Four Seasons Heats Up Orlando Sunday Brunch Scene

New Sunday Brunch at Plancha Restaurant is a winner!

Combine the picturesque hidden setting of Four Seasons Tranquilo Golf Club, the vibrant flavors of Latin America, and the magic of Walt Disney World Resort with over the top hospitality of Four Seasons Orlando Resort and what do you get? Absolute indulgence. Throw in some bacon wrapped asparagus in bottomless bloody Mary’s paired with the most lavish spread, and you end up with a Sunday Bruch experience like no other in Orlando.

Sunday Brunch, oh lovely Sunday Brunch. I don’t believe a more glorious meal exists.

Two meals in one, bottomless mimosas and Bloody Mary’s, the best combination of savory and sweet, breakfast and lunch favorites, fun conversation amongst friends, and relaxed ambiance. Who could ask for more? The king of weekend experiences has always been synonymous with leisurely indulgence and celebration.

You’ve never heard anyone say “let’s go out for a quick brunch” have you?

There is no such thing as “brunch on the go”.

Going out for Sunday Brunch is an occasion. A special one. The very essence of Sunday Brunch is quite the opposite of rushed and simple dining to satisfy hunger. It is an experience to satisfy the soul after a long work week, sharing special moments with friends.

Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort spices up the Orlando Sunday Brunch scene with a flavorful menu of traditional favorites, taken to new heights with local, southern and Hispanic influences at Plancha Restaurant. As they kick off their new Sunday Brunch this weekend, here’s all you need to know to GO make any weekend a celebration!

Four Seasons Orlando, the only AAA five-diamond resort in The City Beautiful, is known for pampering their guests and indulging their every culinary whim. Their new Sunday brunch will be no exception. I had the opportunity to sample some dishes at a recent media event and will not be surprised when I see Plancha’s Sunday Brunch winning “Best Of” awards in the near future. Visitors of the Walt Disney World Resort, and Central Florida residents alike, are all in for a treat.

The Sunday Brunch Setting

Sunday is a day of rest and relaxation. Driving up to the Four Seasons Tranquilo Golf Club, located in the exclusive Golden Oaks neighborhood, steps away from Walt Disney World, feels worlds apart from the hustle and bustle of the attractions. It’s very name means “relaxed” in Spanish.

Hidden among the trees, in this tranquil setting, is the perfect place to enjoy the most glorious of meals.The picturesque and serene Tom Fazio–designed course, which was fully renovated in 2014, features topography unique to central Florida, with its varying elevation and wetlands, Southern Live Oak trees and certified Audubon sanctuary wildlife.

The Sunday Brunch Libations

Whether it’s late morning dining after a night out or a family meal after Sunday church service, how brunch may have originally originated, Plancha will start you off with an impressive Bloody Mary Bar – a drink and a meal all unto itself. Top your classic brunch libation with a variety of inventive garnishes – from bacon wrapped asparagus (oh my!) to homemade gator jerky, to an assortment of stuffed olives and peppers, to an impressive collection of hot sauces. Needless to say, this Bloody Mary is a must. Did I mention this was a bottomless Bloody Mary? It is, and it’s all included!

The exact origins of the “brunch” practice is unknown. However, the playful blend of the words breakfast and lunch first appeared in print in 1895 in a Hunter’s Weekly article, “Brunch: A Plea” by British author Guy Beringer. He describes the experience of brunch in these words:

Brunch is cheerful, sociable and inciting. It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.”

I don’t believe Beringer could have imagined the stressors of today and our constant need to get away, yet he certainly describes brunch in our current day with mirror ball accuracy. I wonder if he envisioned Plancha’s Bottomless mimosas and Bloody Mary’s which are sure to create compelling conversation amongst friends.

Brunch is the one meal responsible for making it acceptable to drink adult beverages before noon, and at Plancha all your options are bottomless and included in the price of brunch.

If you feel, like me, that brunch is not brunch without bubbles, the mimosas at Plancha are made with fresh squeezed orange, pineapple or fresh fruit juice selection of the day.

If you want to stay on the healthier side of life, all juices served are fresh pressed on the spot including vegetable juices made with roasted beets, carrots, cucumber, kale and spinach. These fresh juices are included in the brunch menu, which is not the norm at other brunch options around.

And here’s something that will help the guys not mind accompanying the ladies to Sunday Brunch: a selection of craft draft beers is also available including Cigar City, Unibroue and Funky Buddha.

The Sunday Brunch Food

Now that we are fully hydrated, let’s talk about the food. Brunch for some is all about buffets and lavish displays, others prefer a la carte options. At Plancha Restaurant you get to indulge in both.

Chef Pedro Sanchez infuses his menu of traditional Sunday Brunch favorites with inventive Latin flair, influenced by his Puerto Rican and Cuban heritage, combined with a commitment to source local products and the added magic touch of Four Seasons, to create a winner for the Orlando Sunday Brunch crowd.

Choose from two options to satisfy your hunger level and desired indulgence. Go all out with a three-course menu including buffet appetizers, choice of one entrée and a variety of desserts, plus soft drinks, fresh pressed juices, and bottomless mimosas and Bloody Mary’s, for $68 per person. If you’re not too hungry, order from a variety of entrees a la carte, ranging in price from $18 – $28.

The buffet display will include assorted salads, seasonal fresh fruits and berries, house made granola and organic yogurt parfaits, artisanal meats and cheeses, smoked salmon with bagels and cream cheese, seared ahi tuna, ceviche, shrimp cocktail, marinated olives, grilled vegetables, black bean hummus, pasta salads, red bliss potato salad, and breakfast pastries.

