Cows N Cabs event features the best of Orlando’s dining scene together for one delicious night!
When asked my favorite “Must Eat” dining options in Orlando, the list is long. We have a plethora of spectacular restaurants and culinary treats in The City Beautiful. Lucky for us, 30 favorite local chefs and culinary artisans will feature their best bites under one roof – actually a large tent – at the Cows N Cabs event, together for one delicious night! It’s a “Must Do” event every Fall!
The 2018 Event is on Saturday November 3rd. Here’s a recap of what you can expect:
Dress up in your finest western threads, get your friends together and head to Winter Park’s West Meadow for a fun evening at one of the best charity events in town. Enjoy live music, silent auction, gourmet bites, craft beers, spirits and wines during a night perfectly tailored to celebrate with friends.
The best part of this night: 100% of ticket sale proceeds and auction items will benefit local charities. The outdoor, Western-themed festival, founded in 2012, has donated over $525,000 since its inception and hopes to break the cycle of poverty in Central Florida. In 2018, 100% of proceeds will benefit local charities: After School All Stars and Elevate Orlando.
FEATURED CULINARY TALENT:
The yearly outdoor event, hosted by ABC Fine Wine & Spirits’ David Larue and Chef John Rivers of 4 Rivers Smokehouse, brings together some of the area’s top culinary talent.
Some of the chefs in attendance in 2018 are returning favorites and newcomers! Guaranteed you won’t leave hungry!
- 4 Rivers Smokehouse and The Coop – Chef John Rivers
- The Sweet Shop – Chef Jenny Herbert
- 1921 by Norman Van Aken – Chef Camilo Velasco
- Bake Me a Cake – Chef Mercedes Strachwsky
- DoveCote – Chef Clay Miller
- Enzo’s Hideaway – Chef John Miele
- Foxtail Coffee Co. – Lain Yeakle
- Hawkers Asian Street Fare – Chef Kariloly Arias
- Hunger Street Tacos- Chef Joseph Creech and Chef David Creech
- K Restaurant – Chef Andrew Fisher
- Luke’s Kitchen and Bar – Chef Brandon McGlamery
- Morimoto Asia – Chef Yuhi Fujinaga
- Peterbrooke Chocolatier – Chef Daniel Lehr
- Pizza Bruno – Chef Bruno Zacchini
- Proper & Wild – Chef Emily Congdon
- Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen + Bar – Chef Mike Zajac
- Reyes Mezcaleria – Chef Wendy Lopez
- Soco Thornton Park –Chef Greg Richie
- STK – Chef Jonathan Fahey
- Tamale Co. – Chef Fernando Tamayo
- Tapa Toro – Chef Francisco Galeano
- Taverna Opa – Chef Vassilis Coumbaros
- Terralina Crafted Kitchen – Chef Justin Plank
- The Glass Knife – Chef Stuart Whitfield
- The Polite Pig – Chef James Petrakis
- The Ravenous Pig – Chef James Petrakis, Chef Julie Petrakis and Chef Nick Sierputowski
- The Rusty Spoon – Chef Kathleen Blake
- Todd English’s BlueZoo – Chef Jason Wiggin
Dave Larue, Vice President of ABC Fine Wine & Spirits and co-founder of the event, has hand selected more than 200 wines, favorite cocktails and craft beers for the event. Sponsors include Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, Jameson, Grey Goose and Beam.

Sample Bacardi 8 Cocktails!

If Champagne is your drink of choice, you will always find a great selection! This Moet Chandon table with fresh berries was my favorite!

Beer lovers rejoice! Local favorite Crooked Can is in the house! (or the tent!)
In addition to food from James Beard Award-nominated chefs and professionally curated beverages, guests at the western-themed soiree will enjoy live music by acclaimed country music recording artist Angie Keilhauer. Recognized in 2017 by Rolling Stone as one of “10 New Country Artists You Need to Know,” Keilhauer will her perform her signature style of “beach-friendly country and roots rock” at Cows ‘n Cabs while attendees stroll between the various food and wine stations.
Here’s some more photos from the event in past years. Don’t miss it!

You must stay until the end of the night at Cows N Cabs – you never know who ends up on stage! Chef John Rivers in 2015)

James Beard nominated chef Kathleen Blake of The Rusty Spoon always delights! Her Deviled Eggs are over the top. (2016)

Must Eat: The Rusty Spoon Deviled Eggs (2016)

James Beard nominated Chef James Petrakis of The Ravenous Pig, Cask & Larder, Swine & Sons and Polite Pig! (2016)

Smoked Beef Ham Crostini with avocado, pickled pumpkin, hummus, roasted mushrooms and beechers cheddar paired with Cask & Larder ale (2016)

Morimoto Asia Chef de Cuisine Yuhi Fujinaga always wows the crowd with creative bites! (2016)

The most surprising dish! Served inside an egg, Soy-Ginger Braised Beef Tongue “Chawanmushi” from Morimoto Asia (2016)

The Osprey Tavern in Baldwin Park is always classy. (2016)

The Osprey Tavern Oxtail Tartlets with truffle sauce. Yum! (2016)

The chef and team of Whisper Creek: The Kitchen at JW Marriott Grande Lakes! (2016)

Whisper Creek:The Kitchen Pork Cheek Chorizo Bread Pudding with Plum Mostarda was inventive and delicious! (2016)

Chef Phil Bryant of The Local Craft Food & Drink made the trip from Miami, FL to participate! (2016)

The Steak Tartare from The Local Craft Food & Drink in Miami, FL was a hit! (2016)

The guy with the biggest smile in the room is Chef Kevin Fonzo! His food always makes me smile too. (2016)

The Best Italian comfort food you’ll find is from Chef Kevin Fonzo! This Wagyu Beef Cheeks “Pot Roast” was so tender and tasty. (2016)

Chef Brandon McGlamery of Luke’s Kitchen brought lots of treats! This Smoked Skuna Bay Salmon was phenomenal! (2016)

Hawkers Asian Street Fare is a popular stop! This Szechuan Chili Wonton was addictive! (2016)

If you love tacos, you won’t be disappointed! Black Rooster Taqueria is a winner! (2016)

Peterbrooke Chocolatier of Winter Park will add the sweet touch! These truffles were to die for! (2016)

You can’t have Western without Pies! P is for Pie brought lots of pies to choose from! (2016)

The Sweet Shop served up the yummiest parfaits! (2016)

The Coop Crispy Chicken Sliders were a hit! (2016)

STK served up Spiced Lamb Loin with sweet potato and date chutney. Yum! (2016)

Citrus went with a fancy Duck Confit (2016)

These guys were serving up the RumChata with all the western flair! (2016)

Comfy outdoor lounge to take a break from all the eating.

Hawkers Asian Street Fare served up Siu Yoke and Char Siu (2016)

Cigar aficionados! These guys really look the part! (2016)

4 Rivers always brings home the meaty goodness! (2016)

The man of the night: Chef John Rivers! (2016)
For more information and to purchase tickets for the event on Saturday November 3, 2018 please visit www.cowsncabs.com.
I look forward to seeing you there. It’s going to be a rocking good time!
Cheers!
Go Epicurista
Disclosure: I was an invited media guest of Cows N’ Cabs. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own. As always, I only share with you experiences worth celebrating to inspire you to #MakeSomedayHappen one delicious bite, sip and trip at a time! For more information on my guidelines, click here. Cheers!
Leave a Reply