By Ricky Ly of TastyChomps.com on Jul 04, 2018 10:55 am
It’s been a busy month here in Orlando for our foodie scene. Here are some of the latest goings-ons just in time for the 4th!
If you have any foodie news tips, send them over with any pics to tastychomps at gmail.com – thanks!
The Ravenous Pig will be hosting a July 4th Backyard Party from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. only. (They will be closed for dinner service; The bar will be open until 6 p.m.).
The Glass Knife is celebrating the holiday through Wednesday, July 4th selling its special edition red, white and blue doughnut. This is a great item to pre-order and pick up for a holiday party.
Orlando Premium Outlets – Vineland & International – will celebrate Independence Day with extended hours and extra shopper savings. Select stores will have special promotions throughout the weekend, offering additional holiday discounts on top of already everyday low prices. Florida residents can also take advantage of complimentary same day valet from 10 – 11 AM daily at both centers.
Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets will offer:
July 4 Super Sale: July 4 – 8
Extended Hours: June 29 – July 8 from 9 AM until 11 PM
Food Truck Festival: June 29 – July 8 located near Reebok and the playground (full schedule below):
Friday (6/29) to Tuesday (7/3) 11 AM-6 PM
Food Trucks include: Vinny & Kory, Bahama Buck’s Original Shaved Ice, Manna International Street Food, PokeKai, and The Big Cheese
Saturday (7/7) to Sunday (7/8) 11 AM-6 PM
Food Trucks include: Vinny & Kory, Bahama Buck’s Original Shaved Ice, Jamaican Jerk Hut
Orlando International Premium Outlets will offer:
July 4 Super Sale: July 6 – 8
Extended Hours: July 6 – 8 from 9 AM until 11 PM
COST: No fee to attend; open to the public
The Honey Baked Ham Company® Celebrates Summer with Limited Time $19.99 Picnic Pack Offer
Launching on June 4, the Picnic Pack offers an assortment of Honey Baked essentials, which including a half-pound of Honey Baked Ham® slices and a half-pound of Honey Baked Turkey Breast slices, one pound of a Deli Side or Ham Salad and a bag of Kings Hawaiian Rolls to create the perfect, easy-to-serve sliders.
For only $19.99, customers can purchase this convenient pack to bring along to any pool party, road trip, or family picnic event.
Honey Baked Ham’s® Picnic Pack will be made available from June 4 through August 26 at all store locations nationwide.
Eddie V’s Team
Through July 29th, Eddie V’s will host Sparkling Sounds, an unparalleled combination of seasonal taste preferences and themed live music in the sophisticated vibe of the V Lounge, featuring champagne and champagne duet pairings starting at $14, plus $8 seasonal oyster duets. These special menu features are offered for a limited time only during the summer
Guests are invited to raise a toast with Sparkling Duets such as Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs, CA & Roederer Brut, Perrier Jouet, Grand Brut & Delamotte, Brut, Le Mesnil sur Oger and A French Master & A Madame. Complementing the champagne pairings is a special menu of culinary-forward, seasonal oyster trios including Batter-Fried Oysters, Carpetbagger and Eddie’s Rockefeller. In the V Lounge, guests can sip creative Sparkling Cocktails such as the Melon Sparkler or Citrus Pearle, all finished tableside in a generously portioned champagne coupe glass.
Live trio performances will pay tribute to the music of various eras of jazz, such as Soulful Fusion, Future Classics and Martini Swing.
Tacos and Tequila 2018
When: Saturday, July 14 at 12 PM – 3 PM
Where: Cheyenne Saloon & Opera House 120 Church St. W, Orlando, FL 32801
About: Tacos & Tequila celebrating the city’s latest, tastiest, creative culinary creation: TACOS. Sample & vote on your favorite among competing food trucks, taco shops & restaurants! There will also be tequila samplings, beer & live entertainment, ALL INCLUDED in your ticket price, happening Saturday, July 14 at Cheyenne Saloon & Church Street.
Sonny’s 50th Golden Anniversary
To celebrate their Golden Year (50th anniversary), they dressed up their beloved ribs with 24K gold flakes, truffle butter, exotic salts, along with and a heavy hand of home-grown ingredients local to Sonny’s footprint such as bee pollen from Gainesville, truffle butter from Market 2 Table in Winter Garden, and Bulls Bay Saltworks sea salt from South Carolina;
• These one-of-a-kind 24K Gold Ribs valued at $1,968 aren’t for sale — but are using them to create awareness through social media, so that they can donate 100,000 meals to hungry children this summer with Feeding Children Everywhere (FCE), the food nonprofit based in Longwood, Florida;
• Starting today through July 31, fans can visit SonnysGoodAsGold.com for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid staycation here in Orlando where they will enjoy an exclusive rib dinner, hotel accommodations, attraction tickets, one-on-one pitmaster class, gift cards, and more!
– Your Retweet or Favorite of this Tweet can help donate up to 30 meals to Feeding Children Everywhere for children this summer
– Sonny’s Good as Gold contest goes until July 31 (there’s so much time to share!)
