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9 Reasons to GO See McFarland, USA

By Christina Thomas 2 Comments

The Feel Good Movie of the Year: McFarland, USA

I got a chance to see McFarland, USA at a screening this week and left the theater as equally exhausted and exhilarated as I normally feel after running a race. The film is based on the compelling 1987 true story of a group of novice runners from McFarland, a farming town in California’s Central Valley, and how under the guidance of a down-on-his-luck coach, Jim White (Kevin Costner), a newcomer to their predominantly Latino high school, they overcome the odds to build a championship winning cross-country team and an enduring legacy.

I loved the movie and here are the 9 Reasons why I say GO see McFarland, USA which opened in theaters on February 20, 2015. Get your family, your friends, and your running club together, GO out for a great meal at your favorite local Mexican restaurant and GO see this movie. I guarantee a great evening out!

1. GO for the Joy!


Disney Pictures is calling McFarland, USA “the feel-good movie of 2015” and based on the constant cheering in the theater, and my unavoidable sappy tears, I say they are correct. You just couldn’t help but clap or let out an enthusiastic “yeah!” every time the McFarland boys gunned it for the finish line, especially when Danny Diaz (newcomer Ramiro Rodriguez), the slowest runner on the team, passed the other runners. I could not hold back the tears in the final scenes of the movie seeing what had become of the real-life characters. I didn’t feel manipulated with gratuitous scenes intended just to pull at the heart-strings. That impulse to cheer with abandon – that joy that makes you feel good – is the main reason to go see McFarland, USA.

9 Reasons to See McFarland USA review by www.goepicurista.com

A moment to cheer!

2. GO for Kevin Costner’s Best Genre!


Kevin Costner is back to the big screen in his strongest genre, sports-themed inspirational dramas. He has done plenty of them – Field of Dreams, For Love of the Game, Bull Durham, Tin Cup, Draft Day – however McFarland, USA shows the most heart. Costner, in his understated brooding kind of way, portrays a flawed man that makes plenty of mistakes yet you still root for him. He doesn’t get in the way of shining a light on the true stars of the movie, the 7 students on his cross-country band of misfits.

9 Reasons to See McFarland USA movie review by www.goepicurista.com

Kevin Costner at what he does best!

3. GO for The Students!


I was so touched to learn three out of the seven young actors portraying the McFarland runners were actually from the McFarland area and are first time actors. Michael Aguero from nearby Bakersfield, cast as Damacio Diaz, is a runner. Ramiro Rodriguez who plays Danny Diaz, the lovable “anchor” of the team, actually had the real life Danny Diaz as his high school counselor at McFarland High School, helped the school win their first soccer championship, and worked in the fields as the McFarland students. Read more about him in this story by ThatsItMommy.com. Sergio Avelar, who plays Victor Puentes, is part of the McFarland track team and had the real life Thomas Valles (the lead runner of the team) as his middle school coach. He almost didn’t audition assuming the director was looking for experienced actors, echoing the self-doubt and assumptions the students make in the film which make them skeptical of even trying Jim White’s crazy idea of a cross-country team, a sport assumed to be only for privileged schools. The casting of the movie is outstanding. They truly are the heart of McFarland, USA.

9 Reasons to see McFarland USA movie review by www.goepicurista.com

l to r. Sergio Avelar, Michael Aquero & Ramiro Rodriguez

4. GO for The Community!


Running is technically a solo sport. Only you and your legs can get you to the finish line, yet you can’t do it alone. The running community is a powerful one. There is no greater feeling than having complete strangers cheer you on when you’re on the verge of hitting the dreaded wall, or in doing the same for others. When it comes to a cross-country team, it’s the combined score that counts so no matter how fast you are if the rest of the team doesn’t keep up, you will not win. That seems the case for any team, in sports and in life. One person can’t do it alone. McFarland, USA highlights this throughout the film. It shows the contrast of a selfish jock in the opening sequence to the group of boys that are committed to each other, both on and off the track. It shows the impact of family relationships and the support of the community. In a small town where nothing big ever happens, this power of community is most evident when the town’s main store closes for the first time in 25 years so everyone in town can go cheer the team on to victory. In big cities it’s easy to miss out on community relationships so it’s important to create them in any way we can. Whether it be your church, your school, your neighborhood or your running club, it’s important to have a group of people cheering you on. McFarland, USA reminds us of that.

