Tasty Chomps x Orlando Foodie Forum – A Taste of… Stefano’s – Special Underground Menu – March 11 – 21

Tasty Chomps X Orlando Foodie Forum
presents
A Taste of …

Stefano’s Trattoria

“A Taste of… presented by Tasty Chomps x Orlando Foodie Forum” is a new special “underground” menu for readers and followers to get a “Taste Of…” a local Orlando restaurant with a special pre-fixe menu (similar to Magical Dining) for dine in or take out for a limited time. Every 10 days we will release a new special menu at another restaurant.

First up…

Stefano’s Trattoria
1425 Tuskawilla Rd, Winter Springs, FL 32708
https://stefanos-trattoria.com/ – (407) 659-0101

Starting March 11th till 21st, 2021, for just $30 (plus tax and tip) you can get a 4-course dinner at Stefano’s Trattoria in Winter Springs – Stefano’s is celebrating several new dishes on their menu and want to feature them to new and old customers – some of the new dishes include salmon alla vodka, pesto pasta, and lobster ravioli.

First Look: Loading…Gastrobrunch Restaurant in Historic Downtown St. Cloud, Florida

Loading…Gastrobrunch restaurant is a hidden gem located in historic downtown St. Cloud, just a short drive away from Orlando, south of Lake Nona and east of Kissimmee.

I didn’t even know there was a historic downtown St Cloud – but it does appear that downtown St. Cloud is experiencing a bit of a renaissance lately with new hotels and other developments in the works – understandable since there have been quite a few new residential developments in the area recently.

Owned by friends James Brady, Matt Rody and Jahnae Allen, Loading…Gastrobrunch restaurant also serves as the in-house dining option for the recently renovated adjacent Hunter Arms hotel.

The owners of Loading… are all veterans of the local restaurant industry including Disney World and Universal Orlando with a focus on service and ambiance. They opened in 2020 during the pandemic so word is just getting out now about the place.

The menu, led by chef Vaughn Collins features “Spaniflora” (Spanish and Florida style) influenced dishes, breakfast and brunch items, and a newly expanded dinner menu. Chef Vaughn Collins hails from the storied kitchens of Charleston, South Carolina, so you know their shrimp and grits and other Southern influenced dishes will be top notch. The stone ground corn grits are sourced all from local St. Cloud area Mick Farms.

I had the shrimp n’ grits here on a recent visit and it was one of the best renditions I have had, creamy corn grits with a savory pork a la minute sauce and full of fresh and plump local shrimp.

The brunch items like the cinnibun French Toast and the Spaniflora chicken chorizo waffle tacos are also quite the delight.

Proudly Sponsored by:
Russell's On Lake Ivanhoe

Inside Look: Taste of EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival 2021

Spring has finally sprung in Central Florida, and as we wave the chilly winter months goodbye we also welcome the Taste of EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival back to the Walt Disney World Resort.

More than 20 outdoor kitchens are scattered throughout the park during this festival, offering guests a delicious variety of spring-themed eats. This year, you’ll notice a heightened emphasis on sustainability, from the food to the merchandise. The festival began March 3 and will run until July 5, 2021.

Proudly Sponsored by:
Taverna Opa Orlando

Inside Look: Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park Reopens with New Food, Drinks & Merchandise

After shutting its doors nearly one year ago, Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park has officially reopened to the public. Guests can once again experience the park, which is themed around a ski resort built in Florida after a surprise snowfall, that is now in the process of melting away into Blizzard Beach Water Park.

Whether you prefer to lounge in the sun in front of Melt-Away Bay, get your heart racing down Summit Plummet or stuff your face at Lottawatta Lodge, Blizzard Beach has something for you. Disney invited us to experience a media preview of Blizzard Beach just days before it reopened on March 7, 2021. We sampled some new food and beverage items, and even got a sneak peek at the new merchandise available in 2021.

Orlando’s 10 Best Dessert Dishes for Spring 2021

Orlando is a city of indulgence, as made abundantly clear from the delectable variety of sweet treats it offers. We’ve compiled a mouthwatering list of Orlando’s 10 most delicious desserts. From heavenly brick toast to exquisite banana pudding, feel free to satisfy your sweet tooth with any of the following best dessert dishes for 2021.

Proudly Sponsored by:
Loading...Gastrobrunch

St Patrick’s Day Specials – Orlando MegaThread

Our list of upcoming St Patrick’s Day events in the Central Florida area

Promenade at Sunset Walk

St Patrick’s Day Outdoor Street Party and Celebration:

On Wednesday, March 17 from 5-9 P.M. The Promenade at Sunset Walk is hosting an Outdoor Street Party and Celebration for St. Patrick’s Day featuring live music by Herbie & The Gators. The band will be performing the best Irish, classic Dubliners, sea shanty music and more. Attendees can also enjoy street performers, lucky Leprechauns, traditional food and beverage specials from The Promenade’s restaurants. Admission is FREE (Don’t forget to wear green!)
 

JW Marriott at Bonnet Creek Resort 

St. Patty’s Day: At Unreserved Beer Garden- Live entertainment on the 17th 1:00 p.m. – 6:00p.m.
– Irish Beer Flight – guinnes, smithwicks & harp $19
– BlackSmith – guiness with smithwicks layered $9
– Black & Tann – guinnes mixed with harp $9
– Irish Beer Special – all three single purchased $8 by the glass
Food Specials:
–  Irish Sew – Corn Beef & Cabbage, Irish Soda bread
– Fish & Chips, Brown Gravy, Mushy Peas, Tatar Sauce
Dessert: Irish coffee, irish whisky jameson, whipped cream de mint & shamrock milk shakes!

First Look: Grande Lakes Orlando Launches Inaugural “Curated Experiences” Weekend with *NSYNC’s Joey Fatone

Sometimes the best vacation is the one you didn’t even know you needed.  With so many different ways to unwind – on the water, at the spa, on the green or at the table – arranging the ideal getaway can seem like yet another item on an endless to-do list. 

In one perfectly planned weekend, guests at Grande Lakes Orlando can enjoy the ultimate mix of relaxation and inspiration, along with one-on-one time with award-winning chefs, winemakers, jewelers, artists, athletes and wellness experts.

“Curated Experiences” is an exclusive programming hosted by The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes.  The three-day event offers guests an exclusive weekend full of exciting experiences celebrating food and wine with guided workshops, master classes, immersive demonstrations and more, all with the ease of making a single reservation.  Throughout 2021, Grande Lakes Orlando will host a series of these weekend-long experiences.

GoFundMe Campaign – Help Bring Local Orlando Snacks to Orange County Convention Vaccination Workers

"At the Orange County Convention Center’s vaccination site we have lots of EMS and health dept folks out there. They welcome any snacks/food drop offs - if any place ever wants to drop off anything as a thank you or a treat or something, they are more than willing to have them there. And it always helps morale. The team can’t really go anywhere because of time constraints.   It'll be a gesture and is such a great morale thing since the site is staffed 6 days per week for 12 hours a day. "

This week , Tien Hung Market / Banh Mi Boy’s Benjamin Phan delivered over 200 Vietnamese Spring Rolls and gallons of Vietnamese coffee to support the Orange County Convention Center vaccination workers. Tien Hung is one of the oldest Vietnamese owned markets in Orlando located in the historic Mills 50 District. for more info visit https://gofund.me/eb14f7ad

19 Best Pizza Restaurants in Orlando
– Spring 2021 Edition

We recently created a list of our favorite pizza places in Orlando, including brick and mortar as well as some more elusive pop-up / underground pizza shops that have opened this year!