Inside Look: Four Flamingos – A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen – at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Orlando, Florida plus Interview with Chef de Cuisine Shelby Farrell

Did you know there is a restaurant in Central Florida featuring molecular gastronomy techniques? It’s called Four Flamingos – A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen – at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress just outside of Disney Springs. Four Flamingos is an immersive dining and drinking experience reminiscent of a dreamy tropical oasis led by acclaimed chef and television personality, Richard Blais, who combines the memory of vintage eras with the bounty of Florida to create a treasure-packed menu of the fresh-caught surf and fire-grilled turf variety. 

The raw seafood on ice, lush and colorful interior, and refreshing cocktail creations set the daily mood to breezy and carefree.

For wanderers, Four Flamingos is the perfect place to linger and libate; for locals, it’s a sweet escape and familiar favorite. For guests of all ages in search of a good time, there’s always room here for one more.

And a bonus for local Central Florida residents – they provide complimentary valet and self parking if you dine in.

We recently spoke with Four Flamingo’s Chef de Cuisine Shelby Farrell about her background and culinary inspirations at the restaurant. Read on below!

Inside Look: Four Flamingos – A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen – at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Orlando, Florida plus Interview with Chef de Cuisine Shelby Farrell

Proudly Sponsored by:
Nile Ethiopian Cuisine

Inside Look: Primo at JW Marriott, Grande Lakes Orlando Resort – Summer 2022 – New Renovations and Interview with Chef de Cuisine Eric Petrie

Did you know that Orlando is home to a restaurant founded and led by the first female chef to win the James Beard Foundation Awards’ Best Chef twice? Almost twenty years ago, Primo by Chef Melissa Kelly opened right here in Orlando at JW Marriott Grande Lakes Resort, inarguably jump-starting the local farm to table movement in our restaurant industry with organic ingredients sourced not only from local farms but also right onsite at the Primo Garden and Whisper Creek Farm.

 This past year, the restaurant got a major renovation, inspired by Chef Melissa Kelly’s Italian heritage from the Puglia region, featuring a more airy, naturally lit dining room – a perfect fit also for Central Florida. Most recently, Primo recognized by MICHELIN Guide in their 2022 Florida Guide as a “Orlando Recommended” restaurant. 

Another update to Primo this past year? New Chef de Cuisine Eric Petrie joins Primo here in Orlando from Chef Melissa Kelly’s original Primo located in Maine – we recently visited Primo and got a great update from him in our interview below.

Inside Look: Primo at JW Marriott, Grande Lakes Orlando Resort – Summer 2022 – New Renovations and Interview with Chef de Cuisine Eric Petrie

Liberty Weekend Food and Wine Experience at Hemisphere at Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport – June 18, 2022

LIBERTY WEEKEND FOOD & WINE EXPERIENCE
FEATURING A SELECTION OF WINES FROM
DUCKHORN VINEYARDS

“A Napa Valley Classic, an American Icon”
Paired with an American Influenced Menu
 

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2022
5:45pm – VIP Reception
6:30pm Gourmet Dinner
8:00pm Concert Event

For Reservations Call Arlene at 407-825-1315
or Email arlene.diel@hyatt.com

Proudly Sponsored by:
The Pointe Orlando

Catching up with Hien and Huong, Owners of Z Asian – Vietnamese Kitchen after their MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmand Award

Last week, Z Asian- Vietnamese Kitchen was awarded the coveted MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmand in the first ever MICHELIN Guide for Florida, one of 7 restaurants in Orlando to be awarded this honor.

There’s issues with the MICHELIN Guide, as with any system that judges restaurants based on criteria partially created over a century ago. But still, it is an honor, and hopefully with more nudging the guide will continue to reform.

I read the Michelin Inspector’s review of the restaurant and something bothered me.

Catching up with Hien and Huong, Owners of Z Asian – Vietnamese Kitchen after their MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmand Award

Pink Party returns to The Hampton Social at The Pointe Orlando

Did you know that June is Rosé 🥂 month?  

Enjoy a Garden Oasis Experiential Pop-Up, immersive Rosé Tasting Bars from all over the world, Culinary Delights , Experiential Touch Points, and Special Live DJ Sets at the upcoming Pink Party by The Hampton Social at The Pointe Orlando.

Saturday, June 18th, 12pm - 5pm
The Hampton Social @pointeorlando - Orlando, FL

Entry into The Pink Party at The Hampton Social - Orlando. Includes welcome glass of Rosé, our signature culinary bites, four (4) immersive global Rosé tastings and experiential surprises! Tickets are: $65. VIP Experiences + Group Tickets available. Special Promo — Use the code: pinkparty25 to get 25% off.