9 Reasons to see McFarland USA movie review with www.goepicurista.com

5. GO for the Blend of Cultures!


Coach White and the McFarland students have a lot to learn about each other and it’s only when they start putting their prejudices and stereotypical first impressions aside that things truly change for all of them. The contrast of the poor Latino outsiders with the affluent Caucasian runners at every competition was quite obvious. The clash between Jim White, whose name could not be a more perfect metaphor, and the McFarland community of predominantly Mexican immigrants is unavoidable. At first, the White’s make all the usual first impression assumptions as they arrive in McFarland to see all street signs in this impoverished town are in Spanish. “Are we in Mexico?” one of White’s daughters asks. Throughout the movie we see how assumptions about others based on culture can be wrong and how accepting our differences can lead to a true sense of belonging. This is a Disney feel-good movie, so we don’t delve into the more gritty topics of race and socio-economic issues other than to say “don’t judge a book by its cover”. One of the songs used in the soundtrack sings in the chorus “We are all Americans” as the town people wave both their Mexican and US flags. The song “Juntos” by Latin superstar Juanes, celebrates how we can do anything together. The merging and melding of different cultures is what this country is all about. McFarland, USA is Anytown, USA.

9 Reasons to see McFarland USA movie review by www.goepicurista.com

Welcome to McFarland!

6. GO for the Attitude!


Ask any runner and they will tell you, to succeed you need the right attitude, persistence, dedication, focus and heart. Running is a mind game as much as a physical test. You can train so your legs can get you there but will your mind defeat you? Will you talk yourself out of it because of all the million excuses why you think you can’t do it? The same is also true in life. Attitude is everything. In the movie you see these teenagers and their parents allow their economic circumstances and the norm of “what they have always done” as crop-pickers hold them back from pursuing “bigger things, greater things”. Hopelessness sets in unless you see alternatives exist and this is where Coach White makes the biggest impact. He showed them another way to make life better for themselves and their families. The path is not easy but you need to persevere, work hard and stick to it if you want to succeed at anything – not just sports – but life. It’s a great message for the youth of today. Champions can come from anywhere. McFarland, USA shows a new kind of American dream.

McFarland, USA release coincides with the Run Disney Princess Half Marathon a special race for me as it was my first race, of any kind, five years ago.Watching the movie and how hard the boys trained brought back those memories. Four months prior to the race I could barely run for one minute without gasping for air. My knees killed me after only one mile and I foolishly signed up to run 13.1. I recall waking up at 4:30am, as the kids do in the movie, just so that I could get my runs in before work. They were doing it to go work in the fields before training and going to school! My only goal was to finish the race before the dreaded street sweepers came up from behind. When I finished with a time of 2:18, you would have thought I won an Olympic gold medal. I did something I never thought possible. Coach White shows the importance of having a good attitude and work ethic. He set small goals for them and increased them as they went along. Perseverance gets you to the finish line every time and finishing always makes you a winner.

9 Reasons to see McFarland USA movie review by www.goepicurista.com

7. GO for the Love of Food!


I have a sincere appreciation of food, and more importantly the sharing of food as the best way to build relationships. McFarland, USA depicts this throughout the film to drool-worthy effect. The White family’s first stop in McFarland is a local restaurant with a limited menu of Mexican dishes – Tacos, Tortas, Enchiladas, Burritos, and Quesadillas. Jim White instead asks for a burger. Typical example of what many tourists tend to do in a new town, go for the familiar. The restaurant worker welcomes them and explains the menu after seeing the puzzled look on their faces. Various scenes show the people of McFarland coming together to cook as a group but my favorite food scene is quite typical of any Latino household. Coach White shows up at the Diaz house with the only intention to convince the boys’ father to allow them to be on the team instead of working with him in the fields. He is immediately invited to the dinner table and seven helpings of the most delicious enchiladas and rice later, not only finds himself in a food coma but more importantly, humbled by the experience. The mother, played with such sass and strength by Diana Maria Riva, reminded me of every Hispanic mom I’ve ever met. Food is everything. What drives the people of McFarland to go out into the fields and pick the produce that we eat is simply so they can put food on their own tables. Did you know the area is home to Blue Diamond Almonds? Food is not only sustenance here, it also provides time with the family.

Coach White learns the difficulties of working the  field

Coach White learns the difficulties of working the field

As Señora Diaz offers White leftovers to take home which he politely declines, she says:

“Don’t say to me NO, how are you going to be family if you don’t eat together?”

