Photo Review of Taste Central Florida and Why You Must Not Miss This Epic Foodie Event For Charity!
Taste Central Florida charity event is happening on September 8th, 2018. Here’s the reasons why this epic event belongs on every foodie “Must Do List” in Orlando!
Foodies take notice when a night of fantastic food from some of the best restaurants in Orlando is combined with delightful beverages in an elegant setting. When all proceeds benefit two wonderful local charities: Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, you must make plans and go!

The best culinary teams from Orlando come together to have fun and raise funds! This is Chef Tim Keating and team from Urbain 40, winner of Best Fine Dining Restaurant in Orlando!
Taste Central Florida Features The Best of The Best Culinary Talent!
Bring your appetite and your stretchy dresses and pants because 48 of Orlando’s best restaurants serve up fantastic tasting portions of their signature dishes. All included in the price of your ticket! Photos below are some of our favorites from last year’s event.
Restaurants and Catering participating in 2018:
- 310 Restaurants
- 4R Restaurant Group
- A Land Remembered
- American Culinary Federation Central Florida Chapter
- Benihana
- Big Fin Seafood Kitchen
- Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine
- Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
- Cala Bella
- Canvas
- Catering for Good
- CFHLA Food & Beverage Council
- Chroma
- Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar
- Dragonfly Robata Grill & Sushi
- Eddie V’s Prime Seafood
- Empress Sissi
- Florida Nitro
- FreshPoint
- The Glass Knife
- Hemisphere Restaurant at Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport
- Highball & Harvest
- K Restaurant
- JW Marriott Grande Lakes, Whisper Creek Kitchen
- Marlow’s Tavern
- Gaylord – Old Hickory
- The Old Jailhouse
- Orlando Food Department Co.
- Orlando World Center Marriott
- Savor at Osceola Heritage Park
- Pharmacy Orlando
- Raglan Road
- Ravello at Four Seasons Resort Orlando
- Red Wing Restaurant
- Reunion Resort, Eleven Restaurant and The Clubhouse
- Seasons 52 Fresh Grill
- SeaWorld Orlando
- STK
- Sysco
- T-Rex Café
- Tapa Toro
- Taverna Opa
- Terralina Crafted Italian
- Tiffins at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Universal Orlando
- Vines Grille & Wine Bar
- The Whiskey
- Yak & Yeti

Raglan Road Irish Pub Braised Short Rib with buttery potatoes, bone marrow and brandy emulsion, paired with Crooked Can’s Tri WIshes Irish Pale Ale

Rosen Shingle Creek A Land Remembered Filet

Urbain 40 Key West Pink Shrimp & Cape Bay Scallop Ceviche with spiced palm hearts, peppadew and poblano peppers, citrus and tequila accents

Second Harvest Food Bank Culinary Program served House-Made Appletinis, Mac & Cheese and Corn Bread Pudding
Taste Central Florida Will Not Leave You Thirsty!
It’s not an epic foodie event unless the signature bites are accompanied by fine wines, craft beers, and specialty cocktails. You won’t go thirsty with 14 beverage providers serving up their libations.
Check out the beverage participants in 2018:
- Acqua Panna & San Pellegrino
- Big Top
- Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants
- Crooked Can Brewing Company
- Dragon’s Milk
- Lakeridge Winery & Vineyards
- Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company
- NOI Caffe by Mr. Cappuccino
- Orange Blossom Brewing Co.
- Orlando Brewing Co.
- Playalinda Brewing Company
- Florida Farm Distillers Palm Ridge Whiskey
- Scavi & Ray
- Wild Buck Whiskey & Mermaid Rum

HIghball & Harvest Doc Holliday with Tito’s Vodka, Blueberry Jam and Ginger Beer

Suntory Whisky Tasting Flight

Ravenous Pig Smoked Shrimp paired with Cask & Larder Lone Palm Golden Ale

CFHLA Pineapple Mojito

Award Winning Palm Ridge Reserve Florida Whiskey

Ace Cafe Grapefruit Ginger Martini
Taste Central Florida is All For Charity!
This annual celebration of the community’s culinary excellence is a volunteer-driven event with local chefs, brewers and distillers donating their time, talent and creations to make this event one of the largest fundraisers of the year for Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida.
Every penny of this event goes towards fighting hunger in our community. Did you know 1 in 6 Central Floridians are struggling with the reality of hunger? This event is a great way to help. For every $10 raised, $90 worth of food is provided!
During the event, you’ll get to chat with some of the best chefs in Orlando:

Chefs James and Julie Petrakis of The Ravenous Pig

Chef Tim Keating of Urbain 40

Chef Hari Pulapaka and his wife Sommelier Jenneffer Pulapaka of Cress Restaurant

Chef Jason Bergeron of Chroma Lake Nona
The Second Harvest Food Bank Culinary Program Students have the opportunity to showcase their talent as well! The program provides qualified, at-risk and economically disadvantaged adults with the culinary and life skills training needed to pursue a career in the food industry. Ten students graduate every 14 weeks with a 100% job placement rate. That’s fantastic!

The Second Harvest Food Bank Culinary Program participants shine!
Taste Central Florida is Held in a Beautiful Venue!
It may be the best tastes of Central Florida but one thing you don’t have to deal with is the not so pleasant weather we sometimes experience in our beautiful State this time of year. The setting is the fabulous Orlando World Center Marriott and this hotel team goes all out to provide a phenomenal event in one of their grandest ballrooms. Let me remind you this is an air-conditioned foodie feast so you won’t be dealing with the heat, humidity and rain as you eat and drink your way around the room.

Taste Central Florida event offers various areas for guests to relax and enjoy
About Taste Central Florida:
- Taste! Central Florida℠, presented by Uncorked Gourmet
- When: Saturday, September 8, 2018, 6:45 to 10:00 PM
- Where: Orlando World Center Marriott, 8701 World Center Dr. Orlando, FL
- Click here for tickets and more information.
Scroll through more drool-worthy pictures from last year’s event to see what you can expect at this year’s event. Get your tickets and go #MakeSomedayHappen celebrating great food and friends for a good cause.

Universal Orlando Hotels Wild Mushroom and Chicken Terrine with Cumberland Gellee, Pickled Mustard Seed, Chard Baby Corn, Petite Fennel Salad

Universal Orlando Chocolate Stout Braised Beef Cheek with black cocoa orecchiette, pickled dry cherries, swiss chard, vanilla sunchoke puree, cashews and Orange gremolata

SeaWorld Orlando Ceviche

JW Marriott Primo Meatballs

JW Marriott Primo Duck Confit Casarecce with local mushrooms, summer beans, Parmesan Reggiano, Basil Pesto

Eddie V’s Tuna Tower

Centerplate Catering Local Tastes

Orlando World Center Marriott Housemade Bratwurst with cherry mustard

4Rivers Smokehouse smoked Texas Brisket with creamy Parmesan grits and Cabernet Reduction

Rosen Shingle Creek A Land Remembered Citrus Salad

Ace Cafe Bat Outta Hell Meatloaf

Centerplate Catering Fire Roasted Mahi

Taste of Central Florida

Cress Restaurant Atlantic Squid with Onion Disteeya, Mangalore curry and salsa verde

Meats & Cheeses Display
Let’s Not Forget Dessert!

Universal Orlando Toothsome Chocolate Factory Twinkie MIlkshake

Sweet By Holly Cupcakes

Coffee Mousse Cafe

Taste of Florida Meringue

Taste of Florida Desserts

Bird of Paradise Pineapple Dessert

A Land Remembered Key Lime Tarts

The Cookie from Doubletree Hotels

Florida Dairy Farmers Milkshake Bar

Sweet by Holly Cupcakes Tower

The Marriott Culinary Team always surprises! This is Chocolate Pineapple Lemongrass shot with Majari Chocolate Creameux, Roasted Pineapple, coconut lemongrass, boba pearls and cotton candy
Are you ready to Taste Central Florida?
Cheers!
Go Epicurista
Disclosure: I was an invited media guest for purposes of promoting this event. As you know I only share experiences worth celebrating to inspire you to go #MakeSomedayHappen one delicious bite, sip and trip at a time! For more information about my guidelines click here. Cheers!
In the world of hospitality and the establishments that test your taste buds there are obviously many components that make your experience memorable. It always starts with expectations and hopefully finishes with a satisfaction that is positively off the charts. As in our case on the evening of Saturday night September 29, 2018 at the one of a kind “A Land Remembered” nestled within the warm smiles of one of Orlando’s finest hotels known as Shingle Creek hotel. We are no strangers to this amazing restaurant. The atmosphere, mood, setting, food selections, service and hospitality is unmatched. We were cordially greeted by a gentleman named Yari, who is one among many of the elite restaurant managers at the Shingle Creek hotel. Even though the restaurant was already filled with expectant visitors anxious to take part in this one of a kind experience, to our delight he was able to accommodate us. Again, this was another unforgettable’ moment that my wife and I pleasantly have etched within our hearts. If you haven’t experienced the best at a fair price, we encourage you to try this magical world known as A Land Remembered. Truly a place you will never forget with moments you will cherish and want to share with your closest friends.
Ray & Sandi Fike
A Land Remembered is definitely one of the top restaurants in Orlando! I’m so happy to hear you and your wife had a wonderful experience. Happy Holidays to you and all the best in the new year!