GO Epicurista Top 9 Orlando Events & Outings Aug 19-Sept 18

GO #MakeSomedayHappen at these Orlando Events & Outings

Celebrate life with great food, wine and friends at these fun events and outings in and around Orlando. Don’t put off your fun life to someday. GO now! GO Epicurista!

1. GO to a delicious Board Meeting!

Board meetings never tasted so good! The Ravenous Pig, Orlando’s favorite American Gastro-pub, is turning the big 0 -7! That’s bacon in pig years, and who doesn’t love bacon? To celebrate they are putting lipstick on this delicious pig, and holding their first official Swine Board Meeting, August 19 – 21. Get first dibs at tasting their new shareable boards with a selection of handcrafted seafood crudos, artisanal cheese, house-made charcuterie and more. If you’ve been saying you need to visit The Ravenous Pig “someday”, now is the perfect time. Make your reservation. GO to a delicious board meeting your taste buds will not soon forget!

2. GO Explore the Pacific Rim!

Experience a celebration of food and drink like never before at Roy’s Restaurant, the Hawaiian inspired culinary creation of Chef Roy Yamaguchi. On August 20 at 6:30pm, Roy’s hosts a special private event that will transport you to the Pacific Rim without ever leaving Orlando. No need to pack your bags to enjoy five amazing courses paired with unique wines. If you love Pinot, you will love these pairings. Start with Prawn & Peach Nigiri with corn foam paired with Oregon’s Joe Dobbes Pinot Gris, Ahi Tataki with New Zealand Astrolabe Pinot Noir, Porchetta with sweet potato grits and Oregon Four Graces Pinot Noir, New York Strip with cherry demi glaze and Carnero’s Bouchaine Pinot Noir. Finish this lovely journey with Pandan & Coconut Cream, white chocolate granita and vanilla shortbread cookies. $75pp++ Space is limited, call for reservation (407) 352-4844. GO Explore the Pacific Rim!

3. GO Learn to Spring Roll!

Learn the art of the Spring Roll and test your mad culinary skills against MasterChef season 5 contestant and local Orlando personality Francis Biondi at the Spring Roll Workshop on August 23 in the Demonstration Kitchen of East End Market. The class is from 11:30am-2:30pm and promises to be the perfect afternoon with foodie friends. Learn Biondi’s secrets to cooking with confidence and use locally sourced ingredients to create a Filipino lumpia, Vietnamese Summer Roll, dessert spring roll and the perfect dipping sauce. $45pp+ Space is limited, for reservations click here. GO Learn to Spring Roll!

4. GO Get Cheesy!

If you love cheese, then Tonda Corrente, La Femme du Fromage (The Cheese Lady) is the one to know. She is the resident cheese expert at East End Market and, in my opinion, the cheese whisperer! She finds the best cheeses from around the world! At The Summer of Fromage event on August 23, from 7-9pm she will share her stories of summer travels in search of the best cheeses while you sample selections from Wisconsin, England and France. This fun event is BYOB so bring your favorite bottle of wine and chill out as you learn all about cheese. These events are very popular and sell out quickly. $25pp+ For reservations, click here. GO get Cheesy!

5. GO to an Epic Culinary Celebration!

Celebrate the 6th anniversary of one of ZAGAT’s Top American Restaurants, Cress Restaurant with a spectacular multi-course dinner on August 29, starting at 6:30pm. The talent behind Cress Restaurant, James Beard Award nominee, Executive Chef Hari Pulapaka and his wife and General Manager Jenneffer Pulapaka are joined for this special evening by an incredibly epic, drool-inducing lineup of local chefs including Chau Trinh from Oviedo’s Sushi Pop, Dustin Haney from Scratch, Alexia Pohl Gawlak from SIRO Urban Italian Kitchen, Josh Oakley of The Smiling Bison, Bill & Paul Tomazin “The Barefoot Farmer” from Tomazin Farms and Erin & Christopher Merrifield of Wild Ocean Seafood Market. A portion of the proceeds will benefit “Cookin’ in a Snap” their Community Project to empower and educate individuals about healthier cooking and options on a modest budget. This is a can’t miss event! Cress Restaurant with its eclectically inspired and locally sourced menu, located in downtown DeLand is a Must Visit for any food enthusiast. $125pp. Click here for reservations. GO to an Epic Culinary Celebration!