9 Reasons to see McFarland USA movie review by www.goepicurista.com

No one says NO to Sra. Diaz Food!

That is the essence of this movie. It is all about family. The family by blood, the family by choice amongst the group of runners, the family created by a community that embraced an outsider and more importantly the outsider family that wanted to belong. Food is a great conduit for that. I highly recommend having dinner with family and friends at your local Mexican restaurant before the movie or you will be drooling at each food scene in McFarland, USA.

8. GO for Travel Inspiration!


The production took the cast and crew to some of the most beautiful spots in Southern and Central California, from Lake Castaic to Malibu to the Griffith Park Observatory, in addition to the fields and neighborhoods of Bakersfield and McFarland. I love Destination Races and these are locations to add to my Travel #SomedayList. The students had never been outside their small town and find themselves in awe of the California landscape as they travel in their small school bus to different competitions. A touching scene where they see the ocean for the first time and run into the surf laughing and cheering shows beautifully the joy of exploring this world we live in. Travel expands your horizons like nothing else can and we see that in McFarland, USA.

9 Reasons to see McFarland USA movie review by www.goepicurista.com
9 Reasons to see McFarland USA movie review by www.goepicurista.com

9. GO for the True Story!


Sports-themed feel good true stories are nothing new to movies. Most follow a pretty similar storyline of the underdogs overcoming the odds to finish first. That doesn’t make the story of Jim White and the McFarland students any less inspiring or heart-warming. It’s encouraging to know that this is not a Disney fabricated Fantasyland. That in the current times we live in of 24 hour bad news cycles there are still stories out there worth celebrating. Over the years since then, the McFarland High School cross-country teams have won nine state championships and the small school is considered a powerhouse in the sport. This man inspired a community to be better. The final scenes showing how many of the members of the original team come out to run with today’s students in McFarland is what sets this story apart. They are still part of the McFarland community. These guys are not characters in a story, this is real life. I wonder why it took 27 years for it to come to the big screen.

9 Reasons to see McFarland USA movie review by www.goepicurista.com

McFarland USA in real-life. Coach White and some of the original runners today

McFarland, USA is an inspiring story and we need more of those, don’t you think?

Disney’s McFarland, USA stars Kevin Costner, Maria Bello, Morgan Saylor, Martha Higareda, Michael Aguero, Sergio Avelar, Hector Duran, Rafael Martinez, Johnny Ortiz, Carlos Pratts, Ramiro Rodriguez, Danny Mora, Valente Rodriguez, Vanessa Martinez, Chris Ellis and Diana Maria Riva, and is directed by Niki Caro with screenplay by Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois and Grant Thompson, and story by Cleveland & Gilois. Gordon Gray and Mark Ciardi are producing, with Mario Iscovich and Mary Martin serving as executive producers. The film is rated PG.

GO see McFarland, USA!

Cheers,

GO Epicurista

Follow McFarland, USA on Facebook and Disney Pictures on Twitter.

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Filed Under: Entertainment Tagged With: California, Kevin Costner, McFarland USA, Movie, Running

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About Christina Thomas

I'm Christina, a hospitality consultant, freelance writer, food & travel enthusiast, brand cheerleader, ice cream fanatic, chocoholic, and eternal optimist on a mission to #MakeSomedayHappen one delicious bite, sip and trip at a time. Celebrating life with great food, wine and friends throughout Central Florida and everywhere I GO! I want to inspire you to take time out of your busy schedule to do the same. GO celebrate life today, for someday may never come. Join me and GO Epicurista!

Comments

  1. Jeff Wetherington says

    03/02/2015 at 3:58 pm

    Sounds like a great movie to see! Thanks for sharing all these excellent reasons to see it. 🙂

    Reply
    • Christina Thomas says

      03/04/2015 at 1:24 am

      Thanks for checking out my review! Would love to know what you thought of the movie when you see it. Cheers!

      Reply

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Meet your Chief Epicurista

I'm Christina, a hospitality consultant, freelance writer, food & travel enthusiast, brand cheerleader, ice cream fanatic, chocoholic, and eternal optimist on a mission to #MakeSomedayHappen one delicious bite, sip and trip at a time. Celebrating life with great food, wine and friends throughout Central Florida and everywhere I GO! I want to inspire you to take time out of your busy schedule to do the same. GO celebrate life today, for someday may never come. Join me and GO Epicurista! Find out more...