We were invited to a media preview at Terralina Crafted Italian a day before they officially opened to the public.Terralina Crafted Italian is a waterfront Italian restaurant by James Beard Award winning chef, Tony Mantuano.Chef Tony and Executive Chef Justin Plank worked together to create a menu that serves authentic Italian dishes in a dreamy setting to guests at Disney Springs.Terralina Crafted Italian, formerly Portobello Country Italian Trattoria, is now officially opened to the public.They are located next door to Paddlefish.
Swordfish peperonata
Grilled bell peppers and mushrooms
Grilled brick chicken gremolata
Citrus marinated porchetta with apple mostarda
Fresh hand-cut pasta
Meatballs & polenta with shaved pecorino
The indoor-outdoor bar
Fresh house-made pasta with just olive oil, grated parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. The pasta was so delicious could not have tasted any fresher!
When I was young (even typing that sounds old), gourmet popcorn was one of two things: tossing some M&Ms in a bag of freshly-made, buttered popcorn, or a massive tin of buttered, white cheddar, and caramel popcorn evenly distributed into three compartments (most often found in our home during the holidays, eventually tossed out when all but the buttered popcorn was eaten). Well, gourmet popcorn has certainly come a long way. Just ask Steven, owner of Pipoca Gourmet Popcorn in Baldwin Park, and he will be happy to share with you his twenty (made on site) flavors of popcorn. I recently enjoyed a sampling of Pipoca popcorn and now I’m hooked (send help).
Counter Display in PipocaVarious Sizes of Bags to Pick From
Pipoca, meaning popcorn in Portuguese, started as, and still is, a food cart located inside the Orlando Eye. With growing popularity, the store opened about nine months ago in Baldwin Park, close to downtown Orlando and Winter Park. Steven, former hospitality manager, turned his passion into a full-time career. I believe his risk paid off (as I longingly stare at an empty bag of Churros-flavored popcorn that my husband and I devoured in minutes). Churros is one of my favorites by far, but there are so many flavors that are delicious, you really can’t pick just one, or two…or three. Birthday Cake, Oreo, Chicago Style, Spicy Buffalo, Nutella, Garlic Parmesan…just to name a few. Another favorite, would have to be Hot Jalapeño. I’m not one who loves spicy, hot food, and I was pleasantly surprised to like the jalapeño flavor so much, that I couldn’t stop eating it. The popcorn has a real kick to it, but a definite tasty flavor, and not a snack that merely burns your mouth, making you desperate for a glass of water (dare I say Hot Cheetos and Takis…I’m not judging, I swear).
Popcorn is available for online order through the Pipoca website; but, you have to visit the store location in Baldwin Park to really understand the love this popcorn is made of. The store is beautifully decorated with detailed displays, and available for private events. Plus, all popcorn is made where it is sold, in this lovely “boutique” in the heart of downtown Baldwin Park.
Thankfully, I have family that lives in Baldwin Park…so, I have plenty of reasons to “stop in” for a bag of Churros Popcorn every now and then. However, new flavors are added often…meaning, I may need to stop by more often than usual for a taste test (journalism integrity in the name of research).
Pipoca Gourmet Popcorn makes the perfect snack, the perfect addition to any event, and the perfect gift for children and adults of all ages. It’s delicious and the bag is really pretty (much more eye-appealing than the massive tin decorated with Christmas carolers). While I love the flavor, and the store interior, I admire the passion Steven has in turning his love for popcorn into something everyone can now enjoy.
Follow Pipoca Gourmet Popcorn on Instagram and on Facebook.
We were invited to Darden Restaurants headquarters to experience Grill Master training first hand from LongHorn Steakhouse’s Executive Chef team in their test kitchen. We met with Executive Chefs Jens Dahlmann, Michael Senich and Joshua Evans and they gave us all our own chef’s coat to wear (and keep!) and then demonstrated how to make a great tasting steak at LongHorn Steakhouse. Afterwords we enjoyed some freshly grilled steaks and corn, deliciously bold seasoned wings and Wild West shrimp. We also got to meet LongHorn Steakhouse President Todd Burrowes to learn more about LongHorn Steakhouse’s third annual Steak Master Series competition that was happening the next day at the same spot we were training at. The third annual Steak Master Series, which awards cash prizes totaling over $200,000, celebrates LongHorn Steakhouse’s commitment to craftsmanship on the grill.
The Steak Master Series is an epic culinary competition where their top-performing grilling experts compete for title of national champion. More than 5,000 Grill Masters from all across the nation were invited to participate this year. The seven finalists – including a Central Florida Grill Master from the Sanford restaurant – competed for the championship title this past Thursday in the LongHorn Steakhouse test kitchen at Darden Restaurants headquarters.
This year’s Steak Master Series winner was Michelle Cerveny. She was the first woman to win the Steak Master Series for LongHorn Steakhouse! Kim Markley was the second place winner, and our local guy, Juan Sacramento from the LongHorn in Sanford, received third place. He is officially one of the top 3 Grill Masters for LongHorn from across the country!