Keep the party going all day with additional food and delicious summer cocktails, full cash bar available for purchase. Wearing Pink is WILDLY encouraged! Summer chic required.  All guests must be 21+ and have valid proof of ID upon arrival.

VIP Experiences Available - Enjoy a garden oasis that includes entry into The Pink Party, Rosé, table service, and a dedicated server. Purchase tickets on eventbrite.
  
About  The Hampton Social - Orlando - Located at Pointe Orlando, on I-Drive by the Convention Center, offering an indoor dining room, expansive outdoor patio, private dining room, and our "Rosé All Day" Lounge. Known for our lively dining experiences featuring exceptional coastal-inspired food, cocktails, and live music in a beautifully designed atmosphere.

The Pink Party at The Hampton Social at The Pointe Orlando
Sat, June 18, 2022
12:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT
9101 International Drive
Orlando, FL 32819

Woman goes on anti-Asian racist rant against Orlando King Cajun Crawfish employees in Mills 50 District

A little over 7 Years ago, we partnered with local NPR affiliate 90.7 WMFE to do a story on the local Vietnamese owned businesses in Orlando’s Mills 50 District. We met with Ha Nguyen, owner of King Cajun Crawfish of Orlando, who talked to us about leaving Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina destroyed her restaurant of 10 years to rebuild here in Orlando.

A woman hurled racist, anti-Asian slurs at the employees at King Cajun Crawfish this week after being unhappy with her meal.

It is so disturbing to watch and hear about the anti-Asian incident that they experienced – it’s a lot of ignorance and I hope and pray our community can and will bridge that gulf with compassion, understanding, and love – we are one human family.

Local Father’s Day Specials in Orlando 2022

Here are the Orlando Awardees of the 2022 Michelin Guide – Florida! Including 4 – One Michelin Stars, 7 Michelin Bib Gourmands, and 18 Recommended Orlando Restaurants

Parents, mentors, friends and family cheered on local Orlando, Tampa, and Miami chefs this evening as the first ever Florida Michelin Guide were announced at the Ritz-Carlton, Grande Lakes Orlando Resort. Looking over the list, I was proud of our city as the quality and expertise of our local restaurant scene has undoubtedly improved these past few decades, rivalling restaurants I’ve tried in major cities including New York City and LA. There were so many others who would just as easily have deserved a place on these lists, and hopefully, one day they will be, too.

The inaugural edition of the MICHELIN Guide Miami, Orlando and Tampa had inspectors finding a total of 14 One-MICHELIN-Star restaurants and a Two-MICHELIN-Star restaurant in all of Florida.

ORLANDO – ONE MICHELIN STAR
Kadence
Capa
Knife and Spoon at The Ritz Carlton, Grande Lakes Orlando
Soseki
ORLANDO – MICHELIN BIB GOURMAND
Domu
Papa Llama
The Ravenous Pig
Swine and Sons
Bombay Street Kitchen
Z Asian
The Strand

ORLANDO – MICHELIN RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS

Pizza Bruno
Kabooki Sushi
Se7en Bites
Sticky Rice
Shin Jung
Maxine’s on Shine
Tori Tori
Hawkers
Black Rooster Taqueria
The Pinery
Bacán
Primo at JW Marriott Grande Lakes Orlando
Selam
Four Flamingos, A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress
Ravello at Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World
The Polite Pig
Sear + Sea at JW Marriott Bonnet Creek
Orlando Meats
Prato
Citricos
Morimoto Asia

Here are the Orlando Awardees of the 2022 Michelin Guide – Florida! Including 4 – One Michelin Stars, 7 Michelin Bib Gourmands, and 18 Recommended Orlando Restaurants - Plus Interview with Gwendal Poullenec, International Director of the Michelin Guides

Bite30 by Orlando Weekly’s Special 3 Course Pre-Fix Menu Runs now thru July 10, 2022

During Bite30, participating restaurants offer special prix fixe menus that offer multi-course dinners at a set price of $33.

Diners get the opportunity to try multiple dishes on the restaurant’s menu for about the cost of a single entree, and restaurants get to showcase their specialty dishes to the new customers attracted by their Bite30 menu!

Restaurant-hop through the City Beautiful, experience delicious food, service and ambiance of the restaurants you really should know about.

Featured Bite 30 Restaurant

AURORA AT THE CELESTE

4105 North Alafaya Trail, Orlando, FL 32826, USA

Make your reservation today at opentable.com/r/aurora-orlando

Details: Bite30 by Orlando Weekly’s Special 3 Course Pre-Fix Menu Runs now thru July 10, 2022