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Admission includes: 
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🍹 Unlimited Beer & Wine, (add the Premium Drink Package for $40!)
🤿 Swim & snorkel with rays & tropical fish
🐦 Hand-feed exotic birds
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Highly recommend this experience for locals and visitors. The entire day felt like a true vacation! 
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I was invited to a preview and loved doing a coffee tasting of 4 blends with Christian, Barnie’s head coffee roaster. My favorite was the Guatemala Gehsa with citrus, cocoa nibs and orange blossom notes. We also sampled new menu items. Don’t miss the Shakshuka & the Popovers!
Here’s what we sampled:
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✨Barnie’s Cafe Blend
✨Guatemala Gehsa
✨Birthday Cake Batter (notes of vanilla sprinkles)
✨UCF Pegasus Blend (notes of chocolate & caramel!) yum! 
> I couldn’t resist getting a latte even though it was 6pm! 🤣 Barista Renata did a fab vanilla latte! 
🍳 Breakfast:
✨ Signature Popovers
✨French Toast with fresh truit
✨Shakshuka with poached egg
✨Seasonal Quiche
🥪 Lunch:
✨Cuban Sandwich
✨Roasted BeetSalad
Did you know Barnie’s is Orlando’s original coffee shop? It opened right here in Winter Park in 1980!
Go support local! #MakeSomedayHappen 
#GoEpicOrlando #LoveOrlando #barniescoffeeandtea #orlandocoffee
Hey Orlando Foodies, @orlandocitysc and @orlpride Hey Orlando Foodies, @orlandocitysc and @orlpride games at @exploriastadium just got a whole lot tastier!
Five #OrlandoMade local restaurants are now permanent concessions vendors so you can tame your hunger with the best local tacos, hot dogs, BBQ, Chicken & Burgers in Orlando! 
Thank you Exploria Stadium for inviting me to the media preview. Can’t wait to go cheer on our 2022 US Open Champions at the season opener this Saturday!
Here’s a preview of what we sampled: 
🌮 BLACK ROOSTER TAQUERIA - Chicken Tinga Taco on Flour Tortilla, w. lettuce, radish, cotija cheese, cilantro. Love those tacos! It was nice to see owner Juliana Calloway and Chief Tasting Officer Ryder Calloway dancing! 🕺🏻 @blkroostertaco 🙌🏼
📍 The Wall / Section 24
🌭 HARRELL’S HOT DOGS - Orlando City Stadium Dog features a Nathan’s Hot Dog topped with House Red Onion Sauce, Sauerkraut & Sport Peppers and finished with a Spicy Brown Mustard. Nice to meet owners Drew & David Cardaci! @_whats.up.dog_ 🙌🏼
📍 Section 30
🍖 4 RIVERS SMOKEHOUSE - Orlando’s favorite Pulled Pork Sandwich! Didn’t get to see owner John Rivers did you know you can now pick up 4R sauces & spices at Publix?! @4riverssmokehouse 🙌🏼
📍 Section 31
🐓 THE COOP by 4Rivers - Hand-breaded Chicken Tenders with 4R BBQ sauce @thecoop_wp 🙌🏼
📍 Section 9
🍔 TEAK NEIGHBORHOOD GRILL - Drunken Monk Burger with Smoked Bacon, Provolone Cheese, Roasted Cherry Tomotoes, house-made Angry Orchard Onion Jam, on Herb Mayo & Melted White Cheddor on a Pretzel Bun with Teak Chips. Best Burger in Orlando!  It was so nice to meet owner Jon Proechel after all these years of being a fan of their epic burgers! @teakneighborhoodgrill 🙌🏼
📍 Section 18
🍹MANE-GO MARGARITA - In The Wild Margarita with @camarenatequila - super tasty! 
⭐️ FYI - A Rotating Vendor Cart will feature @cholodogs & @sushieatstation among others 
⚽️ Will you be at the season opener this Saturday? 
#VamosOrlando Let’s Go! #ManEveryWall 💜 
Hosted #GoEpicOrlando #MakeSomedayHappen #ThingsToDoinOrlando
Happy #NationalMargaritaDay 🎉 This is “NOT E Happy #NationalMargaritaDay 🎉
This is “NOT EVERYONE’S MARGARITA” -  But it is mine! Made with Vida Mezcal, Cuervo Traditional Plata Tequila, Jalapeño, Creme de Mure, House Sour, & Black Salt. Epic! 
📍 Go get yours at @paddlefishorl in @disneysprings
Cheers! 
#GoEpicOrlando #MakeSomedayHappen #DisneySprings
