Tasty Chomps' Orlando Food Blog

• Heart of Florida United Way’s 26th Annual Chef’s Gala on April 14th
• Whiskey Dinner by Buffalo Trace and Outpost Neighborhood Kitchen
• New seasonal flavors and toppings at Duck Donuts
• Sonny’s Smokin’ Showdown ’18
• Dinner at Bulla Gastrobar

Heart of Florida United Way’s 26th Annual Chef’s Gala on April 14th

For the 26^th year, more than 20 of the region’s top restaurants will gather for Heart of Florida United Way’s Chef’s Gala, a fundraiser benefitting local hunger and homelessness programs. Hosted by Walt Disney World at Epcot Showplace, this culinary adventure offers unlimited sampling of signature dishes prepared by award-winning chefs, each paired with a fine wine. The event will be held on Saturday, April 14 from 6:45 – 10 p.m.

Savory

• Artist Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
• Jiko – The Cooking Place at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
• Cinderella’s Royal Table at MAGIC KINGDOM Park
• Le Cellier Steakhouse at Epcot
• Shutters at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
• The Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Ale & Compass Restaurant at Disney’s Beach Club Resort
• Tiffins at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
• Flying Fish at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn
• The Turf Club Bar & Grill at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa
• Latitude & Longitude at Orlando World Center Marriott
• blu on the avenue
• Bull & Bear at Waldorf Astoria Orlando
• Primo by Melissa Kelly at JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes
• STK Orlando at Disney Springs
• Urban Tide at Hyatt Regency Orlando
• Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs
• Todd English’s bluezoo at Walt Disney World’s Dolphin Resort
• Hemisphere at Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport
• SLATE

Sweet

• Amorette’s Patisserie at Disney Springs
• Epcot Bakery Team
• Gideon’s Bakehouse
• Se7en Bites

Through the generosity of sponsors, like Walt Disney World, as well as the participating restaurants that donate all the food, 95 cents of every dollar raised at the event goes directly to community programs aimed at alleviating hunger and homelessness.

Tickets are available by visiting www.ChefsGala.org. Individual tickets are $325, couple ticket package is $600 and corporate ticket packages are $3,000. Sponsorships are also available by emailing ChefsGala@HFUW.org or calling (407) 835-0923

_________________

About Heart of Florida United Way
Heart of Florida United Way (HFUW) is Central Florida’s most comprehensive health and human services charity and the largest provider of funds to the region’s most critical health and human service programs. Last year, it raised and managed $24.4 million throughout Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. HFUW is working to advance the common good by focusing on education, income, health and basic needs. It operates United Way 2-1-1, Central Florida’s information and assistance, crisis, suicide and referral helpline; Volunteer Resource Center; Gifts In Kind Center; Emergency Homelessness Services; and the Ryan White Part B program, which administers more than $2 million to provide HIV/AIDS services and referrals. HFUW impacts more than 650,000 individuals annually through its direct service and funded programs. United Way partners with local businesses, government, other charities to increase awareness of local health and human service issues and to inspire hope, provide options and create possibilities for people in need. Visit www.HFUW.org for more information, or call (407) 835-0900.

Whiskey Dinner by Buffalo Trace and Outpost Neighborhood Kitchen

Outpost Neighborhood Kitchen hosted a 3 course meal pairing with some of the stars of Buffalo Trace Distillery on Saturday February 24th, 2018.

Our first meal pairing was Colonel E.H Taylor Small Batch with Ancho Coffee Rabbit Roulade served over Meyer lemon arcadian blend with honey roasted baby carrots.  The rabbit pastry was delicious with just the right amount of sweetness.

Our main course featured Buffalo Trace’s Bourbon that’s made into a very fragrant old fashion that’s then paired with a Bone-in Pork Chop. Prepared by a brine, then at least 40 minutes in the smoker, then in the oven to create a beautiful browning. It was served with a cornbread puree, swiss chard, sweet potatoes fingerlings, and macintosh apple butter.

Our dessert course was definitely a fun & interactive one. Buffalo Trace’s brought us a “Throwback Thursday” with Southern Comfort 80. It was then paired with Smoked Peaches Creme Brulee that we poured alcohol over and set on fire. 

In the little College Park, Outpost Neighborhood Market aims to make their guests feel welcome with southern comfort and hospitality. I was told that they do multiple dinner pairings events during the year so I’d definitely keep an eye out for the next week because they do sell out very quickly!

