Inside Look: One Year Anniversary – illume at JW Marriott Bonnet Creek near Disney Springs

Orlando’s hottest new rooftop lounge, illume at the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa celebrated its One Year Anniversary this past Tuesday, May 3rd. Attendees enjoyed breathtaking 360-degree views, a delicious Asian-inspired menu, artistic cocktails, and the nightly Disney fireworks shows surrounding Bonnet Creek Preserve.

Here is an Inside Look of the culinary offerings from the One Year Anniversary event:

Proudly Sponsored by:
David Ramirez Chocolates

First Look: YH Seafood Clubhouse – Orlando – Dim Sum and Chinese Cantonese Cuisine

The NEWest Hong Kong-style Dim Sum & Modern Cantonese Cuisine in Orlando has finally opened! YH Seafood Clubhouse is a new upscale Chinese & Cantonese restaurant by John Zhao and Tommy Tang, the owners of the Yummy House restaurant chain in Tampa (YH stands for Yummy House). The new concept is located on Sand Lake Road’s “Restaurant Row”, behind Whole Foods Market, and can seat up to 280 people, including outside seating. The decor is stunning, with gorgeous settings that really bring a more elevated feel that you might get in New York or Hong Kong. 

In addition to a wide selection of Cantonese cuisine and Hong Kong cuisine, guests are also able to select fresh, live seafood from more than a dozen different tanks including succulent lobster and 14 lb King Crab ($85/lb) cooked by chefs from NYC and Hong Kong. I am told they sell quite a few of these each week.

There’s some nice twists on traditional dim sum dishes as well – such as black truffled shrimp ha gow dumplings and charcoal and egg yolk buns.

First Look: YH Seafood Clubhouse – Orlando – Dim Sum and Chinese Cantonese Cuisine

4 Chambers Desserts Vibes – Interview with Pastry Chef/Owner Jodi Pnaskolnakorn

4 Chambers Dessert Vibes is a new local Orlando based online pastry shop that offers high-quality, crafted sweets inspired by artisan desserts with a blend of oriental ingredients. Pastry Chef/Owner Jodi Pnaskolnakorn, an expert in Asian desserts and bakery, brings some exotic collections of flavors to you in a form of modern sweet bites.

We recently spoke with Chef Jodi about her business and how she got started during the pandemic.

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Hemisphere at Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport

Inside Look: The Monroe in Paramore, Creative Village – Downtown Orlando plus a Farewell

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Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin's Food and Wine Classic 2022

Inside Look: Luke’s Kitchen and Bar – Maitland – Spring 2022 Menu plus Interview with Chef Jason Campbell

Luke’s Kitchen and Bar in Maitland – the winner for Orlando Sentinel’s best restaurant of the year 2021 recently debuted their new Spring Menu. Luke’s Kitchen and Bar is led by visionary chef Brandon McGlamery, Executive Chef Jason Campbell , and operations maven Tim Noelke featuring seasonally ingredient-driven dishes focused on unique takes on American cuisine, made in-house and sourced locally as much as possible (including local Central Florida farms such as: Big Daddy Organics and Frog Song CSA. The restaurant specializes in carefully curated oysters and freshly roasted entrees cooked over an open Florida oak wood fire grill.

Inside Look: Tap Room at Dubsdread in College Park

The award-winning The Tap Room at Dubsdread in College Park may have one of the longest histories in Orlando, dating back to when the golf course first opened in 1924, eventually becoming a popular hangout spot for officers during World War II and popular ever since. The Tap Room at Dubsdread boasts a heritage of culinary excellence. Today, under the guidance of owner Steven Gunter and Chef Stewart Barney, their spectacular setting and delicious food - including a great prime steak and seafood list - have made them a perennial favorite for Central Floridians and has gained them recognition as some of the best burgers and outdoor dining in town.

Heirloom Orlando – Meal Delivery Service – Spring 2022 Menu

Trying to prepare meals for the family this week and run out of ideas and time? Check out @orderheirloom ‘s brand new Spring Menu and save time on cooking and prepping so you can spend more time enjoying time with family and friends. 

Super easy to prep – seconds to just pop the dish in the oven as needed according to the instructions and dinner is ready in less than an hour.

Heirloom’s new spring menu is a chef curated menu packed with freshly picked, seasonal ingredients and a variety of flavor as well as kid friendly options!

SPECIAL – Enjoy chef prepared meals delivered locally to your door in Orlando, Tampa and surrounding areas by using code “TASTYCHOMPS” to take $25 off your first order, no expiration or exclusions.

Visit  https://orderheirloom.com/ to start looking at the available menu items this week!

Save the Dates – Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic returns Friday, Nov. 11 and Saturday, Nov. 12 2022

The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic is slated for Friday, Nov. 11 and Saturday, Nov. 12, including the interactive food and beverage seminars, which return this year for the first time since 2019. The Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic treats guests to a street party festival with unlimited tastings of culinary selections from the hotel’s award-winning restaurants plus bottomless wine, beer, and beverage samplings from around the world. 

It all takes place amidst a backdrop of live entertainment on the hotel’s causeway featuring several themed areas such as a beer garden, carnival corner and bubble lounge.

The 2022 event will also feature the return of the interactive food and beverage seminars lead by the hotel’s expert team.

With 22 restaurants and lounges and a distinguished culinary and beverage team, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort continually earns national recognition for its food and beverage program.

Save the Dates – Swan and Dolphin Food and Wine Classic returns Friday, Nov. 11 and Saturday, Nov. 12 2022

Fundraiser to Support the People of Ukraine – World Central Kitchen – Disaster Relief Fund - Plus Call for Recipes

Update 3/20/2022 – In less than 2 short weeks, we have achieved our goal of $10,000 raised thanks to the compassion and generosity of our Central Florida and Orlando community. Big thank you to Amy Thompson of Orlando Sentinel (What can you do to help Ukraine? Feed them) and Holly Kapher of Orlando Weekly (Support Ukraine at these local Orlando restaurants) for covering the story, as well as to the support of local friends and restaurants (Domu, Tori Tori, Peterbrooke Chocolatier, Hinckley’s, The Ravenous Pig, and many more) who all helped support and donate.

The war continues, and as of today, over 3 million Ukrainian refugees have fled, many still in need of hot meals – if you are able to, please continue sharing this fundraiser with family and friends to help support the people of Ukraine. We are also still collecting recipes from local chefs and community members for a digital thank you recipe collection e-book to send out to donors after the fundraiser is over. If you have a family recipe to share, please e-mail us at tastychomps@gmail.com.

José Andrés’s nonprofit World Central Kitchen (WCK) is now in Poland, Romania, and Moldova feeding “hot, nourishing meals” to tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees coming across the border at all hours. The aid group says it is also working with restaurants in Odessa and Lviv, two cities in Ukraine, to feed those who remain there.

The WCK most recently arrived in Moldova and began serving chicken over plates of pasta, fresh bread from local restaurants, and tomato salad. The nonprofit group is heading to Slovakia and Hungary as well to find out how to support refugees arriving from Ukraine.

All proceeds to benefit World Central Kitchen disaster relief funds (worldcentralkitchen.org) – Chef Jose Andres and team are currently providing hot meals for refugees from the Ukraine conflict on the ground.

To donate, visit: https://donate.wck.org/team/411729

As a thank you to donors, we are compiling a recipe book tentatively titled “To Ukraine with Love: Recipes from the Heart of Central Florida to the People of Ukraine” – if you would like to submit a recipe please fill out the below recipe submission or email tastychomps@gmail.com with the below email by 3/30/2022:

Recipe Submission Form:
https://forms.gle/VrKyReHgSxXnNw4j8

Recipe Name:
About the recipe:
List of Ingredients:
Preparation Instructions:
About You/Chef/Restaurant:
Send photos if any to tastychomps@gmail.com

We will send donors a copy via e-mail in PDF format in early April after we compile. Donor – Sign up for the Recipe Book: https://forms.gle/hJ6mBwwKXmSYZey47