A La Carte Entrées include:

Shrimp Omelet
An omelet, such a seemingly basic dish, and yet most chefs will say it can truly show the caliber of the kitchen when prepared properly. At Plancha, Lake Meadow Naturals Eggs are whipped to create the perfect airy omelet topped with jalapenos, peppers, onions, tomato, cilantro, Winter Park Creamery cheddar and shrimp. High caliber culinary team indeed.

Eggs Benedict
Legend has it, this classic brunch dish originated in New York in the late 1890s when Mr. Lemuel Benedict requested the now famous combo of poached egg, Canadian bacon, English muffin and Hollandaise sauce in order to recover from a hangover. Plancha uses local favorite Lake Meadow Naturals eggs and gives this classic a twist with grilled asparagus and truffled Holladaise. Sounds like a classic winner to me!

Very Berry French Toast
Made with thick sliced Torrijas brioche bread, topped with luscious wild berry compote and powdered sugar. It will satisfy all berry lovers and sweet seekers. Who said you can’t have dessert for breakfast?

Oatmeal Pancakes
Pancakes taken to a whole new level made with a batter of equal parts ground oatmeal and flour, giving them a much more dense and yet fluffy consistency. It’s like cereal and pancakes combined. The stack is topped with a decadent Puerto Rican dark rum banana compote, reminiscent of bananas foster dessert, and whipped butter. I can see why this dish is Chef Sanchez’ daughter’s favorite. The flavors are spectacular.

Chicken & White Cheddar Waffles
A “Must-Eat” dish is the Chicken & Whiter Cheddar Waffles. This is not your ordinary Southern staple. The waffles, with a perfect crisp outside and warm soft inside, were given a savory touch with local Winter Park Creamery white cheddar. The chicken thighs, crisp and moist, made with a traditional buttermilk batter were kicked up with Latin “sazon” spices. Step aside Mrs. Buttersworth! To really seal the deal, Chef Sanchez accompanies these waffles with a spiced maple syrup infused with roasted jalapeños. It had just enough spice to wake up your taste buds but still all the rich sweetness of real maple syrup. This dish is hard to beat. It embodies the best elements of brunch – sweet and savory – and I can’t wait to return to Plancha and have it again, and again.

Other entrees on the menu include the Plancha Burger with a chorizo and beef patty topped with ripe plantains, a traditional Cuban Sandwich which is the restaurant’s most popular lunch dish, Churrasco skirt steak with chimichurri sauce, and Sunday’s Fish with bean salad, tropical fruit salsa and blueberry gastric. The menu is subject to change seasonally and based on guests response.

For the young ones, Plancha will offer a Kids Buffet including favorites like chicken tenders, grilled salmon, mini burgers, mac n’ cheese and pancakes for USD$20 per child.

I’m not a big breakfast fan, so when it comes to the menu, there are two reasons I love brunch above all meals. First, the enjoyment of bubbles, and last is the indulgence of desserts. Plancha does not disappoint with an assorted dessert selection on display including their signature Tres Leches, Plancha Cheese Flan, and Rollo de Guava (Guava Roll).

We sampled macarons, peanut butter & chocolate tarts, and xxx, each more decadent than the last.

After brunch, keep the relaxation going at the tranquil setting of the lakeside veranda while sipping a latte or cappuccino made with Caffe Umbria. I would not be surprised if you don’t ever want to leave. I didn’t.

“I’m very excited to begin serving brunch at Plancha,” says Pedro Sanchez, Plancha Chef. “The location is perfect for a leisurely brunch, and we’ve prepared a delicious menu with a lot of flavor to ensure there’s something for everyone.” The excitement from the chef and the staff was palpable when I visited. They are happy to have both locals and visitors alike come discover their little slice of hidden paradise and taste their commitment to offer an outstanding and unique experience, which is evident in the menu and all the fine details.

Brunch may have originated in Europe, but the US has brought the brunch culture to new heights and Four Seasons takes it stratospheric levels. Making Sunday Brunch plans in cities like Manhattan and in my hometown of Portland Oregon, as one of my favorite Portlandia episodes so hilariously highlighted, is a big deal. Reservations are highly sought and fought for. Orlando is not quite at that level of frenzy but I do recommend making reservations. With limited seating intended to keep the tranquil relaxed setting, I am certain Plancha will become a hot ticket for Sunday Brunch.

Sunday Brunch has always been considered a treat and many resorts around Orlando including Four Seasons Orlando, host lavish brunch affairs for major holidays like Easter and Mother’s Day. However, at Plancha Restaurant you can enjoy this most glorious of meals every Sunday, making every weekend a celebration.

Brunch will be available every Sunday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Plancha offers complimentary valet parking and complimentary self-parking. For reservations, call 407 313 6161. Website.

Recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the number one “Best Hotel in Orlando Walt Disney World” and named to the “Top 50 Best Hotels in the USA” list, the Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort is worthy of a visit. For locals, a weekend staycation topped off with Sunday Brunch at Plancha is the perfect getaway treat. Travelers from around the world looking for top notch service and facilities for the perfect Walt Disney World vacation, should look no further than the only AAA Five Diamond resort in Orlando.

I hope to see you soon at Plancha’s Sunday Brunch. (When you see me, please don’t be surprised if I have a huge plate of desserts in each hand!)

Cheers!

Go Epicurista

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