Outpost Neighborhood Kitchen

Address: 2603 Edgewater Dr, Orlando, FL 32804

Phone: (407) 930-6282

New seasonal flavors and toppings at Duck Donuts

1st : Smores/Boardwalk/Key Lime with Coconut
2nd: Glaze with Spring Sprinkle/Vanilla with Spring Sprinkle/Strawberry with Spring Sprinkle
3rd: Lemon with Coconut/Blueberry Pancake/Chocolate with Spring Sprinkle
4th: Key Lime/Bacon in the Sun/Key Lime with Graham Crackers Crumbs & Marshmallow Drizzle

Today, Duck Donuts nationwide released a NEW seasonal flavor and topping: Key Lime Icing & Spring Sprinkles, available for a limited time only.  Duck Donuts is my best friend & I’s favorite place to get donuts because all of their delicious vanilla cake donuts are served warm, fresh and made-to-order with a variety of flavors, toppings, and sauces so the possibilities are endless.  We were invited to try their new seasonal flavors, new breakfast, and sundae and we enjoyed our food and experience.  My donuts were made by an amazingly nice employee named Princess and when she brought out my beautiful donuts on a donut stand I genuinely felt like a princess.  Princess’ superior customer service will make you feel like royalty.

NEW breakfast sandwich – Sausage, egg & cheese with chopped bacon.  I really enjoyed the spiciness from the sausage and the sweetness from the donut!

S’mores Donut Sundae

Be sure to check out Duck Donuts – Kissimmee next time you’re in the area!

Duck Donuts
710 Centerview Blvd, Kissimmee, FL 34741
(407) 350-5832
duckdonuts.com

Sonny’s Smokin’ Showdown ’18

Grand prize winners of the $20,000 – Iowa’s Smokey D’s.  They also won last year!

Yesterday, Sonny’s BBQ hosted their annual “Sonny’s Smokin’ Showdown” at Tinker Field – Camping World Stadium and it filled with great food, cookin’ demos, a kids’ zone, and amazing live country music all day.

The nation’s top pitmasters traveled from all across the world and came together to put their skills to the test in an epic BBQ battle for a chance to win a grand prize of $20,000.

Fun brand ambassador at the Orange Buick GMC booth

Kids’ zone

Listening to Jill’s Cashbox

Unlimited Cheerwine at the VIP Tent

A delicious plate prepared by Sonny’s BBQ

Cornbread

Mac ‘n cheese

Pulled pork

Sweet and smokey ribs

Sliced brisket

Winners taking pictures with the Sonny’s BBQ crew

Iowa’s Smokey D’s picking up their grand prize check of $20,000

High Valley concert

Merchandise booth

Rodney Atkin concert

Sonny’s Smokin’ Showdown
Tinker Field at Camping World Stadium
1 Citrus Bowl Pl. Orlando, FL 32805
http://sonnyshowdown.com

Dinner at Bulla Gastrobar

What pairs well with a great conversation? Great food, that’s fresh to order, and imported from Spain. Located in Winter Park, FL is an amazing restaurant called Bulla Gastrobar.

The chef described every dish to our table, and I found myself eating food and talking about it at the same time. That’s when you know you’re at a table full of foodies!

The Lemongrass Collins has easily become one of my favorite drinks of all time. It’s the right amount of refreshing, and as you can tell the bartender does not skip out on the rosemary.

I also ordered the Proper Gin & Tonic. The star anise was a surprising touch!

Ingredients are Wint & Lila gin, lemon peel, lime wheel, star anise, Fever Tree tonic water.

First up was a meat and cheese plate. My favorite was the Manchego cheese and the fresh olives coming in every shape and size. You can just taste how fresh each ingredient is.

Cured Meat & Cheese Plate:
Jamon Serrano
‘Fermin’ Serrano ham, aged 15 months

Chorizo de Cantimpalo
Mildly spicy pork sausage from Segovia

Manchego
Sheep’s milk, nutty, sweet, tangy flavor, aged 6 month

Murcia al Vino
Goat cheese from Murcia, wine cured rind, sweet & smooth flavor

House Marinated Olives
Thyme, orange peel, garlic

Pan de Cristal con Tomate
Toasted crispy ethereal bread brushed with fresh tomato

Huevos Bulla

I left Bulla Gastrobar full and happy!

*In celebration of “National Paella Day,” the chefs at Spanish Winter Park restaurant Bulla Gastrobar will prepare massive paellas on the restaurants patio during happy hour. You’ll have the opportunity to observe how the paellas are made and will receive complimentary samples to enjoy on the patio, which will be decked out in festive decor! Bulla Gastrobar will also be offering $5 red sangrias all day long and will raffle off a $50 gift card to a lucky guest. Happy hour is between 4pm-7pm and 9pm – close!

Recent Articles: