Magical Dining Month Menu at The Ravenous Pig Satisfies All Foodies
Orlando’s Magical Dining Month is here! Foodies it’s time to eat out. Over 110 restaurants are participating in the 38-day charity campaign organized by Visit Orlando and sponsored by American Express with three course, prix-fixe menus at only $35 per person (in some places a substantial discount!). Plenty of great options abound making it tough to narrow down the list of restaurants to visit. Read my tips to “Get The Most Magic From Magical Dining Month” to help you decide.
One restaurant firmly planted on my “Must Eat” List in Orlando is The Ravenous Pig. I was thrilled to be an invited media guest to preview their Magical Dining Menu. There was no obligation to write a full review and all opinions are my own. As you know, I only recommend dining experiences worth celebrating to inspire you to go #MakeSomedayHappen one bite, sip and trip at a time and The Ravenous Pig will help you do just that! Read on and see why it’s on my list and why it belongs on yours.
Why The Ravenous Pig Belongs On Your Must Eat List During Magical Dining Month?
A Tasty Surprise For All Foodies!
Before you think a restaurant with the word “pig in the name is only suitable for carnivores, The Ravenous Pig will surprise you and satisfy all foodies, whether you’re a seafood lover, carnivore or vegetarian. Well, almost all foodies. The choices for vegan guests are non-existent, but they know who their audience is. Although their housemade charcuterie and all meat-centric dishes are always ones not to miss, they are serving up equally great locally sourced seafood and vegetarian dishes included in their Magical Dining menu. Get all your friends together and go! Read on and you’ll see why this was my biggest surprise.
Wine Lovers and Beer Lovers Rejoice!
Another reason to visit The Ravenous Pig during Magical Dining? They are offering a superb reasonably priced wine pairing with each dish. The European wines are a nice contrast to the American fare.
Not a wine drinker? Choose the beer pairing featuring selections from the in-house Cask & Larder Brewery. A truly fantastic way to elevate this already magical dinner. Don’t skip the pairings!
Happy Hour Bonus!
If you need a third reason, their seven-day a week Happy Hour from 3pm-5pm is it! Enjoy fantastic cocktails, beer and wine for $3-$6. Appetizers like raw oysters, pimento cheese with ham jam and sourdough, chicken sliders and smoked wings for $2-$8. Head there early to enjoy Happy Hour then stay for Magical Dining. This is the best deal ever!
Local Grown, Internationally Praised!
This casual yet elevated gastro-pub by the husband and wife chef team of James and Julie Petrakis continues to be a winner in my book.The James Beard nominated restaurant has been recognized all over the world for their sustainable Florida-sourced inventive menu with features in Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, Saveur, Southern Living, and New York Times among others. Yet they remain an intricate part of their Winter Park neighborhood and the Orlando culinary community. It is wonderful to see one of Orlando’s most highly recognized destination restaurants participating in this charity campaign benefiting Best Buddies and the Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida.
Read on, drool and then make reservations. This restaurant is guaranteed to be busy all month with Magical Diners!
Magical Dining Menu Appetizers:
For Seafood Lovers: Shrimp & Grits.
This dish is always on my “Must Eat”List. Plump sweet Cape Canaveral shrimp is topped with green tomato chutney served over creamy Anson Mills grits. The chorizo oil drizzle takes it over the top. One of the best Shrimp & Grits dishes in Orlando.
Pair with a crisp Albarino Tablas De Sumar from Rias Baixas, Spain or the Cask & Larder / DoveCote Saison. A Belgian style farmhouse ale that is easy to drink and pair with any of the dishes on the menu.
For Carnivores: Steak Tartare.
Ground Certified Angus Beef perfectly seasoned with a salty savory blend of capers, egg, and shallot, topped with fresh micro herbs. Served with crisp sourdough toast. This was a new to me dish and the good news is that it is also on the regular menu. Definitely one I would order again. and again.
Paired beautifully with the Rose of Grenache blend by Henri Gaillard from Provence, France.
For Vegetarians: The Gatherer Salad.
If you must have a salad during Magical Dining or if you’re a vegetarian, The Gatherer Salad is a fantastic choice. This fresh locally sourced salad is an original Ravenous Pig menu item that has been a favorite ever since 2007. A blend of baby greens, avocado, pickled beets, radish, goat cheese, and pistachio granola, lightly tossed with herb vinaigrette. It offers a light and beautiful contrast of flavors and textures that all salads should aspire to. Always a winner! Paired with Chenin Blanc by Chateau D’Epire Savennieres from Loire, France.