Hey Wine Lovers, I almost missed it’s #NationalD Hey Wine Lovers, I almost missed it’s #NationalDrinkWineDay 🥂
Here’s my 3 Favorite Wine Bars in Orlando: 
🍷 @quantumleapwinery - Orlando’s only sustainable winery & cidery, located in Mills 50 District. Try Kaley’s Rescue Red Blend & don’t miss the @thetastytrio “Wine, Cheese & Chocolate”events. 
🍷 @viniawinekitchen - fantastic boutique wines & Italian / Brazilian shareable plates in a charming intimate setting, located in Winter Park. Be sure to ask owner Fabio for his recommendations! 
🍷 @winebargeorge - Orlando’s only Master Sommelier owned restaurant with over 160 wines by the glass, bottle & ounce, located in Disney Springs. Say hi to somm genius George Miliotes and don’t miss their fab boards & wines from around the globe! 
Go #MakeSomedayHappen 
#GoEpicOrlando #OrlandoWine #loveOrlando
Don’t miss “Eat Ice Cream For Breakfast Day” Don’t miss “Eat Ice Cream For Breakfast Day” on Saturday 2/18! 
@kellyshomemadeicecream has created special breakfast-themed ice cream flavors for this annual International Childhood Cancer Awareness event
Order a cup, cone or shake or better yet, get an Ice Cream Flight & try all four! 
🥞 Blueberry Pancake (My favorite!)
🥣 Breakfast Buddies
🥓 Maple Bourbon Bacon
💥 Cinnamon Crunch
🗓️ When: Saturday February 18th, 9am-11am
📍 Where: All Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream Scoop Shops and participating Counters 
💰 50% of sales during breakfast will be donated to @gktwvillage 
🍦 “Eat Ice Cream For Breakfast Day” was created in 2013 in honor of Malia Grace, by her mom and aunt after she lost her battle with cancer in 2010. Malia Grace loved ice cream and her family wanted to commemorate her birthday, 2/18, in a way that would be fitting for her. During her wish trip at Give Kids The World, she had the opportunity to eat ice cream for breakfast and it was a highlight of the family’s experience. 
🌎 Give Kids The World Village is an 89-acre, whimsical nonprofit in Central Florida that provides critically ill children and their families with magical week-long wish vacations at no cost. Every wish family is treated to accommodations, transportation, donated theme park tickets, all meals and snacks, nightly entertainment, and more. Since 1986, Give Kids The World has welcomed more than 182,000 families from all 50 states and 76 countries.
Stop by Kelly’s and pick up these awesome flavors! But, regardless of where you are, Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast in honor of Malia, and raise awareness for those who battle childhood cancer. 💛
#GoEpicOrlando #eaticecreamforbreakfastday #kellyshomemadeicecream #kellysicecream #orlandoicecream
Happy Valentine’s Day! ♥️ Add a little fire Happy Valentine’s Day! ♥️ Add a little fire & passion to your life, head to @gideonsbakehouse for their Eternal Flame Cookie & Cake. They are 🔥in the best way!
🍰 Eternal Flame Cake is a 3-Layer Double Frosted Chocolate work of art! Red Cherry Buttercream layers and Chocolate Fudge Buttercream mixed with a bit of that Eternal Flame spice on the outer layer. Not too spicy and absolutely decadent! Pair it with a nice bold red wine!
🍪 Eternal Flame Chocolate Cookie packs a nice kick laced with house-made Ancho, Cayenne, and Cinnamon Spice Mix, infused with a magical essence of cherry and topped with Chocolate Covered Cherries. 
❤️ For a limited time, a special version of the Eternal Flame cookie without the spice mix is available too! (Check Gideon’s IG for details)
📍 Available only in February at Gideon’s in East End Market & Disney Springs
Go celebrate with the best cookies and cakes on the planet!
#MakeSomedayHappen #GoEpicOrlando #GideonsBakehouse #DisneySprings #ValentinesDayTreat
For The Love of Chocolate… stop by @peterbrookew For The Love of Chocolate… stop by @peterbrookewp and pick up the best treats for your sweetie and besties 💕
