions prepared by Executive Chef Greg Thompson.  I hope you enjoy my post!

By The Glass (BTG) Wine Additions
• La Marca Prosecco
• Taittinger Brut Champagne
• Pierre Sparr Cremant Rosé Brut
• Scott Family Estate “Dijon Clone” Chardonnay
• Cakebread Napa Valley Chardonnay
• Castello Banfi “San Angelo” Pinot Grigio
• Benziger Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc
• Love Block Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
• Del Frisco’s Private Reserve Cabernet
• Luke Wahluke Slope, WA Cabernet
• Scattered Peaks “DFDE Exclusive” Cabernet
• Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot
• Ben Marco Malbec
• Hahn “SLH” Santa Barbara Pinot Noir
• Gothic “Nevermore” Pinot Noir
• Enroute “Les Pommiers” by Far Niente Pinot Noir
• Volpaia Chianti Classico
• Campo Viejo “Reserva” Rioja
• Axios 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Sapphire Bramble – Bombay Sapphire | Domaine de Canton | Lemon | Blackberry | Basil | San Pellegrino Limonata

Old Fashioned Forty-Six – Maker’s Mark 46 | Earl Grey Tea Syrup | Earl Grey Bitters

Cocktail Additions
• Añejo Old Fashioned
• Bacon & Barrel
• Blood Orange Manhattan
• Elixir
• Harvest Manhattan
• Honey Comb Spritz
• Old Fashioned Forty-Six
• Plum Rosé
• Sapphire Bramble
• Sidecar a là Poire
• Traditional Negroni

Chilled Alaskan King Crab Legs, Iced Jumbo Shrimp, Chilled Crab Claws, & Hand-Selected Moonstone Oyster from Point Judith Pond, Rhode Island

Charred Octopus – Gigante Beans, Tomatoes, Olives, Capers, Lemon & Cold-Pressed Olive Oil

King Salmon – Simply Prepared Fresh Fish Finished With Himalayan Sea Salt – High In Omega-3 Fatty Acid,  Healthy And Delicious!

45 Day Dry Aged Double Bone Prime Ribeye “The Double Eagle” – 16 oz.

45 Day Dry Aged Prime Ribeye – 16 oz.

14 Day Dry Aged Colorado Prime Lamb – 16 oz.

From left to right:
• 45 Day Dry Aged Prime Ribeye
• Brussels Sprouts – Smoked Bacon, Caramelized Onions & Lemon Butter
• Grilled Asparagus with Romesco Sauce
• 14 Day Dry Aged Colorado Prime Lamb
• Spaghetti Squash Gratin – Parmesan Cream & Roasted Pistachio
• Uptown Del’s Potatoe – Melted Fontina, Chives & Shaved Truffle
• 45 Day Dry Aged Double Bone Prime Ribeye “The Double Eagle”

Butter Cake – Butter Pecan Ice Cream, Fresh Whipped Cream & Caramel Sauce

Warm Banana Bread Pudding – Caramel Sauce & Vanilla Ice Cream (Award-winning!)

Lemon Cake – Six Layers, Lemon Buttercream Icing & Lemon Glaze

Chocolate Mousse – Salted Caramel Chocolate Fudge & Miniature Chocolate Cookies

Menu Additions
• 45 Day Dry Aged Double Bone Prime Ribeye “The Double Eagle”
• 45 Day Dry Aged Prime Ribeye
• 45 Day Dry Aged Prime Strip
• 14 Day Dry Aged Colorado Prime Lamb
• Charred Octopus
• Chilled Shrimp Tasting
• Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras
• Seared Rare Wagyu Beef Carpaccio
• Creamed Corn with Blistered Shishito Peppers
• Grilled Asparagus with Romesco Sauce
• Spaghetti Squash Gratin
• Uptown Del’s Potato
• Simply Prepared Halibut
• Simply Prepared Salmon
• Simply Prepared Scallops
• Jalapeño-Bacon Burger (Texas stores only)
• Chocolate Mousse

The Veranda Room upstairs can be reserved for a cocktail event or any special event –  you name it, the sky is the limit.

Be sure to check out the new location and menu at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House soon!

Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House
9150 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819
(407) 351-5074
http://delfriscos.com

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