6. GO Irish!

If Ireland is on your “someday list”, until that trip happens, why not celebrate “The Great Irish Hooley” at Raglan Road Orlando? This Labor Day weekend, August 29-September 1, go to the hooley, a traditional Irish social celebration that combines live music ranging from traditional to rock tunes (six Irish bands), cool step dancing (including Riverdance original dancer and choreographer Ronan McCormack) and authentic Irish foods (the delicious menu from award-winning Chef Kevin Dundon). Raglan Road is an authentic Irish Pub, and by authentic I mean it was built completely in Ireland and shipped here to Orlando. It’s the next best thing to a trip to the Emerald Isle. Admission to the Hooley festivities Orlando Event is free. GO Irish!

7. GO Savor The Keys!

The kids are back to school, so a trip to the Florida Keys may be out of the question. However, summer is not over yet. Hemingway’s, the award-winning restaurant at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort, is offering an amazing Flavors of Summer three-course menu until end of August that is not to be missed. Enjoy “Papa’s” seasonal favorites for only $64++ or upgrade to $89++ with wine pairing, per couple. Start your tropical evening with choice of Key Lime Caesar Salad or Florida Rock Shrimp Chowder with Zellwood sweet corn. For your main course, you can’t go wrong with Hemingway’s “Cayo Hueso” Crab Cake, Duvall Street Shrimp Scampi featuring jumbo tiger shrimp, Cuban Criollo Chicken seasoned with a blend of fresh herbs and spices or Crispy Black Fin Snapper served with a coconut yucca cake. Finish off this delicious night with Key Lime Tart or Peanut Butter Bombe. The #FlavorsofSummer menu was designed by Chef Kenneth Juran to provide guests a truly delectable experience of the Islands! Call 407-239-1234 for reservation. GO Savor The Keys!

8. Go Have a Delicious Rendezvous!

Last week, I recommended a Delicious 100 Foot Journey at Tamarind Indian Cuisine. If you have yet to see the movie The Hundred Foot Journey, Chez Vincent in Winter Park’s Hannibal Square is a great choice for a romantic French dinner and a movie rendezvous. This local favorite from Chef Vincent Gagliano serves up authentic French cuisine in a tucked away spot, reminiscent of a Parisian café. Take advantage of this Travelzoo deal for $45 you get dinner for two including any two entrees such as Filet Mignon with peppercorn sauce or Sauteed Sea Scallops with Tarragon sauce and two glasses of wine. Make it a foursome at $89. I say “oui oui” to delicious and thrifty! GO have a Delicious Rendezvous!

9. GO Eat For Good!

Join Celebrity Chef Cat Cora and be part of the most interactive Orlando event of the season! The Pantry to Plate Chef Challenge on September 18 at BB King’s Blues Club is the place to be if you’ve ever wanted to be part of a Food Network-style cooking competition. Make cocktails with flair bartenders and interact with centerpieces during dinner. Vote for the most impressive appetizer and entrée prepared by Central Florida award-winning chefs Kathleen Blake of The Rusty Spoon, Hari Pulapaka of Cress Restaurant and John Rivers of 4 Rivers Smokehouse and The COOP as they face off to prepare four gourmet courses with ingredients found only in JFS Orlando’s Pearlman Emergency Food Pantry. For dessert, decorate your own SWEET! cupcake with 3-time Cupcake Wars winner Hollis Wilder. All proceeds from Pantry to Plate will go to support the mission of JFS Orlando and the many services offered to the community. The Food Network meets Orlando Event! $125pp, get your tickets before they sell out. GO Eat For Good!

For more fun Orlando events and outings ideas click here.

“My mission is to #MakeSomedayHappen one delicious bite, sip & trip at a time! I hope to inspire you to do the same with your family & friends. Enjoy Today, Someday may never come.”

Cheers!

GO Epicurista!

Why only a Top 9 List? Because you may have some fun ideas for me to add to the list. If so, please let me know in the comments below. If you like my Top 9 GO List, please share it with your friends.

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