A few of my favorites: 
🍓 Chocolate Covered Strawberries (require advanced order)
❤️ “Jami Choo’s” Chocolate Shoes
💋 Assorted Truffles (loved the red lips!)
♥️ Chocolate Covered Popcorn! 
💖 Baskets with a variety of treats! (Don’t miss the Chocolate Covered Oreos, Cat Tails & Cookies)
☎️ Call the shop to reserve a basket for quick pick up at (407) 644-3200. They’re open regular hours today & 7AM -11:15PM on Valentine’s Day!
🍓 Thank you to Peterbrooke’s creative Cupid chocolatiers for these gorgeous berries! 
#GoEpicOrlando #PeterbrookeWP #winterparkfl
Bon jour! Bon soir, enchante! 💕 The perfect way Bon jour! Bon soir, enchante! 💕 The perfect way to celebrate Galentine’s Day & Valentine’s Day is with the best French pastries in Orlando! 
Thank you @chefstephsteph for these epic @choulalapastries 💕
Pre-order and pick up at either Choulala Park Avenue and 436 location! You’re going to want to get all of this! 
VALENTINE’S DAY DESSERT BOX!
Chef Steph created an epic gourmet assortment of Valentine’s Day delights perfect to share:
💋 (1) Lychee Rose French Kiss Entremet
♥️ (2) Conversation Heart Vanilla Macarons
💝 (2) Crème Brûlée Choux Cream Puffs!
“I LOVE CHOU” BOX includes:
❤️ Passion Fruit, Raspberry & Crème Brûlée Choux Cream Puffs
♥️ Red Velvet, Lavender & Conversation Heart Macaron
❤️ Strawberry Eclair
I also picked up these gorgeous heart shaped entremets:
💜 Exotique: Passion Fruit & Coconut 
💖 Sweeties: Strawberry & Chocolate Brownie
Go enjoy the sweetest Galentine’s & Valentine’s Day #MakeSomedayHappen 
📍Choulala Park Avenue is open regular hours Saturday & Sunday, closed Mon, but will open special hours on V-Day Tuesday 11a-8p.
📍Choulala 436 open regular hours including 10-5pm V- Day
(Hosted) #GoEpicOrlando #BlissfulBite #ChoulalaPastries #Galentines #ValentinesTreats
It’s #NationalPizzaDay but all I’m thinking ab It’s #NationalPizzaDay but all I’m thinking about is Hot Garlic Knots from @official_pizza_bruno 
Have you tried these?  They are a #MustEat in Orlando!
Look for the lit “Hot Knots Now!” sign! 🔥 And, when you think there isn’t enough garlic... there’s more! 🧄 🍕 
Go get some!
#GoEpicOrlando #OrlandoFoodie #MakeSomedayHappen
💜 Feeling the lavender haze... One of my favori 💜 Feeling the lavender haze... One of my favorite foodie experiences of 2022 was dining at Salt & The Cellar by Michelin Chef Akira Back and spending the night at the new @ettehotel - a gorgeous boutique hotel with impeccable attention to detail! I even got to meet @chefakiraback 
So excited I’m going back tonight to check out their new Lipa Rooftop Bar & Restaurant and have reservations for Afternoon Tea next month! 
Add a visit to ette hotel to your Foodie Bucket List for 2023! 
A few favorites from my last visit:
🍸 Fantastic Zero-Proof Cocktails by @jarldevries: It’s Dry January all year long! Featured first is The Kraken, a gorgeous purple cocktail made with Butterfly Pea Flower Tea & Champagne Vinegar
✨ Toro Tartare: A gorgeous board with fatty tuna and accompaniments
✨ Akira Back Tuna Pizza: his famous dish is a Must Eat! 
✨ Spinach Oshitashi Salad: the most gorgeous salad I’ve ever seen! 
✨ NY Strip with Wasabi Kizami Butter, Chimichurri Sauce, & choice of gourmet salts. Amazing! Loved that Espresso salt
✨ Miso Black Cod, yuzu air, pickled cauliflower 
✨ Togarashi Fries & Kimchi Brussels
✨ Dessert: Yuzu Curd and Chocolate in a Cup
☕️ “Where The Cloud Ends” Zero-Proof espresso martini with Yuzu Tonic, Lemon Cordial, Espresso, 0% Coffee Liquor
💜 The lobby decor with lavender and green touches was dreamy.
🧺 They have a Laundry Museum! 
📕 The Book Room features incredible books. The giant picture book requires gloves to review as it is one of a few in the world! 
The hotel is focused on wellness and offers Wellness Suites completely equipped with a full gym! 
Make plans to dine at @saltandthecellarbyakiraback and stay at @ettehotel and GO #MakeSomedayHappen