Michelle, Juan and all of this year’s finalists will be manning the GRILL US Hotline this upcoming Wednesday, July 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST! Call 1-855-LH-GRILL (544-7455) to talk to them directly. These knowledgeable LongHorn Steakhouse Grill Masters will be happy to answer any of your recipe or grilling questions!
John from Longhorn Steakhouse marketing with Longhorn Steakhouse President Todd Burrowes
Executive Chefs Michael Senich, Joshua Evans and Jens Dahlmann listening closely to President Todd Burrowes speak
My very first chef’s coat
Chef Jens going over all the different types of steaks
“All steaks need a certain size of thickness” – Chef Jens
The judging criteria at the Steak Masters Series
Chef Michael demonstrating how to make a great tasting steak. Tip #1: Always overseason
Tip #2: Season one way, top to bottom
Tip #3: Always cook from the back first. That is the hottest part so it cooks the fastest
Chef Joshua manning the grill
Baked potato
Wild west shrimp – freshly breaded to order
Boldy seasoned wings
Delicious sliced steak. LongHorn Steakhouse always applies a finishing sauce on all of their steaks for moisture
Fire-grilled corn
Thank you LongHorn Steakhouse for the awesome gift bag!!
There is just something calming about dining to the smell of saltwater with the view of the ocean in front of you. We were invited to Daytona Beach’s newest beachfront hotel and the fourth Hard Rock Hotel in Florida to check out their restaurant, Sessions, and stay overnight. Our experience at Sessions was exceptional. The food, service and energy was unlike any other media event that I have ever been to. Our server named Pastor was fantastic. I give Sessions 5-stars!
Dining at Sessions restaurant will exceed your expectations. Luxurious rock-star style, contemporary decor and celebrity-style atmosphere coupled with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean adds to experience. Dine on unforgettable breakfasts, savory lunch offerings and innovative suppers that will leave you wanting more. Craft cocktails and libations are also available at Sessions indoor/outdoor bar.
Artisan Charcuterie & Cheese – Mini cornichons, pickled peppers stone mustard, sourdough
New York Strip – Rainbow carrots, crispy onion, sautéed onions and bell peppers. It was amazing!
Crème Brûlée – Strawberries, blueberries. This dessert was perfect, so addicting!
Red Velvet Cheesecake – Philadelphia cream cheese frosting, strawberries, blueberries. It was beautiful and delicious!
Constant Grind the total café experience, serving up hot and cold drinks, quick bites, house-made gelato, and more.
Take a plunge in the heated pool and enjoy the tunes from the underwater speakers or lounge on the oceanfront pool deck.
Wave Terrace is located on the third floor of Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach. Wave Terrance is Daytona’s newest experience serving up local beer, craft cocktails and an inspired seafood menu featuring ceviche, gazpacho, fresh seafood towers and straight from the oven bread—in a chic casual atmosphere. Add glowing fire pits and live music and you have a night out that can only be Hard Rock.
Frank Sinatra impersonator. He sounded exactly like him!
The kiddie pool is shaped like a guitar
The Elvis impersonator got the crowd rocking the entire night!
Didn’t bring your yoga gear on tour at at Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach? #RockOm you covered. Experience peace of mind in the comfort of your hotel room with a yoga kit that includes a Manduka PROlite yoga mat and convenient Go Play carrier, all delivered to your room free of charge. A regionally-inspired Yogitoes towel is also available for purchase. On-demand yoga videos are available on your hotel room TV, as well as on your personal device at HardRock.com.
Snap a pic of your best yoga pose around the hotel, post to instagram with the hashtag: #RockOm. If your pic is selected, you can win a custom Yogitoes Hard Rock yoga towel.
We throughly enjoyed our stay at Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach and we felt like celebrity rockstars the entire time. The music-inspired property is only two months old as they just opened on May 1, 2018. I highly recommend staying at this hotel during your next visit in Daytona Beach, FL!
The 5th Annual Bite Night presented by Publix Aprons Cooking School was held at the Orchid Garden & Ballroom at Church Street this past Monday. Bite Night is the grand finale of Bite30 and the premiere of Bite Magazine 2018. The event featured over 20 of the city’s top local restaurants and chefs serving bite-size samples of their most creative dishes, plus an open bar, live entertainment, silent auction and benefiting Edible Education Experience. Chef Kathleen Blake of The Rusty Spoon was awarded with the inaugural Bite Award for her outstanding contributions to the culinary community.
Upcoming events: United We Brunch flash sale is happening now! It’s just like Bite Night, but Bloody Mary’s, Mimosas, Bacon & Eggs! Get tickets at UnitedWeBrunch.com
(Source credit: Orlando Weekly)
Duck & Drake Kitchen – Ouinoa Verde Sliders – Edamame, Garbanzo & Quinoa Patties with Avocado Aioli served with Root Vegetable Chips
Tartine Orlando – Crab and Shrimp Stack with Avocado Mousse, Spice Crème Fraiche and Pickled Onions
El Buda – Shrimp Chicharron with Peking Style Duck
K Restaurant – Seasonal Florida Fish/Crudo with Traditional Accompaniments and Gazpacho Sauce