This photo is from 2016
Magical Dining Menu Entrèes:
For Seafood Lovers: Red Snapper.*
The Indian inspired dish was fully loaded with flavor. The fish was perfectly cooked with a gorgeous golden crisp exterior. Served over chana masala chickpeas and topped with cucumber raita, a refreshing yogurt sauce similar to the Greek Tzatziki that offered a nice balance to the spiced chickpeas. *Note that the Magical Dining Month website lists “Black Grouper” as the fish choice and it may change based on availability.
Paired very well with the mineral notes of the Gruner Veltliner Sohn & Kracher from “Lion” Austria. It had the right influence of tropical fruits and herbaceus tones to contrast the bold spice flavors of the dish.
For Carnivores: Pork Chop.
A pork chop so good, the bone was picked up and devoured clean. There’s no judging at The Ravenous Pig, especially when it comes to PORK! Well seasoned, it is smoked and brined before being given a gorgeous golden “crust.” The best bite is to take the pork chop, topped with a bit of the fabulous onion jam, the smoky collard greens and the sweet and creamy sweet potato puree.
We paired this dish with the Cask & Larder Red Drum, an amber ale that is one of the original craft brews of C&L. Hoppy but well balanced to enjoy with the Pork Chop and the Red Snapper.
For Vegetarians (or anyone who loves Mushrooms:) The Mushroom Risotto.
This was the dish I almost didn’t order and it blew me away! Very few restaurants prepare risotto correctly. It is often over or under cooked or lacking flavor. After one bite, I quickly changed my mind. Come to think of it, I should not have hesitated with the talented chef James Petrakis in the kitchen. Made with mushroom broth, summer mushrooms and parmesan cheese plus that lovely chili oil. We added the Black Truffle supplement for $15 and it was well worth it!
Paired with the Nebbiolo from Cantina del Nebbiolo from Barbaresco, Italy. It was robust to contrast with the truffles. It brought out the umami flavors beautifully.
Magical Dining Menu Desserts:
For dessert, we ordered both options. They were fun and the perfect size after a filling dinner.
For Cake Lovers: Spiced Citrus Cake.
A citrus flavored dessert should be on the menu of a Florida-focused restaurant. This one had just the right hint of citrus without overpowering. The spongy yet crumbly cake was topped with elderflower chantilly, bay leaf crumble, and poached pears.
Paired with a sweet Chenin Blanc from Chateau Soucherie, Coteaux du Layon, from Loire, France. The wine was sweet but not overly cloying and highlighted the fruit flavors.
For Chocolate Lovers: Chocolate Panna Cotta.
The custardy chocolate panna cotta was topped with grape sorbet, grape compote and citrus milk crumble. There was a lot going on in that little dish. Rich flavors yet light textures made it easy to eat after such a filling meal.
Paired with the frizzante Brachetto Moscato blend by Elio Perrone from Piedmont, Italy. A lovely bright contrast to the rich chocolate. This dessert also paired wonderfully with the Cask & Larder Working Man Porter. A Baltic style porter with chocolate and coffee notes.
About Magical Dining Month:
Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining Month sponsored by American Express runs from August 24 through September 30, 2018. Select Orlando restaurants will offer three course, prix fixe dinners for $35 per person. One dollar from each meal will benefit Best Buddies and Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida.
For more information about Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining Month, visit OrlandoMagicalDining.com
About The Ravenous Pig:
The Magical Dining Three-Course menu is $35 per person, not including tax and gratuity. The Ravenous Pig Wine Pairing Supplement is $20. The Beer Pairing Supplement is $10. You can also add Black Truffle for $15 or upgrade your Pork Chop to a Pork Porterhouse for $15.
- Parking: Complimentary self and valet parking.
- Hours: 5-10pm (Monday – Thursday), 5p-11pm (Friday – Saturday), 5p-9p (Sunday)
- Happy Hour: 3p-5pm Monday-Sunday
- Maximum group size for Magical Dining Menu (based on availability): 8
- Address: 565 West Fairbanks Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789
- Phone: 407-628-2333
- Category: American Cuisine
- Website: TheRavenousPig.com
Are you drooling yet? Make reservations and go #MakeSomedayHappen
Cheers,
Go Epicurista
Disclosure: I was an invited media guest for purposes of promoting the Magical Dining Menu. I was under no obligation to write a review and all opinions are my own. As always I only share experiences worth celebrating to inspire you to #MakeSomedayHappen. For more information, review my guidelines. Cheers!
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