(Hosted) #GoEpicOrlando #ettehotel #saltandthecellarbyakiraback #experiencekissimmee #LoveOrlando
Don’t let the casual vibe at @jujubysusuru fool Don’t let the casual vibe at @jujubysusuru fool you. The Kappo Bar Omakase experience with Chef Lewis Lin is out of this world (& Michelin-worthy!)
“irasshaimase / come in!” is what you hear first upon entering this revamped Pizza Hut building off Colonial Drive. Everyone is welcome at Juju, one of Orlando’s newest restaurants and one that belongs on every #OrlandoFoodie bucket list! 
I was invited to experience their Kappo Bar and it checked all the boxes for a truly amazing #MakeSomedayHappen experience.
The retro Japanese izakaya-style restaurant serves up a 10-course menu at the bar and a more casual a la carte menu in the dining room. 
Omakase menu changes regularly but always features the five primary cooking techniques (grilling, steaming, frying, simmering, and raw) using local and imported ingredients, in-house dry-aged fish, and binchotan charcoal-fired dishes. Everything is prepared right in front of you for an immersive experience.
And, Don’t miss the fun cocktails! I loved “That Old Pizza Hut” was like an orange creamsicle with Suntory Toki Whiskey served in a Pizza Hut cup! 
Make reservations and go check this Orlando restaurant off your bucket list.
Thank you Chef Lewis and Mai for your outstanding hospitality. I’ll be coming back soon!
(Hosted) #GoEpicOrlando #LoveOrlando #omakase
Hello 2023! Why start the year on a diet? My new y Hello 2023! Why start the year on a diet? My new year’s resolution is to focus on self-care.  Eating healthy and exercising, sure. But also treating myself to more @gideonsbakehouse cookies, cakes & cold brews. Who’s with me? What will you treat yourself with this year?
You want something. Go Get It. Period!
This was my last purchase of 12/31/22... I wanted to start 2023 on a sweet note!
What if my 2023 resolution is to visit Gideon’s every month for their awesome limited-edition treats? 
I think that’s a resolution I can keep!  January’s Butterscotch flavors sound to die for.
Did you hear? The epic Banana Bread Chocolate Chip cookie is now part of the permanent lineup. While the Coffee Cake is my all-time favorite, this one is in the top 3! And, the original Peanut Butter Cold Brew is a must pairing.
What resolution will you set today? Go #MakeSomedayHappen 🎉 Happy New Year everyone!
#GoEpicOrlando #2023resolutions #GideonsBakehouse #DisneySprings
Happy New Year 2023! 🎉 We had a fun and very ch Happy New Year 2023! 🎉 We had a fun and very chill night at @disneysprings. How about you?
I love Progressive Dining and Disney Springs has plenty of options. We just get a spot at the bar and order a drink and a fun bite. Then move on to the next spot. So easy! No reservations required! 
🦀 1st Stop: @paddlefishorl 
Steak Skewers
Crab Topped Fries 
Larceny Old Fashioned 
Capt Handsome - Cathead Vodka & Raspberry 
Mayan Empress - Santa Teresa Añejo Rum, pineapple
🍰 2nd Stop: @homecominfl 
Espresso Martini 
Carrot Cake 
☘️ 3rd Stop: @raglanroadpub 
Great entertainment! 
@guinnessus 
Great Irish Hooley Cocktail - so refreshing with strawberries & Prosecco 
🍪 Not pictured: we managed a stop at @gideonsbakehouse to pick up treats to start the new year!!! (They had a 2 second brief moment with no line around 11pm! I could not resist! I picked up a Banana Bread Chocolate Chip cookie which is now part of the year-round line up! I also got a slice of Golden Oreo cake and a PB Cold Brew to enjoy today! Starting 2023 off right… and not a diet 😂
We went early, had a great time and got home in time to watch the ball drop!!! 🎉
Wishing you all happiness and lots of delicious treats in 2023! 
#GoEpicOrlando #MakeSomedayHappen #DisneySprings
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